Dark Fall
Chapter 2: The Valcross
Jack trotted off the rather large industrial lift outside Dry-dock 72. He looked around to see a security checkpoint leading to a gigantic, industrial sized room which houses the Equestrian Military Alliance spaceships. At the security checkpoint was a young unicorn stallion, red fur, and black mane wearing the standard combat uniform for Infantry of the Equestrian Military Alliance.
A straight blue sleeved shirt underneath a black tactical combat vest, his name tag reading: “Firetail”. “Uh hello, I was told to report for a reassignment briefing?” Jack said to the Guard inside the station booth. Firetail looked at Jack with a rather bored gaze.
“Ya sure wha-wait a second!” Firetail shook his head, breaking his boring attitude, switching it to a more focused one, and looked closer at Jack. “Oh… Oh yeah! You’re the new transferee! Yes! Now I can get out of this stupid booth!” Firetail said with glee.
He pressed a button inside the booth causing the doors to the dry dock to open. “Awesome so awesome, my name is Firetail! You’re Jack Gallorance, our new security specialist right!?” Firetail said stepping out of the booth approaching Jack with an extremely wide smile. “Uh yeah, that’s me. Wait a security specialist?” Jack asked stepping back a bit as Firetail came closer.
“Ok, basically a security specialist is a pony who is a member the of security team on the Valcross, like me. The only reason I’m manning the gate is cause I got the short straw today while every pony else gets to stay on board. Let me tell you, it’s really boring at the gate since no pony comes down to this dry dock, and the only ship here is The Valcross, which is how I knew who you were off the bat!” Firetail explained while walking with Jack through the door to the dry dock. Jack looked forward away from Firetail to see the cruiser class vessel, The U.S.S. Valcross.
Although not as large as the carrier, Jack could see very large laser turrets being lowered to the turret bays of the ship on the top deck of the ship. Behind the weapon bays was the command deck of the ship with electronic equipment on top of it which was mostly made up of antennas.
The ship was five decks high; the top one being the command bridge with makes up only a small fraction related to the main structure of the ship. The main structure was a horizontal octagon cylindrical figure with seven large main thrusters on the rear of the ship. The octagon cylinder figure came to form a horizontal arrowhead in the bow of the ship.
On the sides toward the aft were large wing foils with a smaller thruster on each of them and tail wings on top of the main structure at the very rear of the ship. Large segmented viewing ports lined the fourth, third, and second deck of the ship. Jack could see crew members walking around the innards of the ship through the view ports. Taking in the entire length of the ship, the ship appeared to be almost 550 meters in length.
“Yeah, she sure is a beaut, one of a kind! Come on I’ll show you inside!” Firetail said looking with Jack and smiling approaching the jetway to board the ship.” Ok…Wait a second!” Jack shouted at Firetail causing him to turn in confusion. “First of all how did you know my name without even asking for it, and second shouldn’t you be manning the gate in case someone does come down to the dry dock!?” Jack asked with suspicion.
“Oh I guess I didn’t really explain to well, first off I was told you would be coming and as I said no one come’s down to the bottom of the station because they wouldn’t be able to pass clearance on the station lift. The lift will simply stop, saying ‘you do not have permission to this floor’ or something like that.
Camera’s on the lift scan the ponies for proper ID first, and the lift you took which was close to base is the only one that has access to the floor, so trust me no other pony is coming down here. You’re actually the last pony to check in before we embark from the station.
Oh and I also know who you are from that, I was also told by the security team leader, plus you have your name on the tactical vest your wearing.” Firetail explained to almost too great of detail. “Wow… You guys have pretty simple security then.” Jack said surprised, and fatigued at the same time from the overly drawn out explanation.
“Ya, but simple security is always best security as some ponies would say.” Firetail said walking off into the jetway, with Jack following him. Jack and Firetail boarded the Valcross and entered the portside corridor. Unlike on the carrier, Jack noticed that the corridor is very well lit and had a roomier and curved design to the walls lining the corridor and the overhead above him.
