"Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter."
— Winston Churchill
6/5/14 12:00pm White House, Earth
President Tow stared at the newest photos placed on her desk; Brent had been right even if he had been just making it up at the time for public opinion. Over the last few days, ever since the bombing, what could be seen as more ponies were filling the shielded area. It took a day just to enhance the image enough for the needed image quality.
The top image showed an alicorn near at the top of their dome, wings and limbs spread, a bar along the side showed the ‘visible’ magic levels which were off the chart, but nothing could be found as to what the Princess was trying to effect. It must be some sort of funeral right. Tow tossed the pile of photos back onto her desk with enough force that several went over the edge and onto the floor. There is no way of knowing because our expert is on the other side and no one else had his contacts! Even if he were here he could never be trusted, not when he gave out those documents. The ones she stared at on another corner of her desk, the copies sent directly to the Embassy, complete with hidden watermark.
There was nothing to do. She lamented, standing to pick up the disturbed photos and files. The U.S. can’t risk information like that getting out; Russia would kill for that opportunity. Who knows what it would do to the fragile economy.
“We must work together to pro-“ She stabbed the power button on her TV with a finger, thankful to finally have it off.
What can be done now? Any kind of favors will make me look weak and anything I do to help Brent will just fuel him and damage any chance of cooperation with Equestria.
She held back a sigh, remembering her mother’s words: ‘Every time you sigh, a little bit of happiness escapes.’
We could reveal “Orpheus” but that could backfire just as easily as help. Let us just wait and see. So long as they don’t know that radio waves cannot penetrate the portal, that the stairs hide a radio transmitter or that the cord for the M.A.L.P. was for communications, they should be able to get set back up. If this new anti-magic field can be modulated properly…
6/5/14 4:00pm Research Facility, Earth
Celestia waited, the Element Bearers would be coming through the portal at any moment, its blue white light reflected off the Solar Princess. The room had finally been cleared of its extraneous human devices, leaving a space large enough for a contingent of guards, even a small dragon if they could fit through the portal. This should end in one hit if hard enough.
She sat, and waited for her tardy student to pass through the portal for another ten minutes before any ripples appeared in its smooth water surface. The first pony through was her faithful student, clad in gold. Horn covered in a vicious looking blade whose main purpose was to protect the horn from damage, a layered plate armor that left only her forearms and gaskins uncovered by metal. A golden sun was etched onto the chest with a center of yellow spinel that radiated a soft magic and mirrored on either flank, a defensive spell developed by Luna. Her helmet and shoulders flowed out like wings, giving an angry visage.
Next through was Rainbow Dash in an onyx armor suit reminiscent of the pegasi of old, before the three races came together. It showed the military tendency with an onyx crest atop a helmet of the same color trimmed in darkened gold. Dark gray caparison covered her body with burnished gold inlayed into the armor and a gem in the shape of a lightning bolt adorned her chest. The leading edges of her wings were covered by a similar metal offering protection without hindering flight.
Applejack was the next one through the portal wearing a different sort of armor. Chainmail could be seen under red plant leather, rear legs covered by a draping piece of cloth, cast metal horseshoes finishing it off. Armor did not work as well for earth ponies, at full speed they could hit something and dent their own armor, power required flexibility. An apple pendant hovered over her chest and reflected the light.
Pinkie Pie came next, as naked as the day she was born except for a white saddlebag emblazoned with her cutie mark. Fluttershy had a similar attire except that her bag had a red cross on it.
“I hope every one of you is ready.” I wish you had more time to train.
“Of course! No one hurts my friends and gets away with it.”
“A’m as ready as anypony I guess.”
“I don’t want to throw a party for this one.”
“Everypony please stay safe.”
Twilight bowed. “We are ready to help.”
Celestia looked at the gathered elements, at the mixed emotions. The cyan mare was ready to let loose while all the yellow could do was paw the ground. “Get some rest and relax. Tomorrow will be a long night. See the guards and get to know them, ask them questions and teach them what you know.” Four of the ponies left her, Twilight staying behind.
Celestia moved closer to her pupil, nuzzling as they met. “What is wrong Twilight?”
Twilight rubbed the back of her neck with a forehoof and looked at her mentor with downcast eyes.
