It is the thirtieth century, humanity has advanced well past interstellar spaceflight. Starships are commonplace, as is strife and conflict. Humans have developed an incredible sense of ingenuity for destruction...ingenuity that has not gone unnoticed. Decades of conflict have changed our race, and a human with a mind for destruction is exactly what a certain creature on a lonely and distant planet is looking for to help her in a last desperate grab for power. However, this creature is not the only thing vying for control...
-Acknowledgements-
This story was inspired and influenced by a handful of other fanfics, some more so than others. Additionally, a number of good friends helped me along the way to finally finishing it and making it publish ready. Before you read my first ever complete fanfic, I'd like to share these people with you.
---
DouglasFir
--Editor/Proofreader/Tree/Awesome Friend
Nicole "AJ"
--Editor/Proofreader/Artist/Awesome Friend/'sister'
Kiroberos
--Proofreader who allowed me to draw some inspiration from one of his own fanfics
V-pony
--Fellow Author whose fanfic Blue Angel (which is also really good, and I highly recommend) was, in large part, what inspired me to write this story. Additionally, I draw a fair amount of influence from that fanfic, so if you see any similarities between the two, (mainly just how some scenes are structured and a few concepts here and there), know that it was with V-pony's thumbs-up. I'm not ripping off the guy, just using inspiration where I found it. :)
Lastly, in some chapters you will find a URL that looks like this:
When you do, I recommend that you put on a good set of headphones and open it in a new tab while you continue reading. They're just bits of music I thought would help frame the emotions in the story better, exactly what a soundtrack is supposed to do. They're taken from a few movies, animes, and possibly a video game or two. All soundtracks are property of their respective owners, I own none of them.
The soundtracks are optional, but I feel they add a lot to the story, feel free to enjoy them!
Other than that, enjoy my first fanfic!
This definitely seems interesting. I'm keeping an eye on it for sure.
2678977 I'm very happy to hear you're enjoying my fanfic! Chapter two is going up in exactly 50 hours!
Deus ex Machina is a pretty cool name for a ship, I gotta admit.
And amnesia. Fantastic.
Humans have all the luck, huh?
2689795 Heheh, yeah, I was actually told that it's pretty ironic to give that name to a human-controlled war machine, considering what Deus ex Machina actually refers to.
Not all humans are that unlucky, just this one in particular. XD
Brace yourself, things are going to get worse before they get better for our hero. Tune in next week to find out how!
2690896 Should I take that Spike-stache as a good thing then?
2691248
no
Translation: "Bitch, it wasn't a question."
Damn....that's some dark shit....
Get ready for some cold hard facts.
The world would not become a fiery hell.
Realistically, there would be several years, possibly decades of nuclear winter, due to the buildup of soot and ash being launched into the atmosphere.
This would actually keep us alive longer.
After a mass detonation like that, the ozone would be burned away, and UV radiation would begin to penetrate. Once the soot finally fell, any living organism would be fried, however overall surface temperature would only go up a few hundred degrees on average, and that's not for a very long time.
Now prepare yourself for some SCIENCE SHIZNIT.
The melting point of lead is approx. 620 degrees fahrenheit. Not even the equator would suffice.
UV rays would only be truly damaging to biological entities, all of which would be destroyed, save the archaebacteria, some of which would actually thrive. (Fuck them)
The oceans would actually cool down on average for a while, as they will have cooled dramatically during the dust years. Combining that with the now melted ice caps, most water would become a cold tundra, until the temp. starts rising again globally.
One part you got right generally was the toxic oceans. Let me tell you why.
Remember those asshole archaebacteria? HERE THEY COME, MOTHERBUCKERS.
These little mofos thrive in extreme temperatures. They will eat the toxins for breakfast, too.
YOU CAN EVEN THROW NAILS IN THAT SHIT, THEY DON'T CARE.
These little fuckers will produce more methane than a damn pig farm in the summer.
They will multiply like reject bunnies.
AND THEY WILL.
FUCK.
YOUR.
SHIT UP!
As a result of the increasing buildup of methane gas, due to the ocean-dominating bacterias, a new form of atmosphere appears.
If you weren't dead before, YOU SURE AS HELL ARE NOW.
CAN YOU BREATHE PIG FART?
I DIDN'T THINK SO.
...
I have no idea where any of that came from.
2724435 I will admit I wasn't exactly going for scientific accuracy here. However, if you set off enough nukes at once, they can melt the Earth's crust. I had a feeling someone would call me out on it. I'm not saying this is exactly what would happen in real life, merely that it did happen in this story.
I do, however, appreciate well thought out feedback. As long as you're enjoying my story, I'm okay with a certain lack of scientific accuracy here and there.
2724475
Oh, I know. I was just having a silly moment.
Did you read the second half of my comment?
It got a bit... strange...
lol
But anyway, I did like the chapter.
2724487 Haha, I did read the second half, I actually liked that. If you mess with science, science will ruin your day and pee on everything you love.
