"An army is nothing without its leader, sure it can still fight the enemy, but who will tell it to retreat?"
-Colonel Stardust 20173
The New Astorian Shipyards, the pride of the Engineering Corps. These Shipyards were able to service the entire fleet in just two months. The Frigate Shipyards alone were able to maintain the needs of the TEC's new Kodiak Heavy Cruisers. Which needed specialized construction bots and workers that only New Astoria could supply.
Every Three months the TEC fleets stationed in the Abacai sector go through rotations over who is at the Shipyards. For this rotation the Expansion Fleet is scheduled for maintenance and upgrades. The next three months would also give the crews some much needed rest and relaxation.
On Board the Excalibur
Stardate: 20200
The First Officer had taken over for the Admiral so she could get some well needed rest. But he would have to wake her as they were approaching the Astorian Capital Shipyard. He walked over to the Comm station and established a link to the Admirals room.
Twilight heard the Comm system in her room come to life with her first officers voice.
"Admiral Sparkle we are nearing the New Astorian Shipyards, and we should be in dock in about 3 hours."
The Comm died as he waiter her response.
She reached over and fumbled around for her Comm pad. She managed to find it and opened a link to the bridge.
"Thank you First Officer Event Horizon, I will be on the Bridge in exactly two hours." She closed the link and rolled over in
her bed.
She had two hours to get ready and get to the bridge. She rolled around some more before finally deciding to get up.
"Ugh mornings on a Capital Ship!" She stumbled to her refresher and walked to the shower. She got inside and braced her body for a rude awakening. "Shower on, Heat 75° Eques."
The shower came to life instantly, raining down the hot recycled water. it felt as good as any water that warships would carry.
She finished her shower and grabbed the towel to dry off. She checked her time display on the wall. She had an hour and about thirty minutes left.
She walked back into her main room and opened her closet. The light came on and illuminated the recommended uniform for today. She grabbed it and exited the closet.
A few minutes later she was dressed and was as always checking for any stains. Unlike her white ceremonial uniform, this one was the standard TEC blue with gold.
She checked the time once more. She had an hour left. Just enough time for some food in the Cafeteria.
She walked out of her quarters on the officers deck. The corridor had a little hoof traffic from the shift change that was ending.
Twilight was greeted by the weary and sleep deprived "Night Shift". They had been on duty for the past 26 hours, somepony had to keep the ship working, even in phase space.
Twilight walked to the end of the corridor and got into the turbolift. "Officer's Cafeteria". The lift closed and rocketed off towards the Cafeteria.
It only took about 5 minutes until the lift reached its destination. The doors slid open and the smells of a freshly cooking breakfast filled her nostrils.
Twilight stepped out of the lift and it promptly closed behind her. She looked around and saw there was already a line of officers waiting for breakfast.
She joined them at the back of the line. The first pony to notice her was the Chief of Engineering Rusted Intentions. He turned and shouted to her over the noise of the line. "Good morning Admiral Sparkle, looks like you slept well!"
She gave him a warm smile. "Good Morning chief, and yes I did sleep well thanks to those new beds."
The Chef and his staff came out with the freshly prepared food. "Grubs ready, now everypony dig in!" That boisterous old chef Southern Comfort knew how to make everyone happy.
The line of officers grabbed as much as they could carry before they rushed to their tables. When Twilight went through, Southern Comfort walked up to her and produced a bowl of Strawberry and Blueberry yogurt with a Cinnamon roll on the side.
"Here Admiral I made this here dish special for you." She took the tray and thanked him. She had no idea how long he had to save these for her, but she knew they weren't easy to come by out in space.
She left the line to look for a private little spot to sit, but she would have no luck today. All of her spots were taken by the feasting mob.
She heard a voice calling her name, she looked around for its source. She saw Rusted Intentions and four of his engineering buddies waving her over.
She walked to their table, which was covered in food and assorted technical layouts.
They cleared a spot in their mess for her to sit and eat. She sat in between Rusted and another pony.
"Admiral these are my fellow engineers" He pointed to the one next to her. "This is Lieutenant Haywire he is in charge of the weapons power supply."
Haywire had a very messy brown coat and black mane. His cutie mark was slightly obscured but she could barely make a pair of crossed wires.
He shook her hoof. "Its nice to meet you Admiral."
Rusted then pointed to another pony of the same color scheme but his coat and mane were sticking out like he had been struck by lightning. "This is his brother Fritz, he is the one who makes sure our weapons are operating during a battle."
Fritz extended his hoof to hers. there was a small electrical discharge, Twilight winced a little. "I am sorry about that it happens a lot when you work with a bunch of power lines."
