//------------------------------// // Long Live the Empire! // Story: Adventures Across Space // by zalla661 //------------------------------// "What the hell was that!?" Trixie howled at the image of 'Admiral' Twilight Sparkle. The purple mare had a slight look of shock at first by the sudden outburst but turned to a smug grin moments later. She then stood up allowing her entire body, except her boots, come into view. She wore a tight black uniform similar to Trixies, but with some major differences. To her left side was a holster with a long straight knife on it. Several silver pins and medals donned her uniform and she had should CFFs with her Admiral Bands. She held onto her smug grin and placing her left hoof on it and sauntered around it, not taking her eyes off the view screen. "Now, now, Captain," she replied mockingly. "You know the rules. If you challenge me you better be ready to back it up." Now Trixie was angry beyond reason. She started to breath in deeply expanding her chest like she was about to start screaming like a child would but made no attempt too. Instead she crushed her hoof over the communication station console, making Lyra, eep, out of fear of being struck. Twilight cackled loudly as most of her bridge crew chuckled behind her. "Now Trixie, watch that temper of yours. We both know Empress Celestia would hate to have to tell her sister that her prodigy student died in say, and unfortunate accident?" "Empress?" Trixie muttered looking confused. "well, regardless your blunder seems to have not tipped the Terrain Empire about our invasion force." the Admiral said taking her seat again leaning on her right hoof resting it on the chair arm. "Invasion?" Octavia asked looking confused at the Admiral. "Yes, mudpony. Invasion." Twilight growled at the grey mare. "Honestly your kind is so dumb, no wonder we use your kind as hard labor only." "Mu-mudp-pony? MUDPONY!?" Octavia bellowed standing up. "How dare you! You stuck up-" "Finish that scentence and I'll destroy your ship. Mudpony." Twilight threatened waving her hoof. Claw looked down at his station when a loud beeping caught his attention. "Captain, they've locked weapons on us." "What!?" "I wouldn't recommend we challenge them ma'am." the griffon said wearily. "They easily outgun us three to one. Especially in our condition." The blue captain growled stomping the steel frame floor hard. Her metal layered boot made a loud clang, as it impacted the surface. This seemed to amuse the purple pony, for she let out a hearty chuckle at the mares antics. "Oh, dear captain. You'd best listen to the griffon he seems to be the smart one. Think of it this way, you'll always be second best." she then paused giving Trixie the most smug look of superiority she could. This made the blue mares blood boil. "But second best still ins't the best. Now rendezvous with the rest of the fleet at these coordinates. Don't screw this up or I'll have you shot, Captain." The mare spoke the last word as sweetly as possible, but everyone knew there was venom behind it. The Admiral then smacked her chest with her right hoof and extended it straight out. "Long live the Equis Empire!" instinctively without thinking, Trixie imitated the purple mare shouting back, "Long live the Equis Empire!" The transmission ended leaving a view of the Haymaker on it. The ship banked left revealing large yellow lightning bolts on the sides with a icon of a sun with a ring of fire around it. Suddenly the ship became blurry as it became transparent like a reflection in a pool of water. Seconds later it completely disappeared into the blackness leaving the Hydra behind. Trixie growled while her crew looked bewildered by the purple mares behavior. It was nothing like nay of them expected. Trixie however seemed unfazed. She seemed deep in thought as the crew silently went about repairing the ship. About seven minutes later, Trixie sprung to life walking over to Sunset Shimmer. The yellow mare turned to face her. "Captain?" Trixie circled the console bringing herself behind the mare and whispered into her ear. "I want you to bring everything up on Twilight Sparkle. Service record, her command, everything and tell no one. Understood?" "Yes Captain." Sunset replied obeying without hesitation. "It'll take but a moment. Standby." Moments later Sunset had the info but nothing she had matched up with what happened. Name: Twilight Sparkle Rank: Captain Command: ESS Haymaker Biography Age: 25 Primary Profession: Science Graduate 1st Class Early career shows Twilight Sparkle to be a sensitive and compassionate leader. Showing excellent leadership skills and an expert on diplomacy, Twilight Sparkle has been chosen as the lead negotiator of the Equis Thrane initiate. Currently missing in action along with Haymaker. Sunset looked up at her CO pony. She read the file as well, and Trixie looked aggravated. "How is she an Admiral if she isn't actually one? She's a captain?" "Apparently so. The file also says that the Haymaker and crew are missing." Sunset said quietly glancing around. "And I've never heard of this Empire she spoke of. And the Haymaker shouldn't be more powerful than this ship. The Hydra is far superior technologically speaking. Whoever that was wasn't Captain Sparkle." "Are you certain?" Trixie asked skeptically. "I was her roommate back in the Academy. I'm also her childhood friend. We were actually born in the same room and our mothers were childhood friends too. Trust me, that was not Twilight Sparkle." Sunset reaffirmed. Trixie looked to the blank view screen. "Then who was it?"