Echelon: Equestria

"Foxtrot, this is Fleet Tango; the battle is over. Now we must contact a local authority. We must create a stable and prosperous relationship with this city, especially if it is a part of a greater organization. We must find out where we are and gather as much information of this place as we can.

"Jason, I know politics isn't your thing, but you'll have to act as ambassador. There is no one that can be better than you."

"Yes, sir." Jason replied. He was patrolling the area, just in case. Ponies down below still watched him, but with less fear and more respect than before.

"Uh... Hey, you forgot about me." Spike frowned, sitting behind Jason in a very uncomfortable position.

"Oh, sorry." Jason apologized. "Fleet Tango, I've got a local from this world on my aircraft. It's a..."

"Male baby dragon." Spike said.

"Male baby... dragon."

"Foxtrot, you bring him back to the people. Change the aircraft so you can land safely, then return that dragon to them."

Jason was in the hangar of the airship. White BFF-1 Tempest was before him, without any weaponry. He didn't like that, he always felt naked and defenseless without anything to protect himself in the air. Well, he was allowed to carry a plasma pistol with him, just in case. It didn't make him any more comfortable, though.

Commander Fedman Cassad was standing nearby, looking at the Tempest.

"Well, Jason, your task is simple," Fedman spoke, turning his head to the pilot. "You must establish a relationship with this country. Explain what happened, don't hide anything that is not classified. Show them the holotape of short history course, of course.

"Stay calm and ask questions as well. We need as much information on this new land as possible. There is a microphone in your suit, so I'll be able to hear all conversation.

"Don't forget about your little friend." Fedman threw a glance at Spike, who was standing nearby, staring at the aircrafts with amazed expression on his face. "You must bring him back to them."

"Understood, commander." Jason saluted.

"Good luck, then. Dismissed."

There was no need for second pilot in this Tempest because of lack of weaponry, so Spike took a seat. It was large for him, unfortunately.

Jason was turning on various systems of the aircraft, preparing to take off.

"Listen here, Spike." he spoke. "Don't touch anything at all, alright? I will return you to ponies, don't worry."

"It's just amazing to see aircrafts!" Spike replied. "I've read about them in my comic books, but none of those aircrafts were real nor they could be!"

"I was amazed when I first saw an aircraft, too." Jason chuckled. "Alright, prepare to take off, it will shake a little."

Jason turned on the radio and spoke: "This is Ambassador, request permission to take off."

The hangar door opened, revealing the Crystal Empire from a bird's eye.

"Ambassador one, cleared to take off."

Cadance watched as the white aircraft descended, and she was sure she saw Spike in it.

The aircraft landed a ten meters before the Crystal Palace. The cockpit opened and Jason put his feet on the crystal road. Soon enough Spike followed.

"Alright, stay calm. They are just a bunch of sapient equines." Jason thought to himself. "Be nice and polite to them and everything will be just fine."

He slowly walked to the Crystal Palace, a bunch of armored guards stood there, guarding two ponies: a stallion with white fur and a mare with pink fur. Jason quickly understood that those are in charge of everything, especially the pink one - she had a tiara on top of her head, identifying herself as some sort of royalty.

He stopped three meters before them and bowed.

"Hello, I am Jason Scott, the ambassador of Federation of Free Planets." he introduced himself to the two ponies.

"Hello, Ambassador Scott, I am Cadance, princess of love." Cadance introduced herself, bowing a little.

"I am Shining Armor, her husband." Shining Armor introduced himself as well.

"Well, mister Armor, your majesty Cadance, I guess you both want to know many things." Jason gestured at the airship and battlefield fighters flying around.

"Yes, we would like to know all the story, if it is possible." Cadance nodded. "Please, follow me."

Once they were in the throne room, the explanation began.

"So, to better understand us, I brought a holotape which has a short course of history of recent few hundred years."

Jason pulled a small holographic recorder out from one of his pockets, then turned it on, starting the record.

After the record ended, Cadance and Shining Armor just stared at it.

"So..." Shining Armor cleared his throat. "You are saying that there is a big war between that Federation of Free Planets and Velians, correct? Who is winning?"

