23rd August, 1015 E.C. 0832 Hours

Whiplash read the last few lines again, memorizing the number, 309. Missing in action, but he knew that in reality these ponies were already dead. Marched right into a trap, a trap that by the looks of the most recent recon reports, was probably there before the fleet action 6 days ago.

At least a week worth preparation put the enemy at an advantage. One that will prove difficult to get through. Not impossible, just difficult. Whiplash already had some staff saying it was impossible, and he knew somepony needed to be positive. Even if it took every bit his strength to do so.

Not that he was in the camp, that the war was lost, he was just extremely angry at High Command. No reinforcements, no new orders, and after his talk with Undercloud, the realization of no summit.

The doctrine that Equestria was so keen to follow right now, stated that a General's summit should called for all sector commanders, so that a more in-depth, better working plan action could drawn up. The quick mobilization order was done to get the troops where they were mostly needed. Having the generals that were on the front come home and explain, face-to-face, the situation to everypony, including other on the front generals, would allow for better allocation of resources.

Whiplash sighed heavily. He was worked up again. He knew that the summit would be called within the first two weeks. Of course he had to go digging through some documents to find that. It was impractical to think that High Command could call all Generals in within the day. The generals that were furthest away were notified first given time to arrange transport and then the ones closest would be notified.

His talk with Undercloud had spurred that dig for information. The thing that now kept popping into his head was why was Undercloud the one to remind him of the summit. And why did Whiplash get so worked up about it. He knew, rationally, that the summit would happen and he had know about it but in the moment it just kinda overwhelmed him with anger.

He trusted Undercloud about as much as one would trust their local politician but Whiplash has known him for a least a decade and in that time he had never known him to offer a favor without some form of payment. Did he say it to be sincere or was the more to it?

A knock at his door interrupted his musings.

“Come in,” he answered.

The door opened and his secretary poked her head in, “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but Colonel Fields is here.”

“Thank you, Blossom, tell him I'll be with him shortly.”

The secretary nodded and closed the door.

Whiplash sighed. He had his responsibilities here to worry about more than what Undercloud had cooking behind closed doors. He put the reports he was reading down and got up to leave. He opened his door and glanced back at his desk for a few seconds, then walked out the door.

23rd August, 1015 E.C. 1856 Hours

Commander Leaf looked out over the ocean as he sat on a park bench. The first bit of relaxation he had gotten since returning to port about 3 days ago. Meetings, hearings, and after action reports. After all the official Navy ‘need-to-dos’ done, he had taken upon himself to enjoy the reason he had enlisted.

The ocean was remarkably beautiful as the sun set over it. He remembered the first time he watched the sun set over it when he was growing up. The serenity and calm that it brought him, the homeyness that it gave him.

He shut his eyes and lost himself to the memories. After all that had happened, these memories seemed so long ago. His school and his naval academy years marked by swimming competitions and parties. Even his marriage and subsequent divorce seemed forever ago now. Amazing what six days of anxiety and stress could do some ponies. And now looking back at it all, it all seemed miniscule to what would be happening soon.

“This seat taken?” asked a voice, interrupting his trip down memory lane. A voice he was surprised to hear.

Leaf opened his eyes to see Admiral Aquarium standing off to the side. Leaf gestured to him to take the seat. Aquarium wordlessly sat next to him and they both looked out over the ocean, silent for several minutes. But like the peace in Leafs life, the silence ended.

“It’s good to see I’m not the only one that finds calm in the sea,” said Aquarium, still looking out over the sea, “Never gets old looking out, and losing yourself in the waves.”

Leaf merely nodded, whether the admiral saw or not made no difference.

Aquarium sighed and looked towards Leaf, “I’m sorry I’m interrupting this peaceful moment but I have some things we should discuss and I feel that here is much better than my office, regulation be damned.”

That last was muttered but clearly meant to still be heard, and that's what gotten Leafs attention the most. The admiral was forgoing regulation for this, the admiral deserved his attention for it.
“I should have sent an aide or MP to get you, but I needed this as much as anypony,” the Admiral said gesturing his hoof toward the sea. He then pulled out a small pin box from one of his coat pockets and hoofed to Leaf. Leaf opened it to see a set of Captain’s pins.

“Congratulation Captain Leaf, you're the first Captain to be promoted in war and without all the fancy ceremonies.”

Leaf closed the pin box and set into his own coat pocket. He didn’t say a word. He wasn’t speechless, he just had nothing to say.

“And you will be getting a new ship and crew and of course those aren’t complete without orders,” The admiral continued, “We’ll start with the ship, a light cruiser, purpose built for anti-air duties.”

Leaf looked at the admiral quizcally, “An anti-air cruiser, sir?”

“Yup, bit of a shock to me too, figured we were looking to build bigger ships than that but three of these have been built already and it seems they already have an idea for their use.”

The admiral looked back out the sea and continued, “Smaller guns and more of them, four turrets, three barrels each. Dual-purpose.”

