Exodus

"Your Majesty, this is the hangar bay, where the pilots of our strike craft complement prepare their ships for combat." Admiral Argo swept a hoof across the cavernous hangar bay to emphasize its enormous length as Princess Celestia stared, amazed by the sight which she saw. "The facilities here are of course, smaller than the ones on board Hive Queen, our fleet's main carrier, but we still maintain enough strike craft to give any enemy force pause." Celestia could only glance at Argo with disbelief, such was the size of The Ark's supposedly inferior hangar.

Following a trend in Equestrian architecture, the hangar had been built with both grandeur and function in mind. Stretching for over a kilometer from end to end, the colossal hangar could accommodate over a hundred strike craft, most of which currently sat in perfectly ordered rows across the hangar floor. Enough space remained for dozens of utility vessels such as troop transports and dropships, which were arrayed behind the strike craft or suspended from the ceiling by steel armatures. Crowds of engineers and laborers ran across the hangar floor, arming and fueling squadrons of strike craft in preparation for their use, all so taken with their errands that they failed to notice the princess in their midst.

"Sections four and seven, prepare to receive fighter squadrons." A booming, electronic voice droned from the hangar bay's speakers. Almost immediately, a swarm of technicians dropped what they were doing and formed into orderly rows within the affected sections, waiting for their charges to arrive. Celestia noticed that the section she was occupying was one of those receiving a returning strike craft squadron.

"Would you like to meet them your Majesty?" Admiral Argo asked, eyeing the hangar doors as they slid open to reveal the vast expanse of space through a protective energy field. "I'm sure a personal touch would do wonders for morale."

"Very well, admiral." Celestia replied, grinning. "I'm sure that my subjects will appreciate the chance to meet their benevolent ruler in the flesh."

Squadron Commander Spectral Blaze walked over to his subordinates, helmet hanging from a sling around his neck, and slapped Bolt on the back mid conversation, causing him to gag and glare at Blaze with feigned anger. Behind him, Pinkie slid out of the Predator's cockpit and began bouncing towards her squadron mates, evidently not content with the more plebeian method of walking.

"Our first flight in a month, and it lasts for ten minutes." Bolt grumbled over the constant din of the hangar bay, a sour expression on his face. "Buckin' figures."

"Bet'cha wish you had these." Tempestus grinned, flapping his wings and hovering in front of Bolt.

"And I bet you wish you didn't have a glass jaw." Bolt replied, a friendly smile tugging at the edges of his mouth as he shoved the pegasus away.

"Hey chief, any idea what our next orders are?" Silver Blur asked as she reclined against a nearby supply crate and ran a hoof through her closely cropped black mane. "We gonna see some action or what?"

Before Blaze could reply with an annoyed negative, he was cut off  by a sudden abrupt silence in the entire kilometer long hangar bay. "What the bu-"

"All hail her Imperial Majesty, Princess Celestia!" The same electronic voice boomed from the speakers, commanding everypony assembled on deck to prostrate themselves. Blaze noticed that everypony in the hangar, including his squadron mates, seemed to be bowing to him. He turned sharply, and beheld a goddess's cheeky grin.

"Your reputation precedes you, Squadron Commander Blaze."

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!" A leering pink visage filled Celestia's view, blocking her view of Spectral Blaze, then disappeared. Then it reappeared again, Pinkie hopping in order to make eye contact for a second at a time.

"Its really..nice to...meet you prin...cess." Pinkie  seemed determined only to speak when her eyes were on Celestia's. During this so far one sided exchange, everypony in the hangar, including admiral Argo, dropped their jaws and stared in disbelief.

A small giggle escaped Celestia's lips, causing everypony present to drop their jaws even further. It was truly the most magnificently amusing spectacle that she had been privy to for weeks. She suddenly thrust a hoof forward and stuffed it in Pinkie's mouth, silencing her and keeping her on the ground. Bending her knees and lowering her head, she made eye contact with Pinkie and nodded. "Continue."

What followed was torturous for everypony within earshot. Except for Princess Celestia, who was grinning as Pinkie launched into a long winded tirade about the difficulties of cupcake preparation, particularly without other ponies around.

