"I'm sure you'll get along famously." Managed Captain Titus after a his fit of deep laughter while his brothers, Proteus and Feriack fared no better.

A slightly unamused Princess Celestia followed close behind them as they strode through Canterlots streets, heading towards the docks. Luna followed behind her, much more relaxed and back to her original self.

"I just feel uncomfortable being around yet more aliens. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as 'too much weird'." Celestia replied as her eyes rolled.

"The Crivtos people have been our faithful allies for over thirty thousand years my lady. I trust them almost as much as I do my own brothers." Proteus stated.

"Almost?"

"Well, my brothers hold weapons I trust better. Crivtos technology, as well crafted as it is, is still not Mechanicus workings."

"How long are you going away for?" Luna asked.

"A while, unfortunately, a long while. His eminence has requested after our fortress is built we begin a new crusade to take several new found system, alongside the Star Lords chapter. The estimated time it will take to complete averages at around two years, perhaps longer." Titus replied.

"Two years?! Won't you leave at least a handful of your marines behind, just to ensure nothing happens while you're away?" Celestia pleaded.

"No. Our chapter has called all forces to arms. However the Star Lords are leaving behind one thousand brothers from their fifth company. They are more than able to quell any disturbances while we are away." Titus said reassuringly as he passed through the archway leading to the docks.

The rest of the walk was quiet. Celestia was undoubtedly letting her mind stir in worry and unease. The five of them reached the docked imperial frigate, Titus stopping to turn to the sisters.

"Go on ahead brothers, let the pilots know I'll be on board shortly." Titus said, the other two marines nodding once before striding off.

"Celestia, Luna, my marines and I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality. I can name very few who would show the kindness you both have." Titus said, placing a large hand on Celestias' shoulder.

"You saved us, twice. We will never be able to repay you Captain." Celestia replied,looking up sadly at Titus.

"There is not now, nor will there ever be any need to repay us. But if you insist on something, simply keep yourselves safe while we are away."

"Thank you, space marine." Celestia said, a small grin creeping up her lips.

"I bid you farewell." He said finally before dropping his armored hand away and heading for the large spacecraft.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Captains loud footsteps, ones Celestia had grown quite used to, quickly vanished as the ships hangar doors groaned to a close. Celestia knew that Equestria was now becoming much more vulnerable with the good captains departure, not to mention the departure of an entire space marine chapter. Even among the population of Ponyville the space marines had made a good name for themselves. Equestrias' furthest cities and towns had at least heard of the Astartes' arrival, and the presence of otherworldly creatures had caused resounding unrest among many communities. Celestia guessed she and her sister would be busy for the next couple of weeks making official announcements across the country, not to mention having to deal with more aliens arriving upon their soil. the princesses had waited to see the spacecraft sail off into the morning sky before turning to head back to Canterlot palace.

"Don't worry sister, I'm sure these...uh, what where they again? Oh yes, thank you Moon; these 'Cristom' will be pleasant enough. Perhaps even more so than battle-scarred, ancient killing machines." Luna reassured.

"I know, it's just...those battle-scarred killing machines were...starting to grow on me I guess."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"How's my mane? Did the conditioner bring out enough sparkle?" Luna asked while fiddling wither her blue locks of enchanted hair which was styled up in a raised ponytail fashion.

"You look wonderful Luna." Celestia said, chuckling warmly.

"I mean, these aliens could look like anything. They could be gross prawn-faced-slime-leeches, or they could be beautiful goddess beings from another dimension, and I don't want to take a chance with the prawns."

"Luna, have you been talking to Nightmare moon again?" Celestia asked worriedly.

"I...URGH! I knew that would sound crazy out loud. Hey! Are you calling me crazy?!....." Luna sat wide eyed after the interruption from her alter-ego, expecting Celestia to become frantic with worry.

"Moon, if you interrupt while our guests are here I'll scoop you out of there and lock you in my makeup drawer." Celestia replied, surprisingly with a light chuckle after.

Just as Luna felt Nightmare Moon begin to reply the Throne room door creaked open, her darker side retreating to the back of her mind.

