private Resolve of the Iron Hooves With Maple Bat and The Cerberus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple ran over to the window as well saw the problem on the train "Whoa... I... Right, I'll gather any of the available night guards but like I was most of them are asleep. Still, I'll gather a few and bring them here." Maple ran out the door and hurried to the city, when she got there most of the bat pony guards were up anyways since the rubble falling from earlier. 

One of them walked up to Maple "Ma'am, What is going on?"

"There are invaders from elsewhere attacking Equestria..."  Maple explained "They're attacking innocent ponies on the train... We are all needed at the castle. Let's move!" Maple said as she then lead the Nightguard back to the castle.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

The battle was growing bleaker by the second, the royal guard had fortified the train into a defensible interior after the civilians that remained has been evacuated.

And it proved to work quite effectively in staying alive, but it was not going to hold forever, some unicorns had attempted to raise a magical shield around the train, but that magical shield had ended up breaking from all the gunfire that the orks where doing it, and they needed all other unicorns to fire ranged attacks back at the orks while the ones with bows and crossbows where also doing their part in firing back.

It, however, was not going to be enough, orks throwing stikk bombs occasionally towards the fortificaiton, one of them exploded straight into the train, causing around 3 royal guards to die from that.

On the other hand, the melee orks where trying to fight their way straight into the train, the royal guard was managing to keep the orks at bay to some degree, as the orks proved to be quite hard to push back from the sheer determination they were displaying.

When the ballista's fired, it was raining down very larg sharp projectiles, some of the orks getting killed by the rain of those things, other orks where spreading out, while the more brutish orks simply ignored the danger of the raining projectiles and continued engaging their enemy regardless, it did prove to be a good manoeuvre however at it was keeping the orks a bit more at bay.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The guards kept firing the ballistas, using explosive magic to enchant the giant bolts for more effect, they weren't running out any time soon, because they had storage full of ammo, since they had never before actually needed to use the ballistas for real.

When Maple were to arrive back to the castle with the guards she had gathered, the captain of the day guard was going around the castle, asking each group of guards the same questions "Has anypony seen unit 5 or 3?!" "Is there any reports from Manehattan or the Crystal Empire?!"

Edited November 5, 2017 by The Cerberus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

One of the night guards ran up to the Day guard captain "Sir, I haven't seen those units but I have some reports that a courier dropped from all the panic." The guard handed them to the captain and dashed back to one of the ballistas.

Maple on the other hoof had a small team of guards with her, The most elite few were with her and those were all winged. the team was heading to the train. Maple knew how she would get on the train as for the other members of the team Maple was nearing at soon but she wasn't too close yet.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

The battle seemed to be going on and on, the Royal Guard was still holding its position, which was rather impressive considering they had to use a train for cover instead of an actual building.

But despite this, the orks seemed to be getting close to breaching the entrance of the train that the royal guards were guarding, ork boyz where piling up against the door as the royal guard ponies where trying everything they could to keep them away, but it the ponies was suffering big casualties from this action.

However, the bombardment from the ballistas proved to be doing its thing, the orks that where using their guns from range where throwing into a disarray for the most part, while the bombardment caused a decent amount of victims, the ultimate result was the ork gunners being forced to either spread out or fall back a bit further in the forest.

Now if Maple and hear team where to arrive, what would they do in the end? Attacking the orks head-on could cause a few deaths among their numbers, would prove big casualties on her team as well. Would they regroup with the surviving royal guard inside the train and rethink a strategy? Anything could happen at this point, these choices could either make a big difference to the battle or don't change the outcome.

There where about 83 ork gunners, some of them having more heavy guns then the others, while the where about 173 melee orks, most of them barring towards the train door, and there where 40 orks who where throwing a good amount of stikkbombs towards the train.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The captain thanked the guard and after reading the possibly outdated reports, that happened to be what he asked for, he stopped asking around, instead going back to the throne room, calling Staunch and several other guards with him, and planning a rescue for those still inside the train.

After some minutes, the rescue unit was ready and took off from the Canterlot. The unit was about 60 heads strong, over half of them being pegasus guards who were pulling the transport carts. In the first row of carts, there was the Captain of the day guard himself, with several other unicorns, they were creating protective barrier in front of the unit, and there was some unicorns as backup, so the barrier could be hold up.

