There was a knock at her door. Rainbow-Dash slid quickly out of bed and hurried over to see who it was, but when she opened the door, all that was there was a note. She broke the seal and unfolded the heavy parchment, which simply read: “Presence required onboard Titan Pax Equestria. War has come, and we shall meet it.” It was all she needed. Hear pounding, adrenaline coursing through her veins, she slammed shut her door and sped down the corridor outside the hab where she was staying and into the streets of Canterlot. The sky was blue and the air was crisp. Ponies were busy going about their daily routines, but soon this would be interrupted and all eyes would turn to the great viewing screens to witness the coming announcement. She sped past a marble fountain depicting the Princess standing tall and proud over the body of slain heretic.
Though born a Pegasus, due the new set of equalization laws she was not allowed to fly. The thought often made her sad, and she longed for the days when she could soar on her own through the wondrous skies, catching the winds and punching through clouds, but there was no going against a decree from the Administratum. Like all the other pegasi, she had learned to bear it, no matter how painful it was. Turning another corner to her right, she nearly knocked over two ponies strolling side by side. “Sorry!” she shouted over her shoulder, then jumped to the platform in between the sets of stairs and slid down the railing the rest of the way to the ground. At last she arrived outside the titan hangers, and running into the one designated 12 she saw it waiting for her.
Bathed in the mellow light if the hanger lights, as well as the red flashes of the flares the support crew used for guidance, the Warhound looked magnificent. From its weapon mounts hung long banners depicting the twin sisters and their respective domains; the moon and sun. The hull was painted a mild green, accented by a deep black, making it look like some exotic toad crouched and waiting. To her, it was one of the most beautiful sights she could think of, but not her favorite. The chamber echoed with the noise of the lifters and servitors hustling and bustling to get it prepared to walk. She slowly headed up the boarding scaffold and entered the through the body. Once inside, she made her way to the bridge, where her princeps was waiting.