Title:           Ponies in Space (Ep - 3 Guilty Conscience part 1) - WIP
Author:          Pony_Azathoth
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Jvj389bx
First Edit:      Saturday 22nd of September 2012 08:07:57 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Saturday 22nd of September 2012 08:07:57 AM CDT

Last time on Ponies in Space...
>The Harmony crew went to grab an asteroid for the Equestrian Fleet but some green equine aliens, called the Xatlings, got there first. Tensions were mounting, but a sudden attack by The Far Ones made the two ships band together and take out the fighters! They decided to share the bounty of the asteroid for both races, making everyone happy! Now our team will return for the Sunrise for a heroes welcome...
 
And now...
>Ponies in Space (Ep. 3 - Guilty Conscience pt. 1)
 
>Anonymous and the Mane 6 begin their flyback to the Equestrian fleet
>Several shuttle ships had already been out to the asteroid, with the Xatlings providing ample mining equipment and sharing much of the spoils
>Soon, a few larger Equestrian ships came and essentially split the asteroid in half, and gave one half to the Xatlings, who accepted with big alien smiles all around.
>The Harmony docked with the sunrise again, this time to celebrate!
>As they exited their trusty ship, Pinkie Pie jumped from the Harmony
"This is going to be the best party ever!"
>It didn't seem to matter all you did was just grab some metal, everyone was so ecstatic and excited!
>Anonymous and co. were invited to a large dining hall aboard the Sunrise.
>They were greeted by not just Celestia, but by Luna and several of the most important generals and captains in the Equestrian fleets.
>They ate, drank, and were merry
 
>During the dinner, Celestia politely tapped her hoof on the table, silencing the guests.
"Excuse me, but I think we should have a toast. To the crew of the Harmony!"
>Anonymous sat back with a small smile
>Twilight and Fluttershy blushed, Applejack tried her best to thank everyone who clapped
>Pinkie Pie giggled
>Rainbow Dash grinned, spreading her front legs and bowing in her seat
>This made Rarity roll her eyes
>Anonymous noticed, he just laughed.
>Everyone raised their glasses, clinking together, and everyone drank.
>Anon was a bit confused, but smiled when he realized everyone was drinking apple cider
>It was really, really good cider though.
 
>After the dinner, the crew shook hands (hooves?) with the captains and important people.
>They reacted as you might imagine, Fluttershy cowering and Rainbow Dash being immodest
>They were then directed to meet with the Princesses, they had a new important mission for them.
>They walked into the bridge of the Harmony. Luna sat there and nodded at the group. Celestia turned to them and smiled
"I would like to congratulate all of you on your roaring success on your mission! Excellent job all around."
 
>Anonymous looks at Twilight with a raised eyebrow
>It seemed they were both thinking the same thing
>Anonymous spoke first though
"Princess, why did everyone act like this mission was so great? We just got a single asteroid; that's all! We actually failed our real goal, the Xatlings got there first. I don't understand why everyone is taking this as a huge success."
>Celestia looked to the side, thinking, but Luna spoke first
"Ah, do none of you know? We have recently received a few trade offers from the Xatling merchants. We are finally trading with a new alien race. Most of the aliens we have met were either hostile, or just dismissed us. We have never had a chance at having allies until now. But this... This could turn everything around. The Xatlings have an empire with several planets and systems, having many fleets and a few more decades of space combat experience then we do. We cannot stand alone against The Far Ones, but maybe with them... Maybe with them and a few more races we could make a stand."
>Anonymous nodded, he was finally starting to understand
>Nobody gave a shit about the metal, it was what had happened with the aliens.
>The Harmony really did give the Equestrians hope.
>Celestia swallowed, nodding.
"Yes. And you did wonderfully. But, we have another mission for you already. You'll have quite a while before you reach it, so you may rest and relax then. But we need your speed. Luna, if you would please."
>Luna nodded, touching a button and bringing up a display showing hundreds of stars.
"This image is what tipped us off."
>Rainbow Dash instantly speaks
"I don't see anything! Just a bunch of lame stars."
 
