API tools faq
paste
Advertisement
Scorch_Mechanic

Fallout: Beyond Equestria 194: Black Rose (Part 12)

Scorch_Mechanic
Sep 21st, 2016
296
0
Never
Add comment
Not a member of Pastebin yet? Sign Up, it unlocks many cool features!
text 42.68 KB | None | 0 0
raw download clone embed print report
  1. [2016-09-14 13:24:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Game Starting Soon! http://i.imgbox.com/97c058AW.png
  2. [2016-09-14 13:27:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Previously...
  3. [2016-09-14 13:28:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"The ghouls of Equestria are being sustained by irradiated water that is hauled into the country from foreign lands by caravans. But the trips are long and dangerous... and grow moreso every day. Many good ponies have been lost trying to bring dirty water from the zebra lands. Soon, it may become too dangerous to continue..."
  4. [2016-09-14 13:28:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy frowns, "Or the water may become too expensive for many ghouls to afford."
  5. [2016-09-14 13:28:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Kid grumbles. "Look, is there a point t' this? What 'r we deliverin'? Some sorta balefire talisman or whatsit?"
  6. [2016-09-14 13:28:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy nods. "Equestria would benefit greatly from having an irradiated zone within our borders. One which provided life-giving irradiated water for the ghouls... and irradiated material we could use to fuel Red Eye's old radiation engines. But thanks to the Gardens of Equestria, no such place exists here. To create a new one, we would need a balefire bomb."
  7. [2016-09-14 13:28:32] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  8. [2016-09-14 13:28:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Captain Fianchetto asks Get_Lost, "Do you think you could help get the Thunderhead airborne again?"
  9. [2016-09-14 13:28:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara pomfs. Mitzi groans. "Great. Bigger flyeen boat."
  10. [2016-09-14 13:29:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost opens her mouth, then thinks for a moment, then closes her mouth and thinks a bit more "i... uh... yeah. i've seen it once already, it could be able to move again. airborne? depends on a lot of factors, but yes, it could be done, if the generators are still in good condition"
  11. [2016-09-14 13:29:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  12. [2016-09-14 13:29:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart ruffled her feathers slightly and contemplated this. She was not certain she liked this idea. But right now they did need the help. "We would like your assistance in finding a way to allow the S.P.P. towers to communicate with a radio broadcast and reception system in the dragon lands."
  13. [2016-09-14 13:29:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  14. [2016-09-14 13:29:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well's thoughts cannot be read, but this isn't unexpected. The finely-dressed elderly woman has no thoughts that CopyCat can discern. Effigy, like the elderly woman, has no discernable thoughts. Copycat cannot read the thoughts of the griffons either.
  15. [2016-09-14 13:30:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The well-groomed stallion in the medical chair is very surprised, albeit pleasantly so, that the Crimson's Caravaners are here. His mind is running through several potential ways to interrupt the governmental types and refocus this meeting. This could be fortuitous. Also, he wants his bomb.
  16. [2016-09-14 13:30:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  17. [2016-09-14 13:30:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Excuse me, gentleponies and griffins," the goldenrod-colored stallion finally says, nudging a button on his medical chair to make it roll forward. "Allow me to interject, if only to welcome our guests aboard. The /Golden Ursa/ is *my ship* after all."
  18. [2016-09-14 13:30:49] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The griffins look mildly annoyed but part for Major Tripwire to be greeted by the stallion. "Please to meet you, Captain...." the major says expectantly.
  19. [2016-09-14 13:31:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Oh no, I'm not a Captain," the stallion says. "Not of this ship, nor in any sort of military rank. I /own/ this ship. I'm /leasing/ it to the Republic for the sake of a diplomatic mission to Roam. My name is Golden Buckle, founder of Golden Buckle Enterprises."
  20. [2016-09-14 13:31:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  21. [2016-09-14 13:32:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The single chef in the kitchen looks up from her magazing, putting on an offended expression. "Who the fuck are you?"
  22. [2016-09-14 13:32:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy winces, but waves a hoof. "Golden Buckle is interested in a comparative refreshment tasting. Please show Kid around the kitchen..." such as it is. "And have fun. Serve in the parlor when you two are ready."
  23. [2016-09-14 13:32:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream thumps her chest. "I'm th' mare that's gonna steal your fuckin' job if y' don't bring your A-game. Let's do this!"
  24. [2016-09-14 13:32:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  25. [2016-09-14 13:33:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart follows along with Golden Buckle, taking a seat cautiously. She looked to him seriously. "So you have heard that Roam has Changelings. We have reason to believe they have already made moves into Equestria and the New Canterlot Republic in specific."
  26. [2016-09-14 13:33:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle nods to Noble_Heart. "I would not be surprised. Fortunately, we are not without our own advantages." He moves to an open spot near the fire, enjoying the warmth after the chill of outdoors. "Tell me, have you heard of Silence Station?"
  27. [2016-09-14 13:35:01] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  28. [2016-09-14 13:36:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzi nods. "Uh will return und become alpha. Ur fathur, Mantle, he eez wise und good, but he eez stubborn againt ponees becuz he lost Ur mother. Once Uh take his place, Uh will steer ur kind towards better friendship wit ponees. Frum wut yu said, dey punish yu fur dueen da right ting, den don't let yu challenge alpha to make dem see wut eez right."
