The DropShip Xerxes was docked to the side of a JumpShip. Inside the DropShip, all senior members of the crew were assembled around an oval-shaped table in the conference room.

The door on the far side of the room opened, and Starbright and Star Burst walked in.

"Alright, listen up, everycreature.", Star Burst said as he flicked on the holo display in the center of the table. "As I'm sure you're all well aware, the Lyra Commonwealth and the Federated Hives have officially declared a joint union and are now calling themselves the Federated Commonwealth or Fed-Com for short. At ten-hundred and thirty hours the signal will go out to the fleet and we'll make the jump into Free Moons territory. A month after the first wave of JumpShips enters League space, the Fed-Com will officially declare war, just long enough for the first DropShips to pull into orbit above their targets." He tapped a few buttons on the holo display, changing the display to a large moon. "Our drop will be on the moon of Trotterdam IV. It holds a series of strategic listening outposts and several bases for asteroid mining."

Starbright took over. She tapped a few buttons on the holo display, zooming it in to their targets. "Our drop zone will be near the moon's equator. We'll be dropping in with five House Bon lances, plus four other mercenary lances. House Bon will also be providing orbital support with two Blueblood-class destroyers and seven full wings of aerospace fighter-bombers. Our primary targets are the listening arrays. We are to knock out the power generators, shutting them down so House Bon troops, and repair and rearming crews can make planetfall undetected. Our secondary targets will be the Free Moons fire bases a few kliks away from each listening array. If we're not too banged up, our tertiary targets will be the largest mining bases here, here and here. Since we will be dropping onto an airless moon, you will need to keep a close eye on your heat."

"From this point forward we are under full vacuum protocol.", Star Burst said. "Make sure the environmental seals on all hatches and your quarters are functioning properly. All airlocks are to be kept sealed at all times, except when use. No one is to leave their quarters unless they're wearing pressure suits. You ain't gotta wear your helmets, but they must be kept attached to your suits for rapid donning. Make sure your oh-two packs are fully charged and the filters on you suit's scrubbers are clean. Engineering chiefs, have your subordinates triple check all emergency repair stations and make sure all fusion welders are fully charged and all seal foam canisters are filled. Security chiefs, make triple sure that all emergency bulkheads are functioning properly and that all members of the crew are trained in emergency depressurization protocols. Wrecks, make triple sure that all emergency oh-two tanks are full and the filters in all emergency rebreathers are clean."

"From now until we are above our drop site, we will be running depressurization drills.", Star Burst continued. "Any questions or comments?"

Firecracker raised her hoof. "Since we're going to be fighting on an airless moon, that means my Parasprite will be as useless as teats on a boar. So what does that mean for me?"

"Talk with the team chiefs to see where you can help or stay in your quarters.", Star Burst replied. "You'll still receive your standard pay, minus the combat bonus for this mission."

"So I don't risk getting an auto-cannon shell rammed up my plot and still get paid? Sweet!"

Starbright simply shook her head and chuckled. Aerospace jocks were just like vehicle and 'Steed jocks, if they could avoid getting shot at and still pull a paycheck, they were happy. "Any more questions or comments?" She paused for a moment. "Team chiefs, I expect to see your readiness reports on my desk at the end of each day. Alright everycreature, you all know what to do. Dismissed!"

With bright flashes of light the JumpShips carrying DropShips of all sizes and the WarShips engaged their JumpDrives and seemingly flashed out of existence. A near instant later they appeared at the nadir of the star that was their destination. After confirmation that there were no JumpDrive failures and the entire fleet was present and accounted for, the WarShips began their 'climb' into the solar system, and DropShips uncoupled from the JumpShips to begin their 'ascent', the invasion was on.

***

After a month of running depressurization drills and combat drills, the crew of the Xerxes was ready and raring for a fight. As Starbright crossed the gantry-way to her Applejack, Spot Weld and Matchstick were loading the last of the solid slug rounds into the ammo hoppers for the auto-cannons. Since this fight was going to be in a vacuum, outside of fragmentation, explosive shells would be useless.

