The Last and the Brave (IC, see OOC thread first)

by **Crysuko** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 6:13 am

[Pretend there's nothing here]

by **Fascist Empire of Great Britain** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 6:25 am

-snip-

by **Kreigsherr** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:02 am

Co-wrote with Equestria and Karai

Southern Coast of Karai, Karai Korps

The LHD and LAS ships of the joint Karaian and Kriegsmarine assault force sailed forward towards the coastline. A shout went up through several of the ships as the barrier groaned and seemed to scream in anguish as it tore itself apart. Rotors on helicopters aboard the LHDs began turning as the advance elements of the three Panzer divisions loaded into the assault helicopters that would accompany the gunships that provide the initial landing assault.

With the barrier down the main cannons on the three Kriegsmarine battleships swung about towards the projected landing area. One again smoke and fire spewed out of the ends of the cannons as another salvo was fired. On board the LAS ships drones lifted off the decks of the vessels and the small robots headed towards the shore. Cell doors popped open as well and ship the land cruise missiles began to launch towards the coastline.

It was here that the Karaian First Marines Regiment, carried along in their Ropucha and Alligator class landing ships, as well as the occasional BTR-60 and 50 staying close to the shore, slowly begun their advance towards the coast, prepared to land first. It was for both symbolic and pragmatic purposes, they were the first willing to risk themselves on their own soil, and they were also the more expendable force. Dozens upon dozens of troops walked out with their ‘Kalash’s, mostly Type 56’s and AKM’s, behind them support in the form of PT-76’s and Type 63’s begun to advance, some haphazardly equipped with either an ATGM or a flamethrower. All in all, it appeared their landing was going according to plan.

“Krieg this is Alpha, Marines report landing is clear, repeat, landing is clear.” A voice, the regiment’s commander, rang over a radio, transmitting to the Kriegsherr forces. So far, it seemed like everything was going according to plan, of course, this begun to worry the Regiment’s commander even further.

The helicopter forces sailed through the air over the Karaian forces on the beach and and assault helis hovered just above the sand farther down the beach from the new allies, their rotors kicking up a flurry of sand and water. As soon as they did ten soldiers jumped out quickly from the hovering beasts and quickly a company’s worth of men was on the beach while overhead the gunships patrolled for any land targets that might attack beach head.

From the LAS huge hovercraft began to unload from the huge ships and their powerful fans pushed the armor laden craft towards the beachhead that was being secured. Each hovercraft was laden with the Panzer VI Königstiger that was the mainstay of the Panzer Divisions that were unloading. Slowly a steady stream of craft was seen heading back and forth between the Kriegsmarine assault ships that were unloading the bulk of the Karai Korps.

It soon came as a mildly shocking surprise when one of the PT-76’s was struck by an unknown shell, immediately causing the small tank to violently explode, a combination of its ammo and fuel igniting into flames. This immediately brought the Karaian infantry to seek cover, especially when they soon found themselves under fire from machine guns. A few soldiers armed with RPG-7’s, the mainstay anti-tank weapon of Karai, readied themselves for the eventual sighting of their foe.

Soon enough, it arrived in the form of an Equestrian tank. It was an unusual design, rivets clearly visible all around the surprisingly small vehicle, armed with a 37mm gun in a miniscule turret, a 75mm hull mounted gun, and a single 8mm coaxial. It fired all three at any targets it saw, panicking the Karaian forces. A shot from another PT-76’s gun simply slammed into the tank’s shield, ricocheting harmlessly as a result. Shortly behind the tank arrived two IFV’s, both carrying 90mm howitzers and at least twelve dismounts, Earth ponies now coming out from the back of the vehicles, carrying rifles, SMG’s, and even LMG’s with them. They were there to cause havoc and mayhem with the Krieg landing, especially now with the barrier broken.

As soon as the enemy armor began its attack, the several of the gunships above turned towards the attackers. Like steel eagles they pounced upon the enemy armor, anti-tank missiles and heavy tracer fire arced from the nose cannons towards the enemy.

The Equestrian tank found its shielding deflect one ATGM, followed by the next simply breaking its enchantment outright. It attempted to retreat, only to find itself struck by one finally missile, fatally damaging the fuel tank and causing the immediate explosion of the tank. The troops and IFV’s simply fired their small arms at the helicopters. some finding themselves struck down by the helicopters. However, the Earth ponies, prepared for a helicopter assault it seemed, quickly pulled out some sort of MANPADS carried by a few members of the squads, and begun attempting to shoot down their assailants.

The surviving Karaian tanks pushed their own offensive, hoping to knock out at least the IFV’s slowing them down. A direct hit from one 76.2mm gun immediately downed one IFV’s shields, the IFV only saved by the fortunate strike of its own howitzer successfully damaging the PT-76 and mission killing it, even if its crew survived unharmed. Little did anyone know that Equestria planned to send a larger force to support their current delaying action against the Kriegsherr.

Even though the Kreigs gunships were well armored there was little the helicopter’s armor could do against a HE warhead. Explosions rocked the sky as more than a few of the gunships were struck by the enemy MANPADS.

The loud boom from the main cannon on the Kreig’s tanks added to the chaos as the Panzers waded into the combat zone. Tracer fire shot from the HMG turrets on top of the tanks towards the pony fighters as the gunships above scattered and began evasive maneuvers to try and prevent more of them from being knocked out of the sky.

“We have enemy contact on the beaches ma’am.” said the XO of the Prince Karl to Anja as the landing force became engaged with the enemy.

“As soon as the drones are on station have them begin live feeds so we can support if necessary.” was all the Generaladmiral said as she leaned over the Holo-Tac screen that displayed the combat raging around the various Kriegsmarine forces.

More tanks and IFV’s began to pour in towards the beaches, at least one of them heavy tanks. They began firing on the move, a few miles away from their targets as they drove towards them. They were uncannily fast, easily reaching 70 kph in a very short time. The Karaian armor fired back, at least one ATGM now flying towards their foes. It had managed a direct hit, damaging one tank’s shields, the subsequent 76.2mm fire struck it, albeit to very little effect.

“Their frontal armor is too strong for our guns, even with that shield down.” One of the tank’s radioed, all the while the tanks scrambled to avoid the eerily accurate shots from the Equestrians. When the tanks finally came into range, the Karaian infantry, having built a small, mediocre trench with which to guard themselves, begun to throw whatever was on hand. Those armed with RPG’s fired them immediately at the closest tank they saw, resulting in the lead tank’s sudden destruction. Others threw molotov cocktails and grenades, hoping to damage the tracks or injure the crew. It was becoming more and more chaotic, especially with the equestrian infantry advancing and behind the tanks or in their IFV’s, prepared to storm the beach themselves if needed to.

"More hostiles appearing." said another voice to Anna who stared intently at the tactical map screen.

"Load the main batteries again and fire over more." she ordered. Live feeds from the drones linked into satellites orbiting the Earth above, the information was beamed back down to the Prince Karl whose main batteries turned towards the action. The guns slightly elevated and the calculations where made to avoid friendly fire. The whole activity took less than thirty seconds and once more the guns of the Prince Karl spoke their terrible gospel.

The guns had immediately obliterated several of the tanks and IFV’s supporting the assault, engulfing them in flames. This had shocked the force sent in to eliminate their attackers, but not enough to rout them. They instead showed a perhaps fatalistic boldness, as they charged the beach, most of their armor now attempting to get close enough that friendly fire from the massive guns was an inevitability.

The Equestrian armor continued to fire shots into the enemy armor, already destroying most of the Karaian PT-76’s. If no more was present they would train their guns on any infantry in sight. The Karaian infantry only fired more RPG’s and molotovs at their foes, another tank knocked out as a result. However, when the IFV’s begun to disembark their infantry near the small trench, things immediately grew bloody. They fired their rifles, the ponies fired back. When the ponies entered the trenches, the cruelty of close quarters combat showed itself, bayonets and knives striking flesh on both sides, spilling the blood of both equine and human.

Panzerfaust rockets screamed past the Karai troops as the Kreig infantry moved forward to help. The sun glimmered across the multitude of men as their bayonets sparked in the light as they were fixed to rifles right before they slammed into the pony assault.

A loud buzzing sound was heard as huge cannon rounds from above tore up the beach and swung into the Equestrian forces as the few strike fighter that could be spared attacked from above. The dull thump-thump of the Kreigs own IFV's autokannon could be heard while several ATGMs launched from box launchers on the side of their turrets screamed above the quickly reddening sands of the beach. Several high pitched whistles cut through the air as explosions rocked the beach from the mobile mortar vehicles, one explosion coming to close and eradicating an entire Kreig squad that had rushed forward to soon.

The shielding on the Equestrian armor had protected them from the fighter and IFV rounds, the infantry around them less fortunate. The sheer amount of ATGM fire, however, was enough to destroy several Equestrian tanks and IFV’s, now focused mostly on killing the enemy armor first.

The fighting in the trenches had become an unholy bloodbath, as the Equestrians, assisted by their superior strength, initially seemed to finally be gaining the upper hand over the Karaians. However, the Krieg push into the trench had made it an even fight once again, as they now had to contend with both the remaining Karaians as well as the Krieg forces. They fought viciously against them, almost as if they feared a worse fate would await them should they fail to do so, and the Karaian’s fought back in an equally ferocious manner, some out of anger, some out of desperation, and some out of sheer survival.

They turned into madmen as they pounced into the trenches to join in the fight, the Kreigs attacking with fanatical fervor. The cries and anguish of the wounded could be heard, those that were lucky died a quick death, those that didn't were slowly crushed by the boots and hooves of those locked into mortal combat. Any areas where a single Kreig trooper was wounded and being overwhelmed they simply pulled the pin and on whatever remaining grenades they had left, determined to take as many of the enemy with them as possible.

More bullets pounded the beach am the enemy as another flight of assault helicopters soared overhead to land another group of soldiers to help flack the enemy. Missile fire from the ground took its toll on the airborne assault before ticket salvos from the returning gunships strafed the beach while the Königstiger tanks formed up and rolled brazenly down the beach into the enemy while support fire from the landing craft pounded the beach in front of them and another salvo from the LAS missile batteries slammed into the earth behind the enemy.

