“Alright men, keep a sharp eye out!” Mikoda barked as he and his squad marched through the dense Everfree forest. “Our missing could be anywhere and so can the enemy. Watch your back and the stallion next to you.” The squad kept a relatively tight formation, never spreading out farther than eyesight of each other. As they moved farther in, the terrain became jagged and cumbersome. The more experienced soldiers carefully treaded over the rocks and small crevasses while some of the rookies did their best to follow their lead. As the group trumped on, one of the rookies, more focused on keeping his eyes on the surrounding trees, caught the tip of his boot in a gnarled root. He soon found himself giving the forest floor a hug, much to the laughter of some of his squad mates. As he tried to pick himself up, a terrible stench caught his nostrils. He gagged and coughed, closing his watering eyes as the smell began to overpower him. He managed to get his hand on something to leverage himself up, but he could feel that this was something unusual. It wasn’t the hard and rough forest floor. He felt around some more and whatever it was, it was smooth to the touch, followed by...wet. He quickly opened his eyes to get a look at whatever it was and soon answered the question he shouldn’t have asked. He screamed as he realized he came face to face with a corpse. Mikoda and the others rushed back towards him, fearing the worst case scenario, that the diamond dogs had got the drop on them. Mikoda reached him first, finding him still panicking and screaming.

“Calm down, soldier!” Mikoda shouted as he grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him like a ragdoll. This proved to be of no avail as the poor lad continued to scream bloody murder. Mikoda quickly remedied that with a sharp slap to the young stallions cheek, finally quieting him down. “Get a hold of yourself, shiny! Now what is the matter?” The rookie lifted his still shaking arm, pointing Mikoda in the direction of the body. The more experienced stallion gazed upon the stiff with an almost blank expression, an expression having been hardened by years of seeing one’s comrades die upon the battlefield. The rest of the squad reached their position and also looked upon this poor dead fellow, some of them losing their lunch on sight.

Mikoda leaned down to better examine the body. The corpse was wearing the remains of a lab coat and suit, and was rather decayed. Flies were buzzing around it, and maggots crawled around in the orifices created by scavengers picking at the body. Various spots of flesh were covered by perfectly circular burns that surrounded cauterized wounds. “Looks like we found one of our missing scientists,” Mikoda spoke, his tone seeming rather casual, as if this was just another afternoon for him. “We need to get these remains back to Dr. Heartstrings, see if she can tell us more.”

“Are you kidding me?” The shell shocked rookie and corpse finder spoke, his tone hoarse from the pure stark terror. “You want us to carry that thing back home?”

Mikoda stood up and narrowed his gaze upon the young stallion, his expression cold and almost seemingly stone faced. “Do you have a problem with that, son?” The young rookie swallowed down his next words and silently shook no in response, beads of sweat flinging from his face. “That’s what I thought. Two of you take him back to our transports and make sure he’s wrapped up good and tight. The rest of you, keep searching. We’re bound to find a surviving scientist eventually.”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” the soldiers replied as they saluted Mikoda. Two of the more experienced squad members carefully gathered what remained of the body and hurriedly but precisely made their way back to the forest edge.

The brush started rustling as the corpse was taken away. A stallion emerged from hiding, hands held up in a non threatening gesture. “Lunar guard. Excellent. Searching for missing ponies likely.”

The soldiers rapidly turned to face this stranger, swords drawn and aimed at him. Mikoda looked over the unexpected stallion, taking a minute to recognize him. “Sheathe swords, men.” He ordered as he drew his back into its scabbard. “It’s one of our missing scientists.” The squad heeded his command and slipped their blades into their sheaths.

The stallion approached Mikoda and looked him over. “Princess Luna’s consort. Excellent. Must meet with princesses as soon as possible. Escaped captivity. Much to report. Time is paramount.”

“Relax there, friend.” Mikoda replied in a more soothing tone as he placed a hand on the stallion’s shoulder. “We’ll get you back safe and in one piece.” He turned to his squad mates. “Alrighty boys, let’s head on home.”

