33- Decimation

Two hundred shovels met the cold packed dirt around Nisir. The scouts of The Royal Guard had arrived, and were set to make a temporary encampment as plans were laid for the defensive lines behind the lonely mountain.

The Royal Engineers would arrive next after the base camp was established. They would mark out trench lines, fort emplacements, bulwarks, barricades, supply lines, camps, fallback lines, storage areas, main roads, latrine pits, drainage channels, and potential grave pits. The great plans worked out by Shining Armor, myself, Luna, Celestia, and several hundred assistants, engineers, and aide-de-camp would become reality over the course of months. The majority of work would be performed by the two hundred thousand ponies who were due to be stationed in the tundra, but the work began today.

Not that I was there to watch or care.

It was a bit warmer towards the heartland of Equestria. Instead of freezing my balls off, I was only freezing my nose off. Snow was almost up to the knees of the average drone, packed down where ponies and changelings had shoveled it away and marched the rest of it into a tough floor. Behind me, my own aide-de-camp was struggling to keep up.

“Phasma, slow down!”

Bray Call stomped through the snow ahead of the contingent of six Red Right Hooves, calling out to me.

I paused, grinding my teeth as I looked back, “Right. Forgot what it’s like to have normal-sized legs.”

“Not to mention I’m carrying all of your paperwork,” she growled, panting as she caught up.

I eyed the bulging saddlebacks and backpack weighing the mare down, “I said I could carry them.”

“Your armor would tear the bags to shreds,” she pointed out. “Besides, it’d ruin the whole evil aesthetic you've got going on.”

I glanced back at the Adamantium armor covering my back. Unbroken Radiance was not exactly suited for a leather backpack, all covered in spikes and hard edges.

“Plus think of what ponies would say! They'd see you carrying everything, and your right hoof mare with nothing. Rumors of me being weak would be circulating within minutes!”

“Let's just get this over with,” I dropped the argument. “The sooner we deal with the troublemakers, the sooner we can get back to the Palace.”

Our arrival at the encampment was met with several salutes, and many more bows, the ponies and changelings received me with the respect and reverence respectively that I had grown to ignore. Many tents and campfires were lined up in neat rows, with both races mingling together. Though predominantly they stuck to clusters of their own kind, seeing them together was a relief, however.

We were directed to one of the larger tents as the whispers and pointing started. Two of my guards went in ahead of me, and the other four fanned out, securing each of the corners of the tent. Even with two guards- one pony and one drone- at the tent flap, there would never be enough security.

Bray Call stepped in next, clearing her throat and proclaiming, “Announcing His Majesty King Phasma!”

A shimmering wall of warmth greeted me as I joined her, a welcome reprieve. About a dozen changelings and ponies stood around a table covered in maps, papers, and dirty mess kits.

“Your Majesty!” General Labrum and Captain Katydid bowed.

“King Phasma,” Elder Vigilance bowed.

“Your Highness,” a stallion wearing a Lieutenant's epaulets saluted.

“This is Lieutenant Sturdy Blow,” Katydid explained for me. “Captain Shining Armor is busy in Canterlot.”

“Nice to meet you, Lieutenant,” I said, shaking hooves with the pony.

His slow blink was prepared by the confusion I sensed, “Uh, likewise, your Highness.”

‘He must have been given hell growing up. All those unfortunate nicknames and jokes…’

“I see The Night Mistress has taken more than a pace away from you, King Phasma,” Elder Vigilance mused.

“You have news?” I asked, neatly skirting the issue.

The two ponies glanced at the changelings in the tent.

“Our investigation is complete,” Katydid explained, “and everything lines up. The fight was started by changelings.”

As Lieutenant Sturdy braced for an explosive reaction, I just let out a long sigh.

“All things considered, I'm glad this isn't worse. Goddess knows I've already got a steadily growing pile of cases of drones breaking pony laws.”

“You seemed pretty convinced of outside influence, Sir,” Lieutenant Sturdy remarked, slowly relaxing.

“I know for a fact that they stirred the pot,” I nodded, “but the drones snapping first makes sense. Our curriculum growing up didn't exactly include conflict resolution. Unless you count firing laser beams at a target as conflict resolution, which I definitely do.”