Ponies were trotting back and then fourth across the corridor in a semi hurried fashion inferring that it was probably a very busy day for all the ponies on board. “Like it?” Firetail asked looking at Jack with a beaming grin. “A very good trade from where I used to be, that’s for sure!” Jack said with a pleased smile looking at the corridors busy status.
“Ha! This is only a corridor dude! Wait till you see the rest of the ship! Come on I’ll show you to the locker room. On the way down the corridor to the locker room a white unicorn mare with blue short mane and violet eyes passed by. Jack immediately turned his head to get a better view of the beautiful mare.
“Wow who is she?” Jack said with an even wider grin. “Oh, her? Her name is Violet Star. But between you and me her real name is Naomi Vantra from what I heard. Which is why I want to ask you something.” Firetail said looking at Jack as they arrived at the locker room doors.
Both ponies entered the locker room. “Ok Jack your locker is number 32 on the right, just touch the pad on the locker, when it turns green its unlocked.” Firetail said pointing at the locker he was mentioning with his fore hoof. “Ok thanks, so what do you want to know?” Jack replied Taking off his combat vest and rucksack and storing it inside the locker. “You’re like Violet Star. You both have two names that don’t really have anything to do with your cutie marks. Why is that?” Firetail asked.
“Good question Firetail. Tell me you read about the Meridian wars almost a hundred years ago?” Jack asked. “Well, I wasn’t really paying attention in Equestrian history class so not really, no.” Firetail replied. Jack sighed and closed his eyes head down in disappointment.
“The Meridian wars started when a republic formed in the region of space known as Meridia. The Meridians hated the political structure of Equestria’s monarchy, saying ‘the current system does not serve the common people and only appeal to the rich, yadda, yadda, yadda, which in fact wasn’t true at all the Meridians actually just wanted to be independent and have their own form of government. Anyway so after it won its war for independence there was a cultural revolution, and one of the goals in the revolution was to change the name system so they can have ponies with more formal, professional, and unique names, thus my name is Jack Gallorance. However my dad married my mom who was from the United Regions of Equestria, so when she gave birth to me I was first named Shining Dagger. But my dad believed I was more Meridian than Equestrian so he changed it to my name… Oh and don’t call me Shining Dagger I prefer Jack better.” Jack explained sitting down on the bench inside the locker room after storing his belongings.
“Hah it all makes sense now! But Violet Star, or Naomi, always said her name as Violet Star, and never used her Meridian name do you know why? Firetail asked sitting down with Jack. “Well she could’ve only been born in Equestria. If that’s the case and her father is Equestrian and mother Meridian, then chances are they picked Violet over Naomi for her name because the father has a final say in naming although I heard it’s only optional that the father can assert that type of authority. Other than that I’m not too sure but I think that’s the reason why.” Jack explained getting up from the seat to stretch out and gestured to leave.
“Ok then let me take you to your quarters after that I’ll go let the rest of the security team know and call you up to the conference room so you can meet the rest of the team.” Firetail said getting up from his seat and heading out the door. Jack followed Firetail back through the corridor.
The two ponies took the elevator down from Deck 3 to Deck 2 and went down an interior corridor towards the forward of the ship until arriving at door at the starboard side of the ship with the numbers 132 on it. “Alrighty, this is the room you’ll be staying on the ship” Firetail said looking at Jack with a slight grin. Jack nodded his head and headed inside.
The room had a full size bed at the end of the room with a working desk to the right, a closet on the right next to the exit door, another door to the left that opened to the bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet in it. At the end of the room in the left hand corner was a T.V., which if Jack is correct could access the star map in the ships navigation network and broadcast’s all sorts of Channels in the Nano net.
