Timeline
939 ANM (After Nightmare Moon)
Early Winter
-The Disaster at the Dragon Lands Outpost occurs; only 30 out of 99 ponies stationed at the outpost survive a dragon attack
-Lt. Zip Jetscream, the stallion who saved 29 souls, spends the next six months in psychiatric rehabilitation
940 ANM
Middle Summer
-The 3rd Platoon of A Company within the "Wild Rice" Battalion is activated in Vanhoover; the platoon's sergeant, SSgt. Jacinta Petals is given temporary command of the new platoon
-For his actions in slaying the dragon, and credited with saving 29 ponies from certain death, the officer candidate "3rd" Lt. Zip Jetscream is awarded The Wings of the Dragon Slayer
-The Equestrian Air Force promotes Zip to the rank of 1st Lieutenant
-It is determined that Zip will be transferred from the air force to Equestrian Army Logistics in Vanhoover; he will take up command of the new platoon
-Sgt. Sagebrush Trail, the commander of 3rd Platoon's 3rd Squad, is injured; Jacinta takes over his squad
-Jacinta violently drums out three members of 3rd Platoon's 3rd Squad for various illegal activities; she gains a savage reputation among some of the platoon and the battalion as a whole
Late Summer:
Week 1 in Vanhoover and Adjacent
-Lt. Zip Jetscream arrives in Vanhoover; he meets his commanders and his platoon, and he relieves SSgt. Jacinta Petals of command of 3rd Platoon
-Zip befriends Jacinta
-Zip and Jacinta find success in platoon-building exercises, including organized trots and combat drills
Week 2
-Lt. Zip Jetscream and SSgt. Jacinta Petals complete the restructuring of their platoon
-During a routine equipment check, a collapsing lift breaks Pvt. Birch's leg; battalion finally agrees to begin replacing and upgrading the city docks' outdated equipment
-Lt. Hoop, commander of A company's 1st Platoon, attacks Zip, drunk, and Zip kills him in retaliation
Week 3
-Lt. Zip Jetscream undergoes physical and psychiatric evaluation; he is discovered to have a Knollwing ancestor and that he is a berserker
-Zip is released from medical detention
-The troops of Vanhoover begin to replace and upgrade their dock equipment
Week 4
-Replacements arrive from Baltimare; 3rd Platoon receives six ponies to fill out their roster
-Three of 3rd Platoon's replacements are "causes for concern" for those "in the loop", but work out well
Early Autumn:
Week 6
-A Company's Autumn Military Ball is held
Week 9
-Cpl. Razor Wire is promoted to sergeant and is given command of 3rd Platoon's 3rd Squad
-A mysterious navy schooner berths and is outfitted by 3rd Platoon
-A state-of-emergency is declared in northern Equestria
-War breaks out with the Centaur Kingdom when the massive Centauri Navy attacks Equestrian scout vessels
-Vanhoover prepares to evacuate its civilians and rapidly distribute Equestria's stored food supply
-The weather departs from typical autumnal conditions, resulting in warm, dry conditions over the next weeks
Middle Autumn:
Week 10
-Locomotives begin to arrive to transport supplies away from the coast
-Cpt. Basket Weaver falsifies orders and communications from Canterlot; to ensure foodstuffs and material goods take priority over logistical implements, he destroys the 36 docks in and around Vanhoover
-Sgt. Amethyst Flare ensures Cpt. Weaver receives a clean, quiet death, rather than him face a summary court martial and hanging
Week 12
-The Equestrian Navy is destroyed when the winds from the west cease blowing for two weeks
-The division succeeds in shipping out 91% of Vanhoover's stores before concluding the operation
-The Battle of Vanhoover begins
-The Centauri Navy lands; the division begins their retreat to the Galloping Gorge
Week 13
-The division moves to the west of the Galloping Gorge
