After the Princess and the pegasus had finished their chat the rest of their small group was collected from the Mess and taken through the ship’s innards once more.
Following their short journey through the ships innards the seven girls, plus one Doctor, had arrived at the large double sliding doors of the ship’s main elevator, a huge moving platform that travelled vertically through the ship from the command bridge to the third bridge which hung suspended from beneath the Yamato’s hull.
The rumble of the elevator grew louder as it approached from above before silencing itself and allowing the doors to slid open.
“Convenient!” The Doctor exclaimed.
The short elevator journey back upwards was filled with excited babbling emanating solely from three individuals.
“Oh oh ooh! I Can’t wait! this is gonna be so super-riffic!” Pinkie cried.
“Indeed. I can’t even begin to imagine the things this ship is capable of,” Twilight responded giddily.
“It’s always fun to see ship launches. I remember watching the Arcadia launch in very similar conditions,” The Doctor said, receiving a quirked eyebrow from Twilight.
“Similar conditions? How many boats have you seen be launched from underground?” she asked.
“Who said they were boats?” The strange stallion replied as the elevator halted and began to file out, leaving twilight to ponder what he meant.
The room they emerged into once again threw the poor ponies for a loop. Unlike the engine room that had been intimidating and confusing or the mess which had resembled some high end sci-fi restaurant. This room was something else entirely.
At the front of the room the massive green V-shaped windows they had seen from the outside dominated the far wall providing a view of the cavern outside.
Immediately in front of the windows was a row of very advanced looking desks, each one absolutely covered in dials, switches, levers, buttons and monitors as well as several pony adaptations. Each desk came complete with huge, mechanical looking chairs that swiveled on a single point.
Several more of these desks were placed around the room. Some lined the left and right walls while two more sat as islands in the middle of the floor. In the very centre of the room a strange glass ball sat in a small mount, its purpose unknown.
Immediately to the right of the door they had just entered through was a far larger desk. It sat elevated at the very rear of the room, the large chair providing an excellent view of the entire room.
Finally the sloped ceiling seemed to be a massive monitor stretching from the front wall to the back. A faint grid permanently etched onto it provided a grid reference to whatever may have been displayed on it.
Dash was so enthralled looking around the alien bridge she very nearly tripped over on a pile of Arcane batteries that had been pushed to one side, no longer being needed for power after the engine had come back online.
Sheepishly she re-joined the rest of the group who were all gazing intently at a picture on the back wall just to the left of the elevated desk.
“The hay is that?” Applejack spoke up, pointing a hoof to the strange image.
The picture itself was very well made, precise brush strokes gave it the feeling of being almost real something that only a master painter could achieve. What the picture was displaying however perplexed all of them.
It was a creature of some kind,.that much was obvious to them all. The basic features were all there eyes, ears, nose but that was where the similarities ended.
The creatures head was far smaller than it should have been for its body size. Its eyes and ears were tiny and its muzzle was completely wrong. An impressive white beard sprouted from arounds its mouth and chin but its main was blocked by a formal looking hat with a symbol of an anchor on it.
“Captain Okita,” Rarity read aloud having seen the small golden plaque on the bottom of the portraits frame.
“These aliens sure had some weird names,” Pinkie added.
“I’m sure they would think the same of us,” Celestia said. “To answer your question, Applejack, I believe that was the original captain of the Yamato.”
“He sure is weird lookin’,” Applejack said quietly.
“Wow,” Twilight exclaimed under her breath. “An actual portrait of a real Alien.”
Twilight’s amazement was overshadowed when a timid voice spoke up from behind her.
“Um, princess, I was just wondering. If this ship is from outer-space why is everything written in Equestrian?” Fluttershy asked innocently.
Celestia knitted her brow, frustrated she couldn’t answer the one question that bugged her the most.
“I’m afraid for that we have no answer,” the monarch said glumly. “Several of the scribes who recorded information from the ship have put forward some theories but sadly nopony has come up with a straight answer.”
Dash said nothing as Twilight launched her own theories about the language match at the princess. Instead, she continued to gaze up at the painting. The face and shape of the creature was strangely soothing and comforting, like the feeling she would get from looking at an old friend or parent.
Little did she know everypony else in the room had experienced the same feelings. Minus one strange brown stallion that looked towards the portrait with a sad smile as he recalled fond memories of a race that he had countless adventures with.
“Oh, um, princess,” Fluttershy spoke up, interrupting Celestia's conversation with Twilight.
“Yes Fluttershy?” The monarch asked sweetly.
“I was just thinking, you said to us you wanted to keep the Yamato a secret. Well, won’t ponies notice it when we launch?”
Celestia opened her mouth to reply but was swiftly interrupted by the Doctor.
“I believe I can answer that one, Buttershy!” he exclaimed not noticing the slip-up of her name. “I have placed several very high level Perception filters all over the Yamato’s exterior, What they do is basically make the Yamato seem uninteresting or unimportant, and thus not worth worrying about. In fact they almost force you to look away.”
