Equine Wars - The Lunar Offensiveby LunarBronyChaptersChapter 1 Brutal BeginnningsChapter 2 Returning The FavorChapter 3 ShanghaiedChapter 1 Brutal BeginnningsEquine Wars – Lunar Offensive Chapter 1 Brutal Beginnings Equestria, the once proud empire ruled by the goddess of the sun, Princess Celestia. By her side stood her younger sister Princess Luna, goddess of the moon. Together they ensured that all of Equestrian remained in a state of peace. For another thousand years they ruled side by side as one graded the day and the outer night. The sisters ruled over the three factions: ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. For a thousand years they all lived at peace. The ponies held sway over the plains. The Pegasus's soared the sky. And the unicorns claimed the mountains. This was known as the age of tolerance, where all forms of equestrians lived in harmony. The unicorns were masters of arcane magic and the Pegasi could soar through the sky, Ponies naturally lacking any wings or horns were limited in their abilities. That is until they discovery the wisdom of technology. Thus sparking the flames to come in the era known as the age of discovery. In the beginning, it comprised of the most basic of mechanical tools and equipment. Hence, being tillers of the land, ponies crafted basic farm equipment to ease the burden to feed an ever expanding population. Then, it became more advanced as time went on. Ponies applied this concept of mechanization to other aspects of life such as communication and travel. Thus, fanning the flame as they became a more connected society separate from the equestrian factions. From the development of forging simple projectile weapons to the splitting of the atom, space travel was nearly with in there grasps. Tho with the massive explosion in technological advancement came a price. The natural resources of the planet dwindled as time pressed on. Unicorns supplying the ever increasing demand of raw minerals of the ponies was ever exhausting. Eventually, they could not fulfill the pony’s demands. Cutting off all trade to preserve themselves, the ponies saw this as a sign of aggression to impede their progress to become an equal form of life. With their advanced weapons of war they attacked the mountains, driving the unicorns out. They fled Canterlot to seek the aid of Princess Celestia. She heard their pleas yet was unable to help. For she knew that it was too late. The planet's resources were almost depleted. She would have to side with the ponies if there was to be any hope for the survival of the planet. Yet the unicorns would not go unaided. Princess Luna outraged with her sisters’ decision to forsake the unicorns offered them sanction in her domain, the moon. Celestia did not at all approve of Luna’s decision to harbor the unicorns for it would drive the wedge between the two factions even further. She made several attempts to plead with Luna and convince her otherwise, however, they fell on deaf ears as Luna defied Celestia even further by teleporting the entire unicorn populous to the moon where they founded the Lunar Empire. The two sisters were torn apart by the warring factions. Borders would be redrawn as the ponies inherited all but the sky were the neutral Pegasus rule. Communication broke down between Celestia, Luna, and the warring factions. Many years of pony space exploration passed beyond the moon and the stars in search of resources. Within years of separation, the sisters grew to distrust each other as the factions drew near to war once again, as the ponies began colonization of other worlds. The air was particularly thick with smog and bitter tasting. With every breath I took into my lungs I could feel them clog up, much like the factories smoke stacks that lined the fiery orange skyline. Will at least what was visible through dark cloud that loomed over the city. I ran through the refuse littered alley ways at full speed, the thugs from school where gaining on me. After fifteen minutes of galloping at full speed and two left turns through a seemingly endless maze of dark alleys I hit a dead end. A brick wall with a large Princess Celestia poster hung there tattered and worn. It displayed the omnipotent ones face with an authoritative glare, below it read in large bold print OBEY. "Hay, there he is get him!" shouted one of the thugs. My flank to the wall i gulped trying to clear my throat, preparing to try to talk my way out of my daily beating. I spoke nervously. "Come on guys why cant. We just talk about this" None of them replied as they drew near with glaring expressions on their faces. It was no use, they were going to buck the crap out of me no matter what i said. I just wish i hadn't called them colt bucking mares. That gust gave them two more reasons to literally buck my skull in. The pegasus of the group spread and flapped his wings in one smooth motion launching himself toward me like a pony cannonball. He felt like one as his entire mass tackled me pinning me to the ground. The outer two earth pony’s advanced toward me and took positions on each side. Now surrounded they all viciously stomped me to a pulp. They would have stomped me to death if it wasn’t for the prefect that staggered over after hearing he commotion. Swing a filly club that he griped in his mouth at them he managed to the chase them off. He returned to where i lie battered and bruised. Hoisting me on his back he carried me to the steam powered chariot he patrolled in. harshly rusted and worn iron frame, exposes engine with make shift repairs. It was the best the precinct of my district could manage. The only