//------------------------------// // Counter-Attack // Story: Battleship of Equestria // by MorgothII //------------------------------// Battleship of Equestria Chapter Six: Counter-Attack April 28th, 1942 10:00 PM On the river passing Ponyville… (Jacob's POV) I keep my binoculars focused on the left side as we silently glide through the water, moving at only quarter-speed. Already, though, a refinery was being built in a desolate desert to the south to make diesel and other forms of oil to operate my ship. In the north, near Baltimare, a factory is being developed to make more ammunition for my ship, as well as muzzle-loading cannons for a new class of ships. In the meantime, it is time to strike back. Behind Fuso are five wooden transports, each carrying five hundred pony soldiers armed to the teeth. This morning word has arrived that Vanhoover is once again under attack, this time in the form of a siege. It is also reported that the walls of stone I had ordered to be made, as well as a supply tunnel connected directly to the Crystal Empire, were completed last night, meaning that the city-turned-base will be able to hold out for some time. In the meantime, I have decided to secure the immediate threat to the Central Theater: the roughly ten thousand surviving raiders encamped in the ruins of Ponyville. A solo recon flight made by Rainbow Dash reported that they were still there, building a crude wooden fort. At this stage I have no plan to re-take the area, I will not let there be any force in this area run amok. I bet Luna is pacing around at her station in the armored conning tower. Despite her protests, Celestia only agreed to letting her little sister join the attack by staying on my ship until the troops where landed. She understands that, for now, it is the best place for her to be. Speaking about new faces on my ship, I can't help but think of the recent increase to my crew. Nearly every pony we had rescued who is not a parent to fillies unable to be by themselves had signed up to serve on my ship. Even the trio calling themselves the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', along with their school friends, had joined, helping to keep the cabins and crew quarters and the mess hall clean. These ponies really do believe in the power of friendship. This war, however, will test that idea. And I fear, know, that it will not be enough. I return my focus to the plan for tonight's battle. While Fuso guards the very beach that the raiders had landed on, the transports will disembark our own soldier-raiders. While Luna leads the assault, I will stand in reserve after delivering several volleys of HE rounds to destroy their fortifications, or at least weaken it. Luna made the night sky darker than she normally has it, to provide effective cover for when she and her Night Guard and other soldiers advance through open ground. Froster taps on my shoulder. "Captain, we have entered open waters. Shall I signal for us to form up in a line to execute landing procedure?" I inwardly sigh at the mention of my new rank. After the celebration, it seems my crew had a secret council and decided to 'promote' me to captain. Since it would be rude to refuse, and also no way to make a feasible excuse to turn it down, I (albeit slightly reluctantly) agreed to it. I turn around and face my XO, who I had promoted to my former rank of lieutenant junior grade. "Yes. Raise the appropriate signal flags. Load all guns with high-explosive rounds. Helm, once you have enough room, turn to port. Put us five hundred yards from shore and then hold position." The next ten minutes proceed rather slowly. Suddenly, the fifth ship's signal lanterns turn on. "What the hell?! I gave strict orders for black-out conditions! Froster, signal to those damn morons to turn the lights off n-" I never finish my sentence. The ship rocks to the side as its right side shatters into splinters, the inners catching fire from what must be hot shot. "SHIT! All turrets except Nos. 3 and 4, turn to starboard! Enemy warships inbound! Fuji, make sure the rookies don't fire the AA weapons until their in range, and the same goes to the secondary for now. Turn on all lights! Let's make our armored ship a more tempting target, instead of the transports! Froster, get down to you battle station in the conning tower and tell Luna to get to the beach! Change in plans, she'll have to charge the fort walls without our support. I can only give one, maybe two salvos with only four guns, but she'll have to get the rest of the transports unloaded NOW!" As the two middle turrets fire a salvo, I turn to the starboard side of the bridge. As the alarm to signal battle stations sounds, despite the vast majority of sailors at their stations, I turn on Fuso's internal speakers. "This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill! General Quarters, General Quarters! All hands man your battle stations!" As the three powerful searchlights on the starboard side of the exhaust funnel are turned on and start illuminating the enemy fleet of warships, I try to clear my mind of my worries of Luna's well-being. 