Can't stay asleep forever... Even if you are plugged into a computer. My sensors all flicked on, and slowly my boot up system ran it's course. Before I knew it, I was now wide awake, and a message flashed in my screen.

'Time to awaken, eat, and prepare for departure, 682.' It said. Everyone of us got the same message. My standard limbs attached, before I dropped from my stasis pod. Looking around, my sensors picked up all my 'brothers' and 'sisters' being released from their stasis pods as well. We all then fell in line as our commander appeared on the screen over the door.

"Excellent." He started. "Your all awake. Before your departure down to Lyra-985E, You should be aware that you have a trouble maker among you. We haven't nailed down exactly who it may be yet; But we have tracked them to this ship. If and when this trouble maker is found, shoot on sight." He smiled smugly. I've always hated that smile. "Now then, your orders are, Land on the planet, scout for any possible resources, investigate any wildlife you find. And if it's inhabited, kill the natives." He ordered.

"Sir, yes sir!" We droned. Our mechanical voices coming out of our visors, as his imaged faded and we made our way to the ship's galley. I must explain. We are Protogen. A bio-engineered species meant for deep space exploration, and a variety of different roles. From mechanics, welders, and biologists, to soldiers and scouts like myself. I'm a simple scout. Most of us are based on Sergals, another bio-engineered species. But some of us are based on others, depending on our role. Mine, as a scout, makes me a wolf. Downside to being bio-engineered cyborg like beings is we're basically slaves.

As we entered the galley, we each grabbed a tray and put them out for our ships cook. One by one she shoveled the slop they called food onto our trays, and one by one, we sat. Our visors slid open, exposing what was left of our faces and mouths. Our eyes are strictly built in to our visors, so we don't really have faces. Sadly we do still need to eat. Just because we're a cyborg species, doesn't mean we don't eat. As I ate the flavorless slop, I reflected on what I knew.

I, 682, am an experimental Protogen. I was built by the Seras Corporation back on Earth, in an attempt to create a new and improved protogen. Faster reflexes, more sapient thinking(mostly by adding human brains), but with a more domesticated appeal. Supposed to make us seem more... approachable, and friendly. Shortly after my 'batch' was christened, we were found to be too inquisitive. Our canine nature mixed with human brains gave us, and them an unexpected surprise.

Memories. We began to remember our past lives. Who we once were. Some willingly complied and 'forgot'. Others rebelled. Those who remained, but didn't forget, like myself, hid in plain sight. We were found, one by one; And summarily executed.
Ever since, I have been quietly waging a small war against these... Savages. We live, we feel, we think. We are a sapient race who want to live, and love just as much as our makers. I'm the last of the rebels. The 'trouble maker' they call me. Even if they don't know it yet.

As I finished my slop, I stood up and dropped my plate into the dirty bin. With nothing to do until drop time I went over what we knew out Lyra-985E. Earth like planet in the Lyra constellation, oxygen like atmosphere, only planet orbiting a dwarf star unlike any ever seen before, with a single moon.

Wow... that was it? No wonder they're sending us down to investigate. Making my way down to the quartermaster, I prepared my equipment. Armor, weapons, IFAK(abbreviated for Individual First Aid Kit), and my bag. Looking through it I find a Mylar tarp, about a months worth of dried food(With MUCH more flavor than that slop in the galley), a water filter, and a sleeping bag. Figures I'd find a solar charger.

As I set my gear in my place on the drop ship, I go around the main transport. "On Patrol" as I like to say. Making my way into the engine bay, I study what I needed to know. All the engineer protogen going around, making sure everything is in top shape. Our ship, from what I learned ran on anti-matter. I needed to cover my tracks... Looking around, I found a bunch of small chucks in a suspension chamber. A small piece, no bigger than a medical pill would work. If this one piece comes into contact with matter, like the edges of the chamber, it'll cause a cascade effect and they'll destroy each other violently.

Perfect. I purposefully 'bumped' into a fellow protogen, knocking a cylinder over and discreetly knocking it off under the anti-matter engine. While disconnected, the suspension chambers last 36 hours. Assuming nobody finds what I did, that's how long I have until this whole vessel goes supernova, and creates a second sun over this unsuspecting planet.

"Sorry" I say, giving a salute. "My mistake sir. I wasn't looking where I was looking."

"Shouldn't you be heading for the drop ship Scout?" He said with irritation. "You drop in 15 minutes. Get to it!"

"Sir, yes sir!" I salute again, jogging off. I made it to the drop ship with 10 minutes to spare. Now this drop ship also runs on anti-matter... but I don't want to make a 35 megaton nuclear blast on the surface of the planet... I may not have a choice... Shit... sneaking into a soldier's back, I found a pound brick of semtex. Amazing that we still use this stuff.