Through the door came three figures, tall figures that towered over the guards much like Celestia did. The creatures walked in a strange manner, their bipedal stance seeming to move with an odd preciseness to it. At their current distance Luna couldn't make out exactly what the aliens looked like, but could now tell that they seemed to wear some kind of mechanical suites, much like the space marines only much less advanced. The plating of their bodies seemed to be of some military origin, looking like a system designed to take a great amount of damage. The aliens drew closer, their metallic footsteps falling loudly against the carpet and stone of the throne room floor. Their legs were very much digigrade much like a ponies, yet they held a strange bird/insect like quality to their design and movement. Drawing closer, Luna could see how wide their shoulders were and how oddly shaped their torsos were, standing out much like a birds. Their arms were long and ended in large hands bearing three long fingers and two thumbs. Their necks were also quite long and held in a heavy hunched position. Luna could now see that their mechanical bodies held no room for a pilot, being fully synthetic from their outer plating to their metallic skeletons.

The creatures heads also appeared mechanical, smooth and lined with sealing points and rivet holes, much like the plating that covered the rest of their bodies. In fact the aliens had a very 'sci-fi' look to them, reminding Celestia of a recent movie she had seen, the design flowing and curving in a manner that made it look slightly organic; as if the plating was made of carved marble. However the aliens heads suddenly burst with a loud hissing noise and seemed to pull apart in a segmented pattern, sections sliding away to reveal something underneath.

GREAT GOODNESS OF EVERY NIGHT IN EQUESTRIA! OK, ITS OFFICIAL, I CAN NOW BE CONSIDERED PRETTY!

Nightmare moon was far from wrong. Underneath the aliens helmets was a very much organic life form. It appeared to be some form of crab/amphibian/lizard/pure ugly. Its flesh was a swampy green color and resembled that of a frogs, being slimy and covered in tiny warts. The helmet had peeled away as far as the base of the neck, showing how these creatures latched onto their suits synthetic spinal column with small, crab like legs that ran down the length of its small, stunted spine. Its skull was relatively long and ended in a short face, if what it had could be considered a face. Below its four, bright yellow, cross-pupil eyes was no nose, but instead a lip-less top jaw that held a row of sharp teeth. Below that was a collection of six, multi-hinged mandibles that looked very insect-like in nature. In short it was a giant lobster with the head of a frog and lower jaw system of a cockroach.

"Matri-aaarchs... Honor....Plea-sannnt me-eeting....Mahreens...say good wo-oords." Luna had no trouble assuming these aliens found it difficult to speak their language, most likely down to their mouths working in a very different manner to that of a ponies or Astartes. The aliens spoke with a collection of clicks and growls that were somehow formed into ill spoken words, their throats seemingly challenged by the language.

"Uh, it's, uhm. It's-very-nice-to-meet-you." Celestia said, hoping that saying her words slowly and with emphasis would make them easier to understand.

"No...Undeeeer-stannd well...Woords...we know." The alien replied, however what tone Luna could make out didn't seem to hold any frustration.

"Oh, well ok then. My name is Princess Celestia." Celestia looked over to Luna after she finished.

"And I am Princess Luna."

"We...Unk' Cuthowla." The alien said gesturing to himself, his armor bearing a series of green stripes running down his left side wherever there was white plating.

"Que' Raquachii." It said gesturing to the one at his right with a robotic hand. This one was identical to the first only aside from the green stripes it wore overlapping orange circles all over its white armor.

"Ishta' N-" The next phrase was utterly bizarre to Luna, unpronounceable by pony tongue. The alien it referred to was the one to its left, with a single purple triangle located at the center of its chest.

