Hard contact
It was a warm spring night in Canterlot. Most ponies were asleep, with the exception of the night guard. Along with Princess Luna and the two astronomers that called her to have a late night meeting. The mare of the night paced the grounds of the observatory, awaiting the call of the two astronomers. She stood over a balcony that overlooked a lake. She gave a soft smile as a breeze ran through her mane. She often forgets about the little things in life such as these. It had only been a year since she regained her freedom from Nightmare moon. However being trapped on the moon for all those years made her forget about these small blessings. She was in awe when she noticed the moon’s reflection dancing upon the lake. She chuckled to herself for a moment. But was pulled out of a carefree mood when a voice called out to her.
The young mare bowed in respect, before speaking again. “Princess Luna, Gemini and I found the Anomaly that we wrote to you about. However it has gotten a bit larger and its position has shifted closer towards the sky of the Everfree.” The light blue coated mare stood up and lifted her hoof pointing it towards the observatory. “If you may follow me, I shall take you to see it.” The mare led the way through a few corridors, and finally up a few stories of stairs. It was then we entered a large room, with a grey coated unicorn looking through a telescope. She took a few notes down on her notepad, and then turned towards me and Aquarius. She bowed her head in respect, and moved away from the telescope.
Gemini lit her horn and offered me to take a look. As I got closer, her expression turned to one of worry. The mare was mute, so I kept it to a point to always be mindful of her expressions. I soon realized that her expression painted a clearer picture than the letter they had written to me earlier today. The best way I could describe it was, as if an eye of storm was watching over the Everfree. Flashes of light would dance around the edges, as silently moved over the Everfree. I gulped as a memory echoed in my mind. But I quickly silenced the thought. Aquarius spoke up, “we have no knowledge of this unnatural phenomena. We’ve searched through our libraries along with Canterlot’s archives. We found nothing, and I was hoping that you had any past knowledge of this event. Aquarius looked at Gemini, then they both looked back to me.
I looked past the telescope towards the phenomena. Once again the blurred memories echoed, earning a slight cringe from my part. Gemini placed a hoof on my shoulder, which pulled me out of thoughts. I cleared my throat and looked towards the mares. “Alert the guard, notify them to keep any and all ponies away from the Everfree. Tell the Pegasi to stay grounded, and to not to approach it for any reason. I will be there as soon as I notify my sister.” The mares nodded and raced outside the room. I turned back towards the eye, and then back towards the castle. I took a flight stance, and took off towards the castle in order to alert Celestia.
~12 hours before~
Location: Earth’s Orbit
By the time we had shown up, we thought we were reinforcing a grave yard. The defense fleet that once held a proud stature now resembled broken children's toys drifting in space. Few ships held fractured formations, fighting off what threats they could. Our Charon-light frigate passed by a Halcyon cruiser that was breaking apart. The fires were spreading deck to deck. Once we got closer, the radio on the observation deck received a signal. It was their crew's desperate cries for help. Our frigate was in no way able to help. Our ship could push forward, leaving the wounded ship to crack open and explode. There were a few in my unit that gasped, while the majority of us just stood still. Vast hues of red and orange reflected upon our visors. The broken ship drifted further away out of view. I gripped my rifle tighter, as an alarm went off. "Attention, all units prepare to drop. I repeat all units prepare to drop."
We received our orders while preparing our drop pods. Our platoon was to drop right on top of a Convent staging area. We were to reinforce an armored division who'd already punched through the Convent’s initial lines of defense. Simple and sweet, just how we liked it. I loaded my pack along with some extra supplies. I knew we were going to be down there until we kicked those bastards off our planet. I placed my MA5B on the right storage unit, and my med-kit on my left storage unit. I stepped inside, and secured myself in the harness. Soon after, I felt the ship buckle and jolt. Then silence, I looked at my group photo, it was taken after my team's first drop. Faint memories began to echo as I placed two fingers on it. I closed my eyes, and opened them as the deck's hue went from red to green. The hatches from under the drop pods opened, showing the Earth’s vast blue oceans. I looked up to a control panel, noticing the coordinates adjust themselves and in sync we dropped.