intact feature of the contraption was the Celestial banner that hang from a near pristine flag pole. The reason being is that was a federal offense to deface the royal symbol. Harsh punishments were carried out on those who did. Gently, he placed me on the back seat. It was hard and lumpy but i couldn’t care less. I was just content on be alive. He claimed into the driver’s seat. With a crank of a lever and a vigorous pump of a acceleration peddle, a puff of steam spat out of the egoist stack and we were on our way. "You ok back there?" Called out a concerned voice. The voice echoed through my mind faintly as i slipped in to a deep stat of unconsciousness. The voice counted to fade as a swift hoof slap met the back of my head. I awoke to the sight of my aeronautic guidance console, sitting at my post of the harbor. In a swift counter clockwise motion i was spun around to face my manager. "Sleeping again, Dammit to Tartars you are the most worthless..." he paused to press a flashing button on the console. He leaned toward the microphone and spoke in a well-mannered tone. "Copy that seria 117 you are cleared for landing." then he started back on me again. "Worthless teat nibbling filly" he shouted as he scolded at me flaring his nostrils and continued. "Ten day suspension, no pay!" he shouted. I had half a mind to buck him right across the mussel, due to all the years of pent up rage and hate aghast him. Unfortunately he could just as easily stomp me into a pulp. Besides it was a job and now a days they are hard to come by, even tho it was a crappy one. I collected my lunch box and walked out of the traffic control room. Ten days, no pay. His insults echoed through my mind as i punched out. Toting through the poorly lit corridor of the harbors control station leading to the exit, i heard a commotion from an adjacent hall. i peeked my head around the corner to see what the hay was going on. There at the end of the corridor in front of a maintenance shaft hatch where three imperial death trotters dressed in full war regalia. The genetically enhanced battle pone’s loomed over the seemingly small and feeble pegasus's. Which commanded to my stature had a full head above me. The death trotters surrounded the engineer and only parted to make a path of a much smaller pony dressed in a dark officer’s uniform. Lacking any type of insignias it was impassable to identify him with any known unit. He slowly made his way between the hulking pony’s forming a wall of dark iron clad and bulky armor. "Well Mr. Tinker, i hope it is not rude of me to ask where your loyalties lie?" the officer asked in a charismatic tone. "Uh, uh the empress of course" the pegasus replied stuttering almost incomprehensibly. The officer stepped aside to examine the hatch to the maintenance room. It had been plastered over with yellow and black caution tape. The officer placed a hoof on the center. Grasping it, he ripped it off entirely in one downward motion exposing the gray exterior of the hatch. As the tape came down so did the pegasus's jaw as it seemed to unhinge and hit the floor. It would had been a funny sight to see the pegasus's ah buck me expression if it hadn’t been for the death trotters. The officer placed his hoof in the key pad and entered an override code. The door swooshed open to revile a small dark room with equipment lining the walls. The light flickered on to revile a small olive green crate about eight hoofs long and three hoofs wide. With small arms ammunition stamped on the side. "Well well Mr. Tinker' it seems that you have been dishonest with me." The officer said in a frighteningly polite tone. He went on. “Let me guess, you are innocent and you've been framed." The pegasus collected himself and adopted a serious expression. "Well what do you have to say for yourself?" the officer inquired. The pegasus's took a breath and shouted "DEATH TO CELESTIA!" Just as the echo of his words reached my end of the hall a death trotter wiped out a high caliber pistol. Eminently pointing at the pegasus’s forehead and in a gory explosion that painted the walls a sticky blood red and brain matter pink. A defaming shot roared through the corridors of the inter facility. A gory mess lay spread out on the floor. The officer barked an order to clean it up. From the hall way behind them came three imperial solders. Smaller in size to the death trotters and baring a lighter set of armor. They dragged the corpse away out of sight. My head hung there gazing at the ghastly sight for too long, just then one of the death trotters spotted my and shouted intruder alerting the others. Within seconds they were galloping toward me at an incredible speed for wearing such bulky armor. My fear ceased to freeze me in place and I then found it propelling me in the opposite direction. At full gallop i weaved left and right through the seemingly endless maze of corridors. Yet he death trotters were right on my tail. After a finale left turn i found myself at a dead end. I could hear the troops around the last corner coming down the hall. I thought this was the end, I’m going to die! YOLO! Just before my life could flash before my eyes the floor gave away to darkness as i fell downwards. The hatch sealed shut with a click. I was cramped in a power maintenance shaft under the floor. A pony’s face flickered as a flash light waved upward to illuminate the both of us. "You’re welcome." Whispered the pony. Chapter 2 Returning The FavorEquine Wars – The Lunar Offensive Chapter 2 Returning The Favor It was hard to get a good look at him in the cramped and dark winding tunnel of high voltage wiring. I wanted