After the Fall
Chapter Three: The Cerulean Station
Equestria: One year before the Fall
"Telescope?"
"Check."
"Food?"
"Check."
"Blanket? ... Blanket? Spike, the blanket?"
"Um, yes, uh, check! It was hidden under the strawberry-rhubarb pies."
Twilight rolled her eyes before firing an exasperated look towards her assistant. The little purple and green baby dragon stood beside a red wagon filled with a picnic basket and telescope.
"That looks like everything, Twi," Spike added, checking off 'Triple check check-list'.
"Yay!" Twilight giggled, clapping her hooves together before heading towards a hilltop on Ponyville's edge. Spike trailed a few paces behind, one of the wheels on the wagon squeaking every third step. Pre-occupied detailing the upcoming meteor shower, Twilight hardly noticed the irritating whine of the ungreased axle.
At the hill they found most of their friends already there. Pinkie Pie bounced up and down, a string of balloons tied into her tail and mane, giggling at the top of each bounce. Rarity and Sweetie Belle, the younger sister enthusiastically detailing how she had gotten her cutie mark, two silver bells held in a pink ribbon shaped like a heart, to Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Dash, for her part, tried to show interest, while Scootaloo had wide shimmering eyes and her mouth hanging open a little, lost in the story. Only the Apple herd hadn't arrived yet.
"Hey girls," Twilight called, waving a hoof.
"Heya Twi," Pinkie cried, still bouncing. "Are you excited for tonight? 'Cause I am! It's going to be the bestest most supertacular meteor shower ever! And then we'll have cakes and pies and cider and juice and dance and sing and then, oh and then-"
Rarity's hoof plugged the flood of words spilling from Pinkie's mouth. Twilight smiled at her pink friends antics. Over the years she'd grown used to the excitable mare and her odd ways, to the point where they no longer phased her. With a wave of her horn, Twilight unpacked the wagon, red and white checkered blanket quickly covered with an assortment of treats, and the telescope a few hooves away.
As Twilight began to calibrate the telescopes lenses Rarity trotted over.
"So, Twilight, Dash was saying that you have some news you wanted to share with the rest of us tonight? It's not-" Rarity paused, looking around conspiratorially, "Stallion related, is it?"
Twilight almost jabbed her eye into the view-piece on the telescope and twisted a knob to far so that the lenses pointed towards Proxima Centauri.
"No, no, nothing like that! Dear Celestia, why would you think that?"
"Mmm Hmm," Rarity hummed, hoof tapping her chin. "Well, it's just with Fluttershy, and the way I've seen you staring at her and Mac, I was just thinking."
Twilight gave a gruff snort, a deep blush hidden by her coat and the night making her cheeks burn. Looking quickly to make sure no one was listening in, Twilight leaned closer to Rarity.
"Okay, yes, I find Mac attractive. He's quiet, well read, smart, and well, I don't need to tell you about his physical qualities or how he's a perfect Gentlestallion." Rarity was listening to Twilight with rapt attention, her eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Twilight knew that at any moment her friend would be squealing with delight, her mind racing like a Wonderbolt to conclusions, thanks in no small part to the many romance novels she read. "But it's impossible," Twilight continued, Rarity's expression crashing like an avalanche.
"Excuse me?" Rarity's eyes narrowed dangerously.
It was a look Twilight knew all too well. She had to act fast.
"Rarity, you know more than any other pony about the Canterlot Elite."
"Yes," Rarity said, her voice conveying her uncertainty where Twilight was going with the conversation.
"I'm the only daughter of what is now a major House."
"And?"
Twilight sighed. She didn't think she'd have to spell things out so plainly for Rarity of all ponies.
"And, because of my talent I managed to become Celestia's first personal student in over two hundred years. Which helped Shiny become captain of the Day Guard. Which in turn allowed him to gain enough of a standing that his marriage to Cadance was possible. You see where this is going, now, right?"
Eyes still two narrow slits, Rarity slowly said, "If it is what I think it is, then I am appalled at you Twilight. I never would have taken you as a classist."
"What?" Twilight yelped, drawing attention momentarily from the others, before leaning in an in a hoarse whisper saying, "No, it's because he's an Earth Pony."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Twilight realised how that sounded even worse. Her hoof snapped up, impacting with her face at her stupid words. From the way Rarity's eyes and nostrils flared, Twilight knew she had maybe seconds to correct her error.
