Chapter 14- Diplomacy and Preparations
Berlin, planet Germania, German Galactic Empire.
The Grand Embassy of the natives went on without interruption, Thorax and Pharynx had just arrived in Berlin, things hadn't changed very much for the changelings with the exception that right now each had a formal costume, Thorax had now a white uniform with golden buttons, with a light green sash around his waist and braids on the right side and epaulets with the new Changeling insignia those been presents from both the king and the queen of Romania, of course he was the one who designed them for the royal tailor. As for Pharynx he now wore a black uniform with a dark blue sash and braids and epaulets.
During the time there they and their entourage had been around many places, they had on one side visited the parliament listening to a debate regarding laws and different situations something that many changelings considered a bit dull and boring but they also visited the Academy and prestigious universities where they had listened to different lectures either on economics, politics, history even science. Thorax and some others were of course thrilled at what they listened and discussed in private with the teachers, great intellectuals and politicians wanting of course to see even more. They even paid visits to factories, stock markets, shipyards and docks speaking with different merchants, capitalists, factory owners and captains of ships.
In the case of the armed forces Pharynx and part of the guards he took with him had the privilege to even participate in the training and exercise of the army units, he even took parts in session of the officers in training and at Military Academies, and listening to military history. He alongside some others experienced for the first time the loading and firing of a light artillery piece. He first saw how it was done before doing it himself on a set of targets shown by an officer. And this was done everywhere they went after Romania they went to Serbian space, then Bulgarian, Greek even Hungarian and Czech space for a brief time before going to the larger nations.
In Germany now the situation was the same but on an even larger scale, the Kaiser was more than happy to comply with Pharynx's request to make the introduction as much short as possible, so it was only the meeting at the Space Port of a superior army officer and then the travel through the streets of the capital to the palace and presentation to the Kaiser before going on with the visit to the institutions and other more practical stuff. Two days later both brothers went before the Kaiser's office for a personal meeting with him and the German Chancellor: Baron Heinrich Von Allendorf. The Kaiser wore his usual black uniform with only his blue Pour le Merit medal at his neck while the Chancellor, a well built man in his late 40s was fully dressed in a formal costume with a black tie and no moustache, staying near his monarch on the right side.
"So, Your Majesties what is your impression of our nation thus far." Asked the Chancellor.
"Impressive like many others, there are many things you have and we don't I really intend on changing this." Said Thorax with enthusiasm.
"A hard task I vould say really a hard task that might take some time and lots of effort." Said the Kaiser.
"We will manage, I left students behind to learn everything in the nations of your cousins Your Majesty and when they come back they shall apply everything they have learned. I intend to leave students here as well." Thorax said.
"I do appreciate your love of learning it is impressive since it came from an isolated vorld and from a people whom didn't had this kind of interest." Said the Emperor.
"This was in the past and of course the problems that happened with the colonists were the doings of a former queen that my brother alongside his friends had to depose." Said Pharynx.
"This former queen that you are talking about how was she actually?" Asked the Chancellor.
"Her name was Chrysalis, in the past changelings were suppose to steal the love that others had by different means, she had once tried to attack the colonies in the past but this ended in disaster this happened after an attempt on a native nation near our territory called Equestria whom my brother made some friends and helped him change things. Of course in the past we didn't had this colorful look." Pharynx said.
"Hmm, me and the Chancellor were usually for scientific reasons of course we believe that wizards who use magic should keep to themselves. Yet I am interested to see how your previous appearance was." The Kaiser said and Pharynx went in the middle of the room and from his magic he turned into an insect like black creature much more hideous and frightening than the previous one.
"I can see the difference." The Kaiser said and Pharynx then changed back.
"And you were only vith war and battle I guess."
"Yes but not all of us had this kind of inclination." Thorax said.
"We can see very well." Said the Chancellor before pulling in some tea in a cup.
"It was inevitable I guess."
"If it wasn't for our Equestrian friends I might have not managed this." Thorax said.
"I see." The Kaiser said rubbing his chin in thought. "Your Majesty, have you heard of the term 'to usurp'?"
"Usurp? I did hear of it, it means taking the power by force." Thorax said.
"True, but the definition is much more complex. A usurper usually uses different methods to gain power, one is by assassinating the one that is already in power, another is launching a coup d'état by using army units and other methods sometimes one could be supported from outside the nation." He explained before drinking some green tea.
