The serene silence of space above a temperate planet was interrupted by space and time boiling and ripping itself apart. In a flash of light a jump ship trailing smoke and fire from many sections appeared from the hole, deploying a Mercer class drop ship before exploding. As the hole in space shrank, a second flash of light happened, leaving a Leopard class drop ship in its wake. The Leopard and Mercer began to exchange fire. The Mercer landed a few light hits along the nose of the Leopard.

Aboard the Leopard the bridge was alive with activity. The Officer at engineering turned towards the captain.

“Damage reported on the nose section, sir. Nothing serious yet, but if they keep hitting there it’ll become a problem.”

“Oh this is insane!” complained the pilot. “We’re a ‘brick’, not a warship.”

The captain looked at the pilot.

“We had no other choice. Our ship was the only one fast enough and in range to chase after them, and we both know if we let those clanners get away, they’d just come back with more dropships and warships. Chances are it wouldn’t be just single lance dropships either. Probably Overlord cla-”

The captain was cut off by an explosion on the outside of the ship.

“Guns!” the captain shouted to the gunnery officer. “Focus fire on their engines! We cripple those and the ship will drop to that planet like a rock!”

“Yes sir!” The officer replied.

The Leopard’s missile racks unleashed a hailstorm of missiles towards the Mercer’s engines. A moment later, the Leopard’s PPCs flashed and sent a pair lightning bolts towards the same engine block. The missiles and bolts nailed the right engine at the same time, ripping it to pieces. With only 3 engines left, the mercer began to spin slowly. Several points along the hull glowed brightly.

“HARD STARBOARD, NOW!” the captain shouted!
While the bridge was alive with activity, the mech bay had almost no signs of life. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of the battle, and the hum of the reactors belonging to four battlemechs clamped into place in the hanger. Roy, the lance’s scout, broke the silence.

“Round 2, ready, fight!”

“I’m glad to see you think it’s funny Roy.” retorted Gerald, who was checking his emergency hot drop boosters, and life support pod, making sure they were connected properly to his Hunchback for the fifteenth time since they jumped. “I hate these space battles. I rather have control of whether I live or die than leave it in the hands of some dropship pilot.”
While Roadie didn’t say anything, he agreed with Gerald. He peeled his eyes off of a book he was reading to look at a console. It showed all green lights for the hotdrop booster pods, and the life support pod. While most Inner Sphere ‘mechs were designed for supporting a pilot on an extended mission, he had special equipment that required the extra pod. The extra supplies, and computer was an added bonus. He resumed reading his book as the lance commander started talking on the radio.

“That’s enough you two.” she said. “Roy, leave Gerald alone. As for you Gerald, if I catch you trying to exit that cockpit to double check those hot drop pods, I’ll throw you off this ship in nothing more than a space suit. So sit back, and relax. Even if the hull is breached the hanger’s magnetic clamps will prevent you from moving a foot.”

“Wynne D.” Gerald replied. “You’re forgetting Roadie’s magnetic clamps aren’t wor-”

“And do I hear him complaining about it?” She interrupted. “No.”

Roadie finally chose to say something.

“The only thing I’m concerned about is what happens after the battle. We chased that Clan Wolf ship blind into a hole in space. That’s never been done before, and I’m concerned we’re trapped God knows where.” he said.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there Roadie, but for now let’s focus on-”

An explosion tore through hanger door beneath Roadie’s Centurion, and cut Wynne D off. There was a split second of absolute silence. Roadie realized what happened, and what was about to happen as a result.

“Aw fu-”

The mech bay had turned into a hurricane. Roy’s Commando, Gerald’s Hunchback, and Wynne D’s Jagermech all slid a little before the mechbay’s clamps activated their electromagnets. Roadie’s Centurion, however, slid right out of his clamps and was sucked into space.

“Shit shit shit shit shit!” Roadie panic as he tumbled out of control.

“Ro-d- ca-.....-ou…-me?” came Wynne D’s voice before it dissolved into static.

“Okay don’t panic. I just have orientate the Centurion, then fire the boosters up, and let the computer take care of the rest.” Roadie said to himself. Using the Hot drop boosters’ RCS; Roadie orientated the Centurion so it faced feet down. The pods fired off in a blaze of blue light as the Centurion’s feet began to glow orange, and it plummeted into the atmosphere.