"That's not what I meant. It isn'tme that has a problem, it's my mother. She's been pressuring me to move back to Canterlot. She's even tried to arrange a marriage or two using the old Unicornia laws, which, for some insane reason, Celestia kept when she become the head of state."
"Oh." Rarity sighed, her posture relaxing. "But, can't you just say you'll court whomever you want? I mean, I've heard that some of the unicorns in Canterlot are old fashioned, but this sounds ridiculous, not to mention deplorable."
"I have," grumbled Twilight, returning her attention back to the telescope. "But she's getting more insistent. 'I need to produce an heir', she says. Like I'm, urgh, I don't know. Listen, I don't want to talk about this anymore, okay? Let's just have a fun night of star gazing, chit-chat, and pie."
Fortunately the conversation had to end as at that moment the Apple herd arrived, Applejack in the lead, followed by her sister, brother, and sister-in-law. While Apple Bloom cantered over to her two longest friends, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh headed to the blanket, their tails intertwined as they walked step-in-step. Satisfied that the telescope was perfectly aligned, Twilight and Rarity joined the newly married couple. Applejack had managed to unload the basket filled with apple based treats by the time the two unicorns sat down.
"Okay, Twilight, you set this night up saying us you had a big announcement, or some-such, to tell all of us. Well, we're here, so spit it out." Applejack said, pushing her Stetson hat back.
Tapping her hooves together, Twilight felt a surge of butterflies inhabit her stomach as the eyes of all her friends turned to her. Taking a moment to take a long deep breath, Twilight went over the short speech she'd been rehearsing for the past week again in her mind. Seeing no obvious flaws she nodded, and gave every pony a wide smile.
"Well, as you all know, I finished my Thesis Spell last month." Twilight had to hold back going into detail on the spell itself, she was extremely proud of it after all, but knew her friends were all well versed on the spell, having lived through a year of Twilight constantly going on about it at every opportunity.
"Since then I've been getting a lot of pressure from Archmage Moondancer to return to Canterlot. She wants to retire and take up contemplative studies. Moondancer is hoping that I'll take her place as Archmage, but her, Celestia, and I all agree that it's still a bit premature."
The others were all murmuring or had confused looks on their faces. Gulping down another batch of butterflies, Twilight pressed on.
"So, to help me build up more credentials in the magic community, it's been suggested I go to Manehattan and help a colleague of Moondancer's with some research. I've taken a look at the notes Moondancer sent to me, and I've accepted her suggestion."
A collective gasp erupted from Twilight's friends, a barrage of questions on its heels.
"When do you leave?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"Oh, darling, that sounds just wonderful."
"What are you going to be helping this friend of Moondancer's with, sugarcube?"
Twilight waved her hooves for everypony to calm down.
"I'll be leaving as soon as I sort out a few more details. Spikes agreed to take over officially as the librarian. He's been doing almost all the work since I started my Thesis Spell anyways, so it's not that big a change. He just needs somewhere to stay. I was hoping that-"
"Shucks, Spike can stay with us! Right Applejack?" Apple Bloom shouted, hopping forward with a big grin on her face.
"Well, sugarcube, I'm not sure that'll work out so well, what with... um... you know." Applejack's eyes darted over to Fluttershy and Big Mac, before returning to her sister, a sad frown growing on her face. "I'd love to have Spike, but with everything, it's just going to be too much, especially for Granny Smith."
"Aww," Apple Bloom moaned, ears drooping.
"I was actually hoping that Rarity would be willing to take Spike in," Twilight said, giving her friend a hopeful smile.
Rarity blinked a few times, stunned to suddenly be the center of attention.
There was hardly a pause before she answered. "Of course, darling. It'd be a delight to have little Spikey-Wikey over while you're away."
A long sigh of relief left Twilight. She felt a little bad about not talking earlier with Rarity, but she'd felt almost certain that the fashionista would agree and asking was more a formality. It was maybe a little underhooved to ask in front of all their friends, but Twilight didn't think Rarity would mind.
"Now, as for everything else, I should only be gone a month or two, at the most. Professor Long Stop looks to be very close to completing her work. When it's finished it could revolutionise long distance communication. Applejack, you'd be able to send messages to your cousin in Appleloosa instantly for instance. It's actually really exciting." A little light of excitement grew in Twilight's eyes, and she clapped her hooves together thinking about helping with such a project.
For a few minutes they talked about the project, Twilight giving what details she had about how the Telegraph Stones would work. After sharing what she knew, they settled down to eat before the meteor shower started.