  29. [2016-09-14 13:36:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver considers that. "Okay. I think I get that."
  30. [2016-09-14 13:36:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Then, trying a different approach, Wind Weaver tells Mitzi, "You said they are punishing me for doing the right thing, but they aren't. Not really. In order to do the right thing, I had to disobey my Alpha. And in the Enclave, disobeying the Alpha is a worse wrong thing than the wrong thing I would have been doing if I hadn't done the right thing."
  31. [2016-09-14 13:37:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Does that make sense?" she asks.
  32. [2016-09-14 13:37:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzi shakes her head. "No, but Uh know ponee Rules eez different. Eet's becuz uv dat Uh didn't kill Sonica as soon as Uh saw her. Fur wut she did, no Hound wud fault me fur takeen her head, but eef Uh'm goeen tu wurk wit ponees, Uh have tu considur yur rules."
  33. [2016-09-14 13:37:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  34. [2016-09-14 13:37:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle nods. Then, looking to CopyCat, he admits, "I love history. I could talk about the history of Stalliongrad forever. But what is pertinent here is what happened to Silence Station. What it became after the war."
  35. [2016-09-14 13:37:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"The paramour of the Commander of Love Station, you see, was a changeling. A young changeling queen, in fact." Golden Buckle looks at the two alicorns. "And that relationship gave her access. When the apocalypse came, she moved her brood into Silence Station, along with all the ponies that she could."
  36. [2016-09-14 13:38:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart raised her eyebrows in some surprise at that prospect.
  37. [2016-09-14 13:38:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"It was no Stable, but in the bowels of the place, she constructed a hive of pods where the ponies and her children slept for two hundred years. In those pods, they lived a shared dream, controlled by the changeling queen. A dreamworld utopia where her children were able to feed off the love of the ponies, living out happy homemaker fantasies. And she..."
  38. [2016-09-14 13:38:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"...she fashioned herself the mayor of Stalliongrad, and learned to feed off the ponies appreciation and sense of community." Golden Buckle leans forward as much as he can. "This alteration, this feeding on nationalism, you see? The changeling queen in Roam isn't the first to have evolved to do that."
  39. [2016-09-14 13:38:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3 Noble_Heart nods her head cautiously. Contemplating that a few moments.
  40. [2016-09-14 13:38:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"They stayed like that for a long time, and probably could have indefinitely, if it hadn't been for an..." Golden Buckle tells,"...environmental disaster that caused the collapse of the hive. There were survivors."
  41. [2016-09-14 13:38:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart goes a little bit wide-eyed. "Ah. Then Effigy and your female assistant are..?" Well no point in hiding it if it was probable he wasn't their enemy at least.
  42. [2016-09-14 13:38:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  43. [2016-09-14 13:39:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3* Mitzi looks to Wind Weaver, "Even eef Ponees und Enclave eez different, Ur kind need tu make peace wit all eef we're gonna get out uv ur engangerment." She frowns, "But dere can't be any peace wit Enclave while Sonica eez still alive, so Uh need tu convince Ur alpha tu see her as criminal. Eef yu don't stop her, den Ur kind will have no choice but to du it
  44. [2016-09-14 13:39:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  45. [2016-09-14 13:42:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart ruffles visibly and scowls more heavily. "Their city is inhabited by thousands of innocent zebras who have done nothing save love their country and wish to see it flourish." She stands up and stomps a forehoof. "Equestria, nay, the world will never be safe so long as the threat of weapons such as these exist!"
  46. [2016-09-14 13:42:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She glowers at Golden Buckle in seriousness, though at least manages to restrain herself from physically approaching him. "Our world burned. Our leaders died. Our people have suffered for hundreds of years. And the zebras had it worse. Yet you would still believe that such a means could lead to peace? That such a threat could ensure safety?"
  47. [2016-09-14 13:42:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She shook her head. "Even if that threat were enough to stop them, it would not be enough to make it merely a threat. You would need those plans, those threats, to continue. And they would seek ways around them. In time, empires would burn again and the world might not have the chance to recover a second time."
  48. [2016-09-14 13:43:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart shakes her head. "We cannot win this conflict with threats or megaspells. We must tell the zebras of Roam the truth. Show them what has happened to them. Ensure that we are always, always seen as the morally superior. That we are those asking for peace and not war. That we are those who are reasonable. Weapons, bombs, guns and threats?..."
  49. [2016-09-14 13:43:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"...They cannot slay a nation. Only its people can slay a nation." She emplores him as best she can. "To threaten its people. To hold such a weapon above them. It only confirms what Roam has said, that Equestria is a land of brutality..."
  50. [2016-09-14 13:44:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart concludes fiercely, "Where innocent lives mean nothing and who will stop at nothing, not even the Black Rose, the threat of the Anulus Mortis, to see themselves victorious. Please, do not do this. It will not end the way you wish."
  51. [2016-09-14 13:44:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  52. [2016-09-14 13:46:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session One Hundred and Ninety-Four: Black Rose (Part 12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fus5O8SxUoo
  53. [2016-09-14 13:47:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- Session Begins ---
  54. [2016-09-14 13:47:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Several hours later...
  55. [2016-09-14 13:51:48] * Mitzi has spent some time wandering through the Raptor, talking with Wind Weaver and making sure that she could be seen talking both conversational and intelligible.
