//-------------------------------------------------------//
                  From the jaws of defeat                  
               -by Encirclement_productions-               
//-------------------------------------------------------//
//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Hope of victory                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Hope of victory
After the recent destruction of the changelings spearheads at Dover   
coalition command plans to take full advantage of the now weakened changeling line.
launching a massive offensive to recapture the strategic road junction at edmaneton blocking reinforcements and supplies to the exhausted changeling forces.
Speed is of the essence as the coalition continues to pool more resources into the offence hoping to cut the changeling army’s from the coast and finally secure new engrain.
(End of Exposition)
Edmaneton changeling occupied city, November 9 1014
Ten Changeling soldiers escort a large group civilians through the snow covered streets of a once flourishing city now reduced to mostly rubble and abandoned buildings.
A father holds his daughter tightly as he whispers into her ear.  
“Don’t worry I’m here, you don’t have to be afraid.”
Two changelings walk from a street escorting a group of griffins and ponies wearing military uniforms.
One of the changelings says as its tongue hisses.  
“Good, we found these prisoners, take care of them.”
One of the griffins is shoved down to the ground by a changeling who chuckles.  
“Pathetic griffins.”
The other griffins lift the griffin up as the changelings start to move the group along.
One of the civilians asks a griffin wearing a officers uniform.  
“What’s going to happen to us.”
The griffin says as he continues to walk.  
“What do you think will happen.”
The changelings continue to walk before coming to a courtyard.
They shove the civilians and the griffins sit down.
Another civilian says to a changeling.  
“What do you want from us.”
One for the griffins says.  
“Shut up you idiot, now I’d recommend everyone just stay calm, they’ll do what they want to us and then they’ll bring us to their camp.”
A colt says as sweat rolls down his face.  
“Stay calm, stay calm!, how can you be calm they’re going to kill us.”
The griffin officer says.  
“They won’t kill you if you have love.”
The colt shakes his head.  
“No no no I’m not being feasted on.”
The colt jumps up and tackles a changeling before breaking off in a run.
The changelings open fire and the colt drops to the ground before going silent.
The changelings glare at the other civilians.  
“Any of you feel like running.”
The changelings start picking out civilians and taking their belongings.
One of the changelings turns to the father and the young filly.
The changeling aims its gun at the filly.  
“Stand up little one.”
The father shakes his head as he stands up.  
“No take me, leave my daughter out of this.”
The changeling hits the father in the head with the stock of its gun before grabbing the filly.
The filly struggles against its grasp as it cries out.  
“Let me go, let me go.”
Tears run down the filly’s face as the other civilians stand up and start yelling.
The griffins look at each other before nodding.
A griffin tackles a changeling before pulling the gun from around his shoulder and firing at another changeling.
The officer stabs a knife through the jaw of a changeling before shoving it down.
The griffins attack the other changelings as the changeling with the filly runs off.
The father runs after him as he yells.  
“Violet.”
The filly screams.  
“Daddy help me!”
The changeling turns and fires at the father who falls to the ground clenching his leg.
The changeling throws the filly down as the changeling presses his gun against the fathers head.  
“Beg for a quick death for you and your daughter.”
The father looks the changeling in the eye.  
“I won’t beg for such a thing insect.”
The changeling grins as it takes aim.  
“Good.”
*whistle*
The changeling turns and sees several griffins and ponies aiming machine guns at it.
The changeling drops it’s weapon.  
“I surrender.”
One of the griffins steps forwards with a flamethrower.  
“I like my insects charred.”
The flamethrower fires covering the changeling in flames as the griffins walk past the now burning changeling.
A griffin holds a claw to the father who takes it.  
“Your going to make it Sir.”
The father yells panicked.  
“My daughter where’s my daughter.”
A griffin holds out a filly with a bloody nose in a blanket.  
“She’s unconscious but should pull through.”
The griffins lead the father back to the other civilians.  
“But how are you getting us out of here, the changelings are everywhere.”
A convoy of trucks pull up besides them and soldiers jump out and run down the street.
A griffin helps the father and filly into the truck.  
“We’ve broken the changeling lines, we’re pushing them back all along the front.”
The father shakes the griffins hand.  
“Thank you.”
The griffin says.  
“We’re doing our duty sir now lets get you somewhere safer.”
The civilians are loaded onto the trucks before pulling away.
The father hugs his daughter as the truck drives down the road.
