//------------------------------// // Chapter VI: Followed // Story: Star Trek Online: Darkness Rising // by Admiral Wyatt Stone //------------------------------// Planetary orbit The battlefield was dark and unceasingly noisy as Alliance ships flew towards the enemy ships, firing beams, pulse lasers and torpedoes at several of them as they made their attack runs at the Tzenkethi. The fighting was bloody and deadly, while the Tzenkethi ships were being taken out one by one by the attacking ships, usually two runs for each ship to destroy them, the Alliance fleet wasn't doing well either. The sudden attack had taken the Equestria out of the sky, allowing the Tzenkethi to attack the Amarillo and her allies with a high advantage, not only that, but several escorts were destroyed by the defending frigates the Tzenkethi had deployed around their flagship, protecting it from even the strongest of the Alliance fleet. But the Alliance was pulling more to it's arms, after the Equestria was lost, Wyatt had sent a distress signal to Princess Celestia to inform her of the sudden battle, and over the course of a few hours, the Regal Sisters didn't waste any time on them as they had brought several more Alliance ships, as well as Thorax, who was sent by Queen Chrysalis to lead her troops onboard their new ships into the fray, Ember and her modified Klingon ships, and the newly built E.F.S. Star Trotter, which was originally intended to launch for a trial run in it's home system. At this point, the Tzenkethi were at an impasse with the fleet, their ships couldn't break through the Alliance thanks to their new arrivals, dissolving the battle into a two-sided brawl for both sides. On the Vinyl, Moon Dancer sat in the Captain's Chair as she looked to the screen, debris from Alliance and Tzenkethi warships lay scattered across the area, torpedoes and beams flying past the screen as the vessel fired back. Moon Dancer grew a frown as she looked to Lyra at the weapons station and asked, "What's the status on the enemy escorts?" Lyra gave a frown as she tapped her console before answering. "We've taken out the first line, but they seem to keep replenishing them, but we're firing faster than they can keep up!" Moon Dancer smirked at her friend's words before Octavia, who was sitting at the comms station, turned to her and spoke. "Moon Dancer, we're being hailed by Thorax and Ember!" "Put it on." The mare said before the screen changed to show two shots, one of a being that had green fur and purple eyes, as well as white orbs on his neck and orange horns on his head between his green one, behind him was a set of magnificent purple wings. On the other screen was a blue dragon with dark blue diamonds on her body, as well as red eyes and a pair of tusks on the sides of her head. Moon Dancer took a second to admire Thorax's new form before she spoke. "Well, I see you've been doing well, you look magnificent today!" Thorax gave a shy smile as he responded. "Yeah, the hive has been through some changes lately, but we'll have to talk about that later, how bad is the fight?" Minuette gave a grim expression as she turned from her console and spoke. "Well, we're holding, the enemy fleet is putting a lot of pressure onto us, but we're biting harder. And... we'd be taking more of them out if the Equestria wasn't lost." The two commanders gave worried gasps as Thorax asked in fear, "The Equestria?! What happened to her?!" Moon Dancer took a breath as the ship shook from a disruptor blast before answering. "Everyone... Twilight's ship was damaged by a cloaked mine before we were attacked, the Tzenkethi focused all of their effort into attacking Twilight's flagship before she went down. The crew evacuated, and I saw the Aquarius fly away from the ship, but the Equestria won't be going home with us today... Twilight activated the ship's self-destruct and blew her to bits." "....But, they should be alive on the surface, right? Since they launched in the Aquarius." Thorax said with a sad tone in his voice. "Hopefully, but we haven't gotten a chance to scan the planet for survivors, we're being pinned down all the while." Moon Dancer said as Ember spoke up. "Well, we'll just have to hope they can stay alive for the time being, we've got to take care of that fleet." "Right, we'll form up with you and the Amarillo and provide cover for the escorts on their attack runs!" Thorax said as the mare in the center seat replied. "Got it, be careful." The screen changed once again to show the battlefield, which had gained more debris filling the space within it as Bon Bon turned to Moon Dancer and spoke to her. "One of the cruisers is locking weapons onto Ember's ship." "Provide cover, don't let them reach her!" Moon Dancer ordered as Bon Bon faced her console and tapped a few buttons on it, the screen soon showing a spread of torpedoes flying at the incoming cruiser, it's shields flashing from the impact before vanishing. Moon Dancer looked to the planet on the right side of the screen with a frown as she thought to herself. "Please be alive down there, Twilight.... and if you are, be careful..." Planetary Surface The sun had finally fallen behind the mountains by now as the ship sat in the plain, grass blowing from the winds as the sky became less blue and more star-filled. The area was in near complete silence before a flash appeared in an open area of the grass before eleven beings, one being humanoid, appeared in front of the space as the flash vanished upon it's appearance, the beings looking around to observe their surroundings as they stood. Twilight smiled as she turned to see the ship at a closer view, the ship had markings on it's dark, greenish-brown colored hull, as well as a few sections that glowed bright orange and windows that