As Rarity and Twilight, both now with their helmets on, had their sidearms pointed at the head of the changeling queen, the others simply stood in shock. "Looks like they need to come up with new security measures," Arion said.
"We won't ask again, Chrysalis," Twilight said. "Why are you here?" she asked slowly. She dug her needler a little more into Chrysalis' head.
"To- to ask for help," she eventually said.
"Why?" Rarity asked.
"Because the griffons ave started raiding my outposts," Chrysalis said. "I was hoping, much as I wish I didn't have to rely on Equestria, for your help."
Celestia spoke up. "Queen Chrysalis, regardless of what you did during the wedding, that is in the past," she said. "Equestria will help however possible."
"So will we," Rarity said, holstering her Magnum. "That is to say, the UNSC. But how and when did you get in here?"
"I snuck in while I was invisible under the nose of the guards as Celestia was gathering your family, and followed."
"Told ya," Arion said. "They really need to beef up the security of this place."
"You all are taking this well," Rarity said to the others. You especially, Cadence."
"Compared to everything else, this isn't much," Cadence said, though there was still a bit of hate in her eyes, as well as Night Light and Velvet's. Then a slight tinge of sadness entered her eyes. "Not even losing Shining."
It looked as if Chrysalis wanted to say something, but didn't. "So, do you guys want us to get back to the story?"
"Got nothing better to do right now," Rainbow said. "Why not?"
"Then I'll continue," Rarity said.
It had been a few hours since Rarity had arrived on Shakespeare, and the subsequent destruction of the Antieatam, and the crew of both it, the survivors, anyway, and the crew of the London, a destroyer, were in slipspace, enroute to what Rarity guessed was the UNSC command.
"Okay, Rarity," Josh said, "it's still a while before we get there, but I should let you know about the two most important people that is a part of HIGHCOM. One's Admiral Lord Terrence Hood, leader of the UNSC Navy. He's a good guy, and actually listens to stuff before saying anything, and is level headed. The other. . .well," he said, wincing a little, "is unpleasant, to say the least. Admiral Parangosky, head of ONI. She is, to say the least, a bitch. Yes, her job makes it needed, but still, she could be a lot better. Whatever you say, do not, I repeat, do not say anything about your military at all. As head of ONI, she's got eyes and ears everywhere, and will not hesitate to do anything to get that info."
"Has anything like that happened before," Rarity asked.
"Not to my knowledge," Josh said. "But it's an unofficial fact among the rank and file that ONI would do anything to get intel."
"Ah," Rarity said. "I'll do my best."
"Good," Josh said. "Now, any other questions?"
"Yes, actually," she said. "What are those metal tubes I saw others getting into?"
"Those are cryopods," Josh said. "You see, what they do is lower the body temperature to below absolute zero, stopping us from aging. They're used because slipspace travel can take a while, and they're used to put nonessential crew members in cryo so that as few supplies are used as possible. The reason why you aren't in one is because we don't know how your body would react to Cytoprethaline, which we use to avoid the more. . . negative effects of cryo, and me and the rest of Diamondback are out because we're your escorts for now."
"What are the negative effects?"
"Blistering, peeling, or red skin rashes, itching or hives, swelling of face, hands, or feet, swelling or tingling in throat or mouth, trouble breathing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cold sweat, and bluish-colored skin, sudden or severe headache, dizziness, problems with speech or walking," Josh said. "Yeah, its not pretty."
"I would imagine so," Rarity said. "But why do they have to be naked," Rarity asked with a shudder.
"No idea," Josh said. "Has to do with the skin. Now come on, Jacob wants us in the rec room."
"For what?"
"No idea," Josh said as he made his way out of the room they were in, which was one of the sleeping quarters.
The halls weren't that crowded, as most of the combined crews were in cryo, the remaining being bridge crew or engineers, for the most part. The walk was quiet, but also short, as the rec room was at the opposite end of the hall they were in from the room they had left.
The door opened automatically as they entered, and they saw the others sitting at a round table, with cards in their hands. "Hey guys," Josh said as he and Rarity made their way to the table.
"Hey Josh, hey, Rarity," Jacob said. "Wondered if you'd get here."
"Take a seat, guys," Bishop said. "Just started a new hand, and we were hoping you guys would want in."
"Sure," Josh said, taking a chair in between Bishop and Tony. "Want in, Rarity?"
Rarity hesitated, eyeing the table, before saying, "Why not? Not like there's anything better." With that, she took a seat between Jacob and Patrick, took a few cards in her magical grasp, and they began to play.
"I actually won that game," Rarity said. "I just used my eye for detail to read the others."
"You actually played a card game, Rares," Rainbow said. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Oh, we have plenty more, darling," Rarity said.
"I can't believe she won," Tony said. "And it was her first ever game, too!"