Our pods broke through the atmosphere within ten mins, and the view of Mombasa slowly got clearer. I began to steer my pod manually, searching for a "soft" spot to drop. The last thing I wanted was to crash right into a building. Just for my pod to be stranded a couple stories above the streets. I noticed figures and tanks advancing towards the Convent's staging area. Pelicans started to land near the rear of the armored force. Both to drop off reinforcements and to clear the skies for us. It was then I noticed the Convent ship began to move. My radio sparked to life, questions and confused chatter flooded the channel. I was about to tone down the radio, and then it happened. The Convent ship went into slip space right in the middle of the city.
I didn’t hear any of my instruments, as all my scanners went silent. The radio cut and as I reached to tune it I gasped for air as my pod was thrown off course. Other drop pods crashed into buildings, while a few were thrown back into the air. For a split second I saw a figure get thrown out of their pod. They waved their arms in desperation, but I lost sight of them as my pod collided with other. My world spun around at what felt like a thousand miles per hour. My vision faded and the world went white.
~8 hours later~
Location: Unknown
Flashing red lights woke me up. My head pounded as I placed my hands up top of my helmet. My safety harness was torn from one side, I tried to take it off fully but it was no use. I was going to have to cut it. I lifted my helmet and attempted to take a look outside. It was fruitless as the blast protection hatches covered all the view ports. I sighed as I shifted towards the control panels. One screen was cracked and didn’t respond to any commands. While my secondary panel was flickering every couple of seconds. I reached above my head, looking for that red box that held the key to my escape. The open internal power unit wasn’t something I would normally play with. However I needed to reset the drop pod’s systems. I wasn’t entirely sure if what I was doing was correct. However it was either this shot in the dark, or choking on dead air.
Lord and behold, either luck was on my side or they designed these metal death boxes to be fixed by block heads. The system restarted within moments and the control panel came to life. I immediately ran into a few issues. Communications were disabled, and the GPS couldn’t pinpoint my location. To top it all off, the internal life support systems of my drop pod were about to hit a critical point. I was going to suffocate unless I opened the main hatch. Should’ve kept “choking on dead air” comment to myself. I rolled my eyes. Well atleast I woke up before I died. My gloved finger slid to open a file, and I typed in a few codes. Numbers and charts began to fill a portion of the screen. I sat idly bye awaiting the results. Then sat up straight once reports filled the entire screen.
Seems like I wasn’t on Earth anymore. The star that orbited this planet was slightly larger than our sun. Along with that, the stars that were at the background of the evening sky were not charted. I was in an entirely new location. I ran my right hand along my hair, and sighed. After a few seconds of gathering my bearings. I looked back at the reports, oxygen levels were at healthy levels for humans. The gravity was also very similar to Earth. I looked up to the photograph and back down to the emergency release for the main hatch. I put my helmet back on and pressed the button.
The hatch flew a couple yards into a field only stopping once it lost its momentum. I drew my side arm and I peered slowly with caution. I glanced at my motion tracker, and saw nothing. I scanned my surroundings once more and finally stepped out of my pod. I stumbled out of the pod like an idiot, and fell right on my face. I hit the ground a few times with my fist, and slowly got up. My damn legs were still asleep from being in that seated position for hours. I took off my helmet and just laid in the grass for a couple of minutes. The thoughts of being alone on this planet scared me. The thought of doing nothing as the sun started to go down made me terrified. I glanced at the forest to the east of me, sure I might be the only human here. But that doesn’t mean I am the only one out here.
The breeze ran through my hair, while the last of the sun’s rays blanketed my body. I was glad I gathered those extra supplies. Since it seemed like I was going to be here for a while. I placed my pack on my back, and gathered the extra supplies in a small compression pack. I took a drink out of my canteen and placed it back in it’s pouch that was on my side. I took a knee and examined my radio. I cleared my throat, and turned it on. Just static and white noise. I dialed the knob for a few more seconds, and sighed while turning it off. Might be better just to preserve the battery, who knows when I’ll actually need it.
