"So it's a crashed ship," Spike shrugged. "What's the big deal? Wouldn't that just make it easier to get the stuff?"
"What's the big deal?!" Doctor Whooves said, exasperated. "We don't know anything about the ship, who owns or owned it, what may have brought it down in the first place, anything!"
“Calm down, doctor,” Pharynx said. “Though I can’t believe I’m saying it, the dragon is right.”
"That's First Officer Spike, T.O. Pharynx," Luna said, firmly. "You have been the one stressing the importance of a chain of command, after all."
“Or uh,” Spike coughed. “Even just Spike would be okay.”
Pharynx looked like he was going to argue for a second, but surprisingly, he instead chose to stay his hoof. "Fair enough. Though I should repeat that I agree with him. Why is this a problem? Because it might be dangerous to go down there and snatch what we need? Doctor, we've been in danger ever since your museum here decided to take us on its own tour."
‘Did he just… did he follow a command?’ Luna asked herself, daring to hope a little. ‘Without arguing? Has he finally accepted me as captain?’
"It could be unnecessarily dangerous is the point," Derpy said, throwing Luna off her thoughts.
"Exactly," Doctor Whooves said, smiling her way.
"It really could be, uncle," Ocellus said, rubbing the back of her head. "Why not scan the other planets and come back if we don't find anything?"
"Because according to the computer, this planet was the best chance we had of finding anything," Pharynx said. "Yet we have not. There's no natural deposit. We should seize this opportunity while we have it."
"You did say that the ship was leaking it; right, Doc?" Spike asked. "What if it ends up leaking all of it? I don't think it's something we can scoop up off the ground with a mop."
Doctor Whooves took a deep breath. "I suppose I did only detect it because of its… wide dispersal area. It seems to be, for lack of a better word, evaporating." He raised a hoof. "However, as I implied, scans of the ship itself are vague. For all we know, it could have a massive tank of the substance. A tank that could have been leaking for a thousand cycles."
"It seems like we have too many unknowns to make a completely educated call," Luna said.
"Thank you," Doctor Whooves nodded.
Luna raised a hoof. "However, if there is one thing I have always held dear, it's that sometimes decisions need to be made before you have all the information, as by the time you do, it may be too late to act."
"Finally," Pharynx said, a hint of a smile on him. "The decisive leader I've long since heard about makes an appearance."
"Do not confuse my call to action with recklessness," Luna said firmly, nodding towards the doctor. "We will be doing this as cautiously as possible. But nevertheless, you and my... Number One are right, we may not have this opportunity twice.”
“Hey, you did another Space Trek thing!” Ocellus beamed.
“I like it!” Spike beamed. “It reminds me of that catchy song Rainbow always sings.” He then sang a line himself: ‘“We are number one! Hah!’”
“The one from that one radio show?” Derpy blinked. “Crazy Town?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Is this what they’re teaching you at that school of theirs, Ocellus?” Pharynx moaned, gazing at her with a hint of disappointment. “Reference making?”
For once, Ocellus actually seemed prepared for his chiding. “Headmistress Starlight says that shared snippets of popular culture actually work as an important apparatus for bonding.”
Pharynx folded his arms. “I miss the old days where bonding was done over sparring.” He then sighed. “And here we are straying far off topic. Captain Luna, shall we proceed?”
“If there are no major objections,” she said. “Doctor?”
Doctor Whooves shifted uncomfortably, but seemed to agree. "Very well, captain. I suppose there's no reward without risk, yes? However, one of the reasons I am somewhat wary of this is that we can't exactly land the Starshot directly on…" He blinked, gesturing towards the viewscreen. "We really should give it a name."
"Planet Oddball," Spike shrugged.
"Designation: Planet Oddball accepted."
“We really need to vote on these things,” Doctor Whooves deadpanned.
"It's better than Kumquat, at least," Luna said.
"When are we getting around to changing that, again?" Pharynx asked.
"Never," Spike said cheerfully. "Anyway, why can't we land the ship, Doc? It landed fine in the Everfree Forest."
"I wouldn't exactly say 'fine'," Doctor Whooves said, reading his console. "However, Oddball's atmosphere is much more fickle than our own. With the intense differences in temperature along the terminator zone…"
Spike raised his eyebrows. "Wait, terminator zone?"
"Where night and day meet," Luna explained.
"That's the most hardcore scientific name for something I've ever heard," Spike said.
Doctor Whooves gazed at him curiously. "Hardcore?"
"He's saying it's super intensive," Derpy translated. “Like that new Wubstep music.”
Pharynx gave the entire bridge, save for Luna, a death glare. "Stop. Wasting. Time."
"Er, right," Doctor Whooves coughed. "Because of vast temperature differences at the terminator zone, there are almost certainly near-constant violent storms. It could make landing risky. Right, Ocellus?"
