January 17th Equestrian Century 2079
"Alright, that should be the last of them!" The bright orange stallion shouted giving the ok sign. The large loading machine back out of the freight ship loading the last container. A dark purple closed the doors, and locked up the back.
"Ready to go Starsky?" She shouted. He stood back inspecting the ship before their departure. He looked over nodding his head as he signals the bridge controller to begin opening the air sealed doors.
"Hey, do you know where Jackson is?" Shouting back to her. She looks over shaking her head in response.
"Well, we need to get going." The two begin to board the freight ship, and comes across the dark green stallion in the co-pilot seat with his legs propped up on the console. Sinclair chuckles mildly at the young light blue stallion snoring. Starsky, not being amused, slaps Jackson on the stomach leaving a imprint of his hoof. Jackson, surprised by the startling slap, falls out of his chair.
"Hey! What was that for!" he said, in a annoyed tone.
"Get your suit on. We are ready to leave. The three ponies gear up in their suits, and places their helmets snug on their head making sure its locked in.
The dock workers begin to clear the loading station, and head into the air tight waiting area. Starsky signals the bridge controller once more, and prepares to start up the ship. A loud voice over an intercom floods the room.
"Attention, all workers please head to the air tight room, and prepare for launch." Starsky places his hoof on the the throttle, and gently begins to push it forward. Sinclair reads the vitals making sure everything is in working order, going over all system checks.
"You ready?" Sinclair nods. The large doors open part from each other as the large vast emptiness of space is in full view.
"This is Equestrian Freight ship 00245 with all lights go and ready to depart port number 4." He looks over the last few details, and waits for approval.
"This is bridge control tower six, looks like you are ready to launch." Starsky pushes the throttle all the way up as the the ship blasts out of the port, and into space.
"If you need me I'm going to catch a nap." Jackson said, yawning and stretching his hoofs.
"You sleep too much Jackson." Sinclair said, giggling. Jackson tried to ignore the comment as he was too tried to care.
"There is no point. The Trading Hub is only five minutes away." Starsky pointed out.
"Well, that is five more minutes of sleep then what I had before." He said, propping himself in the corner. Starsky shakes his head in annoyance, and looks back at the screen.
"Space is very vast isn't it? Sinclair said, looking out into the cold, black emptiness that surrounds them.
"Yeah, it's also really quiet. Sometimes I prefer it when I'm making deliveries."
"I don't see how. I would go crazy if I was out here alone."
A message pops up on one of the monitors with the words "message incoming" across it.
"Put it through."
Sinclair pushes the button bringing up a screen on the glass. A dark red stallion with a orange mane came up on the screen. He was was wearing a dark purple blueish uniform with two moon badges around his collar.
"This is Captain Sky Dust of the Lunar Empire trading port 12. State your business."
"This is Equestrian Freight ship 00245 requesting to dock."
"What cargo are you currently transporting?"
Starsky, somewhat getting annoyed with the questions, as they should have got word of their arrival. "We are currently carrying food, and need to dock quickly before it goes bad." He said, somewhat with an attitude.
"Whatever, prepare to dock." The screen disappears off the glass.
"It seems like these Lunar guys could use a little bit of manners." Scowled Sinclair.
"Tell me about." Starsky replied.
Two large doors slowly began to open with lights coming out from the door to guide the ship into the port. Starsky slowly pulled the throttle back, reducing the ships speed as it slowly made it's way into the port. The ship came to a slow halt as it reached near the end of the runway.
Starsky and Sinclair both stepped out of the ship,removed their helmets, and began to stretch. They both began to look around the loading dock and noticed plenty of LR soldiers standing guard in various spots.
"Are the ports always this guarded?" Sinclair asked, somewhat concerned.
"Yeah, the LR take securing their trading ports very seriously."
"Now all we got to do is get this cargo loaded." He said.
Two large forklifts pulled up behind the ship, ready to unload the cargo. Starsky yelled at a few dock workers, signaling them to come help.
'Hey! You guys think you can lend a hand?"
"Yeah yeah." One worker retorted.
The workers trotted over to the ship as three opened up the back and got up in the back trying to unload the goods. Sinclair began to help the workers unload everything already sweating from the hard work.
"Hey thanks for the help. This stuff is really heavy." Starsky said to the Foreman.
"Eh, no problem."
"Hold on, I got a guy in the ship still asleep. I'll wake him and help us get this load." Starsky stood in the door way trying to Jackson to wake as he wasn't going to sleep through another unloading job.
"Hey Jackson! Get your lazy ass up will ya!" He shouted.
The voice of Starsky rang out through the small ship and pierced Jackson's ears.
"Yeah yeah I'm coming! No need to shout!"
Suddenly Sinclair dropped one of the small containers, taking off in a dead gallop away from the ship.
Starsky stepped back out from the ship and noticed Sinclair running away as fast as she could.
"Hey! Where are you going!" He screamed.
As soon as he finished his sentence, a explosion ripped from the inside of the ship, engulfing Starksy and Jackson who was inside. The blast had knocked back the foreman, dazing him. A siren immediately began to ring out through the whole docks as emergency crews rushed to the scene. "Hurry and put out that fire before it spreads!" another foreman shouted. Ponies with long hoses began to pump gallons of water on the burning ship trying to to contain it. Medical vehicles rushed to the scene in an attempt to save the injured.
Captain Sky Dust rushed out onto the bridge overlooking the chaos below. " What the hell happened!" he shouted, slamming his hoof down on the railing. A soldier standing began to salute him and addressed him knowing it won't be pleasant.