“So its like invisible?” Pinkie said excitedly.
“No, not at all its nothing like invisibility but if thats what you want to think then yes I suppose it is invisibility,” he quickly responded.
“Wait, if you put these Perception thingies all over the Yamato why did we still notice it when we walked in?” Dash questioned.
“Simple. I hadn’t turned them on yet. Why do you think I was running around like a madpony when you first saw me?” The Doctor answered.
Dash opened her mouth to send out a retort but was rudely interrupted by the door to the bridge suddenly sliding open allowing entry to a familiar white pegasus.
“Apollo?” Dash spoke up as he approached the group. Now that he was standing Dash was able to get a better look at his features.
Height wise he was probably nearly a head taller than Dash herself was, not that that was much to boast about, Dash was fairly petite even by mare standards. His coat was a snowy white just a few shades darker than Celestia’s and finally his cutie mark was that of a ladder and a fire axe crossed over.
“We meet again Dashie,” the stallion said smugly causing rainbow narrowed her eyes in response to him using her pet name.
“Ah excellent; you’re here.” Celestia said addressing the newcomer. “Everypony, I would like to introduce first officer Apollo.”
“Whoa wait! First officer?! As in second in command?” Dash questioned.
“Well, I did say my role was a little bit of everything being First Officer means you have to be able to do all tasks.” Apollo replied.
Dash simply gave out an exasperated sigh.
“No offense to Apollo here, but wouldn’t the Doctor here be ah better choice for first mate?” Applejack questioned slipping into stereotypical pirate terms.
“Oh no no no I couldn’t spend all my time up here on this boring old bridge I’m needed down in the engine room where my talents can be put to good use.” The Doctor answered.
“Well, I’m sure you all will have time to get to know Apollo personally. After all he is the one who will be teaching you how to perform your duties.” Celestia said matter-of-factly.
“Can’t you do it, princess?” Twilight said sadly.
“I’m afraid not, Twilight. I’m needed elsewhere and I lack the spare time to teach all six of you how to carry out your roles. But fear not, I believe you will all rise to the occasion.” she said sweetly as she turned to leave.
“Well then.” Apollo spoke up after the sun goddess had left drawing the attention of the six mares back onto himself. “Lets get cracking.”
* * *
“So that’s the throttle, that’s the yolk and that’s the trim?” Twilight asked, pointing to each control in turn.
“Correct.” Apollo leaned over her chair in order to verify her.
It had been a few hours since the girls ‘rapid crash course in Alien spacecraft flight lesson’ as Apollo had put it had started and so far both Dash and Twilight were now up to speed on the dynamics of their respective jobs.
Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy had all been taken away to their respective locations to be trained by other crew members until Apollo could see them, their jobs not being quite as urgent as the other two.
Dash sighed as she laid her chin back on the top of her chair, having spun it around so it was facing backwards using the back of it as a comfy headrest. Even though her station was smack dab in the center of the room right against the windows the view was fairly boring, dust caked the bridges windows and the little light in the cavern made seeing anything further than a few dozen meters futile.
The Doctor had excused himself a while ago saying something about monitoring the power fluctuations of both ships, (whatever that meant) leaving dash completely bored with nothing to do except sit and wait.
Instead, the fidgety pegasus busied herself reading her own instrument panels. She had to admit even though it looked daunting and complex at first, the controls were fairly easy to get the hang of after Apollo had explained them.
She was absentmindedly monitoring the power levels in the Yamato’s weapons systems when a electronic whine sounded from behind her. Spinning herself around to sit in the chair properly she saw a panel descending along a vertical track on the back wall.
Atop this platform was the chair for the captains command console, and seated within the chair was one very different looking Princess Celestia.
The tiara had been discarded in favour of a hat very similar to the one the creature wore in the portrait and a heavy black blazer with gold highlights was wrapped around her barrel.
Apollo flicked an ear at the noise and turned to face the Solar monarch with a grin and a salute.
“Captain on the bridge!” He shouted before started to giggle under his breath.
“That old uniform looks good on you princess, or should I say Captain Celestia.”
“Whoa, wait, captain?” Twilight questioned.
“Who else did you expect?” The new captain replied jokingly.
Twilight didn’t have a response for that, instead deciding to agree with the white stallion. “Well, I mean Apollo’s right. It does suit you.”
“I thought if I was going to finally launch this ship I would at least get into the role,” the princess chided.
Rainbow spared a quick glance over at Rarity who seemed to be making a whole range of faces at the princess/captain’s new apparel choices.
“We’re just finishing up here. I believe we’re green for launch. Right girls?” Apollo asked, addressing the two mares. Both of them nodding in response.
“Are you certain, girls? I do not wish to postpone the launch any longer but if either of you don’t feel up to it we can put it off another day,” Celestia said in a motherly caring tone towards them.
“We’re ready, Princess.” Twilight answered for them both.