"Are all usurpers bad?"
"Nein, it depends on the ruler if the previous ruler was a tyrant and brought his or her nation and neighbors to despair because of attacks or because he couldn't overcome something important like what Chrysalis did the one that takes the power must first of all solve the problem and if he manages he is legitimized. If not and is doing more badly then he is a usurper."
"I see, but what I did is only showing the others a different approach to things something that brought all the changelings with me. Is this making me a usurper?" Asked Thorax.
"Nein, it makes you the rightful ruler of your people and nation. What you have shown to them is a different approach to things and the majority accepted and embraced it. What you have shown is something that legitimizes you especially if the people themselves were the ones who overthrow the tyrant and put you in her place it means that you are nothing but their rightful ruler and it doesn't matters that you have been helped by other people that are not from your nation." He explained making Thorax to smile.
"But it also brings you something more." Said the Chancellor, tracking the attention of the changelings.
"What is that actually?" Asked Pharynx.
"Usually when you are helped from outside, you are usually in their debt you will one day have to return the favor."
"Well while my brother became the new ruler. Chrysalis wanted to attack Equestria again and in a way when he became the new king we have withdrawn everything and changed all the ways in regards of attacks and we started to improve relations with everyone. And in a way this 'debt' was repaid." Pharynx explained.
"True, but zte friends you have, do they have any kind of connections with the sovereigns or whoever is ruling them or are they members of the government?" Asked the Kaiser.
"Well they personally know the princesses but they don't take part in running the state. The two Princesses Celestia and Luna are usually the rulers but they started to be more ceremonial in ruling Equestria, another been princess Cadence who is ruling the Crystal Empire with her husband although she is part of the Equestrian Princesses, as for another Twilight Sparkle she is the one that is basically ruling Equestria now also overseeing a school dedicated to teaching about friendship and peaceful coexistence. For the moment now she is occupied with other things from what we heard." Thorax explained.
"Well in this case you are not bended to their government since they don't take part in it." Said the Kaiser crossing his hands.
"Well of course we aren't, we work for ourselves even thou many started to travel there for visits. Thanks to the new open border policy to call it like that."
"But why do you ask your majesty?" Asked Pharynx.
"Because in a vay we started to suspect the Equestrians to be responsible with the attacks, not because of your friends of course who don't have things to do in politics. But there might be some that do this, possibly corrupt officials who are near the princesses and misinform them while doing things to hide their own agenda. It is either that or there are groups that make organized crime or just some nothing to do people that want to look how great there are, by attacking a new 'evil' species."
"Well I do have to admit that there had been some rumors and speculations we heard about before leaving in this tour. Those things of course, how to express it? Aren't giving a positive aspect about wizards or rather humans in general, they say that you are violent and evil and other things that aren't worth enumerating. But of course there had probably been made out of mistake and misunderstanding the ponies usually wouldn't attack others." Said Thorax.
"Usually they vouln't, but if they are pressed and convinced by those things?" Asked Von Allendorf, making both changelings to think.
"Well there might be a possibility that there are groups that could make raids to steal, probably thieves and crooks as in the regard of vandalism there might be something else indeed." Pharynx said.
"I can only guess that the princess who oversees the school where it is taught about friendship, good cooperation and coexistence isn't quite happy for what is happening. And if the princesses would know about this they should have stopped this by now." The Kaiser said, driving even more thoughts to the changelings.
"Thinking on this for a bit, there might be something off regarding those events, if only we can figure out what?" Thorax said.
"Wasn't there something that changed to them when this happened?" Asked the Chancellor.
"Well if we can recode something, there are new ponies near the princesses, Celestia and Luna that appeared after the first attacks were heard about all of them stallions. They claim to be experts in them, however when you first meet them they don't seem very trustworthy, plus they kind of support those rumors and speculations." Thorax said.
"And don't you think that they are kind of suspicious in this regard." The Kaiser asked and after a short thinking both realized something.
"In a way it could be that they are profiting from this, going near the sovereign and claiming to be experts in them could bring some suspicions, especially if the head of state and much of the society doesn't know much about the newcomers and so on." Pharynx said.
"I am glad that you realized."
