//------------------------------// // Collision Course // Story: Observation // by Inucroft1 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Collision Course “That’s the last sensor sweep Doctor” “Thank you Lieutenant, how’s the analysis going?” “The computer still thinks it’s just a K-VI” Sighing, Michelle rubbed her face in exhaustion. Shattered was hope they’d discover the cause of its orbit at the sun itself. Well so much for that, she thought. Michelle focused on her console, ignoring the sounds of Rachell leaving the command deck. Various data streams poured across her screen, none of which provided the answers she sought. Everything the sensors were relaying told them it was simply a typical star, yet no typical star orbits a planet. “Alright” she sighed, “guess you’re not going to give up your secrets” Giving the data readings one last glance, she closed the active feed to her screen. Any further documentation and analysis relegated to the onboard AI. Having a short stretch, Michelle brought up the project route onto the main display. It showed one further orbit of the star before slingshoting the craft around the planet, bringing into a orbit of the planet’s moon. Seeing nothing incorrect with the projected course, Michelle activated the computer to execute the manoeuvres. Sitting back, she closed her eyes, day dreaming what it must have felt like for the first space farers from Earth. Days without inertial dampers or fission generators on their ships. All the while as the ship started to gently accelerate on its programmed course. “Spike? Spike?!” The mare’s cry echoes down the now darkened crystal hallways of her home. Her light purple ears flickering to and fro in a vain attempt to hear any retort from the young drake. Letting out a huff of frustration, she hoofed the floor. With a humph, the alicorn started to weave her spell. With an illuminating flash, Twilight reappears in the throne room. Her arrival causing a number of papers on the map nearby to scatter. With a forlorn whiny, she casts a quick glance around the dimly light room before returning to her now cold chair. Upon placing her rump on the crystal chair, she levitates the scattered papers and began to resort them. Grumbling, Twilight rereads the papers before her under candlelight. Just as she had done days before, and everyday since they had arrived. Their contents were sparse, but the implications made her drool with the potential research. Giggling in excitement, she clopped her forehooves together. Soon, she thought, soon. The sun’s slow movement upwards in the sky soon sends its light to smother Equis in it’s warm embrace. Dispelling the shadows and recently formed morning dew around Ponyville. Twilight’s wings fluttered in the early morning sunlight, now pouring though the windows of the room. Her ruminations and excitement over the papers were soon interrupted however, as sounds of grunting could be heard on the other side of the door. Looking over, Twilight saw the young Drake that she had been looking for. He was carrying two large plates over filled with Trottingham style pancakes, steam still rising off them still allowing Twilight to deduce they were freshly made. Though she had to suppress a chuckle when she spotted some batter that had ended up on his head. “Spike!” “Morning Twilight. I er, uff, made some pancakes for us!” he replied, grunting further as he laid the plates onto the map. “Naww Spike, thank you. This explains why I couldn’t find you earlier” “Heheh yea. Thought I’d treat you, after all, I am your number one assistant!” With a loving chuckle, she lowers the papers to the table and rubs a forehoof on Spike’s head. He stepped away and grabbed one of the plates, electing to sit in Applejack’s chair. They both sat in silence, enjoying the pancakes. Though Twilight noticed some were overcooked while others were badly undercooked. Well he tried, she thought. Spike finished his pancakes quickly, spreading crumbs across the chair and his face. Licking his plate clean, he hops down grinning. Noting the crumbs on his face, Twilight levitated some tissue paper over and, ignoring Spike’s objections, cleaned his face. “Spike, hush, you’re covered in crumbs and batter. Can’t let you carry it through the castle.” “Twilight! Come oooonnnn” “There, done” she happily exclaimed, “do you have any plans for today? If not I could really do with some help. I’m expecting a delivery from Canterlot University” “Errr, sorry Twilight, I agreed to help Rarity gem hunt today” he says bashfully, a gentle blush tinting his cheeks. “She’s had a rather large order to complete, and she insists that she needs Rubies for it” Seeing his embarrassment, she coos and bristles his spines. Twilight smiles and gives a gentle nod in approval. “Thanks Twilight, you’re the best” he replies, skipping out of the room in joy. Watching Spike leave, the alicorn sighs knowing that her workload had increased. She looked back to the papers left on the top. Grimacing, she finishes her pancakes and sets to work. A bitter wind whips around Canterlot Central Station and its goods yard, sapping the warmth from all therein. Within the station, ponies were boarding and alighting various passenger. The hubbub of the station itself carried over into the goods yard, where an olive-green pannier tank engine was idling. Behind the aforementioned locomotive, was a small carriage and several goods vans along with a single grey coloured flatbed waggon. Teams of ponies hurried around, many shifting crates from various wagons into the goods vans. Hunching into their coats and scarfs, they muttered mute curses against the weather team making their work even more uncomfortable than it already was. One of the workponies gave occasional glances to the carriage, in a forlorn attempt to see within its tinted windows. “Rocky, stop gawking and get to work” a gravelled voice cried. Flinching, the earthpony briefly looks towards the source of the voice. Upon seeing the glaring supervisor, his magenta eyes widen before resuming his task with gusto. Lifting a box, he carried it over to the nearest goods van. Within the aforementioned carriage, Princess Luna reclines on her well-padded seat flanked by a pair of hoof-maidens. One a teal coloured earth pony, while the other a auburn unicorn. She takes a small sip from her coffee while reviewing some correspondents and petitions on a small table. It was nothing of particular note, just further messages from ministers and nobles alike. All pleading for her intervention on one issue or another. With a grunt, she places the last disappointing letter back down. “Rose Snow, can thou go seek the supervisor. I would like to leave with as much haste as possible” “Yes m’lady” replied the earth pony hoofmaiden. She curtsied, and trotted out of the cabin. With her departure, Luna takes another sip of her coffee and looks out of the window. Her external stoicism hiding the turmoil within. “Time is short Velvet Aurora, this project must begin. We cannot let these,” she pauses and waves at the pile of letters looking back within the cabin. She resumes speaking with poison laced words, “these backwards ponies prevent this course of action.”