Under Free Flag

by twillale

Chapter 12

CHAPTER XII

“Language is a virus from outer space.”

—William S. Burroughs

“Citizens of Equestria!

A few days ago, our world bore witness to an unprecedented event. An event which may change our understanding of the universe forever...”

Princess Celestia’s voice echoes from the palace balcony, washing over the mass of ponies gathered to listen.

Well, at least the news are officially out now, Celestia thinks to herself, mentally sighing at the disappearing prospect of having to sort out another press scandal.

“...our envoys have successfully made contact, and are at this very moment trying to find a common language with the visitors....”

I wonder if they’ve already talked.

It’s past midday, and the warm summer sun shines from a cloudless sky. With routine and confidence polished under hundreds of years of public appearances, Celestia flawlessly delivers her speech though her mind wanders on completely different topics. Mentally going over her list of tasks for the day, she feels a tinge of nostalgia at the memory of the now rare moments of privacy with her sister.

Luna’s right, things used to be so much easier in the old days. But then again, we’ve come a long way since then, in many ways...

Celestia looks out over the thousands of ponies standing amongst the splendour of the city, her city, and the endless view from the palace. Green hills, lush forests and sparkling rivers stretch into the horizon in every direction, the tableau beautifully framed by mountains topped with pure white snow.

It’s almost imperceptible, but were you looking very closely you might note the prime regent of Equestria standing just a bit taller.

*

“Good morning, miss. Just call me Eris.”

The purple pony in front of me takes a small, involuntary breath. I can understand the reaction. I’m as surprised as you are that this worked, my alien friend.

“...may I ask your name?”

“Oh, of course! My name is Twilight Sparkle...”

Ingrained habits from years of negotiations with short-tempered clients paralyse the muscles controlling my face. Thus, my incredulous laugh is restrained to the silence of my mind.

H... Her name is what?

“...and these are my friends: Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack and I believe you’ve already become acquainted with Pinkie Pie.”

I can feel my cheeks twitching. For a few increasingly awkward seconds I say nothing until I feel I can trust my voice again. It’s the translation software. It’s got to be the translation.

“I’m sorry if I seem rude, but are these your given names or titles of some sort?”

Twilight Sparkle titters in an exceedingly adorable way. I notice from the corner of my eye that the other members of my team are pointedly looking in other directions, and that Julianne is shaking slightly.

“Oh, no, those are our names. We’re just regular ponies.”

“Then you aren’t diplomats?”

“Well, not by profession. We were just appointed to the task by princess Celestia.”

“I see. Forgive me, but for us it appears slightly... callous to send six completely novice subjects to such a meeting. Unless out-of-worldly visitors are common around here, of course.”

“Oh! Well, you could say we’re not entirely regular ponies. We represent the six Elements of Harmony: Laugher, Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, Kindness and Magic, one of the most powerful magics in all of Equestria. Since I came here to study friendship we’ve— I’m sorry, is something the matter?”

Julianne, though silent is shaking violently, tears rimming her eyes. She looks at me with a panicky stare before shaking her head and almost running out of the simulated space. I wince at her howling laughter in the distance, mercifully cut off by the ship door sliding shut. I turn back to the ponies with a wooden smile.

“Sorry about that.”

“Is there something the matter? Is your friend alright?”

Aw, she seems genuinely distressed.

“Yes. She shares my translation interface, and, uh, your names sound quite...”

I futilely search for a neutral word.

“Adorable,” Tito deadpans.

So much for tact. Augh, her confused face is even worse!

“Well, yes. In fact, everything about your appearance comes across as exceedingly cute to us.”

“But that’s, I... what?”

The other ponies are becoming restless hearing but one side of the conversation. Twilight Sparkle quickly sums up the short exchange and then tries to answer the deluge of ensuing questions, giving us some time to compose ourselves. I can relate to the ponies behind her as I try to piece together the discussion from the translated fragments.

“Well, yes, but— no, they’re not ‘crazy’. Different species have different standa— no, I don’t think they are cute, I don’t know— stop interrupting me!”

After a while, Twilight seems to get her little group in order, and she turns back to me with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Well, I guess it’s better than the opposite...”

I laugh.

“Yes, quite so. By the way, how come you’re not... applying your translation to your friends?”