*Two days later*

"My lord, we've established a connection. Commander Yeung Gao of the ninth fleet is awaiting orders."

A nod. "Put him through."

A moment later, a live feed, crackly from the enormous distance between the two points it connected, displayed the unashamedly proud visage of Fleet Commander Yeung Gao. The mustached officer's chest was covered in medals and campaign ribbons, in such profusion that they did not merely announce his achievements, but loudly shouted them to everyone who so much as glanced his way. Many had called Yeung arrogant and shameless in his ways, but his usual response was that it wasn't arrogance if it was earned and deserved.

"Commander Yeung, I have an assignment for you." Yeung Gao was by far the most qualified candidate for the job Lord Admiral Steiner had in mind. A talented and supremely skilled strategist, he was known throughout the Federation for his heroics during the Second Battle of Mars, where he had used guerrilla tactics to disrupt and destroy Imperial supply lines and reinforcements despite his fleet being outnumbered four to one, making it possible for the battle on the surface of Mars to be won. Afterwards, the honorary rank of fleet commander, granted during the battle itself, was made permanent.

"As you know, an Imperial fleet escaped Equestria Prime several weeks ago." Howard jumped right into business, stern and controlled as always. "They were escorting a massive colony ship." Howard pressed a button on the monitor's control panel.

"I'm sending you what our analysts have on the ship in question. Needless to say, we can't allow this many equines to escape."

Commander Yeung brought up The Ark's profile on his end and whistled with feigned amazement. "Forty to two hundred thousand passengers? Now that is a worthy trophy."

"Your target's capabilities are unknown. Frankly, we've never seen another ship like it. Assume the worst and take the necessary precautions." Howard paused for dramatic effect before continuing.

"Her escort's nothing you can't handle. One fully armed Warlord class battleship and one Sovereign class carrier. The other ten ships aren't heavier than cruisers. Your only objective is to destroy The Ark and every ship accompanying it. No survivors. Questions?"

"Yes sir. Was this battleship present at the battle of Equestria Prime?" Yeung asked, a rabidly eager smile creasing his face.

"It was. To our knowledge, it is the last Imperial battleship in existence."

"Perfect." Yeung said no more, thrilled with the prospect of new honours to pin to his chest.

"Your fleet is two jumps from the enemy fleet. It should take you no more than a day or two to arrive. The coordinates of the star system are in the file I sent you." Howard's face was passive and impervious to inspection.

"Oh, and commander? If they escape, rest assured that I will not be forgiving."

Pinkie Pie had been talking for two minutes. This would not normally be an issue, even for a stir crazy pegasus speed freak like Spectral Blaze. He could take bowing and staying still for two minutes under normal circumstances, no problem.

But these were not normal circumstances. This was Pinkie Pie talking. No. Blaze thought, miserable and angry at his predicament. Not talking. Spewing a buckin' waterfall of shit except it's not a waterfall, it's a wordfal-

"SothenIwenttothebackoftheshedandtherewasn'tanysugarinthereandIthoughthowamIgoingto-" Before Pinkie Pie could continue talking, admiral Argo strode up and clamped the pink pest's mouth shut telekinetically.

"Restrain yourself, lieutenant." Argo spoke through gritted teeth, the only obvious sign of emotion on his face. He looked up at the hundreds of ponies in the hangar bay who were still bowing to a suddenly serene Princess Celestia and narrowed his eyes. "Get back to work! Double time, all of you!" His voice was magically projected throughout the hangar with deafening force, causing everypony in the hangar to scramble to their feet and return to their duties with renewed alacrity.

"Lieutenant, you are on thin ice." Admiral Argo hissed through his teeth as Pinkie's squadron mates looked on with disinterest and apathy. Not because they did not care about Pinkie's fate, but simply because dozens of officers over the years had spoken the same words because of her parties. None had ever taken action though, Pinkie's incredible skill being well known throughout the navy ever since her first engagement.

"If this disgraceful incident is repeated again, I will personally drag you to the brig and give you a flogging that-" Argo did not get to finish his threat before Celestia raised her hoof to silence him.

