Onto Old Glory: An Imperial Timeline

6th of January, 1007 ALB (1962 AD)

07:00 Hours

New Mareland, Sunset

The Lodge

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth and his wife were both resting in the Lodge’s bedroom. The sun had just begun to show its’ golden hues and risen across the snow-laden space. The bedroom was filled with pictures of their days in Canterlot, and Jet Set shaking hooves with Princess Celestia herself when he was chosen to lead Equestria’s dominion on Griffonia.

A ringing of the phone on the table next to the bed would interrupt the blissful sleep the couple were having.

Jet Set sighed a groan, before he opened his eyes. The blurry sight was all he saw, but he could make enough to see the telephone’s hoofset vibrating. He sighed, levitating his glasses and putting them on his nose, before looking at the clock on the wall. It was 7 in the morning. Who could have called at this hour?

Jet hears his wife murmuring and shuffling around, so he immediately ignites his horn to secure the hoofset in his magical grasp, levitating it to his ear. “What is it that you couldn’t tell me at the office?” he asks tiredly in a whispered-tone.

“Apologies, Governer-General, but there’s been a situation.” responded the voice on the other side that spoke in a nervous tone.

‘If this ‘situation’ is another bloody quarrel between the UEP, so Celestia help me, I’ll-!” he begins, getting more furiously tired by the second. What the voice on the other side says next stops him in his tracks.
“We have made contact with two alien civilizations.”

Jet Set blinked, his left-ear twiching as if to question if he heard that correctly. “..what?” was all he could blurted out. Jet Set had many questions in his head, only one came out: “When?”

The voice on the other side gave some form of explanation. “A few hours ago, sir, there have been reports of mysterious domes of light appearing out of nowhere on the islands. They appear advanced, sir. “

“Advanced?” asked Jet Set nervously, no longer caring about the volume of his voice.

“Yes, sir. The aliens have identified themselves as mankind, among other names. One of the respective governments has already sent telegrams wishing for diplomatic discussions. “ continued the other voice. “We are waiting for your orders, sir.”

My orders? Jet Set stared at the wall for a few minutes as his brain proccessed what was just thrown into his ears. The matter of an alien civilization was something out of science fiction books he occasionally read in his spare time. As expected, his brain couldn’t believe this and neither did he. He was prepared to dismiss it as falacy, some bad, albiet seriously-planned out, joke and go back to bed, but the urgency in the voice said otherwise.

He sighed, moving a hoof to rub his eyeballs, and his fatigue, away before saying. “I’m coming to the office, I want an emergency meeting with the cabinet members to be ready when I arrive. Also, who else have you told about this?”

“Nobody else, sir.”

“Good, keep it that way. I, especially, want Royal Pin to be there. Drag him out of his bed if you have to, I want my foreign minister there!” and with that, he slammed the hoofset onto the telephone and got out of bed, trotting fast to the wardrobe, his horn already illuminated to open it as he began to look into it.

Upper Crust, his wife, groaned awake as she couldn’t sleep with all the noise. She pushed a strand of hair away, before leaning against the bedside. “What’s the matter, dear?” she asks.

“I’m busy at the moment, Upper.” Jet says as he begins to dress himself in his usual green outfit before putting on a coat. “I’ll tell you all about it later, but for now, I have to go.” Jet assured, grabbing a comb and combing his dark hair while trotting.

“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?” Upper Crust asked, leaning her head to the side to see where he was going. Jet Set was already trotting towards the entryway, as he shouted from down the hallway. “I’ll eat something from the Parliament House!”

The door was shut closed, as Upper Crust sighed. She looked around the empty bedroom before she got up, trotting to the window and opening the blinders.

She hoped her husband would have another good day at work.

07:30 Hours

Imperial Britain, London

Buckingham Palace, Residental Wing

A Household servant walked down the hallway, passing the many magestic paintings that hung within Buckingham Palace. But the servant had already walked down that hallway many times, either for cleaning purposes or for moving tea trays for Her Majesty. His footsteps were fast and controlled, making sure not to pull onto the perfectly placed rug. He pulled out a watch, looking at the time. He placed it back in his pocket, before taking a right. The servant walked with one goal in mind: to wake up the Prince of Wales and escort him to Her Majesty.