“Ah, well, it’s a quite exhausting spell. I don’t think I could cast it on all of us.”

“‘Spell’? As in a magic spell?”

“Of course. You’re doing it, aren’t you?”

Oh boy, this is going to be interesting.

“Well, to be frank, I’m not.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean I don’t have the abilities you’ve been exhibiting through your horn. All the translation and airware runs are done by the ship.”

Twilight flinches at ‘airware’. Ah, of course.

“Sorry, that didn’t translate?”

“No... it came across as something unintelligible. But I’m still not sure I understand...?”

“Allow me to demonstrate.” I press my thumb and two first fingers together.

“Translation interface: new object. Two-part composite: air break ware stop, dictionary meaning. Related nodes: software, hardware, data, program. Add and process.”

I turn back to Twilight.

“Airware. Airware runs. How about now?”

“Fascinating. What did you do?”

“Like I said, all the ‘magic’ you’re connected to is done by that vessel over there. She’s called the Trickster. I just taught her how to look for the right word to translate with.”

“It’s alive?!”

“Oh, no. It’s not sentient, just a very, very complex machine. Still, it’s capable of storing and analysing vast amounts of data, or simple ‘learning’. It’s not perfect, though. You can see my lips don’t sync up to my words, can’t you?”

“Actually, my spell also enchants vision, so it seems like you’re using the right words...”

“Oh, wow. That’s cool. We have to synthesise your voice, so it sounds rather unnatural, but like I said, the machine’s learning. You’re already much less artificial-sounding than a moment ago.”

Twilight’s eyes light up as she listens to my explanation.

“So it’s learning Equestrian as we speak? That’s amazing! How does it work?”

I laugh and put my hands up.

“Whoa there, I just tell people where to drive this thing. Ask Tito if you want to know.” I jerk a thumb behind me.

“Tito?”

“Oh, right, sorry.” I step back to let the team members behind me step up.

“This is Xavier d’Havillande, my first mate.”

“Ma’am.”

“Tito, my chief engineer.”

“A pleasure.”

“Likewise. Your spellcasting is quite impressive.”

“But of course. Talent and practice go a long way, as I’m sure you know firsthand.”

Huh, someone’s being remarkably humble.

“...and finally, back from her little episode we have Julianne, the head of our forensics and analysis team.”

At least she has the decency of looking ashamed.

“Hello. And sorry.”

“Oh, it’s fine.”

As the rest of the group shakes hands with the three, I point to where the group of soldiers is still standing.

“I presume your escort answers to your princess as well?”

“Yes, they’re part of the Royal Guard. I understand you’ve already met sergeant Mountain Gale?”

Meh, I liked Grumpy better.

“I have. We had a little... altercation with one of his soldiers.”

“She’ll be okay, I’m told.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It was not our intention to cause you any harm.”

“Twilight he-what-now expression-question?”

The sudden, robotic voice seems to come from orange pony with a tattoo of apples on her rump—’Applejack’, I think? Seems the pattern matcher got an adequate amount of data out of the interface to start making simple translations. Nice. I hold up a hand to stop Twilight Sparkle from answering.

“Translation interface: adjust settings. Audio broadcast on. Filter: complete translation only. Process.

Good day, Applejack. I only asked about your Guard escort.”

She starts in surprise as my sentence translates into passable Equestrian. The other ponies look at each other with open surprise, with the exception of Twilight Sparkle, who’s curiously looking back and forth between us.

“Understandable-do-I-you?”

“Yes. The translation will get better with time.”

The following sentence doesn’t translate well enough to make any sense, but since she’s offering her foreleg I assume it was some kind of greeting. Oh well, it’ll come. I shake her hoof.

“Well, to get back to your question,” Twilight Sparkle begins, “the Guard was deployed by princess Luna for safety reasons. We couldn’t know what kind of creatures you would turn out to be, after all.”

I nod appreciatively. This other princess at least seems to have her priorities in order.

“You seem to have a lot of princesses to go around, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Just Twilight is fine. The royal sisters rule Equestria jointly, with princess Celestia controlling the sun and princess Luna the moon.”

Interesting translation error there.

“I see. I must say I am fascinated by the mismatch of your magic and your technology. It took our species thousands of years of cumulative development to create the things you seem to be doing naturally, yet your soldiers still carry spears.”

