//------------------------------// // Meeting // Story: Red Comet // by Aragem //------------------------------// Mikala held her pony in against her, arms tucking her against her chest. When she returned from being chewed out and threatened by the commander, she shucked off her military jacket and boots and crawled into the bed, pulling the sleeping pony with her. It had been years since she slept with a teddy bear, a habit she had given up when she started high school. Now she needed a bear, but a pony would do just as well. The pony was still in a deep sleep and stirred as she was tucked against Mikala’s undershirt as covers were pulled over them. The pony’s eyes opened, her eyes staring bleary eyed at her. Mikala curled her hand around her hoof as she would hold a human hand. “Hey, beautiful. Sorry, I woke you. I just had a bad time.” Being spoken to, stirred the pony to awaken more. She shifted against Mikala, her orange eyes looking around as if trying to see what time it was, whether it was morning or not. Mikala laid a kiss on the pony’s cheek and laid her down. “I just thought of something. You probably missed your mom.” The pony focused her eyes on Mikala’s speaking face and settled against the pillow, her forelegs hooked over the edge of the blanket. “Winter said that he found you alone and wounded. What happened to your mom? Did you get separated or whatever hurt you killed her?” There was no answer, only a confused look from the pony that watched her speak. Mikala drew a thumb along the curve of a hoof. It felt hard, but had a soft texture and fitted easily in the palm of her hand. Mikala heard herself continue speaking, “I never knew my mom or my dad. I was raised by my grandparents. My parents fought in the Genola war and... never came home. I know the right thing to do is to let you go or try to find your mom, but... I don’t want to. I want to keep you and take you back with me. I’m resigning once the mission is over. I didn’t find what I was looking for on this ship.” Then the pony surprised her by raising its muzzle and pressing a kiss against Mikala’s jaw and then settling down back to sleep. For the longest time since boarding this ship, Mikala felt at ease and peaceful and she knew that her decision to resign was a good one. No one wanted her on this ship after all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Noa didn’t sleep; she wasn’t allowed to sleep when shit hit the fan. She sat at her desk, her boot tapping against the edge of the desk creating a rhythmic noise. Her coffee mug was empty and had been refilled until the coffee pot next to it was empty as well. She only hoped she got the response back from High Command before she had to take another piss. Finally, the communications console chimed to life. She stood up, nearly tilting the chair back in her haste. On the far side of the room a dais crackled to life and a bluish column rose from its surface and then slowly took a humanoid shape. Soon the shape became more defined as the shape developed deep set eyes, full lips with a thin scar slanted across them, and a broad nose. If the signal wasn’t traveling so far, she would be able to see the rough stubble on his face. Noa Laotaner saluted sharply, back straight, and heels together. “Admiral Fenris.” “At ease, soldier. Now tell me what you know about these .... ponies.” The admiral had a gruff voice with a light British accent. “Am I saying that right? Ponies? It's not some alien name that just sounds like the word pony?” “Permission to speak freely?” Noa inquired. “Permission granted as long as I get the same liberties.” “Yes sir, they are four legged, grass eating, manure spewing, fucking ponies.” Noa stood with her feet apart, arms crossed beneath her breasts. “And they look like something out of a children’s coloring book.” “Christ.” The Admiral reached for something out of the view of the Holo-Communications hub and drew back a lit cigar. The blue smoke waved from the end which flared a deep azure as he took a long drag. “This is not good at all. Laotaner, we need this planet. Not want. Need.” “I didn’t know it was that bad, sir.” “Not yet, but if things keeping going as they have been, it will be. Shraxi carried a heavy price for the Havensguard and the payoff wasn’t as fruitful as High Command hoped. Shraxi was a mistake and everyone knows it. We can’t afford any more mistakes.” “What are my orders?” Noa stood at attention, waiting. Admiral Fenris took another drag from his cigar and exhaled a long streamer of smoke. “Take the planet without creating another Shraxi.” Noa’s eyebrow arched, “They don’t ask a lot, do they?” Admiral Fenris shrugged his shoulders, “Nobody wants to get their hands dirty with this. Since you’re already there, they want you to take the lead on this. You’re free to take whatever action you deem as necessary to take the planet. Whether it’s convincing the ponies to join Havens Republic through diplomacy or full scale invasion, you have to take the planet and its resources.” “Shit, and if it turns into another Shraxi then I’ll end up being the scapegoat for it all.” “But if you pull it off, there’ll definitely