38 - Virgin Landing
Laud had turned first. For once, he was the first to notice a sound, but there was no way he'd not notice the telltale rumble of a spacecraft after so long. He could hear his various equine friends scramble to catch up as he moved with large and rapid steps.
He burst outside and craned his head up to remove all doubt. There it was, a frigate. Relatively small as the ship scale went, but it was also in the atmosphere, taking up an impressive amount of space. He quickly pat down his pockets. It had been some time, but he dug out his small communication piece. It had been useless for so long, he had almost forgot he had it.
"Hello? This is Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods." It was a dangerous gambit. If the approaching ship was hostile to the Hawkwoods, things would immediately be in a bad place, but the odds were against it.
"Laud? Please stand by." came the crackly reply. There was a noticable delay in speech, but that was hardly surprising. There was some distance involved.
Starlight was the first pony out behind him. "Laud! By... Celestia..." She took a staggered step back, bumping into the building she had just emerged from. "That is a lot bigger than yours!"
Twilight was next out, her eyes wide and focused on the ship. "Yes! Yes yes yes yess!" She raised a hoof towards it before it fell back down. "Wait, Laud? They are friendly, right?"
"I'd sure hope so," came Pinkie's reply as she pronked along to join the building crowd. "Wow, that is kinda big. I thought airships were already kinda big, but that makes them look kinda small instead, huh."
Maud stepped out behind her sister, shaking her head. "When do they land?"
"Laud Mountbatten," came the male voice in his earpiece. "Are you in a secure location?"
Normally he would not be, but none of the natives knew English. "Affirmative. Situation report?"
"We were about to ask the same. We were prepared to scour this strange ball for you, living or dead. Instead we identify an ideal landing spot, and who's on the comm? The scout himself. Your father will be overjoyed."
Laud sagged with relief. In Equestrian he relayed, "They're Hawkwoods." Even as they cheered, he turned away, trying to focus on the voice in his ear. "You have permission to land when ready. The pad's not entirely finished, but should suffice."
"Permission? Already claimed the world, have you? Permission received. We'll touch down shortly." The channel clicked as it was severed.
Twilight tilted her equine head. "Was that your language? It's very strange, at least on initial listening. Speaking it as..." She frowned. "This brings up more questions, but let's put that aside. Are they coming down?"
Maud sat on her haunches, looking up at the ship. "It appears composed of the same material as your ship."
Starlight hiked a brow. "I should really not be surprised that you could--"
The construction ponies came galloping towards them in a bit of a panicked pace. The one at the front came towards Laud pointedly. "Is that what we're building for?!"
Laud nodded as he hiked a thumb at the slowly descending ship. "That is it exactly. Everyone should clear the landing space. Ships land hot. Is there anything flammable between it and the walls?"
The construction ponies scattered, grabbing tools and other things on the way on their way off the pad.
Twilight tapped her chin. "As much as I want to witness this, but maybe we're too close to where that thing is going to land."
Maud pointed back at her workshop. "It's designed to be heat resistant. We can watch from inside."
Starlight scampered inside quickly. "Don't need to be told twice!"
They all followed her back into the thick-walled smelting and refining workshop. Maud had installed a window that she tapped at. "It's extra thick. We can watch from here."
The ship came in for a roaring landing, flame washing over the flattened ground. Without cement covering, the turf deformed from its approach and landing, but it didn't collapse. The ship touched down, sinking into the packed terrain under its immense bulk. It was not ideal, but it had landed.
A slender column descended from it like an elevator, carrying a small handful of people standing in a ready formation. Three of them were at rigid attention, and one had their hands behind their back, surveying the area as they descended.
Laud turned for the door. "I have to greet them properly." Without asking, he quickly realized he had a crowd of ponies following after him. "It would, perhaps, be better if I spoke to them first?"
Pinkie clapped her hooves. "They're newcomers and should be greeted properly. Besides, if they're like you, they're nice people, right?"
Maud tilted her head. "Will they show me their swords like you did?"
Laud flinched at the idea. "They might if you surprise them. Please let me go ahead of you."
The new humans could see Laud approaching, and his equine entourage. One of the men standing rigidly spoke quietly, "Is that him? With those strange shantors?"
