//------------------------------// // The Stars Will Aid in its Escape // Story: The 6th Element // by WeAreBorg //------------------------------// The 6th Element Chapter 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a My Little Pony fanfic crossover with The 5th Element by WeAreBorg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Sir, the star has joined the others in orbit around a central point, but sensors detect nothing there. Shall we continue to follow it?” “How far away is the center, captain?” The proud general overlooked the starship’s bridge. Helmsmen and technicians lined the room; consoles reported a never ending flow of data. The captain checked the read out and listened to a confirmation in his earpiece. “Roughly 150 million kilometers.” “Take us in.” The massive battle cruiser, property of the Federation, adjusted its course and flew towards the center of the freak astronomical phenomenon at sub-light speed. The ship was the size of a small city, and it looked like one with its lights glowing in the dead of space. The starship was an older build, not as sleek as its newer cousins, but intimidating in its function-over-form design and sharp angles. She was battle hardened; light from the rogue stars revealed many scorch marks and shiny new metal, the result of past battles and subsequent repairs. The ship’s commanding general fit it perfectly: blunt, thorough, and battle hardened. The vessel was a sizable reminder of the might of the Federated Territories. As it hurried toward its objective, sensors and screens outputted data on the four orbiting stars. “The scientists are losing their heads over this, sir. It defies everything we know.” General Stardare stood, unfazed. The image of three gold planets that graced his flank reflected the odd light the multiple stars cast through the viewport. “I know a great deal, captain.” Dozens of technicians, helmsmen, officers and other crew sat scattered across the ship’s bridge. Again with form-over-function, the bridge was divided into easily recognizable sections. Here ponies of all types were one with the ship and operated at a practiced state of efficiency. Battle hardened they were. In no time at all the cruiser reached its objective. “General, we’re stopping just within full combat range.” “Readings?” “None yet, sir.” “Don't you have anything? Even a temperature?” “The thermo-analyzers have jammed. One reads over a million degrees, another's at absolute zero." “Is it a black hole?” The captain put a hoof to his earpiece. “Negative sir. The gravity analyzers are having trouble with four stars in such close proximity, but no mass has been detected at the center.” “Then how come what ever is not there is blocking out the stars behind it?” said general, turning his head towards his subordinate. Sure enough, a void scarred the otherwise pristine star field visible on the screens. One of the many ponies at the consoles spoke up, “Something is taking shape.” The void, blacker than space itself, suddenly exploded outward. A rolling dark cloud billowed forth from nothing, filled with lightning and odd glows. The cloud continued to boil and rotate as the four stars dimmed, no longer bright enough to cast shadows on the ship’s bridge and compete with its internal lighting. Another technician spoke, “Total radiated energy from the stars has decreased to twenty percent.” “What’s the light-time to target?” “Light from the stars is at a 6 min delay,” answered the technician. Without warning each star erupted in light as four beams emanated from the stars and struck the dark cloud. A blinding flash swept across the strange solar system and radiation raked across the ship’s shields. The deck’s screens went offline. Barely shaken from the blast, Stardare followed his training. “Damage report.” “Forward secondary sensor arrays are offline. No other reports. Shields at eighty nine percent,” repeated the captian from his earpiece. “Status of the object?” “The clouds have condensed to a volcanic planetoid.” “Stars have resumed previous energy outputs,” announced one of the crew. “Shield replenishment at phase 2.” The captain faced the general knowing another order was incoming. “Get that screen back online and aim the sub-space telescopes at those stars. I want a warning next time.” On the general’s word the main screen came back online to show that indeed the clouds were gone, revealing a moon. Large volcanic ejections called attention to its angry, writhing surface Rock islands the size of cities floated its magma oceans, and remnants of the black clouds twisted around its poles. “Sir, the planetoid has started to increase in diameter,” said the captain, not believing what he was hearing in his earpiece. General Stardare remained calm. “Send out a probe.” *~~~~~~~~* President Mare, a middle aged, latte colored earth pony with a mother-of-pearl mane and tail, strode into the Situation room. She wasn’t the President of the United Federation for nothing; she could smell the the tension in the air. There was a crisis ahoof. Her bodyguards and aids took their places around her, and her closest military advisors conferred a pony’s length away, the griffon among them hovering closest. As she seated herself at the elevated desk, she took stock of the transformed room. Where normally the chamber was a quiet, unsprung trap of military leaders and alien delegates, today it was alive with scientists and analysts giving voice to the strange happenings trillions of miles away. One of the many analysts gave her an update, “Sub-space transceiver connected; full signal in 30 seconds.” The President’s eyes glanced briefly at the opposite end of the hall then moved on. Seated there were experts of ‘a different sort.’ While they rarely served as members of the council and never as part of a president's cabinet, their unique perspective outside of politics and science on occasion, rare occasions, was useful. President Mare however, hadn’t needed such advice yet. To her things were cut and dry, even if the means to the end were not. Unfortunately the building situation was unprecedented, and campaigning season was just around the corner. Among these experts sat a small yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail. She glanced around nervously at all the strange ponies, desperately wanting to be somewhere else. Her wings twitched nervously at her side as she hid behind her mane, trying to look as small as possible. She gave a startled ‘eep’ and shied away when somepony touched her side. Casting a wary glance over to her shoulder, Fluttershy relaxed just a bit upon recognizing a familiar face. “Oh uh... I - I saved this seat for you, mother,” she mumbled as she vacated the seat. “That is, if you want it.” Drawing her cloak closer about her, a priestess wordlessly took the proffered seat. Millions of miles away, through a subspace wormhole, a connection was made. “We get signal,” said the ship’s communications officer. The captain once again put a hoof to his earpiece. “President on line sir.” “Stardare, do you read me?” The connection from Equestria was tainted with a hint of static. “I can hear you, Mrs. President.” “General, I need to know why the sun of one of our mining colonies just up and left. Stars just don’t leave their solar systems, especially of their own accord. I have to address the Supreme Council in 15 minutes. Tell me as much as you can.” “We found no trace of intelligent intervention or any outside forces propelling the star. We also detected no one following it to its destination.” President Mare raised an eyebrow. “Destination?” “Yes ma’am. The star has fallen into orbit along with three others in close proximity. They appeared to be orbiting nothing until extreme solar activity catalyzed the formation of a small planetoid.” “Anything special about it?” “There are no results from the chemical and molecular analysis as of yet, all the calibers are overshot. We're hoping thermonucleic imaging-” “So what you're trying to say,” she said, rubbing her forehead with a hoof, “is you don't know what this thing is.” Consternation flooded the Situation Room. “Not yet,” said the general as he glared at the volcanic moon. “The only thing we know is that it just keeps getting bigger.” Already sensing the answer, the cream coated mare asked anyway. “Recommendation?” “My philosophy, Mrs. President, is shoot first, ask questions later. I don't like star-stealing uninvited guests.” President Mare put a hoof to her lips in thought and glanced to her military advisors, who each nodded vigorously. “All right, then. Stardare?” “Mrs. President?” A raised hoof caught the President’s eye as its owner rose to her hooves. The room’s attention turned towards the small group of special experts. An automated voice announced the advisor, “Priestess Applejack. Expert in astro phenomenon.” “Yes?” The chestnut colored mare once again drew her cloak about her, a serious tone set in her features. “Ah hav’a different theory to offer ya.” Leaning forward, an aid reminded the President of her time frame, who, nodding in understanding, focused back on the priestess. “You have twenty seconds.” Applejack glanced behind her to see if her acolyte would back her up, but the shy pegasus was too busy hiding behind a very confused looking stallion sitting next to her. Rolling her eyes, the priestess continued, “Imagine if ya will that this... thing is not anythin’ that can be iden’ified ‘cause it prefers not ta be. Wherever there is light it brings night eternal. Wherever there is harmony, it brings discord. Wherever there is life... it brings death,” she swallowed, “because it evil. The darkest evil.” “One more reason to shoot first, I think.” “Evil begets evil, Mrs. President.” Applejack’s expression softened just a bit. It reflected in her tone, “Shootin’ will only make it stronger.” Back on the ship, a technician reported on the probe, “Probe will attain its objective in five seconds.” As the probe splashed into a lava field, the edges