Fuel Run

by iluvponies35

3. The Draconequus

Starry Night wasn't a morning pony. An almost laughable observation given her name, but that was merely a funny coincidence; she was usually fine. It had been a long time since she had been expected to get up at 5am for, well, anything though. After taking a quick shower, dressing herself, and packing up some personal amenities for the upcoming mission in her saddlebags; she stopped by the cafeteria for a cup of coffee in the hopes it would wash away the feeling of being utterly miserable.

Back on Equestria, 5am would still be dark out. Celestial station's orbit around the planet was two hours, with the sun visible for half of that each orbit. The lights on the station remained on at all times (though some dimmed at 'night' to stimulate sleep schedules), but Starry still found herself dumbfounded when she looked out one of the station windows and it was a coin toss of being dark or light out. As she walked down the hall she found herself in the middle of one of these transitions, the halls growing a bit darker as the sun dipped behind Equestria. With time to spare she sat and sipped her beverage, watching the sun become a sliver of light and eventually disappear for the next hour.

Then something happened that caught Starry slightly off-guard, as she had never witnessed it before. Equestria was enveloped by a faint golden shimmer, and moments later she witnessed the sun rapidly emerge from the opposite side of where it had disappeared, quickly disappearing from the window view and presumably ending up behind the station. A moment later the gold shimmer turned blue, and a few seconds later Starry watched the moon slide into view the same way the sun had come, and settle behind Equestria as the sun had earlier.

It took Starry a second to realize what had happened, but she almost laughed when it finally came to her. Celestia and Luna must be doing their jobs...Equestria, as it turned out, was at the center of its solar system, with the sun and moon occupying opposite sides of the same orbit around it. Equestria spun on its axis just fast enough that the sun and moon appeared locked in the sky, requiring Celestia and Luna to adjust them accordingly twice a day. Such a system had caused scientists and astronomers much grief, as they had yet to find a similar system, but that was their problem. Magic existed, and for Starry, that was explanation enough.

Checking the time, Starry found it would be a good idea to get down to arrivals soon. Gulping down the rest of her coffee and depositing the cup into the nearest trashcan, she trotted off down the hall. She found a number of ponies mingling in arrivals, including her friend group and a familiar brown pegasus.

"Yo, Wind!" Starry chirped as she trotted up to them. "You make the mission after all?"

Wind Catcher turned to look as Starry approached, smiling. "Oh, hey Star. Kinda sorta. Chief said Polaris station is down a botanist and you guys are headed that way anyway. You're stuck with me a little longer," he laughed, before looking down at his hooves muttering, "although she never specified what happened to the old one..."

Just then one of the nearby elevators opened. A group of weary-looking ponies trotted out, dressed in denim uniforms and hazard vests, their coats and manes clearly unkempt and blotted with dirt and grime. They were enthusiastically chatting to one another as they passed, but some of their words sounded hollow and the bags under their eyes were obvious. The group watched them pass with interest before Starry finally piped up. "Now who are they?"

"Asteroid miners," came a gruff voice behind them. Starry turned to see a navy blue unicorn trotting up, his face sporting an odd mix of a messy brown mane and a well-kept mustache, a pair of fiery red eyes in between. "Looks like they're heading down on shore leave soon. Wouldn't be surprised if it'll be the first time they've showered in months."

"Are you, uh, Chart Topper?" Mint Chip asked.

The stallion chuckled. "Oh whoops, my manners. Yep, that's me. I take it you're the crew I was assigned?"

"Yep, fuel run out to Polaris station," Countdown replied.

"First time I take it?" They all nodded in response. "Well consider yourself lucky folks. Hauling fuel or cargo isn't the quickest or most glamorous job, but it's one of the easier ones. Good opportunity to give you folks some hooves-on training. Anyway we're right on schedule, let's get moving."

Piling into one of the elevators, Chart tapped a button and everypony waited in silence before the doors closed and the elevator lurched as it started traveling up towards the docking rotunda. Chart began listing of some basic mission details, stuff that Starry and co had already heard, though it didn't hurt to be reminded. The ship was the TK Draconequus, an older ship which lacked an official class designation on account of parts of it being cobbled together from other ships, hence the name, although Starry couldn't shake the nagging feeling that wasn't the only reason. It was 30 years old and apparently showing its age, though it had a massive fuel capacity matched by only a few ships in the space agency's fleet, and thus had managed to dodge decommissioning for so long.

