The Era of Harmony ended two hundred years after the return of the Crusaders. Equestria, at the time, was under the threat of war by the neighboring kingdom of Griffonstone. With every passing day, the Equestrian Guard, the world’s most formidable fighting force, was preparing, stockpiling power cells and their las rifles until the day would come.
And the day did come, and Discord's work proved itself.
Griffonstone did, in fact declare war on Equestria one day.
Griffonstone also surrendered the same exact day, when three figures marched into the Griffonstone palace.
The remaining kingdoms of the planet, terrified at Equestria’s power, quickly began to speak of joining the Princesses’ kingdom at the soonest possible moment.
Within another five years, Princess Celestia became Emperor Celestia, leader of a global kingdom of a thousand different races.
With these distractions out of the way, the First Imperial Era began with great leaps in technology, including the secrets of genetic modification, and the gene-seed implantation process.
Now, after another thousand years, a new Era was about to begin.
Apple Bloom, Mother of Ravens strode onto the great, open bridge of the great Wraithbone ship. “Status report!” she called.
A minotaur answered as he looked up from his console, dressed in a white robe. “My lady, warp generators seem stable and are charging. They will be ready to fire within five standard minutes.”
“Weapons systems?”
“Ready to fire!” a baby dragon answered from a different console, dressed in an identical robe.
“Gellar field?”
“Ready but unnecessary,” a voice said behind her, and Apple Bloom turned to see Sweetie Belle come to the bridge. “I installed it at your request, but I keep telling you there’s no need.”
“And you know me well enough to know that I would say that it is better to be safe.”
“Yes, yes, yes…Personally, I am more worried about the warp engines.”
“This is their first test,” Apple Bloom nodded.
“Oi! Wes ready ta go yet?” Scootaloo said, bursting onto the bridge, carrying her so-called “Big Choppa” on her shoulder.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Do you not know patience?”
A white-armored figure followed behind the pegasus, a black raven on a red field decorating his shoulders. “Forgive me, Mother,” the Space Marine said, “I tried to keep Lady Scootaloo from bothering you.”
Apple Bloom waved him. “Worry not, worry not. Simply return to your post and prepare as I taught you.”
“Yes, Mother,” the Space Marine said, before disappearing from view.
“Oi still fink dat da white don’t look as good,” Scootaloo said.
“I tend to agree,” Apple Bloom said.
“You just don’t like the fact that it’s made of wraithbone,” Sweetie said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You thought it,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Oi! No foightin’ wifout me!”
“You stay out of this!”
A cough sounded behind them, and they all turned to see a zebra, dressed in the same robe as all the other workmen. “My ladies, the Warp engines all appear steady, we but wait for the word, are you now ready?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Everyone to your stations. The time has come.”
A sudden flurry of activity filled the bridge, and lights lit up on consoles as they prepared their final checks.
“Sure it’ll work?” Scootaloo asked.
“It will either work, or nothing will happen,” Sweetie said, confidently.
“No explosions?”
“Incredibly unlikely.”
“Ladies,” Apple Bloom said, “if you will join me?”
They nodded.
“Warp engines fire! For the Emperor!”
And with those words, the great, cathedral-shaped, wraithbone ship, The Crusader, disappeared, into the warp.
---=][=---
“No army is big enough to conquer the galaxy. But faith alone can overturn the universe.”—Imperial Thought of the Day
And this has been The Marks of War.
"Whoo! Story's done!"
Now, as promised, a new project is coming down the tubes, but that is a ways away. In the meantime, I would like to thank you for reading, and we'll see you next time.
"Bye!"
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