Arinori stared at the creature in her grasp for a moment, looking her over. Wings, horn, horse-like features, and very purple. Almost too purple... "Suzume, any idea at all what this creature is?" She asked over a mental link, her armour informing her that several other creatures were approaching. Part of seeing all four of them reminded her of the Neko Rangers. The other three could possibly combine to make the one she was holding, and part of that upset her. Either this creature was holding back their strength, or Arinori was going to be sorely disappointed. Or pleased. That all depended on what happened from here on out.
"Hi, princess of friendship? I see we got off on the wrong hoof, but maybe we could... Talk this out?" The creature half asked.
"Scan complete. No record of a similar creature on file," Suzume stated, but Arinori was completely dumbfounded. Princess... Of Friendship... Surely it was joking. "Language analysis indicates these creatures also speak a dialect of Galactic Trade. Communication should thankfully be quite seamlessly," The MEGAMI continued, before Arinori started laughing.
"Princess of Friendship?! You have got to be kidding me!" Arinori laughed, dropping the creature. "I don't think I have heard something so childish in my life!" She added, ignoring the looks from the four creatures. After a minute of trying to stop laughing, with several failed attempts at being composed, the Tai finally managed to stop. It was good for her to laugh right now. She needed the morale boost after this fiasco.
"I apologize, your... Highness," Arinori said, using all her might to hold back another bought of laughter. "I was just not expecting... Well... This. I hope you can forgive me," She said, giving a bow. "I am Tai Arinori Waka of the Star Army of Yamatai, Commander of the YSS Hanako. My ship suffered damage, and we crashed, as you can clearly see. I take it you are not hostile?"
The four ponies looked at each other before the purple one brushed herself off. "Yes... You would be correct. Don't worry about forgiveness, though. You must have been through a traumatic experience. I can handle a bit of laughter at my own expense if it means you'll feel better, especially given your apology. Is everyone okay?"
"My crew is my own responsibility, your highness. Though, if you would please tell your companions to stop poking at my ship, I would hate for one of them to accidentally set off the ships defence mechanisms. The MEGAMI is currently on orders to hold back, but if any of your people breach the hull, even I will not be able to stop her," Arinori explained, getting a nod from the princess.
"Rainbowdash, Applejack, tell everyone to stop touching the ship. I don't want anyone else hurt," The princess ordered, turning back to Arinori. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, by the way. Do any of your crew need help? I can have food, water, and medical supplies brought here, or we can situate you in Ponyville? The Princess's will probably want to speak with you, are you in charge of the ship? What are you, is that you or are you wearing armour, can I-"
"Twilight! Maybe you should give the person some time before you start questioning them like that?" Rarity asked, stepping up and giving a wave to the Neko. "Hi, I'm Rarity, proprietory of Carosell boutique. I must say, I do adore how you look. Elegant, with just a touch of intimidating," She said, looking Arinori over.
"These people are crazy..." Arinori said over her mental link with the MEGAMI.
"These people could potentially help supply us with the material needed to get the fabricators up and running," Suzume retorted dryly.
"True."
"Thank you, Rarity. Though, to answer most of your questions, that is classified until further notice. As for food, water, and residence, that would be greatly appreciated, but not required. Our ship is outfitted with emergency supplies enough that we can fend for ourselves." Arinori explained to Twilight.
"Well, I wouldn't be the princess of friendship if I didn't offer a helping hand to new friends. Just say the word, and I'll do what I can to help you. Just say the word, Arinori!" Twilight beamed.
Arinor nodded, taking a step back. "Right, I need to get my crew organized. If your people can, see about clearing or marking a path four meters wide from here to wherever it is we will be setting up shop. Don't worry about leaving anything long term, just food, water, and medical supplies like you offered. We can provide the rest. Otherwise, I will see you when I am done here," Arinori stated, turning back to the hatch and entering the ship, leaving Twilight there to do what she did best.
Several hours passed before Arinori managed to get what was left of her crew in order. Only 20 left uninjured, 87 in total. The priority was stripping the ship of anything that wasn't bolted down and getting them into the Type 30's and to the staging post, marked out by the locals but not before preparing the dead for recycling. When, and if, they got the fabricator bay, and the ST storage working, they would bring the lost back, but until then keeping them around was useless. Ordering all crew capable of moving on their own into their Mindy's, they moved out.