The truck passes columns of soldiers, tanks and trucks heading into the city as the father says.  
“Go teach those changelings a lesson boys.”
Several fighters fly over head as the gunfire in the distance slowly dissipates the further the truck drives.
P.S   
If that was cringy keep in mind this is the first time experimenting with that style, and it should get better as I build More on on the storyline

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                       Frozen treads                       
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Frozen treads
Battle of the sunset plains
Southern front, 20th tank Divison, 1st brigade, 4th company, phenix platoon  
Lieutenant David Pond, tank platoon commander.  
1014 November 12 6:39 PM
I pull my ski mask downwards as I put a cigar in my mouth.
I flip my lighter before it lights.
I put the lighter away before rubbing my hooves together feeling the chill of winter in them before trotting over to a campfire.  
“This cold can piss off.”
A fellow pony says.  
“Command says that there’s another blizzard rolling in.”
I breath in before pulling the cigar from my mouth and breathing out.  
“You figure out the new tank yet.”
The pony shakes his head.  
“No everything is written in prench, and I’ve had no luck finding a translator.”
I nod before saying.  
“Well I think it’s pretty stupid to replace our tanks without letting us know, better be good or....”
The pony chuckles.
I turn my head to him.  
“What’s so funny.”
The pony laughs as he pulls a bottle of scotch from his bag.  
“Wait until you see the mission briefing.”
A pony walks up behind me.  
“Pond, captain wants you to talk with you.”
I sigh before handing my cigar to the pony at the fire.  
“Alright.”
I walk towards the command tent in the camp.
I walk into the tent and see several platoon commanders.
The captain says.  
“Alright platoon commanders, we’ve got orders from high command.”
I stand next to a map as the captain points to a area near our position.  
“Blasted bugs are planning on attacking the flank of our advance we’re to stop them before they can.”
The captain says.  
“Ponds your going to be assisting sunset shimmers force in launching a diversionary assault 2 km northeast of edmaneton
I and another pony nod.
The captain continues.  
“The rest will be launching a assault 23 km northwest of
The other commanders nod.
The captain says.  
“Good luck to you all, get your crews ready and good hunting.”
We all disperse from the tent as I shake my head.
I walk through the camp as crews run about gathering ammunition.
I walk towards a group of tanks with tents surrounding them.
One of the tank commanders says.  
“So boss what’s the news.”
I say with a huff.  
“We’re going in again, Troy.”
Troy smirks.  
“Ah you’ll get us through it, you got us through Dover.”
I lean against a tank with a Phoenix painted on the side.  
“Tanks having problems.”
Troy shakes his head.  
“No running fine, crews getting used to it.”
I nod softly as the wind picks.  
“How’s Bank adjusting to the tank.”
Troy smirks as he stretches  
“*yawn* Surprising well, stubborn bastard wouldn’t step in the tank, now he just loves the bloody thing I think he even named it already.”
I rub my hooves together.  
“Let’s just hope the heater doesn’t break I’d rather not freeze to death.”
Another pony climbs out of a hatch.  
“Pond Good, my tanks got that anti infantry gun on it just like you told me.”
I smirk.  
“Hammering that’s good to hear, make sure you store enough ammunition for it though we’ll need it if we run into any infantry.”
“Boring.”
The scene stops as I blink before realizing I was still in the bookstore.
I look down and see a small colt.  
“can’t you skip this is really boring.”
I sigh before saying.  
“Well I guess I could skim over some of the details.”
“So later that day i met the mare I’d later know as sunset shimmer.”
The colt groans.  
“Can’t you just summarize this oldie.”
I sigh before saying.  
“Kids these days, Okay my platoon with sunset attacked in the east, we ended up running into the main enemy force and Began suffering casualties.”
The colt waves his hoof.  
“Hurry it up.”
I continue.  
“I lost two tanks in my platoon and ordered sunset to fall back, while I led my remaining tanks to charge the enemy positions to draw their fire.”
“We took a beating and soon my tank was disabled and we were all that was left.”
“The changelings surrounded us shelling us, one of the shells hit the back of the gun causing the turret to turn violently my hoof was in the way and I chopped it off.”
“After that i blacked out and woke up several days later in a hospital bed.”
The colt walks away  
“Most boring assignment ever.”
I grit my teeth before saying to myself.  
“One of these days I’m going to beat those ungrateful ponies.”
