Aun'Celest: Sun Ethereal*

The Tau squad stared at the landed Hammerhead with wonder, it wasn't their colours, but it was still usable, from what the group could see, a few began to walk towards it and looked at the two shut down missile drones on either side of the tank. The huge railgun atop the tank was lowered and unpowered, none of the fire warriors were particularly pilots, but each had been given some training in flying a tank such as a Hammerhead, and driving such a powerful vehicle outside of the air caste was stuff of legend, a few Tau had been in the pilot seat once or twice, but never actually flown one of these. Aloh had a huge grin on his face and walked over to one of the drones and attempted to unstrap it, it appeared stuck at first, as if someone had physically glued down the drone to the side of the tank. The sergeant did notice that some of the paint work had faded, presumably from all the usage the tank had gone through, the lettering on the side read out 'The Farseer' and a few other markings of the Tau home world were placed at random around the tank. Twilight was just gaping at the vehicle and darted her eyes between Aloh, who was still exploring the sides of the tank, and the tank itself. She sat down and just stared. Var decided to finally join in and try to open up the back, after a gentle tap failed, the commander kicked the door, eventually, it fell down with a clank, the fast opening, heavy door probably damaging the marble flooring. Inside was something no Tau wants to ever see, there was a lone, green fire warrior holding a side arm down the side of his body, a huge plasma made bullet hole in his helmet. It takes a lot to make a fire warrior kill himself, let alone in the back of an armoured tank, he must have been incredibly worried about being captured by something like the dark elder, or Necrons. Not that he would survive long with either race. Var saluted and made a note to take back the body and bury it somewhere, it wasn't T'au, but circumstances dictate that he be buried on this world. A few Tau also nodded their acknowledgement at the fallen warrior and one even walked into the tank to move the body to a more natural position. Var nodded when the Tau exited the tank. Power was definitely out, as no emergency lights had come on when the door was kicked down, Var was somewhat disappointed by that news, as there was nowhere on this planet that would be able to power the Hammerhead, magic was one option but it was very unlikely to work.

After almost a full ten minutes of exploring the dead tank, Var noticed there were ponies in the room, with what looked like spears at the ready; a very tall, and very white, horned and winged pony was standing on the far end of the hall. Valar also noticed this and stepped forward, Var got there first flanked by a helmeted Aloh, and a smiling Sven. Holding his helmet under his right arm, holding a grenade in the other. This would end well.

"May I remind you commander, I am the diplomat here." Valar said through comma, Var ignored it, Aloh didn't.

"Well when we screw this up, be a diplomat and cut in. Not until we say though, don't want you ruining what reputation we have on this planet." The sergeant said, he knew the water caste member hating taking orders from Aloh, due to technically Valar being a higher rank, but with Var most likely backing that idea, Valar had no say in the matter. He was genuinely just there to talk to the, richer, caste of the human civilization, anyone below a planet owner was nothing in Valar's eyes.

"I believe you are the Aun of this world, allow me to be the first to thank you for your hospitality, Twilight here has made an excellent host." Var began, Aloh almost clapped at the commander's acting skills, yeah he was being sincere, but he wouldn't normally say it that way. Usually adding in a few Terran swears or curses.

"That's princess Celestia to you, alien." One pony grunted from somewhere, Var just looked around and aimed his reply at the most pissed off looking one.

"Didn't I just say that, Aun means Ethereal for us, it is a very high honour." Var replied, thinking about winking but thought best of it, the white pony stood and walked forward, another pony. Wings and horns like her counterpart, only blue, also stepped forward.

"Thank you sir, I don't have the pleasure of knowing your name?" The horse, pony, asked.

"I am commander Shas'O Var, my men before you is Shas'vre Aloh, and Gue'vesa'ui Sven. I noticed the tank." Var replied, going back to his normal self slightly. Celestia looked past the Tau and toward the tank.

"That thing?" She asked, Var nodded, she just gave a blank expression. "I see, scouts found it two days ago, close to where you and your men awoke. It was more trouble than it is worth getting it up here, but we managed. At least you recognize it, maybe you could share some light." Celestia added, Var looked to the tank then back to the pony.

"Yes as a matter of fact, it’s one of ours. Not the same sept obviously, different colours. But still, it is a Tau tank, named a Hammerhead, very powerful, that weapon on top could level a city like this easily." Var replied, Aloh just looked down and put his hand between his eyes in frustration.

"Really now?" Celestia began, Var saw what he had done.

"Yes, but it is out of power, I doubt much on this world could start it up again, but there is something in there we would like, if you intend on keeping it. Two things actually." Var replied hastily.

