Battleship of Equestria Chapter Sixteen: Aftermath
May 20th, 1942 10:00 AM
Canterlot…
(Jacob's POV)
I stand before the four princess of Equestria with an emotionless expression, standing at attention as I wait for them to finish mentally processing everything I had just told them in regards to the fall of the Crystal Empire and the entire message Shining Armor had given me on the train ride back to Canterlot when he briefly regain consciousness before going back under. Already I am worried the most about Princess Cadence, a fear that I have shared with both Luna and Twilight. Her normally well-maintained mane is a tangled mess. Dark bags have formed underneath her eyes. And the pink alicorn holds her body up in a defeated posture. And who can blame her? Her husband is in a critical condition. Her home is gone and her subjects displaced, possibly forever. Twilight told me a few hours ago that she stays in one of three places: Flurry Heart's room, the ward that holds Shining Armor, and her room. I fear for her well-being if this war last for much longer.
In fact, all over Equestria there have been hardships not sustained for thousands of years. Food supplies are starting to run low in many of the eastern cities, in addition to having a huge increase in population from the refugees of the Crystal Empire. I had sent my men back to the ships. The Soviet destroyer Smyshlyonyi is being given a batch of season sailors to be trained to make up for the forty-three members of her crew killed in the last battle. My own ship is halfway down with repairs, so she will be ready for testing to confirm that she is ready for combat in three weeks. After that, on June 18th, I will take the USS Fuso and Smyshlyonyi, along with the entire Royal Equestrian Navy, and engage Henry's fleet off the coast of Ponyville in the South Luna Sea.
"So are you sure that Shining Armor said that Cluny the Slaver will be giving us a month to prepare for this so-called 'final battle'?" Princess Celestia asks me, her violet eyes reflecting a mixture of shock and confusion. I nod my head slightly in her direction. "I am positive about this, princess. It makes sense as well. Cluny wants to personally see you and your sister defeated and either dead or worse, in chains before his hooves. We must use this time to prepare our own army. We must deploy every force. Discord can continue to watch the Changeling border, so we can pull the forces in the Southern Theater, as well as the reserves from Baltimare and the other eastern cities except for the ones closest to the northern border. In addition, we can ask Chief Thunderhooves for his assistance. We could use the buffalos to counter any timberwolf riders that Cluny and his commanders have left. I will take command of my battleship and lead our entire fleet against the Carolean fleet in the meantime," I finally finish.
The princess of the sun eyes me with mild suspicion. "Tell me, do you desire to direct your full attention on finding this younger brother named Henry and his flagship?" She asks softly. I glance at Luna who briefly gives me a tiny smile of support. "To an extent, you are correct. Henry must be stopped, permanently." Twilight's eyes widen, and the youngest alicorn jumps in. "But he's your brother! Sure, he is helping Cluny, but don't forget that Luna once turned into Nightmare Moon and tried to bring eternal darkness. In the end she was rescued and has more than redeemed herself! Surely you can stop Henry without killing him?" She pleads. Celestia nods her head in support of her former but still faithful student. Cadence just stares at us with emotionless eyes, and Luna nods at me to encourage my own efforts. I give my own small smile to my lover.
"Maybe once, at the start of his accursed war, I would have agreed. But that hope is long dead. The kind and moral brother I knew died on December 7th 1941 when the USS Arizona was sunk. This…scum who shares that name is a cruel, sadistic, power-crazed son-of-a-bitch who must be put down like a mad dog. As long as I live, he will not rest until my skull is turned into a goblet to drink to Cluny's victory. Neither of us can live as long as the other survives. Now, if you will excuse me, I must check on my crew members back in Baltimare. Princess Luna, I will be back in a few days, maybe sooner. I love you, my dear," I say to the midnight-blue alicorn before leaving. She blocks my exit for a moment.
"I will talk to my sister and Twilight, and get them to understand why you have to kill them. Stay safe. I'll stop by later this evening in Baltimare. I love you too, my captain," She says before pecking my lips with her own in a quick kiss, love shinning in her cerulean eyes. I return the smile. "I will be looking forward," I promise her before finally stepping outside. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I spread my alicorn wings and leap into the air, quickly gaining altitude before flying towards the Baltimare Naval Yard.