"We know, but questions now are where will all this go, what could happen and why they are doing this." Thorax asked.
"Your Majesty for us zthey are some corrupt officials who would use any kind of things in order to enlarge they pockets and gain as much riches and influence, by using the fear and doubt of the people. But the worst thing of all is the creation of a totalitarian regime based on paranoia." The Kaiser explained.
"If that is the case, for how long could this thing last?" Asked Thorax.
"Probably as long as they fill their agenda, however all the nations hope that they will be exposed someday before that however, preferably before a disaster will happen." Said the Chancellor.
"It will not happen our friends in Equestra will not allow them to go on with their game. And I know what I am saying they shall stop them sooner or later." Thorax said firmly.
"Yet if they influence the Princesses in Canterlot, what should we do in this case?" Pharynx asked.
"I believe we will let you decide after this tour, for you to learn more." The Kaiser said pouring some tea in his cup. "As for what you could do, me and my relatives decided that this honor will be reserved for when you meet the Prime Chancellor and the High Dean after the tour. They shall tell you more."
"Well in this case I believe we should wait and fill our time with different activities in this tour. Even thou I believe you could also tell us what to do Your Majesty and probably your other relatives as well." Pharynx said while the emperor took a slip from his tea.
"Both could."
"But in your case, been new to big politics especially galactic ones it is much easier for you to take a decision when you meet one that has to stay neutral in this situation." Said the Chancellor.
"This been in order for you to don't consider that you betray your friends. However if you want an advice the best thing to do is to not pick a side where you could be considered that you take the part of the evil doers." Said the Kaiser.
"Taking part in the evil that they do, it is a decision we don't intend to make." Thorax said.
"We are glad to hear this and by the way I heard that some other friends of your will come, it seems that they left much sooner than expected." The Chancellor said with a smile.
"Who actually?"
"The Lord of Dragons and the relatives of the Queen of the Hippogriffs they left sooner and at the same time, it is possible that you will meet them sometime a bit later probably you want to meet them, the others will soon follow as well" Said the Chancellor.
"This is something we really wish to." Said Thorax with excitement.
"Until then please enjoy what the German Galactic Empire has to offer." Said the Kaiser before a servant came with 4 glasses of red wine. The emperor and the chancellor were the first ones to receive them followed by the changelings.
"I hope that after this tour you shall all go back with high spirits." The emperor said making a toast.
"We will return home with more than high spirits." Pharynx said before each took a slip.
"By the way, excuse my possible rudeness was there another incident with drinking?" Asked the Chancellor, there was something to know, when the changelings first stepped on the planet Transilva in the Romanian space and went to the governor, they went ecstatic at what they saw around them and when the governor received them. He greeted the visitors with a glass of red wine however during the greetings, one Changeling not knowing how to drink wine drank the glass all at once immediately. Despite one servant trying to stop him, and he turned dizzy from the drink. The governor had to teach all of them how to do with wine and no other incident happened.
"Since that incident, no we told every single Changeling how to drink properly to not get intoxicated." Said Pharynx and all started to laugh.
"Anyways I guess this happened to everyone and this will also happen. But if we meet with some of our friends it will really be heartwarming when we get to Moscow and Sankt Petersburg." Thorax said.
"If you go to Moscow or Sank Petersburg we advise you get some worm clothing. The weather of Russia that was on Earth and their new home world, it became part of their culture for sure with the position they choose, is known to be very extreme especially in this time period." The Kaiser explained.
"How harsh could it be Your Majesty?" Pharynx asked.
"You will see very soon, and you will really need warm clothing when you stay there."
"As for us we wonder if it was enough the robot garrisons each nation had sent to protect our citizens. We know the wishes of our more special ability citizens but still I wonder if it is enough what the arms producers had sent them." The Chancellor said thoughtful.
"From what we know they are doing their jobs the best ways possible, there shouldn't be much trouble." Thorax said.
"Maybe, yet no one say that something couldn't go down the hill, especially if things go out of control and if more trouble will come." The chancellor explained.
"ATTENTION!" Shouted a regular commander to 4 platoons of battle robots that were between the 'veterans'.
"Present arms!" The platoons presented their weapons; there was a slight change as each of them had 25 equipped with bolt action rifles this with the reason that the ministry was trying to cut some expenses but it wasn't without a purpose and the commanders knew.
