A New World Discovered

Within the underbrush of the dense forest, the robotic canine was rummaging around forest, scanning, and analyzing the various foliage around it. aside from analyzing the plant life, the metal beast scooped up a clump of dirt in its mouth, and quickly dashed back towards it pod, which didn’t take too long as the unit wasn’t that deep in the woods. reaching its pod the metal canine re-entered the craft, and dumped the lump of dirt into a bowl on the left side, where a lid slid closed over it.

“Analyzing soil sample.” The recorded voice of a woman said as the unit heads back out, and again secured some of the local landscape in its mouth, this time a small patch of flowers. Which were like with the clump of dirt, deposited into a small bowl.

“Analyzing vegetation sample.” The recorded voice said again as the metal wolf left the craft again, but now was heading deeper into the woods.

Upon on the ship, sitting at the monitors desk in the hall of the ship, Johnson was watching everything that the mechanical canine R.E.C.O.N unit was filming. But aside from simply watching the unit’s video feed, the young pilot was also studying the soil and plant sample data that the pod was analyzing.

“Everything seem to be on the regular on the surface, but…” John muttered as he looks at the screen monitoring and analyzing the two samples that the R.E.C.O.N unit brought to the Pod.

“These samples easily have three times the amount of nutrients and natural properties in them than normal sources back home on Earth. With these properties this planet could be an agricultural paradise, however this planet is still way out of the way for it to an agricultural hub to feed Earth, or any frontier planets…but with a little work…it could be possible.” John concluded as he went back to looking at the main monitor to check up on the units progress, and video footage.

Heading deeper into the woods the mechanical lupine unit stepped carefully through the thick underbrush, attempting to not damage its surrounds and not cause as much noise as possible. As the unit was trying to see if it can study any living creatures, if it can find any, and usually being silent to a broad extent greatly increases its chances of doing so. But as it stalks through the trees, and bushes, so far it hasn’t spotted any living creatures. Now it can sense them on their internal scanners with motion detectors, but as the lupine automaton got close to a source, the animal quickly buggers off, preventing it from observing it.

So instead of tracking down animals to study, the unit shifted back to analyzing the landscape itself, and a new source came in the form of a shallow river running through a small clearing. Stepping up to the edge of the river, the unit dipped the tip of its muzzle into the water, where it took in a small sample through the nose vents. Where the small pocket sensors begin shifting through the liquid, documenting everything about the water sample from how clear it was, to small mineral particles in it, and its composition as a whole. To an outside observer it would simply seem as if the robot was drinking from the river, rather than analyzing the water sample.

Finishing its catalog of the water, the lupine robot released the water back into the river, and went about its tasks of discovery.

But as it crossed the shallow waters, the motion sensors picked up a fairly big signal, which was coming towards the unit. Facing in the direction where the signal was coming from, the R.E.C.O.N unit launched the small bird-like drone from its back, and had it float a good distance above the unit to act as a second set of eyes.

Emerging from the bushes were pack of wolves, but these weren’t ordinary wolves, these lupines were completely crafted from wood, tinder, and other kinds of wooden debris. Pack of wooden wolves took notice of the R.E.C.O.N unit, and seemed to be curious about the metal wolf, at least a few members of the pack was, the rest seemed to be in a territorial state. The leader of the pack, who was much bigger and built more bulkier, made its way over to the mechanical unit green eyes narrowing and wooden teeth being bared, and as it reached the R.E.C.O.N unit who hasn’t moved as much allowed the wooden wolf to sniff it. taking the opportunity, the robotic wolf was also sniffing its wooden counterpart, absorbing floral and other air particle samples emanating from the wooden beast, while both its own eye and its drone recorded footage of the wooden pack.

Up in space, John was watching the live feed being transmitted to the ships main terminal screen. The young man was leaning in his chair, carefully studying everything that both the R.E.C.O.N unit and assist drone were recording.

“Interesting. An animated wooden golem-like life form.” John muttered as he shifts his sight to one of the side screens.

“They seem to be emitting some kind of energy signature, but the system isn’t finding any particular match. It must be a unique type for these creatures.” Returning his sight to the main screen, the pilot saw that the alpha of the pack was now in circling the robot, along with the pack.

“Not sure what they’re doing, but I rather not have Lucky be a pile of splinters chew toy.”

Back on the planet’s surface, the alpha of the wooden wolves gave a few screechy yet ragged barks and growls. One of the pack members actually tried to take a bite out of Lucky, but the mechanical canine side-stepped so it wouldn’t be bitten, however on its other side another wolf decided to smack it with its wooden paw. Unfortunately for the arbor lupine, its appendage broke to pieces against the metal frame of the robot. As the wolf whimpered of its ‘broken’ paw, the rest of the pack readied to try and attack, but Lucky had a counter measure. Several actually, but one would suffice, without resulting in killing.