to ask him so many questions but it didn’t feel like the appropriate time. We crawled for about ten minutes contentiously, until he abruptly stopped in his tracks. Unfortunately I hadn’t stopped in time and found my muzzle bumping into his flank. "Hay watch it back there!" her whispered. "Oh, uh sorry" I apologized completely embarrassed. He turned his attention to his left and followed a cheerful ah ha. He placed a hoof on the panel beside him and pushed on it gave way. Light flooded the dark tunnel almost blinding me. Once the panel was removed he claimed out and i followed shortly. Once we were liberated from the darkness, I could make out my savors features. His coat was that of a bright orange and his short mane that of a fiery red. His eyes shimmered sappier blue and a brazened cutlass cutey mark on his flank. Compared to my light and dark brown coat and mane. A belt with a revolving pistol holstered and bullets lining the circumference of the belt. After properly inspecting him, I glanced at the surrounding area. We were in the harbor, one of the docking stations for the inbound ships. Two doors on each side of the suspended walkway and a smaller walkway with hoof rails on each side. It extended outward to where an empty space where a ship would have been docked. "Dammit, where are they" the orange pony cursed. "Where who is and who are you and what’s going on" i questioned as i took a step closer to assert my self-trying to get some answers. "Well i guess we’ve got time to waste, they call me Red. I'm the captain of the ship called Commit, maybe you herd of it.” Red boasted. "Uh no I don’t think have" I replied. "What do u mean you haven’t herd of me, I’m the most famous privately donation funded entrepreneur of the stars!" Red proclaimed proudly. "Oh, you’re a pirate." I replied in a snide tone. “Well if you want to be so brash about it yeah I am." he muttered under his breath. Our conversation was interrupted as the swoosh of the door to the left of us cough our undivided attention. A fully armored death trotter strutted though the door stopping only a short distance away from us. He stood there in silence staring at us. Red reared toward the death trotter as he reached for his revolver and pointed it at the him unloading the six rounds across the its chest. It proved infective as the bullets bounced off the armor, ricocheting off into different directions. “Dammit.” Red muttered. In response the Death Trotter placed his armored hoof on the hilt of the sixty callable automatic pistol. In one motion he pointed it at Red and pulled the trigger. A deafening followed as the bullet clipped Red in his left arm near the knee. Blood splatted and flesh torn away from the wound causing the pirated to collapse to the floor screaming profanities in agony. With his right arm he unbuckled the ammo belt and slid it and the revolver toward me. The Death Trotter trained his pistol on me and squeezed the trigger three times. Three loud clicks signaled that this was my only chance as the Death Trotter lowered the weapon to reload it. I reached for the belt and revolver, managing to pull only four rounds out of the belt and slid them in to the revolver. The Death Trotter slammed a new clip into his gun and cocked the hammer back. I flicked the revolver in a clockwise motion causing the cylinder to slam into frame of the gun and pointed toward the Death Trotter aiming at his face. He aimed his gun at me. I squeezed the trigger six time as only four shots rang out. Only half of the bullets struck him in the vizor cracking it. Stunned, he stumbled toward the grad rail, around almost completely losing his balance. I took this chance to run over to him and push him over the rail. He plummeted down in to darkness and a rather loud clunk followed. After affirming that my foe was finished off for good, I turned my attention to Red. He was laying on the floor holding his forearm passed out from the shock and blood loss. I rushed over to him and grasped him by the waste. He didn’t stir as I pulled him up and throw him over my back trying to keep my balance. Deciding that it was our best option to keep moving to avoid a another occasion with the Emperices Trotters, I began to slug my way with the pirate pony on my back to the opposite door from where the Death Trotter emerged from. I managed about five heavy steps until the hangar doors the right of me separated to reveal the night sky. Pin points of light that where stars parsed the thick layer of smog choking the night sky. A large long ship cut thought the cloud of smog separating it as the ship sliced thought it like a knife. It would almost be impossible to distinguish the olive drab exterior haul if it weren’t for the sparse illumination of the landing lights. Is slowed from a sharp decent to a gentle hove as it pulled into the hangar. It gently halted as hatch on the port side meet the extended walkway of the dock. The hatch gave way inward, and a dark blue pony with a patch covering his left eye. He hung out of the hatch wielding a sawed-off double barrel shotgun and trained it on me. “Get in now!” He shouted. This must be the ship Red spoke about, he did save my life after all so why stop trusting him now. I gave a shrug to reposition Red on my back and hastily made my way to the ship. I just crossed the walkway of the dock and was merely a few hoof steps when both of the hatches to of the compound swooshed open. I stopped to glance over to see a squadron of Death Trotters lead by the very same officer who executed the pegisus earlier. The blue pirate pony shouted. “Come on dammit!” As he fired both