A few Mi-8 helicopters, armed primarily with 70mm rocket pods, began to move in and assist as well, firing their 14.5mm machine guns at any pony in the open. They hesitated to use their rockets, mostly because of their general lack of perceived effectiveness against armor, and because of how close the various infantry forces were to eachother. At the same time, a few more Karaian landing ships dropped more infantry, as well as a few T-62’s, some of the heavier tanks available to Karai. The tanks stayed closely behind the Konigstigers, acting more as support to them. The Infantry, mostly carried in APC’s, was driven near the trench, at which point they disembarked and began firing at the equines, now depleted in numbers and forced to retreat.

However, a sudden noise quickly made the Karaians duck for cover as the ponies ran, intent on retreating to safer grounds. The Equestrians had begun using their own artillery, at first a few shells of an unknown caliber striking the beach, followed by a sudden rocket strike, as multiple rockets, presumably from an MLRS of sorts began to strike the beaches, shrapnel and napalm now cruelly engulfing the beach.

Counter-battery radars zeroed in on the launch point of the enemy artillery and repeating salvos from the three battleships pounded into the locations the enemy artillery had fired from. Despite this shrapnel and explosions still cut through the Kreig's forces mercilessly. Still the landing craft continued to pour more and more Panzers and men into the beach and more armored vehicles and men took up the places of those that had fallen. Stubbornly the Kreigs refused to be displaced from the beach as they tried to tighten their grip on what little slice of land they had.

by **Equestria and Karai** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 4:59 pm

The large force heading close to the Montesardi position found itself stopped right in its tracks as it heard the shout of one of its own goddesses approach. To the crews inside, it was without a doubt the most shocking thing they had experienced since the war started, seeing Luna, princess of the night, after having just been ordered mere minutes ago to charge, being told to stand down.

The crew of some of the tanks began to open their hatches, wanting to see the princess with their own eyes, some immediately leaving their tanks and kneeling or praying to Luna. For the moment, it seemed as if Luna’s plan was working, whether or not it would continue to work was another question entirely though.

The Princess for her part, acknowledged the possibility of failure, but didn’t let it concern her at all, stepping forward with regal poise, her sword and kineblades sheathing themselves. She didn’t speak immediately, stepping toward the Equestrian army at a light trot, recalling a teleportation spell in one part of her mind while she considered what to say, looking at the ponies to try and gauge their morale, their beliefs.

The soldiers, having gone from an undying dedication to fighting their enemies, now stared in awe. Before too long, a few tankers walked towards her, kneeling in front of her. “Dear Goddess, we apologize, we thought you had ordered us to fight against the dreaded humans minutes ago? Did you not want us to fight against the cruel and horrid forces of humanity, lest they destroy us all with their hatred?” One of the ponies began to ramble to her, clearly terrified and confused all together.

Luna paused to look at her, holding out her hoof, “Rise,” she said, quite simply, the confirmation that she did indeed, have a duplicate here, didn’t surprise her, but it was disheartening. “That is what you were told, but that is not required,” she said, “And these are not humans behind us, they are ponies, are they not?” she asked, gesturing toward the Montresardi with an expansive gesture, “Well, ponies and griffons and a big dragon, but hardly any humans. And those that are, aren’t exactly motivated by hatred, are they?”

That left the few humans who formed part of the battalion feel excluded, to which, at least fifty of them stepped forward. The classification of “human” varied, as both standard humans, cat eared and wolf eared demihumans marched forward. One of them stepped forward towards the alicorn as protest. “We may be few,” the blue beret wearing catgirl said. “But, ponies, humans, zebras or whatever they may be are united as brethren.” Her uniform indicated that her surname was Fiexlone, but it gave no more information about her since she kept her arms behind, where the insignia indicated the rank of Central Officer. The crowd behind cheered almost harmoniously as soon as she ended.

Luna smiled, looking at Fiexlone, not really seeing it as a protest but as an endorsement, she’d not questioned the ‘meta-humans’ in the Montresardi unit after all, “That is of course, true,” she said, looking at the ‘Equestrian’ tankers once more, “Harmony prevails here,” she said.

“Indeed it does.” Replied the catgirl, going back into her respective vehicle. The few assembled armoured vehicles that the Montesardi brought were mostly light vehicles, but at least five of the thirty total were heavy tanks, ready to cause mayhem and destruction upon the enemy.

Luna gave her a gracious nod, suppressing the urge to apologize for any insult, she uld do that later, and it wouldn’t do to be looking fallible in front of these equestrians.

The ponies near Luna only stood with looks of horror in their eyes, joining the shock and confusion they once held. “But… Princess Luna, do you not remember our last interaction with the humans? Do you not remember what happened at Stalliongrad? Los Pegasus? How could you betray your own subjects for those who would burn and dessicate everything held dear to your subjects?” The same pony looked at her as if she had committed the greatest sin, the sin of betrayal.

“We have betrayed nopony, nor will we ever. Crimes which were not done by the Montesardi,” she said, waving to those behind her, “nor do the Montesardi seek to protect those who would do such things, so where is the need to fight here today?”

“Even if these so called traitors of Montesardi commit no such crimes what about the rest of the forces attacking us?” Another pony angrily shouted at her, his mind’s logic slowly eroded by anger and hatred. “These humans seek nothing more than the death of us all, how dare you betray us for them!” He ran towards the princess and attempted to slap her, his mind too clouded to use the handgun or knife holstered on him.

Luna raised a hoof in an ‘I’ve got this’ gesture as the pony charged toward her, and... waited. Her helm wasn’t exactly fragile, but hooves were pretty hard, and even then, she was more than willing to take a bit of a beating if it helped defuse any mob mentality. She recoiled from the slap, the pain significant, but not enough to make her cry out, although she did step back slightly, “And we can’t fight them if we spend our time fighting each other, can we?” she asked, waiting for the next blow.

The pony, still angered immensely, attempted to continue his assault with a punch, perhaps a deluded attempt to knock her out. Before he could get any other strikes after that in, the other ponies began to subdue him. “You traitorous bitch, how dare you! My family died fighting for you and this is how you thank me? By kissing up to the murderous enemy!” His vocabulary from then on devolved into meaningless angrish intertwined with death threats, as the distraught pony was still held by his comrades. The rest of the ponies only continued looking onward at her, still unsure of what to make of the situation.

“We do not deny just retribution its place, but by striking those who are innocent we only make more suffering,” Luna said, calmly, part of her feeling compassion for her attacker, of course, how could it not, part of her wondering quite what he was talking about, she had suspected some measure of complexity might arise here, and the thought occured, what have the Karai been up to. “To be righteous we must be just in all things.”

The Montesardi troops remained slightly back, but they immediately lifted their guns cautiously, as they couldn’t tell the outcome. They now were lead by a unicorn mare, who slowly kept her telekinesis concentrated on her sword, should the situation rise. She strode slowly behind the alicorn, but remained silent as the air made her tan uniform move about in the air. She still ordered the Montesardi to remain attentive, before she approached the pony who assaulted Luna. “I’d refrain from hitting her once more…” She warned, her heavy Trotskivnan accent made her roll her ‘r’s. Before she adjusted her glasses.

“It’s quite alright,” Luna said, rubbing her face slightly, removing her protective helmet, in fact, letting her starry mane flow freely, “We would rather be beaten than anypony be killed, but we do need to end this conflict, so that we can all sit down and calm down.”

”Do not listen to this impostor’s lies!” A sudden being shouted seemingly from the heavens. The voice was unmistakable to the Equestrian forces, as they all immediately knelt. ”She is not my sister! She is but a harlot feeding you lies, little more than a human lie meant to delude you!” The goddess spoke to her subjects, a vision of her clearly visible upon the heavens. “Do not let this interloper lead you astray, for she seeks to make you all but slaves of humanity! Her idea of justice is the same as that of humanity, behind the barrel of a gun! Fight against her and the tyranny she and humanity both plan to impose on you!” She continued, her vision still clearly upon the heavens.

“And yet we ask nothing of you, save that you do not kill those who offer you no violence. We stand here peacefully, among you, not leading from hundreds of miles away, we speak of justice as that which falls upon those who do wrong, not upon everypony, and we will stand beside you to see it done.” Luna’s reply was strident, but an appeal to the principles that equestrians were brought up with, in her mind, she let the idea that she wanted them to submit to humans wait a moment, to let the first reply work, and see how it played. She had a tone of sadness, seeing her sister in this way, disappointing. If anyone sounded betrayed, it was certainly Luna.

Seeing the situation unfold, the unicorn commander ordered a retreat of her troops back towards a safe distance, the vehicles made loud hissing noises, exhaust fumes from their diesel engines blasted out as they slowly backed. She had her sword draw at this moment, only waiting for the moment for them to fire. Should they fire as they made the retreat, one small crystal would save them from the barrage temporarily. She held the crystal near her coat jacket, hoping that they’d be far away to fire. Nonetheless, the mare still kept her eyes fixed, trotting quickly to a large truck that backed away.

As the ponies looked at both Luna and Celestia, confusion now permeating their ranks, a sudden explosion alerted them to the fact that they were in enemy territory. The crew which had been close to Luna now ran back to their tank, attempting to hide from what was more than likely either Karaian or Lubyakan artillery fire now falling all around them. The only exception was the one pony who had previously slapped and punched Luna, instead drawing a handgun out. Before he could use it, however, he quickly found himself turned into little more than mist and flesh as the result of a 122mm shell hitting the ground slightly too closely to him. However, soon enough the rest of the tanks begun firing their various machine guns at the motley crew of gods, ponies, and humans faced in front of them, their actual weapons instead beginning to aim at the Montesardi vehicles.

Luna sighed audibly, looking at the spectacularly violent death of the stallion who’d attacked her and feeling nothing but sadness, wondering who would grieve for him, if he had any family left, anywhere. She was not afraid of firearms, she’d been shot before. The tragedy was that she’d not been able to save others. She raised her hooves, and dissipated into mist, her mane overtaking her body entirely, snaking across the ground, bullets whistling through her. She could try and stop the artillery, but then she would be giving the Equestrians an advantage over her allies, or she could fight the equestrians alongside her allies, that was the course of action that was demanded of her, of course, so she would, but she was not inclined to fight the common soldiers if she could avoid it. Her bodyguards, back with the Montresardi, felt no such compulsion of course, opening fire, wondering how they might catch up with the mistlike Alicorn.