"So, um, Mac and I have some news to share, if, um, that's alright with you all," Fluttershy said half way through the meal.
All attention darted towards the shy pegasus, making her dart under the cover of her pink mane for a moment before Mac, gently nuzzling her and nickering encouragingly, helped raise her courage.
"I'm, uh..." Fluttershy whispered something no one, not even Mac, heard.
"You're going to have to speak louder than that, sugarcube, if they are going to hear you," Applejack chuckled, smiling from ear to ear.
"I'm pregnant!"
Fluttershy immediately hid again inside her mane as all her friends burst out at once in a chorus of congratulatory noise. Blushing furiously, Fluttershy accepted the attention, as each friend gave her a hug in turn. Naturally, the discussion of foals took up the remainder of the dinner.
Then it was time for the meteor shower.
Twilight let the CMC have turns with the telescope, while she and her five best friends sat side by side, smiling as streak after streak burned across the upper atmosphere.
It was a little surprising when just before the shower was due to end Sweetie Belle spoke up saying, "Um, Twilight, this meteor isn't moving right."
Lifting an eyebrow, Twilight trotted over to the three fillies. Stepping aside, Sweetie waited for Twilight to have a look before saying anything more. What Twilight saw made no sense.
It wasn't a star, that much she was certain, and she said as much. Then it moved out of the telescope's field of view and directly overhead.
"That's impossible," Twilight muttered, re-adjusting the telescope.
"What is it?" Dash asked, edging slowly over towards Twilight and the three CMC.
"It looks a bit like a silver plate. But that can't be right. And it's moving all-"
"Wrong? Like it'll be one place than another?" Dash asked, her voice like steel, and her eyes wide saucers.
Twilight, face still stuck to the telescope didn't notice the change in her friend's demeanor.
"Yes, actually. Ugh! It just moved again!" Twilight growled in frustration, scanning the sky for any sign of the not-star.
"Everyone, home, now!" Dash yelled, wings flaring wide and eyes two fearful pinpricks.
"Excuse me, Dash, but what has gotten into you?" Rarity asked, stepping over towards her two friends and sister.
"I'll explain later, when were at the library. Right now, we have to get out of this bucking field and off this hill. It can see us, I know it can."
Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but the sight of her friend, her stoic brave friend, so terrified, and reduced to a trembling mess shook Twilight to her core. Rainbow Dash was never so visibly afraid. She was always the most aggressive, charging her fears head on. For her to even suggest running away, Twilight knew something very seriously was wrong. Rarity seemed to realise it as well, from the concerned look she was turning between her two friends.
"Okay, girls, every pony back to the library." Twilight clapped her hooves for attention, and then reached for her telescope with her magic.
Rainbow Dash just turned and bucked the expensive piece of equipment down the hill.
"No time, Twilight! Library! Right. Bucking. Now!"
Twilight's mouth was agape the entire way back to the library, pushed along by her strong pegasus friend. The other's all trialed along behind, muttering to themselves and all wondering; what had overcome Rainbow Dash?
* * *
On the 'Scum and Villainy' index, Mid-Point Station was somewhere in the middle. Kind of scummy, and a bit villainous, but with enough legitimacy that authorities couldn't assume any given deal was illicit in nature. Sure, more than a few pirates docked frequently with the station to off-load their ill-gotten gains, and thieves, assassins, and covert agents routinely passed through, but not enough to reach a critical saturation point where the law would crack down.
Mid-Point Station was also populated by nearly a dozen different sentient species. Eight limbed colossal Veonma towered above the snake-like Sephelim and half a meter tall Tickem, while bipedal and quadrupeds of various sizes filled the gap in between the two extremes. Of all the advanced species traveling the spatial links, only the Atoran weren't represented.
In short; it was the perfect place for Cerulean to make back-door deals.
Three Galactic Standard hours earlier she had boarded the station using her shuttle. Leaving Fido on the shuttle, she had left to meet her contact. The probe usually was happy staying behind, except, this time, an order from home compelled him to search for Cerulean.
Fido bounced along the grimy corridor, the old battered observation probe not taking notice of the other forms moving past. It had a job to do, and it was focused tight like a laser on achieving it. Even if the roast scuttle rat filled the probe’s olfactory sensors with pleasant sensations. Perhaps it could stop for just a few minutes, grab one of the roast scuttle rat’s being sold, and then continue on its mission.