  56. [2016-09-14 13:54:44] <Mitzi> "So," she concludes her current story. "Eet was den dat Alpha Obsidian led da slate wolves tu Splendid Valley. His wuz a time uv plenty, und his litters were da first tu call dem selves Diamond Dogs."
  57. [2016-09-14 13:55:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream and Chef Summer have brought delicious food and all who eat have eaten well. The griffins of the NCR and the pegasi of the ELR seem to have finally finished their airspace pissing match, and done so with hoof-to-talon shakes and signatures on paper.
  58. [2016-09-14 13:56:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As the /New Cumulus/ prepares to continue its travels northward, and the /Golden Ursa/ continue its voyage south, Golden Buckle wheels up to Noble_Heart with an urgent expression.
  59. [2016-09-14 13:58:23] * Noble_Heart looks up at the arrival of the wheelchair bound pony, curious as to what was on his mind.
  60. [2016-09-14 13:58:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Meanwhile, Wind Weaver nod to Mitzi. Then, with a thought, offers, "Captain Fianchetto is the alpha on the /New Cumulus/. I could take you to meet her and talk about Sonica. Or do you want to try to talk to higher alphas than her?"
  61. [2016-09-14 13:59:33] * Get_Lost is ding something. probably working on blueprints in a quiet enough place somewhere
  62. [2016-09-14 13:59:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver frowns. "Of course, bringing an 'unleashed' hellhound to the captain would probably get me in a lot of trouble... but you've met her already, so hopefully not."
  63. [2016-09-14 14:00:23] * Mitzi considers that for a moment. "Uh wudeent like dat, but Eef he eez alpha here, den Uh need tu speak wot him first tu get Ur kin released."
  64. [2016-09-14 14:01:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle looks up at Noble Heart. "I have thought hard on what you said. I consider myself a historian, you know? And those of us who do hold a particular saying as truth: those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
  65. [2016-09-14 14:02:00] * Noble_Heart nods her head cautiously.
  66. [2016-09-14 14:02:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"You are right... in threating Roam with the Black Rose, we would be failing to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. We would be repeating the very same errors, if in slightly different packaging."
  67. [2016-09-14 14:02:20] <Mitzi> * wud indeed
  68. [2016-09-14 14:03:33] * Noble_Heart smiles slightly. "We are glad you understand." she bowed her head to Golden Buckle in appreciation. "Also, when you said that Alicorns rarely care for history, you are wrong. It is not that we do not care. It is that for many of us, history was our lives. And much of that history was not kind to us."
  69. [2016-09-14 14:04:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle frowns. "Yet you should know that as much as I have reconsidered that fallow plan, I have only become more steadfast in my belief that we need to turn knowledge to better purposes, not bury it. I still believe in the mission I sent your fellow caravaners on. And... based on what you have said, I worry that you may not."
  70. [2016-09-14 14:05:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"So I offer everything I have on the Black Rose to you, so that you may burn it yourself. In exchange for turning over the balefire bomb to my care."
  71. [2016-09-14 14:12:41] * Noble_Heart grinds a forehoof into the ground cautiously. "We have little concern that new balefire bombs will be made. The source of that particular form of blasphemy has ceased to be." She looks towards Golden Buckle. "And We would agree that condemning the ghouls of Equestria to a slow death by feralization is a cruel and horrific ending." She contemplates a few more moments. "Sadly,
  72. [2016-09-14 14:12:42] * Noble_Heart We do not have a balefire bomb." She dug into her saddle bag and removed from it the gemstone-and-steel spell matrix, floating it cautiously in her magic. "This is the best We have been able to do. The megaspell matrix which, if properly fitted around a balefire egg, would convert it into a balefire bomb. Though finding such an egg might itself prove difficult in the extreme. We
  73. [2016-09-14 14:12:42] * Noble_Heart would emplore you to be careful what you do with it. While the production of balefire eggs might be impossible now, We would still not wish to see this fall into the wrong hooves."
  74. [2016-09-14 14:17:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle nods, taking the matrix. "Thank you, both for this and for your honesty and for your wisdom. All of Equestria will benefit from your actions today." He motions for Effigy, who delivers a briefcase with his golden company symbol on it. "This is all I have on the Black Rose. I assure you there are no copies."
  75. [2016-09-14 14:19:07] * Noble_Heart reaches out with her magic to take the briefcase, briefly inspecting its contents to ensure that it was, indeed, what he had about the Black Rose. While she doubted that Golden Buckle would lie to her directly, it still was worth looking. "We thank you. For listening as so many have failed to do throughout history." she gave a brief pause, "Ourselves included..." closing
  76. [2016-09-14 14:19:08] * Noble_Heart the briefcase once she was sure of the contents.
  77. [2016-09-14 14:19:26] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"I have, of course, seen them," he reminds Noble Heart. "But I trust we are both dealing honestly."
  78. [2016-09-14 14:20:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3With that, he turns. "Effigy will have your companion's compensation ready when you leave. Considering the trouble you have gone through, I have had a substantial bonus added. Consider it hazard pay."
  79. [2016-09-14 14:21:30] * Noble_Heart nods her head to Golden Buckle. "We thank you. Though We suspect Our time in the zebra lands has not yet concluded. There is still at least one more problem to be addressed here. Even if your negotiations go as you wish."
