The History of the Imperial Army (Patreon)

When talking about the Legions, one has to know their root: the Imperial Army of Zebrinica.  Unlike ponies, who relied upon Celestia, her acolytes, the Wonderbolts, or the Royal Knights, the Imperial Army had to contend with large scale warfare.  Griffons, dragons, and monsters frequently endangered zebra settlements and it was the Army's duty to intercept, protect, and defend.  While ostensibly 'defensive' many historical critics note the Army was not above provoking conflict to justify a 'defensive' war.

The pre war army was formulaic in its arrangement.  Each army had 144,000 soldiers.  These were divided into twelve divisions of 12,000 each.  Each division had 12 battalions of 1000 soldiers.  Battalions (the traditional 'minimum numbers for a battle' could then be subdivided at the commanders discursion, but 10 Blocks of 100 soldiers was the norm.  The hundred would then be broken down into squads of 10 or 20.  A soldier was expected to, on demand, be able to name their army, general, division, subgeneral, battalion, commander, block, captain, squad, and lieutenant.  Each lieutenant would select zebras to serve as paragons, acting as non-comissioned officers organizing and overseeing the squad.

Zebrinica had four standing armies at any time, moving clockwise around zebrinica and rotating use of imperial barracks.  This was to prevent complacency and corruption from developing in one region.  When trouble was discovered, the nearest army would be tasked with allocating numbers needed to deal with the threat.  Local suppliers kept the army fed, and in general the four armies were seen between glamourous servants of the Empire and annoying roamers making things annoying every other year.  A soldiers term of service was 8 years, but many could be released after 4.  Indeed, in peace time, many of the armies were 'consolidated' with battalions and divisions merged together to save on costs.

While the imperial army was the largest armed force in Zebrinica, it wasn't the only.  All tribes maintained bodies of soldiers, sailors, and defenders.  These forces were partisan or mercenary in nature, where as the army's mandate was to be neutral in all interactions with the tribes.  This created tensions with waxed and waned over the years.  In spite of numerous attempts to entangle the army with local politics, the army maintained its independence through out the second Empire.

At the start of the war, a zebra soldier's equipment consisted of boots, uniform, metal armor, helmet, saddlebags, shovel, knife, canteen, pistol, rifle, grenade, field manual, and one kilogram of personal items that could fit in a sack with the soldier's glyphmark.  The sack was protected and personal, and could not be searched by officers without a warrant.  Blocks rebelled with unlawful searches occurred, and officers who undertook such searches were subject to legal and personal reprisals.  Stealing a sack was tantamount to betrayal, and on a soldier's death, it was to be returned to the family, village, or tribe unopened.  It was said that a soldier could be naked and still identified as a soldier by the gray bag slung around their neck.  While some civilians copied the style, it was generally seen as in poor taste.  At some points, a civilian could be drafted if seen wearing a military style sack around their neck.

The zebrinican navy was essentially the various To tribes, loaned to soldiers when needed.  Patrol paths tended to avoid any route that would involve embarking.

Life in the army was generally seen as tolerable, if dull, with lots of walking.  Genders were mixed or segregated at the discursion of the general.  Many families were formed after terms were up, and some Roamani blocks wed in masse on release.  Any children accidentally begot would be returned to the family or tribe of the mother after birth, or father if permitted.  The army, however, served a critical role in setting up the third empire.  In the army, disparate tribes intermingled.  Ideas were blended together and a lingering loyalty to the zebra as a nation rather than zebra as twelve and one tribes set in.  Only Starkatteri were barred from service.  While most soldiers volunteered, draftees could be called at any time, and the few Starkatteri soldiers were such draftees.

When the Last Caesar rose to power, the army was largely seen as obsolete and archaic.  Many units still carried swords and spears into battle, and communication was difficult.  When the wonderbolts, and not the army, rescued hostages it was not just a slap in the face of the Caesar, but also the army as well.  Modernization of the army became imperitive as old weapons were replaced with modern ones, communication lines were spread out, and many irregular units of griffon mercenaries were dismissed or consolidated.  The tribes grudingly supported this effort as necessary, though some feared the application of the army against the tribes.

