Since the civilizations of Equestria had reached for the stars things had gone exceptionally smoothly; little social upheaval, no incompatible environments, unknown diseases or hostile life forms on the planets they visited. Considering it’s been 250 years since the first ship left orbit, some ponies whisper that this streak of good luck is bordering on the impossible - life simply isn’t that kind, it always throws a spanner in the works occasionally. They were not wrong in those beliefs.

A group have been using sleight-of-hoof, manipulation and magical overrides to play games with everypony in outer-space. They direct governments, organizations and individuals alike as pieces on a chessboard in such a subtle way that no-pony ever had an inkling about what was happening.

All of this changes when a new player appears on the board with the potential to shut down this game for good, and the crew of the Impetuous finds themselves caught in the middle of a world they never even dreamed existed. Unsure anymore of what is truth or fabrication and with no idea who to trust (even each other) they have to decide what, if anything, they can do to tip the scales one way or another… and even if they should.

[Note: Currently under revision. See comment.]