//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven // Story: Horse Play // by Alden MacManx //------------------------------// Twelve hours after the conference, Captain Somers was back aboard the Hurin, with Princess Twilight and her friends. “Prepare to break orbit, Helm. Destination the Ratzi fleet. Comm, signal the Darkling and the Rubicon to maintain station with us as we go. We’re taking this right to them, no holds barred,” he ordered from the command chair. After readiness was reported, he gave the order. “Let’s get a move on. Speed four over one.” “Four over one, aye, Captain,” the helmsperson acknowledged before engaging the stardrive, the two smaller destroyers falling into formation as the ships left the system. “Captain, you know that once we get close, the Ratzis will know we are not only here, but where we are coming from,” Commander Seiryuu said to his captain quietly from his chair. “They probably already know, Commander Seiryuu. Right now, we want them to know we’re coming, and madder than hell about it,” Jamie replied in equally low tones. “Right. You want the destroyers to go headlong after the big weapon while we try to seek out the Level One. I’m sure I can handle that from the cyber lab.” “That’s why you were picked to handle the job, Commander. You are one of the best cyber pilots in the Fleet. Now that we are on our way, we should be in contact with the Ratzis within five hours. Now, I have to go conference with the Equestrians. I’m not positive of their plans, but I’m going to give them a fair shake. Their world, their call.” Jamie said as he got up. “Commander Davis, you have the conn.” “Right-a rootie, Captain,” Beauregard said as he came down from the Engineer’s console to take the Command chair. Jamie met with the Equestrians in the Forward Lounge, a recreation area situated in the frontmost point of the octahedron that comprised the forward half of the ship. The Lounge was unique on the ship because it has something no other place on the ship has, that being a large transparent window that looked out of the ship in the line of flight. The window, like the Lounge, was two decks in height, a balcony circling the unwindowed sides of the room, equipped with tables and chairs so that crew members could dine or play cards with a magnificent outside view. They gathered at the largest table on the balcony, which is just to port of centerline. After greeting the ladies, he sat down and looked at Princess Twilight. “Okay, run by me again just what you and Princess Celestia talked about. I know you want me to get you close to the leader of the fleet, but that’s about it.” “Captain, the idea is to get a fix on the Commander of the oncoming fleet and focus the Power of Harmony on him. To do that, it is best to have an unobstructed line of sight between us and the target, because none of us have actually SEEN a Ratzi, much less a high-level one,” Twilight explained. Jamie did not have a happy look on his face. “You realize we are going at a velocity of four light-years per hour, while they are coming at us at one light-year per hour. I have two questions for you. One, how much time do you need to call up your Harmony power, and two, how much time do you think we will have in contact with them, if neither of us stop or only one fleet stops?” he asked the ponies. Both Twilight and Rarity looked thoughtful, then Twilight’s face fell into a frown, followed by Rarity’s. “Too long for the one, and too little for the other,” Twilight said in a sad voice. “Correct. That’s why all combat is done at sub-light speeds. It’s too easy to avoid engagement otherwise,” Jamie advised them. Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Then, what’s the purpose of coming out here?” she asked. “How can we make them stop and fight us? There are two more ships out there with us, what are they for?” “The Darkling and the Rubicon are unmanned probe ships, under computer guidance. They will blast through the formation, sowing probes that will mix in with the Ratzi ships, broadcasting findings back to us via a magic-based communications system we call PurpleComm. The odds of the Ratzis stopping when they detect us are slim, seeing as our telepaths and farseers have picked up on their determination, but whatever we learn from the flyby will aid us when they get to your home system. We will know their fleet composition, and hopefully some more about their super weapon. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have some surprises waiting for when the Ratzis arrive. Our job is to bring them intelligence on how best to spring the surprise,” Jamie concluded. “I get it!” Pinkie squealed, bouncing in her seat. “What we’re doing now is to help set up the party when the Ratzis come knocking at our door!” “Yes!” Jamie shouted back. “Now, let’s figure out how to do it!” Five minutes before contact, the crew of the Hurin were at battle stations, while Twilight and her friends were in position on the upper deck of the Forward Lounge. Hurin himself highlighted the position of the approaching Ratzi fleet as a pulsing scarlet dot projected on the window. They brought up the rainbow lights of Harmony and aimed it at the dot and through it to the Ratzi fleet. All of them felt a strong… force of some kind, harmonious but based on different principles. They latched on to that force and bent their wills to study it. Easier said than done, because the closer they drew to it, the more jarring it was to the ponies. Just before flyby, the rainbow effect shattered and dissipated, leaving only Twilight still conscious, the others screaming under the ‘impact’ of the negativity before passing out. It was not long at all before Doctor Harris arrived on scene, with two orderlies and a crash cart. “What happened, Twilight?” Lee asked as he scanned Fluttershy, who happened to be nearest to him. “Anti-Harmony. Sheer, directed anti-Harmony, focused on one being. We tried to counter it, but the harder we tried, the harder it fought,” Twilight said, rubbing her head with a hoof. “Are they all right?” Lee finished scanning Fluttershy, looked at the readouts, then started scanning Rainbow Dash. “It’s some sort of psychic trauma, as far as I