(Well, yes she still dies, "healthy" just means "not dying") Julion was just finishing his tale to the gate guard when a loud duel crack rang out from above and behind. Julion instantly spun around to Silver locked in combat with a rust-colored pegasus with a battle saddle. "SILVER!!!" Julion yelled out of instinct, disregarding the rules of the Commandos as he charged forward wildly bringing out Silent Death. Sadly, his yelling distracted Silver as she looked at Julion just before the much bigger pegasus slammed into her side, and time seemed to slow for Julion as Silver's wing very obviously broke, sending her tumbling through the air at a height that would at the very least severely injure her. Julion yelled loudly, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!" As he watched his love fall from the sky, running for her, horn lighting up to try to catch her, managing to slow her fall a little bit before a flash of rust sent him flying back. Before he knew it, the pegasus was on top of him, somehow with Head Hunter in his mouth and slashing down, Julion responded with kicking the stallion in the nethers, contacting just as the blade bit into his skin, scrapping down from his eye to his mouth. Shoving the stallion off, not caring that Head Hunter was stained in his own blood from the deep cut as it clattered to the side as the stallion groaned in pain and popped up to see Silver laying in a broken heap on the ground. Forgetting everything else, he ran straight for her, knowing instantly that even if she survived, she wouldn't live for much longer. Running up to the silvery, sleek mare, he carefully rolled her on her back and looked at her face desperately, holding it in both his hooves. Silver coughed a bit and looked up at Julion, blood leaking out the corners of her mouth, her heartbeat slowing and her breathes getting slower and more labored, "S-Silver?" Julion just barely squeaked out, tears and blood dripping from his face and mixing with her blood. Silver simply smiled softly at Julion, before coughing up a little blood before weakly whispering, "T-thank you...Julion...For all the times...we've had together...I l-love you...even now..." Julion chuckled weakly in the way one would who was losing everything, "I-I love you too...I-I know this is cheap...But you know me..." He whispered to Silver before pressing his lips against hers. her hooves weakly wrapped themselves around Julion in return, and the two remained locked lips until Silver released her last breath and her legs fell back from their hug around him... (The Mark family really does have terrible luck in the Wasteland)
(Going to show the darker side of Diamond) Upon watching the ordeal occurring, something inside of the Major snapped. He looked at the rust colored pegasi dead in the eyes and began to walk towards him, the townsfolk too terrified to stop him after what happened prior. Calamity noticed the giant move towards him without his weapons just as he threw his helmet to the ground, something was about to go down. Diamond happened to be very good friends with Silver, and watching her die sent the giant with the sole intent to kill Calamity. This crime was unforgivable, the Pegasus is going to die. Calamity seen Diamond as a threat and aimed his pistol directly at his exposed head, sending a bullet flying towards him as Diamond seemingly moved his head to the side with ease. The next shot Calamity fired at him landed directly in the forehead of Diamond, knocking his head upwards towards the sky and seemed to stop him in his tracks until he then moved his head downwards as a large hole followed by a river of blood poured down his face, Diamond emotionless the entire time as he just kept moving towards Calamity, the Pegasus now panicking. Just when the Pegasus was reloading, Diamond was suddenly right in front of him as he punched Calamity in the face before grabbing his mane and kneeing him in the face as hard as he could to send him to the ground. Once the rust colored Pegasus fell onto the ground, Diamond simply unleashed upon Calamity, punching him face six times every two seconds with incredible force as he pounded his face to a bloody pulp Deadly Silence was desperately trying to hold Diamond back, trying to pull him away from Calamity who was helpless to fight back. The fact that the Major, who stood a head and a half taller than most ponies and almost all muscle, move in such a way was incredible in itself. Calamity almost did not resemble anything that was alive, his wings broken, multiple broken bones, his battle saddle was broken and his face was almost beyond recognition. Just as Deadly was just making success in pulling him back, Diamond just pushed her away, sending her several meters back before returning to ending Calamity. Several townponies tried to restrain him, all having no effect as they were pushed or thrown back violently to the ground as the Major began to his Calamity harder, every blow almost sounding like a bone shattering like glass. Calamity did not stand a chance in a hoof to hoof fight, holding onto whatever life he held. Being able to punch Calamity six times every two seconds was scary enough. But as Diamond looked at his opponent with the same cold emotionless expression for the entire time without showing any form of anger while blood poured from his face, it was absolutely terrifying. He continued to pound on Calamity seemingly endlessly. He had just watched his best friend murdered in cold blood, and is going to ensure he is going to do anything in his power to make sure Calamity would suffer as much pain as possible while he killed him. Diamond then stopped pounding his face as he lifted his mane and threw him against the ground like a ragdoll, smashing the back of his skull across the dirt while Calamity screamed in agony, the same emotionless stare on his face, before lifting him up savagely and pinning against a wall and having his knife pressed up on the Adams apple of Calamity's throat, to see Calamity barely conscious and realizing that he was about to die. All this damage was done within thirty seconds, leaving the Major's victim on the absolute brink of death. For the Major, nothing cared anymore. (In the end, Diamond obviously does not kill him. I had the feeling that Julion would stop the fight somehow or Diamond would just stop fighting him.)
