Log #1

<~HoloDiskJockey> Introduction: War. War never changes. After the events of what the ponies have called The Day Of Sunshine and Rainbows, a number of organizations had risen up with the sole purpose of restoring Equestria to it's former glory and to help the betterment of any and all beings of Equestria. One such organization being the New Canterlot Republic, also known simply as the NCR.  Throughout the decades of activity, the NCR has become one of the upmost authorities in Equestria. Having been able to restore law and order in most areas, building settlements that are kept under their watchful eye, it wasn't perfect but it was better than living in the wild wastes where the raiders and slavers tread. Among other horrors.  With the NCR's current success, ideas of branching and spreading out have been brought to mind. The problem being that there wasn't enough 'horsepower' to accomplish it. The wild wasteland was filled with outlaws, mutated and bloodthirsty creatures, not to mention that despite the fact that most of the water supply in Equestria have become more tolerable to drink and use, there were still many unchecked hotspots of radiation.  The NCR hadn't enough soldiers to spare, and there was no way that any NCR settlement citizen would willingly do such a task. So, the NCR has come up with a more practical solution. That's where you come in, you are a prisoner of the NCR, the crimes you have committed have led you to bar-covered cell where you'll spend quite some time in. However, you've been given an alternate choice, you have been chosen to become a cleaner, your job.  However, you've been given an alternate choice, you have been chosen to for a 'community service' project of which you haven't been given any details about. However, the terms are clear enough, spend your sentence in jail or the firing squad, or be able to see the sun again.
-Point of View- You each find yourself in a well-lit room, before you is a grizzled-looking stallion. He has a brown coat, short white mane, and brown eyes. He's wearing a tan shirt with an arrangement of medals on the right of his chest. Beside him are two well-armed griffons, one female and one male, each has a rifle trained on you.  A desk with a stack of Manila folders lies infront of him, he opens each folder and spreads them out on the desk to view.  "Hmmph." he grunts as he looks at each folder. "Heaven Breecher, origially sentenced to 5 years for multiple counts of theft and distruption of the peace, extended to 10 years for mutliple escape attempts."
>Shairi calmly just sits, the zebra, saying nothing, but looking at each individual as the stallion calls out the name, hopeing he's attatching names to the right people
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Marrow," he continues. "Sentenced for 20 years for Chem distribution."
>Heaven_Breacher smirks a bit, leaning back happily for her extended sentence. She had never taken a liking to being caged in any way.
>Marrow nickers uncomfortably. She turns her head away from the stallion.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Harris Lightwing, sentenced to 15 to 20 years for Murder.  Centra Blu, well aren't you a piece of work?" he comments before continuing. "25 years to life for multiple counts of Murder and Extortion."
>CentraBlu just kept silent, not saying a thing. He merely took a deep breath. Centra knew his charges were deep, but he had patience. He waited for what they really had to say.
>Shairi frowns some, but still, says nothing, the zebra surprisingly stoic through all this
>Marrow shifts uncomfortably and moves slightly away from the group.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "You five have been told that you were given the option to serve 'Community Service'." he says not expecting any to answer. "Well I can tell you this, you'll be serving for the benefit of your community and then some."
>Harris feathers ruff for a bit at the mention of his time to serve
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Each of you has willingly accepted the choice to serve your sentence, by becoming what command has called, A Cleaner."
>CentraBlu spoke up, knowing they'd all want to know. "What's a Cleaner?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> The stallion looks at you with a frown, but simply shakes his head. "What's a Cleaner, you ask?" he says in a question tone. "A Cleaner is what we call 'volunteers' to help 'clean' up the 'filth' of the wastes."
>Harris gives a shrug "Some kind of wipe their ass job, if get me outta  here faster the better."
>Shairi shakes his head and snorts tapping his right forehoof twice and pointing at Harris, before motioning that hoof across his lips
<~HoloDiskJockey> "You'd think that wouldn't you?" he responds with a slight smirk. "Then let me clarify things, each of you will be given the task of clearing out any and all dangerous hotspots of the wild wastes."
<Marrow> "Better than jail, huh," says Marrow, under her breath.
>CentraBlu nodded slowly, looking to the others, then back to the colt. "Do we get any supplies?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Your job is simple, eliminate all hostile targets, you'll also be given the opportunity to dipose of any and all forms of Enviornmental Hazards."
>Shairi sighs and face hoofs some, this definately sounded much better before the 'environmental hazard' clean up bit
>Marrow perked up at the last couple of words. And what kind of, hazards, would those be?
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Supplies for this task will be given out after leaving the base and upon your destination, issued weapons and gear will be given to help make sure you survive long enough to get the job done."
>Heaven_Breacher blinks a few times and smirks. "So then, we go out into the wastes and don't wrote away in a cell. I like it already."
>Marrow continues under her breath. Yeah, instead you get to rot out in the wastes.
>CentraBlu nodded gently in agreement. "Is that it?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "You'll be briefed upon by your...parole officer of each and every task you receive." he then motions one of the griffons to leave the room. The griffin heads out the door for a few seconds and comes back with another Stallion dressed in a similar fashion to the grizzled soldier. He has a jet black mane, white coat, and yellow eyes. "Is there something you wished to speak to me about commander?" he asks.
>Harris gives hes neck a crack "So it's a slow death form the shit still out, there or rotting in a cell. Good choices, I'll take the quick way out."
>Shairi simply stays quiet
>Marrow frowns. Or you could, y'know, not die. That's always an option.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "At ease Lt., this will be your 'squad' for the upcoming Cleaner Operation." says the Commander as he points towards the group. The Lt. looks at the group with in curious glance before turning back to the commander. "What about their collars?" he asked.
<Heaven_Breacher> "That's the option I plan to take."
