//------------------------------// // No Fighting in the War Room! // Story: Equestria Has Fallen // by ward282 //------------------------------// Thunderer sat in the war room around the giant map, he was bored of these meetings when he barely had anything to contribute. Thunderer looked around the table, to his right at the head of the table was Princess Cadence, beside her on Thunderers' right was Commander Spitfire of Wonderbolts fame. The Wonderbolts had been a key resource during the evacuation of Canterlot, the fallout from this was that the three main members of the Wonderbolts were given military promotions. The three members had been split up to lead The Resistance in three different areas, Spitfire to Trottingham, Soarin to Cloudsdale and Fleetfoot to Manehatten. The rest of the members around the table were of no real significance; they led small units, protected supply trains or completed scouting missions. As Thunderer was drifting off into the land of procrastination Spitfire spoke up. "Bad news" she said slamming her forehooves on the table for dramatic effect, "We've now found out why the changlings have moved out of Manehatten, Queen Chrysalis had moved a dragon into play, it can't fly or breath fire but its giant and takes refuge in a sea cavern near the city. Fleetfoot has had to withdraw her troops and civilians from the city into the outskirts but they couldn't move the changling barrier out of the city in time. She's requesting further orders on what to do, the way I see it we have two; fight back or evacuate." "What does this mean for us strategy wise?" Princess Cadence asked Spitfire. "With the changling barrier still within the city, those ponies are exposed on all sides; the dragon in the South and the changlings and abominations everywhere else." "Can't they build a new one?" Princess Cadence questioned further. Thunderer spoke up when he saw the dismay in the Princess's face. He knew the answer to that question all to well. "The changling barrier or shield, whichever you want to call it, was a prototype. Neither Time Turner nor I were able to extensively test the shield, when Spitfire commandeered the device." Thunderer shot Spitfire the 'I-told-you-so' face. The changling shield was a replica of the shield Shining Armour had cast around Trottingham, but this device was a smaller portable one that created a shield wherever it was placed. As soon as Thunderer had told the war council of its success, Spitfire took the device and gave it to Fleetfoot before the device could be developed further. "To build a new changling shield generator we'd need the prototype" Thunderer continued. "Didn't you think to leave drawings or notes when you built it?" Spitfire interjected. "If we'd had the time to make notes we would have COMMANDER!" Thunderer put emphasis into Spitfires' rank "And what is that exactly supposed to mean PRIVATE! Oh wait, I forgot you were no longer deserving of that rank, maybe if you'd wanted to be in my position you should've..." "PONIES PLEASE!" Princess Cadence shouted in an ear-splitting tone. The two arguing ponies quietened and sank back into their seats. Thunderer folded his ears down at what Spitfire was about to mention, she always reminded him of that day. He regretted his actions ever since, confining himself to the suit of pegasi armour ever since. Nopony trusted Thunderer since then, all except Time Turner and a few others who knew the pony in the armour. The others, they all thought he needed to suffer more. "So we need to retrieve the changling shield generator to create a new one?" Cadence asked now in a calm tone. "Yes" Thunderer replied in a monotone voice. Princess Cadence gestured for Spitfire to continue. "News from Soarin" Spitfire resumed to the rest of the room, "It looks like Discords' forces are making an assault on Cloudsdale. Soarin says he's seen ground forces mobilise some ancient weapons capable of destroying pegasi cities, he doesn't know how long he can hold the city." "What about the element of loyalty?" Princess Cadence asked. "From what I've heard she's quite the fighter, she's come far in eighteen months." Spitfire said with a sense of dismissal. "And these ancient weapons?" another pony spoke up, he was a yellow pegasus. "They're old earth pony cannons from The Long Winter War, Discord hasn't figured out how to use them yet but it won't take long" Spitfire finished. The discussion went around the room with each pony talking about what had happened since the last week. Although all of it was important, it was all uninteresting to Thunderer. It now came for Thunderer to speak about his and Time Turners' weapon. Thunderer put his forehooves on the table like all those before him when they wanted to speak. The armour he was wearing did not cover most of his legs, with both hooves on the table the scars running up and down his legs became obvious. He coughed and used a metal wings to stifle it. "Time Turner and I are still working out the power issue with overloading the shields. His latest hypothesis is that overloading the reactors will destroy all of Trottingham and most of the surrounding area, and that's only possible if we can find a power source with a big enough input." "Are there any other options?" Cadence asked. "As some of you will know Doctor Time Turner studied Starswirls the Beardeds' forbidden spells and believes he can recreate one to win this war, but we also need the Elements of Harmony to conquer the same problem." "Speaking of which how is the Element of Laughter stone holding up?" Cadence asked. "As Celestia and Luna have said in the past, the elements are only useful when the ponies are their usual selves. As of late we feel that Pinkie Pie is unhappy, we've noticed that the stones' output is less each time we test it." "What can we do to rectify this? Although I dislike you personally Thunderer, yours and Time Turners' weapon is our only hope" Spitfire said with spite. "I've been giving it consideration since Twilight Sparkle arrived and I am of the belief that re-uniting the Elements of Harmony will provide a large enough input for overloading the shields." "But we only know the locations of five of the elements." Spitfire added. The look on Spitfires face did not match that of her tone of voice toward Thunderer. He face expressed no emotion, perhaps it could be the scar that ran down her face but she never felt any emotion other than anger towards others. Thunderer had heard the stories of Spitfires' husband during Canterlots' falls; apparently she had to defend the city from aerials assaults while her husband was killed by a changling. "The element of magic has revealed itself once before when the Bearers of Harmony fought Nightmare Moon, it is very likely that it will again. Reuniting the Bearers of Harmony on the other hoof is no small matter, the six of them all far apart, getting to the others could take weeks not to mention resource Trottingham does not have" Princess Cadence explained. "Which is why I propose I lead a small team." Thunderer said. There was a burst of laughter from Spitfire. "You...lead? Maybe you should bear the Element of Laughter and that will solve all our problems." Spitfire harked. "Princess, I used to serve under Shining Armour you can easily access his reports of me to determine my suitability. I've been out on many scouting missions and I have this armour. I owe you this as Celestia as my witness to make this right." "Damn right you do" Spitfire said. Princess Cadence shot a look to Spitfire who stirred uncomfortable, Thunderer let himself look smug for that fraction of a second it took Spitfire to regain her composure. Thunderer looked to Cadence waiting for an answer. "I will need to discuss it with Luna tonight, your plan is good but it carries a lot of risk. But it seems to me you've been thinking about this for a while." "Every night since I heard the first Bearer of Harmony returned. I know I've made mistakes so give me this opportunity to make it right." Cadence looked away for a second. A long time ago before Shining Armour was set into stone, he sat right where Cadence was looking. That had been long ago but she still looked for his military leadership. Even after what Thunderer had done, Shining Armour considered Thunderer a warrior but all that changed when Spitfire was appointed Commander. "I will discuss it with Luna tonight, you will need to find ponies you trust to go with you because if Luna agrees you will need to leave straight away, this war has gone on long enough!" There was a small cheer from everypony except Spitfire, who looked straight at Thunderer. "War council, dismissed." Princess Cadence announced.