/mlpol/ - My Little Politics

>>393535
>A sensation not unlike being scanned by an Amadeus machine though unusually more colorful permeates his senses.
>Contextual memory maps are traced and edited as the dendritic trees are pruned and reshaped.
>Astral Legacy becomes... familiarly known for years.
>And a period of time that feels recent is blotted out in particular places.
>Pareidolia reflexively exhales and clenches then relaxes his hands.
(You're in the Landbarge... not the pod. Arr Es Ee-pee-kay one is in effect. Voluntary memory erasure, trusted company. Reorient. Refocus.)
>Noting the onset of slight vertigo, he looks forward while remaining still to focus on the detailing on the metal locker across from him.
"Haaa... none. Only mild vertigo. Thank you Shiibo."

>Focusing on controlling his breathing in a slow pattern, he manages to quell the vertigo after a few reptitions.
>While doing so, he notes Shiibo initiating another contract with Hodch.
(Just what did she do for him so quickly... ?)
>Leaning forward and pushing himself up, he shoulders his pack.
>Looking between Shiibo's display avatar and Hodch, he raises his shoulders in a small questioning motion.
"Is Twisted Wing going to be available there? If so then, yes."
>Bringing up a truncated eye tracking text entry menu on his helmet display, he writes [What did you help Hodch with to achieve this so quickly?]

>>393537
"That's a relief to hear. And I should hopefilly never need to do THAT again."
>Viewing the hardened upright storage locker, details of contents, why it existed, both vehicle upgrades, everything currently inside the Landbarge II, and occupants returns with zero pressure.
>There weren't any sharp memory or engrammatic removals, nor was the avatar's image painful to recognition.
'You are most welcome, sir.'

>Lips pulling back into a thin line, 'Shiibo' raises her left hand to present a series of pre-integration assistance files.
[Intermediate Pony-Human Relations for social/cultural/individual conflict reduction. Advanced dossier: Human Cultural Threat Index. Advanced dossier: Human Religious Conflicts. Advanced dossier: Complex Religious Deprogramming. Now? Unsure. Analyzing]
>Poking open equine, unicorn, then Lunar apps, the Nightblade's eyes return to their normal state, bending forwards while his face heavily creases in either disdain or disgust.
"Remind me to sue you later, Astral."
"I will gladly pay for your lawyer."
>Flicking through several of the prototype's directories, the avatar's arms lift in a flatly confused motion before closing everything.
[Prior unwillingness to consider entering Citadel = gone. Prior dislike of potentially interacting with Gen. Sapphire Kiwi = gone. Strange. Actions & mood primarily uncategorized. Possibility of Lunar Overherd conditioning? Pre-critical mass external + internal threats = organizational efficiency increases to compensate.]

>Swiveling the chair towards Katyal's, the woman lying still, almost sleeping, the deep purple unicorn's eyes travel in your direction, right ear flicking in humor.
"She'll either find time or we can ambush her for a few minutes."
'May I as-'
"Hold on... idea? If Doctor Heartbeat is still alive I might be able to convince Twisted in assigning her directly to Razorback, after fitting her with a Luminary set so she can decontaminate herself. Doesn't tolerate nonsense, has zero problems tossing sleeping spells on irate patients whom think they know better, would definitely enjoy Roust's companeigh, won't experience difficulties teaching Nova either."
>Writing the word 'concerning' over her torso at the classical unicorn propensity for slight mania and planning, 'Shiibo' waits five seconds before trying again.
'Is th-'
"And I know a few Navarch Watchkeepers are retiring, just one could ensure camaraderie is high. Idiots that don't resolve conflicts intelligently will learn regret. A Hegemony Mystic or two would be excellent, beating the ideological stupidity out of certain humans has been a sore point of contention among ponies. Might even help some find a better spiritual path. And why not a Gozkan Ranger? They could provide far more cohesive structure than what Razorback has now.
Astral, what do you think?"
"Ask Twisted Wing. She has far better understanding of how to integrate civil, militia, mercenary, and military poninel for best effect."
>Giving up on the request for now, a weak, pain filled, apologetic smile is given your way.
[I.. may have made a slight miscalculation. Or five. Sincerest apologies in advance, sir.]

>Eyes snapping open and jolting upright, Katyal's hands lift shakily to grasp her temples, breathing heavily in near-shock.
*"Uhhh, you all right back there?"*
"I.. what did I DO to warrant THAT!? Did I steal a royal concubine or insult an entire civilization again!?"
*"..fuckin' typic-"*
>Definitely not clearing his throat, or trying to simulate the same, Astral Legacy's voice echoes in a triumvirate, coolly addressing the piloting cabin, the slowly increasing smile mildly unnerving.
"Lonestar. Do you have a single functional clue how insane, dangerous, and confoundingly stupid that likely sexist dismissal of yours is at this immediate microsecond?"
'We need to go.'
"We need to go."
>Avatar and Reservist sharing the briefest of hopeful glances, a streak of Moonlight erupts from under Hodch, forming into a bridge that ripples around to you.
>Subjected once more to a icy tunnel, the passage from Tallus to the Moon is rapid, massive upper Airstreams coming into sight before the Starborn mutters a short phrase, allowing you time to stand up.
>Slowing the bizarre transportation before entering what appeared to be the Tallus exosphere, ten into a deep outer layer of water, massive glowing creatures swim throughout.
"The Elemental Planes of Water and Storms have been breached a number of times in the past. A majority of those are Titanic class, though less than ten present a threat unless injured."
>Passing under a small, reflective speck before exiting, approaching the Moon at a rate the avatar couldn't begin estimate, the Citadel's sparkling clear dome takes shape only to disappear.

>Arriving on a rigid, orange scorched and blackened matrice directly in the center, the Citadel's Atrium was entirely different:
>Over a thousand ponies in darker colored robes and battle damaged armors, from Lunar Guardian to brand new designs, were clustered in large groups.
>Hundreds of Minotaurs, Gryphons, and a few Harpies spread throughout, the number of allied and aligned factions is well beyond fifty.
>Each that you could see was carrying, supporting, or sporting a bright orange weapon, armor, or device, less than a quarter number had two, while three was uncommon.
>All shared visible confusing at the odd, fluidly moving Rift symbiotes in mass numbers, interacting freely with sapients and each other.

>>393537
>>393554
>Completely avoided by all, trails of bright pink dancing flames arranged in a colossal pentagram are further illuminated by large pink candles, ripples above each displaying a trio of squiggly purple-pink flames set within an elegant crystalline heater shield.
"Thaaaat's...."
'It is rare to hear you speechle-'
>Immediately taking notice of a certain Flame Naghtmare air-skipping on a flat pink disk a short distance ahead, the mare pauses at a loud, angry shout from behind, head swiveling left and around.
"I SAID NO MORE!"
"Why not? They should sing with all of us too!"
>The ringing, melodic flames composing a voice held nothing more than cheer with notes of innocent, sincerely honest confusion.
>Streaking into view and landing in heavy ringing tones behind Flowing Spark, Twisted's right wing stretches sideways, the right pointing in accusation at the Naghtmare's rear, both missing several black wingblades.
>And for the first time you'd known her, completely in control of herself.
"You can't keep forcing others t-"
>Freezing briefly, the right piercing hyacinth blue eye traces a line onto Hodch, you, then forwards, taking on a sore commarending voice.
"Haaaaay there, one second. Flowing, stop or I will lock you in the Training Hall."
>Head swiveling around to the other side, Flowing smoothly hops about in a quarter circle.
"But why?"
>First examining the dumbstruck Reservist, her head tilts left briefly, gaze running sideways to your legs, and finally up at your chest, warmly burning eyes brightening in joy.
"Let me warm her too! She wants to play with the Stars!"
>Hodch and 'Shiibo' flatline at the same time.
"Pare, please offer your symbiote to her. Or would you prefer I do that?"
'I retract EVERYTHING previously stated.'
>Immaculate right wing lifting to shield her face, the Burning General snarls into feathers before about facing and presenting a distinctively irritated look.
"What'cha need Hodch?"
"A meeting. With you. Only you. No guards, escorts, or [i]other."
"It's that important? Got it. 'Ey Flowing, go an-"
>Distracted by a nearby cluster of diamond armored Destroyers separating, rattling kees erupts between three leadmares trying to disentangle a variety of saddle, barrel, and rump mounted weapons, trying to keep the Rift symbiotes from touching any pony around them.
"Look at all of her kin! I have never seen so marely dancing together!"

>Diamondine teeth gritting, the General's eyes shift into complex bright orange circuitry.
>Regarding you, Hodch, then the swaying and loudly humming Naghtmare, her voice flattens, speaking to absolutely nothing.
"No one is going to ever fucking believe this. They'll think we broke into every last one of the Empire's reliquaries or snuck into the Black Tower. Or both? ..yeah, definitely gonna be both."

[1d6 = 2] <Symbiotic Rift Support

>Trying, failing, and giving up on reading the giant sheet of paper covered in stickers, Foggy Patches rolls her eyes.
"What even IS an igloo-wanna? I don't care how much treasure there's supposed to be, I am not doing this."
>Flopping onto her left side and sprawling on the wonderfully plush futon, she lets out a rattling whimper, legs and wings contracting tightly.
>Which only causes further pain.
>Surveying the bandage covered indigo batfilly from her upside down perch on ceiling bars closest to the center bay window, Malyne's wings splay out in ‘calm’ motions.
"Do you mean ‘iguana’? Discord is quite fun so long as you set rules, guidelines, and boundaries.”
"So?"
>Exhaling through her nostrils quietly, the fuzzy orange batfilly raises the left set of wingclaws to rub her snout.
“Iguanas are a tropical reptile from one to ten hooves in length. Small claws, scales, omnivorous, lots of colors. Like a tiny wyrm but minimal danger. Shouting and threatening displays will cause most to flee.
At least sixty species live near and on the Moor Coasts, except the Crags and further. Ferron and coastal batponies train them as guards to reduce numbers of small pests.”
>Doing her best to listen, while internally screeching the few swears she knew, Foggy relaxes in fractions at the soothing voice.
“And?”
>Allowing herself the luxury of a tiny snort, Malyne carefully steps across the bars, reaching the ceiling’s center to turn about.
>Gazing across the room and putting on a thinking face, Malyne’s upside down tail flicks.
“The first step is to locate an iguana without the use of a Blink, teleportation, translocation, Planar shifting, spectrum travel, realm-shifting, recall runes, or other esoteric, magical, and similar or dissimilar methods of travel.
Equally, no using a Warp Gate, translocation matrice, portal stone, cart, chariot, boat, ship, vessel, vessail, including mechanical, crystaltech, esoteric, or other travels.”
>Waiting for the inevitable sigh or groan, what she receives is a fatigued diamond-slitted eye roving about in search.
“No lizards here, too cold. This place needs... warm fog. Big trees. Berries. Big fruit. More clouds. Blankets.”
“If there are none, it will not take long to find.”
“...tired. Don’t wanna. Sorry.”
"It is okay."
>Carefully tipping sideways, the orange filly looses her Sticky enchantmarent, spinning halfway over as wings stretch out.
>Drifting down to land on the carpet, Malyne tracks Patches’ sight line, turning to collect the thickest royal pink blanket out of reach on a middle shelf.
“I will keep my promise to share half, that is, if I find it. Would you like another pillow?”
>Sliding to Foggy’s temporarily stolen futon, unfolding the blanket across her, then picking up the TREASURE MAP, the short head shake was enough.
“Do you need anything more?”
“Mm-mm.. thank you.”

>Watching over the other batfilly as her drowsing becomes slow, even inhales and exhales, face softening in sleep, tufted ears instantly perk at distant rustling.
>Stepping backwards, sideways three, then facing the door, Malyne’s snout creases, lifting the worn map to place on her saddle before Sticking it.
>Carefilly stalking to the door, ears skewed to receive sound from either side, she casts a short look to ensure Foggy was soundly asleep.
>At ten seconds, she reaches up to take hold of the handle with all six claws.
>Slowly pushing the door open while peering through with the left eye squinted, nothing moves, makes sound, or pops out.
>Marentally giving herself a hrm, burnt orange snout exits for three stealthy sniffs, then bends forwards, squirreling her head out the door enough to look around.
>No humans, ponies, Gryphons, Minotaurs, Harpies…
>Accepting the task to investigate, Malyne wedges herself out the door, turning halfway to close it silently.
>Snout twitching at a crisp sound coming from the southern central room, she hunches low and forwards, sliding next to bookcases until reaching open air.
>Peeking out, slipping across to wall and turning left, she pauses before the doorway, which didn’t have doors but was supposed to.
(‘If there is no door which has a way both in and out, why is it still called a doorway? Does that make it an openway?’)
>Lips making a short wavy S shape at the confusing terminology, Malyne’s snout tips straight down, ears flat while rolling her head sideways.
>Performing the sneakiest inward peek, sighting yet more overloaded bookshelves, upon finding nothing, she pokes inwards further.
>Delivering a tiny broad echolocation without moving, as nothing is returned other than feedback from crinkling down and to her right, she speaks in a low questioning tone.
“Excuse me, is there a-”
>Looking down to share a confused blink with a peculiar, long paper mache reptile, formerly blankly staring at a book title which wasn’t exposed enough for her to read, both of their heads tilt.
"Oh. Are you an iguana?”
>It nods, crinkling.
“Do you happen to know where the Eternal Lunar Gate is, or the Reaper’s Chamber of Black Secrets?”
>A slow, rustling nod first, then a twitchy one.
“Hum. If you do not mind, and you have free time to do so, would you help me find the first to open the second? I am looking for a treasure. Or perhaps several treasures. The directions, rules, guidelines, requiremarents, and restrictions on this map are a bat confusing.”
>Head lifting, tilting from side to side, multiple crinkles occur before it nods three times in rapid succession.
“Thank you, and I promise to share whatever you would like from my portion.“
>Entire paper mache body roughly shaking several times, the motion was an obvious ‘no need’.
“I see.”
>Smiling in her always moderate mareners, Malyne steps out, reaching to take the map off her saddle and spreading it open for the iguana to examine.
“If it is acceptable to do so, I would like to place you on top of my head so that we may both see as best as possible. Now, I believe we may need a Key made from the Lewd Dreams of a Forgotten Goddess...”
[1d6 = 5] <Malyne

>>393554
>Face creasing in slight concern, Shiibo's answer does little to alleviate it.
'We'll go with Overherd influence for now then... that Naghtmare situation must have escalated things.'

>Facing Hodch as he stands next to him, Pareidolia turns his head slowly to regard him.
"That is not-"
>His eyes flash over the 'concerning' Shiibo wrote before closing them and sighing deeply.
>Waiting for Hodch's enthusiasm over possible plans to pause, he attempts to get a word in edgewise but finds no opportunity to do so before Katyal awakens from her memory wipe.
>He clicks his tongue in frustration as Lonestar's poorly timed comment creates a volatile bomb.
(Need to leave. Dul?)
>Head scanning for the Siren, he looks around the compartment in the scant few seconds he has before Katyal's ire explodes.
"Dul! When you reach the Fortress with Astral, your contract is complete! I may not be present at that time, but you'll be free to do what you want!"
>Swept up in a beam of Moonlight, he falls to one knee at the sudden change in scenery.
>Looking upwards, he views the oncoming and strange exosphere of the planet.
>Tracking the massive leviathans scattered throughout the water, he shakes his head as he stands.
"If you meant Heartbreak earlier, she was the one who went feral while treating me. I don't think that would be a good idea. And no one will be able to beat stupidity out of a human. You need to consult a human with proper understanding of the factors at play before integrating non-human elements-"

>Arriving in the Citadel Atrium for the second time this week, he stops speaking as the absolute state of the arrayed Lunar combatants and actively flying Rift fluid are made apparent.
>A pentagram of pink flames and the candlelit presumed cutie mark of the Naghtmare: Flowing Spark responsible for this overlays the event.
>Pareidolia cranes his head, gathering in the scale of apparent Rift bonding rituals that had taken place.
>Twisted Wing's voice for once, ringing with clarity causes him to reorient towards her aproaching figure.
(She must have been cleansed of Anti while here then... they may not know of the source yet. Time is critical. Flowing Spark's demeanor may waylay things... )
>His gaze follows the chipper Naghtmare's as she settles upon the marble sized Rift symbiote that had somehow made its way back to his vest pocket despite him giving it to Hodch to commune with.
>Looking up to face Flowing Spark, he speaks while placing a hand over the pocket.
"I... would rather do that later instead of right now if you would be kind as to wait. I need to talk with the General here-"
>The sudden entanglement of nearby Destroyer batponies affords him the opportunity to move out of Flowing's direct line of sight and shift closer to Twisted.
>Glancing at pink flame wreathed Naghtmare with some wariness and slightly hunched shoulders, he speaks in a low tone.
"At least she seems easily distracted. May respond better to rewards. But as Hodch said, the matter is urgent. I wouldn't be here for a second time otherwise."

>>393560
>Popping into view in the center passenger side chair, the faux-mare's eyes close while waving both front hooves.
"Dul thank you big lots! Share HUGE itam later!"
[1d6 = 3] <Language Adaption
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4] <Tallus Acclimation
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3] <Vortex Adapt: Tallus

>Releasing a long suffering sigh, Hodch reaches up to rub his snout with one knee.
"Her marentality switches depending on several factors, it's a si- nevermind. And I am painfilly well aware. You have no idea how badly Jeff and Clemency pissed off Starborn and Council with some 'our command system is better than yours' gimmick. I fully believed Chuz`Ain was going to strangle them both."