Making sure her cooling suit, barding and neuro-helmet was secured, Starbright climbed into the cockpit of her BattleSteed. Closing the hatch, she ensured the pressure seal was secure and sat in the pilot's seat. She flipped switches on the various consoles. Weapons readiness, ammo readouts, armor status, internal structure status, engine status, oxygen status and a crosshair all came up on her helmet's display. The lights on the consoles blinked green and she set everything into standby. She quickly gave the hoof's up to the 'Steed tech standing in front of her cockpit.

After a couple of hours of waiting, Star Burst spoke up over the radio. "We just received word from fleet command to begin our descent. Fed-Com has just sent the transmission, officially declaring war.

Amber lights flashed about the bay as an automated voice spoke over the loudspeakers for all non-essential personnel to evacuate.

As the DropShip began its descent down to the drop zone on Trotterdam IV, accompanied by DropShips of all sizes and aerospace fighters, the WarShips in orbit opened fire with mass drivers and heavy lasers.

As the DropShip Xerxes set down on the airless moon with a lurch, red lights strobed about the 'Steed bay. An automated voice over the loudspeakers warned of depressurization. Techs gave one last quick check of their pressure suits. Starbright Shimmer, Zapp Apple Jam and Spring Ember all gave a final check on the status of the pressure seals on their war machines. Fans kicked on sucking the air out of the bay through the air vents and techs secured safety tethers to their suits.

"This is Lance Command to Runner, Lame Duck and Hothead. Confirm ready status."

"Hothead here. I'm showing all-green across the board and ready to roll."

"Lame Duck here. I'm showing all-green and ready to launch. We'll have to talk about my call-sign when I get back."

"That's a negative on call-sign change. All call-signs are determined by a random generator."

Starbright snickered at the displeasure Zapp had with his call-sign. While it was true that everypony else in the lance had gotten their call-signs from a random generator, she and Star Burst had played a little prank on Zapp by slightly tweaking the random generator to give him a funny call-sign. "This is Runner. I'm showing green across the board and ready to rock-n-roll."

Matchstick spoke over the radio. "Atmosphere in 'Steed bay showing minimum pressure. Lowering ramps in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, fiver, four, three, two, one. Magnetic seals disengaging. Hydraulic system showing green. Ramps lowering."

As the ramps lowered, the last few wisps of atmosphere rushed out into the airless void.

"Launch now!", the dragon tech shouted over the radio.

The two BattleSteeds and one alicorn-class heavy vehicle quickly moved out onto the moon.

Once they were clear, the ramps raised back up and the engines on the DropShip roared to life, lifting it into low orbit.

Starbright quickly looked around. She noted the other DropShips were quickly disgorging their BattleSteeds and vehicles before ascending to low orbit. All around the drop zone DropShips were landing or taking off in what looked like a ballet of organized chaos.

"Runner, this is ground command, call-sign Sticky Bun. Your lance will be designated Team Blue. You will be leading Team Yellow and Team Green to target destination.", came a voice over the radio.

"Affirmative, Sticky Bun.", Starbright replied. "Team Yellow, Team Green, Team Blue, switch to frequency four." She switched over to the frequency. "This is lance leader for Team Blue, call-sign Runner, accompanied by Lame Duck on the Rainbow Dash and Hothead on the MRM carrier."

"This is Black Widow, lance leader of Team Green, piloting the Star Spider. I am accompanied by Crossbones on the other Star Spider, Aurora on the Scootaloo and Jolly Sleigh on the Luna."

"This is Little Weenie on the Tirek, lance leader of Team Blue, accompanied by Slow Poke on the Wonderbolt aerospace fighter and Lost Horizon on the Long Tom carrier."

Starbright made a quick mental note of the three lances. Two assault-class BattleSteeds, three light-class BattleSteeds, a heavy-class BattleSteed an aeropsace fighter-bomber, an MRM carrier and an artillery carrier, along with her medium-class BattleSteed. Definitely a motley crew made up of merc lances. "Synch sensors, assume a standard patrol formation and keep radio chatter to a minimum."