  80. [2016-09-14 14:23:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver nods. "When your friends come back, wait with them while I talk to the major and arrange for you to speak to the captain. I can't just take you to her unannounced."
  81. [2016-09-14 14:24:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She adds, "And I don't want to leave you wandering around alone on the ship with Sonica about. I don't really trust her."
  82. [2016-09-14 14:25:10] * CopyCat bows respectfully to Golden Buckle.
  83. [2016-09-14 14:26:04] * Mitzi nods. "Very well." She looks around to see if there were any other ponies around before leaning in to Wind Weaver and whispering. "Uh hope eet will not be needed, but Uh will be talkeen tu ur friends about freein Ur kin frum de sonic control eef dey eez not released willingly."
  84. [2016-09-14 14:27:07] * Get_Lost starts looking around the vessel, looking for that smart-looking scientist of before... subnautica? orchestra? something like that
  85. [2016-09-14 14:27:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver frowns. "Don't go doing anything rash on the ship!" she warns. "Not only would that go badly for you, but they'd surely take it out on the hellhounds back at the city."
  86. [2016-09-14 14:28:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost is able to find the science lab easily enough. There are several ponies at work, Doctor Sonica amongst them.
  87. [2016-09-14 14:29:33] * Get_Lost knocks on the door and glances inside "hello? can i come in?"
  88. [2016-09-14 14:29:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost recognizes the project they are working on. They are pouring over cyberfetish schematics that look like they were taken from the Ministry of Peace in the Crystal Empire.
  89. [2016-09-14 14:30:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The ponies look up and Doctor Sonica brightens. "Yes, yes, do come in."
  90. [2016-09-14 14:30:07] * Mitzi shakes her head. "Uh will du nutheen until Uh have spoken wit ur Alpha, but Uh can say frum wut Uh went through dat Ur kind wud rather be dead den be treated dat way, und Uh will not leeve dem like dat. Dat eez why Uh need yu. Uh du not want bloodshed, but Uh can -not- abide Ur kind bein enslaved."
  91. [2016-09-14 14:30:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver looks deeply worried and uncomfortable, but nods.
  92. [2016-09-14 14:31:05] * Get_Lost smiles, even if her eyes can't really convey the emotion "oh, wow! cyberfetishes! i was sure it was a lost thing! where did you find those? i had the chance to study them myself for a while"
  93. [2016-09-14 14:32:20] * Mitzi pats Wind Weaver gently on the head. "Ur kindness will not be furgotten, und -will- be da key tu makeen dis peaceful Uh tink. Now, wud yu like another story while we wait fur Ur friends?"
  94. [2016-09-14 14:35:26] * Bookwright winces at the sight of a hellhound patting a pony on the head. The claws...
  95. [2016-09-14 14:38:59] * Golden_Dream cleans her hooves on a washrag, grave and sullen. This is it. This is the end of the adventure. She can go home now. She'll get the money. She can put herself up. She can arrange for Cottonseed to die. It's over.
  96. [2016-09-14 14:39:36] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver nods again. "Yes please."
  97. [2016-09-14 14:40:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica says, "We got these on a recon mission into the newly-reappeared Crystal Empire."
  98. [2016-09-14 14:42:58] * Get_Lost is honestly surprised "you. don't. say! it reappeared! who would have ever said that!" giggles "yeah, they were working on that for a while, you know? but... i don't kn ow... spirits and science? doesn't it feel a little like cheating? call me old school, but if you can't do it without a circut, it doesn't count"
  99. [2016-09-14 14:47:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica looks Get_Lost over. "Everything of yours is full earth pony?" she asks. "Where'd you get your augmentations? Industry Station?"
  100. [2016-09-14 14:50:42] * Get_Lost "these? they were a... let's call them a n evaluation mistake... they are nothing special, probably i could do a lot better myself... oh right: introductions! i'm get lost solaris, medic, cybermedic and evil genius. and you must be... uh... dr. harmonica?"
  101. [2016-09-14 14:51:26] <Mitzi> ACTION starts walking again as she begins. Having gone through stories of Hellhounds and Diamond Dogs, she's moved back now to the time of the Slate Wolves. "Da Slate Wolves were around... about a thousand years before da great war," she begins. She tells a story of how one of the Slate Wolves came to guard Tartarus. A slate wolf named Cerberus, chosen by ponies and augmented with powerful ancient magic to guard against the terrible
  102. [2016-09-14 14:51:52] <Mitzi> -to guard against the terrible monsters imprisonered there.
  103. [2016-09-14 14:51:57] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy delivers another briefcase, this one made of an unfamiliar leather but bearing the same Golden Buckle Enterprises symbol, to Golden_Dream. The case is quite heavy. "This is to be distributed evenly amongst you and your company," he instructs.
  104. [2016-09-14 14:52:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3There are some chuckles in the science lab. And at least one gasp at the name Solaris.
  105. [2016-09-14 14:53:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Doctor Sonica," the head of the lab says with a smile and a briefly-extended hoof.
  106. [2016-09-14 14:55:33] * Get_Lost does a hoof-shake "pleased to meet you! i've seen down on the ground and i was curious to meet you in ponysona. i0ve seen that you work on brainwaves and it looked very interesting. i did some work on brain surgery too, and worked on artificial intelligencies, would you like to excaange some notres?"
