Exhausted Morningstar sat in the office of the wharf chief of the station. They had only barely managed to jump to the station lovingly dubbed ‘The shaft’. The reports on the ship were spread out front of him, Balefire, who stared at them disbelievingly, and Lightning, bandages still clinging to his burned flank. The engineers of the wharf had been speechless as they laid eyes upon the ship. They had all seen battered up ships it their time, but this thing that the Stallion so lovingly called Selena was something else. On her aft a large portion of the hull was melted away. The left wing, (The goddess only knew why the ship had wings anyway) was completely torn off. Inside it was even worse. The ship seemed to mainly consist of duct tape and Isolation spray. The shields were fried and by all accounts they should not have withstood the stress of slip-space. Never mind that the engines blew out during the landing, further damaging the already ruined ship.
“We can get a new ship.” Lightning began, making Morningstar wince even before Balefire had time to react.
“I don’t want a new ship!” Balefire yelled, her voice cracking in anger. She swallowed, regaining her usual rough tone, “Selena was- IS my ship, and I will make her better.”
“Balefire,” Lightning began in a soothing tone, “I’ve repaired ships all my life, and if even half of this is true,” He said pointing to the report,
“Which I am sure of by the way, then it would cost a fortune to repair it-”
“HER!”
Lighting sighed, “I’m sorry, her… But for the price you could probably afford a frigate, or maybe even a small cruiser.”
“I don’t care!”
“Be reasonable, there-”
Lightning was cut off as the door opened and the chief engineer stepped in. He was a large, grey-maned unicorn with a rugged look. “Sorry about that,” He said sitting down across from them, “Now let’s get down to business. Would sure have loved to see her in her prime. Some fine Venturian crafatponies worked on her. Her core is still intact, but the rest of her… I could give you a good price for some of the scrap, but that’s about it.”
“You won’t touch Selene!” Balefire screamed jumping from her chair.
“Selene…” The chief engineer let the name roll from his tongue. “A good name for a good ship. Wish I could help some more, but there is nothing we can do. Venturian ships are mostly incompatible with any other tech, and pardon my saying, but neither of us have the bits for the parts.”
“Sorry,” Morningstar interjected, “But you keep saying that word, ‘Venturian’… What exactly does it mean?”
Lightning and Balefire both looked at him as though he had just sprouted another head. The chief engineer only chuckled before answering: “They were the envy of all ponykind, at least that’s what they tell me. Legend says they were the most beautiful creatures ever to grace the cosmos. They were almost twice as tall as the average pony and lived for centuries, though they grew neither horn nor wings, not that that is a bad thing,” He said with a nod to Lightning, “, but you can’t just believe any story. All we have now from them is some of their old tech, and by old I mean it was so outdated they couldn’t be bothered to come pick it up.”
“And why can’t you just rebuild it?”
Lightning had to stifle a laugh, “Build a Venturian ship! While you’re at it how about you just grow a pair of wings!” Even Balefire gave a slight chuckle at the absurdity of the idea, but Lightning continued as though he hadn’t even noticed, “No pony has ever been able to reproduce Venturian tech. It is so precise and the materials involved have properties we couldn’t even begin to imitate.”
After he had explained some more about the impossibilities that were venturian tech he turned to the chief. Morningstar sat there, not paying attention as Lightning talked rates with the engineer. He looked over at Balefire and, for the first time in his life, he could have sworn that his friend was close to tears. She held them in and, as she saw Morningstar stare, she flashed a week smile. Morningstar had to look away. He had taken so much from his friend. The few times he had flown with Balefire the mare had seemed so happy. On the ground, and even on other ships she was always so reserved. When she was in her ship, in her home, she was completely different though. She was outgoing and friendly, and to be honest, she was one of the few ponies Morningstar ever felt close to.
Looking up Morningstar locked eyes with the engineer, “Excuse me?” he asked, rasping to make sure his voice was clear. “I know it might not be enough, but would this help?” Morningstar levitated a single bit out of his saddlebags. It wasn’t a normal credit bit though. It was an heirloom that had been passed down in his family for such a long time, that his grandfather had even claimed it had been from the days when ponykind had still been confined to a single planet. Morningstar had of course not believed it, but, despite his best attempts, he had never been able to date the artefact. Strange energy radiated from it, similar to that of the Commonwealth’s energy crystals, and yet so very different. In the end all he could do was keeping it safe, and hidden, even from Lightning. Now, he couldn’t do that anymore. No matter what it meant he had to make up for what he had done to Balefire.
