//------------------------------// // Conscription // Story: D.N.A: Damn Not Again // by Chemtest //------------------------------// Tempus and Traicere land outside a giant hive in the middle of a desert. They both find their footing quickly on the familiar burning sands. Another changeling stands at the door to the hive, wearing a cloak. He moves the hood down, and looks at the two with surprise, green eyes glowing, “Tempus, Traicere? The Moot stands ready.” Traicere smiles as she moves closer to him, “Thorax? I didn’t know that you were here.” Throax smiles, “Someone needs to play Satan’s advocate for Chrysalis. Besides, what type of friend would I be if I left you two alone?” Tempus moves on into the Hive, the other two following him. He looks back to Thorax, “So, tell us, how’s the Queen been as of late? After the failed invasion, I worry for her.” Thorax sighs, “She looks for revenge, though her mind still truly yearns for the Hive to recover. I fear that she may join for the wrong reasons without me there to keep her calm.” He looks at Tempus, “This leader, do you think he will allow us to finally feed?” Tempus nods, “I’m sure of it. Chem is very understanding, and doesn’t seem to openly discriminate anything. That is what Friten said, yes?” Said changeling comes out of a nearby hallway. Her reptilian eyes glow slightly red, her Thestral wings spread at her side. She nods, “Chem responded well to various provocations from different Everfree creatures. When introduced to certain bad situations in dreams, he responded well and calmly. I met with him in many different forms, including thestral, zebra, and minotaur. Responses ranged from indifferent to positive depending on activity and previous social interactions.” Traicere smiles, “See, Thorax, I’m sure he will. If Friten says he reacted well then, he will react well later.” Friten slightly smiles, “Do not worry, Traicere, or you Tempus, if Queen Messorem doesn’t join, which is unlikely, then I shall lead the army myself.” She then halts suddenly at the end of the long hall, “Wait for the Bards to announce us. Yes, there are Bards, I made sure to go the whole ten miles here.” On the other side of a door, the Bards let out trumpet blasts. A changeling moves forward, and announce to the seated Kings and Queens. He unrolls a scroll, and announces, “Presenting the four Advisors! Friten, the Crossbreed!” She opens the door, and moves out into the great room. She walks towards the Red Throne, and kneels before Messorem. “Thorax, the Soother!” Throax moves out into the same room. He marches in front of the Green Throne, and kneels before Chrysalis. “Traicere, the Friendly!” Traicere marches out, and moves to the Brown Throne. She kneels before Laevus. “And finally, Tempus, the Doctor!” Tempus moves through the door, and heads straight for the Blue Throne. He kneels down before Nullam. Changelings in the audience all around create hands, and clap for the four. Eventually, the applause dies down, and the four stand. They all turn to face the center of the room, facing the one opposite of them. Tempus faces Throax, just as the Blue Throne faces the Green Throne. Traicere faces Friten, just as the Brown Throne faces the Red Throne. King Laevus speaks in a booming voice, “We offically call this Moot into order!” Queen Messorem speaks from across him, “We have been called here by request of the Advisors Tempus and Traicere. Advisors, step in and speak!” Both of them march out into the middle of the ring. Traicere begins speaking as soon as they arrive, “Kings and Queens of Changelings, we come here with a plea that may change history forever! We plea that you listen and judge fairly!” Tempus follows up, “As known, we were assigned to the town of Ponyville in order to spy on the new Princess of Friendship, and to begin our plans for a coup. However, as we found a group of revolutionaries, we got one member in particular. Chem Patton, who quickly lead our group to the Princess, promptly knocked her out, and got all of us out of her Palace alive. He is now beginning preproations for a large scale attack against Princess Celestia, using ponies as his soldiers. Yet we fear, despite his cleverness and aptitude as a leader, he might not have enough ponies to fight. So we ask for the armies of Changelings to unite behind him, so we may finally take down Celestia’s tyranny!” The leaders all watch the two in the middle. Their faces all betray the emotions they feel. Nullam sits in great thought, pondering over the situation of his advisor. Laevus smiles at Traicere, pride present within it. Chrysalis grins madly, but that grin slowly disappears as Thorax talks to her. It eventually fades to a look of understanding. Messorem looks down to Friten, a red glow being shared between them as they talk telepathically. King Laevus breaks the silence, “I fully support this endeavor. Celestia’s matriarchy has long pushed males down, and I have had enough! If this Chem Patton fellow fully believes in the ideals of Traicere‘s group, then I trust him! He will make a good leader in place of Celestia!” King Nullam sits back, still pondering, “I am willing to trust Chem Patton, if Tempus trusts him as well. However, I cannot help but wonder how much death he might bring around. Death is bad for my Hive, it is bad for every Hive. War means death, does it not? Yet, for such a goal... I am conflicted. Tell me, Tempus, what would be the death toll of a possible campaign?” Tempus thinks for a bit, “That depends on Celestia. Chem is a pacifist, such we have seen. Else there would be a pile of dead guards within Canterlot, or an already dead Celestia. I feel he is very honor bound and pacifistic. If given a knife and an enemy to defeat, he would disable, leaving someone for us to heal. However, if Celestia adopts a policy of no mercy, then it depends on the outcome of this Moot. If we fail, then the max would be one hundred in worst case scenario. And if the worst were to happen should this Moot succeed, then that number increases to the entirety of Changelings. However, the worst case scenario is rare. On average, I would say about one dead out of every hundredth combatant.” Queen Chrysalis looks to Nullam, “I believe I am in the same boat as our brother. Revenge is appealing to me as of now, yet my Hive is already weak, and we cannot afford to fight in a war we are not guaranteed a high chance of winning in.” Queen Messorem looks at the others, and smiles, “This is a war, how could I not be involved? Not only is it a war, but it is for such a righteous purpose! Chem Patton will make a good King for Equestria, I am sure of it. It can open up relations between us, and give us leverage as his helpers. I put my support behind Tempus and Traicere!” Queen Chrysalis looks over at her, “What makes us so sure he would be able to beat Celestia, though? We don’t know if he would win. We don’t know if we are sending our Hives to death for nothing!” Tempus speaks up, “Actually, Queen Chrysalis, we know he is near Celestia’s power as of now. Chem Patton is a Plures Orator. I saw it myself when he raised the rock out of a gorge and convinced the Mana to fill in the gorge. Such a feat is one only alicorns would be able to preform. He is powerful, Queen Chrysalis, and he can beat Celestia!” King Nullam leans back, “Chem Patton is a Plures Orator? You had not mentioned such information, Tempus. The Plures Orator always manages to bring around an era of change. Yet it is clear he will need us to take on Celestia’s armies. Tempus, the Doctor, I shall rally my Medics to support Chem Patton and the revolution.” Chrysalis looks at the other three, and nods, “Very well then. The army of the Green Hive shall follow Chem Patton!” Throax smiles broadly, and almost lets out a laugh. Yet he manages to keep his composure. Tempus and Traicere bow to the Queens and Kings of the Changlings. They rise, and await for their orders.