There are several men and ponies I wish to see. And I need to be back with my battleship, my home. I miss the safety of her fourteen-inch guns and steel hull. But what I miss even the most of her is the rag-tag assortment of men and ponies who have now become as much my family as the princess of the night is my lover. And I need to finish my mild scolding of the CMC. I really do hope that those five fillies listen to me this time when I order them to stay behind. Guess that is the other thing I'll have to do now. Oh well. For now, I think I'm just going to enjoy the feeling of the wind in my hair, err, mane as I continue flying through the morning sky.
Later that afternoon
Baltimare Naval Yard…
(Jacob's POV)
A knock on the wooden door makes me look up from the latest report on the testing of Fuso's replacement guns. "Come in," I say, straightening my nearly ever-present naval uniform. I am still trying to adjust to have an office in our naval base, all to myself. Personally, I would prefer to have meetings on the bridge or in my cabin back on the Fuso, but as she is once more off the coast, I have to wait in here. At least this is the final test of the guns and turret we had installed to replace the ones destroyed while fighting the armored cruiser SMS Blütcher. The next week will be spent training the new gun crews, all volunteers from the newly-formed Royal Guard Artillery Corps. We will also have a new ship for the RES: Equestria's first-ever iron-hulled cruiser. Using the same 6-inch guns used in Fuso's secondary battery to arm the new ship, it is a nearly-identical copy of Japan's lead ship of her last class of protected cruisers, the Chikuma. The main differences are the newer model of her original 6-inch guns, four single 5-inch guns that were extras when my battleship's rear starboard dual-purpose gun mount, a lack of torpedo tubes, and the fact that it is slightly large in width to allow the crew of pony sailors. The name given to the new vessel is Starswirl.
The door opens and five familiar fillies enter, slightly nervous. Accompanying them is my former executive officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Froster. The reason he is my former XO is simple: After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, I had requested that the new captain of the RES Starswirl as I felt that we didn't have the chance to properly train one of the other captains, even the most veteran of the bunch like Captain Salty Wave, in commanding such a vessel. Froster will be the only man on the crew. The rest will be Equestrian mares and stallions.
"Thank you, Froster. If you don't mind, could you wait outside? I want to speak to the Cutie Mark Crusaders in private," I ask the loyal unicorn. Froster nods and steps outside, closing the door behind him with the rusty-hued magic he has. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara continue to eye me with nervous glances. No doubt they're expecting me to start shouting at them for disobeying a direct order that could have gotten them killed. I don't know for sure if that would have happened if I had delivered the long-due scolding, but their reaction makes me roll my eyes slightly.
I let out a sigh before addressing the five fillies. "Oh, relax. I'm not going to shout at you. I just want you to listen. Don't talk, just listen," I say as I stand up, stretching my back. The five friends nod and watch me with a more relaxed gaze. "I hope you understand that what you did, while very brave, was completely reckless. I don't give orders just to hear myself speak. I need you to understand that a battle is absolutely no place for fillies and colts, no matter how much protection they have. I know that you are wanting to accompany us next month when we sail to fight the final battle, but I am giving you a direct order to stay here," I say firmly, my stare similar to Fluttershy's famous Stare.
While not verbally doing so, I can see the protests and pleas already forming in the eyes of the five younglings. "In fact, I have something for you. A very special task that I want you to at least hear what it is. I will be taking the entire crew and the fleet to Ponyville. As a result, I will need someone to run this base and command the base guards. I want that person to be the five of you. Can I trust you with this?" I ask sincerely, looking each of the brave fillies in the eye.
Diamond Tiara and Applebloom answer me at the same time. "We won't let you down!" "Ya can count on us!" If what the Mane 6 had told me about the two fillies' previous relationship had been true, you would never believe that the five fillies used to be separated between bullies and bullied. I smile at both the thought of the five's friendships and at the responses. "Excellent. I have absolute confidence that you won't let me down. You can go now. Spend some time with your other friends and family," I say, my mirth dying down as I once again remember the coming battle. I may have saved the CMC's lives, but who knows for their other friends and family going into battle. Even Applejack, whose leg has mostly healed by now, will be returning to duty, this time as part of the lead starboard 6-inch gun crew.
