The Escalation
July 13, 2020
One month after the start of the war
Breaking News: Jerusalem Desecrated!
Following the capture of Jerusalem’s Capital, Equestrian forces are reported to have forcefully relocated Theran citizens to so-called refugee facilities within Equestria’s borders. Jerusalem’s government in exile demanded the transfer of the civilian population and prisoners of war within Theran soil to ensure none are magically converted into equines, as well as the return of plundered artefacts and works of art, such as the holy relics within the Temple Mount. The Equestrian Diarchy and their allies denied such acts of war crimes are being committed and have given their word that no conversions are sanctioned by the crowns while the war is in progress.
To the Equestrian Diarchy and their allies,
While a state of war exists between our two worlds it does not mean for the war to escalate any further than it is now. Your desecration of Jerusalem’s numerous holy and cultural sites; from stolen artefacts to vandalising ancient tombs is in direct violation to Section 5 of The Theran Rules and Regulations for Conducting Warfare. The same treaty you signed during our trade agreement five years prior to your betrayal of our trust.
Furthermore, you continue to violate Sections 1, 2 and 3 by abducting both military personnel and civilians across your occupied territories for the purposes of your vile, perverse science. While it may be the objective of this war, it would be in your best interest to cease your efforts to convert our peoples immediately.
Here are our demands;
- Return all stolen artefacts, relics, artwork, valuables, fossils and more back to Theran hands; undamaged, uncorrupted, unedited, unchanged, preserved.
- Cease all archaeological activity on all holy and cultural sites on Thera.
- Repair all damages done to all vandalised holy and cultural sites (you have the magic to do it, so we suggest you do so)
- Cease all abductions and other unlawful treatments of all military personnel and civilians.
- Return abducted citizens taken from Thera following the course of the war. This includes non-humans and Equestrian immigrants with and without dual citizenship.
Failure to comply will force us to take drastic measures and will inevitably escalate the state of the war. Do not force us to do something we both will regret.
Grand Marshal of Thera
Paul T. Andrews
A day later, Equestria sends their reply.
To the Marshals and Generals of Thera and her allies,
We understand the moral guide and reasoning for your rules of warfare. We understand that the rules are written with the intent for the best interests for all involved. Mercy and Honour in war supports a righteous cause for all participants within this war after all. However, we are also aware that the rules were written in your favour as a bargaining chip within your Galactic Council. We understand that the rules apply to you and everyone else involved until it is no longer convenient for you to follow. A common joke heard among your ranks is the “Geneva Suggestion,” as they put it.
Put it simply, we understand that your “Rules” are nothing more but “Guidelines” to be taken only when it suits you and serves as nothing more but a delaying tactic against your enemies to mobilise a larger and better equipped force to counter them. Do not take us for fools for we know about the reinforcements of millions of soldiers, equipment and more within a few months time. Taking a page from your “Sun Tzu's Art of War”, we will use every advantage we have against you to finish this war as swiftly and as possible. That includes the use of our superior weaponry, numbers and tactics.
If you truly wish for these actions to cease, surrender before we decide to truly escalate the war.
Steward of the Moon, Guardian of Dreams and Diarch of Equestria,
Princess Luna
Two days later, Thera sends their reply.
To the Equestrian Diarchy and their allies,
As a so-called “peace loving” nation I would have thought better of you to realise why our nations chose to implement those rules when conducting warfare. But it appears that just like every other empire within our reality before our League of Nations joined the galactic stage, you believe that these rules were merely implemented to benefit Mankind. While I admit that most if not all the rules do offer Humanity an advantage against our foes, their sole purpose is to ensure that Thera and any other empire who signed that treaty restrain themselves lest they be classified as a Galactic Menace.
When we first offered the draft of the treaty to the Galactic Community, we were at war with The Bright League Federation led by the Mauradan Imperium against our allies. This treaty was agreed by the community in exchange that we end our Total War Initiative. Something unheard of from the Galactic Community until then.
If you fail to comply with our demands, you and your allies will be deemed as a menace and will no longer be protected by the rules. In turn, we will initiate Total War and there will be no going back. No more negotiations. No more correspondence. No more Parlay. No Mercy; unless Unconditional Surrender is met. I pray to Almighty God that you take this into serious consideration.
Grand Marshal of Thera,
Paul T. Andrews
July 25, 2020
No replies were received from Equestria. Reports on continued violation of the treaty escalates.
Grand Marshal Paul Andrews enacts the Total War Initiative.
July 27, 2020
Antioch, outskirts of Alexandretta
“Alright ponies, look alive! Get ready to move out! Pegasi air support have cleared the skies!”
“You heard the captain, make ready! The city is just up ahead!”
“Hey, was there supposed to be fog in the weather schedule?”
