Title:           Shuttle pones #16
Author:          Maintenance-Bro
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/b72f5hAJ
First Edit:      Thursday 5th of June 2014 03:16:20 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Thursday 5th of June 2014 03:16:20 PM CDT

"Da, hope you can catch. I am in higher orbit than you." Buran said bragging about the power of his boosters.
"Well, I'll definitely see ya up there that's for sure. I'm up for a week, they don't like living experiments up very long. Hear you got a ten day trip." Challenger said as you ran a check on Buran's boosters.
"Da, ten day. Is good no?" Buran said still very focused on his task. Buran dedicated himself to the task of carrying this large satellite up to orbit.
"Yea, I'll say ten days is good. I've been up for two weeks before. Pushed the hell out of my fuel cells." Challenger said reminiscing on the memory.
 
0830 hrs. fifteen minutes prior to launch.
"Anon? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked as she walked into the control room.
"My job. Those ponies are my citizens, that and I've always wanted to participate in something like this." You say with a childish joy.
"Well, why am I here fifteen minutes before he goes up. I should have been here earlier." Twilight said.
"Well, I didn't want Buran distracted by questions about the satellite. His dampeners are nominal, the cargo is reading perfectly, and Challenger is ready with the chase satellite." You say as you read off what you've done on your clipboard.
"That's impressive." Twilight said as you give a half laugh and continue with the launch preparations.
You're manning the shuttle launch controls, and Twilight's on the satellite controls. You're just counting down the time until you give Buran the green light and detach his boosters from the stands.
"T minus 10 seconds, get ready for main engine ignition at three." You say on the loudspeaker as you watch the clock and Twilight is counting down in fear for her satellite.
"T minus three main engines start." Buran said as he light his engines.
"Zero, booster ignition, clamps release, liftoff of Buran and Sparkle butt's satellite. Mission clock is ticking." You say as you watch him run into the sky, leaving a smoky trail in his wake
You sit with a tremendous smile on your face as Buran indicates stage one separation of boosters and stage two ignition. You just launched a shuttle pony into space, and the shaking of the earth from his boosters and engines was tremendous.
Three minutes later Challenger lifts off, as Buran indicates separation from the external fuel tank.
"How's your satellite Sparklebutt?" You ask as Buran's readings are good, no excess vibrations from launch, and was near textbook launch.
"The satellite is good. I wasn't expecting there to be that little vibration aboard Buran. It's slightly lower than Columbia's. It's getting good power from Buran's systems at the moment." Twilight said as you look back at the monitors for Challenger, and you're very tense about now, 71 seconds in, and no boom, it's a relief to you, but still very tense.
"Why do you look so worried?" Twilight asked as you're waiting for a green light indicating SRB separation.
"I'll calm down when Challenger's SRBs are away safely." You say as the green indicator light turns on in mission control allowing you to let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Good, if there's one thing I know, it's during launch and reentry for the Shuttles that will kill them, not being up there. Micrometeorites do next to nothing to them" You say rather relieved to have two shuttles launched safely into orbit. Though it would be another hour before Buran released Twilight's satellite.
"Wait, were you calling me Sparklebutt earlier?" Twilight asked.
"Yea what of it?" You say not very concerned as your monitoring job is done, these two ponies can conduct themselves.
"Don't you have an insulting name for everypony?" Twilight asked wondering if you just insulted her.
"Naw, I just give nicknames that some ponies don't like. Like Princess Sunbutt. Then again, I do like getting on her nerves, but that's stopping because well. Rex Tremendae." You say as you shrug at your explanation.
"It's just a nickname?"
"Yes." you say annoyed.
"What about what you call Celestia?" Twilight asked
"That's an insult. Ain't going to deny that one." You say laughing.
"HEY!"
"What I'm being honest about that, give me credit for owing up to that." You say as you sit and watch their reports come in.
 
1000 hrs. Raptor's home.
"Why'd you escort those gryphons out yesterday Raptor?" Nora asked as she was lying on the couch.
"Rex wanted them escorted to the border. He was not happy with them. I didn't ask." Raptor said as she sat next to Nora.
"Oh, well did ya hear that noise a while ago? What the hell was Rex launching today?" Nora asked oblivious to the two shuttle launches.