  107. [2016-09-14 14:55:37] <Get_Lost> *notes
  108. [2016-09-14 15:02:54] * Golden_Dream simply gives sad smiles at Effigy. She almost looks disappointed to see the briefcase, not so much as lifting a hoof to claim it.
  109. [2016-09-14 15:03:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica raises and eyebrow. Then nods. "Sure. Although a lot of my notes are classified, I do have a few secrets the Enclave would allow me to share." She smiles, "And we evil geniuses have to stick together, am I right?"
  110. [2016-09-14 15:05:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy watches Golden_Dream a moment. Then says, "You and your company have impressed Golden Buckle. After this current crisis is over, there is a place for all of you at Golden Buckle Enterprises." He pauses, then asks, "Would you prefer a place in the kitchen, corporate security... or would your group want to serve as private couriers for Mr. Buckle?"
  111. [2016-09-14 15:05:19] * Get_Lost smiles and nodnods "ah, the tragedy of working under a master... at least you have a place to blow up" laughs and then smiles "well i'm not sure what your bosses consider classified, but i was interested on the basics about diamond dogs brainwaves.... i just don't want to beg, so, if i could help you or your researches is nome way, i'd love to"
  112. [2016-09-14 15:05:57] * CopyCat waits patiently while Golden Buckle and Noble_Heart finish their discussion on spell matrixes and things from the past that should be left alone, then she asks, while Effigy is out of the room delivering the package to Golden_Dream, "So Mr. Buckle, you have a changeling in your employ who you know about, but who didn't know that you knew." She blinks and untangles her tongue. "That must be quite an interesting story. I was
  113. [2016-09-14 15:05:57] * CopyCat also wondering about the queen, you mentioned."
  114. [2016-09-14 15:08:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica frowns. "Frankly, I suspect that line of research is in a precarious state right now. Your hellhound companion isn't helping." She rolls her eyes. "For the moment, I have to keep that under tight lock-and-key. If my work continues, it is a military capabilities secret. If not..."
  115. [2016-09-14 15:08:30] * Golden_Dream chuckles grimly. "You wanna know somethin' sad, M' friend? Y'know, this whole thing started so I can hire some mean lookin' friends t' kill someone what killed m' dad. I met all these people. Good people. Folk I wish I could spend all my time with and saw something in me I didn't see in me."
  116. [2016-09-14 15:09:01] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica looks into Get_Lost's visor. "If not... then at least someone should continue the research. It shouldn't go to waste. These creatures have to much potential to be abandoned."
  117. [2016-09-14 15:09:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy smiles a little. "And now?"
  118. [2016-09-14 15:10:08] * Golden_Dream hangs her head. "It felt so good, you know. T' have folk around fer' once, even if the circumstances were awful. Even if I swear if I break all my bones again, I'm gonna strangle somethin' with th' limp noodles I got left. And so I'm lookin' at that briefcase."
  119. [2016-09-14 15:11:23] <Golden_Dream> "And it just looks like... An end. Somethin' I should be happy t' see. But I know th' moment I take that thing, is th' same moment I begin t' end all this, and I get t' feel th' winter feelin' in my soul again."
  120. [2016-09-14 15:11:36] * Get_Lost nodnods "yeah, touchy subject. she doesn't understand that the whole research has a lot of applications, not just mind control... yeah okay, that's the obvious one, but who knows what wonders could come out of those studies in the future?" sighs and shakes her head "i... i colud help you in a couple of ways, maybe...."
  121. [2016-09-14 15:11:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle tells CopyCat, "Yes, indeed. Precious sent Effigy to spy on my company. I don't consider myself to have anything to hide, and I wanted to keep an eye on him, so I promoted him to my personal assistant. Over the years, I have grown to trust him implicitly. Precious... less so, but I believe she has a good heart."
  122. [2016-09-14 15:13:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy nods to Golden_Dream. Then offers, "It doesn't have to be the end. Just another transition. If you are concerned about keeping your friends together, perhaps taking up Golden Buckle's offer...." He pauses. "Or, perhaps, Golden could purchase Crimson's Caravans? Keep you all on retainer?"
  123. [2016-09-14 15:14:33] * Get_Lost "i could keep working on the theorical side of your data, to see if the pure research could lead to other applications, and in the meantime... you could give your bosses something to chew. i worked on variants of your standard enclave armor and... well..... on... let's call it a pony-machine improvement program? like... uh... this is a little ethically debatable..."
  124. [2016-09-14 15:14:43] * Golden_Dream briefly considers it, before slumping her shoulders. "I should be happy t' have the choice. But I don't.." She sighs, then starts rubbing her face. "Effigy, first off, I don't like bein' lied to. We had you pegged for what you were th' moment we saw you for th' second time."
  125. [2016-09-14 15:15:22] * Golden_Dream continues, "If y' really wanted t' stay hid, you should'a been a griffon or somethin' not a pony."
  126. [2016-09-14 15:16:02] * Get_Lost lower her voice and speaks to the scientist "if you use a couple of minor implant in the helmet, you could... well... keep a soldier fighting for a good 30 seconds after she's dead... at least that's what my brain-machine studies seem to imply"
  127. [2016-09-14 15:16:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica tsks. "Ethical debates are for philosophers and ponies who aren't really interested in progress and knowledge."
  128. [2016-09-14 15:17:13] * Get_Lost you can use the nerves to convey orders from a basic combat AI to the still working muscles until they burn-out all the sugar and fats in the nearby cells..."