“So it will have airburst shells?” Leaf asked and Aquarium nodded. Leaf hummed to himself.

“Now onto the orders, you'll still be under my under command and we will be operating out of the same port but we will be in a different task force.”

The admiral looked back at Leaf, the look in his eye held Leaf still, “Now that’s all I have for you here, what I feel safe telling you. Come to my office later tonight and I’ll give you the rest.”

He got up from the bench and looked out over the ocean, “but for now, enjoy the remaining sunlight,” he said as he walked away, leaving Leaf to watch the last few rays of sunlight sparkle on the water.

23rd August, 1015 E.C. 2026 Hours

Sergeant Beat trotted out of the company command tent with a mix of emotions. Anxiety and fear the most prevalent. The briefing that he was just in was for tomorrow's operation, the first official op for this war, as far as Beat knew.

His company was to be the vanguard in the attempt to push into the forest. 20 tanks and their crews would be spread out in an advancing line reaching about 3500 meters from the center, or the road that would be using as a center.

The first phase would be to get to 1 km of the forest and get into position. The second would be the advancing line firing smoke shells when at 2000 meters from the forest edge, outside of effective range of our guns and hopefully the enemies. The third phase would then be an all stop at the forest and neutralizing all targets of opportunity. Holding this position till the fourth phase, an infantry push into the forest.

The fourth phase was dependant on the armour holding their position. Two full companies of infantry would then sweep into the forest to create a breach into it. Of course the main issue was lack of enemy intelligence.

The most they had was possibly the most most basic an army could have, they existed and they were in front of them. Beat was terrified of this lack. The captain was reluctant to answer any questions regarding casualty estimates.

One company of armour didn't seem to be enough and the two infantry companies also fell short of what Beat believed should be attacking. Of course following that line of thought alluded to the casualty estimates. That realization terrified him less than he would have liked.

In all likelihood that he was to die tomorrow. His crew and all of the company. Beat knew that these orders were suicide and that he had a choice to make to his crew tonight, tell them or keep silent.

“Brushed Beat, is that you,” a voice said from behind, interrupting Beat’s thoughts.

Beat turns around to face the voices owner, a orange maned, light brown earth pony.

“It is you,” the pony holds up a hoof for a shake, “Sargeant Hollow Lane, from academy.”

Beat shakes his hoof, trying to remember the stallion.

“Judging from the confused expression, you don’t remember me,” they both finishing the hoofshake, “Didn’t really expect you too of course, we were in different platoons at the time.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t really pay attention to the other trainees at the time,” Beat says.

Lane waves a hoof at him, “No big deal, we talked one night one guard rotation and then we graduated about a month later.”

“Must have said some pretty good things for you to remember me.”

Lane shakes his head, “Nope, I talked, you shushed me, but my mind like to keep all things together, heck I even remember my 2nd birthday, and what my best friend's favorite color was.”

Beat’s eye went wide, “Wow really, that's impressive.”

Lane shrugged, “You’d think so, but my mind gets so cluttered sometimes that I have to take this potion to erase most of my memories every night.”

Beat was taken aback by this and didn’t say anything, he couldn’t.

Lane laughed, “Don’t worry, I still remember all the important stuff but stuff like saying hi to a stranger gets washed away, it helps greatly and it's so much better than the headaches.”

Beat shook slowly to break his shock, “Wow, I’m sorry, that must be tough still.”

Lane shrugged again, “Anyway, I see you are part of first company and I heard about the plan for tomorrow,” Lane seemed to just leave his sentence there, he looked past Beat and not in his eyes, “My company will be following you after the infantry push into the forest.”

Beat looked down, “I don’t think you will be following up after us at all, given what we have to work with.”

“Maybe, but the brass wouldn’t come up with a plan like this unless there was a chance of success.”

Beat looked back up at Lane, “That much faith in command?”

“Not so much faith, but hope,” Lane walked forward and placed a hoof on Beat’s shoulder, “We have no idea what to expect for tomorrow and we will all be going in eventually. Command thinks one company of armour will be good enough to start this out and I’m sure that your C.O. will pull out before you get shredded,” Lane ended with a smile.

Beat couldn’t help but smirk at this pony’s hope, “Thanks, I don’t believe you, but thanks.”

Lane removed his hoof and shrugged once again, “Believe me, have hope, no matter, we have our orders now and the enemy is at the door, knocking and snarling,” he turns away and starts toward the latrines, “I for one wish I could be the one that hits them first but I’m digging more crap holes tonight.”

Beat stared after Lane for a bit before returning to his crew and tank. He told them about the operation tomorrow. Mythic Song dug out a hidden bottle of cheap wine and placed it in the open shell holder next to his seat. Shuffle Wing started counting the shells and Ocean Note got about to checking and rechecking his aiming optics. They would be ready for tomorrow.

Author's Note

Edited: Forgot to add the timestamps, of all things.

Thanks to everyone that has favorited this and to all who is reading this.