For a second the room was silent as he pulled the coin out. Just as instantaneously as the silence fell a gasp of astonishment filled the room. “How did you get that!?” The engineer exclaimed.
“It’s an heirloom,” Morningstar said pulling the trinket closer to himself, “My uncle gave it to me before he passed. Why?”
The engineer carefully watched Morningstar. “It is an old artefact. Some say the predate history itself. Are you sure that your uncle gave this to you?” He asked, “You didn’t find this in some ruins or take this of some idiots body?”
“No… He was the pony who took care of me since before I can remember.”
“Tell me about him.”
Morningstar’s looked at his two companions. Balefire looked just as confused as he was, but Lightning stared at him expectantly. He probably wanted to know the story just as much as the engineer did. A sigh escaped Morningstar, “Fine… His name was Dusk Blood, I don’t actually remember very much about the early years, but many years ago, as I was still a little colt, raiders attacked the village. Everyone told me that the whole village was occupied. It took the griffons a whole year to fight the raiders off, but by then my parents had long been killed. The town made sure there was someone who would take care of me. After less than a year my uncle came. He took me from the town and took care for me.”
A small smile emerged on Morningstar’s muzzle, “He was a really great stallion. Everypony knew that if they needed help he would be there. They didn’t even need to ask, he just knew somepony needed him and there he was. It didn’t matter what it was, he could handle it.” Morningstar finally looked up at the engineer, “Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t stronger than the other ponies, or even notably smarter. Things just seemed to work out around him.”
“What did he look like?”
Morningstar looked up at the engineer, only now realizing he hadn’t actually told him how his grandfather looked. It was strange. In his life he had never had to describe what his grandfather looked like. Everypony, even those that just came for a visit knew who he was. “He was a kind of smallish, green unicorn with a blond mane.” Morningstar explained, “At least it was blonde in some of the old photos of him. He always made sure that he looked immaculate. I can’t remember his fur ever being marred by even the smallest smudge, at least except for his tattoo.”
“Tattoo?” the engineer asked.
“Yes. Even though he was always against tattoos or any kind of body alteration, especially cybernetics, he had a small tattoo of a fading star on his flank. He never would tell me where it came from, but he always said it was a reminder of who he really was. A memento that, no matter what happened he was still himself.”
The engineer nodded his head and asked that Morningstar let him see the trinket. He let his hoof wander over the bit and carefully inspected every inch of it. Finally, after what felt like an hour he levitated it back into Morningstar’s saddlebags. “Kid…” He began looking at Morningstar with a stern expression, “I don’t want you to ever, and I mean EVER take this out again. Two of my boys a will take you to Lady Ribbon in the neighbouring station. She will give you a room. I don’t what to hear that you so much as said hello to anypony until two weeks from now.”
“But what about Selene?” Balefire asked.
“It’s a shame she has to stay here for that long, but we will get her back up on her… Well…” The engineer cocked his head thinking for a second- “Wings, I guess?” He shook his head and turned back to Balefire, “Anyway, you don’t have to worry about her.”
After that the engineer more or less kicked them out of his office, grabbing his commlink and already barking orders into it. Outside two sturdy workers already waited ready to take the three ponies away. The station they had crash landed on was an ancient construct etched out of a giant asteroid in the emptiness of space. As they left the metal corridors of the wharf and stepped onto the rocky ground that was the central complex they saw countless ponies, minotaur, griffons and other creatures roaming the cavern. Small buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, though they didn’t even get close to reaching the ceiling. There were homes, shops, restaurants and numerous less reputable businesses. They radiated outward from a large, black metal column standing in the middle of the cavern.
The two stallions lead them through the streets, ignoring watchful eyes of the inhabitants. Morningstar shrank back. Those looks were all too familiar to him. A deep seated anger hidden behind apathetic gazes. Quickly he followed the two stallions. He could feel the gazes bore into the back of his head. All his life the ponies of Rifton had watched him carefully, almost as though they knew something he didn’t. This was different though. They watched the whole group with the same eyes that the ponies of Rifton had had after his last ‘experiment’.
