The lands surrounding the sphinx colony were blanketed in snow, and the blizzard was determined it stayed that way. Logging Center Flex was just one of dozens hemming the forest down to size, to make way for the latest arriving colonists set to head inland within the week. It was situated along a wide moderately fast flowing river, perfect for sending logs downstream for processing.
The overseer of one such logging team was busy shouting a rhythmic cadence as three winged sphinxes stood on the end of a clearing with four wingless sphinxes with axes standing at the ready.
The winged spellweavers were hovering just off the ground as they made sweep and pulling motions with their forelimbs, churning the earth around a particularly large tree.
“Clear!” shouted the overseer, the weavers forced rock and dirt away from the roots of the tree, weakening it's hold.
“Push!” he ordered with a sense of urgency. The rock and dirt that was removed, now floated up and pushed on the tree.
“Chop!” The lumberjacks moved in on the exposed roots, clearing out each scrap of wood as far from the trunk as possible.
Over the course of five minutes, the tree gave off a deep cracking groan as the high angled push, coupled with the missing roots, finally toppled the wooden ancient.
Further orders were not needed from the overseer. The earth shapers moved on to another tree while the lumberjacks processed the fallen tree. A second team of woodsmen moved in to assist the magi. Behind them all were a small army of foresters and civic planners bundled up and huddling against the cold with a few campfires spread around camp. The planners mapped out where future roads and buildings would be placed while the foresters replanted local tree seeds and uprooted saplings.
The need for wood was massive, and would only grow as winter pressed on and as the ships with inbound colonists increased with every convoy. Every scrap of wood from the strong heartwood, to the roots themselves, were consumed by the burgeoning colony, nothing was wasted. Aside from the various structures and sawmills around the camp, situated right in the middle was arguably the most critical structure to the entire frontier; the pub. Well, for morale at least.
The establishment was the size of a large house, and on this cold snow covered afternoon, well over three dozen workers and a detachment of soldiers were engaging in getting drunk under the table. It was perhaps the only pastime that transcended species and cultures.
While there was a standing order to be on the lookout for more natives, with the exception of Slippery Shadow, not a single soul had even been spotted, let alone found. With no other intelligent natives to check the expansionist sphinxes, the land seemed ripe for the picking. While the Federation was slow to move inland, they were rapidly spreading out along the coast thanks to their strong maritime culture and the sheer overabundance of fish and other large marine animals.
The pub was in the middle of a drinking song about the last war ten years ago when a rather young winged scout burst through the front door with a frantic look on his face. “Legionary!” He cursed the fact that his commanding officer wasn’t at the Guard post.
The bitterly cold blizzard slammed the door wide open, sending the nearby patrons into growling belligerence. “Shut that door before I plant your skull in the ground!”
The scout ignored further spite from the patrons when he saw his commander on the second floor awning leaning against the railing. The scout shut the door and bolted up to his commander and threw up a salute. “Legionary, I spotted more natives to the east roughly ten miles out. My wingmate is keeping an eye on them now.”
The officer both cursed and thanked the fact he had yet to start drinking today. “More of them?” The scout nodded. “Good. Evocati,” he barked at the NCO who was sitting at the nearest table. “Gather a search and recover party. We have more guests to capture for the governor.”
“On it, sir!”
Yet before the evocati could give orders to the surrounding soldiers, the scout shouted to get both the officer and the NCO’s attention. “Actually, sirs, we need to bring this to the governor’s attention straight away. I don’t think we’re equipped for this.”
“Equipped for what?” the Legionary growled earnestly. “Spit it out!”
“We don’t know if they’re the same natives we’ve captured so far because there’s a flying boat headed our way, held aloft by a giant balloon.”
The NCO scoffed at the notion. “A flying boat you say?” he chuckled deeply. “On a balloon of all things? I thought you scouts were sober by choice. You haven’t suddenly discovered the wonders of scotch have you, boy?”
The officer had more faith in the scout corps than his underling. “What kind of boat? Are you sure it wasn’t one of our warsmiths testing a new invention? There’s always at least one trying to get a flying machine to work.”
“Not a chance, sir. It’s on straight course coming in from the east. It even has flags that don’t match up with any of the warsmith families that have immigrated here.” He changed a paw into a hand to fish out a hastily drawn picture of two winged and horned creatures circling a sun and moon.