The probe bobbed up and down twice, before hovering away from the vendors. It had a mission, a very important critical mission. Guardian had been very clear that nothing was to slow or delay Fido. Not even tasty meat treats it was programmed to receive a positive feedback when consuming.
So, the probe continued onwards, following the little blip on its navigation map. It had to reach that blip, and reach it soon. Guardian had been very clear on that point too. The sooner Fido reached the blip, the sooner Fido could go find some tasty treats. Or maybe catch a treat. Fido was very good at catching the little rodents and pests that inevitably made homes in the service ducts and walls of space stations and ships. Pests like scuttle rats, or conduit bats, or...
Fido noticed the blip was very close, only several meters away and in a grimy cantina. Exotic dancers moved seductively on a stage, their four hands each holding a fan, tantalizing glimpses of flesh whispering around the edges. Fido ignored them. A long bar was being serviced by a Pakku, the tall slender alien's eye stalks moving independently to keep track of customers and watch the dancers at the same time. Fido ignored him too. Sitting in a corner with a grey Sephelim, Fido saw what he was looking for, a blue coat of fur and feathered wings.
Fido bobbed excitedly, zipping around the cantina's other patrons, and heading for his target. Once Fido gave Guardian’s instructions Fido could go get some scuttle rat. Fido really liked scuttle rat.
“Fido, what in the Blue Blazes are you doing here?” Cerulean groaned as the probe stopped by the table she and the Sephelim sat at. "I told you to watch the ship."
"Robot yours, little blue bird?" the alien asked, his lips curving up and a hissing laugh making its long body quiver.
“Mistress Cerulean, mistress Cerulean, Guardian told me to tell you that an Atoran cruiser has entered the system and is docking with the station. Guardian wants you to come home right away.”
The Sephelim stopped laughing, and Cerulean's wings flared.
"Atoran never come to multi-species station," the Sephelim hissed, his large milky eyes turning towards the cantinas entrance. "You never said anything about Atoran being after you, little blue bird. Deal off."
The Sephelim began to slither out of his seat, only to by grabbed by a mechanical set of claws extending from Cerulean's boot. The pegasus gave him a long exasperated look and shake of the head.
"You're not going to let a few Atoran ruin a perfectly good relationship, are you Sevvy?"
"Atoran big trouble. Trouble I no need, little blue bird. Deal off."
"I'll double your pay," Cerulean growled not letting the alien go.
Sevvy laughed, a cold hissing sound not unlike a broken gas valve.
"Deal off. Atoran not worth risking trouble with."
Cerulean sighed. A wide grin showed off her flat teeth, a dark gleam twinkling in the corner of her eyes. There was something about the look in the winged equine's eyes that sent shivers up Sevvy's spine.
"Sevvy, Sevvy, Sevvy, I don't think the Atorans are the worst of your problems if you don't give me the co-ordinates of that planet. Am I bloody well clear?"
Groaning, Sevvy massaged his snout with one of his twig-like hands.
"Why you want Type Zero planet so much?" the Sephelim hissed, reaching into a vest pocket with his other hand. "Here, data you want. Where payment?"
"Bay three-four," Cerulean grumbled, tossing the access key onto the table as she snatched at a small data-chip from Sevvy.
Before she could grab the chip, a flash of blue briefly lit the room. Blinking, Cerulean looked at the stump where the Sephelim's head had been seconds before. Re-acting on instinct, Cerulean leapt forward, pulling the table along with her to create a barrier. Plasma shrieked slamming into the table and super-heating the metal into a angry red glow. Fumbling around the floor Cerulean searched for the data-chip. She spotted it next to a vent, teetering half over the edge.
Yelling Cerulean leapt forward as the station shook. The soft rubber tips of the fingers of her boot brushed against the chip, it hung half suspended in the air for a second, before plummeting out of sight.
"Gah, so bloody close!" Cerulean screamed, beating a hoof against the deck as frustrated tears came to her eyes.
Snarling, Cerulean turned her attention back towards her attackers, peaking around the brightly glowing table. Fido had hidden behind the bar, and all the cantinas patrons had thrown their selves to the floor or rushed out of the room. Framed in the brighter lights of the main atrium stood four tall muscular bipedal aliens. Head stalks dangling down combat armour from the backs of helmets, the four blue skinned soldiers stalked forward slowly. An Atoran Assault Quad, Cerulean realised from the bulkiness of their armour.
Panic began to finally take hold of her now that she didn't have the data chip that maybe held the position of her home to focus on.
