//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Seizing the Star (Phase two) // by keithsterling //------------------------------// ~Back on the Planet of Sauria~ On her way over some rubble on her way to a little known small natural cave complex deep in dark claw held territory was an older magnificent looking dark green saurial fin head female. Her very physically fit 5ft even saurial figure was attired in a drab green colored tank top and camouflage cargo shorts. The claws of her three-toed scaly feet click on the stones as she leaps from rock to rock. On top of her head covering her fin was a drab green brimmed fabric hat with a shallow round crown called a safari hat. Around her waist was a belt with holster containing Colt commando double-action revolver. Slung over her shoulder was thick strap with a Car-15 automatic rifle, and on her left side was leather sheath with ka-bar. This female fin head was Military Specialist Mista Thunder roars, the Duchess of Lost Vale, and a former member of the Saber Claw infiltration unit. A highly and specially trained commando unit created by Duke Balder Thunder Roars' father Ragnar Thunder Roars during the last Saurial war. ~A week earlier~ In the office of Duke Balder Thunder roars, the ruler of Lost Vale at his palace in the Capital city of Lost Vale, his wife Duchess Mista Thunder roar paces back and forth in the office as the claws on her three-toed scaly feet click loudly in the room. "Mista, do you mine," Balder said his voice pushed to edge of annoyance with the intentional movement of his wife claws on her toes to annoy her mate. "Let me go, Balder!" Mista said bluntly as she increased the frequency of the movement of her toes makes it more annoying. "I already told you, Mista, you are more valuable right here in Lost Vale. The other female saurial is looking toward my mate Duchess Mista. That attack on our largest hatchery took away the safety of our ancestral nesting grounds. That was protected." Balder said as Mista's eyes sharpened on her mate. "Balder! Don't go there!" Mista said hotly as she slams her three-fingered clawed hands on his desk before pointed one of her nails towards Balder. "Supreme Priestess Mista Guiding light," Balder said, knowing as Mista roared at her mate for bringing up her past as a Priestess of the sacred Light the guardians of ancestral nesting grounds on Sauria. "Balder, I can't believe you brought up my past as the spiritual leader of Sacred Light order the guardians of the ancestral nesting grounds. Because of that, I can't return home, and my own mother will not talk to me." Mista said brazenly as Balder sighed. "You know that is not correct, Mista. Our own daughter Valkyria, with the help of High Priestess Viveka Lightfoot, has got numerous letters to your mother Supreme Priestess Freya Guiding light, and she has answered every one of them. In every letter, she expresses sorrow for what she did to her own daughter." Balder explains as he gently taps his nails on top of his desk. "I wish I could really believe her, Balder," Mista comments as she put her arms behind her back and sighed slowly. "Here, what I will do, Mista. I will let you go on your mission to try to identify the bringer of the weapons for the dark claws. But you must talk to your mother, she coming to Lost Vale to check on the hatchery, that the lizard men attack in the city and cleanse it of the violence." Balder explains as Mista's eyes are haunted by some inner anxiety about her mother coming to Lost Vale and having to talk to her. Mista reluctantly shook her head as she left the office. ~Back to the present on the Recreation deck of the infinity palace ~ On the patio area of a small café on the recreation deck Celestia, Luna, and Cadence sit at small table drink tea and coffee have a long but overdue visit together since arriving at different times at the Citadel Class Space Station for their tour of duty as part of the Sol Expeditionary Force. Trying to remain inconspicuous on the recreation deck was a familiar, charming light purple alicorn mare with dark sapphire blue, moderate purple, and brilliant rose streak mane and tail. Her toned 5ft 5in equine figure was attired in a blue-violet colored form-fitting spacesuit with titan white trim. On her small purple plush and smooth bare feet were knee-high boots. Folded on her back were her light purple feathered bird wings. This light purple alicorn mare was former Princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle. "Huh?" Cadence exclaimed she went she noticed the very conspicuous light purple Alicorn mare moving through the deck due to her own actions at trying to stay inconspicuous. Cadence taps on the arms of the other two Alicorns sitting with her at the table and gestures toward the light purple Alicorn. "Twilight!" Celestia calls as the blood drains from Twilight's face went she hears her name called. The small hairs in her mane start to stir thinking that she was just discovered by one of the Anti-Twilight radical movements still mad about her