As they approached the central Tower Morningstar saw that it was in fact not just a strut to keep the roof from crashing down, but a central elevator. Around it guardsponies armed with heavy blaster rifles patrolled. Their faces were hidden by their heavy plate armour. It was made out of reinforced carbon plating, overlapping so as to make the wearer look more like an armadillo than a pony. Morningstar couldn’t take his eyes off of them. He had heard of these full suite armours, but he had never seen them before. Granted, he knew these where still some of the lighter classes of military armour, but that didn’t do much to lessen the imposing image.
Lightning nudged him and pointed along the walls. At some places the metal was partially melted. Somepony had fired at the guards, and recently. Morningstar shook as a cold shiver went down his spine. Quickly he walked onto the elevator, the doors closing behind him. Together they rode down into the depths of the asteroid. They all nervously watched the rock walls passing by as airlocks slowly prepared for their passing. The last airlock opened and they were lead through into a small shuttle.
“Why did everypony look at us like that?” Lightning asked as the ship slowly started moving through the hangar.
The two guardsponies eyed him for a moment, “We have good jobs, earn a decent amount of credits. They don’t.” The larger of the two said turning back to the cockpit. Nopony else said anything as they flew out of the asteroid into the endless emptiness of space. The vastness closed in on Morningstar, just like it did every time. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to force himself to stay calm. As they pulled away from the station he reopened his eyes. On the screen in front of them a HUD had appeared, showing distances to the different asteroids and their destination. It was only eighty-three clicks away.
“Incoming Jump,” The radio crackled, “Brace for interference.”
“Affirmative.” The smaller of the two ponies responded, flipping a few switches. A shudder went through the ship as a bright light appeared in space in the distance. From the light an enormous ship emerged. Two large, though notably smaller ships jumped in flanking it on either sides.
“That’s a coalition battleship!” Balefire exclaimed pointing at the ship.
The stallion flying the ship signalled to be quiet as he turned up the transmitter. “This is Coalition battleship Starlance, ship designation three-four-seven. Hailing mining outpost haley-two.”
Morningstar looked at the two stallions confused. “Officially this is still a mining station.” They said answering the unasked question.
“This is mining station haley-two,” came the response, “You are not in our schedule, please state your mission.”
“Greetings haley-two. Requesting an approach vector for the dry-dock. Require emergency hull-patch for aft and bow and a replacement for our drive.”
“Affirmative. Hold.”
Silence filled the cabin for a whole minute as they glided through the emptiness of space, all the while the coalition ship looming over them. They came ever closer until they were only about a click off. By then the ship dominated the screen. From so close they could see plasma leaking through the tattered hull.
“See there?” The small stallion in the front asked pointing at a dense collection of debris. “From the pattern you can tell they were hit by a rebel missile frigate. The rebels even got pretty lucky. Look at the missile bay.” He pointed at a series of covered shafts on the side of the ship. “There are no burn marks there. Either the rebels have gotten better with their ambushes or they got lucky. Must have knocked out the targeting systems.”
“Approach vector calculated.” Came the same crackling voice through the radio. “Welcome to ‘The Shaft’.” The engines of the battleship flared to life, silently drifting forward towards the large asteroid that was the station.
“Are you going to tell us why you are catering to that scum?” Balefire asked with thinly veiled rage.
“Lady Ribbon can answer any of your questions better than we can. We are here anyway.” The stallion answered calmly as the ship pulled around an asteroid. In it a large structure of clean, fresh metal was embedded. They approached and a large metal bulkhead opened, granting them access. The pilot had a short talk with the flight control of the station. As the dock pressurized the pilot took his headset off. He stood up with a slight grin, “Welcome to ‘The Hole’.”
They were escorted to the shuttle doors where a homely old mare waited for them. “Good morning,” She said, her pink mane falling over her face as she gave a friendly bow, “Please follow me and I will answer all your questions.” Balefire rose her hoof prepared to protest, but Lighting stepped in between them. He whispered something Morningstar couldn’t hear to her and then, after staring each other down for a few seconds they followed.
The station was eerily clean, and quiet. The metal was polished almost to a fault, and their hofosteps made a strange hollow ring. They passed dozens of doors, each numbered. Along a hall with no doors they passed a gate Lady Ribbon had to open with a retina scan. Inside there was only a single door at the end of a corridor. Through the door they found a lavish, though slightly sterile living room. There were ample seating-accommodations. The neighbouring rooms were suited for a king to sleep in.