"Would you believe me," laughed Chart, "if I said that ship is older than me?"

Mint Chip balked. "You're under 30?"

"28 exactly. I know I don't look or sound it, I guess it's true what they say about space changing a pony," he said with a sad glint in his eye. "Once you finish your fifth tour they just ask if you prefer to stay up here. So I did."

The elevator dinged, opening its doors to the docking rotunda. Chart led everypony out, trotting over to one of the many hatches, above which was a digital display with a number and name of whatever ship was docked. In bay six was their ship: SH-015. The group proceeded down the red-floored umbilical as Chart made small talk. Starry anticipated the change in gravity that had come before, and indeed her hooves began to feel lighter around the mid-point, though that strangely didn't last.

At the end of the umbilical it opened up into the spacious interior of their ship. What immediately struck Starry is that the ship was arranged with a clear gravitational pull in mind, contrary to the Wayfarer-class she first rode up on. Flight seats lined the walls, save for a few storage lockers in the back. At the back wall was a closed door marked 'engine room', she couldn't hope to guess what it contained. Directly on the opposite side was an open doorway to the cockpit; seats, computers, and a window with the vast view of space were just visible from her position. "Just what exactly is this?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Canter-class station hopper," Chart explained. "Pretty new model, built with efficiency AND comfort in mind, shockingly enough. Gravity gems in the floors, comfortable seats, no windows back here sadly, but the view from the cockpit is amazing." While Starry removed her saddlebags and started stuffing them in a compartment above her preferred seat, Chart turned to Countdown. "You're our pilot right? Flown anything besides sims before?"

"No sir."

"Today's your lucky day then. Gotta start somewhere, come with me I'll walk you through it. Don't worry, it's almost exactly like the sims."

=====

"SH-015 this is Celestial station, you are disengaged and clear for departure, best of luck out there."

"Copy that station, see you in three weeks," Countdown replied, turning the radio off before turning around in his seat. "Buckle up back there, we're heading out!"

A trio of clicks rang out as Starry and her partners buckled into their seats. The station hopper's RCS thrusters briefly kicked in, providing a small sense of movement as it eased away from the station. A minute later they were at a safe distance; the ship began to bank, then the main thrusters finally ignited, giving everypony a jolt as they were finally on their way.

"Course is plotted, heading is correct..." Chart announced slowly, "you can throttle down when the computer says so. Estimated arrival at Luna station should be in about, oh, two hours now."

"We won't be strapped in that whole time, will we?" Starry wondered.

"Oh of course not. Should be smooth sailing now barring any mid-course corrections. Feel free to come up here and admire the view."

Starry obliged, stepping up into the cockpit and peering over the shoulders of her pilot and commander at the expanse before them. It wasn't as good as the view from the station's observation deck, but the view still took her breath away. Out in the vast expanse of space, the distant stars shimmered against the inky black like distant gems. Directly ahead and just to the left was the moon in all its glory; a giant white marble hanging in the sky.

After a minute of quiet contemplation, Chart finally decided to break the silence. "You folks care to listen to some tunes?"

"Something tells me we don't have a choice," Countdown muttered.

Chart chuckled, "quite right young buck," then retrieved a CD from his pocket and inserted it into the ship's console. One button press later and soon the whole ship echoed with the upbeat melody of a piano and guitar duo, with lyrics shortly after:
Three months out from Griffon station, tryna make a bit

I've just three-hundred to my name, I can't afford to quit

But space is wide and dark and cold and space can kinda suck

And if the engine blows again, I'm shor'ly out of luck

=====

The two hour journey passed quickly and uneventfully. Starry and crew had the great (mis)fortune of being treated to Chart Topper's extensive space shanty collection, and several tales of missions past. Starry only paid half attention until it was announced they entered orbit around the moon and that Luna station would be popping into view sooner or later.