"Stop." Julion voice rang across the field in a surprisingly, yet worryingly level voice, which seemed magnified despite the fact he spoke in a flat tone. Julion trotted over to Diamond with his face half drenched in blood, Silver caringly draped on his back as if she might wake up at any second and he wanted her to be comfortable when she did. However, Julion's face, it was completely blank, devoid of emotion. Wrapping Diamond in a magical field, he yanked Diamond away from Calamity and trotted away, giving Deadly Silence, who had watched the whole display frozen to one spot, "Bloody 2 was a mare and shall always be a mare. Congrats, you're the new Bloody 2." He said flatly before trotting towards in the direction of the Everfree, not ever looking back. It was obvious Silver's death had broke him.
The Major headed with Julion and Deadly to the outside of town towards the Everfree. Calamity was now starting to get surrounded by the ponies of New Appleloosa, desperately getting medical attention. Calamity's destroyed body was face down onto his stomach when the Major let go of him, right in view as he was able to see the Commando's leave out of the gate and across the long path out of the town that seemingly head into the horizon. Diamond kept walking with Julion until he stopped, knowing he was being watched and turning around to see Calamity, his eyes on level with his for a brief moment before trotting away. Calamity understood what he had done to the Commandos, and the repercussions that would now occur because of it. He also understood the emotionless stare that Diamond had given him before falling unconscious and getting gently levitated onto a stretcher. The next time Diamond encountered Calamity, he would finish the job.
(Skipping ahead to just after Silver's funeral) Even after the rest of the Commandos had left. The rain that had picked up soon after leaving New Apploosa poured over him as he stood still, staring at the gravestone of Silver. His mane clung soaking wet to his skin, water running in streams down his face and mixing with the years welling up in his eyes. He sat down and placed a hoof on the stone, he would never be able to touch her again, never able to love her..."I'll make sure he pays for this Silver...I'll make sure that pegasus understands true pain, I will break him as he broke us. Then I will avenge your murder. In front of the whole damn Wasteland." He spoke in an eerily soft tone, seemingly unfitting for what he was saying, "I promise..."
Diamond had confined himself to his quarters, spending less and less time performing jobs and reducing the amount of time he personally trained recruits since the Funeral. All that he did now was spend time in his room, working on a terminal, showing up for lunch and dinner, then vanishing for the rest of the night. Diamond did not feel any remorse after nearly killing Calamity, but Silver's death had hurt him. Tonight was different, he was in the rain out in the courtyard completely in his lonesome, trying to remove his frustrations by punching a sandbag, a light shining on him and a small gym. He had several sandbags on the side if one of them was to be damaged. He began to deliver blows on the sandbag. Then, he began to think about Calamity murdering Silver in cold blood. Diamond's blows began to hit harder and harder, knocking the sandbag around back and forth. All the pain that he seen Julion experience, and all of the frustrations against the pegasus. He never wanted that to happen again. By now, the punches began to get more powerful, more violent. Eventually, it was all too much as Diamond roared for a final blow, hitting the sandbag hard enough that it disconnected from it's holder and exploded while being sent flying backwards. Diamond paused for a moment to calm himself down, looking at what he caused.The pent up aggression and frustration was being let out of him. If he ever seen Calamity again, who knows what would have happened. Walking towards another sandbag, he lifted one up and held it in place with a chain before starting again.