barrels at the squad. I thought my self-including Red into the open hatch of the ship. We landed on the cold hard floor and the hatch slammed shut. As I stammered to my feet I felt the butt of a shotgun meet the back of my head causing me to collapse once more. My vision blued as I slipped into unconsciousness. Chapter 3 ShanghaiedEquine Wars – Chapter 3 shanghaied I awoke in a cold dark cell, a dim light above me and a sealed hatch. Next to it was a keypad with the standard zero to nine number layout and a small retelling screen above it with locked in red displayed out across it. Other than that the room remain barren and sparse. I must have sat there for at least an hour or so until the screen of the key pad flashed green and displayed the flashing text: Unlocked. Three beeps and then a large clunk followed, the door swung inward. Two ponies entered, the blue one with the eye patch that knocked me out and an another gray pony. I could see the blue pony clearly now. In addition to the patch on his left eye, his right leg was artificial. It was a thin metallic gray peace with a hinge where the knee would have been located and a small motor connected to the outside of it. Two small wires ran the up the length of the leg, from the motor to where the leg had been severed. The weirs where plugged into two small holes in the base of the stump. He also had a crew cut mane and a scare running the length of his left cheek. He walked in first, as he stepped into the dim light I could just barely make out the four leaf clover on his flank. Following behind him was the other, the gray coated pony. A long dark blue mane hanging down almost covering his eyes. His flank was adorned with an old flintlock pistol. “Let’s go captain wants to see yah.” The blue pony ordered in a flat tone. “What’s going on and where the Tartarus am I?” The blue pony raised his voice in a more violent manner. “I said let’s go!” My captures seemed serious, and I was sure that the blue one would love to buck my face in so I decided to comply. I walked in between the two passing them and entering the hallway. The two ponies stepped out, the gray one leading me down the hall and the blue one giving me a shove in the direction of the gray one I began to walk. Of the both of them I favored the gray one the most, so I decided to probe him for answers. “So what’s your name?” I asked as polity as one could have asked their captures. Turning his slightly to view me with his peripheral vision he replied. “Oh where are my manners, my name is Flin, Flin .T. Lock” He relied in a cheerful and surprising tone. “And my oh so gleeful friend behind you is Lucky” I looked back at Luck with a slight grin and in return he shot me a death glare. “So what’s yours?” “I'm Star Chase, but my friends just call me Chase.” I replied. “Well Chase, if I can call you that I am glad to acquaint you.” He replied. “As far as it goes you can.” “So what is it that do Chase, for a living I mean?” “Well I'm an air traffic controller.” “Oh good, at least you’re not completely in experienced. See Lucky, I told you being nice wold get more info out of him.” Lucky just rolled his eye. “Uh, what do you mean experience and info?” “Well Lucky wanted to torture you to find out as much as he could about you but I bet him twenty bits that I could just ask you.” “Ok thanks for that guess, but what was that about my job?” “Well I thought it was obvious, you know your way around ships right?” “Um yah, a bit I guess.” “Well I supposes Captain can explain much better.” Luck interrupted behind me. “You've been shanghaied ya twit.” “Dammit lucky, why do you always have to be so brash.” The length of the conversation managed the duration to the walk. The escorting ponies stopped at a door. Flin pressed a button on the wall next to the door causing it to slide open to the left with a swoosh. The sight of a large bridge filed with about a half dozen ponies ether sitting at control panels or standing over the holographic star map centered in the room. In the mist of the hustle of the bridge was a single chair larger than the others. It was located in the center more near the front of front of the room. The chair spun around to face my direction, in it sat Red with is head resting on his bandaged arm. With a grin he spoke, “So good of yah to join us, I hope my boys didn’t ruff you up too much.” “Well I've had better service in a drunk tank.” “Ha ha ha I like you, you’re funny.” “So now the ice has been broken, why am I here?” “I need a good navigator and scene I happened to save your life and Tinker is dead, you will have to do.” “Wait, that pegasus was your navigator?” “Unfortunate yes, he was.” “But that doesn’t explain why you need me?” “I figured that you’re still in my debit.” “But I save your life to, where even.” “Granted you did, but we are far from that. You sir are now a fugitive of the solar empire, you witnessed an execution of a pirate in possession of contraband. Due to propaganda, the Solar Guard wouldn't want any unnecessary witnesses to smear the spotless image of the empire. And harboring a fugitive is punishable of the offender and there immediate friend and family.” “A fugitive harboring a fugitive?” “Poetic isn’t it?” “And if I refuse, what happens then?” “I drop you off at the nearest authoritative Solar outpost and they put a bullet in your head. I’m sorry if it sounds harsh and completely inhospitable, but it is the reality of the situation. And you can't go back to Equestria, they will be searching high and low for you.” “Is that a threat?” “Doesn’t have to be” The room became silent as if the rest of the crew was waiting for my response. “Fine, I’ll do it.” “Good, welcome aboard.”