Luna station was, like it's namesake, quite a bit smaller than Celestial station (about 1/3rd the crew capacity), and had been built more recently. However Celestial station was the main benefactor of the space agency's resources, leaving Luna station with just enough investment to keep it maintained and expand as necessary. Large sections of the station were still original, with new additions being made to work with what was already in place rather than replace anything. A good third of the station's amenities were said to be contained within artificial gravity rings, as trying to install gravity gems would be more trouble than it was worth. Princess Luna had passed a decree calling for massive overhauls to the station so that it might someday rival Celestia's, but progress was slow, especially this much further out in space.

Despite all its shortfalls, Luna station was still the largest station in orbit around the moon, and by far the most important as it served as a stopover for the few rapidly expanding lunar surface colonies. Luna station also had orbital docks to rival Celestial station's, with vast rows of pressurized tubes and steel trusses holding some of the largest spaceships ponies had built, including the Draoconequus.

As the station rolled into view, Starry made note of its almost chaotic construction. It's crew were clearly forced to work with a lot of what they already had. The 'original' station could be identified by a pair of spinning orbital rings built along a long central tube, with the occasional intersection leading out into who knows what. Old science, cargo, or hydroponics modules perhaps? At one end of the central structure it opened up into a large disk with protrusions that made it look like a smaller Celestial station, containing the main living spaces and the newest parts of the station. Behind all this, from their perspective at least, were the orbital dockyards, easily taking up half the station's total space with a number of ships already parked there.

Starry's chance to admire it was short-lived for the time being, as they were ordered to buckle in for final approach to the station. Countdown opened a comms channel and announced their business to the station as he began gently pulling in the ship to the nearest docking bay. As the docking clamps engaged and everypony breathed a sigh of relief, they began gathering their things and disembarking.

The docking rotunda for Luna station was a lot smaller, and the central hub only contained two elevators. Otherwise the layout was much of the same, although Starry noticed a few removed panels and exposed electronics here and there. After calling the elevator they stood there waiting for it to arrive, until eventually it dinged and the doors opened.

Standing on the other side was one of the last things Starry expected to see: a bat pony! Purple coat, dark blue hair, bright yellow eyes, and a knowing grin. She was a mare, dressed in an officer uniform similar to the ones Flight Deck and Coffee Break wore. "Welcome day dwellers," she greeted them, her voice thick with an accent that reminded Starry of Hayti. "My name's Reverie, captain of Luna station. What brings you here?"

Chart stepped forward, a smile on his face. "Pleasure seeing you again Reverie. Wish we could stay, but I got some first-timers here to help take the Draconequus out to Thraxis."

"Ah Chart Topper, been a hot minute," Reverie smiled. "Taking the Draconequus eh? I wondered where all that hydrogen was gonna go." She sized up the group in front of her then pouted. "Mm, I don't suppose your new crew has time for a tour, eh?"

Chart robbed his chin thoughtfully then grinned. "Well, maybe just a quick one."

=====

Luna station was much like Celestial station on the inside, although as one would expect, much smaller. Room for 60 permanent inhabitants, cafeteria, kitchen, lounge, so on and so forth. The one thing missing was a designated gym; instead the lounge room had a few sets of exercise gear. There was still a medical wing, but it was labelled a 'clinic' rather than a hospital, and it was explained it didn't have the facilities for any surgical procedures; anypony requiring that would be shipped back to Celestial station.

Despite the smaller corridors, lack of facilities, and patchwork construction in some places, Starry found it oddly homely. She wouldn't mind spending a tour here. There was still decent amounts of traffic through the station, heading into the outer planets or down to the lunar colony, but it was still noticeably less chaotic than Celestial station.

As Reverie began to wrap up the tour, Starry couldn't help but blurt out a question. "Say uh, Reverie. Are you the only bat pony here?"

Reverie almost laughed. "Nah, course not. There's about a dozen of us here, you can probably guess why. Day dwellers still outnumber us though."

Finally the group came back around to the arrivals lobby, a decent-sized room with chairs, an information desk, and a distinct lack of any furniture (or statues) besides a potted plant here and there.