The three light 'Steeds and one aerospace fighter-bomber moved into scouting positions, when they inevitably made contact with the enemy, their greater speed and maneuverability would serve as an extra layer of protection, and allow them to quickly disengage from the fight and move into flanking and/or harassing positions. Starbright kept her Applejack in the middle of the pack, though the forty-five ton 'Steed could lay down withering fire, in a protracted combat, it lacked heavier armor plating seen on other medium-class BattleSteeds, so it would be relegated to fire support and sniping roles, as it would get ripped apart in an brawling scenarios. Getting into the thick of the fight would be left to the one heavy-class and the two assault-class 'Steeds.

At seventy tons, the Luna, though classified as a heavy-class BattleSteed, was surprisingly quick and nimble for a 'Steed of its size. Add in that it had jump jets meant that it could easily get in to and out of fights quickly. Being essentially a disco-'Steed, armed with one l-laser and three m-lasers meant that it could pack a punch at long, medium and close ranges at the cost of building up a lot of heat. Also being armed with a single LRM/5 meant that it could poke at pesky targets that tried to stay back and force them to close ranks.

The Tirek was a mean and ugly looking one hundred ton BattleSteed. Though it moved ponderously slow, at an almost leisurely fifty-four kph meant that it couldn't rush into a group of enemies, but more wade into them, which it more than made up with heavy armor plating that could take a beating. It also carried a devastating array of weaponry, armed with a single AC/20, a single LRM/20, a single SRM/6 and four m-lasers meant that it could take on groups of enemies head-on at any range, plus a pair of rear-mounted m-lasers to defend itself in the inevitability it got outflanked.

The Rainbow Dash was, well...awesome. Though it also moved at an almost leisurely fifty-four kph, it had heavier armor and a tighter turning radius, what with it being on the lighter end of the assault-class BattleSteeds. It packed a trio of PPCs for heavy damage at long range, though their damage was diminished at short ranges, which is where the s-laser comes in for close-in defense and anti-infantry attack. The variant that Zapp piloted was a rare royal BattleSteed, originally made for the HLDF, which sported much better heat sinks, an improved sensor package and jump jets for getting into and out of fights, as well as DFA attacks.

The two vehicles were both alicorn-class heavy tanks. Spring ember was piloting a variant loaded down with several MRM launchers, meaning that at medium and short ranges, she could rain down swarms of unguided missiles onto enemies. Lost Horizon was on the Long Tom carrier, though unusual for such a heavy vehicle to be outfitted with super-heavy artillery, it wasn't entirely unheard of. Super-heavy artillery was nicknamed by many a SteedWarrior, vehicle pilot and infantrycreature grid square deleters, as you didn't have to land your shots close to your target to kill them.

"We got vehicles incoming!, Slow Poke called out over the radio.

Starbright gave a quick glance to her sensor readout. Though there wasn't a full reading at this range, her sensors were able to mark out individual targets. Two full lances of fast movers, most likely hover vehicles with machine guns and m-lasers. The three light 'Steeds and one aerospace fighter were already splitting up, hoping to draw individuals away and pick them off. "Save your heat until you have clear shots.", she called through the radio for the slower members of the three teams.

It wasn't hard to visually pick out Slow Poke at at this range from the afterburners on their aerospace fighter-bomber. The Wonderbolt nosed down for a strafing run and opened up with its lasers.

"Cooked two and winged a third. Slow Poke called out over the radio.

"Got the one you winged and fried its buddy., Black Widow called out.

"Iced one and knocked out the weapons of another.", Crossbones called out. There was a momentary crackle of static over their radio. "--oly shit! They had a PPC carrier hiding out inside of a crater powered down! My left side armor is showing heavy damage!"

Starbright pressed her 'Steed to max speed and started cresting the lip of a ridge. "Black Widow, Crossbones, Aurora, disengaged and fall back. See if you can get that carrier to follow you. Slow Poke, strafe it and break away, maybe you'll piss it off enough to give chase. I'm moving into a sniping position, hopefully I can punch a hole in its armor and convince it to bug out."