Twilight gives me an apprehensive look. Even without Empathy I can tell she’s slightly worried about something, but hesitant to bring it up. I try to smile at her in an encouraging manner.

“Well, Equestria is a peaceful place. There hasn’t been a war for hundreds of years. Then again, you seem very well armed. Are you... a military unit?”

Are we a... I burst out laughing. Xavier is scowling fiercely in an attempt to stop the corners of his mouth from creeping up, and even Tito has forsaken his laconic mask to reveal a grin. Through the gaps in the dataspace I notice the Guards lean in, curiously trying to listen in on our conversation. The ponies up front seem to hover between being confused and being offended. I shake my head as I wipe the corner of my eye.

“Uh, was the question inappropriate? I don’t see the...”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for laughing, but quite frankly I don’t think there’s a military outfit in all of human-inhabited space which would accept us into service.”

“But your weapons? And the wards I triggered when I first tried to cast the translation spell?”

“Oh dear, but is this gonna be a long story. Extremely compressed version?”

Twilight nods. I select the master brightness controller and dim the virtual space to reveal the surrounding scenery. As the visitors blink in the sudden light I touch my ear.

“Ace? Strip the camo.”

“Are we making a show?“

I grin.

“Of course.”

I step up in front of the group, casting my arms out wide as I turn to face the envoys.

“Again: allow me to demonstrate!”

The single undulating note of a klaxon cuts through the clearing, and a powerful buzzing fills the air. I watch the widening eyes of the audience, enjoying their reaction indescribably more than I would the admittedly impressive sight unfolding behind me as the Trickster sheds its camouflage in a slow, sweeping wave from bow to stern.

The sounds are, of course, completely redundant, but for style points? We’d do anything for style points.

Turning around, I pause to admire the pure white coat Ace has chosen, red highlights running the length of the sleek hull.

“I assume you have seagoing ships? Yes? Now, this one essentially works in the same way, though it mostly travels in the air. You can see the yard foundations—where the sails come out—along the hull there and there, for example.” I begin pointing as I explain. “Now, please look back there and imagine this was one of your ships. What’s missing?”

I turn back to our guests. The answer comes without a second’s pause.

“Easy. Flag-none. Another-of-me-ask!”

Everyone turns to look at, uh, Pinkie Pie. I absentmindedly note she’s quite accurately named.

Another note to self: first impressions sometimes lie. But I’ll be damned if I’m thrown off by that. I cast my arm out in a dramatic point to the pony in question.

“Correct! We’re what you would call free mariners. It means this ship recognises no sovereign, and thus we fly no flag.” I pull myself up with pride. “...and neither will we do so. Thus we’re under no protection but our own. We go where we want, but we aren’t welcome everywhere.”

“Ah, I think I understand. So you live on the ship?”

“Sure. With full supplies we could theoretically stay on the Stream for months, if not years.”

“The stream?”

“Yeah, the ‘world-between-worlds’. You know, where we came through to get here?”

“Oh, Luna’s domains? Oh, you’ve got to tell me more about that! The information I could find was spotty at best...”

Twilight’s getting quite excited, her eyes exhibiting a gleam I’ve seen before. In the science team. Uh-oh.

“I’m sure Julianne can help you with that, though as I understand, we don’t know too much about it ourselves. That will have to wait for a better time, though. We’ve got something we’ll need to discuss with your princesses as soon as possible. Do you think there’s a possibility of an audience?”

“I’m sure, though both seem to have been very busy lately. I’ll write them and ask. May I ask what the matter is about?”

“It’s related to the reason we had to enter your world in the first place. Please understand I’m quite reluctant to discuss it frivolously, but be assured it’s a matter of life and death. For many.”

The sudden change in demeanour must’ve come across as quite sudden, because Twilight involuntary tenses up. Discomfort radiates from her posture, and I lean back slightly and smile weakly to soften the impression.

“Please? I don’t wish to alarm you, but this is important.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll pen the letter as soon as I get back to Ponyville.”

“That’s the name of the nearby town?”

“Yes, we’re all from there.”

“I see. Are you all students, then, or...?”

“Farmer-of-apples-am-I. Many-generation-family-in-village-Pony do-so.”

“Beautiful-clothing-maker-I-am. Own store-in-town.”