"Reckon I should let you be off then, you folks got three long weeks ahead of you," Reverie stated, before sneaking a glance at Chart Topper. "Do stay put a second though, I have a parting gift for you old man."

"Dammit, she does that on purpose," Chart muttered once Reverie was out of earshot. "I'm not even out of my 20s."

"You know her that well, huh?" Wind remarked.

"Ayep, served a few missions with her over my time up here, she was usually the commander. Only natural they put her in charge of this place," Chart explained.

A minute or two later Reverie returned, an ornate glass bottle tucked under one hoof. "Bottle of wine," she announced, presenting it to Chart. "Nothing fancy, but you know how it is smuggling alcohol up here. Have a safe flight!"

Chart popped the bottle into his saddlebags and the group waved goodbye as Reverie trotted off to do important captain things. Chart led Starry and the rest down a previously-unexplored corridor labeled 'docks', which led into the long and winding tubes where the proper ships were parked.

"Mind your step," cautioned Chart. "There'll be signs, but they stopped putting gravity gems in the floor around here. The Draconequus should be in bay three."

Soon Starry felt her hooves grow lighter and lighter and stifled a sigh as she transitioned to using the handlebars lining the corridor.

=====

Starry wasn't sure what to expect when they passed through the docking port into the Draconequus proper, but she was hoping for a little more than a bare-bones airlock. After cycling it, all they were met with was a few lockers, an air tank dispenser, and three racks containing much more rigid and metallic spacesuits; hardsuits, rather. The room was about the size of her dorm back on Equestria. Besides the airlock, there were only only two doors, one for the engine room, and another for the habitation module and cockpit.

"Alright folks, fun's over," Chart announced as he floated over to a breaker and switched the lights on. "It's time to get this bitch in the air. Star, head back to the engine room and fire up the reactor, get us some internal power going. Mint, get the gravity ring spinning. Wind, uh, if you think you can assist in any way do so, and Countdown, you're with me in the cockpit."

With a salute, Starry kicked off the nearest wall and only missed the engine room door by a few inches. Bracing herself with one hoof, she used her other to push down on the massive lever locking the door in place. As she slipped inside she was met with the red glow of backup lights partially illuminating the dozen or so consoles and computer screens lining the wall. All over every surface were exposed pipes and wires, save for a large port in the wall with a nuclear trefoil above it and writing that was only partially intelligible from where she was standing. Next to it was a large metal casket with much of the same warnings. Must be fuel storage, and the port next to it is where you insert fuel rods.

Starry took a deep breath. Alright, first real assignment of your first real mission. Piece of cake, right? She immediately got to work. Starting a spaceship's reactor was one of many things gone over at the academy, and had been drilled enough she remembered the gist of it. Thankfully it was fully expected astronauts would be forgetful idiots, and the information for something as vital as this was printed on the wall in quick but concise wording.

First things first, she checked the fuel port. Empty. As it should be, but one could never be too sure. Floating over to the storage casket, she briefly struggled to open its heavy lid (more to do with zero G than a lack of strength), and retrieved a fresh fuel rod. Even on the older reactors the setup involved fuel rods that were firmly encased within a protective covering, meaning one could theoretically handle a rod for over an hour and still get a negligible dose of radiation. Though still preferable to having to suit up every time, superstition told her not to handle it any longer than need be.

After inserting the rod into the fuel port and firmly closing it, Starry turned to the console next to it. She booted it up and began carefully following the next few steps printed on the wall and watched as the automatic startup kicked in. A loud whirring began to rev up, until finally the lights kicked in. Several bars appeared on the screen for battery banks that began rapidly filling. Once they passed 90% the whirring cut out almost completely, meaning the reactor was in a low-power state that would only provide what they needed. Starry couldn't help but hoof-pump the air. Wooo, I did it!

"Nice job down there Star, reading good power levels," came Chart's voice through the intercom suddenly. Initially startled, the compliment caused her to grin. "Mint, how's the gravity ring?"

"Firing it up now that we have power," Mint replied, her voice also crackling through the subpar speaker. A few seconds elapsed. "Zero point one G and counting."

"Alright, the ring only goes up to three-quarters G or it risks ripping itself apart by spinning too fast. Muscle atrophy sucks so stay active!"

