Chapter four
Nebs pounded on the bridge door furiously with her hooves. She knew it was a futile effort, but she persisted.
“I am not gonna die like this.” She thought “No gorram way.”
She felt a sharp pain in her right foreleg as the hoof struck the door at an uncomfortable angle. She recoiled at the impact.
“Dammit!” She yelled.
Glancing toward the bridge window, she noticed the captain’s chair wasn’t bolted down. Walking over, she grabbed the chair and began smashing it into the door. After a few minutes of swinging the chair and uttering a number of colorful metaphors, she collapsed, exhausted. She was going to die here. There was no way out of this.
The ship’s console started beeping. Getting to her hooves slowly, Nebs made her way to the front of the bridge. The Tantabus’ radar showed another ship approaching on the port side. Her heart skipping, Nebs flipped the transponder switch. Nothing. The other ship was on a direct course for the Tantabus.
The bridge rocked suddenly as the new ship began firing at the Tantabus. Dozens of warning lights flashed on turning the room red. Quickly, Nebs hailed the other ship, and the firing ceased. The vidscreen flicked on, showing a bald tan pony. over his face he wore a black gas-mask of some kind, a pair of flight goggles, and a tattered military uniform.
“What the hell?” he asked his crew, his voice muffled. ”Boss said this ship was dead.”
“Well obviously not” Nebs replied. “Who are you anyway, scavers?”
“We ain’t scavers, you little b...”
“Calm yourself, Terrec.” A stern voice interrupted. ”She meant no offence, I’m sure. let me speak with her.”
Terrec rolled his eyes, but moved from the camera.
A second stallion stepped into view. He had a soft yellow coat and a short greying tan mane. He also wore a gas-mask and a ragged robe-like outfit.
“I am called Se’roth, most call me Sero, however,” He spoke, “What may I call you?”
“N-Nebula Dusk, or Nebs,” She replied, “What are you ponies doing out here?”
“Before I answer, a question: Do you belive in Celestia?”
“Umm, of course I do. Everpony does.” Nebs spoke impatiently, shivering from the cold air around her.
“We seek a deeper understanding of her radiance. That artifact is part of her divine glory. A shard of her being. It is an item we seek.”
“Well I’ll let you take it then, just get me off this ship before I freeze to death.”
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After Saro’s and his crew had boarded and disabled Umbra’s core processor, they helped Nebs to her ship, then latched on to the Mercy with a Mag cable and began towing. The cable reeled in pulling her ship closer until she could dock with the other ship, the Dawn’s Raiment. After docking Nebs entered the Raiment.
As she walked toward the bridge, she noticed the interior walls had been mostly stripped of paneling, revealing the insulated bundles of wire, and conduits that ran trough the inside of the ship like a spider’s web. The few panels remaining were painted with garish green symbols and strange markings. The ship was mostly lit by braziers filled with dozens of pale candles, bits of metal melted into the wax and carved with spiraling shapes. Hanging from the ceiling were hundreds of small copper colored metal trinkets, all carved with intricate symbols. The air was filled with an exotic spicy-sweet aroma.
Standing on the bridge, Saro gestured to a nearby chair. With a nod, she walked over to the chair and sat. As she passed, Terrec shot her a nasty look.
The bridge was roughly horseshoe shaped with a number of simple chairs and a curved pyroglas window wrapping around the room. A curved grey console ran along the front of the bridge, it’s analog computers humming softly and orange lights flickering with life. This was an old short distance ore hauler, an antique even.
“Spiced Coffee?” Saro offered, pouring the black liquid into a large mug.
Nebs nodded.
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” She replied.
Saro passed the mug to her carefully, then sat down on a chair across from her. Thanking him a second time, she took the mug and sipped it. The liquid inside was a strong brew with a hint of cinnamon , sugar, and a touch of something else.
“So, what happens now?” she asked.
“We have the artifact, so we are headed back to our home,” Saro replied,” You may stay a long as you need, and you may use our bays to repair your ship. We just ask that you respect our ways and at least try to help out in any way you can.”
“Sounds reasonable,” Nebs spoke with a nod.
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After a short voyage, the Raiment decelerated and began maneuvering into docking position. To the port side, there was a large station floating in a stable asteroid cloud. The station consisted of several grey metal boxes jutting out of a large reddish asteroid. Some of the exterior panels were painted with the same green patterns as the ship, and at various spots white lights lit up the outside. A large windowed overlook jutted out over the docking tube, lights underneath casting a greenish glow on the Raiment. on one large section of paneling, the word cathedral was crudely painted in green over the original name. Nebs found it impossible to read the old name.
Stepping into the docking tube with Saro, she noticed it was made of the same yellowish pyroglas as the ship’s windows. Pyroglas wasn’t commonly used anymore, most ships and stations used cheaper material now, such as Magpoly, or Titantine. Stronger, more cost effective magnetic shielding had made expensive pyroglas windows mostly obsolete.
The station airlock opened with a hiss as they neared. Stepping into the station proper, Nebs looked around. The station’s interior had similar decor as the Raiment. Dominating the center of the massive room was a copper hued statue of princess Celestia, her wings spread wide as she shot up from a shallow pool of water to the sky.
A female voice drew her attention
“Saro, my love, I see we have a visitor.”
Saro walked over to the mare and kissed her.
“We do, Kira, her name is Nebula Dusk.”
Kria focused her piercing green eyes on Nebs.
“What brings you to our home, Nebula Dusk?” she asked, “Do you seek to join the Children of the Glow?”
“My ship was disabled out in the Hydra nebula,” Nebs answered, ”Your people saved my life.”
“I see,” Kira spoke softly,”I am Kira’Sha. Welcome to our home."