“Most-fast flier-I-am. One day-will-be-I lightning-bolt-of-awe!”

“Um, Animal-care-taker-I-am. Live-near Forest-Forever-Free.”

“I-am baker! Do I-parties all-time for all-pony!”

I notice the translator is slowly starting to piece the sentence structure together.

“Hello, all, nice to meet you. I am the captain of this vessel.”

And so the discussion goes.

For a while we simply query each other about various topics, the other ponies slowly joining the discussion as the quality of translation gradually increases. If I’m to believe the envoys, their civilisation sounds like a proper paradise: minimal crime, not a single war for centuries and a society built on the values of harmony and friendship, all benevolently ruled by two immortal princesses.

Call me cynical, but I’m not buying it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen enough of their ‘magic’ and other completely unbelievable things just today to be beyond doubting small details like supposedly immortal rulers. It’s the utopian society I can’t swallow. During my life I’ve negotiated with spies, soldiers, bureaucrats, outlaws, merchants, scummy politicians, religious leaders and arrogant nobles, and though it’s an ancient cliché by now, if something seems to be too good to be true...

Besides, if I was a princess negotiating with aliens, sending an adoring student and her sheltered friends to negotiate under strict military escort would be exactly what I’d do to get the opponent’s guard down. Thus, under my diplomat’s smile and generously offered information about humankind in general, I’m sparse on the details about my crew, the Trickster, our weapons and our capabilities.

I like to think the best of people. But I’m not stupid.

I tell the ponies about Earth, about the Golden Age, the invention of fusion technology and the exploration of space. I tell them about the great disasters of the twenty-first century, about the Eco-wars, about the Sigma protocol and the global lockdown.

Twilight recalls the legend of Nightmare Moon and the thousand-year banishment. She explains the context to the Elements of Harmony. She tells the story of Hearth’s Warming Eve and the founding of the country, of Star Swirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever, of the development of magic and the Ordering of the realm.

I tell the story of the prototype dimension collapser, First Breach and of the first forays into the Stream. I describe the beautiful but tragic tale of the Fahri family, Abdul-Khaliq and Khairiya, who gave their lives to spread the blueprints all across the world and triggered the Exodus. How we spread across the Stream in those first, rickety pioneer ships, finding new worlds, completely free for the first time in centuries.

She talks about the Griffon Wars and the withdrawal of the dragon Unities into the far reaches of the world, the turmoil of the Wild Winters and the founding of the weather control teams. Of places: Cloudsdale, Canterlot and Manehattan. We learn that we’ve landed in the Everfree forest. The group of six tells us about Discord, about the redemption of Luna and their lives in Ponyville. At some point I notice the Guards have crept closer and closer as we’ve been talking, and are now standing close enough to listen.

For hours we talk. Xavier tells the old, old story of the New Hansa and the roots of the world-merchants who eventually rejected the rule of sedentary society and gave birth to the free mariners. Tito describes the rebellions that led to the colonial wars against the navies of China and the European Federation and the founding of the first freeports. Julianne describes advances in science and medicine, gravity distortion rails and smart metals, prostheses and replacement body parts. We watch videos and holographic projections, and explore Tito’s dataspace.

As we take a break for a late lunch, a small group of the Guards approaches us humans where we sit on the negotiation table. The rest of the ponies are seated a distance away, unpacking what seems to be a spread of different kinds of vegetables and fruit. The military detachment is quite obviously led by the gruff stallion in front wearing a simple but functional piece of body armour. I nod in greeting, both to him and to Grumpy who’s accompanying the leader.

“Good afternoon.”

“Greetings. I-am-called Captain Diamond Hoof. I-am appointed as the commander of the cordon.”

Ah, the military types. They’re the same everywhere, aren’t they?

“A pleasure to meet you. I’d like to apologise for the earlier incident.”

“Worry not. I-am-told the action was self-defence.”

“Indeed. I assume you require something from us?”

“Yes. We-have listened to your dialogue, and we-are interested: you-say you-serve no nation, but you obviously have combat-skill. What is it you-do exactly?”

Well, that’s the billion-credit question, isn’t it?

“Everything. As long as it pays well and preserves our honour, we take on most jobs.”

“You-say you-are not bound to a nation, but I-am. And I-must know for the safety of the pony-persons I-am sworn to protect: is-your empire a possible threat to Equestria?”

