//------------------------------// // Discovery // Story: The Eximius Mission // by NightHawk114 //------------------------------// War does not determine who is right - only who is left. -Bertrand Russell “Ponies?!?” Stammered Alex, “you’re kidding right? Is this payback for what I did to your chair?” “So YOU’RE the one who did that?! You’re cleaning the bathrooms and barracks when we get back.” Spat Johnson. “Do you see anything else? Any people? Aliens?” Eagerly Questioned Alex. “No, we’re not kidding, there is actual ponies down there. We don’t understand this world yet, so we have to sit tight and observe. I don’t feel like starting a war with an unknown race because they saw a handshake as a threat.” Ordered Roberts, while also handing the rangefinder to Alex. “But, colorful ponies! Why can’t we go down there and hug their cute li-“ “I said NO! We don’t know what they actually are and if they’re sentient. We must stay here out of sight and observe.” Interjected Roberts. The team sat there, and after a while, updated with Eagle’s Nest. “Alpha 1! This is Viking 1! Do you have an update? Over!” Yelled Viking 1. “Viking 1, Alpha 1, we made it to the village and have been observing what seems like the native, and possibly sentient life. Over.” Responded Roberts. “Sentient life? Seriously? We’re the first group to ever actually find sentient alien life? What do they look like? What do th- Ow! Okay! Okay! Sorry for the muttering, sir, I’ll relay any information to Eagle’s Nest. Over.” Stammered Viking 1. “Well, we’re not sure about all the details. I’ll share when we get back, tell Eagle’s Nest we’ve found the town and observing what seems like sentient life, and are going to start heading back soon. Over and Out.” “I don’t think the copilot liked his rambling.” Speculated Alex. “Guess not. Well, let’s stay here for about another hour and we’ll trek back.” Reiterated Roberts. *BEEP BEEP BEEP* “What was that?” Asked Roberts. “The atmospheric tester is done. Let me see, ah! It says that the atmosphere is very similar to Earth’s atmosphere! At least when it was healthier. Should be safe to take off out helmets; if you would be fine with that captain?” Responded Johnson. “Go ahead, we don’t really need them right now anyways.” Answered Roberts. As the three stood up, and started to take off their helmets, Alex stumbled when she got her helmet off, and her helmet fell to the ground with her leaping to the ground to grab her helmet. “Shit! Come back here!” Yelled Alex. “Goddammit Alex! Be quiet! We don’t want any attention!” Interjected Roberts. “I think we got plenty of that.” Stated Johnson while holding his Rangefinder to his eyes. “Damnit Alex, I just got my helmet off. Okay, let me see my rangefinder Alex, and both of you get down, at least make it difficult to stand out.” Ordered Roberts. Roberts lifted the rangefinder, which was much easier to use now that his helmet was off. He crouched down and looked around the town until he saw it, a lavender pony, or unicorn I guess, (but also had wings too?) looking straight at their group. The unicorn started to slowly walk towards them, a curious look on its face. “Shit! Helmets on, we gotta move now! We’ve been spotted, let’s go!” Ordered loudly Roberts. The three quickly twisted on their helmets and started jogging, with Roberts constantly looking behind him to see if anything was following them. When he didn’t see anything he was relived. Then, a purple flash, and another flash to the rear left, he started to panic and wanted to increase the pace. He did NOT want to find out what this creature could do to them. “Let’s go! Faster! Viking 1! This is Alpha 1! We are in route and have a contact tailing us, possibly hostile! You better be ready when we get there! Over!” Demanded Roberts. “We hear you Alpha 1! We will be ready! Engines already warming up! Over!” Responded Viking 1. The quick short breaths of the team could be heard through the radio. The adrenaline and fear driving the team faster and faster away from the rustling, flashes and what sounded like yelling, but in a higher pitched sound. “Viking 1! We’re approaching the ship! Drop the ramp!” Screamed Roberts through the radio. As the team rounded a corner and pushed through some bushes, an open area with a cloud of dust appeared in front of them with a shuttle in the middle of it all. A ramp could be seen and Alex seemed to have that last bit of energy to make it inside first. Johnson got in next with Roberts last. Roberts stopped at the end of the ramp and pulled his Mosquito off his back, firing a total of ten shots into the air to scare whatever was following them away long enough to get inside safely. Running inside, Roberts yelled into his radio, “O’Hasen! Close the ramp! Now!” With a red flashing light and an almost completely unnoticeable wail from the speakers, the ramp started to close. The ramp was open just enough for the team of three to see a bright flash of purple just outside the ramp. “O’Hasen! Get us the hell out of here now!” Ordered Roberts. “Not arguing with that, taking off!” Responded O’Hasen. The Shuttle violently started shaking, almost knocking the three off their feet, as the ship lifted above the treetops and rocketed toward space. The three sat down and strapped in. Seconds turned into minutes, while minutes turned into what seemed like hours. “What the hell was that?” Asked Alex, breaking the silence. “I have no idea. Whatever it was, it could, what seemed like, teleportation. No matter which way we went, no matter how fast we were, it was always there. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Replied Johnson. The team was still lulling over all of what they saw on that short recon. The Timberwolves, the town, and the ponies. It was almost overwhelming, what were they going to do? “Hopefully when we get back, the lab coats can break the information down and find out what the hell is wrong with this planet.” Stated Roberts. Later, Onboard the “Eagle’s Nest” “This information is invaluable! The amount of progress that could come from studying these creatures! So much can be solved back on Earth and around the colonies! Just imagine the possible uses of personal teleportation! We could improve current jump drives ten-fold! You! Over there! Go get me all of the data acquired during the mission! Gehen sie jetzt schnell!” Yelled Dr. Vahlen. “Doctor, we must be careful about some of this, we don’t know what we’re dealing with here, and they seem less advanced through technology and more naturally genetically advanced. We can’t just go and cut them up hoping they don’t notice. This is the first possibly sentient race other than us for lord’s sake!” Replied Captain Roberts. “Exactly! That’s why I want you to get another team on the ground and set up a base. I want on the next ride down! I must see this immediately!” Chimed Dr. Vahlen. “Another trip? So soon? Can I at least get some information of what we’re dealing with?! I don’t know what we’re going to do if they decide we’re not wanted on their planet and they attack. They can even fly! Completely naturally!” Argued Roberts. “And that’s why I leave the strategy up to you and I do all the research! I have faith Captain! Well, let’s go!”