Behind them was Staunch and other archers, ready with bows and crossbows to shoot at the enemy, and behind them were the empty carts meant for those being rescued, possible civilians, and injured being the priority. They planned on landing on the other side of the train where there was no orcs. 

The ballistas were still firing.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple flew up and landed on top of the train shouting orders at her troops "Make sure the day guards are safe. I think I've got an Idea..." She contemplated the idea for a second then nodded to herself. She aimed carefully at the ork's 'jetpack.' She didn't believe it was very stable, it took her only a second and she fired an arrow, firing another before the first hit.

The other Night guards helped get the day guards out with some of the closer orks working to drive them back with numbers and pure teamwork rather than brute strength. For example, a few ponies are fighting one ork and they would strike at him except for one pony, this pony would block strikes and warn the others of firing squads.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

The battle was starting to look a bit better for the Equestrians, even if the Orks still outnumbered them greatly, the royal guard now had a much bigger chance of winning thanks to the help they had gotten.

Maple's method was working to a degree, some unlucky Stormboyz no longer had working Jumping packs after her arrows had disabled, but this was not an all-time situation, ork wargear was constructed in confusing ways, which made it hard to know if one would be more reliable then the other, but it was a gamble that would have success if lucky and if the very ork had already have messed with his own jump pack beforehand.

It was then when Staunch and his other reinforcements were getting closer and where firing from above, some of the ork gunners started to take notice of this, and where firing at them from below.

Despite they didn't have the best of accuracy, it was made up of the amount of firepower they had.

Maple and her reinforcements where proving an good advantage, if Staunch and his reinforcements where to arrive, it could actually tip the battle in their favour.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

When the orcs started shooting at the rescue unit, the barrier's strength was tested, but it held due how it was created. The Captain of the guard, like his predecessor, had his specialty in defense barriers, and how the barrier used now worked, was rather simple. The captain was the main creator of the barrier, making it strong, but the other unicorns linked to it were the ones actually draining themselves, making it possible for the captain to hold the barrier without getting tired, and every time one of the unicorns got tired, another unicorn took their place, so the barrier could be hold up for long time, and under high damage.

The unit positioned itself over the train so they weren't inside the ballista fire, and when in position, they started firing constant rain of bolts and arrows, and how that was managed was that heavy crossbows shot first, then light crossbows, and lastly bows.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple looked disappointed "Here I was expected those to explode..." She sighed and fired her magic arrows at the Ork's heads trying to kill them... or provoke them at the very least. She knew it was a dangerous move but she felt they could use the help "Hey! Green and Stupid! Over here!" She was trying her best to get them to look at her... She wondered if those bomb things were usable to her... She could maybe toos one back but it was risky. If it blew up in her mouth or hoof... She tired not to think about it for now and kept trying to draw fire.

Edited November 9, 2017 by Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Some of the orks took the bait at started attacking directly at Maple, a few of them firing their pistols at her while others were trying to kill her with their axes.

Her plan to throw back stikk bombs could be an effective one, but she would need to be really close in order to hurl an already cooked bomb like that back to an ork, no one knew how stable such a bomb would be, orks never cared much for the stability, only that it explodes.

The orks that were trying to breach in the stopped train where starting to really run out of numbers from the combined efforts of the crossbow attacks and the ponies that were guarding that entrance.

The orks that where firing at the rescue unit after a while stopped, noticing they could not breach the barrier, they were however not aware that someone was maintaining the barrier, instead they believed the carriage itself had inbuild shield generator.

They changed their plan and started shooting towards the crossbow users, but they were not capable of having all of the ork shooters attack them at the same time, since the balista attacks where still suppressing them from a full scaled offensive attack, and were killing some among their numbers.

In the far bit of the battlefield, was a lone human female watching the battle, she was wearing a red cloak that was covering her entire body, and she was also wearing the hood of the cloak itself over her head.

She was armed with an hellgun and standard issue bayonet, a knife commonly used by the imperial guard.

However, she did not seem to attack either side but was watching the fight run its course, and was using her vox communication device to contact her superiors.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

Though little higher, the ranged units of the rescue unit were behind the magical barrier too, but due it allowing their bolts and arrows to go through, there was brief moments under a second long, when there was a arrow and bolt sized holes in the barrier, and that let few single bullets here and there from the orcs weapons to pass through, but for now they didn't actually hit anypony.

