A/N: Hello there and welcome back to yet another chapter to this collaboration of words I call a story. When I had said I may be accepting OCs, ShiningShadow quickly corrected my thinking. I obviously didn't realize what I meant is that I WILL be accepting OCs, just pm me. I changed the summary accordingly. Now, I can't guarantee that the OC will be used, but I will try to incorporate any I get. Now, onto some review responses and then the story.
ShiningShadow1965(2900): Thank you for showing me the errors in my ways of thinking. And thank you again for your OC.
RenaTamer: Thank you for finding this interesting and I hope I am able to continue to make it interesting for you.
Major Simi: Yes, the protocol is similar to the prime directive in Star Trek. Don't interfere with civilizations or make yourself known unless they've reached a certain point technology wise, or they face a danger outside their control. The second part of the protocol was only enacted after the UIF's formation and falling out of the UUA. To answer your second question, I'm planning a chapter fully dedicated to the task of explaining the UIF and the UUA later in the future. I will say that UIF stands for United Imperial Fleet, and if you haven't got it yet, they're the main antagonist for Michael and the UUA (United Universal Alliance).
Wow. Short list. Well, onto the chapter!
Disclaimer: Yeah…. I think by now, anyone reading this should know what I do and do not own. If not, just read the other disclaimers.
Ch 5: Memories from ago
Sleeping in a bed or on a couch sounds like a nice change, I thought, answering Rainbow's question with a simple, "Ok."
At this I noticed a grin grow on her face. Apparently she was glad to hear that answer, though I don't think she would have taken no anyway. Anything is better than the ground or metal, I continued my thought before Rainbow continued to speak. "OK, follow me." She stopped and asked, "But first, what's your name?"
Damn, I thought, well, protocol's out of question and I'm going to be here a while. For what I've seen, Michael's not a normal name. Crap, think, think, think,….. got it!
I looked to her to answer, noticing the suspense that seemed to linger around her before I saying, "Call me Star."
The air seemed to lessen in suspense as she learned my name, taking a bit to let it sink in before she continued, "Ok Star, follow me."
As we walked along, I couldn't help but notice Rainbow keep looking back at me and then quickly looking away. Is she blushing? I thought. I decided to push that aside as we came up to the tree that held the library. Apparently a party had been held there not long before, as I noticed a few ponies leaving, some looking my way and start whispering.
I heard a sigh as we entered and someone, whose voice I identified as Twilight's, say, "Party's over. Go home."
"Twilight, it's me, Rainbow." At this, I saw Twilight come out of one of the adjacent rooms while saying, "I thought you were going home?" She walked by, somehow not noticing me as she walked up to Rainbow Dash. I just stood there, waiting for the shock to come.
"I was…" Dash started
And waiting….
"…But I was stopped by 3 stallions on the way." She continued
"Oh, wha-," Twilight started before noticing Dash's face.
And waiting….
"OH! What happened?!" Twilight asked in a very concerned tone, obviously knowing what the underlying message was.
Still waiting….
"A certain mystery pony saved me," she answered, gesturing towards me.
"Oh, wh-" She stopped mid-question as she finally noticed my presence. There she stood just staring until finally exclaimed, "YOU!"
Good to know awareness is still crap, I thought, thinking back to a certain cliff from a week ago. I was surprised though when I was quickly tackled to the ground, Twilight holding me down, spouting off questions. "Who are you!? Why did you run a week ago?! Why did you follow us in the forest?!" I was about to answer her questions when thankfully Rainbow Dash cutted in.
"Twilight, get off him," she partly barked. "He's the one who saved me earlier tonight! His name is Star. I brought him here to ask if he could sleep here because he had been sleeping in the Everfree Forest this entire week, if not longer."
I saw Twilight's eyes grow as she absorbed this new information and quickly jumped off and started apologizing, "I'm SO sorry, I didn't know all of this. Um… yeah, he can stay here, if he doesn't mind a small cot." Twilight looked to Rainbow for a response, but instead gestured towards me, were I answered for myself, "I don't mind, and I thank you for your hospitality."
Twilight nodded and then directed me to a door saying, "it's through here and down the stairs." With that, I showed myself down as Twilight turned around back towards Rainbow Dash, no doubt going to talk about tonight's earlier events.
I found my way down the basement and to the cot on the other side of the room, laying myself in it. After sleeping on the ground for a week, this feels like heaven, I thought to myself. After thinking of today's events, I shut my eyes, hoping to get some peaceful sleep.
I was half right.
Not long after drifting to sleep, I found myself reliving a memory I wish would stay buried.
{-}
UUA First Fleet
CSC-002 Icarus II
Location: - Universe, Above Planet Raxus
Date: 3 years before present day
Mission: Defend Raxus and deter invading UIF fleet
The super-cruiser shook as its shield took another hit. On the view-screen, space seemed to light up as missiles were shot down by both opposing fleets' CIWS systems. It seemed like all hell was breaking loose and both sides were at a standstill. The tactical displayed showed another story. It looked like a mass confusion of different colored moving lights and words to anyone who wouldn't understand how to read it. To the crew aboard the bridge, it was a sign to work harder. For once in over 350 engagements since the uprising, UUA was beating the UIF back in a battle with overwhelming odds.
Again, the Icarus II shook, but this time, it wasn't getting hit. Back on the tac-display, two of the medium-sized red dots flashed off the display, signaling they were destroyed or were no long a combat threat. On the view-screen, it was confirmed as one was gutted bow to stern by a MAC round and the other's engines were hit by a multitude of missiles, causing its core to go critical, and was soon gone in a flash of light.