Once the ship's main systems were online, Chart called everypony up to the cockpit to strap in for departure. Still feeling satisfied with herself, Starry happily clicked her belt and barely managed to stay still as she waited for them to officially be off and running.

"Draconequus this is Luna station, pre-flight checks look good, you'll be clear for launch as soon as we release the docking clamps."

Countdown's hoof gently rubbed the throttle. Chart got a firey glint in his eye. Mint and WInd nervously shared a glance while Starry grinned from ear to ear. Distant thunks echoed throughout the ship as the docking clamps disengaged.

"Uhhh, Draconequus, I'm afraid we have bad news. Faulty docking clamp refuses to let go, I think we'll have to send somepony out to release it manually."

Instantly the mood in the cockpit deflated. Starry couldn't help but groan. All that excitement, just to end up with a delay? Positively unfair. She barely noticed the fire returning to Chart's eyes as he looked up thoughtfully.

"Copy that station. That's a bummer, but don't sweat one of your ponies." Chart turned around, glancing from Starry to Mint and back a few times before continuing. "I think some of my crew could use the practice."

=====

Ten minutes later Starry stood (floated, rather) in the middle of the ship's EVA room, dressed up to her neck in a hardsuit. Unlike a regular flightsuit, a hardsuit was a rigid full-body space suit designed to provide protection on extended spacewalks. Painted a brilliant white, with fully articulated joints and a built-in thruster pack, it was the latest and greatest from the space program. It was well padded inside too, though it still felt claustrophobic and she hadn't even gotten the helmet on yet.

"—and once you get up there you'll have to unbolt the cover, but instructions should be printed on the inside. Don't be afraid to ask if either of you two get lost, station channels remain open until you're back in the airlock," Chart finished explaining.

Starry nodded her head in dull acknowledgement. In reality she only heard about half of it and figured she could guess her way to success with the other half. Mint, next to her, nodded her head in the same way, though with noticeably less nervousness on her face.

Starry had to admit she wasn't looking forward to this. Starting the reactor in zero g had been easy enough, and releasing a docking clamp would theoretically be even easier. The main difference this time was there would be nothing but a stuffy hardsuit between her soft, fleshy body and the cold, uncaring vacuum of space. In addition, there'd be a lot fewer ways to tell up and down up there, and finally there was the incredibly unlikely (but still technically possible) chance of her floating off into nothingness if her tether snapped. At least the suit had magboots built in. That was a small comfort.

After strapping on an air tank and checking the pressure, Starry carefully lowered the hardsuit helmet ontop of her head, feeling it click into place. Instantly everything was muted save for her own breathing. Huff. Huff. Huff. Suddenly feeling much more claustrophobic, she took a few deep breaths and sat down as she waited for Mint. She could see their mouths moving a little bit, but everything was hopelessly muffled. Finally, once they were both ready, something clicked inside her helmet and she heard Mint's buzzy voice coming through a speaker.

"Alright, I guess we're good to go then."

"Excellent," Chart Topper this time. "Go step inside the airlock and I'll cycle it. Pull down on the red lever when you're ready, don't forget to tether yourself."

Starry and Mint obliged and a minute later they were staring out an open airlock. Besides the retraced umbilical and some scaffolding, there was nothing but the vast expanse of space before them. With a bit of hesitation, Starry finally jumped forward.

GuhhhhhHHHH! Starry felt her stomach drop a little as the safety of the ship dropped away under her, replaced by the empty void of space. The suit had built-in thrusters, but she wasn't about to start orienting herself until she felt her stomach stop twisting. Vomiting inside a spacesuit was not an experience she wanted. When the sensation subsided she finally began to orient herself, gently angling forward and pushing off towards her objective. She remembered to glance behind her, and saw Mint just on her tail.

"So Star," Chart's voice suddenly crackled in her helmet. "I never got the chance to ask, where are you from?"

Starry raised an eyebrow. "Any reason you're asking now?"

"Well I won't lie, it's not just curiosity. Talking with somepony on a space walk is the best way to keep 'em calm no matter how many times they've done it. Therefore you're ordered to start chatting," he chuckled.

