//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Sirens of the Night: Dream Rise // by The Crazed Werewolf //------------------------------// "Will the following personnel report for mission briefing," a nearby loud speaker suddenly squawked, "Lieutenant Commanders Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy and Sonata Dusk, Lieutenants Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Rarity, Sub-Leiutenants Applejack and Rainbow Dash." "Sweet Celestia," Sunset cursed, "what now?" "Who knows, but we better go and find out," Aria said. Luckily, Aria's knowledge of the bases layout meant that she was able to guide them to where they needed to be. As they filed into the briefing room they each noticed a woman that reminded them of Raven Inkwell, only this woman wore a long leather greatcoat adorned with five gold stars on the lapels, her jet black hair was tied back in a bun and an eye patch covered up her left eye, there was a long scar running down her cheek from under the eye patch. She wasn't smiling as she watched each of the girls enter the room. "Sergeant," She said sternly to Scootaloo, "Why are you here, this briefing is for pilots only." "She's my backseater today," Aria said quickly, "Commander Shimmer approved it, we need all the pilots we can get, General." The woman didn't say anything, she just glared at them both. "Fine," she said after a moment, "but she is your responsibility Lieutenant Blaze." "Yes ma'am," Aria said, atleast we can stick together. "Let's get on with the briefing then," the General said as a video monitor came to life, "as you are no doubt aware, yesterday Sublieutenant Pie was leading a patrol of enlisted trainees when they were attacked by the forces of the enemy. "There had been zero activity in that sector since the war began," the General continued, "your mission is simple, scout that sector. Find out if Imperial forces are preparing to mount an offensive through it. With our fleet currently engaged in protecting the Citadel Moons, you Night Witches are our only protection." "Yes ma'am," they all replied. "One final thing," the General said, "Lieutenant Commander Fluttershy will be coordinating your patrol from CIC, any questions?" There weren't any. "Good luck." It wasn't long before seven sleek needle like fighters were zipping over the moonscape. "Could someone please explain to me how I knew how to operate this thing," Rainbow Dash asked over the radio as she performed a high speed barrel roll, "while this is awesome, I've never been in a cockpit in my life." Rainbow had a point Sunset noticed, they had each seemed to instinctively know how to operate the fighters that they were now flying. "I think that it might be an effect of the spell that we're under," Sunset said, "the General did say that we are the best at this and it would seem odd if we suddenly didn't know what we were doing." "But if we are out here flying missions," Adagio grunted, "how are we going to get home?" "I asked Shy to look for anythin' that seemed out if place," Applejack replied, "maybe she'll see somethin'. And maybe she'll find out who sent us here." "We can only hope," Sunset sighed. "Um I hate to break up the conversation," Scootaloo said suddenly, "but does anyone else see those dots on the radar?" Sunset glanced at her instrument panel. Scootaloo was right, there were seven blips on the radar, approaching fast. "Looks like trouble," Sunset said, "could be what the General sent us to investigate." "Well how are we going to handle this," Aria asked. Sunset thought about that for a brief moment. "Aria, Rarity," Sunset ordered, "you two hang back, I want the three of you to get back grab Fluttershy and Pinkie and find a way home." "And what about you," Scootaloo demanded, "I'm not going home without you!" "We'll be okay Scoots," Sunset confidently, "I promise." "Don't worry squirt," Rainbow added, "I'll watch her back." "I don't like this plan," Aria said, "but if you are sure that that's how you want it done." "I'm positive," Sunset said, "now get out of here!" Aria mumbled under her breath while she flipped her fighter around. She understood why Sunset was sending her back. She had Scootaloo in her back seat, and Sunset was protecting her younger sister. Aria knew what that was like. Even though she was the middle triplet, she had always been the protector of both of her sisters. Now both Sonata and Adagio were off to combat without her. Rarity managed to stay in formation with Aria, and it didn't take long before they managed to return to the base. As soon as she had shut down her fighter, Aria jumped out and practically ran to the Combat Information Center. The room was illuminated in an eerie red light that seemed to radiate from several led bulbs and most of the monitors in the room. Both General Ravenwing and Fluttershy watched as Aria entered the CIC. Fluttershy was nervously chewing on her finger nail and kept glancing at the main display. "Lieutenant Blaze," General Ravenwing demanded, "why have you returned to base?" "Commander Shimmer ordered me too," Aria answered, "we had just crossed into the light zone and out of radio contact when we were jumped by seven Imperial fighters." "We're you able to identify them," Ravenwing asked. "We only had radar contact," Aria explained, "They were still beyond visual range." Aria took her time to look around the room. Hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room was a central display. On it it showed five blue blips and seven red blips circling each other, jousting for optimal positions. Unfortunately there wasn't any audio. Aria felt like she was watching a movie with the mute button on. The display didn't show which blip represented which of her friends. And Aria felt the most hopeless that she had ever felt before. Atleast when they had lost the Battle of the Bands she still had had her sisters, and it had been shortly after that that Luna, the woman she now called mom, had taken the trio into her house and life. Suddenly the base shook and power went out.