Cerulean was many things; but one of them wasn't being a fighter. She didn't even carry any weapons, relying on her ability to look tough, rather than actually being tough. Neither was she a particularly fast or strong flier, and in such cramped quarters it'd be impossible to avoid being hit by a trained quad of Atoran soldiers.
Pressing a button on her left boot, she spoke into a reciever, "Fido, I need you to distract the quad so I can get out of here. Can you do that for me, Fido?"
Fido's voice came through with a slight crackle of static from the ionized particles in the air.
"Of course, Mistress!"
The next moment was filled with the loud rumbling war-cry of the Fido probe, one typically reserved for his greatest nemesis; the white mice of Deck 12.
With a flap of her wings, Cerulean shot out from behind the table, an electric hum from her boots heralding a sharp crackle of as a green shell of energy surounded her. The personal shield, while useful, couldn't stand up to more than a couple direct hits from an Atoran plasma rifle.
Three of the Atoran's had turned to face the very minor threat of the Fido probe. Cerulean winced as a quick spat-tat-tat of plasma converged on the probe sending one of his 'ear's spinning off and bouncing behind the cantina's bar. The remaining Atoran fired his weapon at Cerulean, the plasma making her shield hiss. Tucking her wings to her sides and her legs under her, Cerulean tried to roll between two of the soldiers.
A sharp kick to her flank, just below her cutie mark, sent Cerulean off course and into an abandoned tabled heaped with the still living food preferred by Veonma. Worms and grubs wriggled down her face and Cerulean had to bite her tongue and take a very slow careful breath. She could freak out and roll around screaming later when she didn't have four trained killer aliens about to stomp her into mush.
That second to compose herself was a second that Cerulean didn't actually have.
Hands grabbed her by the back of the neck, lifting Cerulean up until she was eye level with the three and a half meter tall aliens.
"Oh, bloody bucking hell," she squeaked out as she stared into the cold emotionless faceplate of the Atoran helmet.
Thrusting a hoof forward, Cerulean looked away as a bright electric charge coursed from her boot into the Atoran soldier's armour. The Atoran just tilted his head to one side.
"Can't blame a mare for trying?" Cerulean tried to sound flippant, like a hero in one of the many holo-vids she watched, but it came across in a frightened chirp.
Abandoning any semblance of trying to act 'cool', Cerulean began to flail and kick her legs or beat her wings in the soldiers face. Her hoof connected with an apple shaped device on the soldiers belt. There was a warning tone, and the soldier reached down for the device. Before he could reach it, a second kick connected with the device.
A moment later a scream tore itself from inside the suit of armour, the Atoran collapsing backwards. Cerulean didn't spend any time wondering what had happened as she yanked herself out of the soldier's grasp, strands of her mane left behind in the Atoran's fingers.
Panting, Cerulean regained her feet, wincing at the bubbles of thick blood coming from a joint in the soldier's suit. Ears flicking left and right she heard the thumping of boots heading towards her from along the causeways, as well as the soldier's that had been pre-occupied with Fido. Sparing a moment to regain her bearings, Cerulean flew out into the atrium, Fido following, a stream of plasma on their tails.
Plasma splashed in criss-crossing arcs in front of Cerulean as she tucked her wings and dove down the central chasm that formed the heart of the station. Sirens were blaring, residents racing towards safety as shopkeepers closed their businesses. At the bottom of the atrium Cerulean tucked and rolled, altering her trajectory in an almost right angle.
Landing in front of the sleek arrow shaped body of her shuttle, Cerulean double checked to make sure Fido had followed her and was safe before running up the ramp. Just as the door clanged shut behind her a dozen blue forms entered the docking bay. Streams of plasma began to impact on the shuttle's hull, creating a din of noise, before Cerulean had entered the cockpit.
Flicking a switch Cerulean turned on the shuttle's engines.
"Raven, skip the pre-flight checklist, we need to get out of here, now!"
"Understood Commander," the shuttle's AI said, the twin hydrogen-fusion engines roaring. "Commander, Mid-Point Station's outer doors are locked down. Recommendations?"
"Um, blow them open, I guess? It's quicker than you hacking into the station's mainframe and over-riding the lockdown."
"That will cause an explosive decompression that will kill anything in the bay not wearing an EVA suit, Commander."
"Is there anyone other than the Atorans in the bay?"
There was a slight pause, followed by, 'No."
