The Harmony Initiative

by Madame Hellspawn

Chapter 2: Know Your Enemy (To The Best of Your Ability)

When she came to the hangar to see the fruits of the soldier’s labor, Starlight was met with panicked ponies from the medical bay rushing through the sliding jaw-like blast doors from the pristine, blindingly white halls.

Almost everypony in Harmony had heard about the rather unfortunate first mission, the news spreading like wildfire. Many of the ponies panicked, minds reeling from what was being said. Recruits in the barracks vocalized their concerns and even the Central Lab had began to suffer from decreased morale. Starlight had hoped it was just a rumor being spread through the base, a horrid one at that, but Twilight’s grim face had all but confirmed the reports.

While Commander Sparkle was conducting the operation alongside her brother, Starlight had the pleasure of organizing her science teams, preparing the Biology Division for the arrival of at least one new subject. The mare in charge of the division, a strange blend of a casual appearance and a stern and rather formal work ethic, had volunteered herself to perform the autopsy, should Twilight give the proper authorization of the project. The other ponies seemed reluctant and even hesitant at the idea of splitting open an alien creature.

Fortunately, if there was any disgust or if she hadn’t actually wanted to perform the autopsy, Sky Lance kept those feelings to herself and hid them behind a veil taking the form of an eager smile and her speeding towards the autopsy chamber’s prep and examination chamber before Starlight could say another word.

As they reached the mechanical frame of the hangar’s doors, the two science ponies flanking Starlight exchanged concerned glances, but Starlight helmed through, her hooves clopping against the cool metal floor.

She had hoped to see the hangar in an orderly state, like usual; Maintenance ponies rushing around and doing...whatever it was that they did, Pegasi forming in their cliques readying themselves in the event the invaders had aerial forces themselves and Griffons helping out wherever they could without causing too much trouble. The usual.

Instead excitement rose through the hangar as Starlight took light steps. Roars burst from the catwalks and a cacophony of screams and shouts rang in Starlight’s ears. Maintenance ponies scrambled out into the single column of light shouting and waving their hooves at the pegasi and griffons blocking the slow descent of Rainbow Dash and the thick arcane enchanted carriage she was harnessed to. The cyan mare tore off her helmet and continued to lower herself, maneuvering around those who blocked the way. She tossed her helmet down, missing a blue pegasus by a few inches.

“C’mon!” She shouted. “Move it! We don’t have time for this!”

It dawned on Starlight rather slowly that the pegasi and griffons weren’t necessarily trying to block the way. Hooves flew and made contact with beaks while talons swiped, sharp and grazing fur, sending small strands floating down slowly. Curses sailed through the air with the rough wind that swept through as the roof of the cavern began to shut. A grizzled, rough griffon dove for a target, a grey pegasus narrowly avoiding the tackle, making the griffon slam himself against the side of the sky carriage.

Blue surrounded the opposing groups, separating them like children being put in time-out. They froze in their motions, eyes glancing around as they were lowered to the ground and Rainbow Dash speedily made her way to the central platform. When Starlight released both the griffons and pegasi across from each other, she flung a wall between them, conjured from a thick aura surrounding her horn. Two from both parties charged the moment the blue energy formed between them, earning themselves well deserved zaps and shocks before stumbling back.

“Stop it!” Starlight shouted. The griffons growled and snarled, snapping their beaks. Starlight’s magic enveloped them again. “Now! Calm down and then I’ll let go.”

Their breathing was ragged, coarse and rough. The pegasi shuffled away, taking refuge beside a pile of supply crates. When Starlight eased her magic, each griffon huffed and walked off to the other side of the hangar, beside another pile of crates directly opposite from the pegasi.

Commander Twilight had placed herself between the two parties, fire in her eyes as she glanced at both of them.

“My office,” She growled, stepping forward. Both parties exchanged worried glances among each other, neither one moving anything besides their heads. “Right now!”

With a jump, both griffon and pegasus alike rushed through the bay doors and started down the hall. Once Twilight’s presence was realized by everypony else, the noises suppressed; the ponies working maintenance doing most of the shouting, trying to separate the warring groups.

Rainbow Dash planted her hooves on the ground hurriedly and struggled to ease her way out of the harness of the sky carriage, while the medics unloaded a light blue stallion from the transport onto a white gurney. He waved a hoof at his squadmates in the carriage and gave an almost reassuring grin. The stallion rested his head down and rested his eyes as the medical ponies carried him away, allowing himself a moment to relax.