"Please, admiral, there is no need for such brutishness." Celestia's voice was a far cry from its usual serenity and calm, filled as it was with mirth and genuine amusement. "Lieutenant...Pinkie Pie was it?" Pinkie vigorously nodded her head, an impressive feat considering that Argo still had her jaw in a telekinetic hold.

"Your achievements are known to me, Heroine of Aegrius III." In truth, admiral Argo had informed Celestia of Pinkie and Blaze's achievements beforehand, but Celestia saw no harm in appearing all-knowing and omnipotent.

"Of course, your achievements are shared with Spectral Blaze, are they not? I understand that the two of you have served the Imperium together for years."

"Yes, your Majesty, we have." Blaze cautiously replied, remembering full well the enormous grin that Celestia had worn as she listened to Pinkie's tirade.

"I hope that you will continue to serve our people with the same heroism and distinction that you have displayed in the past." Celestia smiled radiantly and dipped her head at the entire squadron. "All of you."

As the Princess trotted away to continue her tour, the members of Primaris Squadron were left bewildered and confused.

"What the buck just happened?" Bolt asked the question which was sitting on all their minds. No one had an answer for him, except for Pinkie, who was trying very hard to open her mouth, admiral Argo having not yet dispelled his telekinetic hold on her jaw despite leaving with the Princess.

"Bleeding speed!" Blaze jerked the throttle back, allowing his pursuer to overtake him and giving Pinkie a clear shot at the enemy craft's hindquarters, which she readily exploited as the beeping sound which indicated a target lock filled the cockpit.

"Missile away!" Pinkie grinned maniacally as the missile detonated and turned the enemy fighter into a roiling fireball of shrapnel.

"Squadron, form up. Approaching primary target." The four strike craft of Primaris squadron formed up into a V formation, with Blaze's fighter at the tip, and screamed towards the Federation flak platform at full speed. Its blazing turrets loosed streams of armor piercing steel slugs towards the approaching squadron, forcing them to break formation and disperse as they approached.

Tempestus sent his predator into a continuous rightward barrel roll towards the platform, armor piercing slugs failing to even graze his craft as he approached. Suddenly, he halted and jerked his craft into a steady, leveled firing position.

"Got a lock! Firin-" Tempestus' eager voice was cut off as his craft exploded, shrapnel flying through space and scratching Blaze's cockpit as it impacted. Four Federation Warhawks dove straight towards Blaze's predators, their autocannons blazing.

"Where did they come from?" Bolt yelled.

"Head for the primary target, Bolt! Jun, Matador, with me!" Blaze ordered as he pulled back on his joy stick, sending his craft into a head on charge against the diving Warhawks. Jun's predator screamed up ahead of him, her wing mounted autocannons ripping through the lead Warhawk's cockpit and reducing the pilot and gunner to bloody mush which leaked out of the shattered cockpit glass. A second later, two type-35 Armor Piercing missiles screamed out of the predator's wing mounted rocket pods and sped towards another Warhawk, courtesy of Matador. The Warhawk didn't evade, but flew straight at the pair of rapidly approaching projectiles. At the last minute it jerked downwards and performed a tight barrel roll. The two rockets attempted to emulate the Warhawk's stunt and collided with each other, exploding harmlessly above it.

One of the Warhawks peeled off and headed towards Bolt's predator,

"Bolt! Bogey, three o'clock!" Jun yelled, adrenaline raging through her voice as she began pursuing one of the remaining Warhawks.

"Inferno rockets away!" Bolt's voice was triumphant as four enormous rockets designed for the purpose of reducing structures to rubble streaked towards the flak platform and detonated, silencing the continuous storm of flak fire and causing the platform to fragment and fall apart, fires breaking out across its ruined structure.

The Warhawk which had moved to intercept Bolt fired its head mounted autocannon, scoring hits all over the predator's armor . A steel slug smashed through the barrel of Bolt's leftward autocannon, a lucky shot which reduced his firepower considerably.

"Buck. Buckin' piece of shit!" Bolt screamed in outrage as he wheeled his predator around, his right wing's autocannon spitting death in the Warhawk's general direction. The two fighters streaked head on towards each other, neither pilot willing to give in. The Warhawk fired four missiles in rapid succession, to be answered by two type-35s erupting from Bolt's rocket pods. The two pilots suddenly broke off their joust of certain death and attempted to evade the projectiles following them. But the distances were far too small, and the missiles far too quick. Both craft exploded simultaneously as their projectiles found their marks.