“Did the training go well?” Celestia stepped away, walking to a piece of floor away from the portal and sat.
Twilight followed her mentor. “It did. I’m amazed at how long it felt. There is so much history that isn’t thought. So much magic that is hidden.” She stared with questioning eyes.
“What do you think would happen if foals read half of what you did? How could we maintain peace if past hatred was constantly brought up?”
“I know,” the purple mare started and looked away. “But I don’t want this.”
“Nopony does, but it still happens.”
“But we have never had to kill before. Even Chrysalis was left to live somewhere else.” There was a pleading note in her voice.
“With any luck you still won’t have to kill.” It was Celestia’s turn to look away. “But was what happened to the changelings really a kindness? What if they return or attack some other civilization because of us?”
The student opened her mouth to reply and closed it, trying again to no avail.
“How does the armor work?”
“Steel Mill is amazing!” Twilight fought through her emotions, her face shifting expressions. “These things are so light and yet can block so much.” Sadness eventually won out. “And all I can think of is how Rarity would have tried to make them more fashionable.”
“How are your friends holding up?” Celestia placed a hoof across Twi’s shoulders.
Twilight leaned against the alicorn as Celestia settled a wing over her. “Not as well. Aquatica and Fluttershy got into a fight about the job of a medic and which injured should get the help. Neither of them won. Rainbow Dash spent her off hours reading about the Air Force. AJ has been looking after Sweetie Belle, but hasn’t been around as much. And I have no clue what Pinkie Pie has been doing.”
Celestia looked down at her most faithful student, at the crossed brows as she found a puzzle.
“What was Pinkie doing?” She looked up at Celestia. “And why did she need her party cannon?”
“Tis a surprised.” Celestia winked. “But it sounds like your friends have all grown since you first met them.”
They sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company in a way they hadn’t been able to and wouldn’t again for a while.
6/5/14 7:32pm
Applejack strode through the embassy doors, letting the cape flow behind her with the metal clack of her shoes. It still felt weird to her to be wearing such clothing. The guards all let her pass without incident, all busy with their own preparations. The foyer, a word she learned from Rarity, was filled with weapons, some clearly not Equestrian.
The earth pony made her way down to the basement staring at the pure white of the whole place. There were rooms lining one wall, only one had guards posted outside of it.
The two golden clad white unicorns saluted as she approached.
“Ah think ya got the wrong pony.” Applejack looked at the guards.
“No ma’am. You are the element of honesty.”
“Can ya’ll stop doin’ that?”
“Were you wanting to see the prisoners?” The quiet guard moved a blue gem near the door until gears could be heard in the door.
Ya sure its o-kay ta go in?
“We are constantly observing them from out here and they haven’t tried anything yet. Just be warned the female one is injured and may be a bit feral.”
AJ tried to keep the disgust off her face, it wasn’t mean spirited to her.
She saw two groups of humans, the males and females were on different sides of the room. The male ones shifted their gaze and signaled each other while the female one sat off in a corner and glared. As the pony got closer she heard slight rasping as the human breathed, wincing every few breaths.
Applejack had questions she needed answered and every stop brought her closer to the human she hoped could answer them. Aiko kept up her gaze as the pony stepped closer.
Before the mare could get to the question she wanted, something else escaped her lips. “Whadja wanna spar for anyhow?” It left her voice with anger she didn’t know was there but it was displayed in her body. Tense muscles, clenched teeth.
“Because the second rule of combat is to know thy enemy.” AJ was shocked at the smooth voice, liquid cool as it sent a chill down the pony’s back. “If one day I had to fight a pony it wouldn’t be flat footed. But you were an excellent teacher.”
The mare felt her blood rise, she just wanted to take her sodden hoof and slap the human. The mare raised her hoof only to set it back down. Cain’t do it. She realized. “Why did you kill my friend?” That prissy, detailed-obsessed, fraid to get dirty friend.
The two continued to stare.
Aiko was the first to break the silence. “I have nothing else to say.”
“Now she wants to shut up.” Came a snide comment from one of the other humans followed by the sound of something fleshy getting hit.
Applejack wished she knew what else to ask, but she hadn’t ever expected those answers and doubted anymore would be coming.