Immediately, as the first shot was heard, the commander grabbed the crystal, blasting it with a large, blue aura of magic. Instantly, a small shield covered some of the troops from the front, only aiding to those who found themselves outside of their vehicles, since the shield would last little, the cream coloured mare ran for cover, alongside the rest of the soldiers who remained vulnerable to the attack, soon afterwards, the effect of the shield stopped, with the tanks firing immediately at the Equestrian aggressors, the barrels of the tanks pounding heavy artillery shells at the machine gunners.

The tanks for the most part survived the first shot, their shields guaranteeing that they survived. The second and third shots were usually the last shots needed, however, as the tanks were close enough that their armor was generally not enough to avoid a penetrating hit. Their own tanks however, quickly returned fire with thier own guns, a mixture of different caliber guns all enchanted to allow them to penetrate most tanks they would encounter. They began to focus mostly on the enemy tanks, as their machine gun rounds bounced off the shield protecting the Montesardi’s, only prepared to return fire at the infantry once their shield no longer protected them.

The exchange in fire led to what most would have wanted to prevent, an actual fight between the two forced. Immediately, Commander Ivon entered her respective tank, hysterically looking at her fellow tank team with deep concern. She remained silent, but levitated the tank’s radio receiver to her. “Command, this is Commander Ivon Yiando of the 3rd Montesardi Engineering Battalion. We’ve experienced contact with the Equestrian forces and are currently engaged. I request aerial support now!” Her voiced boomed, with some fear mixed in. The radio responded with numerous codes, only with the response that help would arrive soon enough, ordering them to hold ground.

The tanks now moved to encircle their enemy, they were unsure of just how many of them there was, only focused on eliminating the other tanks as quick as possible. Fortunately, the Montesardi had their tanks magically enhanced prior to deployment, but this usually only meant that they’d withstand some few more hits than a normal tank, nonetheless, any advantage at this point would have helped. Rounds of magically powered rounds, similar to the highly volatile explosive rounds of the firespell now shot at the Equestrians, hoping that this would demonstrate fear to continue attacking them.

“Well, that was worth a try.” Alduin, who had been quietly observing the entire event unfold, began to fly into the air once again. He approached the nearest tank, standing near it, and with a single swoop of his claws, attempted to lift the large metal monster of a tank. At the same time, he had shouted a few words, words unknown even to other Dovah, as black clouds now gathered above the battlefield. With very little warning, several hundreds of flaming rocks now began to fall down on the Equestrians, acting as another form of artillery which they had to watch out for, explosions and shrapnel spread everywhere as a result of Alduin’s meteor storm.

The tank the black dragon had picked up, one of Equestria’s many heavy tanks, was picked up with little effort, its crew either attempting to bail out or fire upon him. The other tanks’ began to fire their own machine guns at Alduin, at least one using its 37mm gun to try and injure him. The meteorites that now fell on top of them was another problem, as at least one of the Equestrian tanks was reduced to a burning wreck by a few striking and setting the entire vehicle on fire, its occupants burning horribly to death.

Alduin, carrying the tank quite easily, ignored the incoming small arms fire, only making sure to dodge the 37mm rounds fired at him by one tank, specifically using the tank he was carrying to deflect the shots. He then threw his own tank straight at the tank in question, hoping to at least disable it.

A quick scream was the only thing that could be heard from the Equestrian tank, as the thrown one simply crushed the other with sheer weight and momentum, its crew crushed immeditely. The Equestrian advance was quickly turning into a disaster, all the result of a few tanks, a dragon, and an impostor princess.

That Princess, for her part (no impostor in her mind!) was doing her best to be forgotten in the battle’s din, swirling as a blue-grey mist that slunk across the ground, listening carefully. These were in a real sense, her people, and she knew their language well, and more than that, their culture. She was listening, watching, and seeking, seeking definately.

by **The Candy Of Bottles** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 6:27 pm

A comparatively small flotilla steamed- so to speak- along the northeastern coast of Karai. While some might consider 93 ships a large fleet, those people didn't know much about naval operations. Besides, 40 of those ships were landing craft, and another six were simply there to carry supplies. The fleet sailed with as much stealth as their designs would allow, communicating only with signal flags, and with only one ships RADAR system active. The fleet was making a respectable 30 knots, matching the speed of its slowest ship.

If one got close enough, one would see that every ship in the fleet was on high alert, ready to spring into battle at a moments notice. They had heard about the start of the naval battle off the southern coast and everypony aboard wanted to avoid the same fate. And yes- everypony was the correct term. Every last crew member, marine, solider, and even air-person in the fleet was a pony of one description or another: some had horns; some, wings; some neither; others even had tentacles on their heads or eight legs, and there was even one or two ponies with horns and wings among the mass grouping.

Each ship flew a single flag from their highest point- a white banner with three red hammers. Those who knew this flag most likely knew it from either the WA or trade, but in this case the meaning was clear: The Kingdom Of The Candy Of Bottles was off to war, and you had to feel sorry for any comparably sized forces standing in their way.

by **Equestria and Karai** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 8:48 pm

Collaborated with Lubyak

LNS Morenca
Marinska, Karai
Operation Scabbard

The massive Gateway class cargo ship rocked in its berth, even as its crew and the Karian dockhands tied the last of its lines ashore. At a signal from one of them, the bow of the vessel split open. Steel creaked and hydraulic muscle hissed, opening the bow doors like the jaws of a great beast, wide enough for a ramp to extend down to the dockside. Almost as soon as it did, the ship seemed to roar with diesel engine and the squeal of tracks, and a moment later, the first T-105 ‘Orc’ of the Karian Army rolled onto the dock. Traffic guides waved it on, directing it towards the assembly area, while more of the low, sleek, tanks with their hemispherical turrets and long guns rolled out. Elsewhere along the docks, other cargo ships were disembarking their cargo as well: ZSU-100 Hornets, GCV-001 Pumas, and an ungodly number of T19 trucks. All were outdated in the Lubyakan Army, maintained in storage for activation as the equipment for Category C Reserve formation. Yet, the Army was continuously expanding and upgrading, so even this equipment was soon rendered obsolete as newer vehicles replaced them. To the Dominion, they were worth nothing more than scrap, but to the Karaians, they were a vital upgrade to their forces, delivered free of charge.

Overlooking the operation, Captain Mako Octarian gazed down on the streams of vehicles rolling down the ramps, and at the rest of the cargo ships still waiting their turn to dock. He adjusted the pince-nez glasses resting on his narrow nose, and folded a gloved hand behind his back, mentally running through the cargo manifests and reports on deployment. Some of the ships still waiting to dock carried more vehicles, but others were loaded with food, fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and humanitarian aid, all the things necessary to keep Karai a functioning state.

“I trust that this will be of great use to you, sir,” he said, turning to face the Karian officer next to him.

Colonel Orlov took a look at the various cargo being supplied to Karai. It was interesting, the sheer amount of supplies that people were pouring into the nation, especially since there was very little they could give back, Orlov had no doubt that there was a catch to all this, but for now she simply watched, a small smile as she realized her regiment would be the first to receive the ‘new’ Lubyakan equipment.

“Yes, all of it will be very useful, very, very useful.” She said, looking at the ‘Orc’ as it made its way inland. “So, can you give me a quick rundown of everything you’ve brought? Lots of new toys I have to write down for the big shots.” She said, looking at the Orc continue to drive through the dock.

“Of course,” Octarian said, handing over his datapad. “All the detailed information is there. I estimate that you should have at least an armoured grenadier division’s worth of equipment in this shipment, along with the supplies to keep it operational for 30 days,” he said, before removing his glasses and gently rubbing them with a cloth. “They are older pieces but...with all due respect, Colonel...your existing stockpiles are older still. These will be a substantial upgrade.”

“Right, ‘new’ toys, you Lubyakans are just throwing away old junk at this point.” Orlov bemused to herself, noting the irony of the ‘outdated’ equipment still being superior to their own. “You think we can stick one of those 125’s on your tanks on our Five-Five’s and Six-Two’s? Would be nice to have some extra fire power.” She said, referring to the T-55 and T-62 by their rather common nicknames in the Karaian military. “Maybe some of that ERA stuff, better engine, etcetera etcetera?”

Octarian nodded, smiling as he replaced his glasses. “What may be junk on the Reichland fields can still be valuable here, Colonel,” he said. “As for your modifications...” he said, tapping a finger against the pointed black beard, streaked with gray on his chin. “It should be possible, at least with the normal 125s, but you will have to double check with the engineers,” he said. “Our ERA should be easy enough to mount. Marble is one of our favourite tricks, and should help even the score against the...’shields’ on those Equestrian tanks.”

“Well...” Orlov began to say as she saw a Militia T-34-85 platoon drive in the background. “I think it’s safe to say there is no such thing as junk here in Karai, only old and new treasure.” She bemused once again, only to see one of the T-34’s accidentally slam itself into a concrete wall, nearly eliciting a facepalm from the Colonel. “Anyways… glad to hear those old rust buckets we call tanks can be made nice and shiny again, is it too much to ask for something similar on the 34’s?”

Octarian frowned. “Besides selling them to museums and collectors, then using the proceeds to buy a few more modern things?” he mumbled, as he massaged his head. “Conversion is perhaps the best bet...into general support vehicles. Anti-air, missile carrier, stick an open top gun on and call it a tank destroyer...their chassis still good, but they aren’t fit to be front line tanks anymore.”

