Reliving a Nightmare

"W-what the hell? Did you get our SOS transmission?" The poor bastard asked, based upon the blood covering his suit and his nervous behavior, they must have been through some pretty traumatic experience.

"SOS? The ship has been radio silent since we made the slip space jump." Tungsten explained.

"Damn it! That piece of shit still isn't working and there is no way I'm going back there again!" They stopped the ground, creating a dull thud against the floor of the tram car.

"Whoa, calm down. What's going on here? How is the ship so damaged? What caused this?" Gunner couldn't help throwing question after question hoping to get one answer.

"I don't fucking know! It was in one of the storage containers, when that thing got out all hell broke lose! Now I don't know who else is even left! You gotta get me out of here!"

"We'll take care of you, don't worry," Joule promised, in a calm tone. Joule was the diplomat of the squad, always quick to negotiate and a little hesitant on the draw. "Just answer me this, what is 'it' that broke out of the container?"

"Some kind of creature, the thing broke out and just started killing everything! It slipped through a vent and has been roaming the ship killing anyone near it! There might be more but I haven't been down in the hull to check, not since it broke out!"

"Okay, Lieutenant, I'll take him back to the ship. Hold the train for me, will ya?"

"No problem, Sergeant." The two slipped through the doorway before slipping out of sight. "Okay, what do you guys think?"

"Something obviously happened here," Gage pointed out. "And if what he says is true, then everyone on this ship is at risk of being attacked."

"What do you guys want to do?" The Lieutenant inquired. "Fall back to the shuttle or try to investigate just what the hell happened here?"

"I vote to investigate," Gunnery Sergeant Cutlass answered. He was very quiet most of the time, so when he spoke, it was to be taken seriously.

"Okay, Gage? Tungsten?"

"If the gunny wants to stay, I'm good to go," the Private answered.

"I think it'd more interesting than sitting on the ship with that nervous wreck trying to figure out what they saw."

"You're all crazy, after what that poor trauma case described, you want to go exploring!?" One of the engineers proclaimed. The others hesitantly agreed, not one of them wanted to stay on that ship.

"Okay, so we take you guys back to the ship and have the pilot wait outside of the ship. While we figure out what happened, you five try to get that civilian's head straight."

With no objections, the group retreated back to the Helios. Joule stood on the catwalk as they approached. "We packing up sir?"

"No sergeant, just dropping off the less... combat-tested of our group." Gunner held a fore hoof up to his ear as the engineers slipped up the catwalk, "Pilot Thruster, do you copy?"

"Yes Lieutenant, what can I do for you?" He replied through the short-range radio.

"We're dropping off the eggheads, once their on board we need you to launch the ship and stay just outside of the Volantis. If we have any complications, look for a flare to come out of the docking bay to signal we need a pickup."

"Not a problem sir, good hunting."

"Hopefully, we won't need it." Gunner lowered his hoof and turned to the rest of the detail. "We're heading inside to see exactly what's happening. Starting with the comms array, and remember something might be on the ship so stay alert."

The group slipped across the deck as the Helios fired up the engines and slipped through the opening in the bay. Cutting the size of the group in half allowed for quicker movement through the rooms. They made it back to the tram station again and this time everyone was on edge.

"Sir, can we even fix anything on this ship?" The Private asked.

"Good question," the squad leader turned to Tungsten. "Can a bunch of soldiers really fix anything on this ship?"

"Considering how you and I both started off as engineers, I'm pretty sure we can do something."

"There ya have it private, now let's get moving. Unless, you guys want to start a campfire here." The squad gave a few laughs, humor helped cut down on the anxiety of their job.

The five stepped in the tram and a blue interface glowed across from the sliding double doors. A blueprint of the ship was displayed, each vital part of the ship was shown to have a tram station. The corporal stepped up to the panel and slid his hooves over the front of the ship and selecting what appeared to be the bridge.

"The comms array should be close to the bridge," Tungsten explained. "So long as the design of this ship follows the others..." He tapped the bridge section, and the tram responded by sliding the double doors shut and giving a jerk before sliding in the direction of the bridge. During the trip, everyone took a breathe and started talking about life back in Equestria.

"So private, still have that sweet little thing from Manehatten back home?" Tungsten asked.

"Yeah, she's talking about us getting an apartment together."

"Wow, sounds like she's tightened the leash," Joule joked.

"Well what about you? You have anyone to go home to?"

"Yeah, I have a mare back home. Been seeing her for a couple months now." The sergeant turned to the squad leader. "What about you Gunner? Surely you've got a sweetheart back home."