"The training program did say you shouldn't try landing on planets with 'unstable atmospheres'." She gave a sheepish look. "I-I wouldn't exactly be comfortable trying it."
"I understand, but then how do we get down there and collect the fuel?" Luna asked. "Flying is a non-option, and teleporting down there is dubious as well. Even Starswirl would be wary of trying such a thing."
“I don’t think that’s necessary, cap’n,” Spike said. “In fact, I think there may be somepony who already has what we need. We should talk with her.”
“Who?” Luna asked.
“The reincarnation of your ‘Gotta Go Fast’ guy,” Spike said. “Otherwise known as Rainbow Dash.”
--
Luna couldn’t believe she had taken this long to tour the Starshot’s launch bay. Rainbow had been pestering her to come down to see the progress on her own ‘personal project’ since the beginning of the week, but she simply never had the time. And now that she did, Rainbow was making the best of every moment of it, darting about the massive hangar with Luna, Scootaloo and a flying Spike in tow. Though Luna had only had need of only one support craft, she couldn’t help but marvel at the thirty or so small, angular ships sitting in the bay. Ones whose various subtypes Rainbow Dash was busy explaining.
“See this here?” she said, pointing to an angular, small vessel. One whose wings had symbols on them resembling a circle with a swirl in the middle - something Luna could have sworn she’d seen before. “These are called ‘Light Taker Interceptors’.” She leaned close to Luna, as if she wanted to tell her a secret. “We wanted to call them Shadowbolt Interceptors, but the computer didn’t like it.”
Luna blinked. “I am… flattered. I think?”
“There is already a class of ship named ‘Shadowbolt’,” the computer sighed.
“Wait,” Luna blinked. “Wait what?”
“Yeah, yeah, the Shadowbolt Fighters,” she grunted. “The big brother of the Light Takers. Scoots here just learned how to fly them.”
Scootaloo grinned proudly.
Rainbow had an odd mix of envy and pride on her. “Hate to say it, but the student’s surpassed the master there.”
“Hang on, Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, still somewhat stunned. “Computer, do you have any information about how these came about the name ‘Shadowbolt’?”
“It is a simple translation from the original --ERROR-- word…” The computer let out a series of high-pitched screeches, forcing the group to cover their ears.
“By the night, what is that?!” Luna called, carefully uncovering her ears as it ended.
“Wait, don’t answer that!” Spike called, perhaps not wanted to be berated by another set of screeches. “I think the screeching might just be how the aliens talked.”
“Like their language,” Scootaloo said, raising her eyebrows and slowly uncovering her own ears.
“Yeah,” Spike nodded. “Remember the screeching heard right before the computer started talking to us? It sounded just like that. The computer was probably just trying to talk to us in the aliens’ tongue. Right, computer?”
“Indeed,” it said.
Luna took a deep breath. “Then perhaps it’s simply a coincidence.”
“What’s a coincidence?” Spike asked.
“It’s… um, nevermind,” Luna coughed, before turning back to the blue speedster. “Rainbow, while we do appreciate the tour, we did have a very specific ship we were hoping you’ve already learned to fly.”
“No worries there,” Rainbow smirked. “Between me and Scoots, we’ve learned to fly everything here.”
Luna’s eyes widened in surprise, but she was nonetheless delighted. “Excellent. Excellent!”
“What exactly do you need, princes-- captain?” Scootaloo asked.
“Something that could take us down to the planet we’re orbiting,” Luna explained.
“Oh, that’s all?” Rainbow laughed. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I tried to explain when we entered, but…”
“You really wanted to show off this stuff, didn’t you?” Spike smirked.
“Hey, if you’ve just got done learning all about them and doing simulated AWESOME dogfights, you’d want to show them off, too!” Rainbow argued.
“So. Many. Lasers,” Scootaloo said, almost hypnotically.
“Anyway, we’ve soooo got you covered there, princess,” Rainbow grinned, leading them to the far side of the launch bay. “Come on, I’ll show ya’.”
This seemed to be the main launch strip, as it led down a long tunnel to the starboard side of the ship, finishing with a pair of massive blast doors. Waiting for them at the opposite end of it were a pair of vessels far larger than the others Luna had seen. They were so large, in fact, they could probably fit over ten ponies into them. Like every other support craft, it had that strange, swirl-like symbol painted on its hull.
“This hulking beast is called a ‘dropship’,” Rainbow explained, slapping the metallic side of it. “And these babies can fit so many ponies in them. Though the guides only showed us how to fly them, the computer was actually helpful for once and knew what they were for.”
“I have been helpful far more times than that since your arrival,” the computer said. “Over 1,213 inquiries have been answered within acceptable parameters.”
“Computer, are you actually getting… defensive?” Spike asked.
“... No.”
“Uh huh,” Spike said, rolling his eyes. “I’m starting not to believe you when you say you’re only ‘simulating’ emotions for our ‘comfort’.”