"Sir! It seems an explosion had erupted from the hull of the ship." He explained.
Sky Dust grabbed the stallion by his uniform and pinned him against the wall.
"You fool! You didn't search before hand?"
The young stallion began to shake from the Captain's intimidating tactic. He tryed to swallow some before speaking, but found it hard to do so.
"Sir. I'm only on watch. I'm not part of security." He said choking on his words and stuttering trying to explain himself. Sky Dust quickly released him and regained his composure, acting as if no confrontation had occurred. "Of course, Go down and inspect the damage. Bring me back a report as soon as you can." The young stallion quickly saluted him. "Yes Sir!" Sky Dust just stood there analyzing the scene before him.
He quickly made haste back to office and sat down at his desk preceding to write a letter to command.
~~~~
A young green stallion was trotting quickly down the main halls of the palace. The saddle to his side flopped around violently to his side containing a important document. He quickly comes up to the two large doors leading into the princess's throne room. Two large stallions in LR uniform were standing in front of them. They were larger than most stallion and incredibly well built. Their uniforms were a solid dark blue with purple trim going down the sides with a patch of the LR on one side, and a patch with a shield that has a crescent moon inside of it. Signifying that they were Luna's royal guards.
"I have a document for the princess from high command, and it is a extreme emergency." He said, trying to not let the stature of the two large stallions scare him.
"Do you have Identification?" One of the guards asked.
"Oh! Yes of course!" He said smacking his forehead, forgetting to have to show his ID.
One of the guards took his ID and ran it through a little device. All of the young stallions information quickly came up with the blink of a eye. Name, age, skin color, eye color, mane color, birth date, ID number. The guard quickly scanned over his information as everything to be in check.
"Alright Mr. Solar Flare, You may proceed." He hands him back his ID as both the guards stand off to the side as the large doors open.
Solar slowly made his up to the princess's throne where six other ponies was there with her. They each had Full moon badge on the collars of their uniform. Solar realized only ponies high in command can wear those kinds of badges. He cleared his voice breaking up their conversation. They all turned around giving him a stare that he could feel piercing his very soul.
"Yes my little pony. What can I can do for you." Luna asked.
He knelt down in respect for his Princess.
"Rise little pony. Tell me, what business do you having coming all the way here?"
"Princess I have a very important document from command." He said, trying to not choke on his words.
"Please little one, do let me see this important document," she said, using her magic to lift the piece of paper out of his saddle. She quickly begins to skim over every word in the letter.
Dear Princess Luna
I have received word that there was a apparent suicide bombing in trading port number twelve. There has been a recorded six dead and one in custody after fleeing the scene. We will report more information once we have the suspect talking.
Captain Sky Dust
The document instantly went up in flames as the princess's anger couldn't be held in. She quickly stood up from her throne with all of the ponies bowing before her. She stepped down the stairs from her chair as purplish black flames erupted from her hooves. Her mane had increased tremendous length while it waved viciously out control.
"Star Dust, I want you ready the Mobile Pony Suits."
"Princess..you can't be.."
"Are you questioning me Star Dust?" Luna stomped her hoof down in disapproval.
Star Dust kneels down. "Of course not. I'll have them ready."
"It's bad enough my own sister had me banished for a thousand years and didn't even bother to see me when I returned." Luna's rage had built up immensely just remembering how her own sister, her own blood, had done her wrong.
"It's been two thousand years and she has the nerve to do this! To my people!?"
"Star Dust, after you inform the troops, I want you to find out what that pony in custody knows. No matter what it takes."
"Yes princess."
Luna turns her back on them, making her way back to her throne and perches herself on it.
"You are all dismissed."
~~~~
Celestia walked out on her balcony overlooking the city of Ponyville. The once smalll town had transformed into a large, active hub that has became one of the Solar Empire's major cities. She smiles down upon the the busy city with the sun shining brighter than ever. She had became very proud of how quickly the nation had transformed into the largest and most successful. She turned back inside to sit down for lunch when there was abrupt knock at the large doors.
"Please enter." She sat down at the large table with different assortments of foods and drinks ready to participate in the feast in front of her. A small young mare with red skin and a bright yellow mane had entered and knelled before her.
"Oh Sunshine, You have came at a perfect time. would you like to join me? I was just about to sit down for lunch."
"My princess, I have grave news" Celestia took a sip of her tea in great satisfaction. "My, this tea is excellent. Now what news did you have?" The young mare stood up, pulling out a document.
"We have reports that there had been an explosion at one of the Lunar Republic trading ports. The explosion had came from one of our transport ships." Upon hearing the news, Celestia dropped her tea, spilling it all over the floor.
"What? I demand to see the document." She said, standing up and making her way to the pony.
She quickly scanned the document, confirming everything the mare had said is true.
"Where are the ponies who were in command of the ship?"
"We got a death report of six. Two of them was ours and four were LR transport crew," she said nervously.
Celestia folded the piece of paper and laid it on the table. "How could this be? We have had a treaty with the LR for thousands of years. There would be no gain for us to attack them like this." She walked to the young mare and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Forgive me for the grim news princess. I just thought you needed to know."
"It's alright my young pony. I put you in charge of foreign relations for reasons such as this." She quickly turns back and sits in her chair. " I want you to go and find what else you can on the current situation. I have to inform Equestria of what may unfold here."
"Yes my princess." The young mare quickly gallops out the doors leaving Celestia all alone. She looks out one of the large windows overlooking Ponyville and land far beyond.
"What have you done."