"Rifles, fix Bayonets!" Called the commander and the robots with rifles unsheathed their bayonets from their holsters right when the new tactical droid commander from Britain TB-6 came to inspect the British manufactured robots accompanied by 2 regular ones one holding a tablet.
"I am glad to see that the troops are maintained to the reasonably highest standards required usually by the military." He commented to the regular commander.
"We are doing our best sir. Protocol dictates that we must let no aggressive native to come by." Said the commander.
"Actually, no natives must come without specified reason." Commented TB-6.
"No native? But sir from our experience we found that most natives here were very friendly, they didn't had any intention to attack us, there might be only bandits."
"This is no reason for bringing new units to this planet. The main reason is only one, hostile natives that want to attack, letting our guard down even for a bit is inexcusable. Until we find out who is behind the attacks no native unless authorized is allowed to come near Hogwarts and Hogsmead. Remember that." He said with his strict voice.
"Roger, roger sir." Said the commander turning to the rest of the robots to inspect them to go on day patrol, while the tactical robot then moved on in the fields, inspecting the others, this wasn't the only time when this was done actually the other time was when the delegates from Equestria came, he himself with the other tactical robots ordered that whenever other natives came both the students and natives were to be kept out of sight from one another. Ever since the incident with the changeling attack and the coming of TB-6 things had turned much stricter with the garrison, by all accounts more and more new unnumbered battle robots were brought with only the reason to fight.
Those battle robots unlike the initial number of 30.000 or even 35.000 that were in the first days since school began were old 'veteran' fighters that had either experience from the first days of settlement 10 years ago or even 5 or 4 years ago. Due to the time passing and not so often erasing of memory they started to get their own personalities or conscience, becoming 'soft' for both colonists and natives that they encounter. Even the older tactical robots, the German TG-20 and Romanian TR-10 spent 8 years on the world and at Hogwarts, both as security chiefs, organizing the garrisons. TB-6 in contrast was a tactical droid that came out the assembly line 8 months ago so he was a typical robot that is following his programming unlike his 2 'senior' counterparts. It was no surprise that he would usually be accompanied around by the ones who are unnumbered.
"Can you tell me when the future transports would arrive here?" TB-6 asked.
"Negative sir, we don't know yet when it will arrive."
"Too bad I told the governors themselves that we will need them without further delay." He said.
"We know that sir, a message should however come sooner or later."
"In any case, I calculate that the best time for it is when the school is closed during the winter Holydays this is the best of time for the transports. I want any news about this to be sent to me immediately, I will not let simple natives be a problem here."
"Roger, Roger."
"Now let's go to the training grounds to the north." He ordered and walked with his helpers towards the north of the school on a country road. Before reaching a small enclosure surrounded by a wooden wall 7 meters high, surrounded by 2 layers of barbwire guarded by 4 regular robots 2 of them been stationed in wooden guard boxes on each side of the road tasked with making an opening by moving the fences of barbwire while 2 were at the main door of the enclosure that was surrounded by sharp wooden stakes while inside it was guarded by 5 wooden watch towers with 4 guards at the ready 4 were at the corners while the 5th one was guarding the gate. This been one of the places that no student was allowed to enter to see, it was also the most heavily guarded place with 1 active regiment as standard.
"Let us through, inspection." Said one of the robots accompanying the T series commander and the first 2 went to lift the first 2 barbwire enclosures and placed them to the right before the gate opened and the letting the commander enter inside. The compound wasn't very big it was 40 meters long and 40 meters wide, it was however perfect as a 'training ground', in reality however this was only a cover up name. Its real purpose was actually for the landing of transport ships with military equipment and reinforcements, this actually been the place where all the droids were landing from space during the night. Robots and droids didn't require training; however the place was used by them, mostly for intimidation purposes during the day. The dummies that were sacks of hey were made to represent the creatures living on the planet like Dragons, Hippogriffs, Gryphons, Manticores even ponies and changelings, those been placed after the attacks started. Before that, the dummies were just simple sacks that were suspended up by a rope used either for bayonet charge or target practice. The ones used for bayonet charge and hit practice were placed before the landing platform while the ones used for target practice were placed to the wall, each of them numbered 25 standard procedure for squads.