Another standing at attention replied, "Don't look like shantors to me. Too small by half. Look at their colors."
The one in the center raised a hand, demanding silence. As their platform touched to the ground, he was the first to step down to the alien world. "Laud, as I live and breathe. We were worried!"
Laud strode towards the man, thrusting a hand forward. "Jack, it's been too long." Their hands met in a firm clasp before they pulled each other close, patting one another on the back.
Pinkie leaned towards her friends, whispering, "Aw, they're friends!"
Jack stepped back from the greeting before gesturing at the small equines. "Have you taken local pets? Who provided that one with glasses?"
Laud swept a hand back over his gathering of local friends. "These are ponies. They are extremely intelligent creatures with pre-space technology. They have working electricity, steam engines, and more. They understand the concepts of space travel, but have not performed it themselves."
All the humans looked surprised at Laud's words. Jack nodded his head towards them. "A pleasure to meet you all, on behalf of House Hawkwood."
Pinkie raised a hoof and waved it eagerly. "Hiya! What's your name?"
Alas, neither were speaking the other's language.
Laud held up his hands. "Their native tongue is fit for their--"
"Hello," spoke Starlight, echoed by the translator she had slipped around her neck. "It is nice to meet you."
Another translator slipped into Laud's hand when he wasn't looking, floated there by relatively subtle unicorn magic. He grasped it and brought it up, offering it to Jack. "It's programmed for the local dialect."
"Brilliant." He accepted it and slipped it around his neck, adjusting its fit before clearing his throat. "On Behalf of House Hawkwood, I greet you." The collar obediently whickered and neighed its reply.
Pinkie pouted. "I don't have one of those! Tell him I said hi and ask what his favorite flavor of cake is!"
Starlight smiled nervously. "A pleasure to meet you, though this isn't our first contact with House Hawkwood." She pointed a hoof at Laud. "He's made a good impression on your behalf."
The distant sound of a galloping pony was heard and its source became clear quickly. It was Mayor Mare. She was hurrying towards the meeting as quickly as her hooves could carry her. "Wait! Wait!"
Laud could see the tension building. "That is the local community leader. She is here to perform her duty. She is accepted and valued by the queen of this nation." He could have said princess, sure he could have, but that would have risen too many other questions. She was the female in charge with none above her. That made her a queen or empress.
Jack turned to watch Mayor Mare hurry up and pant and heave, clearly out of breath. "A pleasure to meet you, magistrate."
Mayor Mare snapped her head up, hearing the alien words, then the translated equine sounds. "A... pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Ponyville!" She gestured grandly beyond the walls the separated the landing area and the unseen town beyond it. "As Mayor, I hope your visit is a productive and kind one."
Alas, she was not wearing a collar, and Jack looked aside at Laud. "That sounded as polite as a horse could be." His collar obediently translated this without asking him. He colored, realizing his critical error.
Mayor Mare's ears perked up. "W-what?"
Starlight put up a hoof towards Mayor Mare. "One moment, let me help." She trotted over and pulled her collar off with her magic, offering it towards Mayor Mare.
Jack eyed the exchange intently.
Laud could guess what was being watched so intently. "They are an innately psionic species." That did not calm them. "They have a strict code of ethics about using it on others."
Jack put a hand over his collar, muffling any words it might say. "That's easy to say, but they could have scrubbed you clean and you wouldn't even know."
Mayor Mare pulled her collar into place with her hooves and Starlight helped tighten it properly. She raised a hoof before her mouth, coughing politely. "As I was saying. I am Mayor Mare, and on behalf of Ponyville, we welcome you and your people. We hope your visit is pleasant." Her words were echoed to English and her ears danced, hearing the alien words. "If your people have special needs, please inform us and we will do our best to accommodate."
Laud gestured at Mayor Mare. "If it helps, only the ones that have horns even have the capability for anything external."
Maud already had her collar on. "May I see your sword?" she asked one of the rigidly standing men. "Is it built of the same metal composition as Laud's?"
The man looked down at her quizzically. "So, you don't have magic then?" She did not reply, as he had no collar. "Right. Permission to display my blade?"