“Okay, lots of ours have already been turned into AA before the war even began, not very good AA, but it’s something.” She noted. “Others into Artillery, I think we even tried to make APC’s out of them a while back… you get the idea. Anyways, our regiment will be mostly using your Orcs anyways, hope they’re as good as you claim they are.” She somewhat jokingly finished, realizing it wouldn’t be long before her Regiment was sent to reinforce Kharv.

by **Ranoria** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 12:51 pm

Equestria and Karai wrote:Collaborated with Lubyak

LNS Morenca
Marinska, Karai
Operation Scabbard

The massive Gateway class cargo ship rocked in its berth, even as its crew and the Karian dockhands tied the last of its lines ashore. At a signal from one of them, the bow of the vessel split open. Steel creaked and hydraulic muscle hissed, opening the bow doors like the jaws of a great beast, wide enough for a ramp to extend down to the dockside. Almost as soon as it did, the ship seemed to roar with diesel engine and the squeal of tracks, and a moment later, the first T-105 ‘Orc’ of the Karian Army rolled onto the dock. Traffic guides waved it on, directing it towards the assembly area, while more of the low, sleek, tanks with their hemispherical turrets and long guns rolled out. Elsewhere along the docks, other cargo ships were disembarking their cargo as well: ZSU-100 Hornets, GCV-001 Pumas, and an ungodly number of T19 trucks. All were outdated in the Lubyakan Army, maintained in storage for activation as the equipment for Category C Reserve formation. Yet, the Army was continuously expanding and upgrading, so even this equipment was soon rendered obsolete as newer vehicles replaced them. To the Dominion, they were worth nothing more than scrap, but to the Karaians, they were a vital upgrade to their forces, delivered free of charge.

Overlooking the operation, Captain Mako Octarian gazed down on the streams of vehicles rolling down the ramps, and at the rest of the cargo ships still waiting their turn to dock. He adjusted the pince-nez glasses resting on his narrow nose, and folded a gloved hand behind his back, mentally running through the cargo manifests and reports on deployment. Some of the ships still waiting to dock carried more vehicles, but others were loaded with food, fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and humanitarian aid, all the things necessary to keep Karai a functioning state.

“I trust that this will be of great use to you, sir,” he said, turning to face the Karian officer next to him.

Colonel Orlov took a look at the various cargo being supplied to Karai. It was interesting, the sheer amount of supplies that people were pouring into the nation, especially since there was very little they could give back, Orlov had no doubt that there was a catch to all this, but for now she simply watched, a small smile as she realized her regiment would be the first to receive the ‘new’ Lubyakan equipment.

“Yes, all of it will be very useful, very, very useful.” She said, looking at the ‘Orc’ as it made its way inland. “So, can you give me a quick rundown of everything you’ve brought? Lots of new toys I have to write down for the big shots.” She said, looking at the Orc continue to drive through the dock.

“Of course,” Octarian said, handing over his datapad. “All the detailed information is there. I estimate that you should have at least an armoured grenadier division’s worth of equipment in this shipment, along with the supplies to keep it operational for 30 days,” he said, before removing his glasses and gently rubbing them with a cloth. “They are older pieces but...with all due respect, Colonel...your existing stockpiles are older still. These will be a substantial upgrade.”

“Right, ‘new’ toys, you Lubyakans are just throwing away old junk at this point.” Orlov bemused to herself, noting the irony of the ‘outdated’ equipment still being superior to their own. “You think we can stick one of those 125’s on your tanks on our Five-Five’s and Six-Two’s? Would be nice to have some extra fire power.” She said, referring to the T-55 and T-62 by their rather common nicknames in the Karaian military. “Maybe some of that ERA stuff, better engine, etcetera etcetera?”

Octarian nodded, smiling as he replaced his glasses. “What may be junk on the Reichland fields can still be valuable here, Colonel,” he said. “As for your modifications...” he said, tapping a finger against the pointed black beard, streaked with gray on his chin. “It should be possible, at least with the normal 125s, but you will have to double check with the engineers,” he said. “Our ERA should be easy enough to mount. Marble is one of our favourite tricks, and should help even the score against the...’shields’ on those Equestrian tanks.”

“Well...” Orlov began to say as she saw a Militia T-34-85 platoon drive in the background. “I think it’s safe to say there is no such thing as junk here in Karai, only old and new treasure.” She bemused once again, only to see one of the T-34’s accidentally slam itself into a concrete wall, nearly eliciting a facepalm from the Colonel. “Anyways… glad to hear those old rust buckets we call tanks can be made nice and shiny again, is it too much to ask for something similar on the 34’s?”

Octarian frowned. “Besides selling them to museums and collectors, then using the proceeds to buy a few more modern things?” he mumbled, as he massaged his head. “Conversion is perhaps the best bet...into general support vehicles. Anti-air, missile carrier, stick an open top gun on and call it a tank destroyer...their chassis still good, but they aren’t fit to be front line tanks anymore.”

“Okay, lots of ours have already been turned into AA before the war even began, not very good AA, but it’s something.” She noted. “Others into Artillery, I think we even tried to make APC’s out of them a while back… you get the idea. Anyways, our regiment will be mostly using your Orcs anyways, hope they’re as good as you claim they are.” She somewhat jokingly finished, realizing it wouldn’t be long before her Regiment was sent to reinforce Kharv.

A Ranorian Cargo ship, flanked by two Zumwalt destroyers, pulls up, and comms are opened up.
"I hear you're in need of some AA! How about Phalanx Turrets and Iron Dome launchers?"

by **Ranoria** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 12:58 pm

The Ranorian Army watches as the barrier falls, and a slow roar surges through the ranks. Villus smirks as his men cheer, their cries of victory audible even from the Valasvow, and issues his next orders.
"Alright men, this is it. We end this now. Send in the Leopard 2A7 tanks in front, then G6 Marksman Tanks and HUMVEE Avengers, other vehicles behind them, then the infantry followed by the AS-90 Artillery. Lay waste with Howitzers to the surrounding area before we arrive, along with the MiGs taking on any fortifications. Another 15,000 men are being pulled from Ranoria with more Howitzers for a direct assault on Canterlot. Forces will include 4 Davis CLass interceptors for the navy, which will bombard the city before we destroy it. Charge!"
The men form up with a cheer and begin their march within an hour, most of the naval forces escorting them along the coast.

Embassy · by **Lubyak** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 1:29 pm

42nd Equestrian Rifle Division
Outside Kharv

Corporal Bright Moon trotted forward, still sheltering behind the comforting bulk of the anti-air gun. Its four barrels still roared, spraying shells at the newfoals. Once the barrier had come crashing down, the whole division seemed to have launched into an attack, charging forward behind curtain of artillery. Their bayonets glinted and shimmered in the strange glistening light of the shattered barrier, and the lightning flashes as the atmospheres of Karai and Equestria mixed high above them. High above, glints of light flashed by as fighters and strike bombers raced into Equestria, laden with munitions to strike at any target of opportunity. Now that the barrier was down, the full force of the assembled 10th Shock Army could be thrown against the Equestrians. Bright Moon dove for cover behind a small mound of dirt as she listened to jet engines roar overhead, only to see the unmistakable silhouette of Lubyakan ground support bombers racing buy, their long straight wings filled to the brim with bombs, missiles, and rockets. Somewhere up ahead, something burst into flames and smoke with a bone shaking explosion, as the bombers banked away.

“Push forward!” a pony nearby yelled, standing up on all fours as he fired his rifle at nothing in particular. “We’re almost-”

Whatever he was about to say ended abruptly, as the ground around him exploded, throwing what remained of his body into the air like a doll kicked by a giant.

“Tanks! Tanks on the ridge!” someone else shouted, before they too were drown out by an explosion. This one though sent Bright Moon herself flying, her ears ringing and stars flashing in her eyes. It seemed an eternity before she slammed into a puddle, sending filthy water splashing everywhere. She lay there for a moment, blinking as she gaze at the funeral pyre of the AA vehicle she had been following, its remaining ammunition cooking off like firecrackers.

Past the column of oily black smoke that marked the vehicle’s grave, she could see strange vehicles clanking over the ridge they’d been advancing on just moments ago. They were strange, rounded things, a small turret sitting atop a massive hull, complete with sponsons, all spitting out streams of fire as they advanced. A stream of grey smoke sprouted up as one of the Rifleponies managed to loose an RPG at the tanks, but where it connected in a flower of smoke, the air shimmered and flashed in an iridescent cascade, while the tank continued unabated.

They’re coming this way Bright Moon thought, as she managed to pick herself up, and slowly tried to trot back to the trenches. All around her, the infantry attack seemed to be collapsing in on itself, rifleponies falling back. Some were retreating as organised platoons and companies, laying down support fire for each other, but others were simply streaming for the rear, running as fast as they could. From their trenches, light flashed as the remaining anti-tank guns opened up. One Equestrian tank shuddered to a halt, smoke billowing from the top of its turret, but so many others simply kept advancing, their shields glistening as they shrugged off the 125 mm armor piercing shells. Streaks of light flashed by as anti-tank missiles sauntered forward, inching forward like sloths compared to their swifter companion, but when they met the Equestrian tanks, more than a few managed to break through their shields. Some merely ground to a halt, smoke streaming from their crew compartments, but others exploded; their turrets flew into the air, atop a column of fire.

Bright Moon cheered along with her fellows at the sight, but the cheers quieted as the rest of the Equestrian assault force came along. An explosion ripped through the air above them, and the burning wreckage of a ground support bomber came spiralling down into the field just in front of them, one of its wings ripped away, and the other shrouded in flame. Flak bursts and streams of cannon fire surrounded the Equestrian fighter that rolled up, climbing away from its fallen prey, along with the streaks of missiles reaching up from the ground. It vanished into the clouds, and Bright Moon turned her attention back to the Equestrians advancing on them. What could only be IFVs were advancing now, hiding behind the tanks, and exchanging barrages of autocannon fire with the 42nd’s own APCs.

Her rifle bucked against her forearms as she fired at the advancing forces. Somewhere, deep inside, she knew it was pointless. Her rounds had no chance of penetrating the armored vehicles, but it was the only thing she could do. Simply standing and waiting was maddening.

“Infantry in bound!” she called out, as she saw one of the IFVs come to a halt, and the silhouettes of ponies poured out. She shifted her fire, aiming at the infantry, while--somewhere nearby--a machine gun opened up, sounding like a sail being ripped in two, only to be silenced as an Equestrian tank spotted and fired upon it, sending a fountain of dirt skyward.

The infantry were back where they started, huddling in their trenches, holding off an inexorable foe, but--as Equestrian artillery shells began to fall down on them--this time, their foe was much smarter, and they were much weaker.

