The sun shone brightly as the lone arbiter sat in the water. The crew getting off the floor after they got knocked over during their trip in the portal. Hive started to stand up, putting one hand on the table in front of him for support he slowly got to his feet to find that almost all of the other men in the wheelhouse hadn't even tried to get up.

"Oh for crying out lowed, all of you land lovers get to your feet now." he said in a commanding voice. Witch got some of the men up to their feet. The rest stayed on the ground, some had been knocked out while others started to try to find there foot placement so they wouldn't fall again. One of the men sat there, as if he was about to fall asleep, lazily said "five more minutes..."

Hive walked over to him, bent over the sailor who was the spotter who didn't know his port from his starboard, and simply said, "well then if you want to sleep then why don’t you wait till your shift ends or we will pick you up and throw you over the bow so that we run you over and the propellers turn you into shark food."

The sailor looked up at Hive and gave a slight chuckle and laid back down ignoring his commanding officer. Looking down, displease, Hive looked over to his second in command, List, no one knew his real name so they called him List because he had been through every cores at the war academy, even for the proto nemesis.

"Hey List come over here and help me out here." he called out.

List walked over and asked "what can I um... do for you sir?"

"Grab his ankles I’ll get his arms, he’s going over the bow" Hive said. At herring this the crew member jumped up faster than a mortar when shot off. "I'M UP, I'M UP"

Hive looked at list and nodded signaling that he was done here. At this he walked back to the gang way where he was at before. When List left the room Hive grabbed the look out by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him close.

"If you ever, and I mean ever disobey my orders again then I will have you on the first drone to the Dreadnought Xs. do you understand Me." he said in a low voice. The scout looked at him with fear and nodded quickly. His feet feeling for the floor, hive dropped him back down where he almost fell over again and hurried to his position on deck with his binoculars.

Hive watch him for a moment and turned to a crowed of shocked faces. Apparently they had never seen someone use so much force to get there point across.

"What are you people looking at? Get back to work." him said in his commanding voice. "And oh ya, if any of you pull a stunt like that then there will be no warning"

Hive was walking to his quarters when the other look out yelled out "captain, what are those?"

Hive, who looked down in dismay, started to walk over to the scout. "It better not be a god damn longshi......" his words trailed off as he looked at what seemed to be land.

"Well then it would appear that we are next to someone’s base. But this looks way too big. The forsaken counsel would never let someone have this much land." hive said. The scout, still looking asked "what’s on the shoreline?"

The shoreline had so many tall towers on them that appeared to have nests at the top that had been panted green, but some looked way to thin for a man to climb up.

"I think those are called trees. Other than that you have to ask list" hive said.

"Ask me what?" list said, standing right behind them. Hive looked at list, confused at why he was here. As if reading his thoughts list replied "forgot my book".

"Ok then..., list what do you know about trees?" hive asked.

"Trees are an old world plant, kind of like grass but way bigger and way stronger. They come in many differing kinds and they all drop seeds at a point in the time of year. The nut is normally about an inch in diameter but some range to be about 6 inches like the coconut. Trees were cut down for their wood witch was used to make just about everything including ships because of how well it floated. Wood was somewhat strong but not as strong as meddle or steel and could burn at medium temperature, making a fire on a wood ship disastrous. The largest tree from the old world was called the Red Wood for the reddish tint in the wood and bark. It could reach almost 100 feet tall and it took it 1000s of years to do so." he finished without missing a beat.

Both Hive and the scout looked at him wide eye. Hive was the first to shake his head and said "well there you have it, that’s what a tree is. ”Hive walked back to the corridor but before he disappeared into the ship he said "scout the land, see if you can find any colors or any sign of life. If you find something or something finds you then come get Me." after that, he disappeared into the hull.
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By the time High Fly and Dive Bomber got to their captain he was about to start eating his lunch. When he saw the 2 returning, he nodded and went to start his sandwich. The 2 Pegasus quickly trotted up to him out of berth from the flight back, when the captain saw this he asked, "What? Couldn't get here fast enough for lunch or did you just so happen to see something at the last second?”

Taking heavy breaths as High Fly tried to explain what they saw. "We.... saw.... a black.... ship.... made of steel...."

The captain looked at them with a smile. "Ha, there are no steel ships, steel cant float. Why do you think we use wood?"

"Sir I’m telling you.... there was a steel ship.... that had some sort of..... Rotating orb on the back" Added Dive Bomber, still out of breath.

The captain looked at the two of them. "I swear if this is some kind of joke then I will have you grounded permanently."

"This is not a joke." they said at the same time. Trying to get there point across.

"Ok fine, I’ll take a look, but I was not joking about you getting removed from the guard." the captain finished. The three Pegasus took to the air and started too the black ship.
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Shining Armor stood on the desk of the heavy cruiser that was sent to take him to the canterlot port. It was a fine ship with 5 main turrets that used magic to tear ships apart. 2 on the Baw, 2 on the stern and one in mid ship with 2 long range submerge missile launchers. The ship didn't have a name only a number, "CV-5" or Celestial vessel class 5. Only the really big ships had names, or ships that had done something significant in a battle, but that had almost never happened.

One of the crew trotted up to him, he was in a white uniform with an equally white coat. "We expect to reach canterlot late tomorrow sir" he said. Shining turned to face the private and nodded his head in approval. The sailor saluted him and trotted back to his station.
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"Damage report on fleet." the large man said as he struggled to stand up off the floor. "No extra damage from the trip. Just a disoriented crew". One replied, who was also struggling to give the replay. All 5 Dreadnought Xs had gone through the portal, leaving the captain baffled and confused. Where were they? And what would become of his beloved fleet? And if he survived, then what would commander Shell_Back_Ellet do to him?

"Captain, shall we continue the pursuit of the enemy ship?"