glowed bluish-white all over. Terrak must've been inside waiting for them, the Princess thought as she turned to her friends and spoke up. "Everyone, listen up," The group turned to her upon her order before she continued. "now, we're going into this ship and we're hopefully going to meet the Captain of this ship, who'll explain why we're here to see him. I don't want anyone to hold their weapons, but I want you to keep your guard in case this is indeed a trap, understood?" The group nodded, Dash giving a smile as Twilight finished. "Good, now keep yourselves ready while I try to talk to him." Twilight then turned to the large body of the Fearless and tapped her combadge before speaking to it. "If you can hear me, Tzen Terrak, this is Twilight Sparkle, I'm one of the adversaries you wish to speak to." The signal stayed silent for a moment before a deep voice sounded from the small device, startling some of the group for a moment as they listened. "Ah... finally, I had worried no one would hear our calls... Welcome, Princess Twilight." Twilight looked to her friends before looking up to the ship and speaking once more. "We've come to discuss with you about your information, are there any issues?" "No, not at all, but one question I must ask, I am sure that you are all prepped in the possibility of an attack, correct?" Twilight turned to her friends again, Dash giving a suspicious look before the alicorn answered. "Yes, we are." "Good, I heard that my former comrades had attacked you and your crew, forcing you all down here with us. I understand that they have been a nuisance to you all, but I can assure you, my crew an I do not intend to try anything." Terrak said to the group before Twilight responded. "Good, is there a way to enter your ship, or are we to be beamed aboard?" "Yes, we can do that, one moment..." The group stood still for a moment before several purple fields of energy surrounded them all, the area around them fading into the purple energy encompassing them before changing to a room with two tall beings in armor stood near a console, while the group stood on a large transporter pad in a hexagonal pattern. The walls were mostly blackish-grey, with a few lines of glowing orange on them. Twilight focused her eyes on the taller officer near the console, he was wearing several pieces of grey armor on his body, lines on it glowing purple as he stood next to the operator with his attention focused on Twilight and her friends. The Princess smiled as the lead officer gave a friendly stance to his visitors as Twilight asked, "I assume you're Tzen-Terrak?" "Indeed, your Highness, my crew and I have been waiting for a response for some time." Terrak said as he spoke to the alicorn. "I see, is there a place to discuss?" Twilight asked as the Tzenkethi gave a response. "Yes, if you'll all follow me please." The group looked to the Captain of the Fearless as the door leading out opened upon Terrak approaching it, the group following behind him as the doors closed and leaving the transporter operator to work on his console. ........................... The conference room was decently lit with a total of eight lights as the doors opened and 13 beings conversing with each other stepped into the room, the room was set with a circular window on the wall, an X-like pattern built on the window as the main table in the room was circular as well, with a large hexagonal section that seemed to be some kind of emitter and a small panel with green console buttons near Terrak's seat as everyone got into the available seats, leaving Starlight, Trixie, Fluttershy and the Tzenkethi guard standing around the table as they all got comfortable. Twilight smiled as she spoke to the Tzenkethi Captain. "...and with our friend John here, we shouldn't be having much trouble dealing with the enemy fleet." "That's fascinating information to know, Princess, with another ship on our side, we'll be able to put up more of a fight back into orbit." Terrak said as he sat in his chair. 'Dash gave a curious look as she turned to Terrak and began. "You know, I'm sure I'm probably rushing a bit, but I've been wondering, why were we called here to speak with you?" Terrak gave what seemed to be a smirk as he responded to the pegasus. "Ah, yes, not rushed at all, I must do as I intended." He tapped a button on the table panel as a large screen appeared over the projection device on the table, Terrak seemingly clearing his throat as he began. "You see, I once served my people with no defiance, we were one of the many ships tasked with murdering innocent, breathing worlds with an old weapon your friends at Starfleet once made for peaceful intentions." The group gave open mouths at his words, the screen showing a holographic image at what many guessed was the infamous Genesis torpedo as Terrak continued. "I did so many times, one of my officers, Prult, believed in the Path of Peace and that we shouldn't be commiting these horrendous acts, and I should've took time to listen to him before I made a choice I now regret, out of ignorance, I killed Prult on the spot during our last confrontation.... and I thought we would be performing another test of our protomatter bombs." Dash gave a suspicious frown on her muzzle, but it faltered when the Tzenkethi spoke once more. "But I had a second time to reconsider, one of my fellow commanders, Tzen-Crinnu, had a change of heart and attempted to convince me into following his ideas. Initially, I told him I would consider, and that I did, as we rid our ship of every bomb in the cargo bay and made a run for Federation space... but our former comrades had found out our plan and sent an attack force to deal with us and Crinnu. Fortunately, we found this world and took cover in the atmosphere, and after