>Rarity shot a sideways glance at the pegasus, but said nothing
"Yes, at first it looks like nothing. But it is actually very, very important. This picture was took by a photography assistant on one of our ships, the ship named after Rarity to be exact, and is caught something out of the ordinary. Now normally, taking a picture of space is an almost useless endeavor. Even if you spent your whole life, you wouldn't be able to map even a fraction of a single percent of space. That's just how massive the universe is. But, somehow, we got lucky. Luna, enhance the image."
>The image zoomed in on a single spot, and a single gray dot got more and more detailed until it showed a small, round metallic ball. It looked similar to how the Far Ones designed their ships.
"It's a Far One scouting vessel. It is several lightyears ahead of us. We need you to destroy it."
>The crew nodded
>Celestia nodded back
"Alright then, go and make use proud again, my little ponies."
>Anonymous smirked.
"...And human."
>They left the bridge, ready to move out
>All the praise and talking about them made them feel really important. It felt good to be important.
>But it could also make somebody nervous.
>They'll feel that later on, they had no doubt.
>In the mean time, they went back into the loading bay, just in time to see Engineers load up more supplies on the ship.
 
>The crew walked up, wanting to talk to the engineers.
"Hey, what are you guys loading up?"
>The Engineers seemed annoyed at the question, but answered quickly
"More food, emergency oxygen tanks, weapon ammunition that isn't used from the engines. That sort of thing."
>Anonymous nodded
>The Harmony was fully capable of synthesizing anything it needed, from missiles to engine parts
>Only trouble was getting the materials
>The manufacturing capabilities were impressive, but very slow.
>So, they couldn't very well wait two weeks for a new life support system, so it was good they were getting new parts.
-------------------------------------
>Once the ship was loaded up, the crew saw a large party in the hangar, with Spike looking huge and impressive behind them.
>The various p0nies and others all waved their hooves, shouting and throwing confetti
>The p0nies and Anon got a heroes welcome, and a heroes exit.
>They also realized they would not be back for a while.
>They mentally prepared for the isolation of deep-space travel during their training, but it was nothing like the real thing.
>They would just have to deal with it
>And not kill each other on the way
>Not that they wanted to, or anything.
>...At least for right now.
>Anon was, as usual, the odd one out.
>He was so different form the p0nies aboard both the Harmony and the Sunrise that he wasn't sure where he fit in.
>He would just have to make himself useful
>Well, being a captain already made him pretty useful
>But why?
>He forgot to ask Celestia why she made him captain again!
>He needed to talk to her alone when he got the chance...
 
>The ship was ready to take off
>The core hummed, the crew felt the ship rumble to life beneath them, the power of the core being felt through all of them
>Rainbow Dash danced her hooves along the control panel, making the ship gracefully move and exit the hangar
>It exited the air-tight force-field, designed to not let air out but let ships in and out freely
>Once she squeezed out, she guided the ship a little ways away from the Sunrise so they had room.
>Once she was a comfortable distance, she gunned the main engine
>The engine gave a sigh as it took off, the ship speeding ahead of the Sunrise and the other ships
>They were already on their way.
>Now came the important part.
>The waiting.
 
>Anonymous stood from the captain's chair, stretching.
"Well, we've got the whole ship to ourselves, and nothing to do for... three weeks or so? What do all of you want to do?"
>They all looked at him strangely
>Pinkie Pie started to giggle
>Twilight laughed
>He shrugged
"Just saying."
>Anon then left the room, finding a seat in the nice circular couch and stretching, laying down
>If he was going to be on this hunk of metal for the next few weeks, he was going to enjoy it at the very least.
 
