Chapter nine

Captain Isov had not been sleeping. He couldn’t. There was too much going on right now. Instead, he sat in his room thinking. When Nebula buzzed him, he knew it was time. He headed down the stairs from his bedroom to his personal office. He sat down at the mahogany desk in the center of the room, and opened the door for Nebula. She stepped in cautiously, and he told her to sit.

“Two things,” He spoke, “First, I’m aware of your ship’s damage. One of our agents at the Cathedral, reported and gave me a full run down.”

He paused, gauging Nebs’ reaction.

“Second, Greyhorn isn’t with the Office of Naval Intelligence.”

Isov placed a file on the desk.

“Intel shows he went rouge four months ago, when the war started.”

Nebs pondered this for a few moments. Despite her disdain, she didn’t have Greyhorn pegged for a traitor. He seemed to hate the insurrectionists more than her.

“Why tell me?” She asked. “I’m just a civilian, not some ONI spy.”

He nodded.

“No. But I need somepony who can deliver this file to the authorities.”

“I still don’t understand. Why me?”

Isov glanced around the room nervously then cleared his throat.

“The Wrath’s crew has been compromised. I don’t know who’s good or bad. But you, I’ve seen your record. And I know how Eridanians are with their loyalty. Miss Dusk, I wouldn’t ask if didn’t know you were capable.”

“I- I don’t know.”

“We don’t have a lot of time here. I’m sorry, but I need an answer now. I think something’s about to happen. Something bad. Please.”

“OK. What do you need me to do?”

“We’re near your home planet right now. I need you to take this to General of the Wonderbolts Strafe. I had my Chief Engineer prep a ship for you, and upload a backup of your SAREN unit to its computer. My personal ship. A Skyway Stardust Special. I call her Damn You Gravity.”

There was a note of pride in his voice as he spoke about his ship. Nebs nodded. she was a little envious of him now, well more. The Stardust Special was a hybrid of a light cargo freighter and racer, and very expensive.

“I still need to get some things in order. I’ll need you to wait, in the lounge with Tzerra, you can trust her. One of my pilots will meet you when we’re ready. He’ll ask you about the bees.”

“Bees?” Nebs asked, “The code phrase is about bees?”

Isov raised an eyebrow. That was the part she questioned? The bees?

“My dad used to keep bees after he retired,” He replied, “I have a lot of fond memories of them.”

Nebs nodded. Right.

“Actually, I hate bees.”

“Have a another drink,” Tzerra said in a cheerful tone,”It might ease what you think.”

Nebs shook her head.

“Three’s enough, Tzerra. I need to stay somewhat sober.”

“You’ve an important job. You’re right, no need to be a drunken slob.”

“Do you rhyme all the tim... Oh for Celestia’s sake, you have me doing it too.”

“Not always, but it is a storyteller’s tradition through, and through. To this convention I try to hold true.”

“oh, OK.”

Tzerra gave her with a patient grin.

“This reminds me of a funny story...”

“Sorry, Tzerra,” A new voice spoke, interrupting the zebra’s story. “We’ll have to get a rain check.”

Nebs turned. A pegasus stallion stood in the entry to the lounge. He wore full flight gear and a cocky grin. Nebs spotted the lightning bolt insignia of the Eridanian fifth transport regiment on his shoulder.

“Hello, miss Dusk, how are the bees?”

She nodded.

“Alright, we are set! C’mon miss Dusk, let’s get you to the DYG, and get out of here. Follow me, please.”

Nebs stared walking behind him. Before they left the lounge, he stopped and turned towards Tzerra.

“Stay safe, Tzerra.”

He then turned back towards Nebs.

“Names’ Strafe. Sergeant Cloud Strafe, at your service.”

“You’re the General’s Son.” Nebs stated.

He nodded in reply.

“I’m your ticket to seeing him, too. I’m going with you, by the way.”

“Miss Dusk, Sergeant Strafe, mind telling me why you’re visiting the hangar today?” Greyhorn spoke.

As they had entered the hangar, he appeared from around a large metal container, his lackeys in tow. Both armed.

“Captain told me to show her his ship,” Strafe said in an easy manner.

“The same ship Miss Bloom was prepping for launch?” The unicorn asked coolly, levitating a pistol to the Sergeant’s forehead,”Tell me what you’re really doing.”

Strafe grinned and raised an eyebrow.

“Trying to scare me, little pony?”

“Tell me, now. Or this is gonna get messy, for both of you.”

Strafe sighed.

“I didn’t wanna have to do this.” He said. ”Rose! NOW!”

A rumble filled the hangar suddenly as a dropship’s engines fired up, and it began hurtling towards them, violently ripping from it’s moorings with a metallic shriek. Before they could dodge, the grey-green craft plowed into Greyhorn’s lackeys, then crashed into a wall with a loud boom.

Before he could react, Strafe trust his forehoof into Greyhorns’ face, knocking him to the hangars’ floor.

“Let’s go, now, Dusk!”

She didn’t hesitate. She flew as fast as her wings would let her, towards the cherry red Stardust Special. A door on the side opened, a ramp sliding down from it. She hurried inside, then turned around to see Strafe catching up. Weighed down by his gear, he flew slower than her.

“Come on!” She shouted.

Several things happened very quickly, A gunshot sounded, a red cloud burst from the back of Strafe’s head, his wings stopped flapping, and he hit the ground with a dull thud.

“Miss Dusk, get off of that ship now!” Greyhorn growled, pointing his pistol at her.

“My little yellow arse, she’s getting off that ship!” Rose bloom yelled, charging at him, a large wrench held above her head in a magic field.

Turning quickly, Greyhorn shot her, and she collapsed, her wrench clattering away discordantly.

“Bloody Hell.”

He turned his gun back towards Nebs, but before he could fire, the ship’s door slid shut. He fired a few rounds at the ship, but they sparked harmlessly off the shields.

The ship disengaged with its mooring clamps, and maneuvered out through the Wrath’s Hangar shield and into open space.

Nebs stared out the door’s window, shaking, her heart feeling like it was going to burst from her chest. She sat down and started sobbing.

“Miss Nebs?”

She stopped, and wiped her eyes with a forehoof.

“S-SAREN?”

“I’m here, Ma’am. Are you alright?”

“He... He killed them,” She said with a sniff, “That bastard killed them!”

“I’m not sure I understand, Miss Nebs. What is going on?”

“J-just set a course to Eridani, please.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, “Also, I’d like to inform you that whoever transferred me into this ship, also transferred your music library as well. Would you like me to play your wind down playlist?”

She smiled sadly, and nodded.

“Yes.”

She closed her eyes and let herself drift away into the reverb laden guitar.

Author's Note

Sorry about ridiculous delay. Having a job both sucks, and is awesome.