private Eastern Skies Ablaze

[FancyHorse 1,209]

OOC:https://mlpforums.com/topic/154975-eastern-skies-ablaze-1x1/#entry4616576

Breath 1.
Breath 2.
Breath 3.

Follow your tactical breathing. A little hard to with the screeching of the the rouge drone following you. It was though it was right on top of him, well correction; it was behind him. Each shot of its beam whizzing by him, amazing that it can keep up well with a jet pack at these speeds. Could be the wings? Tariq pulled at his air brake switch on his stick. With a screeching hiss he reared back, his visiond damped but he keyed his visor reticle as he urched forward back into afterburn.

Fool! The table turned and he let the barrage of his cannon. His muffled ears making out the thumps of the high caliber death machines to his sides. And in bits and gibs the drone was no more within mere moments of his simple manuever.

"Scratch!." He called out on comm. Recieving three acknowledgement signals on his HUD.

He climbed trying to get an observation. Nothing but eastern barren coast with the sun up in high noon. To his northwest at high, his fellow fighter tailed close to another drone. Samir was right upon him nearly within touch. A rather odd habit of his always trying to toy with his weakend prey. And always an irritant to Tariq.

"Stop with the play. Take him!" He gave a quick call. Replied with an acknowledged signal. In a quick blaze of his own twin weapons the drone fell into bit, now making its way to the sea.
---
It was roughly early morning after they had arrived but it was very little time to simply unwind. 4:36 am, t'was such a long flight too for the Wonderbolt team. Saddle Arabia's invitation for their yearly Intesity Flights Race and Military Games has never been heard of to be given to other flight groups. It was chance to set their name and prove their capablilities outside of Equestria. Even Captain Rainbow Dash was said to be tuning in to see the progress for the specially picked flight time.

Having a near rough landing at the Jawfir International Airport and another longer drive into Sjin province, they each silently in haze drag their belongings into their assigned hotel rooms. It was rather luxurious of Arabia to provide individual rooms and in decent housing. Spacious rooming, small personalized kitchen ad on and the perfect view to the lit streets below.

Edited September 25, 2016 by IllusivePony

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Soft Star got in with most of the team rather early in the morning, despite it being a shortish flight it was somewhat exhausting. Might of had somthing to do with half the team wanting to race there, this made it quite hard for the rest to keep up and exhausting the various teams.

 

She'd gotten to her room with the sole intention to sleep. But before that she was exploring her room for a bit...

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Around her she was in the bedroom. Before her was the large queen sized matress adorned with vibrant crimson sheets, fluffy ebony pillows and and equally comfy blanket upon it. Hanging above it on the tan coated wall displayed a fabricated coat of arms of some benign military branch its obvious plastic noteable on the flimsy swords. Acoss was the small dresser. Upon it; a decent sized television, a note printed on it.

 

"Apologies, the only avalible channels are the following: Royal Arabian News Center of Sjin, International Foods Cuisine and the Local Weather Channel 5. Thank you for your understanding."

 

The small kitchen to the left holds a simple kitchen counter, one small fridge and a quality stainless steel oven. The flooring of simple tile.

 

A knock was heard audible from the room door.

 

"Soft Star?" A soft female voice spoke.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Yeah? Come in doors not locked." She rarely locked doors, never being witness to crime tendes to make one rather trusting. As who ever was coming in she walked to the fridge, hopefully to get a drink from it.

 

She found a few things, whether she had to pay for them, or the team would cover it? She shrugged and got some water bottles out for herself and this guest.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

((Guess I got time for one more.))

 

Entering in was rather tall the normal pegasus mare. Her fit form noteable from her faded yellow coat, her mane a short and leaf green slightly off setting her apperance. It was Soft Soar one of the more seasoned Wonderbolt cadets. Not exactly green but still fresh to the ranks.

 

"Heya."She greeted with a soft voice even more so unfitting of her well toned appearance. She did mention she was from Ponyville, perhaps that explains her eased nature.

 

"I'm sorry to pester you. High Wind and Geronimo are being loud. Could'nt really settle down with them horseplaying in the next room."

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Hey Soar, you can crash here for a while. How come you've not got your own room? Are they bunking the cadets?" She walked over to her lower ranked college and hoofed her a bottle. "You know if the team is paying for the mimibar?"

 

Star had seen Soar a few times, well she'd met everyone from the Wonderbolt team and the big names, to all the cadets and fellow reservists. Star was certainly know by everyone as she was the only current thestral in staff at the moment, a pair of leather wings amongst the feathers.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"No I have my own! But the walls seems a bit thin it seems, i can hear them clearly from side. So I came here for a bit. Annnnd... I think so? Or maybe the Arabians are? They paid for our entry flight passes and stuff? They paid the hotel costs yeah?" She said taking a sip from her bottle taking seat upon a stool near the bar.