Two Months after Silver's Death General assembly had been called. It was something he had kept putting off again and again. It was time to officially promote Deadly Silence(truly named Moonlight Shine) to Bloody 2. By the time Julion walked into the entrance, everypony was already there. All eyes turned to him as he silently made his way to the stage, where Diamond and Moonlight stood. Quickly making his way to center stage where he faced the Commmandos, the first time any of them had seen him since Silver's funeral, where he didn't even speak a word. His blank eyes stared out across the crowd of 700 Commandos, and he said the first thing that came to mind, "We're going to need a bigger assembly area soon." He said dryly, an obvious attempt at humor that his neutral voice ruined. It was likely more for him than their own enjoyment. "Well, today is the sad day where we move from...one era to the next...In the face of the unexpected...passing of our dearest and most trusted of Commandos, our second in command, truly named Silver Breeze. Yes, the Bloody 2 was simply a title...And as such...I present the honor...and the burden...of carrying the torch on. Deadly Silence..." The mare stepped up, "Do you understand the position you are about to be elevated to." "I do." "Do you solemnly swear to uphold the Tenants of the Commandos and safeguard all Commandos to the best of your ability. "I do, sir." "And do you accept the shoes you are about to fill?" "I do, Soldier, Sir!" "Then, by my power as Commander in Chief of the Commando Army, I promote you to the position of Second in Command, and grant you the title of Bloody 2." "Thank you sir..." "you are dismissed." Julion then watched as the new Bloody Two joined the Major's side before turning to face the Commandos, "As of now, we are officially at war with Red Eye. Any slavers you see are to be immediately shot on sight. Any captured slaver is to be beaten within an inch of their lives, brought back, and beaten back down. When we're certain they will never recover, we are to return them to the doorstep of Fillydelphia to send a clear messages. One other thing, the stallion responsible for the death of Silver, nopony is to harm him. Anyone who lays a hoof on him will be punished swiftly and severely. He is mine. I will make him pay for what he's done to our family. You are dismissed." After that, Julion turned and gave Moonlight a glare, the first emotion he had truly shown without talking about Calamity, "Just so you know, you will NEVER replace her." And with that, Julion trotted of
With Red Eye declaring war against the Commandos, the tyrant of Fillydelphia failed to realize exactly how powerful the force he was going to deal with truly was. Already pushing back the Steel Rangers in Fillydephia to a weakened state, the Commandos were an entirely new threat to Red Eye in general, far more experienced, trained and better equipped than the Steel Rangers ever were. Other communities also began to resist the slave master as well, such as the Republic and several other towns. New Appleloosa, after the brutal display by the Commandos, came to their senses and abandoned all ties with Red Eye. To make matters worse, Red Eye caught the attention of the Enclave, would only seen them as a pest. But when a supply caravan from the Federation of Los Pegasus, an incredibly powerful nation on the complete other side of Equestria in the far north-east, was attacked by Slavers, the Federation had given a very limited amount of interest about what had happened, annoyed about the slavers careless act but not enough of an attack to be provoked. The Major remained behind to help clean up the assembly area, stacking up chairs and moving them out the way. While he was not particularly annoyed about Julion wanting to kill Calamity himself, he understood completely why Julion asked such a reason. From there, all actions or ideas against the Pegasus were removed but not forgotten, and focused on the bigger picture.
(Heh, remember I try to stay close to FoE canon, and New Apploosa, and several settlements, didn't cut ties with Red Eye right up until the middle of the Enclave attack, which was 7 years later. Anyways, that's really it for the Commando backstory that I wanted to do. What was it rhat you wanted to do again?)
(Wow, already? That seemed to go really quickly, and that was an accident on that last post. I've had several ideas, one being that whole Commando/Guardian love story, others being essentially the events of FO:E with the Federation and the Commandos and a ten years later RP. Either way, I'm not really fussed.)
(Might as well going with the FO:E timeline with the Commandos and the Federation, and interweave the romance RP after to match with the timeline. Do you wanna start that?)
