A United Land

"The best tank terrain is that without anti-tank weapons."

                                              -Russian military doctrine.

     Screeeeeech-BOOM

     Ace looked over the side of the Spiteful. Under the cloud cover, a massive invasion of the Griffin mainland was under way. Months of planning and espionage had managed to make the invasion successful.

    Ratatatatatatatatatatatatata

   For the most part, the resistance had been minimal because several weeks of convincing Goldenfeather had taken it's toll. Equestria had dropped a griffin rebel in the griffin high command to mess things up. Thinking that the invasion would take place on the other side of the country, all the units had been moved away.

   The fact that only two Griffin biplanes had strafed the boats showed this very clearly.

   It was a bittersweet victory; most of the invasion force had been destroyed before they even got on the beaches. Equestia didn't have much of a navy, but the ponies had the biggest merchant force on the planet. In even the planning stage, all the ships were recalled. A new Spiteful, with four down boosters to take off vertically off of the massive Galleons.

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   "Lone Wulf to tower, requesting takeoff from the Vesta."

   "Tower to Lone Wulf, permission granted."

   The vertical takeoff nozzles opened, and four jets of flame shot out from under the plane. The plane rose from the galleon, and began to fly off into the distance.

   *cackle cackle*

    Ace turned back to the sound to see what happened.

    "Oopsies......"

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     Just few hours ago, the beaches were literally a bloodbath. Stallions were littered across the sand, almost like they were having peaceful sleep. For the first time, Ace understood why Celestia was against war.

    Ah, the joys of having an immortal ruler.

   "Ace, the ATC called us back. Our job here is done." Sylver's voice came over the radio.

   Ignoring the what she said, Ace just looked over the Spiteful at the beaches.

   "Ace!"

    "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm coming."

    They turned back to the waiting galleons, this time with metal blast plates for landing pads.

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    "So you're saying that these here are not P.O.W. camps, but death camps?"

    After landing, the Princesses had called him for some urgent meeting.

    "Yes sir, they are all for killing." A light gray stallion said.

    "Any proof?"

    "My body." The thin, three-quarter starved pony said. "Saw everything with my own eyes."

    "Ace, is there any way to bomb the train stations?" Celestia's gentle voice spoke out.

    "I'm afraid, Princess, that to be able to bomb the camps means a one way trip for the fighter escort and the limit of the bombers range. Even if we move all the aircraft to the front lines, the fighters will not be able to return." All of the sudden, youngest squadron leader of Equestria looked very old.

    "But ponies are dying at this very moment! You can't just let them!" Luna was on the border of a yell and a Canterlot Voice.

    "SO YOU WANT THE ENTIRE FIRST BOMBER WING AND TWO ELITE FIGHTER ESCORT SQUADRONS TO JUST BE ANNIHILATED?" He yelled back.

     "THEN HOW CAN THE RECON SPITEFULS MAKE THE TRIP?" Princess Celestia rarely used her Canterlot Voice, but when she did, it was LOUD.

     Ace told a deep breath. "The recon Spits had very smooth paint that only comes in pink, most of their systems and complete armament removed, super sized fuel tanks, and three auxiliary/drop tanks. They fly in the morning and have barely anything to worry about. No, us fighters are not going to go in without weapons.

   "But I do have a proposal to make. The Griffins have massive airships that can allow the dropping of troops. If we outfit several bombers with doors that can be opened in midair, we can drop soldiers in the camps and liberate them. Of course, there will be no fighter escort, and I do not think silk parachutes are the most popular wear when descending through large quantities of flak."

    "And, we could have some of the bombers carry fighters in the bomb bays, only to drop the fighters and hightail when fighters appear. It could work, but I'm still thinking that it isn't worth-"

    "It's more ponies for the war effort."Twilight interjected. "It would benefit Equestria greatly if we could rescue more of the ponies."

     "Look at his health here." Ace pointed at the stallion. "Ponies like this would not be able to fight in battle very well, don't you think? If we bring them back, it will deprive resources necessary to the war effort. If we let the Griffins do what they are doing, they are putting energy into not fighting us. That means we win the war faster and we can worry about this later. Got it?"

      The ponies in the room nodded glumly.

      "But what of the changelings? War with them is inevitable, so what do we do? Their navy far overpowers ours." Celestia looked worked up.

       "Simple. We build our own, and for now, we convert any ship capable of carrying aircraft. The Saddle Arabians are really angry, they'll take care of the Griffins."

       "Do really have to use the Saddle Arabian's anger?"

       "This is war. We have no choice."

       "Very well. We will have an iornclad task force in two months, omega will be assigned to the the Fifth Reconnaissance Task Force for the time being."

       "Which ship?"

        "Ships, you mean. A third of you will be on the Jack Snipe, a brig, another third on the Riptide, also a brig, and the last third will be on the Citadel, a Frigate. Good enough?"

         "What's the escort?"

         "Several schooners."

         "..."

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         Ace leaned against the railing of the Citadel. "So, the Changelings attacked Vanhoover?"

         "With only one of their heavy battlecruisers."

         "Buck." Ace turned and looked at the four jets on the deck. "Strap one tallcolt onto each one!" He yelled to the mechanics. They saluted and kept of working on the jets.

          "Kay, here's the plan. We go in, dive on the cruiser, drop the bombs, then get the hell out. You got that?"

          "I'll go tell the rest of the squad then. Anything else?"

          "Tell them to gather around. I have some news to give."