10th Shock Army Heaadquarters
East of Kharv

“We’re facing a full scale attack all along the front, sir. 42nd Rifles is falling back to their start positions.”

“I don’t know if they’ll be able to hold their position.”

The inside of the building that Colonel General Fleet Hoof had taken as his headquarters was --compared to the rest of the city--quite luxurious. Whoever lived here before had left it long abandoned, probably fled far to the East, where there was a modicum of safety from the Equestrian advance. What had once been a sitting room was now a map room, while the dining room had become a communications suite. All around Fleet Hoof, maps were pinned up, displaying close ups of the city, and the whole country. The main table had--finally--been fitted with a holographic projector, linked to the communications suite and HIVE systems for a live feed of the combat situation. Right now, the blue markers of the Equestrian forces were pressing down, steadily updated in terms of size and composition as information flooded into the command centre from reconnaissance teams, drones, and even the occasional satellite pass.

“So much for the drive to Canterlot....” his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Thomas Abrams said, as he peered over the operations scale map. “This has to be at least two divisions being thrown against us here.”

“Yes, and they are doing exactly what we need them to do,” Fleet Hoof said, smirking before looking over to Abrams. The Lieutenant General was a petite fellow, short and thin as a straw, with pale blonde hair and fiercely blue eyes, combined with the lightest fuzz of a beard on his soft chin. “The Rifles are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.”

“Die?” he suggested, his eyes cast down at the map. “Re-direct the siege regiment to begin long ranged mining operations of major roads,” he muttered, glancing over to the communication officer. “We shan’t be driving over them for some time yet.”

“Cancel that order,” Fleet Hoof said, as he frowned. “The Rifles have identified exactly what we need. We will have a classic battle on our hands. Get the Air Troops to focus on interdictions and close support if you can, focus our artillery on preparatory bombardment on , and commit the 122nd Independent Tank Regiment to go through any weak points they can find,” he said, laying his finger on the map. “13th Panzergrenadier will go in right after them.”

“Sir?” Abrams said, looking mildly confused. “We need to take time to gather more information on what we’re facing. Especially with the Navy fighting a major battle to our south...”

“At worst this will be a spoiling attack, and we will learn much about their capabilities,” he said, glancing down at the constantly updating map. “At best we’ll link up with the Kriegers at Cloudsdale. Then we will march to Canterlot.”

“...This is risky, sir. We don’t know anything about their reserve situations, nor do we have any semblance of air superiority,” Abrams said, worry etching his face as he mentally ran through everything that could go wrong with his superior’s plan. “At least we should wait for the 831st Tank and 8th Grenadier to be made available.”

“We can not let the enemy regroup now that we’ve breached the barrier. This attack of their is a spoiling attack. It simply must be. Begin bombardment, the attack will begin as soon as feasible.”

“...Yes, sir.”

by **Ranoria** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 1:50 pm

Lubyak wrote:42nd Equestrian Rifle Division
Outside Kharv

Corporal Bright Moon trotted forward, still sheltering behind the comforting bulk of the anti-air gun. Its four barrels still roared, spraying shells at the newfoals. Once the barrier had come crashing down, the whole division seemed to have launched into an attack, charging forward behind curtain of artillery. Their bayonets glinted and shimmered in the strange glistening light of the shattered barrier, and the lightning flashes as the atmospheres of Karai and Equestria mixed high above them. High above, glints of light flashed by as fighters and strike bombers raced into Equestria, laden with munitions to strike at any target of opportunity. Now that the barrier was down, the full force of the assembled 10th Shock Army could be thrown against the Equestrians. Bright Moon dove for cover behind a small mound of dirt as she listened to jet engines roar overhead, only to see the unmistakable silhouette of Lubyakan ground support bombers racing buy, their long straight wings filled to the brim with bombs, missiles, and rockets. Somewhere up ahead, something burst into flames and smoke with a bone shaking explosion, as the bombers banked away.

“Push forward!” a pony nearby yelled, standing up on all fours as he fired his rifle at nothing in particular. “We’re almost-”

Whatever he was about to say ended abruptly, as the ground around him exploded, throwing what remained of his body into the air like a doll kicked by a giant.

“Tanks! Tanks on the ridge!” someone else shouted, before they too were drown out by an explosion. This one though sent Bright Moon herself flying, her ears ringing and stars flashing in her eyes. It seemed an eternity before she slammed into a puddle, sending filthy water splashing everywhere. She lay there for a moment, blinking as she gaze at the funeral pyre of the AA vehicle she had been following, its remaining ammunition cooking off like firecrackers.

Past the column of oily black smoke that marked the vehicle’s grave, she could see strange vehicles clanking over the ridge they’d been advancing on just moments ago. They were strange, rounded things, a small turret sitting atop a massive hull, complete with sponsons, all spitting out streams of fire as they advanced. A stream of grey smoke sprouted up as one of the Rifleponies managed to loose an RPG at the tanks, but where it connected in a flower of smoke, the air shimmered and flashed in an iridescent cascade, while the tank continued unabated.

They’re coming this way Bright Moon thought, as she managed to pick herself up, and slowly tried to trot back to the trenches. All around her, the infantry attack seemed to be collapsing in on itself, rifleponies falling back. Some were retreating as organised platoons and companies, laying down support fire for each other, but others were simply streaming for the rear, running as fast as they could. From their trenches, light flashed as the remaining anti-tank guns opened up. One Equestrian tank shuddered to a halt, smoke billowing from the top of its turret, but so many others simply kept advancing, their shields glistening as they shrugged off the 125 mm armor piercing shells. Streaks of light flashed by as anti-tank missiles sauntered forward, inching forward like sloths compared to their swifter companion, but when they met the Equestrian tanks, more than a few managed to break through their shields. Some merely ground to a halt, smoke streaming from their crew compartments, but others exploded; their turrets flew into the air, atop a column of fire.

Bright Moon cheered along with her fellows at the sight, but the cheers quieted as the rest of the Equestrian assault force came along. An explosion ripped through the air above them, and the burning wreckage of a ground support bomber came spiralling down into the field just in front of them, one of its wings ripped away, and the other shrouded in flame. Flak bursts and streams of cannon fire surrounded the Equestrian fighter that rolled up, climbing away from its fallen prey, along with the streaks of missiles reaching up from the ground. It vanished into the clouds, and Bright Moon turned her attention back to the Equestrians advancing on them. What could only be IFVs were advancing now, hiding behind the tanks, and exchanging barrages of autocannon fire with the 42nd’s own APCs.

Her rifle bucked against her forearms as she fired at the advancing forces. Somewhere, deep inside, she knew it was pointless. Her rounds had no chance of penetrating the armored vehicles, but it was the only thing she could do. Simply standing and waiting was maddening.

“Infantry in bound!” she called out, as she saw one of the IFVs come to a halt, and the silhouettes of ponies poured out. She shifted her fire, aiming at the infantry, while--somewhere nearby--a machine gun opened up, sounding like a sail being ripped in two, only to be silenced as an Equestrian tank spotted and fired upon it, sending a fountain of dirt skyward.

The infantry were back where they started, huddling in their trenches, holding off an inexorable foe, but--as Equestrian artillery shells began to fall down on them--this time, their foe was much smarter, and they were much weaker.

10th Shock Army Heaadquarters
East of Kharv

“We’re facing a full scale attack all along the front, sir. 42nd Rifles is falling back to their start positions.”

“I don’t know if they’ll be able to hold their position.”

The inside of the building that Colonel General Fleet Hoof had taken as his headquarters was --compared to the rest of the city--quite luxurious. Whoever lived here before had left it long abandoned, probably fled far to the East, where there was a modicum of safety from the Equestrian advance. What had once been a sitting room was now a map room, while the dining room had become a communications suite. All around Fleet Hoof, maps were pinned up, displaying close ups of the city, and the whole country. The main table had--finally--been fitted with a holographic projector, linked to the communications suite and HIVE systems for a live feed of the combat situation. Right now, the blue markers of the Equestrian forces were pressing down, steadily updated in terms of size and composition as information flooded into the command centre from reconnaissance teams, drones, and even the occasional satellite pass.

“So much for the drive to Canterlot....” his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Thomas Abrams said, as he peered over the operations scale map. “This has to be at least two divisions being thrown against us here.”

“Yes, and they are doing exactly what we need them to do,” Fleet Hoof said, smirking before looking over to Abrams. The Lieutenant General was a petite fellow, short and thin as a straw, with pale blonde hair and fiercely blue eyes, combined with the lightest fuzz of a beard on his soft chin. “The Rifles are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.”

“Die?” he suggested, his eyes cast down at the map. “Re-direct the siege regiment to begin long ranged mining operations of major roads,” he muttered, glancing over to the communication officer. “We shan’t be driving over them for some time yet.”

“Cancel that order,” Fleet Hoof said, as he frowned. “The Rifles have identified exactly what we need. We will have a classic battle on our hands. Get the Air Troops to focus on interdictions and close support if you can, focus our artillery on preparatory bombardment on , and commit the 122nd Independent Tank Regiment to go through any weak points they can find,” he said, laying his finger on the map. “13th Panzergrenadier will go in right after them.”

“Sir?” Abrams said, looking mildly confused. “We need to take time to gather more information on what we’re facing. Especially with the Navy fighting a major battle to our south...”

“At worst this will be a spoiling attack, and we will learn much about their capabilities,” he said, glancing down at the constantly updating map. “At best we’ll link up with the Kriegers at Cloudsdale. Then we will march to Canterlot.”

“...This is risky, sir. We don’t know anything about their reserve situations, nor do we have any semblance of air superiority,” Abrams said, worry etching his face as he mentally ran through everything that could go wrong with his superior’s plan. “At least we should wait for the 831st Tank and 8th Grenadier to be made available.”

“We can not let the enemy regroup now that we’ve breached the barrier. This attack of their is a spoiling attack. It simply must be. Begin bombardment, the attack will begin as soon as feasible.”

“...Yes, sir.”