Starbright maneuvered her 'Steed atop a ridge and brought it to a stop. She could see the sensor signatures of enemy and ally units. She caught the sensor reading of the PPC carrier for a moment before it disappeared. The PPC carrier either powered down again or it backed into the crater for cover. She watched as the Wonderbolt fighter-bomber nosed down and green lines fired from the front of it.

"I scored some hits on the carrier's right side and turret. I think I scored minimal damage. Swinging back around for another strafing run."

The Wonderbolt swung around, nosed down and opened fire with its AC/2. A burst of auto-cannon shells hit the carrier.

"Scored some hits on its right side and frontal armor."

The carrier was forced to roll out of the crater lest it be subjected to death by a thousand cuts by the fighter-bomber.

Starbright began moving her Applejack in an arc. It wouldn't do well for her to remain stationary against a PPC carrier. The Super-heavy tank was just outside optimal range for her AC/2s, but she could still poke at it and maybe get it to look at her. While keeping her BattleSteed moving at max speed, she lined up her shots as best she could and unleashed a series of staggered bursts from her auto-cannons.

A split second later the Luna and Tirek unleashed a volley from their LRM launchers. Twenty-five long-range missiles arced through the black sky of Trotterdam IV, leaving faint frozen contrails in their wakes.

Slow Poke spoke over the radio, "Somepony scored a good hit on that super-heavy. I'm reading a weapon crit on one of its PPCs."

"Moving in to flank., Black Widow called out over the radio. "Crossbones, cover me."

"Roger."

As the two light BattleSteeds moved in on the PPC carrier, the super-heavy tank, it exploded, sending a quickly extinguishing rainbow-colored fireball into the airless sky of Trotterdam IV. A split second later two more rainbow fireballs followed behind the first.

"What happened?! Did somepony hit it again?"" Crossbones' voice belied their surprise.

"I think it went to fire and its weapons exploded.", Black Widow replied. "Poor bastards."

That is no way for soldier to die. Starbright pushed the thought aside. This was war and sometimes things like this happen. She maneuvered her BattleSteed into position, lined up a shot on the nearest hover tank and waited for it to move into optimal range. "Come on! Just a little closer!" She fired another stagger volley of her auto-cannons.

"Good hit, Runner! Sent that one tumbling plot over teakettle! They'll have to get the crew out of that one with a sponge.", came Slow Poke's voice over the radio.

Over the next few minutes the three lances whittled down the Free Moons' tanks, forcing the survivors to disengage and retreat.

Starbright gave her Applejack's paper doll reading a quick glance. Its left foreleg had taken a stray shot, the 'Steed's diagnostic sensors registered only light armor damage, the plates were holding and no internal damage. She quickly cycled through her sensors, getting readouts on the conditions of the other 'Steeds and vehicles. Other than Crossbone's Star Spider showing heavy damage to their right body armor, all others show minimal damage. "Slow Poke, What's the condition of your internals?"

"Minimal damage to the Endo-Steel. No damage to the Ferro-Fibrous. Reactor green. Minor damage to my number five heat sink."

Starbright scowled slightly. Internal damage was never a good sign, especially to heat sinks. "Can you continue on or do you need to disengage and fall back to your DropShip?"

"I can continue on to the next nav point, so long as they don't have any more nasty surprises waiting. I'll lay back and poke at them when the stick out their heads. Once we secure alpha target, I'll withdraw."

Starbright knew it wasn't optimal, but she decided to trust the SteedWarrior's intuition. "Alright, just don't go getting yourself shot in the plot."

"Affirmative"

***

As Yellow, Blue and Green lances formed up on a rise just out of reach of the listening post's defensive turrets, Starbright flipped the comms frequency to the public channel. "We are in the employ of the Federated Commonwealth. As per the Equus treaty, this is a standard order for you to power you turrets, vehicles and 'Steeds and surrender. You have ten seconds to comply or we will blast you off the face of this moon."

A couple seconds later a staticky reply came. "Eat a dick, Fed Rat scum!"

Starbright switched back over to the lance channel. "They have refused an offer of surrender. All targets are considered hostile. Light'em up!"

