The low grumbling of something rolling filled the field.
The ponies on the front lines didn’t know what was going on - the noise was entirely foreign to them. An officer called for a scout, sending a pegasus forth into the thick fog covering the field. There was a sharp CRACK, and then silence.
The ponies immediately recognised and identified the sound as that of human weaponry, and the battle alarm was sounded. Armoured ponies rushed to the front lines, carrying special crossbows with tips covered in conversion potion. They waited for the soldiers to appear.
A large black shape appeared in the distance, growing clearer in the fog. The ponies squinted. What was that? Whatever it was, it was getting closer. While they watched, the ground began to rumble, and the sound of machinery was drawn closer to them.
A large, grey machine burst forth from the fog. It was wider than it was tall, and looked like a large rectangle with a smaller one on top. A short tube stuck out of the upper section. A black cap covering a human head stuck out from the top.
The human shouted something, before dipping back inside the machine. Below the short tube, a smaller one moved slightly. Without any warning, it started to spit fire.
The Royal Guards dived for cover, trying to shield themselves from the hail of lead being thrown at them. A couple didn’t get down in time, the bullets instantly penetrating their soft golden armour like a hot knife through butter. A couple of the conscripts lost their nerve, turning to run. Those that did were instantly ripped to shreds.
The officers in the crowd attempted to rally their troops. “Hold steady!” One shouted, calming the nearby ponies, “Fire back!”
One of the guards on the line cautiously peeked over the sandbag barrier, bringing his weapon up. The guard next to him looked up. “Are you crazy?!” He shouted over the deafening noise. The pony’s helmet was suddenly knocked off by an unseen force, and the pony dived behind the barrier.
Slowly and cautiously this time, he again moved his head above the barrier, trying to ascertain the position of the enemy machine that was wreaking so much havoc. Some movement caught his eye, causing him to turn his head slightly.
To his horror, another large, black shape was drawing closer in the fog, stopping in line with the first one. It opened fire, adding to the noise and doubling the number of lethal projectiles. A couple of them impacted near him, causing him to dive down once more.
The pony caught sight of his helmet lying in the dirt next to him, perfectly shined except for a clean hole going straight through the top. In his panic and adrenaline, an idea occurred to him. Picking it up, he used his magic to maneuver the armour above the top of the barrier. The hours of polishing had paid off - he could now perfectly see the enemy forces. And there were dozens of the machines.
He turned to the pony next to him. “There are more of them!” He shouted in horror. The guard wasn’t listening. His eyes were tightly shut, his ears flattened against his head to protect him from the cacophony of noise.
The pony looked back into his improvised mirror, flinching as another hole was torn clean through it. Focusing on one of the machines, he saw the smaller section atop the machine beginning to turn towards him. The small tube sticking out of it slowly started to pitch down, pointing toward him. There was a bright flash, followed by a resounding boom. Then everything went dark.
January 29, 1940
London, England
“The barrier is halfway across Great Britain now, sir. According to our best estimates, it will be overtop London in just two weeks. I know we have tens of thousands of Irish refugees in the nation, but we need to seriously start to consider evacuation, sir.”
Churchill let out a long, loud sigh before speaking. “I guess we can’t delay the issue any longer, can we?” He asked. “Very well. I’ll speak to my ministers about it.” He sighed. “I never like running from a fight, but I guess I don’t have a real choice here.”
“Yes, sir. On the French front, the German SS divisions and French infantry have dealt massive casualties against the Equestrians. They think that they’ll be at the coast within two days. They simply can’t stand up to the German armour.”
“And our own forces?”
“Our armour and infantry divisions have linked up with the German panzer divisions. That would be 220 German and 340 British tanks on the front, sir.”
“Good.” Churchill nodded. “How about the Yanks? What are they up to?”
“Well, they’re mainly focused on their own defence at the moment. Their army is small, but their recruiting levels have been shooting through the roof, sir. If we manage to break the barrier, they’ll be in on the invasion. Speaking of which, the planners have started to plan the invasion, sir. We’ll need reconnaissance flights of the island, but they’ve started to build a basic template.”