'Focus Jacob! Your men need you in the here and now! Your friend is a powerful warrior and can hold her own!' My mind chides me. And indeed, that is the truth. As the final salvo at the fort is fired, undoubtedly making at least one large hole in its wall, I watch the last transport land on the beach even as its passengers disembark, forming up with the others that Luna will now lead. The only way to help her is to destroy these damned warships. "Front turrets, engage the rearmost ship in your range! Rear, fire on the lead ship! Middle turrets bear to starboard and await my command! Have one load of armor-piercing rounds at the ready just in case, but load and fire HE rounds for now! Handsomely now, my lads!" I raise my binoculars to look at the fleet as my mighty 14-inch guns open fire at the designated targets at long-range, just as the Japanese had wanted to use her for. In the aft superstructure… "OH YEAH! NOW THAT'S THE KINDA AWESOMENESS I AM TALKING ABOUT!" Rainbow Dash shouts, pumping a hoof in the air upon seeing not just one, but two columns of fire erupt in the distance, indicating both targets had been severely damaged, if not destroyed. In addition to serving as recon for Fuso, she and Applejack operate the rear-mounted starboard twin-barreled 5-inch dual-purpose gun, along with several silent Japanese SNLF unicorns. Applejack looks over at her friend with the distinctive rainbow-mane. "Ah'm glad ya're excited and all, but Ah think it's a bit too early for celebrating," The orange earth pony says, eyeing the sudden pops of lights as the leading enemy ships begin to return fire. 10:45 PM Near the Carolean fort… "FORWARD SOLDIERS OF EQUESTRIA! STRIKE NOW! STRIKE FOR HOME AND KIN!"Luna shouts, wearing armor she had not warn in millennia. A sword is held by her magic, the tip pointing towards the gaping hole in the wooden wall. Carolean archers fire arrows from the parapet, but the crude arrows are not designed to penetrate arrow and so bounce off the golden armor of the charging soldiers. Pony archers return fire with deadly-accurate crossbows. Caroleans fall from the wall, and their archers are virtually wiped out by the time the leading edges of pony soldiers reach the breach. In the sky, Luna's bat-winged ponies of her elite Night Guard engage less skilled but more numerous Carolean fliers. Now bleary-eyed Caroleans charge to meet the ponies. Luna thrusts her sword straight through the heart (if there is one in these creatures) and yanks it out before cleaving the skull of a second in two. "ONWARD!" She shouts, parrying the scimitar of a third. After ducking below a powerful swing aimed at her neck, Luna thrusts her sword through the chest and runs the Carolean through from below, the tip of the sword briefly poking out of his shoulder before being withdrawn, allowing the lifeless body to tumble backwards. Nearby, other Caroleans fall to the superior armor and weapons of the pony soldiers. An earth pony throws her spear straight into the throat of a mace-wielding Carolean, then turns around and kicks both rear hooves straight into the throat of a second, crushing his windpipe. A pegasi thrusts his sword into the back of a foe, saving a fellow pony who is wounded, whom is then quickly carried to the rear. A unicorn uses her magic to throw hails of debris at a trio of distracted, low-flying Caroleans. In the sky, Night Shade crushes the skull of a sword-Carolean with his flanged mace. Lifting it up, the Night Guard hears yet another satisfying squish as he brains another winged foe. Another Night Guard lowers his long spear and charges through the air, impaling several stunned Caroleans before dropping the spear and drawing a war-ax. Despite the overall advantage, the ponies do take some losses. An exhausted earth pony collapses to the ground as a spear enters his mouth. An overwhelmed Night Guard bat-pony succumbs to his many injuries as he is bludgeoned to death by a crowd of clubs and axes. The female unicorn doesn't see the broken, jagged sword as she continues to throw debris at any enemy fliers within range. Before going limp, the last thing on her face is a look of shock as the Carolean that had just killed her withdraws his now-crimson blade and kicks the dying pony away with contempt. The emergence of a sword between his eyes, however, avenges the soldier. Luna's cerulean eyes glitter with the fog of war, adrenaline rushing through her system as she leaps forward, crushing the head of a horned Carolean with her hoofs. Blood drips from her sword, already having several shallow notches present. Slowly but surely the pony fighters push their way into the fort, walking by some bodies of their comrades, but mostly the ones of fallen Caroleans. "THAT'S IT! ONWARD BRAVE PONIES! CHARGE!" Luna shouts, slicing the head off of a regular Carolean and impaling a spear-wielding horned one. More and more Caroleans, asleep and unprepared as a consequence of their seemingly-impregnable position, fall to the hoofs and weapons of vengeful ponies. 