Luna could tell this was going to be a long day.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Some planetary defence force these aliens turned out to be. Luna could tell they were good, well drilled and organised, but were little more than babbling morons in the shadow of the absent space marines. The aliens were by far the strangest things the princess had ever seen, unsure whether to class them as amphibians or crustaceans. The aliens had brought a couple of large containers with them, machines almost the size of a house sitting in the palace courtyards. They looked like a large fishtank with irregular machinery coiling around its exterior, while small pipes led to various other sections of the whole device. Inside, the aliens scuttled and swam in quick bursts of motion, interacting with some form of holographic display that flickered and darted about within the tanks mint green tinted fluid. Attached to the machinery surrounding parts of the tank appeared to be a handful of the mechanical suits, lifeless and absent of their pilots. Luna couldn't help but linger about the device, studying the collection of marble coloured machinery.

"Luna! Come on!" Called Celestia, who had continued walking without Luna for at least a minute.

Luna turned and headed off at a light trot to rejoin her sister. The aliens were much more plentiful in number than the space marines, at least ten of them in Lunas sight art any given time. Canterlots population remained very much scarse, hiding within the confines of their homes and shops to avoid contact with the strange creatures inhabiting their streets. The two princesses, led by the three Crivtosians, were being brought to the edge of the city to meet with a couple of the Star Lords space marines commanders. As much as Nightmare Moon had become, somewhat, tamer than before Luna could still feel her, and herself, become unsettled at the thought of being brought before such dangerous creatures. Lunas' expression was that of confusion as she witnessed a Crivtosian prodding a civilian with what looked like some form of circuit board made of silver, before eventually setting it down on the terrified ponies market stall and exchanging it for a handful of oranges. The alien then proceeded to devour the fruit in a violent manner, juice and torn innards dripping from under its mandibles, the pony it had 'bought' from darting behind his stall to hide.

Turning a corner to walk into the road out the city and into the path that lead to the citys' checkpoint Luna could make out the large bulk of a space marine stormeagle, its hull painted a dark grey and vibrant orange. Infront of it stood a couple dozen marines, most bearing the colours of the stormeagle they had arrived in, a few bearing white helmets and armour sections. Two without helmets stood at the front, making Luna come to the assumption they were the astartes superiors. Both were highly decorated like many captains she had seen before her, only instead of emblems and decorations crafted from a fine gold, these were a polished chrome embedded with liquid-like citrine jewelry. The marines faces were quite similar, both widely shaped with thin lips and sharp jawlines. Their hair was a dark brown, one styled into a simple fauxhawk and the other a wide mohawk with a deep black tribal tattoo drawn into his exposed scalp. Both of their eyes were a fiery orange with pinprick like pupils that remained locked onto the approaching alicorns. Both marines bore a slight grin upon their well tanned faces, their stances firmly at attention.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. Tis an honor to meet you. I am Brother Captain Optus," Said the captain with the mohawk and scalp tattoos, "And this is Brother Captain Phebus."

"Good to see some familiar faces Captain." Celestia replied with a smile.

"Aye, the Crivtosians can take some getting used to; they're not a species known for their looks." Chuckled Phebus.

"Well, they seem to mean no harm. In fact they are somewhat...'enthusiastic' to interact with our subjects." Luna added.

"Crivtosians are inquisitive. They make a habit of experiencing and catagorising information from every world they set foot on. Try not to think to much on their curiosity." Phebus explained.

Luna had to admit, something about these marines was much more...appealing than the Halo skulls. They seemed less gritty, less grim and stern. Luna had overheard Titus say how the Star Lords were a newly found chapter, and imagined that the lack of fighting and bloodshed had left their minds clean and optimistic.

"Well then, Chapter Master Freadium said we'd be given a quick tour of your land before he left. Did you have anywhere in mind?" Asked Optus.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Phebus had only known the lifeless steel of his home monastery on Cthonia. The young-ling sanctum, his training center; even his chapters trails had been to survive among the bloodthirsty population of a neighboring planets hive city. Every combat situation he'd been in the claustrophobic and suffocating streets of some rotten hive, artificial world or space station. He'd never seen grass, never smelt natural air, never heard a bird chirping nor heard wind disturb the trees of a forest. To stand before a thing for the first time was to experience beauty at its purest and most potent, and Phebus felt as if he was committing a serious crime for not expressing his joy at experiencing such brilliant wonders. However, as much as he wished to remove his gloves and touch a leaf for the first time or even to bury his hands in the soil beneath him, he was a space marine and knew he had something a of a reputation to keep up. Many of his brothers were not faring so well in there efforts to restrain themselves.

