A new faction

Greetings dear readers, and welcome!

Today I'm going to briefly explain the basics about the weapons, armors, vehicles and starships used in the Equusian Lands. This way, you can get an idea of the situation in future stories and I won't have to interrupt the narration to explain these basic concepts.

But I remind you that this will only be the basics, by no means the entirety of the Equusian arsenal.

WEAPONS

The truth is that the Equusian civilization was never one that focused heavily on war and weapons development. But in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war, so every being that wants to continue living needs a way to defend itself properly.

Since they left Equus, the Equusians' weapons development has not stopped advancing, and thanks to this, they currently have a large arsenal of ranged and melee weapons. Most of them use some kind of technomagic to work.

We'll first talk about equusian ranged weapons, but before that, I must make one thing clear. And it is how hoofed creatures like Ponies or Kirins are able to use these weapons, since they have a design similar to that of ranged weapons used by creatures with hands.

You see, hooves have a very special non-magical ability, and that is to increase the electrical charge of attraction between them and some object, manipulating the interatomic bonds to allow them to behave as if they were hands. In this way, Ponies can grab objects and manipulate weapons without problems, seeming as if they were glued to their hooves.

This quality appeared after the war that devastated Twilight's Equestria, being caused by magical radiation.

Among the most common ranged weapons are the B-S Weapons, which range from small pistols or powerful rifles to large cannons used by tanks.

B-S Weapons are notable for their ability to switch between 2 types of ammunition, breakthrough ammunition and spellmunition.

Breakthrough ammunition consists of projectiles of various calibers that do not use any kind of magic. This is because the Council does not want the security of the Equusian Lands to depend exclusively on magic.

These projectiles end in a drill-like crystal tip. The barrel gives them a rotating effect when fired, and they have an internal mechanism that makes the tip spin at high speed. This gives them great penetration capacity.

In addition, these projectiles cause great area damage, cracking a good part of the armor strong enough not to be pierced by them and causing severe internal damage.

Spellmunition, on the other hand, consists of spells that are used as ammunition.

The magical energy and spell matrix are stored in shiny marbles called spellmarbles, which are what you find in a spellmunition magazine.

When fired, the spellmarble break and the spell is released from the barrel as a ray of magical light. The spell's effects manifest when this ray hits its target.

However, not all spells can be used to create spellmunition, especially the more complex ones. Some of the most commonly used spells in spellmunition are petrification and magic laser.

Something similar happens with explosives such as grenades, mines or bombs. There are normal explosives that throw fire and shrapnel in all directions, like a great wave of destruction. But there are also explosives that carry a magical charge, which enhances the explosion or gives it other effects. For example, a type of grenade that instead of exploding, generates a resistant crystal that traps whatever is within its range. Also, if you want to create cover.

Missiles also have a crystal point like the Breakthrough ammunition, but they are not classified as such due to their ability to explode.

There are 5 classes of Missile Launchers, each more powerful than the last. Class 1 are hand-held missile launchers that fire small missiles. Class 2 are bazookas. Class 3 consists of two boxes filled with small missiles. Class 4 fires larger missiles at greater distances. And Class 5 are usually non-mobile installations capable of firing building-sized missiles across continents.

There are more ranged weapons, which are outside of any category. They can be "normal" weapons in the sense that they do not defy any laws of physics, like Flamethrowers or Grenade Launchers, or pieces of technomagic, like Storm Launchers (they contain an electrical storm inside them and use it as a battery to fire lightning bolts) or Emotional Blasters (they shoot energy obtained from the intensity of the shooter's emotions).

And there are also the Acid Weapons. Pistols, rifles and explosives, which use a corrosive green substance to deal damage. This "acid" is stored in special containment tanks that act mostly as magazines.

Finally, there are the cannons, large and powerful ranged weapons used on special platforms or vehicles.

The most common is the Smile Cannon, which is also called B-S Cannon, so you can already get an idea of what it does. There is also the Pulse Cannon, which fires a beam of energy that vibrates its target until it explodes. The Wave-teleport Cannon, capable of teleporting a very powerful explosive to great distances. And the Magical Cannon, which fires a very powerful purple magic beam capable of passing through almost any material and causing gigantic explosions upon impact.

But even more destructive than all of these weapons are starship-grade weapons. These are larger, longer-range versions of some of the aforementioned weapons, used by starships to defend themselves.

However, there are two weapons that are exclusively starship grade, with no smaller version.