The servant stopped infront of the door, straightening his uniform before putting his hands on the handles and pushing the doors open.
“Rise and shine, your highness.” the man says as he walks inside, looking at the still-sleeping Edward, who was wearing a suit, his face straight onto halfway of the bed. The Prince of Wales had thrown himself in bed ever since he had arrived from Philadelphia before Operation Glorious Showdown. Edward groaned as he pushed himself up, turning around before he moved a hand down his face.

“What is it..?” he mutters as he blinks his eyes, trying to push his sleepyness away. He takes a breath, before he cracks his neck side to side. The cybernetics he had ordered onto him were doing their job well. Edward had tried to sleep away another loss within the House of Hanover, the death of Prince Albert Victor. He had died due to nuclear radiation, copious amounts that killed any man in minutes.

“Her Majesty has summoned you to discuss matters with your highness.” the servant uttered. “She has also given me permission to drag your highness out of bed, should it be necessary.”

“Yes, yes, I’m moving!” Edward said loudly, moving out of bed slowly. He gets up, as he looks at the flip phone’s screen, checking the time, before closing it and sliding it into his pocket. “Lead on then.” He says as he unbuckles his suit, showing the white shirt as he follows the servant.

The singular sentence that wondered within his head. What does grandmother desire with me?

07:40 Hours
Audience Room

“What?” was all that Edward could blurt out.

Victoria raised an eyebrow at her great-great-grandson. “Did you not understand what I said?”

“Y-Yes, I did. “ Edward inhaled, keeping his eyes on his rotting grandmother. “You want me to represent Britain and the United Commonwealth whenever the...” he looked at the file he was holding. “..talking ponies desire to have diplomatic discussions with us?”

“Indeed.” Victoria uttered immediately as soon as Edward finished talking. She raised a palm to quiet him from talking further. “Edward, you are no longer a prince playboy number-two as you spent your days with Albert in America when he was governor-general and you an advisor. You are now the Prince of Wales, number one in the eyes of the Crown.” she spoke slowly and deliberate. “And I know of your decision to have yourself implanted with cybernetic enhacements a decade ago, seeing of your smoking capabilities..” she stoped, as she looked at the carpet down, crossing her hands as she seemed tired, almost defeated. “..and there’s another matter.”

“What other matter?” Edward asked, taking clear notice of the sudden weakness that the Queen is displaying. Edward began to get increasingly nervous as he heard the tiredness within Victoria’s voice.

“Regarding my body.” she began.

“W-What about your body?”

“Edward, before I tell you, you ought not to inform a single soul outside this room about this..” she inhaled as she looked at Edward, straight in the eye. “My body is failing.”

The air in the room immediately felt cold. A heavy silence that wooshed into the room like a barging tank. The only sound in the room was the sound of the clock’s arms ticking away the seconds. Rather slowly, indeed. But, it was Edward who did not understand at all. Victoria’s body was supposed to be the embodiment of imperial technological might, she had lived up to the age of 160 and had the longest regin of any monarch in human history. In fact, she was awarded the world record of 100 years upon a throne. The mere fact of death coming for her was improbable to any man or woman in all of humanity.

“B-But, what about the EIEC’s offers?” Edward began to rapidly talk. “The newer enhancements they offered you? Ones that would have replaced the old with newer parts? The ones I saw on your desk, what about them?”

“I have been offered true immortality, yes.” Victoria admited. “Truth be told, I denied all of the offers.”

“Why?”

“Do you know the curse of Servianus? The curse he had placed upon Emperor Hadrian?” she muttered. “I have seen my children die, one by one, while only I remain. Sometimes, against my wishes but onto pressure, have I been forced to get check-ups. You are my great-great-grandchild, Edward. Have you ever seen any parent who had outlived all of her children and grandchildren?” she asked. “The radiation was the final blow. The cybernetics are failing by corrosion. I will live for another decade at worst but the doctors and engineers have said that in one of these days, worsening further after 5 years, I shall close my eyes and fall onto an eternal sleep. Lord knows I kept Him waiting for far too long. But, right now, I have one final duty before I can die without regret. That duty is to ensure you become fit to bear the Crown and not be crushed by it. “ she inhaled slowly. “The Crown has become heavier than anyone could possibly imagine. The one that bears it no longer is human, but a strange perculiar creature. “ she exhales. “Nevertheless, this house has been both blessed and cursed to wear the Imperial State Crown and upon my death, you will be the one to wear it. Even as my children, and my grandchildren both have die off, the laws of succession have not changed. “

Edward blinked at the monolouge that Victoria gave. He was speechless, a loss of words. “Grandmother..” he began but his tounge was cut out. He didn’t know what or how to answer.