“Wow, my own room with a T.V. in it! We didn’t have things like this onboard the carrier.” Jack said. “Yeah, we have movies playing and tons of channels in 3D and HD. Any normal pony would almost confuse this cruiser for a luxury space liner. Anyway I’ll leave you to get settled in. The team leader will call you up when he’s ready to meet with ya.” Firetail said heading for the exit door.
“Thanks a lot for showing me around, I’ll see you later Firetail.” Jack said going for the bed and lying down. “No problem Jack. See ya later!” Firetail replied while leaving the room. Jack lied in bed and looked out the rather large view port in his room out to the rest of the dry dock.
He could see worker ponies carrying supplies onto designated area’s to be loaded onto the ship. Jack lied back down in his bed and started to day dream. He could see Violet, the gorgeous mare as bright as day. Jack lingered with the thought as his mind nearly went to places he wouldn’t even dare think about. Jack started thinking about other things, about the section he was forced to leave behind.
He thought about where they could be now and if they’re still alive. Jack immediately snapped from the thought, he didn’t want to dwell anymore on the things that happened in the past before the transfer, or where the team could be now. Jack stood up from his bed and looked at the T.V. It was displaying the map of the local region, the current location of the ship, and the time.
The time was now 12:32 PM. Jack stood up and trotted out the room to head to the mess hall to have lunch, seeing that it’s now midday on the space station and his stomach yearned for lunch.
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Jack arrived at Deck 3 and realized that he had no Idea where the mess hall was while busy science, military, and worker ponies rushed past him on Deck 3’s portside corridor. “Umm excuse me where’s th-…“ Jack asked but the Unicorn stallion in science robes rushed by paying no mind. “Ok…Excuse me ma’am where’s the mes-…” Jack asked the Pegasus mare in a military uniform, but she interrupted his sentence saying
“Sorry, too busy gotta go!” Jack put his head down in disappointment and turned around to ask another pony but was suddenly surprised, almost shocked when Violet Star was approaching behind him. Jack turned and stood with a face of shock as if he had seen a ghost, his body instantly frozen up. “Um…Hi…Are you okay?” Violet said, while Jacks body was frozen, his mind was saying “I have never heard a sweeter voice in my life!” Violet narrowed her eyes as if to inspect him and immediately straightened up eyes widened and smiled.
“Oh you must be new here! My name’s Violet Star!” Violet said smiling eyes closed. Jacks body still frozen managed to only mutter one word “Yeah” and began to trail off a bit. “Say, you must be wondering where the mess hall is right?” Violet said. “Yeah” Once again was the only thing Jack could get out of his mouth being said with a near identical tone to the last. “Oh yay!” Violet exclaimed jumping up in excitement. “I’m headed there too. I’ll show you where it is, follow me!” Violet said grabbing Jacks fore hoof and nearly dragging him across the floor to the mess hall.
At the mess hall Jack had a tray with a plate of Alfalfa salad and a Strawberry-kiwi smoothie held by his teeth. Violet looked around. The mess hall is pretty full at this time of day seeing it’s the lunch hour. Violet scanned the room and widened her eyes again.
“Oh! There’s an empty table over there! Let’s go sit!” Violet exclaimed, grabbing her tray of Alfalfa salad and smoothie and trotted over to the empty table. Jack and Violet sat their trays on the table and began to eat their lunches. “So, I guess you are new around here. You look so nervous.” Violet said with a quieter tone and concerned face. “Actually you’re the one making me nervous hot stuff!”
Jack said in his mind but changed it to a more appropriate response saying “Yes, I am new here and there’s so many things going on I feel a little helpless.” “Aww its okay I remember the first day I boarded the Valcross, it’s just like today, everyone was so busy and doing something I felt so tiny in such a big place.” Violet recounted. “But don’t worry you’ll get used to it. So what’s your name?”Violet said.
“Oh… My name is Jack Gallorance.” Jack said a little embarrassed by the previous statement. “Oh wow a Meridian pony! My mom was a Meridian. They are such nice ponies.” Violet said in glee closing her eyes. “Ya… I guess we really are” Jack scratching the back of his head in blush. Violet smiled back but her face turned into shock when she pulled out her Neocom and looked.