-3rd Platoon is sent to watch the pass in the Unicorn Range south of the division
Week 14
-The weather abruptly reverts back to normal autumnal conditions
-Aided by a northwest wind, the Centauri Army sets fire to the prairie and traps the division at the Galloping Gorge while 3rd Platoon escapes to the foothills of the Unicorn Range; this event comes to be known as the Disaster at the Galloping Gorge
-The captured division is executed by way of being thrown into the gorge
-3rd Platoon makes contact with Canterlot after two days attempting to do so; Lt. Zip Jetscream meets Princess Celestia via crystal ball
Late Autumn:
Week 15
-Princess Celestia and her command consult Lt. Zip Jetscream's staff on their course of action
-3rd Platoon surveys the Northwest Pass, in hopes of using the landscape against the centaurs
Week 16
-The survey provides few options in slowing the Centauri forces; 3rd Platoon and Canterlot elect to use thermal warfare
-Sgt. Amethyst Flare, scouting Vanhoover, is tasked with obtaining magically conductive metals in the city; she leads three others into the sewers of the city, ultimately being successful in their mission
-Lt. Zip Jetscream reviews all the files on his platoon members but cannot bring himself to look at Sgt. Flare's
Week 17
-TBA
Week 18
-TBA
Week 19
-TBA
Early Winter:
Week 20
-TBA
3rd Platoon's Place in the Equestrian Military
(Immediately prior to the Disaster at the Galloping Gorge)
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, “Clementine” Corps, 4th Equestrian Army
“Wild Rice” Battalion (Logistics: Vanhoover and Adjacent)
Captain (Cpt.) Jalapeño Jelly
A Company
Cpt. Stone Rig
3rd Platoon
First Lieutenant (1st Lt.) Zip Jetscream
Platoon Staff
Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Jacinta Petals
Specialist (Spc.) Silver Duster (Platoon Clerk)
Spc. Trip Wire (Part-time Platoon Clerk)
---
1st Squad Sergeant (Sgt.) Amethyst Flare
Team Leaders
1st Team Corporal (Cpl.) Aster Yellows
-Spc. Silver Duster
2nd Team Cpl. Lily Hawk
-Private (Pvt.) Mercury Rise
---
2nd Squad Sgt. Sweet Clover
Team Leaders
1st Team Spc. Blue Porter
-Spc. Cocoa Butter
2nd Team Cpl. Raspberry Jam
-Pvt. Orange Blossom
---
3rd Squad Sgt. Razor Wire
Team Leaders
1st Team Spc. Shive Hemp
-Pvt. Linseed Oil
2nd Team Cpl. Stardust Painter
-Pvt. Blood Sapphire
---
4th Squad Sgt. Treasure Trove
Team Leaders
1st Team Cpl. Little Song
-Pvt. Poplar Shade
2nd Team Spc. Trip Wire
-Pvt. Caramel Crunch
List of Former Soldiers
Sgt. Sagebrush Trail
-Injured by collapsing dock crane; hospitalized; given leave
-Later offered full, unconditional retirement; accepted
Spc. Cadmium
-Caught by SSgt. Petals with prostitute; subdued by SSgt. Petals upon fleeing; hospitalized
-Discharged after court martial
Pvt. Sky
-Caught by SSgt. Petals while drunk on duty; subdued by SSgt. Petals upon retaliation; hospitalized
-Discharged after court martial
Spc. Beach
-Caught by SSgt. Petals while allegedly sexually assaulting a 9-year-old filly; subdued by SSgt. Petals upon retaliation; hospitalized
-Comatose; previously charged with war crimes (found not guilty due to lack of evidence); charged with rape of a minor (capital offense), attempted murder (capital offense)
Pvt. Mill
-Caught by SSgt. Petals while drunk on duty, allegedly with prostitute; subdued by SSgt. Petals and Lt. Jetscream; detained
-Declared unfit for military duty; medical discharge
Lt. Col. Red Spud
-Blinded and severely burned by Lt. Hoop
-Medical discharge
Lt. Hoop✝
-Neutralized by Lt. Jetscream upon attack at officers' club
-Died on scene
Cpt. Basket Weaver✝
-Beaten close to death by officers of 2nd Division upon his treasonous actions
-Quietly killed by Sgt. Amethyst Flare to spare him hanging
✝ indicates character is deceased.