"Keep up the pressure!" I ordered fleet-wide. "We've almost got this!" This prospect pleased me immensely as I had seen too many retreats and loses in the ongoing conflict with the UIF ever since their formation and breaking off from the UUA. The only thing I see now that stood between the UUA and complete victory was the flagship coming into view on the screen.
"Admiral, enemy ships are ceasing fire. Sir, flagship changing position. They're exposing they starboard side," one of the bridge-staff reported.
"I can see that," I said while watching the view-screen, growing evermore unsteady as the flagship moved.
"Um… sir, the flagship is hailing us," the communications officer said, confused.
Why? Why would he hail us. Reighton would never surrender, I thought, even more confused at this notion.
"Bring it up onscreen," I commanded.
"Audio only sir," the officer said. "Patching it through."
He gave me a nod, signaling the link was established. "What do you want Reighton? Can't you see I'm busy trying to finish this god-forsaken war." I said, my voice dripping with anger towards the person I was fully aware was on the other side. There was a few seconds of silence, until a voice answered back over the audio systems.
"Oh, I'm fully aware what you're TRYING to do, but the only way this war ends is with the destruction of the collaboration of arrogance and lies that is the UUA. I didn't hail you to talk about that though," the voice, quickly identified as Reighton, answered. "No. I ordered my ships to stand down so I can talk to you about the planet below."
What's he up to, I thought, trying to run any possible scenarios through my head. I came up with nothing and decided to continue this discussion to pull some hints as to what he was planning. "Well, you have my attention. What do you want to…. discuss?"
"Oh just some general facts. Do you know how many people live on Raxus? I'll assume you don't. The total number is 20 billion. Another thing, did you know that Raxus' capital city spands an entire continent?" Reighton said.
"What are you getting at?" I said, getting slightly annoyed at his apparent stalling.
"In a moment, just two more things," Reighton said, continuing his one-sided 'discussion'. "One, Raxus' capital city holds over 25% of the world's total population. Two, and pay attention. Do you know how devastating an airborne super-virus can be to a planet's population?" At that, 12 missiles shot out of the flagship's underbelly, heading straight for the planet. "I guess you'll find out." At that the communications were terminated and the missiles hit their target, the capital city below.
"Sir, enemy ships on the move," one of the tactical officers reported. "They're leaving. I'm getting multiple reports on casualties on the planet below. The unknown virus is spreading at a rapid rate."
DAMNIT, I thought. That fucking bastard.
All eyes on the bridge to face towards me, as one officer spoke up, "Orders, sir?"
The tactical officer from earlier spoke up, "Admiral, they're getting away," while another reported, "Casualty reports are flooding in planet-side , sir."
I was stuck at a cross road with no good option out. One, I engage the UIF and finish the war for good; but then the virus, at this rate, would no doubt have spread too far across the planet to stop. Two, I do the only thing to stop the virus from spreading planet-wide, but in doing so, kill billions of innocent lives and let Reighton escape.
"Sir, orders sir?"
I stood there, almost unable to give the command I gave next, knowing I would never forgive myself. "Prime 4 Firestorm nukes. Tell the cruisers to prime theirs. Get a firing solution on the continent below."
One officer protested, "Sir, there are billions of people on the continent. We'l-"
"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW!?" I interrupted violently. I continued in a quieter, but still deadly tone, "I know it'll be killing billions of innocents. It's either that or we let the ENTIRE planet die."
As I stood there staring this man down, the tactical officer reported, "All ships have their nukes ready and have set their firing solutions. Awaiting firing command."
There I stood, giving it one last thought. Then, one word. One word that left a piece of me dead inside.
"Fire"
{-)
Twilight wasn't going to let Star off as to whom he is, but she decided it was better for him to get some sleep. After Rainbow Dash recounted the nights events, her curiosity grew.
Just who IS he, she thought. A while after Dash had left, Twilight snuck downstairs to check on Star, and if he was awake, she was going to ask him a few questions. She peeked over to the cot, only to find Star asleep. Well, I guess it can wait until morning, she thought. As she turned to leave though, she heard him mumble something. She turned back around and tried to get a better look at him. He was asleep, but it seemed he was having a nightmare. His breaths were short and he seemed to be sweating.
He continued to mumble, but Twilight wasn't able to make anything out. After a few minutes, Twilight was about to wake him up, but was startled back out the door when he shot up in a fright. After he whispered something, Twilight saw him lay back down.
Questions can definitely wait until morning, Twilight decided, as she headed to bed.
{-}
I shot up in a cold sweat after seeing the nukes hit the planet again. "Damnit," I whispered under my breath. After slowing down my heart and breaths, I laid back down and tried to get more sleep.
{-}
UUA First Fleet
SFG-0041 Under the Shroud
Location: the void between, nearing destination.
Peterson was a very patient man. But the trip through the void between was taking longer than expected, and he was starting to lose that patience, until the navigations officer spoke up. "Reaching destination. Exiting void in 2 minutes."
Finally, he thought. "Good. Raise the cloak before we exit. I don't want to stumble into a situation." Peterson ordered, which was met with a "Yes, sir"
Again, the officer spoke up, "Cloak raised. Exiting in 3…2….1…..exiting."
The captain stared the view-screen down, hoping to see anything that resembled the Faith. As the ship exited the void, he saw something. Something that shot his hopes to pieces.
The UIF flagship Ominous Justice.
There you go, chapter 5. I can't help but feel I rushed this one. Hopefully you don't feel I rushed it, and if you did, sorry.
An ending note. I will be accepting OCs, just pm me. Again, it's not guaranteed they will be used, but I'll try my hardest to incorporate them. Hope to see any readers next chapter. Arwingmaster1, out.