“I'm sure the Princesses have a different opinion,” Bray chuckled.

I rolled my eyes, “Yes, yes, something about not hurting other people if I can solve things non-lethally. Katydid, get the perpetrators in formation. I will deal with them right now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he bowed, before being a good commanding officer and immediately shoveling off the task to a subordinate.

“I am freezing my fangs off, where's the coffee?” I complained.

Vigilance pointed to a pot in the corner, “I am afraid we have drained this vessel of its lifeblood, Your Majesty.”

“I guess I'll have to hunt for some, then. Bray,” I turned to the mare. “Let's have this done before lunch. I want to be back in Canterlot in time to clear out handling the changelings arrested by local guards today.”

Bray produced a clipboard and flipped through a few papers as we marched out of the command tent and into the cold, “And what of the changelings who broke the Fifth Hive's laws?”

I started peeking into the neighboring tents, looking for supply storage, “Complicated. We gotta finish ironing out the Hive's judicial system, which is gonna be a gigantic pain in ass since no one has law degrees.”

“You could just use pony attornies?”

I grimaced, “I am rather uncomfortable with only putting ponies in a very influential position within my new kingdom. They could be a very good influence, but ultimately I want changelings to be our own thing.”

“You could have changelings apprentice for the lawmares? Have them a step behind, studying and learning?”

“That might end up being the best solution, at least until the next generation starts achieving higher education. Schedule a time to pick out some drones to act as judges, and others to act as lawyers. I'll have to be hooves-on for every court case for the next decade at the very least, but everyling can learn from me, at least.”

As Bray wrote down my orders, I managed to find the supply tent. The pony there saluted as I entered, and frowned as I stole a few packets of instant coffee.

“Ah, military grade, where everything is made by the lowest bidder. Sorry Quartermaster, no time for paperwork,” I greeted him before ducking out of the tent. As we headed back to the coffee maker in the command tent, I issued my next directive, “I will also need to meet with the E.U.P.’s artificers. The spell rangers in the Griffonia war hold interest to me, I want to see if we can commission a new line of them.”

Bray frowned, “That's ancient history, sir. Not to mention the fact that we're not trying to bring down fortress walls.”

“I'll educate you ponies on the use of modern artillery in a bit, just write that down. They look too much like Howitzers to pass up.” I started making a new batch of coffee, interrupting the general's meeting once again. “Actually, make some time to educate everyone, Princesses and Princes included, on human world wars. This world might not have guns, but I swear to Panar, if I see generals sending waves over the top of the trenches…”

“My King?” General Labrum tilted her head.

“Royal story time,” I explained. “It's about time I educated you lot on the errors of my world. And, more importantly, tactics. We need every advantage against the Umbrum. Katydid! Are they ready?!”

“I… have sent for them, My King. Thankfully, the last batch had returned from marching an hour-”

“Coffee?” I offered Bray the first cup.

She took it gratefully as I magically flash-heated another cup.

“Katydid, Vigilance, Sturdy Blow. Be honest with me. I want this combined army in perfect form within six months, will we make it?”

“Six months?” Lieutenant Suturdy grunted. “Without a doubt. That is, your Highness, if this matter regarding the riot is buried so far we will never see the likes of it again.”

Elder Vigilance nodded, “The young stallion is correct, Night Lord. These growing pains were expected, but we will succeed.”

I nodded, “Good, And don't call me that. Lots of negative connotations. Katydid?”

My friend considered the question, “These are the best drones the Legions have to offer, My King. The loyalists from Chrysalis’s faction are few and far between. Everyling else will adapt. In six months, these thestrals, ponies, and drones will consider each other clutchmates.”

On cue, his subordinate returned, saluting. “Sir, the drones requested are in formation at the parade ground.”

I glanced past the changeling. Through the tent flap, I could see twenty-two changelings standing in their Red Right Hoof armor. Silently, Labrum handed a list over to Bray, who handed it over to me. Or hoofed it over, if you wanted to be pedantic.

“Bray, when you're done with your coffee, go out there and announce my arrival. Take the six guards, too.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Generals, you can resume… whatever you were talking about before I got here.”