“What have they got so far?”
“Well, basically, a five pronged attack from either side of the island - three from the east, and two from the west.”
“Right.” Churchill sighed once more. “I almost feel sorry for these ponies. Almost. Anything else?”
“No sir.”
“Well, alright then. Oh, and John?”
“Sir?”
“Send the Germans my regards.”
“Yes, sir.” With a quick salute, he about faced and left the office.
January 31, 1940
Fort Lewis, Washington
“Let’s go, Avery!” The Lieutenant yelled as the soldier-in-training raced across the sand. Coming to a six foot wall, he grabbed the top and vaulted over.
“You think you can stand up in battle? Are you fast? Can you can outrun a pegasus?”
Another soldier ran beside him, desperately trying to overtake him. Together, they came to a huge vertical net. Grabbing the ropes, they started to climb to the top.
“Let’s GO! The pair behind you is catching up! You can’t let that happen!”
Putting his leg over the top of the net wall, he let gravity do most of the work as he climbed down. Losing his grip, slipped, falling the last two meters.
“Pick yourself up!” The Lieutenant screamed as Avery scrambled to his feet. Coming to low barbed wire, he got onto the ground and started to crawl under it, avoiding the barbs above him. Coming to a mud filled ditch, he turning perpendicular to it and rolled across. Crossing under the last of the wire, he sprinted for the finish.
He crossed it, breathing heavily as he abruptly stopped in the sand. The rest of his company crossed the line in their pairs, all panting and exhausted.
“Form up!” Lieutenant Roberts called. The platoon scrambled into three rows, hands behind their back at the position of ease.
“Congratulations, first platoon, on breaking the record! You now have the WORST time in the entire REGIMENT!” Roberts called out to the men. “For this achievement, I am rewarding you with fifty pushups! Get on the ground!”
The platoon dropped to the ground, moving up and down at the officer’s call. “Sarcastic bastard,” one of the men muttered.
“What was that?” The Lieutenant was suddenly leaning over him. “What did you just say?”
“Nothing, sir!” The man yelled out.
“Good,” Roberts nodded and stood up. “Thanks to Private Rosenshine, you’re doing one hundred pushups instead of fifty! Starting now!”
Once complete, the troops fell back into ranks. For a few moments, Lieutenant Roberts merely observed the unit.
“Go back to your barracks and change out of your PT gear! You have three minutes! Go!”
“Yes sir!” The men turned and sprinted toward their quarters, Avery included. “Avery! On me!” The lieutenant shouted. The private turned toward the officer. “You’re fucked now,” one of the other men muttered. Another wished him luck.
Moving to the Lieutenant, Avery tried to keep the apprehension off of his face. “Sir?” He asked. What had he done wrong now?”
“Private, you’ve done very well these last few weeks, and it’s abundantly clear that you have leadership ability. Captain Markson has seen fit to promote you. Congratulations, Sergeant Avery. You’ll be taking over First Squad.”
Dumbfounded, the newly minted Sergeant shook his officer’s hand. Roberts handed him his badges. “I want these sewn on by tomorrow. Clear?” He asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Avery thought he could see the barest hint of a smile on his face. “You have two minutes to change out of PT, Sergeant.”
“Yes sir!” He shouted. Turning, he sprinted toward his barracks, a small smile appearing on his face.
February 1, 1940
USS North Carolina
Two miles west of the Barrier
Captain Daniel Carrick observed the glistening purple barrier through his binoculars as his ship turned its guns toward the barrier. Like the HMS Hood had attempted last year, they were attempting a bombardment. Unlike the Hood, however, they had taken steps to ensure that pegasi would not capture the ship.
With them were eight other US Navy battleships, all bombarding the barrier and ready to provide air defences. Most important, however, was the USS Enterprise, an aircraft carrier capable of launching a multitude of F4F fighter aircraft. The planes would intercept the ponies at long ranges, holding them back before they could ever get close.
