Equestria
Canterlot Castle

11:00 PM

Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, and Alicorn of the Sun, was not pleased at the moment. As she sorted through the requests of the Solar Court, she could only sigh with defeat and frustration clear, for a good reason.

It was the anniversary. Three years ago, Equestria had been visited by a race they had long considered myth.

Humans.

However, these humans were not what Celestia expected when they arrived. They were not diplomats, but soldiers. Not rulers, but generals. They called themselves…

The Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation, or the Remnant Fleet. They used the term IMC for short. They did come under an initial banner of peace, their leader General Marder asking only for necessary supplies and a place to regroup from their foes. When Celestia had asked who these foes were, Marder had sharply responded "It is none of your concern".

Slowly, the IMC's visit turned into a lengthy stay, then a takeover. The IMC started to integrate themselves into all walks of Equestrian life. Slowly, but surely, they took over valuable resources, food production sites, and factories of all kinds. However, because the IMC were donating technology the Equestrians could only dream of making, this was reluctantly accepted by the Diarchy.

Until Marder started to take more and more. Local governments started to defer to the IMC. Railroad hubs, industrial facilities, more and more went to the IMC's ever growing empire. Celestia, by this time, decided she had enough. She denounced the IMC in a fiery speech before the Equestrian council, and stated her intent to make them depart from Equis or face drastic action.

The IMC, however, had other plans. During a session of the Equestrian Council will every alicorn present, General Marder gave his response, backed up by IMC Grunts and Spectres. There, he uttered a statement that would shape the next three years for Equestria and their worldly allies.

"Your world now belongs to the IMC. Obey and prosper. Resist...and face destruction."

And so it was. The IMC, facing resistance every step of the way, took over the whole of Equis. The Diarchy was no more. Celestia and Luna, Cadance and Twilight still held power, but the new source of authority was General Marder. His new vision began. Equestrians were ruled under a new regime. All excess food and supplies were "donated" to the IMC stationed there. Many fit stallions and mares from the Equestrian Guard units were press-ganged into the IMC Military. Large industrial complexes dominated the land. Forests were reduced, The Everfree halved in size. Ponyville became a sort of resort for IMC forces. Canterlot, once a proud city, was now the official Capital of the IMC Protectorate known as Calvary. To General Marder, it was the ultimate IMC fortress world, larger than Typhon.

And for all the IMC had done, Celestia and nearly the whole of Equestria despised them. Though a few fledgling groups advocated violent resistance, riots, whatever it took to drive them away, Celestia's own opinion was of passive resistance. Whenever General Marder was off-world, ponies would engage in small acts of sabotage. From hiding food supplies from IMC agents, to defusing IMC ordinance as it went down the assembly line.

Whenever Marder was gone, the brave few gathered and acted. When he was present, no one dared act.

Except the one alicorn Marder deferred judgement to.

Celestia groaned at that knowledge, knowing that the only reason she remained a Princess was because Marder allowed it. She could remember his exact words, clear as glass.

"I need you in power to control this world. However, disappoint me, and you will know how you are replaceable in every way."

"Princess?"

Celestia looked up to see an IMC Grunt appear. Celestia inwardly thanked the soldier. The IMC human forces were known to a little bit more grateful to the Equestrians. A few IMC Lieutenants were even kind to the ponies they oversaw. Others were just...monsters. Many were in between.

"Yes, what is it?" she asked.

"General Marder to see you." he said.

"Let him in."

Marder appeared, thanked the Grunt, and sat down.

"Hello, Princess." he said. "Care for a drink?"

"No, but thank you." Celestia said. "What do I owe this to?"

"There has been a new development in the IMC High Command." he said. "The terrorists known as the Frontier Militia have been moving closer to our Core Systems. As such, I will need three more local divisions ready in one to three month's time. Can you make sure that happens?"

"I will see." Celestia said. "However, your exacting specifications make it difficult to find recruits that meet them. And as I have said before, I do not approve of conscription by force."

"I understand." Marder said. "However, this does not change my request. Three divisions by three month's time. Fully trained and ready."

Celestia merely nodded.

"I must go." Marder said. "I am supervising Operation: Homefront. The Militia will make it to the Core in due time. We will stop them and end our defensive battle, once and for all."

"Good luck." Celestia said, quickly adding inside her mind "You monster."

"Thank you." Marder said. "However…"

He paused as he began to leave.

"There is no such thing as luck, Princess. Only fate and the decisions of man."

====

As Celestia watched Marder depart in a Goblin dropship, she decided it was time to rest. She headed for her chambers, only to see her sister Luna approach.

"What is it?" Celestia asked.

"Twilight wrote me." Luna said. "There was a disturbance in Ponyville regarding an IMC Soldier and a group of vigilantes."

"How so?" Celestia asked. "Walk with me."

As they began to walk, side by side, Luna sighed.

"A few disgruntled...and drunk...stallions who had failed the IMC Entrance Exam decided to take their anger out on the next IMC soldier they saw. The stallions beat him half to death before several onlookers restrained the assailants. The stallions are in IMC Custody, and the soldier is recovering, but…"

"But what?" Celestia asked.

"A few of the soldiers' comrades are talking about getting payback of their own." Luna groaned. "Twilight is torn, and needs advice. She doesn't want to see any more humans or ponies injured."

Celestia and Luna approached the Solar Princess's bedrooms, and they stopped.

"Tell Twilight that must settle both sides. Declare that the IMC soldiers are and will not attack anypony more. In exchange, these ruffians will be held accountable for the soldier's injuries and medical costs. Also, if possible, Twilight could ask the soldier himself what he would want to happen."

"Seems fair." Luna said. "Celestia, though I admire your pacifism, we can't stay on the sidelines forever."

"I know." Celestia said. "You didn't hear me say this, but these Militia, whoever they are, would most likely treat us better than the IMC ever did should they come."

"I agree." Luna said. "However, don't say that in public."

"I won't." Celestia obliged. "Luna...good night."

"Good night."

As the Princesses parted for bed, in planetary orbit, Marder entered the bridge of a newly-constructed cruiser, the IMS Defiant.

"Take us to our staging point, full speed ahead." Marder ordered. The Grunts heeded his command, and seven IMC cruisers warped away.

Author's Note

yep, new story!