Chapter 2: Communication
“Your domain? You’re kidding me. This is the damned moon, nopony owns the moon!”
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP…
The sound droned on in my ears and caused them to ring uncomfortably. Rolling over to face the wall I pulled the covers further up over my head and tried to ignore it. The bunk was cozy, the bunk was warm, the bunk was where I was meant to be. Why couldn’t a pony sleep in for once? I was a hard worker just like everyone else, surely I deserved a little extra shut-eye just this once.
The alarm clock continued on in its pragmatic indifference. Mocking my attempts at self-care and a good night’s sleep. The clock didn’t care that I was tired, the clock didn’t care that I was cold, the clock wanted me to get up, nothing more, nothing less. It was cold, calculated, unwavering. It never ran slow and was always precisely on time, down to the picosecond. I regarded the lowly alarm clock with reverence, it had achieved a level of dependability that I could never hope to match.
“Ship… W-what time is it?” I groaned, cozying myself further into the covers. Why was it so absurdly cold in here anyways? Hopefully Frost didn’t set my thermostat absurdly low, if she did then would retaliate accordingly, regardless of what Azure had said—I had a few ideas for some pranks to die for!
“Time is: 0600 hours. Alarm set for… Fifteen minutes ago. Solar weather is—“
I shot a hoof out from under the sanctuary of my covers, bringing it down on the alarm clock. The beeping was finally silenced as I groaned and sat up, lazily blinking my eyes as they struggled to take in the world around me. I was behind schedule, but nowhere near late. Yet.
“—mild to elevated, reduce exposure to sun wherever possible when outside the vessel. If you feel as if you have taken too high of a radiation dose, been flashed by the sun or have optical afterimages or speckles that persist for more than four hours, please seek medical attention.”
Yawning, I sat on the edge of the bed. My cozy covers called out for my return. but I paid them no heed. The time for sleeping was over and it was now time to get the day started in earnest. Normally I’d have woken up hours before when Circuit Solder would get up, but he wasn’t here and, well, maybe it was best not to dwell on the absence of my friend. There was a day that needed me on the front foot.
“Turn on the cabin lights at fifty percent. Change the thermostat to sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. Turn on the shower and maintain one hundred and ten degrees.” I slipped off the edge of the bed on shaky hooves and yawned.
The lights came on and I took in the room around me. It was bland but cozy, just like the rest of the ship—a mottled assortment of sharp grays and whites everywhere you’d turn. To my right was the door to the central hallway. To my left, there was some open space and a large window which looked out onto the black nothingness of the lunar surface. Directly opposite the bunks there was a mirror and a standing closet with a glass door, two white and blue spacesuits hanging proudly on the hooks, perfectly lit by both the display lights of the closet and their own glowing accents. Hanging behind each of them was a helmet while oxygen packs and my set of detachable wing-covers sat on the floor. Faust above, I never got tired of seeing those when I got up. They were not only cool as hell but, well, they were double cool as hell!
“Error. Error. Thermostat control is not responding. Reverting to the backup control scheme… Backup control scheme is nonresponsive. Please enact maintenance.”
I groaned, rubbing my eyes with my hooves. I was beginning to miss the previous ship model, they had already sorted out all the little quicks before I started learning to fly them. “Ship, add room 13A thermostat repair to the maintenance to-do list, priority low. Schedule repair time for this afternoon.”
The lights in the room flashed green in acknowledgement before returning to normal. As much as I hated some of the new design choices, the verbal assistant feature was one of the better ideas that had been implemented as of late. Saved me having to type things into the ship’s computer system on the workstation in the corner of my room.
To the left of the closet was the bathroom door which I made my way over to, stumbling a little in my groggy state. Clicking the keypad with my hoof, the door silently slid open and a hot waft of steam and the sound of running water filled my senses. I had time for a shower, so why not indulge myself in a quick rinse?
As I stepped into the shower I could feel my cares float away. The jets of scalding hot water were reassuring and comforting, telling me that the day would be fine. All I needed to do was get all the odd jobs around the ship done and by then Azure might’ve been able to talk some sense into Frost. Today was going to be easy. I stood there and reveled in the feeling for a few minutes before I’d had my fill.
“Turn off the shower.” I stated, the steamy-hot jets of water shutting off immediately. Then there was a blast of warm air as the drying cycle turned on. I shook my coat to loosen any remaining water before stepping back out of the shower.
Standing in front of the mirror I picked up a bush, trying my best to square up my buzz-cut mane. It has always grown from the color of my coat to a dark blue as it grew longer but micro-gravity hygiene was a cruel mistress and I had given up on trying to let it grow out long ago. Nothing was worse than having little strands of your mane float in front of your eyes when your helmet was on. So, I kept it meticulously buzzed down, right to the bottom inch of the blue layer, it’s just how I liked it.
