//------------------------------// // 1 The beginning // Story: The Star Army of Equestria // by Twisted Visions //------------------------------// "Suzume! Why isn't the GSP activating!" Tai Arinori Waka, Commander of the YSS Hanako shouted, clutching onto the command chair tightly as the strange planet came closer and closer. "Unexpected Trans-Dimensional jump damaged many of our systems, including the graviton shield projectors Tai Waka, I am incapable of doing the required repairs in the next 22, 21, 20, 19..." The ships MEGAMI explained, counting down to impact. The Tai cursed under her breath, silencing the alarm klaxxon on her local system, not needing to hear it any longer. "All hands, prepare for impact!" The Neko ordered over the ships coms, entry flairs muddling the observation view. She wasn't worried about herself. Her body could survive the impact. 83% of the crew on board, however, were not Nekovalkyrja, and even fully locked down, many likely would not survive the impact, and they had no time to complete a soul transfer backup. "Emergency thrusters Suzume! We need to break speed!" "All thruster units down. Impact in 4, 3, 2,1..." "Oh, Spike! Dinner was delicious!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed with a satisfied sigh, leaning back in her chair. It had been some time since anything had happened after the Storm King had attacked, and a small part of Twilight felt that Equestria was well overdue for some sort of event. Starlight was out with Trixie, Spike was up to his usual minor antics, and the rest of the gang were business as usual. She reached her arms over her head in a stretch, letting out a yawn as she sat back up. "Right, back to work for me! You go get some rest... Spike..." The mare trailed off, looking out one of the windows to see a streak of light across the sky. They weren't due for any major comets passing by for at least another few months, and this one didn't seem to be slowing down, or getting smaller for that matter. She continued to watch in morbid curiosity, this object falling from the sky faster than any pony could go. She could hear a rumbling start to grow louder and louder as the ball of fire closer to the earth, growing to such a point that the tableware started to rattle. When it finally touched the horizon, everything went quiet for a moment, followed by a massive explosion in the Everfree. The princess was transfixed on the sight, jaw open, frozen in place as she tried to understand what had just happened. The sound of Spike running into the room wasn't even enough to pull her out of it. "What is Equestria was that!" The dragon shouted, looking down at the fires. "I don't know Spike... But I have a bad feeling about it..." Twilight said, starting to walk to the door. "Don't leave the castle! I need to go help with the fires!" She called over her shoulder, running out of the castle and taking flight. Already she could see others from Ponyville heading towards the Everfree, pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies alike. She wasn't about to sit this one out. Tai Waka groaned, lifting her head from the deck. Even with her bodies built-in systems, the Neko felt the pain of the impact. She shook her head, trying to clear it, pulling up her HUD to check on the crew. The image flickered, before dying out completely. She would need time to heal from this. "Suzume! Status report! Crew priority!" "92% Casualty rating, only 13% of non-nekovalkyrja crew members survived impact. Warning, what remaining scanners I have available to me are registering activity outside the ship," The MEGAMI responded over the speaker system. Arinori groaned, pulling herself to her feet, trying to keep her balance on the sloped deck. "Bring me visuals, and get the crew medical attention. Any able-bodied crewmate is to prioritise crew rescue," She ordered, looking around. The bridge crew were in various stages of unconsciousness, some starting to wake up, others completely out. Blood splattered Shoi Aina's terminal, proving even the mighty Neko was not invincible, the side of her head caved in against the terminal, and Shoi Haruka's neck was bent at a wholly unnatural angle. 93% casualty rating... Never once in her career had she ever had such a blemish on her record. "Suzume! Tell me where that Trans-Dimensional jump came from! This ship didn't have one! What happened!" The Tai asked, moving to sit on her chair, trying to get one of the screen to work. Nothing. Suzume must be running off emergency power. "That information is classified, Tai Waka." "Star Army Protocol. Give me the IFF Tag of the highest ranking officer within sensor range," Arinori ordered. "Scan completed. Highest ranking officer within five astronomical units is... Tai Arinori Waka. Accessing PANTHEON... PANTHEON access failed. You are the highest ranking officer available." The MEGAMI finally responded. "Then by SAoY Override 845-2 article B, I demand you release all classified information related to this ship!" Arinori snapped. She could tell the MEGAMI was processing the order from the silence. "Classified information released. The YSS Hanako was tasked with transporting an experimental Trans-Dimensional Drive from Ketsurui Fleet Yards, to Planet Himiko, within the Ketsurui Military Sector. It was found on the outskirts of System 87B. It was in a state of disrepair that prevented the discovering crew from shutting down its Aether Generator or disabling it without causing a minor galactic incident." Suzume explained, a tinge of defeat in her voice. Arinori sat stunned. She didn't want to think about the incident. "And why did we jump?' "Sensors indicate that the ship experienced damage that caused the drive to activate. It is now powered down. I assume, the damaged caused the incident the SAoY was concerned about, but without further details, I will not be able to provide any more information than that," Suzume stated, before blipping an alarm in the back of Arinori's head. "Warning. Unknown signatures detected attempting to enter the ship. Orders Tai Waka?" Arinori got up. "Standing orders remain. All able-bodied soldiers are to provide medical attention to any crewmate who needs it. I need to get to my Mindy, do whatever you can to keep the intruders out until I am ready." "Yes Tai Waka, I shall do that." "What d'ya mean ya can't find a door?!" The southern drawl iconic to the element of honesty shouted, looking around the massive metal object that had crashed into the Everfree. Ponies were everywhere, most fighting the fires in the wake of the ship, others searching the outside of the couple hundred meters long ship. "I mean just that! This, thing, doesn't have a door!" replied the raspy voice of Rainbow Dash, standing on top of the ship. "What am I supposed to do? Draw one on it and hope that works?" "Well it's gotta have some kinda entrance! No pony would be able to get inside without one!" Applejack quipped back, continuing along the outside, rapping her knuckles on it every so often to see if there was a difference in the sound. There wasn't. "We can't assume it was made by ponies Applejack, this thing fell from the stars. Who knows what could be on it!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed with excitement, before popping out of existence to appear next to Rainbow Dash. "I mean, this could be actual alien life! Real live aliens! On our planet! Do you know what this could mean?!" She squeed, continuing to look around the ship. "Tha the one book Rainbow loves might be true? What was it Dash, Horny Tentacles from Space?" Applejack called up. "One time okay! One! Time! Yeesh! Blame a filly for being curious why don'tcha?" Rainbow Dash muttered, crossing her arms and turning her head to hide the blush. "Now really, is it that appropriate to fetish shame a mare at a time like this?" Rarity asked, looking down at her coat. "I mean, it's bad enough I have to slog through all this soot and dirt but do I also have to hear you two bickering as well?" She added. "Yeah, s'pose your right Rarity. Ahm sorry Rainbow Dash, I shouldn't ave said that," Applejack said in apology. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. We have a door to find don't we?" Rainbowdash asked, just as they heard Twilight shriek. "Come on!" Applejack yelled, running down towards the other end of the ship. When they got there, they didn't exactly know how to react. Twilight was being held up by her collar, by a metal person. The Princess of Friendship squirmed in the grasp, giving a sheepish grin. "Hi, Princess of Friendship? I see we got off on the wrong hoof, but maybe we could... Talk this out?"