be a promotion in for you.” The admiral shook off ash from the cigar. “I can have a fleet waiting for your orders.” “I'm far from ready to call a strike. I need to gather intel first.” Noa shifted her weight on her feet. “Is there a time limit?” “There isn’t one yet, but I’ll let you know when they pull one out of their asses.” The admiral looked at her in deep thought and took another drag, with the smoke flaring. “You do have a TIGGER.” “Oh, God, that’s another headache I don’t need.” “It’s an option.” The admiral tilted his head, listening to something Noa cannot hear on her end. “I have to go. I'll expect a report from you next week about your plans.” “Yes sir. You’ll have my report this time next week.” “Good hunting, Laotaner. Admiral out.” The man’s image dissipated in a cloud of blue pixels leaving Noa alone with her new duty and a heavy burden. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mikala woke up hours later to a resounding knocking at the door. “Yeoman Briggs, open up!” She lifted her head, her pony stirring in her arms. She pushed herself up on one arm as the pounding continued. “I’m coming.” She rose from the bed, nearly stumbling over the jacket she had dropped on the floor and her boots. The pony rolled onto her stomach and began wiggling out of the chemise. Mikala opened the door to see Winter standing in his dark uniform gun at his belt winged by two officers. “What is it?” She blinked sleepily at them, nearly leaning against the door edge. “We need take the pony into custody,” Winter spoke with face set in stone. “Commander’s orders.” “Wha. . .what, take it into custody? It’s an animal.” “Briggs, it’s sentient. It’s native to this planet. Check your console and you would see the report released about it an hour ago.” Winter stepped into the doorway forcing her to step back. “In the meantime, it comes with us.” Mikala felt as if Winter had ripped the floor from beneath her feet. She turned to face the pony that was standing on the bed watching them curiously. The chemise lay in a tangle with the sheets, wrinkled from the pony playing with it. It made so much sense. The intelligence, the desire to play all the time, the pouting... how the hell could she have been so blind. Why didn't she see it before? The animal acted like a child because it was a child. Winter put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her almost gently aside. Mikala grabbed his wrist to halt him, “Wait, you can’t just take her.” “Orders, Briggs.” He walked toward the bed and the pony saw him approaching and drew back, her ears laying back. Mikala put herself between him and the pony, “Winter, wait, please. What’s going to happen to her?” “Briggs, you really don’t want to interfere. We’re just taking her to the brig. We don’t intend to hurt her, but you don’t try to stop us. You don’t want this become a physical engagement.” Mikala swallowed a lump in her throat. She couldn’t fight Winter. He was an experienced marine and she had seen him in training. He was an expert in Jujitsu, Kung Fu, and other martial arts that she couldn’t name. Needless to say, he could break every bone in her body without effort. But she was trained for compromising. “Let me carry her for you. And please, let me sit in the brig with her. There is no need to frighten her any more than she has to be.” “I don’t see why not,” Winter relented with a small nod. It took Mikala only minutes to pull on her jacket and boots and collect the pony. The pony clung to her neck, trusting her. It broke Miakala’s heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Applebloom really wanted to go home when her caretaker carried her into a cell. It was square sharp with a bench set into the right wall and a clear plastic wall closed shut behind them. This was a cell, just like the one she had read in story books. Why were they here? Her caretaker sat down heavily on the bench and sighed deeply. Applebloom was set on the floor. Applebloom trotted to the glass where her reflection looked back at her. She placed a hoof against the glass and could tell that it was solid. She bet Applejack could buck it and break through, but the thought of her sister made her homesickness return. She sat dejected on the floor staring sadly through the glass. Did they do something wrong? What was going to happen to her and the creature that cared for her? The creature called her and Applebloom looked over her shoulder to see an open pad with a colored drawing on the floor. The drawing was of a pretty filly wearing a long white dress sleeping. The filly’s coloring was similar to hers with a red mane and yellow coat. As Applebloom drew closer she realized that it was her in the picture. The caretaker drew a picture of her wearing the dress from last night. Applebloom was so excited by the picture she had forgotten where they were. She reared back in her hind legs gleefully imagining the look on Diamond Tiara's face when she saw this. She couldn't wait to show it to her sister, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith. She gingerly put a hoof on the page and turned it. On the next page was scenery of a waterfall and