The frantic look on the scout’s face was disconcerting enough already, the figures on the flag looked too much like the prey they had already captured so far. The idea of a flying boat spoke of technological or magical power none of them expected from the natives, and that alone was something the governor needed to know as soon as possible. “Go to the outpost and get a marathoner to send word of this.”
“As you say, sir,” the scout said hastily before zipping off, again ignoring cries of indignation at leaving the door open.
With his commander taking such a believing stance, the evocati couldn’t help but to rethink his options. “What are your orders, Legionary?”
“Gather every abled body you can find. We don’t have the numbers here in camp to make a show of force, but we can at least prepare for a fight. Send word to the other Legion outposts and to Chevalier Headquarters. We’ll need our best at the front.” As for me, I need to see this air-boat for myself.
“You think they noticed us yet?” Rainbow Dash asked aloud sarcastically as she, her sister, and Luna watched sphinxes swarm on the ground and at a wide berth in the air.
The Crystal Blue was passing over the logging center with no intention on coming to a halt until it reached the colonial capital. They had best-guessed their way so far, but now the road and log filled river gave them a straight run to the coastal town that was just barely visible in the distance.
Tittering a little with a hoof to her mouth, Twilight stopped all pretense of regality and plastered her face to the glass for a closer look. “No. I think we might need to sound the trumpets first. You know, test their auditory senses.”
Rainbow arched a mildly exasperated eyebrow at that. “You could just say ears.”
“Ahh, but what if they have more than just ears? What if their whole body can pick up sound!? This is just too much!” <Aegis, did you organize the sapiopology team in time?>
<Yes, my queen. They’re already taking notes, but we won’t get any serious data until we actually start talking to them.>
Rainbow Dash was listening in, and groaned at the over the top exuberance from Twilight. For Luna’s sake, she’s bouncing on her hooftips like a school filly. You’d think the trade convoy attack that started this whole ‘ling’ thing would have her acting more like Rarity or Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash dismissed her sister stealing a pair of binoculars with an eye roll to focus on security concerns. A small part of her was actually quite touched that Twilight trusted her so completely with everyone’s safety. <Intel, how are things looking on your end?>
The new head of the Jevruun Vrunningee was fully geared up along with two squads of eight drones each, and twice that number in royal guards. Unlike the royals one deck above them, the pony and changeling soldiers remained hidden behind the wooden deck. Reflective portholes allowed eight of them to watch the sphinxes outside without fear of discovery.
Of the sixteen drones, half were of Rainbow Dash’s brood. It was a clear declaration that both queens shared power. Intel watched them, seeing the excited tension race through them. Every last one of Twilight’s drones here were veterans of Rookhaven, and a few other small skirmishes with probing attacks by other queens.
Thunderfury was the only blue changeling to experience real, albeit brief, combat along the railroad between Stripped Gear and Ponyville. That fight’s the very reason he’s in my squad to begin with, Intel mused.
She briefly spoke to the greater bulk of her soldiers on the cloaked ship. Good, they don’t seem to be noticing the Deception at all. Let’s hope they don’t give us a reason to make it noticeable.
As the luxury yacht puttered along with the western ocean becoming more pronounced on the horizon, the sphinxes started to vastly grow in number around the Crystal Blue. Through her looking glass, Rainbow Dash spotted many armored sphinxes either being ordered closer, or were working up the nerve to close in. Not a single airship in sight. Did we slip through the net, or do they not have them at all?
Another matter she noticed was that dozens of the half-griffin things had spyglasses as well. “Can they see us through the glass?”
“No,” Luna replied evenly while keeping her eyes on the town that was still off in the distance. “This ship is named Crystal Blue due to how the glass dome looks like from the outside. They won’t know what we look like until we step outside.”
“Ummm,” Twilight grinned sheepishly at Luna’s oversight. “Aren’t we flying the Equestrian flag? That has both you and your sister prominently displayed on there, after all.”
<Hey Twi, how come we never thought of a flag for our hive?>
Luna let the slight embarrassment roll off her withers. “By the time they figure that out, we’ll have already revealed ourselves so I doubt that matters.”