Chapter 1 Brutal BeginnningsEquine Wars – Lunar Offensive Chapter 1 Brutal Beginnings Equestria, the once proud empire ruled by the goddess of the sun, Princess Celestia. By her side stood her younger sister Princess Luna, goddess of the moon. Together they ensured that all of Equestrian remained in a state of peace. For another thousand years they ruled side by side as one graded the day and the outer night. The sisters ruled over the three factions: ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. For a thousand years they all lived at peace. The ponies held sway over the plains. The Pegasus's soared the sky. And the unicorns claimed the mountains. This was known as the age of tolerance, where all forms of equestrians lived in harmony. The unicorns were masters of arcane magic and the Pegasi could soar through the sky, Ponies naturally lacking any wings or horns were limited in their abilities. That is until they discovery the wisdom of technology. Thus sparking the flames to come in the era known as the age of discovery. In the beginning, it comprised of the most basic of mechanical tools and equipment. Hence, being tillers of the land, ponies crafted basic farm equipment to ease the burden to feed an ever expanding population. Then, it became more advanced as time went on. Ponies applied this concept of mechanization to other aspects of life such as communication and travel. Thus, fanning the flame as they became a more connected society separate from the equestrian factions. From the development of forging simple projectile weapons to the splitting of the atom, space travel was nearly with in there grasps. Tho with the massive explosion in technological advancement came a price. The natural resources of the planet dwindled as time pressed on. Unicorns supplying the ever increasing demand of raw minerals of the ponies was ever exhausting. Eventually, they could not fulfill the pony’s demands. Cutting off all trade to preserve themselves, the ponies saw this as a sign of aggression to impede their progress to become an equal form of life. With their advanced weapons of war they attacked the mountains, driving the unicorns out. They fled Canterlot to seek the aid of Princess Celestia. She heard their pleas yet was unable to help. For she knew that it was too late. The planet's resources were almost depleted. She would have to side with the ponies if there was to be any hope for the survival of the planet. Yet the unicorns would not go unaided. Princess Luna outraged with her sisters’ decision to forsake the unicorns offered them sanction in her domain, the moon. Celestia did not at all approve of Luna’s decision to harbor the unicorns for it would drive the wedge between the two factions even further. She made several attempts to plead with Luna and convince her otherwise, however, they fell on deaf ears as Luna defied Celestia even further by teleporting the entire unicorn populous to the moon where they founded the Lunar Empire. The two sisters were torn apart by the warring factions. Borders would be redrawn as the ponies inherited all but the sky were the neutral Pegasus rule. Communication broke down between Celestia, Luna, and the warring factions. Many years of pony space exploration passed beyond the moon and the stars in search of resources. Within years of separation, the sisters grew to distrust each other as the factions drew near to war once again, as the ponies began colonization of other worlds. The air was particularly thick with smog and bitter tasting. With every breath I took into my lungs I could feel them clog up, much like the factories smoke stacks that lined the fiery orange skyline. Will at least what was visible through dark cloud that loomed over the city. I ran through the refuse littered alley ways at full speed, the thugs from school where gaining on me. After fifteen minutes of galloping at full speed and two left turns through a seemingly endless maze of dark alleys I hit a dead end. A brick wall with a large Princess Celestia poster hung there tattered and worn. It displayed the omnipotent ones face with an authoritative glare, below it read in large bold print OBEY. "Hay, there he is get him!" shouted one of the thugs. My flank to the wall i gulped trying to clear my throat, preparing to try to talk my way out of my daily beating. I spoke nervously. "Come on guys why cant. We just talk about this" None of them replied as they drew near with glaring expressions on their faces. It was no use, they were going to buck the crap out of me no matter what i said. I just wish i hadn't called them colt bucking mares. That gust gave them two more reasons to literally buck my skull in. The pegasus of the group spread and flapped his wings in one smooth motion launching himself toward me like a pony cannonball. He felt like one as his entire mass tackled me pinning me to the ground. The outer two earth pony’s advanced toward me and took positions on each side. Now surrounded they all viciously stomped me to a pulp. They would have stomped me to death if it wasn’t for the prefect that staggered over after hearing he commotion. Swing a filly club that he griped in his mouth at them he managed to the chase them off. He returned to where i lie battered and bruised. Hoisting me on his back he carried me to the steam powered chariot he patrolled in. harshly rusted and worn iron frame, exposes engine with make shift repairs. It was the best the precinct of my district could manage. The only intact feature of the contraption was the Celestial banner that hang