Through the portal

Through the Portal

Chapter 10

Hope

“And make sure that engine doesn't blow up on us, we need every bit of advantage in speed that we can get!”, I shouted to two female technicians who were working on the main propulsion system of our carrier. It had turned out that the Ponies did not kill the entire crew, when they conquered the ship, and some of the survivors were willing to help us. That included General Adams, who had been the former Commander of the vessel.

Three hours had passed since Luna had teleported me, my family, Octavia and herself on board, where I was greeted by a hoof to the face by Celestia. She was not to amused by the blow I had given her earlier, and was prepared to return the favor tenfold. Had it not been for Octavias and Lunas intervention, she might very well have killed me on the spot. After that little “episode”, Luna had ushered her sister out of the sickbay, to try and calm her down, while Frank came in with a grim look on his face. This had been when he told me how dire our situation really was. The remaining alien battleship was helping the two we incapacitated with the repairs, while the mother-ship was perusing us. In spite of it's size it was slowly gaining on us, which was why I had not stayed in the sickbay to get my injuries treated.

Instead I had visited the prisoners, and persuaded them to help us. That General Adams ordered them to do so didn't hurt either. The old man always liked me, but even I thought that this was a little too much. When I asked him about it, he told me that he would explain it later.

And that was how I had ended up in the engine room, supervising repairs and enhancements to our main drive. It would still not be enough to outrun the mother-ship, that much Frank had told me, but it would buy us some more time to come up with a plan.

As I was studying my clipboard, to check where I had to go next, I felt a hoof taping my shoulder. I almost fell over when I turned around, and looked into the purple eyes of Princess Mi amore Cadenza. Her muzzle was only inches away from my nose, which shocked me even more.

To hide my rising shock, I quickly attempted a bow, which was a bad idea at this distance. Instead of hiding my shock, or paying my respect to the Princess.... I head-butted her, which sent both of us stumbling to the ground backwards.

“Ouch!”, she complained, while rubbing her forehead with a hoof and sitting on her haunches.

“I... I'm terribly sorry Princess!”, I exclaimed, bowing on my knees like I had seen muslims do while they prayed. Instead of accepting my apology however, she started laughing heartily.

“It's quite alright Commander. I startled you. No need for you to apologize, it was my fault entirely.”, she reassured me and I stood up.

“So.... I am glad to see you up and about again Prin...”

“Oh shush, Cadence is fine. You saved me after all, even though with that little incident just now, you have assaulted three fourth of Equestrias royalty.”, she chuckled. Had it not been for the fact that her amusement reached her eyes, I would have taken this as a threat eventually.

“Ehm... OK... Cadence. So what can I do for you?”, I asked, picking up my clipboard. I longed for a shower, since I could smell the sweat and blood on me, but there just was no time for me to relax it seemed.

“Oh! I am actually here to do something for you.”, she answered honestly, and I almost dropped my clipboard once again.

“And what would that be?”, I asked, more then a little confused what the Princess of love could help me with in a situation like this.

“Aunt Luna is still trying to calm aunt Celestia down, so I had to go through the damage reports, and the recording of the battle we just barely escaped from. As you know they used me for a battery for quite some time, but I was not out of it all the time. When I was awake, I could access the systems of that strange machine through the hornring they put on me. Then, when I saw the diagrams of our battle earlier, an idea struck me, and I came here to discuss it with you.”, she elaborated with a wide grin on her face. I could not help but think that her smile was fake, and that there was something that bothered her a great deal. In our current situation however, I had no time to play therapist for her, as much as I wanted to console her.

“So? I mean it's news to me that you could access a Dxs systems from the battery compartment, but I don't see how that could help us.”

“You really don't see it?”, her smile faded slightly.

“To be honest, no I don't. Technical stuff like that is Franks thing, not mine.”

“Oh....”, she let her head droop a little, then perked up again so suddenly that she almost stabbed me with her horn.

“It's really easy you know! I saw the recording of the battle and the sensor data. All damages to this ship were caused after our shields failed. To get them back up, Luna decided to reroute power from the weapons to the shield generators. This was the reason we were unable to cause more damage on the enemy ships! I have talked to the Unicorns who power the ship right now. They say that their output during the battle was around twenty Bells. That is quite a strain for a Unicorn, but for an Alicorn, that is basically nothing! You have ten Unicorns powering this ship, which means you have a maximum output of two hundred Bells. What if I told you that I alone am capable of three hundred? Celestia can even manage over a thousand! What I am trying to say is this: If you hook Celestia and me up to this ship, and give us access to it's systems, then we can power it with ease and reroute our power much faster then anypony that works on a terminal. The reaction time of the ship would fasten considerably, while the output of the weapons and shields would be increased by several times! Think about it..... Ehm Selina?”