Jack glanced between the man, Maud, and Mayor Mare. "She wants to see his sword. That isn't against local law, is it?"
Mayor Mare shook her head. "Provided no harm comes of it, there's nothing illegal in displaying weapons. I appreciate your checking first."
With a subtle gesture, Jack approved action. The man drew his blade and held it out.
Maud looked over it with an intent stare before reaching up and tapping it, an ear perking to listen to the sound it made. "Similar, but not identical. Thank you." She turned away and trotted back to her friends, seemingly satisfied.
Jack covered his collar. "Laud, come back with us. Let us give you a full rundown. You've been here for too long anyway. A thorough inspection'd be good for you regardless."
He held up his hands. "I'm ready to talk, but this is my demesne. I have been given royal authority over this space dock in progress and the trade it results in. I have the locals practically ready to join the house, Jack. You know how important this is. It means too much to the house."
"You've landed yourself!" exclaimed Jack, his hands moving to throw themselves wide in surprise. "Bloody hell, we turn around and you've gone full noble?" He turned as the elevator began to rise. "More are coming down. Look, Laud. Sir Mountbatten, we need to catch things up."
Mayor Mare squinted at the two of them. "I apologize if I'm prying into a delicate situation, but I will want to speak to whomever is in charge con--"
Laud waved a hand in front of her, silencing her out of surprise. "You should speak to me, and I will relay. Ponyville is yours, good mayor, but the trade and movement through this dock is mine. We will work together, assuredly."
Mayor Mare looked surprised a moment before she nodded. "I see. Princess Celestia did say as much. Very well." She turned away. "I will be in the town hall. Be sure any humans stepping out of this area are instructed in the local laws."
Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me get Paul. He's the only one that could have this little chat. I assume the men are allowed to move freely within the landing area?"
Twilight quickly zipped around the mayor, grinning. "May I have that now?" She pointed at the collar. "I have a thousand questions for them!"
Contact is established. If Laud can't make his own house at ease, what hope does he have going forward?
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It begins. Dun DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!
That went... far better than I was worried that it would.
The conquest of paradise begins.
Well, he hasn't quite settled down, he doesn't have a girlfriend yet, after all.
So the newcomers are spooked by the magics and want Laud to get a psyche evaluation? Not surprising, but we bet they'll be in even heavier panic when they learn about how the sun and moon move!
Keep going! ;)
And here we go...
separated
Good thing Laud hasnt got intimate associates as yet. The ships bad enough with just the ponies, imagine the effect having Griffon, changeling or even dragon etc alongside?
They havent been round long enough to see any of the heavy stuff yet? Orbital peculiarities or energy flows greater than their combined fleet maybe?
Somewhere in the forest, something awakes?
8663805
Fixed!
I know he will cause trouble but I like the other Hawkwood member. Very rowdy affectionate.
Well, they're definitely friendly. To Laud, at least. Whether that keeps up when he isn't present remains to be seen, to say nothing of Twilight trying to pry out every secret she can regarding their technology. Still, this is one of the best ways second contact could've gone. Let's hope the upswing continues.
And I do look forward to Twilight investigating why the aliens' language is better designed for ape-descended throats...
second contact is going smoothly.
and now Laud's real work begins, playing diplomat.
The other Hawkwoods' worries are reasonable, based on their prior knowledge of magic that has left Laud himself so unnerved by it even though it's seemingly been months now. Laud should temporarily go if only to assuage their fears of mental tampering.
I'm not at all familiar with the Fading Suns setting....it just seems odd that they have culturally regressed as much as they have, to a basically feudal system that historically just didn't work once it got bigger than about half the size of modern France or Germany.
8680524
Sad, but true. Some say it is the true source of their fading suns.
Im a bit concerned here at how the humans seem to have this idea that they own equestria. Im also sort of snickering to myself everytime laud and now these new guys make this mistake because honestly their entire empire couldnt touch the ponies planet. No amount of ships or firepower is going to get past a giant burning sun and a moon that can be moved at all. A single pass at even a fifth of the speed the show makes us think those objects can move would instantly demolish any fleet that could possible be built. Thats without considering weaponised lightning and other weather or teleportation, shield spells like shining armors and so on. Im sorry but the likelyhood of this empire giving even a token fight is almost nonexistent, especially when you consider that the real tech, the best tech is reserved for a small portion of their society.