on the next was sketch of small creatures playing with a ball. She assumed they were children because due to the scene reminding her of playing during recess. She turned the pages and saw more and more drawings. Each of the pictures was drawn detailed and beautiful to look at. Then she came to a blank page and Applebloom found that she wanted to create a drawing herself. And as if the creature read her mind, a pack of colorful pencils were placed on the floor near her. The pencils were longer and thinner than the ones she used at school. These pencils were meant to be held in dexterous hands with long fingers, not in a pony' mouth. Applebloom feared that if she bit too hard, she’d snap the pencil in half. It made her draw carefully with thin even lines and shade color in with short strokes. All the while, her caretaker watched her intrigued with her lips sealed together in a tight line. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Noa spent the morning discussing strategies with her upper level officers. The Strategist Officer Renly Cortez recommended that more intelligence was needed before they could begin a possible plan of attack. “We're just basing our judgments on one civilian town. We should see what they are capable of militarily, that is if they have a military.” The tall man with bronzed skin and dark hair combed back from his face spoke over a bird’s eye view of the native town the drones had procure. “I believe our first priority is to learn the language,” Science Officer Trevor chimed in. “We should try to handle this with diplomacy if we can.” “Diplomacy is a give and take strategy. We need to find out if there is something they want and us be the ones to give it to them.” Cortez twirled a stylus between his fingers. “Also, I don’t think any diplomacy will convince an independent race to turn over their planet for resource reaping by a warmongering race like ours.” “Which is why we make it in their best interest to do so,” Second in Command Felix Upholder responded. “A few strategic strikes from a fleet will overwhelm them and we can sweep in with ground troops to secure key locations. I’m sure within 24 hours they’ll surrender.” “If at all possible, we need to avoid damaging the Havensguard reputation any further. This is how Shraxi was started.” “No, Shraxi was started by diplomacy. Where the Shraxi's Citadel agreed to our terms, the lower caste cities resisted. It didn’t become escalated until Shraxi Emperor ordered a strike on one of the cities which created a civil war on the planet that we got swept up in.” Cortez ran a finger over a thin mustache above his lip as was his habit when he was in deep thought. “The error with Shraxi was we were too quick. We should have held back and studied the race first, then we would have seen the huge social gaps that was brewing for a conflict that we were the catalyst for. Then we could have sided with the lower castes and over thrown the main government which would have cast us in the liberators instead of as invaders.” “Which would have led to a longer campaign that would cost more soldier's lives and ships that we could ill afford,” Upholder leaned forward, his eyes hard as blue diamonds. “Granted that siding with the upper caste did result in a bloody confrontation, the conflict lasted a few months instead of the few years of we took a different route.” “A few months of hell.” Cortez glared across the map screen at his rival in all things strategic. “War is hell, officer.” Upholder’s words rolled from his lips as lightning from a cloud. “Enough.” Noa Laotaner’s voice was calm as it would be if she was inquiring about the weather. She was commander, queen, and goddess on board her ship. She didn’t need to shout or raise her voice for obedience and as always, they obeyed. Cortez and Upholder drew back from the table, their exchange halted, but not forgotten as they gave each other harsh looks. Noa leaned forward and tapped a finger on the map screen which caused the tidy hamlet to shake as if by earthquake. “I don't care to debate theories of how Shraxi should have been handled. That is in the past. This is now. Now, we have to take the planet with as little conflict as possible. Cortez and Trevor seem to believe that the best course of action is information gathering of which I agree. Suggestions?” “The drones can continue information collecting,” Upholder recommended. “The drones are useful, but they can’t do everything. They can only observe and report. Unless they can take a picture of the social structure and military prowess, then they can't give us everything that we need.” Trevor adjusted his glasses on his nose. Noa could never understand why people can’t make the time to go get their eyes corrected and want to wear clumsy eyewear. “But they would be useful in collecting speech samples for us to translate the language.” “I want the drones started on that when this meeting is over,” Noa ordered. “And since you are quick to shoot down another's suggestion, do you have one of your own?” She certainly enjoyed challenging her men . Trevor licked his lips nervously, “We have a TIGGER.” Noa mentally face