The docks were, as always, as busy as a bee hive as lights shine from the guard bridge. Cranes are loading supplies onto a large ship called The Explorer, a ship owned by the Eaglehorn Corporation, an exotics import company that is in dire straits, thanks to the financial crisis. While many companies have picked themselves back up by now of 2016, Talon Eaglehorn, owner of the company, has failed to do so. He has even gone into the separate business of shipping large animals on his ship to zoos throughout the world to pay back debts.
Sailors are loading suitcases into the ship. Some of them are for the workers and sailors. Many are unaware of the recent supply of heavy crossbows and arms, but more serious is the 5 cases of Chloroform Grenades, similar to Gas Bombs, but with a more deadly sleep. But most of the suitcases have the logo "F.R. Pictures", a growing, now-famous film studio that has taken the film industry to a new level, returning Trotollywood to its glory days and even giving Galaxy Pictures a run for its money.
Near the ship is the Griffin Dock Watcher, keeping the supplies in order. He was keeping order amongst the stallions, loudly.
"Keep up the good work colts!" He continues. " And hurry up! we've got 15 minutes before we make sail!"
Soon, he is approached by a mare who looks like the adventurous witter type that you don't see too often, Her name is Twilight Velvet, one of the head witters of F.R. Pictures. She has an egg shell white coat, a light lavender mane with two streets of white and a likewise coloured tail, and light blue eyes that shine like the early spring mornings. She wears a fashionable black coat and a fedora hat. She approaches the Griffin Dock Watcher, who was carrying a metal cane in his hand.
"Excuse me, sir." She shouts. The Griffin Dock Watcher turns to him, grinning his sharp teeth.
"Huh. What do you want?" The Griffin Dock Watcher growls.
"Say, is this the film production ship?" Velvet asks walking up to him.
"The Explorer? Yeah." The Griffin Dock Watcher replies. "Are you going on this crazy voyage?
"Wait, what's crazy about it?" Velvet asks surprised.
"Well for one thing, everybody's talking about that nutball that's running it?" The Griffin Dock Watcher replies.
"That nutball wouldn't happen to be Copper Longhorn, would it?"
"Yeah, that's him. They say that he's a lunatic. Talking about a location he plans to film on will be in the history books."
"That sounds like 'em alright. But what's all this talk about this voyage being crazy?"
"Well for one thing, everyone is talking about the heavy weight cargo. And I've never seen a ship this size with such a large crew before."
"Not enough sailors to handle her, eh?"
"Not Enough? There's three times more than the damn thing needs. Thirty five at the most. And the ship itself is only a merchant vessel, only needs about twelve at the most."
"Hey you down there!" A strong voice startles the two from above.