Breaking News: Gas Attack in Alexandretta; 15,000 Ponies Dead
Twenty kilometres from the outskirts of the city of Alexandretta, the Equestrian advance was halted by chemical warfare. The 53rd South African Home Guard along with the 49th Light Infantry Volunteers launched hundreds of litres of Chlorine Gas into the Equestrian army of 40,000 strong and commenced a successful counter attack, driving them back to the border of Jerusalem. 15,000 Equestrian troops are dead from the attack with another 20,000 captured, mostly suffering from the gas’ effects.
July 29, 2020
Nepal, base of Kansatiya River, outskirts of Chilakiya
“RUN!!! Run for your lives!!!!!”
“W-what’s going on?!”
“They opened a dam!! We need to get out of here!!”
Dam them all: Equestrian forces flooded by Nepal rivers
Armies of the Napali Home Guard opened all their dams in an attempt to push back the Equestrian Army. Equestrian forces were devastated by the ensuing floods as they tried to push through the mountainous region via the river ways. Napali Home Guards with the assistance of locals opened the floodgates of four dams to drown out the enemy from their country.
July 29, 2020
Russian-Armenian Border, Caucasus Mountains
“Get out of the caves!! Get out of the caves!!”
(Flames burst into the caves, driving the burning ponies out)
“IT BURNS! IT BURNS!”
“MOMMA!!! MOMMA!!!!”
Equestrians halted by the Caucasus
Equestrian forces have been held up by Russian and Armenian Home Guards in the Caucasus Mountains. The Iron Wall of Russia holds against the invaders as Equestrian forces have been driven back several times to the base of the mountains.
August 1, 2020
To the Marshals and Generals of Thera and her allies,
I believe you’ve made your point and would humbly request parlay to discuss terms on how we shall conduct this war.
Signed Princess Celestia,
Diarch of Equestria
A day later, Thera sends their reply
To the Equestrian Diarchy and their allies,
You were warned: No Negotiations. No Correspondents. No Parlay. No Mercy; unless Unconditional Surrender.
Grand Marshal of Thera,
Paul T. Andrews
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No biological weapons? I'm sure someone could create a deadly disease that only affects ponies...
11474100
There are Ponies within the ranks of Thera. Not ideal and there will be protests against that.
11474104
Makes sense.
Another thing I could think of is starting research on how to turn ponies into humans, with the goal being to reverse what Equestria has done, but practicing on captured ponies to perfect it, especially if able to grab some civilians from Equestria (just making sure they are loyal to Celestia).
And thus ends ponykind.
Unbending pride and a leaders cowardice led to launching war where a plea for help would have garnered aid. Arrogance and bigotry led to mistaking restraint for weakness. And now they find neither mercy or hope as those who would have been allies if not friends become the bitterest of enemies.
11474108
Plus there always the possibility that the nastiest stuff is being reserved for Equastria proper.
Right now its a matter of cleaning up the pony infestation on Thera so they have to be gentle. Don't want to end up ruining your own farmland while evicting the pests. Once the war moves onto Equestrian soil however they don't have to be so... nice. At that point if there aren't enough good ponies to warrant conquest the League could just opt to eradicate all life from that planet.
And that is when things like anthrax spraying, persistent nerve agents like VX, and defoliants like Agent Orange come into their own.
11474129
Oh yeah, I though "why chlorine" when reading, but if ponies do not have gas masks, then chlorine is good enough and it also serves as psychological warfare, since you can see it coming.
I don't know if I asked this before, but what is equestria's tech level in this fic?
11474164
Mix between Post-Renaissance, Post-Industrial and just a tiny bit 1980s.
As for their military, Victorian Steampunk esque weaponry (Landships, Airships, magical hoof gauntlets that act as pistols, etc.) with Medieval and/or Classic Roman infantry uniforms (enchanted armour).
Y'know what, maybe I'll just write a dedicated chapter showcasing the Equestrian's Armaments.
looking forward to seeing twilight and the others reacting to this
Total War is the two words nobody wants to hear unless they got a death wish
Ave, Imperator.
"Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius."
(And all this BEFORE the actual space armies come back home. And before the nukes come out. Pride cometh before a fall indeed. The nation dead and gone by the idiocy of rulers who managed peace for a millennium.)
11474178
Aight, thanks for the info
Chlorine Gas? Really? You should have gone with the The Life-Eater Virus. There’s screams would have been most entertaining.
11474982
There will be protests for that. Chlorine was the best option for early escalation.
11474982
Chlorine is good enough, especially if the ponies do not have gas masks. Seeing the cloud coming would also result in psychological damage among those who survived (and later troops, since now they know what the green fog means).
Also, chlorine does not really damage anything, since Therans would not want to destroy their own land.