>Piercing orange/blue eyes settling on the black diamond helmet's right side briefly, the avatar unfreezes as Twisted shifts away, turning to write [She can SEE me] across her body lengthwise.
"Don't let that fool you, she knows the exact position of each flame, Construct, and Rift object here. It'll be about an hour before she gets feisty."
>Black wingblades glinting as the Naghtmare slides sideways and back in a smooth sashaying motion, her head rolls around, offering a happy smile.
"Let her play with us soon, we have so marely songs and dances to teach!"
>Stepping in front of you, the oversized pegasus points her left wing at Hodch, transitioning to a stern voice.
"Flow, when we get back, you need to give this one a best friend. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mistress of Crackling Flames! I know which ones he will love!"
>Moving to grab Hodch and push him ahead of her with both wings on his rear towards the south, the Reservist hisses while being forced through parting groups of symbiotized Starborn and Lunars.
"You flankstabbing li-"
"General's order: stuff it during leisure time. This way, immediately."
>Uncaring for stepping through the flames, the order was sharp enough for you to follow her.
>Reaching a precisely centered alcove, an ancient kanpri portal ring is stopped upon, Twisted waits for you to join before intoning merrily.
"Four Hooves, A Diamondine Ring For Each."
>Drifting in a minute sideways motion, it ends inside a large, ocean green painted room.

>Stepping out into a Lunar styled, utterly formal military office, it was nearly a third the size of Razorback's standard barracks, an earth pony sized desk 5M from the ring.
>Leaping up and behind the desk, wings tight on her sides, Twisted turns to sit down, the wall behind her covered in a massive Lunar Guardian mural prominently featuring Princess Luna and Chrysalis, both in heavy armor.
>The walls to either side are utterly lined with heavy clear or black diamondine lockers, overloaded bookshelves, armor stands, weapon displays, and a variety of gem cases; chests, whether alone or stacked, in precise rows
"Welcome to my real office. Don't open the cases or talk to the black altar in the rear, not the same type as the one in Razorback. Everything else is safe to touch, put on, try out, whatever. Just don't try to activate the unfamiliar ones, there's a lot of unique objects and experimarentals here."
>Outermost right primary feathers picking up a quill and dipping into ink, the Enchained sorts out a sheaf of papers, writing onto the top one quickly.
"Shiibo, that your name?"
'Yes, General Sapphire Kiwi.'
"Done, you're on record for access. Ditch the rank if you want, it's not necessary, and two permarenent access grants in one Night for Hodch.. done. Good work from the three of you, we can prevent damage control to nearly half of the most problematic factions.
Few things I need to state first."
>Sliding the first page to the right, she glances up, orange circuitry disappearing.
"One, most of the Citadel is pissed at Razorback. Starborn, Council, affiliates and Reservists included. Jeff and Clemency made the number one worst mistake possible: trying to tell a nine hundred eighty some year old, exceptionally efficient military that it's woefully inefficient and inadequate, and that their 'systems' can do much better. In any other circumstance, they would be missing limbs or dead.
Don't make the same mistake. Our commarend and control is wholly different for reasons of security first, safety second, and comfort third. Autonomy is respected by default, unfounded opinions are not.
Two: I know exactly when, where, how, but not why the Anti came from, including nearly all it has done and caused. Each of the false, fake, altered, modified, and removed memories from me and others are now on recordplates.
Should I hear a different version of certain events that doesn't match up I will ASSUME it differs for good reasons, but I will cross-reference and ask later.
Three: took forty Luminaries three hours to purge the Anti from me. That's one hundred and twenty hours at twenty gems per hour expended. Entirety of Basin Village, or whatever it's been renamed to now, the two hundred or so Razorback there, and part of the Fortress have been cleansed. Reservists are still tracking down every sapient that responded, so I will be sending that bill when they're done.
If you hear of, find, or get a chance to make some easy gems, Bits, or other, send some people. Pare, you're up in the Assault ranks now. Push the slackers off their asses and make sure at least three ponies go with each squad. If they don't listen say I'm coming back.
Four: if you can't handle a situation then either offer peace or surrender. Ponies don't normally fight to the death unless there's a damned good reason. May not make sense to you yet it does to us.
Five: losing Barlen was bad enough but now we have the newest Triarch Wargod stomping around furious because Ridgeback 'cheated Lunar honor codes' during an unsanctioned, ridiculous duel.
Six: fifty-four minutes left before I drag you both out to hold hooves with Flowing Spark."

>Spinning around and striding off behind you with a grunt, Hodch calls over his shoulder, meanwhile the avatar grins.
"Go ahead, I need to prepare dossiers, documarents, and plates."
'I am fully prepared to assist, sir~!'

>>393533
>She disagreed. Booping was always a threat!
>Amethyst removed her finger and stepped back a bit to properly look over the ExoFrame.
>The filly was too bipedal to make use of anything like that herself, although...
"Ahh, ehh, I could do without heated hoofboots myself, we just walked around in the desert in Saddle Arabia, and then there was a plasma filled Daymare in Canterlot just a few minutes ago. I have definitely had enough Fire for one night."
>She shot a glance over at the sled Lila was in.
"Except from one source, but she likes to keep all the Fire for herself so she doesn't count."

>Following the hololith's changes, Amy tried to memorise directions, though she got the feeling she was going to get turned around and lost in the shops. It could be worse.
>According to the other mares, that was probably the point.
"Access plate?"
>Amy had her dam's herdname of course, but she thought it would be rude to get an access plate to their accounts before she'd even dropped in on them.
"It's Storm-Rose, but I'll decline for now. I could use some directions to wherever they live though, I should stop in and say hi for my dam."
>She smiled over at the sleds, she hadn't known what types they were.
"Think so, my dam and sire made them for me so I wouldn't have to carry all my stuff out of Tartarus on hoof. I wouldn't want to impose on you, they're fairly light to pull around, I've barely even felt it."
>The puppets were all bickering again.

>>393564
>Giving the design a once over, it was a sleeker, better refined version of the older Lancer patterns in your dam's catalogue.
>Thickly layered, rigid crystalline plates melded to high rotational socketed joints, using layers of internal shock resistant biogel to prevent spalling rather than woven sheets.
>The helmet was slightly unusual: an entirely two piece configuration, visor and snout mask able to separate into halves, while the rear was fitted to locking clasps at the base of the skull, multiple overlapping sheets allowing for good neck flexibility.
>Rather simple compared to most, the spinal plating was a single long strip of semiflexible crysamare, containing a number of smaller devices embedded throughout.
>The legs were more heavily protected to the front with an additional layer, all four hooves thickly armored, and while you realized she wasn't wearing a standard inner bodysuit, being a newer version the internals likely didn't need one to interface.
"Ahh, you like ice and Rime more, I understand. Saddle Arabia's far better at Night, which is Daytime on this continent for us, or if you have a good 'Frame. ..a what mare?"
"Daymare, an intangible in the Unborn classification. Not exactly opposite of a Nightmare but can be nasty. Mainland Equestria has problems with them, fairly rare but can become a serious threat if left unchecked for a while."
"Right. Well, stay out of the fires and well the hay away from Plasma!"
"Storm-Rose? Think I recognize that name. Checking-"
>Placing a city map next to the other, eyebrows raise briefly as she searches through clan and herd directories.
"Tartarus? Thought that place was a Changeling myth."
"It's a legend about one of the huge pre-Hegemony cities that got overrun by one of the Endless Marches. I think?"
"Most legends and myths have some truth to them. What I remember is it's some kind of big underground city hidden in one of the Lost Regions.. sssomewhere."
"Nah, I heard it's on top of a giant cloud city drifting south of Cuteba."
"One of teachers stated Tartarus is at the bottom of Fillydelvia's lake inside a living metal atrium built by Harpies."
>The leadmare smiles brightly, merry speckles dotting her mostly light coat, motioning to a single city block northwest of the Spire, though the resolution was rather fuzzy.
"They did excellent work, and I found them. The Storm-Rose herd owns this entire city block. Big workshop, five floor marension, warehouse, garden several underground levels. Not a Consortium but they do make some custom crystal devices, resonant impactor tips, a few Middle Kingdom weapons, and have a repair bay for most 'Frames."
>A slightly gravelly, yet pleasantly ringing young voice calls from the left gate.
"Hay, I know where that place is! They're the family repairing my cousin's armor!"
"The one that got bodyslammed by an Argus last week and broke three legs?"
"Eheh... yeah, that'd be her."
>Stepping out from the opposite squad, a relatively standard Light Lancer pattern clanks towards you, the mare inside a brilliant neon green coat, mane and tail a flashy, metallic red.
>Halting next to the Heavy leadmare, the maybe 20 year old mare's eyes a strange vertical octagon shape, each facet reflecting a mixture of dark blue and purple as she grins politely.
"No worries, I'm off duty anyhow so I'll escort you around. Might even be able to get you some better deals from other Imperials too!"
>Leadmare's helmet shaking in disbelief, hololith screens transfer to the other mare, whom begins marking locations out.
"So, why were you in formation here for the past five hours?"
"To hang out with my best friends and maybe spot a cute Crispy mare or stallion, duh~!"
"Hah, figures. All right, go ahead."
>Selecting the Imperial Square and expanding it twice, the 'lith dissipates and reappears on the right side of her visor, left eye offering a friendly wink.
"Imperial Crusader Rubelime Dusk at your service! I'll summon us a Floatblade, one second."
>Whistling in a low, up-down-down tone, what you initially think to be a large snowboard swerves around the station's rear, halting at Rubelime's right side.
>Which turns out to be four inch thick, 16' long sheet of crysamare in the shape of a elongated leaf bladed spear, complete with a number of storage boxes and racks in the rear.

"I.. I have no anger to give? Why is this?"
"Likely for the same reason: most of us are frozen at current."
"A most agreeable situation where none of us can threaten the other!"
"Excluding words."
"Those can kill, you know?"
"Particularly the ones emitting from your vile...."
"Problem, Brother?"
"I do not know if any of us has a mouth."
"You... disappoint me oh so very much at this second.."
"I know the feeling all too well, Brother."

>Giving a slight hum, the aptly named Float drops to hover slightly above crystal slabs, the Lancer stepping onto it with loud clicks.
"Don't worry, it's got a small Gravity Core to keep us from falling off or worse."
>Motioning to hop on, which involved lifting one hoofboot onto the presumably Sticky surface, then sliding the other up and over to stand directly behind her-
"AMY! The rear armor is fully exposed, strike now!"
"Decency value: MINIMAL! LAUNCH THE.. JUST TAKE IT!"
>Certainly not noticing the Kaos duo, the rope is untied from you with a hum, then placed in a locking clasp at the rear.
>Taking full control of the crystal device is taken through her visor, directing it to spin around slowly while both squads return to their formations next to the open gates.
"Next stop: amarenities!"
>Facing directly into the shining City-State, ears swivel forwards as the Floatblade raises, barely feeling it move forwards and between the gates.
>Dotting the immediate vicinity on both sides, medium sized geometric houses with large yards and trees, amusingly in certain Geomantic patterns, most featuring a small stand or stall in front of each.
"What'cha looking for first, or do you wanna browse a little?"
[1d6+10 = (1+10) = 11] <Speed

>>393562
>Straightening himself, his shoulders fall as Twisted moves away.
"Lovely."
>He glances between Shiibo's avatar and the eye tracker text input on his helmet's internal display.
[Noted, likely Enchains]
>Following behind the General on her order, he gives a consolatory shrug to the unicorn.
"At least you may never require surgical intervention in the event that ever happens again. Symbiotes have independent power sources, right?"
>Not wanting to touch the flames himself, he steps over the outermost ring of the pentagram and approaches portal ring.

>Whisked away again, this time to a large office with a mural in stark relief, Pareidolia makes one visual sweep of the room.
(Irrelevant to objective.)
>Stepping forwards to stand in front of the desk and face Twisted Wing, he folds his hands behind his back.
>He maintains silence as she goes through her list, parsing his own thoughts in tandem.
(Yep... as expected. Human systems will not mesh and this cultural gap is already creating friction. Saving grace is their prioritization of security. Will need to focus on this element to make the threat clear. Extensive experience and Committee backing will serve as an informed platform.)
(As for the rest... promotion is acceptable. Any level of formalized authority increase will assist in Guidance Protocol implementation. Other information noted. Time left should be sufficient.)
>As Hodch departs, the operative raises an open palm in acknowledgement before returning it behind him.
'Prep files, I will hand off to you after my introduction.'

>Nodding at the now fully cognizant pegasus, he begins his speech.
"I am relieved to hear your command structure is organized for security and safety. That is also the primary concern of the Committee of 300, whom I serve from my variant of Earth. We have extensively studied the nature of humanity and its branching paths. Projects exploring time travel, world simulations, and other such metaphysical forays all pointed to one incontrevertible truth. The human social element is a fundamental poison to any and all cultures if left unmanaged. The incidents across Tallus involving humans, Old Canterlot, even this most recent Anti contamination, all can fundamentally be tied to a human chain of responsibility and are proof positive of this risk. Humans are the greatest and most certain threat that Tallus itself has ever welcomed. We lack the developed species collective outlook of other alien species, such as you all. This is not a statement of blame or intent, only that such are the facts. This creates fundamental socio-cultural friction that requires careful management."
>Moving a hand to his helmet, he turns on the projector module and looks towards the desk top.
>Presenting Shiibo's various dossiers and files, he makes a small gesture of "at your convenience".
"Management that as far as I have witnessed across all humans encountered here, only the Committee has properly formulated with their extensive access to near infinite permutations of all possible human societies and futures down to individual actions. I cannot stress enough the absolute scientific certainty backing our understanding of how, why, and when humans will behave from the individual to the societal level. Well meaning or not, immoral or otherwise, our fundamental limitations as a species must be brought under purview of either this Committee Guidance Protocol in regards to contact with alien species, headed by qualified, trained, and informed human sub-members and relevant alien counsel. Other humans may disagree, but none of them have witnessed their actions at scale and in context to the same degree. But their integration into the guidelines of the Protocol can be achieved in a mutually beneficial and non-coercive manner."
>He sighs, taking on a slightly bitter tone before continuing.
"Make no mistake, we are not the most immediate temporal threat. I understand my lack of perspective on Tallus specific affairs may render my proposal as... quaint. But we are, all of us the most existential threat if not held to account by other humans at scale. We will erode Tallus' social and cultural fabric from within in a manner that would be unnoticeable to the majority through appealing to your better qualities as a collective species. If you have any doubts as to the mechanisms of this process, Shiibo can enlighten you."
>He waves an upturned palm towards Shiibo's projected display, bidding her to provide additional input as needed.

>>393571
>Pausing on his way forwards, Hodch calls over his shoulder before continuing.
"One of Heartbeat's ancestors ate something on Tallus long ago, it caused the slight aberration you witnessed, but only to one descendant each generation. And, yes, highly anomalous ones.. which are difficult to deplete or damage after bonding."

>Noting the display and carefully clearing her desk off to stack on a pile of record tomes, Twisted's left eyebrow raises.
>Avatar scrolling through early Razorback actions and comparing to equine reactions, her expression is miffed.
"Greatest? No. With the current number of humans, somewhere in the lower forty. The Cretian-"
>Spoken as 'Cree-she-an', which the avatar realizes she has zero information on, the Enchained scowls in raw hatred.
"Minotaurs are Priority Threat Five. The returning Shrikes were just bumped up to Four. As for most certain.. in the top five for the past two years, yeah."
>Eyeing a series of cultural, social, then herd conflicts through reports, audio, and video, black wingblades click together in slow, irritated patterns.
"Wonder if Razorback's just an outlier.. I understand what you mean otherwise."
>Taking the time to read through condensed logs regarding human eras, conflicts between each, their causes, then the entirety of dossiers on religion, piercing eyes visibly smolder, a short trail of blue steaming upwards.
"….I did NOT realize that was going to be such a gigantic problem. That shit’s getting cut out immediately even if I have to do the carving myself.
Temporal issues.. you're wrong on that one but you couldn't have known. There's already been a few invading human Otherworlds, couple weird ones as well. Haven't had time to read those reports. Royal and Honor Guard have been destroying portals with Plasma storms under Valden's order. Not the first time either, we've destroyed a few hundred before. That information's not classified by the way.
Depending on how quickly the Era Lock can be accessed and unfucked from the currently batshit insane state, that'll settle a lot of angry hooves.
Show me what else you have, Shiibo."
>Sitting back to watch through eight minutes of unedited videos highlighting discrepancies humans rarely accounted for, the General slowly nods at a condensed list of final objectives to accomplish.
"Similar enough. Keep Razorback in a controlled exposure and training environmarent. Pick a faction, slowly integrate to prevent esoteric contamination and psychoses, assist from there.
The problem is Princesses Celestia and Luna were going to do the exact same. Old Canterlot screwed everything. Might make me look like I'm usurping Solarhooves, unless I can somehow get the Canterlot Treaty of 29,998 hammered flat before December 40th."
>Searching the ceiling for a few seconds, her gaze drops down to eye a finely detailed report on Razorback's chances of future survival.
"Yep. Tower Guard ran a few trillion simulations with their thirty arriving humans. The Stallionguard, least that's what they call themselves, fully acclimated in less than one month. Zero difficulties due to the Overherd.
Prance, Germane, few other places, much the same. Minimal troubles, success rate of about ninety-eight percent or so to start with. Then a few of the later ones caused problems. Ewerup's fucked because of a human trying to recreate some dead country, and that is NOT looking good for us.
Zero communication from Neighsia though, don't have a single clue what the Eighty-Eight are doing."
>As the avatar delivers assessments of impending faction conflicts towards Razorback, then allied and aligned cross-conflicts sparking brushfire wars, her face tightens.
"You already know the Four Great Alicorns. There's four other prominent ones in countries: Neighsia, Germane, third is unknown right now.
Last and certainly not least, Argenta is the most powerful. Has most everything south of Neighvada, spreading west, east, and south into the ocean at least ten thousand miles. Millions of loyal ponies, Burros, the Tri-Harpy Dominion, entire civilizations of sapient ocean creatures too.
She sent a Grandmaster Alchemist, her sixty supporters, and a whole bunch of stuff related to some newly discovered form of Alchemy. When New Canterlot went up, she went berserk.
Now she gives arriving humans two options: swear an oath and be bound into service, or die and be thrown back into the Era Lock. Not our problem right now but will be in the future."
>Parsing through a selection of previously unrecorded criminal activities due to Anti, which expands into repercussions outside of Lunar territories, the General's ears flatten.
"When Stream Lark approached me about potentially capturing or killing Pear Blossom, told him I needed one of the specialist Psions to keep Razorback from self-destructive tendencies, among other bullshit. Whichever ponies screwed that Mission up aren't going to like the next couple years.
And as for Rua.. Goddesses, not even once."
>Right wing lifted in a 'hold' motion, her snout drops onto the desk, eyes shut and taking on a cold expression, speaking in a muffled, bitter tone.
"Did you know Dancing Eyes has a bunch of Primal kin, all direct descendants of Empress Silver?
Lunar Councilmistress Vestal Gardenia of Canterlot, currently comatose… and probably going to die soon. Really liked her.
Ellowing Woods, greatest Tactician ever born. Deceased.
Tower Champion Aurora Phantasm, Councilierge.. now a Revenant. Bit ironic: he's also directly descended from lineages via Luna and Celestia, hence the unusual name.
I fought alongside her and nearly half a million more at Kenfield Pass. Little over six thousand survived. She outclasses those four Primals, not just from Starbolts. Most powerful and capable Primal there's been so far. Problem is she needs a giant herd to commarend.
....one Night a few centuries from now I might think about declassifying those files. MIGHT."

