Dan Vs. Equestria's Military- Vehicles! · 5:59am Oct 18th, 2017
Originally, the three pony tribes were defended solely by the Pegasi Army, led by the acting Pegasus Commander. When Equestria was established, the unicorn and earth pony tribal leaders coerced their militant aerial cousins to disband their proud army and relinquish their arms. Reluctantly, the pegasi agreed and Commander Hurricane established a new set of goals for her tribe. Instead of General, the position of General Manager was installed and pegasi were given the esteemed job of maintaining and controlling the weather in Equestria. With the first wrap-up of winter, the deal was sealed.
Privately, Commander Hurricane went on to establish the Enclave with the duty of maintaining the discipline and spirit of the Pegasi Army, ensuring that Equestria would be defended if the need arose. To this day, the Pegasi are the most fiercely loyal and defensive of the three pony groups. The sky is their responsibility... and secretly, so is the security of the kingdom.
The Royal Guard was established to serve as Equestria's self-defense force. They can only act when protecting the safety of the royal family themselves, chiefly the princesses. Otherwise, Equestria's defenses are severely limited... but not entirely absent.
Over the years, hostilities between pony and other territories has caused some far-thinking individuals to rethink their position on the disarmament. Recently, Princess Luna, following her discovery of Earth's past, approved the Perfect Defense program to acquire Equestria a nuclear deterrent, leading to Vice Grip's attempted rise and the circumstances which Dan and company find themselves in. But before this, secretly, the three tribes of Equestria did quietly develop their own weapons. Celestia, unable to see into dreams like her sister, was largely unaware at the time.
Earth Ponies always favored trains and wagons. By nature, they trust their own strength and hooves more than fancy gizmos, and so most of their technology reflects that. They developed a series of long-range artillery, similar to the ion cannon on the Golden Oaks Library that fire a variety of ordinance. Catapults, cannons, trebuchets- the Earth Ponies love launching things into the air and have built many things to do exactly that. To disguise the nature of their weaponry, all Earth Pony artillery is designed to also launch fireworks and other festive celebratory flak as well. It is suspected Pinkie Pie designed her own Party Cannon in a similar manner.
1. Catapults: Easy to use, move and make, the time-tested catapult is the preferred method of Earth Pony Defense, usually because its use indicates a fight against an enemy that can be scared off or pushed back with ease. The drawbacks are that they're very light and can be easily destroyed, but they can launch just about anything so ammo isn't usually hard to come by. Expertise by ponies like the Blast Sisters allows even simple objects to be reassembled into destructive ordinance- a pumpkin alone might not due the trick, but a pumpkin packed with dynamite might light your enemy up like a jack-o-lantern.
2. Cannons: Usually made from specialized coated and polished stones farmed by pony rock farmers. Cannons pack a larger punch and can shoot farther. Ammo for cannons can't be as varied as with catapults, but it can do even more damage if used properly. Most are mobile and have wheels, with Earth Ponies using their natural strength to move them around cartoonishly. Tougher, more powerful and with longer range than catapults, Earth Pony cannons are perfect for starting a party or a war. Or ending either with a bang.
3. Train Cannons: For big parties, or when the otherwise need arises, Earth Ponies developed the UHHHHH(Understandably Honestly Hyperly Humongously Hugely Huge) Gun to launch pretty much anything anywhere. Nicknamed "Big Birthaversary" cannons, these massive guns can only be transported by specialized train or wagon train to their destination, though because of their massive range, they don't usually have to travel very far. Combining the 'fire anything' quality of the catapults with the sturdy quality of the cannons, there is a rumor that almost all Earth Ponies have special types of ammunition for this gigantic gun to shoot(meaning different special effects are added by the user, i.e Granny Smith's rounds become electrified, Braeburn's cause earthquakes.)
The Pegasi, although disarmed, kept their training and switched from controlling the battlefield to controlling the weather. In their weather labs, they produce various types of weather and shape it into the forms other ponies need or request. Though they no longer carry shields or swords, they do perfect the use of weather bombs and grenades that pack the same destructive force as nature itself, and even greater when they want it to. They can drop them or toss them on their own, but their preferred delivery system is their iconic aircraft- the FB-series Flutterbird aircraft.
1. FB-05 Flutterbird ARRG(Advanced Recon and Rescue Gunship): The standard-issue Flutterbird used by the Enclave, stylized after the wasp that stings when it's defending the hive. Officially classified as a rescue and heavy-duty utility craft, the Flutterbird is more used for its secret military role than its actual role. Based on the VB-02 Vertibird from Fallout 3 and 4, the Flutterbird is even more insect-like and fires lasers and weather-based weapons at its enemy. The ball stinger turret in the back allows it to strike behind and below without warning, ensuring the Flutterbird always gets the drop on its opponent.
