//------------------------------//
// Report E4 
// Story: Her Eyes Reflect The Stars 
// by Lynwood 
//------------------------------//

Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I request more reinforcements immediately. Send every guardspony in the region. I also heavily recommend the mobilization of all available Royal Guard divisions and their immediate transport to the southeastern seaboard. I realize that this may not be a popular decision, but the situation is much more dire than we thought.

Firstly, the number of machines emerging from the ocean continues to increase. Sleepy Cove has been fortified extensively and continues to be our base of operations, and is so heavily guarded that the ocean beasts are driven away without much effort. The switch to heavy piercing spells was even more effective than you estimated, and with preparation, we can drive them off without much trouble.

The problem is the beasts' appearances. They continue to emerge from the surf in seemingly random places across the coast. Even with the extra reserves from Baltimare, this force is woefully unprepared to protect such a stretch of land.

I have regular patrols along the coast and near towns, but the system is imperfect. Five beasts emerged near the town of Whinnieton and overwhelmed the squad I had stationed there. The town is a complete loss, but we reclaimed the territory the next day.

Secondly, the beasts themselves. I use the term "beast" but I'm not sure they are alive at all. They're more like golems of stone, and distressingly, some kind of metal. When we break them apart, we find nothing but twisted, half-rusted metal among the stone and those strange yellow crystals, which I imagine are what drives their movement and thoughts. As a result, I don't think the beasts, or perhaps more aptly, the constructs feel pain or fear.

Thirdly, the crystals. After the beasts are brought down, the crystals within begin to grow and are quite sharp, making disposal annoying and tedious and leaving many of my ponies with cuts and slivers. It's so common that my medics are running out of supplies to treat all the lacerations.

Fourthly, my guards are being stretched thin. There's not enough resting time to go around, and many complain of persistent aches and poor sleep. These guards can't keep this up on their own, and it's imperative that they receive the assistance that they need.

The good news is that the beasts' attacks have slowed, but I fear that this is merely the tide pulling out, so to speak. We have staged no counterattack and are no closer to understanding what these things are, where they are coming from, or how there are so many. I believe they may be waiting to attack en masse. If this is the case, my fears of their organization may be founded. 

I've had photographers capture multiple images of the constructs, both functional and fallen, and I ordered them to take care to record the symbols along their sides, as you requested. My second-in-command Shimmer Spear had an idea about one of the symbols, the set of concentric circles, and I've included her note with this letter. I believe you are correct, Princess, understanding those symbols may be the first step to understanding the beasts themselves. 

Act quickly, Your Majesty. Time is of the essence.

Dutifully yours,
Commander Stronghoof





Princess, I think I recognize the symbol made of a bunch of circles inside each other. When I was a filly, my father used to read me an old family storybook and it had that in some of the pictures. Are you familiar with the Tale of the Long-Legged Mare?