Another ship a few hundred meters from them, the USS Colorado, fired the first shot, followed quickly by the South Dakota. As the other battleships opened fire, the Captain picked up his radio. “Fire control. Fire”. One of the North Carolina’s 16 inch gun fired a shell.
The eight ships sent an awesome amount of firepower hurtling toward the barrier, explosions going off on the surface of it. After about ten minutes, as expected, a mass of pegasi left the barrier, headed straight toward them.
Carrick watched silently as dozens of navy F4F Wildcat fighters headed toward two hundred or so ponies. The planes opened up with their guns, downing many. It was obvious that the pegasi were not expecting such a quick response, and many of them couldn’t react fast enough. As a few broke free of the dogfight, the Captain raised the radio to his mouth.
“Machine guns open up. Pick your targets carefully.”
The machine guns mounted on the sides of his ship opened up, taking care of the remaining assaulters. Watching as their comrades took heavy casualties, the remainder of the ponies turned tail and fled back toward the barrier.
A few miles south of where the bombardment was taking place, near the Lesser Antilles island chain, a substantial fleet made its way north toward the Equestrian barrier. The Admiral in charge looked ahead at the large purple object already visible over the horizon. The man smiled wryly. The Imperial Japanese Navy was joining the war.
Yay that you are writing again.
Well the ponies are getting their forces slaughtered, and now the IJN is coming to play!!!.
Here come the Yamoto and Musashi... Hopefully.
Ponies are going to get wiped of the face of the Earth...
A large purple object? Either that one of those conversion zepps, or the Japanese came up with something nasty to combat the ponies with.
2168248 That's actually the barrier he is seeing.
YAY! New chaptur!
Now it gets interesting.
Princess of the Sun, meet the Empire of the Rising Sun!
2168263 Yeah, just realized a second ago that I'd misread that.
BANZAI!!!
Shits about to hit the fan
2168425 天皇陛下萬歲!!! Tenno Heika Banzai!!!
25andfly.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/impossible.jpg?w=600
2168528
Wait... the Allies and the Axis are working together! Mind fuck.
2168505 Hasn't it already?
2168617 well yes, but this time it's the shit is the size of a meteor.
2168279
I can see the headlines now
Author, if you don't reference the irony at all, you will lose my respect.
By the way, I have a question about two countries (though they may have appeared earlier)
1. What is the largest army in the world doing right now. I understand they've just purged much of their command but surely Stalin has a trick up his sleeves.
2. What will the country at war with Japan since '37 and in the middle of a fragile cease-fire with its own people do. Will China just go ahead and forgive Japan for the massacres, rapes, etc. and join?
I spotted one problem. P-40s were never used by the USN.
I just checked and at this specific time, the Brewster F2A Buffalo is being used (though it's proving a disappointment)
At this time, the Wildcat was completed but had yet to be introduced
A prototype Corsair first took flight in May
The Dauntless also came about around the same time
2168931
don't forget about the F4F Wildcat that was the primary carrier fighter
2168938
I didn't, I did mention Wildcats in my other post
2168980
Oh? ok
bing.com/images/search?q=so+it+begins+meme&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=22633644C3A40269B26A3D8A85D52ED1347FAEB2&selectedIndex=45
The first thing that came to mind when the Ponies began fighting the German armor.
2169547 I like this I like this a lot.
Don't forget that both the Australians and the New Zealanders would be in the war against Equestria if the UK is.
2170072 ANZAC may or may not be incorporated.
We haven't even written in Canadian troops yet, but we might include them. I don't know.
I think the main thing i noticed about this is the lack of overwhelming pony attacks.
Mostly because of three reasons right here.
1 Celestia showed her hand...er...hoof, to early. So instead of having hundreds of new foals at her beck and call for the war, she only got the ponies she started off with.
2. No Conversion Bureaus. With no buildings that can act as a headquarters and to throw chaos everywhere when they do attack, there is only a single point of movement coming from the ponies. Equestria itself, sadly this does not help at all.
3. Having come into the middle of a war. Where everyone's war machines and productivity is at its highest, this is the most absolute idiotic move she has ever done.
