//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Soldier's Board Meeting 
// Story: All Hail the Overlord 
// by TheAncientPolitzanian 
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Pharynx stood at a table in front of a large group of captains and generals of a bunch of different races that were allied to Equestria as they all stood together in a large planning room. 

Well, planning room was a bit of a stretch. It was really just an above average sized classroom in the Friendship university. The generals and captains stood together in clumps, chatting up and making plans. 

Shining Armor walked up to Pharynx. "I think it is time to start," he said, taking position next to Pharynx.

Pharynx cleared his throat to get their attention. Everyone turned to Pharynx, who was, as of current, the only changeling in the room. Pharynx looked to the many creatures in the room and prepared to talk. 

"Ok. Before we begin I need to get something clear. Which among you have had a war within the last 100 years?" he said, looking through the room. 

The Equestrian, Yak, and Dragon commanders raised their hooves or hands collectively. (The Dragons and Yaks fought a quick 1-day war against each other in the comics.) 

Pharynx of course raised his own hoof as well. "Ok, and which of you actually shed blood in this war, and didn't have it end within a couple days because a group of plucky heroes fired a laser at a bad guy, or talked the bad guy down?" he said. 

Every creature barring Pharynx lowered their hooves or hands. Pharynx rolled his eyes. "As I thought." He walked over to a central tabled that had been set up. Spread across the table were two maps of Equestria, sitting right next to each other. One featured all the collective countries penned in, while the other was almost completely crimson, barring an area at the top that was black, and 2 areas in the north east that were brown and Silver.

Pharynx looked down at the map as the generals started gathering around the table. He began setting down figurines, representing the armies of each of the different kingdoms who had gathered here today. 

In the center was a small figurine of an Equestrian royal guard, holding a spear, made of marble. The Equestrian royal guard sat on top of Equestria which was golden in color. 

To the far south, was a figurine of a Changeling soldier in the beetle like armor that they usually wore, mandibles and all. The changeling was also wielding and spear and was made of Jade. It sat over the Changeling lands, which were dark green in color.

Next came a gryphon figurine. This figurine wore a kettle cap and chain mail with a tabard, stereotypical of the men at arms of old. The Gryphon holding a pike. The Gryphon figurine, made of Granite, stood over Gryphon-stone which was brown.

Next came a stylized figurine of an adult dragon, made of a red stone. The dragon sat over the Dragon lands which was just as red. 

Then came the Yaks who were made of opal. The Yak was in a leather hauberk and a horned helmet. It wielded a large double handed great axe as it stood atop the white Yakyakistan. 

Finally came the hippogryphs of Mount Aris and Seaquestria. They it wore the brass armor that was stereotypical of their people. The hippogryph figurine was made of Brass and wielded a circular shield and a spear. He stood above a small section of orange land, representing Mount Eris.

That is when Pharynx turned to the other map. For this map, he simply dropped several obsidian figurines in the shape of changelings on the crimson map. 

"This is the situation," Pharynx said as he placed his forehooves on the table. "We are now at war with the Changeling Empire of a Parallel universe. They have conquered that Equestria, and are prepared to take our world as well."

"Do we know anything of their logistics, their army size, their command structure, their troop positions?" Oceanspray said, stepping forwards. 

"No," Pharynx said. "But we do have a plan." 

"Well, the princesses and other leaders have a plan," he doubled back on himself.

"We are going to gather our forces here," Pharynx said as he picked up all of the figurines on the proper side of Equestria.  He then placed them all on the map in northern Equestria, near Vanhoover. 

"Starswirl the Bearded will then place a portal here on the map. We will then use it to travel to the alternate Equestria." Shining Armor emphasized the point by teleporting all the figurines to the other Equestria, in the same location, just on the other map.

"That is when we will spread out. By liberating sections of the Alternate Equestria, we shall unite resistance cells and add them to our armies," Pharynx said as he used magic to move the figurines having them spread out. 

"Should not we outnumber the alternate Changeling's armies 6 to one? They are only the Changelings, while we have Changelings, alongside the 6 other kingdoms gathered here," a gryphon general in full plate armor said, walking up to the map. 

"Perhaps, but likely not," Pharynx said. "Alongside this, I can easily state that the Changelings of this race will be much stronger then any of us. They have been in wars, and have actually fought. We have not. The soldiers of our kingdoms have never once had a proper war, never mind battle. The only actual battle I can think of that has happened was the siege of Canterlot a couple years ago, and that battle lasted for all of 20 minutes and it was perhaps the most one-sided battle I can think of. That is, until Equestria cheated." 

"You just can't handle that we won," Shining said to a round of laughter. 

"This is serious!" Pharynx shouted. "Our enemy will know how to wage war. From what I saw, they are merciless, fearless killers. They are without a doubt the worst foe anyone could possibly ever face on the battlefield, and our armies, are going to be fighting without any previous experience. They will slaughter us in battle unless we come up with some actual tactics. We need to plan!" 

Everyone shut up and stared at him. "The largest battle we will fight is when we first emerge from the portal. The enemy will swarm towards us and try to take the portal back and use it to invade us. So this will have to be the battle we plan for most." 

Pharynx walked over to a second table followed by the other generals. 

This table had upon it a map of the land around where the assumed portal will go, with regiments of tin soldiers set up in front of it. On the other side of the map was a large horde of crimson models of changelings. "This battle will require the greatest of strategies, so this is what we shall do."

"Immediately once we leave the portal, the Hippogryph soldiers will take up Phalanx positions, with the Equestrians forming ranks directly behind them." He said as he moved the regiments into position. The Yaks and Dragons will take up the role as heavy infantry, and once melee is engaged, they will wade through our spear walls and join in the battle. While this is happening, the Gryphons and Changelings will be acting as Skirmishers. They will harass the enemy lines from every direction. If all goes well we will be able to win this battle and move onto to liberating Equestria. Are there any questions?" Pharynx said. 

No one responded. 

"Very well," Pharynx said. "Let's go men! Double time! Move move move! We need every soldier in our militaries mobilized and ready. Now!" 

The tenerals all saluted before they began charging out. 

The Students of the school had all gathered in the court yard, when the doors of the room exploded open and the many officers charged out, leaving towards their homelands and capitals, to bring ready there armies. War was coming to Equestria.