Q&A Blog 03: Nova Drive

Colonel Nova Drive says: The Princess of Magic has bid me answer thy questions. I shall answer.

MBreeden asks:

Col. Drive,

I am wondering about the composition of the Night Order. With all the pony races represented in the Order's ranks, what types of weapons do they field? Would the Night Order be considered a combined arms team? How have you developed your training to use the talents of each pony in battle?

Also, I feel you showed a lot of class and bearing in dealing with Col. Stratus. No matter the circumstances, he shouldn't have tried to demean you, especially since you are both serving in Equestrias' armed forces.

Maybe you could explain the rivalry between the Night and Day Orders?

Thank you for your consideration of these questions and for your service to Our Princess.

MBreeden

Colonel Nova Drive says:

MBreeden of Mankind,

I think 'tis odd I should receive a full letter such as this before the Elements or Princesses. Still I shall answer. Well met, MBreeden!

Once was a time when ponies mounted lances and other weapons on armor for use in the field, but most of these tools have fallen out of use as tactics were developed to defeat them. Horse shoes are still issued to most soldiers, the Night Order among them. Beyond this, armor or other worn gear will almost always have a utility purpose even beyond protection, such as the enchantments of illusion and stealth in our armor.

Most certainly the Night Order is a combined arms unit. We are composed of all pony types and began the war with hardly more than a score ponies. Our only option was to organize for such tactics. At the time of Valor is Magic, our three officers each took command of a team, with pegasi in two teams and earth and unicorn ponies in a third.

Major Backgammon had the most difficult tactical task due to the range of earth ponies and unicorns in his team, yet he built an effective doctrine. He broke this command down into pairs, much like the wing pony system used by pegasi, with the intent composing each of one earth pony and one unicorn. All combat drills are conducted in those pairs to build cohesion and teamwork with the philosophy of the earth pony playing shield to the unicorn’s use of magic; the unicorn will pick a field of fire most optimal for the situation and their magic, while the earth pony will protect their blind spots and keep situational awareness. Should the pairs ever fight in a larger group, they perform the same practice but with the unicorns either spreading out their control zones on defense or overlapping fields on the attack.

Our two pegasi teams are more traditional, with distinctions between them only being a light unit and a heavy unit. Their tactics and doctrine both emphasize stealth and surprise for penetration, flanking and envelopment.

Few of the Night Order ponies have special talents that are directly useful in an engagement, but their skills have become indirectly useful. Nightshade and Moonseed each have cutie marks related to botany, and became our medics. Major Backgammon was a student of game tactics before joining, and was able to quickly learn martial doctrine and turn his understandings to our advantage. We would have become quickly lost in the sea of logistics and paperwork had we not found Sonnet so early on.

I have been informed that Princess Luna has written of the talents of Colonel Stratus, yet in reply I must go further. The Colonel was unaware that I had been recruited by my Princess, and as such was confronted with the full revelation of my position and return in that moment. Nor did Colonel Stratus learn of my error through reports or hearsay: He was there. His shock and frustration in the moment he saw me were understandable. I doubt my old self would have been so restrained that day should our roles have been reversed.

He is one of the finest officers and ponies I have ever met and he proved it time and again in the skies above his home. I do hope that human readers will not allow one slipped comment to mar their view of such a pony.

Princess Twilight Sparkle has forbade me from speaking in detail regarding the conflict between the guards of day and night. I may only go so far as to say that the day saw us as unfit for service because of the ponies we recruited, and that we believed them blinded by their own uniformity and discipline. Princess Twilight assures me that the matter will be revisited in the story, though how she has not explained. In any case, ‘tis her labor and I shall trust her to see it done.

From one ally of Night to another,

Col Nova Drive, Night Order Royal Guard

WoolOverYourEyes asks: What is the most difficult part about being in the Night Guard for you? Even with all of the constant praise you give it, I can't imagine there not being at least one downside.

Colonel Nova Drive says: ‘Tis easy to answer! Nothing chafes under my wings so much as the foals that come to visit Our Princess from other lands, with no care to respect or learn Equestrian culture or ways. That fool Xerxes once insisted that Hardtack fill his glass! Our Princess interceded on our behalf with with words both informative and stinging. Had she not set him right so quickly, I may have kicked him off the balcony.

NSS: Thank you, Colonel. I hope it didn't detain you too much.

Colonel Nova Drive: It did not. I even begin to see some of why Sergeant Sonnet takes pleasure in this interaction.

NSS: ...But?

Colonel Nova Drive: I doubt I shall ever appreciate it as much as thee or Princess Twilight Sparkle. Sonnet's excitement exceeds yours and hers by an order of magnitude.

NSS: Oh. I had no idea.

Colonel Nova Drive: Now you do.