I don't know how you did it, but you made me support the Nazis over Celestia and Luna. Quite a feat, if I may say so. Freakin' xenophobic Celestia and her "goodwill" and "they're just misguided" crap. I know we have many flaws, but we don't need you to "save" us by turning us into something we're not. Asshole.
Sherman: ARMORED PONIES ATTCKING OUT ARMOR... GOOD LUCK.
Thanks a lot. Company of Heroes got installed again.
JAPANESE NAVY YYEEEESSSS
Lol, I guess since ponies are almost always way overpowered, in traditional TCB, to the point humans would be lucky to win when the battle is 3 on 1 pony.I guess that means it can go in the opposite direction, especially since it is the most likely.
Ponies don't train for war, seeing as Celestia is revolted by war and likely just though the blood shed part of war was a human thing. They are stupid and arrogant, but then again the equestrian champions (captains of of the royal guard and other's that warrant names) haven't been revealed yet. Luna also has her mad sci-magic? We don't know if the dragon and other races stand with Celestia. The elements of harmony haven't been revealed. Redeemed discord? Pegasi haven't used their weather manipulation. Finally, Celestia herself hasn't made an attack.
I am rooting for the humans, but it is still to earlier to be celebrating. Take it from scar, "even you might be caught unaware!" (hehe Lion King quote )
2170669
Don't forget that the ponies shields are VERY weak. Next, for Dragons we truly can't get how strong they really are, Next, Pegasi would also be hammered by their own weather changes, and lastly, 1D4chan's Humanity posts will cement how screwed they are!!!
2170669 if we made this battles on a truly realistic way the ponies would always lose and so the story would be boring.
2170669
Yeah, the ponies need to be buffed up to keep the story going. I'm thinking magic. Powerful, powerful magic.
I would love to see the shield fall at some point and an invasion get underway. With ponies on their last legs, the USSR invades German occupied Poland setting off WWII some more. Meanwhile, some occupied ponies actually start to respect the humans and start trying to understand what's wrong with the new foals.
What are the Mane 6 up to?
2171569 2171787 Who said these stories have to be long. I think that's why their are so few anti-bureau stories. It's almost expected for these to be really long epics (it's just the kinda story it is, like telling the Count of Monte Cristo in 2 hours feels wrong), and anything shorter would feel like its wasn given up on.
This would still be a good story if it was ending soon. Also, you don't need no OPed magic to crush the humans, all the ponies have to do is do a calvery charge to scatter the humans, and by calvery I mean one of the goddesses or better discord shows up and starts wrecking the ships. This would force the ships to retreat and possibly make them rethink their traditional advance they had planed for taking Equestria.
The upcoming bombardment could even destroy the shield first before Celestia uses her 1-2 punch to make the humans backoff. The barrier is after all rushing this story far more than the navy ships are, since it's about to start chewing into the European superpowers. With the barrier down but the fleet scattered, Humans would be not be able to directly crush the ponies right away, but Celestia wouldn't be able to sit back and let her barrier do all the work.
This would also allow for other types of attacks, like spying, assassination, sabotage, and small scale strikes on the main land. As it is, everyone will instantly know that if the navy fails, the A-bomb the Americans are making is the last hope. I also don't like that the only reason there is fighting at all is cause Celestia is eager to send her soldiers in before the shield has taken out the infrastructure and defense. Let's hope she doesn't figure out that most nations don't have the manpower to fight her off like these nations do.
2171428 This is abit wrong in it's assumptions. First, we can't judge how strong dragons are, because they haven't been used yet. Secondly, their would be a huge benefit to dragon's, like swarming the P-40s, once the fighters are down, the smaller and more maneuverable pegasi can gets close enough to take the ships. Lastly, Pegasi would not be hindered by their own storms, they could right off the bat generate storms that would cripple most logistics.
Logistic's is the back bone of any war. Most warfare is in logistics, it appears in ever soldier's ration and bullet. It turns the tide with every tank rolling over the hill to save the day. Just because they aren't using it directly in battle, doesn't mean it wouldn't be incredibly useful.