I grabbed my helmet and slid it on. I took my rifle, and tapped on the dark screen twice. The blue hue of the rifle came to life, and it’s compass pointed towards the hills behind me. I walked up to my pod, and gently took the photo. I gave it one last look before I folded it and placed it in the hard case on my left thigh. I switched the distress signal on, just in the off chance that the UNSC would ever send a patrol to wherever I was. I glanced towards the hills and jogged forward.
The sun’s rays glanced the tops of the boulders, placing me in their shadow as I got closer to them. I heard the call of a river get ever so closer as I passed the first couple of boulders. It got relatively cooler, as the sun couldn’t pierce the giant rocks. The grass of the fields was now replaced by soft sand. I continued to push forward. Checking every corner, as my rifle led the way. Pausing only to glance at my motion tracker from time to time. The slope of the hill slightly dropped, and the surface felt a bit more flatter. I had made it to the top, taken aback for a moment. I just froze up after what I saw. Chills ran up my spine, only to be amplified due to the temperature change. I wasn’t alone here, lit torches peppered the shore line of the river. I crouched down, and slowly backed up towards the nearest boulder. I placed my backpack down along with the compression pack. Grabbing my binoculars, I advanced with caution.
As I got closer to the top once more, I proned and began to crawl up. I stopped once I got a decent vantage point. I slowly took off my helmet, and placed the binoculars near my eyes. I scanned from left to right, the mouth of the forest began on my left hand side. While the troches led to the mouth of a cave. I noticed some light coming from the cave, but due to my current location I really couldn’t see anything inside it. I scanned my surroundings once more, and then placed my helmet back on my head. It was time to search for the one who placed down those troches.
I took a single deep breath, and pushed out of cover with caution. I was able to slide down the hill, and run towards a boulder that was near the river. I took a knee and glanced down at my motion tracker. There was nothing on the tracker itself. However my eyes caught something in the sand that was beside most of the troches. They were imprints, specifically hoof prints of an equine. I placed my rifle on top of the boulder beside me, and then reached down with my right hand. I raised an eyebrow, noticing a heart shaped pattern imprinted. If this was a horse, it had to be some type of species that I’ve never seen before.
I grabbed my rifle without a second thought, and pointed it towards the treeline. The hairs of the back of my neck were at attention. My eyes scanned from left to right, and I saw nothing at first. But soon I heard them. Howls of wolf, no something bigger than a wolf. It was then when I came face to face with them. There must have been six to ten pairs of bright green eyes in the brush. I took a step back, and then looked over my shoulder. I noticed that the hoof prints lead towards the cave. I looked back towards the trees, and saw nothing. I had only taken my eyes off the treeline for thirty seconds. Now those creatures were gone.
I turned around and sprinted towards the mouth of the cave. If it was a pack of predators, I was at a major disadvantage if I took them on out in the open. However if I could make it to the cave, there would only be one point of entry. My best bet was to find a good fire point, and let my MA5B do most of the work. Every couple of steps I glanced at my motion tracker and noticed some movement. However the creatures weren’t chasing after me, rather they seemed to be spreading out. I didn’t think much of it as I made it in the cave. I hopped over some rocks, and then turned around. I placed my rifle on the rock’s surface with one hand, while grabbing a grenade with my left hand. I quickly placed the grenade on top of the rock for a quick throw. I calmed my breathing, and looked down my rifle. I was ready for them.
I stared at the cave’s entrance, waiting for a creature to come sprinting through. But they never showed. I’d look at my motion tracker and noticed nothing. I sucked my teeth, noticing that late evening had turned into night. This was the last problem I needed. To be wondering in the dark, while hostile creatures were bumping in the night. I lifted my rifle off it’s resting place and sighed. I took a look behind my shoulder and noticed some type of crystals protruding out of the walls. They admitted a light blue hue, and were warm to the touch. It was then I heard a cry for help, from within the cave.