>Harris "Oh, we get the kinkky neck gear."
>Shairi scoots back a little, his eyes going wide at the mention of collars, the zebra shaking his head furriously back and forth
>Marrow droops her head. Always a catch with these people...
>CentraBlu 's expression didn't change much, but something about collars definately made a deeper scowl appear on him.
>Heaven_Breacher 's expression changes to a glare. "I'm not wearing a collar. Not again. I am not a slave."
>Shairi taps his right hoof once, pointing at Heaven Breacher and nodding in agreement
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Ah, yes nearly forgot about those." he says bringing out a large metal case on the desk and opens it to reveal 5 metal collars and a remote switch. The two griffins, taking the collars, places each one around the groups' necks. "These collars will be placed on you at all times, you'll be free to walk amongst the other soldiers on the base and in time you'll be given an opportunity to walk freely in the city."
>Shairi shakes his head and backs away as they try to put the collar on him, the zebra obviously not at all willing to wear a collar, and promptly starts pushing at it with his hooves, starting to breath heavily, foaming slightly at the corners of his mouth
>Harris chuckles a bit "So if we get out of line *Boom* goes our heads, nice."
>Heaven_Breacher quickly makes a small shield around her neck before the collar is put on
<Heaven_Breacher> "Make me behave a different way. No collar though."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "These collars are an insurance to make sure you won't run during the operations, or fly away in some cases, if you try any funny business then Lt. Jetlag will detonate the switch making the collars explode."  The griffins hold the Zebra down as the quickly place the collar around his neck.
>Marrow rubs her neck and winces slightly.
>Shairi is litterally freaking out now, shaking his head frantically and backing away like he can back out of the colar, his hooves pushing at it
>Harris flaps his wings a few times "Well, at lest I get to fly around, none of those wing restraints."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Also, this base and the city have special sensors in place to detect your collars, if you go too far from the confines of the city...well you'll find out."
>Marrow makes a small popping sound with her mouth.
<Heaven_Breacher> "You do realize what you are doing is literally slavery, correct?  This is how I was  treated in my past. This makes you no better than the previous owners of the wastes."
>Harris looks to Heaven_Breacher "You could just go back to your cell."
>CentraBlu simply took the color and stood up from his seat. "Like a slave?" He looked to the rest of the room.
<Marrow> "Or shot, the chances seems pretty high right now."
>Heaven_Breacher frowns. "Either way I'm trapped. At least in the cell I can get out."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Before the commander can respond, Lt. Jetlag speaks up. "Actually, this is similar to what many would call a Chain Gang, you actually have more freedom compared to them."
<Heaven_Breacher> "We may have some freedom, but you are still threatening us with explosive collars, like slavers do."
>Shairi finally breaks his three years of silence "A chain on my hooves I will gladly wear.  But a collar around my neck I shall not bare" he practically spits out still trying to force the collar off
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Well, for one you're all still convicted felons, as such we could either keep you in solitary confinement or execute you."
>CentraBlu turned to Heaven Breacher and to the Commander, a deep, emotionless expression on his face. "I'm in." He cracked a small smile at the words.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Plus, there are benefits for you *ahem* perdicament."
<Heaven_Breacher> "What justice is there in that? Do I deserve death over not wnating to wear a collar that will bring me such?" She asks, frowning, still holding up the shield to avoid the collar. "Provide me a reason why I will let you cage me?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "For one thing, doing this will allow you to cut your sentence even shorter, once the operation is complete you'll be given free leave so long as you do nothing of illegal consequence in the city or towards the NCR.  You'll also be given individual housing, a leisure i'm sure you'd find more comfortable then a jail cell.  Not to mention, the NCR is willing to financially compensate you for each part of the operation finished."
>CentraBlu looked back to Heaven. "When it comes to what happens past those borders, I'll accept, prison or not." He took a step ahead, but turned around, keeping his motions simple, as to show he was on their side on this as he looked to the others. "I dare you to compare this to slavery again. This is /not/ slavery to me."
>Shairi snorts some, laying still and panting "So instead of giving us a chance to show we are redeemed.  You force our hooves and make us teamed"
>Marrow shrugs. 'Long as my head doesn't explode, that's fine with me.'
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Say what you will, but in truth you'll not only be helping yourselves but the rest of Equestria as well in the long run."
>Heaven_Breacher glares to CentraBlu. "This is as close to slavery as I am comfortable with." She says. "And I don't care what is slavery to you, I KNOW what slavery is." She lets otu a sigh. "But I will accept the cage on the promise it will be opened." Her shield dropped.
>Harris pokes a talon under the collar "Could be worse."
>Marrow rubs her neck again. Could be looser too.
>Shairi taps a hoof at the collar "And what about us that didn't make violence.  Is this your twisted view of recompence?"
>Heaven_Breacher puts on the collar willingly, it gives her a bit of comfort
<~HoloDiskJockey> The commander then takes the opportunity to speak. "Your first task will be a simple clean-up, there have been reports of giant ants having housed themselves in a large cavern miles away from the city.  While the job doesn't sound very complicated, there have been other reports saying that these ants are...very unusual."
<Shairi> "So....we must hunt and kill." he says before sighing "I do not wish to see any blood that may spill"
<Marrow> "Unusual? How so?"
>CentraBlu nodded gently. He didn't seem to agree with them too much, but he seems fine with their near-acceptance of this. He turned back around to listen to the commander now.
>Heaven_Breacher leans back, slowly adopting the sam smug experession. "Alright some ants and shit, what do they do?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "For one thing, these ants have shown different signs of mutation only seen in special cases, some have been shown to breathe fire and acid, others have shown to have...wooden skin and other such strange mutations.  Our best theory is that the ants have been exposed to a special kind of material known as Taint."