The Wonderbolt arced down and made a strafing run. Green lines shot out from its m-lasers hitting turrets. Some shut down, their power cut...a couple melted into useless slag and a half dozen exploded, their magazines cooking off as the airless void quickly snuffed the flames. The aerospace fighter-bomber continued on its run. A small rainbow-colored lifted upwards, the flames quickly consumed by the vacuum. Several lights in the buildings flickered and a couple went black, a direct hit was scored on a generator. The Wonderbolt swung around, its auto-cannons rattling off bursts silently, the solid slugs slamming into the wall, bringing sections down to make entry for the 'Steeds and vehicles.

Lost Horizon moved the artillery carrier into position in the far back. "Stand clear, fillies and colts! Deleting grid square...now!" The Long Tom lurched backwards as a single massive shell launched through the black sky.

The 'Steed and vehicle jocks held their breath, counting the seconds.

The Long Tom shell hit with a massive impact. A massive plume of dust, debris and quickly dying flames shot towards the sky of Trotterdam IV. A visible impact wave could be seen traveling along the ground for several hundred meters. Though the explosive force of the Long Tom shell was reduced by the airless void, the impact of a shell the size of a sedan made up for the reduced force. Buildings shuddered and their lights flickered. Several blinked off for several seconds then flickered back to life.

Slow Poke flew over to confirm the hit. "Holy shit! You wiped out a vehicle bay and a maintenance bay! A nearby building is partially collapsed. I can't tell if there were any generators in the vicinity."

Lost Horizon quickly moved their Long Tom carrier into the shadow of a low ridge.

The 'Steeds and vehicles moved in to the battered listening post, weapons blazing. The battle...well...shooting gallery, raged for several minutes. The listening post quickly surrendered as the majority of building went dark. They lacked the armaments to successfully fend off three lances.

Starbright transmitted to Sticky Bun that the listening post had been captured and several minutes later Dropships laden with soldiers descended.

The Xerxes landed and dropped its ramps. Starbright, Ember and Zapp drove their war machines into the bay. Once the ramps were raised, sealed and the bay re-pressurized, tech quickly went to work, removing damaged armor plates and welding new ones on, replacing depleted ammunition cassettes with full ones, and pumping the hot fluid out of the heat sinks and replacing it with fresh, cool fluid.

***

For an hour the DropShips for Green, Yellow and Blue lances lingered in low orbit as the tech did quick repair and rearming. They descended to the next drop zone and disgorged their lances.

Starbright ran a quick check. Just as she feared, Crossbones and their Star Spider was absent...too damaged to continue the fight. She spat soft curses then quickly let it go. This wasn't the first time she'd be going into battle down a BattleSteed. "Spare the metal, kill the meat.", she said softly to herself. It was a bleak motto many a SteedWarrior often recited.

Sticky Bun came over the radio. "Blue, Yellow and Green lances, hold position. A lance of the Bon-guard has requested to take over leader ship of your assault on the next target. They will be descending momentarily."

Several members of the three lances loudly complained over the radio.

"Cut the chatter." Starbright wasn't too pleased to have some foppish officer from the great houses taking command, but this was war and sometimes that meant that foppish officers who got their position because their mother or father paid to get them into said position. Sometimes foppish commanders with questionable leadership skills taking command was a truth of war. It was also a truth of war that if said foppish officer turned out to be a bad leader, they would find the BattleSteed being crippled by "accidental" friendly fire.

Over the radio came the commander of the Bon guard. "This is Sweet Bon, scion of House Bon. I am taking command of this operation. Please transmit all pertinent information of your BattleSteeds, combat vehicles and aerospace assets."

Starbright sighed and rolled her eyes as she punched buttons to send the information of her 'Steed. She knew the rest of the warriors in the lances were doing the same.

"Very good. Lance commanders, you will each take command of you own lances as you know your warriors' capabilities best, though you will all answer to me."

Starbright goggled. This wasn't some spoiled royal brat playing at command, but an experienced officer who has seen real combat.

***2000 LIGHT YEARS AWAY FOR THE EQUESTRIA SPHERE***

DropShips loaded down with highly advanced war machines docked to JumpShips. Psychotic warriors bred in gene labs for centuries were poised to strike at the Equestria Sphere. WarShips flanked the JumpShips. The ships bore the markings of totem animals.