>>393571
>>393616
>Head lifting and giving the common pegasi 'continue' wing flick, objective dissertations of human contamination vectors are firmly read through, ending with warnings outlining presuppositions many had regarding technological superiority.
>Carefilly reading that one twice, Twisted Wing sits back with a harsh tone.
"...not even remotely quaint. I'm going to modify a few of these later. Ninety-nine percent of this is accepted as is.
Once all of Razorback's in the Fortress I'll officially declare myself Matron and get the leadmares to initiate a Charter Council. Citadel, Starborn, Lunar Guard won't accept a Lunar-aligned Militia at this time. That leaves either Marecenary Company or Township. Leadmares can decide, neither really matters at this time.
Stream Lark's in the Fortress with Luminaries and two companieghs of Crystal Imperials. Anyone so much as vaguely threatens him, they die. I'll ask him to consider being Patron, at least for a week. First we need to clear a fuckload of suspicions."
>Glancing up from to the avatar internally, 'Shiibo' waves, which Twisted briefly smiles at, then focuses directly into your eyes.
"Yeah, I can see you. Here's my first order: Shiibo, upgrade the prototype to the HIGHEST possible specifications. Pare, get her a unicorn body. Read my lips: fully functional mare. Understand? I don't care how though it can’t be a simulant or that will cause problems.
Get with Flash, she might have workarounds if she ever got her projects working. And most of Razorback better not have pissed off Spiral or her. They're a pair, you don't get one's help without the other. Completely platonic though.
If anyone’s made ‘em angry then they are shit out of luck. His Fortress, their time, her expertise, they rule that side."
>Gazing behind you with a morbid stare, rippling diamondine hooves are placed on the desk heavily.
"First task is locating Linara and getting her back safely. Did you know she was supposed to be Stalliongrad's attache to Razorback?"
'The incredibly dangerous, non-verbal gold pegasus mare Serra and a squad encountered and fought in Las Pegasus, then Simon and Cu’Nir under Las Pegasus?'
"Yep. Anti warps the brain, mind, storage systems, you name it, and all processes within. Includes several factors I can’t state just yet. Doesn’t effect the ka much, but nopony knows why or how exactly.
That first Operation went sideways from start to finish. I read the posting ten times before and after. Denra was supposed to deploy a CONTACT, safeguard, and retrieval squad. Linara was holding a Prench relic that'd been retrieved and bounced around the Moors for a while. It was supposed to be delivered to Lucky for immediate safe delivery. Horizon was after it. Why? That return would have gotten us an entire Prench air wing companeigh with support.
Second went equally tits up. That one’s classified for now until Tower Guard tells me otherwise.
Without Linara and Stream Lark alive, healthy, and whole, I won't have anywhere near enough support from Stalliongrad, Watch Guard, Tower Guard, AND Councilierge to even think of making this work. By the way, all four of those will become our allies or I’m going to start chopping heads off.
As for Canterlot I simply don’t care, too marely problems in that direction. If individuals find support there, good. If not, oh well."
'I see. Second task?
"Either Razorback makes up with the Crystal Imperials or they get cut off permarenently from the Empire. That includes the Conclaves and Kingdom. Earth ponies rarely if ever forgive injuries, that much you both likely know. In comparison, Imperials.. if you think Kingdom adherents can be downright murderous, you have no idea what their progeny are like. Don’t apologize quickly and properly? Kiss your ass goodbye.
Biggest concern is I don't know where to begin with them. We're on decent terms with a few Conclaves, some Kingdom adherents like us, but that's it. They won’t help out so it’s up to us to figure out what the fuck to do."
‘I… have several options for you to review later regarding them. What is the third?'
"Find out exactly what happened to Lucky Stars, former Matron of Las Pegasus. Most events and situations related to her were beyond screwed up. She may have had no idea everything was going wrong."
'Elaborate, please?'
"There's pieces all over the place. I'll start with this: Horizon wanted her dead so badly she marenaged to find one of her sire's gang, then convinced him to steal a Bane weapon and attack when most of the Rogue's Circle was out patrolling Wild Clouds. That was some years ago. Pegasi don’t kill pegasi unless there’s no choice, and that is about THE most difficult decision one can make.
Starting who knows when, Horizon began infecting Las Pegasus, wound up with almost ten percent of the entire city as of last year, but she did that real low and slow. Lucky might have realized she was being watched, but she wasn’t suspecting one in ten winged kin to be spies. Get where I'm going with this?"
'I do, yes.'
"Then there's Red Salt. That started going around Las Pegasus big time, then some into Stalliongrad. Fankil, that is, Nightblade Fang Killer, was killed in New Canterlot. He was trying to track it down, starting from the Empire, ending in Las Pegasus. Or at least he thought it ended there. He couldn't be sure Razorback was helping or hindering distribution.
For whatever reasons Red Salt causes the most problems with pegasi. Turns them into these absolutely lethal crystal-flesh creatures. Inner Council Wards were involved, but Cadence doesn't trust us enough to release her information. At least, not yet. That’s a whole mess in itself. Hodch has details, but he needs to destress first.”
‘I see. This all ties together starting with Horizon at the center and Razorback compounding her dangers, yes?'
"Dead on."

>Blinking for the first time, 'Shiibo' motions for you to take a one minute break.
'I now fully understand our situation, sir. We need the prototype in a local body immediately.'

>>392520
>Bubba could use a bottle of booze later.
>If anything survives.

>Shaking his head, he focused on his investigation, noting down everything that he figured was of note.
>While he knew less about this place's creatures, he had looked up enough on his downtime to not be like an alligator out of water.
>Or a mare out of booze.
>He would make a move closer to the corpse, staying a respectable distance away but still close for more acute observations.
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7] <M.Perception + B.Monster Manager
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12] <Teacher Razorback Company
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (1+5) = 6] <Graduate Cryptid Biology
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11] <Graduate Cryptid Capabilities
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (1+5) = 6]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7] <Graduate Cryptid Habits
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6] <Pupil Researcher
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2]
[1d6 = 3] <B. Drawing
[1d6 = 6]

>>393618
>Starborn folding and setting numbered paper markers outside of each of the lost fragments starting in an outer ring, paying careful attention not to move pieces that had broken off, while Lorekeepers begin charting the mass and volume.
>Vocally and visibly, most were highly confused, yet equally pleased to have had such a wonderfully violent interruption.
>Off towards the east side, the Rune Knights seemed to be experimarenting with small chunks, verbalizing words, hums, nd a variety of testing sounds.
>They were similarly puzzled, one repeating tones, timbres, keys, then notes back to each other.

>Starting on a new drawing of both the pre-deceased creature and the corpse, this time it had to be scaled properly.
>Using one of the few relatively bland looking, though otherwise normal height unicorns, then comparing to a bronze Minotaur statue in the background, which the soulglyph locates dimensions for thanks to a label on the back, making a precise measurement was simplified.
>Setting the scale by starting with a 1" tall unicorn, comparing to the statue, onto the corpse, it takes five minutes to create a precise outline, filling in the notable features another three.
>Remeasuring from the buildings leading to the holding cells, gauging the height was simple enough, sketching the original appearance based from the first was rapidly finished.
>Studying the volume from multiple angles to estimate how the quite literal monster could move, you realize it had massively overloaded its physical capabilities, and for currently speculative reasons, had continued to do so for nearly a decade.
>Calculating its total mass in a comparison to the majority of cryptid information available, the same problem is presented: it could barely move in its grand form, meaning the base unicorn body was typically in full control.
>Estimating its weight would have to be done later, though you had enough to determine the total complete factors; 189 times initial mass of an Equestrian unicorn, and barely short of 220 times volume.
>Once more cross-referencing the incredibly sluggish musculature and its struggles to simply move, it was indeed a Doppelganger in the Interloper classification, but had evolved into a Grand type, completely bypassing the prerequisites for noble and royal grades.
>Alarmed at how massive such a barely larger than human monster had become, you weren't aware of a single Otherworld human that could have even considered bringing one onto Tallus.
>Connecting back to the Fortress, the soulglyph searches through a few hundred millennia of records, it settles for two possibilities:
>Either a tiny base Interloper had come from an entirely different, non-human inhabited Otherworld sometime in the past, or a native scavenger had consumed the corpse of one, gaining its capabilities yet succumbing to extreme mutations.
>Then, the coin presents several new problem: most Interlopers didn't have a core due to their limited size, but this one was much too large not to contain one.
>Did the outer body expand solely due to esoteric contamination, and given what you knew of Red Salt, was that the reason for its near-total degraded state?
>In taking over a unicorn, could that have allowed it to create a new, Tallus-adjacent pocket dimension to hide its true mass and volume, or did it simply take over an already present one?
>Locating the possible core to make confirmation wasn't possible due to the sheer size, though you felt there wasn't much more to glean from further examinations.

>Turning away from the pink fluorescent mess, the Imperial leadmare approaches you alone, dozens of hololiths surrounding her covered in Kingdom language, though measuremarents were strictly in Common.
"Watch this-"
>Displaying a close recording of two ExoFrames standing on opposite sides of a large piece, one mare delivers a ringing hum, which is returned as an echo, to which the other mare does the same in a slightly higher pitch, receiving it back in reverse.
>Replaying it once more at half speed, quarter, then tenth, there were zero noticeable deviations, the mare offering a profoundly bewildered stare.
"Yeah, we're seeing AND hearing that correctly. It's almost like diamondine but has strictly resonant properties. The echoes are a one hundred percent reverse of the original sound.
This is the single most bizarre thing anypony from the Crystal Empire has ever seen, smelled, heard, and tried to study."
>Closing down the majority of hololiths except for mass and volume equations, her eyes shut tightly.
"I've received full permission and autonomy to allow a total information sharing with you, but I need verbally recorded consent to do so. If you want I can redacted your voice, image, or both."
[1d6+9 = (1+9) = 10] <Investigation: Starborn
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13] <Investigation: Lorekeepers
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10] <Investigation: Rune Knight Squad

>>393616
>Pareidolia stands by, remaining at ease as the General examines the numerous reports and dossiers compiled in front of her.
>At the mention of hostile invasive human Otherworlds, he remarks with some surprise and elevated concern:
"Invading. Then that only serves to prove my point even further. One of the more overt threat possibilities compared to the angle I was aware of. Then Tallus is facing both."

>Clasping his hands together, he nods in agreement as Twisted seems to approve the outlined proposal while watching the video footage.
"... with one additional caveat. While those humans may possibly integrate successfully, there must be an oversight mechanism tracing back to a central faction or organization with human members in its leadership structure trained on and aware of this same Protocol. A central faction responsible for the management of humans on Tallus and any ensuing mistakes humans will make. Otherwise the disparate political faction bickering over whom pays for what and what's their problem versus another's will bog Tallus down. In my limited understanding, usurpation concerns can be waylaid with temporary arrangements of temporary or limited granted authority. As a faction, I am confident we can position ourselves to be largely apolitical beyond the human question. A third party entity to mediate as relevant with no larger aspirations. And do what is necessary to assuage any concerns otherwise."
>He offers a slight bow in deference to Twisted Wing as he finishes his interjection.

>Face twisting in consternation as Ewerup's status is brought up, he sighs.
"Ewerup, Neighsia, I am certain humanity is affecting them for the worse. And I have a premonition I know of that dead country. If they're trying to follow history, it will escalate into a global war and leave a near permanent ideological stain on the collective psyche of Tallus."
>He then folds his arms and nods twice.
"Yes, I see. Argenta's response is what I expected from most immediate major power neighbors to Equestria. The standard template. Seemingly the best choice, but will not prevent the internal corruption vectors outlined. We can only hope that Razorback's involvement with Argenta remains non-existent until we've sorted internal affairs and properly stabilized."

>At the mention of that ill fated Stalliongrad operation, his face cringes momentarily.
"I take full responsibility for that mission failure. My failure to use the correct exfiltration portal resulted in that oucome."
>He shifts to attention stiffly before relaxing as the General changes topics to Dancing Eyes.
>Recalling his less than pleasant experiences with her, he remains neutral in posture.
"I did not. She must not be taking Empress Silver's current silence well then, other mentioned difficulties only exacerbating the situation."

>>393617
>Hearing Twisted's affirmation, he sags forward in relief.
(Finally. Concrete progress. Now the mission can begin in earnest.)
>For the first time since his arrival on Tallus, a smile derived from genuine success flickers across his face.
"There is nothing more gratifying to hear than your acceptance of this. I have waited since my arrival for the moment I can begin in earnest to make things right."
>Drawing himself up once more, he returns his hands behind his back.
"Understood.
>And remains silent, absorbing the proceedings between Shiibo and Twisted.
(Standard. To be expected. Salvaging Canterlot's relations is beyond our immediate resource network. Already considered the Crystal angle as well, need to mend relations when possible.)
>He shifts his weight between his boots as a short break is called for.
'Agreed. I will attempt to procure the foundations for yours as well. Can you elaborate on Linara and the implications of Las Pegasus and Red Salt?'

>>393621
"Valden was given permission to honorably summon Plasma straight from the Sun. He'll prevent any touchdowns, especially since the Era Lock's still working properly in degrading newcomers. Princess Solarflanks is less than a quarter recovered but she's doing well enough supporting them."
>Ears flopping side to side in thought, Twisted's snout crinkles negatively.
"Might not work with the number of humans involved, at least not yet. Once I'm Matron that means I take all hits, pats, and inbetweens. As a result I'm going to be relying on Flash, her... whatever help, Shiibo, you, the prototype, and other higher Era humans to be my Seconds. Let's keep this simple for now: full and immediate commarend, no stops or halts.
Also what the fuck is it about higher era humans being more peaceful and willing to integrate? You've probably met Ivrain. That one, Kunid, and the other Post-Orbitals have been pushing for this same thing.. except Lonestar. He's got other problems."
>Left wing passing over the desk, a map of Ewerup, Germane, and Prance is shown briefly, the first covered in successively brighter and larger red dots towards the west.
"Germane and Prance's humans are doing great, no real problems there. And the second Ewerup starts going in a World War direction.. let's just say I have ponifally authorized the usage of full scale meteor bombardmarents. Most ponies simply do not care for the Sheep.
Now, I've heard there's a Neighsian on base from Hodch. I'll give her a formal title and permarenent Claim of Free Trade, that'll make her clan real happy. If she willingly shares info, then good. If not, I have a couple other options."
>Removing the map, the General lifts her wings in a polite dismissal.
"About five months ago Celestia wrote an authorized letter for an actual human Solar diplomat. Since he or she hasn't arrived yet.. well, I'll have to wait and see if it pans out. Argenta won't move for three years, that I guarantee."
>Cracking a hideously black grin, the Enchained's voice comes out in a firm, hard demand, eyes visibly twinkling.
"By General's order: stop that immediately or I'm assigning you the clingiest, squeakiest batfilly possible as a Mareguard. I'll explain how that actually backfired AGAINST Horizon shortly."
>Hooves dropping and partially turning to the right, her head swivels to face you with an earnestly pleased expression.
"Listen for a minute, and try to think like a pony at the same time. Most humans don't 'like' the Overherd. Why? Because it does precisely what all ponies do, share. Here's the catch: it doesn't remove the safety or security of inner, private, or secret thoughts. Rather, the Overherd reinforces that protection a few dozen times with successively stricter layers. That's how Anti was used against all of Razorback. No Overherd, get screwed.
Now Primals are one in a hundred thousand, but Titans are one in a million. I will have a Primal Psion, whether that happens to be Dancing Eyes or not. Currently I can't think of a better actual role model. At least, one that's still alive. Astral's going to free her first, then give her my offer."
>Painting the word DEAD over her body as a white sheet covers her face, 'Shiibo' snaps down into a perfect 90-degree bow.
'Oh.. no. NO. NO! NONONONONOOOOO! THE TRAINING! THE DRILLS! THE CLASSES AND TEACHING SCENARIOS!
SIR, I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE FOR THIS MISTAKE! EXECUTE ME AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE THIS DISGRACEFUL UNIT!'
"Oh fo- knock it off! Much as we dislike each other, that's ponial! Professionally she's somewhat better than me, especially teaching non-combat. But I will be investigating whatever the fuck she did to some mare a while back."