Starry and Mint came to the top of the ship and looked around. They were above the main junction of the ship, behind them the extended gravity ring, and before them several dozen meters of massive white fuel tanks, some partially hidden behind the only docking arm still connected to the ship. In the background, just off to the left, the moon dominated the sky. She racked her brain but couldn't think of a decent retort. "Well uh, I'm from Fillydelphia. Sorta city outskirts, not a huge fan of busy downtown areas." Her eyes settled on the only one of the four docking clamps around this section of the ship that hadn't retracted. That had to be it.

"Fillydelphia. Visited once in my youth, fond memories. How bout you Mint?"

Pushing off from the top of the spaceship, the duo slowly drifted towards the top of the docking clamp. "Born in Coltorado, then moved out to Canterlot when I was kinda young and grew up there," Mint explained. They were coming up on their destination in a moment. Starry clicked together her magboots to activate them and held a hoof out in front of her. "Almost at the clamp by the way."

Starry felt her hoof connect with the metal structure and the magboot locked her in place. "Already? Good, good," Chart said. "You two got it from here. Anyway, how was it growing up in Fillydelphia?"

Rifling through the tools clipped to her suit, Starry laid her hoof on a power drill and brought it up to one of the four bolts holding down the clamp's maintenance panel. "It was alright I guess. Nothing too interesting."

As Starry started undoing the first bolt, Chart audibly sighed. "Please, everypony says that. No funny stories or anything?"

The first bolt finished unscrewing and started floating away before Mint caught it in her magic. Starry moved onto the other before responding. "Not that I can think of right now. I spent a lot of time inside reading, that's kinda what got me motivated to end up here. Where are you from anyway?"

"Me? Ponyville," Chart replied.

"Ponyville? That's a pretty backwater town, ain't it?" Mint piped up inbetween grabbing the second bolt.

"Nah, hardly. Not anymore at least. You folks should visit during shore leave, pretty busy place now, but still got that small town charm, y'know?"

The last two bolts came with the same ease. The panel carefully slid away, held in Mint's magic. Starry was faced with a whole lot of hydraulics, electronics, levers, and a comically undersized print of the instructions in the corner. She leaned in and began carefully reading. Step 1: Retrieve CLAMP RELEASE KEY and screw into CLAMP RELEASE PORT. Step 2: Pull on CLAMP RELEASE KEY to withdraw CLAMP RELEASE PORT and set interior switch to ON. And so forth.

While Starry worked, Mint watched on placidly. Finally she decided to say something again. "Say Chart, you work on the Draconequus before? You seemed awful familiar with it."

"Eh, this'll be uhhhh, my third time I think, second as mission commander. I've flown close to a hundred missions though and ships are made to have a lot of identical or similar systems," he explained. Starry only paid half attention. Step 4: Depress CLAMP RELEASE LEVER until docking arm is fully retracted.

With one hoof still held in place magnetically, Starry used her free one to pull down on the designated lever, then looked below her. Sure enough the arm was slowly approaching them. "Looks like the clamp released okay, it's almost retracted," she announced, receiving a satisfied grunt of acknowledgement. She watched it retract for a few more seconds before looking up at the panel. It was then she noticed the needle on a pressure gauge dipping into numbers on a red background. "Uhh Chart, something doesn't look ri-"

KLANG!

Starry felt her heart jump into her throat as something suddenly lurched and she felt the vibration of it throughout her whole suit. A split second later she felt her suit and helmet pelted with unknown fragments, one of which clipped her helmet with enough force to leave a scratch in the glass."GAHH!" She looked down in shock, noticing one of the arm's hydraulic pistons had more or less disintegrated, spraying hydraulic fluid and shards of metal in all directions.

"Star, Mint! You two good?" Chart yelled through the earpiece.

Starry looked up, meeting Mint's shocked expression with her own, though thankfully they both appeared unharmed. "Physically fine...i think. It uhhh, l-looks like one of the pistons e-exploded."

"Exploded?!"

"Wh-what she said," Mint steadily replied. "P-piston's gone. Shattered. Exploded. Whatever."

