//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Preparing For Battle // Story: 117 The Eternal Guardian // by Nanofield //------------------------------// ^Equis^ {350} 18:00 [John] “So, Changelings.” “Yes Luna; Changelings. Would either of you like to say it again? It's been 5 minutes and that's all you both can say?" “No! We are ok. Right Tia? Tell him you're ok.” “What? Oh, right. Yes, we're ok. Now... can you repeat everything? After you said Changelings I kind of spaced out.” I can't deal with this. She is acting like a child nowadays. At least Luna isn't as mopey as she was before. But Tia? I don't know. “Listen up this time. I'll just abridge it for you. The Changelings are advancing on the city. We'd probably have a few days till they arrive; maybe a week. I will send 3 separate teams of one pegasus and one unicorn each to scout them out from a distance and keep an eye on them. The teams will stay separate to avoid all of them being found. They are to communicate messages to each other every six hours and relay anything to my assistant here Shadow Fire.” I motion my hand to Shadow Fire; my current unicorn assistant. He has an all black coat; black mane and tail with a fiery red streak running through them. He is young but very smart. He is also skilled with all types of spells and tactics. Shadow steps up. “Yes; if anything goes wrong or anything happens, I will know and report it to Master Chief as soon as I get it.” “Now, as for the conflict that is bound to arise from this. I will have the outer wall guarded by unicorns using far sight spells to watch for anything while the Air Force has its pegasi scouting the air. There will also be unicorns scanning the underground area so they cannot dig into the city undetected. The rest of the active military will be put on low alert and will be at the ready and briefed on the situation tomorrow afternoon at 3. Shadow; I would like you to send a message to the captains of the military to have them meet me tomorrow morning at 10.” “Yes Sir.” “Good. Now, I will inform the Captains and they will pass it down to the rest of the military. The Changelings may or may not be a powerful army. I do not know how good a strategist their king is. But I know this; we will not be caught off guard by the bugs. Now, any questions?” Luna speaks up. “Yes, as a matter of fact. How is the alagor ithm going?” “It's algorithm; and it's going slow. I don't know if it will even finish before the century ends." It has been running for over a hundred years; and I doubt it will finish any time soon. “Any other questions? No? Good. Let's get some food” ***** 00:00 [Lightning Silver] Recon work. Sent out to the desert to watch Changelings. “Silver's Log. “Day four, zero hundred hours. Still not spotted. Changelings are still moving at approximately 10 kilometers per day. Estimated time till arrival at Everfree City, 3 days. Army size still growing. approximately 100K bugs. Scope used his sight spell to continue monitoring the Changeling king. It appears as if his horn has been repaired or replaced. Observed multiple spells cast on self and many others, exoskeleton armor appears to have been increased. Practice shots observed on parts of terrain. Results vary from simple craters to iced over or burning land. Clear threat to city walls and infrastructure. Any other information will be added later.” End Log.” “Well, that was fun. Listening to you drone on like that again.” “We have orders to report anything and everything every six hours. One of us has to make the report. You got a problem; take it up with the big guy.” “Uh, no thanks. I'd rather not touch that one and piss him off. Remember the last guy that made him mad?” “How could I not. Red Coat challenged him over control of the military and called him a circus freak among other things. Tried to take over by force. It doesn't even work like that. Chief still humored him and fought it out. The fight didn't last 10 seconds; Chief let him make the first move too.” “Poor sap didn't stand a chance.” “Hey, hold on. Do you hear that?” “What?” “That scratching sound. Almost as if it's...” “Ahhhh!!!” “Scope!!!” Changelings were popping out of the ground. Scope is down in an instant. Barely getting into the air in time, I try to fly off. Bolts of magic flying past me. How did they find us? I look off in the distance and see magic shooting around by the other camps too. We're all found. I have to escape and get word out. “Gahhh!!!” A bolt of magic lances through my chest. I can feel the blood pouring into my lungs. I try to keep flying but it is impossible. I start to fall. I am sure it will be fatal. I have seconds before I land “Sil... Ahh!! Silver's Log. “We have been ambushed. I am mortally wounded. Other camps found too. Aaah!! Falling to ground. I will die, but I will die for my country. Long live the Equestrian Empire!” End Log.”