>Anonymous watched as Applejack came floating into the living room.
"Making yourself right at home, huh partner?"
>Anonymous nodded, sitting up.
"Yep. How about you?"
>Applejack shrugged, however a pony does that.
"Well, it ain't no Sweet Apple Acres, but it's not bad. Not as bad as that there Sunrise, at least."
>Anonymous nodded
>There was just something so much more enclosed and homely about this ship.
>The Sunrise felt a bit intimidating, with its corridors and guards everywhere.
>This ship was much, much nicer.
>Soon, the other p0nies left the bridge, joining the circle and sitting, just talking and laughing.
>Anonymous looked around, he couldn't help but smile
>This was the first time he had seen all of them together, just acting naturally.
>Applejack and Rainbow Dash were talking to one another
>Fluttershy and Rarity were talking to each other, more quietly, with Rarity working on a piece of embroidery at the same time, and Fluttershy playing with one of those little animals that was on the ship.
>Twilight sat by herself, reading.
>Anonymous looked around, confused
>5 out of 6
 
>Anonymous stood up, looking around for the pink p0ny.
>Where the hell was she?
>He stepped out of the couch circle, and then towards her room
>Suddenly, her door sprung open, and Pinkie trotted out happily
>She looked at Anonymous and nodded
"Howdy, Anonymous!"
>He blinked
>She walked past him and to the couch
>Wait a second, how did she get out of the bridge and into her room without Anon seeing? He was watching the whole time, he was sure.
>Maybe he shouldn't question it, on second though.
>He then returned to his seat and sat down, watching Pinkie jump to everyone and talk to them and bringing a smile to her face and their face
>Anon felt himself smile as well at Pinkie's antics and attitude.
>He didn't realize this ship had a morale officer too!
----------------------------------------------------------
>Anonymous quickly learned that your greatest foe aboard a space-ship was not what you'd expect.
>It wasn't the crushing power of a super nova, or a black hole
>It wasn't the insidious nature of a disease or an engine leak
>It was the grim and harsh reality of the vastness of space
>No, it was something far worse.
>It was boredom.
 
>Anonymous found it somewhat ironic, honestly.
>He had almost unlimited entertainment at his hands almost any time
>But yet he was still bored.
>So very bored.
>He decided to stop laying on his bed and staring at the beauty of space and decided to poke his head around the ship a bit.
>He made his way to the lower decks, and then to the shuttles
>These shuttles acted both as exploratory vessels as well as escape pods.
>He pressed a button, opening it up and looking inside.
 
>Anonymous first looked at the room directly connect to the Harmony.
>It was a sort of bedroom.
>It had two cushions a little lower then waist high, allowing people to sit or lay down. There were two more cushions over them, that could be lowered to allow more people to lay down.
>He also saw a kind of plastic mat beneath the fixed bench, it was there for storage so things didn't slide around, but with a few blankets it could easily be used as a new bed.
>Anonymous realized that these shuttles, which were identical, were obviously made for maximum efficiency.
>He went inside deeper, looking at the two small, circular rooms shooting to the sides before the cockpit.
>The port side had a small, open chamber with a waist disposal hole at the bottom. There was a door that could be locked from the outside. It was an airtight door, and it seemed like both a bathroom as well as a jail cell!
>The one on the right was a circular storage closet, with tons of shelves containing fuel, spare parts, food and water, blankets and medical supplies.
>This room also had access to the life-support systems.
>Then, he moved to the cockpit. There, he saw the three chairs that controlled the shuttle.
>The middle and top chair was the primary driver. The other two chairs didn't seem to have any controls, they were just there for others to strap in.
>Anonymous ran his hand over the comfortable synthetic seat.
>The future was awesome.
 
>Anonymous slowly moved up and sat down in the chair.
>He wondered when he would get a chance to drive this.
>Suddenly, a very loud Fluttershy appeared at his side, causing him to nearly shit himself as he bolted out of the chair!
"Captain Anon!"
"GAH FUCK!" He yelled, looking down at the yellow pegasus
>She seemed hurt by his response, but she understood why he did it.
"Anon! I've been looking all over for you! There is a emergency I need you for!"
>He nodded, standing tall, ready to lead and fight any aliens who dared attack the ship, or to deal with any crazed stowaways.
"Alright, let's go!"
 