I never understood why Frost had insisted on keeping her braids, they were probably so unbelievably uncomfortable to stick into her helmet. Her suit even had to have an extended tail to manage her braids, whereas Azure and I were just able to tie up our own into bob-tails and use the standard tail nubs.
I kept a watchful eye on myself in the mirror. The blue-steel coat, dark blue blaze on the bridge of my muzzle, and muddy-brown eyes I was all too familiar with stared back at me, sharing the same focused expression. I didn’t look half bad when having to keep up appearances. Though, I guess maybe it was time to take some scissors to the stubble under my chin, it was getting a little too long after all.
Azure’s voice came out of nowhere. “So… Do you always stare at yourself in the mirror this long, or is this a new thing? I never took you as the egotistical type.”
I whirled around and stared at Azure who was leaning against the bathroom door frame with a casual ease. The pale eggshell-blue of her coat glistened in the low light. She must have just gotten out of the shower too.
“C-Captain! I thought I was supposed to go on shift at 0630, my apologies.” I set down the brush, raising my right wing in salute.
Azure chuckled, sauntering into the bathroom as she looked me up and down. “At ease, Private. I merely wanted to drop by and see if you could help me with my mane. Normally I’d ask Frost to do it, but she’s still out like a rock and I don’t think I’m going to be able to wake her before breakfast. You know how she is.”
I scrunched my muzzle, regarding this turn of events with uncertainty. “Brush your mane? Azure, you’re twenty-four. I think you are perfectly capable of brushing your own mane if you set your mind to it.” I slid the brush across the countertop to her.
Azure frowned, sliding the brush back to me. “I can brush it, sure. But I’ve been trying really hard to replicate that style you did for me that one time on the space station, what was that, the RS-11 mission? Do you remember it?”
A flood of memories passed across the front of my mind, taking me back years in a single moment. Wow, had it really been that long? “Yeah, I remember resupply mission eleven. That was the one where you sprained your ankle and I had to help you function for a week. Good times. I still remember—“
“Let’s not bring up that much about it, Orion. You know that one was a kick between the legs for me. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and then some more on top of that.” Azure trotted over beside me, looking at herself in the mirror. “So, can you do it or not?” She harrumphed.. “I bet you just want to watch me butcher it horribly, don’t you?”
I smiled at the thought. While it would be funny to see her try, she was the captain of this mission and I was obliged to help her if she asked for it. I looked over her messy bed-head, mulling over how best to attack it and get it into shape. “Well, I suppose just this once I can help you, especially since you asked so nicely.”
Picking up the brush I ran it through her messy mane, taking out all the knots and bird's nests I came across. She really did have a lovely mane, a gradient of blues and teals which wove an intricate tapestry, not unlike the sky when far away from the cities and light pollution of central Equestria. I gave her mane a slight swoop to the right, then set down the brush. “You know, your mane would really be something else if you just took care of it more. You need to train it to hold the shape you want, otherwise it’ll just be a bed head. Not that that style looks bad on you, it’s just unbecoming of a Captain.”
Azure hummed to herself, turning her head from side to side as she admired her reflection. “Yeah, I’m well aware. How’d you learn so much about keeping up manes anyway? Surely you’re not a fashionista in your free time, that would be super off-beat for you.”
I smiled, trotting out of the bathroom and standing in front of the window, admiring the faint glow on the horizon as the sunrise neared. Azure followed closely, standing by my side. “You learn quite a few things when you have two younger sisters. I was always having to help them do their manes or pack lunches so they could get to school on time. Every day of middle and high school I rose with the sun to help get them ready to go, and to make sure mom and pops got out the door with all their things too.”
Azure raised an eyebrow. “You never told me that you were that involved with caring for your siblings. That’s quite responsible of you, Orion.”
I shrugged, watching as the sun peeked over the horizon, bathing the lunar surface in a pale white light. “It’s never come up in conversation before, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”
“Buddy, you’re lucky to have siblings. As an only child, trust me on that fact. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. You’re blessed to have them.”
I glanced over at Azure, who was looking off with a distant stare. Something had shifted with her demeanor and I didn’t quite know what to say in response. So, we stood there in silence until I could find a way to respond to her. “I know, Captain. Thank you. I’m sorry for not mentioning it sooner, I suppose that…” I rubbed the back of my neck with a hoof, struggling to hold onto my train of thought. “That, well, I’m sorry. I’m kind of blanking on what to say here.”
Azure sighed and smiled, replying in a quiet tone, “Don’t apologize Orion, we all have our secrets. Never let work become your life, keeping your personal life separate is how you find balance”
I nodded in agreement. “That’s for sure. Secrets are just a part of life, you don’t want to just throw everything out in the open.”
Azure smirked, nudging her flank against my own. “You have secrets? Oh, please tell me absolutely everything.”