  129. [2016-09-14 15:17:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She looks surprised at Get_Lost's assertion. "After brain-death? Are we talking effective animation through injected signals to the nervous system? Or artificially extending consciousness beyond death?"
  130. [2016-09-14 15:18:10] * Get_Lost "a sort of short-term robot-zombies, but with the proper preparations and combat drugs..."
  131. [2016-09-14 15:18:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica nods. "Fascinating. I'd love to see your calculations on that. I'm sure I could devise a helmet capable of testing the theory." She considers. "With a proper exo-suit, the effects could be dramatically extended."
  132. [2016-09-14 15:21:22] * Get_Lost "yeah, i'll write down the numbers for you... also... there is a way to tap into the residual magic into ponies. it works a lot better with unicorns and alicorns, but i suspect that it could work with anypony once the technology is improved... that can extend the operativity of your suits by a good 20% or support more weapons or systems"
  133. [2016-09-14 15:22:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Doctor Sonica quickly begins to delve into the possibilities of non-magical animation of the recently deceased with Get_Lost.
  134. [2016-09-14 15:22:58] * Get_Lost "i could give you some data on that too, you can work on them as long as you wish, my friends don't really want me to talk about those things so i mostly abandoned those branches... in the meantime i will have a lot of time to work on those data about the hounds..."
  135. [2016-09-14 15:24:22] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy frowns, looking confused. And then his eyes widen. "Of course. The green alicorn."
  136. [2016-09-14 15:25:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy sighs. "Too late now. I've been in this guise for nearly a decade in Golden Buckle's employ."
  137. [2016-09-14 15:25:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"I think of this as 'me' more than... the other me."
  138. [2016-09-14 15:26:42] * CopyCat sneezes.
  139. [2016-09-14 15:28:21] * Golden_Dream sighs, then raises her hoof and gives a brief wave. "Naw, don't worry about it. It'd be mighty hypocritical for me to tell you that hiding yourself to protect yourself is an evil. There's a reason that there's no real birth records of a pony named "Sugar Whiskey" or "Green Fairy".
  140. [2016-09-14 15:28:34] * Bookwright digs in his packs. "I think I have kerchief in here somewhere..."
  141. [2016-09-14 15:31:27] * Bookwright offers CopyCat a mostly-unstained kerchief.
  142. [2016-09-14 15:32:41] * Golden_Dream smacks her lips. "Things are going to be very bad to be one of y'all in th' near future. I ain't gonna say that you should stop hidin'. I am gonna say going open is probably th' best thing you could do for yer' folks."
  143. [2016-09-14 15:34:26] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Effigy cocks his head at Golden_Dream's comment on birth records. "Because backwater swamp folk don't know how to write?" He lets a little smile betray the jest is in friendly spirits. At Golden_Dream's next words, he can only nod glumly.
  144. [2016-09-14 15:35:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"That's really up to Precious... and Golden Buckle. I will do as she tells me... or as he recommends."
  145. [2016-09-14 15:41:22] * Golden_Dream puts on a very unimpressed look and rolled her eyes. "I don't think a pony that can be adequately described as a 'bugger' has got a lot t' say about how 'backwater swamp folk' do." She seriouses up. "But naw. It's prolly safer to stay th' course for y'. But if you don't do it, who will?"
  146. [2016-09-14 15:47:36] * CopyCat has one more thing to ask Golden Buckle before they leave. "One more thing, Mr. Buckle. If Queen Precious's identity was supposed to be a secret, why did she agree to accompany you? Or does she intend herself to act as a possible ambassador, as you mentioned earlier?"
  147. [2016-09-14 15:51:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Just before they leave, Chef Summer Harvest trots out with a scroll in her mouth that she deposits into Golden_Dream's bag. "Just a little recipe you might like to try out one of these days."
  148. [2016-09-14 15:52:17] * Golden_Dream offers Summer Harvest some of the moonshine she's been brewing. "It's been a long way." She mentions, smiling.
  149. [2016-09-14 15:52:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle tells CopyCat, "I believe she intends just that. The NCR is hoping that, if we show we have a changeling queen on our side, the one in Roam will think twice."
  150. [2016-09-14 15:52:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Summer Harvest smiles and takes the moonshine. "Thank you."
  151. [2016-09-14 15:52:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  152. [2016-09-14 15:54:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Goodbyes and other partings said, soon the pegasi and caravaners are back aboard the /New Cumulus/. As CopyCat re-establishes contact with the other members of her circle of friends, the Raptor begins to thunder, once again moving towards the top of the world.
  153. [2016-09-14 15:57:40] * Get_Lost and as soon as the group is again in radiohead range, copy recieves a report on dr majolica.
  154. [2016-09-14 15:59:05] * Golden_Dream sighs, then slumps the briefcase down on the ground. "Shatara, I think you're the only one on th' ship that was around from th' very beginning. I want you t' come and witness this with me."
  155. [2016-09-14 15:59:51] * Shatara dutifully perches himself next to Golden_Dream.
  156. [2016-09-14 16:00:29] * Golden_Dream unbuckles the briefcase, then with a moment's hesitation and anxiety, flings it open where nobody else would see it.
  157. [2016-09-14 16:03:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Inside the briefcase, divided into easy stacks, are tens of thousands of bottlecaps.