of the planetoid darkened and seem to blur into the stars around it. “Receiving probe data,” a voice called out. “We have a bad signal; data is unreadable.” The voice’s owner slammed a hoof on a console a few times. “Probe connection lost.” The President locked eyes with the priestess who in turn raised her eyebrows. A scientist in the situation room sounded an alert. “The moon’s growth rate is 23% a minute.” “Your theory is interesting, Mother, but we don’t have time to get into that now.” “Time is of no importance, Mrs. President," she said as she moved closer. “Only life and harmony.” Exasperation found hold in the President. “You’re correct, and that's exactly what we are going to do: protect the lives of some 200 billion of our fellow ponies! General? You may fire when ready.” Stardare turned to the captain and barked, “Give me an up front loading trifecta of 130 ZRF missiles. Marker lights on the objective. Forward shield diversion.” Shouting across the deck, the captain relayed the orders, “Give me tubes 1, 4 and 5. Board the front door!” A cacophony of voices flew about the deck as crewponies confirmed and reported on their orders. “Three tubes hot!” “Objective painted.” “Forward shields at 130%, phase 1. Cold and ready.” Outside, the moon’s volcanic surface cooled and solidified to a black obsidian sheen. It would have appeared invisible, with its eerie reflection of the starry sky, if it weren't for the perfect mirror image of the starship now present upon its surface. A scientist close to the president read the ship’s sensor data. “The planetoid’s surface has just solidified. Growth rate at 0%.” He continued in dawning realization, “It appears to be anticipating the attack. Anticipation denotes... intelligence.” Applejack closed the distance to the President’s desk, saying, “Tha’ most terrible intelligence imaginable, Mrs. President.” Without looking at the priestess, the president contemplated the military advisors in the room and began to rub her forehooves together. She noted the resolved looks on their faces, especially that of the griffon. “The missiles are loaded, Mrs. President,” reported Stardare. “Finger on the trigger.” “Stardare,” President Mare locked eyes with Applejack, uneasiness in her voice, “I have a doubt.” “I don't, Mrs. President.” Three missiles let loose from the ship, their paths tracing a perfect line for a precision hit. The projectiles slammed into the dark planet, shattering its black mirror facade. A huge spiderweb of cracks traveled across the planet’s surface, revealing the molten core within. Gases and lava erupted from the faults. The ponies on the bridge watched in surprise when the cracks widened and the planet grew in size then solidified over, becoming once more a haunting cosmic mirror. “Um...” A rare feeling of fear filled the General. “Load a series of 740s. All forward batteries.” “Yes, sir.” The captain called across the deck, “740s. Light every candle.” “Stardare?” called President Mare across the connection, “What's going on? Did you destroy it?” “I'm about to, Mrs. President.” A massive second barrage was let loose from the ship. As soon as the missiles hit, the planetoid’s surface shattered like tempered glass. Hundreds of thousands of shards flew into space then dissolved into shadow. The moon, its molten interior now exposed, grew larger still, obsidian melting and reforming in erratic patterns. Back in the Situation Room, alarms indicated a new problem. “The planet's diameter has increased by 200%, and it has started moving toward the ship.” Panicked, President Mare stood, placed her forehooves on the desk, and started to shout, “Stardare! Get out of there! We need to rethink this. Retreat! Stardare, do you hear me?! I don’t want an incident.” “Wha... what do we have tha... that's bigger than 740s?” The general’s voice trembled as he watched the planet approach. Not taking his eyes from his doom, the captain muttered a reply, “Nothing.” This ship was a destroyer of worlds and galactic armadas, but this moon... The occupants of the Situation Room, shocked into silence, could only watch the president as she yelled, “Stardare! Get out of there! That's an order!” Fluttershy hid under her wing, tears streaming down face. Applejack sat down, the color drained from under her coat. Sweat began to show through the general’s fur. He moved his jaw as if to speak but he could only stare, hypnotized, into the shifting black mirrors. The ship’s deck went dark but the screen still played. The crew stared wide eyed, unable to react, pupils tiny pin pricks. Thick trails of blood seeped from under their manes and soaked into their fur as it crawled down their faces. A blackness glazed over Stardare’s eyes. “Sweet... Celestia.” A sickly green inferno erupted from the moon and flew towards the ship. The face of a hellish pony materialized in the flames and opened its mouth to reveal a terrible, fanged maw. It laughed once before devouring the ship. *~~~~~~* Rainbow Dash awoke with a start...