The surrounding pegasi and griffons who were either too tired to participate in the fighting itself or were uninterested entirely watched from the safety of their metal perches, gazed down with a mix of terror and disbelief as another pegasus was levitated out, three holes in his throat. His blood caked fur and lifeless form shook Starlight. She felt the cavern begin to spin.

Easy, Starlight told herself, trying to steady her body. He’s...in a better place. Far from all of this.

“Oh Luna!” A stallion called from one of the metal perches. Voices circulated around the cavernous hangar in a cacophony of hysteria. Pegasi stood, clamouring among each other, yelling over each other, eyes wide and terror on all of their faces. The panic began to sweep all around, spreading like the plague. Griffons remained stone-faced, but had tried their best to keep their comrades calm.

Chaos erupted all around. Voices calling out and cursing the invaders, Celestia, Luna and everything inbetween. Starlight felt her hooves begin to pull her back. She shouldn’t be here. This shouldn’t even be happening.

Starlight’s horn lit up. She tried to conjure a spell, it’s area of effect spanning the whole cavern. Peaceful memories entered her mind. Memories of finally being at peace with Twilight and her friends, meeting Trixie, and hundreds of others. It was all she could do to keep herself from passing out. These ponies needed to calm do—

“ENOUGH!”

Starlight’s horn burst, sending sparks of magic flowing around her.

Twilight marched down the steely cool path, standing tall and regal. Her wings curled gracefully at her sides, feathers preened carefully and extending just beyond her flanks. Her eyes burned with fury comparable to the sun, eyes fixed on the dead stallion. A sharp frown formed around her lips and she breathed with audible frustration.

The voices had ceased. Starlight’s eyes scanned the room. Ponies and griffons alike stared at the lavender alicorn making her way down the metal path and towards the medical ponies standing at attention and the body of the now-former Wonderbolt spread on a gurney; lying on his side and eyes closed. Were it not for the wounds in his neck and his lack of body movement, Starlight would have thought him just blissfully sleeping.

Twilight stood above him and placed a hoof on the steel railing of the bed. Starlight felt herself creeping forward carefully as to not provoke Twilight to shout again. Her tall, regal, princess-like form was beautiful; soothing in a way. Her presence in the hangar managed to put all the workers and soldiers at ease. Starlight couldn’t help but to rest on her haunches as Twilight continued her whispers.

With a spark of her horn, Twilight craned her neck down and pressed her head against the deceased stallion’s. Her purple aura surrounded him before dissipating into nothing. Starlight felt her brow come together. What kind of spell was that?

“I’m sorry Dazzle.” Twilight whispered. She closed her eyes and released a steady breath. Starlight felt her brow raise and come together as she watched Twilight whisper a silent prayer. Starlight herself wasn’t familiar with the tongue in which Twilight spoke, but she listened attentively as though if she listened close enough, she’d be able to understand.

She placed a hoof on the stallion’s head and opened her eyes, heavy with moisture. She hadn’t let a single drop release and fall. Instead she swallowed and looked towards one of the medical ponies, blinking her tears back.

“Clean him up as best you can,” She ordered. The mare nodded. “I want him prepped for a memorial service.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Starlight stood aside, watching the ponies somberly carry Dazzle’s body from the sky carriage. Another pegasus stepped out, trembling and wet trails streaking down her cheeks. Crimson caked her forehooves and chest, as if she had stepped in a puddle full of blood. Her magenta eyes watched soullessly as Dazzle was carried off. She kept her head low and looked over at Twilight who let out a sigh.

“Ma’am.” She spoke softly. "We tried our best."

“I know, Fleetfoot. I’m sorry for your loss.” Twilight said simply watching Dazzle get carried off. She hadn’t turned to face the pegasus stifling a sob under her hoof. “Nopony should ever have to experience that.”

Fleetfoot stepped down and sat on her haunches. Rainbow trotted gingerly and wrapped a hoof around her. She allowed her grieving friend to spill herself out onto her chest. Fleetfoot sobbed and gripped onto Rainbow tightly.

Captain Spitfire stood at the edge of the carriage. She avoided the gaze of all who stared at her keeping her eyes trained on her own hooves. Starlight offered a helping hoof only to have the gold pegasus swat it away angrily. Twilight's ears flicked, turning her head. Still, Spitfire avoided her superior officer's sympathetic gaze.