2172602 -this isn't the 18th century, cavalry is useless, since WWI most countrys no longer use "Charge" tatics because they are only effective when the attacker outnumbers the defender, and even when they do it comes with a lot of damage.
- As for the "celestia, luna and discord kill everything" again, this not some sort of line warfare where 2 armies meet, fight and lose/win, this is total war that goes from europe to the US, even if those 3 could destroy 1 fleet at 1 point or even 3 fleets, the rest of the front would fall, 3 people, no matter how powerfull they are, are not enouth to change an entire war.
-And no, even if celestia push the barrier foward we could simply relocate the industry to some other place (like the soviets did during the nazi invasion)
-IDK how many ponies equestria has but I don't think it reaches tens of millions, so any country that could field about 1 million troops would be more powerfull then equestria, and let's not forget, most countrys would have superior technology (like machineguns and AA wich would make and earth ponies and pegasi useless)
2172602
First of all their's the tried and proven art of shooting enemies in the eyes. Next, The Pegasi would have to be able to travel far distances to get to any logistical areas. Third, ponies and adaptation don't exactly mix, and lastly, Kamikaze attacks would put any mass pony charges to their death. Plus most of the 'tactics' the ponies use are just rushing the enemy, and against the Soviets. .. perhaps pony meat will solve their minor hunger problems!
So now the ponies are up against the German Panzer divisions, the US Navy, and the IJN. They are about to get their flanks handed to them.
Oh, and, longer chapters?
2174292 And not just any division, the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.
2172890 Are you seriously suggesting the p-40s all... shoot the dragons in the eyes? You are confusing a dogfighter with a turret, as it would be blood impossible for them to live up to that standard for accuracy. It would be far more practical to put a heavier plane in the air capable of loading a heavy armor piercing rounds.
The logistics would be possible, since the barrier is already on england. This mean the english factories are already within pegasi flight distance. Also, unlike traditional plane ponies can land, and take off anywhere (except on water). No runway needed.
Traditional pony tactics are not throw soldiers at it, and there is nothing to say they can't adapt. The could easily learn from newfoals, or the tactics the enemy is employing.
2172678 The calvery charge I am thinking of is the general idea of using your inability to be countered easily to swarm an enemy. What I was NOT talking about was that the ponies ride in on frickin horses to charge the ships on the sea.
I was also not suggesting the pony 'gods' be used that way. If I thought they were unstoppable I would have said they march their butts to destroy the factories. What I said was that the pony 'gods' if Equestria was about to be invaded could show their hand early to destroy the fleet about to invade. This would give Equestria more time to counter-attack. Also, a dozen ships maybe easy to replace, the trained crews aboard are less so, in addition to making it seem like invading Equestria is certain death. (I said seem, read it, and stop taking my words out of context!)
There is a reason during World War 2 factories were prime targets. Any quickly constructed factory will not have the quality or out put of the normal industry based in your country. This doesn't even mention they also lose all the steel and fuel in the country. It will be hard enough relocating the people.
Also, while I agree, ponies taking on the whole world seems as stupid as when nazi's tried it. You are also forgetting that they use and unusual tactic to make up for that. Just because newfoals can not attack, does not mean they can not convert the civilian population while the soldiers attack the country's military. You are under the impression that the Equestrian's are inferior for not being being able to use human weapons. That is as stupid and wrong as Celestia assuming Humans are inferior, because they can't use pony abilities.
Arg, you two made me take this stuff too seriously.
2175687
First of all I mean rockets and Kamikaze attacks, they would be able to take out dragons, next their pegasi would end up just like the Germans in the English air battles, because a radar signal could be able to identify them, due to their armor. Next, Humanity has the numbers and the resources, Equestria would lose more then it would gain if scorched earth tactics are used. Lastly, Humanity would field new equipment to counter the ponies. Plus if the barrier was to fall, the ponies would be dead, depending on the year. Plus, ponies would also likely lose on the psychological side too, after all seeing your fellow troops maimed and killed is much more effective then ponification, because for ponification, they are technically dead men walking, so to speak, so killing them would be a mercy killing.