"Hit!" Called a standard robot commander to a squad hitting the dummies with the butt of the rifles "hit!" he called hitting the dummies again with the barrel. "Stab" They stabbed the dummies with the bayonets.
"Ready." Called another robot commander to his squad "Aim" the squad aimed at the dummies "Fire!" they shoot the dummies.
"A pleasant sight to see, just the way a military should be." He said while walking around the compound going towards a commando unit.
"I can see that the situation is going well at this moment."
"Roger sir. We are trying our best to look as intimidating as possible so the natives would not approach." He said saluting him.
"The best way to do when dealing with aggressive natives that probably strayed from their place." Said the commander.
"I guess there isn't anything new at the moment."
"No sir."
"Perfect and I wish to know, where is the engineer core?"
"Right there sir they finished." He pointed to 10 droids coming out from a hole and the commander when to them.
"I hope the work was fruitful." Said the commander to the engineers who saluted their superior officer.
"It wasn't easy with this tunnel, but from now on you wouldn't need to move on the surface sir it goes directly to the command center." Said the robot engineer.
"And in case of attack what is to be done?"
"We blow it up with dynamite or other explosives."
"Perfect, what about the other tunnels?"
"Still working on them sir but they will be finished soon."
"Don't be so sure, we don't know who the enemy is, we must never leave our guard down. By my calculations it isn't possible for bandits to be the cause of all that is happening; it is surely more then that." He said watching in the distance.
"Roger, Roger and yet sir, we have to tell. According to commander TG-20 we still have necessary explosives for drilling and for demolishing the tunnels, but they will not last forever, barely for another 4 months."
"For now it is only 4 months, we will get more soon enough. I will go back to the command center; I will wait for new results soon." He said going in the tunnel while the engineers followed. The tunnel itself looked more like a mining tunnel; it was supported by wooden pillars placed every 5 meters away and lighted with either oil or electric lamps with a full platoon of engineers and another of regulars guarding it and taking care of it been lighted when needed. It was rudimentary but it was enough for their uses, moving forward he reached a chamber where other 6 tunnels that were finished, but there were other 3 that had been constructed. Each having a sign to where a tunnel goes, one could hear the shovels and the pickaxes been used alongside the mechanical equipment like jackhammers or the mining droids with electric drills or even electric drills operated usually for mining and digging tunnels.
The ones that were constructed were the ones that could be seen when exiting the tunnel TB-6 came were 3 of them. First on the right was the ones that lead to the galleries where the rest of the garrison was kept dormant, the second one in the center was leading to where all the garrison operation at Hogwarts were done extending to Hogsmead while the last one on the left was one leading to a secret location where 'secret' operations were supervised by the commanders, the only ones that knew of them were only the Ministry of Magic and the governors. The other 3 that were finished were the present tunnel leading to the landing pad for the ships/ training ground and the one near it was leading to another chamber where other 3 tunnels were constructed, while the last one was leading to another 'special room' that could only store the heavier equipment.
"I will go to the command center; you go into the other chambers to finish the other tunnels." He ordered.
"Roger, roger sir." The leading engineer said going to the chamber to work on the other tunnels while the tactical robot when through the main tunnel leading to the command center. The command center itself was actually the old chamber of secrets where the basilisk once lived, before that the whole operations were conducted inside a transport ship until the chamber was rediscovered by Harry and Ron and the basilisk was killed. Its skin that was removed long ago including the body of the dead giant snake. Now in its place there was the command center for all the operations, the center of the chamber was now the place where a holographic map was situated alongside a platform where the commanders were watching over everything, on the walls to the right there were computers that analyze and show all the activity around the school on the ground while on the left in the air. Where senior officer robots were present all the time especially the veterans, to give reports, alongside giving and receiving messages from robot patrols, logistics were also strictly monitored and tactics were devised. And on the holographic map one could see the tunnels that had been dug around in the forest alongside the forest and the school; everything was powered up by the old generator of the transport ship.
"Today it seems will be another calm day without much trouble. I calculated a very low estimate for any surprises." Said TR-10 looking over the reports on his tablet and over the computers.
"Wonder when the messengers from Equestria will come again, 2 days had passed." Said TG-20.
"Whenever they will come let's be more prepared, next time." TB-6 commented.