8680948
Yeah, even if he mostly succeeds, Laud's going to find that he is far from 'in charge', even if the other humans try to say he owns the world.
Beyond that, based on Laud's reaction, if Equis brought the Mirror World into play most of the Empire's tech seems like it would no longer be superior, and they don't use magic at all.
I'm probably one of the few people reading this story who actually has most of the Fading Suns Roleplaying books. So I hope nobody will mind if I give you some background on the setting, along with a few ideas about what David Silver may be planning for this story.
In Fading Suns, most of the human population is denied access to advanced technology and knowledge. The three main groups which do have access to technology are the clerics of the Universal Church, the guildsmen of the Merchant League, and the nobility, of which Laud is a member. Each of these three groups are subdivided into numerous religious orders, guilds and families, but there are 5 main groups in each of them, so the ponies will eventually have to worry about how to deal with 15 significant groups (plus the newly established Imperial government, under the new Emperor).
The main faction within the Church, the Orthodox, thinks that aliens have less well developed souls than humans do. They also think the Church should have a monopoly on magic, and that psionicists (some of whom have powers like unicorns) should serve the Church, basically as slaves. But some factions in the Church will be more sympathetic to ponies. The Amalthean healers, who are really kind and ethical, will get along very well with Fluttershy. The Eskatonic mystics, who are magical scholars seeking spiritual transformation through knowledge, will be very interested in magic Twilight and the alicorn transformation she underwent. The fanatic Avesti will probably hate the ponies the most, and the warrior monks of Brother Battle would lead the charge if the Church declared a Crusade against the ponies.
There may be a Charioteer pilot onboard the Hawkwood ship, since they are the pilots and space merchants guild within the Merchant League. Loud would have gotten what training as a space pilot he has from the Charioteers. It's also possible there might be an Engineer, since they are the Guild that monopolizes high technology, including how starships work. Science Twilight might get along with them, but they would not want her to share her knowledge of technology with anyone outside their guild, lest she create competitors for them. They would also be very interested in Starlight's use of magic to create technology, since only the "space Vikings" the Hawkwood's are fighting could do that sort of thing until the ponies showed up. If any earth ponies get enslaved, it will probably be by the Muster, since they handle the slave trade, among other things. On the other hand, if things go better and the ponies aren't enslaved, many ponies might join the Muster voluntarily, since they are also the main trade union, and mercenary group. The Scravers (organized crime) might get involved in smuggling Zap Apple Jam into the Empire, and someone like Filthy Rich might fit into the Reeves (Banking and Lawyers).
Laud is a member of the Hawkwoods. The new Emperor is also a Hawkwood, but he has chosen not to unduly favor his family over all of the other major interest groups. This angers many Hawkwood's, who expected a greater reward from their long struggle to put a Hawkwood on the throne. The Hawkwood's most hated enemy is the Decados family, who are plotters and schemers who might be interested in Chrysalis and any other unredeemed Changelings.
8682405
Ah, someone who knows the source material. How am I doing?!
8682580
I'm enjoying your story, David, but Laud sometimes doesn't really seem like a product of the setting he's supposedly come from. For example, Laud would know that the Second Republic (which collapsed a thousand years ago) often engaged in radical genetic engineering. Some of the Changed still exist as a hated and feared minority to this day. I think he'd be wondering if the ponies were really aliens, or if they'd been created by the Godless science of that sinful age. The doorknobs and other weirdly human like technology would point in that direction, and if the ponies were warped humans and not aliens, that might help explain their remarkably pleasant personalities. While Laud is no theologian, it's a well known "fact" that human souls are much better at reflecting the Pancreator's Grace than the souls of aliens.
When Laud thought about the possibility of marrying Lyra, he'd have been reminded of House Juandaastas, a small noble house, allied with the Hawkwoods, whose members do sometimes marry Ur-Obun, who are the most human like and "enlightened" alien race. The Ur-Obun homeworld is a mostly self-governing Hawkwood protectorate, and its comparatively prosperous status would be the chief example he'd point to in explaining to ponies why they should accept Hawkwood leadership.