10:48 PM Meanwhile back at sea… (Jacob's POV) "FIRE!" I order as yet another ship explodes into a raging fireball. Already eleven other ships are either sinking or burning, depending on the location of the hits my 14-inch guns inflict. Suddenly a hail of return fire as the enemy ships close in hits the bridge. A window shatters from the sheer mass of the fifty-pound iron ball. It passes from another window and splashes into the sea. Aside from a slight cut to my left cheek from a shard of glass, no one on the bridge is hurt. "Captain, I would advise for you to go to the conning tower," Froster says as he rushes upstairs. I reluctantly nod. "Very well. Be careful. I still have command," I say as I rush down. For a brief moment I understand how this must have made Luna feel being inside for so long. At night, with only small window slits for me to see through, I am nearly blind to my surroundings of my battleship, relying on various reports from my heads of departments. I hear Fuji call out. "Sir, we took a hit. Two sailors dead, and another wounded. They were from Ponyville, sir. Also, we have a damaged searchlight and a destroyed 25mm mount. Also, we are now in range for the dual-purpose guns and the secondary battery to fire." I grit my teeth at hearing that I have just lost some sailors. "Open fire! Blasts those fuckers!" The entire ship shudders slightly as twelve 14-inch, seven 6-inch, and four 5-inch guns fire in a single broadside. "Burn to the fucking ground!" I hiss viciously, watching at one ship disappears from a direct hit of my entire main battery. Another ship is dismasted, most of the cannons destroyed or exposed. A third ship explodes from the detonation of its powder magazine, setting the sails of a nearby ship ablaze from its flaming debris. Another hail of counter-fire that simply bounces, and another half-minute before all main guns are reloaded. Meanwhile, the smaller caliber cannons fire independently, savaging several more ships. This time I have a different order for the main battery. "Two turrets to a ship. I want to see three more ships destroyed! FIRE WHEN LOCKED ON!" This time the turret-mounted guns fire in pairs, four shells being launched at three separate ships. 'Make that three funeral pyres,' I darkly remark. "Main guns, fire independently, but make sure that you call out which one you're firing at! Don't want any more rounds being wasted then possible!" I know I should be at least slightly concerned with ammunition consumption, but for now, the utter destruction of an enemy fleet is a much, much more tempting target that is worth a slow stream of shells. Another warship is straddled by two 14-inch rounds. This brief respite is shattered, along with the hull, by a single HE round exploding dead-center, breaking it in two. "That's it! Remember, we are not taking any Goddamn prisoners! And no survivors! We will not allow the enemy any form of information!" Rather dramatically, this order is underscored by the foremost turret sending two AP rounds into the waterline of what appears to be the flagship, quickly sinking it. 'As much as I enjoy having naval superiority, I can't wait to have those ships-of-the-line ready next week. Already we have retro-fitted party cannons as 25-pound cannons. Ten ships based in Los Pegasus are going to be quite a surprise for the next enemy fleet, attack or invasion!' I think to myself, watching the enemy ships try to flee in a disorganized mess. Meanwhile in No. 3 AA Cannon Station… "COME ON! WE GOTTA SHOW WE ARE 20% MORE AWESOME THEN THE OTHER 5-INCHERS!" Dash practically screams, slamming a HE round into the right gun breech, Applejack doing the same with the left gun. The Japanese ponies operate the cannon, training on another target. "Dash, calm down," Applejack advises her friend. Dash was fired-up ever since the two dead were identified. The town's annoying yet endearing pegasus Derpy Hooves, and a unicorn that had recently moved to Ponyville three weeks before Jacob and his crew had arrived, a quiet stallion named Fudge Dream. "CALM?! HOW CAN YOU BE CALM WHEN ONE OF OUR FRIENDS JUST DIED!" Rainbow Dash screams back over the roar of the twin gun firing, grabbing another shell. She tries to fight back tears like the ones she had when Tank had to hibernate. Applejack shoots her a glance of worry as they both close the breech for the gun. Applejack yelling "Clear!", before turning back to her adventurous friend. "Ah know ya're hurting Dash. But yelling and screaming won't make her come back." The pegasus refuses to look at her friend as she replies. "Maybe it won't. But is sure as hay gonna be a start!" 11:11 PM (Jacob's POV) I watch with grim satisfaction as the last warship takes a full broadside of six out of twelve 14-inch AP rounds before turning turtle. I listen as Fuji lists the status of our ammunition. Three-quarters armor-piercing rounds and slightly less than half of our high-explosive rounds for the both main battery and secondary battery are left. Full load of 25mm rounds, and only a sixth of our 5-inch rounds expended. Structurally intact, with only some shattered windows, a broken boat that hadn't been secured, some large dents, and a destroyed twin 25mm gun mount. Five ponies injured, and three dead. Seamen O'Shea was at trying to secure the now-destroyed boat when he was hit. The ship doctor, Dr. Hooves, told me he hadn't felt a thing as the iron ball passed through his chest, crushing his heart and lungs. I know that this naval battle is a solid victory for Equestria, but for me, it feels like a small defeat as well. I take the lives of my men, and now stallions and mares, very seriously. Every death feels like a sucker punch to my gut. 