"If you know where it is then yes, but I thought that it..."

"There right in front of us. Not in range but we can still keep going."

"Don’t interrupt me- wait what?"

The crew man was right, the lone Arbiter was on the horizon. With the orb spinning on the back. But there was something else that got the captains eyes.

"Whose base are we next to?"

"No way to know. I don’t see any flags and there is no water on the other side, although I have heard that the things on the shore are trees, which are only found on commander Harlocks Island or Commander SWAGs Island, either way, we are fucked."

"Well then, keep the arbiter in sight but move to deeper waters."

"Yes sir."
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"Captain we have some company coming from our port Baw."

"What do you mean? That’s where the land it. No ship can come to us from over land."

"Well, there not ships, they look like some sort of animal with wings, other than that I have no clue."

The captain put his book down and looked up at the man who gave the report. He gave a huff and got up, "well I guess this counts as something found us, go get list, and tell him that this time I want him to stay on the bridge."

"Yes sir".

Another man raced down almost slamming into the first. "The dreds are back, all 5 ships accounted for."

"Hold the drones until I say otherwise. I’m coming up".

"Yes sir" the second man replied and ran back.
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"So you were telling the truth about that ship," the captain said to Dive bomb and High Fly.

"Let’s see if they are friendly".
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"I want full speed to out run the dreds and see if you can manually aim the anti-mortar if them... List what were they again?"

"Pegasus, Greek mythology, god knows how they got here or how we got here."

"right... Pegasus are not friendly, it would seem that the Dred Xs are just trying to follow us from deeper water, as long as we stay in water too shallow for them, say a small river or canal, then we will be safe from the Dred Xs"

Captain, the "Pegasus" are coming at us"

"Clear the deck. I’ll see if there friendly, as well as keep then in the sights of the anti-mortar, “he said as he looked out the window to the lone gun.

"And if that’s not possible then I will have my revolver on me"
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"You two stay up here and circle, I’ll take a closer look"

Both dive Bomber and High Fly Looked at each other and then at the captain. Then they saluted and started to circle.

"Ok let’s take a look. “The captain said to himself. He flew down to the side of the ship and landed on metal plating that seemed to have a slightly orange tint that could only be seen from up close. He looked up to see something he did not expect. There were at least 9 tall animals that stood upright looking right at him with wide eyes. One of which had a dirty white uniform with his right limb under a light jacket.

"You must be the captain," he started, "might I ask why you are here?"

The reaction from most was a quick and most likely painful fainting onto the deck as one stared at him with wonder. The one who looked to be the captain had not moved an inch, except that he now had his once hidden limb out of the jacket and had a cylinder with a handle pointing at him.
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Captain Hive drew his revolver when he heard his crew faint, knowing that they would be of no use if a fight broke out. He briefly looked to the anti-mortar gun and saw that the men there only hardened there gaze and had the gun aimed at the thing. He knew that this thing could talk but he didn't want to tell him anything if he were a threat to his crew, or at least the part who hadn't fainted. The thing spoke again in a confused tone "what? Please tell me that you do know how to speak equestreanease."

Hive decided to get the propeller turning in this ship of communication. "We speak English but from what you have said it would seem that both languages are the same."

"There we go, got something out of you, now might you have a name?" it asked.

"My code name is Bee Hive One but most just call me Hive. As for my real name I’m afraid I can’t tell you in front of the crew." Hive replied, he had lower the revolver back into the holder but kept his hand on it just in case.

"Ok Hive, My name is captain steel wing. Some of my ponies were on patrol when they saw you and came to get me." Steel Wing replied.

"Ok, would those be the "ponies that saw us? “Hive said as he pointed to the two circling the ship.

"Yes, that would be them, the main reason we came was to see if you were a threat to us." Steel replied "are you?"

"Well that would depend on what your biggest ship is. And the commander doesn't really attack others for no reason."

"Well... the biggest Ship we have would be the... Equestrian class Battleships if I do recall. Or was it the Canterlot class Battleships..."

"Battleships? Well then we won’t attack, if you attack us then we would rather run then stay and fight." Hive replied. He didn't like where this was going.
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"Ok that’s good to know, now on another order of business I need you to change course by 90 degrees to starboard, we need these waters clear for a ship that has royalty on it" steel wing said. He liked the fact that they would rather run then fight, it meant less problems.

"That’s a no can do there Steel Wing"

"What? why not?"

"Let me show you" Hive said and motioned him to follow.

They went through the wheel house where most of the crew were still out cold with one trying to wake them up. They went to the other side of the ship and Hive pointed to 5 small black dots on the horizon. "What are those?"

"Those my friend, are Dreadnought Xs, the most powerful ship in the world, that vary fleet destroyed the rest of ours and has moved to deeper waters so they don’t run aground. They are the ones you want to worry about." Hive said

"Why should we worry about them?"

"There captain will attack anything for fun, and with its strength they can take down a strong fleet."

"Ok so open water is out of the question... how about we take you back to port, it should be safe there. The closest one is back the way you came."
"Ok Steel, but I have a question." hive asked.

"What would it be?"

"Who’s the dumb ass on that ship?" Hive asked as he pointed to a Heavy Curser with the markings "CV-5"on the Baw.

"Oh horse apples, that’s the ship we have to keep safe."

"Well there heading straight for the Dreadnought Xs." Hive noted

"Uh-oh"
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"Captain, lone ship baring off the Baw and coming at us" one of the crew members reported.

"How fast is it?"

"Not all that fast, her speed was only 12 last I saw, also looked to have 5 thud canons on her deck"

"Hmmm... let’s give the mortar teams some training on it shall we?"

"Yes sir"

Author's Note

New chapter and the plot thickens. (not the clopfic plot you dirty minds)
next chapter might come out later next month or so.