Prologue: I'll Be Back Soon...
Twilight circled around the mass of computers and desktops in the Operations Bay, checking and then double checking the numbers and calculations that appeared on every screen. Ponies were already placed in front of the computers, ready to inform her of any problems that arose, but she wanted to make sure everything was correct through her checking. She had done this a few times before, each of the start-up operations successful, and even completed a substantial amount of simulated practice runs which were all a huge success. Twilight, being who she was, had folders full of notes of how the process was to run and turn out, but also scenarios of what to do if any part of the process were to go wrong.
She finished her observations and returned to her own console, high above and at the back of the control room. It was cluttered with said notes, different sets of blueprints and detailed schematics. She even double checked her numbers on them as well. Just being prepared...
Twilight looked up from her computer screen and out the observation windows that were at the front of the room. She looked out across the rocky and barren landscape, upon the huge hunk of engineering, some three miles away. It stood two miles high, towering over everything else that was built here on this rock. Huge metal turbines that stood around and among it, shook and slightly turned as the heavy winds and rain blew through. It always rained here. There were never days that didn’t always have dark clouds in the sky.
Once we pump some breathable air into the atmosphere, we can have the Pegasi clear up the sky and get rid of this gloomy weather... Twilight thought.
She breathed out a heavy sigh and touched her hoof to her headset.
“Spike, how are the things looking on your end?” she asked. There was a slight pause and then Spike came through.
“All’s good over here, Twilight!” Spike was a few floors above her, in the Observations Dock. She was seeing the exact same thing he was seeing, but she checked with him anyway. She wanted him to feel a part of the project.
“Right..” she said under her breath. She took her hoof from her headset and clicked on the keyboard in front of her. She bit her lip as she entered in the last set of numbers and pressed, ‘enter’. “Alright everypony...!” she looked up and out the windows again. “Call out for good start up procedures of the Atmospheric Processor. Bolts; Electronic Stability!”
The ponies at their computers started calling out their statuses.
“Electricity intakes and levels are green! Electronic Stability is a go!” Bolts replied.
“Nuclear Radiation!”
“Radiation is stable and monitoring sequences are enabled! Nuclear Radiation is a go!”
“Cooling Systems!”
“Temperatures at their pre-procedure, normal levels! Primary Heat Exchange levels are green and Heating Temperatures are also normal! Cooling Systems is a go!”
Twilight smiled and put her hoof back up against her headset:
“Spike, waiting on you with the Seismic Disturbance calculations.”
“Right-o! Give me a second!” Spike responded.
“Ok, this is it, gentlecolts! This is what the last few months have been about...!” She stated to the ponies in the room before Spike quickly came back on,
“Twilight, all levels and numbers are good on this end! Seismic Disturbance is a go!”
“Roger, Spike,” Twilight lifted up a small capsule of plastic on her console which revealed a small green button. She gave another sigh, “Starting up the Atmospheric Processor!” Twilight pushed the button and closed the plastic back around it. “Pray to Celestia...” she said under her breath.
At first, nothing happened... Then there was a burst of incredible energy, and a blinding light that shot through the windows. There was a deafening noise and the entire complex started to shake, rocking everyone on the inside, back and forth. A few of the workers at their computers fell out of their chairs and onto the floor. There was a mass of hysteria. Twilight grit her teeth and held her balance.
“It’s alright, everypony! This sort of thing always happens when it’s finally turned on! It’s perfectly normal!” she screamed, hoping her co-workers could hear her over all the noise.
“Disturbances are at a minimum and holding, Twilight! Still green!” Spike shouted over the headset. Twilight pressed her hoof hard against hers,
“Say again?! Spike, what was that?!”
“All is a go! All is still a go, Twilight!”
Outside, among the rock and machinery, large bolts of electricity could be seen, rocketing down a set of piping and cables at an incredible speed. The blinding light started to dissipate and the noise began to die down. The ponies gathered themselves and returned to their stations, checking their numbers. A bead of sweat ran down Twilight’s forehead.
“What’s the status of the Electronic Stability?” she asked.
“All is still green. Some minor fluctuations but nothing overwhelming.”
“Radiation?”
“We’ll see the exact numbers of any rising waste problems once the Atmospheric Processor is fully online. Right now; its the same as it was. Still a go.”
“Good...”
The bolts of electricity finally reached the Processor and shot up its central mainframe. It climbed its spires and cable wiring, higher and higher. The turbines at the bottom began to spin, more rapid the more seconds passed. The electricity reached the very top of the Processor and collected at a central spire. There, it started to grow, shaping into a small sphere. Twilight held her breath,
“Moment of truth...”
The orb grew to the size of a small car before finally bursting into a ray of pure energy, shooting upwards into the sky. Shards and sparks levied off the spire and fell to the ground. The ray tore a hole in the clouds, shooting farther up into the atmosphere.
Just outside the complex, a swarm of cheers could be heard. Some of the workers looked around at one another and even at Twilight.
“No doubt it’s coming from the colonists. They probably came out to watch the start up,” she turned to her left, “Grid, pull up Camera A-223.”
The dark grey pony nodded and clicked on his keyboard.
“Pulling up Camera A-223. Live footage is being received on Screen B.”
Twilight looked upon the screen. It showed many of the other pony colonists all outside cheering, despite them getting soaked from the rain. It looked as if all of the colonists were huddled around inside the alleyway to watch the start-up procedures.
