W40K: The Fringe Fighter

The Forever Fire came out of the Warp quickly, as if out of thin air. Not like there was any air in space, but you get the meaning. It hovered then above a lush world of green and blue colors.

On the bridge, Delicious Apple the Fourth, newly proclaimed Rogue Trader, smiled. He was an Earth Pony with the classic Apple Family looks: A red coat, yellow mane, emerald eyes, and apple cutie mark. His first adventure had gone so smoothly so far, and finding the planet below him had been no big problem. It was situated to the Galactic east of Cadia and the Eye of Terror, maybe only a few dozen light years. Hard to tell though, as warp travel tended to be deceptive.

Next to him stood a slightly older Pegasus. He had a stripped down Lascarbine on his back and a belt full of grenades. His name was Mane Fire, and he was the commander of all warfare related items on the ship. His coat was blacked from constant battle, with yellowish spots here and their. His mane was was a dark gray, which matched his cruel eyes. His cutie mark was that of an unclipped frag grenade. Most of this was hidden, however, by a full Imperial Guard Cadian uniform.

On Delicious's other side stood a withered old unicorn. Nopony knew his name, but he was the ships Navigator, the Pony who was entrusted to getting the ship though the warp safely. He was nicknamed "Third Eye", for the characteristic that makes all Naviagtors special: A mystical third eye that allowed them to look into the warp. He had a gray-blue coat color, and both his normal eyes were blind white, yet he was definitely not blind. His mane was slightly more gray then his coat. He was a blank flank, oddly enough.

At the helm was an old friend of Delicious, the earth pony Antimatter Serious, an Explorator of the Adeptus Mechanicus. His mechanical eye and staff made him easily recognizable, along with his concealed plasma pistol, a weapon capable of reducing many enemies to ashes. What was left of his skin was a orange, and his mane was a stripped one with a similar orange color and a blood red. His cutie mark, while normally hidden by his Mechanicus robe, was the Forever Fire, for he had been born on the ship.

Next to the door into the bridge was a grim looking griffon. He had black feathers with the normal white head, and had a long-las sniper rifle on his back, a mean looking knife in a holster on his shoulder, and a stub automatic pistol in a belt holster. His name was Norse, and he was ex-storm trooper.

The final pony on the team was another Earth pony by the name of Redneck Flyer, the teams shuttle pilot and medic. She was down in the ships small keel cargo bay prepping a old, 'borrowed' Thunderhawk Gunship. She was a purple color with light pink hair, and had a flower flying in the wind for a cutie mark.

Serious began relaying information in his raspy voice. "It is the the second planet of four in the system, and is the only non-gas giant. Located about 134 kilometers from the planets sun, it has a forty percent oxygen atmosphere, twenty percent carbon dioxide, and forty percent nitrogen, with small traces of other gases. It's surface is forty two percent land and fifty eight percent water. In short, the perfect planet to sustain life. In fact, scanners show no major hostile lifeforms."

Delicious nodded. "Alright. Mane Fire, assemble a squad of troopers, I never trust long range scanners, no offense Serious, and I want to go down there armed."

Mane Fire nodded, but just before he could move, the ship was rocked by an explosion.

Delicious spoke first, barking orders. "Get the void shields up! Open the windows, I want to see who the hell is firing on us!"

Serious began speaking next, in a confused tone. "Sir, the hostile ships only read as one, like there all one ship. But radar shows me five ships."

As the massive steel shutters opened, Delicious realized that his first space combat may very well be his last. The ships were long and lithe, each the size of a light cruiser. He recognized them as Eldar design. Not good. So, he did the most tactful thing he could think of. He called the xenos up on vox.

"Eldar Warships, I kindly request a ceasefire, and I will see what I can do for you without bloodshed."

There was utter silence on the bridge. It was understandable. An ex-noble of the highest stature just called up a hostile xenos force for a chat.

For a moment, that silence continued. Then, the vox crackled and an ethereal voice came over in accented High Gothic.

"Insolent Pony. We simply wish for you to leave the territory of the Red Olen'dsen. If you do not, we will take your lives and wealth."

Delicious bit his lip. "I'm sure we can work something out. I will allow five of you to board WITHOUT any teleportation. I'm sure we can talk this out over some recaf. I simply wish to survey your lands. I promise no harm. I am not Imperial."

Silence. Then, the vox crackled again, and the same voice came over.

"Agreed. We will move in to board."

Suddenly the five ships turned into one as the Eldar Holo-Field dissappeared.

Immediately, Delicious was into tricks. "Charge the lances. On my order, open fire."

The bridge scrambled into action, shouting orders to different sections of the ship.

Serious began counting off. "One hundred kilometers, closing..."

Delicious smiled, his hoof hovering over the vox button.

"Fifty Kilometers..."

Delicious pressed the vox. "Eldar, the situations changed."

"Twenty Five kilometers..."

"How so..?"

"Ten Kilometers!"

"Nothing personal. OPEN FIRE!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the pair of dorsal Titan-Pattern Energy Lances lashed out at the vulnerable Eldar cruiser. Two explosions blossomed against its prow, followed by dozens of other, smaller weapons opening up.

Meanwhile, the Eldar started shouting curses in their own language.

As the second barrage of lances bombarded the vessel, the Eldar ship disappeared into nothing, along with the Eldar commander saying "You'll forever regret this pony."

There was silence on the bridge. Then, the entire bridge crew broke into cheering. For Delcious's first space combat, he did pretty well. Extremely well, in fact.

The vox interrupted the celebration, however. "Cargo bay to captain, this is Redneck. Your ride's primed and ready."