The ponies spilled out first. Comprised of hard metal, even with their deceptively fuzzy appearances, they were the least likely to be immediately injured in the case of surprises. A few stood guard while the rest examined the area around the ship, watching carefully for any possible threat.

Sunset shuddered a little as she stepped out. "It all looks so, hm, normal?" She waved at the oddly colored plants. If one ignored that color, it was a world, like many others.

Susan brought up the rear, rifle at the ready. She spared a moment to glance at the scenery. "It looks like any other planet we've been to." She swung the rifle left and right. "I'm more worried about the fauna than the flora, you know?"

Casey didn't go past the top of the ramp leading to the ground. "Good luck out there!" She waved at them all. "I'll go over what we can detect from down here and send on the interesting bits to the ship."

Sunset waved back with a smile. "Thank you!" She turned to face Susan. "Ready?"

Susan paused. "Actually, let me grab some more help." She set her rifle aside and tapped her comm. "Rainbow? You read me?"

Rainbow landed next to Susan with a thump of her weight. "Right here. You should know, I see some big things headed this way. Like if a Rhino had too many horns on too many parts of its body."

Sunset clapped her hands together. "Alright! We got trouble." She raised her hands above her head. "Quick! Deploy defensive measures!" Her command was met with silence.

Comprised of metal or not, most of the ponies didn't actually have much combat training. The humans were rushing for cover and drawing out weapons.

Sunset grunted at her 'fellow' ponies. "Move it! You're the first in line. You didn't slip into those robot shells to stand there and do nothing, did you? You have to protect the crew! That's why you're here!"

One of the robots stepped up, waving a hoof at Sunset. "Alright, just relax! We got this." He held his hooves out, twin machine guns appearing in them.

Sunset cocked a brow. "Holographic weapons won't do much to them."

The pony robot sagged. "Oh." The holographic guns vanished. "That would have been pretty cool. Admit it."

Susan pointed out from behind her cover of a tree. "Here they come! Everyone, take your shots when you get them!"

Rarity held up a hoof. "There is no need to shoot! I have an idea." She walked forward towards the approaching creatures. "Excuse me!"

The angered beasts thundered across the ground towards the proper unicorn, uncaring of her words.

Rarity stopped in place and put her hooves on her hips. "Halt! Stand down at once!"

The creatures rumbled forward, ignoring her still.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Oh, very well. We have to do this the hard way." She thrust out a hoof against the first to reach her and used the momentum to propel herself upwards and over it. Even as she swung, her hoof jolted brightly with electricity. The beast careened wildly into another, the two crashing to the ground. "It appears being nice is off the table."

The next creature opened its mouth wide. The maw suddenly split open further, revealing many rows of teeth that continued in an unholy rictus of predation. It lunged at Rarity, only to find her no longer there. She backhanded it with a fresh splash of energy. The beast, unaccustomed to prey or fellow predators with electrical attacks, fell to the ground, twitching.

Susan leapt up from her cover and slammed her rifle into another creature's head. Her attacker didn't even seem to notice, except to turn towards her. She jerked her weapon around, muzzle up, and let loose with rapid bursts of ionizing radiation. It screeched in pain as the intense bursts seared at its flesh, retreating with heavy limps. "It worked!" She shouted with glances at her fellow crew.

Unfortunately for them, only security was allowed to casually pick up a rifle. They had far more crude bludgeoning devices. Sunset dashed forward, past Susan, towards one of the beasts. "Leave my friends alone!" She slammed her fist forward, but it had the weight of the true metal rather than the frail flesh she appeared to have. There was a sound like steel against stone, as her metal hand found purchase against the thick scales of the creature.

The beast swung its head towards her.

Sunset brought her other arm up, now glowing bright with fire. She landed a sharp uppercut against its chin even as it began to open its terrible mouth. The thing reared back with a shriek, pulling away from the fiery assault. It stumbled away, screeching in pain and anger.

Sunset shook her head and looked over at Susan. "I'm on the case, keep spraying them!"

It became a wild brawl, ponies, humans, and beast all jostling each other as they did battle. Blows were exchanged. Blood and plasma flew through the air. By the time it was over, when peace returned to the clearing, the crew was left winded and injured in some cases. One member was slumped against the shuttle, clutching at his arm, an injury suffered early in the fight. He was breathing hard. The other humans, even the pony robots, gathered around him.

Casey came rushing out from the shuttle, med kit in hand. "I'm not a doctor." She slapped down the kit next to the injured man. "But we have some automatic options in here, so let me press a few buttons. You'll be fine."

Sunset pushed her way through the small crowd. "Can I help?"

Casey glanced over at Sunset and shook her head. "Negative, there's nothing you can do. Unless you have medical training?"

Sunset thought back to the medical books she'd read out of pure boredom. "Um, not practiced, but, in theory?"