Eight dozen Ranorian MiG 1.44/MFI fighters soar over, raining ammunition and Air to Ground Missiles on the hostile forces, followed by 15 A-10s, targeting any enemy armor before coming back around for another run. Comms open up from the lead fighter. 4
"Looked like you needed some help, Admiral Villus has requested an additional 35,000 troops and alot of armor to assist allied forces, 5,000 men and 120 tanks of whom will be coming to you, hold out for a bit longer. Red Wing One Out"
They continue their attack until they run out of ammunition and fly back to the Valasvow for resupply just as 850 Ranorian Elite Infantry, 15 AS-90s, and 12 Leopard 2A7 tanks pull in and begin to fire at the approaching forces.

by **Caribica** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:28 pm

Off the coast of Karth
After a week at sea the 1st fleet along with the 4th division, 1st Naval Infantry regiment, and 6th wing finally arrived off the coast of Karia. and General Valdez of the Army have made the decision to move 3 quarters of the 4th division and the entire 1st Naval Infantry ashore to Karth. Admiral D'Cruz of the Caribican Navy has ordered gunboats from the 1st fleet to travel up the R. Karth then the R. Zhuvovna to join their allies in fighting Equestria.
A few hours later Caribican troops arrived in Kharv, news had just reached General Valdez that the barrier had fallen. "Alright then," He said after being informed. "I want the engineers to be re-tasked from building trenches to constructing an airfield. Now that we know what is beyond the barrier based on satellite imagery I want the entire 4th division to go up the river and Take the settlement by the large lake up the River Mirai." After much planning half the 4th division along with elements of the 1st fleet moved up the Mirai River to the large lake near Cloudsdale and moved in from the North to besiege Cloudsdale. While the other half has moved in from the south to seal Cloudsdale in. The siege has begun as YAK-130's begin attacking Equestrian troops and 2S7's lay waste to the city with their long range cannons.

by **The Candy Of Bottles** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:30 pm

200 miles off the north coast of Karai, the Rainbow Pony fleet split up slightly- while most of the fleet continued to parallel the coast, four ships- two troop transports and a pair of missile corvettes, turned to the south, heading for a small, hilly bay on the north coast. This was the technical wing of the force, 1,600 of whom would be going ashore, setting out to begin the task of finding a cure for the infected newfoals. The regiment was expecting to be able to land unopposed- this area had never been behind the barrier, and the nearby mountains would discourage any large forces anyway. Their goal was to lay out a long row of traps, intended to catch any newfoals (or ordinary enemy troops) that stumbled into them alive.

The remaining vessels, the attack wing, continued northwest, slowly beginning to curve more to the south to continue along their original route. Carrying 30,400 troops, this was the group hoping to make the killing blow. And, unless someone else beat them to it, they refused to be denied.

by **Shrillland** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:34 pm

250 NM off the south coast of Karai near the Karai-"Equestrian" frontier
5th Fleet

After nearly a week of arguments, shouts, disagreements, and wrangling, President Orange Blossom managed to authorise the deployment of 95,000 troops, 3,500 tanks, and the necessary naval and air support to assist the allies in the assault against what the Shrill Celestian Patriarch called "a blasphemous array of changelings who wish to conquer and subdue the people of Karai by making them these NewFoal abominations". Admiral Edward Satterfield led the 5th fleet on board the SNS Octans while the expeditionary force's field commander, Marshal Steel Gauntlet, was on board the 8th fleet's flagship, SNS Polaris. It was the namesake of the Polaris-class missile cruisers, and it also held enough transport for the armada that approached from the southwest, away from the worst of the battles on the coast. Their goal was to draw forces from the front line and assist the allies in the western marches.

"Gold Eagle, this is Red Fox. Birds are within striking distance of shore and await your command." Marshal Gauntlet radioed to Admiral Satterfield.

This is Gold Eagle, we copy and accept. Fire the birds." Satterfield responded.

"Attention. Your time has come. We have come to assist our great allies who have done so much for these people already to eliminate a scourge from this world. Your job is to eliminate the enemy air power for our folks to land safely. The least we can do is give them Tartarus, good luck and good hunting to you all."

And with that, the birds began flying off the carriers to their latest war. Battleships and Submarines went to action stations, and the Polaris began its its role as leader as the two fleets sailed northeast.

by **Kreigsherr** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:35 pm

Southern Coast of Karai, Karai Korps

Given their forces were limited, the Equestrians hindered the joint Karai-Kreigsherr landing as effectively as they could for as long as they could. In the end though it was a numbers game along with the constant bombardment from the navy and the naval air forces. Still the beach was littered with the Kreig’s armored vehicles and helicopters that had fallen in combat. All in all though, taking into to consideration the tenacity and ferociousness of the Equestrian forces, casualties had been low enough to please the High Command, as pleased as they could be at least.

Inland from the landing became a massive staging area for the three Panzer divisions that were unloaded. To west of the landing area and farther inland engineering battalions worked furiously, trees were leveled with primacord and their stumps bulldozed out from the ground as the earth was leveled as flat as they could make it. Large metal grates compacted into the ground until they as flat as the runway on any airbase in the world. Their work completed the battalions dispersed into making earthwork defenses for the staging area and the airbase as well as forming up into their divisions as the Panzer unit began to prepare for their marches towards Vanhoofen and Cloudsdale.

Oberwiesenfeld Airfield, Kreigsherr

When word of the successful landing was heard back in the Kreigsherr airfield the assembled Luftflotte 6 finished their pre-flight preparations. Stuka and Heinkel attack craft and bombers along with Blutfalke fighters and Gotha transports that were loaded with air crews and the supplies needed to keep an airfield outpost running were launched into the air in a steady stream of flying machines. Once they were in Karai the air group would begann air operations to assist the coalition forces.

Kharv, 34th Fallschirmjäger Brigade

The armored vehicles and soldiers of the 34th were brave men and well equipped for an Airborne unit, there was little they could do against a determined and heavily armored foe though, at least not in a city. The 23rd however was engaged and couldn’t fully reverse directions and retreat without poking holes in the coalition’s defenses. The 34th however had been to the rear of the 23rd and its orders were to withdraw immediately.

“They want us to what now?” asked Alfred as the Panzer III was turned around and the entire brigade began to head out of the town, the armored vehicles of the Kreigs passing a steady influx of Allanean, Alduinium, Lubyakan, and a few unidentified nation’s armor that headed towards the front.

"We'll head east for twenty clicks and then arc south, once we've gone far enough south we're turn back west until we can shift north and harass the flanks of the enemy." explained Hans as their tank rolled by an tank crew of Nords trying to fix a broken track on their Keinborod.

And even though they couldn't direct confront the enemy, the 34th planned on hit and run methods, harassing the Equestrians rather than openly engaging them, hoping too try and force the attacking tank army into pulling units from their attack to deal with the Kreigs.

by **Medwedian Democratic Federation** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:44 am

MSS Landsbjerg, 1st Invasion Fleet, southeast of (former) Zhuvina

Admiral Kjølsen looked at the clear horizon from the observation tower at the nose of the ship. He deepened his view and tried to look as far as possible. Kjølsen, a white-furred Ursoid originating from Audingborg, Nøre, has had a migraine since he stood up. He knew that whenever he has had a migraine, something bad would happen.

A thin pink strip appeared on the horizon. Kjølsen yelled: "Lieutenant Svenbart!".

One minute later, the naval lieutenant appeared in the observation tower. Gerdruf Svenbart was a passionate seaman from Ostby, he wore a seamless blue uniform. Both officers fixed their moustaches, and then Svenbart saluted.

"First Lieutenant Gerdruf Svenbart ready to receive orders."

"Tell everybody. As quickly as possible. Over the intercom. I am seeing the barrier. We are there."

Five minutes later, on the MSS Igendal

The intercom loudspeakers were yelling the same sentence over and over for several minutes: "The Equine Barrier is in sight. All troops prepare for deployment. I repeat, all troops prepare for deployment.".

The soldiers were assembling on the upper decks of the ships. Officers were running around to inspect the uniforms and the weapons. There were marine soldiers with their dark blue uniforms, naval landing troops with their white uniforms and various infantry regiments with their green uniforms standing on the ships along with their officers, and of course the seamen and the staff of the ships. An endless ocean of Ursoids wearing Pickelhaubes.

With the time passing and the ship travelling further northwest, the barrier got closer and bigger. Soon, a clear and thick pink line could be seen on the horizon.

On the MSS Herunders, the main command ship of the 1st Invasion Fleet, the officers were sitting at a long meeting table. General Honedegger, one of the most famous Generals of the Medwedian Democratic Federation, was talking right now about the importance to give out gas masks to the soldiers because the neurotoxin that lead to the metamorphosis into ponies could work on Ursoids too.

A young seaman, only the beginnings of a moustache could be seen on his face, ran into the room. He yelled:

"The President has given out an order. Commence Operation Neptune's Revenge".

Hundreds of planes and helicopters took off the aircraft carriers, carrying marines and paratroopers. The rest of the troops boarded the landing crafts. The pink barrier was now very close, only 30 kilometers or so away. The soldiers began loading their rifles and preparing for combat...

by **Crysuko** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 12:07 pm

After much deliberation, the high staff had come up with a plan. Operation Sunset. Contact with the allies Allancian military had been made so the two could march together and co-ordinate their plan to bring the Equestrians to their knees.

The first steps of the operation were already being carried out, with a deplyment outpost being set up, with the bulk of land forces surrounding it. At sea, the navy had been clued in as well, so they could carry out naval air and bombardment support where it should be needed. The buildup of forces wouldn't go unnoticed, but the time for preperation and stealth were over. It was time to topple the tyrants.

by **Ranoria** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:51 pm

The Ranorian fleet begins its bombardment, troops beginning their march towards the equestrian city, artillery and the ships covering their advance. Planes and copters begin to raze the area in bullets and missiles.

by **The Candy Of Bottles** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:10 pm

(OOC: One good thing about RPing a nation based off of a civ in Dwarf Fortress is that you can roll a new name whenever you need to.