The ear splitting whistle of a boiling teapot pierced the air of the main laboratory. Luna removed it from the bunsen burner and poured it’s contents into four small teacups, each filled with a single teabag, a dusting of sugar and a spoonful of honey. After stirring up the tea, she handed one of the cups to the stallion who her husband had rescued. “Hope this is to your liking, Dr. Monkshood.” She spoke in her soothing mother’s tone.

“Indeed. An excellent brew,” Monkshood answered after taking a sip. “Always enjoyed this blend. Like mother used to make.”

Luna smiled in reply as she passed the remaining two cups to Lyra and Celestia. Both had expressions of worry and curiosity as they indulged in their tea.

“Now Doctor,” Celestia spoke up first as she set down her cup. “What did these diamond dogs want with you, exactly?”

“Wanted expertize on genetics and medicine,” Monkshood answered. “Was tasked with researching organelle called midi-chlorian.”

“What of the others?” Lyra replied as she made her way over to the royal sisters, nervously sipping her tea. “What required their expertize?”

“Other doctors present. Some maintaining test subjects. Others geneticists working in team. Still others were chemists, metallurgists. Tasked with design and perfection of new type of weapon.”

“Under whose direction?” Celestia demanded, her tone shifting into a more serious pitch. “King Akita’s? Could he or one of his soldiers have found something in the alien wreckage?”

“King Akita is dead,” Monkshood said. “Replaced by new leader. Leader who is not diamond dog.”

“What?” Luna and Celestia simultaneously replied, expressions of worry and shock splashed across their faces. Luna regained her composure and continued the inquiry. “How can that be? Akita was a vicious warrior, he sent back many of our own in pieces.”

“Did you get a good look at this new leader?” Celestia asked.

Monkshood shook his head. “He was always wrapped in a cloak that concealed his face, and he spoke with some manner of voice filter. Can only surmise that he is Equestrian based on build.”

“Oh, that’s just splendid.” Luna quipped. “First it’s dogs running around with some kind of new chew toy, now we have a traitor in our midst. Why am I not surprised?”

“Calm yourself sister.” Celestia replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find out who’s behind this sooner or later. Our soldiers are still combing the forest for any survivors. Perhaps they’ll catch one of these diamond dogs and we can get our answer.” Celestia turned her attention to Lyra. “Dr. Heartstrings, what have you recovered from the body?”

“Well, our friend was out there for at least a couple days.” Lyra replied, a grim look on her face. “We took a look at the burn patterns on the body. Most unusual in that they burned straight through the flesh, bone and back out, not spreading beyond those spots; a perfectly straight line.”

“Wounds caused by new weapons being developed by diamond dogs,” Monkshood explained. “Colleagues described as directed energy weapons. Range of longbows, but using multishot power cells to fire bolts of superheated plasma.”

“How can this be?” Celestia barked, her voice slightly cracking. “How can they have the necessary resources and blueprints to these weapons? We have to find out and destroy those weapons immediately.”

“Sister,” Luna started. “If I may point one little problem out in our current sea of troubles: assuming we do find the diamond dog hideout and successfully take it, with our current armaments mind you, but if we do manage to take it why destroy the weapons?”

“Because, dear sister we have set guidelines forbidding the creation of these weapons in the first place.” Celestia replied.

“And therein lies the problem,” Bunsen said from the doorway. “You have forbidden the advancement of weaponry, when other nations are clearly under no such compunctions.” He strode into the lab and looked at the Sisters directly. “It is quite clear to even a blind stallion that Equestria must adopt newer technologies, or fall by the wayside. Destroyed by more advanced nations who do not share your… disdain for a better equipped military.”

“I don’t seem to recall your opinion, let alone your presence being merited here, Bunsen.” Lyra responded, her tone flecked with hostility.

Celestia raised her hand towards Lyra, motioning for silence before turning her attention towards Bunsen. “A better equipped force is not why I mandated the restrictions.” She spoke in a manner similar to a mother who tried talking her children down, which in most cases meant they won that argument. “The restrictions are there so the technology can’t get into the wrong hands.”