Cadence trailed off, because my mouth was standing open as the possibilities ran through my head. If we could increase the output of the crucial systems, then we might not have to run. It took a moment, before I shook my head and looked over to one of the techs.

“Hey, you! Yes you there. Come here a second, I gotta talk to you!”, I called out to the young man, who complied with my demand.

“Yes ma'am? What can I help you with? I don't want to sound rude, but I got to get back to work if we want to increase the engine output by two percent, like you ordered.”, he said, whiping sweat from his brow with he back of his hand.

“No need for that anymore. Tell me, what is the maximum capacity of this ships systems? How much magical energy can run through the circuits, before it blows up?”

“Ehm... that's a tricky question Commander. In theory, there is no limit. There is a regulation device in each of the crucial systems, that would absorb all the energy that the system in question can not handle. But this vessel has been constructed with much higher output in mind then what we currently have, so I can only assume that it is about three thousand to three thousand five hundred Bells. Why do you ask?”, he explained, scratching his arms as he did so.

“Tell your team to stop what they are doing right now. I need you to throw together a neural interface for the navigational systems, weapon systems and the shields. Think you can do that?”

“I... I think so, but why...?”

“Don't ask silly questions, get to work. I need both of the interfaces on the bridge. I also want to to install two of those hornrings there, like the ones in the generator room.”

“But... ma'am... The interfaces are portable to begin with, but the charging devices.... We would have to draw cables throughout half of the ship!”, he protested.

“Then what are you waiting for? GET TO IT PRIVATE! DOUBLE TIME!”, I ordered more harshly then I had intended, which made Cadence flinch. The Private saluted, and informed me to expect the work to be done in approximately two hours, before he ran off to gather his team.

“Did you really have to shout at him? He just wanted to help it seems....”, Cadence asked, almost timidly.

“I'm sorry Cadence, I have noticed that you Ponies handle military matters differently then we do, but believe me this is normal for us. Right now, he is my subordinate, and he was arguing with me on a direct order. I had to show him his place, or it would undermine my authority. Don't think for a second however, that I enjoy this.”, I clarified.

“Well... if you say so... We... We should go and talk to Celestia about this. If she is unwilling to do it, then all of this would be pointless.”

“What about Luna? If Celestia refuses, she could...”, but Cadence shook her head.

“Luna and I are not magically compatible. It has to be Celestia.”

“Mhhmmm... OK.... Even though I would prefer to avoid her right now.... I guess I have no other choice. Where is she?”, I asked, putting my clipboard on a nearby table.

“In Twilights quarters. She's unwilling to leave her side.”, Cadence said, as we started walking.

“How is Twilight? Will she be alright?”, I asked, my concern obvious in my voice. Over all that had happened up until now, I had totally forgotten about the purple Alicorn.

“She will recover, but not fully. The bullet ripped her right lung apart, but didn't go much further then that. She will be a little short breathed in the future, but our healers were able to heal the internal and external injuries pretty well. All she needs now is rest.”, Cadence explained, with a smile on her face. I could tell that she was relieved that Twilight would be alright, and then it hit me. Finally I knew what was bothering her, and it hit me like a hammer-blow.

“I am sorry for your loss.”, I murmured as we stepped into the elevator. Her ears perked up, and she looked at me, with a confused expression on her face.

“Your husband... Shining Armor.... I am sorry for your loss.”, I clarified as the doors closed.

“Thank you....”, she said in a low voice, before starting to cry. We did not speak another word on our way to Twilights quarters, but I embraced her neck to give her at least some comfort.

*~*~*~*~*

“You want to do what?”, Celestia screamed in my face, trying to free herself from Luna, who was doing her best to hold her sister down.

“I want to attack the mother-ship. With your help, we increase our output enough to have a chance. If you don't help us, then we will be caught sooner or later. Sooner then later probably. This is your chance to save what is left of Ponykind, Celestia. You will control the offensive and defensive systems of this ship. Think about it. You can unleash all your rage upon our enemies.”, I explained for what felt like the hundredth time.

“You are a bloodthirsty beast, just like the rest of your kind! You killed one of my little Ponies! How can I trust you!”, the Princess of the sun spat into my face as she finished. The room went silent, except for Celestias continued raging, as everypony in attendance gasped.