Sliding cases over its ear microphones, Lucky opened its fearsome looking jaws, and a noise akin to shredding metal and screaming machine work mixed with a guttural howl, scared the pack into stopping in mid attack and backing away. The noise was so shrilling and loud anything within a couple of hundred yards could hear it! after howling at the pack, Lucky’s large eye scanned over the pack along with the drone hovering above the small clearing, the mechanical beast turned to look at the alpha who seemed to flinch back, and gave a more leveled guttural grinding growl. The pack got to their paws and left Lucky alone as they made their way back into the forest. With the plausible threat now defused the assist drone returned to Lucky, and the metal lupine continued its investigation of the world.

Back on the ship, John was watching the footage of the wolf that struck Lucky, and watching as the energy that was thinly surrounding the paw dissipate. Although dissipate might be false. Playing the recording a few more times when the paw broke, John saw that instead of vanishing into the ether, the energy seemed to seep or waft back into the main body of the wolf.

“So whatever is holding these creatures together does emanate from them, and is not borrowed from an outside source.” The young man said as he scratches the side of his head with a single finger.

“Would’ve been nice to study it, but I might need to do an on-site study to fully grasp the phenomenon. In the meantime…” John switched back to watching the live feed from Lucky’s camera.

“Let’s finish with basic documentation subjects for now. But now I’m really more curious about what other types of unusual wild life is on this planet.” But as the young man leaned back into his seat, something came up on the monitor that caused him to quickly sit back up straight.

“Wait a minute…is that!”

Emerging from the grove of trees, Lucky came upon a large open clearing, with a large steep ravine in front of it. but on the other side of the ravine, partially ruined in covered in foliage, was a large stone castle-like structure.

“Incredible!” was all John could say as he stared at the screen, before a rather big smile came over the young man’s face. “…first actual documentation…of actual alien civilization!”

Without wasting any time, Lucky ran at full speed till it reached the edge of its side of the ravine, and then jumped. But the ravine was to wide for the unit to reach the other side just by jumping. So while it was at the apex of its jump, the six vents on its chassis released a sharp hiss before letting out a large burst of air, sending it higher into the air and carrying it the rest of the distance of the ravine. Once it touched down, the R.E.C.O.N unit ran towards the worn-down structure to begin investigating it in its entirety.

~~~~~

Twilight grumbled as she sat in a chariot with her assistant Spike, a ten year old dragon wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie, as they ride towards the town that was going to be where the Summer Sun Celebration is held this year. Earlier today Twilight Sparkle has sent a letter to princess Celestia, detailing her discovery of an ancient evil returning, as well as the comet that soared through the sky. but what she got in reply to her discovery from the princess, was a notification that she was going to be the overseer of the celebrations preparations.

“I can’t believe this. How can the princess just ignore my discovery, and make me handle preparations for the celebrations.”

“Maybe because she knew that this ‘dark alicorn’ coming back is nothing more than a story, and that you need to spend less time locked up in the study and start living a normal life.” The dragon said as he looks over the list of priorities for the celebrations preparations.

“But this could be a real threat. Half of Equestrian’s lore are actual threats, that were sealed away.” Twilight said to her little assistant.

“Maybe, but half of those lore’s are just that, lore. Stories.” Spike said in response, making a somewhat valid argument to Twilight’s response.

“And I agree with the princess. You spend to much time locked away in your study, doing nothing than practice magic or have your muzzle buried in a book. You should get out more, learn to socialize.” Twilight leaned into her seat as she lets out a sigh.

“Maybe…your right.” the unicorn said as she placed a hand on her forehead. “I just want to live up to the princess’s expectations.”

“Twilight the princess is proud of your academic accomplishments, but she worries that you focus on nothing more than work and study.” Spike said as he held the list out for Twilight to take, who took the parchment as Spike continued to speak.

“She’s hoping that if you do the preparations for the celebration, that you’ll learn how to take it easy, and see that there’s more to life than your work.” the little dragon gave a small smile to his sister-figure.

“And that goes for me to, I wanna see you have a better life than just being an anti-social workaholic.” Spike then leaned back in his own seat. “Think about it. when was it the last time you actually spent more than an hour taking a breaking from your studies, before going back to it.”

Twilight actually thought about it, but she wasn’t able to recall when she did spend more than an hour to either take a nap, or eat, before she went back into delving into her books. The only time that the mare would actually not spend time studying, was when she visited her parents, or was with the princess for a private lunch and talk.

“I guess you’re right.”

“We’re almost to Ponyville Miss. Sparkle, we should be there within a few more minutes.” One of the two pegasi guards who were pulling the chariot said.

“Thank you sir.”

Twilight then looked over the list that Spike gave her, and looked over the preparations. But even if her assistant and teacher were right, the unicorn still couldn’t help but feel that what she discovered from the book, and from seeing that comet, that something bad would be coming. Then again, it could just be her own paranoia about something that might not even be real.