“Um excuse me pond sir.”
I look down to see a little filly holding a book titled frozen treads the struggle for the fate of equestria.  
“Could you please sign my book please.”
I smile to myself before pulling a pen from my pocket.  
“Why of course.”
The filly passes me the book which I flip open before signing it.  
“So what are you doing with such a mature book.”
The filly takes the book back.  
“I’m from equestria I just had to meet the pony who gave so much for our freedom.”
I smile before picking up and placing my officers hat on the fillies head.  
“Have a good trip home little one.”
The filly smile with glee before prancing back to a group of ponies being led by a older colt.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                The siege of Verdun part 1                 
//-------------------------------------------------------//
The siege of Verdun part 1
Months before our glorious victory at Dover we fought in verdun, i still can’t believe i survived it, it was only through sheer determination that any pony survived, but at such a heavy cost some of us didn’t want to survive.
Army group south, 125th infantry division conscript Corporal heatwave.  
July 21st 1014, Verdun city, New Engrain
My legs strain as sweat runs down my face.
I look up and squint as the baking sun shines down upon us.
The sound of running water turns my attention to a river down the bank.
Several of the other soldiers notice this and we all drop our gear and run down to soak ourselves.
We jump into the water and I sigh as I feel the coolness of the water on me.
I close my eyes as I seem to relax before a gunshot rings out and splash shocked.
Our lieutenant holsters his magnum.  
“Back in lines conscripts, you were given no order to rest.”
We all hurry back up the bank and quickly pick up our gear before jogging to get back into the column.
I receive many glares from the griffins in our column as I continue marching.
As we march we pass by several anti aircraft guns and supply trucks in the ditches.
Suddenly the sound of the guns start as several officers yell at us before diving to the ground.  
“Hit the deck.”  
The griffins dive to the ground as us fresh troops inexperienced looked around surprised.
The sound of engines roar as several planes fly overhead before bombs hit the ground all around us.  
“Stuka!”
I’m pushed from behind into the dirt of the road as I feel several ponies fall upon me.
I put my hooves over my head as I explosions ring in my ears.
The ringing in my ears slowly dissipates before going almost silent.
I raise my head before hearing a officer yell.  
“We’re clear, all you lot up and get back into formation.”
I rise up along with several other soldiers clearly shaken, except for the griffins they just brushed themselves off and acted like this was normal.
We all slowly get back into formation before the officers yell at us to begin the march once more.  
“Forward march.”
I shake as I continue to walk as several griffins laugh.  
“Wait until we get into battle, these colts are going to act like mares.”
Hours later:
22nd of July 1:21 AM
Flashes light up the flat grass covered landscape as we march towards the city of verdun.
The changelings had been pushing hard into the city and we were to push them out.
As we neared the city you could see the glow of fires raging through the buildings of much of the city.
A few ponies infront of me start talking about the situation we find our selves in.  
“They’re sending us into a bonfire, I didn’t think the griffins hated us this much, they should have fought this war by themselves.”
“The changelings want to kill all of us and the griffins are going in with us, we just got to hold the city Alright.”
“Yeah no, the first thing i do when I see the changelings is surrender, I’m not fighting in this war.”
“Shut up will you, if our commanders heard you they’d probably shoot you for collusion.”
“I don’t care I’d rather be dead then here.”
I look beside me and catch my breath as I see one of our officers glaring at them.
The officer looks at me.  
“Why don’t you go tell them to stop corporal.”
I nod before I quicken my pace before saying.  
“Privates, I don’t want anypony talking about surrendering, or I’ll have to inform our commanders.”
Two of the ponies nod.  
“Yes sir.”
The other pony says.  
“Keep to yourself corporal I don’t care.”
The officer says.  
“Private, you will respect your corporal, your lucky he hasn’t already reported you, he could face a similar punishment if he said nothing.”
I nod before saying.  
“Now quiet private.”
The pony nods.  
“Fine.”
The officer says to me.  
“You might have a future in some very high places if you keep following your orders.”
I nod before the officer pushes a book into my hooves.  
“Have a read, it should help with keeping back boredom.”
I nod before the officer walks off.
I continue back with the march as I hear a loud speaker blaring from a parked flatbed with loud speakers attached.
“By order of Supreme General Grindstone you will push the changelings out of verdun, all who retreat without order are traitors to New Engrain, not a single step back.”