"Guess I just got lucky," Rarity said. "So, anything else to do?"
"Not really, no," Jacob said. "Not unless you want to watch old movies, that is."
"Depends on the movies."
"Let's check," Jacob said. "Hey, uh, Selena, what movies are in the ship's library?" he asked the ship AI.
"Mostly old action films," the AI replied with a pleasant female voice. "Early twenty-first century. I can give you some recommendations based on what the usual crew likes and watches the most."
"Please," Tony said.
"Well, there's the first six Star Wars movies, the Harry Potter movies, and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies."
"So, which sounds interesting to you, Rarity?"
"Should I also point out two of the three have a romance subplot," Selena said.
"Which ones?" Rarity asked.
"First and last."
Rarity put a hoof to her chin. "Hm," she hummed. "I suppose the last one."
"Right," Selena said as a screen, built in the wall, on the other side of the room lit up. "It's ready."
"Then let's go," Tony said as he made his way to a couch in front of the screen.
With that, Rarity and the rest of Diamondback made their way to the viewing area, and the movie started. At first, Rarity didn't really see the appeal, but, when the mystery had started with the discovery of a boy named William Turner from the wreckage of a ship, she found herself interested, more so when the main character, Jack Sparrow, came into play. Even with her not liking ponies, or people, in this case, who lived like a "ruffian", she couldn't help but like his character. Needless to say, she enjoyed the movie.
"That was. . . interesting," Rarity said. "And there was an entire trilogy for it?"
"Four total movies, actually," Tony said. "Each one had its own moments of stupid hilarity and awesomeness."
It was then Selena came in over the PA system. "All hands, we are nearing Reach. Prepare for slpispace exit."
"Reach?" Rarity asked.
"Main command for the UNSC, where CENTCOM's located," Bishop said. "Pretty nice planet. "Born there, actually."
"Oh," Rarity said. "Where were the rest of you born?"
"Well, Patrick and I were born on Earth," Josh said.
"I was born on Meridian," Tony said.
"And I was born on Luna, which is the name for Earth's moon," Jacob said.
Rarity, Twilight, and Arion chuckled. "You can imagine my shock there," Rarity said, "learning that one of the planets they had colonized was their moon, which shared the same name as Princess Luna, whose name, in Latin an old human language, means "Moon"."
"And some pretty funny injokes for the two of us," Twilight said. "Like, 'Luna sure does like mooning everypony at night'."
This got chuckles from all but the lunar diarch. "I do not find that funny," she said.
"I guess you wouldn't, seeing as you are the subject of it, princess," Rarity said.
"Besides, it was just a coincidence," Twilight said. "Like, for instance, they have a term, 'celestial', which means space."
"Which led to 'Celestia is as huge space'," Rarity said, chuckling again.
"I see your point, sister," Celestia said as the role of her and her sister were reversed.
"Anyway," Rarity said as she stopped laughing, "back to the story."
The six of them made their way to the bridge, where Price and the ship's captain, Shannon Brooks, were waiting. When they arrived, the two captains were standing on the center of the bridge. "Diamondback, reporting, Sir, Ma'am," Jacob said, saluting with the others.
Brooks, a woman with regulation length blonde hair, a fair face, and brown eyes. Her outfit was the normal, wartime outfit, turned to face them. "At ease, Diamondback," she said before looking at Rarity. "So this is the VIP you all found on Shakespeare?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Jacob said.
"What's your name," Brooks asked Rarity.
"Rarity Belle," Rarity replied.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Belle," Brooks said. "I assume Diamondback informed you of what you're going to be doing on Reach?"
"Yes," Rarity said.
"And do you like them?"
"Yes."
"Good," Brooks said, "because I put in a request to HIGHCOM, if you want to, to allow you to join them."
Rarity was quiet for a time before saying, "If they'll have me."
"Well, Diamondback?" Price asked, keeping his face forward towards the window.
"Hell yes, Sir," Jacob said.
"Then get ready," Brooks said, "as all of you are heading down with her to CENTCOM."
"Ma'am," they all said.
"Then report to the hanger bay," Brooks said. "Oh, and unless CENTCOM says otherwise, you five will be training Private Belle."
"Ma'am," they all, now including Rarity, said.
"Good. Dismissed."
With that, the six left the bridge, and made their way to the hanger.
". . .And that would be how I got in Diamondback," Rarity said. "But I think it's about time you resumed, Twi."
Twilight nodded. "Right."
Twilight, Hades, and Ruso were in the main hanger for the Faithful Servant, mostly so Twilight could get to know her two new bodyguards a little better. "So, um, Hades," Twilight said, "what do you do in the Covenant, usually?"
"Weapons officer, Highness," Hades said. "Though I have been involved in ground combat as well."
"Oh," Twilight said before looking at Ruso. "So, where are we going next?"
"High Charity, our holy city, Highness."