Twilight let the matter with Luna fall away. <Can’t believe I never thought about that. I’ll have Gentle Touch take care of it.>
The yacht steamed ahead for another hour straight towards the harbor town until a living wall of two hundred fliers formed in front of the ship. With so much attention focused on the Crystal Blue, the Deception climbed four hundred meters above to keep any nosy sphinxes from accidently flying into the cloak bubble.
Not wishing to provoke them further, the Crystal Blue came to a full stop half a kilometer in front of the wall of fliers. A large procession walked out along the road with tall blue flags mounted on an open carriage pulled by a brown beast of burden akin to a rhinoceros that had far too many horns all over its body. Several more sphinxes carried family coat of arms around the carriage. With so many warriors in both the air and on the ground, Ventras waved off any further escorts.
From her perch in the observatory, Luna turned to the queens and an earth pony aide. “Looks like we have the newcomer leader’s attention. Shall we?”
Rainbow Dash glanced at her sister with a playful smirk. “No sense in making our guests wait.”
Within short order, the alicorn, both queens, and one changeling princess moved down to the chariot hangar, where a team of four pegasi were already hitched up and waiting for them. As soon as the bay doors opened, and the chariot departed, the Royal Guard and Queens’ Guard flew out right behind them, numbering a total of forty nine escorts.
A thrill of excitement coursed through Rainbow Dash at the sight of so many creatures that reminded her so much of her old friend, Gilda. “Say, Twilight. How are we going to be able to talk to these guys? Last I checked, your translator spell needed hours to get simple phrases.”
“Let me handle that,” Luna answered for her. “Despite my looks, I’m a rather accomplished linguist myself.” She didn’t afford herself a smile. The tension of the moment coupled with Shadow and the explorers’ fate killed any good humor she had.
The cloud of sphinxes moved to stand or hover behind the virtual line that Ventras formed as he exited the carriage with his majordomo and daughter following up behind him. None of them had time to dress more formally. Rasua barely had time to remove her protective blacksmithing clothing, and was reduced to wearing a soot covered wooly brown blouse with a heavy black jacket on to snuff out the cold. Thaddaeus was the lucky one, as he was already wearing very warm clothing in the form of a furry overcoat. Ventras wore a long sleeved white topped and red bottomed hakama, which Twilight took for something similar to Rarity’s dresses, except for the very masculine style. At least I think the big one’s male.
By contrast, the royals were wearing somewhat matching wind resistant form fitting clothing with Luna’s regalia sitting on top. Twilight’s warm clothing was navy blue with Rainbow’s being a hue of many different colors. Aegis was certainly glad one of the anchor rods in each gauntlet had a warming spell to keep the cold metal from freezing her hooves. Having no faith in her ability to walk upright on snow, Aegis remained on all fours.
The four of them disembarked the large chariot with all of the Guard staying behind to mimic the sphinxes’ forbearance. One of the military scouts glided down and quickly spoke a few words with Ventras before flying off again.
The royals and governor closed the hundred meter distance between their respective carriages. It was only now that both parties could truly size each other up. Thaddeus and Ventras were eye level with the queens, while Resua easily matched Luna’s height. Aegis, who was currently two inches shorter than her original self, felt rather dwarfed by everyone.
Luna would have made her sister proud with her emotionless regal posture, but she couldn’t shake the rather disturbing superior look the center newcomer was not even bothering to hide. He must be feeling quite comfortable with having five times our soldiers. How telling. The whole time both parties were walking towards each other, everyone was studying each other intently.
With the distance closed to speak comfortably with the windy blizzard now slowing down, Luna prepared her translation spell, only for Ventras to speak in nearly perfect Equish, catching them off guard. “I greet you, Princess Luna of the Moonlit Empire. I, Ventras Talarn, High Governor of the Sphinx Federation, welcomes you to our colony; Stratholme.”
Ventras concealed his mirth at the royals’ surprise, but his hunter’s eyes picked up on Luna hiding some humor as well. “I see you have me at a slight disadvantage.” Mentally smiling at the misinformation, Luna made no effort to correct Ventras’ error. “Since you know of me, please allow me to introduce my close friends and allies, the Sister Queens of the changeling city-state Phoenix's Roost. Presenting Queen Twilight Sparkle," she said as she gestured to Twilight.
Twilight gave a slight nod and friendly smile. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise, your majesty.” Ventras and the others internally scoffed at the notion of a monarchy. Such a strange attempt to fix a primitive form of government. It doesn’t matter if it’s one queen or two, a nation should not be ruled by the whims of so few.
