17th August, 1015 E.C. 0400 Hours

Princess Celestia held her head between her hooves, she tried to rub away a growing headache. She didn't sleep at all last night. Not when she had forms and reports to go through.

At about 1000 hundred hours, yesterday morning, an enemy fleet had engaged an Equestrian fleet. The report hadn't reached her ear until much later, at about 1300 hundred hours. Ever since then she'd been in her office, writing out a public announcement speech as more and more reports, files, forms, and food being brought in. She would skim most, sign a few, keep some for further review, and nibble at.

Right now, she was looking at the orders her military staff had given, and wished she could slap everyone of them. She knew though that the orders did make sense, somewhat. She could supersede the orders and give a directive to the sector commanders, but that would undermine her staff, eroding trust she needed right now.

The princess sighed and picked up a pen in her magic. She signed and stamped the written form. She picked up the next file, and smiled a little. It was the rescue operation report, the one right after the naval action. Her smile fell shortly after. The next form would not be a good one.

She glanced at it. And closed her eyes.

She was right, it was the casualty report. Not a good one indeed. 5 destroyers and over half of each's crew would be forever sailing the seas.

She looked at the grandfather clock in her office and noted that she had 2 hours before sunrise and 4 hours before the public announcement. More formality than anything else now, for it was highly likely all of Equestria knew there was a war on. Of course for her and other ponies, this war started a couple years ago at a very specific wedding.

If only she never invited them, then maybe they…

She shook her head.

“No, they declined formally and then used the invitation to get into the city. They were probably planning to invade long before that anyway,” she mumbled to herself.

Things would have ended up a lot different if not for her Guard Captain.

Celestia sighed again, and picked up a picture sitting on her desk. A picture of a purple unicorn dressed in a military uniform, Twilight Sparkle. She was moved off the Guard after the wedding, demoted, and would have been the one to take the whole blame if Celestia hadn't stepped and reminded the Equestrian Council about their actions leading up to the event. Plus her affection toward the unicorn had sped up her own actions.

She placed the picture down and got back to work. Her pen scratching parchment, her stamp pressing firmly on some to give the royal seal.

A requisition form from Cloudsdale Airtech for more materials in their air program. One from the Stallion Company for their armoured projects. A letter from the Canterlot Hospital about her visit a few days ago. Funding request to expand the air base in Vanhoover. A request for her presence at the launch of a new battleship. Her mind was mostly on autopilot signing and stamping.

The chime of her grandfather clock shook her from her signing task. One hour before sunrise.

A knock came from her door.

“Come in.” she said in her usual motherly tone.

Her sister Luna opened the door and stepped in. She looked at the stack of papers on Celestia’s desk.

“I’m not looking forward to that,” Luna said, taking further steps into the room.

“Well you can’t get out of it this morning, there are few here that need both our input,” Celestia responded, “Would you like them now or shall I send them with a servant?”

Celestia smiled while floating up a couple papers she set aside for this exact thing.

Luna wrapped them in her magic and pulled them towards her, Celestia releasing them.

“I’ll take them now, no reason burdening others when I’m already here,” Luna said, while glancing at the top paper. She turned to the right and approached a tea set. Checking the kettle for water, finding none, she cast a spell to fill it with water, and got it boiling for tea.

“Jasmine or Lavender today?” she asked.

“Neither, I’m going to be having coffee soon,” Celestia answered, “but thank you dear sister.”

Luna looked over to Celestia with a raised eyebrow, “Didn’t sleep, did you?”

Celestia shook her head no. Her pen scratched at another paper.

Luna frowned and moved towards her sister, “You really mustn't do this to yourself, you will need your sleep for the coming days.”

Luna stopped at the front of Celestia’s desk, “After the announcement, you will sleep. I will take care of today's court.”

Celestia chuckled, “Then what about your sleep, hmmm?”

“Do you think I stay up all night and sleep during the day?” Luna, playfully, asked, “Yes I watch dreams but that requires me to be dreaming, sister.” Luna moved around Celestia's desk and wrapped a wing around her sister.

“Besides painting with natural light is much better,” Luna said with a smile and a playful twinkle.

Celestia smiled and allowed herself to relax and deflate a bit. Her mane lost its luster and stopped flowing. She looked at her sister and spoke low and softly.

“Thank you, Luna. You are the best sister any pony could ask for.”

Luna snorted, “You only say that because you don't have work now,” Luna smiled brighter, “You are my dear sister, and I would do anything for you,” she picked up a few papers in her magic, “Including your paperwork.”

Celestia laughed, she pulled Luna closer, “Thank you. I know this is only the beginning and we are going to have more trying days, know that I will be there for you.”

Luna nuzzled into Celestia's neck, “I know, sister, I know.”

They stayed like this for a few moments, basking in the sisterly affection that they rarely get to partake in while ruling a nation. They would have more moments, and they would lose themselves like this every time. And that was good, for in the years to come, they would need this. A moment of peace in what would seem like endless war.

17th August, 1015 E.C. 1015 Hours

General Whiplash turned off the radio with his wing. The public announcement of the war was done. Over 30 minutes of informing and inspiring the general public. A necessary action to keep the public as calm as possible. Of course the general public will probably shrug it off for now, some will go into a panic, and others will become hometown patriots.

Whiplash looked at the sector map for maybe the hundredth time today, and reminded himself of all the towns he was in charge of defending. All the lives both military and civilian.

30 years ago, he would have taken great pleasure in knowing he was in charge. 30 years ago the level technology was a lot lower, weapons weren't made for mass killing. It took hours to kill a couple hundred and now it took minutes or even one well placed artillery barrage.