 

"Did you get selected for the race course or the endurance course?" Soar asked, giving a moment of reflection.

Star had recalled when she received her "Obligatory Invitation" from Captain Dash.

 

((I will allow you to decide on which event Star will compete. Endurance or Speed?))

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"You shoukd know the answer to that Soar." Star went back the fridge to get a chocolate bar. She started unplealing it as she came back to her. "I'm not very fast.." Opening her wings for emphasis. "Well not by Wonderbolt standards, so I'll be doing the endurance one." She started munching on the chocolate bar.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"Ah, right." She corrected herself. Removing herself from the kitchen she walks near the large window to exmamine the city around the them.

"Well, its nice so far! And oddly did you notice the uh lack of media attention when we got here? I mean with us being Wonderbolts we'd be pretty big news." She says poking her to and fro looking at the crowded streets below.

 

It was indeed noteable when they looked back away from their tiredness. Only greeted by represenatives of the emissary and such. In fact at times it seemed nopony seem to bat an eye at them as the flight time made their way into the heart of the country. No autographs, screaming fans it seemed a strange change of events from their typical visit.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

She joined her at the window. "Come to think about it..." She paused to think, even raising a hoof to her chin to think. She looked to Soar. "Your right, I mean there was almost nothing... I know we've got fans down here, but yeah almost nothing. Also there is no fans surrounding the hotel, they like not tell them (public) that we've arrived?"

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Whizzing past them at a high speed a small rounded helicopter follows above the street, following behind on ground level a row of large armored vehicles makes it way down roads. Cars and other traffic move aside as they close about heading to more open motorways.

"Well they certainly seem busy." Soar spoke,

 

"But yeah. Maybe they have their own flight teams?" She commented.

 

Returning to the minibar Soar searches again in the fridge. Retreiving a crimson bottle.

"Exotic Hoofcrafted Blood Berries?... Oh its just Cherry apple." She giggled a bit at the dramatic name.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Star laughed from her comments. "Yeah just cherry apple." She walked to her bed sitting down, finishing her chocolate.

 

"What's with the military presence? I thought Saddle Arabia was as stable as Equestria?" She looked over to Soar. "So, you know I don't recall you telling me where you live?"

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Having poured a small glass she comes along, taking a seat upon the bed carefully holding the container in her feathered "fingers" .

"Well I was from Cloudsdale but that was like.. I was just a little filly. I mostly grew up in Ponyville. Its a sweet little town. Well more so its not so much a small town. Its really been expanding over the years!." She answers, taking a sip.

 

"You're a thestral? Yes? I - I get my words mixed up. Uh where are you from? If its okay to ask?" She returned the question with slight hesitation.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"You seem edgy at that question, I did ask you." Patting her on the back for a moment. "I was born in Hollow Shades like most of my kind, my mom is a thestral like me, dad is actually a pegasus. Anyway we moved to Cloudsdale when I was a baby, living there ever since."

 

She shifted a little. "I live on my own these days and work at Cloudsdale Uni. I'm astrologist you know?"

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"Wow! A a thestral who is a wonderbolt and an astrologist? Thats quite a combo!" Soar replied,

"Sorry if that sounded... hesitating. Ive never really met like on a personal level, a thestral. I - I try to be careful with what I say when meeting new ponies." She explains.

 

Another knock insues at the door. Entering in soon without acknowledge comes in a male pegasus.

"Hey Hey party without me?"

 

It was Kris Lightfeather. Rather short for a stallion, one of the new cadets but certainly impressing welcome when he first joined. Originally he was of the Cloudsdale Aerial Race team one of the top teir racers in fact. Along with slender build his side styled mane and short tail sport a navy blue hue and his coat a soft grey.

 

"I'm not interrupting am I?" His voice spoke with slight hint of Trottingham accent.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"I don't think you are Kris, but I'm not sure about Soar here..." She looked back to Soar. "I'm only in the reserves Soar I'm one tier above you both, I'm just a good flyer..."

 

Her mind trailed before getting up to and then opening the window and whistling. "Don't you two mind me I'm just checking for someone."

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"its fine with me." Soar replied attuning to Kris her full attention.

"Its nice to meet to meet you Kris." The two cadets mingled about sharing information and such. Sips from drinks and such. Just simple unwinding. The breeze was soft and cool admist the arid left off from the typical hot days of Arabia. But thankfully they had arrived at night not having to endure the brunt of the hot weather. Distantly she could hear the echoing of aircraft high in the sky. Looking up Star could make out the blinking wing lights of three no four aircraft. But they were too close to be any normal fixed wing.

 

Must be fighter packs.

----

 

"- You hear of those new expansion plans for Jazeera? Not your typical plans though, I hear they are working on like a seperate floor? A city plate over the exisiting one!" Samir spoke.