And I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed the chapter. The new, accelerated release schedule has been harder to keep up with, but I think it's paying off.
2724435
All of my yes. That is all.
2724435 Dark Shade...apparently the tree, DouglasFir, has wood for you.
2738928
EVERYBODY GOT WOOD FOR ME.
CALL ME THE LUMBERJACK, MOFO.
I pictured the fighters as ARC-170 fighters from Star Wars.
2742618 You may have a point.
2739330
...shit. I'M OUT, AIN'T DEALIN' WITH NO LUMBERJACK UP IN HERE!
Oh wait, I appear to be rooted to the floor.
Oh here's my brother's fic!
KHAAAAAAAN!
Let the battle for Ponyville begin!
2757815
fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/355/d/f/all_your_love_are_belong_to_chrysalis__pixelized__by_stickonthefridge-d5oqmhs.jpg
This is most likely my favorite chapter that has been published thus far.
Sorry I haven't been commenting. I didn't even know this had been updated.
For some reason, the favorites button wasn't showing this was updated at all. I just happened to look at the story, and saw the two chapters.
Anyway, great chapter. Though I'm not sure that Chrysalis would have gone quite that far in terms of revenge. Could be wrong though.
I gotta say, the dark elements kind of came out of nowhere on this one. Got too violent too quickly. Personally, I think this chapter should have been drawn out over something like 3 chapters. But I know how writing a lot, and pacing correctly can be difficult, so no worries.
Still enjoyed it.
2774814 I see what you might be referring to in terms of slightly quicker pacing, however, know that it's for a very good reason. The story is far from over. Chapter 8 comes out this Friday!
2774789 Yeah, the reason you had a herp derp with the update email is because last night when I clicked "Publish," I accidentally unclicked it a second after. I'm guessing that had something to do with it.
agreed
2776034 Agreed to what, if I might ask?
I can't think of anything punny to go with this chapter, so here's a picture of a dog in a tuxedo.
media.egotvonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Dog-Tux-with-Tails-and-Top-Hat.jpg?41ed4f
1: Nice going Tree.. If he was any more "cool" he'd be the Doctor. Shame that's no Fez.
2: Glad you like the medic drawing Silent Sky! I actually had to elongate his legs before I decided he was finished.. Looked too shetlandy at first.
First it seems...... love the story keep us the great work.
2792849 Always great to hear my work is appreciated!
Keep an eye out for chapter nine on Tuesday! Knight Sky's struggle has only just begun...
Something seemed off about this chapter. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, it was as good as the rest.
But I can't help but feel I'm missing something.
Oh well, if I figure it out I'll mention it to you.
Have a mustache.
2794707 It may be the drastic change of pace from the previous plot-arc to this current one that's throwing you off. In any case, having my readers feel like they've been left slightly in the dark was one of the goals for this chapter.
(Me right now)
See also: Assassin's Creed, Resident Evil, and the Book of.
2812918 ...What?
*10 minutes later*
Oh I get it!
I feel like the Faction admiral is going to betray his brother and destroy the United Fleet.
Does it make me a bad person, that if it were me in Celestia's position, I'd have already had Knight confined in the best magical jail cell money can buy? And then had a better one made, and put the jail cell that he's in, in that one?
...
He'd totally get desserts with his meals, though.
And my moral compass is pointing north again!
2814378 By Celestia's beard...I love your feedback, dude. I can't say how gratifying it is to have people not only enjoying a fanfic you worked your flank off to write, but making positive and witty comments about it.
Also, it doesn't make you a bad person, just a cautious person...who is maybe also a bad person.
As for your moral compass that doesn't always point north...[insert Pirates of the Caribbean reference here.]
Arrival? More like YOUR MOM-val... Yeah, can't expect gold every week.
2851441 /).-
Lieutenant Commander Daniel Tarian has been judged, and he has been found wanting.
I suppose this brings new meaning to fighting inner demons.
I'm strangely jealous.
Mostly because if I met mine, they'd look like some sort of monstrous black dragon the size of Jupiter.
With talons.
And horns, can't have a demon without horns.
...
I'm so messed up.
2855984 Fighting inner demons is one thing, trying to come back from having your mind deliberately tampered with is entirely another.
Also, of course it'd have horns, what demon isn't also a horny demon? IYKWIM
Though I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "...he has been found wanting." Care to clarify, good sir?
2861201
It's an old quote, from what, I can never remember. I just always liked how it sounded.
It means that someone is being tested, and is likely to fail.
"Found wanting"
As in wanting for success.
I always imagine Judge Dredd saying it.
2861706 I was familiar with the term and the quote, was just curious as to whether you were dissatisfied with how I developed the character, or if you were making a prediction as to the outcome of this battle. No worries, I think I got what you meant.
2862179
All I heard was "I am familiar" and then my brain exploded.
WHERE THE HELL IS IT FROM?!
That's bothered me for over a year now.