Aces In Exile

**Chapter Three:

Welcome home**

The commander found himself walking the halls of his ship, mingling with his crew and re-assuring them that help would soon be on the way.

"So sir, how long do you think it will be until the beacon gets a response?" Asked a young marine, who was part of the security detail assigned aboard before departure.

"I'm not sure, it could be quite a while, they're still uncertain what system this is." Artemis answered him, this of course left the marine looking a little glum.

An announcement was then heard over the intercom asking for the commander to come to the bridge.

"Well it looks like I'm needed elsewhere, but don't give up, we'll get out of this mess one way or another." The commander said as he saluted his crew, all of whom that were present quickly returned it and returned to their duties.

"What have you got to report?" Asked commander Artemis as he stepped onto the bridge of the Pride.

"Sir!" Responded his chief navigator. "We've been able to ascertain our rough co-ordinates, but it's not looking good."

Sighing he replied. "Lately it seems it never is, what's our status regardless?" He questioned.

"Well sir, I'm not quite sure how to explain this.... But... The overload of energy from the super nova on our drive cores seems to have catapulted us way past our desired destination." The navigator said, but the commander knew there was more.

"How far exactly?" He asked, a grim look overtaking his features.

"We're in another galaxy entirely sir, and at this distance it would take years for the beacon's signal to reach friendly space." The officer replied sadly before saluting and excusing himself.

'Damn it all, looks like we're stranded here. There's no way the fleet will be able to send help at this distance.' Artemis thought to himself.

"SIR!" Called out the communications officer from his seat. "You're going to want to hear this, We're receiving a transmission, but it seems to be on an older frequency!"

"What? I thought the navigator said we're years away from a reply?" Artemis replied as he rushed over to the officer's position.

"I know sir, but I've been hearing radio transmissions on this channel for a while, but I assumed they were old ones broadcast by radio stations back on Earth from centuries ago, that were just now reaching this area, but... well... I think you better listen to this for yourself."

The young officer stated as he switched the broadcast to be heard by the entire bridge.

Equestria:

"How exactly does this equipment work?" Inquired princess Luna, who only a few years past her return, had yet to encounter the new technology of radio broadcasting, which had not long come into use around the world. (think of the old radio stations from around the 30's and 40's)

"Don't worry about it your majesty, all you and princess Celestia need to do is speak into that microphone when you get the signal that we're broadcasting." The manager answered her question.

"Very well then, as soon as you are ready." Said the moon princess.

"Yes your majesty." The pony said as he gave a quick bow and turned to the operator. "Alright, start it up." He ordered, to which he received a nod as the pony adjusted the dials and switches before signaling that they were live.

The Pride:

"So what do you think lieutenant? Do you think we'll be getting back home soon?" Nat asked his flight leader.

"I'm not sure Nat, I really hope so, but with everything going on I just can't be sure." Alzack replied to his number four man.

The four of them were in the ship's mess, having some early morning breakfast after everything had winded down after the emergency jump and the events following shortly after.

That was until an announcement came over the ships intercom.

"Attention all hands, this is the commander. At around oh'five hundred this morning, communications has picked up what appears to be a response to our distress beacon." This announcement was quickly followed by cheers from all around the ship, but they were soon silenced as he continued. "But... It was not of human origins."

This lead to many murmurings between crew members to what this could imply.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the UCFS Flaming Pride, this is the response we have received." The announcement went to static which was then replaced with a new voice, a regal voice that none of the crew ever expected.

"Greetings travelers of the UCFS Flaming Pride, my name is Princess Celestia. I, along with my sister and fellow ruler of our kingdom, Princess Luna, would like to welcome you to our world. If you can hear us, please send us a response, We shall be waiting."

Silence. Not one crew mate or pilot uttered a single word in the wake of what had just happened.

The commander's voice then returned. "My fellow crewmen and women of the UCFS Flaming Pride.... We have discovered an alien civilization, and are currently in orbit around it's home planet. Furthermore, negotiations are to take place shortly, all hands are to report to stations and prepare. That is all."

The intercom went silent, every person aboard looked to the one next to them.... And quickly dashed off to their stations.

It was going to be a very busy day.