Under the rain of arrows and bolts and under the protection of the barrier, the empty carriages landed one at the time next to the train, collecting the injured, bodies, and anypony who didn't have wings, before returning to the positions in the air.

The guards in the air noticed the red-wearing creature, but due it not seeming hostile at the moment, and because they couldn't do anything about it even if it was hostile, they ignored it.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple started running to avoid the aim of the orks. She was doing good until she saw on ork about to take a horizontal swing at her aimed low more at her legs than anything else, making matters worse, If she stopped running or drastically change directions it was likely she would get shot, But the ork she was looking at was in the way so she had to engage them. Without breaking stride, Maple drew her spear and ran up to the ork who was mid-swing she jumped over the weapon stopping its momentum with her spear hitting the handle of the axe and landing hard on the part that wasn't the blade. With a twirl of her spear, she drove her weapon home right through the Ork's neck. This move was quite possibly the most impressive thing Maple had ever don in her life, but she didn't have time to celebrate removing the spear from the ork she kept running.

Thanks to Maple distraction the braver of the night guard had started firing projectiles at a much faster pace. Not only that but the night guard had less injured ponies to focus on allowing them to start working on pushing the orks back.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

The orks were starting to get driven back piece by piece, it was looking good for the Equestrians, thanks to both reinforcements they had managed to turn the tides.

Around 126 orks remained, most of them gunners while around 46 where melee users.

With Maple performing a furious but agile charge against the green tide, it was only a matter of time until they won, but anything could happen at this point.

The ork who got stabbed neck gurgled as he died, 9 ork melee users started charging her, seeing an opportunity for a decent fight.

The cloaked woman looked at the battle with a mixed reaction of curiosity and disgust.

"These aliens use primitive technology, but make that up for foul witchcraft... But it is obvious, just another alien species that will pose no threat." The woman muttered, who was disgusted by the way the ponies used magic, it was yet another thing that the Imperium didn't trust, psykers where unpredictable, and the Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition would not hesitate to hunt down every last witch that would dare to squander the face of humanity with it.

She quickly moved back into the forest, not knowing she had been spotted.

 

Edited November 13, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The rescue unit kept doing what they already were doing, and the guards that had spotted the new creature reported it leaving to the Captain. When the 9 orcs charged at Maple, Staunch pointed at them, and all the guards wielding heavy crossbows, including him, turned their aim towards the charging enemies. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple grabbed the fallen ork's weapon... After quick examination, she shook her head knowing she didn't know how to use the moving parts of it and threw it at one of the orks. She ran at the small group of orks. She delivered a devastating lunge to ones chest and she spun her weapon slicing one upwards doing a flip to put more power into the strike. That didn't account for the other 7 Orks. Not only that but she left her unprotected stomach exposed with the flip even if she wasn't hit in mid-flip. She'd still land on her back.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

During that move, one of the Orks moved in readied his choppa axe, and swung straight at her, aiming around the part of her unprotected stomach, the axe gritted past the armoured part that hit, but the slice and went a good amount past the unprotected part, creating a medium sized but pretty deep cut. It was not a very life-threatening injury, but it was sure to leave a scar at that place, a reminder of how savage the orks were in nature.

Maple would had been attacked more, but then come to her aid, when Staunch and crossbow-wielding allies fired at the other orks, 3 of them died, 4 moderately wounded.

The battle was going longer and longer on, but it was now the deciding blow, if Maple and the others could push through, then they would drive the orks that launched this attack back.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The day guard still kept doing pretty much the same thing, Staunch and other heavy crossbows now aiming for individual targets rather than generally shooting at everything. But to add to the already existing arrows, bolts an ballista fire, now also the already rescued guards, even some of the injured ones, were attacking with arrows and magic from the air. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple landed on the ground on her back. She wasn't as deterred by the wound as she probably should've been. She was more angered by it than anything but with all the arrows and bolts going by she figured she should stay down for now. She was ready to engage another ork should one get close enough but other than thatt she was gonna stay low... She looked down at the wound. Still not seeing how bad it was somehow,

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

It was at this point it was clear, The Equestrians where going to win this battle, the last orks where starting to fall back, only 80 remaining, most of them gunners.

