Ascension To Beyond

Hermes Drone #11357

Emergency Broadcast: Channel Omega 0 0

Hostile engagement from surface

Opening Orbital Weapons Platform

System Check:

Escalation Denial Weapon 30

Thermobaric Airburst Explosive 20

Atmospheric Extermination Device 1

Releasing E.D.W.

Count Remaining: 29

Impact modified original satellite trajectory

Orbit degrading into Sub-Orbital Pattern

Calculating Impact: 10 Years

Initiating Non-Recovery Protocols

(>’.’>)#

“We have a positive hit on target.” A green unicorn said, turning around in his chair to face his superior.

A unicorn stood above them on a platform, a grin on her face underneath her signature black glasses. “Good. Recover what you c-”

A klaxon started sounding.

“What’s going on now?” She asked, her grin disappearing.

“The target we hit shows no sign of damage.” Another unicorn shouted, countless screens blaring red. “And it’s releasing an unknown device into a suborbital path. Calculating impact zone.”

“What kind of damage are we looking at?” She asked, worry in her voice. There was an artificial thing in orbit around the planet, and after speculation they had decided on shooting it down. Hopefully it wasn’t a mistake.

“The object is impacting in ten seconds in the Crystal provinces.” A pegasus said, as several screens changed to the view of a mountainous region. A small white line arced across the screen, before impacting a mountain. They all had to look away, as it exploded in a massive burst of white. The screens started turning snowy, before the feed was cut entirely.

“Just what have we done?” She said, everyones mouth hanging open in awe.

“Alert Magister Sparkle.” No one moved, staring at the blank screen. The observation station had been at least fifty miles from the impact zone, and it had been destroyed in a matter of seconds.

“I said to GET TWILIGHT ON THE LINE!” She screamed, jolting them into action. Their choice just might cost them more than they could ever guess.

(o3o)

“You engaged an unknown object you detected in orbit without any sort of approval?” Twilight was furious as she stared down the unicorn. “Do you have any idea what you might have started Starlight?” Her voice made the entire room shake, causing Starlight to flinch.

“It was an anomalous object that-”

“You went above your rank and ordered an attack on something that retaliated by,” Twilight paused to look at the report in her hand. “destroying half of the Crystal Mountains, two towns, a mining operation, and approximately a hundred and fifty additional square miles of empty land. This is going to be a permanent scar on the face of Equis. Do you have any idea how difficult this is going to be to explain?”

“No ma’am.” Starlight hung her head in shame.

“This is hands down the worst mistake anyone has ever made. Not even the pegasus that accidentally started the war with the dragons messed up this bad.”

“But you dealt with the dragons in a single day, couldn’t you do the same here?” She asked, looking hopeful.

“You want me to go up and pull something out of the sky that destroyed more than a rampaging dragon could in a week, and probably only did so because you attacked it first? I understood what I was fighting against the dragons. The most we know about this object is that it just destroyed more of this country than anything we have ever seen, and survived a direct hit from the prototype Mass Driver Cannon.” Twilight’s tone was condescending.

“It was a horrible suggestion. I am more than willing to take responsibility for my actions.” Starlight dropped to her knees, bowing before Twilight.

“We’ll talk later about your punishment. As of this moment, you no longer work for me. Clean out your office, and don’t show up tomorrow.” Twilight spun around in her chair, looking out the window over Canterlot. Starlight took this as her chance to leave, and teleported out.

“Did you leave us a little present Seed?” She asked the night, unknowing whether she would get an answer.

“You speak of the guest in my stars?” Luna asked, walking in from the balcony.

“Yes, the head of the National Defense Organization authorized an attack on it using a prototype weapon. It did nothing to the object, and it retaliated by dropping something from orbit.” Twilight grabbed the reports in her magic and floated them over to Luna.

“A single thing did this?” Luna asked, her eyes widening as she read the report.

“Yes, and I believe it was nothing more than a warning shot.”

“Where do you believe it came from?” Luna asked, as she placed the report back on the desk.

“There’s only one place. They must have left it behind.” Twilight sighed.

“And if that was a warning shot, what do you think it is truly capable of?” Luna asked.

“More than we could ever guess.” Twilight replied.