“Edward, my dear boy. I have no intention of leaving you unprepared. It is why I have discussed with the physician for daily check-ups and treatments. I do not want to leave this monster that is the Crown onto you and let it devour you whole. When the time comes, the Crown shall test you and it will be up to you if you allow the Crown to control you...” she trails off, licking her lips before she inhales and exhales slowly. “..or for you to control the Crown.” she utters, as she claps her hands before getting up swiftly. “Which is why I have decided this is a good opportunity for you to begin your training.”

Training? What bloody training?!

Victoria saw Edward’s face and opened her mouth again. “I understand that this is rather out of the blue, however this shouldn’t have been completely unexpected.” She said as she turned her head, walking towards the window and watching the Grenadier Guard doing another march. “After all, as the saying goes: ‘nothing lasts forever’ and neither should you have expected that I would have been the monarch of this empire until the end of time. “

“But the people adore you, don’t they? There are some people who are considering you a goddess! “

“Indeed they do, Edward, however, I am tired..” she says as she crosses her arm. “...of living.” She sighs. “Not to worry, I do intend of living a little further to explore this brave new world. “ she says as she turns her head to Edward, showing a smile. Victoria let her arms lose as she walked over to a drawer, pulling it open before she grabbed a pack of cigarettes. She opened the pack, grabbed one out and placed it on her lips. She grabs a lighter, lit it up and moved the flame at the front of the cigarette before closing the lighter. Victoria inhaled, and exhaled a puff of smoke, the cigarette in between her fingers. “Of course, you’ll get to see sides of me that I only show to an heir. Sides that are strictly guarded and considered words of treason outside the room. “ She chuckles, watching Edward’s face. “George had that face as well.”

Edward stared at this alien figure infront of him. This was not the perfect, indifferent and stone-faced figure he had known for so long of his life. This figure, this female creature, was a broken woman who longed for the embrace of death. Dare he say, a sad, pathetic figure. This figure who had witnessed the death of her offsprings, her children’s children. None could ever have felt the despair that Her Majesty felt through the years, an endless figure who had witnessed blood shed in three Great Wars, blood shed in rebellion and treason and of course, blood in the House. Lord knows how much she cried when Germany fell in 1939 and the Hamburg Evacuation occured. Not to mention the Defense of the Home Islands, which was successful yes but at great cost pushing the French when they neared London.

He watched as she took another puff, before she tapped on it. Edward was snapped out of his thoughts by a singular word out of the mouth of his great-great grandmother. “Well?”

Edward looked at her for one final time, before he got up on his feet, bowed his head and said: “I accept this privilege..” he inhaled and exhaled.

“..and burden.”

08:25 Hours

New Mareland, Sunset

Parliament House, Executive Wing

Cabinet Room

Jet Set levitated his glasses off, rubbing a hoof against them before he placed them on again, staring at the pictures taken of the aliens’ cities from the distance, and their soldiers.

“And you are telling me, Royal, that these..” he stopped as he levitated the diplomatic letter to his face. “..humans, as they call themselves, have made contact with our telegraphs?”

Royal Pin’s yellow-eyes looked at the Governor-General as he nodded. “Indeed, Governor-General. The country that have been pressing the Foreign Ministry has gone under the identity of..” he levitates the paper. “..the United Kingdom of Imperial Britain and Ireland. They have also insisted on speaking for a dominion of theirs, which identifies with the city to the island to our west, the United Commonwealth of America. “ he extended the letter to Jet, who in turn levitated the letter to him.

“ ‘With the blessings of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria...’ “ he mubbled through the letter, before he folded it and placed it down. “They wish to send a royalty, and the appearnt Governor-General of this ‘America’. A prince of something called ‘Wales’.” Jet Set said, before he looked at the cabinet. “So then..” he popped his lips, connecting his hooves together. “..what are our options?”