These are the Nightmare Cannon (basically, an antimatter cannon) and the Daybreaker Cannon (It mimics a coronal mass ejection, artificially replicating this cosmic event. Its use is so regulated and has so many restrictions that it is practically prohibited).

As for melee weapons, there are two types. The Enchanted Weapons and the Sparkle Weapons. Both have the ability to return to their bearer if they lose them (something like with Thor's hammer).

Enchanted Weapons are melee weapons of all kinds with enchantments that enhance their durability and original capabilities. For example, a sword will cut more easily, and a mace will strike more powerfully.

They also have the ability to generate shockwaves and slashes of magical energy that increase their range. Polearms, such as spears and halberds, are also capable of firing magical lasers.

The Enchanted Knife is the weakest Encahnted Weapon, as it lacks the power to generate shockwaves or magical slashes. It is extremely sharp though, and they're usually fixed to rifles as bayonets.

There is also a special kind of Enchanted Weapons known as Special Weapons. These do not only possess the aforementioned abilities, but each one of them has a unique power too.

For example; Urielgate, a Bird Seraphim, owes Gate's Flames, a powerful flaming sword. Mirror Bident belongs to the Abada F.L.A.S.H. Commander Manylot Multiple, and has the power of creating illusory clones of its wielder. And there's The Mace of Strength too. This is the weapon used by the Protector Branch Captain Usak, capable of delivering blows of unbelievable force. It was used to defeat the beast called 'The Destroyer of the Impures'.

Sparkle Weapons do not have all those powers, but they have their own magical abilities.

Using one of these weapons gives a warrior enhanced strength, speed and stamina, and reduces their sense of pain.

And whenever a Sparkle Weapon inflicts injuries on a living being, the weapon will take some of its victim's energy, using it for its own benefit.

In case the weapon is damaged, it will use this energy to repair itself. But if the weapon is in good condition, it will provide this energy to its wielder, healing their wounds and allowing them to fight for longer.

Although they are not weapons, there are also many items that Equusians use for combat and other related activities. Devices for artificial teleportation, levitation or telekinesis.

There are also the boingpacks, a device similar to a jetpack or jumppack. They use no magic and allow to fly slowly.

But the most famous support item is the Inventory; a small, square, flat device that grants access to a small pocket dimension where Equusians can store their objects.

These disappear from the user's grip with a teleportation effect whenever they want them to, and reappear in realspace in the same way. This works as a response to the user's thoughts.

It is because of their great utility that Inventories aren't used solely by the military, but they're also a common object in civilian possession.

Now, and lastly regarding weapons, there are the Drones. Round, floating machines that are used for various tasks, including combat, but also espionage or construction. These can operate independently to carry out these tasks, but they have fairly simple programming, since the Equusians cannot simply create AIs to serve them, not anymore.

This class of Drones is known as O-Drones, but there are also Mega-Drones, which are larger and are specialized exclusively in combat.

ARMORS

In a battle, it is essential to have some form of protection around the body. The Imperium has the Power Armors, as do the Traitors. The Eldar have their Mesh Armour, and the Necrons are already made of metal.

Equusians have 4 different armors at their disposal, although not all of them at the same availability, obviously. These are all completely enclosed to the exterior and have several auxiliary systems known as the Sweet Aid Systems installed in them. Some of these systems can also be found in vehicles and starships.

The most common of all is the Defender Armor, as it is used by all Branches as their standard armor.

It is composed of teoram and aephesto plates, which envelop a thin special fiber suit capable of increasing the user's physical capabilities so that he or she can move without difficulty.

Teoram is a light and malleable metal, but resistant as well. It has the special property of acting as a mirror against energy attacks, reflecting and redirecting them while diminishing their power. It is for this reason that the outer plates of the armor are made of this material. Although this does not mean that the Defender Armor cannot be damaged by energy attacks if they have enough power.

Aephesto is the component of most of the Defender Armor's internal plates. It is a material similar to solid concrete and with amazing resistance, being extremely difficult to penetrate. It is quite heavy though.

Aephesto was created many millennia ago by one of the Alicorns of ancient Skyros, but the means to craft it were lost. It was not until shortly before the Dark Age that this material was rediscovered.

Then there's the Spacesuit Armor, a special armor used exclusively by the members of the Stellar Department of the Space Branch who are going to be launched into space to board enemy spacecraft.

For this, these armors have powerful built-in rockets, sticky boots and modified Sweet Aid Systems.

The Spacers wearing Spacesuit Armors will move through the void, hiding themselves of the enemy's sight until reaching their ships.

