SSO Winter Prompts 2020

13. Heidrun (Knights of Unistria)

[AN: I call this "I refuse to do the easy or obvious choice for a prompt".]

"I just got confirmation, Heidrun was taken by General Nemain," Pearl reported as she entered the room the Knights had gathered in. There was a chorus of negative reactions before Tithonus, the human helping them, spoke up.

"You mean the goat?"

"It's not some domestic livestock! It's a station!" Eclipse snapped and got elbowed in the ribs and glared at by Dawn.

"Like a space station?" he asked, still confused.

"Heidrun is a fuel station, and a critical ally for us to lose. Heidrun's fuel could power all of General Nemain's armies," Pearl explained.

"Just one station? How much fuel does it have?" he asked in amazement.

"It's not how much, it's what the fuel is!" Dawn perked up, happy to teach him.

"Why bother? He's not gonna understand," Eclipse grumbled, crossing her arms. Her comment was ignored.

"Heidrun produces one of the most efficient fuels in the universe! It's able to concentrate the neutrinos from a neutron star into a source that most ships can use! Even the Crystal Unicorns can use it in the pinch for an extra boost!" Dawn wasn't dissuaded by his confused expression, but Pearl did cut her off.

"It can also be used as a factory, if the General gets the resources and crews to it. Either her Harpies are going to be super fueled, or she's about to have even more ships," Pearl groaned and rubbed her face, not liking the position they were in.

"Or she'll use it to make superweapons," Eclipse pointed out, "like making her own Crystal Unicorns, or neutron bombs, or a Prism-"

"Yes, Eclipse, she could do those things too! Which is why we need to move quickly!" Pearl insisted before grumbling. "We need to free Heidrun, which means we need to be able to get to Heidrun, which means we have to be able to get off this planet, which means we need our Crystal Unicorns fully functional again. But."

"But?" Dawn prompted when Pearl stopped talking and sat down instead, head in her hands.

"I should hear from our allies again tomorrow. We can't do this without coordinating with them, but none of them are in a position to strike against General Nemain yet," Pearl told them, hating feeling helpless. All they could do was be ready to go as soon as they got the word to move. But the longer General Nemain had Heidrun the greater the risk that the Harpies would be the least of their worries.