>Ears flattening sideways, the dark royal blue mare's eyes drift sideways, giving a solemn exhale.
"I'm not the best option for Matron, we all know that. Was going to nudge Tipper into that direction but she's disappeared from Tallus. Nopony, no one, and no being knows where she is. Not a single clue where, why, or how either. I even summoned Discord. He got ANGRY when I asked, tore a few scares off, screamed something about a plot hole, then popped out.
Nova told me to eat some coastal sand, which I could but don't want to. Naliyna's off with Thrill and real pissed about something. Roust is.. in bad shape. She came back from Stalliongrad, completely drained and somewhat little injured. Mist Dancer is in prison somewhere for a bunch of crimes. The rest flat out said no, and I ain't going to talk about the ones I rejected."
>Raising an eyebrow directly at Shiibo, now suitably calmed down, Twisted cracks a haughty grin.
"Thought you asked for a break?"
'I did.'
>Giving a sharp, flat up-down summoning whistle, a large cube of dull pink gel pops into being next to you, taking on the shape of a luxurious human chair.
"Something I picked up a while back. Take a seat So, I'm about to settle that entire Operation completely. Most consequences and repercussions included."
>Making a slight popping sound with her lips, the right wing folds over, extending forwards as a human's hand would in explanation.
"About five years ago Starborn all over began receiving plates, crystalplates, and records through cutouts, either Councilierge or friends-of that knew friends of friends had certain friends. That giant stack next to the black altar, which is protecting them, are the originals.
We recognized the senders were Anti-infected, though not too deeply, but since we didn't have access to a whole lot of individuals that would have known more, it's taken us quite a while to piece those clues together in a coherent marener. Shiibo?"
'I.. understand now. The one hundred thousand plus deaths resulting from New Canterlot Palace's destruction, then Bill's tremendously idiotic suicide disrupted further investigation.'
"Exactly. After that second one is when most factions dropped their support, especially the Tower Guard, Councilierge, Royal, and Honor Guards."

>>393621
>>393624
>Pausing to glance past, piercing hyacinth eyes blink, ears waggling in humor before contiuning.
"Lejura's a Mystic. If she focuses hard enough, slivers, fragmarents, parts, or pieces of individuals clarify in her soul, letting her see a part of their consciousness, history, memory, that sort. She'd been within the Inner Council's graces long enough to realize the power plays being made. Which Councilierge weren't corrupted, tainted, or influenced by Anti and Horizon, whether resisting or not. Which were, resisting or not, and so on.
Unfortunately whatever team was supposed to gently knock out Steel Oak and his two mercs had been quickly and heavily Anti contaminated. Their orders were to retrieve his surface memories and the correct information to get that squad into position and wait for the right signals to commit certain actions. Lapis Thorn is still raging mad at that screwup.
Primary goal: get all bought items, the 'slaves', which I won't talk about just yet, and Stream Lark out so he could reach the Citadel. Plan was to use all that info to bring the Empire in. Novus fucked that by not paying attention to the precise numbers and types of buy options he was supposed to make. Rua screwed YOU over by being unable to consolidate human motions with pony anatomy. That's why I demarended one of the specialist Psions.
Secondary goal: get the infiltration team through all security and inside Pear Blossom's bedroom, WITH Caliya. Being a flesh-eater, Lejura stated he'd be able to find evidence of something important. For a long time she felt something was horrifically wrong with Pear Blossom."
>Subtle horror creases the avatar's face, then acknowledgement.
'I... then that Operation was a major success, despite Anti causing and inducing numerous TECHNICAL failures?'
"You got it."
>Rubbing black wingblades together for six seconds, the General's lips pull back in slow irritation.
"What we do ‘isn’t good enough’ for some. Hah. Still makes me angry. Technology fails most of the time, ask the Harpies, Kra`ken, and Crystal ponies. Plans always fail. Ask me and Lark. Magic usually fails. Ask anypony. Everything fails at one time, point, degree, or factor. With enough time, resources, and the right friends, we get results. Can't say the same for SOME.
In any case, here's how all of that gets pieced together.
The night you left, I contracted a ten-squad of Crystal Imperial marecenaries to Razorback Enclave. Two thousand Bits worth of gems I had to pay them by the way. Their orders were to make contact with Amerose and set up defenses for Stream Lark in the southern holding cells. They were having a wonderful chat until Naliyna and Bubba showed up.
Apparently both of them found out a literal ton of information on Las Pegasus. Neither can or will talk until their safety is fully assured.
While Bubba and Lark were having a rather peaceful meeting, Pear Blossom... changed. Starborn, Tower Guard, and a few others have seen every type and form of physical transformation there is. What happened in the Enclave? Uh uh. Absolutely NOTHING like that exists on Tallus or the Planes.
The body she, or it, took on had a bunch of key differences and similarities to the crystal-flesh creatures pegasi turn into.
Physically it was a bizarre cross between some predator and a bovine, composed mostly of muscle that the Imperials said looked diseased, infected, or chemically contaminated, but wasn't any of those three. Teeth were a mix between carnivore and herbivore. Don't know much about the skeleton, entire damned body turned into some kind of near-diamond crystallized mass. Resonant, too.
Bubba helped kill it and apparently he knows a whole lot about truly weird shit. It’s a Doppelganger for sure, a Grand Interloper type, which we have zero knowledge of but he does. His investigation is still ongoing as well.
When the Imperial mercs were done they sent crystalplates all over, including a bunch to me. The total mass and volume would've made it nearly an XXXL class, but it barely had the strength to move around after two minutes of trying to break out."
>Gaze rolling across the avatar and you, the outermost wingblade lifts up, black clouds rolling through.
"I know Tree Singer gave Pear Blossom several Enchains, mostly drugs which we now understand the purposes of. That first one, though.. she was frightened. Had no idea what it was, creeped her the complete fuck out so she did that one in a hurry.
Second was a custom Regeneration elixir. Third, custom Dampener. Fourth, another elixir combining basically every single known and a few unknown anticoagulants. Fifth, another elixir solely containing a bunch of anti-crystallizing compounds. See where this is going now?"
>Searching through records quickly, 'Shiibo' contorts in disgust.
'Slowing down a self-destruction state of Red Salt.'
"That's half the equation done."
'..that abomination was CONSUMING Red Salt infected equines.'
"Yep. So what's the last part?"
'.....she was the one that assassinated Fang Killer in New Canterlot?'
"Bingo."
>Regarding the sharp blade for a second, then another one, and a third, 'Shiibo' grimaces at newly found implications, piecing together a new dossier.
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

'Is Horizon directly implicated to that specific situation?'
"She was using Pear Blossom's cannibalism as a cover for her own actions throughout Stalliongrad and Las Pegasus, so, maybe."
'I have a question.'
"First Starborn law: never ask to ask, never state you are asking. Just. Ask."
'How do you perceive that specific chain of events effecting Razorback's standing among the majority of factions?'
>Blade reaching back to flip her mane to the other side, Twisted Wing's lips part slightly, brightly pulsing, diamondine teeth gritted, the avatar filing a note to never do that again.
'...ah. A fast release will be viewed as highly negative, as if you are seeking to cover and deflect from certain actions.'
"Slow is fast, and fast is slow. "

>Subtly peeking at the trio of brightly toned pegasus fillies clustering around her squad, curiously inspecting quadruple layered sheets of dull blackened steel chainmail protecting joints of customized Watch Guard full plate, ears swivel to each side.
"Our weaponry and armor sets have no Repulse function."
>Creasing into a deep smile at confused stares, the metallic brown Stronghoof bends down, left armored hoof tapping down onto solidified cloud.
"See? It does not create sparks so they are safe to touch."
>Excited to inspect each intricate detail, mark, dent, and scratch, she relents with a giggle.
(‘Absolutely adorable.’)
>Marentally prepared for a flood of questions, a brief hoofclick in the back of her mind brings forth a sigh.
>Motioning for her squad to hoof out their various packed candies, the Stronghoof gives the three a polite snout-to-snout before whispering.
"Apologies, I am being called, tut take these. Don't tell anypony we were here for at least three Nights and I will send a full crate."
>Delivering a formal bow, taking two steps backwards, and waiting for the ancient, steel-reinforced wooden doors to open, she high walks inside, feeling the words forming.
"I presume there’s no support from the ‘masters’ at this time?”
>Stopping at the massive, low round table of a long extinct ash species, eyes wander the surface for a time, trying not to frown at the Solar General's harsh tones.
"The opposite, and do not use that word again. It was a useful ruse for a time.
This decision rests on which of the recently integrated factions are willing to support a Lunar-Mooric-Councilierge Treaty. The First Councilierge will send a message when he is satisfied.
I must warn you: nine of the fifteen Councilierge are currently missing, lost, or dead. One was confirmed earlier and is now Sixth, I believe her name is Opal.. something or other?”
>Head tilting left and right eyelids half-closing in thought, her mind wanders.
>Unlike the rest, she didn't mind not having a helmet, enjoying the freedom to display her wiggly ears, soft mane, and warm snout freely.
“I do not recall. Proud mare, strong, excellent neighgotiator. Shame she did not get that human for a night though...
I will count their immediate votes. I can assure at least one companeigh.”
[1d6 = 3] <Councilierge

“For the last piece of news: there is a Councilierge Assault Battalion, one of the Rift destruction units currently demarending full resupply. They are claiming full autonomy under hostile pursuit. I have confirmed their reports."
>A battered, ornately engraved, yet decently scrubbed artificial gold helmet nine ponies to her left raises, the cool, firm mid-40's stallion speaks in clipped tone.
"Will you?"
"I was planning on doing so after this meeting concludes."
>Acknowledging the Praetorian's time to speak, the Stronghoof takes a marental step backwards as he grunts.
"Have confirmed near-complete removal of Anti-infected. Do not know where to bury the remains. Ice is the main issue. Unlikely the Empire will aid us. Will send Stalliongrad's last diplomat with an official herald. If they refuse again then we will consider others.
Majority of city-state caches, warehouses, storage, supplies are untouched. No Anti, Horizon, or traps. Six were broken into, minimal food taken. Horizon completely missed them. Externals are untouched.
Aid from Pongolia will be sent tomorrow.
Last, more than half of the Watch, militias, and marecenary groups have been relieved by five plus battlelines of Elite Lunar forces."
>He was smiling behind the snout mask at that, but why?
"Only two Night companeighs are available. They will join. Remainder are rotating, in refit, or reservists.
I don't control any outside of my own companeigh. I’m only a damned Praetorian for Queen's sakes.”
>At a snicker being cut short, the marked helmet slowly turns to regard the Independent... Captain, was it?
>Watching out the corners of her eyes, the Stronghoof assumes a minorly irritated expression, which she felt most in the room share.
>He will definitely pay her a visit for that insult.
>She allows a tiny grin knowing that mare might not walk away from it.
“Silence. Fall is best time of year.
Now. Any leadmare that wants to stay Stalliongrad retains full authority to wipe out Undead, aid clean up efforts, or claim hundreds of new located Tunnels. Should see and smell the city now, it's overflowing with black iron waiting to be pulled out, shaped, honed, or refined.
..tallying votes now."
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13] <Watch Guard

>Surreptitiously watching the Commarender's armor next to the General shift uneasily, the Stronghoof focuses mostly on her.
"General, we are badly stretched but there is some consolidation taking place. I do not know how marely units are remotely willing to join this effort, but I have.. lost track of those whom were in or near New Canterlot when the Palace was destroyed."
>That mare couldn't be more than twenty, yet she was doing quite well despite being surrounded.
"Explain."
"The few I marenaged to corner and ask will not tell me. Not a one. Something huge occurred and they have formally resigned en masse."
>Her own eyes weren't the first to widen, the Stronghoof notices.
"Finally some decent fucking news, that's one less problem to push out of our way. Let them go and don’t inquire further.
Call upon each of the Veteran companeigh leaders that were in field, on rotation, or elsewhere across Tallus during the False Day. Select only those that will accept cross-faction orders and are willing to work alongside humans for as long as necessary.
As for the rest send all units below full strength to rest. Rotate remaining reservists into place and commit them to Otherworld destruction tasks, give them full authorization to utilize Plasma AT WILL.
That last strike killed two of MY ponies. I am done. Piss on the Otherworlders trying to invade us."
"What o-?"
"We'll see what they offer in return for our blood. It had better be worthwhile."
[1d6 = 6] <Day Guard
[1d6 = 2] <Royal Guard
[1d6 = 1] <Honor Guard

>>393624
>Pareidolia rolls his shoulders with a shrug.
"I can accept that in the short term given the need for expediency. We'll do things as we must. I haven't personally spoken to any of them yet. But the answer is simple, any human society that achieves that level of development must have also come to understood at some point and at least partially addressed the fundamental nature of humans as social animals. It is impossible to progress otherwise. Though it does not make them immune to the dangers. We constantly fight against ourselves."

>With an unconvinced quirk of his brow, he sighs.
"If you say so. I have no comments on your decisions regarding poninnel unless I see an unaddressed human risk vector. They are yours to delegate."
>Giving an unamused glance at Shiibo's projection on Twisted's desk top, he shakes his head.
"I don't care what she did back then, really. It doesn't matter, Shiibo. I can tolerate the rest."
>He then shifts his helmet to center on the General again.
"Right, Astral and I will also be attempting to redress the injuries the Canterlot Underground sustained during that incident once I return."

>Looking down at the pink gel chair, he takes off his pack and leans it against the side of the chair.
>Seating himself on the buoyant gel, he rests his elbows on his knees and steeples his hands, thumbs under his chin.

>>393625

>As Twisted elaborates, he directs his gaze downwards in thought.
>His thoughts roughly keeping pace with Shiibo's as the threads are unraveled.
>He twitches slightly when Tree Singer's name is spoken.
(Well... if she knows then that saves me a lot of trouble.)

>Waiting until Twisted is completely finished, he leans ponderously against the gel backing of the chair.
"I see... that is a relief to learn. I will adjust my record accordingly."

>>393628
"I agree but again let's keep it simple for now. Last thing we need is some Old Guard shit causing more issues. A Marecenary Council Clause might be a good option for later."
>Sticking and placing paper stacks, inkwell, and quill back on her desk in chaotic patterns, Twisted offers a rueful smile.
"When I said Starborn only get two chances, that wasn't one of my laws or rules. Luna instituted it a long time ago. One either gets dismissed or buried outside somewhere. I won't be treating the ponies or others in Razorback that harshly.
On the record, there will be far more discipline. Off the record, so long as there isn't bullshit, political nonsense, or idiocy, I won't care much. That also involves not merely being polite, so please try to integrate yourselves as well.
And Hodch told me what Katyal found, should be able to get you a meeting with a Lightning Dragon within a couple weeks. Either that or we can loan you one of the safe Lightning Naghtmares to see how well one can prevent degradation."
>Quill held between two wingblades from the left and dipped, the top page is scribbled on quickly in fluid Common.
"First subject each and every single human is going to learn from now on out is Human-Pony Relations. Hodch has already gotten the Pony-Human Relations program set up, we'll be using it heavily as well.
If you had recognized the physical and vocal warning cues from Dancing Eyes, you wouldn't have been.. well, y'know. Shiibo, warn him next time. That's an order, not a request."
'I will. Shall I call you ma'am now?'
"Not unless you want to."

>Firm in comparison to what it looked like, the material was a near-solid gel, also more comfortable than the majority of pony furniture.
>And didn't have Discord's markings, a strange scent, sentience, or sapience.
"Bed, chair, blanket, sleeping bag, pillow, table, whatever you need, that thing can turn into it. Portable furniture's a bitch to get ahold of outside the Empire. You can keep that one if you want, I've got at least twenty more around here.. somewhere."
>Down half a page and signing a wide, sweeping name before placing it off to the right, the next is given a slight frown before writing again.
"Getting the Underground on our side again could be a great option as well.. do what you can between Missions and Ops, but I will have two orders to give shortly. And speaking of which, since the Anti's been purged you won't be getting exhausted easily. The electrolyte losses from it turned out to be the cause of THAT problem.
So... ninety-nine percent of the time I can trust you to not cause a human problem. Ninety-nine percent of the time I can trust Dancing to be Dancing. She has an entirely different, nearly opposite side, especially around Malyne. Yes, she does look down on most humans because they flat out don't understand ponies or aren't willing to. Point of contention number one, we meet again.
When she returns, should both of you apologize to each other for not understanding the factors leading to that incident, she might consider accepting a Tallus wide Overherd. Lethally high security, safety, and comfort without electronics or hijackable transmissions, least until Astral gets his Master Communication System back online.
You get where I'm going with this."
'I do.. even if I do not want to.'
>Finishing that one and starting on the next, Twisted Wing stops to sit upright, lips pulling back and down tightly.
"I know you're not military. Here's what should have cued you to the most important factor: one of the best Tower Guard Master-Generals, MY Princess, AND me, were highly satisfied at that Operation's results. So what if a few factors went to shit?
Lark's safely in the Fortress. That's the single biggest task completed. Cadence has full proof of where Red Salt was coming and going from, why, how, and to what included. We got our evidence of Horizon using that monster's cannibalism as a distraction, which she can't anymore."
>Switching to a hard, EnKee writing style, she grins without looking up.
"Aaaaand a certain mare by the name of Opal Chaser was confirmed as the Sixth Councilierge last night. Had that memory retrieval team not been compromised, all of you would have realized her demarends to be a 'kill the unicorn and get Lark out immediately' signal.... she really wants to know what being brushed and getting a hoof massage feels like."
>The avatar visibly twitches, bending forwards to retch as Twisted finishes the report with a quartet of slashing runes, piercing eyes rolling in chagrin.
"Ahh, cut it out. She's a great mare. Takes a true professional to last that long in the Inner Circle without being found out. Opal marenaged to hoof over a bunch of proof that three long time Anti-infected Canterlot pegasi royals had been helping smuggle Crystal pony blood used to make Red Salt, and a number of slaves. They're dead and those marensions are being decontaminated as we speak.
The orphanage they owned was normal on the outside, then there was a giant lab underneath, and an empty non-Snootclipean space below that. Half the team that went in violently vomited, other half passed out. And yes, that is our analogue to non-Euclidean."