>Heaven_Breacher smirks. "Doesn't matter to me. They won't get through my shield. My horn can easily pierce them." She stops and blinks a few times. "Taint?"
>Marrow furrows her brow. Taint?
>Harris "So some breathe fire and some have wooden skin. Sounds fun if you ask me."
>CentraBlu 's brow raises, "Very unusal.. I've heard some rumors of taint, but never thought it was anything other then mistakes."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Lt. Jetlag speaks up. "You're familiar with the existence of the Alicorns, i'm sure?"
>Marrow nods. 'I've read a bit about them.'
<Heaven_Breacher> "I've seen one or two."
>Shairi goes back to silence, still breathing heavily from his position on the ground, starting to calm down
<Marrow> "Taint though... That stuff is nasty."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Our sources have concluded that the creation of the species known as the Alicorns have been the cause of a highly mutagenic chemical agent orignally called the Impelled Metamorphosis Potion or I.M.P for short. Nowadays it's known as Taint."
<Heaven_Breacher> "So then, don't touch the stuff or we get wings and turn into goddesses?"
<Shairi> "It may work like a new zebra brew.  Sometimes it may work....but honestly, one has no clue"
<Marrow> "If we come across some, you can be the first to jump in."
>Harris "Or grow an eyeball on your tongue."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Acutally, from what we'ver researched about the Taint is that inorder to create an Alicorn, Taint must be administered at a specific dosage. Otherwise the results could vary."
>Heaven_Breacher looks to Marrow. "Very funny. As much as I like to be free, pretty sure all those weirdo stuff ain't for me."
<Marrow> "Maybe just dip your hoof in then." Marrow snickered to herself.
>Heaven_Breacher smirks. "I'm sure you'd like that."
>CentraBlu looked to Heaven. "Stay in here then. But you know what, I'm not wasting my talent in here. You shouldn't either, I see you're hardy like me, but I'd rather not use that just to not get beat up around here."
<Marrow> "Geez, don't get your panties in a twist over there."
>Shairi stands shakily "Is there an alternative to the necklace.  I don't mind the threat behind it...just the thing it's self is quite...feckless"
>Marrow looks over at the zebra. 'Do you always rhyme, or do you just enjoy being annoying?'
>Heaven_Breacher looks to CentraBlu. "Shut the fuck up already. You're so whiny and angsty." She says rolling her eyes. "I thought I was the one with a tragic backstory." She looks to the commander. "Let's go then."
>Harris stretches himself out "Yes lets."
<Shairi> "I cannot help how I speak.  But maybe tis you, who should shut their beak" the zebra calmly says looking at the earth pony
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Seeing as you lot are lively at the moment, i'll be sending your team in post-haste." he looks to Jetlag before handing him the switch. "Keep your eyes on them." he mutters before giving a salute and bellows "DISMISSED!"
>CentraBlu glared back to her, then away, muttering, "So much for team effort..."
>Marrow sticks her tongue out at the zebra.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Yes sir!" he then looks to the group. "Alright, everypony, single file line out the door."
>Shairi rolls his eyes "My appolgies Centra of Blue.  This...Collar reminds me of pains I've already lived through"
>Heaven_Breacher smirks. "I can still work with you, you just need to calm down and be more happy." she says as she files out through the door.
>Marrow grumbles and shuffles towards the door.
>Shairi will make sure to go out last
>CentraBlu looked to the zebra, "I understand. I just finally get to see the day I can free more like you." He went along with the others.
>Harris looks at the zebra then to the earth pony "Rauwww.... cat fight."
<Shairi> "I am a stallion if you can't see. My name is not Sh-ai-re, it is Sha-EE-ree
<Marrow> "I'm not picking a fight with some weird rhyming zebra."
<Heaven_Breacher> "Look, I'm just looking forward to finally getting to do something. Caged ain't my style."
>Heaven_Breacher looks to Marrow. "But you can pick a fight with me any day." She winks
>Shairi face hoofs some
>Harris shrugs "All you ponies look the same to me."
<Marrow> Hmph, if I get desperate maybe."
>Heaven_Breacher laughs loudly. "Oh I see, saving the best for last?"
>Marrow smirks. 'Not that it'd be impossible, but it ain't likely.'
>CentraBlu sighed. Day would have been a lot better should he not lose his patience like that.
<Heaven_Breacher> "Do the impossible." She says quietly.
<Shairi> "This....cleaning we are about to complete.  Will it perhaps happen at night, that would be quite the treat"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "No, we'll need as much daylight as possible." Jetlag repsonds. "Okay let's move out."
>Shairi sighs
                                                       -TIMESKIP-
-Point of View- The group having used a vertibird, lands a mile away from the infested Cavern. Jestlag goes over to a supplies crate taken from the base and pries it open with a crowbar. "Alright everypony, i'll be issuing your equipment for the operation, single file line please."
>Heaven_Breacher lines up ready to receive supplies
>Marrow steps up.
<Marrow> "I hope this stuff is decent, would be a bit pointless to get us all killed right now."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Marrow receives a 9mm Pistol with 2 clips, 2 bottles of Rad-X, 3 rolls of bandages, and 2 healing potions and a Med-X.
<Marrow> "Hmph, not bad." She scoops the supplies up.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Next."
>Heaven_Breacher steps up next for her supplies. ""Oh good, the medic can heal us nicely."
>Marrow checks through the supplies, making sure everything is still viable. She has no idea about the gun though.  "I'd suggest not getting hurt at all, but yeah, all this seems to be okay."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Heaven Breacher receives a pair of Spiked Shoes, a Bladed Helmet, a healing potion and a bottle of rad-x.
>Heaven_Breacher smiles before tossing the healing potion and the bottle of rad-x to Marrow. "Hold onto those will you please?"