One of the critical changes made to the army was the introduction of legions.  These were specialized apparati designed to support the operation of the army.  While many assumed legions and the army were one and the same, in reality the legions were supplemental to the bulk fighting forces.  Before, an army would have to draft, train, equip, provision, coordinate lodging and technology, fuel, and transportation all on their own, making them grossly inefficient and slow.  The legions divested the army of those responsibilities.

The first legion was security, serving as bodyguards to officers, tribal leaders, and the Caesar himself.  The first legion's role gave them superiority in most circumstances to protect their charges.  Many resented the first legions attitude of 'first among equals', and the legion did not work to ingratiate itself to the army or other legions.

The second legion was judiciary, to resolve the many, many interarmy conflict that arose within the army and between the army and various civilian agencies.  The legion later became investigative as well, searching for signs of corruption or outright treason.  Like the first, the second legion didn't fraternize with the army in an effort to maintain impartiality.

The third legion was reconnaissance, operating with and without army support.  The third legion operated observation posts and radioed in threats.  While most imagine the third legion as lone scouts, the third legion also groomed intelligence assets where they operated, and were encouraged to hide their affiliation.  The third legion had many members who were born in Equestria and other foreign lands.

The fourth legion was logistics.  They maintained the network of trains, trucks, planes, and later ships, that serviced the armies.  Trains were the primary mode of distribution, and the legion likewise kept the motorpool, artillery, and armored vehicles of the legion operating.  The fourth legion was closely integrated with the army.

The fifth legion were the engineering corps.  Tasked with everything from laying track to building fortifications, the fifth legion would build it.  Many of the fifth legion's constructions were unconventional, but worked.  When tasked with bringing trains to a swamp, the Legion built a network of raised tracks, inspite of everyone claiming it would be impossible.

The sixth legion were provisions and medical.  The sixth gathered supplies and maintained medical hospitals for wounded and sick.  The sixth legion worked closely with the Mendi tribe and was the only aspect of the military the mendi served roles in.  There was some friction in this, as the sixth legion's goal was to get wounded soldiers back to the battle, while the tribe wanted them out of the army.

The seventh legion was emergency response.  This legion interacted with local police, fire, and medical personelle to put local assets to use to protect or recover from disaster or attack.  While first a small legion, it grew rapidly as a bridge between army assets and civilian disaster needs.  The seventh legion also served a propogandistic role, as they were widely beloved by the populace at large.

The eighth legion was the navy.  Mostly made up of Atoli, the navy was largely borrowed at first, using ships purchased from the tribe.  However, the navy was quickly fortified into a coastal security force, and then expanded into an escort service to far away lands.  Many protested the eighth legion's explosive budgetary growth, but it was permitted, especially as trade with Equestria soured.

The ninth legion was largely an afterthought: the aeronautical legion.  While planes, airships, and balloons were in use, few thought of their application in war.  The ninth legion found those applications, using air craft and batwing talismans to demonstrate uses of air power in combat.  From batwinged squads deploying like paratroopers to fighters, the ninth legion worked to demonstrate its use to the public at large, but would always be struggling to catch up with Equestrian air power.

The tenth legion was the least glamourous: recruitment and training.  While the draft existed, volunteers were sought in every tribe.  The tenth legion took over training, ensuring uniform standards and quality in every soldier, no matter what tribe or legion they eventually went to.  Ironically, the tenth legion gained in power and influence, as they were largely the ones who advanced skilled soldiers into their permanent placements.  The tenth legion retained some the best for themselves, and some accountants questioned the budget of the tenth.

The eleventh legion was added when it became clear that a legion was needed with technological prowess.  Communications, data management, and terminal maintenance became critical tools, and the eleventh worked closely with the fifth legion to lay down informational networks.  When automated systems and robots were developed by Propoli labs, the eleventh took over those responsibilities as well.