Seven totems coiled to strike reach out to return to their ancient home they've spent four centuries in voluntary exile from.

Starbright jinked her Applejack to the left, narrowly avoiding a shot from the AC/20 on a Rockhoof. She quickly returned fire with her AC/2s, targeting the fifty ton BattleSteed's main gun. Impacts rippled across the 'Steed, carving divots out of the armor plating. This wasn't some pirate 'Steed with slapdash, half-plotted repairs, but a BattleSteed of one of the Great Houses, which meant proper repairs. Green lines shot out from the 'Steed she was dueling and an alert in her HUD informed her to the damage done to the 'Steed's right front leg. With a snarl she returned fire with her m-lasers.

As the green lines stagger fired, tracing molten lines across the Rockhoof's armor, heat warnings blared in the Applejack's cockpit. Starbright quickly hit the override button, disabling the emergency shutdown system, she'd need every last ounce of heat.

Using her BattleSteed's superior speed, she quickly changed directions and began to serpentine. AC/2s and m-lasers fired, scoring hit on the Rockhoof's armor. Starbright shot an eye to the heat gauge. Realistically she could fire two, maybe three more alpha strikes before the reactor went critical and the Applejack exploded. But that wasn't her intention.All she needed to do was keep that heavily armored medium 'Steed distracted long enough for Ember to move her MRM carrier into position and unleash Tartartus. She unleashed another alpha strike, this time targeting the 'Steed's ammo. Solid slugs carved divots and rents in the enemy 'Steed's armor as lasers carved molten lines.

Starbright lurched in her seat. The Rockhoof had drawn a bead on her and fired. The AC/20 solid slug impacted on the Applejack's left front leg at the knee joint, causing heavy internal damage. The weight of the BattleSteed caused the leg to shear off at the damaged joint and it quickly became unbalanced. Starbright reached for the ejector switch as the regolith rushed up at the window of her cockpit. Darkness.

Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Cadance, Flurry Heart and Chrysalis all stood in a white circular room. In the center of the room was a chair, sitting in the chair was a stallion, eye patch over the left eye covered the empty socket, the eye had been lost years ago. Scars crisscrossed his face and body, making it look like scrimshaw was carved in his flesh. His mane, long gone grey, was partially draped over the left side of his face, partially covering a twisted patch of burn scars. His name is Raisin Bon, former scion of House Bon.

It was rare for the five ancient alicorns and equally ancient former changeling queen to all be gathered in one place.

Chrysalis avoided looking the glowing point of lavender light in Twilight's empty socket like one would avoid looking upon the Evil Eye.

Raisin Bon maintained a stern expression on his face. He cleared his throat and sat upright. "It is for the princesses to depart from their homes on New Equus to see a former House Bon scion, former Lyra general and a convicted war former war criminal."

Twilight ran her gaze across the stallion. "Yes you are a war criminal, Raisin Bon, but only because you were part of the failed coup to remove your cousin, the thirteenth in line for the throne of House Bon, Hot Cross Bon. However we have need of you."

This made the stallion blink.

Chrysalis spoke, "Officially your execution will be carried out at a StarCom prison and displayed all across the MPG for all to see. We can't have a war criminal wandering around unpunished." She relished in his feeling of unease for a few seconds. "For all intent and purposes, Raisin Bon will be dead...but you won't be."

The stallion stiffened as a tight grimace spread on his face. "So...I take it that I'll be renamed, yes?"

"Indeed.", Luna replied.

"So what will my new name be?"

"Focht." The other four princesses and one former changeling queen all looked at Celestia. "What? I once knew a very brilliant stallion with the same name." She blew out a long, wistful sigh. "He could ride my plot like nopony's business."

"Hey there, my ponies and not-ponies! It's me, the greatest actor in all of the Equestria Sphere! Dunked Doughnut!"

"After a lengthy legal battle in the Zebra Magistracy that may or may not have involved the discharge of a pistol that may or may not have almost mortally wounded the third in line prince."