6/5/14 4:48pm Bridal Lake, Earth
Celestia looked out at her assembled ponies, the five remaining Elements of Harmony at the front followed by rows and rows of Royal and Lunar Guards. Every pony was alert with crisp lines and clean armor, even the Element Bearers. Her platform stood in the rubble of the Ambassador’s house, beams and blackened wood covered the brown earth with the smell of death hanging over everything.
“Clever. Using the rubble to remind everypony of what is at stake.”
You use what you can to survive.
“In a few hours Equestria will launch its counter offensive to the attack perpetrated against us by the United States government under the guise of friendship.” The Princess used a variation of the Royal Canterlot voice to boom her message to her solders. “You have seen off of their own news sources that they are moving troops into battle, the tanks. Even the speeches have turned against us. We will not let them. Their numbers mean nothing if they cannot use their weapons. A kick from a regular pony could disable one, let alone from the best Equestria has to offer.”
Celestia reached out to feel for the wave of energy hurtling towards the planet, estimating how much longer she had. “In about an hour I will teleport you to your designated attack coordinates. The Elements are going with you to show these humans that we are not weak, that every pony will stand up to them. That we will not let them rule us!”
“For any of you guards worried about the Elements entering into battle; these are the same ponies who stopped Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis. They have also spent the past week training with the same mare that trained all of you and focused on the advanced courses. They have direct knowledge of humans and have just as much at stake as you do. Listen to them.” And we need symbols and morale. Celestia reminded herself.
“All medical personnel will stay here to help the injured on their return. Fluttershy has brought more information on triage so follow her lead.”
“What impact will putting human lives on the same level of importance as ponies do to your precious morale?” It was a question Celestia had, but Fluttershy refused to help unless they were all treated equally and her presence was just as important for morale.
It gives us the moral high ground while degrading the human’s.
“Pinkie Pie will be on a special mission. She has already given Buck Shot schematics and ideas to help with defense.”
“A lone pony behind enemy lines. You are more like your sister than you thought.”
Silence! I don’t know why my inner voice has become so vocal but it shall end!
“So be it. I am just saying what needs to be said.”
“Twilight with her new training with combat magic and the help of the Royal Guards shall attack Fort Lewis, a major training and mobilization base. While Rainbow Dash, along with some of the most skilled Lunar Guards does the same for Nellis, Applejack will hit Camp Pendleton with her own group. The rest of you already know your targets and have trained for weeks to be a good group.” Aquatica should not have done this on her own accord, but it was wise.
“Make sure you are ready. As soon as the wave hits, your jobs begin.”
6/6/14 7:58pm Pacific Time
President Tow gathered a few loose papers on her desk, several were reports from experts; others were marked as URGENT. There was one warning about increased solar activity, Russia moving troops to its western border, increased activity in the bubble and Brent.
Everything has to happen at once. She fumed as the last few folders were added to the pile. How dare he! ‘I know they took the Embassy. How is that not an official attack? How will the people respond when I release this information in twenty four hours?’ If I EVER get ahold of him, trying to force my hand. Tow knew she was cornered for now, she had hoped for at least a week to figure things out, instead she was having an emergency cabinet meeting.
The best option is a blockade, if they had more trade an embargo might work, show that something was being done… No, so much as one trigger happy marine could end this real quick. Midterm elections are coming up and no way is his party getting those seats. There is nothing we can trade for hostages and no way to get them to give up Bridal Lake. Damn them! Both of them.
The President looked up as the lights gave a brief flicker. She ignored it and walked across her office. If we can take Bridal Lake though, or just give a sufficient show of force. She let her thoughts continue as the lights flickered and died. More good news. The red-headed woman pulled the small plastic slab of her phone out only to find it dead.
Her eyes went to the URGENT file on top, of Russian tank movements. They wouldn’t dare use an EMP just to take a little bit of territory. She made her way back to the desk, everything pitch black, but knowing the office intimately, set her files down and picked up the landline. It too was dead. This line was supposed to be shielded! How big was it? There should have been some indication, we have people who would have heard something, even from China.
The doors to her office burst open. Tow dropped to the floor and moved behind her desk.
“Madam President!” The deep, gravelly voice called. “This is the Secret Service, we need to move now.”
“How bad is it?” Tow stood, recognizing the familiar shapes of these two officers.