"No I don't Joule, not really looking for one either." He replied, his tone a little colder than intended.

"You're kidding, right?" Gage blurted.

"Nope, my job takes priority. Just no time to go looking for love."

"Sir, with all do respect, that's the stupidest thing you've ever said," Tungsten commented.

"So all of you have been able to find someone while going on mission after mission?" Tungsten, Gage and Joule all nodded in agreement, all eyes fell on the gunny. "Cutlass?"

"I don't want to talk about it," his words could have turned steam into ice. And silence consumed the group until the tram came to a stop with a sudden jolt. The doors slid open and a ding came from the speakers of the tram.

"Gentlecolts, welcome to the bridge." The corporal announced as he stepped of the tram.

The station looked identical to the one they left. The five moved to a hallway, noticing a vending stall sitting at the edge of the hallway. Stores and living vendors had been deemed obsolete on space vessels in the year 2440. The replacement was a machine roughly the size of a portable restroom that carried a wide assortment of tools, medical supplies and, for security personal, weapons and ammo. The thing was outlined with a yellow case and the holo panel in the center displayed the word 'Store' plain as day.

"That might come in handy," Gage mused.

"So long as you didn't forget your wallet, Private," the Lieutenant joked.

The squad moved down a hallway to a large door. A display on top of the door read Atrium and the display on the door was blue and read Unlocked. Tungsten tapped the interface and the door slid open revealing a large room with glass walls revealing the star dotted expanse around them. An elevator sat in the center of the room that went both up and down. A few feet from the doors of the elevator, a body laid motionless, it was unclear if the pony was dead or alive.

"Hold up," Gunner gestured with his hoof to tell his squad to stay put. He walked over to the body, it laid on it's stomach and face pressed against the floor. When he got closer, he noticed distinct slashes in the victim's back. A blood trail lead from the elevator, they must've been crawling for their life. He turned the body over to see that something had violently punctured the chest. Damn, what the hell did this? He directed his gaze to the rest of the squad and drew his hoof across his neck signalling the pony was deceased. He rejoined them quickly, "Something definitely killed the poor guy, slashes across the back and a lethal stab wound in the chest."

"Dear Celestia, do we stick to the plan?" Joule asked.

"Yeah, the elevator leads to the array, right Corporal?"

"Yeah, it's one floor beneath us."

"Then be mindful, we should show some respect for the dead."

The five tiptoed past the body on their way to the elevator. They headed to the lower deck, hopefully we can get that thing online. I wonder why the guy on the Helios couldn't get it fixed. The doors creaked open and the five readied there weapons. Again, nothing greeted them, friendly or otherwise. They slipped down the hallway, noticing several locked doors down each side of the it.

"Wait, I hear something." The leader called for silence, several distant thuds progressively grew closer. It sounded like it was coming from inside the walls. "Something's coming, get ready."

The soldiers reared up on their hind legs and leaned against the walls, slipping their rifles around and aiming them down the hallway. As abruptly as the thudding started, it stopped. Four of the five exchanged confused glances, Gunner just kept aiming down his sight. His laser guided sight trained on the center of the hallway, ready for anything. Well, almost anything.

A large bang! roared down the hallway as a vent further down was smashed open. And one of those things jumped out and turned to face the squad. That horrible figured, a pale brown color, it stood on two legs, almost twice as tall as anyone in the squad on their hind legs. It had two large appendages coming from it's shoulders. On each end was a sharp blade, ready to cut anything they got near. Two shrunken arms dangled, unusable to the creature The face was disfigured, jaw gaping and releasing a guttural roar. No, no it can't be... FUCK NO!

"What the hell is that? Lieutenant what do we do?" Gage asked. To Gunner, his voice was distant and barely audible. His mind was racing, I blew it all up, nothing could have survived the ship exploding! How the hell did one get away!? After a few seconds of fear struck paralysis, his instincts took over, releasing a primal scream. As the being lunged forward, he gave a precise burst of fire of five bullets. The bullets shrieked through the air and ripped into one of it's legs, severing it. A small amount of blood poured from the severed appendage. The beast tumbled over on to it's stomach and began using it's bladed arms to crawl toward them. Another burst severed one of it's arms, the thing slumped over. Dead, blood slowly leaking from it's wounds.

The soldiers approached the mangled corpse. "Gunner? What the hell is that? How did you just kill it? Sir I need answers!" Tungsten shouted.