CBA= Candy (of) Bottles Army)

Karai: 20 miles WSW of Cryukon MOB

Colonel Tecàk Bronzeprices stood at the bow of his ship (or, more accurately, the ship that had brought him here), the CBNV Kopak, overseeing the landing operations of the First Engineering Regiment of the CBA, whose troops were currently unloading several thousand sets of gears and related mechanical devices, as well as an even greater number of flat-packed steel cages. The landing had, as anticipated, gone unopposed, and as such, the missile corvettes were racing away at top speed to catch up with the remainder of the fleet for the attack on Canterlot. His unit would not be participating in that attack, but would instead be starting work on a line of cage traps extending down the western flank of the continents sole mountain range.

With any luck, this would allow for the capture of any newfoals that had strayed north from the main front, as well as any enemy patrols passing through the area. Captured newfoals- ideally with their vials of potion, would be vital to The Candy Of Bottles efforts- and ideally those of the coalition as a whole- to restore the surviving newfoals back to their human forms. Even deceased examples- assuming the body was in good shape- would be useful, allowing for investigations that could never be be preformed on a live animal. There was a lot of information that could be gleaned from an autopsy after all. The first step though, was to set up the cages and get them webbed.

(OOC: Meanwhile, the main fleet is continuing to travel about 200 miles off the coast, and is now nearly due north of Fillydelphia.)

by **Allancia** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:45 pm

Central Authorization Board, Battenburg, Greater Allancian Reich
The Allancian Primary Admiral looked over the document carefully, and then took out a stamp. He pressed it against the paper.
"OPERATION SUNSET
ACCEPTED"

The Front
The soldiers quickly began to move forward. Once they got through the forest, they would have to meet up with the Crysukoans and begin pushing to invade Equestria and capture their capital. Allancian submarines had already been deployed and were scouring for opposition further up into the ocean. Already, they had had to execute several hundred ponies, mostly peasants in villages they raided. Their bodies had been buried properly, although most of the soldiers there objected to it.

by **Ranoria** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:53 pm

Ranorian troops storm Canterlot, now firing guided missiles at the castle, using its misshapen shape to target critical points, destroying huge sections with only a few shots. Artillery continue to rain death, and MiGs, moving slowly, drop Mustard Gas canisters all over the city along with napalm and carpet bombs. Infantry march into the outer rim, forming a FOB, and artillery and tanks form a barricade around the city to prevent escape, Phalanx Turrets and Iron Dome launchers, along with various machine guns and grenade launchers, ready to stop any charge. The mass destruction of streets and overwhelming amount of artillery fire make charge through ground practically impossible, and Apaches and MiGs make Flying Chariots and Pegasai flights risky at absolute best, while normally deadly. Admiral Villus watches from the Valasvow with a satisfied smile. The war may as well have been won. He nods to an assistant, giving the okay to begin firing of Thermobaric Missiles at the castle.

by **Ranoria** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:55 pm

Allancia wrote:Central Authorization Board, Battenburg, Greater Allancian Reich
The Allancian Primary Admiral looked over the document carefully, and then took out a stamp. He pressed it against the paper.
"OPERATION SUNSET
ACCEPTED"

The Front
The soldiers quickly began to move forward. Once they got through the forest, they would have to meet up with the Crysukoans and begin pushing to invade Equestria and capture their capital. Allancian submarines had already been deployed and were scouring for opposition further up into the ocean. Already, they had had to execute several hundred ponies, mostly peasants in villages they raided. Their bodies had been buried properly, although most of the soldiers there objected to it.

I'm already on it. I'd suggest not going into the city, the outer rim is secure and occupied by my forces but we're sending in a massive amount of artillery, missiles, bullets, and Naval missiles as well as Thermobaric Missiles now. They practically can't escape either, what with my AA, planes, and Apaches. Honestly, I'd say this shouldn't last much longer than a few hours. At this rate there's a chance Celestia herself has been killed.

by **Equestria and Karai** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 7:20 am

Written by Lubyak at the Request and for Equestria and Karai
Canterhorn Range Theatre HQ
Fillydelphia, Equestria
Operation Caradhras

The situation facing Equestria now could be summed up in one word: bucked.

When the barrier came down, some of the ponies in the headquarters bunker in Fillydelphia had wept. For the barrier was the work of the Sisters themselves, and so was divine. To see such beauty, such majesty shattered and defiled by the humans tore at their very souls. Yet, General Silver Cloud knew there was more to it than that.

It was fear.

The Sisters were Gods to the ponies of Equestria, and the creation of the Gods had been destroyed. What did that make the beings that destroyed it? And what did that make the Sisters? He didn’t want to think about it, and neither did anypony else. He had much bigger problems to hand.

When the barrier came down, all Tartarus broke loose. They had already tipped their hands at sea, and the true Equestrian Army had made a fine showing of itself in the fields between the human city and Kharv, as well as the beachheads east of Vanhoofer. He could see a disaster in the works there, but the war in the south was not his concern. The war in the mountains was.

Fillydelphia was one of Equestria’s foremost industrial centres. Canterlot may have the prestige and glory of its magicians and megaspells, and Cloudsdale its weather factory, but Fillydelphia had its factories. Planes, tanks, trains, cars, ammunition, shells, all came from Fillydeplphia, powered by the roaring Fillybrook River, and fed by the mines that lined the Canterhorn and surrounding hillsides. Canterlot was the spiritual head of Equestria: a white city, gleaming in the sun, but Fillydeplphia was the heart: rarely seen, occasionally dirty, but vital nonetheless. Fillydelphia could not fall.

Yet the humans knew this. Two of their armies had broken off and begun the journey through the Canterhorn range. It would be a rough and rugged trip through the mountains, along narrow, twisting roads. Thoughts already rushed through his mind at the options he had before him, and a plan formed in his head.

This is a problem I can solve, Silver Cloud thought, the theological uncertainty and vagaries the fall of the barrier meant already fading into the recesses of his mind, while the practical went to work.

“Somepony get me Cloudsdale!” he ordered, slamming the receiver down. “Tell them to forget everything else they’re doing, and focus on snow production. Send whatever weather teams they have to clog the passes.”

The plan forming in his mind was simple. The human columns were stretched long and thin, as they tried to navigate their heavy vehicles down roads meant for a pony drawn cart at most. Worst of all, they had front loaded their fist. Clearly, they hoped that their tanks and infantry would smash straight through whatever defences Equestria had in the mountains, and fall behind. He remembered the classic aphorism: Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics. His foe in the mountains was an amateur. This frontloading might have made sense tactically, just as the plan to cut Fillydelphia off from the rest of the Equestria via the mountains made sense tactically. Yet, there was a key point of vulnerability: the long, endless array of trucks trying to follow in the wake of the human advance. Ponies and humans weren’t that different after all. Without fuel, their tanks would stop. Without ammunition, they could not right. Without food...they would die.

With a prayer of thanks to Celestia for her brilliance, and a second pray to Luna for sure measure, General Silver Cloud flapped his wings with glee, and began drafting orders.

Overlooking the Canterhorn Range
15th Pegasus Division
Operation Caradhras

Sergeant Snow Dew gave a low whistle as she nestled deeper into the cloud, gazing down at the long snake crawling and undulating through the mountains. Snow raged and fell in flurries. Cloudsdale was working overtime, and had abandoned its normal weather control projects elsewhere in Equestria just to gather the resources for this: the greatest blizzard Equestria had ever seen, pouring snow upon the humans as they crawled through the Canterhorn.

“The weather pegasi really outdid themselves this time,” she said, fixing her binoculars on the head of the human column. It was strangely divided heavily by type: tanks in the front, AA behind, infantry, then artillery. Behind the artillery, the chain continued, stretching all the way through the Canterhorn range back to the human lands in the far east. In a way their deployment made sense. The AA would protect the tanks and infantry, while the artillery covered both, while the tanks would take the majority of fire, and the supply trucks would be safe.

At least, it made sense to someone who did not consider anything but the land.

“What do we do?” the pegasus next to her, a young conscript named Butterwings. She was hardly a mare, fresh out of school when the recruiters had drafted her into the Princess’s service. Snow Dew had seen Butterwings go from an idealistic conscript, certain she’d need nothing more than faith in Celestia and Luna to triumph against their foes, to the horror of the newfoals and now....to war.

“We wait for the signal,” Snow Dew said, still gazing through the binoculars.

“And what’s the signal?” Butterwings replied, clutching her SMG close to her chest, her wings twitching nervously.

A lightning bolt roared out, and smashed into the tip of a mountain peak, and thunder roared not long after. Whether it was the immense heat of the lightning or the clap of the thunder she did not know, but the roar of the avalanche that crashed down on the thin columns of human armor advancing through the mountains was unmistakable.

“That!” Snow Dew shouted as she took off, diving towards the human column. “For Celestia!” she shouted as she dived on the humans, smg barking in her hooves. “For Luna!” she added on, as she cast a grenade at a human APC. Elsewhere, other ponies were firing rockets at their tank at their infantry and tanks, flying into the teeth of their defence, but they were a distraction: a sacrifice for the greater good. The main force of the attack fell on the most vulnerable: the artillery and the logistics vehicles.

Even as she touched down amidst the fire and smoke of burning vehicles and trucks, a flash of light appeared next to her, and a unicorn winked into existence, knives glistening in a halo around its horn. With a simple nudge, one blade shot off like a bullet, and buried itself in a human skull. With a simple nod, the unicorn popped back out of reality.

All up and down the human line, the same thing occured. Unicorns teleported into the midst of supply convoys and stranded troopers, while pegasi dove in, rockets and guns firing before falling back again. The humans had made a grave mistake coming into the Canterhorn Mountiains, and the ponies of Equestria would make them pay for every inch of holy soil they took in gallons of blood.

by **Crysuko** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:55 am

The 20th and 21st mountaineer divisions were approaching them mountainous region, whereupon they would split and attack the enemy stronghold over the range from primarily the east. Crysuko was a mountainous nation, so this was nothing they weren't trained to deal with, or even grew up with. The city of Decont is built into a mountain range.

They went up on foot, trying to conserve supplies and keep within supply range of trucks, 'copters and other delivery means. Some were dropped from the air. It would take over a week for the whole two divisions to pick their way through the mountains and that's without enemy resistence.

