A New Galaxy

Chapter 2: Secret Diplomacy

Tracking A-29 “Steele”

Location: Unknown

Tracking: A-99 “Shock”

Location: Unknown

Tracking A-03 “Viper”

Location Unknown

Designation: Missing in Action, Presumed Killed in Action

“If you wanted to be stealthful, I suggest you don’t make your movements so obvious to a creature of the night,” the quadruped said once again

“Is that thing talking to us?” Blip questioned

“Shut it Blip,” Cutter retorted

“If you were a Seperatist, you would have shot us already?” Steele responded to the smaller organism

“Shot you? No, but you are trespassing on royal grounds, and I am not what you speak of. I have never heard of Seperatists,” the quadruped spoke with regal authority

“Well that’s a good thing, then you have at least heard of the Republic,” Jumper commented assuming that the quadruped horse has at least heard of them

“Nor the Republic,” was a response they were given

The troopers, minus Steele, looked at one another as they couldn’t believe it. There was a planet that did not know of the Republic or the Seperatists? That has to be impossible, everyone has to have at least heard about them and the war. The war was galactic news right away.

“You’re meaning to tell us that you have not heard of the Seperatists or the Republic? Do you even know about the war? The CIS droids versus the Republic Clone Troopers?” Steele asked further though the report by the navigation officer rang in his head

“We are off the map and without that wormhole, we aren’t going home without getting lost,”

“None of anything, should I be aware of this?” the quadruped questioned as she clearly did not know anything

“Well, we definitely aren’t in the galaxy we once knew,” Jek muttered

“What and who are you?” the quadruped questioned now with a suspicious glare as these beings were armed and if they meant harm, they would regret it

“We are Republic Clone Troopers, created and born in cloning pods on the planet Kamino in a different galaxy. We serve the Republic, a galactic government made up of many worlds that meet in a Senate to determine the policies, regulations and procedures of order. I am an Arc, a Advanced Recon Commando, a more genetically modified version of the clones to be a more elite unit. My name is Alpha-29 as my number, I was nicknamed Steele,” Steele explained putting away his blaster as the other clones did so too

“You are all clones?”

“You got that right,” Cutter nodded taking off his helmet and the others did so, all resembling the same face with some slight distinct features such as either being bald, tattoos or having some minor scars

“We are all cloned from a Mandalorian named Jango Fett, the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. The first batch of clones were overseen by Fett in their training. Arc Troopers were trained by Fett personally except for the Null Arcs which only were six in total. They were trained by Skirata, another Mandalorian.” Steele added as he put back on his helmet, hiding the long scar on the right side of his cheek caused by a sword from a Commando Droid

“I see, but this begs the question for us. Do you fight for the right purpose?” the quadruped was a little more relaxed but still held a suspicious glare

“Anyone can tell you yes. I fight for the Republic, for my clone brothers even if they aren’t like me. I don’t let machines do the work, and since you aren’t a Separatist, you are not a threat to us,”

“A wise answer, our...I mean my name is Luna. Princess of the Night, Co-Ruler of Equestria along with my sister, Princess Celestia,” the quadruped introduced herself more comfortable with these beings now that she knows them more

“Princess? So there is royalty like Naboo,” Jek whispered to Blip who nodded

“A pleasure Princess,” Steele just stood there staring at the smaller creature who raised an eyebrow

“Are you not going to bow?” Luna questioned but then again, these clones didn’t seem like the type to bow

“If it proceeds for better relations between us,” Steele then got on one knee and bowed his head down, with the other four clones following in order

“To keep the peace, I will not report your presence here until we formally introduce you to our kingdom. But, I wish to know how you got here?” Luna raised her hoof a bit as the clones rose, a bit awkward as the clones weren’t used to bowing to royalty unless ordered to

“Wormhole, and our hyperdrive overloaded,” the other clones said at once

“Ah yes, the wormhole. Every once in awhile, a great magical disturbance causes these wormholes. Some have occurred here but most do not,” Luna nodded to the clones simple explanation

