//------------------------------// // Industry of War // Story: What Remains III: Cracked Sky // by Bateman66 //------------------------------// The screeching of metal and hissing of electrical sparks was all that Alistair could hear as he trotted through the Crescent Fortress’s foundries. Several air destroyers, suspended upright by massive metal dry-dock supports, were in the process of being constructed. Ponies left and right labored away in their respective tasks of welding, bolting, hammering, and other general forms of maintenance to the machines of war. It was amazing that such a chamber could fit within the small archipelago of the Crescent Isle, underground or not. But it seemed the Night Lords of old had used their considerable wealth (as well as current member’s amassed fortunes) to ingeniously craft such an efficient wonder. The boy trotted steadily through the frenzy of working ponies. His brisk pace and stern expression made step out of his way but for others he simply pushed past. He got more than his fair share of dirty insults from his fellow Night Lords but he refrained from any direct retaliation. It bothered him none the less, the specific lack of respect from those he commanded. He’d been given full reign over the operation by Silver Eclipse himself and the power he slowly attained from the imprisoned Princess Luna only gave him more influence over the collective’s goals. And yet many still saw him as an interloper. His sudden and rapid progression into the higher ranks of the Night Lords had surprised many, and the fact that he was a human child infuriated others. His age was one thing but his race played a larger role in the objectors’ minds. Alistair’s presence as the lone human in the current generation of Equestria served as a wondrous sign of good luck to the organization’s goals but the positives stopped there, because he was just that, a sign of good luck, a symbol. He wasn’t supposed to actually command forces, only inspire them with his rarity. The injustice stung him greatly. He’d been leading the Lords into believing that, through his understanding of realm travel, he was fusing Luna with a mirror version of herself that had remained Nightmare Moon. And even that ruse hadn’t convinced the hardheaded ponies he was more than just an object to be observed. He’d show them, he’d show them soon enough. “Alistair!” called a gruff voice from behind him. “Mr. Alistair!” He turned to see a stallion engineer, adorned in greasy grey coveralls, waving to him further down the assembly line. “Over here!” He marched over to the pony and briefly bowed. “Foreman Leatherneck, I presume?” “Yessir, you wished to talk with me about the destroyers?” Alistair nodded. “Yes. I’d like to know of the progress you’ve made thus far, just to get a better perspective of when to time the assault.” The stallion scratched his mane. “Well…most of the hulls have had their frames completed we just need to fill in the spaces that aren’t covered by their skeletons. The cannons you requested have already been finished, we just needed to do some modifications to the ordinance rifles we already had.” “The balloon’s canvasses still need to be modified to hold enough lifting gas to keep the ship maneuverable in the air and the sails as well needs to be at least tripled in size to accommodate such a craft.” Alistair scratched his chin. “So in summary, how long until you believe they’ll be operational?” Leatherneck nervously gulped. “Y-You have to understand that these things take time. I mean, the conversions between the air galleys we have to something this big is something even the most skilled of technicians would have trouble developing a project of this scope. These things take time.” The human eyed him with a glacially calm gaze. “So what I gather from the aversion to my question is a date far from our projected time of attack. Need I remind of this mission’s importance, decreed directly from our Queen?” “W-Well yes, I understand that…” “Then why are you arguing with reason? You have your orders and are expected to follow them.” “W-Why can’t we just use the galleys we already have instead? T-They’re the most effective ships we have in the arsenal and I’m sure we’d be able to—” “—Get shot out of the sky,” Alistair finished. “No matter how well we’ll be able to avert Sun Guard attention from Canterlot there will no doubt be a patrol of at least a few dreadnaughts patrolling the skies. If we are to last even a second against that kind of fire power than we must outclass them in everyway imaginable.” “I know it doesn’t seem like it but the Equestrian Army is more effective than it leads on to be. Despite the incompetence of the government they serve the Sun Guard is extremely effective at what they do. Not only do they have numbers over us but as well the resources to construct whatever they need to counter even our strongest of offense.” Leatherneck opened his mouth speak but Alistair raised a palm to stop him. “I want these ships done by the end of this month, Leatherneck. Our destiny rests on their success and neither I nor the other Night Lords wish to wait any longer for our moment of triumph. We deserve it.” “Umm…y-yes, sir,” stammered the increasingly frightened pony. “We’ll have everything up and running by the date you mentioned.” “I would hope so, for you and your worker’s sake. I do not wish to make threats but I must say I am not responsible for the actions of those who outrank me. They are very quite impatient.” “Of course…” “Good day, foreman Leatherneck.” ---------- Around that same time, in a much different chamber within the Crescent Fortress, slept the mortal commander of the entire shadowy group. Silver