“I hope you will like it here. Unfortunately you will not be able to leave these quarters for the time being.” Lady ribbon said nervously.
“Why?” Balefire asked her tone dripping with bile. Morningstar nudged the mare, but she continued anyway, “And for that matter, since when do free stations invite coalition ships!”
Lady ribbon shrank back, “It’s not so much inviting…”
“Balefire,” Morningstar said in as soothing a tone he could manage. She glared at him but backed down.
“Please, Lady Ribbon,” Lightning interjected, “What is the Coalition doing here.”
With the softer tone from the yellow stallion Lady Ribbon was able to regain some resemblance of confidence. “Our station takes on any ship that requires repairs. It’s the only service we can give, and we give it freely.”
“But why the coalition?” Balefire asked. Her words still carried some of her anger, but it was subdued, “In ‘The Shaft’ there were many ponies, and others, especially Minotaur. Ever since the cleansing of planet Buffington they have been at open war.”
“Not all Minotaur oppose the Coalition.” The pink maned mare interjected, “But you are right. The ponies of the shaft do not like the Coalition. In fact, we separate any Coalition troops from our residents.”
“Then why not simply refuse to accept Coalition ships?” Morningstar asked.
“We cannot.” Lady Ribbon admitted with a frown, “So far out here in fringe space the coalition and the rebels are constantly fighting, not for Territory but for resources and influence. The coalition cannot hold a separate repair station this far from their own supply lines, so they let us be as long as we repair their ships, not without considerable costs of course. The rebels would most likely shut us down if they could, but we cater to all needs. Traders traveling from system to system, the grand Fleets of the Griffon Tsars and even the occasional Raider come here. All these forces are in a careful balance. Neither can take over this station without angering the others. This is why we are left alone.”
“Then why does everypony hate you?” Lightning asked.
Balefire chuckled. Everypony turned to her. “Isn’t it simple?” She asked. When Morningstar and Lightning shook their head she gave an exasperated sigh. “There are how many ponies down there?”
“There are a total of seventy two thousand residents in this station.” Lady Ribbon answered.
“And most of them has got to have their issues with either the Coalition or the Rebellion. The few that don’t hate either probably had their own fair share of hardship thanks to the griffons or raiders. Either way there probably isn’t a single pony on the station, not even you, Lady Ribbon, that despises somepony who’s ship has been repaired here.”
“You are right,” The mare said with a sad smile, “My family was killed when the Coalition bombed what they thought was a rebel Base when in fact they were bombing a small independent settlement, but we all do what we must to survive in this harsh galaxy,” She turned to face Balefire, “am I right?”
There was an uncomfortable silence that lingered in the room. Balefire and Lady Ribbon stared at each other, neither giving an inch. “Then why are you helping us?” Lightning asked, attracting the gazes of both mares, “We don’t have the credits needed, but when the foreman saw that weird bit he almost forced his help upon us.”
“The Foreman is a very old pony. He has been at every conceivable edge of the galaxy. He has fought against the changeling hives, traversed the forbidden sectors and, as I am told, even haggled with the artificial ponies. In his years I have known him he only rarely mentions those he has travelled with, and he almost never mentions ponies he owes a debt. It seems he, at the very least, knew your uncle. I don’t know exactly why he has decided to help you,” Lady ribbon grabbed a remote and switched on the holo-vid to a Coalition news station, “especially after this.”
On the holo-screen an Image of both Morningstar and Lightning was displayed. They were sneering at the cameras and looked as though they some fringe pirate. Under the images warnings flashed:
‘Warning: dangerous criminals wanted for treason
Suspects: Morningstar, Lightning and an unknown third accomplice
Armed and extremely dangerous
Bounty: Alive – 200.000 Credits, Dead – 100.000 Credits’
“Two hundred thousand Credits!” Morningstar exclaimed, panic washing over him. This was it. His life was over. He would never be able to go home. Forget home. He would never be able to be around anypony again. With those kind of funds whoever turned him in would be set for life. In the distance he could hear Lightning try to talk to him, but it just flowed over him. The last thing he remembered was the floor rushing up to catch him.