palm, but her face betrayed nothing. “We do.” “Weren’t those decommissioned after the...” Cortez dipped his voice as if sharing a secret with them, “...The Kova Embarrassment?” “Most of them, but some of them were kept for scientific purposes.” Trevor's glasses flashed and Noa knew he was eager to try out the device. “We were able to keep ours because we were deep behind enemy lines when the High General ordered that all TIGGERS be... booted out of the airlock.” “He didn’t order that.” Upholder never liked the small thick glasses man. He never really liked anyone, now that Noa thought of it. Trevor shrugged, but the ghost of the smile was on his lips. “We kept our onboard and I’ve been studying it. I’m certain I could get it working.” “Right, that’s all good, but the big question is if someone...” “I’ll do it,” Noa’s voice slashed the air like a sword. Silence held strong as the men stared at their female CO. “Ma’am, you can’t be serious,” Trevor blurted, then instantly regretted it. Noa’s eyes flashed as she fixed her cold blue gaze on him. “You've served on this ship with me for five years, Upholder and Cortez longer. Have I ever said anything in jest? Or made a joke? When I say something, you better fucking believe I mean it.” “My apologies, Commander, I didn’t mean any slight or to suggest you take this situation lightly.” Trevor’s face was flushed with humiliation and he hid his eyes by cleaning his glasses. “Ma’am, I respect that you prefer taking a hands on approach to all of our missions together, but why should you take the risk?” Cotez determined that moving the conversation forward would be wise for everyone. “If this mission fails, it should fail solely because of me. No one’s career but mine should be affected by this mission.” Noa folded her hands on the surface and leaned forward, the glow from the map screen casting shades across her angular face. “And if it should succeed, it will succeed solely because of me.” “You shouldn’t do this alone. You’ll need backup,” Cortez murmured in deep thought. “We’ll concern ourselves with that later. The main priority is to see if Trevor can get the thing working.” Noa shifted a datapad aside to the corner of the table. “Now it comes to the little pony we have in custody.” “Whatever we do, we cannot look at this creature as an animal. It’s sentient and young. We’re basically handling a little girl.” Trevor tapped nervously on the edge of the table. “I recommend that we hold onto her for testing, she’s a live specimen.” “You tell us to treat it as if it’s a little girl then in your next breath you say it’s a specimen.” Upholder ran a hand over his dark hair which was peppered with white. “Keeping her around is a risk. What if she escapes and tells the others about us? We would lose our major advantage.” “I agree with Upholder.” Cortez looked almost incredulous at the thought of agreeing with Upholder. “She poses too much of a risk for this mission. The drones caught images of the... ponies... looking for her in the forest. If they continue to look, they may find us.” “We can't release her, nor can we keep her.” Noa crossed her arms, fingers tapping on her elbow.“And her people will continue to search, possibly until she is found. Have Dr. Tibbs euthanize her. One of the marines can throw her body in the river and let them find her. Likely, with their level of technology, their medicine isn’t up to par with ours and they will assume the cause of death is drowning.” “You will be breaking hearts doing that. The yeoman especially,” Cortez cautioned. “And as Trevor pointed out, it’s akin to kill a child.” Noa laced her fingers together, “I understand that the idea of killing a child leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, which is why I am the one ordering it.” She cocked her head to the side, “Just like last time on Shraxi.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ While the pony looked over her sketch book, Mikala entertained herself and for escapism read the monthly updated news from Haven. Several events were taking place back home it seemed. The prime minister's wife was having a second child, there was terrible shuttle crash in a populated district, numerous dead or injured. Also, there was a memorial for the Winslip District Fire that happened nearly thirty years ago. It had been a densely populated district and nearly 600 people died in the flames. When the news became too depress, as was its habit, she turned her attention back to her pony. Mikala watched it happening, but she couldn’t believe it. Her pony was drawing a picture of trees with rough splotches as apples. In the center was a pony with red mane and yellow coat. On one side was a larger pony with an orange coat and yellow mane which was amusingly wearing a cowboy hat. On the other side was a taller two legged figure in blue with a mop of brown hair. Herself. So many emotions overwhelmed her when she saw the drawn figure of herself. Happiness, pride, joy, and even shame bloomed like emotional flowers inside her. She wished she could praise the pony and even ask her name. Since she’s sentient, she had to have a name. Mikala consented to