They were out there for the entire thing? Even through the noise, light, and seismic activity...? Twilight stood slightly stunned, then turned back to the Processor. She chuckled to herself,
“Thank you, Grid,” The colt nodded. “Active, what’s your status on Radiation?”
“No excess waste showing up on the screen. Total radiation levels are normal if not just under what’s expected.”
“Rench; cooling status?”
“Temperatures coming off of the Processor are as what we expected. The primary heat exchangers and cooling systems are both fully functioning.”
She smiled and started to arrange her notes into a small neat pile.
“That’s it, gentlecolts,” She said, happily, now packing up her blueprints and schematics. “The Atmospheric Processor is up and operational. The Maintenance team will now take over and monitor the elemental changes in the atmosphere...”
“Good. It’s about time we got some fresh air in here...” Rench joked.
He was right though. The entire atmosphere of LV-426 was composed of mostly nitrogen but also traces of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. Anyone caught out in the open without a breathing apparatus was surely to suffocate and die rather quickly. Everyone was required to wear them before heading outside at any part of the complex. All of the colonists outside were wearing them.
By building the Atmospheric Processor, breathable oxygen would be added into the mix and would slowly begin to dominate over the other gases. The Processor was key if the intention was colonizing the planet, which is what the Equestrian Space Expansion Company (ESEC) wanted to do.
The entire project was set into motion eighty years ago, when the thought of space exploration and colonization of worlds beyond their own became popular. Equestria, also wanted to grow in territorial size and establish an even faster growing economy looked towards the stars for the answer. With the help of Princess Luna, the top leading individual, dedicated among astronomers, declared that it was indeed possible to explore space. Funds for the project rolled in and the project was set into motion. Dubbed the ‘Astronomical Revolution’, Equestria focused all of its efforts in building what was called the Equestrian Space Station (ESS). In just five years, it was finished and launched into space, just out and above the atmosphere. With the completion of the ESS, an abundance of space programs were formed, space exploration craft were built, and astronauts were trained. The concept designs of the Atmospheric Processor were also completed.
In seven years, a planet was discovered and plans had already been formed on colonizing it. A team was also formed, a large space craft was filled with supplies and equipment on building the Processor, and sent on its way to JC-02, all the eyes of Equestria upon it through the use of television screens and newly developed satellites. A few months past until finally the team, Alpha, reached JC-02. Equestria exploded with excitement when Alpha team set their hooves on the surface of another world. Twilight herself, being only four at the time, watched as Alpha team began constructing their living quarters and the Atmospheric Processor. After a year of hard work, the Processor was completed and Equestria watched in suspense as Alpha switched it on.
It was a huge success! The Processor was fully functional and the Equestria’s first planet was ready for colonization!
In the twenty years that followed, dozens of other worlds were discovered and colonized, which expanded the knowledge of the Universe as well as Equestria’s wealth. Precious resources were mined out of the ground of most of the planets. Most provided new homes and lives for individuals. JC-02 to this day, however, remains untouched. Ever since the completion of the Processor, it was declared to be left alone and justified as only a tourist attraction to show the success of Equestria’s Space Program.
Now, another step was taken into that glory; Another Processor had been finished, another planet ready for colonization, and another mark in Equestria's history...
Twilight laughed at Rench’s remark.
“Yeah, we definitely need to get some AC going through this place,” She added. Expressions of laughter and joy were exchanged around the room. Twilight pressed another button on her console and spoke through her headset. Her voice beckoned all around and outside the complex: “The Atmospheric Processor is online! I repeat; the Atmospheric Processor is online and operational!”
Another round of cheers echoed throughout the complex as workers and colonists alike celebrated the accomplishment.
“Way to go, Twilight!” Spike shouted over the headset. Twilight blushed a beat red,
“Thanks, Spike...”
The Reception Center was buzzing with ponies getting ready to board the transport that would take them up to the E.Q.S Canterlot to head home. Twilight and Spike were saying farewells at the gate.
“You’re sure you want to stay, Spike? Don’t you want to visit the Princess?” Twilight asked, a worried look in her eye.
“Twilight, this is my first time on another planet! I don’t wanna leave yet!” Spike said. Twilight still was unsure.
“What would you do here?," she stopped, then laughed. "A better question is what you do without me?”
“I’m gonna hang out with Pinkie and Fluttershy. Also, Roseluck asked me if I wanted to help plant some of the necessary grass and flowers once the air is breathable.”
Twilight still seemed unsure. She didn’t feel comfortable with the thought of Spike not being with her. Or her not being with Spike... He is still just a baby dragon after all. But, Fluttershy should be capable to take care of him.
“Promise me, you’ll stay out of trouble?”
“I promise!” Spike stood at attention, saluting her. Twilight laughed and patted his head with her hoof. A voice over an intercom broke their fun,
'LAST CALL FOR BOARDING FOR THE E.Q.S CANTERLOT!'
Twilight wrapped her hooves around Spike.
“Stay safe...” she whispered.
“I will...”
And with that, Twilight stepped aboard the transport, but not without a turn and a wave goodbye. Spike continuously waved back long after the ship had disappeared from sight. He was met by Fluttershy, who trotted up behind him. He continued to stare up into the clouds. She put her hoof around him and pulled him in close.
“She’ll be back soon, Spike. You’ll see...” Fluttershy also looked up into the clouds and smiled.
If you count four months soon...