Since Laud knows how magical ponies are, I'd expect him to be wondering how often the practice of magic drove ponies insane. Fading Suns magic users must follow a strict moral code. While Laud probably wouldn't know the precise details, he'd probably know that Fading Suns magic users who aren't completely ethical sometimes find that the darker sides of their personality are growing in power, and encouraging them to commit more evil deeds. Nightmare Moon would be a good example. If he knows of Pinkie's bipolar personality, he might think her Dark Twin was struggling to take control of her. There are reasons why people in the Fading Suns are scared of magic users, and Laud's concerns would really grow if he's heard anything about Discord. There really are demons in the Fading Suns setting, and some of the most dangerous magic users practice Antimony, which draws on their power. Anyone from the Fading Suns who knew how magically powerful ponies are and who also knew ponies knew nothing of the Pancreator, but did have some experience with 'demons' like Discord, would almost certainly fear that there might be pony Antinomists.
Even if Laud decides the pony magic isn't a serious threat, because ponies are so innately ethical, he has to be thinking about these issues if he hopes to persuade any other humans that ponies aren't extremely dangerous.
I could go on and on like this, for example where is the gateway Laud came though to reach Equestria located? For instance, if it was in the same system as the Hawkwood world of Leminkainen, Laud might be wondering if the Vuldrok's (a human nation outside the Empire whom the Hawkwoods are at war with) would find the gateway and send a pirate fleet through to attack the ponies. Is he worried that the new Emperor will send some of his Questing Knights through to investigate, and perhaps claim power over, this new world? Has he wondered whether the inhabitants of the mirror world might actually practice the treasonous and heretical doctrine of "Democracy"? If Science Twilight told the humans they have elections in her world, she could get into trouble very fast, unless the human just happened to support the idea of a Third Republic..
8682752
You are describing worries he has and had. I haven't had him voice his theories about the doorknobs or the source of the ponies, but you are hitting the nail right on the head there. He is, ultimately, a brash young man who thinks 'I can handle this', and wants the ultimate glory of claiming an entire planet for his house. Done without costly war and with a cooperative native population he won over? Oh the accolades he would be slated to receive, damn the consequences.
It is not an entirely logical thing, but since when were young men with the promise of such things ultimately logical? His heart is in the right place at least, I think.
Thank you, by the way. I'm less experienced with the setting, and your generous helping of setting data will be helpful! I'm thankful that none of it seems to explode this story into pieces.
8683215
I'm glad to be able to help, David. As I said, I'm enjoying your writing, and you are right that there is nothing in the Fading Suns setting that badly contradicts the direction your story seems to be heading in. If you'd like to know any more specific setting details, feel free to ask and I'll try to get back to you promptly. I'm looking forward to your future chapters.
8689414
they can't be moved to move it you would need the same amount of force that can be used to destroy it the energy that would be required would be in the Millions when it comes to newtons
8680948
How are equestrians going to detec ships? Second, the sun and moon cant be at two places at once, all they need are several ships coming frim different directions and only one to pass and saturate the ground with various weapons. Third we are talking about ships made to traverse the void and use jumpgates, not to mention energy shields, what is lightning going to do against that, not to mention that they dont need to come in atmo in order to bomb the ponies back to the stone age. Shining armors shield? he barely held out against several hundrad changelings raming his shield and thats witj cadances help, that may seem impressive but whats it gonna do against shipgrade weapons? The equestrians only chance would be to destroy the jumpgate with the sun or moon but the dont know where it is anr removing the celestial bodies from their determimed path will have grave consequences on the planet.
8711919
In a universe like Star Wars or Star Trek with rapid FTL you'd be right. But Gate travel means there are limited points of entry that can be guarded against. The moment an invasion starts, all Celestia has to do is move the sun in front of the Gate's exit point and any ship going through the Gate is a goner.
It’s a good first contact team.
8786378
I'm guessing the same could be said of Mass Effect's mass relays, of which I am more familiar (having beaten all three games several times)?
The relays also pop you out at a predictable location; except that destroying an activated relay would end up destroying the entire solar system (ME2's Arrival DLC).