I rolled my eyes, nudging her back. “Maybe another time, Captain. Secrets are something you have to work for—“ My gaze caught on a glimmer of light in the distance, It was there for a moment then gone the next. “…Huh. Did you see that? It almost looked like there was something out there to the south catching the light of the sun.”
Azure scrunched her muzzle, staring off into the distance. “Yeah, I thought I saw that out of the corner of my eye as well. Probably some crystalline rock reflecting the sun.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it. I’ll see if it happens again tomorrow morning, if so then maybe I can triangulate the location and we can go pick it up for posterity. Wouldn’t that be kind of neat?”
Azure snickered, punching me in the shoulder playfully. “You want to drive out all the way out there for a silly rock? You’re joking. Now, where were we… Ah, yes. You were going to tell me some of your secrets!”
I laughed, turning away from the window as I headed for the door, Azure trailing close behind. “How about a cup of coffee and some breakfast first? Then I’ll see what I can divulge to you, on the assumption that you’ll be doing the same.”
“It’s a deal, you dork,” Azure replied as we trotted out of the room and headed towards the kitchen in the front of the ship. “How do you want it, black? Decaf? Something else entirely?”
“Just straight black is fine. You know all that sugar and creamer is for the weak!” I replied, ruffling my wings slightly in indignation.
Azure chuckled. “Well, I’m the weakest there is then! I have no clue how you drink it like that, it’s just an awful experience.”
“Authentic. It’s an authentic experience. You wouldn’t understand, it’s an acquired taste.”
Azure rolled her eyes. “Believe me when I say this. No. Thanks. You can acquire all that taste for yourself.”
We rounded the corner and I took a seat at the table, Azure cantering over to the coffee maker. With a soft click it turned on and started to heat up. Leaning back in my chair I took a look around the kitchen, my gaze falling upon a large book sitting on the countertop. “So, are you doing a little light reading, or is that one of Frost’s?” I asked, pointing at it with my hoof.
Azure poured two cups of coffee, setting one in front of me and the other at her own place. “Oh, that? It’s one of my manuals from when I was doing training to become a commissioned officer. Just some ‘light’ reading, I’ll explain more later once Frost gets up. Want some cereal with your coffee?”
I regarded it with apprehension. “…Yes. I’ll take a bowl of cereal. Should I be worried or am I just being irrational?”
Azure set a bowl in front of me, pouring some cereal into it. “Oh, you shouldn’t be worried at all, so long as you listen. If anything it’s our horned friend who should be worried. But, then again, I had a long talk with her last night and have it in good faith that she will behave.” Azure stuck her tongue out and winked before grabbing the book, setting it down at her place with a heavy thump.
I picked up my spoon and shoveled some of the sweet cereal into my maw, being interrupted promptly by the kitchen door sliding open. Morning Frost tramped in, flinging open one of the cabinets with her magic and levitating out a bowl before setting it opposite from me at the table as she sat down.
“Good morning, Azzy. How was your sleep?” Azure sauntered over and poured some cereal into her bowl.
Frost groaned. “Not long enough, it’s never long enough…”
Azure made her way back around The table and took a seat, flipping open the book and hoofing through a few pages. “You know, Frost, I find it incredibly ironic that you are not a morning person, even though you—“
Frost glared daggers at her. “Captain, with all due respect, you have made that joke more times than I can count. It has gone from a knee-slapper to detrimentally unfunny. If you would be so kind as to find better material, I’d be most grateful.”
Azure raised a hoof in defense. “Now come on Frost, let’s not start the morning like that. It was just a joke.”
Frost continued to glare at Azure for a few moments before turning her attention to the bowl in front of her. She picked up a spoon and started to chow down without another word.
I took a few bites of my own breakfast before glancing around the table. The tension in the air was palpable as we sat in silence. Each one of us is either engrossed in our food, or in our own unwillingness or inability to speak. There was an unspoken tension in the room, a prevailing sense of tentative and uneasy peace which no one wanted to break.
A time passed before Azure broke the silence, shuffling through a few pages of her manual between bites of cereal. Both Frost and I turned to look at her, which she took as her own cue to speak. “So, I couldn’t help but notice that yesterday we had some difficulties communicating with one another. No specific individual was at fault, we all devolved into choice words and overreactions. I’m not mad at anyone though, we can fix this, but only if we keep level heads and talk to one another with the level of respect and professionalism that our job demands.”
I glanced over at Frost who was already glaring at me with disdain. “Okay. I’m willing to talk, so long as it doesn’t devolve to blows.”
Morning Frost groaned, levitating her spoon up to point at me. I felt as if I should be offended by it, but it came off as nothing but childish to me. “Azzy, I already told you last night. I don’t want to—“
“Frost, you promised.” Azure whined, looking up from her breakfast with pleading eyes, “A unicorn’s word is as good as gold, you know what superstitious shenanigans happen if you go back on a promise. Especially a Pinkie Promise.”
