Sweetie Belle leapt out of a rough looking bed, she looked around to see the plain barracks room she stayed in last night.
She headed to the bathroom and after quite brush of her of her fangs she headed out to face the day. Spinneret frowned “How did you sleep?”
Sweetie Belle smiled “Like a foal, the bed was not so bad.”
Spinneret groaned “Those beds do a number on my back, it take me hours to get to sleep.”
Sweetie Belle shrugged “My adopted parents didn’t exactly care about fancy beds and besides our exoskeleton is far tougher than pony hide. Besides I will be marching with our soldiers soon, I believe we should attack now while the fire is hot.”
Spinneret frowned “Many of our troops aren’t trained with the new tactics yet, are your sure about this.”
Sweetie Belle nodded “We need to strike at the weaker points in her defenses, I am no commander but if we strike where she is weak we can whittle away her army bit by bit.”
Spinneret smiled “You’re smart, I think this may just work. I know of several of her smaller outposts. I’ll give you a map and you pick one.”
Sweetie Belle shook her head “Large forces require large amounts of resources, we will strike each location with small elite forces. Do as much damage as we can before they fully react to our attack.”
Spinneret blinked “Are you sure you have not had any combat experience, you are taking like a seasoned general?”
Sweetie Belle shrugged “It’s just common sense, attack where they are weak. Avoid strongly defended positions, we can‘t match them in numbers.”
Spinneret grinned “Sounds like a plan, let’s put it into action.” Sweetie Belle entered the barracks quarters with Spinneret “We are moving out today.”
Soon they were leaning over a map with several squad captains beside them, Sweetie Belle saw the representation of enemy troops. She pointed at several bases with only a single contingent stationed there “They are weakly defended at these outposts, we need to wipe out their forces in each of these outposts simultaneously. That brings up to the next point of the plan, they wills end forces to investigate the attacks once the messages stop coming, so we set a trap. We lay charges in the outposts and have them on a thirty second detonation that will be activated by a pressure plate so that all investigative forces will be decimated by the explosion.”
The Squad Captains looked a each other and then back to her “This sounds like a very simple but effective plan. It will take us a couple of days to get the charges from the miners but we can do it.”
Sweetie Belle smiled “Well then let’s get to work. Now I have to decide which squad I am going to join for the skirmish.”
Spinneret shook her head “This is a simple mission, you shouldn’t risk yourself on the front lines.”
Sweetie Belle growled “If I am to assist you I need to understand how our army fights! Their strengths and their weaknesses, I have never seen them in a real fight! That little skirmish at the front of the city doesn't count, I was too focused on eliminating the threat there so I need to really how they actually fight.”
Spinneret sighed “That is true but I don’t want you to be in danger. This is war, death happens and I don’t want you to be another casualty.”
Sweetie Belle frowned “I am a lot tougher than you think, I can handle myself quite well. Besides if this fails the we’re all dead anyway, they need to know I have as much stake in this as they do. To many I am an outsider, they need to know that I am fighting with them.”
Spinneret grimaced “There has to be another way, one that doesn’t put you at risk.”
Sweetie Belle frowned “There are none that can be done quickly, I have reignited hope in them but they need a victory to cement that hope. They need to believe they can win this war.”
Spinneret slumped “I have never been good at commanding forces, you would make a better Queen than I would. I have been failing as a Queen lately.”
Sweetie Belle hugged her mother “Mum, you are being too hard on yourself. No-one is prepared for such a war as this. Your enemy has been pushing you hard, I just granted you enough of a reprieve to come up with a plan of attack.” She then frowned as she turned to the squad captains “You should got and get prepared for the attack. I need to speak with my mum.” The guards nodded politely as they left.
Spinneret frowned “Don’t they need your guidance?”
Sweetie Belle shook her head “You come first, you are family and the pressure to succeed clearly weighs on you way too much. Have you ever tried to rely on others, take a pupil to assist you perhaps.”
Spinneret shook her head “A queen must stand on her own, she must serve her citizens.”
Sweetie Belle shook her head “That’s why I will never be a Queen because I rely on others other than myself.I have lived in Equestria for so long. Now let’s go and get some Ice-cream, I’ve had enough of serious conversations for the day.” Spinneret gave her daughter a weak smile as they left the barracks.