"We were winning, as far as I remember." Jason replied, frowning. "We aren't able to contact any federal forces, though. But what I do remember is that we appeared here because of Velian Null-T technology. Something changed the course, sucking me in along the way. Thankfully, we came out unharmed, and now we want to know where we are."

"I guess I can tell what I know." Cadance said. She explained everything she knew about Equestria and its recent years, as well as a short course of history.

"Well, you've  just said that you possess what you call 'magic." Jason scratched his chin. "Can you demonstrate it?"

Cadance nodded. Her horn started to glow, the holographic recorder was enveloped in light blue glow, lifting itself up.

"That is clearly something I haven't seen any human doing..." Jason stared at the flying recorder in awe. "Our technology can make things move around like you do, but with such precision? No, ours can't do that."

"But your technology is sure advanced." Shining Armor interjected. "Things made of metal don't fly on their own, especially for so long as yours does."

"That is the result of many years of technological progress, mister Armor. We have nothing like magic, so in order to be better we make new technologies. For example, just three hundred years ago we lived about sixty to one hundred years, now we can live up to two hundred. The progress of medicine made us able to live that long. For example, our president is one hundred fifty three years old. He outlived the Galactic Empire, and I'm sure he's not looking forward to dying soon."

"That is fascinating!" Cadance exclaimed.

"Well, we as representatives of the Federation of Free Planets would like to establish a connection between us and Equestria."

"I'm looking forward to it too." Cadance nodded. "But I am not the head of Equestria. Celestia and Luna are. I will send them a letter, and I think they will either come here or invite you."

Fifteen minutes later.

"The reply came." Cadance stated, the letter appearing out of thin air. She opened it and read. "Well, mister Scott, they are inviting you to Canterlot to discuss the terms of agreement between Equestria and the Federation of Free Planets. Canterlot is located to south from here, on the lone mountain in the center of Equestria. You will notice it instantly, it is on the side of the mountain.""

"I will report this to command center, your majesty." Jason nodded. "Now, I must return to the airship. This meeting was pleasant, your majesty. I am looking forward to seeing you again."

"Thank you, mister Scott."

Jason Scott was back in the white Tempest. He turned on the engines and put on his flying helmet.

"This is Fleet Tango; Jason, your professionalism is on the highest level." his commander spoke over the radio. "Now, we will take course to Canterlot. In case of someone attacking us, you must change the aircraft to armed one."

"This is Ambassador; understood, commander." Jason replied, taking course to the airship.

A minute later he spoke: "This is Ambassador; request permission to land."

"Ambassador one, cleared to land."

After changing the aircraft to INT-2 Spirit, Jason was back in the air, escorting the airship along with a squad of four BFF-4 Lightnings. The camouflage was changed to winter one, so the aircrafts blended with the snowy mountains of Northern Equestria.

Nothing but snow was in sight.

Celestia and Luna were patiently waiting for the outlanders to arrive.

They both took place in a secret room which was on the other side of the mountain that was the base of Canterlot. The room was small, allowing only the two princesses to be there at once. It had a small window with a telescope attached to it, so that the sisters could see what is happening in the Crystal Mountains. They could already see a black spot which rather quickly became bigger.

"What is that?" Celestia narrowed her eyes, trying to see the details. "Cadance's written that these aliens that call themselves representatives of the Federation of Free Planets have some sort of a big, metallic airship, and lots of smaller ones, that the humans referred to as the aircrafts. Just what are those? Are these like flying round objects that the young like to read about in the comics?"

"Whatever these are, their speed is more than a hundred kilometers per hour." Luna said. "Well, it... It looks like nothing we have."

There was a big blocky airship made of metal that looked more like it was an actual ship that was made to swim in the water. Six aircrafts escorted it: half of them hovering above it while the other half was circling it.

"It would cause quite a ruckus if we hadn't told the ponies of Canterlot about it as soon as we've received the letter." Luna noted. "Imagine what would have happened if they showed up uninvited!"