>Anonymous raised an eyebrow at Fluttershy.
"Seriously?"
>She nodded, closing her eyes
>Anonymous looked up at bunny stuck in a tree.
"Why can't you just fly up there?"
>She shook her head
"Wh-what if I drop him!?"
>He rolls his eyes
"Why didn't you get Twilight or Rarity then?"
>Fluttershy looked Anonymous up and down
"Well.. You're a monkey, basically, so I just assumed.."
>Anonymous sighed, walking out of the room
"W-Wait! Anonymous please come back!"
>Anonymous came back in a few seconds, carrying a small tool used to pick apples at a distance.
>He aimed it and fired, the orange beam surrounding the bunny
>He lowered the bunny into Fluttershy's arms, and then turned it off
"There you go. You can use this too, next time."
>Fluttershy blushed and smiled apologetically at Anon.
>He smiled back, just watching. He was really thinking about what to do next.
>Suddenly, a screaming Rarity came running in
"FLUTTERSHY! Oh, and Anon. COME QUICK!"
>Anon hopped up, ready for anything.
>Though, he was now getting a nagging feeling it was something stupid, and dealt with small animals.
 
>Anon ran into the main circular room, and saw the p0nies gathered around, making cute little baby sounds
>He walked up, skeptically.
>He saw them crowded around two boxes, one addressed to Rarity, the other to Applejack, and out of the boxes and running around on the floor
>Was a fucking puppy, and a kitten.
>2 for 2 Anon, 2 for 2.
>Rarity trotted up to the kitty and snuggled it, speaking.
"Aren't they just adorable~ I found the kitten in my room, and Applejack found the puppy in her room! Isn't it delightful?!"
>Twilight looked up at Anon and floated something to him
"There was this note addressed to you, Anon. Nop0ny else is supposed to read it. It must be important."
>Anon looked skeptical and grabbed the note from the air, opening it and reading it
>It was writing in a obviously artificial but still fancy-looking script.
>It was from the Princess
>It basically said that in the event of a crisis where Anon's nutritional synthesizer was broken or unusable, he had direct authority to confiscate and eat both the kitten, the dog, and any of Fluttershy's animals.
>He looked down, the dog was at his feet, giving him a cute look, flopping its ears to the side
"Bark!"
>Anon wasn't sure what the fuck he was supposed to be feeling right now.
 
>Anonymous tried to act manly but the charm of the cute little kitten and puppy was too much for him
>He sat down, reaching forward and petting the animals, taking turns playing tug of war with the puppy and bouncing the fake mouse on a string to the kitten
>He was quite enjoying himself.
>It couldn't last though.
>The mechanical owl that was owned by Twilight flapped down and stood next to Twilight, sending a holographic message to her.
>Twilight got up, motioning to everyone.
"Sorry to break this up, everyp0ny, but our scanners are picking up something. We should probably get to the bridge an-"
>Just then, an explosion rocked the ship.
>Well shit
>Everyone fucking ducked out and ran to the bridge
>Anonymous sat in his chair, motioning to Fluttershy, who had just sat down
"Fluttershy, send out a call signal! Rarity, see what's happening!"
>Rarity and Fluttershy both went to work, Fluttershy responding first
"They aren't responding to our hails!"
>Rarity looked over at Anon.
"There are about half a dozen ships coming at us, they are smaller and a bit weaker then us, but they are moving in unison, they are working together!"
"Put an image up on screen!"
>Rarity nodded, and put an image on the screen
>It looked just like a Xatling fighter, except it was painted black
>Anonymous felt a great rage come up inside him
"Those fucking alien bastards! They betrayed us!"
>Fluttershy spoke almost instantly after that
"Anonymous, those ships may be Xatling, but they aren't part of the Xatling empire! Look at the colors, they are painted black, the Xatlings normally paint their ships bright green to stand out and be proud, as they are proud warriors, not stealthy ambush predators!"
>Anonymous looked stunned, not expecting an outburst like that from Flutters
>She suddenly blushed and looked away
"Well, I mean, that's what I think it means..."
>Fucking Fluttershy.
 