“Please Twilight,” the princess chuckled. “While aboard this ship I’m Captain Celestia.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Rainbow cut in.
“Very well,” Celestia answered with a sense of finality. Closing her eyes the alicorn took a deep breath to calm herself before leaning down to an intercom.
“This is Captain Celestia. All X.O are to report to the bridge. Initiate launch protocole Two-A-A-double-oh-nine.”
A distant alarm blared to life as ponies inside the ship rushed into action. Moments after Celestia's announcement half a dozen or so new ponies that neither Twilight nor Dash had seen before invaded the bridge.
“All Executive Officers reporting!” One shouted up to the captain in a very militaristic manner.
“Very good. To your stations.” Celestia replied.
At once all ponies present made their ways to their respective terminals, filling the previously vacant seats that edged the room.
“You sure you're ready?” Apollo said quietly to Dash.
Dash whipped her head around to face the stallion. She tried to stay strong and braved faced but her eyes betrayed her showing a great deal of nervousness within them, but Apollos calm smile eased her worries and her butterflies were soon replaced with a determine fire.
The First Officer noticed this and gave a smirk in response before turning and seating himself in his own chair just to the left of Dash.
“Deep breaths Twilight,” Apollo called across Dash to Twilight. “Just do it exactly like I told you.”
“Running final diagnosis, Engine output; stable at forty-six percent,” one pony called.
“Recommend power transfer to second flywheel,” another said monotonously.
“Return stored power to the Wave Motion Engine. Activate secondary flywheel,” the Captain commanded.
The lights in the bridge dimmed and flickered for a few moments until a new humming sound joined the drone of already present whines, groans and growls that emanated from the Yamato. The bridge crew suddenly exploded into action calling out dozens of commands and reports.
“Secondary flywheel active. Engine output is eighty-nine percent and climbing.”
“Transferring power into movement thrusters and sub-engines.”
“Hull integrity one-hundred percent.”
“All systems green!”
“Engage Gyros level the ship!” Celestia commanded powerfully.
An almighty crack resonated throughout the entire cavern as the behemoth ship crushed and shattered any stone that tried to hold it. The Yamato shuddered as power refilled its previously dormant systems breaking the ancient stone that had trapped it in its dark prison for so long.
Hundreds of tonnes of earth and soil were pulverized kicking huge plumes of dust into the air as the ship righted itself from its keeled-over position, the askew cannons returned with a mechanical whine to their flight position.
“Yamato stabilized. Awaiting further commands,” somepony said causing all eyes to turn hopefully to their captain.
Celestia took another deep breath to calm herself, the fear and nervousness she felt when first discovering the ship returning.
“Raise the ship! Launch the Yamato!”
Twilight wasted no time in grasping the large yolk firmly and pulling it back hard.
The remaining stone that imprisoned the Yamato’s hull was swiftly destroyed allowing the long bow of the ship to emerge from the rock. Servos whined and thrusters roared as the ships systems worked in unison to release the Yamato from the strong stone.
The vibrations were so impossibly strong the city of Canterlot above them was violently shaken as if the mountain itself was trying to get up and walk away.
“Fire explosive charges!”
A series of magical mining explosives were quickly set off, running down the length of the Yamato obliterating the last of the stone that held the ship in place.
With the sudden loss of resistance the mighty vessel lifted high into the chamber, exposing its red underbelly for the first time in centuries. Brilliant jets of blue flame shot out from ports all over the Yamatos hull giving it the lift it needed.
During all of this Rainbow Dash struggled not to cry out in amazement at the display of sheer raw power and absolute awesomeness that she was now a part of.
The last of the dust cleared and settled back to the cavern floor leaving only in its place a huge, imposing red and grey battleship, that hovered high above the cavern floor proudly.
“Activate sub-engines aim for the cavern wall,” Captain Celestia said firmly.
“Wait what? we’re just gonna ram out way out?” Dash asked worriedly, not too keen on the notion of being a pancake.
“Do not fret, the structural engineers have ensured me that the Yamato could survive much worse.” Celestia said matter-of-factly waving off any concerns.
Dash turned to Twilight and nodded as if to say ‘Do it. I trust you.’’
Gingerly twilight grasped the smaller lever on top of the larger throttle that controlled the two smaller engines that hung beneath the ships stern. Through just the one piece of metal Twilight could almost feel the sheer unmatched power the Yamato had to give.
It was more that she had ever know. More than the Elements, more than the crystal heart, more than even Celestia herself could achieve and it was all there at the end of her hoof.
And it scared her.
Nevertheless she slowly pushed the lever forward, and was immediately thrown back into her seat as the powerful dual thrusters propelled the ship forward on two columns of angry orange flame. Their thrust and heat so great they turned the stone behind and below them into molten rock.
The vibration within the ship grew ten fold as the pointed bow of the ship thundered ahead closer and closer to the cavern wall.
“Brace!”