"Yes, that would cause chaos that Discord himself would be proud of." Celestia nodded, chuckling.

While they were talking, Fleet Tango and squads Alpha and Foxtrot were closing in to the mountain.

"Fleet Tango, this is Foxtrot one, my scanner detected two life forms on this side of the mountain. Their signature is green, marked 'Ac', no callsign detected." Jason reported. "What is data on 'Ac' signature?"

"This is Fleet Tango, there is no data on this signature." commander replied. "Alpha, do you see what Foxtrot one does?"

"This is Alpha, our scanners show the same thing." the captain of squad Alpha confirmed. "Two green Acs, approximately seven kilometers from us."

"This is Foxtrot one, they are hidden in the mountain, can't get a clear image." Jason stated. "Orders?"

"This is Fleet Tango, keep an eye on them, we don't need surprises."

Celestia and Luna watched as the aliens approached.

"I feel something..." Celestia stated. "It's a... scanning spell! A very powerful one."

"I feel the same thing." Luna nodded. "I think they found us. We should better return to Canterlot to avoid anything that would lead them to us. If they'll lose us on, they will likely think that it was a glitch in their spell, if they use one."

Both princesses teleported back to Canterlot, accompanied by bright flashes of light, golden and midnight-blue.

"This is Foxtrot one, both signatures disappeared. However, I saw two flashes of light. They appeared simultaneously, golden and dark-blue. Flashes were too small and not as bright to be the result of Null-T technology use. No preparations for the Null-T could be seen either." Jason reported.

"This is Alpha, we confirm the disappearances and the flashes." Alpha confirmed.

"This is Fleet Tango, continue observation. They might return. Report if any other signatures are detected.

Finally, Fleet Tango arrived at the Canterlot. The big airship was at least half as large as the city itself. Ponies stared at the airship, struck with awe by its sheer size.

"This is Foxtrot one, I see multiple green Bld and BigBld signatures, the biggest one has a callsign 'Canterlot'. No turrets but medieval age cannons were found. I guess that the signatures we see can be detected because of what ponies call 'magic'." Jason reported. "Their magic seems to be able to interfere with our scanners, allowing us to see the signatures that are on screen right now."

"This is Fleet Tango, this will be added to the information about Equestria." the commander replied.

The Alpha squad was ordered to patrol the area around the city, while Jason was ordered to change aircraft to the diplomatic one. The rest of the Foxtrot squad was ordered to scout the area and take aerial photos to make a map later.

"This is Ambassador, request permission to take off." Jason requested over the radio, now back in the white Tempest.

"Ambassador one, cleared to take off." permission was granted.

Celestia and Luna ordered the guards to clear the place for the aircraft to land, deciding to meet the ambassador in person rather than have him to be escorted to the princesses.

The place for landing was found near the entrance to the castle, where guards had to draw an "L" on the ground to mark the landing pad. Fortunately, the pilot of the diplomatic aircraft understood that and landed on it successfully.

The cockpit opened, allowing Jason to put his feet on the ground. He noticed the two alicorns standing nearby and bowed to them.

"Hello, I am Jason Scott, the ambassador of the Federation of Free Planets." he introduced to the two.

"Hello, Ambassador Scott, I am Celestia, Princess of the Day and the diarch of Equestria." the alabaster alicorn introduced herself.

"And I am Luna, Princess of the Night and the diarch of Equestria as well." the midnight-blue alicorn did as well.

Jason was stunned by the beauty of the two. He's never been attracted to horses nor to ponies, yet he knows what a beauty is when he sees it. Their ethereal manes and tails enchanted his eyes, their majestic appearance, everything about them told him that they are truly the powerful rulers of Equestria. And loved, too.

"Please, mister Scott, follow us." Celestia invited him into the castle. "We have much to discuss.

The three were sitting at the round Table of Negotiations, a large table that was summoned only once in the old days of Canterlot. The table was made of wood, which color is gold. It was richly decorated, becoming a work of art.

There were a few reporters, they had their cameras pointed at the three. It made Jason a little nervous, he never liked to be the center of attention.

