It was 6:00, and like clockwork, Mandell woke up. As other members of the Heer started to stir, Mandell slipped out of his bed and slowly walked to the changing room. Mandell walked through his earthen barracks, which he was pretty proud of. It had clean, thick wooden planks lining the sides and floor, lighting, and small openings for decent ventilation. While not the most aesthetically pleasing, it wasn't horrendous to look at, and it did the most critical thing a barracks should do: keep the lingering cold out.

Mandell finally made his way to the changing room and grabbed his uniform. It was a simple, plain, grey uniform that looked similar to the equestrian one. The only defining difference is the Queen's emblem, replacing the top button to brand it under the changeling hegemony. He stepped out of his sleeping clothes, which were just plain civilian clothes, and quickly changed into his uniform. The uniform fit well enough, and Mandell grabbed his helmet and clipped it under his muzzle before grabbing his Gewehr 7. He headed out to the training field, where someone significant was meeting their unit today.

Mandell soon made his way to the training field, fell in line with the other changelings, and stood in formation. Mandell put on a cold face and stared ahead to the platform where the special guest was supposed to arrive. He watched as the other changelings filed in. Some looked groggy, while others seemed slightly nervous about their division being visited.

As the changelings stood in line with each other, it soon became what seemed to be an endless wave of gray uniforms with identical changelings inside each one, and certainly to a Pony or a Griffon, this would be the case, but Mandell knew better. He knew that despite all looking very similar, they had minute differences. For example, Mandell was of your standard height and build of the average changeling and had the standard array of holes in his hooves. However, he had darker green eyes and head fins almost reminiscent of an emerald, making him stand out. Others had larger holed hooves, distinctive head fins, or plenty of other defining features.

Finally, there was a shout that spurred Mandell from his thoughts. His company leader was up on the platform shouting for everybody to stand at attention. Veask, the company leader, was a no-nonsense changeling who had served the Heer for years. He had led the company when it was just a motorized division during the changeling invasion of Olenia and subjugated the Polar Bear Communities.

"Attention, you grubs!" Veask shouted in Hertzlander, "I know that there are some rumors around that our glorious Queen Chrysalis has been posturing for war against the dirty harmonic Equestrians."

Mandell noticed that Veask paused, scanning the sea of grey for any squirming changeling; however, they all had stoic faces that couldn't be discerned from one another. Mandell then watched Veask give a small disappointed sigh as Mandell guessed he wanted to berate some poor changeling for talking about the supposed upcoming plans. After seeing Veask give one more glance over the crowd, he stepped aside from the podium and to the side of the stage with the other officers of the division.

"Well, in light of these rumors, we have had a guest go around to our elite divisions and speak about this to our glorious armored core." Veask then faced the podium and took a deep bow with his muzzle practically touching the floor. “Please bow for Hivesfieldmarschel Trimmel!” Mandell followed the motion of the crowd and bowed, pressing his muzzle against the dirt and gritting his teeth. He looked up under his helmet at Trimmel, and for a brief second, his face contorted into a brief look of disdain and hate before immediately returning to a cold, stoic face like the rest of his comrades. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Mandell, Trimmel called out,

"RISE,"

His voice echoed out over the field, amplified by the microphones surrounding the podium. Responding to his call, the grey mass stood up to their feet. Mandell followed them up and stared ahead to the changeling at the podium. Trimmel was shorter than he thought. But besides that, he looked like your average changeling if it weren't for the extravagant uniform. It was a dark black instead of the standard grey uniform, with medals and pins covering his chest for his campaigns against their northern neighbors and various other achievements, with a shiny black peaked cap and cufflinks to tie it all together.
Mandell stood there observing Trimmel, watching his eyes sweep over the crowd before taking a deep breath and starting his speech.

"Loyal changelings of the Queen," Trimmel started, stamping his hoof against the floor. "This will be a great day for the Changeling Lands! After months of preparations, it has finally become time to strike against Equestria!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd in a deafening fashion. Not bothered by the noise, Mandell cheered—as to not be singled out—and looked around. He saw some changelings smug with themselves for knowing this was coming and others cheering with fanatical zealousness for their Queen. Finally, after a minute, the cheering quieted down, and Mandell retook his place in the formation and turned his attention back on Trimmel.

After a few more seconds, Trimmel resumed his speech. "Our glorious Queen is sorry for keeping this information away from our elite soldiers. However, you have been training for this day since Chrysalis united the hives… All of Olenia, The Communities, has been for the inevitable revenge against PONY KIND!"

Mandel watched as the organized audience of changelings slowly devolved into a raving crowd of half-feral changelings as Trimmel spurred them on in hatred and fervor.

"The ponies stand no chance against us!" Trimmel said while speaking up so as not to be drowned out by the crowd. "They are weak from being led in a HARMONIC government, where they squabble and fight against each other, making them weak!"

Trimmel is shouting by now as he reaches the climax of his speech. "MY FRIENDS… MY BROTHERS IN ARMS, YOU WILL BE THE ONES TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS! YOU WILL STRIKE DOWN EQUESTRIA! YOU WILL BE THE ONES PAX CHRYSALANIA IS BUILT ON! GO NOW AND CLAIM GLORY FOR YOURSELVES AND YOUR QUEEN!!!"

The world shook for Mandell in that instant as thousands of artillery pieces opened up simultaneously.

Author's Note

This chapter was a bit shorter than planned as i have broken it up into two sections. i have also changed the order of the chapters for obvious reasons as this one starts where the first (now second) one begins.

Hope you enjoy!