"Keep your voice down!" The lieutenant ordered in a hushed voice. "Before I answer your questions, I need you to all pay very close attention to what I'm saying. If you don't do exactly as I say, we might not make it off this scrap heap!
1. Shoot the limbs. Body and head shots don't damage them much. Take out the arms and legs until they stop moving.
2.These things are re-purposed corpses. They are transformed ponies, if you see a body, shoot it. If it doesn't jump up at us, sever the arms and legs. I know I said respect the dead, but that's not a luxury we can afford here.
3. Stay away from the vents, that's how they move around. Floor, walls, ceiling, all of them can be used as a point of attack. Watch them carefully.
4. Share ammo. If someone runs low, they become vulnerable. If ammo is getting scarce, pull blades of dead ones using your magic, or your kinesis module and launch them back at these monstrosities."

"How do you know all of this?" The corporal pressed.

"You wanted to know how I lost my hoof?"

The group just stood in silence. The realization that these things had took a part of him and he still survived struck them with fear and respect for both friend and foe. "Dear Celestia, what do we do know?" Cutlass asked.

"We get the array online, you guys get back on the ship and you wait for me."

"What are you going to do while we wait?" Gage inquired.

"Save everyone I can... and blow this ship straight to hell."

"You can't be serious! You must be joking! Going off alone with these things around by yourself and blowing this ship up? Are you insane?!" Tungsten accused.

"What did I say about your voice?!" He asked in a hushed tone. "Listen, you all have something to go home to. The second that array is online we are getting you all back on the Helios. And I'm doing what needs to be done, I'm pulling the plug on these bastards!"

"You are officially insane!" Tungsten reiterated in a quiet tone.

Gunner was about to retort when static came in over the short-range radio. "H-hello? Please... someone answer me!" The voice definitely belonged to a mare, terrified to say the very least.

"Hello? Anyone there?" Gunner replied, holding his hoof up to his mic.

"Y-yes, thank Celestia someone's still alive."

"Ma'am where are you? My squad just came down the elevator to the comms array."

"I'm- I'm a few doors down that hallway. I'm unlocking the door now, you have no idea how glad to-" The mare was cut off by a loud clang. "No, stay back, I mean it!" A guttural shout rang into the mic, and then, static.

"Everyone move, down the hall quickly!" The lieutenant ordered. The five sprinted through the hallway noticing every door being locked, except for one. Gunner activated the door and as it slid open, each soldier had their rifle aimed and ready. What they saw was the last thing they expected...

The mare was leaning against a wall, panting as if she had just gotten the wind knocked out of her. The wall adjacent to the door had an interesting new piece of decor. One of those creatures was stuck mounted to it by a few severed blades. Damn, this mare is tough as nails. I never would have been able to do that so efficiently.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Joule asked.

The mare had a hoof held up to her chest. Her armor covered wings were flapping slowly, a telltale sign of anxiety. But, at the same time, she clearly had a horn on her head. "Yes, I-I'm fine. Just a little... freaked out."

"You're okay, just take a breathe, we will keep you safe." The sergeant promised.

"Joule, she doesn't need us to protect her. Look at the wall over there." The leader pointed to the body pinned on the wall. "She did the same thing I did, only with no gun or bullets. Not exactly a small feat."

"I... I tried to warn them... but, they didn't listen."

"Ma'am, these things don't 'understand' or 'think'. Whatever they were before this, I'm sorry but that's all gone. Memories, personality, sentience, that's all gone. They don't know how to do anything besides kill, and infect." Gunner explained, he knew all too well how they operated. "Lieutenant Ranged Gunner, at your service." She gave him a look of both sadness and relief. Sadness for the ones who were infected. Relief for the fact that she hadn't just murdered someone.

"Thank you, I was starting to worry I was the only one left."

"We found someone earlier coming in from the tram. We have him up in our ship right now just outside the vessel."

"You found Nickel!? What a relief! After he ran out earlier I thought he had been killed! Thank you!" The mare threw her hooves around Gunner. He returned her hug hesitantly. Of course, the suits didn't allow for any physical contact, but it was still nice.

"Ma'am, if it's not too much to ask, who are you? An alicorn?" Gage asked, that guy never thinks before talking...

She cleared her throat as she backed away from the lieutenant. "Oh yes, terribly rude of me. I'm Twilight Sparkle." Uh, What?!

"Princess Twilight Sparkle?" The private pressed.

"Yes." Twilight deadpanned.

The five bowed down to her, as a show of respect. "With all do respect Princess, we need to get moving."