just watch and smile when the pony looked up at her for approval. There was a light knocking at the shielding and she looked up to see Belgrad standing on the other. There was a small smile on her face, but it didn't reach her grey eyes. Mikala hadn't known Belgrad long, but she knew that it wasn’t good if Belgrad wasn't smiling with her eyes also. The yeoman rose and approached the glass shield, which whispered open. The pony was so engross in drawing that she paid no attention. “Hey, what’s going on?” Mikala spoke softly. “What are they going to do with her?” “Miki, listen, don’t go crazy or anything.” Belgard’s voice had lost her usual lilt and replaced it with a firm tone. “They’re going to put her down tonight.” It started with numbing shock which bled into horror that sent chills through her limbs and a hit to the stomach that made her almost vomit. “No, no, no, no. no, god, Belgard no, no. They can’t do that... dear God, they can’t do that. She didn’t do anything!” “You don’t have to tell me that and I think its bullshit too. I’m just here to tell you before they come in here later and haul her out to Dr. Tibbs.” Belgard had her hands on her shoulders to keep her restrained. Mikala felt hot tears rolling down her face. Her hands waivered before her uselessly as panic crept over her. “I... I’ll talk to the commander. I’ll make her understand.” “Don't do it. Not only will she not listen to you, but she'll charge you with interfering with orders. You’re sorta on her shit list right now.” Belgard ran a hand over her shorn head. “There’s not really anything we can do.” “There has to be. Dammit, Belgard, you played with her and made her laugh just like you would with a human child. She's no threat and you know it, so please, for the love of God, help me, please.” Mikala choked on her plea, tears rolling to collect in a single drop beneath her chin which dropped off to splash on the red mark on her uniform. Belgard ran a tongue over her lips and her eyes furtively glanced at the pony doodling inside the cell and at the weeping woman before her. “If you want to save her, then you’re going to have to talk to someone who can change Laotaner’s mind. Not me, she thinks I’m just a joke. Don’t even bother going to Upholder, he repeats everything Laotaner says, I think he's in love with her or something. Cortez is too afraid of her to speak against her. And Dr. Tibbs won’t want to get involved. The person to speak to is Winter.” “Winter? Why Winter?” Mikala began to calm since a course of action was being provided. “Winter has served under her since he was a rookie. They got some sort of mother and son thing going on. She’ll listen to him, but you got to convince him to talk to her. He won’t want to get involved either.” “Okay. . . okay. I’ll find him. . . where is he?” “Where else? Training room.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “She’s dead.” The words halted the ponies in mid-step. Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy turned back to see Applejack lowered head and a large tear roll along her face toward her nose. “We’re not gonna find her.” “Applejack... don’t say that...” Twilight Sparkle turned, wanting to comfort her friend. “Don’t, Twilight, don’t.” Applejack turned away, her face a mask of sorrow and hard resolve. “Ah know and you know the chances of a filly by herself in this forest is slim to none and its three days since she went missin'. We ain’t gonna find anythin’ today or tomorrow or the next day. I’m the bearer of the Element of Honesty and it’s time I accepted the truth and stop lookin’ for her and start plannin’ her funeral.” “No, no, Applejack, please, we just have to keep looking, we’ll find her.” Twilight’s eyes began to glisten as her tears followed Applejack’s. She heard Fluttershy inhale deeply behind her and soft sob soon followed. Twilight felt her resolve shift and break apart. “We... can’t just give up... “ “We looked and looked. The whole town looked. If she was able to come home, she woulda. Ah don’t wanna find her...” Applejack’s voice broke as tears spilled from her eyes. “Ah’m afraid of what Ah’ll find.” “Oh, Applejack...“ Twilight remembered what little research she was able to do on red comets. They were ominous signs of terrible things to come. Was this the event the comet warned of? A loss of a filly, of a beloved friend’s sister? “Please, let’s just keep looking.... just a while longer.” Applejack didn’t reply. She nodded and plodded along after them, but the confidence she was so known for was gone. They didn’t find Applebloom that night, but they did find tracks inside the abandoned lair of a wildcat. Wildcats were dangerous, but they typically thought twice before attacking a healthy full grown pony. Whereas there was hesitation before attacking an adult pony, they wouldn’t hesitate to devour a foal. Applejack collapsed into hysterical sobs when they saw the small hoof prints in the dried earth followed by a pattern of large wild cat prints. They stopped searching shortly afterward as Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy both shared Applejack's fear of finding something they didn’t want to see.