As the commanders huddled back around the table, I scanned the list, line by line, and dedicated each name and rank to memory. It was an easy matter to access my own Weave and sense who each drone was out there. That was how most changelings simply knew each other. That and the obvious small differences that ponies couldn't bother to learn.

As Bray headed out, Lieutenant Sturdy cleared his throat.

“Your Highness, since you are representing the Princesses today, I should say that a little speech from you will go a long way. After you have dealt with the ins- the changelings involved, sir.”

After a long pause that made the stallion suitably uncomfortable, I answered, “Order a general muster once I'm done with them. I can spare a few words before I leave back for Canterlot.”

And hearing the echoes of Bray Call announcing me from across the camp, I teleported out of the tent.

With a flash of orange and soft crackle, I appeared before the drones, towering above them in my Adamantium armor. Each and every one of them stood up straighter as they took in my appearance. Belatedly, I realized I was still holding onto the entire pot of coffee.

‘That hampers my pissed-off look quite a bit. Damn. Better roll with the punches.’

“With more duties than I can count, I find myself here, in this frozen forest, with you lot,” my voice echoed loudly across the snow-strewn field. “You have each failed your King.”

Slowly, I began to pace through the ranks, drinking straight from the steaming pot, sneakily using a cooling spell with each sip. The warmth was a much needed reprieve from the cold, which I flaunted in each of their shivering faces.

“The Legions demand much from you, I know. They demand perfection. They demand bravery. They demand loyalty to your fellow soldiers. It is in this last path that you have all failed! You have failed the Legions, you have failed me, and you have failed the Hive Eternal!”

Show crunched underhoof as I wondered what they were thinking. Changelings couldn't sense each other's emotions, so I couldn't cheat and all but mind-read them. Were they ashamed? Stubbornly proud? Angry? I had better find out.

I went back to the first in formation. “Lance Corporal Tibia. You served the Legions for two years with loyalty. Why did you attack your comrades in arms?”

The drone looked up at me, “My King! They insulted your honor! I had to defend you!”

‘That lines up with the account Lacewing found. Insults about me turned into a hoof fight. What a waste.’

“And?”

“And… I do what duty demands, My King!”

‘Anger. Trash.’

I moved onto the second drone, “Private Cicada. Why did you attack the Royal Guard you were training with?”

She looked up at me, “S-sir. I couldn't stand hearing them insult you, sir. I've seen clutchmates killed for less in the Fourth.”

“And?”

“And… I failed you, My King.”

‘Shame. There is hope yet for her.’

“Step back,” I ordered her, before I moved on to the third.

On and on this continued. By the time I had addressed each of the twenty-two lings, five had stepped back. The rest held too much pride in honor for a second chance. I returned to the front of the formation, leaving the empty pot with Bray.

“It is true in ages past that you would have been killed for insulting the King. It is true that Chrysalis continued this tradition, dealing with any who insulted her or her position. And I am so very glad each of you believe that I am no different from her, that I place as much stock in my honor. I am glad each of you disobeyed a direct order to work with the ponies, instead resorting to violence against those who you are supposed to trust your lives with.”

I stomped a hoof, “Damn my honor! I don't give a shit if someone called me a murderer, or a monster, or a ‘cock sucking princess!’ I would gladly give my honor to save a single one of you, yet you all have put worthless words above protecting the Hive Eternal! You have proven yourselves a danger to everything we hold dear, and a threat to the Hive. The crown thanks you all for your many years of service, but you are hereby relinquished from duty. Those of you who took a step back, stay where you are. The rest of you are coming back to Canterlot with me for reassignment. Now get marching to the airship!”

A few stuttered in disbelief, but they all inevitably started marching towards the camp's exit, glancing around and back at me. I heard a few strike up fierce whispers between each other, but my attention was on the hoofful that remained.

“You. Each of you has displayed remorse, an understanding for what you have done, and a wish to undo it. Because of this, I will grant each of you a second chance. You will report to Captain Katydid for demotion, punishment detail, and an opportunity to prove yourselves worthy of the trust I am giving you. You will not fail me again. Dismissed!”

“Yes, My King!” They yelled, bowed, and filed away.