“No idea, but we have to get you out of here.” The guard handed her something as she approached, a long cylinder with a strap.
Margarette Tow looked at the object in the pale light, night vision goggles. The world washed away into shades of green putting them on. Outside her office she could see another six guards.
“There is a car in the basement.” He said, leading the group down the hall. “Herbert Walker had us implement it. An old thing in a faraday cage. It should be immune.”
The group moved through the empty halls, very few worked this late at night. The cabinet members will be moved shortly. Air Force One will be dead, She couldn’t remember what was supposed to happen in this situation. Trust your staff.
President Tow looked out the darkened windows of the silver van as they drove past the dark roads, using grass, the median, or whatever part did not have stalled cars. The shapes could be seen in the green light. She took the goggles off and stared at them. “How do these work?”
The Agent in the front passenger seat looked back at her. “New technology ma’am. Something about using rhodopsin and magic is all I know. Expensive as hell though, fifty grand a pop easy.”
“Synthetic?” The President asked, putting the goggles back on. People are out there. I can see them. Scrambling in their cars, running. She looked behind and in front of their van, at the small convoy making its way.
“From what I hear.” His eyes stayed focused on the road ahead. “The real ones are too precious.”
And in use for more important research. How many billions in defense spending went into all this? She had seen the numbers, had made sure of it, and just could not remember.
The sun crested off to her left as the new morning rose. At no point had the President been able to sleep during the night. Even after traveling over 500 miles south, there is still no power. That blast must have been massive.
“Are you sure those reports are accurate?”
“Yes ma’am. The old telegraphs work. We checked one just an hour ago while you slept.”
Did I sleep? She didn’t feel tired but that could have been the adrenaline. The trip did feel like a blur though.
“It extends up to the Canadian border. And we have yet to hear from any place south or west yet. Nothing works and no sign of attack.”
“But, there has been no sign from California or western states has there.” It would be stupid to attack either coast. If any place wanted to attack this coast it would be either with a missile or they would have to go past Europe. To attack the west coast is much shorter, but much better defended and unless they used multiple EMPs they couldn’t have hit both sides of the country. Something felt off, some key fact.
“Get me back to D.C.” Tow ordered.
“We can’t do that ma’am, we have been attacked. There is no other explanation.” He explained from the front of the van.
“Once communications are back up things will need to be coordinated.” She stared down at the pile of files next to her, some lying on the floorboard, one without red sticking out.
“Those defenses are NOT secure enough, we can find a satellite phone to repair further south and coordinate that way.”
Tow picked up the file. Weird solar activity…
“No, that won’t work, satellites will be out too. This is an order! Take me back so our allies can find us.”
“Ma’am?” He asked as he looked back to her then gave a curt nod at seeing her expression. “We will take the next off-ramp.”
“We have two priorities; reestablish contact with Cheyenne, Fort Huachuca, the Pentagon and Nellis. And get us in contact with our overseas allies ASAP. Any unit that can be reached is put immediately onto full alert status.”
6/6/14 8:02pm
Celestia felt the wave of energy, solar winds striking far above, an increase in the flow of energy around her, an increase in the available magic as a quasi leyline appeared before her.
“It is time my ponies.” The Solar Princess looked out at the fidgety ponies. “They should have lost most of their advanced weapons, but their guns will still work. Move into your groups and be careful.”
As her ponies split into groups, Celestia flapped into the air and reached out for the available magic.
“You could just teleport yourself to their capital and take it.” The voice purred. “End it with one punch. What could they possibly do without their leader?”
No. They have redundancies, they have allies and they could counter attack still.
Magic poured through the princess as she prepared multiple translocation spells at once. Not only did she have to send large groups of ponies to each spot but also gear and leave enough magic to teleport everyone back. She saw the auras of all her ponies as her eyes opened, pure magic spilling forth. With a flash of light the groups disappeared one by one. Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Trixie, Buck, and the other five groups followed by the lone pink pony.
When she had finished, sweat trickled down her forehead from the exertion.
“I could have helped them.” Shining Armor protested again.
“No, we can’t leave our foothold defenseless. They will strike back once they figure out what happened.” We must be ready by then, without adequate knowledge of what they may have in hiding.