“Ugh. Please don’t remind me that I let you talk me into that. I just know that that’s going to bite me in the ass later… Fine, a promise is a promise and I’m a mare of my word. I’m here at the table, so, what do you have to say?”
Azure leaned back, a relaxed smile spreading across her face as she tapped the open book in front of her. “I was looking through some of my old manuals last night, the ones from when I was doing my leadership training courses to become an officer and, well, I suppose that there’s nothing wrong with being upfront about it. I brought both of you here for a little team-building. A department that, given unforeseen changes in responsibilities and expectations, we are seemingly lacking in. It’ll be fun, trust me!”
Frost contemplated Azure for a moment before slamming her face into the table. “Captain, you can’t be serious…”
I raised an eyebrow, turning my attention back to Azure. “So, what would these ‘team-building’ exercises entail? Are we talking about sharing fears or trust falls or…” I paused, seeing a pointed look in Azure's eyes as she waited for me to be quiet, “...What exactly do you have in mind?”
Azure grinned. “I think we’ve lost sight of where we’ve come, and where we’re going. How about each of us share a little about how we got into spaceflight, and what we hope to achieve, both for this mission and beyond. That’s not too open-ended a question, is it?”
“Azzy—“
“I’ll go first.” I interrupted, tapping the table with my forehooves.
Azure turned toward me and nodded, glancing down at the book. “Alright, share your name, age, and race.”
I furrowed my brow. “Uh, why exactly? You already know all that information. I don’t think any of that is going to be of use.”
Azure stared at me before tapping the manual. “You’re the one who volunteered to go first. We are going to do this by the book, just like we did on the very first day of this assignment. Do I make myself clear, Private?”
I gulped, raising my hooves in defense before nodding slowly. “Of course, Captain. As you wish…”
Azure smiled. “Good. So, give us your name, age, and race.”
“Hi, I’m Orion Zephyr, 22, pegasus. It’s nice to meet you…?” I replied sheepishly, looking over at her for a sign of approval.
Azure glanced down at the book, then back up at me with an encouraging smile. “It’s nice to meet you Orion. Do you have any family? What was your upbringing like?”
“I have a mother, a father, and two wonderful younger sisters. My father is a weather pony, specifically a cloud-buster. Mom is a pencil-pusher in the cloud factory in Cloudsdale. I had a pretty normal upbringing, or so I think, though mom and pops were always busy. I had to juggle my own education, caring for my younger siblings, and making sure everyone got out of the house on time every morning. I guess you can say that I had to grow up quick so that my sisters didn’t have to.”
“Tell me, Orion, how did you come to work for the Equestrian Space Agency?
“Oh, that’s a little bit tougher.” I rubbed the back of my neck with a hoof, trying to put my thoughts together. “Well, ever since I was a little colt I had always loved flying, and night skies. I got good grades in school, particularly in comprehension of aerodynamics and flight mechanics. After I graduated high school I applied to join ESA as a pilot, and was accepted into the training program.”
“So, how long have you been with the agency? What goals do you have for your future?”
“I’ve been with ESA for three years, and two of those have been as an active astronaut. Nine missions later here I am at the pinnacle of my career, Flight Commander on Luna Four. Even though that position is just fancy terminology for ‘pilot’, I consider it the apex of my journey. My goals are to continue to fly and to reach for the stars, just as I’ve always done. Especially with my friends beside me.”
Azure clapped her hooves together, practically overflowing with delight. “Orion, that was absolutely lovely! Thank you for sharing with us, you get a solid A+ on your grade.”
Frost rolled her eyes, resting her head in her hooves. “I detest this with every fiber of my being. I’m not doing it, you will not be able to make me. I refuse.”
Azure relaxed in her chair, sticking her tongue out at Frost. “It’s not your turn yet anyways, it’s mine.” Azure slid the manual over to me, giving a sly wink. “Alright Orion, you’re the interviewer now. Hit me with your best shot!”
I smiled before reading the page. “Alright, share your name, age, and race.”
“Hi, my name is Astral Azure, 24, earth pony.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Azure. Tell me about your family. What was your childhood like?”
Azure brought a hoof up to her chin, thinking for a moment. “I was born in Trotpeaka to two wonderful parents. My father, an earth pony, and mother, a pegasus. They were both in the office sector, though were always home every morning and night like clockwork. Some of my fondest memories growing up were leading my group of friends all over the city during the summer months, looking for trouble to get ourselves into.”
I grinned, shuffling my wings slightly as I got comfortable in my chair. “Now that doesn’t surprise me one bit, thank you for sharing. How did you come to work for ESA? How long have you been employed here?”
“I got through my schooling early and without a hitch, then went to the Trotpeaka Aerospace Institute where I did two years in Flight Logistics. One of my professors tipped me off on ESA, or rather, saw some potential in me and took it upon himself to schedule an interview for me. Let me tell you, I was so surprised when I got a letter in the mail for that. Almost five years and sixteen missions later, the rest is history.”