starting the second Crystal war on Sol. Slowly Twilight nervously turns her head toward the voice and sighs with relief that it was not a radical. But dull, empty ache gnaws at her soul went she spotted the other former Equestria royalty sitting together at the table gestures her to join them. She lumbered her way over to the table and took a seat with them. Quickly the three former Equestria royals pick up on the incriminating look on Twilight's face. Slowly Celestia pours herself another cup of tea from the teapot in front of her and takes a drink before speaking. "It was for the best that I lost my ruling power of Equestria, Twilight. As the weight of the crown was heavy upon my head. I missed so much of my foals' life growing up being the ruler of Equestria and spending time with my own husband. The two reasons that I did what I did." Celestia said with a hitch in her voice as she took a second drink from the teacup in her gloved hand. "Young Twilight, I spent so much time staring up at my night sky during long lonely nights. I missed the company of other ponies. But went my dear little Somnus was born, that loneliness eased I had someone to share my nighttime with. Now without the weight of my crown, I can be that auntie that Celestia's foals want me to be." Luna said as her face flushed with happiness upon looking at the heart-shaped locket in her dark blue bubble in front of her. "Because of that crown, I lost my husband and my only daughter to the corrupting effects of dark crystal magic. As the Crystal Empire will survive in the hearts of all the Crystal ponies in the empire. It too painfully for me to head that empire anymore. But if Grand Solar Princess Aurora Sol Silverlight every needs me to help, I will aboard the next shuttle bound for Sol to help her. Isn't that right Aunties as you would too?" Cadence comment as Celestia and Luna shook their head 'yes' at once. "So, do you forgive me, your highnesses?" Twilight asked hesitantly as the eyebrows of three Alicorn mares shoot up in surprise with Twilight's question. "We tolerate you, Twilight," Celestia comments as Twilight's eyes blink with the incredulity with her mentor answer as the other two Alicorn shook their heads. "Well, now I have hoped that someday I will be forgiven for starting the second Crystal War. On that day, I hope my mentor, her sister, and my ex-sister-in-law will be there to forgive me." Twilight said hopefully as the alarms on their MCV go off, reminding them that their rest period is all most over and must return to their duty station to finish their shift. With that the four Alicorn mares stand-up and walk to the recreation deck turbo lifts as each one must take a different turbo lift to a different deck on the Citadel Class Space Station to return to their duty station. First to leave was Luna as she had to go down eleven decks to reach the Main hangar deck on the Citadel Class Space Station. Next to leave was Celestia as she had to go up two decks and then take a highly secured turbo lift to the Central Communications deck located on the same deck as the Command Center/ Throne Room of the Citadel Class Space Station. Last to leave was Cadence, as she had to go down two decks to reach the Citadel Class Space Station's medical control deck. That left Twilight again alone as she walks down the connecting corridors of the Citadel Class Space Station to the recreation deck tram station to take her back to her Living module tram station of the Citadel Class Space Station. As Twilight waited for the Living module tram to arrive, she walks up to the Tram station MP security station. She asks where she can find Lord Justice Silverlight. The security guard looks at Twilight, very puzzled with the name Lord Justice Silverlight. The only Justice Silverlight he knows is Rear Admiral (upper) Justice Silverlight. After having Twilight describes who this Lord Justice Silverlight is, he figures it the same one he thinking of. "Oh, you must mean Rear Admiral (upper) Justice Silverlight. He might be in the officer's wings of the living module. May I ask why you want to see him, Miss Sparkle?" The security guard asked. "On personal business, officer," Twilight said "May I see your MCV, Miss Sparkle?" The security guard asked as she brought up her arm with her MCV, and the guard scanned it. "I am sorry, Miss Sparkle. But your security clearance is not high enough to have access to the officer's wings of the living module." The guard explains as Twilight gasps. "Is there any way that I can see the Fleet Admiral, Officer?" Twilight asked hopefully. "The only way is by have someone who already has the security clearance to vouch for you, Miss Sparkle. Do you know anyone that can vouch for you?" The guard asked as Twilight thought for a little while. "Oh, I know, Mrs. Celestia Silverlight. She can vouch for me officer." Twilight said as the guard blink with surprise. "What! The fleet admiral own wife can vouch for you, Miss Sparkle!" The guard exclaims as he called the Central Communications deck; a moment