“Now, I will tell my sister of your presence only to help transition your arrival smoothly. Our subjects will most likely see you as a threat or a monster and be afraid but if we see you as friends, then society will most likely as well,” added the Night Princess added with thought

“Mostly?” Jumper curiously asked

“Some ponies will see you as monsters like I said, and will continue to think that way. We have no control over their thoughts or feelings, you must simply gain their trust,” Luna answered

“Very well, we must depart or I fear we will be discovered,” Steele firmly said as the troopers jetpacked off the balcony before any other of these ponies could show up

“They are odd, but a different type of odd,” Luna said to herself as she some of the Royal Guard came behind her

“Is something the matter your Highness?” one of the guards spoke

“No, you are dismissed,”

Watching the guards go, Luna turned her attention to the small lights from the jetpacks of the troopers she met, fading into the night. Luna felt compelled to let her sister know immediately, but after the Princess of the Night did her nightly duties and got some rest after that. Tomorrow, Luna will inform Celestia of the clones and hopefully, all goes well.

Steele

“Well that went better than expected sir,” Blip stated as the clones flew over the city right under the castle towards the forest which their extraction was

“You’re certainly right trooper, it went too well,” Steele nodded as he saw the other four troopers that he assigned for overwatch join them

“Spotted you all talking to something, apparently it went well. What’s the plan sir?” one of the troopers said

“I don’t know trooper, I don’t know,”

Venator Cruiser

Shock walked around the ship just making sure that everything was in order, the corridors being sometimes flooded with clones moving about to do their duty. Currently, it was flooded as supplies and technicians were busy trying to fix the hyperdrive with whatever was available. Some almost bumping into Shock as they went back and forth to get the necessary repair done but so far, it was futile.

“Do we have word yet on on the Commander’s mission?” Shock asked as he got to the bridge via the turbolift

“Yes, the team has been extracted and as far as it has been said, there was diplomacy. The Commander met with one of the rulers of the kingdom of this planet and has friendly relations with her. That’s all so far until the Commander returns,” an officer stated

“I heard my name being called,” Steele came out of the turbolift suddenly as all the clones saluted

“Commander on deck!”

“At ease, I want the cruiser to land now, the thick forest will act as a barrier to these pony creatures from discovering us. I have made contact with one of the rulers and she will help us settle in with our new surroundings. We are not in our galaxy anymore troopers, we are in a unknown place that is mysterious and does not know of the war. I want every man to make sure their blasters are set for stun and not kill. We don’t know these creatures’ culture and I don’t want any casualties. Am I understood?!” Steele ordered

“Sir, yes sir!” all the clones in the bridge repeated back as orders were passed to all the clones within the ship and the cruiser began to make for a landing

“Good, now get some rest, we have a long day tomorrow,” Steele nodded to them all before leaving the bridge

The clones all nodded and got any of their remaining duties out of the way, as the cruiser settled over the forest of the Everfree and landed. Thankfully nopony, besides Luna, still even knew of their existence and did not see the ship. The large cruiser landing on the ground and scaring many animals away as this behemoth of a ship invaded the forest unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, Steele went to his own quarters and sighed. Today had been a long day, and he hadn’t gotten any rest in the past three days due to constant fighting and reinforcement of other clone battalions. Piece by piece, Steele removed the armor that protected him from blaster fire where only his skin tight black layer undersuit was left on. Steele fell on the bed too tired to do anything else and fell asleep pretty quickly. He was going to need all the sleep he could get once the clones had to show themselves to the pony kingdom.

The whole ship fell silent except with the maintenance droids working as each of the clones were falling asleep after a long three days of war. But the night for them was not over as a certain somepony stood outside the ship with her horn glowing. Her form turned into a mist before she entered the ship and entered into the mind of the Arc Commander. But what she would find would shock her as his memories and dreams were beyond anything she could have ever seen.

Chapter End