from a near pristine flag pole. The reason being is that was a federal offense to deface the royal symbol. Harsh punishments were carried out on those who did. Gently, he placed me on the back seat. It was hard and lumpy but i couldn’t care less. I was just content on be alive. He claimed into the driver’s seat. With a crank of a lever and a vigorous pump of a acceleration peddle, a puff of steam spat out of the egoist stack and we were on our way. "You ok back there?" Called out a concerned voice. The voice echoed through my mind faintly as i slipped in to a deep stat of unconsciousness. The voice counted to fade as a swift hoof slap met the back of my head. I awoke to the sight of my aeronautic guidance console, sitting at my post of the harbor. In a swift counter clockwise motion i was spun around to face my manager. "Sleeping again, Dammit to Tartars you are the most worthless..." he paused to press a flashing button on the console. He leaned toward the microphone and spoke in a well-mannered tone. "Copy that seria 117 you are cleared for landing." then he started back on me again. "Worthless teat nibbling filly" he shouted as he scolded at me flaring his nostrils and continued. "Ten day suspension, no pay!" he shouted. I had half a mind to buck him right across the mussel, due to all the years of pent up rage and hate aghast him. Unfortunately he could just as easily stomp me into a pulp. Besides it was a job and now a days they are hard to come by, even tho it was a crappy one. I collected my lunch box and walked out of the traffic control room. Ten days, no pay. His insults echoed through my mind as i punched out. Toting through the poorly lit corridor of the harbors control station leading to the exit, i heard a commotion from an adjacent hall. i peeked my head around the corner to see what the hay was going on. There at the end of the corridor in front of a maintenance shaft hatch where three imperial death trotters dressed in full war regalia. The genetically enhanced battle pone’s loomed over the seemingly small and feeble pegasus's. Which commanded to my stature had a full head above me. The death trotters surrounded the engineer and only parted to make a path of a much smaller pony dressed in a dark officer’s uniform. Lacking any type of insignias it was impassable to identify him with any known unit. He slowly made his way between the hulking pony’s forming a wall of dark iron clad and bulky armor. "Well Mr. Tinker, i hope it is not rude of me to ask where your loyalties lie?" the officer asked in a charismatic tone. "Uh, uh the empress of course" the pegasus replied stuttering almost incomprehensibly. The officer stepped aside to examine the hatch to the maintenance room. It had been plastered over with yellow and black caution tape. The officer placed a hoof on the center. Grasping it, he ripped it off entirely in one downward motion exposing the gray exterior of the hatch. As the tape came down so did the pegasus's jaw as it seemed to unhinge and hit the floor. It would had been a funny sight to see the pegasus's ah buck me expression if it hadn’t been for the death trotters. The officer placed his hoof in the key pad and entered an override code. The door swooshed open to revile a small dark room with equipment lining the walls. The light flickered on to revile a small olive green crate about eight hoofs long and three hoofs wide. With small arms ammunition stamped on the side. "Well well Mr. Tinker' it seems that you have been dishonest with me." The officer said in a frighteningly polite tone. He went on. “Let me guess, you are innocent and you've been framed." The pegasus collected himself and adopted a serious expression. "Well what do you have to say for yourself?" the officer inquired. The pegasus's took a breath and shouted "DEATH TO CELESTIA!" Just as the echo of his words reached my end of the hall a death trotter wiped out a high caliber pistol. Eminently pointing at the pegasus’s forehead and in a gory explosion that painted the walls a sticky blood red and brain matter pink. A defaming shot roared through the corridors of the inter facility. A gory mess lay spread out on the floor. The officer barked an order to clean it up. From the hall way behind them came three imperial solders. Smaller in size to the death trotters and baring a lighter set of armor. They dragged the corpse away out of sight. My head hung there gazing at the ghastly sight for too long, just then one of the death trotters spotted my and shouted intruder alerting the others. Within seconds they were galloping toward me at an incredible speed for wearing such bulky armor. My fear ceased to freeze me in place and I then found it propelling me in the opposite direction. At full gallop i weaved left and right through the seemingly endless maze of corridors. Yet he death trotters were right on my tail. After a finale left turn i found myself at a dead end. I could hear the troops around the last corner coming down the hall. I thought this was the end, I’m going to die! YOLO! Just before my life could flash before my eyes the floor gave away to darkness as i fell downwards. The hatch sealed shut with a click. I was cramped in a power maintenance shaft under the floor. A pony’s face flickered as a flash light waved upward to illuminate the both of us. "You’re welcome." Whispered the pony.
