//------------------------------//
// Baiting the Trap 
// Story: Phantom War VIII: Return of the NLR and Mephiles' Alliance 
// by Danny Eclipse 
//------------------------------//

It has been some time since Clover's battle and Mephiles' taunt. I had to admit; the Empire was really putting up a fight. They managed to keep a defense line not far within Equestrian Sky. However; to properly destroy an empire is by making the situation desperate for the enemy leader and pull them into their deaths.

And that is how I'm going to do it.

My spies have reported that Queen Amidala with Sunset Shimmer are taking a ship to Amidala's secret hiding spot. And the best part is; it is guarded by only four squads of TIE Fighters.

"They have no idea who they are messing with. Did they really believe that they can hide a valuable hostage from me?"

Thanks to a special theft that Clover did recently; we managed to still some gravity wells. We'll lure Queen Amidala into a trap, capture her ship with Clover's new ship; The Clever Revenge, and use its tractor beam to capture their Blockade Runner; a CR90 corvette. It could outrun any fighter and capital ship. However; it has weak shields and can withstand a confrontation with a Star Destroyer. I was boarding the Star Destroyer with Twilight and Shining. My plan is so genius that I even surprise myself. Also; one of my spies had put a special 'package' for me to receive. It was carefully placed somewhere hidden.





We arrived at the intercept location. There was a battle; however, because some of the Centurion-class battlecruiser were taking fire by pirates.

Fleet Commander said on the holocommunicator "Milord! Thank Luna you made it sir! These pirates got the drop on us and we recently learned of a hidden pirate base here!"

'Explains why she picked the Blockade Runner; it could easily get through pirates.'

"Deploy fighters and have them combat the enemy pirates. Show no mercy. Have the Hammerhead cruisers focus fire on their station!"

I heard a 'Roger' from all captains in the fleet. When everything was finished; I ordered all ships to hide in a nearby dense mist and asteroid field. When those orders were fulfilled; 2 squads of TIE fighters arrived from slipstream.

Enemy Squad Leader reports on communicator "Scout party has arrived; beginning scan in the area for pirate activity." The TIE Fighters began to make some movement around the area. "How odd... where are all the pirates?"

"Do not make a move without my signal."

The TIE Fighters ran some more scans. The dense mist provided cover for scans so we were invisible in the mist. Soon enough; the scans had ended.

Enemy Squad Leader reported "Scans check out; you may arrive, Queen Amidala."

A few moments later; a blockade runner came out of slipstream with two other TIE fighter squads. The convey was about halfway there when it suddenly stopped.

Amidala said "Its quiet... almost too quiet. Its almost like someone wants us here..."

"Attack! Attack the fighters but leave the Blockade Runner to the Clever Revenge! And get the gravity generator online to prevent them from using slipstream!"

At that point; a large group of Dark Fighters came out, heading straight towards the 4 squads of TIE Fighters.

Sunset shouted "Its an ambush!"

The Blockade Runner began to turn around and began to make a run for it. When they were almost out of area; they were about to enter slipstream when their Slipstream drive suddenly shut down. I smirked; realizing that the Gravity Generator had activated. To secure their confusion; I activated the tractor beam on their ship. They tried to release a distress signal but it was already too late because I had jammed all communications in the area. When the ship docked with the star destroyer; I began to make my way down to the docking port.





I arrived and see a bunch of dead corpses of stormtroopers. That is when Shining approach me.

Shining reported "Lord Cyber; we managed to capture Queen Amidala and Sunset Shimmer."

"Excellent! Have the search droids scan the ship and have them bring me this 'present' the spy sent to us."

Shining saluted and I began to make my way to the bridge of the ship. When I arrived; Amidala, Sunset, and Twilight turned to see me. Amidala and Sunset gasped in horror at my appearance and I smirked. I walked over to them while Twilight bowed to me.

Twilight said "Pleasure to see you are here personally; my lord."

"I wanted to see the horror on their faces; Twilight." I looked at them. "We haven't met in person but my name is Cyber Eclipse; Leader of the Cyber Alliance. It is a real pleasure meeting you two face-to-face."

Amidala said "So you are the famous Cyber Eclipse we heard before from Twilight... She wasn't kidding when the two of you had a lot in common."

"Danny is no more than my weaker clone. I am the strongest among the two of us."

I smirked and that is when the door opens again; I looked and see the present in the magical grip of Shining. I smirked and took it.

"There is something inside." Shining said

I opened it and gasped.



The object inside the present was none other than the Key Rift that my father needs to be released! That is when the Spectral image of Mephiles appeared next to me; looking at it then laughing.

Mephiles declared "Celestia; you fool! I now have the means of returning!"

"Father; we must talk." Mephiles nodded and we walked over to a place to talk in 'secret'. But in reality; it was just in brink of Sunset's hearing range. Time for phase 2 of my plan. "Father; why should I release you now when Celestia and her pawns come to us?"

Mephiles said with interest "I'm listening..."

"Think about it; when Celestia learns that we have the Key Rift, she will stop at nothing to get to it. But with a royal pony under our hostilities; Sombra will hardly think with the thought of Amidala in our grasped. Charming will be somewhat like that."

Mephiles replied "Hmmm...seems like it is the right way to make them suffer a bit more before my return..."

"We should head back to home place located at the Pit of Darkness. Alright?"

Mephiles nodded and he disappeared. I turned to Sunset and Amidala and walked back to them. I knocked them out and they fell to the floor.

Twilight asked "What shall we do to them?"

"Put Amidala in the brig and put Sunset in an escape pod."

Shining and Twilight demanded "What!?"

"Sunset can be the courier to Charming from us. She knows where we work at; she can lead them to their doom... like she has always meant to."

I began to chuckle darkly as my orders were carried out. When work was finished; we began to lead and the Blockade Runner was dropped and destroyed. Sunset's Escape Pod was releasing a distress signal to everyone in the Equestrian Empire.