Explore the bridge. 50%
Twilight considered for a few moments where they would go first, but really there was no debate. “The bridge is going to be treated as the most essential section of the ship. It’s most likely to remain intact against threats, and to contain the information we need.”
“We already have some idea of what happened,” Rarity said absently. “Assuming we trust Captain Sunset’s story. About creatures getting sick, and the plan to evacuate?”
“I know,” Twilight said. “I’m not saying we don’t trust Sunset. But we need the details. Then we can get the Canterlot out of here.”
“To go nowhere,” Rainbow muttered, the last to pull on her helmet. “There’s no more Equestria. It wouldn’t be here if something terrible hadn’t happened. Sunset’s right about that part, even if she was wrong about everything else.”
“I know,” Twilight said.
They clambered down from the deck of the Prospector, down onto the bright yellow and black emergency patterns. Every step she expected to find the dead, ponies crumpled and shriveled after whatever horrors had brought them here.
But there were none, not in the docking bay, and not all the way to the central elevator. The hardware inside looked different than Twilight remembered—the doors were automatic now, and there was no chair for an operator.
Twilight hammered on the button for the bridge, and soon they were zooming upward. At least for a few seconds, before a series of loud metallic clicks echoed through the shaft, and the car lurched to one side as the emergency breaks engaged.
Rainbow spread her wings in the space beside her, though of course they’d do her little good wrapped in plastic. “That’s not good. Captain?”
Twilight was already on it, ripping the plastic panel off the wall and inspecting the flashing lights underneath. “Looks like we’ve got… a drive failure. We could probably get it to take us the rest of the way with just one motor, if we’re not in a hurry.”
“Already on it.” Rarity blasted the service door over their heads open with a flash of magic, holding several tools around her. “Rainbow, give me a boost?”
Can Rarity fix it? Yes
She hopped back down another moment later, horn glowing to simulate gravity. “Ugh, well. I wouldn’t trust it for the return trip, but we should be able to get to the bridge this way. The state of things out in that elevator shaft… maintenance has really been neglecting their duties.”
Twilight twisted the override key, and they began to rise again, amid constant electrical-sounding protests from far away. She remained tense every second, waiting for something to fail and drop them. At least she could shield the three of them if it did fall, or teleport them up into the shaft.
As they neared the bridge, they passed abruptly through an opaque bubble, a shield that swallowed the elevator in just a few seconds. Her suit began to hiss, its exterior sensors flashing as it read the atmosphere outside. It read as barely safe, with dangerously high levels of C02 and other trace gasses. It was livable, but only just.
“Keep your helmets on,” Twilight said. “We’ll rely on our own supply unless we don’t have a choice.”
“Exactly what I was hoping you’d say,” Rarity muttered. “Can you imagine what it must smell like? From these readings, I’m guessing there are fungal colonies clogging up every scrubber on the station. Or something worse.”
“Don’t think about it that way,” Rainbow suggested. “They made a station cross an interstellar distance. I don’t have a bucking clue how they did it. The Canterlot wasn’t made to travel, and yet here she is. We should be amazed for what they did.”
Ten agonizing minutes later, they finally lurched into place on the bridge level, and the door opened halfway. Twilight shoved it the rest of the way with her magic, emerging into the expansive hallway that had once been the center of Canterlot’s affairs, packed with thousands of ponies and other creatures from all over the kingdom.
Now the space was simultaneously crowded and deserted. Crowded with equipment, machines that occupied all but a narrow gap in the center. The beautiful planters and statues were all gone, replaced with thick pipes connecting one bank of machines to the next, sweating blue liquid.
Cryopods. Thousands and thousands of cryopods. Twilight stepped out, walking until she was in the center of the hallway. The main deck was a ring, circling the entire station in a path roughly a kilometer long. She could see the gentle curve, packed with pods as far as she could see. Not all looked to be in good repair, but there were so many.
“Sweet Celestia,” Rarity swore over the public channel. “There must be a million cryocoffins here.”
“More.” Twilight said. “Imagine if they’d done this to every deck. Every cargo bay, the crew quarters…” but they couldn’t know that for sure of course, not until they actually reached the bridge. It wasn’t far, just a brief climb between the coffins, until they reached the massive metal doors. They opened, and Twilight was again struck with horror at what she saw.
There were ponies in here, wearing navy bodysuits. Their bodies were strangely stretched, thin and reedy like a creature who had never known gravity. They froze in place, one letting go of their rusty toolbox so that it floated away in air. Another raised a makeshift knife protectively in their magic, baring teeth like a frightened animal.
“Hey…” Twilight began.
1. Subdue the survivors with magic. We don’t have time to waste on a fight in here.
2. Talk them down. It’s the pony way.
3. Leave. Wait until they’re done and come back, they don’t look like they’re up for a chase with legs like those.
Talk them down, they're likely too frail for Twiggles' magic... that and she failed too much already for us to trust her to use it propperly.
Yay other ponies!
Diplomacy first, self-defense second.
I'm not surprised people are pretty well agreed so far on this one. It only makes sense to try and talk to them; fighting with them is more likely to CAUSE an injury, to them or the new ponies, and leaving defeats the entire purpose. Besides, I'd bet that Twilight is a fair bit stronger than them, so if things DO go south, subduing can still be on the table.
Hmm. Wearing jumpsuits and using tools are certainly encouraging signs. The tooth-baring could be as much a fear response as a threat display. Imagine how the locals might feel about these freakishly stocky figures. Best to at least try the diplomatic approach... and hope that the linguistic drift hasn't been too severe.
Violence should be the last resort here. Talk to them first.
Speak softly, get their attention.
If that don't work, break out the ceremonial whoop-ass stick and use it for its named purpose.
Talk to them, their minds may still be about them
9872681
*Offers Mr. Breakface for use*
They're likely incredibly weak. Aggression here will not likely improve anything.
I do not have a lot of confidence in this elevator ride.
This also seems bad.
That's a lot of cryopods. No way it's enough for an entire solar system's population, but they appear to have brought a very sizable remnant. That's plenty enough to reboot a civilization.
Holy crap, living ponies. Looks like the maintenance crew have been trying their best in a rough situation and with generations of effort. I'm thinking to let's try to talk before we jump immediately to subduing everyone.
Talking is the only real way to go, everyone seems united on that. Fighting makes ya look questionable at the least, even if it's just restraining. Running makes you look suspicious or possibly weak as well as solving nothing.
Now as follow ups those choices are viable. Restraining is pretty noble once you've actually been attacked. Running is reasonable if you get outnumbered or something. What ya see so far isn't always all there is. It's also not suspicious at least once you've tried to talk.
Now the danger of talking is you lose initiative if violence does come your way. Or they could call more attention to things in a problematic way.
Still the best option. Just need some caution along with the compassion.
Ha, ha, oops. I accidentally deleted my comment.
After 100+ chapters, I finally reached here thankfully. Gotta say I am very impressed with the story, though sometimes characterization of some characters was a little bit iffy for me, but since this is an AU, I'll let it slide.
As for the chapter itself, I think it would be wise to talk it out. If we can avoid fighting and make peace, everyone would benefit.
uhh, neigh?
: "I can fix everything!"
: "As long as it isn't covered in dirty machine oil."
Cryocoffins seems like a good term here.
As for the vote:
Talking first. If things go bad Twilight should still be stronger.