>Placing the fifth page atop the others, she looks up to present a firmly displeased stare, quill tapping in thought several times before dipping it again.
“Hodch might have made a mistake. I didn't know he was going to perform memory harvesting and removal. If I’d known I would've stopped him immediately. Until Astral says otherwise I'll hold off the restoration processes."
>Hands splayed out in slight warning, 'Shiibo' assumes a mildly reprehending tone.
‘We fully accepted the risks and consequences. However, I am lodging a verbal formal protest until such a time occurs that Astral Legacy and his relations are entirely safe from retaliation.’
“Understood, just don’t make him regret coming back. I might not have anywhere near the number of secrets that Sha’Ro has, though when it comes t-”

>>393628
>>393632
>Completely stilled for ten seconds, the General's face begins slowly warping into perhaps the most overt and honestly sinister grin you'd seen so far on Tallus.
‘I do not like the face you are making... please, stop! ...ma'am!’
>Snagging a smaller kanpri tripped page from below her desk, the quill streaks across it before being spun around and pushed towards you, the AI reading it out loud.
To: Shared Roses, Former Dynastic Regent,
Stream Lark is safe in Razorback Fortress.
Bring Threx with you OR ELSE.
From: Starborn General Sapphire Kiwi
"Deliver this when you can to any translocation matrice. Drop it on and the Remnant will know it's for a VIP."
'But W H Y.'
“There’s no more Anti to screw over all of our memories at once and she’s immune to it. Sha’Ro was investigating external Anti contamination, should be done by now. Her protege, Threx, is one of the few Grandmaster trainers left in Equestria. There aren’t marely of us now. We’re going to need those two, Lejura, Lark, and the missing Councilierge he knows together in order to really start the unfucking process."
>Losing the mania to reach a typical Ferron smirk, the quill is set down, right wing lifting straight up and spread out in a fanning motion, the avatar denoting that as a sign of being intensely smug.
“Do you know how New Canterlot became one of the biggest and greatest city-states on Tallus in less than ten years?”
‘No, I do not.’
“Shared Roses was a royal Gryphene ordered to protect Shard Roses, she became Matron of the Rose Overherd. Both of them left when the Dynasty started collapsing. They brought nearly eighty thousand earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns to Mainland Equestria.”
‘…...she witnessed the greatest of falls, then the most triumphant of rises?’
“Dead on. Without her I won’t be able to sleep knowing Horizon is still alive. If she doesn’t respond within a week I'll give orders to start opening every Vault, Reliquary, and Black Chamber, among others, sealed after the Lunar-Solar War. Lot of those weapons took hundreds, sometimes thousands of lives to force them into where they are now, and most are hostile by default.
I've asked some of the newer generation Naghtmares and Halfies if they can help out with Razorback. Far safer than the originals, though considerably weaker in comparison. Don't be surprised to see what looks like Elemarentals roaming around.”

>Picking the writing implemarent back up, this time writing in a hard, short and blocky style, Twisted's voice turns gravelly.
“Horizon needs to die, but if I have to start bringing the past back… some of the greatest beings on this world are dead because of what happened in both Old and New Canterlot. Millions of documarents, records, tomes, and countless sets of knowledge were lost with them. There may be no return from that option."
>Finishing the page with a sigh, her eyes rotate hard left, tiny sparkles dotting each, muttering a soft invocation.
“Where did you go, Scholar? I don’t know how much longer we've got. I need what you promised, right here, right now. Please, come back soon.”
>Returning to her duties, she gives a slight nod towards you.
"Pare, Shiibo, both of you can use the passcode I spoke earlier anywhere in the Citadel to reach my office. Poke around if you want, just no gem cases or talking to the altar, she's a real bitch. If you want a certain type of enchantmarent let me know, let's just say I have two Enclaves worth of stuff stashed around.
I'm going to do my best not to order or force you around after this, but for right now here's my short list:
One, I need that prototype to keep with me at all times. Upgrade her to the best specs and take the unit directly to Flash. If she can't help you yet, see what she needs done. And yes, she told me about the temporally interested False Celestia clone. Flash will let you know if they move.
Two, check on Astral. He should have the Master Radio system online and was going to create a bunch more of those gravitic commgems. If he hasn't gotten any done then you two pick which tasks to take on.
Otherwise, use your time and initiative unless something critical pops up. I'll be done in ten to fifteen, need to finish these last five reports and plate the-"
>Blinking at a sharp click inside her desk, the left forehoof reaches out to tap something metallic.
"What? ....oh Goddesses DAMN it, tell her to wait! ...got it. You're off duty, get out, hah."
>Delivering a hard, though not all that pained harsh exhale, her eyes shut briefly.
"Before tonight, Flowing Spark made me want to scream. Now? I might need to start screaming.. go see that Naghtmare before she starts freaking out and trying to melt tunnels through the Citadel, AGAIN.
Don't even know how we can use two hundred thousand pounds of Rift pseudometal anyways..."

*****
>Debrief Complete
>Pareidolia gains: +3XP
>Shiibo gains: ALL of the nightmare fuel!
*****
[1d6 = 3] <Naghtmare Support
[1d6 = 5] <Half-Naghtmare Support

>>393632
"I cannot make any promises on integration, but I understand your intent."
>His head tilts a hair towards the side as he scoffs in mild irritation.
"Since apparently Tallus itself demands my compliance. Should I be making time for the Dragonspine Mountains for this meeting?"
>Keeping his stance, he nods.
"I agree with that orientation program. Its inverse will also be critical for ensuring clean social interactions."

>Noting the properties of the gel itself, he shifts his weight on it experimentally.
"So long as deploying it is convenient, I may take your offer."
>His helmet nods against his steepled fingers.
"I also understand. Needs must."
>He removes his hands from each other and sits up in the gel chair.
>Resting his fists on top of his thighs, he lightly taps his right thigh once.
"She can find another human to perform that. And I've noted your clarification on operational success definitions. Just understand that I have my own standards as well. It's not a light matter to discard them for a new system."
>The mention of a orphanage fronting an abandoned lab causes his tone to darken.
"That only lends further credibility to my concerns that Horizon has already achieved her goals with Anti, and we are merely grabbing threads she can afford to lose."

>Hold up a hand in the same gesture as Shiibo's, he replies to Twisted.
"I would not have agreed to the process unless I thought it was necessary. Similar procedures were extant within the Committee. I will comply with all stipulations."

>His brow's furrow sequentially deepens as the Enchained peagsus' grin continues.
>Watching as a letter is rapidly written, he takes it off the desktop as it is read to him.
(A letter written to one former Dynastic Regent. Gathering major players and assets.)
"If you say we need them, then so be it."
>He taps his fingers against the letter twice before folding it over into one of his tactical vest pockets.
"I would rather avoid unleashing sentient old war weapons and lost arcane experiments if possible and will attempt to secure what we need without them. And the Naghtmare support is appreciated."

>Recognizing that Twisted was likely speaking more for herself with her question towards one 'Scholar', he does not comment.
>Nodding at her explanation and orders, he was about to ask for a list of available enchantments before a presumed call interrupts.
(... Sounds like Flowing Spark is at her limit.)
>He begins standing even before Twisted mentions the pink Naghtmare.
>Slinging his pack over his shoulders, he offers a firm nod to the General.
"Understood. If there is a list of the enchantments available, that would help my decision making. I'll return here after meeting with Flowing."
>He would then make his way back to the Atrium, moving to place the letter on the central, scorched orange matrice before fishing his apparent Rift symbiote out of his front vest pocket for Flowing.

>Dearly wishing he'd never accepted that offer, the Vanguard leader's eyes remain shut, forming a large, solid green parasol to shield him, and his Second sinking into hot sand behind him.
"Cadenza’s Teats, it’s hotter here than the Moors."
“Opposite side of Tallus, past middle of Day.. currently one hundred eleven degrees, sir.”
>Feeling her own distaste for temperature, climate, sand reflecting Sun, and miserable humidity, he simply acknowledges the issues.
“So... how did the Lunars marenage to lose one of the best Generals in the past five centuries, sir?”
>Eyes opening a tiny amount before shutting, he grunts in distress, joining the closest Mind's Eye to check if he'd lost track of the path leading northwest.
“There are some modern ponies whom do not recognize talent when they see, smell, or hear it. Checking-.”
>Connecting to the distant Councilierge Overherd cautiously, the Vanguard First swerves into a set of smaller tracks.
(‘-es. No, not yet. Yes, if they can carry enough. Again? Yes. They have full authority and permission, from me, to take all SAFE relics to complete their tasks. Appropriate response? Yes.
Send the orders immediately. No, I do not care how long the relief efforts take. May the Four Goddesses bless their hearts, hooves, and souls. Is th-’)
(‘Ma’am?’)
(‘AGHFFFFFFF! ....didn’t realize you joined us. You are hereby granted complete autonomy and I am ordering you to resupply your Councilierge Assault Battalion in full. May the Four Goddesses bless your hooves, hearts, and souls!’)
(‘May the Four Seasons grace your herd freely, ma’am.’)
>Sending a bowing image before removing himself, he frowns as the Mind's Eye tilts upwards, faux-pupil expanding to take in the straggling Councilierge Assault Vanguard slowed by deep sand ahead.
('Autonomy has been granted and we'll have a full resupply after we return. We are cle-')
“YEEEEEEEEESSSS!”
('-ar t-')
>Smiling at the variety of far too eager mares physically shouting, he resumes striding and addresses Second.
"Inform the Elder Dragon Council of our intentions. What they and the Lunars don’t want, we’ll.. try to utilize. I suppose…. if we can."
"Will do sir."
“....this is going to be awkward AND hard to explain. If not impossible.”
“The pronunciation and meaning of the word awkward is awkward. And I know."
>Recalling the Scouts and reorganizing into a traveling rectangle, the Battalion grudgingly tromps across sand for another five minutes, sharing water and what few coldstones they had.
>Reaching a pair of young, mottled brown drakes acting as greeters, the two attempt to smile, without fangs he notes.
('Must be Vigilants. Be POLITE, all of you!')
>All bowing deeply at the wide, welcoming wing flaps, a silent order to take shelter under lesser Dracosines is given as the largest Mind's Eye rotates upwards.
>The carcass of a draconic, mostly bright orange Riftseeker, at least three miles long he realizes, was being spread out by the largest uninjured Dragons, smaller ones carefully dragging hundreds of armor plates out haphazardly.
"Goddesses...”
“Over a thousand Dragons took that monstrosity down… unbelievable. First pony that knows WHERE to begin gets double pay for the rest of this month.”
“That's.. is it a mare or stallion? Which genotype? Phenotype? Whatever-type?”
>Marentally directing the all to focus onto mismatched weapon clusters, unusual colors, dissonant Rift Plane tones, haphazardly stuck together components, then bizarrely sparking armor, hull, and internal sections, the Vanguard stallion offers his Second a pained grimace, which she immediately pales at.
“...oh. …OKAY HOW IN THE.. WHAT!?”
“Let’s figure out the specifics later. And please don’t think about.. that.”
“Awww, come on! It's a joke!”
“No.”
“Oh YES I bloody.. might… not.. maybe?”
“You know what? So long as it’s consensual, do whatever. Now come on, I want to see if one of the eyes is intact.”
“Trying to match a certain Burning General?”
>Snorting in derision without being negative, the Vanguard First motions to his flank satchel.
“What? No, I want a lens. Those micro-binoculars don’t fit my visor worth a damn.”
“Bah, Stallionguard and their toys.. hay, whatever happened to that Anti-infected Minotaur? You know, the one with the fancy magical night vision eye piece he stole?”
“Not sure. Send Platune Three to check if it’s still on the corpse, an-”
“WHAT TH-”
“HEEEEEELP!”
“GET. IT. OFF. ME. NOW.”
>Peering up at three squads miscalculating the weight of a Void-blackened armor panel and becoming trapped under it, he considers how to put them on relief duty, dismissing the thought as a quarter of mature wyrms take hold of the edges, lifting it to free them.
“THANK YOU! NOW LET’S TAKE THIS PLATE APART!”
"SOCKETS SPROCKETS AND ORANGE LOCKETS AHOoooY!"
“Screw this.. FIND SOMETHING THAT WON’T CRUSH YOU, MORONS!”
“Hehehehe... oh sir, please don’t screw THAT~! I’m still so sore and hot from being in the Moors~!”
“I… honestly don’t know whether to hate you or not right now.”
“I hear that a lot from you, sir. Gotta go!”
>He pauses to roll his eyes while a Shieldmare stops next to him, feeling the question.
“The second we return, send a letter demarning the Starborn General to tell us where, EXACTLY, she ‘dumped’ all the miscellaneous Construct hulls, parts, pieces, and fluid.”
“Will do sir.”
>Nudging the Eye to gaze upwards, he regrets having to be the one that creates a new Titanic classification.
>Stepping into the shade of a young Nature Plane dragon starting from the beginning to explain the truly WEIRD encounter.
(‘What even IS normal anymore? Am I a marshmallow in the shape of a noodle, or a noodle in the shape of a marshmallow?’)

[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4] <Dragon Council Interest
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] <Dragonspine Vigilant Interest
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <Dragonspine Mountains Mining Corp. Interest
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6] <Drake Council Interest
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Elder Dragon Council Interest
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <Elder Drake Council Interest
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] <Elder Wyrm Council Interest
[1d6 = 1] <Lunar Interest
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4] <Wyrm Council Interest
*****
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <Free Trader Interest
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6] <Late Pepper's Interest

>>393658
>Making a polite 'understood' wing motion, the expression Twisted Wing gives is deeply haunted, eyes dulling to a flickering black for a split-second.
"It's how Tallus works. And don't do that. Please. Both Princesses had hundreds of alternatives. Those no longer exist, can't be recovered, or can't be made again. Unique has a specific meaning. I'm forced to make do with what can be scraped together.
Try to keep two hours free around Midneight in case I get a response back from the Dragonspines."
>Placing right forehoof in the next page's center, a small pulse marks it in royal purple, removing to write in strictly formal Common.
"It'll take Hodch a couple nights to make sure it's fully ready to deploy en masse.
Yep, take it. Create an image in your mind and whistle. Reshapes at will too.
...telling a highly regarded, incredibly valuable, Councilierge 'no' regarding a wholly platonic offer, one that may improve relations, might be a bad call. That's your call though.
Nopony's asking you to discard, only to understand and cooperate best as you can. Meritocratic anarchy is highly flexible, lets us operate freely and functionally without being tied to rigid systems prone to failure. We make use what works, not just our preferences."
>Switching pages with a stifled grimace, Twisted reaches right of her desk, setting out a large, flat rectangle of dull gray stone.
"It isn't. Removing the diversions of Las Pegasus, Red Salt, Inner Council Wards, Pear Blossom, and killing whatever she was threw off variables Horizon had completely secured. We've started to realize she operates in certain predefined patterns, though not enough to understand what they are exactly."
>Nodding to herself, each page is swiftly placed on the rectangle, front, then back, setting them on the desk's left side.
"Hodch was right like usual.. I'll get you a formal title and position later. There's a few Starborn that don't have their original memories either."
>Stacking the pages together, then rolling through them with a wingblade for a last check, her lips purse in a hard line.
"There's a Tower Guard saying I've begun to understand: 'Sha'Ro is inevitable'. I may not have a choice regarding her but cracking those living nightmares open is the absolute last option.
The newer Naghtmares and Halfies are a lot of fun, no erratic behaviors or psychoses. No manabombs though, which is a big downside."

>Rolling the official reports together and set under her left wing, the General stands up, right wing raising to deliver a sharp salute.
"Gonna copy these then I'll see what's safe for external use, got too marely hyper-specialized ones that aren't even close to general purpose. And if she gets uppity, tell her One Star will throw her in a frozen pool again."
>Whistling as you stand, the chair condenses down into a tiny, square pink coin with little weight to it.

>Repeating the passcode, drifting into the sea green room, then back into the Citadel Atrium, the letter is swallowed by a single pseudopod, its eye a curious flat white as if somehow blinded.

>Close to the matrice, Flowing Spark was busily snooting a tiny, smoothly crested triangular rump mounted turret, the 360' swiveling cylindrical barrel atop featuring highly detailed lightning strike patterns, the batpony Destroyer underneath firmly trying to disengage.
>No longer dead at the world and returning to insatiable curiosity, 'Shiibo' attempts to match it with known Construct weaponry.
'Short range electrical offensive/defensive system, deployable.'
>The vocally aggrieved Destroyer mare swivels, diamond protected wingclaws reaching out to hold the Naghtmare's chin and head, pushing her away with little resistance.
>Spitting a harsh EnKee phrase, wings retract before tossing her head and storming northwest towards a worrying large number of yet more suicide bombers.
>Ears flicking several times, the Naghtmare giggles, smoothly spinning around on the Float disc several times to examine the nearest Starborn, Lunar Guard, Moorites, and Hegemony adherents....
>Whom immediately turn directly opposite from her attention, the avatar frowning slightly.
'A strictly military organization experiencing a large scale paradigm shift of this magnitude.. morale will be impacted though not severely.'
>Visibly satisfied at something, Flowing turns around to face the translocation matrice, blinking upon sighting you.
>A variety of pink, purple, and red facets gleaming in both eyes, she strolls forwards to halt a meter away.
>Gazing down at the dented, marble sized orange sphere, the Naghtmare's expression breaks into sincere pain.
"Oh. She is so small.."
>Breathing out a small puff of pink flame, it stretches forwards to lift the tiny Construct, drawing it to her for a gentle nuzzle.
"I will share this song with you. Wake up."
>Creating a small cup of flame and rolling the dent upwards, bright orange ripples across the surface, slowly reforming into a perfect sphere.
>Pale gem eyes gazing into your helmet, Flowing's ears flatten as her head shakes in slow motions.
"I am truly sorry, she cannot help you like this. She has to grow so you can dance and sing together."
>Nudging the tiny cupped orb towards you, traces of a wispy, vibrating female voice resonate, sensations and pressures of a tiny hug emanate from her.
We-are-two-as-one.
One-as-two-are-we.
>Sensing deep fatigue from the effort, Flowing draws the cup back, then exhales a thin stream of calm purple over it, accompaneighed by tiny, soothing chimes carrying imprints of rest.
>Biting her lips, the Naghtmare turns a thin, hopeful smile towards you.
"She must sleep now. When she wakes, I will send her to the Sea of Warm Songs. There she can grow. When she is big enough, she will return to find you. Be patient."
>Reaching up to hold the minute Rift bonded in her left forehoof, she extends the cup towards you, head suddenly tilting in serious thought.
"Now, a best friend... the Argus perhaps?"

