//------------------------------// // Interesting Plans Across The Board // Story: Chaos Incorporated // by DontTreadOnMe777777 //------------------------------// "Uh... you can get up from the ground, Mr...?" "Bessus, sir.” “Bessus. I don’t do well with formalities.” Ricky smiled, trying to appear friendly. Bessus, the changeling that had attacked him in the clearing, was currently kneeling in front of him. Chrysalis had, true to her word, neutralized the changeling threat to the army from the hive scouts. When his army had arrived, they were a bit shocked by what the “hive” actually was. The top half of the changeling hive was above ground, a small black dome. It didn’t contain much, mostly being a small visual marker for any changelings that managed to get turned around in the forest. The majority of the space inside the changeling hive was underground, the entrance to both the outside dome and down below being a small, winding tunnel. Both were easily defendable, with barricades and niches in the stone set up around every corner. Ricky, flanked by his trusty legionnaire companions, trailed by an American medic, three commanders, and led by a changeling queen, had immediately walked downstairs and into the main control building inside the underground portion. There, Bessus, who was the main overseer of the hive, had met them for the first time. He had instantly prostrated himself on the floor, offering "a thousand apologies" to Ricky for the combat in the clearing. Bessus slowly rose up from the floor. "Also, I apologize for calling you 'creature', sir." "Eh, it's fine. We're allies anyways," Ricky waved his hand. "Well, you're here for scouting reports and supplies, I'm assuming?" Bessus said. He got a nod from Ricky. "Alright then. Come on," he turned around, beckoning with a chitin hoof. With a glance and a shrug towards his entourage, Ricky followed Bessus into another room, ducking slightly under an arch. Inside the room was a table, made of wood. A map of Equestria was carved into the wood itself, and a smaller, more focused map on the area of Las Pegasus and its surroundings was laid out on top. Ricky, Chrysalis, and his generals immediately moved to the map table, leaning in to observe what the changelings had already found out. Flaminitus and Aeneus assumed the position of door guards, at least until two changelings walked in and eyed them. Noticing this, they uneasily shuffled over to the others, along with Jeremiah, more out of curiosity than fear of the changelings. Ricky instantly noticed the terrain features on the map. The river led just south of Las Pegasus, emptying into the bay that had a red ship marking on it. ‘That’s representing the Western Equestrian Navy,’ Ricky recalled what his prisoners had told him. There was a set of hills just outside where the outskirts of Las Pegasus was drawn. “What’re these?” He pointed at them. “The one to the south is Thicket Hill, the northern one is Applewood Hill. Both of them offer a commanding view of the landscape. Of course, that being so, there are pony watchtowers on each one.” Bessus explained. “Hmm. Strength estimate of Las Pegasus’ garrison and army?” “The army should be about 40,000, the garrison only about 1,000. The Navy’s got five frigates in dock, along with two ships-of-the-line in for maintenance.” “I assumed the ponies didn’t have cannons?” Ricky looked to Chrysalis questioningly. “They do, but only on the ships and the airship fleet.” “Airship fleet?” Ricky raised an eyebrow. “The Princess spent a lot of bits on those two things. They run off magic that allows them to float in the air and cruise slowly. They’re attached to the 1st Pegasus.” Ricky sighed. “Always goddamn magic,” he said in mock frustration. “Indeed,” Bessus said, snorting through his nose, “ponies seem to be dependant on it.” “Well, gentlemen, ladies, we’ve got to take the high ground first. I have a different plan for the city proper, however. Bessus.” “Sir?” “How many changeling troops do you have here?” “Only about a hundred. This is mainly a supply dump, after all.” “Alright. I want you to get all you can spare and work on doing what you do best: infiltration. Those watchtowers need to go dark.” “Well then sir, you’ll be delighted to hear we’ve already gotten a couple of changelings in.” Ricky smiled. “Good. Now, for a different question: how many boats do you have?” “This is crazy,” MacArthur said as the troops began to hack down trees. “So crazy it just might work,” Decius pointed out. “I think it’s just stupid crazy. Not to mention that my troops are being sidelined yet again,” MacArthur sounded hurt. “Douglas,” Ricky started, “I’m sorry you think that you’re not important, but hear me out. The Germans are better trained in this kind of shock maneuver we’re trying to accomplish, and the Romans are better in the close-quarters melee. Your machine guns are too heavy to carry around quickly, unlike the Germans’ MG42s. But you’ve got the best artillery, and your men are masters of defending a static line. We need your men to fix their attention.” MacArthur sighed. “Alright Ricky. I don’t like it, but you’re the commander.” Ricky smiled sadly. “Thanks for at least going along with me.” “So, how many men should we take in?” Karl asked. “Probably around five hundred Wehrmacht and three hundred Romans. Make sure you bring your crack troops, both of you.” Karl and Decius both nodded. “Jeremiah!” Ricky turned his attention to the medic. “Yeah?” “How long