//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Connection 
// by totallynotabrony 
//------------------------------//

 	Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center
The sun was out and the snow began to melt slightly.  The wind had calmed.  It was perfect flying weather, and Mittal hoped there would be no delays in the President’s arrival.
He shouldn’t have worried.  Marine One appeared exactly on time.  The helicopter was nearly unique, and the model had been in service with the military for many years.  Only its rugged reliability kept it flying.  That, and a massive influx of money to keep it upgraded with the best equipment available.  No expense was spared when it came to presidential transport.
The helicopter touched down perfectly on the marks of the landing zone.  The door opened and a Marine in immaculate dress uniform stepped down.  He stood at the edge of the steps and saluted as the President emerged.
The presidential Cadillac waited nearby.  It was only a short drive from the helicopter pad to Building D6, but the armored limo went everywhere the President did, so they might as well use it.
Mittal waited in a staff car.  The driver pulled into line with the Secret Service convoy and proceeded to the project building, which was ringed with more security personnel than usual.  He didn’t see the SEALs, which was probably the point.
Mittal stepped out and met the President at the door.  “Good to meet you Admiral,” he said. The President's hair had prematurely gone grey, but he had an easy smile and persuasive charisma.  He wore his signature blue tie.
Mittal shook his outstretched hand.  “It's an honor, Mr. President.”  Mittal led him inside, accompanied by only the two most senior Secret Service agents.
Dr. Oswald was there, as were three ponies.  Twilight Sparkle had been making preparations all morning and had spent much of it talking with Oswald about the technology.  When the Equestrian leader had shown up in Ponyville, she’d been invited through the doorway.  Princess Celestia was a tall white pony with a multicolored pastel mane.  She had both wings and a horn.  
Also, Pinkie Pie was there.  There was a large cake that had a very impressive depiction of the US flag made with icing.  Mittal suspected that it was her work.
The President had been fully briefed on the ponies and had been shown some pictures and video taken by the sailors who’d traveled to Equestria.  Mittal thought that he handled meeting talking ponies very well.  Mittal introduced Oswald, who had run the project and deserved a Presidential attaboy.
The pony and the human moved to the comfortable conference area that had been set up near the doorway.  The furniture stood out in contrast to the bare concrete floors of the building.
Celestia and the President began their discussion.  “I’m aware of the values that your country holds dear,” she said.  “Admiral Mittal demonstrated them quite clearly when he decided to join us to fight in the Zebrican War.  We are still exploring long term solutions in global politics, which is something that I understand the United States has a handle on.”
The President nodded.  “Your country sounds very peaceful, the odd war aside.  There is sadly not enough peace in our world.  Perhaps you can advise us to better achieve that.”
It looked like they had conversation material to last a while.  
Mittal stood nearby with Twilight.  “Why’s Pinkie here?” he asked quietly.
“She insisted that groundbreaking cross-dimensional politics required a celebration.  You just don’t say no when she demands a party."
"At least it wasn't a surprise party.  The security people wouldn't like that."  
"I talked her out of it."
Good thing, thought Mittal.  The agent standing next to him already looked more nervous than a member of the Secret Service had any right to.  A party-related shooting would definitely sour the moment.
Mittal sniffed the air.  There was a faint acrid, burning odor that he noticed.  He looked around.
There was a small wisp of smoke coming from the doorway.  It was the module that was used to compensate for the uneven shape, the same one that had caused problems before.  Mittal touched Dr. Oswald on the arm and pointed at the device.
Oswald's eyes went wide and he whirled around to the control panel.  He was reaching for the emergency stop button when the device suddenly blew out spectacularly, switching the doorway off in a shower of sparks.
The Secret Service agents grabbed the President without stopping to ask questions and hauled him out the door at the same time the SEALs started coming in.
Lieutenant Daniels took in the deactivated doorway, the rapidly departing President, and the horrified look on Dr. Oswald’s face.  “What’s the situation?”
“Oh my God,” said Oswald.  “It overloaded.  The thing is fried.”
“The President is fine,” Mittal clarified.  He turned to Oswald.  “What do you mean fried?”
Oswald took a breath.  “We’ve been having trouble with that compensator.  It must have finally taken too much abuse and failed.”
“How long until it’s fixed?”
“Those are all custom-made parts.  It’ll be at least a week.”
“Are we stuck here?” asked Twilight.
Oswald nodded, looking guilty.
“Don’t feel bad, doctor,” said Celestia diplomatically.  “There was no way for you to predict that.”
“At least we still have this cake!” said Pinkie Pie.
There was a chirp from the Lieutenant’s radio.  He listened carefully to it and then spoke to Mittal.
“Sir, I’ve been instructed to secure the situation here and ask you to go to the administrative building.  There’s a call for you.”
Mittal nodded.  He went outside to his car and slid into the back seat.
“Take me to admin," he said.
The driver put the car into gear.  "Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, what made the President leave in such a hurry?”
“Not at liberty to say.  You shouldn't talk about it, either."
Upon reaching the administrative building and identifying himself, Mittal was shown to a secure room with an encrypted telephone.  He picked up the receiver and pressed the call waiting button.
“Admiral Mittal, what is the situation?”  There was a slight background noise to the President’s voice.  He was probably in the helicopter.