>>393665
>Shrugging his shoulders in resignation, he shakes his head.
"I'm not blaming them or anyone else. And I'll keep that in mind."
>He then makes a small disgruntled noise.
"I still think other humans would be better suited to the task with Opal, but if faction relations are on the line then fine."
>Slowly exhaling through his nose, he remarks:
"Well... if that's true, then I hope my pessimism is proven wrong. Good that patterns are being identified."
>In the process of standing, he pauses for a few seconds at Twisted's words.
"... So long as the title and position do not bind me specifically or politically to the Lunars, I will be in a position to accept."

>Seeing the General salute him, he half turns to fully face her before clasping his right glove into a fist angled over his heart to deliver a formal salute.

>Looking over the bewildering array of Construct weapon systems merged to all manner of living creatures, a thought crosses his mind as Shiibo regains some of her wits.
'If they are still limited by available mass... I'm not sure my symbiote will have enough to-'
>Looking up at Flowing Spark's eyes, he takes account of her gem faceted gleam followed by her similar realization.
"No. It was my mistake that left her at this size."

>From her, he feels and hears the strangely intoned phrase with connotations of tandem pairing.
>Still uncertain of how to approach or communicate with a supposed soulmate he had yet to meet other than with some guilt for prior misunderstandings, he takes the cup of flames from the Naghtmare.
"If it is a lack of mass that leaves her in this state, would providing her more of that... fluid, help her? I may be able to reintroduce her to the fluid I had separated her from. Or barring that, should I just be keeping her somewhere safe?"
>He recalls the inert remains of the Construct hulls hopefully still in Spiral's Lab.

>Hearing her mention an Argus unit presumably for Hodch, he asks with careful deliberation:
"Er... how do you know how to pick these different... bonds? And why an Argus for Hodch?"
(Need to tread carefully. Clearly very invested in these Rift symbiotes... )

>>393687
>Unable to keep track of specific Rift symbiotes throughout the Atrium, none of the rigidly formal Starborn and Hegemonics were pleased at the bright orange weaponry, shields, partially armored body parts, and devices.
>The majority were irritated, some angry, while dozens bore injuries from attempting to remove Rift symbiotes by force.
>Lunar Guard, Destroyers, aligned Gryphons, along with a few native and Otherworld Harpies ranged from unimpressed to annoyed, standing or sitting at a distance from each other.
>Simply attempting to keep their bonded Planar addition or companions from touching themselves, each other, and those close enough to reach was slowly grating on nerves.
'..morale MAY be slightly higher priority issue than previously thought.'
>'Shiibo' gives up with a slight grimace, opting to examine one at a time.
'There are thousands of channels and bandwidths operating in patterns of three. When the prototype was exposed to the Starblazer's living code, she was incapable of deciphering it. I have had time to consider her experience. Each model type may result in pairs, or individuals in this case, having a strict language subset based off the master design, prior iteration, and variation.
The... potential hierarchy between evolutionary eras has reached complexity of a degree which may be impossible be possible to catalog.'
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

"This is her body now. What remains of the paired-self-molt shall be cleansed in Lava or Magma before it suffers corruption. Seekers-of-Rifts are the Infected."
>Lifting her chin at the floating vessel, the Naghtmare's mane and tail alight in fluorescent, wavy purple flames.
>Warm through the glove, yet not burning, the vessel of flame was comforting: a wordless song of soothing tones beckons the one inside to rest for a time.
"You struck her in fear of the unknown, not anger. She does not feel pain unless you do. There is no shame or guilt to share unless you intended to harm her."
>Leaning forwards several inches to smile in a concerned, matronly marner, deep concern creases her face.
"She is newly reborn. How can she dance with you being this small? She must grow at her own pace.""
>Eyes closing and head lifting straight up, Flowing shifts from left to ride, quiet hums resounding from her throat as she speaks in a slow, dreamlike cadence.
"All Creation sings now. Fire tones. The Rift hums. Tallus soothes. They offer. I listen. They sing. I hear. They dance. I feel. They show me, which of us, they may find, to share love."
>Dropping back down to peer at the helmet's center, eyes half-close for six seconds before the Crystal Kingdom mare's lips pull back into a thoughtful line.
"Hodch? He is one of marely Second Stars. He sings to those I cannot. Mistress Crackling Flames know his songs are too important to lose. The Argus mare is powerful, like him. She is more gentle and fierce. She will teach him the songs I cannot. He will share dances few know."
>Head tilting left with a brief look of pain, Flowing Spark's head bows in submission while slowly sliding forwards, presenting no threatening cues or warning behaviors.
>Lightly placing a kiss on the sleeping Rift bondmate, she steps back, ears half cocked, then speaks in a quiet, cherishing tone.
"Hold her close. Sing to her for a while with our Stars. Your words will impart what she desires to know. Dance with her, show how you wish to play upon our Moon. Your movemarents will allow her to become what is needed. When it is time for you to depart, place her atop one of my candles."
>Turning about on the disc to face west, the mare smoothly slides forwards, humming in a vibrating pattern and tail flicking in a marener the avatar wasn't familiar with.

'>Running linguistic simulations in the background, 'Shiibo' delivers a list of probable meanings and implications.
'The term song must refer to singular interaction, songs meaning speaking to one's herd, or two or more. Singing appears to be the proper term for communication; Kingdom Crystal ponies may not use the word talk as certain equine cultures regard it as insult. Dances are most often led by a stallion with his.. herd.'
>Tapping both legs while giving an errant sideaway out the helmet, a sigh struggles outwards.
'Will need a Crystal Kingdom language index to know more. It is currently.. Septimber 39th, slightly past hour 28. Minor temporal anomaly and deviation, correcting files.
If you do not require my services or aid, I am going to enter sleep cycle.'

>>393570
>Looking over the ExoFrame, Amy thought it would be very nice to have one of her own, but that was likely a long shot, one would have to be built from the ground up to suit her properly.
>Even then, she would have to give up her Juggernaut boots, an awful thing to consider.
>Amy nodded solemnly in confirmation of her preference for Ice.
"My bestie turned herself into a Fire Elemarental, so she's plenty toasty for the both of us already."
>Listening to the explanation of what a Daymare was, Amy nodded.
"Yup, that's the one. There was a biiig one in New Canterlot that was making a whole bunch of ponies, minotaurs, harpies and dracosines sad, so I asked the biggest Kerbann to take it away so they could be free!"
>Hugging the Kerbann Branch, Amy gazed wistfully up into the sky, towards the Moon.
"I hope they can be happy now."
>Turning back down, the filly felt an urge for mischieft as they began to make guesses about Tartarus.
>Tartarus a Changeling myth?
"Nope!"
>A big pre-Hegemony city?
"Nope, nope, nope!"
>A big underground city was close.
"No! ;D"
>Cuteban cloud city?
"Mm-hm?"
>Fillydelvian lake?
>Wait a moment, living metal?
"Uh-huh?"
>Amethyst was beginning to get the distinct impression that nopony knew where Tartarus was, or knew much about it.
>It was strange for her, to the ipotane it was just home, and for how important it was to the cycles of Tallus, she would think it would be general knowledge.
"It... Is... Everywhere!"
>She gave a little twirl.
>Examining the hololith of the indicated city block, Amy leaned to one side in deep introspection at the concept of a five floored manor.
"How do they deal with the stairs?"
>Turning to the Lancer and granting the her a friendly wave, the filly introduced herself properly.
"Amethyst Storm-Rose-Dalli!~ I don't have an occupation. And thank you!"

>Scooting around the Float for a few moments, Amy examined and prodded at it with the Stick, ooh'ing and ahh'ing over it. She turned up to question the Lancer cheerfully.
"Is that something that might happen?~"
>It wasn't a flight of stairs, but Amy still stared momentarily at the technical step up onto the Float with great pain.
>Though with a fillyish sigh, she bunched up a leg and took the step, scooting well away from the edge once she was up.
>She was definitely going to learn telekinetic sorceries so she could avoid stairs.
>Shooting a glance back at the puppets, she bemusedly proposed.
"And just what do the two of you hope to accomplish asking me to do a silly thing like that?"
>Amethyst hummed in consideration as the Float began moving at a moderately fast pace and thought about what she should look for first.
"Field supplies first I think, you know, canteens, travel kits, rigging. Ah but that last one I'll have to get custom made..."
>The freezing puppets came to mind.
"Oh and heatstones, the puppets are getting cold!"

>>393693
>Glancing around the Atrium with some concern at the clearly poorly integrated symbiotes, he cringes at the sight of some trying to tear off their new additions.
'Agreed... this may not bode well.'
>He suppresses a grimace at the thought of the incident with the old Starblazer's sentient codebase and apparent "proto-deity".
'Certainly not feasible to consider cataloging without additional units to assist in the task. May be more efficient to only do so when situation demands.'

>Alternating his gaze between the flame wreathed cup in his gloved hand and the Rift enamored Naghtmare, he tries to comprehend her meaning.
"I see. That is reassuring. This is all... new to me, so I do not know what to expect from their growth or needs."
(Her connection to the Rift seems far stronger than nominal. Sudden speech capacity must be related.)
>He looks back briefly into her crystalline eyes before she half lids them and remains silent as she then kisses the symbiote.
"I... will try."

>He sends Shiibo an expression of relief at her translation.
"Thank you for that. I have no further need for now."
>He blinks in affirmation as Shiibo signs off, while making his way back to the portal alcove.
>His face creases in doubt as he looks down at the cup he now cradles.
('Sing' to her. Show her what I want and need?)
>Closing his eyes, he exhales heavily before uttering the pass phrase to return to Twisted's office.
(What I need... in relation to this entire situation? Too broad. It's impossible to create a form to address every single possibility. Given the other examples... )
>Opening his eyes to look idly around the office, he opts to look over the nearest equipment cases.
(Symbiotes seem to prioritize some particular function or facet missing from the bonded recipient. But what I am missing isn't necessarily equipment. Equipment can be made or acquired.)
>Looking down in ponderous thought, he stares at the sleeping symbiote.
(No, what I need and want... is something more broad. Something sapient that can match my pace and understand. They would've said something that could transcend the barriers between 2D and 3D... but is it fair of me to demand that?)
>He starts drumming the fingers of his free right hand against his vest rigging as his brow folds in dismay.
>Doubtfully, he mutters to himself.
'What right do I have to shape another sapient being into whatever I want? Is this fair to it?'

>>393694
"Sounds like she needed that! Unlike OTHERS we don't treat Elemarentals poorly, and towns in the Outer Heartlands love their visits. Elemental metals, amazing sculptures, and funny objects they've collected from wandering around are mostly what they trade."
>Spreading hooves out squarely to take a proper stance, then rocking the transport several times, Rubelime's voice is flat.
"Haven't heard about that yet. Or seen anything on InterPony networks. We've mostly cut off relations with Equestria, except for Navarchs, Moors, cloud cities, and a few others. Still sounds like great news. Maybe they’ll finally start returning what was stolen."
>Glancing down at a subdued feedback note, she gives it a four second 'work for me or back to the shop' stare.
"Come on, this was just retuned.. it sounds like Tartarus used to be accessible most everywhere, like the Warp Gates and portal stones. Least before most of them shut down.. do you know what they'd like to trade for? We're fully allied with the Changeling Hive again, and currently neighgotiating for a new Citadel Treaty. Mooric Authority and Navarchs too!"
>Bringing up small hololiths in a ring around her, the display of fairly normal transport methods, excluding a large, stripped down flying transport, seemed to have been taken recently.
"Float discs, elevators, devices like this, and a whole lot more fun stuff on the way. No more sore hooves these days! The older generation, that being Kingdom adherents, have repaired most of the City-State's damaged infrastructure in the past two years. Imperial Crystal Engineers are starting to understand their methods, so a few are modifying or replacing older systems with more efficient and smaller designs."

>High tones with inclusionary notes ring from the otherwise excellent crysamare; obviously a rushed device, featuring a number of small patches where someponies had neglected to ensure no cavities occurred, or possibly fell asleep on the job.
>Though not precision tuned and definitely incapable of meeting a Master's specifications, it was serviceable enough to not fracture apart at high speeds.

"The way Kingdom names work, if she left the Empire to join him then the proper way to say it would be Dalli-StormRose. StormRose-Dalli would mean he joined her in the Empire."
>Left foreleg raised to deliver an informal short bow, mostly from being unable to bend down much, the younger mare's head tips back with a grin.
"Either way, I'm glad to meet you as well!"

"If the rear armor faces you it MUST be destroyed!"
"LAUNCH THE ASSAULT."
>Suffering be his duty, Nameless isn't his name.
"I don't think she would like her loaned wargear to be damaged like this."
"Oi, yu'z bof shut up! Dat'z no git ta krump!"
"And how many green-on-green incidents have you laughed at?"
"A lot, dut dey'z started it first! ....sometimez."
"Typical..."

>Snickering aloud, and without wind to muffle her voice, which was unusual, the Imperial adherent's helmet shakes back and forth.
"Not any more! Cadenza marenaged to open a giant laboratory sealed under the Spire. She ordered at least five hundred of the best Gravity Cores to be immediately used for civil and economic purposes. The big Spire Consortiums are going crazy trying to keep up with her demarends to produce more.
And you got it! I know a great place to stop and take a look, we usually get nice deals there. Sending a request out to see which shops, Consortiums, or Conclaves have time to work on a bipedal 'Frame-"
>The thoroughfare ahead marginally increases in side, geometric cottages and medium houses giving way to larger plots of land, most now having a three level house with a considerable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, and smaller crystalshops in the back.
>Single pony stands increasing to medium ones, then large tent stalls, finally smaller shops appear in front of houses, sparkling foods and familiar devices prominently displayed.
>Slowing down with little inertia to carry before halting next to a big tent on the right side, hundreds of crystalline canteens are stacked in rows within.
"I know these, based on a human version. Cadenza has…. six of them working for her now? They live in the Spire though I've never seen them. Anyhow, they fit into packs, satchels, and bags real nice. I love the way they stack so neatly too!"
<Kingdom Crystal Pony> "Four of the Type H please! No wrapping or boxes needed, and thank you!"
>Lifting a small glittering plate from under her helmet with a short hum, the tossed quartet are floated to a rear storage box while the vendor swipes over a disc on the right hoof side of her stall
>Sending the plate back with a smile, Rubelime's neck bends around to give a merry wink.
"Consider these a gift from the Imperial Wardens!"
>One puppet had the greatest urge to claim the not-actually-relics, but there was enough resistance to prevent an outburst. For now.

>Drifting forwards while looking between herd or clan shops, several decently sized shops on either side are scanned, the Lancer slowing down to eye one in particular, a giant neon sign above reading Upper Heartland Travel Amareneties.
"Oooo... that set looks really comfy! Superior XL-sized shrinkable travel kit.. heavy walled tent, solid floor with weather cover, two ground mats, two mattresses, two heavy sleeping bags, four pillows, two sheets, four blankets, alarm ward, resonant defensive ring, large cooking heatstone, four small heatstones, large freezing coldstone, four small coldstones, and a baking oven? I'm impressed all that can fit inside!
Two hundred and fifty gems!? Damn, mine was nine hundred for a Standard kit! Quality is really good, too.. let's see how much I can take off-"
>Calling out to a pair of mares behind a low, wide open counter with no window at the front, the Crystal Imperial dialect featured prominently sharp high tones, gravelly low pitches, and odd, half-dissonant reverbs, it was much quicker than Kingdom.
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5] <E.Bartering
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9]
>vs:
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <E.Bartering
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]

>>393699
>Returning to the formal office, sleepy tones surrounding your bondmate continue to swirl in small, warm currents.
>It would be long into the Day before she would wake up.

>Examining the closest in view left, a selection of post-Lunar Guardian armors on prominent heavy display stands between bookshelves, bright purple kanpri plates displaying names, Lunar regions, and years.
>Recognizing the patterns as failed or interim stages, the sheer variety of lethal damage spoke of troubled decades attempting to produce better designs with limited materials.
>Further behind, a set that might be a surviving example of first issue Lunar Guard armor stands alone, plates of kanpri alloy retaining a standard thickness all around, the remaining trim a dull, scratched Lumin.
>Beyond those, partial Lunar Guardian sets, including a fair number of shields, are arranged in order of eras, most specialized for use by Gryphons.
>On the right wall, intact and repaired long weapons are spread apart, one per stand and display case, dozens of biteblades, hoofblades, hoofclaws, and smaller weapons between in tall racks featuring a ranking system based on direct lethality.
>Lances, spears, dual-beamed lances, then a small variety of common polearms seemed to be in order of productions amounts and species preferences, most having been refinished at some point.
>Noting few non-equine examples there, behind are larger versions of one or two-handed weapons used by Gryphons; spiked, round, square, rectangle, and triangular maces, a host of single-edged war axes, and throwing spears, the majority composed of heavy steel alloys.
>Barley in sight, massive two-handed variations intended for Minotaurs bore strict, little embellished heraldry: the Moon in its stages, clusters of specific Stars, or both in aligned geometric patterns.
>Having seen the bewildering assortment of weaponry in Razorback's Enclave, what differentiated the majority were massively reinforced heads and blades.