>Shairi rolls his eyes behind his shades and takes a step forward, his turn it seems
>Marrow scrambles to catch the items. "Geez, just toss them around why don't you?"
>Harris figgits a bit wanting to get this over
>Heaven_Breacher smiles as she equips the helmet, which she assumes has a spot for her horn. She also puts on the spiked shoes.
<~HoloDiskJockey> Shairi receives a Combat Knife, 3 health potions, 2 vials of anti-venom and 2 bottles of rad-x.
>Shairi smiles, and weilds the knife in his tail, gathering the rest and stowing it, no point in one person carying all the medical supplies, what if they're the one that needs tending
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Next."
>Marrow passes Heaven back a single healing potion and Rad-X. "Take 'em, just in case. No point pushing everything onto me."
>Shairi steps out of the way
>CentraBlu stepped along up to the Lt., waiting.
>Heaven_Breacher nods a bit. "Alright then, if you say so." She says, putting them away and smiling.
>Marrow frowns. "I'm not doing this because I like you, just because you're more useful alive, got it?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> Centra receives a Cowboy Repeater with 30 .375 bullets, a Combat Knife, 2 bottles of rad-x and a healing potion
>Heaven_Breacher rolls her eyes and lightly ruffles the short ponies mane. "Mmhmm, It's not because you've got the hots for me or anything." she say before she laughs and winks.
>Marrow turns away and nickers uncomfortably.
>Heaven_Breacher smirks and smiles. "Sorry for teasing you. I just like to live on the brighter side of life. Don't take me too seriously."
>CentraBlu nodded and floated the gun to his back, knife at his side and stored up his medical supplies for later.
<Marrow> "Pfft, just don't be like that when we're in actual danger."
<Heaven_Breacher> "Oh I'll only not be serious about myself." She says, pointing to her horn. "Theres a reason I can only cast a shield spell."
<Shairi> "Are we aloud to take things we find home?  Or through our kits will you comb?"
>CentraBlu looked up to Breacher, "Ah, so you've practiced in one spell? I've met a rare few like you. Always was impressive."
>Heaven_Breacher shrugs. "My spell doesn't seem like anything special right now. But I try my best."
<Shairi> "You have magic that you can bring to bear.  Even if only one spell, you most likely use it with flair"
>CentraBlu nodded, "I know what you mean. I've got a ton, but I've never cast them for a long time. Pretty rusty, I'll admit."
>Harris walks up to get the gear for this mission "So what I do end up with?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> Harris receives a Combat Shotgun with 22 20 gauge shells, a bottle of rad-x and a healing potion
>Heaven_Breacher smiles. "Well I know how to shape it well enough. As you saw, I've got good control over the shaping."
>Harris paws at the shotgun "Nice, not my style, but it should do."
>CentraBlu nodded, "I'm just glad you all decided to come." He looked to Harris, floating the rifle, "We could switch, if you really wanted. Might be better if I have what we need for range in here, knife and all."
>Marrow shrugs. "Didn't have much choice. This or prison, and I'm not going back to prison."
<Heaven_Breacher> "I agree. Though I still find the collar... terribly familar."
>Shairi nods some "The fresh air is nice.  The collar though...no dice"
<Marrow> "Really straining to make those rhymes huh?"
>Harris looks over the shotgun, turning it this way and that "Nah this will work for me." points to the hole their about to go down "All close and personal."
<Heaven_Breacher> "That's gotta get tiring sometimes. I mean what if you have to say a catchy line while firing?"
>Shairi shakes his head "Not at all, I cannot help how I speak.  The spirits whisper to me and so of rhymes I leak"
<Marrow> "Well, tell your spirits they need to look up a dictionary once in a while."
>CentraBlu nodded, giving the rifle a load of shots. "I agree." He looked to the others, "Warn us if we see anything. We might be able to take them by suprise."
<Heaven_Breacher> "Or a theasurus."
>Shairi shrugs "The words of the spirits are not my own.  But, thanks to my heritage, their powers they will sometimes loan"
>Marrow points to the hole. "So we going or what?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Alright, now that we have the weapons given out you'll also need these." he says holding out a stack of radiation suits, one looked to be griffin-sized. "These will help protect you from harmful radiation."
>Shairi nods and dons the suit quickly
>Marrow gets into the suit. "This day just keeps getting better and better."
>Harris "Oh pajamas and you got one in my size too."
>Marrow is a bit small for the baggy suit.
>CentraBlu followed suit. "As long as... Shairi has the skill, he's welcome here to me, rhyme or not."
>Shairi raises an eyebrow looking at Centra "Please explain, what do you mean. I hope your intent isn't obscene"
>Marrow smirks at the thought.
>Heaven_Breacher looks over the suit and shrugs. "I don't need it."
<Marrow> "You sure? Rads aren't just gonna run away from you cause they're scared y'know?"
>CentraBlu shook his head, "Uh, I don't get what you mean. I'm just glad you all came to do this with me." He lifted a hoof to the back of his neck, scratching a bit, "I'm sorry about what I said back in the prison. A couple years of being useless got to me a little."
>Heaven_Breacher shrugs. "I can't wear my weapons and the suit at once. So instead of being useless but safe, I can put myself in danger."
>Marrow sighs. "Well, atleast have some Rad-X handy then."
>\eaven_Breacher nods. "I'm not stupid." She smirks. "I'll take some Rad-X when I can."
<Marrow> "Well, if you need to take it, just pass it to me, I know a couple of ways to make it work a little better."
>Heaven_Breacher smiles a bit to Marrow. "Alright Doctor, just. You know, tell me if I need to take it rectally." She chuckles.
>Harris finishes putting on the hazmat suit "How do I look, sexy?"
>Marrow frowns and turns her head slightly.