“…And what are your goals? What do you hope to achieve on this mission?”
“I hope to get through this mission with no injuries and having achieved our goals but most of all, I want to leave here with lifelong memories of my friends that I can cherish.”
I couldn’t help from beam ear to ear, it was such an on-point response for Azure.
Both Azure and I turned to look at Frost, who was sulking in her chair with an unamused expression. “What? What do you want me to say? Do you want me to divulge my childhood and all my internalized fears and regrets? You’re not my therapist, you’ll get nothing like that out of me.”
I tried to give her an honest smile. “Well, I for one want to hear your story. You’ve never told me much about your past.”
Azure stood up from the table, taking her empty bowl over to the sink. “Come on Frost, it’s not going to kill you to open up a little in front of Orion. Everything here is confidential.”
Frost muttered something unintelligible under her breath, looking first to me, then to Azure before giving a dramatic sigh. “This is so stupid. Alright, fine. ‘Hi!’ My name is Morning Frost, age 27, unicorn. I grew up with two well-off parents in Canterlot, and went to the University for a four year degree in Exogeology. I was scouted out and hired by ESA as a researcher, later as a flight specialist. Four years and eleven missions later, here I am, suffering immensely at the hooves of my fellow crewmates and want this stupid mission to be over with already.” Frost crossed her hooves, frowning in displeasure.
“Did you not want to share anything about what you hope to achieve?” Azure asked leadingly, sitting back down at her seat.
Frost brandished the spoon at me again. “No. Not while he’s here.”
Azure opened her mouth to protest but I spoke first. “Frost, I respect it. You don’t have to tell me.” I had to mentally remind myself that I was supposed to try to get along with her, whether I liked it or not. It wasn’t about me anymore, it was about the mission at hoof.
Frost’s brow became furrowed as she contemplated me. There was a silent pause before the spoon was released from her magical grip and it clattered to the table below. “…Thank you, I appreciate it.”
Azure clapped her hooves again. “Good! This is wonderful progress! You’re both well on your way to being—“
Frost and I turned in sync to stare at her. She wavered, but continued her thought. “…Friends. Well, maybe not yet, but progress is progress.”
Frost stood up, pushing her chair back under the table. “Azure, as much as I would love to continue these exercises, we really must get a move on with our day. There is only so much light to take advantage of and we have so much that needs to be accomplished. Do you have a debrief for us?”
Azure nodded, getting up from the table as well, holding a sheet of paper in her hooves. I followed her lead and also got up, standing at attention ready to receive orders. “Of course. Mission control has given us our first day's worth of mission objectives, they are as follows…”
“Primary objective, set up six seismic monitoring stations, inter-spaced by two and a half mile intervals in a formation to the northwest of the landing site for triangulation of moon-quakes. Ensure all stations are operational and in sunlit locations.
Secondary objective, set up the communications array to strengthen the data stream being sent back to Equus. Verify the integrity of the electrical system under the new shift in power draw and make changes accordingly.
Tertiary objective, inspect the exterior hull of the ship and take note of any damaged paint or hull plate caused by rocks being kicked up during the landing procedure, make a report of any damage and apply repairs where possible. Check landing legs for settling or sinking. Verify integrity of any easily accessible windows or seals.”
Azure set down the sheet of paper with a confident smile, her commanding tone starting to leak back into her words. “So, Frost, you’re with me on setting up those seismic stations. Orion, you can help us load those onto the rover before seeing to the communications array. If you can finish all that before it’s dark, see to the inspection of the hull. It shouldn’t be much more than inspecting the whole ship with your suit’s flashlight.”
My ears perked up. Azure has changed her mind on wanting me to stay at the ship? Well, it was still technically at the ship, but at least I would be able to get out of the airlock and stretch my legs for an hour or two. I wasn’t going to complain.
Azure smirked, winking in my direction. “I see that you’re lost in thought there Orion. Yes, that means you’re going to be working outside today. You’re welcome.”
Morning Frost rolled her eyes. “Trust me, it gets very old after a week or two. Especially when you get back from a long day’s work and have to get all that regolith off your suit. You won’t know true pain until you spend a half hour dusting yourself off in the airlock just so you can come inside without getting it everywhere. I swear, it statically sticks to anything it comes into contact with!”
I stepped out into the hallway, Azure and Frost following behind me. “Frost, forgive me, but it sounds like you are speaking from experience. Is that the case?”
Frost laughed, catching me completely off guard. “Heh, at least you have a few brain cells up there. Yes Orion, you’re correct in your assumptions. Even I stumbled and fell more times than I’d care to admit on Luna Two. The best part is that you will too, and I’ll be there to laugh when you inevitably eat shit.”
