The mares in the hallway all froze, along with the crew, as the trio of voices echoed throughout the ship, causing all to stop in its wake as thoughts of destruction and zip-lining came to mind, for some unknown reason.
"Ah can't believe it!" Applejack shouted. "How'd they get 'ere!?"
"Come on, Applejack and Rarity," Rainbow Dash stated, "we've gotta go find them!"
In that instance, the three took off in the direction of the closest hangar, leaving four mares and the Militia crew. Twilight turned around and chuckled sheepishly.
"Um, we better, go too, make sure everything's... you know... together!" She added hastily before bolting away with the remainder of their six-pony group.
Joshua blinked a few times before sighing and turning to Luna.
"Sorry Princess, but we're going to have to check this out."
"Oh, no worries." She stated dismissively.
The Pilot nodded and took off down the hallway alongside Luna, leaving the four crew members to idly stand by as a feeling sunk within each of them.
"Hey," Gunnery Sergeant Myers started, "anyone else get some... strange, feeling?" He asked, cradling the LMG in his grip.
"Yeah..." Wesley complied. "Kinda like how somehow all the munitions on the ship are gonna ignite at once?"
"Or something like that we might crash the ship, even though it's already landed?" Ramirez asked.
"Or that all the Titans are gonna come alive and use the cabins as jaws to feign eating us?" Suggested Rebeca.
"Or that Smith might have found a group of someones to be even more destructive with?" Myers concluded with.
The group all looked at each other with wide, horrified eyes before the lot of them bolted down the corridor as nearby helmsmen shuddered at the prospect of the infamous John Smith finding yet even more companions to his wanton record of destruction.
\\\\\\//////
Smith held the three, 'fillies,' cradling them in his arms as they continued to ask barrages of questions that were answered by a slightly more deaf Juarez.
"So ya'll really are aliens!?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yes..." Juarez sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"And that cool flying thing is another type of ship you have?" Scootaloo beamed.
"Yes..."
"What about those costumes you're all wearing?"
"They're Militia uniforms... we wear them because we're-"
"GIRLS!" A trio of voices called from somewhere behind them.
The three fillies jumped from Smith's arms and took cover behind his legs.
Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash rushed towards the soldier as he waved his hands out in front of him.
"This isn't what it looks like, I swear!" He pleaded for no reason.
"Really?" Applejack started, looking straight at a certain bow that was peeking out from behind his legs. "'Cause it looks ta me, like someponies snuck on that ship with us, and snuck in here, too!"
Smith put down his arms.
"Oh. In that case, it may very well be what it looks like."
"Smith being an idiot, who'da thunk it?" Juarez asked sarcastically.
Smith pointed over to his teammate.
"Hey! I'm not the one who didn't check to see if we were being boarded in the first place!"
"Well I'm not the one who's been harboring children of an alien race, who we're trying to ally with, no less, and doesn't even bother reporting it in to our captain!"
"I can see that."
Smith screamed in a high-pitched fashion as a familiar face came from behind the trooper.
"C-Captain, sir!" He saluted, rather hastily.
"You mind telling me why there are children currently aboard my ship? And why you're with them before anyone else?"
"Um, well... You see, the thing about that is..." Smith trailed off, trying to avoid the conversation.
"I have more important matters that need attention right now, so you best hope that you stay out of trouble. Now escort these three back to Ponyville."
"Yessir!" He said hastily.
The Grunt made his way into the Crow as the three sets of sisters smiled nervously at the Pilot.
"Sorry you don't get to tour the ship." He said to the older three.
"It's no problem, really." Rarity dismissed. "I'm sure we can find some other time, right?"
Joshua sighed.
"Yeah. Take care." He told them before walking towards the back of the Hangar, where Princess Luna was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" He asked.
"How did you get behind him so quickly?"
"Stealth kit."
He then demonstrated the equipment by completely vanishing from sight for a few seconds. When he returned, he was on the opposite side of the doorway, leaning against the wall as Luna smirked at him. The rest of the ponies and Militia were looking on with interest, waiting until Joshua moved up and spoke.
"So, moving on, we should talk about how you could help us, while we help you. Wesley, front and center."
The thin ginger moved up with a datapad in hand, and began to scroll through the lists of ship stocks as he spoke.
"Well, we're still dangerously low on food of all kinds, as well as drying up the last of the recycling wells."
"So we need some food. Think you can spare some?" Joshua asked.
"Of course we can. I only need to know what kind of nutrition we should worry about, in case we can't supply you ourselves."
"We're omnivorous, so anything between meat and vegetation."
Luna slowly nodded as the four other ponies began to look around carefully.
"M-m-meat?" Twilight peeped.
"Oh, so you're more like Minotaurs than I thought." Fluttershy interjected.
"Minotaurs?" Ramirez asked.
"Oh, yes. I knew one for a while, and after a small... issue, we got to talking quite a bit, and I got to learn about how his people work."
"Princess, do you think we could see about getting some of their food sent to us?"
"I can do better. We have a dignitary with us at Canterlot. I'm sure if you explained your situation to him, he'd be glad to share."
"Good. That's one issue dealt with."
"I suggest we should bring this up with the rest of the Court, seeing as they have some say in these matters."
Joshua nodded to her before turning to the group.
"Alright, if you three still want that tour, you can stay here. Luna, I'd like to address these problems ASAP. I'll get a dropship ready and meet you there."
She smiled before moving closer to the Pilot.
"I have a quicker idea. Stand next to me."
Joshua eyed her cautiously before walking to her side, and leaving the ship in a flash.