We walk past the truck as lieutenant yells.  
“B company halt.”
I stop along with 200 or so other ponies and griffins.
“Sections separate.”
I run to the front before standing in front of a group of about 10 ponies.
A lieutenant walks down our lines saying with a confident voice.  
“My name is lieutenant Blackbriar, now I fully expect many of you are afraid, but you must shed this fear, the only way we make it through this battle is together, and it is completely up to you if you are willing to follow my lead.”
“There is no room for bickering, you must all know your place and keep each other alive, so I ask you will you follow me now.”
I nod along with a few soldiers.
The lieutenant yells with pride.  
“Perfect, Good luck to all of you and let’s go forwards to victory, for New Engrain!”
We all semi cheer as the lieutenant yells before jogging ahead.  
“Forwards!”
We all follow him is a slow pace somewhat hesitant to charge into battle with this griffin who seemed so confident we’d like him.
The sounds of gunfire louden before we see a tank column with a political commissar standing next to it directing soldiers to the front.
We all stop next to the tanks as the commissar yells.  
“Conscripts you will support these tanks as they push through the parasites pathetic lines.”
The tanks roar as they begin rolling forwards.
We all jog behind the lieutenant to keep pace with the tanks as we near what I assume is a park.
Machine gun fire opens fire on the tanks as we all hide for cover.
The tanks spread out making a wall of tanks as the tank commander yells.  
“Protect our flanks.”
The lieutenant yells.  
“Alright Use the tanks to cover our advance and keep the changelings on they’re hooves.”
We spread out behind the tanks as I follow the lieutenant with my section.
Bombs explode around us as we advance with the tanks.
As we near the machine guns I yell.  
“Thin them out.”
I pull the pin of a grenade before throwing it at the changelings trench line.
A explosion throws several changelings bodies into the air as I see the changelings starting to fall back.
The lieutenant yells as he runs from behind the tank firing his pistol.  
“Charge to victory.”
I was surprised to see several of the other sections charge along with him and I shake my head before attaching my bayonet and charging from behind cover into the hail of bullets surely to be waiting for me.
The changelings fled before us as our tanks rolled over their trenches, we fired at them killing many of them as they ran with their backs turned to us, was it honourable no but they deserved this, they deserved to be slaughter like they’d done to equestria.
Several of the griffins yelled as they charged ahead.  
“No mercy, no prisoners.”
I stab my bayonet into the neck of a changeling officer waving a white flag as I yell at its now lifeless body.
I push my hoof down on its chest as I pull my rifle back before charging ahead without a second thought.
Killing almost seemed easier as I kept doing it, especially when we were told just what these creatures were, these weren’t the changelings which lived in new engrain.
But, a sub species of changeling named Chrysalis-changious that was susceptible to brainwashing, they were vial beasts, insects that had to be put out of their brainwashed slavery under the cruel changeling queens control.
All emotions they showed us weren’t real just the poor soul of the bug inside crying out for mercy, resisting its mindless state, they had to be killed off out of compassion, or that’s what they told us, it’s a lot easier to kill something if your told it’s already dead inside.
I run down a street after the lieutenant before I see a changeling tiger drive from around the corner.
I grab and pull the lieutenant back as I yell.  
“Tiger!”
The tiger turns down the street before it’s machine gun opens fire on us.
I run for cover before the sound of a shell flying past us.
A shell ricochets off the tigers armour as I turn to see a Sherman that had taken aim at the tiger.
I yell to a group of soldiers.  
“Bazookas now, the Sherman’s not going to last long.”
Several soldiers run out into the street with a bazooka and take aim at the tiger as they fumble to get the rockets in the tiger fires its main gun and the Sherman bursts into flames before firing its machine gun at the soldiers killing them.
The lieutenant yells before running out.  
“Give me some cover lads.”
I yell after him as I see him run and grab the bazooka and starting to reload it.
I run out as I throw a grenade at the tiger hoping its explosion would mask me.
I run behind him and say.  
“I’ll load you shoot.”
He nods before shouldering the bazooka and aiming at the tank as I open the rocket satchel before pulling a rocket out.
I slid the rocket into the launcher as the smoke from the grenade clears.
The lieutenant fires the rocket and it strike just below the main gun.
The gun fires and we’re both thrown to the ground.
The tank continues to drive forwards as I struggle up and try to drag the lieutenant up.  
“Get up.”