Chart cursed. "Guess that's why it didn't retract, huh? If it was ready to do that...Thank Celestia you're both alright though. Not much we can do about it so get back to the airlock."

Starry and Mint barely remembered to bolt the panel back on, doing so in utter silence while frequently taking glances at the shattered piece of machinery below them. They slowly glided their way back to the airlock, still refusing to speak a word. Before cycling it they each unhooked their tethers from their suits, then fired up the winches that would reel them back in. Starry felt a lump in her throat as her tether came back short, and looked down to find the other half she had just unclipped floating under her, its end frayed where the disintegrating piston had cut right through it.

Once the airlock cycled and the interior door opened, Starry trotted forward and jerked off her helmet, gasping as she released a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"You good Star?" Chart asked, popping through one of the doors.

"Y-yeah, pretty good," she huffed, feeling her nerves start to settle. "I guess I didn't realize that could happen."

"Wish I had something to say besides 'it happens' but...yeah. Incidents like that are rare and hardsuits are really protective. You're safer than you think," he reassured.

"Yeah...thanks. What now then?"

"Well station wasn't too happy when I told them the news, but its under their jurisdiction now. The clamp retracted enough for us to get underway, so as soon as you're all strapped in again we'll fire up the engines," Chart explained, a smile returning to his face.

Chart returned the way he came, leaving Starry and Mint alone in the EVA room. Starry cradled her helmet in her hooves, staring long and hard at the scratch left in it until she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"You good Star?"

Starry whipped around to see Mint's concerned expression. "...Yeah," she finally replied. "Just wasn't expecting my first spacewalk to go like that."

"Me neither. We're still here though. Just gotta be that much more careful next time," Mint reassured. "Now cmon, let's help each other out of these damn suits."

=====

A half hour later, after slipping out of their suits, buckling back into the cockpit, and listening to space traffic control go through the motions again, they were finally ready to depart. For real this time, barring a freak accident or act of Faust.

"Whenever you're ready Countdown," Chart said. "Nice and easy, this ship's quite a few times the weight of that station hopper."

The beads of sweat were obvious on Countdown's face as he began maneuvering the several-hundred ton tanker. Auxiliary thrusters kicked in, gently guiding the ship away from its bay, then away from the station. Once enough space had been cleared, and their bearing set, his hoof gently eased the throttle up. The ship began to hum as its massive plasma thrusters pulled the ship away from the station with increasing speed. Soon the throttle was at 100%, and Countdown finally withdrew his hoof with a sigh.

"Splendid. Burn will take about half an hour, and I'm afraid we can't leave till then. Anypony up for some space shanties?" Chart asked with a sly smirk.

With the exception of Countdown, every other hoof in the cockpit raised. Eventually, even he begrudgingly joined in.

"I'll admit I may have changed the words a bit for this one, but I'm sure you'll all catch on." He cleared his throat.

"I'm a, space tanker commandeer,

En route through the vacuum ocean of space,

A tanker captain in the high frontier,

Running three weeks out of Luna!"

Starry wasn't a singer, but she couldn't help but hum along. As it turned out, nopony else in the room was a singer either, but as more of them joined in it stopped sounding like a mess and more like an actual piece of music. She was the last to fully join in, but she didn't feel as embarrassed as she thought she would.

As the crew sung away their woes while the engines fired away, Starry realized how much she was looking forward to the next three weeks.

Author's Note:

I will admit the lyrics at the bottom of this chapter are shamelessly parodied from one of my all-time favorite filk songs, which can be heard here.

Comments

[ibanix]

“Equestria spun on its axis just fast enough that the sun and moon appeared locked in the sky, requiring Celestia and Luna to adjust them accordingly twice a day. ”

… wait, what? If Equestria is tidally locked to the sun/moon, then those bodies would *never* move in the skies. Apart from the magic sunrise/sunset, they’d just sit in the same place all the time. Always noon time, no sun moving across the sky during the day or the moon moving across the sky at night.

[ibanix]

> Princess Luna had passed a degree

decree

> the largest spaceships ponies had built, including the Draoconequus.

spelling of ship…

[ibanix]

> gently pulling in the shop to the nearest docking bay.

… ship ….

This story is great but you need an editor.