He feared the reports that would be coming. He knew Equestria was not ready for this. Over a thousand years of peace does that. Of course the Princess had tried to account by loaning out some generals from time to time, in an attempt to give some wartime experiences to the peaceful nation.

Equestrias size and diversity worked against it when it came to war experience. Equestria had a lot to throw around, which translated to an equally large or powerful nation was the only real threat. The collective power of the Griffin City-States were the only ones that could outnumber Equestria.

This wasn't to say other nations couldn't ally and do the same but it was less likely. And of course, that was exactly what was happening.

Olenia and the Changeling Nation were joining together to challenge Equestria. Whiplash knew what happened in the coming weeks would determine if anymore nations joined them.

Whiplash, still looking at the map, worked in his mind the plans and defensive lines that he and his staff had spent all day drawing up. Some of those were on the map, the ones that were the most important. There were a few that were backups or secondary.

This was a defensive war right now. Whiplash would have many sleepless nights ahead.

He blinked away some sleep as a staff officer came up to the map and moved an armoured division piece forward. After staring at the same place for a full 5 minutes, he shook his head and stepped back and watched as more officers moved pieces forward.

17th August, 1015 E.C. 1328 Hours

The tracks squeaked, the engines rumbled, as the armoured column moved down the road. The asphalt was handling the tonnage moving over it pretty well. There were ponies were walking on the side of the road as the armor rolled passed, some waved, others just nodded.

The column passed one of their own, a pony leaning into the engine compartment.

“Another breakdown,” Staff Sergeant Beat said into his headset.

“That's the fourth one so far,” a voice replied, Beat recognized it as his driver Corporal Mythic Song.

“Only 30 kilometers to our destination,” Sergeant Ocean Note’s voice said, “Don't jinx us.”

“30 kilometers and at least 2 stops, we're already at half empty on fuel,” Mythic shot back.

“Plus slowing down for our infantry,” Corporal Shuffle Wing's voice added.

The crew's newest addition kept quiet, Beat took note of the Privates shyness. When he first met with him, the private was very reserved. Not necessarily a problem, but communication in armor was very important. New guy jitters would have to be gone before enemy contact. Beat mentally added that to his to do list, the first stop would do.

“I'm glad we aren't in the old Mark 3’s,” Mythic said.

“Or 2’s,” Shuffle added.

“The eggheads back home gave us a great upgrade in fuel efficiency and speed, let's not jinx it before we even see the enemy,” Beat added to the discourse.

The next few minutes were silent, save for the rumble of the armor. The crew watched ponies on the side of the road resting, eating a quick ration, or walking along. A division of armor and infantry moving along the Equestrian countryside.

They passed another tank pulled off to the side, this looked to be a platoon leader with a stripe on the barrel.

The pony in the commander's hatch waved at him.

“Mythic, pull us over, let's see what he wants,” Beat ordered.

The tank slowed and angled over, the pony from the other tank hopped down and started over.

Mythic brought the tank to a stop.

“Standard check gentleponies, Private, come with me,” Beat ordered as he lifted himself out. He hopped down to the ground as the Lieutenant reached him.

“Thanks for stopping, been trying to get someone to for awhile now,” the Lieutenant said.

“Really? Well, I'm sorry about that L.T. Kinda weird if you tell me. Where's your platoon?” Beat asked.

“Yeah, weird,” the Lieutenant mumbled, “Platoon should be unloading on the fifth train, and before ask, no I don't know why, my guess would be they wanted the leads here first but I've seen way too many regs for that to be true.”

Beat thought about that for a second and realized all the tanks he had seen so far had been regs like them and this was the first leader he had seen. His tank was unloaded on the second wave but that still meant there was a serious logistical error.

“Maybe they are already further ahead,” Private Sandy Grove said.

The L.T. shook his head, “As far as I can tell, I'm the furthest along. I had a few pings over the radio as we left the depot, but they were just arriving at the depot.”

The L.T. looked behind him, “What gets me is the fact that I can't raise the advance group. I checked the time they were supposed to call in, that was half an hour ago.”

Beat rubbed his chin, “Well, our objective is still pretty far out, we got a forest to maneuver through. Maybe that forest is causing our equipment grief.”

The L.T. thought about that, but shook his, “The comms equipment is suppose to work even in the Everfree. Something has to be actively jamming it. Which is bad.”

They all nodded together. Active jamming, unknown enemy, however unlikely, the enemy may already be past the fort. Which meant the objective would be unreachable unless they punched through.

“Lieutenant, if I may suggest,” Beat started, “We halt here and get any and all who will listen to stay until we can get a Major or Colonel here.”

The L.T. nodded, “That sounds good, if we keep sending our forces forward without word,” he shook his head again.

Beat saluted as the lieutenant turned and headed back to his tank. Beat turned toward his own tank and called over the headset, “Mystic, move the tank to block the road, we’re holding until further notice.”

Mystic’s response to move the tank to block the road and then popped his hatch open to look out. It wasn’t long before the next tank stopped and asked what was happening. Beat explained and that tank took up a position to help block the road. The lieutenant was on his radio still try to raise anypony back at the depot but to no avail. After 3 hours, the road black became a small camp that was growing large by the minute. After 4 hours they finally had somepony higher than a lieutenant. That pony ordered this the staging area for the push toward the two divisions objective.

The border fort would be by itself for a few more days.

Author's Note

And we continue, or I continue, not sure right now. Thanks to all of those who have read this so far.