“Sister,” Luna spoke up. “As much as it...pains me to, I...I can’t believe I’m saying this, I agree with Dr. Bunsen. Your intentions, though noble as they are, have failed. Our enemy has access to them and we didn’t even create the weapon.”

“Princess Luna is right, Princess Celestia,” Monkshood added. “Only citizens of Equestria are beholden to Equestria’s laws and regulations. Other nations see means to advance and seize it. Saw it with diamond dogs. Have seen their living conditions.”

“Living conditions?” Celestia replied, her voice inflecting a hint of motherly worry. “Has our victory over them really done that much damage to them?”

“Tia,” Luna barked. “Did you forget that they tried to take our territories many times before? That they sacked and burned villages as they marched ever closer to our gates? Their senseless warmongering crossed a line.”

“And now you’ve crossed a line,” Lyra spoke up in a tone she reserved for one of her scientific lectures. “I’ve done field work. I’ve seen the conditions the diamond dogs have been living in. They barely have enough food and water. Older dogs often give up meals to feed the younger pups.” She wiped away a couple of sympathetic tears. “You squeezed them and hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they’ve embraced a ruler who isn’t one of their own kind. A ruler that clearly means to bring Equestria down, which would improve their standard of living.”

“So they claim.” Luna rebutted. “Even if they could, tearing down our nation would lead to a huge global economical recession and hundreds of other nations would descend into anarchy and chaos, even theirs.”

Celestia placed her hand on her chin, deeply pondering what course of action to take. She delicately turned the decision in her head over and over, carefully considering every possible consequence. She sighed as she came to her choice. “Alright. I’ll put the motion on the floor to lift the weapons restrictions. But understand that if it is passed, it will not take immediate effect and there will be guidelines to follow. Dr. Monkshood, since you have been in the enemies captivity and thus have seen the schematics for these weapons I’m sure, I hereby place you in charge of their development. Dr. Bunsen shall assist you wherever necessary.”

“Assist?!” Bunsen asked incredulously. “Dr. Monkshood is clearly traumatized. Surely I would be a better candidate for head of the development team.”

“I think having Monkshood lead is a very good idea, Bunsen,” Lyra said. “We all know about your lack of ethics. You’d probably have us testing the weapons on death row inmates or something.”

“My decision stands Doctor,” Celestia voiced firmly. “If you don’t like it then perhaps I can transfer you to our agricultural sciences department.”

“That won’t be necessary, Your Majesty,” Bunsen begrudgingly relented.

“Good.” Celestia responded. “You all have your work cut out for you and I don’t wish to keep you any further. You are all dismissed.”

Three diamond dogs knelt before their newfound leader at the base of the throne, their ears drooping as they whimpered. The hooded figure looked down upon them, an air of rage and malice surrounding him. Tightly clenched in his grip were two surveillance photos, showing one of the many hundred of identical holding cells throughout the compound. He showed them the first photo as he spoke. “Renowned geneticist Dr. Monkshood.” He repeated the gesture with the other photo. “Crude stone mannequin. Guess which one has been in Monkshood’s cell for the past twenty-four hours?”

The dogs didn’t respond, their faces were dripping sweat and marked by stark fear. Their leader dropped the pictures and moved own towards them. “Now, one of you is evidently responsible for allowing this scientist to not only escape, but to be recaptured by our enemy!” He tightened his fists, the veins bulging out from under the skin with boiling rage. The dogs cowered, huddling together almost like frightened children during a storm.

The cloaked figure drew in some deep breaths, calming himself only slightly. “Now, which one of you was in charge of his cell block?” None of them dared to stand up, paralyzed by the fear he emitted. Finally, the one in the middle stood up, silently taking the blame. The figure extended his hand out and tightly clenched it into a fist. The dog began to gasp for air, grabbing at his own throat as if to pry the invisible hands away. The figure lifted his arm up, the dog following it. He kicked and flailed, desperately trying to breathe. Before long, his eyes rolled into the back of his head as a terrible crunching noise followed his last gasp. He lay limp as wet noodle before the figure released his grip, the body dropping to the floor with a resounding thud. He glared at the surviving two. “Your friend’s mistake cost us greatly. Now we have patrols in the forest looking for us. Get all the equipment ready to move out to our secondary base.”