>Anonymous nodded, motioning to Applejack
"Get those shields up!"
>Applejack smacked her controls a few times, the shields raising with a nice hum
>A few more blasts of small weapons rocked the ship
>These enemies weren't exactly very threatening
>He motioned to Pinkie
"You got weapons locked?"
>She nodded happily
"Ay Ay Captain of mine!"
>Anonymous raised his hand to fire, then had an idea
"Wait!"
>Everyone stopped, looking at him
>He turned to Twilight as the tiny ships assaulted the Harmony, their weapons barely making the ship rock at all.
"Twilight, do you think that these guys are deserters?"
>She nodded
"Seems likely."
>Anonymous looked over at the others, thinking
"So... You think that if we were to return them to the Xatlings, we might get a few bonus points?
>Twilight nodded
>Pinkie spoke up
"Uhh, good idea and all Anon, but most of the weapons on the Harmony would destroy those ships in a single shot!"
>Anonymous smiled, rubbing his hands together
"Not all the weapons! Rainbow Dash, come with me! Twilight, take over the ship controls while we go."
>Rainbow Dash got up, looking confused, but ready for anything.
 
>Anonymous and Rainbow Dash ran through the hall of the Harmony, and ran down the stairs to the lower decks
>He ducked behind the stairs, pointing at the shuttle
"You take the Stability, I'll take the Peacemaker!"
>She nodded, starting to understand
>He was almost giddy
>He finally got to fly the fucking shuttle.
>He jumped inside his shuttle, closing the airlock behind himself, and hopping into the seat
>He strapped himself in, pressing the button to activate the shuttle
>It quickly drew its power from the Harmony
>He placed his feet down on the pedals below the seat
>In case it ran out of energy, he could pedal it a bit.
>But he didn't need to do that!
>He pressed the communications button, activating comm channels with Rainbow Dash and the Harmony itself.
"Anonymous disengaging now!"
>He disengaged, the small shuttle floating into space a bit, the engines firing off.
>He heard Rainbow Dash disengage, she confirmed through her communicators.
"Rainbow Dash, activate your thermal scanners and overlay it on the screen! Pinkie, use the Harmony's cannons to try and herd the fighters closer together!
>She heard confirmation
>Anonymous activated his thermal overlay, pressing a button then to activate his laser turret
>It spun to life below the front of the shuttle, like a Gatling gun on a helicopter.
 
>Anonymous flew into action, flying underneath the Harmony and coming up near the front of the Harmony
>He saw Rainbow Dash right beside him
>He began to see several notifications of targets in front of him, he saw the signs of the fighters
>They were outnumbered, and they were literally going to fly right in the thick of them
>He breathed deep
"Rainbow, target their weapons and engines, try to keep them alive."
"Yes Captain."
>Anon smirked, nodding
>Badass music started playing through his head
"Let's rock."
 
>Anonymous and Rainbow Dash charged their weapons as they flew into the fray
>A huge explosion appeared beside one of the fighters, knocking it closer to the others
>Pinkie was herding them closer together, just as planned
>Anonymous and Rainbow flew close together, and then quickly split up
>3 for him, 3 for her
>That was the plan anyway
>Anonymous spun the firing wheel of his laser, and it locked on
>He aimed at the fighter's weapons, and he locked on
>He fired a few blasts, hoping to disable them
>At that exact moment, the ship moved, and his lasers hit the fighter's reactor instead
>Anonymous saw, in slow motion and with the thermal vision, the two Xatlings inside be thrown from their seats and sucked out of a hole in the side of the ship, and he saw them gasping for air as blood drained from them, and he saw their heat signatures fade from the red it had been to yellow and then to blue as space itself killed them
>He shivered, that was not something he wanted to see again
>He would be more careful with the next one
>He flew away from the ruined fighter, and aimed his lasers this time, aiming ahead of the ship
>The fighter boosted the right, but Anon was too fast and blasted it, the lases of his ship knocking off their weapons
>He then flew past it, turning on a dime, and firing a few more shots at its rear, damaging the engines
>The ship was basically dead in the water, perfect
>He then checked his scanners for the third fighter
>To his horror, it was right behind him.