"Nora, there was two shuttle pony launches today. So that noise you heard was them going up. That's been on the list of things going on for a week." Raptor said almost annoyed with her roommate's dumb questions.
"You'd know this if you went outside every now and again Nora, instead of sitting on my couch getting fat, you'd know what's going on." Raptor said trying to get Nora to go and fly with her.
"Did you just call me fat?"
"I'm saying you're getting fat Nora. You should come fly with me." Raptor said as she got off the couch and walked towards her door.
"Alright then, you're on. I've been saving up my energy for something like this." Nora said as she rolled off the couch and ran after Raptor.
Less than five minutes later they both took to the skies laughing and chasing eachother.
1230 hrs. Your shop's office.
"Is it time for us to be going home?" Princess Luna asked as the two of you were sitting in your office.
"Well, Twilight and her friends shouldn't stay here longer than they need to be. If that happens to be today, so be it." You say as you're doing administrative paperwork at the moment.
"Well, I do agree that they should return to Equestria, though I have not heard or seen those gryphons." Luna said as you were reading the papers before you.
"Well, I'd rather be safe than sorry you know? As much as it bothers me to say this, if something were to happen it should happen in Equestria not here." You say as you're now sidetracked from administrative duties.
"And why would you say that?" Luna asked rather worried as to why.
"Because then I wouldn't be involved with it. No offence, but I'd rather not get caught up in that situation. Trying to be Neutral and all here." You say as Morgan walks into the area
"Morgan? What are you doing here?" You ask as you walk from your office.
"I was looking for Luna. Have you seen her?" Morgan asked as she looked awfully confused.
"Yea, she and I are talking. What's on your mind Morgan?" You ask as you duck back into your office to push Luna out before Morgan.
"Well, it's Rainbow Dash, I think she collided with my shielding while I was flying earlier." Morgan said as you look to Luna for advice.
"Were you doing anything while you were flying?" Luna asked
"Well, I was practicing maneuvers. But she collided with the shielding when I was circling around idly." Morgan said confusion still heavy in her voice
"Sasha suggested that the pony was jealous of me. I don't know why she would be." Morgan said as she looked slightly saddened by this.
"Well, Rainbow Dash is jealous of you Morgan. It's rather difficult to explain, as I myself don't fully understand why she is. It has to do with your ability to fly so precisely though the air and pull some maneuvers that only you and Rex know how to do." Luna said
"That doesn't make sense. Why would she? I mean her wings are like yours. Flexible and strong. Mine are strong and ridged. I'm not a carrier jet so my wingtips don't fold like the Hornets, even then the only other pony like me is Berkut and his forward swept wings. Luna your wings can already do so much, to add what I can do atop them would break them." Morgan said pointing out her differences.
"And there's no shame in being different. You and Berkut can out turn any of these ponies, which is why Rainbow is jealous of you, you can turn like one of the Pegasai, if not better than them. Everything's within reason Luna, you've just, got to think a little. Rainbow will either talk to you or hate you for the rest of her stay here. That is ultimately up to her. What you need to do is be yourself, even if that means letting your shyness get in the way." You say comforting Morgan into smiling
"Thanks dad. You always know what to say." Morgan said as she now happily left you and Luna alone in your shop.
"Well, that was something." you say with a slight laugh and go to return back to your duties.
"Well, yes it was, but look at your map." Princess Luna said getting you to stop and turn around
"What about it?" You ask as you stand between her and your office.
"It shows your territory right?"
"Right, what about all the land?"
"Well, you are right between Oslo and Equestria. I see why you would want to say out of our affairs. anything between the two nations would be on your doorstep." Princess Luna said making you acknowledge how large your ream actually is.
"I know, why do you think I'm trying to avoid everything?" You say as there's a few knocks on the hangar door.
"Better get the door."
"I plan on it Princess." You say as you open the doors to see a Rafael and Draken at your doorstep. Their paint scheme is familiar to you, but you can't place where.
"Hello there, what can I do for you two?" You say getting their attention.
"We bring news from Rugido," the Draken said
"You two come in, if you bring news from Rugido, you need to tell me." You say as you push the hangar doors wide enough for the two of them to enter.
"Si, we must tell you of the news." the Rafael said as she came in right behind the Draken.
"Yes Marcela, after we introduce ourselves." the SAAB 35 said.