They started firing back at the royal guard, an all-out charge would be capable of driving the orks back in this battle.

The cloaked woman as sneaking through the woods when she suddenly encountered a mob of orks, when they started charging at her.

She was capable of holding back the orks to an extend, her hellgun roaring with red laster beams in a rapid rate, one tried to jump from behind, but she quickly turned around and started to obliterate the ork with her firepower, but this left an opening as another ork slashed with his choppa across her chest, causing her to bleed badly.

It was then that she threw her hellgun to the side and drew her combat knife, she was already outmatched against an ork in melee combat, but her wound did not help either, but still, she would not give up.

"You vile brute, you shall meet the Emperor's wrath before long!" She yelled.

"Do yer always yell so much 'umie? stay still so i kan kill yer!" The ork replied bluntly

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The guards wouldn't charge, but now also the light crossbows and normal bows started aiming for specific targets rather than raining down arrows and bolts. The guard captain had noticed Maple getting injured, but because he was responsible for keeping the barrier strong, he didn't seem to react in any way. Few bullets that got through the barrier's edges hit few of the ranged guards, but they did only mild damage, worst being a bullet in a shoulder. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple stood back up knowing that she wasn't in the middle of the wave of projectiles. She propped herself up on her spear "Good job, Day guard... Where's the..." Maple was gonna say night guard but she saw them in the lines too.

Two of her own guards flew down to her We're getting you out of here captain, We saw what happened please let us get you out of here... we can't lose you." The gards helped Maple get inside of the Day guard captains barrier much more quickly than she was capable of on her own. "What are your orders now?"

" Assist the Day guard... in any way you can..." Maple explained. That was the same order she'd given before so it didn't change. The two guards nodded one of them drawing a cross bow and firing at one of the Orks

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

The woman was trying to fight off one of the orks who was attacking her, but she knew she was not able to defeat this ork in her current wounded state.

However, before she was about to get to hit, the attacking ork got pulverised as a sudden thunder hammer hit its head point blank, killing the ork, making its body get blown away by the force of the hit.

"M-my lord Astartes! Forgive me, I was-" The woman said with a bit of a frightened voice but was interrupted.

"Status!" The space marine captain told her firmly, as his figure was towering over her.

"Right, I was scouting ahead when I noticed the natives of this world and the orks clashing in a battle, but it seems those aliens are starting to drive the orks back." The woman responded, snapping back to attention.

"You must know your enemy to defeat them, Orks only retreat to regroup, they will keep coming until either you or they are dead." He replied "Head to the Apothecarion and see to it that your wounds are tended to. We will take it from here."

"Of course my lord, forgive me if I speak out of place, but..... What is your next course of action? Wouldn't it be wise to wait until the battle has ended, and then take action?" She asked.

"And risk the opportunity for those greenskins to regroup with their bigger horde? No, we are here to slay every single of those orks, we WILL succeed, natives involved or not." The Captain said with resolution.

None of these events were happening close to the actual battle itself, but eventual contact would become apparent soon...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The orks were starting to retreat back into the forest, though it was apparent that this was a rather mild assault for ork standards, which meant this assault force had only been a group of recently regrouped orks.

Around only 50 remained, while there quite a few losses to the royal guard as well during this conflict, in theory the defenders of the train location where safe, but would they hun down the last remaining attackers, or do something else?

Edited November 16, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Catpone Cerberus 23,591]

The day guard didn't chase the orcs because the rescue unit was mainly defensive and because they had pretty much only ranged offensive units. When the orcs had retreated, the captain shot a magical flare to the sky and the ballista fire stopped. After that the unit landed and the captain started commanding ponies around, most of the guards were ordered to create a defensive line to prepare for possible re-attack, and those who weren't on the said position, started collecting pony-bodies and equipment like weapons and arrows/bolts to the rest of the empty carriages to transport them back to Canterlot. Staunch was one of the ponies collecting things, he thought to himself that this had to be one of, if not the biggest loss of ponies at once in long time if not ever. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple looks out at all the destruction that the orks left in their wake and took a step to purse the remaining ones but a wave of pain stopped her. And she sighed as she sat back down on the ground putting her hoof around the deep cut.  Why did this happen? She thought  I don't get it...  It was as if Maple didn't understand how she got herself in that position to get wounded in the first place.