Chapter 1: >Begin Transmission
Begin Transmission 00-00.15.01.1678
-"...H-hello? Is this on?"
-"I think you pressed the wrong button, Steel."
-"No, do you see the blinking red light? That means it's recording."
-"Well, better hurry up with that intro, Doctor. I'll be outside if you need me."
-"Y-yes, thank you, Silver."
-*woosh-thunk*
-*...*
-*woosh-thunk*
-*aherm* "This is Senior Director of Communications, Steel Needle."
-"The date is... The... fifteenth of the first Lunar Cycle, in the year one-six-seven-eight."
-"The time is zero hundred hours."
-"At thirteen hundred hours, three hours before this transmission, Noctis Prime was bombarded by a light meteor shower."
-"Our scientists quickly realized that Luna's influence was absent from the bombardment, but not before several hoof sized holes were punched in Section Three's hull."
-"Repairs are currently underway, and are almost complete."
-"The bombardment burned up in Equis' Atmosphere, so no cleanup will be necessary on that count."
-"Heh. Maybe Equis got a view of the shower..."
-"..."
-"It should be noted that at fifteen hundred hours, scientists researching the debris discovered a mineral rich... well, I guess ooze would be the best descriptor."
-"From what I've been told, preliminary tests regarding it's structure show highly conductive matrices of materials, similar to a wire connection or a nervous system."
-"Further information is not yet available on this subject."
-"Ponies from Section Three established concerns regarding the extended length of time needed to repair the hull breach."
-"Such concerns will be dealt with quickly; the scientists are taking time to maintain the cold and vacuum environmental state for the meteor fragments they are still discovering."
-"The supply ship arrived two days late."
-"We of Noctis Prime would like to remind the Supply Department that the civilians on board this vessel are not members of the Armed Forces, and as such expect simple pleasures in their life in space, such as supplies to arrive on time, as well as several pleasantries."
-"I will forward a written request from the residents of Sections Four through Six."
-"..."
-*sigh*
-"...I would also request that service members aboard Prime be allowed shore leave, as many haven't seen their family for nigh on three years."
-"The next transmission will occur in... seven days, should no problems arise."
-"This has been Senior Director of Communications, Steel Needle, aboard the Noctis Prime Space Station."
-"Over and Out."
----♦----♦----♦----
*Send*
Steel Needle leaned back in the chair, his brilliant blue eyes frozen on the screen before him. He ran a hoof through his graying blue mane, letting out a puff of breath to relieve the tension in his shoulders. His eyes flicked to the console before him, glowing blue with the magics that powered it. Groaning lightly, he stepped off the chair, his hooves making a tapping sound on the linoleum floors.
Steel felt old. Sure, the once-silver fur turned dull gray might imply some sort of old stallion, but Steel was only thirty-five years old. Compared to some other ponies, who looked young well into their fifties, Steel looked forty years older than he was. Of course, Steel had an excuse. The stresses of fighting in a war, no matter how relatively short it may have been, had taken it's toll. Steel was tired, and not just from the late hour.
He shuffled over to the door, his blue long-coat adorned with various patches denoting his rank, unit, etcetera. He brought his hoof up, tapping on the door twice.
Two taps answered from the opposite side, and the door opened to reveal Silver Chord, Chief Engineer aboard the Noctis Prime station colony. She was only two years junior to Steel, but looked her age: a twinkle in her emerald eye, a constant bob to her head to a beat only she could hear, a smile that had gotten the two of them out of more binds than one.
It was that same smile that appeared before Steel, threatening to pull a smile from Steel as well.
It worked.
"Well?" Silver asked, knowing Steel would understand the question.
"The transmitter works as well as any of us could hope," replied Steel, " and the transmission was sent without a hitch. Let's hope they actually send some novelties with the next shipment."
The two got into stride together, Silver's bright yellow a jarring contrast to Steel's gray coat.
"So, you up for heading to the cafeteria? I hear the kitchen got a cache of cherries, and I've been dying to have one."
Silver eyed Steel, her silky pink mane shifting as she turned her head to look at him.
Steel smiled.
"Why the fuck not? I've got nothing better to do at the moment."
Silver laughed through the thinly veiled lie, knowing they both had piles of paperwork to sort through.
She raised her hoof dramatically, announcing to no-one in particular,
"To the Cherries!"
----♦----♦----♦----
Begin Transmission 01-13.15.01.1678
-"This is the E.N. Response Ship, Purple Star, responding to your distress call. How do read, Prime?"
-"This is the Noctis Prime Sparkle Lab for Scientific Endeavors. I read you loud and clear."
-"Star to Lab, what's your situation?"
-"It was just a small lab accident, and one of the interns panicked and sent a distress signal. We greatly apologize for the inconvenience, Purple Star."
-"Protocol dictates we still arrive on the scene and investigate, Lab. Don't worry, we'll be out of your mane soon."
-"...Understood. We'll be waiting."
-"Over and Out."
End Transmission
