//------------------------------// // New friends, Old Enemies Part 2 // Story: Adventures Across Space // by zalla661 //------------------------------// Octavia eyed the mare named Sunset Shimmer. She was wearing the standard black and red style uniform of the Equis Fleet. She had a utility belt with a tricorder and a small disruptor. Her boots, like Trixies, were armor plated and had a kick spike at the tip. Her mane was red and yellow like a flame tied back in a ponytail with her bangs hanging in front of her face to the side. All in all, Octavia was not impressed. "So, you're the new transfer? Sunny Smiles?" she asked the new arrival. "Yes, ma'am. But I prefer my original name Sunset Shimmer please." the pony saluted. "Very well. Station Lt. Shimmer." "Aye commander!" she stomped her hooves together and went to her station behind Lyra's. Sitting in her chair, Sunset stuck her head into the console after extending a visor from it. She pressed a few buttons, not bothering to look up, and read several tactical displays. In the meantime, Octavia walked over to Lyra's station and tapped her shoulder. "Yes, commander?" "Call the strike force and tell them to fall behind us so they don't get shot out of the sky," She said, showing a PDA with a flight plan. "We're going to fly towards the planet behind the asteroid and once at this point," she tapped the display which changed showing the Hydra veering off from the course to the planet. "We will fire a full volley of torpedoes and have them go to the surface while the torpedoes are the arrays main focus." "Aye ma'am. I'll send the message out." Lyra said sending the message. Sunset then revealed her head form the visor. "Commander, the alien craft attacking Enterprise!" "Damn it! Tell them we'll help once we takeout the array." Octavia yelled at her. Sunset looked shocked by the outburst, but took it as work related stress instead of personal. She then nodded silently, sending Enterprise a response. *Enterprise Bridge moments Earlier* Archer reached the bridge. He stepped out of the turbolift and walked over to his chair where a crewman left to relieve him. He stood looking over the bridge before he saw the tactical officer on duty, since Malcom was part of the strike force going to Mars. "Status report of the enemy vessel?" Archer asked sitting in his chair. "It's a Klingon Bird of Prey sir." The tactical officer said, pulling up the view screen. To his left, an Asian woman with jet black hair was listening to her headset when the ship shook. "They want you sir, they say they won't destroy Enterprise if you surrender to them." The ship shook again. "Archer is an enemy to the Empire. He must be brought to justice, if honor is to be regained." she said, looking to Archer. "Duras." Archer fell into his chair as the green vessel turned and headed straight for Enterprise head on. "Torpedoes. maximum yield." Archer order to the tactical officer. As the two ships came within meters of colliding with each other, the Enterprise fired a volley of three torpedoes hitting the bird of prey. It green shields fizzed as it continued to fly past firing its disruptors at Enterprises nacelles. A direct hit made the silver ship bleed plasma from the starboard nacelle. Enterprise banked hard to starboard as the bird of prey soared overhead. The silvery ship fired it's dorsal phase canons hitting the vessels underbelly with minimal effect. But the Klingon's weren't done yet. They turned for another pass this time targeting the Enterprises impulse engines. The green bolts of energy soared through space like vengeful daggers, hitting their marks with easy. "Captain, we're losing power to the impulse engines!" Mayweather said from hi station. The dark skinned man pulled back on a manual throttle bringing the ship to full speed, which was 1/2 impulse by now. "Evasive action. Get us out of here!" "Aye, captain." Mayweathers hands flew across his panel with expert precision, like that of a master surgeon. In less than two seconds the Enterprise banked heading deeper into the system towards Earth. But the Klingon's wouldn't give up easily. Ironically, the Hydra was preventing the verteron array from taking out the Klingon ship, due to having blocked it with the large asteroid. "They're pursuing captain!" Mayweather said urgently. "We're not outrunning them sir." "Send out a distress call for backup, Hoshi." "Aye captain." she said. In seconds she sent out a distress call, but to her dismay, it was being jammed. Outside communications were being blocked. She scanned the waves and found the source to be coming from the verteron array on Mars. "Sir, the array is jamming all signals. I can't get a message through!" she said urgently. "Get us back to the Hydra. Maybe our new friends can help us out." he said hopefully. The ship turned around as the bird of prey overshot them. It fired a torpedo but missed completely due to the ship turning, and Enterprise limped back after the Equine ship. *Bird of Prey Bridge* In the dark dank bridge of the bird of prey, a Klingon stood at his center chair with a look of triumph. He grinned, exposing his sharpened teeth. "Damage report." he demanded. One of the Klingon's in front of him was manning the ships flight controls and monitoring the shields and power. Contrary to belief, Klingon's were excellent multi-taskers. "Shields are holding." he said flying the bird of prey over Enterprise. The green bird of death soared over the ship firing it's disruptors at the engines. A direct hit left the Enterprise completely helpless. Their momentum the only thing keeping them going. "Their engines are down, but their weapons are still online." the Klingon said. Duras, he was a might Klingon. He stood over well over 2 meters tall. And wore a leather shoulder pad that attached to his disruptor holster on his left hip. He stood tall and proud as he watched his enemies ship come to a halt. He