Whoa. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. You don’t muck about, do you, pal?

“You know, that’s an uncommonly direct approach. I think I like you.”

I stop to think for a second.

“Well, look.” I hand him a pair of goggles. “Let’s take a simple example.”

A quick flick of my wrist detaches a segment of the data tori, the pages forming a small map of the Hermes tradeway. More than a dozen major ports light up along the winding substream.

“Here’s one of the most trafficked trade routes outside Earth-controlled space. Every one of these specks of light is a port anchored outside the Stream, in real space. These...” I point “...are estimated population numbers.”

Diamond Hoof’s got one of the best poker faces I’ve ever seen, but not good enough for me. A second’s pause in breathing, a fractional widening of the eyes. A tiny tension in his neck as his brain takes in one seven-digit figure after another. I grin.

“Now, if all these would be ruled by one instance, then you’d have an issue. Fortunately that isn’t the case. Take Milnesport here, for example. Though there are almost five million people living there, they’re divided into factions ruled by the Council of Miros, the Council of Commerce, four major corporation-protectorates and over a dozen minor ones. And that’s before you factor in religious factions, other local communities and all the passers-through. Milnesport, as a community, wouldn’t and probably couldn’t act as one unit unless forced to. And for most of the space outside Earth’s sphere of influence, that’s the way we’d like it to be.”

I turn from the map and display the small knife I’m eating with.

“Here’s the thing, though: your magic is capable of some pretty fantastic things, but the level of your technology is this. Against any of the more powerful factions on that map, not to mention the ones outside it, you wouldn’t pose much of a challenge, militarily or industrially.”

I skewer a piece of omelette on my knife and stick it into my mouth.

“I-see. But you-must have at least some factions which-are not as strong. How do-those-live in harmony?”

Looks like this guy didn’t make his rank just by kissing ass. I chew and swallow.

“Well... Some, if they are strong enough to police themselves, declare themselves freeports. Basically that means that the trade oversight superfactions and autonomous organisations will step up to protect them against colonial forces or external aggression, but it also means you get a huge influx of all kinds of people. Your infrastructure and society have to be strong to carry that kind of burden. Others just submit to an existing sovereign power as a vassal state.”

“Those-are the only options?”

“Well, there’s declaring independence, but that leaves you standing alone, so you’d better be ready to either step up your military game or play the political one well.”

Diamond Hoof silently broods over the map for a good while while I finish my meal.

“Thank-you for your time.”

He turns to leave.

“You’re welcome. Hey Gr— sergeant Mountain Gale!”

The pegasus turns back, surprised. I smile at him.

“Mind if we have a little chat?”

Unsure, he looks to his superior who dismisses him with a curt nod, although I can tell the captain’s curious too. Mountain Gale trots up to me and I indicate the grass at the side of the table.

“Thank you. I-prefer to stand, ma’am.”

Oh fuck off, even other species?

“Eris is fine. I’m not much for titles.”

“Very well. How may-I stand to service?”

“Let’s just say I’m curious by nature. How’s your teammate doing?”

“Wind-chaser? She-will heal. While we-discuss that matter... Please stand by a beat.”

With a few wing-flaps—it somehow looks very intuitive and natural, although I intellectually know it should be all wrong—he flies over to the rest of his formation to return with Kolya’s stretcher dragging behind him.

“I-would-like to return this. It-was a great help.”

“Thanks, I’m sure Kolya will love to get it back.” I put the object away. “Now, tell me something about yourself.”

*

Comments

[FicusCat]

Still liking the story so far, keep up the good work

[hitro666]

thanks for the update

[Bomarck]

I have to admit, this is shaping up to be one of the better HiE fics that I have read on this site. I'm eagerly waiting for the next installment to your story here.

[DarthPony]

Now this is what I was waiting for. Great conversation good exposition without being booring although the technical talk is a bit too much for my . brain. I'm one of those wierd guys who loves high tech thingamagiggers but has no idea what those wierd names mean. Do carry on.

[MrZJunior]

So Equestria vs the Space Pirates.

[master109]

the ponies must have been shocked by the amount of wars the humans have had

[Radon18]

This story is so awesome!

[Moonreaper666]

1684319 Its like the BattleMech universe but with aliens