The Nightmare Knights and the Crystal Wars

by Pen Mightier

Nightmare Knights Intelligence Files - The Organization of the Rank and File

Document Classified by Chapter Corazierri of the Order
WARNING: The viewing of classified material by anypony lacking appropriate security clearance can and will result in severe punishment including dessert restrictions, snuggle rationing and/or death.

File Name : Letter re: ‘Recommendations on the Immediate Re-organization of the Nightmare Order’
Author : Chief-Major Light-Charge N26
Date : 3rd of Summersun, C.E. 1004 (3 Years Old)
Confidentiality Level : Order Members Only

With the Knight Captain and the Round Table’s agreement, this document will outline the re-organization of the paramilitary special forces now called ‘The Order of Nightmare Knights’.

The current squad-based system built around each squad’s Anchor is excellent for fostering the level of unit cohesion and team morale each squad will need to survive in the field. This is rendered all the more critical by the fact that a squad is only as strong as the Anchor and Nightmare bond they share and the power of the release and stand-down command unique to each squad. Any discussion of alternate arrangements are moot. I advise keeping the squads as the core functional unit of our Order henceforth.

I advise building any further levels of organization on top of the existing squad-based system. For the purposes of warfare of scale, our forces shall be organized into ‘Banners’, battle groups made up of anything between five to ten squads. Banners will regularly train together in maneuvering in formation. Banners will be encouraged to develop their own identity, culture and personalized tactics.

I also advise that each squad be made up of members with distinct key tactical roles, such that each squad alone will have the strategic mix of skills and talents needed to tackle any mission short of a large scale battle. To enable this, we will organize the Order into ‘Chapters’, training schools dedicated to each individual tactical class. Every Knight will be assigned to a Chapter. There they will train with fellow members of their soldier class every morning in the techniques and skills necessary to their particular class. Snipers will learn to snipe, Shock-troopers will learn to shock and Flankers will learn to flank. In the afternoon they should return to train with their own regular squads, bringing together the unique skills and abilities of their individual Chapters and learning how to integrate it into their squad’s build.

The following are the Chapters we shall organize with all due haste. For the benefits of any humans reading this, I have, with the help of my Anchor, Sergeant Prakarsh Singh N28, provided human-friendly translations for the various Equestrian terms.

Chapter Dragoons: These shall be our medium and light scouts, both high speed rangers and long range scouts. They shall be trained in the arts of field reconnaissance, high mobility maneuvers and surgical strikes at long range. They shall be mainly equipped with rune-spears (sniper rifles) for long distance engagements.

I personally recommend Twilight Sparkle N1 to be our first Dragoonsmare.

Chapter Ansars: These shall be our heavy engineer troopers. They shall be trained in the use of highly technical weaponry including the rune-halberds (flamethrowers), weather catapults (grenade launchers) and satchel charges for use in demolitions and sabotage. They will also be equipped with rune-axes (shotguns) to better defend their positions at close range.

I personally recommend Sunset Shimmer N3 to be our first Ansarsmare.

Chapter Desultor: These shall be our assassin and flanker troopers. Making use of our affinity for darkness and stealth, the assassins and flankers shall be trained in the art of swift, silent maneuvering and clean, quiet removal of hostile elements. In battle they will disrupt enemy firing lines, spread terror and chaos and dispatch key enemy elements, for example their commanders. Flankers will be equipped with light rune-rapiers (submachine guns) and rune-daggers (pistols).

I personally recommend Trixie Lulamoon N4 to be our first Desultorsmare.

Chapter Jäger: These shall be our light to medium shock troopers. They shall be our most versatile soldier class, able to fulfill any role from defense to assisting in charges. They shall be trained in the use of rune-blades (assault rifles) and rune-claymores (heavy machine guns).

I personally recommend Sunshine Smiles N5 to be our first Jägersmare.