2. FB-03S Hammerbird WAI(Weather Advisement Indicator): Originally designed as one of the first early warning and weather scouting craft, it was given heavier armor so that it could fly right through the strongest storms. Because it's one of the earlier models, it was built with fewer weapons and without the distinctive rear stinger its successors would have, but can deliver the heaviest of weather ordinance at close range. Its tougher armor allows it to dive bomb enemies with fierce weather attacks and depart just as soon as it delivers. Derpy's own Hammerbird is of this model and has additional carrying capacity, but only for mail and muffins.
3. FB-10 Shadowbird FHUUG(Fighter Hybrid Universal Utility Gunship): The next-generation Flutterbird created with blatant military application and advanced weapons systems. This craft's very creation was a defiance of the disarmament agreement and a minor defiance of Princess Celestia, pushed into development by General Manager Sharp Winter, the current leader of the Enclave. Called the Shadowbird because of its stealth technology and jetblack coat, this craft can hide its presence and its weapons in a variety of ways, deploying them when the time is right. There's no knowing when one of these can strike, earning it the nickname the Flutterbird-of-prey.
Finally, the unicorns worked closely with the princesses to develop their own weapons systems. Although the Royal Guard is made up of members from all three tribes, they mostly favor magic-based weapons because of their faith in Equestria, the princesses and harmony. Royal Guards are honorable, resourceful, well-trained and smart fighters that favor close-range melee weapons or magic attacks and defenses. Because they are mostly a defense force, the additional heavy weapons they added to their arsenal happened to be the strongest and the most armored. Under the supervision of Grand Marshal Aegis Ally(who Dan calls Al for short), the Royal Guard will soon be showcasing their answer to dual-purpose military weapons: tanks.
1. RGA(Royal Guard Armory) MBW- Mane Battle Wagon: A self-propelled armored wagon, the M1BW makes use of two turrets, one in front, one in back, which can be raised or lowered to offer 360-degree fields of fire. Stylized in Royal Guard colors, the 'mane' on the front turret indicates the forward while the 'tail' on the back turret identifies the rear. Both the mane and tail can be used as melee weapons should the need arise, ensuring that this speedy combat vehicle is effective at any range.
2. M.A. L-Arsenal MBR- Mane Battle Ram: A larger version of the MBW with treads instead of wheels. The first real tank of the Royal Guard, this heavy vehicle has six cannons equipped with lance bayonets. The center of the vehicle has a giant piston in the front, usually with Luna or Celestia's image fixed on it to act as a massive battering ram. Each MBR is built with backup systems and is equipped with special crystals that can produce a powerful energy shield when needed. One of the strongest armored vehicles ever built, it is the envy of most other nations for its speed and firepower. Discord is reported to own one with his face on the ram instead of the princesses'.
3. RGA "Mr. Turtle" MTW- Mane Tactical Weapon: Considered controversial in the extreme, these massive turtle-shaped tanks nearly caused a war when a demonstration of its gun destroyed a mountain. Boasting incredibly long range, the heaviest of heavy armor and the ability to deploy magic and non-magic ordinance, the MTW is a tank, a battle station and a weapons platform all built into one.
Covered in crystal armor, the MTW crawls at a mostly slow speed on four armored crystalline treads. The armor of its shell is made of special crystal, allowing it to completely reflect attacks in some cases and repel others. Like the MBR, it can produce a shield, but can also produce shields over other objects, defending them, or create redundant shields over itself. Massive and slow, their treads are built on legs that can be raised or lowered, allowing the tank to 'walk' over difficult terrain. Its only vulnerability is its lack of speed.
Each MTW can carry special cannons for a variety of missions- the 128-millimeter 'Top Hat' gun can fire a steady barrage of specialized ammo with precision that would impress Rarity. The triple-barreled 'Fedora Flak' launcher fires homing hat-shaped projectiles designed to cut through airborne enemy units using the same principle as the boomerang. The vertical 'Bowler Derby' cannon fires the spell-enchanted 'Goofball' rounds that land on the ground and roll to the enemy target, chasing them until they explode in random silly ways. Trixie supposedly had a hoof in designing that ammunition and may have requested her own MTW as payment.
This is just a short list of some of the vehicles we've seen so far. More to come are special naval vessels and Dan's own arsenal, as well as that of the griffons and others.
So nice to see someone enjoying themselves expanding on some notes I hope I posted as well as many other resources.
Still, wonder what it would be called taking a railway artillery launcher, whose payload is a super critical magical core powered Death wheel that spews smaller supercritical magical cores as it buzz saws through its targets?
If its related to Goof Ball, maybe call it Pluto?
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It would be called a Blender-Bus. Like a blunderbuss, except it's mounted on a bus and fires shredding things. And yes, you can call it Pluto. Thanks as always for reading, my friend, Captain Spice! /)
Also, don't forget your SHED is part of the story, too! The Mini-Shed, we did have to make some adjustments to it, as you recall.
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It slices, it dices, it shreds like Vinyl, and yes my man.
It Blends.
Nu Wave music? you mean, like Oceanic? that Insanity.