“Spitfire, I—”

“Ma’am! I’m…” Spitfire stopped and lowered her head, opening her mouth and struggling to find her voice. She muttered under her breath and banged her head against the floor of the carriage. Her ears drooped as Twilight’s hoofsteps came closer. “I’m sorry. I...I need to be alone for a little bit. M-m-ma’am.”

Twilight nodded and brought the mare’s chin up. Spitfire. “I understand. Take as long as you need.”

“T-thank you.”

“D-did…” Starlight started, clearing her throat. Spitfire shot a glare. “Did you recover—”

“It's in the back.” Spitfire spat stepping off of the carriage. Her eyes narrowed. “It better have been worth it.”

Starlight’s mouth opened, readying her scripted apology, but she held her tongue. Even after all Twilight had taught her, there was nothing that could ever prepare her for trying to comfort somepony after the death of a close friend. She was out of her element on that one.

It would probably have been easier once Spitfire cooled down before Starlight offered her condolences. Ponies often said things they didn’t mean when they were angry. It was a lesson learned the hard way for Starlight.

Once Spitfire cleared the hangar, Twilight looked above at the pegasi and griffons surrounding her from the metal perches, each one doe-eyed and most unable to actually look down at the carriage.

“We are not supposed to be fighting each other.” Twilight spoke, a dim glow surrounding her horn, amplifying her voice. She glowered at each one of her little ponies with a mix of anger and disgust. “Our goal is to protect every living creature in Equestria and beyond! We can’t do that without each other’s cooperation! Whatever problems you have with one another needs to go now. I expect everypony to be back in their stations in fifteen minutes.”

A murmur swept through the crowd. Twilight turned, flicking her hair and started towards the hangar doors. Starlight reached a hoof out and touched the alicorn’s flank. She shrank back, as Twilight turned furiously. Both calmed themselves.

“I’m sorry Starlight,” Twilight apologized, wiping her mane out of her eyes. “Did you need something?”

“I-I...” Starlight cleared her throat and waved for her two assistants to step closer. They complied, although hesitantly, bringing a gurney of their own with them. “The biology teams are on standby in the labs. I suggest we analyze the alien body to try and begin our understanding of them. With your clearance of course.”

Twilight paused and stared into the rear of the sky carriage.

Sure enough, the body of Equestria’s first extraterrestrial lifeform lay slumped and jammed into the corner of the carriage’s interior. Three holes bore into its head with a sickly green liquid dripping down. Starlight couldn’t help but hold a hoof up to her nose in disgust. The peculiar glow from the rear of its cranium and chest sparked interest in Starlight’s two assistants who stepped inside and prodded it with their hooves.

Starlight shook her head and faced Twilight.

“Okay. When you’re finished...Doing whatever you’ll do with it, send me a report detailing the findings.” Twilight stopped herself mid turn. “I want to know everything. Anything that could help us in the fight against them.”

Thud!

Starlight jumped and hopped behind Twilight. The body of the grey being was on the floor now, her two assistants looked down at it with disgust, curling their lips and prodding it with their hooves.

“Oh Celestia,” Starlight muttered while regaining her composure. Her magic enveloped the being and dropped the body onto the gurney. “Bring it to the labs!”

The commander had begun to leave again, increasing her pace. The science ponies followed gingerly, eyeing the alien body as they trotted along. Starlight cast a quick glance at the hangar before she left. She wasn't a pegasi by any means, but she knew their beliefs and their traditions. The death of a Wonderbolt, or any other pegasus for that matter, would be felt by all. But the death of a pegasus would be a deep wound for the pegasi.

The death of one was a death for all.

***

It was quite interesting that nopony in the science division had wanted to undertake in such a monumental chapter of Equestrian history. Stranger still was that nopony in the Biology Division had volunteered for the position of Alien Autopsy Specialist.

Even as she put on the full body suit, the noisy leathery surface crinkling with each miniscule movement, Sky Lance could feel the eyes of nervous and somewhat disgusted ponies watching her before she entered the autopsy chamber; an isolated room in the science wing with windows all around so ponies could watch every incision, organ removal and so on. It was quite bland, even with the table in the center.