"And to her right is her sister, Queen Rainbow Dash."
Ventras and Rainbow locked eyes for a moment before anyone spoke further. He had briefly done the same with Twilight, and what he saw in her eyes confounded him. What is with that gaze… Are they warrior-queens, or iron fisted rulers? “You and your allies are welcome, Queen Rainbow Dash.”
Funny thing, since you’re welcoming us to Equestrian land. Rainbow bit down on that reply before it could leave her lips. “Ventras,” she replied tactlessly. Cultural barriers were not enough to hide her obvious distaste for him.
“Lastly, their heir, Princess Aegis Altair.”
By the First Mother, why did I spend all my time learning to walk instead of first contact training. Oh right, there wasn’t any. Aegis brought a hoof to her mouth to cough nervously. “It is an honor to meet you.”
Ventras snorted with a mirthless grin. “Yes, it is. Let me introduce my Majordomo, Thaddaeus Windscar, and my daughter, Rasua Talarn."
“It is a most welcome honor to be among the first of our kind to greet the leaders of another.” Rasua bowed a little more deeply than Ventras would have allowed towards prey. Yet she saw something in the pony and former ponies’ stance that gave her a torrent of instinctual signals, some of them were conflicting. If she had to pin that feeling down to any one thing, it would be the comfortable confidence that none of the so called ‘prey’ should possess. She vastly preferred to have actual information on the natives before making a judgement call, but any huntress worth her salt knew to trust their instincts. They are not prey. I hope father realizes that before he does something the Federation will regret.
Thaddaeus may not have had Rasua’s insight on the true nature of the foreign leaders in front of him, but he saw what he could only surmise to be a weapon on Aegis’ back. During the introductions, he tried to look at the changeling and pony guards’ weapons. Even from a distance of a hundred meters, he could see the ponies had a small variety of weapons, but they were mostly spears and short swords, ultimately nothing he was concerned about in the least. However, a number of changelings carried weapons that were unmistakable to him. He had studied Trail Mix’s musket long enough to recognize firearms at a glance. Most sphinxes would mistake the rifles for headless spears or quarterstaffs, but one look at Aegis’ unusual weapon told him that these hole riddled creatures were the ones to be cautious about above all others.
He smoothly returned to the conversation when attention shifted to him. “I would be honored to extend our hospitality to you all.” He wanted to say more in terms of maintaining peace, but it was not his place.
Ventras turned and frowned at his majordomo’s genuine courtesy. While Rasua could hide her ill-at-ease well enough against the natives, she utterly failed to do so against her father. Why are they so afraid of prey? He didn’t like it one bit. We are the predators, not them. Perhaps everyone needs to be reminded of that.
Instead of offering the Equestrians passage to his warm manor, the aging governor sought to reaffirm everyone’s position as predator and prey. Tradition and honor demanded as such. This is not for just personal honor, but for the entire Federation! He returned his eyes to Luna with a slick smile. He had been too focused on the rulers themselves to notice the drones’ equipment. “So, for what purpose do you come before us?”
Rainbow Dash gave her sister a questioning look. <Isn’t this where he invites us out of the cold?> she queried with more than a little distaste for the governor.
<We have to assume their customs are very different, RD,> Twilight replied calmly. <But he does seem overly aggressive for a first meeting. Be ready for anything.>
Being ignorant of the exchange, Luna spoke. “I have come to secure the release of my explorers, and to negotiate a treaty regarding your seizure of our land.”
“Your land?” That was the perfect angle to use for Ventras to assert everyone’s respective roles. He let a brief howling wind pass before speaking with carefully crafted superior civility. “We were unaware that anyone claimed these lands, seeing how there was no one to be found when we landed here. We’ve barely seen a handful of your people over the years we've been settled here.” He turned to the changelings. “And none of yours.”
“That is why I’m here to negotiate a treaty, rather than use less… pleasant means of persuasion.” Luna fully believed that a careful mix of courtesy and show of force was needed for any first stage negotiations. The griffins and minotaurs know full well of Equestria’s armed forces, which were now backed by the technological might of the sisters’ hive. Unfortunately that was only long after bloody wars with both species that ended far too many lives than either alicorn thought necessary. Our task here today is to make sure a war never happens.