I stopped outside the mare’s quarters and chuckled, turning around to face them. How tactful of her. “Be sure to record it for posterity, I want to watch it later with my future offspring. I’m going to hold you accountable on this, don’t disappoint me!”
Frost cackled. “Oh, I will. Believe me on that.” With a swish of her braid, Frost ducked into the room and out of sight.
“Orion, suit up and meet us in the cargo bay in fifteen minutes. We’re going to have to hunt through all the crates to find the seismometers and it’ll go faster with all three of us.” Azure said, waving a hoof at me before slipping through the doorway.
I tried to wave back, but she was already inside. Well, guess it was the thought that counted. Turning around I trotted a few paces down the hall with a pep in my step, quickly entering my room with a relieved sigh. Looking up, I set my sights on the space suit hanging up in the closet. It was time to get my hooves dirty.
* * *
There was a soft crackle of static through my helmet’s speaker as Morning Frost spoke. “Orion, whatever you do please please please don’t drop that crate on your way to the rover. They are hyper-sensitive instruments and we will not only have no way to replace them, but will also not be able to achieve one of our mission goals if you fumble them. Do. Not. Trip.”
I shifted the metallic crate on my back. This was one of the moments where I wished that the suits had actual jointed wings, it would make balancing an order of power easier. “I got it, Frost. Don’t worry, I did table service at a restaurant in Cloudsdale while I was in high school. I learned how to balance… Well enough.”
An unamused snort emanated from the speaker. “I don’t appreciate you trying to make this lighthearted, I need those seismometers to fulfill my own obligations to this mission. Just don’t drop them.”
I gingerly trotted across the cargo bay to the side of the rover where Frost lifted the box off my back with her magic, setting it on the flatbed. The rover in question was a six-wheeled contraption whose appearance I could best equate to a soup can, but given the ability to locomote at low speeds. It had a large spherical front window and some portholes along the side and was just barely large enough to seat four. The main attraction, though, was the short flatbed on the back and a small crane for handling heavy equipment. It reminded me of how my little sisters would try to draw a cart when they were younger, but Its utility and function more than made up for its silly appearance.
“What are you doing standing there? Go get another one, we still have three more to load!” Frost waved me off with a hoof. Turning, I trotted back across the cargo bay and passed Azure. She paid me no mind though, too absorbed in taking down notes on a holographic clipboard that she had in her hooves.
“So, Frost, why exactly is ESA trying to determine the rate and severity of moonquakes anyways? If there are any they haven’t been strong enough to rattle any ships on prior missions, especially now that we have auto-leveling and cushioning landing struts.” I picked up another box and heaved it up onto my back, the process repeating once again before Frost responded.
“Because we aren’t worried about ships, Orion. We are far more concerned with the feasibility and stability of constructing structures. The moon is the ideal place to both build and launch craft further into the solar system. Once you get past the initial monetary cost of establishing a presence here, you should be able to save over half the cost in Delta-V to get anywhere in the solar system you want, which saves a lot of money launching brutish rockets from Equis.”
I waited for her to take the next box off my back. “So… You’re saying that they are looking into building a moon base?”
Frost picked up the box then stuck her tongue out at me. “Yes, Orion. They are looking into building a moon base, how smart and observant of you.”
Azure coughed before shutting off her clipboard, collapsing it before returning it to one of the front pockets on her suit. “Frost, let’s not get started down that path, we were doing so well for the past half-hour. Just get along for another fifteen minutes and you don’t have to talk to him again until we get back tonight.”
Frost unapologetically murmured. “My my, that sounds absolutely lovely.”
I picked up another box while Azure grabbed the last one, both of us bringing them back to the rover in equal stride. With a flash of her horn, Frost lifted the last two seismometers onto the flatbed.
“Good, that should be everything accounted for. I’m surprised that Orion didn’t drop anything. Well, there’s always tomorrow I suppose.”
“Frost, what did I say about being disparaging to crewmates? Think before you speak, please,” Azure groaned as she heaved the last of the equipment up onto the bed of the rover before climbing up to ratchet strap it all down.
“I did nothing of the sort. I was just observing that he always had a tendency to drop stuff back in train—“
“Frost, I said to keep it to yourself,” Azure commanded, clearly unamused by the unicorn’s antics. She gingerly climbed up the ladder and stepped past the equipment, opening the door to the rover’s airlock. Morning Frost promptly followed her inside and shut the door.
I cantered out ahead of the contraption as the cargo bay ramp lowered, revealing the vast panorama of the lunar surface as far as the eye could see. I made my way to the equipment locket near the door and retrieved a bright red traffic baton, lighting it up and holding it in my hoof. I leisurely backed up down the ramp, guiding the rover as it rumbled forward. “Now, you two be safe and don’t do anything reckless, please. If you get into trouble, call me. If something isn’t working then consult the manual first, then call me.” As I followed the over further and further down the ramp I could feel the gravity decrease. The artificial gravity talismans only had so much range.