"So, mister Scott," Celestia started speaking. "Princess Cadance told us that you and the other humans helped in defeating King Sombra. Without your help, the Empire would have fallen into his hooves. Why did you do that? By that time, you knew nothing about us nor him."

"Well, there isn't much of a story, your majesty. Sombra attacked us without reason, and he perhaps could have destroyed us all without the Crystal Heart that was later found. I see no reason that would tell us to join his side. And, if we knew who he was, we would go against him too. Slavery is not acceptable in any form in the Federation of Free Planets, and we'll make sure that there is nobody that does that, no matter what the reason is." Jason replied. "There is nothing that justifies slavery."

"So, what the Federation is?"

"Well, it is a union of planets, each ruled by a president that is elected every ten years. Our federation bases on peace and prosperity through economic and social development. The violent method of war has proven itself to be unnecessary and resultless. Much more can be reached with peace. However, it was until Velians attacked us without reason."

"Please, tell us more about them."

"They are like us, humans, though in a little different way. Not much known about their society; the only thing we know is that it is matriarchal. Their technologies are based on genetic engineering, a very painful and unpleasant process, often resulting in death or mind instability unless developed and studied enough to minimize the chances. So, the genetic engineering was banned in the Federation, though their Null-T technology was allowed, as it was the advanced technology of moving through space instantaneous, teleporting from one place to another. This technology was, in fact, a Trojan horse." earning confused glances, Jason cleared his throat and elaborated. "It means that those technologies were traps, not gifts. At one point Velians opened the gates, their armed forces came in and started attacking every planet, capturing humans and using them as genetic material."

"That is horrible!" Celestia frowned. "Why would they do that?"

"The reasons behind this is unknown." Jason replied. "Perhaps, they were not pleased with the ban of genetic engineering. However, they never went against the decision, they agreed to this in the first place."

"That makes them untrustworthy!" Luna said angrily. "Why start a war when there can be a peaceful solution to the problem?"

"All our attempts to start negotiations were denie." the ambassador replied with a frown. "So, may I continue?"

"Yes, please." Celestia nodded.

"So, me and the fifth air group under command of Roman Kasev was located on the planet Rokada IV. We were capturing the Northern Citadel on the main continent, which was almost free from Velians at that time. We have received a message through the Null-T portal that was located there. The message told us that federal forces needed help at planet Escobar. Fleet Tango, the big airship just outside Canterlot, decided to capture the portal and use it to quickly travel to the planet. It seems that something else took control of the portal, sending Fleet Tango here, sucking me in along the way. My aircraft has recorded the battle, so I brought the record here for your majesties to see. Maybe you'll see something that neither me nor others has seen. Would you like to see the whole battle or the part where the portal is taken under control?"

"I think we better see the whole thing." Luna suggested.

"I agree." Celestia nodded. "If we are to notice anything, it could have happened at any time."

Some time later.

"Well, I see nothing that could relate to our world." Celestia sighed. "The Null-T technology we see in this record is nothing like what we use. And only powerfull unicorns and alicorns are able to use teleportation, and it is instant, there is no need for such big building."

"I expected that." Jason nodded. "So, it seems that me and others are stuck here, in Equestria. So, in order to not cause any trouble to any of its citizens, we, as the official representatives of the Federation of Free Planets, would like to establish a relationship with Equestria."

After long and boring discussion of terms of agreement, Jason was back in the airship, taking a nap from his long and eventful day.

The terms are quite simple: all humans are allowed to stay in Equestria as long as they like. Anyone that will commit a crime, would be judged as a citizen of Equestria. The princesses agreed to send humans food free of charge until they could grow it themselves. Fleet Tango changed its location due to princesses' request. Now, the airship is hovering above empty field between White Tail Woods and a banks of the river which flows through Ponyville. Fields were decided to be turned into farmlands, a part of the river to be turned into fishing grounds. Although, it was decided that no serious ecological damage must be done. It was also decided that hunting is to be banned as it is already banned in all of Equetria.

For humans, these terms were acceptable for everyone. No one would dare to ruin the relationship that has just started to blossom into friendship between different planets.