~~General ship wide announcement~~
>> All Hyperspace systems operating at full power...
*Fleet Intelligence*
If the Hyperspace targeting system is accurate we will emerge in close proximity to the support vessel Kar’Selim. This ship has spent the last 10 years travelling on conventional drives to reach the outer edge of the Kharak system.
The Kar’Selim will monitor the quantum waveform as we emerge into normal space and assist in tuning our drive control systems.
If the Hyperspace module malfunctions, the Kar’Selim will provide assistance and resupply.
Mission objectives will be to dock with the support vessel in order to complete adjustments to the Mothership and her drives.
We will remain docked for a minimum of 1 week or until all systems are brought to full functionality.
During this time, all crew members will be permitted to interact with the crew of the Kar’Selim and temporary sleeping quarters can be made available for those with family stationed there by request.
>> Approximate arrival time: 2 Days, 13 Hours, 42 Minutes
~~End announcement~~
~~Location: Mess Hall 13~~
~~6 hours in Hyperspace~~
Lunch today was some manner of brown stuff, mashed potatoes and a carrot muffin.
Taking her tray, Eclipse made her way to where her friend, and gunner, Ditsy was sitting.
“Trade my muffin for your mash?” she asked
“Sure!” the grey Pegasus replied holding out a hoof for the muffin, “So what you gonna do when we get to the Kar’Selim?”
“I was just gonna hang out with my brother is all, haven’t ‘seen’ him since his departure, just so you know, I don’t count comm. screens as seeing somepony, just isn’t personal enough. But other than that I don’t have any plans other than kicking the Kar’Selim’s crew’s flanks in the hoofball match Dash is organising, you should join in too! If you can kick a ball as well as you shoot then we’ll definitely win!”
“I don’t know Eclipse, I’m not very good at sports because of the whole eye thing,” Ditsy replied sheepishly around a mouth full of muffin.
A sudden argument got both the mares attention.
“I told you, I didn’t do anything to any computer!” a stallion was yelling, Eclipse couldn’t see him through the crowd
“Look, we have reasonable suspicion that you are involved in the illegal tampering of the VR combat simulators code” A MSP mare in golden armour replied
“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! I wouldn’t know what to do even if I wanted to, I’m a pilot, not an egghead!” replied the stallion who Eclipse figured was Maelstrom based on his voice.
“Irrelevant, I am under orders to place you under arrest until this investigation is over. Now are you going to come quietly or do I have to embarrass you in front your squad mates?”
A sudden static burst from the MSP’s helmet causing her to turn and listen intently.
“Understood sir, MSP Golden Glow out.” The mare ended the comm line and turned back to Maelstrom, “Looks like I won’t have to do anything to you at all. You’ve been cleared of all charges; apparently Celestia was bored and changed the simulation as a joke. Unfortunately you were logged on when she did so, resulting in us believing you to be the culprit, our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience. Enjoy the rest of your day”
Once the MSP left, everypony went back to their tables and continued their lunch. As Maelstrom turned to leave he saw Ditsy waving him over and instead went to go say hi.
“Sup?”
“Heya! What did you do now to piss off the MSP?”
“I didn’t do anything, like I told that MSP bitch, I wouldn’t be able to reprogram a calculator let alone an advanced training interface terminal, but no one ever believes the “mad” pony.”
“So what exactly where you accused of?” Eclipse suddenly interjected
“Apparently ‘I’ reprogrammed the VR Sim to give a score based on performance, almost like a videogame. Except I didn’t do it, according to the MSP, Celestia did. I just happened to be logged in at the time.”
“Fleet Command turned a training sim into a game?” Eclipse suddenly exclaimed, “Come Ditsy, we got training to do, and a high score to set. Maelstrom, DON’T TELL DASH! We don’t need her beating our awesome just yet”
Both Eclipse and Ditsy ran out the mess hall and headed in the direction of the VR deck
Watching them go Maelstrom sighed,”Mares, I’ll never understand them... I wonder what’s for lunch. Ooooh! Carrot Muffins! My favourite!”
>Outer Edge of the Kharak System<
Between the inner and outer asteroid belts of the Kharak system there is nothing but empty space.
The peace and quiet of this place is suddenly broken by an Immense glowing blue doorway appearing out of nowhere.
A massive ship is deposited into normal space and the doorway closes behind it.
>> Hyperspace jump complete.
>> We made it.
>> All systems nominal and the quantum wave effect has dissipated...
*Ship wide announcement*
We have mis-jumped. The support ship is not here. Fleet Command will signal the Kar’Selim while we confirm our current position.
*End of announcement*
>> This is the Mothership calling support vessel Kar’Selim, come in please.
>> We have mis-jumped and are requesting your beacon...
>> ...
>> This is the Mothership calling support vessel Kar’Selim. Please respond...
Priority alert, we have picked up the Kar’Selim’s automated beacon; we will send a probe to make contact and re-establish communications.
All flight teams are to be placed on standby.
~~Journal of Starlight Eclipse~~
Date: 1st of Garaan, 5493 CR
THIS IS SHIT!
The Kar’Selim is gone. Destroyed, everypony on board is dead, including my brother.
I best explain for anypony who might be reading this (Why the fuck are you reading MY journal anyways??)
We dropped out of Hyperspace on schedule and were greeted by nothing except empty space. Fleet Intelligence at first thought that we had mis-jumped and had Fleet Command signal the Kar’Selim for a beacon.
We then get an automated beacon from the support ship and we launch a probe to re-establish comms.
All of us not on standby where watching the feed from the probe, as we all wanted to see the Kar’Selim in all its glory.
I can’t describe the feeling I had when instead of a glorious research vessel showing up, a wrecked and broken piece of the command bridge was all that could be seen, what I can tell you is I never want to feel that emotion ever again.
Then suddenly this whole mess of strike craft attack the Mothership, we know they weren’t ours as their contrails where pale yellow and ours are green.
After destroying the group that attacked us, Fleet Intelligence ordered the Kar’Selim’s mission log recorder recovered. My squad was one of several assigned to escort the Salvage “Porter” Corvette sent to retrieve it.
On our way back to the Mothership, more of those yellow fuckers show up. We took out any who where stupid enough to get in range of our guns. Hell, Ditsy even blind fire killed 3 that her targeting assist said where out of range.
I managed to get a copy of the recording as my brother was on it.
~~begin audio log playback~~
*static*
Captain: What do you mean you detect a Hyperspace entry? The Mothership isn’t due for...
Storm Chaser(SC): Sir, I have multiple contacts on closing vectors. Unknown profiles... No recognition codes... Ahh, they’re not ours.
Captain: Well if they’re not ours, who the hell are they?
SC: Sir, they’re coming in fast... Check... *static* Incoming fire! We are under attack! *static* They’re getting through. Breeches across all decks! Hull integrity failing!
Captain: Kar’Selim to Mothership, if you are receiving, abort Hyperdrive test. Repeat: ABORT Hyperdrive test!
*multiple explosions*
~~End of audio log~~
As soon as we got back to the Mothership, sensors picked up the yellow fuckers coming back for more hurt, which we were happy to give them, we even got an order from Fleet Command to “Engage with extreme prejudice”. Hell I would have done so anyways.
We also encountered a “Carrier” ship which we managed to heavily damage but it escaped to Hyperspace before we could blow it to Tartarus.
We are now 4 hours into our jump back home to warn Kharak missile defence and dock with the Scaffold to finish brining the Mothership’s systems to full functionality.
As soon as we are home, I’m quitting the fleet. I’ve had enough. The only reason I joined is gone. Maybe I’ll become a rock farmer.
~~End of entry~~