“Anyway, the computer being a crybaby aside,” Rainbow coughed. “These things are what the aliens liked to use to transport people up and down from planets. Landing the Starshot itself wasn’t too common.”
“Doctor Whooves did imply that it could be dangerous under certain conditions,” Luna nodded.
“Wait, does that mean most alien planets have really crazy atmospheres, then?” Scootaloo asked.
“Something we shall find out, little one,” Luna nodded, before turning back to Rainbow. “I assume these vessels have the capacity to transport cargo as well?”
“I don’t see why not,” Rainbow shrugged, moving to the back of the closest one.
She tapped a few buttons on a control pad near the rear of it, and to Luna and Spike’s surprise, half of the side facing them revealed itself to be a sliding door. It took only a second to roll open, revealing a large interior space. Naturally, wrapped around it were a number of harnesses, obviously used for securing creatures. And towards the rear of it were a number of thick, yellow straps.
“Computer, what are those for?” Luna asked. “The straps?”
“Securing cargo.”
“No offense, but that’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?” Rainbow laughed.
“I suppose I was expecting something more… futuristic,” Luna said.
“Na, the aliens are, or were, crazy into keeping it simple when they could,” Scootaloo said. “Something me and Rainbow figured out.”
“For real,” Spike agreed. “They were like a race of Big Macs.” He winced. “Well, really hardcore Big Macs.”
“At times like this, I am thankful for it,” Luna said. “This shall make it much easier. And you already know how to fly these vessels, yes?”
“Scoots and I know how, yeah,” Rainbow nodded. “It takes two ponies to fly, and we both passed our tests.”
“We just haven’t done it… for real yet,” Scootaloo gulped.
“If you need more time to learn, that is fine,” Luna said.
“Scoots just has nerves, captain,” Rainbow laughed. “Remember when I said she learned how to fly the Shadowbolts before me? Well, she’s like that with everything here. Turns out she’s got a natural talent for flying alien spacecraft.”
Scootaloo couldn’t help but blush.
“I’m not sure what’s more surprising,” Spike said. “That either of you’ve learned all this so fast or that you’re not upset about getting upstaged, Rainbow.”
Rainbow shrugged, waving a hoof dismissively. “”It’s really not a big deal.”
Spike gazed at her skeptically.
“Really, it’s not!” she grunted, before turning back towards Luna. “Anyways, so what’s the plan? I’m guessing you want to go down to the planet, right?”
“Indeed,” Luna smiled. “All that’s needed is to form a… mmm, what were they called in Space Trek again? An ‘away team?’ Yes, an away team.”
“A wah?” Rainbow blinked.
“A group of ponies to go down to the planet,” Spike explained.
“Oooooh!” Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, I get it now. ‘Away team’.”
“Yuh huh,” Spike said.
“Well, obviously me and Scoots are onboard,” Rainbow said. “Who else is gonna fly you down there? I mean, I guess you could try literally flying with wings, but the more I learn about space, the more I learn that that’s a really bad idea.”
“You know that space doesn’t have any air, right?” Spike asked. “You wouldn’t even be able to fly no matter how hard you tried.”
“Pffft, duh,” Rainbow laughed. “And you can’t fly down from orbit without burning up, either.”
“I feel totally comfortable about riding on your dropship now,” Spike said sarcastically.
“What?” Luna said, shaking her head. “Oh no. I’m sorry, but you’re not going down there, Spike. I need you here if something goes wrong.”
“What?!” Spike snapped. “But the First Officer always went down in Space Trek!”
“Haha!” Rainbow crackled.. “So much for being afraid of my flying!”
“Space Trek was just a fictional franchise,” Luna explained. “It works well for providing some form of context, but we can’t expect to emulate it one hundred percent.”
“Don’t let Doctor Whooves hear you say that,” Spike pointed out.
“He’d have no need, as I believe he should be on this… this mission.” She brought a hoof to her chin. “Though not as its leader. While he is undoubtedly a genius, he seems to have trouble staying focused.”
“Well, who do you have in mind, then?” Rainbow asked. “I vote me, by the way.”
“Asking you to fly the away mission and lead it would be too much,” Luna said.
“Daw…”
Ignoring her complaint, Luna narrowed her eyes. “The ponies trapped aboard this vessel have given me their confidence. It is time to prove to myself that I’m worthy of it. I’ve always believed that trust should be earned, and never simply given away, no matter what one has done in the past.”
“So to be clear, you’re gonna lead it yourself?” Rainbow asked.
“I guess there’s worse ponies to set foot on an alien planet than an alicorn,” Spike shrugged, though with a hint of envy.
“It technically wouldn’t be the first time I have laid eyes upon one’s surface,” Luna said. “Though this time, I do so willingly.”
She smiled slightly. “And though I wouldn’t have said this a few cycles prior, I now firmly look forward to it.”