The Star Lords chapter was very young, its banner holding few honors and its name near unheard of among other space marine chapters. This meant that the chapter as a whole had a certain 'optimistic' and 'youthly' outlook on the galaxy, having not had time to bear the grimness held by many older chapters. The space marines wandered freely about the town known as Ponyville, browsing stalls and talking with locals as any given commoner would. Some battle brothers used imperial gold to purchase certain oils, herbs, spices, jewelry and fruits, eager to experiment with the new trinkets they had acquired. Other marines chatted with locals about their lifestyle, the princesses, imperial history and the country of Equestria. All Astartes had their weapons firmly holstered or mag-locked to their armor, those carrying heavy weapons held their weapons barrels skyward to make them appear less of a danger to the locals.

"So the Griffin kingdom has not been heard from since?" Optus inquired to Celestia as he sat upon the large concrete slab that was the foot of some large statue.

"No, and it...it worries me greatly. They were being manipulated by one of those creatures, being used as mere puppets, which makes me ask 'did they really deserve such devastation?'" Celestia replied sadly.

"War is a messy business. Full of deceit, agony and unnecessary murder. I do not doubt many did not deserve to die, but to compromise and evaluate reason leaves plenty time for the roots of evil to spread and feed off innocence. I wish there was another way, but sometimes...most times, there is simply no time to spare the innocent." Optus replied.

"I understand, somewhat."

"Consider yourselves blessed. To dream of saving everyone is a noble thing indeed."

"But you think it's childish?"

"Many great accomplishments could never have been made without a good dream or two." Optus said with a smile.

Phebus found himself smiling as well. As much as the Star Lords were young, ignorant and greatly inexperienced they prided themselves in the ability to see beyond the grey veil of simple words. Phebus knew that one day, and perhaps even only for one day, the galaxy would know peace. But for mankind there would only ever be war, an un-winnable war that many would abandon out of loss of hope. But as Phebus had heard this strange, fragile, tragically innocent matriarch express the wish to save everyone she could, he knew exactly what drove the space marines on. It was the hopes and dreams of common folk, their ability to love in ways he couldn't, to imagine things he wouldn't. The space marines would hold back the tides of darkness and doubt so that the galaxy could dream freely. Phebus knew one day he may forget this, that one day when his hair was grey and face scarred he'd have grown to sour and grim to consider why he was fighting any more, but for now he would know. He would know that it was what he witnessed before his eagle-like eyes was why he fought; for the laughing children who chased a pair of rabbits in a park, for the salesman who pleased customers with his range of fruits and vegetables, for the guard who stood firmly by his princesses side and for the princess he stood next to.

His duty was one his ancestors of ten thousand years before had chosen for him, one his race was desti-

A low growl filled the once peaceful air of the town, turning the heads of both mortal and Astarte alike. Phebus turned like the rest to the skies it had come from, the afternoon sun illuminating the cause of the godly disturbance. Above the clouds, so far as to be but dots in the sky, hung skips. The ships were somewhat primitive when compared to imperial technology, being no longer than a cobra-class destroyer and bearing only half the firepower. Their grey hulls drew closer, bringing into view the titles that had been painted upon their bows. 'Firemaw', 'Iron Hawk', 'Fury chariot' and two dozen other 'Blade'-class Therunor cruisers descended towards Equis, their angular bodies turning to deliver a good profile view of the craft. The ships were pitifully unspectacular, appearing little more than skyscrapers pulled from the ground and put on their sides. The Ponyville locals and the princesses all looked uneasy, turning their gazes from the fleet of new alien ships to the space marines in the hope that the Astartes would ease their fears. Such a wish would not be granted. Optus sneered violently at the ships before turning to the mortals with his hands held out in front of him.