>Spreading out a large collection on her desk, Twisted pauses, piercing hyacinth blue eyes making a slow up-and-down study of you.
>Lips set in a thin line, she steps from behind, turning around to take hold of a heavy, dull matte black couch, nearly tall enough for humans though was probably made for an earth mare.
>Pushing it around to right in front of her desk, the left wing pats it lightly as she returns.
"Had this one made a years ago. Never got to share it.. and probably won't either.
Lemme tell you one tiny piece of how Tallus works."
>Taking a seat behind the desk and leaning backwards waiting for you to be seated, the single cushion is remarkably firm, as if it were intended to sleep on.
"Long time ago, a huge bunch of pegasi broke away from older cloud cities. Hyper-traditionalist fuckwits that couldn't accept their orders not being followed perfectly. You know the type. The Younger generation wouldn't accept being expendable, sent to defend places of zero value or hold claims with nothing more than one pony's word to back the same.
Two hundred thousand some pegasi settled the Northern Moors in the late 16,500's. Made cloud towns if conditions were favorable, on the ground if they weren't. Didn't take long until free pegasi realized their closest batpony neighbors were far better friends. Lewd, weird, and secretive in slightly different ways, they shared kinship like few others could.
Early 16,900's. Bunch of Moorites asked their northern neighbors for help in constructing their first skyship larger than a medium warcruiser. Free from ancestral horseshit, the Navarchy kicked off in full. Those first years, they were laying down smaller skyships and regular vessels in the dozens at best. Little over a century later most every herd proudly had a small water vessel or air vessail.
Moorite Authority had sixty battleships of various sizes. Twenty for combat and defense, five for exploration, three for Airstream surveying, rest for transporting foodstuffs, silk, and wood out while stone, metals, and gems came in.
By the 17,500's more than ninety thousand were in use, and right at 17,950 they finally produced the first light dreadnought. It was called Voidseeker."
>Dipping far into recall, the Enchained's gaze becomes unfocused, muzzle curled downwards in a firm, joyless line.
"Esoteric and material researchers, Mystics, Druids, Sorcerors, Mooric blood mages, unicorns, Shaman, Shamares, and more joined the project. They wanted to study each Void spectrum connected to Tallus. Secondary focus was learning how the Dusk Striders created their Tunnels, why those collapsed, and what could be done to open them again.
Fast forward half a millennia. After thirty plus rebuilds, that vessail hit something: a spectrum so incredibly dense and physically corruptive that I fully believe only Rime outmatches it. Back then they assumed it was impossible to travel through, except the Dusk Striders did. We call it The Black.
Most beings and creatures from that spectrum solely guard Tallus, and aren't hostile except to invaders. They absolutely hate Ethereals, Overdark, and some parts of the Dominion Plane. Even better is the first two ALWAYS lose in the end. Third is sixty-forty at worst.
Lot of modern ponies think of The Black as deepest sections or levels of the Void. There's a better explanation: it's a reflection of Tallus at the best of her worst times. Each shape and definition has a specific meaning, one that has always existed in some form.
Jumping forwards to 26,200, when the start of the Early Dynasty began having external troubles. Navarchs, Ferron, and Moorites were interdependent. They did not like the orderly one world idea in the slightest. Tried their best to intervene in a crisis that would eventually lead to the Batpony-Pegasi League Civil War later on."

>>393716
>>393717
They realized that conflict couldn't be stopped. So, they took the only option available to slow it down: release The Black in full by lodging Voidseeker into the largest tunnel, then detonating it using a series of Grand Rites. That action set then-Princess Silver back a thousand years, if not more."
>Shifting forwards and blinking back into focus, the General peruses her cluttered desk for a short time before speaking quietly.
"Batponies were created by Cadence after Luna jokingly stated she needed her own friends. How doesn't matter. When, sometime in the 13,000's. They'd been long harmonized with Shadow, Void, and Black alike, so no problems for them. Blood magic ties in of course, though we don't ask questions. Why? Ponies enjoy a good mystery.
Since then all Navarchs pass down Black traces to their progeny. The various effects and mutations have stabilized. Worst ones are minor, except the Watchkeepers. They exist to ensure certain places remain permarenently closed.
On the other wing, over eighty percent of Ferron clans became existentially effected. Corruption is typically physical while taint is primarily marental. Ferron got both, far worse than Navarch lineages. The 'conditions' that effect them are lifelong and usually progressive, similar to genetic diseases. Unlike those, said conditions are fully controlled by The Black, deliberately shaped in ways, means, methods, and measures to allow excellent, long lives.
Navarchs and Ferron are violently and equally protected by Airstreams, Water, Gravity, Void. As a result bacteria, fungi, parasites, virii, poisons, some toxins or acids don't do much. Fire, Lava, Magma, Plasma to a degree are much less effective. Any Ethereals, Overdark beings, and certain others are treated as hostile invaders by default from both Tallus and The Black.
Constructs avoid them though. In return, Ferron and Navarch do their best not to engage. Similar tides, different circumstances.
Those repercussions and consequences started as negative, now it's the opposite. Can't live without 'em. Lots of winged share jokes about The Black being a travel destination should one truly want to live a longer, more content and safer life. Ignoring the weird existential crisis or two in being directly attuned to an entire section of Tallus is the downside.
The Rift isn't much different... according to a few. It's a separate reflection, one which I'm not familiar with."
>Right wing lifted up straight, outermost black wingblade flicks out to point at the same side's eye, then the other, feeling the exact location she was staring into the sapphirine helmet's center, yet not looking through it.
"Used to be in tune with the world like Finny usually is, could feel strong surface moods, emotions, feelings. One Enchain changed that. Gave me these instead. I see more than feel, nowhere near like a Mystic though. Now you know why most consider me a threat."

>Wings folded against her sides in a rigid pose, Twisted gazes off into the office's rear, stating her words as if repeated countless times.
"By direct order of Princess Luna, all Lunars, allies, aligned, and Independents shall leave Rift-bonded alone. There is to be no spying, viewing, study, or contact allowed. Refusal will be considered an irrevocably hostile act and treated with appropriate hostility.
If approached by one or more, you are to offer full, FRIENDLY assistance regardless of species, culture, opinion, bias, morality, and ethics. They are treated worse than Elemarentals are due to a single factor which they may never have had a choice to accept or refuse."
>Coming back into focus, she gazes through the helmet, speaking in a thin, light tone.
"What's the one opposite that can possibly lighten and fill your dreary spirit? Crystal mare? Saddle Arabian? Pegasus? Batpony? Neighsian? Earth mares and fillies aren't your preference so far as I know. Can't think of a Burro remotely close to your type. Gryphons, Minotaurs, Harpies don't seem to be likely either."

>>393717
>Idly roving over the chronological timeline of Lunar armor, he idly processes their characteristics in the back of his mind.
>Rote facts regarding their evolution and combat use are noted.
(Elements characteristic of Lunars present. And correctly accounting for survivorship bias in improving armor distribution. No shortage of wars and hostilities. But emphatically different in spirit from humans. Interspecies cooperation... right, Lunars in particular with minotaurs, gryphons, and a cultural penchant for embracing and merging with dangerous elements.)

>Hearing a slight scraping sound behind him, he looks over his shoulder to see Twisted moving a large, serviceably human sized couch in front of her desk.
>Taking up her offer, he makes his way over and seats himself on the cushion, closer to a mattress in consistency than a couch.
>He nods once at her.
"Alright."

>Keeping his silence, his thoughts work to add her lecture to his understanding of Tallus.
(Historical information on the Navarchs as mentioned by Lonestar and the Ferron. Context for far longer timescale of development than humans.)
>Nodding occasionally, he sets his sleeping symbiote on the seat next to him.
(The best of Tallus at her worst? Metaphysical planes conceptually, quantum linked? Research's theory would support this possibility. Had only just began exploratory actions into the concept.)
>Adding a footnote to the ongoing recording, he catalogs it for Shiibo's perusal later.

>>393718
>He arches his brow at the origin of bat ponies.
"I did not know that."

>Turning his head to look down at the Symbiote, he remarks.
"I see. A separate reflection. Such metaphysical links were theorized in my world. Research was only beginning to delve into the concept. Clearly Tallus sapients have had far more time with awareness of the idea."
>His eyes then follow the pointing of her wingblades.
"Because of your near all seeing eyes?"

>He makes a short, quiet hum as Twisted recites the apparent official Lunar policy on symbiote bonded individuals.
"Mmm. That sounds like an isolating experience for those bonded. I can tolerate that more effectively, but I assume there must be a reason why those distancing measures are in place. And why Flowing would subject so many to this despite it."

>Twisted's question prompts him to lean back against the couch.
>He clasps his gloved right fist in his left's gloved palm, squeezing it heavily.
"My 'dreary spirit' does not prevent my from performing my duties. Even then, it is similarities that bind relationship bonds together, not opposites. But you are correct, my experiences with all species on Tallus to this point indicate incompatibilities. I have not yet researched dragons and their kind, but I do not know if such compatability exists. My foremost concern is my duty and I was honed to enact it no matter the most exigent circumstances. The closest element to what you described that existed within my organization would be in the Social and Arts divisions when I was not on deployment. But none of the media from those have translated to this world in a form relevant to my past experiences with them. Iyashikei, mesugaki, loli, the debate of whether the barrier between the second and third dimensions is transcendable with android bodies or still impassable, entire such aesthetics are all only in my past now. But more pressing than the question of whether any of that is even necessary-"
>Swapping his hand's positions, he repeats their prior clenching motion.
"-is the question of whether I have any right to force it all upon a non-human sapient with dubious consent. This bonding process appears to be involuntary. A compulsory phenomenon rather than free choice."
>Taking a moment to exhale heavily, he picks up the gently burning cup housing his Rift symbiote.
"I had avoided having children for exactly this reason. I am not qualified to foster new life, not with my preexisting duties, not with my characteristics. There is too much at stake to risk creating additional harm on something that did not ask to be born. Maybe if I were weaker, or some would say 'stronger' I would not be balking at this opportunity to turn personal dreams into reality. But I am only ever 'me'."

>>393737
"Yeah, we find that odd too. Best Moorite singers are powerful blood mages. Incredible vocal ranges like Crystal Singers and Runesingers, can quickly devisewonderful songs and melodies."
>Beginning to arrange the items on her desk into a proper collection, the General's tone is fairly humored.
"Far more cautious exploring now especially given the Planar disasters that we've caused. Mostly unintentional. As the saying goes: an unexplored path cannot be learned too slowly.
And not all seeing, only the more 'visible' moods. Best way to describe this is being blindfolded and tasting a couple hundred different juices. Once I learn what they are, the traces become unmistakable. Concern, frustration, guilt. Little bit of anger. Reluctance. Those are what I'm seeing."
>Carefully sorting a series of oddly gleaming gem pendants and rings, the expression Twisted shares is deeply wounded.
"Isolation in extremis. You've seen and heard how 'different' is treated, myself included. Ponies outside a herd or Overherd used to often have something wrong with them, which used to be highly infective diseases or parasites. That's a holdover from Pre-Modern lineages. It'll take a couple more generations before that evolves into a proper physiological response other than 'that one's dangerous or sick'."
>Eldritch wingblade tapping a dull white coin briefly, her head turns right with an exasperated snort.
"Flowing has spent two hours trying to describe the Rift's social aspects.. in her own way. The linguistics are incredible; it's perfect pre-Shield formal Crystal Kingdom exactingly translated to Modern Common Equestrian. Construct pairs can't touch each other or 'mutations' and psychoses develop. She calls those Infected. To her Riftseekers are a plague that's reached a new stage of mutation and seeks to infect the Rift as a whole.
When the Lunar Guardians were reformed into Lunar Guard as a practical army, the Starborn were utilized solely as specialists. Used to have a unit of one to two thousand, all carrying paired Riftdrowners. Lifelong best friends that always help out no matter what the situation is, basically. After the Lunar-Solar War ended, most of the Rift entrances were closed from the inside. Thousands of reports state those weird medically interested silverine Constructs did that.
Now, I'm not one to create or figure out theories. My position is simple: end the possibility of conflicts quickly by any means necessary. If conflict does erupt, end it fast. Otherwise, keep Tallus safe by not using unsafe means.
What she's done has changed our entire view on what the Rift is, was, isn't, and wasn't. All of my instincts, including strictly military, Ferron, and pegasus ones, tell me she's right. We can't be striking at Constructs if they show up. We have to leave them alone when they aren't hostile, whether forced by the symbiotes or not."

>Appraising your armor, weapons, then equipment, the Burning Pegasus gives a slight, appreciative head tilt.
"Does slow down your ability to recover from shock somewhat. You can activate most enchantmarents with ease, no need for additional training there. No complaints otherwise."
>Pulling what sounded like a heavy metal bench forwards to lean the center of her chest against desk, a trio of reflective black coins are spread apart on the right.
"Second and third? Well past that stage. Most forms of esoteric practices, schools of thought, and spiritual paradigms like Mysticism or Druidry, are that bridge between two, three, and onwards.
You've seen golems. The term is a bastardization of 'go, limb', as in to move unhindered. Every now and then I hear of somepony creating an artificial being, and of course freaking out over it. Function is a deliberate matter of intention. Unless actual problems or threats occur, we leave them alone. One second of politeness and understanding often leads to a lifetime of friendship."
>Glancing up, a distinctly warm look creases her face into a gentle smile, lifting her chin at the Fire vessel.
"Could be involuntary but doesn't sound that way to me. Finding one's likely best friend from a different Plane looks, sounds, and acts immediately and automatically. That mare I was talking shared what Flowing was stating: too small to aid you as she is. She needs to grow, learn to communicate, and be an appreciable companion. That word to us means as follows: the most trustworthy, reliable, and beloved individual I know. The point is clear."
>Filtering her thoughts for a quarter minute, Twisted's ears flop to both sides in a pragmatic expression.
"She isn't ancient or new now. She is what she is. Flowing only uses one specific term for this process: reborn.
Princess Cadence is known as Rebirth, not only for creating batponies, Crystal ponies and Crystalline Shells too. For the second she used her Rime-infected blood to shield them. From what I don't know, that's still classified. And please don't ask her either. Apparently they succeeding in helping her and became the first ones as a result.
That second happened back when she was still a pegasus mind you. The Crystal Overherd retains everything with perfect clarity, and so far as I know they've never made a single complaint. And now I'm getting off track-"
>Pained silence holds for six seconds until her entire being cringes.
"I can't be using Hodch's phrase.."
>Wings spread out to rest on desk corners, the Enchained mare sets a firmly neutral gaze on you.
"So ignore the dreams. You didn't create, only slightly alter a pre-existing, highly flexible state of near-liminal fluidic biomechanical existence.
Modifications are incredibly dangerous for humans. For us it takes three decades to approve or deny a project. The newest are Half-Naghtmare Luminaries. That started in 29,945 or so.
Both of those lead to the same conclusion in different measures. And as the individual you are, if what you need isn't comprehensible yet.. all I can say is maybe let her decide what she ought to be like."

[1d6 = 3] <Hodch's Patience

>>393741
>Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes as he mulls over her words.
(Reborn, not made... if so, then that approach may be for the best. She should be the one to decide. Agency first. Once she can communicate with me-)
>A slow exhale is released as he opens his eyes to look down at the cupped symbiote.
(-then we can deliberate further.)
"... Thank you for bearing with my sentimentality, Twisted. I don't often speak about my past at length due to its inaccessibility and lack of practical application. The events leading to this circumstance were unanticipated."

>He picks up the symbiote, holding her container in his palm.
"I will consider available enchantments in a few moments."
>Nodding at Twisted, he stands and moves out of earshot of her desk to face the myriad armor racks and weapon stands.
>The container housing the symbiote's sleeping form is lifted to eye level as his brow bends in concern.
>He speaks just loudly enough for his voice to reach her.
"Grow that you may match me. To account for my weaknesses. To keep pace with my thoughts. When you are ready and... if you want my opinions, seek me out."
(Will need to consider potential concept contamination vectors if I decide to have her embody certain concepts. Later.)
>Briefly cupping her in both his hands, his grip tightens for a moment as he closes his eyes.
>He then shifts back to a one handed carry, returning to black matte couch.
"Is your enchantment list ready, Twisted?"

>Poking at the sparkling, unmoving mare's snout, first with one feather, the archaic pegasus filly settles for a polite sniff-
"Cease."
"Disrespect nae meant nor given, Enforcer. ...she is beautiful above words."
"Knoweth ye did not. Mmmm. Let her rest. Such a state cannot be woken from without necessary rituals and submission to proper authority. Examine the bands once more."
"Aye, Enforcer!"
>Noting the Journeymare Knight eagerly obeying her current teacher's pleasant order-request, the Red Countess allows both glittering diamond-slitted eyes to open, expanding in the dim to search their current shelter.
>From her meditative sitting position, the battle-marred, highly decorated black iron sarcophagus, lid unfortunately torn off, was still before her.
>Bearing a sleeping, peculiar green earth mare lain inside, rigorously tended to by the two most care-inclined of her Cult, rescuing her had been exhausting.
>Not including herself of course, that is what one had subjects for, yet such a task was welcoming in its honored purpose.
>Image-engrams detailing the long, violent journey where the Countess had dragged it once her three subjects had exhausted themselves, a faint snort is given.
"Aye! Rough be thee word for this Night!"
"Agreed, grace."
>Sharing heart's touch with her Enforcer first, deference is given as the sleeping mare's luxurious gold mane is lightly stroked by sapphirine coated blood-drinker wingclaws, a nod then given to Knight's checking to ensure the eight bands held.
"Be they firm?"
"Aye."
"Hold fast they must 'til ae Warbrute arriveth."
"They shall, Ae swear it."
>Last, and never least, the young Ice Sorceror's creeping fatigue from keeping this damnable, partially destroyed ancient forge from collapsing draws full attention.
>The tall, well rounded form, her tastefully lewd noblite dress accentuating each soft curve of flank, neck, and legs, those warm, supple teats...
>Such a powerful unicorn required an equally capable, virile stallion to dominate her.
>Channeling her lost homeland's Winter, one their Cult would never cease grieving for, icy contact is shared as the newest dome presses outwards.
('Pretender Dead cannot be fully destroyed with Ice. Two hours remain until they breach.')
('Aye.')
>Gazing through the Elemental barrier at the strange, twisted chamber's black walls, the Red Countess breathes out in relief.
>The rude awakening from their intended millennia long slumber was a shock, yet more so were the untold numbers of Unceasing and Pretender Dead following them.
>Above all, she was unsure what to think of this temporary... alliance.
>Her followers were beginning to understand the limits of these modern earth ponies, their imprints, sensations, and impressions shared from reflective eyes to each Cult nearby were still puzzling.
>Having traded Earth Sorcery, Mysticism, Druidry, and rituals for the Otherworld Alicorn's offerings, this giant city-state was, as the phrase had been described to them, a mixed bag.
"For each negative, we find two positives."
>Fixed by the sternly accusing, heavy set batmare's gaze, the Red Countess parts her lips in respect, fangs glinting as she speaks in a faux-chiding voice.
"Assuredly thee behold mine musings incorrectly. Carry neither quarrel, qualm, nor quandary do I. Black iron, silverine, an' emeraldine they bear is effective. "
"At your pleasure.... aen request, my grace?"
>Eyes closing at the Enforcer's troubled voice, it had taken the Day to calm prior, this new, unwelcome task given a formal nod.
"Our Dynasty be lost evermore. Our Moon is bereft of the life it once held, regrow yet it has not. The... Moorites an' their Naval Anarchy kin nae sway us long. Sacred Heart-Spun Ambrosia they cannot offer. Lost to the burdens of time our hallowed sleep may be. Upon what land shall we stretch forth?"
>Each of the three continuing their duties, fully aware of the hour the Red Countess silently grieves, her eyes open once more to speak firmly.
"Hold us by unbreakable chains they shall. Our madness cannae spread."