>Shairi facehoofs
<Heaven_Breacher> "Ugly as hell." Heaven says with a smile to Harris.  "Now, let's get going! I want a nice nights rest tonight."
<Shairi> "I feel like an adult among foals.  Please spirits, make this easy and just drag me over hot coals."
>CentraBlu rolls his eyes and walked up to the entrance, "Same. Let's get moving before the bugs come to us."
<Marrow> "I suggest letting the Zebra go first. Maybe his rhymes will protect him from ants."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag places on his own suit, his recharger pistol clipped to the belt. "We're ALL going in at the same time, but make sure to keep quiet so we don't alert too many of the ants inside."
>Shairi nods, and slinks up toward the hole
>Heaven_Breacher nods. "Aww, no witty lines."
>Marrow sidles up to hole.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Alright, Centra, Harris since you two have the heavier firepower you'll go up front."
>CentraBlu nodded, "Gladly." He stepped forward, magic hovering over his gun, gazing over to Harris for his go.
>Harris nods then but puts on his serious face "Centra get behind me so I don't hit you with this." he says as he lifts his gun
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Marrow stays in center whilst Heaven Breecher and Shairi covers the sides, I'll cover the rear."
<Marrow> "Cool, so if we die, I'll die last."
>Shairi nods, and flails the knife around threateningly, ends up looking more comical than dangerous
>Heaven_Breacher nods. "Well at least I'll die knowing the pretty mare survived last." She says, moving to the sides.
>CentraBlu nodded, "Still going to be behind you. I'll get anything you won't see." He took the knife into his mouth.
>Shairi takes his position
>Harris gets down to a crawl as he gets near the hole
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag takes out a flare, he lights it and drops it down the hole. They watch as it falls a ways down and lands on the ground to illuminate the area, so far no ants in sight.
>Heaven_Breacher starts to crawl down
>Marrow attempts to be sneaky.
>Heaven_Breacher does't bother to be sneaky
>Shairi sighs "Oh I wish I had time to prepare a brew.  With this we could walk on the walls, the ants wouldn't have the slightest clue" he says keeping formation
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag spreads his wings and swoops down the hole. "No time for that, we have to start moving."
>Marrow nods and follows Jetlag down.
>Shairi sighs and hops into the hole, lacks wings, cannot fly
>Harris gets to the bottom of the hole at a crouch with as much stealth as he can in the hazmat suit, looking down the barrel of the shotgun
>Heaven_Breacher follows and hops down
>CentraBlu looked around, looking to the flare, "Is there any other lights you have Lieutenent?"
<Marrow> "Maybe we could get some more light?"
>Shairi shrugs some
<~HoloDiskJockey> "All I have are some more flares and it's hard to carry the lantern and my weapon." he says taking out the lantern.
>Harris looks to CentraBlu "Can't spell us some light?"
>Heaven_Breacher shakes head. "I can't. The other unicorn might be able to."
>Shairi puts his knife up, offering to cary the lantern
>Marrow points to her head. "I'd do it if I could, but, y'know."
>CentraBlu he mentally facehoofs himself for that suggestion, "Yeah, just not used to my magic as I was." He flashed his horn up and floated a ball of light out, hovering up ahead of the group. "Marrow, could you take the latern?"
>Marrow takes the lantern in her tail.  "Well, we've got plenty of light. What's the plan?"
>Shairi shrugs
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Okay, since ant colonies usually have a queen, we should see about eliminating the queen as well as any we see coming our way to permanently deal with the ant infestation."
<Shairi> "Cut of the head, and soon they will all be dead" he says with an aproving nod
>Harris nods "And the eggs, don't forget the eggs."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "After that we'll deal with the rest of the ants and then worry about cleaning the taint."
<Marrow> "Well let's stop dragging our hooves then."
>Heaven_Breacher nods. "Please, It's getting rather boring." She says, looking around.
>CentraBlu nodded and started ahead.  "We're running out of daylight. These things might be nocturnal."
>Marrow follows, keeping to the middle of the group.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Alright, let's go on ahead." he says motioning the group to move forward
>Shairi chuckles at that "If that is the case they are not the only one's.  The night is so nice, and to the stars I do run" keeping his position in relation to the group and pulling the combat knife back out
>Harris slowly moves up along a wall
>Heaven_Breacher keeps her movement the same as well
<~HoloDiskJockey> Centra trips over something in the dark and falls on the ground.  Luckily Shairi is able to catch the stallion before he falls to the ground.
>Shairi simply nods to Centra, and goes back to his place in formation
>CentraBlu gasped and suddenly found himself caught. He blinked and looked to the Zebra, then back forward. "What? Uh... Thank you."
>Shairi taps a hoof twice on the ground in response, keeping silent for now
<Marrow> "Maybe you should keep your eyes on the ground, instead of... Wherever you were looking."
>CentraBlu furrowed his brow, "I'm holding the light for you guys.." he floated the light to see what he hit.
-CentraBlu's Point of View: He looks and finds the object he tripped over was the skeletal remains of a pony, skull and all.
<Marrow> "What is it? I can't see."
>Heaven_Breacher doesn't care enough, she just keeps watch for enemies
>CentraBlu's eyes went a little wide, "Keep your guard everyone." He floated out his rifle, keeping it to the ready, biting down his knife's grip.
>Marrow moves to get a good look at whatever Centra tripped over. "Ah."
>Shairi looks down, following Centra's gaves and stops for a minute, looking down "I did not know you but I wish your death was quick and painless.  You should soon be avenged, our cleansing of this hive shall be stainless" he says softly
>Marrow shifts the lantern closer to get a good look at the skeleton.
>Heaven_Breacher looks back at them. "Is something so interesting we need to delay our journey for it?"
>Marrow looks back. "Well, if you count a skeleton as interesting, then yeah, it its."
