Myself, Chrysalis, Silver, Celestia, Luna, Nightmare, and Quick Wing stood around a table that had a few maps on it. One was a topo map of the area near Cloudsdale, one was a, I am really not kidding here, tourist map of the new Cloudsdale (hey, you need to get the best up-to-date intel somehow), a third being one of Equestria in general. "I still think we should try to grow our forces before attacking Cloudsdale," Silver said. "The hunters are the best pegasai under Dainn's rule. The few resistance groups that tried to fight them, regardless of size, lost every time. The mares either killed or enslaved, if not blanked," everyone, myself included shuddered, "while the stallions were killed or switched." In this case, for those who don't know, Switched is essentially rule sixty three. I don't know how, and I don't want to know how they do it.

"You forget, Silver," I say, arms crossed. "Those groups attacked predictable targets, plus they didn't have the Griffon Army, four alicorns, or changelings behind them. And even then, of what I know, they had no actual plan. I do."

"Well, care to enlighten us as to it," Chrysalis asked in annoyance.

"Simply the basics," I say, playing it safe. "We attack using numbers to take the Hunter headquarters, the re-education center, and the mare cells."

"You weren't kidding with the basics," Nightmare said.

"Can't be too careful in war," I reply. "Might be a spy nearby."

"You're paranoid," Chrysalis said. "My drones and your guards checked the place. Nopony was in here."

"Some of my guards," I say, "as well as yours, are males. I'm playing it safe here."

"By your logic, then we shouldn't be able to trust you," Chrysalis said.

"If I wanted to kill you or bring you to Dainn, I would have done so already," I say. "And you forget Fleur's account of meeting me."

"I haven't," Chrysalis said. "It is simply that with what you just said, it begs the question: did you engineer that whole event?"

"The answer to which is no," I say. "I will gladly argue this point with you, Chrysalis, but after Cloudsdale, when Rainbow Dash is with us. Physically speaking, of course. Her joining the actual militant part of the Resistance is up to her."

"Given her personality, it would surprise me if she didn't join," Luna muttered.

"Perhaps I'd trust you more if you shared the entire plan with us," Chrysalis said.

"Fine, but don't blame me if you all are collared in a week, blame Chrysalis," I say. "My plan is this: the days leading to the attack, Luna and Nightmare will weaken the Hunter morale by giving them nightmares to the point where they wake up, and are too scared to sleep. On the day of the attack, with the changelings who are in my portion of the resistance, we cause chaos from inside their ranks. I already have a squad there to retrieve Rainbow Dash, as well as other squads. While that's going on, the pegasai, changelings, and the few griffons with us will engage the tired Hunters, while squads of Earth ponies and unicorns, with the cloudwalking spell, will engage any who remain in the actual city. I, along with my second in commands, will personally find and kill Cloudsdale's magistrate."

"Don't get me started on you sparing a buck," Chrysalis muttered.

"My military matters, my decisions. Now, if you all will excuse me, I need to speak with the battalion leaders," I say before turning around and leaving. If they have an issue, then I can't well do anything without them telling it to me.

Anyway, I made my way to the barracks where the Battalion leaders lived. Most of them had been part of the resistance, well, this one, since near the beginning, near the same amount of time as Fleur. Currently, the resistance had five battalions under me, which numbered to a single regiment of four thousand, which meant I had five individuals to talk to, three of which are from the beginning of this Resistance.

When I arrived, I opened the door, I saw the five of them playing cards. One was an Earth pony mare with a green coat and brown hair and tail. Her name was Forest Glade. A creative names, especially for ponies.

The second was a pegasus mare with a navy blue coat with a black mane and tail. Her name was, I swear I'm not kidding, Night Rider.

The third long-time veteran was a changeling female with gray chitin with blue fins, is that the right term for those things on the back of their neck, her name being Elegance.

The next was one from a few years back, about a year and a half, to be accurate. She was a unicorn mare with an azure coat with a blue mane and tail. Her name was Azure Shadow. Out of everyone, she probably had the worst backstory right now. Night and Forest were in a relationship before the Fall, and had run from Ponyville as soon as word had reached it of Canterlot's fall, soon finding Chrysalis' hive. Elegance had been a leader in the Hive's Army before the Fall. Azure, on the other hand, had a tragic one. She had been living in Canterlot. As a Royal Guard. Yeah, already it's bad, but it gets worse. Her stallionfriend had, whether because he wasn't strong enough or was clever with hiding part of his personality, had embraced the Caribou corruption soon after Canterlot's fall. I'm sure you can guess what happened then, with Azure being considered a black collar. She eventually escaped. After killing her former stallionfriend.

The last of the five was Applejack. I had no part in that, it was Chrysalis deciding due to her being an Element bearer.

"Lieutenant Colonels," I say, that being their ranks. Had to be to lead a battalion.

"Commander on deck," Forest said quickly as she and the other stood up, each turning to face the doors.

"At ease, guys," I say. "How are you adjusting to this life, Applejack?"

She was taken back a bit by my question, but not by much, barely noticeable, actually. "W-well," she said.

"That's good," I said. "I came here to talk to each of you about the next strike the Resistance will undertake."

"The one to liberate Cloudsdale," Night asked.

"Bingo," I say before telling them of the plan. "So," I ask upon finishing, "what do you guys think of it?"

"It may work," Elegance said. "But you know what they say: No plan survives contact with the enemy."

"That is why I have a few backups in the works," I say. "I'll let you all get your Battalions ready. I need to have a talk with someone." With that, I left them to visit probably the most hated individual in the Hive right now. I walked past multiple fighters, each of which saluted me as I walked past, until I found myself in front of a steel door guarded by a female changeling and an pegasus stallion from the start of this Resistance.

"I wish to speak with him," I said to the two, who simply saluted, and opened the door, letting me walk in, and then closed it behind me. "Hello, Gunne," I said to the buck. His cell gave him creature comforts, which was to say a place to sleep, something to piss and shit in, and a not at all comfortable seat. Given the fact he's a Caribou, he knows I could do worse and none would have qualms with it. My voice was monotone. "How is your sister?"

Gunne looked at me with a neutral expression. I had his antlers cut off, as some bucks can use magic through them, and I decided to play it safe. Needless to say, it didn't foster a friendship between us. "Ginna is well," he said. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"I simply wished to let you know that if you have you are close to in a friendly way who live in Cloudsdale, you had best say their names now."

Gunne chuckled. "A stupid move," Gunne said. "Stupid enough to where it may work. I may not wish to fight with you, but that does not mean I don't respect you, Mau'ual," he said

"I do not care if I have your respect, Gunne," I say. "The only reason I let you live is because you have knowledge I need, and knowledge we both know I can get, with time."

"Which is why I told you the truth about the Elements," he said. "Even if I cared nothing for myself, and as much as I see females as lower citizens, I do see them as citizens, and I do care for my sister."

"Which is why I let her live and come with us here," I replied. "As well as supervised visits with her. She may be fully grown up, but, well, I think you know." With that, I turned away, and opened the door. But before I left, I said, "Gunne, if there are any others like you in your kind, let me know, and I may just let them live." With that, I left the room, and the door closed behind me. Time to prepare for battle, now.