The Steel Palace operations center was a buzz of activity. All throughout the massive hive-room were machines calculating, analyzing and computing data, ponies in headsets speaking in codes and adjusting monitors and Spritebots fluttering around checking cables, connections and sending communications over the antenna on their heads. It was a storm of activity gathering, collecting information and building tactical strength all for one purpose: war.
Vice Grip sat at the north wall of the eye of this storm, a raised platforming above several banks of computers, all manned by ponies around him and at the same time beneath him. The wall-sized monitor in front of him displayed an image of Saddle Arabia's capital, Oasis City.
"Report."
The image zoomed in on the city. "Sir, General Zeal's forces are advancing on the central hub of Oasis City. They're encountering resistance from combined Equestrian Royal Guard and Saddle Arabian defense forces."
Vice rubbed his chin. "And where did these Equestrians come from? Play back the assault from the beginning."
A three-dimensional map of the city appeared on a console before him. It hovered in shimmering turquoise. "Approximately twelve hours ago, zebra shock troops under the command of General Zen Zeal began laying siege to Oasis City. Utilizing our zebra Magic Gear platforms, they were able to bombard the city with artillery fire, destroying its defenses before the infantry advanced."
At the outskirts of the city, three zebra-shaped Magic Gears appeared. Arrows from their back leading to the outskirts of the city produced explosions, detailing the attack. Entire buildings disappeared and very few arrows returned. None of the zebra forces were harmed. A swarm of tiny dots representing zebra troops rushed into the city, spreading more tiny ball-sized explosions and causing the disappearance of more holographic buildings.
"These units are part of the general's personal legion, the Zebra Advanced Expeditionary battalion, often called ZAX for short," the analyst explained. A rotating image of a zebra solider wearing armor and advanced reconnaissance equipment appeared in a box to the side.
She continued. "The Saddle Arabian defenses were crushed. A full retreat was sounded and the Arabian ponies fled to the south of the city. A few were able to escape by trains and airships but forces under General Zeal soon established near-total control of the perimeter. The rail lines were cut off and any airships that attempted to escape were shot down."
The tiny images danced and played, relaying the information as the analyst spoke. Something new appeared on the screen,- two large ovals advanced from the south.
"Three hours into the assault, Equestrian forces led by Princesses Celestia and Luna themselves arrived by way of their personal airships, Solar Force One and Lunar Force One," the analyst explained. Two icons appeared designated the ovals SF1 and LF1 respectively. "Solar Force One sustained heavy damage upon entering the city but both ships docked at the aerodrome in the city center."
The two ovals landed on a large circular structure in the middle of the display, a capital building. "Princess Celestia and Luna immediately rendered aid to the Saddle Arabians while their royal guards were dispatched into the city. Through a combination of demolition and guerrilla tactics, they were able to stall General Zeal's advance."
The two oval shapes took off again, one heading north and the other south. The first one, designated SF1 then lowered into the city, crashing and erupting into multiple holographic explosions. Many of the zebras and two of the Magic Gear zebras disappeared.
"Solar Force One was used as a decoy while the Saddle Arabian civilians were evacuated on Lunar Force One. The zebras shot down Celestia's ship only to have it land on top of the bulk of their advance forces and destroy them. Lunar Force One then retreated out of range of Zeal's weapons."
"It looks like that went right over Zeal's head," Vice commented. "Continue."