<Heaven_Breacher> "I dont. Of course theres skeletons here."
>Harris looks to the remains then shrugs "You've seen one skeleton, you've seen them all." looking back toward the front
<CentraBlu> "I understand that, but something dead down here means something killed him. We could scout a little ahead if you want
>Marrow gets back up. "Looks like they ate them, whoever they were. There's some acid damage here too. Sucks to be that guy."
>Shairi motions at Harris to let him borrow that shotgun for a moment as he speaks the prayer for the dead
>Heaven_Breacher sighs a bit. "Let's just hurry. I'm itching to punch something and standing over bones isn't helping."
>Harris at the zebra "Sorry, what was that?"
<Marrow> "Yeah, no point standing around I guess."
<CentraBlu> "Let's keep going." He stepped forward, "We'll be next standing here with this light.
>Marrow trots after.
>Shairi shakes his head some, before putting a hoof to it, his eyes glowing for a moment before the glow fades and he coughs some
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Alright be careful cause there's bound to be," *click* *click* *click* "Did you hear that?"
>Heaven_Breacher stops, looking around hard to see if she sees anythign
>Shairi nods, still shaking his head clear, the Spirit of Rage still shouting at him, not at all pleased by his funeral rights
<Marrow> "I don't think we're alone anymore."
>Harris aims down the barrel of the gun
>CentraBlu stood firm, holding up his weapons to the ready.
<~HoloDiskJockey> Harris, Heaven Breecher and Centra can make out some moving figures in the darkness. Marrow on the other hand can see 3 giant ants heading towards the group.
<Marrow> "Uh, guys? There's some big ass ants coming towards us, and I really think we should do something!" Marrow points vaguely into the darkness where she spotted the ants.
>Heaven_Breacher smiles and moves towards the figures. "Let's do this!"
>Shairi nods and shakes his head again
>Marrow draws her pistol and fires widly at the approching ants. Two shots go wild, but one manages to hit a vital part of an ant.
>Shairi starts to chant incoherently, his eyes glowing for a moment and crackling with power before he coughs hard and it looks like an electric jolt shoots through him, the glow quickly fadding as he staggers some
>CentraBlu took three shots at the ants, first two missing, one very bad shot. The last fires out and kills an ant, blasting off a limb in the process.
>Heaven_Breacher moves to the second ant, trying to beat at it several times
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag fires a shot at the second ant, killing it in the process. He then aims for the last ant, misses the first shot but lands a hit the second try
>Harris level the shotgun at the last one and lest loss a barrage of lead at it
<~HoloDiskJockey> The 3 ants lie dead on the ground. *good job everypony*
>Marrow holsters her pistol. "Is... Isthat all of them?"
>Heaven_Breacher pants a bit and stretches. "Nice. That was fun. Let's go beat up more ants!"
>Shairi immediatly moves up and starts to cut apart the now dead ants
<Marrow> "Ugh... I don't think I like this job."
>Heaven_Breacher looks to Marrow. "Aww don't be a spoil sport!"
>CentraBlu nodded, clicking his rifle open to load it up again. "It was great work though. They couldn't even touch us."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Yeah, I think so, for now atelast." he says holstering his pistol. "We should keep moving, the Queen has to be near."
>Harris stops to reload the hungry thing of death
>Marrow nods and tries to work out how to reload her pistol.
>Heaven_Breacher smiles and nods, moving too, snickering a bit. "look at you all, having to reload."
>Shairi holds up a hoof "Give me a moment to finish this task.  I have an idea for our scents to mask"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "What are you planning to do?" he says looking at the zebra.
<Marrow> "Looks... Icky." Marrow gives a disapproving look.
>Heaven_Breacher sighs a bit as she looks at Shairi. "Whatever, I say we just go. These Ants are wimps!"
<Shairi> "Ants are simple they work on scent.  If the ingriedient I can fine, their perception will be bent"
<Marrow> "Those ants weren't tootough, relatively, are you sure they're notgonna get more dangerous?"
<CentraBlu> "Animals like the ants have some useful things on them." He walked along over to the Zebra, "Glad to see someone else not so squicky about guts."
<Shairi> "One or two a threat they are not.  But in the hundreds their battles are fought"
<Marrow> "Hey, I don't mind ponies, or zebras, or pretty much anything. It's just bugs that creep me out."
<Heaven_Breacher> "Well then you don't need to fight there." She smiles at Marrow. "I'll pound the bugs out for you!"
>Marrow frowns. "Hey, I managed to shoot one! I think. Maybe!"
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag looks at Shairi with an impressed expression. "Smart thinking."
<Heaven_Breacher> "I think you shot one too!" She smiles a bit. "But we really should start moving. It doesn't matter how smart of an idea it was, the ants probably heard our gunshots or something."
<Heaven_Breacher> "Sooooooo, they're on their way."
>Shairi nods at the pegasi
>Marrow picks up the lantern again. "Let's get moving before we get swarmed again."
>Heaven_Breacher starts to move ahead.
>CentraBlu nodded, "Agreed." He tapped the ground by the Zebra, "You have that mix done?"
>Marrow is getting slightly antsy. Hah.
>Shairi pulls out a pile of goop from each of the ants, mixing it together in a crude bowl fashioned from the head of one of the ants he cut open, before adding in the eye of one of them "It will not last long but the trick it should do.  Normally it would last longer but the materials were too few"
>Shairi takes a hoof full and smears it over himself, motioning for every one else to do so as well
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag does the same, smearing it over the suit he wore.
>Marrow draws back. "Uh, no thanks."
>Heaven_Breacher shakes her head. "I'd rather not get dirtier with goop."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Relaz, you just put it over the suit and it won't contact your skin."
<Heaven_Breacher> "What suit."