"Citizens, please remain calm! Return to your homes and do not leave them until Astarte units can confirm that this is the allied fleet we have been waiting for! Thank you!"

There was no allied fleet en route, Equis was a quarantined world, only allowing ships with tier ten authorization and approved craft to make planet fall. This fleet was utterly unexpected, and in direct breach of imperial law.

"Brother, you escort the princesses to Canterlot. I will send for the chapter master and reinforcements." Phebus said to Optus.

"Very good. Bring at least fifty marines back to secure the town and another hundred for Canterlot itself. Inform the Crivtosians of the situation, I'm sure they'll lend their assistance."

"Consider it done. Brother...this fleet looks like its been space-born a while. Half strength for standard Therunor formations, military origin and I recognize some of those ships. Reclusii crusade, eight years ago, launched front Vortyah. Do you think it's rogue?"

Optus considered a minute, scanning the craft with his razor-sharp sights with a deep frown before the royal sister approached them.

"Captains...this is not a scheduled arrival, is it? Are we in danger?" Celestia asked, fear shaking her voice.

"As long as we are here you are more than safe. But yes, this arrival is most unexpected, and its crew may be somewhat...eager to take their ships to land." Optus replied.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Captain! Crivtosian vessels, two frigates and one carrier!" Called the radar technician.

Captain Yerlus Tyroque sniffed the air sharply, his tail twitching frantically and his brow creasing. He was nervous, to say the least, with good reason as well. Breaching imperial quarantine law, refusing to respond to communications with Astarte authorization and entering imperial airspace with shields raised and weapons active. The consequences would be heavy indeed, but utterly necessary. There was no way him and his crew would spend another minute in the cold of space, with no sunlight, no clean air and no natural food. And not with those things that terrorized his men, the monsters that whispered to them when the lights went out or when their backs were turned. At first he hadn't believed the reports of voices coming from the walls, of fleeting shadows and strange moaning noises coming from the vents. Then it had started happening to him, he'd even seen the things that haunted his ship, with their black eyes and gnarled teeth that glistened with thick saliva. They'd said he'd never see a sky again, or set foot on soil, and now he got to prove them wrong.

"Keep your distance, make a descent and prepare landing gear." He barked.

His pointed ears twitched twice as his anxiety built up, his grey fur raising to a stand as a shiver traveled down his spine.

"Captain, new contact! Astarte strike cruiser coming up to the east of the Crivtosians, its coming from behind the mountain!" Called the technician again.

"Keep up the descent! Order all ships to follow us down!" He roared, his voice almost seeming to shake his ships bridge.

"Touchdown in twenty seconds!" Called one of the pilots.

Just a little longer. Just a few more seconds and I'll be just fi-

Behind you!

Yerlus heard the voice again, that gurgling, shrill voice he'd heard ever night for ten months. He spun on his feet, his boots squeaking as he turned and swiftly plucked his pistol from its holster. He brought it to eye level, yet didn't hold the state of mind to actually aim. He fired thrice, a quick volley of purple energy bolts darting through the air and making a loud cracking, pop sound as they collided with something solid. A gut turning sound of flesh being burst filled the air, followed shortly by a loud thud as a body hit the deck. Dark blue blood danced towards his boots, flowing like a river past him and down the steps that led to the control deck. Therathir, a third-class engineer lay twisted on the floor, his bright blue eyes staring blankly at the ceiling above him. His upper torso was pulped, three large, bloody holes gushing his lifeblood onto the metal floor. Yerlus' paws shook violently, and had waited a full minute before looking back up to find every hand on deck staring straight at him in terror. His breath was quick and violent, but slowed as he worked up the nerve to speak.

"C-c-comms! Report!"

"...Imperial ships have stopped broadcasting." Replied the technician.

"Five second to touchdown! Three! Two!"

The ship jumped with fierce aggression as it his the planets surface, forcing Yerlus to his knees and covering his hands with blood as he attempted to steady himself. He looked down at his paws, his fur and leathery pads coated in a liquid blanket of deep, dark blue.

"Let's get the hell of this ship." He muttered.