should this take?” He gestured to the troops, who were beginning to cut up the felled trees into planks. “Only about an hour or so, we’ve got the numbers and supplies to make this go quickly,” Jeremiah replied. “I’m surprised you’re a medic and not a quartermaster. You seem to have a knack for organization,” Ricky noted. “You’ve got to have a knack for it at a commanding level. You should know, Commander,” Jeremiah chuckled. “Stuff it!” Ricky yelled good-naturedly. “You make it too easy,” Jeremiah smirked. "Whatever. Maybe I'll tie you to the wheel of a Model T and send it rolling down a hill." "Well, it still wouldn't be as dangerous as it is with you behind the wheel." "...I give up." Ricky put his head in his hands as Jeremiah laughed. Karl snorted a breath. "This is no time for goofing off. We're preparing to send boys to their deaths. Our supply situation largely hangs on this battle's outcome." "Yeah, you're ri-agh! I completely forgot to ask Bessus about Celestia's project in Las Pegasus!" Ricky smacked his forehead with his palm. "That doesn't matter yet, unless they're producing better weapons, which I doubt," Decius pronounced, arrogance in his tone. "Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Nothing we can do yet." Celestia loved her tea. In a way, it was a kind of healing potion for her. The sweet fragrances and warm smoothness with which it went down served to refresh and rejuvenate her, even on her worst days. If she didn't have her tea, she was usually a cranky mess, barely getting any work done compared to smooth, serene, tea-drinking Celestia. Luna did not share her affinity for tea, more of a coffee mare at heart, not to mention her being largely a nocturnal entity, and as such Celestia was seated by herself on a balcony, a cup of tea and a slice of cake, along with a stack of blank parchment and a quill with inkwell on the table before her. 'I do love a good slice of cake,' Celestia smiled as she levitated her cup over and took a sip, breathing in the exotic Saddle Arabian fragrances. 'Alright. First order of business is...' She silently mused. 'The Discord problem.' Over the last few days, worrying reports had been coming in about the state of Ponyville. According to her knowledge, Discord was currently wreaking havoc in the small town. 'Twilight should fix the situation soon, with any luck,' she thought. Celestia had not idly sat by. She had sent the Elements of Harmony back to Ponyville in an attempt to stabilize the situation. But the reports were continuing to flow in, and Luna especially was beginning to grow impatient. 'I hope nothing's happened to Twilight or her friends,' Celestia allowed a small frown to crack her facade as she brought up her tea cup again. The door slammed open. Celestia, slightly startled, jerked her magic, spilling a bit of her tea onto the table. She took a few seconds to compose herself, the facade hardening up once again. Coolly, she turned around in her seat. A Royal Guard stood in the doorway, a Pegasus. His armor was marred with splotches of dark brown, and his mane was tangled and matted. "Princess!" He quickly bowed low. "Yes?" Celestia kept her tone neutral. "Sorry to startle you, Princess. Captain Firefall, reporting with urgent news!" He snapped a rigid salute. "Your parents should have named you Walldenter, Captain." Celestia smiled as Firefall looked at the floor sheepishly. "But you said you had urgent news?" "Yes. An army of humans has appeared in Equestria, on Arbor Hollow Hill. General Spear Wall attempted to fight them quickly, but the humans had superior technology. They crushed his - our - army. I was… one of the only pegasus survivors. We were easy targets for their weapons, outlined against the sky.” Firefall looked mournful, eyes wet and head drooping. Celestia’s expression didn’t change, but when she did speak her tone was sympathetic. “Do you have any idea where they might have gone?” “The last time I was close enough to tell, they were headed west. Getting that close gave me this,” he turned his body sideways. A gash was clearly visible, just under the armor. “Thank you Captain. You’ve done Equestria good today. Go down to the medical wing, get some rest.” Firefall slowly nodded. He quietly exited, shutting the door with a click. “Could it be?” Celestia quietly muttered as she turned back to her stack of papers and quickly levitated a few off the top. “Whoever - whatever - was in that throne room could be connected to the appearance of an army in Equestria. Or is it Discord?” After a silent second of thought, she realized something. ‘Well, without solid evidence this’ll go nowhere. Of course, we could try and capture some humans. Or, the easier alternative...’ Celestia began to scribble on the parchment quickly. ‘To Captain Bucephalus...’ “Ugh, does this boy ever dream?!” Luna sighed in frustration. She had been patiently sitting in the Dreamscape for almost five hours, waiting for something from the human to appear. No matter how hard she tried, however, her reserves were not as vast as her elder sister’s. Her patience was beginning to wear thin. “Or sleep, for that matter!” She grumbled. A spark caught Luna's attention. Quickly, the small spark expanded into a bubble, just where Ricky's dream bubble was situated. Luna stood up, smiling in relief. "Finally! Time to see what's new for our little resident human troublemaker." And with that, she poked the bubble with a hoof, disappearing into Ricky's subconscious.