“Duly noted, Orion. We’ll be as safe as ever. Will the communications array be up for that Buckball game tonight? I do still want to watch it with you, and I guess Frost can watch it with us too if she wants. Assuming we get back in time!” Azure replied.
Frost let out an audible huff, and I could see her looking at her watch pointedly as if to hurry us along. “No thanks, I don’t watch sports. I’d rather be working on examining the new data in the lab.”
“Oh, boo. We can enjoy the game without her. Be safe and we’ll see you tonight! Don’t forget to do that visual inspection of the ship, we want to make sure everything is still in good order. Let me know if anything is egregiously broken.” After a moment the soft static cut off as both Azure and Frost disconnected from the live frequency.
I sighed, watching as the rover gradually drove away, kicking up spurts of regolith behind it that hung in the air for a time as it bounced along across the surface. Man, it looked like so much fun. I wish I could have gone with them but there was work to be done. Looking down at the ground I found that I had taken a few steps off the ramp. Lifting a hoof I revealed the tread pattern of the suit’s hooves below me. I couldn’t help but smile. My first steps. I snapped a photo before making my way back towards the ship, taking my time as I tried to get a feel for the lower gravity.
My whole body felt light, which was par for the course. I did only weigh a sixth of what I weighed back on Equis. Still, it was quite the change to acclimate to. When I tried to walk normally I leaped more than I actually walked. Gentle, I had to be gentle.
Tapping the side of my helmet I turned on the suit’s flashlights and began to meticulously inspect the engine bells and plumbing that was within my reach. Everything on the backside of the ship was pristine and glossy, but wouldn’t be that way for long. The second we brought this thing back into Equis’s atmosphere it would go from new out of the box to used. Soot and burn marks everywhere, that would be the true test of this beast’s resolve and build quality.
I made my way underneath the rear landing gear, noting a few scratches here and there. I took pictures with the helmet’s camera and continued on, taking mental notes of where all the damage was located. As I came fully underneath the ship the scope of it was more evident. Lots of little dings and scratches on the surface from rocks being kicked up by the landing thrusters, but nothing more serious than that.
I breathed a mental sigh of relief. While I wasn’t hopelessly lost, Circuit Solder had much much more training on this side of things. I would have to make a report and send it back home to have mission control assess the risk, then make a complete step-by-step process plan for each individual repair. Solder could just see the damage and know exactly how to fix it, then do it immediately to boot. Truly he was a master of his craft.
Coming to the front landing gear I pressed a hoof against it, the boot magnetically sticking to it. With ease I pulled myself up onto it, walking vertically up the strut before finding myself suspended upside down from the underside of the vessel. Each of my hoofbeats sounded heavy and metallic as my hooves stuck then released themselves from the hull. It wasn’t fluid at all and felt like walking through a field of particularly suction-prone mud. Though the gravity on the moon was low, the act of walking around on the ship was physically draining.
Leaning down I examined the bays that stored the landing gear. Nothing of note, they were pristine as they should have been. No signs of hydraulic leaks or any scuffs or rubbing against the hull from the deployment.
An alarm for abnormal blood pressure came up on the HUD in my helmet. Yeah, no shit. It’s not like I was upside down and all the blood was rushing to my brain. I shook my head and trotted out from underneath the hull, going from upside down to vertical. Now on the side of the ship, I examined each and every triple-paned window for cracks and thankfully found none.
Finally coming to the top side of the ship, I took a long look around at the light gray, crater-riddled expanse that extended in every direction for as far as the eye could see. Above it all was the black night sky, speckled with tiny dots of light — Stars, tens or hundreds, even thousands of light years away. Cold and distant, but ever present.
Hanging in the sky was the blue-green marble that was Equis. Looking at it from this far away truly put into perspective how small we ponies were. Everypony I had ever known, ever interacted with, and everything I had ever experienced in my life was just… There. All contained within that little marble in the black abyss.
I pulled up the notes tab on my suit’s HUD and a holographic keyboard popped into existence in front of me. I sat down and brought my hooves up to it and typed.
Ship in good shape, minor cosmetic damage on underside. No seal leakage alarms. No cracked windows, no noticeable damage on the top side of the ship, recommend adding blue accents to improve visual appeal. No damaged heat shield talismans as far as I can discern, recommend more thorough inspection after re-entry to evaluate exterior surfaces prior to next flight. Attached photos of nicks and scratches, please advise further if my analysis was inadequate.
—Orion Zephyr, Ship Commander for Luna Four
And with a click I sent the report on its way. I sat there for a while, looking around and pondering the beauty I had found myself in. It was then that I noticed a strange feature in the landscape, as if someone had taken a large brush and drug it across the surface, almost like a fault line back on Equis— but much narrower. It originated to the north and continued to the south, directly through the landing site, only being disputed by the large circle of dust that had been kicked up by the rockets. I stood up, squinting to try and discern what it was, but not getting much of a better view.