(That’s ok, I’ll start instead) In the far north-east of Equestria, an independent nation that was known to the wastes as “The Federation of Los Pegaus” or simply “The Federation” existed. Established days after megaspells and balefire bombs nearly wiped out life in Equestria by the Legendary Eternals, the city of Los Pegasus was completely rebuilt sixty years after this chaotic destruction. Fifteen years after that, the official foundation for the Federation was orchestrated. Surviving the worst environmental disasters hat the wastes could throw at it, the Federation survived and eventually prospered. By tending to stay out of armed conflicts whenever possible and focusing instead on education, healthcare and manufacturing, the Fed’s now enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the world. The seemingly small nation (When put in comparison to the remainder of Equestria. If Equestria was the size of the United States, the Federation would be the size of Washington State with small holdings in Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia) was incredibly advanced, had easily one of the best militaries on the planet, led the wasteland in agriculture and had an incredible cultural aspect through the form of paintings, sculptures and entertainment. Only being in three major conflicts in it’s 125 years of existence, one of them being against the Steel Rangers, the Federation and the Equestrian Wasteland was starting to experience an enormous crisis from the rise of a slave master named Red Eye, and his huge and well-equipped slaver army, unaware that the Enclave were planning to take Equestria for their own purposes above the skies. Since the re-emergence of the Commandos ten years ago, the slaver population had grown substantially smaller and Commando interruptions during his plans proved to be troublesome to Red Eye, who also had to deal with the Steel Rangers in Fillydelphia. Red Eye had his eyes set on conquering Equestria, and would do anything in his power to ensure that it happens. ---------------------------------------- Earlier in the year The town of Riverprance, a small agricultural town just a dozen miles away from the Federation’s border was busy enjoying their lives per usual. School fillies were busy playing in the playground, shops were always open for happy customers, the park was a hotspot for those in their late-teens and the markets were always bussing with life. The tallest structure in the town was a church, whose tower could be used as a sniper’s nest if the town were attacked. The town itself sat next to one of the rivers that led to Los Pegasus, and the water in the river itself was somewhat clean thanks to a small water processing plant that provided the town with clean bottled water. With a population of just over 3,000, it appeared almost like a beautiful pre-war town, almost... As they were enjoying their lives, a faint explosion sounded in the horizon, causing some to be worried. Within the next hour, Riverprance found themselves at the mercy of an enemy they thought would never see, slavers. Roughly two hundred in total, stormed through the border, killing all those stationed there and moved directly towards the first town. Many civilians not fighting before, panicked as they tried to flee while the slavers tried to capture as many innocents as they could. The town was not entirely defenceless, a group managed to fight back with whatever weaponry they had, one former Federation solider using her energy rifle to take down any slaver that tried to take her child away from her while another hunter took his sniper rifle and picked off approaching Slavers before taking a bullet to his shoulder. Red Eye’s soldiers forced themselves to advance upwards into the town center until they simply lacked the numbers to continue, and had to retreat with whatever slaves they had left. Despite this failed raid, the Slavers now had over a hundred new slaves, while leaving quite a large number dead that included children, the elderly and innocents. The main-street resembled a war-zone, bodies scattered everywhere like trash. The Federation were quick to pick up onto the news, and sent a small platoon to investigate what appeared to be a military action by Red Eye. Many were scared and were grieving for their lost ones, was the Federation going to war? Not only was Riverprance itself was one of the larger towns inside of the Federation, but also secured an deal to the Commandos very much like to what had happened in Grecko years prior, sending 10 ponies who had come of age per year to leave for the Commandos. And that since that the town had fallen under attack, it caused quite a problem for the Commandos and the Federation.
After news of the attack on Riverprance reached the Everfree Forest and the ears of Julion and the Commandos, Delta squad was immediately deployed to investigate. The reason being was that Delta squad was the squad responsible for protecting the town from a previous raider attack a few years prior, leading to the agreement that binded the two. The group arrived a week and a half later, soon after the Federation troops arrived in reinforcement. Algha Squad member Ghost Rain(really May Flowers) lead the squad into the town, running into a Federation checkpoint. Stepping up to speak to the approaching Federation trooper, she raised her visor and order her twenty five soldiers to a halt, "Hail from the Commandos, we are here as specified in our treaty with this town."