"That's quite alright as long as those weapons are in good shape." She pulled her hoof back and accidently hit the grey coated mare across from her's muffin. "Oh I am sorry I mean to do that." The mare looked up and Twilight knew instantly who's muffin it was.
"Muffin..." The Blond haired mare looked at the muffin as if it would tell her it was alright.
"Midshipmen Derpy I meant no offense to your muffin." Derpy looked at her with those wall eyes and a smile.
"Hi my name is Derpy and I am the mail pony for the excalibur!" She reached over and shook Twilight's hoof.
Twilight was about to respond but the ships comm system came on. "ALL CREW TO THEIR STATIONS THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!" She recognized the voice as Event Horizon's.
The Admiral got up first "You heard him everypony get to your stations!" Twilight raced to the nearest lift. She reached it and opened it, she was joined by a couple of her bridge crew. The Comm system blared its message over and over for the next few minutes.
"Bridge on the double!" She shouted to the lift, it went as fast as it could without breaking regulation. The ride took less than seven minutes before they reached the bridge.
Twilight ran out of the lift and began looking for Event Horizon. The nearest crewman to her snapped to attention. "OFFICER ON DECK!" The entire bridge went silent as everypony saluted Twilight. She returned the salute as she walked to her chair.
"Whats the situation Comm!" The Comm officer was scrambling to get his station in order. "Admiral we have reports that New Astoria is under attack from an unknown group of ships! Wait....Hold on I am getting a signal." Twilight sat up trying to see his face as he received the message. "Put it on the Speakers Comm!" He reached over and switched the systems.
"This is Captain Bulwark of the TEC we are under attack from an unknown enemy we need help! Our defenses are fail....."
The Comm officer looked at Twilight. "The signal is gone Admiral..... he's gone." She looked to her helm officer.
"Helm all power to the engines we need to reach those shipyards before its too late!"
The Helm officer pushed some commands into his console. There was a noticeable lurch as the ships engines were pushed to their edge.
Twilight's mind was racing trying to figure out what to do next, she suddenly realized that her frigates would be able to reach the ship faster than her bulky Capital ship.
"Comm order the Cobalt Light Frigates to intercept those enemy ships at once!" The officer was back in his seat sending out orders to the fleet. "Ma'am I have gotten another message from New Astoria its from the planet this time."
He put the message through the bridge speakers. "Abacai Fleet we need immediate assistance we are under attack from what has been described as a Akkan Battlecruiser!"
Twilight was shocked by this. "Traitors in the Order, but who?" She wouldn't get that answer. Her second officer approached her with a message from the fleet. He read it for her.
He was about to read out the message when several explosions rocked the ship. "Status Report!" The crew was scrambling for their stations as another round of explosions hit them.
The Sensor Officer Lightning Blitz got his report out first. "Ma'am we have Three Squadrons of what I think are bombers attacking us!"
She gave him a look of confusion. "What do you mean? Are they bombers or not?"
Lightning looked at his readings and back at her. "I couldn't tell you, I have never seen these types of ships before!"
He typed in some more commands in his console. "Wait their retreating!"
Twilight jumped out of her seat and walked to the front view port of the bridge. The Unknown ships streaked by as they went back to their host ship. "Navigation! How long until we will be in visual range of the Akkan Class?"
Lightning turned to her. "Ma'am the Enemy Akkan class has broken off its attack and is breaking for Phase Space!"
Twilight shot a glance to the Navigation officer who instantly doubled their speed.
"Admiral the Shipyards need immediate help! Their evacuation protocols have failed and they are losing life support quickly!"
Twilight has to make one of the toughest decisions in her career. Chase the Ship or Save the Shipyards? Her heart told her what she was about to do was for the best, and what was best was for the Shipyards to survive.
"Navigation change course for the Shipyards, and Event Horizon prepare away teams to assist the shipyards!"
Twilight turned back to the viewport as the ship turned away from the retreating Akkan Class.
As the Akkan Class opened a Phase Lane something hit her and engulfed her mind in a unbearable pain.
She collapsed from the pain as it set her brain in an inferno. Then a voice began speaking to her, it sounded so familiar but yet very distant.
"It has been along time Twilight, we have missed you very much. But fear not Darling we shall see each other soon enough."
The Pain ended and the voice faded away. Twilight could hear the crew calling to her but she couldn't answer.
She felt someone pick her up and begin carrying her. She tried to say something but her mouth wouldn't cooperate.
Finally everything went black as she faded into unconsciousness.