"It wasn't necessary by my calculations to be so much security for the messengers, besides the students weren't in any danger." TR-10 said.
"We can't take risks; I wasn't here when the battle with deranged shape shifters happened. But I know it wasn't something very great."
"By most standards and our calculations it was an easy battle, on the other side our forces had proven competent both in that situation and during the battle last year against the terrorists." TG-20 commented, for battle robots the term Death Eater was associated only to terrorists, they didn't see them as evil wizards, they wanted to attack a school who was defended by both the garrison, aurors and students that was by all accounts a crime and nothing less than a terrorist act that had to be dealt with severity.
"I heard all about it I doubt that this time terrorists and bandits are the problem, before coming here I had received several simulations regarding native attacks and I do believe that it isn't only bandits run by a lowly terrorist, especially after turning visible. There must be a bigger operation at hand." He said.
"I do admit that even I thought of the same possibility; however we had been here for a long time and by what we remember there had been no major attacks, after the colonies started to open and deactivate the clocking shields for good. And the minor incidences shouldn't be even considered."
"They shouldn't indeed yet with the incident that happened with the shape-shifters we shouldn't trifle with anyone in this world now, especially that not only English settlements had been attacked." TB-6 commented.
"We know that, but we can't risk wasting our resources we must use them with caution it is true that the garrison for Hogwarts and the exterior had been increased to 55.000, but it doesn't mean to throw all of them in battle." Commented TR-10.
"And yet we must receive some new equipment very soon."
"This will happen only tomorrow night with a future transport to be sent to the deposit for heavy armament as well as the air units." TG-20 said.
"What you asked is a bit little."
"Little as it is it will be enough for most of us."
"I am talking about our main transport."
"With the one that is coming tomorrow I estimate that will come only after the 26 of December in 3 waves for 2 nights from the 26-28, one of the transports will be on the 27th during the day." TR-10 said calculating the possibility of them receiving what their new colleague asked.
"It is the perfect time since no one will disturb the operations that must be completely silent and in secret." TB-6 said with a bit of satisfaction all in all what he wants isn't just for the defense of the school and the settlements. TB-6 also has a special agenda from a general of the Imperial Military Academy in London, aside from that it doesn't matter how many droids or attackers will fall because his main programming for battle tactics, is for aggressive offensive. Meaning crushing them as effectively as possible, not only that but he also had experience in this manner since he was by all accounts a droid that was also used for 5 years on trouble worlds like Sirius, where terrorists, bandits, thugs and so on could lurk before he was given this assignment. So he would use all the methods in his memory and at his disposal to deal to those attackers a crushing blow.
"Excuse me dear colleagues." He said going to a droid responsible with transportation.
"Get me an aerial transport I need to go on the inspection on the batteries." He said before leaving the chamber while the other 2 looked at one another.
"What batteries?" TR-10 asked.
"Batteries that are placed on this hill sir." Reported the droid at the map, showing a hologram of light artillery pieces. "He wants to see how fast the crews will work in loading and firing."
"That means a light artillery drill, it was scheduled in a non school day." Said TG-20, the 2 tactical droids were at Hogwarts since it was 'moved' on the world several years ago, of course the wizards were reluctant to accept them but in order for the muggles to not suspect something they had to take them in. The 2 tactical droids were usually left to their devices at Hogwarts and the area around the castle and Hogsmeade to organize the garrison for anything. However they were always keeping the headmaster, the faculty and the other people like the governors, mayors and aurors informed on what they wanted to do and if they have permission to do something like a drill, they were the ones who granted would decided what to do on each day. Of course after the situation last year with Voldemort and the Death Eaters the droids were more accepted, but they were still under orders from the headmaster of Hogwarts and the aurors. In the case of the Headmaster he wouldn't things that would disturb students during school work.
"Let's hope it will not come to heavy artillery." Commented TR-10.
"Should I go and inform the headmaster regarding this sudden change?" Asked the droid.
"Ja, go right now." TG-20 said as the battle droid left in the direction of the headmaster's office.