“We always appreciate your help, Commandos.” The Federation solider replied. “Our commanding officer is in the town centre. We have roughly five hundred soldiers inside of the town and the surrounding area, Guardians are believed to be en-route as we speak and are supposedly to be arriving shortly by vehicle. Anyway, head right on through.” Just as the solider finished his statement, a dust cloud was visible on the horizon, signifying that the attack was far more serious than what was originally thought. Guardians were deployed when the Federation was in serious trouble, such as high-profile attacks by Steel Rangers or in this case, Red Eye’s slavers. While also occasionally sent out to carry out tasks, such as reinforcing towns when faced with slaver/raider attack threats, assassinations and various other specific tasks, Guardians, other than being the super-elite of the Federation’s forces, also acted as the bodyguards to Lionheart and protected the wall that surrounded Los Pegasus. “Speak of the devils, and they shall appear” One of the other Federation soldier’s spoke.
Ghost nodded, "Thank you. We shall wait until the Guardians arrive, will make the townspeople feel safer if they see two of the most elite forces in Equestria enter together." She explained and her troops turned and watched as the Guardians approached. The Federation and the Commandos didn't have much by ways of diplomatic ties, but both knew and appriciated the other's values, however the mercenary, absolute militaristic culture of the Commandos have made deeper relations hard. However, Ghost felt as Red Eye increased his power, the two factions would have a common enemy to unite against in the coming days... When the Guardians arrived and stopped at the checkpoint to dismount from their vechiles, May Flowers and her squad saluted them in the old way of the Royal Guard, hoof over the heart, unlike to the forehead as in the later, Great War army, a carry over from the fact the original Commandos came from the Elite Royal Guard. "The Commandos are here to lend a helping hoof to a town bound by treaty to our protection. I'm sure that with the combination of our presence will reassure the citizens of this town in their confidence in the Federation and the Commandos." She said to whom seemed to be in charge, "I am Squad Sergant Ghost Rain."
(Guardian armor is based on Hunter armor from Destiny and is essentially 3-4 times stronger than Power Armor. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/166/f/8/destiny_hunter_render_by_keithjhe-d694gt5.png) The Guardians, numbering ten in total, stood together as they presented themselves to the Commandos, their black armor assuring that the Federation was going to protect Riverprance and that their reputation alone was enough to convince Red Eye to think twice about wanting to take the Federation. While the Guardians are selected from the best of the military, the infamous training to become a Guardian was brutal. Training intensely for roughly three days a week without rest, with instructors leading small combat teams through the wastelands hostile terrain with little sleep or food was one of the brutal aspects of the Guardians. There is little shame in failing a Guardian course - the training is so extreme that even qualifying for becoming one elevates an officer to a position of respect. While only being a minority in terms of size when put in comparison to the Federation’s military, a single Guardian is the equivalent to about ninety Slavers, An entire squad of Steel Rangers and roughly four to five Commandos in their first two years of training. One of the Commandos broke away from the group and walked to the Commandos nearby, the armour very intimidating to some of the townsponies nearby until a feminine voice sounded out of a built-in microphone. One feature about this pony was the cybernetic front legs that was almost completely hidden by the armour. “I’m Captain Raven Shadow, ten year veteran of the Guardians of the Federation and commanding officer of this group. It’s a pleasure to meet you Squad Sergeant Rain. Now, this town was in terrible condition according from reports. Eighty dead, many more injured. I wish to send condolences to the families of the fallen. This attack was an obvious military action by Red Eye, and because of that, Lionheart has taken personal interest alongside High Command into Red Eye’s action. If Red Eye is going to declare war in the future, then we would need to prepare."
Ghost simply nodded, "Agreed. Though we are concerned how a sizable force of slavers could have crossed Equestria without detection. Especially by us and DJ-Pon3. We request to examine a body of a slaver and all that was all them at the time of death, they may have gotten ahold of Mark Co technology somehow." Ghost explained, "And we're the best for determining that."
The guardian raised her hoof as she pressed a button on her helmet as it collapsed in an instant, revealing her face. She had a midnight purple coat and a black and bright pink mane cut to a moderately short length, showcasing her beautiful purple eyes. “We have a griffon inside of one of the medical tents that has been untouched since he has been killed. He should still be in his armor, and judging from some reports, was one of their leaders. Some of the assistants from the town to the doctors has placed the weaponry and some belongings that he had inside of a small trunk, so they must have been unaware of what the weapon was if it were to be a Mark.Co weapon. We have other bodies as well, but something seemed....off about this one."