Ponyvile 0300 hours

At a small inn at Ponyvile, a door is opened leading into one of the smaller rooms. A light yellow Pegasus with a short brown mane walked into the room, closing the door behind her. She walked over to the window.

“Another fine job Aile.” the Pegasus quietly said to herself. She looked up into the night sky to catch a bizarre sight. Not just one, but two shooting stars both coming from the same point in the sky, but falling towards different areas. ‘Luna must be having fun again’ Aile thought to herself. She closed her eyes, and made a wish upon one of the shooting stars. She opened her eyes, and noticed a third star at the point of origin glowing brighter and brighter.

Stars don’t just get brighter like that unless…

Aile threw herself out the window and flew as fast as her wings could carry her to the library near the center of Ponyville. As stopped by slamming her forehooves into the front door and began to pound at the door.

“Twilight! Twilight, open up! Please, it’s an emergency!” Aile shouted.

The door opened up.

“I’m sorry to wake you up this late but-.” Aile started before she lost her voice and her eyes went wide. Standing in the door wasn’t the purple unicorn, but a white Alicorn with an ethereal mane.

“What’s the emergency my little pony?” Princess Celestia asked in a worried tone.

Aile worked her mouth for a few seconds before finding her voice again.

“A-a-a- a meteorite is heading straight for Ponyville! I saw a couple shooting stars start at one point in the sky, and now this one just gets brighter, and brighter.” Aile explained.

Celestia’s shocked expression lasted for a split second before becoming a mask of determination. She pushed passed Aile and looked up in the sky. Aile heard her muttering as she looked between the ground and sky several times. Celestia suddenly let out a soft gasp, and turned towards the door.

“Applejack, was anypony still at Sweet Apple Acres?” Celestia asked.

“No yer majesty. Granny Smith is in town hall with ev’rypony else, ahn Big Mac is with Fluttershy, ahn tha foals. ” came a southern accent from inside. Please don’t tell me tha’ rock is headin for mah farm!”

“I’m afraid so, but if my estimates are right, it’ll land on the part that borders of the everfree.” Celestia explained.
Five ponies poured out of the library. Aile realized they were five of the Elements of Harmony.

“How long until-” Twilight began to asked when a loud screech followed by an earth shattering kaboom interrupted her. “Nevermind.” Twilight said with a moan. “Can tonight get any worse?”

“Wellwecouldfailtostopthedragonthat’sthreateningPonyvile,andhecoulddestroythetown.OOhhthemeteoritecouldberadioactiveorevenaliens” Pinky rapidly fired off.

“Oh for the love of-, Aliens don’t exist Pinky.” Twilight said.

“Oh yeah? What about all those abductions, and crop circles? Or those weird ray guns ponies sometimes find?” Rainbow asked.

“Ponies who just want attention and-, oh forget it. Let’s investigate to make sure no pony got hurt.” Twilight said, her horn glowing brightly.

In a flash of light, Aile noticed they were no longer in front of the library, but near the barn of Sweet Apple Acres. Smoke rose from the direction of the Everfree. The bearers, and princess began to move towards the smoke. Aile quietly brought up the rear. Celestia lagged behind so she now walked side by side with Aile.

“I forgot to ask you name little pony.” Celestia said with a gentle smile.

“My name is Aile, your majesty.” Aile replied nervously.

“Nice to meet you miss Aile, and please relax. Why does everypony think I bite or that I’ll send them to the moon over the tiniest things?” Celestia said with a chuckle. Aile giggled a bit at Celestia’s question too.
As the group reached the smoking crater there was a metallic moan, and hiss.

“Look out!” Rainbow shout as series of bangs went off in the smoke, and something large began to fall towards the group. Everypony scattered as the metallic block fell to the ground, one end of it still glowing a dull orange. Celestia took to the sky, and with a flap of her wings; cleared away the smoke hiding the “meteorite”.

Everypony gasped as a giant metal alien was revealed crouched in the crater. The alien slowly rose up to full height; it’s body pinging, and groaning from the extreme temperature changes.

Twilight let out a moan before face hoofing. “‘Could this day get any worse?’ I just had to ask that, didn’t I.”

Author's Note

MUCH better than the 1st time around in my opinion.