As I watched them go, I whispered to Bray, “Six months, Bray. If the basics aren't nailed down before then, Goddess help us.”

“Do you really think the Umbrum will attack that soon?”

“No. But Division-P surely will.”

It was some time until the three leaders got every pony and drone back in formation in the very same field that I had just discharged nearly two dozen of our finest from service. By the time the hundreds of drones, changelings, and thestrals were all lined up and spit-polished, word had gotten out. Those who had witnesses the walk of shame and heard me yelling had spread the word. The ponies looked puffed up and happy with the results, the thestrals were ambivalent, and the drones looked either chastised or equally uncaring.

“King Phasma.”

“Katydid.”

“The troops are ready. You won't be joining us for any exercises or drills after this? You could always benefit from training, My King.”

I glanced down at my former instructor, “The issue nowadays is finding my enemies, not defeating them. I'm afraid there's too much work to be done, I cannot stay.”

“As you say, My King. You have turned into a fine warrior.”

“Thank you, Katydid. I'm glad you were in the right place and the right time to be picked as my instructor.”

Lifting my elytra, my insect buzzed to life, lifting me above everyone's heads. All eyes darted towards me as I hovered in front of the army.

“Stallion, mares. You all have worked hard to get to this point! When your country called, you answered! You are each a veteran of a war that has taken friends and family away from you. Your thestral comrades may have been spared this war, but their generations-long duty has left them with lives just as hard as your own! Look to your left! Look to your right! These are the people who put their lives in your hooves, and in turn who will carry your life in theirs! When our enemies come, they will be met with steel and courage! Take pride, soldiers, for you stand tall and unwavering against the dark. Others will look to you for inspiration. Your friends and family will rest easy, knowing you are standing watch. The path ahead will not be easy, but Harmony and the Goddess put you on this path because they know you alone have the strength to endure. You do your Princesses and King proud! Tonight, rounds are on me!”

That got them cheering, and I set back down as the ponies cheered for Harmony, the drones cheered for the Hive Eternal, and everyone cheered for free booze.

‘Soldiers are easy to please. Good food and good beer, same with humans.’

“Excellent speech, Your Highness,” Lieutenant Sturdy saluted. “But uh, I am not sure our reserves-”

“I'll have a pallet offloaded from the airship I arrived in,” preempting his complaint. “The one thing the Fifth Hive never has to worry about running out of is alcohol. Bray, we're done here. Let's get the drinks offloaded and get back to somewhere where I'm not gonna break my teeth from shivering too much.”

As the officers dismissed the gathered soldiers, I couldn't help but wonder just how many of them were die-hard loyal to Division-P. A hoofful? A dozen? Or none at all, and all of our troubles were of our own making?

‘Nah, probably a dozen.’

I shut the door to Celestia's office behind me. Glancing down at the space in front of her desk only twice before I managed to scoot past it, I cleared my throat to catch her attention.

“What's up, sun butt?”

Celestia looked up from her disturbingly large stack of paperwork, her reading glasses perched on her nose, “Phasma. There you are. Luna had asked where you went.”

“She wasn't in her room,” I remarked.

“My sister has gone to Vanhoover. There is a celebration that needs a princess to officiate, and she was in a hurry to make herself scarce. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?”

‘Ah shit.’

“I think the fact that we're in different rooms, let alone different cities, defeats the purpose of lying. Yes, something happened.”

Celestia folded up her glasses and placed them down, “I had hoped that the fact that I am Luna's sister would defeat the purpose of lying. Would you mind giving your side of the story?”

“The trip to Nisir went well, until it didn't. I'll tell you about it later. Afterwards, Luna and I were… patiently waiting for the airship to take us back when the topic of our duties came up. I pressed the point that we cannot continue like this, attached at each other's hip, and she resisted any change to the status quo. We argued and I stormed out.”

“That is all?”

“That's it,” I shrugged.

She reclined in her chair, staring at me, “And you decided that leaving Luna alone, fully knowing that she has serious issues with ever being alone, was a good idea?”

“No, I did not think that. I knew we would reach a breaking point eventually, and I did not want to-” I broke off and grit my teeth. “This is between Luna and myself. What was it that was so important that it required sending a runner for me?”