They will sneak onto the ship by any means possible, most likely through holes created by spaceship-grade Equusian weaponry. Once inside, they will seek a relatively safe place where a skilled mage can teleport, who will after that open a large portal to give more forces access to the boarded ship.

These new forces will already be wearing Defender Armor, since Spaceship Armor – having thicker teoram and aephesto plates for greater strength – does not offer great maneuverability.

The F.L.A.S.H. Armor is... complex to say the least. Due to its origins, it is very different from other armors, not to mention its scarcity, as there are only ten of them in existence and for specific creatures seemingly chosen by fate. I will explain them in more detail in the future, but for now just remember that they allow you to go at super speed.

Finally, there is the Guardian Armor.

This is the armor worn by the Guards of the Council, the elite force that acts as bodyguards for the Representatives. As such, they are granted the finest armor that can be produced in the Equusian Lands.

The Guardian Armor is special for one crucial detail, and that is that it is composed of the legendary blue iron, the same material that Grogar's Bewitching Bell is made of.

As far as is known, this material is completely indestructible, capable of withstanding even the heaviest weapons. In addition, it also has great resistance to magic. Due to this property, the armor is extremely difficult to forge, but the master blacksmiths that live in Equus' core have still managed to achieve this feat.

However, blue iron is also super rare, found only in a few veins in Mount Everhoof. It is for this reason that, if a Guardian Armor was lost, the Equusians would do everything to recover it. Their value is incalculable, as there is hardly any blue iron left in nature, and for some reason, it cannot be replicated through magical means.

The death of a Guard is a very important event within their organization, and when it happens, they carry out an important and sacred ritual. After burying their fallen comrade, they take their armor to the same blacksmiths who forged it, so that they can reforge it to suit a new Guard. It is a way of passing a legacy to the next generation.

Another peculiarity of this armor is the lack of something in the face part of the helmet. It's literally just a flat metal face with no visor nor anything. Turns out, the Guards aren't just the most powerful warriors in the Equusian Lands, but they're also very wise and in tuning with the universe. For them, the 5 senses have become obsolete, so they don't really need to see.

As for the Representatives themselves, most of them don't wear any armor most of the time. Sure, they have some blue iron too protecting vital zones, but they are politicians at the end of the day, and showing up to press conferences in intimidating full-body armor is not... well, it's not a politician thing to do.

Of course, there are some Representatives that go into battle as leaders, such as Flurry Heart, Sunny Starscout or Queen Flamellus. These creatures do wear full armor, although only when they are on the battlefield, and these are incredibly powerful. Basically Guardian Armor, but with many more functions and customization.

VEHICLES

Vehicles are, and always will be, one of the most important forces on the battlefield. Those used by the Equusians are the ones I am going to talk to you about next.

First I will explain where these vehicles get their energy, the power that feeds their weapons and allows them to move.

Most vehicles draw their power from a Schylwom generator, a cylindrical technomagic device located next to the engine. It produces all the power that the vehicle needs, constantly generating new energy until it fills the batteries to which it is connected, then it stops so as not to overload anything. When the vehicle starts up and begins to use up energy, the Schylwom generator turns on again in order of generating more so that the vehicle does not run out of power. They stay in balance by constantly using up and producing energy.

However, vehicles consume a bit more energy than the Schylwom generators produce, so after driving for a LONG time, going VERY fast or using its weapons a LOT, a vehicle may run out of energy. This vehicle then shuts down while the Schylwom generator produces more energy and saves it in the batteries.

As for the bigger vehicles, like Mobile Fortresses for example, a Schylwom generator is not enough. Then there are two options, having several generators or using a fusion reactor. It does not use technomagic and can generate a lot more energy than the generators, it is quite big though.

Now, the Equusian vehicles also have a special technomagic engine known as the Levitation Engine. This machine allows vehicles to float, moving agilely over the ground without having to worry about uneven terrain. It also allows them to glide over water and even submerging in it. However, the speed of the vehicle, as well as the height it can reach in the air and the depth under the sea that it can withstand, depend on what type of vehicle it is.

Most of Equusian vehicles have wheels too though, they're just hidden. They're unfolded if the Levitation Engine fails for some reason, allowing the vehicle to still be effective. These vehicles are known as Ground Vehicles.

There are also vehicles destined more for the air, like the Wonderbolt Plane, which strikes fast and with great aim. Or for the seas.

One of the most important vehicles is the Morphorinno Train. It is basically a train capable of flying (it can even go through space) that is used to transport all kinds of cargo. Soldiers, ammunition, food, etc.