3rd Platoon Characters
1st Lt. Zip Jetcream
3rd Platoon Commander
Age: 21
Favorite Drink: Pineapple Squash
Notables: Teetotaler
SSgt. Jacinta Petals
3rd Platoon Sergeant
Age: 24
Favorite Drink: Gin-Fizz
Notables: Accomplished martial artist
Sgt. Amethyst Flare
1st Squad Leader
Age: 38
Favorite Drink: Whiskey
Notables: Former high-level covert insurgent; twice-divorced and once-widowed
Sgt. Sweet Clover
2nd Squad Leader
Age: 32
Favorite Drink: Lager
Notables: Born and raised in Vanhoover; proud father of four
Sgt. Razor Wire
3rd Squad Leader
Age: 23
Favorite Drink: Rum
Notables: Extensive knowledge in unconventional tactics
Sgt. Treasure Trove
4th Squad Leader
Age: 27
Favorite Drink: Cider
Notables: Former specialist in Army Corps of Engineers, combat veteran
Cpl. Aster Yellows
1st Team Leader, 1st Squad
Age: 23
Favorite Drink: Whiskey
Notables: Good at practical magic
Cpl. Lily Hawk
2nd Team Leader, 1st Squad
Platoon Medic
Age: 25
Favorite Drink: Bloody Mare
Notables: Previously a nurse; difficult to gross out
Spc. Blue Porter
1st Team Leader, 2nd Squad
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Ale
Notables: Youngest pony with leadership position in the battalion
Cpl. Raspberry Jam
2nd Team Leader, 2nd Squad
Age: 23
Favorite Drink: Anything
Notables: Rumored to have a sense of humor, though it's rarely seen; skilled illusionist, despite being an Earth pony
Spc. Shive Hemp
1st Team Leader, 3rd Squad
Age: 22
Favorite Drink: Ale
Notables: Briefly special forces; recognizable for heavy scarring
Cpl. Stardust Painter
2nd Team Leader, 3rd Squad
Age: 27
Favorite Drink: Any Beer
Notables: Knowledgeable in unconventional magical tactics
Cpl. Little Song
1st Team Leader, 4th Squad
Age: 22
Favorite Drink: Vodka-Sour
Notables: Engineer; good with problem-solving
Spc. Trip Wire
2nd Team Leader, 4th Squad
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Ale
Notables: Skilled mechanic
Spc. Silver Duster
1st Team Member, 1st Squad
Platoon Clerk
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Screwdriver
Notables: Photographic memory; encyclopedia-like knowledge
Pvt. Mercury Rise
2nd Team Member, 1st Squad
Age: 19
Favorite Drink: Anything
Notables: Dormant super-soldier
Spc. Cocoa Butter
1st Team Member, 2nd Squad
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Whiskey
Notables: Usually very laid-back
Pvt. Orange Blossom
2nd Team Member, 2nd Squad
Age: 19
Favorite Drink: Manehattan
Notables: Quite skilled in cooking (couldn't afford to stay in culinary school)
Pvt. Linseed Oil
1st Team Member, 3rd Squad
Age: 21
Favorite Drink: Moonshine
Notables: Former government research botanist; knowledgeable in meteorology and chemistry
Pvt. Blood Sapphire
2nd Team Member, 3rd Squad
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Anything
Notables: Demolitions expert; knowledgeable in geology and chemistry
Pvt. Poplar Shade
1st Team Member, 4th Squad
Age: 20
Favorite Drink: Ale
Notables: Instrumentationist
Pvt. Caramel Crunch
2nd Team Member, 4th Squad
Age: 19
Favorite Drink: Grasshopper
Notables: Skilled machinist
Glossary
F.O.: This acronym stands for literally dozens of statements... in the case of this story, its meaning is "fuck off"
Knollwing: Extinct sub-race of Pegasus known to possess enhanced magic; notably stronger and more resilient than normal Pegasi
Time re-read the story untill the new chapter comes out.
10619694
Well, some things will be changing. I'm editing the whole thing. New "prologue" with actual dialogue about 30K+ words. Once that's all done, the story will continue.