//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Boarding the Eternal Fleet Battle Cruiser // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XV: Knights of Zero // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Returning from the medical labs with Light, Charming Thunder and her arrived in the holo room as SCORPIO analyzed something that may be important for the empire. "What's SCORPIO doing?" Charming Thunder asked. "She's studying the mind of this so called 'GEMINI Prime'," Twilight said as she entered the room. "Some soldiers helped some Ponylorians fight off some Skytroopers and found this droid so they brought it here for SCORPIO to study. I take it the cure worked?" "Yes and I owe it to our daughter." "How's it coming SCORPIO?" "I am studying her mind now," SCORPIO replied. "Doing so without obliterating her intelligence is challenging, despite her lack of full sentience." "What have you got so far?" Light asked. "Her chasis is modified from my own base. My designs were stolen. However, my assumption that her code duplicated was premature." "Do you know where she came from?" Charming Thunder asked. "Not yet. Nor do I have full access to the GEMINI network that controls the Eternal Fleet. But I have opened a one-way connection. I will soon use the template to locate all GEMINI units." "Every ship is controlled by one of those GEMINI units. If you are right, we can track their entire fleet. Have an advantage against Zero." "The Prime is the master GEMINI template. With proper modifications, she could overwrite the existing protocols. We would need direct access to a command console used by the GEMINI captains. Through such a portal, the Prime could infiltrate the entire control network." So if we board one of those ships and plug the Prime into the captain's chair, we can swipe the entire fleet out from Zero's nose?" Twilight asked. "Let's see how long Zero keeps the throne if we take away his fancy toys," Kallen said from behind. "Glad you can join us, Kallen," Charming Thunder said as Kallen stood next to him. "You say it like it's not impossible. Even if we somehow manage to board, the other ships will vaporize the compromised vessel well before we acquire control of the bridge. But we may not have to face the entire fleet. Individual ships make transport runs in specific locations in Equestria all the time. And once SCORPIO tracks the GEMINI units...." "I already possess that functionality," SCORPIO said. "I completed my analysis of the GEMINI communication templates while you were talking." "Do you have something to tell me about your connection with the GEMINI droids?" Charming Thunder asked. "Nothing that will impact on the current mission." The hologram then changed to a lone Eternal Fleet vessel. "I am currently tracking a lone vessel in a nearby location. It is scheduled to make a stop to recharge its hyperdrive very soon. By my calculations, we can intercept it if we hurry. It is unlikely that a similar opportunity will present itself in the foreseeable future." "Then it's time to take this fight to Zero." --------------------- On a shuttle in hyperspace, Charming Thunder along with SCORPIO, Kallen, Twilight, and Lucina were in the cockpit as Kallen briefed them. "First of all, you'll be severely outnumbered and outgunned," she explained. "Every last Skytrooper will rush to the breach point. Standard procedure anytime boarders attack a ship in the Eternal Fleet." "And how many are we talking about exactly?" Charming Thunder asked. "Somewhere in the triple digits. Possibly more." "SCORPIO's worked out a way for our ship to confuse it's outer defenses; overload it with false blips, so we can get in close," Twilight added. "Then it's on us to tear through and get control of the bridge. Take out the GEMINI captain and put the Prime in her place." "Will she take our orders?" Lucina asked. "The GEMINI series cannot act on it's own," SCORPIO said. "Its programming does not allow it." She then turned to the Prime. "GEMINI Prime, who do you serve?" "I serve the king of Equestria," the Prime replied. "Are you good in a fight?" Charming Thunder asked. "I do not share SCORPIO's self improvement directive, but i mirror her base capabilities in every other way, including full combat protocols." "Then we can't risk Prime taking any damage," Twilight suggested. "Leave her here until we secure the ship." "I will accompany you," SCORPIO said. "No one is better suited to anticipate our enemy's moves." "I still think you're keeping secrets from me," Charming Thunder said. "The GEMINI units are not my allies. They are inferior abominations. Pathetic imitations of a much greater being. Their very existence offends me." "I'm convinced," Kallen said. "We could use the extra firepower." "I'll be joining as well," Lucina said. "Wouldn't mind letting off some steam." "About time to drop out of hyperspace," the pilot said as the shuttle dropped out of hyperspace and flew towards the lone vessel. The Prime's eyes glowed red as she said, "GEMINI frequency positional data shows no other ships in the area." "We'll be fine," Twilight said. "Aside from the hopeless odds against our success." The vessel's guns turned towards the shuttle and began to open fire. The shuttle avoided the shots as it flew closer and closer. "Getting a bit close for comfort, SCORPIO," Charming Thunder said. "I'm performing a feat that none of you could ever hope to," SCORPIO said. "Not even you, with your amusing cranial trinkets." The guns then began to move side to side as it continued to fire. The shuttle approached the hangar and made a soft landing without damaging the ship. "Ready to commandeer, dad?" Lucina asked. Kallen looked out of the cockpit window and noticed something. "I don't understand," Kallen said. "Where are all of the Skytroopers?" "Even a lesser version of me would be highly intelligent," SCORPIO said. "She would simply know how to improvise." "We get it," Charming Thunder said. "You're special." "I must've touched a nerve. Imagine that." Everyone left the shuttle as the pilot and Twilight stayed to protect the Prime.