>CentraBlu nodded, standing with his side to him, "Lather it on."
>Heaven_Breacher isn't wearing one.
>Marrow shudders. "Even with the suit... Ugh, fine."
>Shairi rolls his eyes some
<Marrow> "Okay, now that we're done with that, can we get going?"
>Shairi nods
>Heaven_Breacher is trotting in place. "Thank the goddesses."
>CentraBlu nodded, "Move up everyone." He glowed the light ahead, walking along with the group.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Yes, we better haul flank before this stuff wears off." he says.
>Marrow follows hesitantly.
>Heaven_Breacher moves with the group, sighing under her breath. "finally."
<Marrow> "Hey, at least you're not covered in gunk."
>Shairi walks looking around, keeping his eyes out for side tunnels
>Heaven_Breacher smirks. "I asked not to be."
<~HoloDiskJockey> -As the groups moves on the cavern walls begin to expand outward, it was after a few more seconds of walking that they notice a glowing from afar.-
>Shairi points a hoof ahead and shrugs some
<Marrow> "Looks glowy."
>Harris nods as we start to get going
>Heaven_Breacher smiles a bit. "At last, some light!" She says, running towards it.
>Shairi shifts a bit in place, looking uncomfortable, but still keeping up with the group
<Marrow> "Hey, is that such a great idea?  Rainbow glow... Hey wait!" Marrow runs after Heaven.
>Shairi hisses some at the light and shakes his head
<CentraBlu> "Damn it.. You guys stay back here!" He ran after the two of them.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Rainbow glow?!" Jetlag exclaims. "Wait! Stop, that's the Taint!" he yells as he tries to stop them.
>Heaven_Breacher turns around and looks to Marrow as she keeps trotting towards it. "What's so bad about it?"
>Shairi sighs "That light is evil, it is the taint.  We really must hurry before their hides it does paint" he says turning toward Jetlag
>Harris follows as some of the work gang run off
<Marrow> "That stuff is Taint! Don't get near it!" Marrow yells.
<Heaven_Breacher> "What about Paint? Paint doesn't glow." She says, still going near it, trying to see what was causing the flow  "Or does it...?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> As Heaven Breacher she notices that she's running out of ground fast.
>Shairi sighs and stamps his hoof a few times inpatiently, looking toward Jetlag
<~HoloDiskJockey> *As Heaven Breacher runs toward the glow, she notices that she's running out of ground fast.
>Heaven_Breacher makes an attempt to stop suddenly.
>Marrow starts slowing down and panting.
>CentraBlu kept on, but made his way to slow down with them
>Shairi moves forward also trying to stop the silly ponies
>Marrow manages to stop just next to Heaven.
>Heaven_Breacher manages to stop on a dime near the edge
>Shairi trots up calmly behind the group
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag stops behind them
>CentraBlu managed to stop well enough in time.
>Harris blunders into who ever was in front of him
<~HoloDiskJockey> As the group stop near the ledge, sighing for such a close call, they fail to notice Harris haphazardly running behind them and failing to stop in time pushed most of them over the edge. The others try to pull them up or stop their fall but all of them end up falling into a giant puddle of viscous rainbow liquid.
>Shairi screeches as he falls into the rainbow liquid, his hooves flailing as he tries to catch onto something
>Marrow screams as she falls through the air.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "Ahh!!" Jetlag screams as falls into the pool of Taint.
>Heaven_Breacher starts to fall and grabs onto Marrow, stressfully trying to bring up a shield
>CentraBlu gasped and attempted to stand his ground, but the griffin had been bigger, "Gah!"
>Heaven_Breacher shield comes up around them. "Sorry." She says to Marrow as they fall.
>Harris as the rest start to fall over the edge, the sling on the shotgun binds up on his wings, stopping him from taking flight causing him to fall into the taint with the others
<~HoloDiskJockey> As the group came up, they scrambled to the edge and managed to climb out of the large puddle of Taint. They gasp for air as they lay on the rocky surface of the cavern floor.
>Heaven_Breacher comes out of the taint, helping Marrow as he shield had failed. She feels... skilled, better in many ways, but not noticably changed. "Is everypony okay?"
>Shairi coughs and takes off the helmet, shaking his head, flours dropping out of his mane as he goes wide eyed behind his sunglasses
>Marrow splutters and coughs. "I... Don't know. I don't really feel any different." She runs herself over with her hooves. "Nothing I can tell at least... Thanks the Goddesses."
>Heaven_Breacher blinks and blushes as she looks over Marrow. "Umm... Unless you looked this sexy a few moments ago... You changed." She says, looking away with a blush.
<Marrow> "What?" Marrow tries to find something reflective to look at herself.
>Heaven_Breacher shows her her reflection on her bladed helmet
>Harris claws his way out of the rainbow slime to the edge "Well that was fun. Any one else smell sugar?"
<Shairi> "Consider yourself lucky you are not me.  I've....got flowers growing out of my mane...how...how can this be?!" he asks in a combination of confusion and anger sitting down and pulling flower after flower out of his mane
>Marrow stares at her reflection for a while. "I got... Hot? What."
>Heaven_Breacher nods and puts the helmet on. "Indeed you did." She says for a moment. "Hey, after all this, you wanna umm go someplace together?" She asks Marrow, blushing all the while.
<Marrow> Just need you to post your change
<Marrow> "No! We just fell in Taint! We should be dead!" Marrow starts blushing. "And stop flirting with me!"
>Centra climbed along out of the taint, holding his head, "B-Buck.. I-I feel lightheaded.. Actually.. Light everywhere really..."
>Heaven_Breacher blushes. "S-sorry! I was gonna ask after this anyways, just..." She blushes and paws at the ground. "S-sorry."