Arinori was shocked by how quickly a path was cleared, and how effectively at that. She almost felt like the large trucks were a little overkill for the terrain, having expected to run into rough patches, but these people seemed a little too good at manual labour. Now that she thought about it, she had no idea what these people were capable of, but until she was in a position to find out more, she was happy with what she had. She had her soldiers, and she had her life. She had locals working in her favour, and she didn't even have to offer anything in return. What was a disaster, was slowly beginning to turn into what could be a nice vacation until they could either repair their ship or make contact with the Star Army once again. Natural forests and skies, bright green grass, it was a lovely place. She almost felt bad for scaring it by crashing, but she quickly ignored that given the fact she didn't exactly have a choice.
Setting up on the post was also quite easy, if not mildly uncomfortable given the stares from the locals they were getting. They had enough type 40 Barrack Segments to have a rotational sleeping arrangement, as well as keep the critically injured in bed for the medical team to continue care. Arinori was receiving updates from her various Shoi and NCO's, when Suzume pinged approaching contacts. When she turned, she was met with two more creatures like Twilight. Wings, Horn, only these two were far taller, and they contrasted sharply. One was midnight blue, and the other was pure white.
"Hello, I am Princess Celestia, and this is Princess Luna. We are looking for Tai Arinori Waka? We would try to find her ourselves, but you all look exactly the same," The White one explained.
"I would be Tai Waka, your highness's, what is it that I may do for you?" Arinori asked. She had a feeling anyone with wings and horns were considered princess's. This meant either it was a common title, or, these ones were not meant to be under estimated.
"As I said sister, the one who looked to be in command, was the one in command," The blue princess said to the white one. "It is as if we were looking among our own Honour Guards. Amusing, I must say," She continued.
"Honour Guard?" Arinori asked, quizzically, but rhetorically.
That didn't seem to matter, as the white one answered her question. "Yes, we are the rulers of this place you have landed," Celestia said, jerking Arinori out of her relaxed demeanour.
"Kio'tsuke!" She snapped, bringing all the soldiers in their Mindy's to attention. "Rei!" She followed, saluting sharply, as the rest bowed low. "I apologize ma'am. After our run in with another princess, we were unsure as to how to take the title, it will not happen again," She said, planning on maintaining a level of respect with these people. The more they liked her, the more they would do for them she figured.
Unfortunately, the two creatures seemed more startled and confused, then the white one started laughing. "Oh my, you must forgive me," She said, bringing a hand up to her muzzle. "I just don't think we were expecting such... a reaction from you. We do appreciate it," She explained, looking at her sister who just shook her head.
"Clearly soldiers. Sister, our troops could learn a thing or two from these strangers. Decades of peace have made them sloppy compared to these ones," She said, taking a step forward. "We have come to offer you further aide outside of what Ponyville is capable of supplying you, as well as to inquire into what type of forces you are, and what brought you to our home. We were told what Princess Twilight knows, but we would prefer to hear it directly from you," she added.
"Ma'am, I am Tai Arinori Waka of the Star Army of Yamatai. We are the military force of the Yamataian Star Empire. My ship was attacked, and we suffered heavy damage, initiating a jump into your space, where we were taken in by your planet's gravity well. While we have sustained casualties, I assure you we will not be a burden upon your people's or your planet's resources. Might I also take this moment to inform you, that as of now, you are under the protection of the Rights of Early Contact. I can answer whatever questions you may have regarding them as you see fit, within my ability, and within the bounds of said rights," Arinori stated. She figured distracting the two with something that sounded far more pressing would get the heat off having to tell them 'No, I can't give you any more information about my ship'.
It worked too, as the two princesses looked at each other and then turned back. "Rights of Early Contact? Can you please explain that a little further?" Celestia asked.
Arinori nodded. "As you are a new peoples discovered by the Star Army of Yamatai, the Rights of Early Contact protect you from any harm or malicious intent by law of the Yamataian Star Empire, of myself, my crew, and any forces enemy or ally of the Yamataian Star Empire, or the Star Army of Yamatai. As such-"
"We have company..." Suzume said over the mental link.
"What in the name of Celestia is THAT!" Someone yelled, pointing up to the sky. Arinori, as well as all the other SAoY personnel looked up, to see something that concerned all of them. An NMX Battleship
"By the Empress... How did they..." Arinori asked more to herself, but wasn't left alone about it.
"How did they what? Tai Waka, what is that?" Luna asked, staring up at the kilometer long ship in lower orbit.
"The NMX followed us... How did the NMX follow us?! We... We did an unregistered Trans-dimensional jump!" Arinori asked, taking a step back. NMX following them was bad, but an NMX Battleship?! "All forces prepare for combat now! Princesses, you need to get out of here, right now. The things on that ship... You have our protection, just know that. We will do what we can," Arinori ordered. "I will explain what I can later, but you need to get as many of your people somewhere safe as fast as you can!"
The Misshuvurthyar had arrived...