"Its possible. But could you imagine something like that? That'll require some hefty support for it." Peshir spoke up from her typical lonesime demeanor.

"That sounds rather costly." Quabar, the mightiest of them, pitched in.

"Yeah well I don't see us carpet bombing the Changelings anytime soon. And I don't think Mr. Rassadi would like us kicking his rear outta that big ass throne of his."

 

Tariq changed the subject soon as they approached to the Sjin flight HQ.

 

"Flight tower, this is Napalm 1. Requesting permission to land?" He chimmed eyes forward to the flashing small run way coming into view.

The squad's HUD flashed in a green acceptance note.

 

"Roger that Napalm 1. Procced to R3 runway begin slowing speed." The tower control responded.

 

Another job well done.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Thoses aircraft..."

 

Star's attention was immediately drawn to a squawk in the distance answering her whistle. A speckled falcon came from the night's darkness to land on the window sill. She extended a wing for her to sit on taking care not to hurt Star with her talons, the pair walked to the two sitting talking.

 

"Hey guys, this her is Cirrus my falcon." At the mention of her name she puffed out her chest.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"Woah!" Was the immediate reply from Kris as he examined the avian.

"Oh my! She looks lovely." Soar commented.

 

The two looked upon her with new delight. Any random pet show and tells are enticing.

"I apologize madam I didnt bring my pet armadillo so we could renact a scene of natural selection." Kris doned an imaginery monocle playing on the stereotypical Trottingham gentleman. Soft Soar let out a slight giggle.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Yes, yes this my bird." She looked to Cirrus. "Well find something comfortable eh?" She took off to landed on a pillow on the bed nestling in.

 

"Anyway don't worry about Cirrus she doesn't bite or anything, she's quite a smart bundle of feathers actually." Star went to the fridge to get something else.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Soar seems rather fascinated by Star's pet. At respectful space though she reaches her hoof forward gently petting her head.

"She's sooo cute." She says in near childish glee.

 

"Lets get some shows on. See what they got for entertainment." Kris says holding the remote into his hoof cicking on the television. The default channel is the national news.

"Continuing strikes the Royal Air Force and Volunteer Flight- " The channel was switched to the next.

"Forecast seem to be growing hotter and hot-" The channel was changed.

"And now you'll want to just throw just some extra morsles in." The channel was changed back to its default.

 

"Come on! Just three channels?!" Kris scoffed in stooper.

 

"- As a large squadron of Changelings continue to make their advances over the DMZ line, destroyer vessel R.A.V Scourge of Delight has been sent as support for the continuing attempts of escape from the cost." The video cuts to footage to a rather military adorned stallion. Dressed in a typical formal dress suit pnned with various ranking insignias. The name displays as Admirial Admir Alfulani.

 

"These changeling beasts each day become more and more ferocious. Our carrier stationed at these coasts have reported on occasion of attempts of these fiends to board the vessel. The carrier lacking enough on board defenses to maintain aerial defense. With the help of our destroyer it will-" The televison was shut off.

 

"Well that got dark quick." Kris said bluntly.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Cirrus was quite happy to be petted and lent into her hoof with each stroke, being with Star such a long time had completely domesticated her.

 

"I don't think it's right killing changelings, honestly I think their leadership is misguided in how to obtain their emotional needs. Have we ever tried being friendly to one another?" Looking at the TV with some disappointment.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"Once ya get past their looks they aint so bad. Oh! Hey you heard about uh the uh.. " He thought of his words,

"Policy change! Yeah that. Changelings willl be allowed to enlist in the wonderbolts. Starting next year I think?" He said informativley.

Soft Soar let out a soft yawn.

"Well its my nap time. Gotta get up soon." She said giving Cirrus another few pettings.

"Yeahhh I better get going." Kris spoke.

 

In unison the two got up making their way to the door.

"Nice chatting with ya!" Kris spoke,

"It was nice to see you Star! See you in the morning. Night Cirrus!" Soar said.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

"Ok night you two, I'll rest aswell, never know what tommorrow brings." Waving them off, then finally locking her door and windows.

 

After they left Star had a shower, groomed a bit, preformed a few more things. Including moving Cirrus so she could sleep on the bed too. As her head hit the pillow she drifted off...

[FancyHorse 1,209]

The morning came rather quick, a knock insued at the door causing Cirrus to jump a bit from the surprise.

"Star! Up up! Flight Commander is coming! We gotta get going soon." Kris could be heard in urgency, this was indeed serious. Cirrus looked at her Thestral owner.

 

A brief though came to in her morning daze rememebering the obnoxious tone of their assigned flight commander, Neilson Ironwing. The most ideal hardass if anypony couldve thought of one. A seasone veteran flyer as well. But since their introduction to him she still could'nt get over his typical militaristic tone, he should tone down a bit.