At the Apollo Precinct, Equestrial Guardponies were preparing to go out and battle against the other eight factions that have taken root in the Pandora System. Troops were saluting with wide stance and boldness. Tanks drove Northward up the streets.
General Vanguard Studds trotted up to a Commissar to check up on progress, hoping everything will be as simple as war is.
"How are the stallions?" He asked.
"Tolerable, sir." The Commissar said.
"Morale?"
"Good at Central, poor on the front."
"Casualties?"
"The same, sir."
"Firing squads?"
"Twenty today. Twelve for cowardice in the line of duty." The Sentinels behind the Commissar walked off.
"Baneblade production?" Atop the slope of the main base, gunships flew in over a circular building, dropping large crates onto a platform that sunk into the factory, and taking off.
"Tank crew, munitions, and parts are arriving by convoy on schedule, sir." said the Commissar. "As you know it takes only the most highly trained crew to properly operate a-"
"I know." Studds finished.
"Very good, General."
"How many do we have on hoof?" The General asked.
"Unfortunately, sir, a shipment of one hundred Baneblades has just gone out to serve..."
"I see." said Studds. He trotted back to the main base with the Commissar following behind. He kept trotting until he reach a corner in the wall of the base. He overlooked the great Equestrial city before him and shook his head in disbelief.
"Look at this." Vanguard said as he slowly waved his left hoof from right to left, gesturing at the tragic ruins. "Once this was a fine city. Gleaming beacon of the Empress's light, a center of industry. Now look at it." Studds looked back at the Commissar. "Commissar, I would like to see this city built up again. I would like to see towers and spires of gleaming white. I would like to see our stallions on parade routes, not tours of duty." The anger festered in the General's heart as he continued to speak. "I would like to see every city on this planet, every colony in this besotted, miserable system turned to the service and industry of the Equestrium, in the Empress's name."
The Commissar nodded in agreement. "In the Empress's name, sir."
Studds sighed through his nostrils. "But to see my dreams fulfilled, first we must wipe the system clean of these blasted xenos and heretics and monsters and... and zealots." He turned to face the Commissar. "And to do that, this base, our center of command, must operate free of danger or harassment."
Equestrial tanks were parked in lots all around the precinct. "Our troops are ready." said Studds, "Our tanks, our sentinels, and if the Empress wills it, we will have functioning Baneblades. Tell me, Commissar, are we prepared? Or will we be cattle taken to slaughter?" The Commissar didn't answer, but the General just closed his eyes and slightly bowed his head. "Well! We will do what we can, and pray for victory. The enhanced Party Cannon has been prepared by our TechDonkey Engineers, has it not? It can be fired at will?"
The Commissar nodded. "Very good, General." At a different location, the said Party Cannon was in the ground and well protected by entrenched Heavy Weapon teams.
"It only requires an artillery spotter." said Studds. "We shall place our faith in the God-Empress."
"In the Empress's name, sir." said the Commissar. A team of Assassins moved out to be the eyes of their earthbound cannon.
"That will have to do the job." said Studds. "As always, we place faith in the Empress." With that said, General Vanguard Studds and his army moved out to fight the great war of the Pandora System.