Chapter 2 Returning The FavorEquine Wars – The Lunar Offensive Chapter 2 Returning The Favor It was hard to get a good look at him in the cramped and dark winding tunnel of high voltage wiring. I wanted to ask him so many questions but it didn’t feel like the appropriate time. We crawled for about ten minutes contentiously, until he abruptly stopped in his tracks. Unfortunately I hadn’t stopped in time and found my muzzle bumping into his flank. "Hay watch it back there!" her whispered. "Oh, uh sorry" I apologized completely embarrassed. He turned his attention to his left and followed a cheerful ah ha. He placed a hoof on the panel beside him and pushed on it gave way. Light flooded the dark tunnel almost blinding me. Once the panel was removed he claimed out and i followed shortly. Once we were liberated from the darkness, I could make out my savors features. His coat was that of a bright orange and his short mane that of a fiery red. His eyes shimmered sappier blue and a brazened cutlass cutey mark on his flank. Compared to my light and dark brown coat and mane. A belt with a revolving pistol holstered and bullets lining the circumference of the belt. After properly inspecting him, I glanced at the surrounding area. We were in the harbor, one of the docking stations for the inbound ships. Two doors on each side of the suspended walkway and a smaller walkway with hoof rails on each side. It extended outward to where an empty space where a ship would have been docked. "Dammit, where are they" the orange pony cursed. "Where who is and who are you and what’s going on" i questioned as i took a step closer to assert my self-trying to get some answers. "Well i guess we’ve got time to waste, they call me Red. I'm the captain of the ship called Commit, maybe you herd of it.” Red boasted. "Uh no I don’t think have" I replied. "What do u mean you haven’t herd of me, I’m the most famous privately donation funded entrepreneur of the stars!" Red proclaimed proudly. "Oh, you’re a pirate." I replied in a snide tone. “Well if you want to be so brash about it yeah I am." he muttered under his breath. Our conversation was interrupted as the swoosh of the door to the left of us cough our undivided attention. A fully armored death trotter strutted though the door stopping only a short distance away from us. He stood there in silence staring at us. Red reared toward the death trotter as he reached for his revolver and pointed it at the him unloading the six rounds across the its chest. It proved infective as the bullets bounced off the armor, ricocheting off into different directions. “Dammit.” Red muttered. In response the Death Trotter placed his armored hoof on the hilt of the sixty callable automatic pistol. In one motion he pointed it at Red and pulled the trigger. A deafening followed as the bullet clipped Red in his left arm near the knee. Blood splatted and flesh torn away from the wound causing the pirated to collapse to the floor screaming profanities in agony. With his right arm he unbuckled the ammo belt and slid it and the revolver toward me. The Death Trotter trained his pistol on me and squeezed the trigger three times. Three loud clicks signaled that this was my only chance as the Death Trotter lowered the weapon to reload it. I reached for the belt and revolver, managing to pull only four rounds out of the belt and slid them in to the revolver. The Death Trotter slammed a new clip into his gun and cocked the hammer back. I flicked the revolver in a clockwise motion causing the cylinder to slam into frame of the gun and pointed toward the Death Trotter aiming at his face. He aimed his gun at me. I squeezed the trigger six time as only four shots rang out. Only half of the bullets struck him in the vizor cracking it. Stunned, he stumbled toward the grad rail, around almost completely losing his balance. I took this chance to run over to him and push him over the rail. He plummeted down in to darkness and a rather loud clunk followed. After affirming that my foe was finished off for good, I turned my attention to Red. He was laying on the floor holding his forearm passed out from the shock and blood loss. I rushed over to him and grasped him by the waste. He didn’t stir as I pulled him up and throw him over my back trying to keep my balance. Deciding that it was our best option to keep moving to avoid a another occasion with the Emperices Trotters, I began to slug my way with the pirate pony on my back to the opposite door from where the Death Trotter emerged from. I managed about five heavy steps until the hangar doors the right of me separated to reveal the night sky. Pin points of light that where stars parsed the thick layer of smog choking the night sky. A large long ship cut thought the cloud of smog separating it as the ship sliced thought it like a knife. It would almost be impossible to distinguish the olive drab exterior haul if it weren’t for the sparse illumination of the landing lights. Is slowed from a sharp decent to a gentle hove as it pulled into the hangar. It gently halted as hatch on the port side meet the extended walkway of the dock. The hatch gave way inward, and a dark blue pony with a patch covering his left eye. He hung out of the hatch wielding a sawed-off double barrel shotgun and trained it on me. “Get in now!” He shouted. This must be the ship Red spoke about, he did save my life after all so why stop trusting him now. I gave a shrug to reposition Red on my back and hastily made my way to the ship. I just crossed the walkway of the dock and was merely a few hoof steps when both of the hatches to of the compound swooshed open. I stopped to glance over to see a squadron of Death Trotters lead by the very same officer who executed the pegisus earlier. The blue pirate pony shouted. “Come on dammit!” As he fired both barrels at the squad. I thought my self-including Red into the open hatch of the ship. We landed on the cold hard floor and the hatch slammed shut. As I stammered to my feet I felt the butt of a shotgun meet the back of my head causing me to collapse once more. My vision blued as I slipped into unconsciousness.