The twelfth legion was called the secret legion, and was responsible for maintaining informational security, as well as operating and coordinating secret operations involving intelligence, spirits, weapons of mass destruction, and assassination campaigns.  The twelfth was notorious for its cell like structure.  operations were kept segregated and secret, so that other parts of the legion didn't know what the rest was doing.  Only the general of the legion and the Caesar would be privy to all their operations, in theory.  In practice, there was almost no check on the twelfth's power or paranoia.  Later, the twelfth legion would be responsible for balefire weaponry and the chemical weapon attack on Canterlot.

The twelve legions were introduced and sworn to serve the Caesar, rather than the people as the army was sworn to protect.  Many thought this meant that if the Caesar was removed, the legions would be as well, as their authority was not extended to the army as a whole.  Still, the army welcomed their support, particularly as the war with Equestria began.

In the initial conflict, it is important to note the army did not wish to kill ponies so much as demonstrate their superiority and make up for the humiliation visited upon them by the Wonderbolts.  As a result, many battles were allowed to end without pushing for a decisive victory.  The goal was to 'beat' the enemy, rather than secure strategic goals.  Eventually, it was determined, Celestia would surrender and all would be well.  However, Celestia, fearing attacks on her populace, refused until the zebra army withdrew.  As a result, the conflict continued to drag on with no strategic goal.  As fighting gradually escalated, the zebra people became increasingly disillusioned with the war and the Caesar's persuit of it.

Littlehorn changed everything.  The atrocity itself was upsetting, but when Princess Luna assumed command of the conflict, the 'screwing around' came to an end.  The army refocused and the legions expanded their roles and authority.  The fighting entered a new phase.  The focus shifted to inflicting casualties and occupying territory.  While some gains were made, the new Equestrian army had learned from their ten years of fighting the zebra.  Many Equestrian armies were copied wholesale from their zebra counterparts.  The days of royal guards clashing and wonderbolts dashing came to an end, and the army encountered its first real struggle with the ponies.

The role of the Legions also began to change over time.  Where as before the legions had their own spheres of operation, they became increasingly muddled with that of the army.  Where armies had once been supported by the legions, they were increasingly supporting the legions instead.  Rather than persecuting the fighting, army assets were tied up with legion operations.  This lead to the infamous court martial of General Ubrium, who's army had been tasked with building a rail line by the fourth legion.  The General stated that his army were soldiers, not ditch diggers.  However, the second legion determined the rail line would have serviced all army alike, and that the General was out of order.  Rather than back down, the general forced the court to strip him of rank.

Dozens of other army officers protested this humiliation.  Thus began the 'Reorganization'.  Many career officers were investigated, reassigned, or discharged and replaced with officers friendly to the legion.  Sadly, this happened at the worst possible time.  Many of these officers had seen the rapid and alarming evolution of the equestrian army and tactics.  The ponies, they warned, were innovating quickly, and showed no signs of surrender.  Sadly, these warning were dismissed as cowardice.  It was at this time that the infamous 'Shattered Hoof Ridge' incident occurred.

The degradation of the army continued as the fighting continued.  Though there were token efforts to reform, the army was fighting an enemy without and within.  The ponies started fielding power armor and raptors.  While the zebras did counter with some robotic soldiers that proved promising, the reality was it was too little, too late.  Despite greater numbers and greater industrial power, the inefficiencies of the legion were growing and its ability to prevent war from affecting it dwindled.  Raptors and thunderheads raided deep into the Empire, and the seventh legion was constantly working to repair and restore the damage.  

As the Day of Doom approached, the imperial army was a shadow of its former self, absorbed almost exclusively into the legions, which now acted as proxy warlords.  This not only undermined their fighting ability, but also the support legions were supposed to grant the army as a whole.  More soldiers identified themselves by the legion they served under rather than the army they were assigned to.  Most soldiers were draftees at this point, and officers were inexperienced or dependent on the legions for guidance.  The Twelfth legion assured everyone that no matter what Equestria produced, they had more than enough super weapons to make them regret it.

Then Roam was struck by a megaspell.