Cerulean didn't look up as she reached for the control yoke and depressed the firing mechanism.
From beneath the shuttle a lance of brilliant blue-green light reached out and ripped apart the thick blast-doors. The deep tone of the station's VI warning about explosive decompression was rendered moot as anything not secured down was sucked towards the gaping hole. Throwing the throttle forward, the shuttle roared out into the cold of space, and into a network of laser and cannon fire so thick Cerulean thought for a moment she could have walked across it.
Bucking and diving, Cerulean twisted Raven away from the angular bulky shape of the Atoran Strike Cruiser. At a kilometer long, the ship hosted a wide range of weapons as advanced as those carried by Ark Five. More and more of the cruisers had been sighted in the last few years near the galactic core, far from the normal home of the Atorans in the Perseus Arm of the galaxy in the region between the Outer Arm and the Orion Spur.
From the Strike Cruiser, a wave of missiles hungrily sought out the Raven. Using every ounce of skill she possessed, aided by the Raven's AI, Cerulean barely avoided the attacks. The missiles sped past, heading straight towards the station. Bright flashes broke through the battle, like a dozen light bulbs bursting.
For two seconds nothing happened, the station sitting with huge chunks ripped from its superstructure, then it blossomed into a massive ball of fire.
"Oh, bloody wanking puss buckets!" Cerulean yelled, ducking and weaving her way towards the edge of the gravity well created by the gas giant Mid-Point had orbited. "Raven, apprise Guardian of our situation."
"He is aware and in route."
"ETA?"
"He will leave FTL in three zero seconds."
"Huzza, some good news," Cerulean intoned mirthlessly. A sharp curse passed her lips as the radar began screaming the long tones of a weapons lock.
Throwing the Raven into a rolling loop, Cerulean reversed course, heading straight towards the cruiser. Light's popped around them, the hull echoing with the detonations of flak. A laser slashed through the Raven's shields, piercing the hull and left engine. Holding back another curse, Cerulean fought the bucking shuttle, sliding in close to the cruiser's hull, a trail of black flowing and quickly dispersing behind.
"Where is he? We can't survive this much longer!" Cerulean growled to herself as the Raven rocketed past the cruiser and towards the planet.
She was answered a second later as a warning siren told of a sudden shift in gravity caused by a ship exiting FTL. A shadow fell across the cruiser, remnants of the station, and planet as Ark Five entered Real Space. All of nearly seventeen kilometers in length, Ark Five dwarfed the cruiser like a grizzly bear looming over a pet cat. There was a momentary lull in the battle, then the hundreds of cannons possessed by Ark Five flashed, tearing into the dorsal shields and armour of the atoran vessel in a rain of shells and energy.
Cerulean smiled to herself as she altered coarse, heading towards the gap between the huge 'arms' at the front of Ark Five. Each three times the length of the cruiser, with twice the armour and weapons, the arms held the many docking bays, hangers, and manufacturing plants of the ship. Their prows jutted out like blades with dozens of missile tubes that spat their deadly tools at the out-classed ship below.
Pressing a button to send a secure communication signal to the ship, Cerulean said, "Hey dad, nice timing, as always."
"You are clear to use bay Twenty-Alpha, Cerulean. It brings me relief to see you survive. We'll be having a talk later after I sort this mess."
Cerulean cringed. She knew what that meant, even if she didn't want to think about it. She was about to respond with some half-hearted snarky come-back, when the warning siren again blared about ships exiting FTL. Around Ark Five over a dozen vessels slipped out of Phased Space.
Mouth falling open with a long stream of curses, Cerulean couldn't believe what she was seeing.
It was an entire Atoran attack group, with Ark Five in the middle of their crossing weapons fire. But it wasn't possible. Only Ark Five was capable of Phased Space travel. The Atorans, like every other species in the galaxy, used the natural space lanes that existed between high gravity bodies, typically stars, that created a vast winding maze through space. If the Atorans could use Phased Space engines, it meant one of the few advantages that Ark Five possessed had been stolen.
It also meant this had all been a trap. No wonder she'd managed to get away from the soldiers, Cerulean thought to herself.
Holding back a growl, Cerulean landed in the appointed bay. Moments later there was the lurch and sensation of being compacted and stretched at the same time as Guardian threw Ark Five back into FTL travel.
Sighing, Cerulean turned Fido, the probe battered and bruised from its encounter with the soldiers.
"Well, that could have gone better," she said.
The probe just gave a happy bark.