Hooves clop slightly as the group leaves the room as I sit back down and use my magic to pick the report back up. Then I realize that I had heard only four sets of hooves, not five. That means that one of the girls is still here. I look back up. Scootaloo stands around, her eyes reflecting nervousness once again. I can't help but raise an eyebrow as I begin to speak. "Is there something you wish to speak to me about?" I ask, curious as to why the orange pegasus stayed behind. She nods her head. "Yes. It's about Rainbow Dash," The purple-mane filly answers. "She's starting to behave much differently than she used to, and to be honest, it kinda scares me. I'm really worried that she is taking the death of Derpy and AJ getting injured really hard. RD has always been a bit reckless, but she always did her best to not endanger herself, but not this time," Scootaloo explains.
I nod my head in understanding. I have seen that same recklessness several times in the north. As a result I have developed my own sense of concern for the Element of Loyalty. I also understand Scootaloo's fear. So far as to my knowledge, the cyan mare is her only family, even though it the two pegasi are adopted sisters. I stand up, this time with no intention of sitting down. I trot to the door, Scootaloo close behind. I turn to her as we both enter the hallway. "If it makes you feel better, I have been worried about Dash as well. Thank you for bringing up your own concern. I'll speak to her. Do you know where I might find her?" I ask, closing my door.
Ten minutes later
Weapon testing range…
"That's the kinda awesome I love!" A familiar raspy voice shouts as a mortar bomb hits a wrecked steam engine that was hauled in as a stationary target for my weapons. Spotting the rainbow-mane pegasus, I take a deep breath, not wanting to use my magic to amplify my voice. I want to talk to her, not sound like I'm about to give her a dress down. "RAINBOW DASH! I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU!" I call. Thankfully I don't have to repeat myself to gain the cyan mare's attention. With her typical speed, RD suddenly appears in front of me, giving me a salute.
"Yes sir?" She asks me, a look of curiosity in her magenta eyes. "What's been eating at you?" I ask bluntly. Dash gives me a startled look. "Sir?" She asks. I sigh. 'So much for hoping that this would be easy,' I think to myself. Then again, considering who I am talking to, I shouldn't have expected it to be easy anyways. "Several friends have come to me recently and have told me that the way you have been acting in battle is starting to scare them, a fear that I also have. I know that you have always been a the kind of mare that tends to dive in head-first, but you tired to not be going about it in a near-suicidal way. Maybe it is just because of losing your home, but I think there is more to it than just that. So either you tell me what is really causing you to be like this or I will ground you from any more combat flights and have you stay here with the other non-combatants, even have you locked up in the brig if I must. So which option do you choose?" I ask the Element of Loyalty, a stern tone present in my voice.
Rainbow Dash doesn't say anything for a minute or two, shifting her hooves in the dirt slightly. Her gaze darts around the area. I wait patiently, having already decided that beyond giving her the two options, I won't try to pressure her to speak. The only reason I am willing to ground one of, if not my very best, flier is that I will not in good conscious allow this reckless behavior to continue. From what Twilight told me about the incident with Lightning Dust back at the Wonderbolt Academy in regards to the turquoise mare's former behavior, Rainbow Dash is starting to behave the same way, possibly even more-so.
Finally RD takes a deep breath and lets it out in a single sigh, her mind made up. "I'm loyal to my friends, but I can't help but feel that recently I have been failing them. It started with Derpy's death. She was clumsy, but it was in that annoyingly endearing way. She was more like a mare-foal. She didn't deserve to die. It got worse when AJ got injured when I wasn't present with her. I don't want to see any more of my friends get injured or killed. I guess that I thought that if I killed as many Caroleans as far away from the others as I can, I can save them." I am startled slightly by the sight of the eyes of the normally-confidant pegasus become moist as she fights back tears, no doubt trying to preserve her projection as a mare who doesn't get all sappy and such. I take a step forward and curl one of my wings around her in a comforting gesture between friends.
"It's fine to cry every now and then. There is no shame in showing your emotions," I say soothingly. Rainbow finally breaks down and cries silently. Knowing that she would feel embarrassed if anyone else saw her sobbing, I position my wing so that it blocks the sight from everyone and pony. I whisper words of comfort to her as the cyan mare lets it all out. After about five minutes or so, she lifts her head and takes a few steps back. "Thanks," She says. I move my wing back to my side and nod my head. "Don't mention it Dash. I am always here for my friends, just like you are. Speaking of being there for friends, I think you have a certain sister who would like to be with you," I advise, a faint trace of a smile forming on my mouth. With another nod, Dash gallops off, looking for her little sister.