“Oh no! I forgot to fix my mane! I’m so sorry about this.” Violet said while taking a brush out and brushing her mane back in order. Jack looked at Violet’s mane. It was blue, short, and a bit scuffled and messy, but not anything too terrible. “Oh don’t worry about it! Your mane is beautiful the way it is.”
Jack said in near haste due to nervousness. Violet stopped, blushed a bit, and looked away to hide it, while showing a sincere smile. “Aww thank you so much Jack! You’re really sweet but I still got to fix my mane and make it look professional, I do appreciate the comment.” Violet said smiling with a tad bit of blush.
Violet finishes brushing her blue mane which starts to sparkle and shine due to the comb hydrating and adding glitter in her mane. “So how does it look” Violet said with a smile. Jack was taken by storm from the intensity and beauty of Violets mane. Jack’s body froze up again.
“Ok it’s settled she is the most beautiful mare I have ever seen in my entire life.” Jack said in his mind. “Um… Jack? Are you okay? Jack… You’re… Starting to drool a bit.” Violet said giggling a bit at the end. Jack immediately shook his head unfreezing his body while Violet was giggling the entire time.
“I… Um… Oh man, I’m so sorry about that!” Jack said blushing heavily to the point he laid his head on the table in shame. Violet still laughing said “Oh Jack, its okay.” Jack lifted his face from the table top and looked at Violet; she’s covering her muzzle with her fore hoof to avoid bursting out in laughter.
Suddenly Violets Neocom starts beeping. “Hmm? Oh my I forgot I have to go to work now! Sorry I have to go Jack but it was really nice meeting you see ya later, take care!” Violet said trotting off to dispose her tray and heading out of the mess hall. Jack simply laid his head on the table from the embarrassment but started thinking.
“She is so cute, so nice, and so beautiful! There is no way I can go out with her, I bet ten bits that she already has a colt friend, and besides I don’t even know if she likes me back in that way either so… Oh, get over yourself Jack and pony up! If she didn’t even like me why would she even talk to me in the first place, and a colt friend?
By the way she acted it seems like she doesn’t even have one! I haven’t lost yet!” Jack thought to himself while sitting at the table looking at unfinished Alfalfa Salad. Jack got up from the table and thought “Dang it Jack just play it cool and go with the flow my chance will come, let’s go back to the room.” Jack ate the last of his salad, disposed if the tray, and trotted off to his quarters.
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Jack lay in bed, watching T.V. when Firetail entered the room. “Hey Jack, everything going well?” Firetail said standing at the door. Jack turned his head to face Firetail and stood up from the bed. “I’ll say I’m fitting in. Why what’s up?” Jack asks approaching Firetail.
“Well the rest of Security team Delta is assembled at the conference room and they would like to meet you.” Firetail said. “Ok then let’s go!” Jack said following Firetail out the door. The two ponies got on the elevator and headed up to deck 4. “This is only going to take a little while, after this I’ll go ahead and show you the Holodeck.” Firetail offered to Jack as they rode the elevator up.
“Ok we’re here.” Firetail said as the elevator came to a halt. The two ponies stepped out of the elevator and proceeded down the central corridor and turned for a door on the starboard side of the ship. The door read Conference Room B. The two ponies walked in to see the rest of the team gathered around the conference table. “Ah you must be Jack good to meet you names Golden Wing.”
The Pegasus Stallion said standing at the end of the conference table. Golden Wing appears to be 6 years older than Jack. He has a red mane, and with Yellow Fur, and Hazel eyes. His cutie mark showed as a Pair of wings with a yellow lightning bolt in the middle below a shining yellow sun. ”Nice to meet you.” Jack said going around the table to shake his hoof. “I’m the security team leader if you haven’t noticed;
keeping the ship safe from boarders is our bread and butter. Even though sometimes we get sent out to keep the scientist’s safe, we also have the privilege of being flown planet side, and picking up rocks and gathering dust.” Golden Wing stood up from his chair and started introducing everyone else around the table.