I was startled at first. But when I heard the cry again, it sounded like a person. I looked over the cave entrance and reached behind for my “ house’s back door”. I placed an anti-personnel mine near the cave’s entrance. Only I had the “key”, so if anything even crossed it’s path. The mine will turn them into hamburger meat. I gathered my supplies, and readied the underslung flashlight of my rifle. I took another deep breath and pushed into the darkness.
Broken torches littered the ground, and only a few of those blue crystals were visible now. Fifteen meters in I heard the cry for help again. This time I could tell it was female, and they were injured. I checked each corner, and had to light my flashlight once I was twenty-five meters in. Once again the voice called out for help, and this time it was only around the corner. When I turned the corner, I nearly dropped my rifle.
“Please, help me.” The injured horse said with labored breaths. I had to tap my helmet a few times just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. I stared in disbelief as I noticed a horn on the horse, was it a unicorn? I placed my rifle down, and activated my helmet lights. I studied her figure from her midsection to her head. She had a dirty white coat that was covered in dust, and peppered with cuts. Her purple mane was matted in certain sections, while other parts were soaked in fresh blood. She looked at me once more, and said “please I’m so thirsty.”
Without a second thought I took my canteen and un-screwed it. Gently I cupped her chin and placed the canteen upon her lips. She took slow glups, and then slowly looked away. “Thank you.” She reached for arm with her forehoof and ran it down to my hand. She gave me a weak smile, and then closed her eyes.
“Hey don’t you go falling asleep on me.” I moved her mane to the side and found a deep gash along her forehead. She began to whimper, as I held her mane to the side. I reached for a peroxide pack, and some bandages. “It’s nothing serious ma chérie, however I can’t lie to you now. This is going to sting, but I need to do this so that I can stop the bleeding.” The mare nodded, and closed her eyes as I applied the peroxide. She reached for one of my hands, and placed her hoof in their grip. She winced in pain while grinding her teeth.
“Don’t worry ma chérie, the worst part has passed.” I carefully wrapped her head in bandages, and patted her check once I was done. I placed the unused supplies back in my bag, and looked back at the mare. I cleared my throat first, “do i have permission to touch you?” The last thing I wanted to do was get bucked, or bitten. It was best to be polite, as she can possibly help me out in the future. She nodded and if I wasn’t mistaken, blushed while turning away. I took a knee next to her and examined her condition. Multiple cuts and bruises, along with possible internal injuries. I took a look at her hind legs and noticed that they were slightly buried under some stone rubble. I looked at her and noticed she began to cry.
I got up and with care began to move the broken stones. When I began to move the last stone, the mare cried out in pain. I wasn’t about to drop it back on her. I took a deep breath and tossed it to the side. I fell to my knees, and looked back at her. She wiped away another amount of tears, and looked down in pain. I got up and walked towards her. I shined a light on her hind legs. I got closer, and soon began to run two fingers along them. She yelped in pain once more, and this time my heart dropped. Her voice began to crack, “please don’t leave me.” I shook my head, cupping her hoof. “I will not, besides you have to tell me the story on why you were down here in the first place. Along with other things about this strange world.” I placed my pack down, “Answer me this first. Do you have tea in this world?” The mare nodded yes.
I reached for my raincoat, and opened it fully. She raised an eyebrow in what I assumed was confusion towards my actions. I patted the raincoat, “You’re going to get on it, and I am going to carry you out.” She seemed to have had a question to ask me. However, I cut her off. “I need to warn you, once we step out of this place we will be in danger.” I checked my side arm and glanced back up. The mare looked away, and then back to me. She surprised me with determination in her voice. “Whatever awaits us, I shall be by your side.” I nodded as I reached to pick her up, once again surprising me as she got up on her own. It was a good thing I was wearing a helmet, or else she would’ve seen my sly smirk.
I gave her a thumbs up as she got on the raincoat. Once I tied it to my waist, I began my trek back to the surface. Only stopping to look over my shoulder, to make sure the white unicorn was okay. I got in the best firing position as we got closer to the entrance. “I’ve never been straightforward before, however once we make it out of here let’s go have tea together...d'accord?” She looked over her shoulder, and smiled.