<Heaven_Breacher> "I umm.. I just feel better. Like, more skilled at everything."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag was the last pony to come out of the Taint pool, he tries to pull himself out but notices he didn't have the strength for it. "A little help here?"
>Shairi weakly grabs him with his tail pulling the pegasi out frowning some "Your suit doesn't fit right, how can that be.  Unless you were changed even more than me"
<Marrow> "He doesn't sound as gruff as he did before either." Marrow moves over and helps pull the pegasi up.
>Heaven_Breacher tilts her head, moving the the pegasi as well. "Is he alright?" She asks, looking to Harris. "I do smell honey... is it you?"
>Harris shrugs "It may be the taint."
>Centra looked over and tried to take a step to push himself up, only springing forward fast, going from sitting to faceplant. He is dead silent, and limps in shame.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "What are talking abou- my voice! My voice! What happened to my voice?!" he asks in a panicked tone. He then remembers...The Taint! It must've mutated him somehow! "Fuck, get this helmet off me!" he says trying to get the helmet off but was too panicked to unlatch it properly.
Heaven_Breacher moves to try and get the helmet off him
Shairi helps, uses his tail to remove the helmet "You are not the only one changed by the taint.  If it weren't for my will power...I'd probably faint"
>Marrow tilts her head. "Is it me or does he look more like a foal than he did before?"
>Harris rolls over onto his back "Well as long as we're taking five."
>Centra shook his head and looked over at them, "W-What happened?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> As the helmet comes off his face they first thing they notice was a longer black mane fell out covering his face.
<Heaven_Breacher> "You grew some hair?"
>Shairi laughs and shakes his head "No I don't think that's quite right.  Your a mare it seems, that must be quite a fright"
<Heaven_Breacher> "Ah. Welcome to marehood then sister!" She laughs happily
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jet lag pushes the hair out of his face revealing what looked to be a mare version of the Lt. The mare had long lashes, a petite muzzle, fuller lips and more delicate features. "WHAT?!"
<Marrow> "Oh geez."
>Shairi shrugs "In the grand scheme of things it's not so bad.  Sorry if that seems rude, your alive so just be glad?"
>Heaven_Breacher smirks a bit. "Well it isn't so bad! You're not dead!"
>Harris looks over "Eeh..She's still a pony."
<Heaven_Breacher> "And hey, at least you don't have flowers for hair!"
>Shairi huffs some, he doesn't have flowers from hair, he just has a large number of them growing out of his mane, still has hair
>Centra blinked and blinked again. He rolled around to make sure he was too a colt still, sighing in relief afterwards.
<~HoloDiskJockey> "No. NO!" he or rather she exclaimed looking for a mirror or something reflective. "It's not true...it can't be!"
>Shairi holds up the combat knife for a mirror
>Harris gets up and checks the combat shotgun "You'll forget we're in a big ant nest right."
>Centra carefully walked among over to the others, "I feel like I've lost a couple dozen pounds.."
<Marrow> "I'm not exactly sure where the ants are anymore."
<~HoloDiskJockey> Jetlag looks at the knife's reflection and sees the  Taint's effects in full view. He touched his face, frozen in disbelief, he starts feeling around on his person, he felt curvier, leaner. He slowly started to hyperventilate.
<Shairi> "I think...for now retreat would be best. Who knows the problems the taint may cause with this quest"
>Heaven_Breacher shakes her head. "Can't retreat now! We gotta take out the queen. After all.."
>Shairi puts a hoof comfortingly on the pegasi's shoulder
<Heaven_Breacher> "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!" She smirks confidently.
>Centra plopped again to a sit nearby, "I don't look weird or anything right?"
<~HoloDiskJockey> "It's permanent. permanent. How do I explain this to my wife? How do I explain this to my kids?!"
>Harris "So they get two mommy's. Like it;s that big a deal."
<Shairi> "It happened while you did your best to ensure they were safe.  I'm sure they will understand....although your clothes may now chafe"he says giving a winning smile
>Heaven_Breacher cringes a bit. "Oh well that does suck. And at least look at it this way, you aren't dead. They still have their father."
<Marrow> "Well, hope she's a filly foolder for one." Marrow snickered to herself.
>Heaven_Breacher looks to Marrow. "Well hun, around you, any mare's gonna be a filly fooler."
<~HoloDiskJockey> "SHUT THE HELL UP DAMNIT!" (s)he looks at the griffin. "DOES THIS SEEM LIKE A FUCKING JOKE TO YOU?!"
>Heaven_Breacher stops and marches up to the mare known as Jetlag and looks her in the eyes.
>Shairi face hoofs some and sighs
<Heaven_Breacher> "Listen here SOLDIER! You are going to finish your job here. You're not DEAD, you're not even worse off! You're onyl a mare. So how about this." She coughs. "GROW A UTERUS AND FUCKING COUNTINUE YOUR JOB!" She smirks and pats her back.
>Centra shook his head clear and half listened, other half pacing the cave, trying to get himself used to walking.
>Harris rolls a talon "All this shit looks like a joke, yes. You knew the risk, right."
<~HoloDiskJockey> As the group kept about their own business, they fail to notice a giant figure rising from the Taint pool.
>Shairi sighs and shakes his head some "You are not so visibly changed.  Some of us, shall be forever estranged" he says fixing the griffon with a steely glare
>Heaven_Breacher looks behind the pony. "Oh and by the way, can we all stop freaking out and SHOOT THAT THING!"
>Harris turns around slowly and see's the large mass coming from the taint.
>Shairi points a hoof behind the now female pegasi "Turn around, it rises from the ground!"
<~HoloDiskJockey> Out of the Taint pool rose the giant fire breathing and acid spitting ANT QUEEN! But she's not alone, as you look around you find yourselves surrounded by GUARDIAN SOLDIER ANTS