“OK, stop for a minute. This is Silver Lining, and this is my 21st birthday! It's been so great to everyone that- hehe, stop it! To everyone that came, and to everyone that donated to this awesome party! I just want you all to know that I appre- *loud explosion*”
-Recoding of the final moments of Silver Lining, killed on Stardate 792, casualty: Arcturus sneak attack
“What exactly am I looking at, Ma'am?” Ditzy stared at the holoscreen displaying a station in orbit.
“It's Arcturus station, about a half-hour ago.” Luna responded. She sat behind her desk of obsidian and polished onyx. Her dark purple uniform was adorned with the symbols of her rank as the leader of the New Lunar Republic. “Be quiet now, and just watch.” Ditzy leaned a bit closer in, scanning for any change beyond the high-altitude traffic on the planet beyond. Her eyes locked in on a small flash that seemed to have come from one of the lower docking bays. Only a moment later, the entire station was split in half by a massive explosion. Ditzy stepped back in shock as the two halves detonated again, the blast wave destroying most of the other defenses in orbit. Luna tapped a button on the display. “That's where the display ends.” Ditzy was still reeling from this information. It was unthinkable for her that it was even possible that so many lives could be taken that quickly. She wanted so desperately to believe that someone, anyone had gotten out. But she had seen the vid, there had been almost no warning. Nobody would have been able to get to an escape pod in time.
“What's the final count?” She asked shakily, just moments from tears.
“Twenty-thousand four-hundred twenty-eight.” That was all that Ditzy could stand. She fell to her knees, tears flowing freely.
“Who could do such a thing?” She choked out between sobs.
“We don't know. That ship wasn't marked, and no records have been found. It wasn't long after that the system was taken by them. We haven't received any casualty reports.” Luna replied, her steady voice hiding the fear and sorrow she felt. “They did this with some kind of ultra-advanced mass bomb. We don't have anything that can match it, and nothing to defend against it. I'm taking it to The Doctor, but I wanted to see if you knew of any way to defend against high-pressure waves.” Ditzy shook her head sadly. “Very well.” Luna said quietly. “I'm sorry I had to subject you to this. You can go if you like.” Ditzy slowly climbed to her feet, and then ran from the room.
Luna sighed, and then sent the report to The Doctor and then sat back in her chair to think. At times like this she would normally get behind her sister, but since they split apart into separate empires, Luna felt like she had something to prove. She needed her sister to know that she was just as capable of running an empire as anyone else. But no sooner had the thought crossed her mind that it occurred to her there was no point in running an empire that had no subjects. With a quiet sigh, she turned to regard the screen built into the wall behind her, and placed a call with a few presses of the keys beneath it. She sat back in the chair, much less regal than anyone in a position of power should be, especially in negotiation. The one Luna was calling, however, did not require such formality.
Only a few moments after the call was placed, the screen flicked to life, revealing quite possibly the most regal figure Luna knew. She was dressed all in white, with several colors streaking through her hair. An effigy of the sun rested on the wall behind her.
“Sister.” Celestia spoke gently. “To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?”
“I only wish it were pleasant.” Luna replied curtly, drawing a confused look from her sister. “We were attacked.” Celestia's look went from confusion to worry.
“What happened? Is everything ok?”
“No, an entire station full of subjects is dead! We made no provocations to anyone, and the ship designs are recorded nowhere in any archives I can find. I'm worried that we cannot fight alone.”
Now it was Celestia's turn to sigh.
“Sister, you know that I cannot become directly involved.”
“But without help we may be-”
“Calm yourself, sister.” Celestia retained her calm poise throughout. “I did not say that I wouldn't help, merely that I cannot engage your enemies. You know that. However, I will send you my best commanders to assist. They should arrive in a few days time. Good luck to you sister.”
`The transmission cut out. Somehow, despite the promise of help, Luna was more upset than ever. Perhaps it was her sister's lack of eagerness to protect her? But Luna knew that she had been the one to insist upon her own empire. Thinking about it made her head hurt. She needed a drink, etiquette be damned.
“Guard!” she called to the soldier standing beyond the doors at the end of the room. “Bring me the best brandy we have!”