Then another pegasus lands in front of me. Rainbow Dash's friend Lightning Dust looks up at me with an expression of gratitude. "Thank you so much, Captain Jacob," The reformed dare-devil says with clear sincerity. I again nod. "As I said, I'm here for my friends. That includes you and the others from Ponyville who serve on my ship. Promise me one thing?" I ask her. Lightning nods her head up and down energetically. "Of course!" she says. I smile once more at her enthusiasm. "Try to keep her safe when we attack. In fact, keep both of yourselves as safe as possible. I'm not giving you an order, but making a request as a friend to another," I say. My smile widens at her nod. 'I will never cease to be amazed at the loyalty, kindness, generosity, honesty, and dedication these ponies have. I won't fail them.'
June 16th, 1942 12:30 PM
Canterlot…
(Jacob's POV)
I look hesitantly at the entrance to the balcony facing the parade ground. Then I look back at the love of my life. "Are you sure I must do this?" I ask for the umpteenth time. Luna chuckles before replying. "Yes, my love. They all look up to you, even my sister and Twilight and Cadence and I. And they are going to be possibly marching to their deaths today. It will be best if our greatest general addresses them," The princess of the night says, dressed for battle. Even with armor on, the midnight-blue alicorn looks absolutely gorgeous. I finally nod. "Well, in that case, it's probably for the best that I don't keep them waiting," I say with a nervous chuckle. Luna leans forward and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.
"Don't worry Jacob. You will do fine. Now, get out there," She says with a playful shove, her strength sending me stumbling forward for a bit before I catch myself at the entrance. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before exhaling. I open my eyes and take a step forward, squinting my eyes briefly as I adjust to the bright light of Celestia's sun. A loud cheer breaks out from below. Assembled below me is the entire bulk of Equestria's army. Ponies from all over are present, from the displaced and vengeful Crystal Ponies to the warriors of the south. And, of course, nearly all of my American, Japanese, and Russian sailors, Marines, Special Naval Landing Force, and Naval Infantry.
Absent are the soldiers stationed in Los Pegasus who are also on their way to the battlefield, and the buffalos. My loyal right-hand Froster had taken the entire Eastern Fleet across to the South Luna Sea, save for the Russian destroyer Smyshlyonyi and my own flagship, the now-famous and adored USS Fuso. Our fleet now numbers about three hundred frigates, seventy-five ironclads, fifty heavily-armed gunboats, numerous rafts armed with one or two cannons, and three modern naval warships. While we will probably be outnumbered in terms of number, we are not a force to be ignored.
The ground forces the princess will be leading are equally formidable. I gaze at 750,000 warriors, not counting my comrades from what I know call the 'Old World'. In addition the garrison of 250,000 soldiers from Los Pegasus will be joining us along with three hundred buffalo and our pegasi air force of two hundred elite fliers lead by the Wonderbolts. Nearly all the armored mares and stallions are armed with either swords, spears, maces, axes, shields, or their own magic, but there is also modern equipment present. Four 6-inch guns have been placed on special carriages to serve as heavy artillery, with the hundred or so cannons that weren't used to equip the Royal Equestrian Fleet.
Having been distracted long enough, I clear my throat, using my magic to perform the familiar act of increasing the volume of my voice. Thankfully it is not as…dramatic as Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice. Upon hearing the sound and understanding that I am about to speak, the noise made by the army dies down with astonishing quickness. I can feel the sensation of hundreds of thousands of eyes looking up at me.
"In two days we shall meet the enemy! In two days, the fate of Equestria will be irrevocably determined! This will be the last battle! I am proud to be part of this brave and fierce army! I would take this army over a thousand armies of my own country!"
A brief wave of cheers answers this. I fight back the tugging sensations of the corners of my mouth trying to smile. 'Gotta stay focused Jacob,' I mentally chide myself. Once the noise dies down again I resume speaking, feeling more confident by the second.