"Which are?" Celestia asked. Looking at the tank again, the other Tau were randomly perched on top of the thing, looking down. One was on the edge of the gun and staring from the back of the room.

"There is a dead fire warrior in the back of that thing, we would be honoured if you allowed us to bury him. And the two drones we may be able to either salvage or restart, despite them being for war, I am sure someone here can reprogram them to help out. We may need a new attachment, but again, there are two. We would only need one." Var replied, he wasn't overly keen on the drones, but the chips they had inside them could come in handy if any of the Tau weapons jammed here. Not that Var thought they would need them, ponies whose best weapon was a spear wasn't much of a threat.

"Of course, the, fire warrior, as you put it, may be taken back with you to Ponyville when you return. As for the drones, you can take them but only for purposes that will help standings between you and my ponies. I fear you may be here a while." Celestia replied after a pause, not that she was thinking about letting them bury one of their kin, just the tank looked dangerous enough with no power, she almost feared whatever part of the tank these aliens wanted to try to fix.

"Thank you, and when you say back to Ponyville?" Var asked, he had heard Twilight mention it earlier so just presumed that's where she lived.

"Yes, you are welcome to stay in my country if you so wish, but I may have need of you, if every pony could leave the room." Celestia said, shouting the last bit, the guards were a bit hesitant at first, but soon left. Twilight exited and a few Tau got up to leave.

"Not you, you idiots." Var shouted, the three fire warriors holding the door opened left it and walked back.

"Okay, I have heard rumours that there is a sleeping dragon somewhere near Ponyville, it isn't an issue now but when it starts snoring, it will cover much of the land with its smoke. My little ponies had to send it away before, but it appears not to have found the message. If you are willing, could you please find this dragon and, dispose of it, I don't suppose you have to kill it, but you all seem capable of that." Celestia said, her face grew darker when mentioning death and the Tau commander grew concerned for this Aun. The silence was filled by a fire warrior rummaging around in the cock pit of the Hammerhead.

"Hey commander. Look." The fire warrior called out. Var looked toward the fire warrior who was holding a Tau metal circular bucket.

"This is a bucket, sir," The fire warrior stated, Var face palmed and some other warrior took the bait instead.

"By the Ethereals."

"There's more in here."

"No." A few laughs were picked up but not many, Celestia just had a blank face on again. Var turned back to her.

"Yes, we will accept this job. I suppose this is how we will gain trust?" Var asked, Celestia nodded.

"I see, now before we leave. Do you have a moment to talk about the one true ideal, The Greater Good?" Var asked, smiling. Celestia stared at him.

"I fear you do not have time to explain such a concept, you have dragon slaying to do, amps well as gathering your dead and your 'drones' and I have Princess duties to do." Celestia asked, she barked something and the guards began to pour back in, some looking shocked at something, probably the fact the Princess was still alive, or everyone was alive for that matter. Var nodded and turned to leave, ordering two fire warriors to pick up the green one in the tank, after cleaning as much blood off as possible, they began to leave. Twilight let out a gasp but said nothing more. Just as they were about to leave. Valar fucked it up.

"Princess. One more thing my colleague here forgot to mention." He began, here we go. Celestia peaked her ears up and turned.

"Oh?" She asked.

"Yes, for relations to every truly stand between those of the Greater Good and ponykind, I suggest an embassy in this fine capital you have." Rule 101 with Valar, if he ever says 'your fine' in the same sentence as a description, he hate the place. "Maybe I could stay here, set up an embassy and begin talks with the Nobel's of your race?" Valar asked.

"As much as that sounds like a good idea, I believe you will need all the help you can get in this task, perhaps another time though." Celestia replied, Var audibly let out some held in air with relief. Smiling, Aloh looked happy as well, if Valar was left alone to talk to Nobel's and such for any longer than a day, he would have the entire planet under his banner. There would be nothing wrong with that, but that literally meant, Valar's banner, they held loyalties to him, not the Tau. With a final goodbye the Tau, along with Twilight, left for the train.

Author's Note

Okay, better timing, probably just before Twilight became an Alicorn, she may become one in this, just to have the Tau react to her suddenly having wings, but I don't know yet, trying to think of a pony enemy that would fit that Tims, I have one idea in mind, but would still like an Equestrian threat from an Equestrian race.

Also, due to technical issues right now I am being forced to use my tablet for these so may be some typos and such, if you could be so kind, do point them out and I will edit what I can.

If you spot the really forced reference you win a mustache.