*off-screen whispering*

"What? It's not like he was mortally wounded, just almost. He's still third in line and he has a fancy new nickname, Wheels!"

*off-screen whispering*

"I've just been informed that if I want my payment of a DropShip of liquor, a dump truck of blow and seven gaggles of prostitutes, I must inform you all of where I'll be performing and do a commercial for the planet my sponsors are on.

*test pattern*

"Come see me, classically trained actor, Dunked Doughnut!"

*off-screen whispering*

"Yes I am classically trained."

*off-screen whispering*

"No, I didn't go to some namby-pamby acting school."

*off-screen whispering*

"I am classically trained."

*off-screen whispering*

"I beat a Shakehoofian acting coach repeatedly with a lead pipe until he agreed to declare me a classically trained actor."

*off-screen whispering*

"Yes it does count."

*off-screen whispering*

"Look here, junior. Lead pipe degree is a legitimate degree. Just ask my secretary, pistol."

*gunshot*

*test pattern*

Come see me, classically trained actor, Dunked Doughnut! I will be performing on stage five nights a week on Solaris. At least until I've drank, snorted and impregnated all of my pay!"

"Solaris! Come see the great attractions. The Murderthos, where ponies and not-ponies piloting multi-ton murder machines will kill each other for your pleasure!"

"Solaris! We promise that our hookers have fifteen percent less STDs!"

"Solaris! The only place in the entire Equestria Sphere where they are willing to pay classically trained actor, me, with a DropShip of liquor, a dump truck of blow and gaggles of whores!"

"Solaris! Fun for the entire family! Now with an eight percent less chances of getting waylaid by a goon squad and waking up as an indentured servant!"

"Now where's my liquor, blow and whores?"

Starbright groaned as she woke up. Her head throbbed and spun. A light was shining in her eye and she feebly swatted at it with a hoof.

"Take it easy, Starbright."

That voice. She knew it. Who did it belong to?

"You suffered a nasty concussion, broke both of your hind legs and fractured your pelvis."

That voice belonged to Wrecks. Starlight blinked her eyes trying to clear her blurry vision. She went to sit up, but a pressure on her chest held her down.

"Easy now. Just take it slow. You've been unconscious for a day-and-a-half."

"Wha happen?"

"When your 'Steed got legged, it fell over. If you hadn't been strapped to your seat, we would've had to get you out of the cockpit with a hose."

"'Steed legged? Dun 'member?"

"Some memory loss is to be expected with how bad of a concussion you've got. Your memory will return as you heal up."

Starbright saw a blurry form in front of her face.

"Can you tell me how many digits do you see?"

Starbright squinted her eyes. "Uuuuuuuuuuh...thfreee?"

Wrecks let out a hum. "How do you feel?"

"Ev'r'th'n hurts."

"That's to be expected. I'll give you something for pain. Just try to get some rest, okay?"

"'Kay." Starbright felt a pinch in her foreleg. A few minutes later the pain she was feeling began to fade and she started to feel sleepy. "Ahhh."

***

Star Burst grimaced at the medical report that Wrecks handed him.

"She's going to be in the medical bay for eight to twelve weeks and then another two to three week building her strength back up. Honestly, it's a miracle that she survived. She's tougher than a whiny white unicorn.", Wrecks said.

"SteedWarriors are a special breed. I once saw one survive an AC/20 round that hit the cockpit. Don't get me wrong, he was seventeen kinds of messed up. Wound up losing all four legs, but with cybernetics, he was able to walk again and get right back into the cockpit."

Wrecks shrugged. "Well regardless, she's off the duty roster until she heals up and then will only be on light duty until she gets her strength back. Tough or not, she's lucky that the fall didn't breach the cockpit. Then we'd be having a different conversation."

Star Burst nodded. "Injured or not, I know how 'Steed jocks think. She's going to do everything to get back in the cockpit ASAP. They're crazy like that. Just don't do anything too extreme, like putting her in a straight jacket and lashing her to med bed."

Author's Note

Next chapter complete. Been a minute, eh?

I hope you all read and enjoy!