“Bu...but my Lord,” one of the dogs spoke meekly. “What...what of our captives?” The figure turned his death glare upon him, causing him to tighten his lips shut.

“I said Get. All. The. Equipment. NOW!” He shouted. Without any further words, the two diamond dogs scrambled to do as he ordered, dragging the corpse of their comrade out of the room.

“Be mindful of your temper, my lord,” his elderly advisor said in a deep, gravelly voice as he walked out from behind the throne, hands clasped behind his somewhat slouched back. “Allowing your anger to influence you will lead to rash decisions.”

“Those morons could have ruined everything.” The figure barked back as he rested himself on the throne. “Why did I have to ally myself with such idiotic mongrels? I should have tried any one of the Vanir tribes. Sure those pig headed griffons are stupid as well, but at least they can follow orders without question.” He began to rub his temples, trying to alleviate the headache his minions now caused him.

“You cannot change the past anymore than I can reclaim my youth,” his advisor pointed out. “Better to use this as a learning experience. What holes in your security allowed the scientist to escape? How can those holes be plugged to prevent future escapes?”

“Having dimwitted mongrels who can’t even keep track of their own tails, let alone a valuable asset was the first mistake.” The figure replied. “We’ll have to weed out some of the more...challenged dogs to prevent such a catastrophe.”

“Then the first order of business upon relocation is to start a training regimen that will weed out the weak links,” the old dog answered. “The strong will survive, and the weak will die. Such is the law of your order, is it not? A fine creed to live by, survival of the fittest.”

“Very well,” the figure replied. “Hand down the order to our most capable warriors that any runts, infirm or otherwise dead weight are to be purged.”

“That would be rather wasteful, lord,” the advisor responded. “Such inferiors are more useful alive as laborers than dead and food for scavengers.”

“Fine,” the figure snapped. “Then have it that any weak willed or otherwise useless as soldiers are to be put into grunt work or for target practice for all I care!”

“I will see that they are put in chains for their weakness,” the advisor said with a small bow. “The weakness of inferiors must always be exploited.”

“Good.” The figure deadpanned. “See to it that the evacuations are also proceeding as planned. Any stragglers should be killed so no one knows of our whereabouts.”

“As you command, sire,” the advisor replied as he walked toward the exit. “Any dog that falls behind will become carrion.”

The two diamond dogs stopped to rest in one of the hallways of their compound, panting heavily from dragging around the heavy corpse of their comrade. One of them, his fur a light blonde, turned his attention to the stiff that was once his friend. “Armant, I can’t keep this up. No fight against those snobby ponies is worth this kind of work.”

“But what can we do, Kutta?” Armant asked. “We’ve all seen what Lord Allele can do. If King Akita couldn’t bring him down, what hope do we have, brother?”

“We don’t need to bring him down.” Kutta replied as he caught his breath. “We have the power we need to take down our true enemy.”

“Can we do it?” Armant asked, some doubt in his voice. “We’re still so few. Can we really take on Equestria?”

Kutta simply raised his paw and slapped it across the back of Armant’s head. “Of course we can, stupid! We may be fewer in number, but we have an edge over those self righteous, namby pamby ponies. With those weapons our captives have built for us, a small contingent could raze a village in a matter of minutes. We’d be unstoppable!”

Armant nodded. “You’re right. We can do this, brother. We’ll conquer Equestria and make our people great again.”

“That’s the spirit!” Kutta enthusiastically replied as he clasped his hand on Armant’s shoulder. “Now, gather some of the others. Tell them to lift some of these weapons and we’ll meet at the ancient fighting pit. We’re going to raise our own army.”