OTOH, I imagine when the war goes to Equestria, unless the Equestrians surrender, nukes will be used, since Therans probably do not really care about occupying land there, so it does not matter if it is going to be contaminated.
11475273
Just so you know, Thera has no Nuclear Weapons. What they have instead might arguably be worse. Just a heads up.
11474993
11475273
Sorry I meant it as a joke I should have expressed it better.
And The virus bomb would wipe out all life on the planet in a very horrible way.
11475281
Lets see. Take a core of of those heat-producing crystals, wrap in an insulating material then surround with about a thousand pounds of ice. When ready to arm remove the insulator seperating the crystals and ice, seal that access shut and place shaped charges around the vessel. Let the contents reach about 300 degrees C then drop over major pony city set to blow up about 50 feet above the ground. The result is a blast wave with force akin to a small (1 kiloton) nuclear warhead, no fall out, and instead of a slow death by radiation any pony unfortunate enough to survive the blast gets to experience being boiled alive like a lobster. For extra kick add in the liquid form of you toxic gas of choice.
Yeah. When you have a potential power source like that and a whole lot of resources you don't really need nukes. Heck if the Theran's were feeling especially petty they could land on Luna's moon, blast out big ol chunks of it, and use a battery of steam catapults to launch them at Equestrian population clusters so fast and furious that not even every unicorn plus all the Alicorns could stop the barrage from hitting. And it only takes one dino-killer to do the job...
11475849
Considering what I planned for isn't as creative as what you put forward, I don't know whether I should be ashamed of my lack of creativity or call you out as a monster for coming up with something that would make the Exterminatus-happy Inquisitors of the Imperium blush.
11475887
The later.
PS
The steam bomb isn't that impressive actually. Nukes give more bang for a given weight - just need a whole lot more tech to get the fissible u235 out.
Now Exterminatus worthy is the dust bomb. Did you know that the nuclear winter effect comes from all the material a nuclear weapon kicks into the atmosphere reflecting sunlight back into space? So if you wanted to send a planet into a permanent ice age all you really have to do is lob small comets and asteroids rigged with charges into a planet's atmosphere. In a few months, or less if you get a few good impacts, instant Snowball Equestria...
11476093
Again, I could never be that creative. I was just planning to use the Space Dragon.
stellaris.paradoxwikis.com/images/0/06/Evt_space_dragon.png
11476131
Now that is just cruel.
That poor dragon. All the rotten pony matter is going give it a tummy ache.
11477339
New World Order
Well it's kinda interesting how you balanced the conflict (at least on paper) by having it mostly local forces because the proper military is too busy. Reminds of World in Conflict where it's mostly the National Guard vs a Soviet Expedition because the US armed forces and the Red Army are busy making the Somme look like a toxic airsoft game
Oh, this is getting good.
I hope "no mercy" doesn't mean killing surrendering soldiers, or killing civilians. It's one thing to kill enemies who are trying to kill you; it's another when they are giving up.
11482620
That is generally what happens when total war is declared yes. Especially when the other side has already repeatedly violated those specific written or unwritten rules. Its the true enforcer of the laws & customs of war - that if you break one the other side will throw all of them aside. So if you aren't willing to pay the price of, for example, seeing your cities bathed in a persistent nerve gas that kills millions and paralyzes your economy then you shouldn't use chemical weapons yourself.
Though at this point it seems Thera is somewhat restraining itself. They did take more prisoners than the gas killed afterall. Now how many of those prisoners survived and what sort of treatment they got we don't know yet. Not that there is much you can do for chlorine gas inhalation anyway. Scary stuff for the first modern chemical weapon because unlike other types such as nerve agents which just block or over-excite a particular set of impluses with lethal results (typicaly suffocation) or carbon dioxide that displaces oxygen, chlorine physically destroys lung tissue both directly and by forming hydrochloric acide (among other compounds) on contact with water. The best you can do for its victims is try to prevent more damage by flushing out the unreacted chlorine, putting them on oxygen to minimize the strain on any remaining viable tissue, and keep them sedated while the body tries to repair itself. And if the damage is too extensive, well there is an unstated reason why every doctor and most nurses know how much morphine is a lethal dose.
My guess is it comes down to where the Theran unit pulls it troops from, if the Equestrian unit has a reputation or atrocities or adhering to the laws of war, and the individual commander on the ground. So a pony unit that ignored any orders to maltreat humans and was surrendoring to a group from a part of North America that hadn't seen any direct attacks and was lead by a professional officer probably would be okay. If however that unit was knowwn to have committed atrocities and was surrendoring to a bunch of irregulars from Persia, well the best they might get is a bullet to the head.
Damn I can’t believe this isn’t more popular
11503465
Why thank you. Although I will admit, this series is not my best work.