  158. [2016-09-14 16:03:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3 63,000 bottlecaps, once fully counted.
  159. [2016-09-14 16:04:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3And beneath, the are pages of papers giving thanks to each of those who signed their name to the contract, and an extended but vague offer of future employment opportunities within Golden Buckle Enterprises.
  160. [2016-09-14 16:11:45] * Get_Lost the mental message is more or less that the scientist is a little bit over the edge on the "friends would have helped at some point of her life" path. still, it is clear that get feels very sorry for 'murrica and feels somehow connected to the doctor
  161. [2016-09-14 16:12:31] * Shatara stares and oooohs at all the caps. Did he just win at mercenary?
  162. [2016-09-14 16:13:46] * Bookwright nudges Shatara. "We're splitting them, remember?"
  163. [2016-09-14 16:14:55] * Shatara blinks and pokerfaces. "Yes. Of course." He definitely wasn't calculating if he could buy his own airship.
  164. [2016-09-14 16:17:12] * Golden_Dream just sits and /stares/ for a moment. Goldy had never seen so many caps in one place before. It was beautiful.
  165. [2016-09-14 16:18:31] * CopyCat shares Get_Lost's mental message and the image of Sonica she'd formed, one mad scientist to another, with the group.
  166. [2016-09-14 16:19:46] * Get_Lost also, tells her that the enclave found the crystal empire
  167. [2016-09-14 16:20:13] * CopyCat promptly hugs everypony, griffin, and hound when they all meet back up together on the Raptor to discuss what they'd seen in person, and to check out the bag Golden_Dream had been given.
  168. [2016-09-14 16:20:41] * Get_Lost she seems to be VERY worried about the second information
  169. [2016-09-14 16:23:38] * Golden_Dream feels the hairs on the back of her neck jolt up on end at the thought of Get_Lost and /that/ Enclaver getting together.
  170. [2016-09-14 16:26:48] * TenMihara_ heads in the direction of the commotion, figuring it was her friends returning, with Wind Weaver off trying to arrange things for her.
  171. [2016-09-14 16:26:52] <TenMihara_> *Mitzi
  172. [2016-09-14 16:30:18] * Get_Lost joins the others, smiles but doesn't talk very much
  173. [2016-09-14 16:32:18] * Noble_Heart landed aboard the Raptor with a thoughtful frown. "We hope their mission goes well. Or at least not disastrously. Golden Buckle seems like the sort who is at least willing to listen to others."
  174. [2016-09-14 16:34:54] * Get_Lost "sooooo... how did it go? was the ship fancy?"
  175. [2016-09-14 16:35:09] * CopyCat nods beside Noble_Heart, before promptly giving Get_Lost a warm feathery hug. "We may run into them again on our way back. In fact, I hope we do."
  176. [2016-09-14 16:36:06] * Golden_Dream just stares into the case for a bit longer. And then promptly gets up, walks over to Noble, and then hugs her very, very tightly.
  177. [2016-09-14 16:36:28] * Get_Lost "sweet! i hope to meet them too then" smiles. it's hard to read her face, as usual "i met their head scientis she is... uhm..."
  178. [2016-09-14 16:37:06] * Get_Lost "lonely, i think"
  179. [2016-09-14 16:37:10] * Noble_Heart gently places a foreleg and a wing around Golden Dream. "We are happy to say that our original mission for coming here has finished. However, with Miss Doo still trapped in Roam and the looming threat of war, We feel that Our job here is not yet done. We would hope that Our friends share that feeling and are also willing to accompany Us on the remainder of this journey."
  180. [2016-09-14 16:37:22] * CopyCat then gives Get_Lost and Mitzi a summary of what happened on the fancy boat. The news of Equestrian changelings and a queen for an ambassador being particularly interesting.
  181. [2016-09-14 16:37:48] * Get_Lost "did they say something about that discorded changeling we met?"
  182. [2016-09-14 16:39:23] * Golden_Dream rolls her eyes, then tries not to think that it's because Sonica is a bitch, because that would be an insult to Mitzi.
  183. [2016-09-14 16:39:33] * Mitzi ponders. "So Queen is Bugpony alpha?"
  184. [2016-09-14 16:42:18] * Mare-Do-Well 3shimmers into hazy existence next to Get_Lost and Golden_Dream.
  185. [2016-09-14 16:44:43] * Get_Lost "oh, hi there"
  186. [2016-09-14 16:45:53] * Golden_Dream looks at Mare-Do-Well. And then does a not-hug. It's close to a hug, but it's not quite there. It's as close as she can get though. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
  187. [2016-09-14 16:46:17] * Mitzi frowns at Get_Lost. "Eet doesn't mattur eef she eez lonely, she eez responsible fur Ur kind bein' enslaved."
  188. [2016-09-14 16:47:14] * Noble_Heart smiles to Mare-Do-Well. "We are glad you have chosen to follow Us as well."
  189. [2016-09-14 16:48:44] * Get_Lost sighs to mitzi's words "that's a factor, but it's not the only one"
  190. [2016-09-14 16:50:46] * Mitzi tilts her head at Get_Lost. "Yu tink she's dun sumteen wurse?"
