As the Subjugator pulled alongside a boarding ramp deployed from the side of the USS Ticonderoga, King Diomedas and Prince Hector stood passively as the chosen representatives of the United States came into view. Each side was protected by two columns of soldiers carrying strange objects in their hands, and Diomedas reasoned these were the weapons that were capable of shattering his warriors' obsidian armor.

As the soldiers stood at ease, a man wearing a green, tan, and gray officer's uniform approached, a smaller weapon clearly visible at his waistline. The nametag on his chest read "GRIFFIN", and was accompanied by an officer's insignia.

"Which one of you is King Diomedas?" he asked in a dry, rough voice.

"I am." the King replied. "This would be my eldest son, Prince Hector. And you are?"

"I'm a Lt. Colonel in the United States Army, and that's all you're getting for now." the man replied. "I've been ordered by the President of the United States to escort you to the meeting area."

"Very well." Diomedas replied. "Hector, my warriors, stay here. I do not require protection."

Hector raised an eyebrow, along with many of the Eqaharian soldiers present, but they did as their King commanded. As Diomedas entered the Ticonderoga, followed by the officer, the route they took was short and empty of any other humans. A few subtle noises could be heard, such as the grinding of metal and the lapping of the waves against the hull, but for the most part, it was quiet.

"I expected this ship of this size to have a more substantial crew." Diomedas observed.

"You're mistaken." the officer replied. "This carrier houses a standard crew of about six thousand, give or take. They're on other decks at the moment or on security detail at a different position on the ship."

Diomedas huffed quietly, and as the officer opened the door to a large conference room, a human wearing a suit sat at the front of the table. He was tall, with graying brown hair and a thin beard. His eyes were a piercing green, and they were focused directly at the King in that moment.

"You are the President, I presume?" Diomedas asked.

"Correct. Adam Daniels, President of the United States of America." the human replied. "I'm glad you decided to attend this meeting. Some of my advisors believed you wouldn't respond to the ultimatum."

"My generals persuaded me to come." Diomedas replied. "Shall we discuss terms?"

"Not yet. First of all, I want to know why your nation invaded Equestria." President Daniels asked. "To sate my curiosity."

"Very well." Diomedas replied. "Ages ago, Eqaharia was once the home of all ponies, but after a series of famines and harsh weather, a consensus was decided amongst the three tribes that they would seek a new land for themselves."

"However, there was a moderately sized group among this consensus that did not wish to abandon their homes, and what little they currently possessed. This group founded the first of the Eqaharian city-states, split among pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies."

"When food began to grow again, many years later, the city-states began to expand. However, the harsh winters that killed many of my people's ancestors remained. Our lives began to grow hard, and we envied those who had left to found Equestria."

"Long had we wanted to join our nations again, but the two alicorns who ruled Equestria denied the city-states, saying we had made our choice years ago, and they had made theirs. Ever since, they paid us no heed, even when we were in need of aid."

"Recently, when it became known that the two alicorns had become four, and Equestria was more prosperous than ever, the city-states of Eqaharia elected me as their first King. All I desired was the same prosperity for my own land that the other realms enjoyed. So I went forth and did exactly what my ancestors planned years ago, and formed a peaceful union."

President Daniels was silent for a few moments, before he spoke.

"I don't believe you're being honest with me."

"What do you mean?" Diomedas asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Shortly after your invasion," the President said with barely contained harshness. "We received a distress signal from Equestria. That signal spoke a vastly different story than the one you told me just now. Would you care to see it for yourself?"

The President pulled open a tablet computer, powered it on, and pressed "Play". Then, flashing across the screen, were images of the invasion as it happened. From the first, thoroughly one-sided and brutal battles, to the fall of the burning city of Canterlot. Equestrians placed in chains, Princess Twilight Sparkle made to kneel in front of Prince Hector, and other images that amounted in the President's eyes to war crimes.

King Diomedas was silent as the President placed the tablet computer to the side.

"Watching that for the first time nearly made me sick." the President said. "You call that a peaceful union? That was a goddamned massacre."

"There were those who resisted the union." the King replied. "They were dealt with appropriately."

"And by that, you mean they were executed publicly." the President scowled. "Now, I'm going to drop the pleasantries and tell you straight that the United States will not tolerate your rule over Equestria any further. And now I'm going to give you our terms, as per our ultimatum. They are non-negotiable in all forms and conditions."

The President slid a two-page document across the table towards King Diomedas. The King swept the papers to the floor and snarled in fury. His magic blasting the other chairs on the sides of the table to the ground.

"You dare take what destiny has ordained away from me? From my people? My homeland?" he growled. "And seeing as you have made your stance clear, I shall do so for mine!"

"If you intend to take Equestria away from us, we shall hold onto it until the bitter end, until our hooves turn white and bleed! Your soldiers' blood shall fall like rain for every insignificant inch of ground you must take!"

"If you want war, President Daniels, you shall gladly receive it!"

"Then I take it our negotiations are over. Your vessel will not be engaged as you leave. However should you attack, we will respond with due force." the President said calmly as he stood up and moved towards a nearby door, and banged on it twice. Before the King could lunge, his horn already ablaze with magical power, two men charged into the room and escorted the President out, with two others holding their weapons ready and aimed at the King.

Diomedas scoffed and teleported himself to safety before the Secret Service agents could open fire. As alarms began to blare, and the Ticonderoga's PA began to sound the call of "All crew, man your battle stations, this is not a drill!", the King reappeared aboard the bridge of his flagship, which quickly made a swift retreat towards Manehattan.

"Father..." Hector asked as they tore through the waves.

"This United States of America has made an enemy of Eqaharia." the King growled. "Send word to our forces at the border of the Crystal Empire to attack immediately and fight with no mercy. We have claimed our destiny, and now we must keep it from those who would steal it from us!"

"Yes, father!" Hector nodded. The King watched as the American vessels moved to a safe distance, and Diomedas scoffed as he realized the President held true to his words that they would not be attacked as they departed.

"A foolish mistake." King Diomedas thought to himself as they approached the harbor. "Though my gift of sight has forsaken me, I know my conviction will not. I will have what I am destined to receive, and nothing will stop me!"

However, no one aboard the Subjugator realized that they were being followed by a small UAV, who was broadcasting the King's words to the Ticonderoga, which was then relayed to a receiver far to the north...

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The Crystal Empire, Ghosts' Barracks
====

"I take it things went south?" Aegis Lead asked as the Ghosts, Prince Shining Armor, and the Crystal Sabres gathered in a situation room.

"That doesn't begin to cover it." Nomad asked. "The negotiations failed. The Eqaharians are now at war with the United States, and they're going to launch an attack here shortly. Even though we're still waiting on inbound close air support from the Task Force, this is our one chance to repel the enemy and get them on their heels, right off the bat."

"As such, Ghosts, we're heading to the front lines," he continued. "When the Eqaharians attack, we'll be sneaking behind their lines to eliminate their commander, while the Empire's forces hold their attention."

"Get kitted up, everyone." Nomad finished. "Today, we're going to war."

UPDATE!

Next time - The Battle of the Crystal Empire begins...