Casey pressed a button on the med kit. "You stay where you are, thanks." The machine blinked and unfolded, working diligently on the injured man without further prompting. "Unless we're out of auto patches or the injury's past what that little kit can handle, I'm not authorizing that risk. Susan, arguments? You are the leader of this expedition."

Susan grit her teeth. "Yeah, good call. I have no idea what those things had on them. What if one of us is allergic to its blood? No thanks." She stood up. "Everyone else, you okay? Humans and ponies both. Don't be brave about it. Even little bruises and scrapes."

The human crew quickly reported themselves as healthy. Rarity huffed gently. "I personally am perfectly fine." She flapped a hoof at the humans. "But don't just assume because I'm made of metal that I'm immune to all injuries."

This was rapidly proven as other ponies showed up with bumps and battered parts. Rainbow landed next to Rarity. "I keep forgetting you know how to throw down some hooves when you want to. That was awesome!"

Rarity blinked at Rainbow. "Thank you? I suppose it was quite exciting, though perhaps it would be better without those horrible beasts."

Sunset slipped up beside Rarity. "Everyone has to stay in shape somehow." She nudged the unicorn with a grin. "And without those horrible beasts, you wouldn't have had a reason to show off your moves. Nice stuff. I thought you just did fashion stuff."

"Just?!" Rarity glared at Sunset. "Why, really! Darling, fashion is dreadfully important. How—" She followed after Sunset, loudly explaining the importance of self-expression, especially in space.

Rainbow looked at Susan and shrugged. "Think we should get going? That's kind of what we're here for, right?"

Susan nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's right." She checked her rifle, ejecting the empty clip and slotting a fresh one in place. "We're here to find ponies, or at least what's left of them. Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of artificial anything. Sharp angles are the usual hint, but don't be fooled."

They fanned out, in groups of two to three each. The humans were the ones with more specific instructions, looking for things like a disturbance in the soil from being dug up. For the ponies, they just kept their eyes peeled, searching with more casual intent.

It was a human that noticed something first, a lump in the ground. She prodded at it with her universal tool extended out into almost a shovel. After some prying, she unearthed a portion of metal. "Found something!" She beckoned the others over as she carefully worked on the exposed bit of whatever it was.

Sunset rushed over to stand next to Susan, both watching as a set of metal doors came into view. It was like someone's storm shelter had somehow become entirely buried in the dirt. "Looks like this was covered up. Think we should get Casey over here?"

Susan rubbed at her chin in thought. "Almost. Let's make sure this is safe before we go calling anyone over." She walked up to the doors and pressed her hand against them. They felt smooth and cool, as she expected from metal. "Alright, no heat coming from past, that's good." She saw what looked like a round indentation right where she'd hope for a handle. "Hm."

Rainbow pushed past Susan. "That's for a pony. Let me handle it." She winked at the human before turning to press her hoof into the indentation. There was a light sound of rushing air, the first sign of anything electronic, then the doors swung open with a faint whoosh. Rainbow leapt back, giving a slight yelp of surprise. "Be ready!" She reared up onto two legs, punching at the air.

Susan flicked the light at the end of her rifle on, shining it into the tunnel that came into view behind the open doors. "Jackpot. Now we call in Casey." She pressed at her comm. "Casey, come in. We've found what looks like a facility here."

Casey was busy tending to the injured human, but she heard her comm go off. She reached up and tapped at it. "A facility? I'll be over the second I'm done with this. He's almost ready to go back in the shuttle and not move for a while." He glared at the injured man. "You hear that? You did enough. You're off-duty until medical staff gives you the all clear, got it?"

He groaned, but gave a weak nod of agreement.

Casey patted the injured man. "Seriously though, good job not dying. That sounded like there was a little war going on out here. Now, I have to do my own job." She folded up the idle medkit and tucked it away before starting at a jog. "On the way."

Sunset pressed a hand against her stomach with a laugh. "Don't make me laugh! There won't be ghosts in there. Ghosts aren't even real!" She threw a hand. "What do you think this is, Equestria High?" The others looked at her with confusion. "Never mind. I'll go first if you're scared."

Rarity sighed gently. "Just try not to get yourself killed, dear." She put a hoof to her chin. "I'm still hopeful we run into some, still living, ponies in there."

Sunset skipped towards the door. "Coming along, Susan?" She vanished into the dark tunnel.

Susan sighed at that. "Of course she'd be the one to go running in." She hurried after Sunset, shining her light as she went. "Don't run off!"

The ground underfoot was made of flat metal. It was flat enough to be a little slippery under hoof or environmental suit's boot. Susan extended a hand to keep herself steady against the wall. "Whoever made this as not thinking about actually living in it."

"They didn't." Sunset skipped along, though she also had a hand at the wall. "This is for emergencies. Ponies don't like small spaces."

Author's Note

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