Aces In Exile

**Chapter Five:

First impressions**

"Princess Celestia!" Exclaimed Twilight, as she ran to give her old teacher her usual greeting. After nuzzling one another, Twilight took a few steps back while smiling. "It's good to see you again." She said.

"It is good to see you as well my young student, as well as the rest of you dear friends." All five of them bowed to her, while simultaneously saying. "Your majesty." To show their respect.

"Come now my dear ponies, arise. For we must not be tardy to this momentous occasion." Announced Celestia as she turned and began leading them to the landing platform that was assigned for the arrival of the aliens.

"We're coming up on the city now." Announced the co-pilot of Runner one to commander Artemis and captain Leona.

"Very good, bring us in nice and easy, have Blue flight hang back a little bit, just in case." Artemis ordered them.

"Aye sir, Blue one, Blue One, orders from the commander, your flight is to fall back and provide cover in case of emergency over." Blake called over the radio.

"Roger that, Blue flight keeping our distance, out." Replied Alzack as they throttled back their fighters and took up a patrol patter above the city as both FTUC craft began a slow descent towards the landing platform, Runner two touching down first to unload it's squad of ten marines, who took up positions around the landing area to provide security, assault rifles pointing outward, ready to counter any threat to the lives of their senior most officers.

Standing at the other end of the platform as all of this happened, were the princesses, the element bearers, and a small contingent of royal guards. All of who, watched with intrigue as one of the alien warriors brought it's front appendage to the side of it's head, after which the other transport settled down onto the platform, it's rear facing them just as the other did, and the door on the back sliding open.

Revealing what seemed to be an older male and a young female in what must be their equivalent of officers uniforms. Many medals decorating the left side of the male's chest.

Slowly, both groups walked towards each other until they met in the middle of the platform.

"Greetings, you must be the one known as commander Artemis I presume?" Asked Luna as she faced the man.

"Yes your majesty, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Artemis greeted as he bowed slightly to the dark alicorn.

"Please, you are not a subject of ours, there is no need for you to bow." Celestia said with a friendly tone. "Very well, I would like to introduce you to my second in command, captain Leona." The commander said as he motioned to the young woman.

"It is a great honor your majesties." Leona said as she stepped forward.

"Yes, today is a great day for both of our peoples, come, let's continue in a more comfortable setting shall we?" Celestia asked.

"As you wish princess." Artemis agreed before having five of the marines accompany them while the other five would stay behind to act as security for the FTUC's.

"The architecture of this castle is quite beautiful." Stated Leona as they entered the conference room and took seats around a meeting table, while the guards and marines took places around the edge of the room.

"Yes, it has stood atop this mountain for almost a millennium now." Celestia said as she looked at the the walls oh her home. Walls that no doubt held a lot of history. "That is quite a feat of engineering." Artemis stated as he made himself comfortable.

"Quite so, both it and the city took many years to complete." Said Celestia as she looked back to them. "Now then, where shall we begin?"

She asked. "Well your majesty, while it is true that our ship can sustain itself for quite some time, eventually we are going to need to set down to resupply. So if possible, we would like your permission to have somewhere within your kingdom that is relatively flat for our pilots to set the Pride down." Requested the commander as he crossed his hands together and rested his chin on them.

"Hmm, and how big of an area would this require?" asked Luna.

Blue Flight:

"So how do you think thing's are going lieutenant?" Lynne asked Artemis over the radio while they continued to patrol the airspace above Canterlot. "Not sure, hopefully well." He answered her.

"Heads up sir, got a radar contact, altitude five thousand, bearing one seven two." Called Andrew as he watched the blip.

"Copy that Drew, you and Nat go check it out, but do not fire unless provoked, copy?" Alzack ordered as he looked in the direction of the contact. "Blue three copies all, Blue four, follow me in." Replied Andrew as a sudden air of professionalism overcame the four pilots.

"Roger three, following on your six." Nathan replied to his leader as both fighters rolled inverted and dived to meet the radar contact.

Flitter and Cloudchaser were working their shift on weather duty, taking care of a few stubborn clouds in the areas between Canterlot and Ponyville. "Hey sis, how many more of these do we have to do?" Asked Flitter. "Just a couple more and we're done." Answered her sister.

Suddenly there came this strange sound, starting quiet but slowly getting louder as it got closer. "Hey Flitter, you hear that?"

Asked Cloudchaser. Suddenly two large grey objects roared by them and slowly banked around them, but kept their distance.

"What in the buck was that?" Asked Flitter as the two craft then banked away again, appearing to be heading back towards Canterlot.

"All clear sir, looks like it was just a couple of the locals. Looked like they were popping clouds." Andrew informed his flight leader as they climbed back to altitude and rejoined formation.

"Popping clouds? Are you sure?" Alzack asked, puzzled by this information.

"Yes sir, I can confirm, I saw it too." Announced Nathan to back up his leaders claim.

"Well now, weather manipulation. If only the farming colonies could get a hold of that." Alzack thought out loud.

"Blue flight, this is Runner flight, mission complete, rejoining and heading for home." Came the announcement from Runner flight's leader over their radios. "Roger that Runner, how did things go?" Alzack asked as they banked to join up with Runner flight's craft.

"Oh you're gonna love this." Blake said as they met up and headed back to the Pride.