For a moment, I just stood there, shocked at her reaction. Then anger grabbed hold of me once again, and Luna did not have to hold Celestia down anymore, since I charged her. Stunned at my outburst Celestia did not react as I grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against a nearby wall.

“YOU IDIOT! THIS IS OUR ONLY CHANCE, DON'T YOU SEE THAT? WE CAN NOT BEAT THEM IN AN OPEN BATTLE, AND WE CAN NOT RUN FOREVER! THEY WILL CATCH UP WITH US, IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND AS SOON AS THE HUMAN FLEET IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN, THEY WILL ALSO HUNT US! TAKING OUT THE MOTHERSHIP, AND THEREFOR DEMONSTRATING THAT WE ARE A FORCE TO BE REOCKNED WITH, IS OUR ONLY CHANCE TO DRIVE THEM AWAY! DON'T YOU GET THAT YOU FOOLISH MULE!”, I screamed in her face as tears ran down my cheeks.

I could understand why Celestia distrusted me. Humanity had done nothing but stab her in the back. My fellow humans had killed her Ponies, and injured her. Her kingdom lay in ruins, because of humanity, but she HAD to understand that this was maybe our last chance to turn the tables. Frank had said that it would take a week at maximum for the other human ships to be operational again, and only a few hours for the battleships we incapacitated.

I do not know what made her do it, but suddenly Twilight spoke up. Her voice was weak, and her breaths labored, but she sat upright nonetheless.

“I say we do it.”, she panted.

“Twilight! No, you should rest.”, Celestia shouted, trying to wriggle out of my grasp. She was strong, but I held onto her as firmly as I could without actually chocking her.

“I second that notion.”, Cadence suddenly interjected.

“So do I.”, Luna agreed.

“Have you all gone insane? We have a ship! We can flee Equestria! We can find a new world!”, Celestia tried to argue as I let go of her.

“And then what? They will go after you, no matter where you go. They want your power Celestia, and they want Luna. No matter where you flee to, they will hunt you. No matter how much you try to negotiate with them, they will not stop until they have all of you in their custody.”, I said coldly.

Celestia looked up at me, with tears in her eyes. Her eyes darted between Luna, Twilight, Cadence and me. She knew she was overruled, and didn't like it. She knew I was right, and liked that fact even less.

“Alright.... I will do it....”, she sighed, and slumped to the floor. I tried to put my hand on her shoulder, but she slapped it away.

*~*~*~*~*

We were ready for the battle only a few hours after the confrontation with Celestia. I had asked her if she would mind if I created an audio-log on the ships mainframe. She gave me permission to do so, and I started to record all the things I had lived through up to that point.

I would continue to send audio files to the mainframe, using my personal Tablet that Frank gave me.

The plan was, to encounter the mother-ship over Horseshoe-bay, in case it would crash or explode. That way Ponies that were on the run, and may be in the area, would not be harmed. Cadence, who had already taken over the energy supply for the engines and the navigational control, laid in a course. We would not ambush them, but wait for them, to fight them on our own terms.

Even some of the humans that now sat in the control room marveled at the maneuvers that the Princess pulled off. The formerly bulky ship suddenly cut through the sky like a Pegasus, doing rolls and sudden turns as it went. I could tell that the pink Alicorn was trying out the abilities of the ship, and smiled. The former Navigators had controlled the ship via terminals. Using a neural interface certainly gave us an additional advantage in maneuverability.

The speeds Cadence was able to reach, were nothing to sneeze at either. Our former maximum had been a little over 400 miles per hour. It surprised even me, when we broke the sound-barrier.....

Celestias contribution made the human technicians shake their heads in defeat. They had tried so hard to optimize the ships output for this upcoming battle, but her output was off the scale. All terminals gave error warnings, since they could not measure her power. It made me wonder how these alien and human alliance had been able to bring Equestria to it's knees in the first place.

We reached Horseshoe-bay only minutes after Cadence had laid in a course, and our opponent did not keep us waiting for very long. The massive structure of the mother-ship crawled over the horizon, and I knew there would be no time for talking now. The fight would begin soon. I could see in everyponies eyes, as well as in the eyes of each and every human who had agreed to help us. If this went south, if the mother-ship was stronger then we expected, if the patch up job the techs had done with the power-lines to the bridge failed or if the alien ships were ready earlier then we expected, then this would surely be our last battle, and we all knew it.