Meanwhile, the 22nd and 23rd would go north and cut along the coast, and then move south to assault ponyville in a link up with the other two divisions, whereupon all four would cross the river to the west and march on the capital. The navy would be providing as much support as they could for this grand endevour, even landing naval infantry and armour so the capital would be under assault from two directions.

by **Caribica** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 5:24 pm

FOB Sierra Command Post
General Vega of the Caribican Army sat at his desk surrounded by other generals. "The siege of the flying city of Cloudsdale progresses as expected but we've received intel that the recent increase of activity from the "weather factory" there is responsible for the hellish weather allied forces to the north have been receiving, our allies are really putting the pressure for us to finish the operation up." Reported a Major at his side. "Very well then, we shall comply. Army Group North will lead a mass airborne charge from the river while Army Group South will do the same from the Southern Plains. The operation shall commence at 0900 hours tomorrow. The primary objective is destruction of the weather factory.
FOB Sierra Airfield Tarmac
"Corporal Cabello! Move your ass!" Yelled Sergeant Acosta of the Caribican Army 9th Motorized Rifle Company as the KA-60 he was leaning out of started it's engines. "Yes sir!" Cabello yelled back as he ran across the dirt tarmac while trying to put his field pack on. He made it just as one of his fellow soldiers started to close the door, muffling the deafening roar of the engines. He took out his M4 rifle and started sliding rounds into the magazine as he took a standard issue power bar out of his bag and snacked on that. "Corporal Cabello, may I ask you why you are not 100% prepared?" Acosta inquired as soon as the helicopter got airborne. "I overslept sir, my apologies." Cabello stammered as he checked the filter on his PMK-3 mask. "Make sure it doesn't happen again." Acosta said. "Yeah lil' bro, get your shit together." Cabello's brother who was also in his squad said as he chuckled. "Can it Cabello Sr." Another soldier aboard the helicopter said. There was some silence for a while until the pilot yelled, "15 minutes to drop-off!" The sound of explosions grew louder as one soldier questioned rather seriously, "I hear the Questies use gas to turn us into mutants." There was silence before Acosta replied sternly, "That's why we have these." Picking up Cabello's PMK before returning it to him. After several more minutes the squad grew anxious and as the pilot yelled, "5 minutes to drop off!" Some of Cabello's squadmates began to pray although Cabello was never a religious man himself but even he found himself reciting a prayer from his church school as the pilot yelled, "30 seconds!" The helicopter touched down on the elevated streets of Cloudsdale. Cabello got a brief glimpse of the pure white street before it was tainted red by the blood of the man who had opened the helicopter door. He dove out the side and hit the soft ground as bullets landed all around him. His squad, minus 2 men, left the helicopter and got behind any cover they could find, gutters, doorsteps, streetlamps, anything. Behind them and in front of them other Caribican squads were being decimated as well. The helicopter that had delivered Cabello to Cloudsdale took off, fired off a few rounds from it's M134 and was destroyed by an AA missile. "Ha Ha! We fucking made it!" A soldier named Blanco in Cabello's squad said, he loaded his grenade launched, left his cover, flipped the MG nest ahead of him the bird and yelled, "Eat Shit Ponies!!!" before being shot in the head. After a few minutes of squatting behind cover Cabello heard an explosion followed by cheers, he peeked around the corner to see that a soldier from another squad had destroyed the MG nest by lobbing a grenade into it. The battle of Cloudsdale has begun.

by **Ranoria** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 5:49 pm

Equestria and Karai wrote:Written by Lubyak at the Request and for Equestria and Karai
Canterhorn Range Theatre HQ
Fillydelphia, Equestria
Operation Caradhras

The situation facing Equestria now could be summed up in one word: bucked.

When the barrier came down, some of the ponies in the headquarters bunker in Fillydelphia had wept. For the barrier was the work of the Sisters themselves, and so was divine. To see such beauty, such majesty shattered and defiled by the humans tore at their very souls. Yet, General Silver Cloud knew there was more to it than that.

It was fear.

The Sisters were Gods to the ponies of Equestria, and the creation of the Gods had been destroyed. What did that make the beings that destroyed it? And what did that make the Sisters? He didn’t want to think about it, and neither did anypony else. He had much bigger problems to hand.

When the barrier came down, all Tartarus broke loose. They had already tipped their hands at sea, and the true Equestrian Army had made a fine showing of itself in the fields between the human city and Kharv, as well as the beachheads east of Vanhoofer. He could see a disaster in the works there, but the war in the south was not his concern. The war in the mountains was.

Fillydelphia was one of Equestria’s foremost industrial centres. Canterlot may have the prestige and glory of its magicians and megaspells, and Cloudsdale its weather factory, but Fillydelphia had its factories. Planes, tanks, trains, cars, ammunition, shells, all came from Fillydeplphia, powered by the roaring Fillybrook River, and fed by the mines that lined the Canterhorn and surrounding hillsides. Canterlot was the spiritual head of Equestria: a white city, gleaming in the sun, but Fillydeplphia was the heart: rarely seen, occasionally dirty, but vital nonetheless. Fillydelphia could not fall.

Yet the humans knew this. Two of their armies had broken off and begun the journey through the Canterhorn range. It would be a rough and rugged trip through the mountains, along narrow, twisting roads. Thoughts already rushed through his mind at the options he had before him, and a plan formed in his head.

This is a problem I can solve, Silver Cloud thought, the theological uncertainty and vagaries the fall of the barrier meant already fading into the recesses of his mind, while the practical went to work.

“Somepony get me Cloudsdale!” he ordered, slamming the receiver down. “Tell them to forget everything else they’re doing, and focus on snow production. Send whatever weather teams they have to clog the passes.”

The plan forming in his mind was simple. The human columns were stretched long and thin, as they tried to navigate their heavy vehicles down roads meant for a pony drawn cart at most. Worst of all, they had front loaded their fist. Clearly, they hoped that their tanks and infantry would smash straight through whatever defences Equestria had in the mountains, and fall behind. He remembered the classic aphorism: Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics. His foe in the mountains was an amateur. This frontloading might have made sense tactically, just as the plan to cut Fillydelphia off from the rest of the Equestria via the mountains made sense tactically. Yet, there was a key point of vulnerability: the long, endless array of trucks trying to follow in the wake of the human advance. Ponies and humans weren’t that different after all. Without fuel, their tanks would stop. Without ammunition, they could not right. Without food...they would die.

With a prayer of thanks to Celestia for her brilliance, and a second pray to Luna for sure measure, General Silver Cloud flapped his wings with glee, and began drafting orders.

Overlooking the Canterhorn Range
15th Pegasus Division
Operation Caradhras

Sergeant Snow Dew gave a low whistle as she nestled deeper into the cloud, gazing down at the long snake crawling and undulating through the mountains. Snow raged and fell in flurries. Cloudsdale was working overtime, and had abandoned its normal weather control projects elsewhere in Equestria just to gather the resources for this: the greatest blizzard Equestria had ever seen, pouring snow upon the humans as they crawled through the Canterhorn.

“The weather pegasi really outdid themselves this time,” she said, fixing her binoculars on the head of the human column. It was strangely divided heavily by type: tanks in the front, AA behind, infantry, then artillery. Behind the artillery, the chain continued, stretching all the way through the Canterhorn range back to the human lands in the far east. In a way their deployment made sense. The AA would protect the tanks and infantry, while the artillery covered both, while the tanks would take the majority of fire, and the supply trucks would be safe.

At least, it made sense to someone who did not consider anything but the land.

“What do we do?” the pegasus next to her, a young conscript named Butterwings. She was hardly a mare, fresh out of school when the recruiters had drafted her into the Princess’s service. Snow Dew had seen Butterwings go from an idealistic conscript, certain she’d need nothing more than faith in Celestia and Luna to triumph against their foes, to the horror of the newfoals and now....to war.

“We wait for the signal,” Snow Dew said, still gazing through the binoculars.

“And what’s the signal?” Butterwings replied, clutching her SMG close to her chest, her wings twitching nervously.

A lightning bolt roared out, and smashed into the tip of a mountain peak, and thunder roared not long after. Whether it was the immense heat of the lightning or the clap of the thunder she did not know, but the roar of the avalanche that crashed down on the thin columns of human armor advancing through the mountains was unmistakable.

“That!” Snow Dew shouted as she took off, diving towards the human column. “For Celestia!” she shouted as she dived on the humans, smg barking in her hooves. “For Luna!” she added on, as she cast a grenade at a human APC. Elsewhere, other ponies were firing rockets at their tank at their infantry and tanks, flying into the teeth of their defence, but they were a distraction: a sacrifice for the greater good. The main force of the attack fell on the most vulnerable: the artillery and the logistics vehicles.

Even as she touched down amidst the fire and smoke of burning vehicles and trucks, a flash of light appeared next to her, and a unicorn winked into existence, knives glistening in a halo around its horn. With a simple nudge, one blade shot off like a bullet, and buried itself in a human skull. With a simple nod, the unicorn popped back out of reality.

All up and down the human line, the same thing occured. Unicorns teleported into the midst of supply convoys and stranded troopers, while pegasi dove in, rockets and guns firing before falling back again. The humans had made a grave mistake coming into the Canterhorn Mountiains, and the ponies of Equestria would make them pay for every inch of holy soil they took in gallons of blood.

K, I'll assume those were my troops, and I didn't send them through the mountains but whatever.
The rockets are blasted away by Trophy Systems mounted on the tanks, and Phalanx Turrets on board trucks began firing and striking down 'everypony' that came near the artillery, and any unicorns that teleported in were shot immedietely and without mercy by highly trained soldiers. The blades, as they are shooting off 'like a bullet' do little damage against full-body kevlar, especially with their thickness, makinjg them easy to stop, though a few casualties are incurred.
All around, the attack is being beaten back as Phalanx turrets continue to fire, slaughtering Unicorns, as well as G6 Marksman tanks and Avenger HUMVEEs, Unicorns teleporting are unable to cope with the sheer speed of the Infantry's reflexes, and are killed of as well.
OOC-guess I should've been more clear, but my MAIN FORCE is marching from Karai still, my naval force unloaded north of Canterlot, but thanks for getting my troops farther up with minimal casualties, the snowstorm will slow them down but I can deal with that too, lol.
Lets face it, Equestrian Magic can't beat the highly trained Ranorian Army.

The Last and the Brave (IC, see OOC thread first)

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