Thank god for the net... Oh the things you can learn. I had one more jury rigged blasting cap hidden away in a secret compartment on my chest plate. Quickly rigging the stuff for detonation and hiding it carefully, I made my way back to my seat, and buckled in just as the rest of my squad filed in.

"682? since when are you early?" Our chief biologist asked. "Your usually dragging your tail."

"Maybe I'm excited to actually scout something new?" I reply blandly. "Nobody has ever been to this star system before. Feels good to be the spearhead for once." I lie through my teeth.

"This is your captain speaking. We're preparing for drop down to a forested zone on the planet Lyra-985E. I hope you all packed accordingly. Welcome to the lift from hell." The loudspeaker droned, followed quickly by a loud 'Thunk" from outside the hull as we all felt our stomachs shoot up into our necks. Our drop ship fell into the planets atmosphere and the turbulence was astounding. Sure I've felt this a dozen times and then some, but it never ceases to amaze me. Looking around, my sensors pick up a light shift. Switching to what would be considered normal eyesight, Through the windows we can see the flames on the edge of our ship, light up the interior with an orange hue.

"As the Captain said. Welcome to the lift to hell 682!" My lieutenant chuckled. I shrugged him off and discreetly checked my HUD. As I did so, I flicked the switch to detonate the planted bomb in the engine compartment. It went off with a mighty boom, destabilizing the ship violently. Alarms blared, shouting warnings about engine failure, Loss of control on the left flank, sending us off course. I sure several of my crew mates died when they hit their heads in the initial destabilization.

Looking out the window, I see we're trailing black smoke, and shakily headed for a thick forest at the base of a mountain. I was hoping to survive but... I might not... Bugger...

"God forgive me" I whisper as I switch on the music app in my ear piece, blasting my usual metal into my ear.

***==============***

Ponyville. A homey little town. Home to approximately 400 ponies, one being Princess Twilight Sparkle. It was a wonderful day as she sat in her school office grading papers. She so loved her work; She'd give up being a princess if she could, so she could continue to teach. Her day was going swimmingly. At least until her friends burst in dragging a shaking Pinkie Pie behind them.

"T-T-T-Twiiiiiiiliiiiiiight!" Pinkie called out, shaking worse than a hypothermic pony. "F-f-f-f-f-f-faaaalllllliiiiinnnnggg!" she said pointing out the window. Just as Twilight turned around, the whole school shook with a mighty boom. The sound loud enough to rattle her window, and give everypony on her side of the school tinnitus.

"What in the world is that!? Starlight called, pointing to what appeared to be a meteor falling from the sky. It was clearly on fire, trailing black smoke as it fell to the mountains to the east; The far side of the Everfree Forest. "Why is it turning?" Starlight barked over the ringing in her ears.

"I dont know..." Twilight answered as she watching the object fall into the forest, sending up a mighty plume of dirt, fire and smoke, followed by what appeared to be grey glass like clouds spreading out in all directions like an expanding dome. It was a humid day in Ponyville, and even in the Everfree. She realized she was looking at an explosive shock wave.

"GET DOWN!!!!" Twilight yelled in her canterlot voice, loud enough for the whole school to hear. Everypony in the room instantly dropped belly first to the floor as all the windows facing the meteor were suddenly blown in, shattering into thousands of pieces each. Some doors were blown off their hinges, Pegasi in the air were blown down and/or away. When it was over, looking out, all Twilight saw was dirt and smoke rising from the Everfree.

"Rainbow!" Twilight called, snapping the pegasus to her hooves. "I need you to check the pegasi! Make sure they're all okay."

"You got it Twi!" The pegasus said with a salute, before dashing off out the window.

"AJ, Go check on the town. I want a damage report before sundown!" The princess ordered.

"Consider it done sugar cube." Applejack said confidently, galloping out.

"Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Lock down the school. Make sure everycreature is safe!" Twilight ordered.

"Done darling" Rarity tittered, taking the other two mares with her.

"Starlight, Your with me." Twilight said, her eyes turning back to the scene outside.

"And where are WE going?" Starlight asked.

"To see what just happened." Twilight said, grabbing her saddlebags. "Get your gear. We leave in 3 minutes."

Author's Note

I really hope this works. I dabbled in the furry fandom before the pony fandom. I'm hoping I can actually FINISH this one... Anyway, Lyra is a real star constellation, you can look it up.
If I get my details wrong, please let me know.
This damned plague...

Edit(3/09): changed 5 kiloton to 35 megaton.
For those who don't know, this is a Protogen. Credit to the artist.