Chapter Lancer-Cataphract: These shall be our heavy troopers, the lynchpin of our firing lines and the spearhead of our charges. They shall be equipped with the iconic cataphract shield, a large saddle-mounted forward-tapered tower shield that extends over the knight’s head. It is designed to deploy forwards over the trooper’s head during charges and to deploy vertically into the ground when stationary to provide cover for our firing lines. They will provide mobile cover for our troops while maneuvering and allow us to deploy mobile firing lines that can adapt to every situation. While the weight of the shield restricts traditional cataphracts to light weapons, the monstrous strength of Nightmare Lancer-Cataphracts will allow them to also carry heavy defensive weaponry, such as the rune-lancer (minigun).

I personally recommend Starlight Glimmer N2 to be our first Lancermare.

Chapter Harquebusiers: These shall be our heavy artillery troops. trained in the use of saddle-mounted and hoof-held rune-hammers (missile launchers) and rune-morningstars (flak cannons). While we have yet to acquire the heavy weapons necessary for this Chapter, their training will be vital if we are to have any chance against Imperial armoured vehicles and fortress emplacements.

I personally recommend Luna Eclipse N6 to be our first Harquebusmare.

Chapter Hussars: While our pegasi brothers and sisters are perfectly suited to all our other roles, they have one very obvious tactical advantage that sets them apart from everypony else - their wings. The Hussars will be trained in purely aerial roles. They will be split into two arms, the Ravens Hussars and Bugbear Hussars.

Ravens will specialize in maintaining air-superiority and providing surgical air support to ground troops. They will be trained in the use of a mix of jäger and anti-air harquebusier weaponry.

The Bugbear Hussars will be trained in tactical aerial bombardment using thundercloud bombs and guided Rune-Hammer missiles as well as in laying down fog-cover to conceal ground troop movements.

I personally recommend Spitfire N16 to be our first Hussarsmare.

Chapter Hospitaliers: These shall be our field medics, trained in both traditional first aid and Nightmare first aid. As you are all aware, our nightmares grant us accelerated regeneration that can heal most minor injuries with relative ease. While traditional healing spells appear to hinder Nightmare regeneration, Knight Red Heart N14 has discovered that a number of Knights including herself have an aptitude for a brand of healing unique to Nightmares. With the help of these ponies and their special Nightmare powers, we can accelerate Nightmare regeneration on the field. The Chapter Hospitaliers will work towards improving these skills for use in the field as well as train in battlefield triage, trauma care and medevac tactics.

I personally recommend Red Heart N14 to be our first Hospitalier.

Chapter Atelier: The Ateliersponies shall be the supplies and logistics arm of our Order. They will specialize in the acquisition, production, delivery and defense of critical supplies and ammo. They will play a critical role in maintaining and defending our supply lines. As our campaigns march further north into the heart of Imperial lands, their role will only become all the more critical.

I personally recommend Dosey Dotes N92 to be our first Ateliersmare.

Chapter Auxilia: It is important to recognize that we are in this Order not by choice. While I do not question your resolve, let us admit that none of us volunteered to become Nightmares. There will be those amongst us who, morally or for other reasons, do not wish to fight at all if they can avoid it. We must protect this sanctity of free will, for it is all that sets us apart from the Imperials and their mind-enslaved soldiers. As such, Chapter Auxilia will be a home for those who wish to avoid combat. They shall provide the domestic support for the fighting troops, fulfilling essential roles from catering and household management to nursing. The Auxilia will receive basic fitness and combat training and will serve as the last line of defense in our homes and forts. Let us pray that, come what may, it shall never come to that.

Comments

[AppleTank]

So, what do the humans count as? Do they do anything, or just general support?

[Decanus_Alexus]

Just found this fic. The general theme and light-hearted ultra-violent tone remind me of Team Fortress 2. I approve. Does Sombra have humans too, or is it just Equestria?

[wlam]

Holy shit, yeah, this is so fucking anime, you don't even know. Seriously. I don't even watch the stuff and I'm still imagining half of this in the form of various clips and outtakes I've seen. I love it. Please keep going.

why do you have to be so disappointing. you are one of my favourite authors but you never actually finish anything. :-(

[Philosophysics]

The Nightmare Knight's Ramble

We are Nightmares.

That will not change.
Not as long as there are evils and sins greater than us.

Be it human, pegasi, thestral, earth pony, or unicorn,
Any of these things,
We have all been changed unwillingly,
Wronged,
And cursed.