can tell here. Similar to what happened to Veronica, but lesser intensity,” he reported as he looked at the readings on his scanner. “Pretty close to that.” “Veronica is still unconscious, right?” Twilight asked. “Got anything for a headache?” “I think we should get you to Medical first. Can you help me get them there, or should I call for some more crash carts?” Lee asked as his two orderlies scanned the other fallen ponies. Twilight sighed. “Better call on the carts, Doctor. I don’t dare use my magic yet. My head aches too much,” she admitted. Lee took the orderly’s scanners and looked them over. “Why do I have to be right? Vickers, Ellarath, go get two more carts. I’m sure we can get two on each one. Tell Shylock I want him ready to help when I get there,” he told them with a touch of a growl and glower. The two, a human and a Gharlesh, did not waste any time leaving. Lee then scanned Twilight. “Alicorns must be especially tough, compared to the other species,” he commented. “We do have the magic of all three wrapped up in one, Doctor,” Twilight groaned, relaxing into the pad she had been lying on. “Saved you from an intense psychic shock, it did. I’m sure I will be able to clear your head once we’re in Medical.” “What about the rest?” “After a more thorough exam, I will be able to answer that question. Hopefully less than three hours.” Lieutenant Commander Harris’ estimate was close to the mark, everyone being revived and cleared of residual pain in just over three hours, only because Lee was being very cautious in his treatment of the ponies, never having worked on one before. During that time, the Hurin had increased speed to eight light-years per hour, flew ‘under’ the flight path of the Ratzi fleet and made it back to Equestria shortly after the ponies left Medical. Immediately upon establishing orbit, Captain Somers and Princess Twilight Teltransed down to Canterlot Castle, for a conference with the Princesses, the Commodores commanding the battlestarships, and the fleet commander, Admiral Chambers. Princess Celestia took charge of the meeting. “Twilight, what did you find out?” she asked. Twilight hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking. “What we found, using the Elements, is that the Ratzis are backed by what I call an anti-Harmony, that being a functioning Harmony, but instead of being based on the Elements we know, they being Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, Honesty and Magic, their Harmony can best be described as being based on Blind Devotion, Selfishness, Hatred, Grim Inquisition, Deceit and Power. “The fleet is being led by Inquisition, and its purpose is to eliminate the single greatest threat to itself, namely us. It aims to accomplish that by wiping out the source of our power. It is ruthless, determined, and will stop at nothing to accomplish its goals, no matter how many lives are lost doing so, on either side,” she concluded, looking most unhappy. That unhappy look was echoed by everyone around the table. Admiral Chambers was next to speak. “Captain Somers, what intelligence do you have on the fleet composition?” he asked. Jamie stood up. “The linchpin is the super-sized jamming field. It is extremely powerful, more than enough to snuff the magic of either the planet, the sun, or the galactic magic node at the center of the system. We have one big advantage, that being while it is very strong, it has a very short range. Estimates by my mage and Star Elf staff, so kindly augmented by the battlestarships, show that its maximum range is little more than the orbital distance from the planet to its sun,” he reported. Before he went on, Celestia let out a little snort of laughter. “That can be very problematical for them. What we need to do is to make sure they come here first before going to the magic node.” “That will not be a problem, Princess Celestia,” Twilight said. “When we scanned them with the power of Harmony, they became aware of us, and are determined to get us first, because it thinks of us as the greatest threat. Once we are eliminated, the rest can be destroyed at leisure.” “What about the composition of the approaching fleet, Captain?” asked Commodore Sirrath, the commander of the battlestarship Union. “Ninety ships all told, seventy combatants. Two are of battlestarship size, but one of them contains the jammer. They show no signs of stopping, and all weapons are ready,” Jamie reported. “This looks like Brigadoon all over again, but with higher stakes.” Admiral Chambers then stood. “What I propose is a defense in depth but letting them approach. The Alliance fleet will take the outermost ring, then the Union, with the largest fleet closest to Equestria led by the Gilgamesh. We want them to get to Equestrian orbit, where another surprise will be awaiting them.” He looked to the commodore commanding the Alliance, Commodore Willacht, a metallic-green haired Gharlesh female. (Gharlesh are humanoid in appearance but have body and head hair of metallic colors.) “Commodore Willacht, station your fleet seven hundred fifty million kilometers out along their line of approach. Take out as many as you can. Commodore Sirrath, station the Union and its fleet two hundred fifty million kilometers out, with the same orders. Commodore Harkennon, your station is one million kilometers out. Let the largest ships approach Equestria but take out all that’s left.” “Leave the most dangerous ships to us,” Princess Luna said. “We have a big surprise waiting for them,” Princess Celestia added. “What would you have me do, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked. “Stay after the meeting, Twilight. We have some ideas we need to discuss,” Celestia told her former student. “Captains, to your ships! We don’t have much time to get ready!” Admiral Chambers said in a loud voice. The council room was momentarily filled with the sounds of scraping chairs, commlink chirps, requests for Teltrans locks and orders to ready the fleets. Within two minutes, the only ones remaining in the room were Admiral Chambers, Captain Somers, and the three Princesses. “Now, for some serious skull sweating,” Jamie said when the room quieted. “Let’s get started,” Princess Luna affirmed.