'When I return to Canterlot, I will ask the princesses to help build a memorial for ALL my crew, as well as a tomb for all who wish for their bodies to be so entombed.' The vow makes me feel slightly better as I slowly climb to the bridge. Froster notes my sad look but is loyal enough to give me space. Once more I detach myself from my emotions as my duty as captain of the USS Fuso demands. "Helm, bring us back to shore. Have our bow point to the mouth of the river and leave enough room to maneuver into it. As the ship moves at a slower speed, leaving the ruined fleet of thirty Carolean warships, I allow myself one personal thought. 'I hope your battle is going as well for you as this has gone.' 11:45 PM Inside 'Fort Carolean'… Only a few hundred raiders are left. They slowly start to back into a circle, prepared to sell their lives dearly. "THIS IS IT! CRUSH THEM! ONCE THE LAST OF THESE MONSTEROUS ARE DEAD, WE SHALL HAVE FULLY AVENAGED THOSE CRUELY SLAIN OF PONYVILLE!" An exhausted but eager Luna urges on. The alicorn has been fighting non-stop, a fire in her that has not been around in a long time. She is once again a warrior, defending her home, friends, and family! With a mighty yell, the midnight-blue alicorn uses her magic to completely bisect a monstrous grounded winged Carolean. Then, using the momentum it still has, Luna buries her sword all the way to the hilt in the side of another, who had been poised to stab an unsuspecting pony. The earth pony soldier turns around and nods his head in thanks for the princess of the night saving his life. As a horned foe charges with extended claws, ready to rip his flesh from his bone, a flash of black armor slams into the head of the Carolean, the strength of the hoof-strike breaking his neck. As Night Shade ascends back into the air, another member of the Night Guard hurls her spear into the back of the head of a surviving archer, aiming to the sky. The spear goes through the skull and into the ground, keeping the corpse upright. Behind the ponies, the bodies of thousands of Caroleans litter the ground, at the cost of a hundred dead ponies and almost twice that non-fatally wounded, be it minor or major. While roughly eighty-eight soldiers and half of the fifty-strong crew of the fifth transport made it ashore, the vast majority of the others on the destroyed transport were dead, their bodies unrecoverable. With yet another shout of encouragement, the ponies slam into the circle, breaking the defense and overwhelming the hated enemy. Another twenty ponies are injured and ten killed, but it is worth it. The space widens as Luna faces down the final trio of warriors, each standing at six-feet and wielding massive two-handed swords. The first roars and charges at the stone-faced princess, sword ready for an overhead strike. A strike that is never delivered, as Luna zips forward and slices open his stomach, causing massive bleeding from the mortal wound. As the Carolean collapses to his knees, blood staining the dead, burnt grass and earth, Luna stares down the other two. "HAVE AT THEE!" She cries in her Royal Canterlot Voice, flapping her wings to propel her forward. The two Caroleans raise their swords as well charging. Luna dodges the first strike and slices open the throat of the lead raider, cutting halfway through the neck before being withdrawn. Instantly Luna parries the strike of the second one. For the next few minutes the two traded blows the others block, dancing and dodging. Luna would feint to the left, while her opponent jinxed to the right. The crowd of victorious ponies watch silently, their expressions cheering on the warrior princess. Finally Luna delivers a hit. A long, shallow cut to the back oozes blood. She dodges the counterblow and delivers a hoof-kick to the jaw, breaking several tusked teeth. Stunned, the Carolean staggers backwards, his guard lowered just briefly. That time is more than enough for the princess of the night. With a heave, Luna uses her magic to throw the sword super fast, drilling straight through the skull and stopping only once it is embed in the wooden wall behind him. The corpse stands up for a moment, twitching slightly in testament to its former strength before thudding to its knees and then forward, a stunned look over its lifeless face. Once again using her alicorn magic to retrieve her sword, Luna wipes most of the blood off using the fur of her fallen foe. Then she raises it in the air, hovering above the body at the center of the circle. Her soldiers cheer, elation flooding their weary systems. The taste of victory feels pleasant, being dulled only slightly by the sour taste left by their fallen comrades who had fought bravely. "VICTORY!" Luna cries triumphantly. "WE HAVE VICTORY! THE NIGHT IS ONE!" She lets the cheers of joy continue for the next five minutes, basking in the admiration she sees her ponies and Night Guard directing to her. She closes her eyes briefly, savoring the moment she has longed for. Then Luna reluctantly opens her cerulean eyes and gazes down, a hoof raised for silence, which is quickly gained. "My brave soldiers, you have fought with dignity and honor. Ponyville