laughed at his victory circling his chair, as he watched. "Bring us about." he said, never taking his eyes off the screen. "Prepare a boarding party." *Strike Force En Route toMars* As the fighters and craft flew in formation behind the Hydra, the human craft close by, they awaited the signal to begin the attack. Pansy was happily humming to herself as she piloted the fighter. Scope sighed as he watched the Hydra tractor the asteroid toward the surface of the red planet below them. He thought about what he would do if they met resistance. He was sure the humans would know they were coming. He was shaken from his thoughts, as Pansy shook him by the shoulder. "Hey, you alright there Scope?" she asked him calmly. "Yeah. I was just thinking about what to do if we fight." he replied. "I'm not sure what to do." Pansy smiled reaching over the seat and wrapped her arms around his neck. Gently she pulled him into a hug. He blushed from the intimate contact, but took no action against it. He liked it, he would even dare say he loved it. He looked at her hoof, it was large. Pansy was no fat pony, but she was a big mare. She easily was double his height and twice his weight, he was considerably small for a stallion. He was embarrassed to have to admit it, but he was sure she'd end up saving him a lot on this mission. He was great in combat simulations, but he was very nervous. He wanted to fight. That's why he joined MARES to begin with. They were as famous as the Wonderbolts, if not more. He wanted to join so he could fight and travel the stars, see new places, meet new species. It was to be a grand adventure for him. Now, he wasn't so sure. He shook at the thought of dying on his first mission. His armor clanked slightly as he shook. This made Pansy tighten her grip around him. She began to hum a soft tune as she began to stroke his hoof with hers. "It'll be alright private Scope. You'll see." she cooed to him. He smiled rubbing his nose on her arms. His muzzle ran across a patch of unprotected fur. He inhaled as he past, and the sent of summer flowers filled his nostrils. Sighing in content he looked outside to see the Hydra breaking off from the tractor beam as the asteroid split in two. Now fully awake from his stupor, he managed to clam himself and Pansy withdrew her hold on him. He frowned at her releasing him but knew she had to. The ship turned hard left before returning to it's course towards the red planet. A volley of twenty torpedoes rained from the ships side as it turned hard to port and dogged another beam fro the array. They were so close to the planet that they could almost make out land features on it with the naked eye. The torpedoes flew across the sky down towards the surface, many were lost due to the array, but several hit their targets destroying a good portion of the array. Pansy cheered as did all the MARES commandos when Commander Octavia ordered them to begin the assault. Pansy slapped Scope on the shoulder smiling at him. "See? I told you we'd get through this!" She gunned the throttle sending the fighter soaring towards the surface. "Now the real fun begins." "He-yeah. Fun." Scope said nervously. *Hydra Bridge* Octavia leaned back in her chair, relieved the plan had worked. The strike force was on its way to the surface and they were finally able to get a signal to them after several attempts. But it was short lived. Once the message was out, the array increased the jamming frequency halting all communications. Octavia sighed, relaxing visibly. She allowed her shoulders to relax, her jaw and teeth were sore from biting down the entire time. She was just about to say something when Lyra spoke from her station. "Commander!" "Oh, what is it now!?" Octavia screamed throwing her arms up. "The Enterprise has taken heavy damage to her engines!" Lyra exclaimed. "They're dead in the water ma'am!" Octavia growled smashing her arm into the chair again. This time there was a visible dent in it. She stood up and walked behind 3rd of 5. "Get us back to Enterprise. Prepare all weapons Lt.Claw!" "Aye ma'am. All weapons ready!" he stated proudly. Octavia sat back in her chair watching the viewer as the red planet banked to the side and a small silhouette of two ships came into view. A green ship circled the human ship firing at it. Octavia gritted her teeth as she watched the Enterprise take the green bolts while firing back. It was very clear to her who was winning. "Get us there faster 3rd of 5!" she yelled at the changeling. "They'll be space dust by the time we get there!" "Aye ma'am." He increased to full impulse. Now here was where the hydra was at a disadvantage compared to other ships, top speed. While most ships flew at an average of 1.67 impulse speed, the Hydra had only an output of .997. It was considerably slower than most vessels. In fact it was barely faster than the Enterprise. The Hydra flew past several asteroids as it went to the aid of its crippled ally. Octavia watched as the Enterprise took an direct blow to her starboard nacelle and began to vent plasma. She hated watching this. "Time to intercept?" "Thirty seconds ma'am." Sunset replied from her station. She took detailed scans of the alien craft attacking Enterprise. It was a highly advanced ship compared to the human vessel, but not by much. She determined from her scans, that the ship was heavily shielded forward, but its aft was very weak. She read her console: Forward output 2.28, Starboard output: 2.43, Port output: 2.44, Aft Output: 1.57. "Commander. I may know a weakness in the enemy vessel." "Explain." "Their forwards shields are reinforced, a direct assault would most likely end in failure." she said as Octavia walked over to her station. "We're in range ma'am." Claw said targeting the bird of prey. "Shall I open fire?" Octavia looked over to him. She was determined to help her allies survive at all cost. It's what Trixie would have done. "Open fire."