Neon Lights, the Internal Minister, raised a hoof. “We could accept the request and see what they have to say. “

Sour Sweet, the Defense Minister, chuckled as she leaned back. “Or we could militarize and crush them! I mean, they have technology that is just ripe for the taking if the reports have anything to say about it. They told us they are in desperate need of food, and are tramutized by some war they fought. These talking apes would be welcoming us!”

“N-Now, let’s not consider military options just yet! They haven’t provoked us and we don’t know the full capabilities of their strenght. For all we know, we could be walking into a trap.” said Neon Lights

“Oh come on, my reports indicate that these people look demoralized. If anything, it will be an easy victory of simply marching in with food and they shall lay down their arms.” insisted Sourt Sweet.

Jet Set frowned. “I would prefer, in the interests of Harmony, that we choose a diplomatic approch. “ he says as he lays stern eyes on Sour Sweet. “When can we have the prince they are sending us?”

“We can announce to the public that contact has happened, diplomatic discussions with their government will occur and we can begin tomorrow morning for their prince to arrive in Sunset, and have discussions with the cabinet. Then..” Royal Pin exhaled a fresh boust of air.”...we shall see how it goes.”

“And if it doesn’t go smoothly?” asked Sour Sweet, raising a cheeky grin and an eyebrow.

“You get free hooves over this situation.” Jet Set says, still staring at her.

~~You would lose.~~

7th of January, 1007 ALB (1962 AD)

06:55 Hours

New Mareland, Sunset

Sunset Military Airfield

The only occasions when there were many people crowding any station of transport was when a princess arrived in New Mareland for a visit. However, ever since the government had announced that contact had been established with aliens and that they were arriving in Sunset for diplomatic discussions, nopony could miss the chance to see a new species, especially not after it was discovered that there were also aliens on Equus with similar characteristics. And most assuringly, the news outlets would not miss up the opportunity to take pictures of them.

It was so bad that the National Guard had to be called to contain the crowd that was forming. Luckly, Jet Set and his cabinet arrived at the airfield when the crowd was small, but there were newsponies who camped the night there just so they could get in first to set up their equipment.

However, all it took was one hoof to point out 5 planes in the skies, one of them having a different design than the rest but all of them definetly looked advanced. They flew in perfect box formation, the 4 planes at equal distance to surround the bigger plane, which is where Jet Set assumed was the prince sent to them. But the crowd began to enter into a frenzy, and the pictures were beginning to be taken. The flashes were utterly blinding. One thing that was noticeable was the fact that they had no aircraft propellers on them. One couldn’t help but wonder how did they get those massive planes moving?

The bigger plane landed first, before it was followed by the other 4 sleeker planes. The bigger plane had a flag painted onto its’ tail, which Jet rightfully assumed was their national flag. After 5 minutes of waiting, and the planes taxing to rather comfortable distance (despite how loud they were and the wind that blew in their faces), two ground crew ponies pushed the biggest staircase they could find because the height of that thing was nearly similar to an airship.

The door slid open, as a pale-ivory colored minotaur-like being, that they identified themselves as human, came out first. His outfit was rather simplistic. A coat. Jet Set couldn’t help but blink at that, as he had expected something more extravagant out of them. To each their own, I suppose. he thought as he watched several other people dressed in black suits trailing the prince. The prince then walked down the red carpet set up, before he slowed them, waved at the crowd for a few moments, before he turned his head to the cabinet members, more specifically at Jet Set.

This is where Jet Set noticed something odd on the prince’s face. A touch of metalic finess was onto him. The eyes also didn’t appear quite right. It wasn’t that they didn’t move correctly, it was the fact that one of them appeared less flesh and more false. Jet Set thought it was simply the sun and the shade.

“Good morning, your highness.” Jet Set said as he bowed his head slightly, before looking up. “Uh- I welcome you to Sunset!” he said as he didn’t know how british customs functioned. Jet Set nervously extended his hoof. “I look forward to having discussions with you regarding your nation.”

What grasped his hoof wasn’t flesh. Jet Set felt plastic. “As do I.” answered the human prince, a smile plastered upon his face. Jet Set grined nervously, gulping as he looked into the eyes of the Prince, who moved along to other members of his cabinet.

Sweet Celestia, what am I dealing with here?