As strange as she found it, the fact that nopony had willingly volunteered to learn the anatomy and structure of this alien being, Sky Lance had to keep herself from jumping with joy when Starlight Glimmer herself had approached her with the task. To be the first pony in Equestria to learn and explore the body of a visitor from the stars? There was no chance she would pass it up.

Performing an autopsy had its perks and definitely could easily have been categorized as Sky Lance’s definition of ‘relaxing’. Granted she wasn’t one of those ponies who took pleasure in seeing a once living creature inside out. There was a special kind of calm that Lance had felt, much like a farmer seeing the fruits of their labor or a pony raking leaves during autumn. It was the calm a pony felt when she was in her element.

It was an act she had seldom performed in Canterlot, but every opportunity was a chance to excel and that was truly the most fascinating aspect of the often bloody endeavor.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Starlight’s voice called from the intercom. Sky Lance’s ear twitched, her hooves bringing her forward with an unusual bounce in her step. The light from the ceiling was almost blinding, but the mare had endured far worse. Instead she brought all her focus on the frail shriveled being laying lifeless on the table.

Admittedly, Sky Lance expected something more. It was pathetic to look at. Weak frail limbs and bulbous head. Abnormally large eyes. Glowing chest and semi-transparent skin on the head. Lance furrowed her brow. No mouth? No nose?

Interesting. Sky Lance checked the scale. Forty Five kilograms.

“Let’s see what we have.” Her robotic assisted arms whizzed and buzzed to life before falling silent and they began to move. On the side, next to the table was all the equipment she would need: scalpels, pins, tweezers, saws and a clipboard and pen. Basic tools of the trade for a job as messy as this.

Eagerly, Lance took the pen in her grasp, recorded the weight and dropped it. The chance to find out all this creature's little secrets had filled Lance with a kind of glee comparable to a filly getting her first library card.

An arm primed itself with a scalpel, the other floating down and placing itself on the being’s chest for support. Lance braced herself mentally. It wasn’t everyday that a pony got to see the insides of...anything. Of course, a land as peaceful as Equestria would be ignorant to blood and gore for the most part. Most ponies would shy away from such a brutal task. Lance on the other hoof…

She began slicing, the scalpel digging into the skin smoothly. The blade sunk in a little deeper than she would have liked, tearing into the leathery gray skin with ease. Green ichor rushed from the wound as Lance carved her way down to the base of the chest and started for the other shoulder.

“The skin is…” Lance paused, eyes intent on keeping the slice straight. The arm raised itself as she took a look at her handiwork. “...very leathery and thin. It takes virtually no effort to cut into its body.”

Lance raised her head and looked out to the crowd of ponies gathered, a few looking into the chamber with disgust while the rest wrote down notes on their clipboards. Commander Twilight Sparkle grimaced and turned away, disinterest apparent on her face. Or was it something else?

Regardless, Lance proceeded with the autopsy.

She carved a line down the chest and toward the pelvic region. As she reached the bulging stomach, Lance felt a bit of resistance. With a light tug, she was able to proceed down the body.

“Got a bit of resistance around the stomach.” Lance whispered to herself. A bead of sweat dripped down from her brow and onto the suit’s visor. She cursed under her breath and shook her head, hoping to get the small moisture out of her sights. It remained. With a huff, Lance returned to work.

“Prepping the subject for muscular evaluation,” Lance announced pleased with her near perfect incisions. She dropped the scalpel and began to peel the skin back, her ears buzzing with a morbid delight at the slippery, sloshing of flesh separating from muscle.

The muscle tissue was nothing special. Strangely colored, taking on an almost bronze hue and very tightly pulled together along the chest. The abdominal region still bulged. The glowing in its body grew brighter.

What use would a being have for bioluminescence inside of its body? Perhaps it was native to a dark homeworld? One where the land was shrouded in darkness? That was hardly believable, but Sky Lance had tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

Starlight buzzed on the intercom.

“Sky Lance?”

Her ears perked up. “Yes?”

“I don’t mean to rush you,” Starlight gave a coy smirk underneath her hoof. Lance was sure she was gagging beneath her humble facade. “But can we hurry this up?”

Really? Speed up an alien autopsy? “Of course.”

Lance looked down at the body. One of her robotic arms reached for the saw. No matter. She'll figure it out. Let's see what we've got inside.

“Everypony,” Lance announced with a tinge of excitement. “It may be best to cover your eyes for this part.”