At the Hill
Feldcroft Region where a small hamlet was located wasn't much a place with too much activity, of course the small hamlet was also guarded by at least a small company of 75 droids under the watch of a local auror, the wizards here weren't paying much attention to them which was never a problem as long as they weren't disturbed the robots were usually coming and going since here there were only 25 present, each 25 was having an 8 hours shift during the day, and the locals in a sense got somehow used to them, they knew them by their numbers on their chests who had a spot where they would always stay, small children would sometimes prank them with some beginners spells, in some cases even gain a permanent color due to some potions been splashed on them or when they were accidently painted with a charmed brush that wizards charmed to pain their homes and they were passing by. They got used to the usual ones but when they saw more coming they knew something was up, the auror had to tell them and explained what was happening and the fact that they had for at least a half an hour stay inside their homes while the droids were making sure no one was getting outside. When TB-6 arrived with a gunship at the spot where the guns were emplaced they were facing the mountain, their backs were at the small hamlet ready for the drill.
"I see that we are ready." He said inspecting the crews.
"Roger-Roger sir, the civilians are in their homes, they weren't very happy I have to tell you and somehow neither were the droids garrisoned here." Said to an adjutant who was overseeing them, in total there were 30 droids that were conduction this exercise. However those 30 were put for guard duty, 15 droids were placed to operate the batteries, the organization was that there were 3 for each of the 5: one loader with the shell crate near; one spotter for spotting the target and one shooter that had to shoot when given the order. The T series tactical droids pulled out his electric watch.
"The exercise will take 30 minutes; we will start by aiming at the base of the mountain. I will chronometer each of you how long it will take to load and fire at first." He announced as the normal droids loaded the shells to shoot.
"Ready….aim….FIRE!"
In the Hogwarts Library
"And to think the potion's homework was complicated." Harry commented, despite the fact that he resigned himself on his school work after completely defeating Voldemort he couldn't do anything but sometimes do complain when barely finding the answers for some tasks or homework despite been in the library with Ron.
"You can say that again mate, why did Professor McGonagall gave us such a long essay."
"Good thing we managed to finish it despite taking it from the same book. Good thing we followed Hermione and Twilight to see from where they have it." Ron said with a smirk before Seamus came by.
"Hey Harry got a bag for you." The boy said placing a bag on the table where they were staying, Harry been a school prefect with Ron he thought or rather hope it was a student's bag.
"Did someone lost a bag Seamus? I will get it to the common room and ask, if it's not from our house I shall inform the other prefects." Harry said while folding the parchment with his homework.
"It's actually a mail bag Harry, an owl brought it with letters for you Ron and Hermione, from admirers." Seamus said taking a seat as his fellow Gryffindor rolled his eyes dropping his face in exasperation.
"And I thought that no one from here will send me fan letters. I told everyone not to." Harry said in exasperation.
"Well this ban you imposed regarding not sending you any fan letters no one complains about it, on the contrary because of it students from other years and from outside are sending fan letters to us. I got some from several girls from around the school and from outside, one is even from a first year slytherin or some even younger." Seamus said by all accounts he was between the ones who were enjoying this attention, especially since the Daily Prophet at the end of that battle all of them who battle the remainder Death Eaters appeared in pictures separately as the Hero Students of Hogwarts with the droids. Harry of course been the one who defeated Voldemort was the one who got a bigger one then the others, which was kind of the last thing he wanted, since he somehow change after been in that coma for some time that showed him how the Dark Lord could be defeated.
"Good for you." Harry said dryly trying to dismiss this information while Ron took a look in the bag and found lots of letters for him too.
"You know mate I might have been sometimes jealous of your fame but now I see it as a double edge sword. It will take me an hour or so to sign all of those." Ron commented before seeing how many were for Hermione "And Hermione will be in the same spot too." Ron said while Harry groaned before feeling a vibration and noticed his ink quill where his ink was shaking and somehow heard something from outside.
"Good thing Hermione is in the same spot." Ron commented.
"Guys, shush. Do you hear that?" Harry asked as the 2 stopped talking and hearing something too, it was like distant thunder or something.
"Is a thunderstorm coming?" Ron asked.
"Guys I don't think that is thunder from a storm." Seamus said before the other students from the library were starting to hear it too as some started to move towards the windows, even the librarian madam Pince was hearing it.
"Who is making this racket?" She asked before a window had opened to hear more clearly, no one saw who opened it.
"That is not thunder, its explosions, surely from artillery." Seamus said, of course knowing this very well since his mother is a witch and his father is a muggle, he had told him and showed him during summer when in London during the celebration of the King's birthday.
