The changelings of Hive Chrysalis were in trouble. After the failed invasion of Canterlot and the resulting expulsion of every single member of the hive from the country of Equestria starvation was becoming a major issue. The lack of available food had existed before, in fact it was the reason for the invasion in the first place, but the threat of total annihilation had never seemed so real. Every changeling in the hive from the lowest drone, the strongest soldier to the most important elite, was slowly dying a long, drawn out agonizing death with no resolution in sight.

Chrysalis sat on her throne in the dark gloom of the hive’s central chamber, every single bioluminescent light had been extinguished in order to conserve every last remaining scrap of energy. As a messenger drone exited through the main entrance way she was left alone, the majority of her usual guards and servants either in hibernation to conserve as much energy as possible, scouting the surrounds of the hive for sustenance or dead. The news from the drone was grim as the nurse drones reported that the last reserves dedicated to the sustainment and development of the hive’s nymphs was down to the last dregs, if the situation was not rectified then it there is only enough left for a another three days. It appeared that Chrysalis was all out of options.

Well, maybe not out of all options. Two years before the invasion, workers expanding the lower recesses of the hive found an anomaly, a chamber formed of a perfect, seamless metal substance unlike any encountered before. Inside the chamber, seemingly discarded amongst metal scraps and other assorted detritus, the investigating soldiers found a cylindrical object constructed of the same metal substance the covered the walls covered in writing in an unknown language. The object had what appeared to be some sort of interface in the middle and, most disturbing of all, an emblem located on either end consisting of what appeared to be a Skull with an eye imprinted in the middle of the forehead. The skull was flanked by a pair of flared wings that resembled that of a Pegasus and had three symbols in Gold text below it that looked like “ISA”.

When the object was retrieved for research a brief magical scan revealed that it was emitting an unknown energy that was barely detectable. Despite her scholars insistence to the contrary, Chrysalis forbid any further attempts to unlock the devices secrets and had it securely locked away to prevent any further experimentation.

“Well, no time like the present,” Chrysalis muttered to herself as she sent a command via the hive mind to her second best scientist, as her best had perished two days ago, to retrieve the device and bring it to the throne room.

The hive mind does not allow a Changeling ruler complete control over her subjects, rather it allows for wide spread, limited communication between the two. While the ruler can transmit complex messages, in this case a command requesting a specific item to be transported to a specific place, ‘normal’ changelings can only send simple one-worded thoughts such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This process of transmitting information takes considerable concentration on behalf of the sender and so cannot be used in times of great duress thus limiting its usefulness in times of emergency or in battle. A major advantage of this method however was that there was next-to-no delay between sending and receiving these messages and barely ten minutes had passed when the Changeling scientist Transfusion and four soldier class escorting the device, dubbed the ‘preserver’ (due to the device’s constant energy production) entered the throne room sluggishly.

The reason for their lack of haste was clear as Chrysalis could clearly see Transfusion’s ribs through his carapace and the soldiers in their current state of nutrition were the bearers of sunken, murky blue eyes and dulled carapaces. Chrysalis guessed that they had few days left in them.

“We have brought the device as you have requested my Queen,” stated Transfusion, as the accompanying guards placed the device on a pedestal to the side of the room. “However, we still do not know how to activate it or even its function.”

“I know that, subject, I was after all the one who ordered that research on the device be ceased," Chrysalis snapped, her tolerance sapped due to her current situation.

“I apologise, my Queen.”

“We have no time for your apologies now, Transfusion; the activation of this device may be the last chance we have of survival.”

“But how do you know, my Queen? For all we know this device my just be a simple trinket or an insignificant device.”

“Because Transfusion, while I stopped the study of the device itself I allowed a select group to analyse the writings on the object. Due to… other matters they only translated one word, and they believed it was ‘Emergency’.”

“So, my Queen,” Transfusion replied, trying to word his question in a way that he hoped would avoid insulting his ruler. “You believe that the activation of this device is our only choice and if so, how are you going to activate it?”

“I’m not going to activate it, Transfusion, you are,” Chrysalis’s commanding tone leaving no room for argument. “The energy field that it emits seems to change occasionally, so I would suggest providing it with more power.”

Swallowing a sudden lump that appeared in his throat, Transfusion made his way over to the device, knowing that he was caught in an unwinnable situation. On one hoof, if he disobeyed his Queen it would mean certain death, but on the other he would have to use some of his precious remaining life-force to power the device and possibly kill himself with the effort. These thoughts ran through his head as he pressed the point of his horn against the case of the device, closed his eyes and, aware of his Queen’s impatient gaze upon him, zapped the device with magical energy.

A loud beep rang out through the room and a red glow shone from the front of the device. This glow ran over the lines of language on the device, causing its entire surface to glow.

Warning! Emergency subspace locator beacon activated, unauthorised use will result in extreme disciplinary action!

UIP (Unified Imperium of Planets) Space Sector - *Classified*

ISA subsection of the Department of Security and Intelligence, Listening Station 236377B

A bleak room, filled with consoles and screens and surrounded by the hum of machinery, its bleak atmosphere only interrupted by the occasion dust mite falling from the cold metal ceiling to join the thin layer covering the disused monitoring equipment. A room that had been forgotten, consigned to desolate blackness.

A blackness that was suddenly interrupted by a single, flashing blue light from a centre console, a console with a screen that read: 'Emergency ISA Locator beacon active, Location locked, please inform your supervisor of this occurrence.'