//------------------------------//
// Meeting in the Black Tower 
// Story: Terror in Equestria 6:  The Great War 
// by StormLuna 
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In Ponyville Colgate had just finished watching the interaction between Scootaloo and Lemon Hearts.  She realized that the time had come for her reserves to be activated for the first time in 3,000 years.  She quickly flew off her balcony and headed to Sugarcube Corner where she was greeted by her reserves, just as she had for the past three millennia.  She was greeted by Applejack.  She asked, "Howdy Colgate, what brings you over to these parts?"

Colgate replied, "Applejack, I need you to go get the rest of your family and head to the tower.  In fact I need all of you to get to my tower as soon as possible.  I have seen and heard things that regard the security of this nation."

Applejack asked, "What could be going on that you would have to have ALL of us there?"

Colgate was getting a bit irritated.  She snapped, "You will soon find out in the meeting.  Don't worry, we will have lunch afterwards.  Just go get them."

While Applejack headed home to get the rest of her family Rarity asked, "Colgate, what is going on?  We certainly can't be under threat of any attack, the world has been at peace for three thousand years."

Colgate frowned and motioned for them to head to the tower.  She replied, "Come on everypony, this is important."

The remaining four followed Colgate to her tower and a few minutes later the Apple family along with Sweetie Belle arrived in the throne room.  Joining them were her officers.  Colgate slammed the door after everypony was present and started, "Alright everypony, effective immediately, everypony is active duty."

Rarity asked, "But why Colgate?  You did not tell us earlier."

Colgate replied, "I did not tell you earlier because I figured it needed to wait until all were present."  Colgate paused for a second and continued, "First I do have some good news, the war on the other side of the Alicorn Ocean is over, Lemon Hearts has been captured.  Now for the bad news, she has told Scootaloo some information that has caused me to put everypony on active duty."

Fluttershy asked, "What is that?  Are my critter friends at risk of being hurt?"

Colgate rolled her eyes and replied, "No, your critter friends are at no risk of being hurt.  As far as what she said, she said that Lyra has plans for attacking Equestria."

Rainbow Dash asked, "Oh, and how does she plan on attacking us?  With her puny little army she won't get anything done against us!"

Colgate glared at her and replied, "Rainbow, I wish she did still just have a puny little army.  She has modernized and increased the size of her fleet.  She now has thirty carriers and Lemon Hearts told Scootaloo that chances are that Lyra will use all thirty not only to attack us, but to launch a full scale invasion."

Pinkie asked, "Colgate, don't you have a lot of troops stationed out there along the west coast?"

Colgate replied, "Yes but only along the big cities and at the naval base we have south of Los Alicornus.  Lyra is somewhat familiar with our coast so she will probably send her forces to invade lowly or non-populated areas."

Apple Bloom asked, "So commander, is there anything we could do?"

Colgate smiled and replied, "Yes, I would like for you and Sweetie Belle to fly out to our naval base south of Los Alicornus and tell them that they need to have carriers doing patrols up and down our coast."  She paused for a minute and asked, "Do you two think you are up to this?"

Applejack interrupted, "Now just wait a gol-darned minute Colgate.  You are going to send these two out there?"

Sweetie Belle said, "Applejack, you do know we aren't fillies anymore don't you?  We'll be fine."

Apple Bloom added, "Yeah, look at Scootaloo.  She led forces to liberate the Equine Empire and captured Lemon Hearts.  Flying out to a naval base to give orders from Colgate is nothing."

Colgate smiled and replied, "Applejack, they will be fine.  If I didn't think they were up to it, I wouldn't send them."

Applejack sighed, "Ok."

Colgate continued, "As far as the rest of us, for now we will just engage in military exercises and if their fleet approaches the coast and they either attack us or invade us, ALL of us will be headed out to the coast to aid in the war effort."

Rarity gasped, "ALL OF US?"

Colgate glared at her and replied, "Yes Rarity, all of us.  This will also result in me needing to duplicate the army, and it is now time for me to go and test this new spell I have been working on."

Pinkie asked, "What kind of spell is it?"

Colgate replied, "This is a completely new spell.  This information must remain classified.  This spell can only be known by me as it is a very dangerous one."

The entire room had an uneasy silence about it for a minute.  None of them knew what her plans were although Colonel Green Toxin had this sick look on his face as he had a feeling what it was.  He was worried that it was what she had discussed immediately after the grand princes of Saddle Arabia and Neigh Zealand were assassinated.

Colgate looked over at him and noticed the uneasy look on his face and was a bit irritated.  She asked, "Green Toxin, what is wrong?  Are you getting sick?"

Green Toxin replied, "I'm not getting sick.  I'm just worried about that new spell......."

Colgate did not want any of her recruits knowing about the uranium or her spell.  She interrupted Green Toxin, looked at her recruits and said, "Well everypony, let's go have some lunch.  After that, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom will fly out to the coast and the rest of us will start our exercises."

Green Toxin asked, "But what about......"

Before he could finish his sentence Colgate said, "This meeting is adjourned.  Let's go have some lunch."

Everypony looked at one another with concerned looks because of how Colgate interrupted Green Toxin twice and would not answer any questions from him.  The reason he had such concern was because of the legends regarding huge explosions tearing holes in the void.