"I am Rex Tremendae, ruler of the Avalon territory and mechanic of Avalon's Shadow." You say introducing yourself with a formality to match the SAAB.
"Gracias, I am Alberto, and my companion is Marcela. We have information on a camp of gryphons set up five miles outside of Rugido. We have done several surveilance flights around these gryphons, and they are planning to head here for a reason beyond our knowledge." Alberto said as you're slowly remembering what their paint scheme reminded you of. Espada.
"What they're here for I know. What I want you to do is chase them off. I have already told their diplomats that they're not going to get away with something like what they're planning. Go back to Rugido and tell your compatriots to chase them back to Oslo. Divert them far from Avalon's Shadow. You are not allowed to hurt them. I do not want a war on our hooves." (As one sided as it will be) You say explaining what you want them to do.
"Si, yes, but we just arrived." Marcela said as you nod and quickly think of a way to divert her.
"Well, I'm sure KC would be more than happy to make a fresh pot of coffee for you two." You say picking up their spanish accent, Spain, rather interesting. Then again the Electric Lightning that you see around every now and again his accent is pretty heavy to the point you hit him over the canopy with a pool noodle and call him a brit bong.
"Thank you Rex, but why do you not have it here?" Marcela asked to which you smile and walk them to KC's
"It would take up too much space Marcela, that's my shop, and to have all the niceities in there would well, make that place something it's not. I like it as my repair shop." You say as the three of you walk to Edge of Space.
"Yes, you have very interesting place here. Many old ponies here. They seem to be airworthy." Alberto said as he was looking around.
"Well, I'm rather proud to say I've rejuvenated a lot of the old timers around here. I wasn't the commander when I got here." You say very proud of his notice of your work.
"This is the place you bring us?" Marcela asked as she was a little disgusted with the bar.
"Marcela, this is the local community spot, it's like Rugido's cafes, this one is just, a little more rowdy than you're used to." You say as Alberto walks in and almost commands Marcela to enter the establishment.
"It will do. Is there any coffee in this establishment?" Alberto said as KC nodded and actually pulled out his hand cranked coffee grinder and ground fresh coffee for them.
"Not often Ah get to make coffee. What's the occasion Rex?" KC asked
"Two visitors from Rugido. Brought news of a few gryphons. Mind sending the Smiths to monitor them?" You say as KC's now adding the fresh grounds to a coffee pot.
"Ah'll see what ah can do about that. They don't like flyin far from protected airspaces ya know that right Rex?" KC said
"KC, they'll be five miles from Rugido, They should cooperate with us, if not, send Phantom and Misha with them." You say finding the Smiths' intelligence on Phantom interesting to say the least.
"Ah can do that. How'd ya know about Misha?" KC asked.
"How else? They just don't report to you and Sully you know." You say as KC laughs.
 
1400 hrs. Sully and Mulder's hangar.
"Mulder, what do ya think's going on with those gryphons?" Sully asked as Mulder laid down on her couch.
"Sully, I dunno, they're gryphons, I can't read them. I just fly out of their flight ceiling and take pictures of their movements" Mulder said
"You're not gonna make fun of me for trying to analyze them are you?" Sully asked as Mulder just gave him a look of you're serious right.
"Sully, we're paid to bring pictures back, not analyze them for the analysts. Leave that stuff to Brezhnev and Echo. It's not our job to interpret what we see, just record it." Mulder said even touching on Sully's friendship with Brezhnev, as multiple times she's caught him with photos of things that Brezhnev wanted reconnaissance of.
"I don't get it. Why do you not try to understand what you're looking at?" Sully asked.
"Why do you have to try and do every job that's associated with the runs you make?" Mulder asked retorting against Sully.
"Sweet Celestia! you can be hard to deal with some times." Sully said as he was ready to leave.
"Sully, if you go anywhere, could you please clean up the puddles of JP-7 you leave behind. I know you can't do much about them, but could you not leave the puddles on the ground? I've already slipped on them twice." Mulder said as she looked at him with concern in her face.
"I'll clean up after myself. Sorry ya slipped on my fuel Mulder. When you did you didn't break anything did you?" Sully asked as he got a wet vacuum to clean up the fuel puddles.
"No, just superficial scratches. Nothing worth noting." Mulder said as she watched Sully clean up the dripping fuel.