"General."
Maschenwire gasped. "Emperor Howard, I did not expect you!"
"Ahem. As you know, I have heard reports of your incompetence at sea."
"N-n-no sir! I-I have kept the ponies at bay!"
They shouldn't have been in the sea in the first place! Are you crazy? WHAT DO THE WORDS DON'T GET CAUGHT MEAN TO YOU, HUH? For your incompetence, I shall have you demoted to Corporal, you hear me? Now I am sending a competent general who won't get himself on the radar! Howard, out.
"S-sir! W-wait! SIR! DAMMIT!" Maschenwire slammed his hand on the table. "Stupid, stupid, STUPID!"
"General, is there something wrong?"
Maschenwire glared at the soldier. "Something wrong. SOMETHING WRONG? I've been shamed, I tell ya, shamed!"
"Y-yes sir!" He quickly ran back down the stairs.
Maschenwire groaned. This was not his day. But he wondered who would be his replacement?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
General Astern was a strong general, and he believed in the power of stealth attacks. He was proven right by his quick thinking and all of his victories over past enemies. Now, with him standing on the greatest carrier Magnituda had to offer, he was finally ready for his greatest assignment of all; defeat Equestria.
He knew exactly where his enemy lay; he had sent drones ahead of time, and submarines as well. Now that he knew where his enemy lay, he drew out a map, based on the photos taken by the machines. Now he had his strategy ready to go. He was gonna call this: Operation Boom and Zoom, mostly because his plan was to send in light crafts and serve as a distraction, and the destroyers would flank the enemy at all sides. And to be sure, he would have them charging at full speed, so if the enemy notices the destroyers would be long gone, and then they would come back and launch submarines to sink more of them, and have aircraft attack the weakened enemy. Yes, he thought this was brilliant! However, his main plan lay way ahead, for he would leave a carrier behind, and once near victory was achieved, he would send in the aircraft into the enemy, who would be thinking that his first wave was his last. Yes, operation Boom and Zoom would be his finest yet. Well, maybe not his finest, but definitely quite fine.
"Sir, we are nearing the target!"
Excellent. "Send in the light cruisers!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mitohiga was ready for whatever they were gonna throw at him, because he was the "cross the bridge when we come to it" type of guy; the type of guy that doesn't have a plan, ever. But he was certain of victory, as the enemy fleet was sinking below waves and the Equestrian fleet had come as well...
"Sir! Emperor Tsuyoshi wishes to speak to you!"
"Alright."
Hey! How's my great general doing?
"Fine, by the looks of it. And I see why they call you the "Easygoing Emperor".
Well, I'll take that as a yes. I do assume that all is going well?
"I just said- you know what? Never mind. How are you doing back in Mokyo?"
I'm doing fine, thank you. I just called to tell you the new planes for the Itsuo Helicopter Destroyer is ready!
"Very well. Build them when you're ready."
Oh, but I'd like to clarify that the cost of the Itsuo will be almost 6% of our GDP! Including its 2 sister ships, of course. So I'm afraid I'll have to raise taxes for Japan, but I find that very, what's the word... yes, I find it very inefficient. This ship cannot have a more affordable design?
"Sir, we need the strongest fortifications for our new ships. Yes it will be expensive, but it will be worth it afterwards, as you can see in our war crisis right now."
Yes, yes, you're very right. Well, Arigatō!
"And Arigatō to you as well."
Nihon o shukufuku! Tsuyoshi over and out.
"Well thank Celestia that was over."
"Sir, we detect light crafts firing at our boats!"
Mitohiga frowned. "Are they mocking us? Send submarines to intercept them!"
"Yes sir!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Astern twiddled his fingers. This plan was going smoothly, as always. He noticed a few crafts sinking, but no matter. Sacrifices must be made for success. Now for phase 2. He watched as the Destroyers seemed to appear out of nowhere and fire at the boats. It worked better than expected, with a few boats smoking a little. Now for the subs and aircraft. With their M-35 fighter jets, they zoomed past the enemy boats and blasted them with MI-5 rockets. But then he saw heavily-armed helicopters fly around and actually shoot down a few fighters. Not good. Then he saw them. The Previous fleet was burning, with heavy casualties inflicted by... another enemy fleet! This wasn't good. "Soldiers! Send a few destroyers, submarines, and aircraft to destroy the backup enemy! Go!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Captain Grate wasn't what you called experienced. However, he wasn't what you called incompetent, either. He was determined, strong, and wasn't ever gonna give up, even if you tell him he's gonna lose. If you do tell him that, he'd say "Aww, heavens no!", because he's a stallion as strong and honorable as a Stamurai. And that was why he was hoofpicked by Princess Celestia for the defense fleet.
"Sir, a small assorted fleet is attacking!"
Grate gave his soldier a determined smile. "Then let's show them not to mess with Equestria! Blast them with our pegasi and guns! Give them all we got!"
The soldier gave a brilliant smile. "Sir yes sir!"
"That's the spirit!"
*BOOM*
Grate grinned. "Boom, boom, BOOM!" A bunch of naval cannon fire followed.
Then he saw them; the massive fleet of aircraft that flew overhead. It seemed like they wanted to blot out the sun. Then, he saw his first casualty. The soldier who told him the fleet was attacking limped up. He looked terrible, with blood flowing out of his head, back and chest. He had his hoof on his chest and was hanging on the railing for support. A comrade came forward to help him hold his arm. Well, what used to be his arm. What was left was a stump hanging, with disgusting yellow-ish flesh covered in blood. It made Grate want to vomit.
"S-s-sir..." the soldier trailed.
"Yes?" worry shook Grate's voice.
"T-t-the enemy is k-k-killing all of u-u-us..." The soldier rolled his eyes into his head and flopped on the floor in a heap.
Grate looked on his fallen comrade, tears in his eyes. Equestria had not faced war in many years, and didn't hope for one now. This, Grate thought, was the first time he saw a victim of war. With tears in his eyes, in a rage-filled cry, Grate yelled, "M-my friends, I will avenge you all!!"