"Cluny the Slaver has sent us a message. That he will take this land and bring eternal death and darkness, and one can stop him. Well, we will send him a message! A message of resistance! We will march together my brothers! Sisters! And we will send the Caroleans our own message, and that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this, this is your land!" An even louder wave of cheers breaks out, along with the sound of hooves stamping on the ground and weapons clashing against shields or armor. I continue over the noise, my voice becoming more and more passionate.
"We will fight them on the beaches and on the land and in the air! They fight only for death and themselves! We fight for something much stronger, much truer. We fight for our lives! Our homes! Our family! We will not break! We will hold our lines until there are too few of us left to hold our ranks! If we find our backs to the river, well then there is no more falling back! Now, we have all lost brothers and sisters in this terrible war." At this point, the atmosphere grows somber briefly as I continue speaking. "These deaths will all be in vain if we fail! So we shall not fail! If they try to blot out the sun with arrows, we will fight in the shade!" I pause, preparing for the final part of my speech. The atmosphere has recovered and is in fact even stronger than it was at the start of the speech.
"We fight!" I shout, this time the crowd shouting back with defiance.
"WE FIGHT!"
"TO THE LAST ARROW AND BULLET, TO THE LAST MAN AND PONY, TO THE LAST MINUTE!"
"WE FIGHT!"
"WE FIGHT! THE SPIRITS OF DEATH WILL BE BUSY IN TWO DAYS! SOLDIERS OF EQUESTRIA, OATHS YOU HAVE TAKEN! NOW FULFILL THEM ALL TO THE PRINCESSES AND LAND!" I bellow. The noise of the warriors below reaches a crescendo, my speech having been successful in whipping the stallions, mares, and men into a frenzy. I have no doubt that each and every one of them will go to the gates of hell and back before letting their land be taken away from them. I take one last deep breath, shouting the loudest I ever have. "PREPARE TO MARCH! TO VICTORY OR DEATH!" I finish, the last part of my cry echoed with hundreds of thousands of voices.
'You have prepared them for the final fight. But just how many have you led to their deaths?'
June 18th 6:00 AM
Aboard the USS Fuso off the coastline of Ponyville…
(Jacob's POV)
I stand before the center window of the bridge, gazing out into the thin layer of fog that is rapidly dissipating in the light of the rising sun. To the left of me, the full might of Equestria has been assembled. My faithful battleship, the Fuso, is in the lead of our fleet, the Equestrian flagship RES Starswirl close behind at the head of the rest of the fleet along with the Smyshlyonyi. The other ships are formed up with the ironclads on the flanks, the frigates formed in lines, and the gunboats near the shoreline with the other auxiliary ships to perform the dual roles of naval combat and naval gunfire support.
I have the battle lines drawn up by the four princesses two nights ago when we began our march. Our troops had marched as fast as they can after they reached the end of the railroad line that lead to the ruins of Ponyville. Well-rested from the train ride, they had marched through most of Luna's night, resting periodically as to not exhaust them. I had kept pace with them aboard Fuso as she and our sole destroyer traveled down the river once more.
Six hundred thousand ponies form the frontline, the lines periodically broken by the field cannons deployed, lead by Princess Luna as she was the most experienced in war. Behind her are the four heavy cannons that will engage the enemy as soon as they enter the maximum range of the 152mm guns. Along the left flank closest to our fleet is Princess Celestia with one hundred and twenty-five thousand members of the Royal Guard Militia and the 300 bison that will serve as our cavalry to counter Cluny and Gu'klas's Timberwolf riders. On the fight flank between the main army and a set of fortifications that will prevent that side form being completely outflanked are the Crystal Ponies, numbering roughly 400,000 and commanded by a semi-recovered Princess Cadence, eager to attack but willing to follow their orders of waiting before engaging. In the rear is our air support, using the remaining Willy Pete rounds against the vanguard of the Carolean army and then newly-designed explosive bombs, the two hundred pegasi commanded by Princess Twilight Sparkle, along with the remaining 125,000 ponies who are veterans of the Battle of Los Pegasus to be used as our reserve for her to send to critical sections once the battle is joined.