The lieutenant cries out as he grabs his leg.  
“My leg I can’t walk.”
I grab his claw and start to drag him to cover as bullets strike around me.
Several griffins charge at the tank one of them with a flamethrower.
Flames envelope the front of the tank as the tank continues further ahead.
A loud crack echos and the turret of the tiger is ripped off as a anti tank gun is rolled up the street.
Several medics run towards us as I help carry him to them.  
“You’ll make it through lieutenant.”
He laughs.  
“Well you’ll be hearing my praise when you get yourself a medal.”
I shake my head.  
“Sir I don’t want a medal, now lets get you some help.”
The medics grab him and carry him off as I wipe soot on my uniform.
One week later..........
It’s been a week since we pushed the changelings out of verdun command expects a sudden counter attack at any moment, they’ve had the engineers digging tank traps and demolition charges along a 50 km stretch which is likely to be the changelings route to assault us.
The weathers been pissing on us, a week of rain I don’t know what I’d prefer heat stroke or trench foot.
Rain pours down as lightning streaks across the sky overhead.
I look through a set of binoculars at a field of barbwire and trenches.
I’d just made staff Sargent, was the food any better, no not a massive improvement but some applesauce does go pretty well with salted pork.
I’d changed quite a bit in a week, survival had to be learned, like don’t check bodies ever if it still has gear on it, it’s safe but if not it’s probably mined.
Still nothing from the changelings.
I look down at my watch before rubbing my eyes.
I hear one of the soldiers under my command.  
“We’ve been here for three days the changelings aren’t coming.”
I sigh as the soldiers concerns matched my own.  
“I know but we’ve been ordered to hold this area, plus on the bright side we aren’t being attacked so that’s a good thing right.”
The soldier nods.  
“I guess.”
A soldier on a 50 cal says as he scans the area in front of him.  
“Well I can’t wait to chew a piece out of the bugs.”
I chuckle.  
“Wouldn’t we all, but it’s better they stay where they are and we’ll stay here, maybe cause a stalemate if we’re lucky.”
I hear several cracks in the distance and I instinctively yell.  
“Barrage!”
We all take cover as shells explode all around us.
I lean against the side of the trench as I yell.  
“What id give for a bunker.”
A shell explodes next to the trench and mud flies into the air before falling down as almost a sudden sheet of mud and shrapnel.
Mud soaks me as I yell.  
“Get the artillery on the line we’re being hit by enemy fire, tell them to counter barrage them.”
The radio operator assigned to my section nods before yelling into his radio.  
“Enemy barrage in sector delta-4 requesting immediate counter barrage.”
The operator listens for the response before saying to me.  
“Coordinates.”
I yell before crawling to my observation slot looking through my binoculars.  
“Stand by.”
Through the bombardment I see another bombardment moving slowly towards us.  
“Enemy crawling barrage, pace at 100 no 110 Meters per minute start at market 190 over.”
The radio operator relays the message as I look through my binoculars for the result before the sound of artillery stops suddenly before starting again.
Several tanks fly through the smoke towards our lines a I hear soldiers yell.  
“Enemy armour.”
The operator yells over the noise of the shelling starting back up.  
“Sir do we want to readjust the bombardment.”
I yell to the operator before looking through the binoculars at the tanks.  
“No those tanks aren’t going anywhere.”
As the tanks near the line I pull out a detonator and push the button.
Explosions go off in front of the tanks revealing deep holes which the tanks fall in into.
I grin as I laugh.  
“Enemy armour is knocked out tell the artillery to stop the barrage.”
The operator yells into the radio as our guns fall silent.
I yell as I draw my rifle.  
“Prepare to repel infantry.”
The changelings bombardment stops as thousands of changelings charge from the smoke towards our lines expecting their armour to have already broken our lines they were met by a wall off bullets.
Our machine guns open up as the changelings fall in the mud dead in swaths.
The changelings were hopeless without their tanks and artillery to protect them they were at the mercy of our guns.
After a few minutes of trying to reach our lines they began to break off their assault, they’d think twice before trying to assault our lines once more and we’d be ready for them.
I just hope that the lieutenant gets back in action because local moral isn’t doing that well because rumours of ration cuts have started spreading.
Author's Note
Well this is the longest chapter thus far I’m surprised by how many of you checked it out, if you have suggestions I’d love some feedback, and I think this current style I tried out here is working nicely