The idea for this short story has been floating in my head for awhile, and now it has finally taken shape. Hopefully this opening should do the idea some justice.

Happy reading!

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Part One: Distress Call

Gliese 411 System

Planet Equestria

Canterlot, Star Swirl Plaza

Imperial Bureau of Intelligence HQ

February 14th 2552

4:30 PM

A group of exhausted IBI staff presided over computers in the Bureau's main command and control center. The facility was the nerve center of the Empire's Intelligence and Espionage branch.

Here, everything from day to day business of the facility, to the coordinated operations and projects of the various Sections, to the processing of Intel and issuing of orders was handled. Of the 7 Sections, Section 1 usually supplied the Command Center with the necessary personnel.

Today, however, Equestria-wide celebrations had allowed for the Section 1 regulars to get some much-needed R&R. The staff currently present were essentially a skeleton crew, and they too would soon be leaving to attend festivities across the City this evening.

"My oh my, what a busy day it's been! I can't wait to punch out and celebrate Hearts and Hooves day with the Misses. We're going to the most opulent restaurant in Canterlot!" One Unicorn said. He was positively ecstatic as he watched the digital clock on his holo-screen.

"Ah, you mean the one owned by the legendary Pony chef Gordon Ramsneigh? I've heard good things about that place." His coworker, a middle aged Human man replied.

"The very same! Reservations cost a fortune though."

A third coworker laughed. "That should be small change for you though, what with how much the Bureau pays us." She was a Unicorn as well. Unicorns made up the large majority of the command and communications staff for most of the Sections, given their affinity for technology and administrative work.

"Personally, I think the Empress is a little bit too generous with who she gives her Bits to. Have you seen that lazy lout who runs Section 5's Imperial Morale Division? That man is paid three times our salary, and all he and his group of overgrown foals ever do is sit around planning public events and throwing parties whenever Deputy Director Pinkie Pie orders them to!" The human said.

"Oh, you mean that one guy? Yeah, he's a real character that one, all of them in Morale are. Their constant grins and such really give me the creeps." A fourth, an Earth Pony mare added, shuddering.

"I second that, and what about the way they can sneak up on you like Pinkie Pie? I swear they are becoming clones of their Boss. Sooner or later, all of them, even the Human ones, are going to end up with pink fluffy coats." The male Unicorn declared, with an even greater shudder.

Suddenly, the primary view screen lit up red, indicating an incoming urgent transmission from one of the Sections.

"Crap, it's from Enigma Team of Section Six." The Unicorn mare declared.

"Why don't you patch em' through." The Human said.

His coworker complied, opening up the comm channel. At first, no video came in, and the only audio was static. Then at last, a voice could be heard.

"Mayday! Mayday! This is Enigma Team, based in the Everfree Forest, Head Scientist Dr. Hans Leimann reporting! If you're hearing this, Project Tall Man has been compromised! I repeat, PROJECT TALL MAN IS A FAILURE! Subject has broken free and is loose in the facility! Requesting a team be sent for... Wha...? No..no, Empress help us, NOOOOO!"

The four communications officers cringed as they heard a blood curdling scream echo over the comm. The video was still static, but panicked voices could be heard in the background.

"By the Goddesses! It got em'! Leimann's dead!"

"Don't look at it, whatever you do, don't look at it's face!"

"Everypony, go! FUCKING RUN!"

"It's coming for us!"

"Get that door closed and locked, NOW!"

"I'm trying. Dammit, I'm trying!"

Gunfire could be heard among the voices, then more screams. When the screams died down, video footage at last came in. The room was pitch black, and not a sound could be heard over the now static-free comm line.

Without warning, static began buzzing again, but something was off. The static sounded different.

"Enigma Team? Enigma, please respond! What's happening? Hello? Do you copy? Respond dammit!" The Human stammered, his face contorted in panic.

As if on cue, a strange whispering issued over the unnatural static. It gradually increased in volume as it went over the line to them. Nopony could make anything out from the whispering voices. They were completely incomprehensible.

"Enigma, what, is, your, STATUS!" The middle-aged man was now using anger to try and conceal the growing feeling of dread he felt in his gut. His colleagues attempted to conceal their mounting fears as well.

What happened next would haunt the communication officers arguably for the rest of their natural lives. The whispering voices reached a crescendo before the footage began flashing light, like an old analog TV with no incoming signal. The fourth flash was accompanied by an image. An image of some kind of creature. The image flashed again and again for five seconds before it vanished, and the transmission ended.

The Unicorn mare fainted from fright, while the others' jaws dropped open or let out a quick shriek.

"What in Celestia's name was that thing!?" The Unicorn Stallion asked, visibly shaken.

"I don't care! I want Section 7 notified immediately. Get them to send one of the squads of Reaper Division stat!" The Human demanded.

Everyone conscious complied instantly.

"Reaper One, this is Section One Command, do you copy?"

"Affirmative, Command and Control. What can we do for you?"

"An Enigma Team research outpost stationed in the Everfree Forest has dropped out of contact. It appears to have been attacked!"

"Copy, Command. Is it Covenant?"

"Negative, Reaper Actual. It appears to be something..else. We aren't sure! Enigma reported a containment breach of an unknown nature, some kind of test subject has escaped!"

The voice on the other end sighed. "Roger. We'll be ready and en route in Five, standard HAZMAT Gear, and medium equipment for Search and Rescue. Reaper One, out."

The Human sighed as well. "Let's just try and calm down everypony. We still have a good evening ahead, let's try and get this off our minds. Leave it all to Reaper. They'll deal with whatever...whatever that thing was." Everyone nodded slowly. The Unicorn mare had finally woke back up as well, running her hoof across her head with a loud groan.

"At least it's Hearts and Hooves Day, huh?" The Earth Pony said. She laughed nervously.

The Unicorn Stallion shuffled his forelegs around nervously. "I'm not going to be able to sleep properly for weeks now! I always knew something wasn't quite right about that damn forest!"

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Don't worry. It gets worse, and creepier.