Now all we need is to see the enemy army and navy. I grit my teeth at the thought of Henry. Soon he shall answer for his crimes with the ultimate price. My lookouts stationed at the top of the towering pagoda-styled forward superstructure maintain their search for the enemy fleet. I can't help but feel nervous. I have no idea what other modern warships Henry has at his disposal. Maybe it will be something small, but I highly doubt that pleasant thought.
Suddenly I hear a faint noise that grows louder rapidly. "Sir, the port lookout reports that she sees movement in front of our army!" My communications officer Mann reports. I trot over to the left of the bridge and gaze out. Indeed there is a large amount of movement, and now I can make out the sounds. It is chanting.
"WIN THE BATTLE LOSE THE WAR, CHOICE OF EVILS LIE BEFORE YOUR FEET! RETREAT, RETREAT, RETREAT!
WIN THE BATTLE LOSE THE WAR, CHOICE OF EVILS LIE BFORE YOUR FEET! RETREAT, RETREAT, RETREAT!
YOU ARE STANDING IN THE EYE OF THE STORM! MOVE AN INCH, AND YOU'LL BE DEAD!
YOU ARE STANDING BEFORE THE ARMY OF THE TEETH AND YOUR DEATH AWAITS YOU!
WIN THE BATTLE LOSE THE WAR, CHOICE OF EVILS LIE BFORE YOUR FEET! RETREAT, RETREAT, RETREAT!"
Then a new report comes in, this time from the forward lookout. More movement has been spotted ahead, the shapes still slightly masked by the ever-thinning fog. "Sound General Quarters," I tell Mann quietly. Of course, the crew of Japanese, American, and ponies have already been at their posts since dawn, but this time it is to signal that we are about to engage the enemy. The familiar and oddly-comforting sound echoes throughout the steel hull of my battleship.
Now I can see sails and two clouds of smoke, one thick from burning coal, the other lighter, like it burns oil. The wave of sails continues to grow and grow, filling the horizon. There must be about a thousand warships, all armed with cannons. Then I see the two warships, and my heart briefly stops.
The first ship is smaller. It is a pre-Dreadnought battleship of Germany, but bearing the flag of Cluny's army instead of its rightful colors. The battleship's forward turret mounting two 11-inch SK L/40 guns points towards our fleet, her other two in the rear turret probably pointed directly behind. On either side are seven 6.7-inch guns that make up her secondary battery of a total of fourteen guns. Her four forward 88mm tertiary battery points forward as well. I recognize the ship as a member of the last German class of pre-Dreadnoughts, the Deutschland-class. Seeing as how the last German warship that was also from this ships era, the SMS Blütcher, had been sunk in battle, as well as the other modern warship, though much more recently, I think I know the name of the vessel, though it seems she was repaired and I doubt they kept the torpedo tubes she used to have. Broken in half on June 1st in the year of 1916 off the coast of Jutland by torpedoes and taking her entire crew of 839 officers and enlisted men, I stare at the repaired hull of the SMS Pommern.
The Pommern, however, is not what concerns me. I have finally seen the flagship of the creature that was once my brother. And I also feel rage at seeing the act of desecration of the dead.
Her two forward triple-gun turrets point directly at my own battleship, the barrels of her 14-inch/45 cannons looking like black eyes as I stare at half of her twelve guns. The roofs of the turrets are painted a ruby red. Her eight 5-inch/25 dual-purpose guns point skywards while her secondary armament of ten 5-inch/51 caliber cannons point outwards leisurely. Her single funnel emits a thin cloud of blackish-grey smoke. At the top of her superstructure forward and her main mast aft are her fighting tops, both painted white. Her grey hull shows no sign of the devastating bomb hit that caused a massive fireball that I thought had consumed my brother, and in a way had killed him. Instead of the Stars and Stripes, Cluny's flag waves in the wind, along with flags conveying their own message from Henry directly to me.
Good to see that your ship is ready. SO is mine. I have given orders for my fleet to engage all your ships except for your battleship. Let's finish this one-on-one. My battleship versus yours. Raise the Zulu flag to signal if you accept.
"Mann, raise the Zulu flag. Fuji, have your guns load only armor-piercing and aim the fourteen-inch guns to starboard! Seal the ship and prepare for heavy damage! Have the engineers go to flank speed! Helm, turn us to port! We're going to finish this bastard once and for all!" I order, staring with absolute hate at my former brother aboard the USS Arizona.