“Mr. President, the doorway suffered a failure."
"So no attack?"
"That's right, Mr. President."
Mittal heard a brief conversation before the President came back.  "The Secret Service wanted a more secure area to begin with, and after this they're going to get really demanding.  When can we reschedule?"
"The lead engineer, Dr. Oswald, says it will take at least a week to fix.  Until then, the ponies are stuck here.”
The President was silent for a moment before speaking.  “The Princess and I had reached the decision to reveal the doorway to the public.  Since they’re going to be here for a while anyway, why don’t we show them some good old fashioned hospitality?  I doubt that Air Force One is equipped for their needs, so I’ll arrange for VIP transport to Washington.  We’ll resume our talks there.  While we’re at it, we might as well have a proper press conference.  Keep the secret until they get here, all right?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”  Mittal put the phone down and went back to D6.  Oswald was rapidly writing orders for parts.  Twilight sat, looking despondent.  Celestia looked as unfazed and regal as ever.
The cake was gone.  Daniels apparently had had some, but it looked as if Pinkie had eaten most of it.
Mittal explained the President’s plan.  Twilight’s interest seemed to perk up at the thought of getting to study the country.  Celestia thought it was a fine idea.
“Aren’t you concerned that you’ll be missed? Mittal asked.
Celestia nodded seriously.  “I told my sister where I was going, and I’m sure Twilight told her friends.  I hope they don’t worry.”
“Can’t you get back on your own?”  Mittal figured that since the ponies had managed to transport his ship back to Earth, it wouldn’t be much of a problem.
“Perhaps.  It would take a while to set up, and even with Twilight and I, I’m not sure we would have enough power.  The results of a failed spell like that could be unpleasant.”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to make the best of it, then.”  
Celestia nodded.  “I’m interested to see your country.  I don’t see what traveling to the capitol city would hurt.”
It would probably be better than passing the time in the isolated Building D6.  Mittal made arrangements.  True to his word, the President sent transport for the ponies.  The first leg of the trip would be made in a helicopter.  Mittal noted with some amusement that it was a Navy CH-53 Sea Stallion.  They waited a few hours, in order for night to fall and to decrease the likelyhood that somone would see the ponies. Mittal commandeered the group of SEALs to go with them and provide security.
The helicopter pilots were told that they were making a VIP flight, and that they were not to ask questions.  The CH-53 was a large aircraft, and there was no problem fitting thirteen men and three ponies.
The Army’s Camp Atterbury was close by, but did not have a runway long enough to land a VIP transport plane.  The helicopter instead headed for Godman Army Air Field, adjacent to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
A Navy helicopter coming to the base was something out of the ordinary.  To keep prying eyes away, the transfer to the airplane was conducted in darkness, out on the tarmac half a mile from the nearest building.
The C-9A Nightingale transport plane was nearly stretching regulations to land, even on the longest runway.  Once the ponies were aboard, it taxied away from the helicopter and took off.
The old plane had been used for Air Force medical flights for many years before being refurbished and configured for comfortable passenger use.  It was considerably quieter than the helicopter.
Mittal kept the ponies entertained with commentary about the landscape.  Clouds were nowhere to be seen and the moon was nearly full, making for excellent visibility even at night.
Celestia was the only one with wings of her own, and she seemed impressed when Mittal told her how fast the plane was traveling.  Twilight was interested in the physics that allowed heavier-than-air flight.  Mittal was no aerospace engineer, but he was able to explain the differences in pressure that produced lift.
In only a few hours, the flight terminated at Andrews Air Force Base, located just southeast of Washington D.C.  The President used it often, as Air Force One was headquartered there.
The SEALs jumped out to transfer to a smaller plane that would shuttle them back to Little Creek Amphibious Base, down in Virginia Beach.  The airplane continued on, parking in a hangar.
The timing wasn’t perfect, and they would have to wait a little while for ground transport.  Getting a vehicle to covertly move a royal pony and two others was no easy task.  They would be taken to the White House, where there were a few spare bedrooms that didn’t get much use.  It was arguably the most secure place in the world to sleep.
A large unmarked van arrived.  The rear compartment was separated from the driver’s cabin, armored, and did not have windows.
Mittal had not been invited to the White House and didn't want to impose.  His own residence was nearby.  He said goodbye to the ponies and departed in a different vehicle.
The van pulled out of the base and merged into traffic on I-495, the Capitol Beltway.
“It’s a shame we can’t see the city,” said Twilight.  “I’m sure it’s wonderful.”
“We’re going to the White House!” said Pinkie.  “That's good, right?  It’s where the President lives, so it’s probably good.  I wonder if it’s actually white or if that’s a figurative name?  I hope the kitchen isn’t white, it would get all kinds of stains.”
The van continued west, joining the flow of vehicles on the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.  The traffic lights came on, signaling the draw section of the bridge was opening to allow a large ship through.  The driver of the van touched the brake.
Another driver in a car behind the van fumbled for a new cassette tape.  He took his eyes off the road for just a moment.  A moment was all it took.
As the van was slowing down, it was hit from behind.  The rear tires skidded, the van twisting around more quickly than the driver could compensate.  The front of the vehicle slammed into the guardrail, bending it over.  The van plunged over the edge into the Potomac River.