Well, it had only been about an hour and Azure and Frost probably wouldn’t be back for a few hours more. I mulled over the idea of going down to examine whatever it was, but… Hmm. What if… What if it was something important? Something groundbreaking?
Frost’s words from the night prior flashed to the forefront of my mind. Sure, I hadn’t contributed a discovery to science yet, but this might be my chance. Worst case it was nothing more than an odd crack in the surface, and I just got some extra cardio for the day. It couldn’t hurt to look.
I trotted off underneath the hull and hopped back down onto the surface, making my way across the circle of disturbed ground towards the area where I had seen the strange formation. As I got to where I was sure it should be, I could find nothing out of the ordinary.
I sighed and turned back towards the ship which was glistening beautifully in the sunlight. “That doesn’t look half bad, at least I didn’t come all this way for nothing,” I muttered to myself, taking a step backwards to take a photo. That’s where I made my mistake. I stepped on a loose rock, stumbled a few steps then sat down hard to arrest my fall.
I lifted my forehooves from the soil, coated all the way up to my shoulder in a spatter of regolith that had been kicked up during my fall. “Well, I’m going to need to clean this off before Frost gets back or else she’s going to—“ Looking down at the ground in front of me I noticed a soft circular depression in the soil. Standing up I observed another, then another. They trailed off into the distance as far as I could see, each one spaced equidistant apart from its neighbor and getting slightly deeper and defined as they got further and further from the ship. “What the..?”
I took a few steps forward, venturing further outside the circle, not fully comprehending what I was looking at. There below me was a, while not perfect, painfully clear impression. Deep and circular with the faintest indentions of horseshoes. My pace quickened and I could feel my heart begin to race. Every step forward brought me to even better defined imprints in the lunar soil, until I suddenly froze in place. There was no way this was a natural geologic feature, fault line, or trail of micrometeoroid impact craters, there was only one explanation left. Hoofprints. They were hoofprints.
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Why isn't there a horror tag?
Oh my God! Another day, another W from my dawg Squall!
It begins.
Hopefully he has a better time than the last person who followed mysterious hoofprints on the moon...
Before I start it I need to know - it's not a horror? I don't handle horrors very good.
11495186
It has some horror elements, especially in the first 5-8 chapters, but it’s not a horror. Hence, no horror tag. It’s really a rom-com at heart!
That was a good chapter.
11495189
Uh, it's 2 chapters long now, and have a menacing maw full of teeth on the picture, not dissimilar to Dead Space screenshot I vividly remember. Just how much horror elements are there?..
11495276
“Some”
Honestly I hope that Mooney gets a hug at some point I know I said this in the first chapter or maybe something similar but she really needs it after being alone this whole time
I actually agree with Frost here. That excercise was vringing as hell and made me almost skip.
Okay i know AU but still.trying to figure out the timeline. I don't see a Pinkie Promise being big with out the elements and Nightmare Moon and since all signs point to Moony still on the moon that hasn't happened.
Hooboy, that gave me shivers. I wonder if Orion is going to try to raise the alarm, or go searching on his own?
11499688
You’ll have to wait and see!
Dudes giving me chills, Celestia damn bro.
- Ya Boi Satan
Really enjoyed this chapter! I'm liking the building suspense, and that ending line was a perfect note to end the chapter on. Great work!
I finally decided to read a story from my 'read later list' and I'm happy to add a new favorite! There's much going for it that I like, but would I be wrong to think you've taken some inspiration from the old Aegis story's with Band-Aid and Nightmare Moon? He was one of the early authors that I enjoyed reading, and would say I loved reading more then Pen Stroke which makes this story more enjoyable for me.
Whatever you decide, I do enjoy seeing the crew's interactions as I myself enjoy writing dialogue because it helps establish their personalities in a more natural way then being told about them. I read another comment of yours that his will be a rom-com of sorts, and while I'd assume and enjoy it being about the MC and Nightmare Moon, I think having the MC and Azure would be funnier having to juggle a relationship while having to take care of an out-of-date alicorn. XD
11531170
I’m not familiar the stories and authors in question, mainly due to my fondness and large backlog of non-horse writings that I need to read. Obviously I have a little horse words reading to do now! Thanks for the favorite, glad you enjoyed. The dialogue has been fun to write, Ch.3 is jam packed with it!
My apologies that the chapter is taking so long, I’m trying my best to push it out in the next week or so— definitely before the month is out for sure!
As to your spoilered message… I can neither confirm nor deny that to be the case, but you have the right mindset for sure. The interactions will be Golden! (:
This sets up the personalities and developments of the characters quite well. Let's us feel being an astronaut, further conveying the shock of the hoof prints. I love how lots is left to the imagination as well.