The old geezer frowned, “My sister's well being is absolutely my concern, but I shall let sleeping hounds lie and let you two hash it out. I sent for you because Chrysalis obviously saw through the disguise ruse and has demanded to speak with you as soon as you return.”

“But she played ball and didn't give up the ghost?”

“She said nothing publicly. Say what you will about her, and we do for several hours a day for the past month, she at least understands the gravity of our situation.”

I nodded, “I'll see her now. Can you come with me?”

Celestia was mildly surprised, “You are asking me to accompany you? After you had a fight with Luna about attending duties alone?”

“Chrysalis is an exception. Last time I talked to her alone, I ordered the assassination of someone. Which was entirely justified, I will add, but… It's best if someone more passive is with me. Please?”

She smiled, “Of course, Phasma. Come then, to the tyrant's lair.”

She had even more furniture than last time, adding a radio, another long couch, and a metal pole to her collection. I immediately looked away from that corner and repressed the memory within seconds.

“And here comes the triumphant champion,” Chrysalis cooed, twisting down from her spot on the ceiling, gracefully setting down before the iron bars of her cell. “I was wondering when you would pay your dear mother another visit.”

“I was putting off for as long as possible,” I said. “I've been told you are a bad influence and that smoking isn't cool, contrary to what you told me.”

“There was something you wished to discuss?” Celestia prompted.

“Yesss,” Chrysalis hissed quietly, stalking up to the bars. “You had failed to show up to my trial for the past few days. I appreciate you coming around to my point that this whole thing is pointless, but it feels more insulting than anything else!”

“My attention was required elsewhere, while I still had to officially be present,” I answered. “Nisir is being recolonized and studied.”

As before, news of the First Hive mollified her, “Nisir? Tell me, oh great King, what pearls of knowledge has the ancient Hive yielded today?”

“Some tactical information, plenty that reveals its history. Nothing that concerns you, Chrysalis.”

“Maybe I should pay a visit myself,” Chrysalis thought aloud. “Have a drone disguise as myself and sneak off…”

“You are not going anywhere,” Celestia commanded.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, “Oh, Tia. I fail to see why this is all so important to you. Quit dragging out the formalities and be done with it. I will comply with any parole restrictions you-”

“Parole?!” Celestia laughed. “You… you… You will meet a deserving punishment in time, murderer.”

“Oh please,” Chrysalis huffed, “it's not as if this is a real trial. There's been no discovery, no adherence to any court procedure, it's publicly broadcasted, and I was not given any opportunity to have legal counsel of my own!”

“When did you become an expert in legal rights?” Celestia questioned.

Chrysalis nodded towards a book laying on the couch in the corner I was desperately trying to look away from, “Phoenix's Guide to Right Ruling, amongst other titles.”

Celestia's eyebrows launched towards the moon, “You have been reading law books?”

The bug shrugged, “I don't exactly have many distractions here. Now, I know that you could have ended this trial weeks ago. Why go on? What do you gain from delaying the executioner's blade, Princess Celestia?”

“... We're waiting,” Celestia said simply.

“We are?” I turned in surprise.

Celestia nodded, “We are. Our opponents within Equestria will be pushing a bill to restrict our powers after repealing the ban on alcohol. We will use your sentencing to steal the headlines and focus away from outrage against the Crown. Until then, we drag out the trial.”

As I digested this information, Chrysalis began to laugh.

“Heh… Mmmmhehehe hahaaaa! Celestia! Oh! My!” Chrysalis pressed her face against the bars of her cells,” Princess of the Sun! Using me as a sacrifice to draw attention and power away from your enemies! I had known you as a vicious foe from my fights against Daybreaker, but this… You have never been so attractive,” she smiled, her long tongue drawing out and wrapping around one of the bars of-

I promptly turned away and started dry heaving, “I- hrk. Goddess, burn out my eyeballs! Hhrrr-!”

My disgust was joined promptly be Celestia, who bristled at the display, “You will have to do worse than that to unnerve me, murderer. Come, Phasma, our business is concluded here.”

‘-long tongue writhing up and down, pumping-’

“Yeah!” I yelped, scrambling for the door.