Chapter one: Plan 9 from the Hooviet Union
In the cold wastes, to the extreme north of Equestria, further than the Crystal Empire, lies an isolated nation state. A nation of extremes. Extreme cold, extreme cruelty, extreme ideas. It is in this nation that our story begins. More specifically, it begins in the Solstice Palace, the seat of the dictatorship that lords over the wretched beings that call the taiga home.
The pegasus walked down the hall, his speed indicating his urgency to reach his destination. He rushed past the red and gold walls, lavishly decorated, indicating a sense of unattainable wealth. The hallway was empty, bar the glaring eyes that inhabited the paintings of the nations leader that adorned the walls, always opposite a large window, which all showed the same outside scene; the eternal blizzard, howling wind growing into a deafening shriek, the bitterness of the cold rendering skin from bone. It made the pegasus glad that he was inside the palace.
The pegasus was dull green, like an unshined emerald almost. His mane was a dirty form of yellow, with bangs that hung just over his eyes. The cutie mark was in the form of a bat, red glaring eyes staring outwards. The pegasus' eyes were a bright and sharp form of grey, tinted with a sense of secrecy and knowledge. His small smile shrunk smaller as he neared the large mahogany and iron door that was his destination.
The guard wasn't there. Sent away. Obviously this was too important for the common kind to hear for the moment. The pegasus opened the door, slightly hesitantly, and cautiously strode inside.
The room was large, and everything that resided inside was of the highest form of quality and luxury that could be afforded. Large gilded frames holding the same painting of the same stallion in the same pose graced every wall. There were several different types of seating arrangement, each pointing to the large wooden desk that dominated the centre of the room, with a large window serving as a backdrop, as well as providing the only source of light in the room. The sole occupant of the room was sat behind this desk, busy glancing through several important looking dossiers that he laid across the desk top.
The occupant was a unicorn stallion, large and muscular, and a dull red in colour. His mane was grey, only slightly duller than the colour of the pegasus' eyes. The stallion was clad in a light white military style jacket that was of a simple design. Medals adorned the jacket, most given to the stallion by himself. His right arm, which was resting on the desk, was entrapped in some form of brace that seemed to be supporting it in some way. A simple wooden pipe was held gently in his mouth, and he was calmly smoking as the pegasus approached.
"It is nice that you have arrived, Comrade Pleasant. We have much to discuss," the stallion said, looking up from his papers to the pegasus, who just continued to stand before him. The stallions accent was heavy, and rough, and it held a sense of power, as well as a quiet form of cruelty that seemed to lace all of his words, no matter how kind they were.
"And what is it that we are here to discuss, Generalissimus Stallion? Myself and the rest of the HoovBureau are getting worried," was Pleasant's reply to the Generalissimus. Unlike his leader, Pleasant's voice was softer, but it bore a similar poisonous aftertaste of cruelty and secondary intent. The Generalissimus just leaned back in his chair, and smiled at his only real friend.
"And so they should be. I could have them all banished and replaced in a single hour by creatures more competent than themselves. But, that is not what I am planning to announce today. Maybe another day, soon, but not now." He slowly got up from his chair, and he began to make his way from behind the desk to the wary comrade. "I have told you many times before, Comrade, that you should not be nervous around me. I assure you that you are the only being I know that is not disposable." The Generalissimus gave a short laugh at that, but Comrade Pleasant still didn't fully relax himself.
"I'm not worried for that, sir. I was never good around political leaders, that's all." Comrade Pleasant said, shifting from one hoof to the next, eyes locked onto his leader.
"And that is one of the reasons that you are my right hoof pony, Comrade. You have that correct nervousness for dealing with somepony like me, but you are also more intelligent than the cretins that our rule are leading on the proper way to live, yes? This is why you are valuable, and this is why I am confiding in you my plans, HoovBureau opinion notwithstanding," He had a small smirk, an all-knowing one that both chilled and intrigued Pleasant.
"Please, Comrade. Sit down." The order sounded like a threat in the Generalissimus' voice, so the pegasus complied, carefully reclining on a red velvet and gilded wood couch, directly in front of a small table that had a crystal decanter and two matching glasses on it. The Generalissimus just stood, looking at his friend.
"Would you care for a drink, Comrade? I have just had this new type brought in. They told me that it should fit my tastes." The Generalissimus levitated one of the crystal glasses before his friend, who grabbed it with both hooves, and with curiosity tingeing his voice, said;
"Where'd you bring it in from, and what's it called?" Watching the Generalissimus pour the thick, crimson liquid into the glass.
"It is from Pleasentville, which you know is where I get all my drinks in from. They have never disappointed me before today, and I hope they do not disappoint with this one. As for the name...hm...I believed they called it 'Branded', or something similar."
The Comrade took a tentative sip, and grimaced from the taste.
"What is it? What is the matter with it?" The Generalissimus had obviously noticed the grimace, and began to pour out his own glassful of the viscous liquid.
"It's bitter. Metallic, almondy...Tastes of Ozone," came the reply as he placed the glass on the table, and as the generalissimus raised his own to sample. His reaction was much the same.
"Ah...I see what you mean, Comrade. Not for either of our tastes, and too fine to allow the masses to have either. I will order production to be cancelled tomorrow." His glass was placed down beside Comrade Pleasant's discarded glass. Still standing, the Generalissimus started speaking again, after a short pause as both ponies tried to forget about the vile tasting drink.
"Well anyway, what I wanted to tell you is the plan that I have spent twenty-five years formulating, Comrade Pleasant. The plan that I have always wanted to put into physical action. Of course, you know what plan I am on about, do you not?"
The Comrade eyed him suspiciously, the pieces clicking together almost instantly. "You don't mean...Surely, you can't mean Plan 9?" The Generalissimus smiled broadly at the mention of the name.
"Yes. Plan 9! Everything has fallen into place, Comrade, so much so that I plan to announce the full details to the HoovBureau. But not that it matters. I mean, the weapons of war are brought up, the conscripts are prepared in their masses. All they need is for me to say 'go'." He paused, almost for a sort of dramatic effect, before continuing at his wide-eyed friend lounging on the couch. "And of course, you shall be made the grand campaign leader. I wouldn't trust anybody else."
"So...It is going through, isn't it? All the build up, and now, we take the plunge? Are you sure?" The Comrade seemed to be cautious, seemingly worrying about futures yet to come and yet to past. The Generalissimus seemed to sense this.
"Do not worry yourself," he said, walking over to his friend and placing a large hoof on his shoulder, "I have prepared a Dossier for you, to help you come to terms with your new duties. Of course, you will still be the General Secretary of the Hooviet Comradeship Social Republic as well, but now you will be spending time expelling tyrants of the citizens from the old counties." Comrade Pleasant just shifted nervously, unsure of how to take such news.
"Please, Comrade. Do not worry. You shall attend the HoovBureau meeting this evening, and I will explain the plan in full then. Anyway, I should let you get going. I advise you choose a trustworthy assistant for the campaign, and to sort out any other business you need today." The Generalissimus slowly began to walk back to his desk, while levitating a heavy paper filled dossier to the Comrade.
"Why? I mean, how long do we have?" Said Comrade, clutching the Dossier as he got up from his position.
"Well, Comrade...The invasion of Equestria starts tomorrow."