But do we curse at the night sky?

NO!

We are Nightmares!

We are a sin and evil unto itself
And our very existence is wrong!

But do we give a damn?

NO!

We will destroy all evils as they come
And become the greatest sins of all!

Will we curse and scream at things unmoving!?
Powerful!?
Stronger than us!?
At bubble wrap and pea soup!?

OF COURSE WE WILL!

FOR WE ARE NIGHTMARES!

WILL WE DIE!?

OF COURSE WE WILL!

BUT WE DON'T GIVE A DMAN!

WHY!?

BECAUSE WE ARE NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS!

WILL WE CRY!?
WILL WE MOURN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOST THINGS!?
WILL WE DREAM THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE!?

OF COURSE WE WON'T!

WHY!?

BECAUSE WE WILL CHANGE IT OURSELVES!
WE WILL NOT STAND DOWN FOR LIFE TO ROLL OVER US!
WE WILL GLOMP LIFE IN ITS PLUSHY BARREL AND BOOP IT TO DEATH!

WE ARE GREATER THAN THE NIGHTMARES!
WE ARE GREATER THAN OUR ENEMIES!
WE ARE GREATER THAN OURSELVES!

WE ARE THE GREATEST EVILS IN THIS LAND!
OUR ENEMIES WILL SCOURN OUR NAMES!
OUR LOVED ONES WILL FEAR US!
OUR ONLY TRUE ALLIES WILL BE OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER!

BUT WE WILL STILL FIGHT!
FOR LOVE!
FOR DREAMS THAT WILL COME TRUE!
FOR BUBBLE WRAP!
FOR OUR HOME!
FOR WHATEVER COMES TO MIND AT THIS MOMENT WHEN I SAY HAPPINESS, PEACE, AND JOY!

WE ARE NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS!
THE GREATEST, MOST SINFUL, HERETICAL MONSTERS IN THIS LAND!
AND WHEN WE FIGHT WE WIN!

WE WILL WIN!

WITH SEXINESS!

[Commander Darklight]

6725552 the humans are all squad commanders as they act as anchors with out the humans all the ponies that are nightmares would lose control when they go nightmare

also to the author N92 is dead you killed her of last chapter ( i assume this is prior to the battle)

[Vaine]

6728579 Here is the wiki page, me explaining it wouldn't do it justice, it's a real good game, nice characters. Has protagonist leading a cast of colorful characters. You can find it on steam.

[Decanus_Alexus]

Uh oh.

i.imgur.com/DKCYxyV.png

[scarox]

you should write more of this story

[Decanus_Alexus]

OP please end this hiatus. Or at least tell us why there's a hiatus. Or at VERY least, change the "Incomplete" tag to the "Hiatus" one. I ask you as a humble reader.

[Decanus_Alexus]

Dead fic

[shinikage]

damn another fine work that most likely will never be finished. sigh

[NightZeroni]

WE NEED THE NEXT CHAPTER ASAP... *salutes* Sir

[tinmanbrony]

next chapter please!

[Ireyah]

Well done sir. Can I only ask that you occasionally find dramatic music for those of us of advanced reading speed? I can finish a chapter in roughly 2-3 minutes, which isn't even close to being dramatically timed with the music you find.

I, too, would like to experience things as you, the artist, mean them to be read, but sadly I cannot due to my accelerated words-per-minute count.

[AppleTank]

derpicdn.net/img/2013/4/11/294318/large.png

[HonorGuard_Ra]

7278131 I feel your pain on the accelerated reading rate. I have 222 stories favorited on this site, and 832 favorited on FF.net. Some of those stories break a million words. Waiting for those to update is torture.

[scarox]

Can you upload a new chapter already

[Jest]

How dare you make me enjoy this so much than kill the story. :(
derpicdn.net/img/2013/4/11/294318/large.png

[AppleTank]

[5 weeks]
Well, fuck

[Tali_The_Lamia]

Reads the description Wait, who in Tartarus is Sunshine Smiles? And is Luna just a Unicorn instead of a Alicorn?

[Davenfjeld]

It's a shame this fic is dead. 'Seemed nice overall.