  191. [2016-09-14 16:50:53] * Get_Lost "at the moment i'm more worried about the fact that the enclave knows about the crystal empire actually. as soon as i will understand how the mind controlling device works, it will probably b possible to avoid its effect." pauses for a moment "but it won't solve the real roblem"
  192. [2016-09-14 16:51:03] * Mare-Do-Well 3smiles. "Hey, you're friends. I'd go to the ends of Equestria for my friends. Totally did, in fact."
  193. [2016-09-14 16:52:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver steps into the hall and stops as she sees Mitzi and the others. She waves hesitantly.
  194. [2016-09-14 16:52:50] * Shatara wavewavewaves.
  195. [2016-09-14 16:52:57] * Mitzi turns to Wind Weaver and smiles, an ear flicking as she heard her trot up. "Oh, Uh shud introduce yu to Ur friends."
  196. [2016-09-14 16:53:01] * Get_Lost waves back "oh, hi"
  197. [2016-09-14 16:53:10] * Noble_Heart looks up and waves a wing in return to Wind Weaver.
  198. [2016-09-14 16:53:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver flaps over. "Hello?"
  199. [2016-09-14 16:53:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver then turns to Mitz. "I talked with the captain. You're not going to believe this...."
  200. [2016-09-14 16:55:11] * Mitzi gestures to her friends. "Dis eez Wind Weever. She helped me escape before." She then looks back to Wind Weaver. "Und dese are Ur friends."
  201. [2016-09-14 16:55:27] * CopyCat turns her hugging power on Wind Weaver the moment the pegasi turns to Mitzi, thus causing the most surprise. "Hello!" she greets enthusiastically.
  202. [2016-09-14 16:55:49] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver states, "The captain said that despite Doctor Sonica being on her ship, the Hellhound Obedience Project is above her authority. You need to speak with... with the real alphas of the Enclave to have the project ended."
  203. [2016-09-14 16:56:41] * Mitzi frowns. "Uh see. Und wut uv da two already here?"
  204. [2016-09-14 16:57:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver looks a bit shocked as she says, "The captain said she will arrange for you to have an audience with the General's Council. You can plead your people's case directly to the pegasi in charge of the entire ELR."
  205. [2016-09-14 16:57:46] * Shatara blinks. "Wow..."
  206. [2016-09-14 16:58:34] * Noble_Heart gives a quiet 'hrm', "Either the captain does not like the project, or they are more desperate for our help than they wish to admit."
  207. [2016-09-14 16:59:19] * Bookwright "Or the captain is being plainspoken and honest."
  208. [2016-09-14 16:59:38] * Bookwright "Not every officer is careerist."
  209. [2016-09-14 16:59:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wind Weaver nods at Shatara's assessment. "I... I get the impression that one of the Generals has already taken some issue with the project. I cannot imagine they would agree to it otherwise."
  210. [2016-09-14 16:59:55] * Get_Lost nods and holds her breath, as if she's evaluating something "well, it that's all, i'm back to the lab. me and mystica are comparing data on nerve impulse response... i hate leaving a job half-done"
  211. [2016-09-14 17:00:48] * CopyCat releases Wind Weaver from the wind-hug just in time to go "Wow..." at the news.
  212. [2016-09-14 17:04:17] * Mitzi considers for a moment. She looks to Get_Lost. "Eef dey will not agree to release Ur kind, wud yu refuse to fix dere big sky boat?"
  213. [2016-09-14 17:05:55] * Get_Lost stops "i... that wouldn't fix the problem either." pauses "i'll try to free them myself, probably. fighting isn't the way"
  214. [2016-09-14 17:07:44] * Get_Lost hesitates, then offers "i could always offer a barter... a better bargain for your people"
  215. [2016-09-14 17:08:15] * Get_Lost then goes to the lab
  216. [2016-09-14 17:08:23] * Bookwright grumbles about buying off the evil of enslavement.
  217. [2016-09-14 17:08:26] * Mitzi shakes her head. "Dere eez no barter. Dey enslaved Ur kind. Dey cannot get anyting een return fur freeing dem. Eet eez wut -must- be don."
  218. [2016-09-14 17:08:46] <Mitzi> *done
  219. [2016-09-14 17:09:10] * Mare-Do-Well 3asks casually, "So... not like I can eat, but what's that recipe?"
  220. [2016-09-14 17:09:56] * Get_Lost turns her head on the door "not if i decideto stay with them. hellhounds are scary. i can give them better."
  221. [2016-09-14 17:10:18] * Mare-Do-Well 3also looks at Bookwright, "I hope you get to meet Golden Buckle. I think you'd get on fine. He's totally a history nerd just like you."
  222. [2016-09-14 17:11:40] * Bookwright looks thoughtful. "I hope so too. It would be interesting to hear his opinion on the current expansionist tendencies of the NCR."
  223. [2016-09-14 17:12:21] * Mitzi shakes her head at Get_Lost again. "Dey must not tink letteen Ur kind go eez giveen us sumteen. It eez only returneen wut dey took frum us."
  224. [2016-09-14 17:12:30] * Get_Lost is gone
  225. [2016-09-14 17:14:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The /New Cumulus/ soars ever northward. It will be another full day before the ship reaches the secret Enclave city at the Top of the World.
  226. [2016-09-14 17:14:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- End of Session ---
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement
Public Pastes
Advertisement
We use cookies for various purposes including analytics. By continuing to use Pastebin, you agree to our use of cookies as described in the Cookies Policy.  OK, I Understand
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up, it unlocks many cool features!