Luna’s choice of words regarding violence was extremely poor. If this had been a few months later when both races got to know each other better, it would have been just fine, but Ventras and every other sphinx within earshot saw it as a sign of weakness. While his daughter and majordomo assumed it was cultural ignorance, Ventras was operating under the lies and half-truths Slippery Shadow had been feeding him, along with his political obligations to tradition and the Federation. As a result, he took the sign of weakness at face value. It didn’t help the fact that prey had just threatened a predator with violence.
Ventras’ expression became as cold as the blizzard snow. “I am more than willing to return your explorer as a sign of good faith, but if this was truly your land, then you should have properly claimed it as such with a physical presence. Why should we abide any treaty when you are incapable of enforcing your claim?”
Rasua nearly freaked at the insult her father dropped on the equines. Why is he antagonizing them so much!? This isn’t a rival faction that we know the strength of. They could have an army of millions for all we know!
Rainbow Dash wanted to step forward, but Twilight held her back with a hoof. “My good governor,” Twilight said placatingly. “We’re all reasonable, civil-minded people.” Her tone grew friendlier as her internal diplomat came out in full. “How about we talk about each other’s position before deciding on anything further?”
Thaddaeus noticed the changeling warriors fidgeting with their weapons, moving them from their backs to being ready to use. He practically jumped at the chance when Ventras leaned towards him, gesturing for his council. He tried his damnedest to keep the edge of panic off his tongue. “I highly suggest we at least agree to talk with them, old friend. There is something highly unsettling about the queens that I can’t put my finger on,” he whispered in the off chance the royals might know their language.
“Do not be fooled by deception, Thaddaeus. Does not the Flarehound burn his surroundings to make it seem like there are more of them? We need only to assert our position of power to dictate the terms of this treaty.” We can always send the army over for conquest later.
“I think it unwise, my lord.” Ventras nearly followed Thaddaeus’ warning in the face of such formal address, yet he was certain to be correct.
Ventras faced an increasingly impatient Luna. She may be the Princess of the Night, but she still hated the cold. Rainbow Dash was scant inches from pushing her way past sister’s hoof, and Twilight was equally close to unleashing her. “Very well, I grant you and your allies free passage through my city for the duration of the talks, and I will still release your explorer as previously mentioned.” The royals picked up on the singular version of ‘explorer’ and hoped that it was due to a miscommunication. “But let us not forget what roles we truly play here,” he said with a dangerous edge. “My soldiers outnumber yours five to one, and while impressive, your flying boat has no weapons at all, does it?
“So if anyone should worry about less pleasant forms of negotiation, it will not be us.”
All Rainbow needed to do at that point was to glance at her sister’s eyes for the hoof to fall. Rainbow flashed the wicked smile of a beast let out of its cage. “Oh, I guarantee it will be you, buddy. We changelings know our role quite well. Observe.” <Captain, fire a warning shot… or two.>
Within seconds, a barren hill one kilometer to Rainbow’s left disappeared in a collection of fireballs as the Deception unleashed a full broadside. The concussive force of the blasts was so strong that they could be felt by the negotiators. Every sphinx in the area recoiled at the sudden violence, with some dropping out of the air from sheer shock. Their first reaction was to look towards the Crystal Blue, but it was the hanging mass of gunmetal grey steel standing out in stark contrast to the white out of the blizzard. The warship seemed to warp into reality as the very air twisted and squirmed around thanks to the attack destabilizing the cloaking field. The vessel was triple the size of the yacht in front of it, and kept everyone’s gaze fixed upward.
The Deception was hanging at a steep tilt, with its top and bottom guns still smoking from the display of firepower. It rolled back over to hover normally and started to descend downward as the Crystal Blue moved out of the way. The warship’s four main batteries aimed towards the ocean with blanks and fired for effect, driving home that the steel monster demanded center stage.
Twilight allowed her sister to step to the front of the Equestrians to confront Ventras directly. When her movement grabbed his attention, she made a dramatic display to hold her hoof out towards the diving warship in a halting motion. Much to Ventras’ astonishment, without uttering a word, Rainbow Dash commanded the airship to level off and remain at the Crystal Blue’s side.
