//------------------------------// // Prologue: Red Sky In Morning... // Story: Stormriders: Dead Seas // by PonyMarine //------------------------------// Merarian Territorial Waters 2300 hours Equestrian Cruiser TMS Courser "Steady as she goes ensign, we'll have you helm qualified in no time" "Thank you sir, it's a pleasure to have such a respected officer training me" "Think nothing of it lad it's...." "Bridge this is lookout one! Contrail in the water! Possible torpedo to port!" "Petty officer! Wake the Captain, all hands to battle stations, sound general quarters!" "Aye sir!" In a heart beat the proud cruiser's alarms ring and pounding hooves rush to action stations. The bridge on the other hoof is tense and silent, the lookout occasionally calling bearings on the torpedo. "She's heading aft!" "Helm hard turn starboard we'll see if we can't have her miss us" "Aye sir hard starboard!" "Tell CIC to get the ASW choppers up and hunting, I want that submarine found and sunk now!" "Torpedo's course has changed! She's going to hit us amidships!" "Oh Celestia's hooves... Brace for impact!" "ALL HANDS BRA-" *BOOM* The detonation was deafening as the ship-killer torpedo caught the big cruiser amidships blasting a massive hole in her above and below the water line. "Damage control crews on site, water tight doors are sealing!" "Very well, have the helos launched?" "Sir, CIC reports seahawk 1 and seahawk 2 are airborne and pinging." A ball of fire blossoms just off the ships port bow and a the CIWS mounts begin engaging unseen missiles now streaking in from the dark night sky. "Sir! CIC reports that seahawk 1 was just taken down and there are incoming missiles!" "I can see that petty officer, has Fleet HQ been informed?" "Yes sir messages have been sent on all frequencies" "Very well I-" "Incoming torpedoes! Spread of five!" "Oh bucking hell, sound abandon ship, all hands over the port rails!" It's over in minutes, explosions hammering the massive cruiser, her spine finally snapping under the pressure of the torpedoes hammering in to her. The surviving members of the ship's crew, deployed as many boats and rafts as they could and many of the ponies leaping into the sea, trusting the warm tropical waters and the assistance of their shipmates to the capsizing hunk of steel they once called home. Below the waves "My lord, the squadron commander is reporting success." "Excellent, order the school commander to break to fins and to perform an aerial and aquatic search of the area, no survivors." "As you wish my lord, transmitting orders now." TMS Shield Survivors "Captain! Aircraft sighted!" The Captain had barely made the bridge of his vessel by the time the order for all hands to abandon ship had come, the attack had been incredibly swift, and extremely well coordinated. The old seadog felt the most abject sense of failure, his lack of foresight had cost his ponies their lives, as well as sinking his ship. Hopefully this was good news however and he turned in the direction of the shout, the bright lights of an aircraft racing across the water, as it's silhouette passed before the burning wreckage of the Shield his eyes widened with confusion then fear, the aircraft looked nothing like any Equestrian fighter, it resembled a manta ray almost, light swimming across curves that appeared more hydrodynamic then aerodynamic. The Captain's heart sank and he pulled the injured colt in his lap a little tighter to himself and gently shut his eyes. "Rest easy son, it'll all be over soon." The scream of the strange craft's engines rose in his ears and the dying began, missiles, bullets and other munitions lanced out from the craft, cutting ponies in two and destroying life boats. In a single pass the remaining ship's company was reduced by half. The flyer was joined by a second aircraft for it's next run and when they were done, not a single living soul remained in a patch of ocean now stained red with blood under the moonlight. "Mission complete, returning to base" Deep in an Underwater Cavern The messenger bowed lowly and delivered the golden message tube to the stallion before him, he was dismissed with a quick gesture and a sharp look, and the messenger fled the room, desperate to be away from his lord when the message was finally read, ill tides are not a message one wishes to bring. The stallion settled back into his chair and peruses the scroll quickly and sighs. "This will change everything...."