The ponies complied, raising their clipboards ever-so-slightly as the saw revved to life and Lance angled it towards the creature’s chest.

***

The autopsy had more or less been successful. About as successful as one could be.

By the time Lance had finished up and looked out of the observation windows, most ponies were studiously taking note of everything Sky Lance had reported. Others had left to get sleep, but those who stayed relaxed and eased themselves as they watched Lance crack open the invader’s chest like a walnut and carefully removed its innards. Perhaps it was the previously cramped space that had caused so much unease. Maybe it was because all of the remaining ponies had shared the same lust for knowledge.

Only their notes will tell.

Sky Lance stood in the clean room outside of the autopsy chamber placing the last of the plastic bags on the table before wiggling her R.A.A.G.S. saddle off of her body, letting it fall against the spotless floor with a loud clang. She winced, but dismissed it, taking another look at the bags full of recovered material. Most of which were hardly anything she would have ever believed to have been implemented into a being's body.

She shook the hood off her head, her messy emerald mane bouncing ahead of her eyes. With a quick flick of her hoof, her mane was swept aside and no longer a bother. She proceeded to slip her way out of the suit, like a snake shedding skin and clumped up the suit, tossing it into the disposal bin behind her.

“Sky Lance,” Starlight trotted inside the room with a smile. She frowned at the sight of the inactive R.A.A.G.S., levitating it towards a socket in the wall, a cushioned mold designed especially for it. “What do we have?”

“Were you not watching?” Starlight gave a coy smirk. Lance sighed in response. “The organs seem fairly...similar to our own in some aspects, although that assumption may change when my team and I begin to study them more closely. What I can’t place a hoof on is what I found in it’s head, embedded in the brain.”

Lance pointed at a bag in the back row, a blue lined...device of some kind. It was out of her field of expertise. Starlight’s light blue aura surrounded the bag and floated it between the two ponies.

It was implanted deep inside the creature's brain. Lance had to try with robotic precision to keep the brain intact and not reduce the grey matter into mush as she tore the implant out.

“What is it?” Starlight asked. She examined the device inside closely, turning and getting better angles. “Do you know?”

“No,” Lance picked up her trusty cap and set it gently atop her head, brushing her mane off to the side as to not get caught in her eyes. “With your permission, I’d like to take it to R and AT for examination. Possibly even bring it to Applejack in Engineering.”

“Of course,” Starlight said with a nod, placing the bag gently back on the table. “Don’t forget to fill out a report for Twi—The Commander. She’ll want to know everything you’ve found.”

“If it’s all the same,” Lance sat on her haunches and scratched the back of her head. “I’d very much like to send the report after we examine the organs some more.”

“I’ll let her know then. For now, just report back to Biology. The more we learn about our enemy the better.” Starlight turned and pressed her hoof against the door panel. The doors slid open with a smooth hiss.

“On that, we can agree.”

***

Project Code-Name >>> Anomaly

Research Notes:

We've discovered the subject's brain is quite large in comparison to anything else in Equestria and appears to have been enhanced via an implant of some kind. While we do not know the nature of the enhancement yet, we can assume that—because of the frail and weak build of the creature—it was meant to enhance the being's intellect and possibly even grant it a boost to combat capabilities. The Robotics and Alien Technology and Engineering Teams have been trying to analyze the foreign object found in the being's brain.

The creature's internal organs seem to hold a very unusual genetic structure. These structures in genetics would not be possible in the natural world without some kind of genetic manipulation of some kind (the leading theory is some sort of magic capable of rearranging the genetic structure to suit some kind of needs. Possibly to be able to survive in Equestria's atmosphere?). Only further studies will grant us the answer.

On another interesting note: no reproduction organs. Could these beings be clones of some sort?

Dr. Sky Lance personal note: It may pose a great deal of challenge for the troops, but I would very much like to request another body for the team to study. The more we learn about these beings, the more we will learn how we may be able to combat them.

Comments

[Solemn Vigil]

Friction arises in the ranks, a mystery begins to unfold and one of the OC's makes their debut.

Things are getting interesting.

[Anzir]

Dis gon' be gud

[Madame Hellspawn]

7900954 Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far . I'm eager to see what you come up with!

[Spiral_Donut]

Can not wait for this to update!

[ScarletRhine]

Meet the pony version of Dr Vaulin... Dr Sky Lance.