later, the holographic head of Celestia Silverlight appears at his guard station. "Yes, officer, what can I do for you?" Celestia inquiry "Please forgive me, Mrs. Silverlight, but a purple alicorn mare what to talk to your husband, the Fleet Admiral. But her security clearance is not high enough to enter the officer's wings. She said you can vouch for her." The guard explains. "I can officer is her name Twilight Sparkle?" Celestia asked "That is correct, Mrs. Silverlight." The Guard answers "If that so officer, my access code is MCS1. She has my permission to enter the officer's wings." Celestia said as the guard enters Celestia access code, and it blinks green on the screen in front of him. "Thank you, Mrs. Celestia Silverlight I'll issue her the Security Clearance for the officer's wing right away. Before I let you go, Mrs. Silverlight, you might have to change your access code as a security precaution." The guard explains as Celestia smiled at the guard. "It fine officer, that my old access code went I was a communications tech. I use my officer code now as I have higher security clearance with it, and you should know the rules for an officer code." Celestia comments. "I do Mrs. Silverlight, only the officer who the access code is assigned to can use that code because of the higher security clearance. So after I issue the security clearance for Miss Sparkle, I will delete it for you, Mrs. Silverlight. But next Mrs. Silverlight please comes to see me. So I can scan your new access code into the system." The guard said as he finishes programming the temporary security clearance into Twilight MCV. "I will officer; anyway, that the tram station I use to get home after my shift ends," Celestia explains. She turns off the holo phone to the tram station. With that, the guard gestures Twilight to the waiting tram that will take her to the officer's wing of the Living module. ~Back to the Planet of Sauria~ The sound of spent shell casings ching against the rocks in the area as Military Specialist Mista Thunder roars located the natural entrance into the small natural cave complex deep in dark claw held territory. But what she didn't expect was the automatic machine guns security system currently taking huge chunks of rock out of the large rock she hiding behind. "What the carnivorous!" Mista exclaims irately as a bullet strikes by the side of her three-toed clawed scaly foot. Toss up a small piece of rock hitting the side of her ankle, giving her a bruise. Mista reaches to her side and retrieved two pineapple grenades; she didn't think she would have to use them, so she only brought two of them. But she so glad she did, she leaps on top the rock and leaps from rock to rock trying to staying ahead of the gunfire that strikes at her feet leaving gouges in the rock. She pulls the first pin from the pineapple grenade and releases the spoon before tossing the grenade to the base of the first gun. She repeats the same process leaping from rock to rock an ahead of the gunfire. She pulls the pin from the pineapple grenade and releases the spoon before tossing the second grenade to the base of the second gun. After the two grenades come to rest at the bases of the guns, she dives into a shallow ravine, just her luck; the ravine is filled with mud. The soft clinging mud cushions her landing in the ravine. She quickly wipes the mud off her face with her three-fingered clawed hands and spits the disgusting-tasting mud in her mouth. As she waits for five minutes' delayed fuse to goes off, she looks herself over and chuckles; she just covered with mud. She knows that a noblewoman of her status should never get this filthy. But as a soldier, it pars the course. A few moments later, two explosions go off Mista looks over the lip of the ravine to see the smoky remains of the automatic machine guns security system. She climbed over the lip of the ravine back onto solid ground and proceeds up to the natural entrance into the small natural cave complex, passing the destroyed security system on either side. In the tunnel, Mista's three-toed clawed scaly feet click as she carefully inch's her way down the tunnel mindful of other traps that might be in the tunnel. It takes her few hours to emerge on the other side of the natural cave complex, and she finds herself standing in a valley. She comes upon a man-made runway long enough to land some kind of craft. But it looks like it has not been used for some time as weeds have started to grow in the cracks. She continues along the side of the runway until she comes upon the remains of a wooden warehouse, which is obviously destroyed by an internal explosion of some forces as the logs are tossed about the area haphazardly. The strong smell of charbroiled saurial permeates the place. She looks through the blow-out window into the warehouse to see two charred bodies of dark claw finheads lying on the ground. She figures that explosion came from the burned wooden boxes the finheads were standing beside. With no more clues to be found, Mista heads back to the exit.