Prologue: The Calm Before The Storm
March 13, 0087 UC
Minerva Fleet Flagship, the Argama
“Commodore on the bridge!”
Captain Blazing Halcyon’s mellow, clipped voice sounded from his command chair, as the unicorn rose from his chair, saluting. “Now, captain.” The Commodore replied, smiling, “You needn’t call me that.”
Halcyon nodded, letting his arm relax and fall to its resting position. “Sorry,” he apologized, “force of habit still.”
The Commodore waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. It’s only been four months since my promotion. I understand.”
Green eyes hidden behind her signature sunglasses, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, orange coat, combined with the height and bulk of an earth pony, the Commodore seemed an unlikely mare to hold such a high rank. But, as she was the previous Commodore’s second-in-commander, the rank fell to her. “Of course,” Halcyon responded, “Maple Leaf.”
Maple Leaf, the Commodore’s alias while serving in the AEUG, had served her well. Her previous alias, Plum Seed, was known in the Federation as the “Red Comet”, the New Lunar Republic ace pilot, legendary for sinking five battleships single-handedly in the Battle of Loum. Her real name was known only to a select few.
“Captain,” Maple Leaf said, “I’ve gathered the officers together, we should discuss our battle plan.”
Halcyon nodded, and said, “Typhoon, you’ve got the bridge.”
The commander nodded.
************
“So,” Maple Leaf began, “what’re we looking at?”
Halcyon brought up a holographic map. “This,” he said, pointing at a massive space station in the middle of the map, “is Gateway Station. The only way to get to past the asteroid belt between Minerva and Mars. With a fleet this size, anyway.”
“Holy,” one of the gathered officers said, “that thing’s huge!”
“Yes,” Halcyon agreed, “large enough to comfortably dock ten Jupitris-class energy transports. With room to spare.”
Lyra Heartstrings, captain of the Megapolis, one of the Jupitris-class energy transports, nodded. “He’s correct. I’ve been through here every time I brought Helium Three to Mars. Trust me, an eighteen-kilometer long, lightly armed energy transporter is a very juicy target for pirates. Gateway defends us.
“Anyway,” she paused, “we’re here to discuss cracking Gateway open to get by. Correct?”
Maple Leaf nodded, “Due to the Minerva Fleet’s size, we’ve been forced to follow the Energy Fleet’s route past the asteroid belt. However, Gateway Station is a Federal Forces station, built during 0010 UC, when the Energy Fleet first began operation. So, we’re going to disable it.”
“How do that?”
Maple Leaf looked to Halcyon. “Captain?”
Halcyon nodded. He began to explain the battle plan. “Now, as you see here, we have Gateway Station, here. As of two hours ago, the defense fleet’s composition was this: twelve light cruisers, Musai Kai-class and Salamis Kai-class, six heavy cruisers, Chivvay Kai-class and Alexandria-class, and a single Dogosse Giar-class battleship.
“Depending on the time we get there, there may be a Jupitris-class energy transport or two docked there, so make sure not damage them.”
Halcyon pointed to the station itself, “Here, here, and here are several mega-particle cannon batteries that need to be disabled or destroyed to allow the Minerva Fleet to pass through.
“However, this is only a preliminary battle plan. So, once we are within attack range of the station, we’ll need to do some more recon and come up with a final battle plan.”
************
Twelve hours later…
Dogosse Giar-class battleship, General Stormwinds, on route to Gateway Station
“Good,” a voice said, greeting the groggy cyan pegasus, “You’re awake.”
Rainbow Dash sat up, “Starlight, why are you in my quarters?”
The unicorn raised an eyebrow. “You’re in my quarters.”
“What? Why?”
Starlight shrugged. “Found you in the bathroom. Put you in bed. Simple as that.”
Dash stood, “Well, I’m going. Thanks for the hospitality.”
Starlight nodded. Dash left.
******
“So,” a voice asked, “how was it?”
Dash, checking her cockpit’s chair, blinked. She glanced at Sunset Shimmer, who was staring at the pegasus with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “How was what?”
“You know, with Starlight.”
“We didn’t do that. I woke up in her bed, as apparently I was passed out in her bathroom. And I don’t like mares in that way.”
Sunset laughed, shaking her head. Dash rolled her eyes. “So,” she prompted, “why are we going all the way out the edge of Federation space?”
“Well,” Sunset replied, “we’re heading to Gateway Station. We’re to escort a Jupitris-class energy transport to Mars’ shipyards.”
“Why Mars?”
“For retrofitting or something like that.”
Dash shrugged. “I’m a pilot. I’m not paid to think about my orders. I’m paid to follow them.”
Sunset nodded. “Aren’t we all?”
Dash rolled her eyes again.
************
The next day…
Outskirts of Gateway Station Defense Perimeter
“What exactly are we looking for?”
The question rang clear to the recon team’s commander. “The Commodore wants an up-to-date picture of the defense fleet of Gateway Station.”
“Aye, I see.”
One of the GM IIs pointed, as the pilot called out, “Look at that!”
Using the high zoom on his beam sniper rifle, the commander followed the gesture. “One Dogosse Giar-class battleship has arrived, and a Jupitris-class energy transport is at the station now, Argama,” the commander reported to the Argama.
“Affirmative, Team Alpha,” Captain Halcyon responded, “information passed onto the Commodore. Return.”
“Yessir.”
************
Argama CIC
“So,” Halcyon prompted, “shall we begin?”
Maple Leaf nodded, “So, have you put together the final battle plan?”
“Yes. The battle plan is as follows:
“Phase One: We neutralize the defense perimeter. There’s a control station located here. But, we don’t have anything that’s powerful enough to take it out.”
“I’ll tackle that one, Captain.” Maple Leaf interjected, “The Hyaku Shiki has a Mega Bazooka Launcher that it can use. I'll use that to take that control station out.”
Halcyon nodded, “Phase Two: We disable these batteries. In doing so, the Minerva Fleet will be able to pass through.
“Phase Three: Destroy these warships. This Dogosse Giar-class battleship and Jupitris-class energy transport are not to be harmed. Understood?”
The assembled officers nodded. “That brings me to issue of deployment. There are six batteries that need to be destroyed. However, I suggest that we utilize three separate attacks to hit them. Who will lead these attacks?”
Rough Diamond, “Kevin” to Karaba, raised his hand, “I’ll lead the left flank attack.”
Ferrous Variscite raised his hand, “I’ll take the right flank.”
“Alright,” Halcyon said, “who’ll lead the center?”
“I will,” Maple Leaf said, “after all, these arrogant elitists started this war. I’m going to make sure we end this war.”
Halcyon nodded. “Anything else?”
Fluttershy nodded. “I’ll provide fire-support.”
“There is one thing,” Maple Leaf said, “where’s the Zeta Gundam?”
“What do you mean, Commodore?”
“The Zeta Gundam. It is combat-capable, correct?”
Grape Fields nodded, “Yeah, it is. It just needs an actual field test.”
Maple Leaf smiled, “Consider this its field test, then. You can come with me.”
Grape Fields nodded.
“If that’s everything,” Halcyon prompted, “let’s get ready. The attack begins in two hours.”