Its design is based on the old Rinno Tanks, which were long ago replaced by more effective vehicles, such as the Cockatrice Tank (primary attack tank) or the Tatzlwurm Tank (primary defense tank). There is also the Ursa Tank, which is basically a mobile siege tower.

But just because two vehicles are the same type (say, two Cockatrice Tanks) doesn't mean they're the same. Weaponry can vary between vehicles, as can their size (transporting a squad of ponies is not the same as transporting a squad of dragons), and the Branches are allowed to modify their vehicles as they see fit.

STARSHIPS

Battles in the void are a very common thing in the galaxy, ships facing other ships to dominate a certain area of space. The Equusians are true experts in this field thanks to several things that I am going to mention.

On the one hand, we have the great skill of the Astropilots when it comes to driving the starships and the coordination of the creatures in charge of handling their weapons.

And on the other hand we have the starships themselves, which resemble space shuttles, but with a cone-shaped prow and much bigger.

These can be very fast thanks to their ultraluminic engines, which allow them to move faster than light. This reaches such a point that if it were at its maximum speed (7ly/h), an Equusian starship could go from one end of the galaxy to the other in... approximately... (let me do the math) 1.7237442922 years!

While they don't typically go at such speeds in battle, they do go faster than many other factions' starships, which offers a huge advantage.

And thanks to the multiple thrusters located along the entire surface of a ship, they can maneuver very easily, moving sideways or in reverse without many problems.

Of course, all the energy a starship requires to be able to use all this; plus weapons, shields and other machinery; is enormous. But they get it easily from the many fusion reactors and Schylwom generators spread throughout the ship.

As I've already said, Equusian starships use an ultraluminic engine to move through the galaxy, avoiding travel through the Warp or any other parallel dimension. However, traveling through realspace at such speeds can be very dangerous. If not done right, a starship could easily collide with asteroids, a planet, a star etc.

To prevent such catastrophes, the Equusians have sent out Daring Ships to map the entire galaxy and find safe routes to move through. To do this, they make use of advanced telescopes and sensors that can tell them when an area is clear of obstacles. They do this several times, advancing slowly but safely.

These ships are about 1 km long and have facilities dedicated to survival, as they produce food, water and other necessary resources. This is largely because Daring Ships carry out their missions alone, without the support of other ships, due to the danger of the missions themselves. Not all Daring Ships that are sent out to explore return.

However, other types of starships are always part of a fleet. These are usually formed by three types of starship.

The Support Ships, typically between 1 and 2 km long. These ships help others in their tasks, besides repairing them if needed and saving reserve resources.

The Big Ships are between 4 and 5.5 km long. They are based on balance between firepower, resistance and maneuverability and are usually attackers, dealing extreme damage to the enemy from relatively close-range.

It is usually these ships which perform ultraluminic rams, activating their shields at maximum power to not be damaged while destroying the enemy ship they're going through.

And then there are the Great Ships, the biggest Equusian starships, which can reach lengths of 8 km. They lack good maneuverability, but have a great defense and terrifying firepower. They block the enemy's advance, protecting the core of the fleet and firing from long distances. The flagship of a fleet is usually a Great Ship.

As a curious fact, the first Great Ship, Void Master, was only about 1 km long, which shows the evolution of Equusians in this area.

But there are Equusian space constructions that are even bigger. The Space Stations, of which there are two categories

The Tantabus Category Space Station. Space Stations in this category are space multi-story cities, connected by a huge central pillar and several smaller pillars around it, giving it a curious cylindrical appearance.

These constructions are between 5 and 10 km in radius and between 10 and 15 km long. They have facilities of all kinds, for population, commerce, communication...

But their main function is rest. They are places where damaged ships can be repaired and where soldiers can take a break.

And the Luna Space Stations, which try to resemble Equus' natural satellite, although they fail to match its size, since these Stations have a radius of approximately 20 km.

These are very, very powerful and resistant, and the only constructions, besides the Great Ships, that can carry and use a Daybreaker Cannon.

But Space Stations don't normally get into fights, they just float around in orbit around a world, protecting it. They are slower than regular starships too. Sure, they have ultraluminic engines, but are unable of reaching the maximum speed mentioned before.

And what about vehicles that are capable of moving in space, like Morphorinno Trains or Wonderbolt Planes?

Well, these lack the ultraluminic engine of starships, and therefore can't go from one stellar system to another. So, although they are indeed spaceships, they cannot be considered starships.