has been avenged completely. But now, we must return. You all know that it is not the time just yet to control this area, not while we are forced to send soldiers to bolster the siege in Vanhoover. So let's gather our dead and return to the boats. They shall be buried with the highest honor once we return to Canterlot. As I am sure Captain Jacob Holman will say, GOD BLESS THE ARMY!" "GOD BLESS THE ARMY!" After the reply dies down, the crowd breaks up into smaller groups, gathering bodies and taking as much weapons as can be gathered, friend and foe. Luna sheathes her sword and looks at Night Shade. "Have the transports signaled if Jacob has returned yet?" She asks, concerned for her friend, despite the royal-blue colored alicorn's assurance of his armor holding. The bat-pony nods. "Yes, Your Majesty. He has signaled that all enemy warships are sunk and is ready to move out when you are," He answers, noticing her smile but not commenting. He then adds a sadder piece of news. "He lost three sailors, however. One of them was the unicorn who played the fiddle last night, O'Shea. He reports that until we arrive at Canterlot, his executive officer, Froster, is in charge. I think, Princess Luna, that the captain wishes to be alone for now and mourn his losses. After all, from what I heard talking to some of his Marines, that he cares for every single member of his crew," He finishes reporting. Luna's smile of relief fades to a small frown, sadness and concern in her eyes. "Very well. If anyone needs me, I will be aboard the lead transport. Inform the others that we must be in the boats within an hour." With that, the alicorn flies toward the beach, her thoughts clouded with concern for both her friend, and for what Cluny will do next. April 29th, 1942 6:00 PM Aboard USS Fuso… (Jacob's POV) As Celestia's sun replaces Luna's moon, and the sky is illuminated in a glorious sunrise, fitting for our first true victorious offensive operation against the enemy, I stare at the medium-sized and nearly-empty bottle and the small glass sitting next to it on my desk. I immediately had all stocks of liquor locked up, and now that there is a delicious alternative in the form of apple cider, it hadn't been touched. Until know it is. I pour the final drops of Japanese sake rice wine. I throw my head back and drink the entire glass in a single gulp. I gently place the glass on my desk, leaning back in my chair. All through the night, I had been drinking, something I hadn't done since the night of my brother's death. While I had lost some Marines and SNLF men rescuing Twilight and her friends, and the rest of Ponyville, I had known some might die. I hadn't expected to lose a single sailor to a cannonball, let alone three. In a way, it is as if God is reminding me that I have been lucky last time when fighting off those warships. 'Never again will I take ANYTHING for granted,' My mind vows sluggishly. I groan as I stand up and trot to my bed, not able to walk in a straight line. Shit. I flop down onto my cabin as I feel the warship dock. "Great, just fuckin great. I'm goin ta have a hangover later," I slur, turning to my side in an attempt to hide from the light pouring through my porthole. A knock at my door gains a groan from me. "Who is it?" I mutter, wanting to sleep the sake off. Luna walks in slowly, her eyes widening in concern at my state and at the sight of the empty bottle and glass. "Jacob, please tell me you only drank one bottle," She pleads. I nod slowly, trying to not become dizzy. "Just one drink. Had ta deal with ma grief. I'll be fine by tomorrow." With that I close my eyes before suddenly feeling the tingling sensation of magic surrounding my body. "I am going to have to be keeping an eye on you today, you know?" My friend says, slightly reproachfully. I re-open my eyes to see her teleport us into the same room I had stayed in on my first night in Equestria. She helps me into the nice, clean bed. "I'll be stopping by every hour or so. If you need anything, just call for me or my sister or one of the servants. Sleep well, Jacob," Luna says with a small smile. I watch her depart and before I fall asleep, I think to myself one last though. 'Jacob, you really are lucky to have such a wonderful person as a friend.' 7:00 PM Outside Vanhoover… With a hiss, Gu'klas paces his command post that has been established on land. With a fresh load of eighty thousand warriors, and thirty cannon-armed ships, with his 'special' ship to serve as his flag ship for naval operation in the North Luna Ocean, he had begun besieging the city his master had ordered him to. Catapults had been made to launch stones coated in oil which would be lit just before launch. A scout he had ordered to secretly observe the surviving raiders had just returned, informing him of the utter destruction left behind. 'Well, at least the master won't blame me. I followed his order to the letter. Maybe this new fleet will be enough. Regardless, next week will have much blood in the water. And I shall launch a major attack soon. Surely the enemy can't hold out on two massive attacks!' At this, the Carolean commander starts to laugh, relishing the thoughts of coming bloodshed. Now it is the master's turn to reply in this deadly game.