Eclipse, with his face still shadowed by the black hood he always had pulled down to conceal his face, slept heartily in his modest chambers. His advanced age, somewhere nearing in the centuries with the assistance of several revitalization spells, left him with a frail and weakened body that was starting to show its level of wear. But for now he didn’t dare worry about his own health for he was experiencing a most wondrous dream. He found himself standing among the bustling streets of Canterlot. A dark blue sky hung over the metropolis with a crescent moon hanging mightily above. Ponies of all shapes and sizes moved around him in positive fervor that was quite rare for the typically gaudy and stuck up capitol. Everypony seemed happy and Eclipse knew just why. All he had to do was look upon every storefront, every lamppost, every billboard and know what brought salvation to the deprived ponies of Equestria. Queen Luna, her silhouetted eyes poking out from the banners and posters planted all about, surrounded by a deep shade of blue that nearly matched the nebula-like sky. The Night Lords had succeeded. Celestia and Twilight Sparkle were dead and the ponies of Equestria greeted their new ruler with open hooves. They’d seen the weaknesses of their nation exploited on all fronts and had submitted to the stronger security offered by Luna’s rightful reign. Letting out a peaceful sigh, he felt a wave of relaxation hit him as dreamy content filled his veins. He shut his eyes in bliss. He hadn’t felt this young in quite awhile and even though it wasn’t real at the moment he knew it soon would be. Perfect…everything was perfect…and then he saw her. At the other side of the street she stood, ignored by the passing crowds and slowly approaching Eclipse with a calm intensity. His happiness quickly changed to awe. No sooner than his eyes had widened in wild surprise was he already on one foreleg, bowing to his Dark Queen. “My Queen,” he said through a steadied voice, “I am blessed to be in your presence.” She did not respond but simply regarded him as he kneeled before her. “To what honor do I owe this immense pleasure to speak with one as mighty as you?” He continued. “Words cannot describe the honor that I feel.” Still no response. “Is something wrong, My Queen?” Her face did not break composure as she finally spoke. “Are you the one referred to as Grandmaster Silver Eclipse of the Night Lords?” He looked up at her in confusion. “Of course I am, My Queen. Didn’t you know this already?” “Rise then.” Eclipse did as he was told. But as he got a better look at who he was speaking to, he could feel the color drain from his already pale fur. “You’re not the one I serve!” he exclaimed in horror. “You’re the broken reflection, the mindless lackey to your sister!” Princess Luna regarded him coldly. “I would not say I am mindless to the wishes of my sister. But even she would strike down one as twisted and evil as yourself.” “What do you want with me, pretender?” he sneered. “Can’t you see I’m living the future, the future the real you will create?” “You are mistaken then, Silver Eclipse, for you are living nothing but a delusion that holds no chance in coming true. I have come to warn you of this.” “Save your lies for somepony who will believe them, witch. They will not work on me. I know of your true fate.” Luna raised a queried eyebrow. “Oh, and what does that happen to be?” “Why, your metamorphosis of course, the fusing between the Luna of this realm and the one of another. In that union a perfect representation of your true self shall be created, and with it, a perfect Equestria.” “Then I have something to inform you of, Eclipse. Involving certain…insubordination within your ranks.” She then proceeded to tell Eclipse everything that was really going on with Alistair. The daily power siphoning, the intended vagueness of Luna’s orders, and the lack of tangible progress in the ‘real’ Luna’s return. Eclipse had been resistant and even hostile as she explained the complicated tale. But farther and farther the story progressed, his snow white ears slumped in disappointment and defeat. Once she was done, the old stallion was at a loss of words. “He lied to me…” Eclipse dismally. “I did so much to ensure he was sincere and even then he was able to get past it. How could I have been so foolish…” Luna placed a comforting hoof on the stallion’s shoulder. “There is still time to stop the human’s treachery. You are a good pony, Silver Eclipse. But the evil Alistair wishes to wrought cannot by accomplished. Your criticisms of Equestria hold truth and I ensure changes will be made. But for now, you must stop this menace.” He didn’t even need time to think as he nodded in agreement. “I will. It will need to be in a secluded location, when he least expects it. He holds sway over several of our members and an open conflict between us could paint me as the aggressor in a power struggle. This needs to be done quietly.” “I wish the best of luck,” Luna said as the dream’s scene began to fade to white. “I will be watching over you the best I can. But for now, plan you attack wisely. You will have only one chance.” He attempted to voice his thanks to the Princess but she had already disappeared from his view. A moment later the entire vision had faded away into nothing, leaving a black void of darkness as he tumbled back into regular sleep. He’d been informed of a conspiracy taking place right under his snout but for now he’d have to play things calmly, wait for his window of opportunity to reveal itself and strike swiftly. Just as Luna had said, he only had one shot at this. He would have to make it count. Otherwise…all of Equestria was doomed.