"It's kind of close, too." Commented a Hufflepuff student.
"It's coming from Feldcroft, that's where I live." Commented a medium weight boy with pale skin and auburn hair, he was also a fourth year Slytherin student named Julian Sallow before the librarian came.
"They shouldn't do this during school time." Said another student before the librarian closed the window before turning to the students.
"Return to your seats every student; I hope our security chiefs will have a good explanation about this. Those robots should be put to be more careful about those exercises." The librarian said.
"That is off why they do this during school time?" Asked Harry.
"Maybe they are doing this only to scare the natives who would want to make incursions." Seamus said.
"It's not supposed this to be done during school time I will go to professor Dumbledore to ask about this. We prefects are usually informed about those things." Harry said.
"You know some members said that maybe we should include some droids in the DA too. You Prefects theoretically are also in contact with them." Seamus said.
"Luckily with the decent types." Ron said, and he knew what he was saying despite the wizards been reticent about having them around Hogwarts they really did in time became part of the school, especially the ones who were veterans and stayed with the school since it was moved on the planet, there were usually not many who were allowed to move around the school, some squads numbering around 5 or 8 were usually assigned to the area of the houses common rooms, those were painted in the colors of the respected houses and developed some personalities, the main one been always friendly to the students.
"We will talk about this at the next DA meeting." Harry said before packing to leave just when Professor McGonagall came by talking with one of the field commanders, the one who was during the welcome ceremony.
"I thought that we were agreed to not have loud exercises, like artillery for instance during school time unless necessary and with our and the auror's consent."
"Professor McGonagall I assure you that it wasn't even programmed, the 2 commander didn't allowed anything like this unless we are given consent. It is the new one that was sent in, he order it so to see how well organized and how fast it is done. We really don't know why it was calculated this to be done now." He said.
"Well I hope someone didn't bring this new colleague of our security chiefs here so he could act with impunity, we have an arrangement that has worked very well you do remember it."
"Everyone does deputy headmistress and our job is to protect Hogwarts and the Hogsmeat along with the populated areas around it. This is our programming; it is not our duty to interfere in the normal course of things of Hogwarts for either faculty or students." He said.
"Good to hear this but do inform us when he wants to do something off." She said.
"Roger, Roger." He said leaving the deputy headmistress to tell the tactical droids as Harry returned to library where Ron started signing some of the letters.
"The way to spend my Wednesday evening, at least it isn't a fans mob chasing me." He said feeling shivers down his spine as if the freezing spell had been casted on him.
"I heard it was horrible I had been there, boy you got a rough time, still I wonder how it was." Seamus said.
"You don't want to know." Ron said between his teeth as if hearing again what he Hermione and Harry said when they were chased by the mob.
Flashback
"We only came after our school supplies." Harry called while running the streets from a mob of crazy fans from different wizard colonies some, were even former students if not possible younger students.
"BUT WE LOVE YOU!"
"It's no reason to chase us." Ron said.
"If any of you are students we will duck points from you if you do this, we are prefects!" Hermione said sternly but in exasperation for this scene.
"Brr, how I wish to had been only a side character now." Ron said before Harry returned.
"Heard professor McGonagall, it seems the exercises were done solely out of our new third security chief's own accord, without consulting the others and the faculty." Harry said.
"Do we have some sort of robotic version of Umbridge now?" Asked Ron, really not wanting to relive the experience of his fifth year, especially during the time of her as the headmaster and High Inquisitor at Hogwarts.
"Depends on how the situation evolves, it seems we have to keep an eye on the actions of the garrison, more to make sure they don't provoke the natives." Harry said.
"We really have an interesting year." Seamus said.
"At least there will be a good side to this; natives aren't problematic as dark wizards are, they can easily be scare if they are not controlled by some rouge death eater." Ron commented looking at the time table.
"That remains to be seen." Harry said.
"Anyways, it's near dinner time." Ron said getting on his feet and taking the bag of letters to sign later in the common room. "And Hermione will have a lot of fun signing those." He said with a smirk wanting to see her face when she will have to sign those letters.
Author's note: Took some long time but I hope it was to liking this chapter. Do tell and leave reviews on what you want to see in the future.