Vice Grip: Security Protocols

Vice Grip's personal data logs
Entry #490- Special Operations

Although it's clear Equestria has no standing army at this point, they are not without armed forces. Celestia and Luna's own Royal Guard provide the royal arcanists with constant security. Fiercely loyal, well-trained in both physical and arcane combat, their numbers have even been bolstered lately following the reappearance of the Crystal Empire and the security breaches at Canterlot. While there's still far too few of these enforces to present a significant threat to our operations, it's also become clear that the Royal Guard is only the face for a larger security force.

With the Storm Enclave's inclusion into F.I.S.T, we've received a wealth of new recruits and new data concerning the current layout of Equestria's military capabilities. Canterlot, Cloudsdale and even Ponyville were built with a strategic sense, each city constructed to withstand siege and protect the population in the event of disaster or invasion(see attachment A.1). The structure of each city hasn't changed, only grown, since their foundation so we can only assume that the ponies that constructed each city foresaw the need for such defense. But defense from what?

The protection deception does not end there. We've had various reports from outside sources that the Princesses actively maintain a secret security presence. Spies under a special branch of the Guard called the "Specialized Teamwork and Logistics Legion" or STaLL(see attachment A.2) apparently operate independently throughout Equestria, waiting and observing various situations and relaying information directly to Celestia and Luna themselves. From what we've gathered, these ponies are chosen from the elite of the Royal Guard- the best of the best, then dispatched to various locations to function as agents ready to intervene at a moment's notice, then disappear again. Spectral hooves working in silence, answering only to the princesses.

We're fairly certain our operations within the Stables and the Prosperity Mountain facility have gone undetected at the moment. Even Princess Luna's dream-invading is nullified by the heavy magic radiating from the crystals in the borderlands. However, in regards to the threat of the Princesses' eyes being everywhere, we have updated our security posture and enacted new protocols to ensure we are not compromised any time soon.

First and chief among these new protocols are regulations regarding our facilities. All Storm Enclave Pegasi have been assigned their individual Stables and equipped only with pegasi-rated gear and weapons at this time. The Mk.2 Winterized Hailstorm Armor will be monitored to prevent any unauthorized use. The Prosperity Mountain production facilities, including the Magic Gear assembly will be patrolled only by the Ore Hounds of my clan. With myself, the Director and Lightning Claw being obvious exceptions, no ponies will be allowed within the factories at any time except for pilot training and advanced combat testing.

F.I.S.T's forces grow by the day; eventually, our operations will be discovered. The future, Equestria's future that we've all worked so hard for seems it's so close all we need do is reach out and grab it for ourselves. I can only imagine what the arcanists will do if we're discovered before we're ready. VOLCANUS still doesn't have enough power to generate the charge we need but when it does...

Well, Celestia won't need spies to see the results.

Record end.

Comments

[ShadowBrony]

So Vice is trying to make his own Balefire Bomb or something similar huh? Interesting. Also interesting is I never thought about Luna's dream walker as a security technique. That would be very tough to get around when the princesses could literaly invade your mind when you sleep. Almost makes the Ministry of Moral seem less nosy in comparison.
Also I was listening to this while reading, really helps set the mood.

Get Happy

[Barrobroadcaster]

2563652 There's a lot that we don't notice about Equestria that could serve military or at the very least security purposes. Mountains provide a natural defense, magical areas provide other barriers and Cloudsdale's constantly moving. If you're looking at Equestria from an invading standpoint, the three cities cover each other almost perfectly. Canterlot provides command ranged and ballistic support, Cloudsdale provides early warning and air support, and Ponyville can essentially become a natural maze or ambush point. Civilians can easily be evacuated via train or retreat into the forest while an invading army could be funneled in to what could essentially become a total choke point. And Ponyville, the town itself can easily be rebuilt without harming the country's agricultural infrastructure because most of the farms are spread out outside of the town.

The cities rely on each other making capturing each simultaneously the only option. Vice Grip has the element of surprise at this point but he'll need more than that. As far as the Balefire bomb goes, yes, the Sword spell is the Equestrian nuclear-equivalent at this point, sort of a link and precursor to Megaspells and Balefire Bombs. At this point, the Swords are stored in the horns of the Magic Gears and they function as an anti-shield spell. Sword vs. shield and all that. The Sword detonates an aura of magical energy designed to reduce everything it touches to ash in a flash BUT! No radiation. No mutation, nothing but ashes are left.

The perfect thing to rebuild with. Luna's dream walking is effectively negated by certain magical auras that make it hard for her to cut through. The Crystal Empire's crystals, the Everfree Forest itself and areas like it are thick with mist magic and make it difficult for her to perceive through.