Coltago was still fairly mild when it came to weather in June, considering its distance to the Northern end of Equestria. Granted at this time of year, mild meant “not eighty degrees out”, but Moondancer took the small victories where she could. Her newly sewn uniform was still missing the Major General’s rank tabs that she’d been commissioned to, but that was a small issue, same as many of the issues that plagued her new Army Corps at present.
Rifles were still slowly filtering into her slowly mustering force, and her aide de camp - some Lieutenant she hadn’t memorized the name of yet - had recorded that the Corps wouldn’t finish mustering for roughly a month, give or take a week. She’d need all the rifles she could get, too; her Corps was looking to muster with around 17,000 and some odd ponies, formed into four divisions; two infantry divisions, an artillery train, and a cavalry division.
Tents were trouble, though the city of Coltago was kind enough to sequester as many of her growing army within the city’s Town Hall and the constabulary as they could. It was workable - for now - but she really needed the tents, especially with how often it was raining these days. They were supposedly en-route, Moondancer had been told four or five times now, but en-route from where, nopony could seem to tell her.
Regardless of her supply situation though, she had work to do. Her Officers’ Cadre was starting to arrive today, and her four divisional commanders would need briefing and a level of standard to begin training their troops - all volunteers - up to snuff. It seemed like most of this new model Equestrian Army was volunteers to her, and Moondancer wasn’t very sure how she felt about that.
Three of the four ponies that had arrived in Coltago to compose her general staff, and Moondancer readily recognized them. Anja Snow of Ravenholm, Filip Redglad - originally of Griffonstone, but of Neigh York these days - and Octavia Melody of Ponyville; all three were graduates of the Canterlot Military Institute, and moreso, peers from Moondancer’s own graduating class of officers.
Her gaze stopped however, on her fourth divisional officer.
There were only five alicorns in all of Equestria. Twilight and Luna were managing Eastern Virginia’s frontage, Celestia was running the country, Cadence was managing her Crystal City in the far North.
And Flurry Heart Di Cadenza Mi Amore, Second in Line for the Crystal Throne, first natural-born Alicorn Foal since time immemorial, was sitting in front of Moondancer, wearing a slap-dashed attempt at an officer’s uniform - though idly and distantly, Moondancer noted she was missing both a forage cap and overcoat.
Moondancer paused, having to stop and look again at the bubblegum pink alicorn standing before her, before shooting a look over at the trio of regular officers.
Redglad, very helpful, shrugged and lit himself a cigarillo. Snow just gave Moondancer a lopsided grin, and Octavia at least had the decency to cough and look away awkwardly.
Moondancer sighed inwardly, and nodded to her three schoolmates, before looking Flurry Heart up and down. “Your highness, Lady Flurry Heart; might I ask why you’re here? In Coltago, that is. Ma’am.”
Flurry simply blinked, visibly confused at the older mare’s inquiry. “Oh, well, I’m to be your aide de camp, General Morning.” The barely an adult-more of a filly really- replied, snapping off a lackadaisical salute, as Melody poorly stifled a giggle. Moondancer, momentarily off-put by the alicorn mare, shot Octavia a glare, which did nothing but prompt the earth pony mare to stifle more giggles, as Moondancer returned her attention to the awkwardly smiling filly.
“That’s not necessary, your highness. I already have an aide de camp. The Lieutenant is very helpful, and I don’t really need another camp officer.” Moondancer curtly stated, as the filly began to wilt. Oh bother, she’d upset the mini-princess.
“What? That doesn’t make any sense. Auntie Tia specifically said that you were still missing an officer.” Flurry Heart mumbled, as a sinking feeling settled into Moondancer’s gut. She couldn’t be serious… could she?”
“And you arrived with these three miscreants?”
“Yes, General.” The bubblegum pink mare perked up momentarily, smiling towards the trio - and still maintaining her salute. With an eye roll, Moondancer returned the salute, prompting the young mare to drop her own. “Same train car, even.”
“Brilliant. Celestia’s drafting children now, we might as well give up the war already.” Moondancer groused, as Flurry Heart spluttered in embarrassment and agitation. “How old are you even, kid?”
“I’m twenty! Plenty old enough! And Auntie Tia didn’t draft me, I volunteered!”
“You volunteered? I’m surprised your mother hasn’t keeled over from a heart attack yet. Or your father for that matter, though I suppose he’s been busy out west. Look. You’re supposed to be an officer, are you even trained yet?”
“I am, actually.” Flurry nodded, scowling at the more caustic Moondancer. “I just finished out around the middle of my class at West Point, two months ago.”
“Two- Are you shitting me, two months ago?” Moondancer recoiled, not believing her ears. “And Celestia assigned you to me? Kid, I need a Divisional Officer, not a fresh Second Lieutenant.”
“Well I’m what’s here, ma’am.” The Mare grimaced. “I have official orders and everything. I was expecting to be an aide, not leading a division.” Flurry retorted, walking the line between being snarky and being respectful.
“Well… You have orders?” A nod. “Official orders?” Flurry nodded, again. Moondancer held out a hoof, and immediately Flurry passed them along, as the newly minted Major General quickly scanned the document. “Remit listed officer - regimental command - Son of a bitch.” She shoved the offending document at the scandalized alicorn, who took it back in her grasp as Moondancer slapped her own forehoof with a kepi. “Well, welcome to the fucking Army of Coltago. I hope you’re a quick study, Brigadier General Breveret Flurry Heart; you’re leading the First Division of this army. Your first brigades arrive in three days. We’ll - shit - we’ll figure something out for bivouac today.”
“I - oh. I, wh-”
“I’ll bring you up to speed tonight with everyone else… You better prepare yourself though, Brigadier General Heart. I’m about to throw you in over your head and it’s sink or swim once the brigades start showing up. What the fuck, a twenty year old Brigadier, Faust fucking help us. I didn’t realize the war was going that badly already.”