“Ok, so that’s Strong Shot over there”. Golden Wing said pointing to a rather buff with copper colored fur, and dark brown Mane. “Oy ya mate! So you’re Jack, dat right?” Strong Shot said in a heavy Trottingham accent. “Uh ya, that’s me.” Jack said a little shaken by the Heaviness of the accent.
“Well good ta meet ya mate. I’m the team’s Machine Gunna so when it comes to big guns I know how ta use em, you got that right, old chap!” Strong Shot said getting up and putting his for hoof on Jack’s shoulder. “Cool! You’ve seen action before, perhaps in the Equestrian Military Alliance by chance?” Jack said with a bit of excite hoping that he was in a couple of the same battles as Strong Shot.
“Hahaha! You darn rite mate! I got all sorts o’ memorabilia in me quarters I’ll show ya em wheneva ya want!” Strong Shot said with a near whole hearted laugh. “Ok don’t get too excited now Strong Shot. Anyway I take it you already met Firetail so will skip him. So here’s Hope Gleaming. He’s our marksman.” Golden Wing said pointing his hoof at him. Jack walked up to Hope and extended a hoof to greet him.
Hope has plain white fur, and a plain white mane with a cutie mark of a blue comet with green contrails. Hope was playing with a sort of combat knife staring at it as if he was reading something that was engraved into the knife. Hope quickly turned his head to Jack looking at his hoof. He batted Jack’s hoof away, sheaved his knife and trotted out the door without saying a word.
All the ponies in the room stared with silence and confusion as Hope left. After a moment Golden Wing interrupts the silence, “Well I guess I will have to speak with him later. Sorry about the Jack I’m not sure what’s gotten into him. He is quiet most of the time but I know he isn’t rude like that.” Golden Wing said placing a hoof on Jacks shoulder for reassurance.
“It’s all right Golden Wing.” Jack said in response. “Ok, very well.” Golden Wing said trotting over to the chair at the end of the conference table and taking a seat. “Ok ponies, take your seats.” Golden Wing commanded as every pony in the room took a seat around the conference table.
“Ok first order of business is we now have our riflepony, Jack, so we already got greetings for him out of the way moving on. Tomorrow at 0700 U.E.T. The U.S.S. Valcross will undock and head out for its first assignment as a deep space research vessel, so congrats to the engineering team on that so we are to look forward to a long, safe, and happy deployment.” “Oorah!” all the ponies in the room said in unison.
“All right and after undock the captain will brief us on where we are going seeing that command will give us the assignment while in mid space, seeing that there are many research expeditions to be assigned to other research vessels, they want all ships to form up outside the station so they can pass out mission orders.
Command has stated that they know this is a sloppy way of doing things but with the media wanting to get an eyeful of the ships and the mass availability it is necessary for now and it will only be done this way once.” Golden Wing said in monologue reading off a short list.
“Ok gentlecolts, that’s pretty much everything we will get full details tomorrow at undock, get some rest we may be at it all day. Dismissed.” Golden Wing said getting up from his chair at the end of the table. The rest of the ponies got up from their chairs and trotted out of the conference room.
As Jack turned to leave he was cut off by Firetail. “Hey Jack, the Holodeck is right across the corridor from the conference room so use it whenever you like, I can’t explain it but its activated by speech and motion, I would show you around it but I will leave that for tomorrow since we should bunk in early tonight.
One more thing, don’t worry about Hope. He can be a really nice pony once you get to know him.” Firetail said trying to cheer Jack up about Hope. “Sure thanks Firetail; I’ll go get some rest now.” Jack said entering the Elevator going down towards his quarters. Jack entered his quarters and jumped into his bed and laid there to watch T.V. for a couple of hours before drifting off to sleep.