"Two on two. I like those odds!" Pinkie whooped, prompting a nod and determined smile from Blaze as he depressed his trigger, sending two streams of armor piercing slugs towards Silver Blur's Warhawk.

Fleet Commander Yeung Gao cleared his throat and straightened his collar as he faced a blank monitor in the middle of his flagship's bridge. He had removed his medals and campaign ribbons and donned a set of standard issue infantry armor consisting of lightweight titanium reinforced kevlar plates strapped to the body in strategic locations. A star adorned helmet was crooked under an arm, and a rebreather hung from a sling around his neck. His bridge crew were all dressed in similar fashions to counter the dangers of starship combat, such as shrapnel and sudden oxygen loss.

A necessary precaution, for battle was near.

"Sir, channel is open. Broadcasting on your order." A nearby ensign spoke up, his fingers hovering over the button which would open a live channel to the rest of the fleet from the flagship's bridge. Yeung Gao nodded, and began his speech in a clipped, businesslike tone as his monitor winked alive.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have been sent here to deal with some unfinished business." Twenty faces arrayed across the monitor nodded, their faces professional and controlled. "Before us stands the last Imperial fleet, crewed by the last equines in the galaxy. The equine is a barbaric and warlike creature. If we allow it to escape, it will breed, multiply and return to take its revenge on our children's children."

Yeung's tone became impassioned, burning with conviction carefully calculated to inspire righteous anger among the captains of his fleet. "The suffering which the galaxy has endured over hundreds of years will not end at Equestria Prime if we fail. The fate of countless humans, barathi, funahr and jovians will be decided by the outcome of the battle today. Today, know that we fight so that future generations will be safe, and so that the equine menace will never return to burn the galaxy ever again!"

The captains on screen broke their professional demeanor and roared their assent. Bloodlust and righteous fury was dominant on each of their features as they thrust their fists in the air and shouted their approval.

"To war! To victory, and to freedom!"

As the twenty warships of the Federation ninth fleet activated their warp drives for the assault on the Exodus fleet, Yeung grinned savagely, imagining the medal that he would receive for his most glorious victory.

Squadron commander Spectral Blaze was an officer who did not respect rules, regulations or formality. He allowed a large degree of laxity among his squadron, and actively participated in many things which other commanders who have their subordinates flogged for. But if there was one thing he was a stickler for, it was perfection in flight and on the battlefield. So he had run Primaris squadron through constant training drills and flight simulators for several days, with only a few hours for sleep every day. As such, the entire squadron was now enjoying a much deserved day off before their names came up on the duty roster again.

A knife thudded into a block of wood at the opposite end of the barracks, its tip several inches short of a crude bull's eye marked on the surface with a marker.

"I meant to do that. I'll let you get ahead in points, you know, cuz its not fair for me to play at one hundred percent." Bolt explained as Silver Blur leaned over to pick up a knife with her mouth.

"I'm touched Bolt, I really am." The steel grey earth pony pirouetted with a dancer's grace and threw the knife with considerable force. "I obviously couldn't compete with such a big, strong stallion like yourself." She smirked as she trotted over to the target and wrenched her knife out of the bull's eye.

Across the room, Tempestus and Red Burn sat on a single bunk and compared their collections of illicit photographic material which had grown substantially over the years they had spent in the navy. The soft notes of an acoustic guitar provided a relaxing backdrop courtesy of Decimo, a brown unicorn pony who was sitting on top of the barracks table and softly humming as his magically aided hooves danced across the strings with dexterity impossible for ponies limited by the lack of a horn.

Spectral Blaze, Pinkie Pie, and the other members of the squadron were asleep in their bunks, taken by exhaustion brought on by the strenuous training simulations of the past few days.

Across the Exodus fleet, similar scenes were being repeated as ponies made friends and settled into comfortable routines. Hope for the future had given many the strength they needed to face each day, and the atmosphere aboard The Ark was a far cry from the depression and despair of the first weeks of the voyage.

Then the alarms sounded.