//------------------------------// // Titan // Story: Mass Effect: Element of Kindness // by CommanderApplejack //------------------------------// Chapter 143 Titan Check out the manufactorum. 51% “Alright, we'll check out what the ponies here used to be capable of building.” Fluttershy marked a path to a transportation hub, leaving the labs and it's contents alone once again. It took a while to find a transport train that was working but eventually they got on their way towards what was undoubtedly the largest of the underground facilities. “So, why are you so interested in this anyway Applejack?” Rarity asked while Pinkie and Shy were making sure Cadence was comfortably laying on a seat. “Ah don't know, Ah guess it's 'cause Ah like buildin' things,” Applejack shrugged. “Just sounded more interesting ta me than a buncha labs. Not saying findin' Cadence there wasn't remarkable.” “Hmm, I guess it's an earthpony thing,” Rarity said, Cadence groaning behind them as she regained consciousness. “Huh… wha-” “You feeling well, Cadence? You dropped on us there.” Fluttershy helped the alicorn up, from the seat. “Y-Yeah… where are we?” “On our way to see another part of this underground base,” Fluttershy answered, “You okay with that?” “Of course! I-I'm just… going to stay close to you three,” Cadence stuttered as she gave the three of them a sheepish smile. “Don't worry darling, we'll just be taking a quick peek before getting out of this place,” Rarity smiled as she nudged Cadence's shoulder.  The train came to a halt at the start of the manufactorum, Fluttershy taking the lead as they explored the facility as if they were to run into trouble it'd at least be her who would have to deal with things first. The lighting, unlike the labs, were red emergency lights, nothing, not even the terminals seemingly active. “Can we, Ah don't know, get this place running again?” Applejack asked as she checked some stored crates, finding various parts in them which she couldn't recognize. “The map says there's a main control room next to the massive chamber that sits under the gorge,” Fluttershy answered after checking her omni-tool for directions. Walking through the dimly lit hallways for a while longer the five ponies found the control room shrouded in darkness. “Hopefully we can restore power from here, if the hardlines are cut we might never get this place running again.” “Would it look something like this?” Pinkie asked pointing at a large row of switches on the wall. Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. “Really only one way to find out.” Fluttershy took one of the switches and pushed it up, a massive spark of electricity crashed into the pegasus the moment she did. Shy's shield dropped over halfway, static electricity jumping through her feathers. Lights jumped on as the pegasus stumbled back. “You alright, sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she rushed forward to check on Fluttershy, the pegasus nodding. “Just don't touch those swi-” Another flash lit up the room, machinery starting to hum and bangs of metal sounding through the facility. “That tickled,” Pinkie giggled as she proceeded to flip all the switches in rapid succession. Sparks and arcs of electricity jumped all around her as she did so. “Pinkie Pie!” Rarity exclaimed bewildered as holograms jumped alive all over the control room. A large set of shutters that closed off the far end of the room adjacent to the big area under the gorge started to slide open. Fluttershy too was about to give Pinkie a piece of her mind but then saw the lights in the main chamber of the manufactorum blink on. “Oh my...” Her breath got stuck in her throat as she looked straight into an array of engines, a vessel that pretty much ran the full span of the chamber powering up as a hologram jumped to life across the viewport. Construction order completed 3193460 cycles ago. > New vessel classification added to roster: - Vindica class Titan > Vessel Specifications: - 1949m Length - 845m Width - Mass: 28 million metric tons - Mk IV Antimatter thruster drives -1 Exitium type spinal mass accelerator cannon. ... Fluttershy remained completely frozen as she read the entire list of features that scrolled over the screen. Applejack whistled as she stared at the vessel as well. Pinkie just hopped around the room, looking at every console and tapping on some of them. “This is one of ours, isn’t it?” Rarity gasped. “Yes,” Fluttershy whispered. “Girls, this is one of the largest vessels in the galaxy.” Fluttershy tapped the screen in front of her, as she noticed an additional note attached to the ship’s specification. Loading personal log… Translating… Done. A hologram of a new pony appeared on the window “Hello to the future generation who might be watching this, I am Star Aura. I am the main designer of the vessel I presume you are currently observing. As it stands now our base does not have the capability to build my designs, so the automated systems will expand our shipyard and manufacturing facility until it’s large enough to create them… I do not expect to see its completion. I have compiled every scrap of data about what the Protheans have classified as ‘Reapers’ and stored it on the base’s databanks, this data will be copied onto the ship’s databanks after completion.” The pony searched for her next words for a moment. “We are abandoning this base and sealing it within the next twenty cycles. Our population is too small right now, we have decided to head to the surface and focus on repopulating the planet. The techs downstairs assure us they have created a way to keep us safe from what lurks above… I hope they’re right. May your generation fare better than ours, Star Aura out.” The ground suddenly shuddered and the ground above the massive ship started to split apart, the blue sky visible above. Everyone turned to look at Pinkie who had her hoof still plastered on one of the control panels. “Whaaattt, it was flashing!” The hologram on the main window changed as it gave a new announcement. Launching Vessel. “Oh fuck,” Fluttershy cursed, “We need to get on that thing, right now! If the heretics have a secondary hub… They cannot get control of that ship!” “I-I can help!” Cadence exclaimed. “I think I know this ship, the voice spoke about it... Do you trust me?” Fluttershy nodded. "Alright, hang on then," Cadence’s horn lit up and enveloped all of them in magic. Moments later the magic flared and in a flash, they were gone.