“Now, we can either do things Twilight and Luna’s way, or we can do it my way.” Rainbow let a large fang filled grin show just how much she was begging for Ventras to give her a reason to do more than flatten hills. “Don’t hit the ling hive, Stocky. You wouldn’t like us when we’re angry.” The moment she finished speaking, half of the Jevruun Vrunningee ignited their flamethrowers and sent off a full ten second stream of fire in front of them to spell out “Queen Rainbow Dash was here” scorched in the earth. Rainbow Dash let the burning oil give the sphinxes some idea on how much a conflict would cost them.
Luna suppressed a scowl at Rainbow’s display though most of that ire was directed at the need for it at all. Can’t say I’m a fan of gunboat diplomacy, but sometimes it’s the only way.
Twilight Sparkle kept her expression neutral throughout it all. One of her half-puppeted drones allowed her to see the display from onboard the Deception. <Did you really have to be that flashy?>
<Yes, yes I did,> Rainbow chuckled back.
<You forgot a period at the end,> Twilight admonished teasingly.
Ventras couldn’t believe what he was seeing from Rainbow Dash. Inconceivable. Whatever these changelings are… they are not prey. It seems I vastly underestimated Slippery Shadow. With the realization that he was operating with false information, Ventras tried to save face with a stoic tone of voice. “I concede the position of strength to you.” He bowed curtly, prompting his majordomo and daughter to do the same. Unlike Ventras, the other two breathed sighs of relief that these beings prefered peace. “Might we retire out of this blizzard and begin talks in earnest?”
Thaddaeus and Rasua braced for the response to follow. Rainbow’s iron stare at Ventras ended when she looked backwards at Twilight, seemingly at an unheard request. Without saying a word to the sphinxes, Rainbow Dash backed off to allow Twilight to take her place. The sphinxes were used to body language, but the changelings appeared to take it three steps higher.
Unlike her sister, Twilight Sparkle maintained a friendly face with a beaming smile. “I believe that would be an excellent course of action. Understanding breeds camaraderie, and with camaraderie, peace and friendship.”
“I agree. It is late, how about we begin over a meal?” Luna piped in with just enough urgency to get things moving, but without sounding too impatient. Hopefully we can avoid such vulgar displays in the future.
All the way back in Canterlot, Celestia’s head was pounding from a massive headache as Blue Flare continued giving her a play-by-play recount of first contact with the Federation. A servant dropped some aspirin in her tea before Celestia downed in it one go.
“I must say, Blue, your mother has a certain flair for the theatrics I never really expected to see in her.”
“In her defense,” Blue Flare said after a polite hoof-covered titter, “it seems to have done the trick. Everypony’s moving on to talk inside the coastal town.”
“Be that as it may,” Celestia started, only to be stopped short by a discreet knock on the door. “Yes?”
A guard poked his head in. “Princess Celestia, Bean Counter is here to discuss the rearmament of the Night Guard.”
Celestia suppressed a sigh, and instead gave the world her best regal gentle smile. “Is it so late already?” She looked outside to find the sun would be setting soon, and that she and her sister had their daily dance to do. “Ambassador, please keep me apprised of any further developments.”
“Of course, your highness.” Blue Flare bowed deeply with a warm smile of her own. Like Rolled Scroll, she loved to serve both her queens and the princesses alike. Truth be told, both drones played poker to see who would be the one to have the privilege of keeping Celestia apprised of the situation. With the dismissal, she cantered towards the door right as the guard swung it open. “Barring any emergencies, I’ll have my report ready for you first thing in the morning.”
Hiding among the freshly planted saplings, heedless of the bitter cold blasting against its shell, was a changeling drone who had witnessed everything that had just transpired between the Equestrians and Federation. This breed in particular thrived in winter.
The scout was not alone, as every single hive had at least one drone always watching the Deception. Normally it was insanely difficult once the warship’s cloak was active, but the arrival of the Crystal Blue made tracking the queens’ movements trival.
More than one had been spotted by the warship’s ever vigilant observers, and subsequently killed, but that was why there was always more than one spy. The queen currently puppeting the drone snorted in approval after both parties were retreating to the coast town. You did well to hide your vessel from these newcomers, but it was not difficult at all to follow the pony ship.
“If both queens are here along with their warship, then the time to strike has come at last. The frigate is too far away to respond in time.” The queen left the scout’s body with orders to keep watch. I must inform my allies that the Culling has begun.