Chapter 3 ShanghaiedEquine Wars – Chapter 3 shanghaied I awoke in a cold dark cell, a dim light above me and a sealed hatch. Next to it was a keypad with the standard zero to nine number layout and a small retelling screen above it with locked in red displayed out across it. Other than that the room remain barren and sparse. I must have sat there for at least an hour or so until the screen of the key pad flashed green and displayed the flashing text: Unlocked. Three beeps and then a large clunk followed, the door swung inward. Two ponies entered, the blue one with the eye patch that knocked me out and an another gray pony. I could see the blue pony clearly now. In addition to the patch on his left eye, his right leg was artificial. It was a thin metallic gray peace with a hinge where the knee would have been located and a small motor connected to the outside of it. Two small wires ran the up the length of the leg, from the motor to where the leg had been severed. The weirs where plugged into two small holes in the base of the stump. He also had a crew cut mane and a scare running the length of his left cheek. He walked in first, as he stepped into the dim light I could just barely make out the four leaf clover on his flank. Following behind him was the other, the gray coated pony. A long dark blue mane hanging down almost covering his eyes. His flank was adorned with an old flintlock pistol. “Let’s go captain wants to see yah.” The blue pony ordered in a flat tone. “What’s going on and where the Tartarus am I?” The blue pony raised his voice in a more violent manner. “I said let’s go!” My captures seemed serious, and I was sure that the blue one would love to buck my face in so I decided to comply. I walked in between the two passing them and entering the hallway. The two ponies stepped out, the gray one leading me down the hall and the blue one giving me a shove in the direction of the gray one I began to walk. Of the both of them I favored the gray one the most, so I decided to probe him for answers. “So what’s your name?” I asked as polity as one could have asked their captures. Turning his slightly to view me with his peripheral vision he replied. “Oh where are my manners, my name is Flin, Flin .T. Lock” He relied in a cheerful and surprising tone. “And my oh so gleeful friend behind you is Lucky” I looked back at Luck with a slight grin and in return he shot me a death glare. “So what’s yours?” “I'm Star Chase, but my friends just call me Chase.” I replied. “Well Chase, if I can call you that I am glad to acquaint you.” He replied. “As far as it goes you can.” “So what is it that do Chase, for a living I mean?” “Well I'm an air traffic controller.” “Oh good, at least you’re not completely in experienced. See Lucky, I told you being nice wold get more info out of him.” Lucky just rolled his eye. “Uh, what do you mean experience and info?” “Well Lucky wanted to torture you to find out as much as he could about you but I bet him twenty bits that I could just ask you.” “Ok thanks for that guess, but what was that about my job?” “Well I thought it was obvious, you know your way around ships right?” “Um yah, a bit I guess.” “Well I supposes Captain can explain much better.” Luck interrupted behind me. “You've been shanghaied ya twit.” “Dammit lucky, why do you always have to be so brash.” The length of the conversation managed the duration to the walk. The escorting ponies stopped at a door. Flin pressed a button on the wall next to the door causing it to slide open to the left with a swoosh. The sight of a large bridge filed with about a half dozen ponies ether sitting at control panels or standing over the holographic star map centered in the room. In the mist of the hustle of the bridge was a single chair larger than the others. It was located in the center more near the front of front of the room. The chair spun around to face my direction, in it sat Red with is head resting on his bandaged arm. With a grin he spoke, “So good of yah to join us, I hope my boys didn’t ruff you up too much.” “Well I've had better service in a drunk tank.” “Ha ha ha I like you, you’re funny.” “So now the ice has been broken, why am I here?” “I need a good navigator and scene I happened to save your life and Tinker is dead, you will have to do.” “Wait, that pegasus was your navigator?” “Unfortunate yes, he was.” “But that doesn’t explain why you need me?” “I figured that you’re still in my debit.” “But I save your life to, where even.” “Granted you did, but we are far from that. You sir are now a fugitive of the solar empire, you witnessed an execution of a pirate in possession of contraband. Due to propaganda, the Solar Guard wouldn't want any unnecessary witnesses to smear the spotless image of the empire. And harboring a fugitive is punishable of the offender and there immediate friend and family.” “A fugitive harboring a fugitive?” “Poetic isn’t it?” “And if I refuse, what happens then?” “I drop you off at the nearest authoritative Solar outpost and they put a bullet in your head. I’m sorry if it sounds harsh and completely inhospitable, but it is the reality of the situation. And you can't go back to Equestria, they will be searching high and low for you.” “Is that a threat?” “Doesn’t have to be” The room became silent as if the rest of the crew was waiting for my response. “Fine, I’ll do it.” “Good, welcome aboard.”