a long moment of tension they left us, and that's when we sent our distress signal out, hoping that someone of the Federation or it's allies would hear our calls, and it was you." The room was filled with silence as Applebloom looked to Terrak and asked, "But, what about Crinnu? Is he alright?" "I do not know, we haven't been in contact since we were discovered, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to abandon my choice to help the Alliance, I've heard Crinnu's words, and they are very true to me and my crew, never again will I commit another genocide for mere experimentation." Terrak said as he looked to Twilight and spoke again. "Your Highness, I understand that your ship was lost to our enemies, but I believe that if we can get our ship's engines repaired, we can add an extra fist to your fleet." "You've got it, I can contact Applejack and get her to bring a team ov-" She stopped as a low beep sounded from the panel, an alarm blaring mere seconds later. Terrak gave a worried look as he tapped the panel and spoke. "Report! What's the matter?" The officer on the other end sounded annoyed as he answered his Captain. "We've been found, sir! An enemy shuttle is bearing down on us and is about to fire!" "Raise our shields, don't let-" He seemed to be too late as the ship shook hard and a loud boom sounded outside of the ship. Another alarm sounded as the officer on the comms spoke again. "I'm bringing the shields up now sir, should only b-.... No! They've bought themselves a chance to board, I'm reading several intrusion teams on decks 2, 7 and 12!" Terrak growled at the news as he responded to the officer. "Prepare the ship for battle, don't let them take the bridge! Terrak out!" He tapped the panel again and turned to Twilight, who gave a frown as she spoke. "Well, it seems we must fight some old friends, shall we stick with you?" "Yes, we must head to the bridge and keep it guarded, if you will, we would gladly appreciate your assistance in following us to the bridge." Twilight nodded before the Captain finished with, "Excellent, now let us go, we have no time to waste!" The group all pulled out their weapons and made their way through the door, Terrak taking a look down the long hallway of deck 3 as he and his friends followed suite. The ship shook quite a bit at times, torpedoes and beams hitting the ship and explosions shaking the halls as the group made their way through the hallway and neared the turbolifts to Deck 2. Twilight and Terrak split up into the two separate lifts as they entered them, their doors closing as the lifts went upward. A moment later, the doors opened to show a smoke-filled hallway, green flashes and bolts flying by the group as they gathered up and took cover behind a piece of fallen metal that had fallen between the two turbolifts. Flash peeked his head out a little to see who was shooting them, among several large turrets blazing at the group were around seven Tzenkethi warriors, who upon one of them firing and nearly hitting Flash before he took cover were apparently the invaders, as the other side was focusing their efforts on the enemy turrets on the other side. Twilight and Flash broke cover and fired their weapons at one of the turrets, which emitted a bolt of electricity before exploding near one of the soldiers as the two took cover again before Dash spoke. "Scoots and I have our stealth equipment, if we can get over there, we may be able to overload their turrets!" "Let's try it, but be careful, don't get shot." Dash nodded before she and Scootaloo tapped a button on their wrist pads and they faded into a faint form of energy before becoming completely invisible. The others kept their ground as they kept cover and firing on occasion when they saw an opening. Trixie took a look at a small trio of Tzenkethi soldiers holding their ground behind another piece of metal guarded by a turret. Taking cover again, she tapped the panel on her phaser and, looking at Starlight, who was also holding a pistol, nodded as the duo broke cover and took their shots at the three troops, who fell after about two good beam shots at each of them. A moment after the warriors fell, Rarity held her rifle at the ready and, breaking cover, took a shot at one of the soldiers, who was hit by the fashionista's shot and glowed a bright red before turning to vapor. As Rarity took cover, however, one of the two remaining soldiers took a shot at her, but instead missed her and hit one of the allied Tzenkethi soldiers, who fell after being hit and Fluttershy crawled over to him to help him. A moment later, the three remaining turrets exploded in a bright orange fire, the two soldiers falling from the blast as two pegasi appearing from energy fields, they both looked to the group with pleased smirks as Dash spoke up. "Now that's a quick thrill there!" The two race over to the group, Terrak tapping his wrist comms and speaking into it. "Terrak to bridge, how is the rest of the ship?" He grew worried when he didn't get a response, only static as he spoke again. "Bridge? Respond!" Not a word sounded as he waited for something to speak. After nothing came, he tapped the comms off and looked to Twilight as the alicorn spoke. "I'm guessing they're in trouble, then?" She said in annoyance. "Yes, we must get there immediately!" Terrak then turned to his comrades behind him, who looked to the group as the Captain spoke. "I want all of you to hold this position, we shall head for the bridge!" The soldiers nodded as the group then turned to the turbolifts nearby, all of them once again splitting into two groups and entering the two lifts and the doors closed behind them. Terrak said one word to the computer before the lifts began to move up as they took them all to their target. "Bridge."