2176093 I'll admit that a human kamikaze attack would work, but if it comes to soldiers suiciding their way to victory I will count it a loss still. But the rocket thing would treat rocket launchers like a ship's anti-air flack gun, and if the dragon is close enough to the ship to be unable to dodge rockets, they might as well use the flack guns on the ship.
The picking them up on radar would also not work, unless they were grouped close together. The radar detection in world war 2 was still very new, and was used mostly as ground based stations to know where to send fighters to intercept enemy bombers. The ship are already using the radar to send their interceptors (P-40s) to counter the pegasi. I doubt you are talking about radar-guided rockets or something modern as that.
To your lastlys:
1.You can't just give humans anti-pony weapons to make them win, otherwise you might as well 'deux ex machina' the ending.
2.If the barrier falls the ponies wouldn't die, even if its something like winter, since they have winter in Equestria too.
3.If such a thing as seeing the men around you die in mass really made humans more eager to take risks they would not have any soldier suffering from PTSD at all.
2176307
First of all I mean the ones planes would launch, next Radar would somewhat work, if the ponies are wearing armor. Next, they don't need to field anti pony weaponry, they already have designs that could work. And I mean that certain countries would have all of their weapon programs on overtime, and America was very creative in how many ways you could launch a attack. And lastly, WWI area weapons could be used.
2176307 I know how the ponies could get PTSD, it has to do with the words "Tenno Heika, Banzai!"....
2176356 Did they mount rockets on WW2 planes? I'm pretty sure the planes at the time wear still wood and cloth, a rocket would light both of those on fire, even if they had plane mounted rocket launchers at the time.
They already are adapting all their common military hardware to use against ponies. Are you speaking of something specific?
Also, while yes, metal bounces radar, the size of the object also makes objects harder to pick up. I just wanted to clear that up. They also already are picking up ponies with radar, that's how they know when to launch the P-40s.
Worldwar1 and Worldwar2 weapons are both being used. They aren't holding them back. That weapons program comment is also wrong, you don't seem to understand that weapons research doesn't work like weapon manufacture. The scientists don't suddenly drop one weapons research and pick up another completely different idea, it would take years to understand the problem before you can find the solution. Are you messing with me? It's just going to end awkwardly if you are.
2176417 Haha, it would be funny to see Celestia react to that!
2176473 If Japanese surprise attacks did such mental damage on the Marines, I can just /imagine/ the effect it would have on a pony that wasn't expecting anything of the sort
2176473
they did mount rockets on fighter craft, these were unguided however and were meant to be used against groud targets.
I would like to see what use a dragon's skin is against a sturmovik's 37 mm cannons.
2172102
I believe a huge rift would open up between readers if the mane 6 were introduced. It's best not to write in that direction.
2172602
I somewhat agree with you. I mean, I wouldn't have any issues if the story ended in the next chapter.
And now an improbability...how in hells name did an entire Imperial Japanese Fleet reach the fucking Atlantic? Is the US and Allies supplying them and allowing the Imperial Navy to use their bases as supply stops? Because otherwise, logistically, they would all be dead in the water!
There's fast, and then there's this. The action isn't neat enough (it could use a bit more detail) now for it to override the shortness of things.
I'm not asking for an epic long story, I'm just asking for things to slow down and more detail to get added.
2175687- Again, this isn't WWI or anything before, charge is USELESS, and the ponies don't even have supperior numbers wich would make it even more stupid to try swarming the enemy(they would be the one who get outnumbered), and it wouldn't be 1 fleet going to invade, it would be many, if the berrier fall humanity WILL land, the ponies simply don't have enouth power to stop us.
-even if the ponies use the newfoals to convert the civilians (wich would only be a small number that wasn't able to escape), the newfoals themselfs would be civilians who could be attacked by the people they were trying to convert, that is why armies leave soldiers behind to guard ocuppied territory.
-And yes, the fact that equestria doesn't have modern weapons means they are millitary inferior to humanity, suggesting otherwise would be saying that a roman legion can stand against a modern army.