MDC Chapter 15 Preview! · 4:23am Mar 23rd, 2014
Unedited and will be posted along with the rest of the next installment!
For your consideration...
“Two and a half miles, sir!” came the reply. The bridge was bathed in red light. Ponies cut hellish figures as they went about their duties.
“How is it they managed to get so close?” growled the prince irritably.
Stubbs cleared his throat. “Cloud formations, sir. The ship was hiding in one of them. The Overwatch noticed movement and reported it in. We sent two pegasi. Neither have returned yet. The ship emerged shortly after.”
Blueblood ground his teeth for a moment, then assumed his chair. A hot cup of tea awaited him. “Very well, are we cleared for action?”
“Portside main batteries are armed and ready.”
The prince snorted, looking out the windows and into the darkness beyond to where the ship supposedly lay. Stepping towards it, he hefted a pair of binoculars and brought them to his eyes. After a few seconds, he could make out the distant outline of the hostile ship. “Bring the Mare to port. I want the forward tubes locked on her.”
A junior lieutenant had already been trying to make out the ship. “I think she’s of the Sovereign class, sir.” He lowered his glasses and regarded Blueblood.
“Odd,” the prince noted, frowning, “even pirates wouldn’t dream of using a ship that old. Send a flight over and investigate. Something isn’t right about this whole thing.”
Another line of flashes erupted from the oncoming airship. A second later, they slammed against the invisible magic shield generated by a team of four unicorns focusing on a shielding crystal deep in the bowels of the cruiser.
“Time from first volley to the second?” asked Commander Stubbs.
The reply was crisp and professional, if a bit squeaky, “One minute twenty-two seconds, sir!”
“Your orders, Captain?”
“Ready two flights. I want them airborne as soon as the next volley is thrown at us. Have the unicorns ready to drop the shield.” Orders were relayed calmly and efficiently, as if this was no more than a drill or an exercise.
“Princess on deck!”
“As you were,” called out a weary and worried Princess Celestia. The Diarch of the Day entered the bridge, wary to stay out of the way of her little ponies bustling about the business of keeping the ship from harm. “Nephew, what is happening?”
“We’re being attacked by a relic, Auntie,” he replied, giving her a little colt smile. “Very odd. I’m having my pegasi investigate that ship. It has to at least be a century old.” Blueblood offered her his field glasses. She declined with a single shake of her head. “Sovereign class, if I’m not mistaken. She should be in a museum, not trying to go match firepower with the Mare Crisium.”
The junior lieutenant who had initially identified their attacker puffed his cheeks in indignation.
“Princess on deck!” came the cry a second time. Princess Luna had arrived. In exactly three seconds, she was able to deduce what was going on from a glance out the window and a quick mental exchange with her older sister.
“I’m joining the wings going out,” she stated, leaving no room in her voice for argument. “Which hangar will they be taking off from?”
“Main hanger, Highness.”
“Very well.” She gave Celestia a nod. “Sister.”
The alabaster alicorn only said, “Be careful.”
“Always.” She vanished into a wisp of starry shadow before disappearing altogether.
Enjoy!
you left bob out... how could you
1948272 Bob is too awesome to be shown in a preview. Blueblood is expendable.
1948279 True True
For all we know, the sovereign class ship could be a jack-in a-box trick, once Luna and co. get close enough to th ship it could go BANG and seriously hurt Luna (as in I will die type of hurt)