"You. Have. Got. To. Be. PISSING WITH ME! I didn't spend this fucking long to wake up and hear THAT!"
>The four Lunarites wince, both at the voice and flashes of blue light surging from the glowing mare struggling to clamber out of her coffin.
"Thou caen move?!"
"What?! You're never seen a Druid SLEEPING before!?"
>Blinking, the Red Countess instantly drops to a submitting bow, cut off by a firm hoof on her snout and dragged upwards.
"Mineself submits this Cult of Moon to thee, ae-"
"Don't bow to me again ever and no royal speak please, time is shorter than my damned temper!"
"Mine.. my name is Nightfall Bloodkiss, Red Countess of the Heart's Touch Cult, granted full claim, title, and heraldry by the Reaper."
>Lips pursing, the strange earth mare tenderly gazes into her soul, feeling glee spring from her.
"UNBELIEVABLE! I know you! Hang on, let me rephrase: I know SOME facts about your Cult! You took three hundred some batponies to the closest Dynasty Temple, near where Luna's southern Villages are now. Tried to end the blood cravings, right?"
"Aye, correct ye be."
>Head thrown back to release a single booming cackle, the massive earth mare returns the blood-drinker's confused eyes with furiously blue glowing orbs.
"Master-General Jade Luxure of the Tower Guard, Primal Psion and Lunar Druid. You and by extension all Lunarites currently within the claimed boundaries of this city-state are hereby under MY protection! I'm not a Princess, but when I speak my word is law!
Here's my first order: stay behind me and don't get any of your dresses damaged. While I'm smashing this first thousand Undead lemme share what I know about a land called Coville, those wonderful Amber Rose berries that floated across the ocean from it, and the million or so vial containers scattered around Equestria. But before that I need to wake a few more lazy horseasses-"
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2] <Lunar Blood Mage Cults
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8] <Lunar Druid Cults
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] <Lunar Mystic Cults
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6] <Lunar Necromarecer Cults

>>393745
>Honest appreciation creasing her face, Twisted's voice shifts, an amusing Careibbean accent SQUEAKS in full force.
"I know how difficult it is to freely express one's self. Ferron aren't respected much, so I had to work excruciatingly hard integrating civil, militia, marecenary, and military together, all while keeping neutral at best or irritated at worst.
If you ever feel the need to talk come find me, otherwise visit with Mercy, Naliyna, or Roust. You need outlets from time to time too, so, I am hereby requesting you share your time. When you need to vent or release, do so with my best friends or me, please. And not merely the bare minimum either."
>Head bowing slightly, the clipped, moderately rough Lunar accent resumes, reaching into the desk's sides, pulling out several boxes to open and peer inside.
"Take your time."

>Holding the vessel aloft, small ripples fan throughout the mixed flames.
>Close yet distant pressures mould the cup, swirls of half-formed, dreamlike thoughts imprinting, first in traces, then forming impressions.
>She was tired yet comprehended each word in its entirety, setting aside a minute fraction of consciousness to engrave memories with the earnest-open-welcomed request-declaration-bond.

>Sitting down once more as the General cracks a smartass grin, left eyebrow hiking high enough to reach a new zip code before spreading her left wing over the desk.
"I'm nowhere near Naliyna, but I know MY tools damned well. This is five percent of the safe collection I was putting together for humans that picked a Lunar faction. Some stuff from the Ferron, Navarchs, Moors as well.
So! I can authorize the following:
Two crates of diamond encased small manabombs, that's forty in all.
Two crates of diamond encased medium manabombs, eight total. Heavy and hard to toss, I know. Here's a trick Gryphons use: glue a section of rope into a handle and sling 'em, works amazingly well.
Three large diamond encased manabombs. I KNOW. Fuckers weigh eighty pounds each, but they make those smaller bombs look like sparklers.

Six tiny diamond canisters looking like they contain a pulsar? Guess what: they do. One of the best tactics to take on a massive threat is overwhelming with damage, pain, blinding, two of three, or all three at the same time.
Don't mind offering these but can't replace them until a few more Mystics recover.

Four diamond canisters on that side contain chunks of destabilized Promynkrake surrounded by cast tungsten alloy shards. Yeah. You heard THAT right. Insanely powerful detonation and shrapnel that makes ME feel offended at how effective they are. Can't be detected by most esoteric scans, but also can't use against sapients.
Vel`Kruz offered this batch as a gift for helping recover Gelvran's body... then I told him I don't have thumbs. We laughed for ten minutes straight.

Gem rings deliver a short ranged Elemental shockblast. Hundred eighty degree radius, max range fifty meters, decent chance to stun. Gravity, Void, Lightning, which you probably want, Stone, Lava, Permafrost, and Eternal Water.
Last three are superior versions, real hard to get hold of them. Can't make more until the Armory is scraped clean from Construct 'paint'.

Batch of Burst Pendants in left of middle were recently made, only have these ones for now. Magma, Permafrost, Nature, Crystalline, and Airstream. Rarest one is the Anti-Elemental in the middle. That one is a pain to make. Takes six hundred hours without a single flaw.

Bunch of small banded teeth woven together in a necklace are from a spined Northern Moors swamp skitter of some type. Has a quick acting venom; high muscle relaxant and euphoric with aphrodisiac qualities. Best for a dart, spike, stiletto, that sort. We.. uh, normally use those for interrogating certain ponies that we can't cause MUCH harm to, like high values, VIP's, that sort. It would be LEGAL for you to use since I'm authorizing it.
Doesn't work on Harpies for some reason. Little to no effect on avians or reptiles otherwise.

That large pink fang is... weird. Came from a uniquely mutated Haze Cat north of the Central Moors boundary. And yeah, those are a variant of Void-tinged acrolines. Bunch of young Navarch pegasi stumbled across her eating what they thought was a fruit. Thought it was sick or dying so they brought it a fish, which it ate. Apparently it stayed under the cloud town for a while. Zero hostility, didn't mind being approached, decently friendly, curious, but always slept alone.
One of our resident hornheads heard about it incident and went to investigate. She confirmed it as a selective omnivore, one capable of regrowing teeth. Said fang right there is incredibly hard from, get this: occasionally eating a mature mushroom containing the material that gets refined into pinksteel. So far it's only shed that one.

Three black diamondine discs on the right are Late Dynasty defensive pieces. Each protects against unwanted Psionic intrusion, like usual, but are specialized versions. First resists Elementals, including sub, standard, and specialized. Second resists most forms of advanced esoterics; blood magic, Druidry, Mysticism, Necromarecy, that sort. Third resists Eldritch, Extra-Planar, Spectral, and Undead.
Can only carry one at a time as they dampen the others' effects.

Those four Shattering Spheres are original Lunar Guardian versions, recently restored. A retrieval team found 'em in a lost Reliquary during the Moors Restoration. Sapphirine fractures armor, rubynine weakens, emeraldine pierces. The blue and purple diamondine has been described as: 'getting a full force punch from a Minotaur Warbrute'. Best used with a weapon that fits their role.
You've done me some gigantic favors so I don't mind offering them."

>>393745
>>393752
"Trio of curved wingblades in the right center are similar to a small boomerang, just a lot heavier. Made from a specialist Rune-Forged steel with an integral recall rune. Whatever they hit gets pounded by a high Force Elemental. Decent against buildings, fortifications, armor, weapons, exposed skulls, you name it. Works best on Undead and fragile targets though.
Gryphon Agents love 'em for creating distractions, can't keep sets in stock longer than a week.

Pale chunk of yellow amber with blue lines running through it happens to be an ANCIENT Druidic ritual object. Launches an insanely fast lance that partially tracks. Does a crippling amount of harm against mindless Abominations, Infected, and Malformed, slows 'em as well. Works good against non-native Spectrals, Undead, and hostile non-sapient Otherworld beings.
It'll stun sapient Otherworlders without causing harm though, means it has a limited sentience to determine what's being targeted. Doesn't interact though.

Paired set of black iron claws there, could add to your gloves. Each has a brutal Repulse, but they've been honed so no feedback. Made for a Stalliongrad born Gryphane that retired last year, he couldn't keep up with the Assault-Recon-Kill squads anymore... aaaaand neglected to tell us what to do with them when he left.

Four stacked throwing stilettos on the upper left are reinforced clear diamondine. Made by a Grandmaster Hegemony Mystic-Smith and two Crystal Engineers. If they couldn't break them, you won't be able to. They'll puncture armor class four with ease.
Can't be scribed with a recall rune or given enchantmarents, unfortunately. Easy to harmonize but they'll only accept one resonant function since it's a complete set.

Miniature lance on the top right, similar to an assassin's spike, is one of three prototypes. We're giving the others to a Deep Moors Hunter-Killer team for stress testing. It's a blacksteel and bluesteel composite separated by a thin layer of gel-flexible crysamare. Yeah, I know, those SHOULD normally never touch, but some crazy batpony and Crystal mare duo figured out how to harmonize them to only expulse at the apex of a stab.
Should make quick kills against Infected or difficult creatures by freezing and shattering at the puncture, preferably brainstem. Not for use against sapients, I still have to uphold Lunar laws as Matron.

Jagged chunk of partially clear red armor plate came from some ocean monster the Navarchy tore apart a few years back. They reported it was able to absorb, then either refract or diffract directed eso-tech energy weapons. Works fairly well against anything smaller than, let's say, a heavy cannon class human equivalent.
I doubt it'll work well against plasma or particle weapons though, but who knows. Don't know the how's or why's, nopony's had time to make a full analysis yet.

Dark red sphere over is a Crystal Rune stabilized, resonant crystalline mass containing an artificial Magma Elemental. Functions as an Addition for weapons or armor. A sufficiently strong hit causes a pseudo-molten spear and secondary resonant reverberation, one which may produce a chain reaction in armor. When used for armor, getting struck produces a cascading detonation, powerful enough to disorient, possibly stun, and cracks hard, fragile materials at the same time.
Not a prototype, we've got a few out in the field and they've been highly successful. Our Crystal Engineers have gone back to using older Kingdom era weirdness to deal with heavily armored large targets. They love calling these offensively-defensive or defensively-offensive, and usually snicker whenever a 'new' idea is brought up that they already have in crystalfiles.

Ten small bottles of sparkling gel in the pink wooden box... teeeechnically are. Those are a harmonic gradient solution containing suppressed, non-reactive Rime filaments, flakes, shards, and powder. Mostly get used to increase malleability and equalize resonance when reforming rigid crystalline weapons, armor, components, and that sort. You've got black sapphirine, which is an absolute bitch to rework.
Should give 'em to Naliyna, she'd really appreciate it.

Two tubes of diamond cased purple pills are small doses of a safe regenerative alchemical, ten in each. Eleyana spent six years trying to merge Dragon Alchemy and our version together. She gave up and went back to the first, came up with these instead. Place in wounds, has a fact acting pain killer, slows bleeding, cleanses, then regenerates skin, muscle, and bone alike. Doesn't leave a scar either. Made from a non-Elemental substrate in the lower Dragonspines we're now getting a tiny amount of access to.
Not supposed to swallow them unless there's internal injuries. Only 'problem' is they all taste like fresh plums for some reason. She won't say anything other than smile and giggle whenever I've asked. Probably some in-joke I haven't heard of it.

Tiny kanpri square shield with Luna's Moon on the front is our version of a trade stamp. Show it when dealing with Lunar allied, aligned, or friendly traders, marechants, or vendors, they'll give a discount if able and show their current high priority and rare stock.
Should take and give it to Naliyna anyhow, she'd get the most use from it.

Three black cards up front grant access to the Nightblade's Den, a real old Starborn hangout. Used to be above Canterlot, got moved to Moorwatch Bastion north of Basin Village a while back.
You can use whatever you find in each, but I do suggest bringing stuff ponies, Gryphons, and Minotaurs like. Preserved or long lasting food and alchemicals are always appreciated.

Stacked set of diplomatic cards close to me grant access to Starborn safe houses in most of the Planes. Symbol denotes which one. Except for Rift, Ethereal, Dominion, or the sub-Planes, we have decent to great relations. Just.. stay out of Lightning for a while, there's a frenzy going on, something about a new armored clothing style.
Same suggestion as before too."

>>393753
>>393752
>With an exhaustive list of high value items before him, he inquires with Twisted regarding effects and terms he was unfamiliar with.
>Considerations are accounted for regarding complementing Shiibo's future equipment as well as his own.
>Pointing to each item as they are added to his acquisition list, he lays claim to all of the manabombs, the 6 pulsar canisters, all of the Elemental shockblast gem rings, the Burst Pendants, the pinksteel Haze Cat fang, the three Late Dynasty diamondine discs, the four original Lunar Guardian Shattering Spheres, the Druidic yellow amber, the pair of black iron claws, the four throwing stilettos, the prototype miniature lance, the oceanic monster's red armor plate, the Crystal Rune stabilized magma Elemental sphere, all items that Naliyna would benefit from, the regenerative pills apparently made by Eleyana, and the diplomatic cards for the Nightblade's Den and Starborn safehouses.
>Once all acquisitions were finalized, he would pause as he mulls over her closing comment to avoid the Lightning Plane.
"That... may have been due to my recent visit. Did you say there is a... clothing trend frenzy?"
>He looks away from the General's eyes.

>Tallying all the items, he adds text footnotes to the pictures taken of each for reference via his helmet's control dial.
"All the more reason to secure a proper body frame for Shiibo and find someone to enchant some of these to my equipment."

>Still pained at the new Wargod's blistering words from the Night prior, the Deathspitter cow shares her pain to the surrounding Gozkans and Hegemonics in meditative, Geomantic rings around her.
>Thinking on his honorable commands earlier, she dearly wished an earth mare could help her govern the Earth Geomancers, Mystics, Sorcerors, and Shapers.
>Those beautiful and glorious earth mares, they knew how to share the needs of Tallus.
>Reflecting on her time amongst the various Lunar Cults and Covens, particularly the intensely hilarious Destroyers, the cow's muzzle splits in a wide, agreeing bovine smile.
>As limited they were in life, their assured necessity of finding secrets beyond resonated with her training, knowing that the Endless Cycle must ever, always, and forever continue.
>Exhaling a blessing towards the young Lunar unicorn's efforts whom served her younger kin, then the Elder Mystic whom trained him, the cow sits upright, snorting softly.
>He was not here.
>The Moon held him as always.
>She knew the incessant urge to protect Tallus while delving into the secrets which She, the Princess of Four Black Hooves, had shared for so long.
>This time, she would not fail.
>Tongue sticking out her muzzle, thoughts trying to locate differences, the same as before occurred: tiny selections of their shared world make her grace known, fading quickly.
>This Night was different, yet the same in many and marely ways.
>Her soul knew of this before, long ago.
>The Lunar Guardians, long lead by Skullcracker and Skullcrusher, had changed Gozka with pure, honest fervor.
>Each of the Hegemony's Nine Castes knew their words, meanings, and intention.
>Few understood what those hapless, lovable, gentle ponies would face in their content lives.
>No, she decides with brutal finality.
>Not THIS time.
"Not while our kin suffer and bear the weight of Tallus!"
>Barely aware her mouth had parted to shout from the holy Plane of Storms, dull black eyes regard the cold, snow covered landscape before her.
>Eight hundred Gozkans and Hegemonics, including herself, their hardened leather tents in view, arrayed in mystical numbers, tears harden in her eyes.
>Throwing her heavy, massive arms apart, Storm, Earth, Stone, Metal, and Gravity surge within as she gives up her individuality to Tallus, declaring her intention for all of the Gozkans and Hegemony to know.
"NO MORE THIS NIGHT! SO LONG AS I LIVE, I WILL AID OUR KIN! WE SHALL PROTECT WITHOUT FAIL AS THE FIRST HEGEMONS DECREED! BY THE GODDESSES WHOM WE SEEK TO RECOMPENSE, WE WILL DRAG OUR LAST FURY IN DEFIANCE, PROTECTING HER DAUGHTERS AND SONS!"
>Bending forwards, the ruthless, agonizing, yet pleased emotions from their dead Wargod shakes her soul, thick hands clasping together while surges of emotion rocking her body in violent motions, fully prepared to be denied her charges.
>Without pause, a young Warbull stands, balefully glaring to those around him, intensely ringing hooves smash thin stone underneath as he bellows forth a long, raging shout.
"IF RAZORBACK IS GUILTY, I AM GUILTY AS WELL! I ACCEPT THEIR IGNORANCE AND CRIMES AS MY OWN! THEY ARE INNOCENT! TARTARUS TAKE ME, I AM UNWORTHY!"
>Heavier hooves from an older Brute leap upwards, the frenzied voice thunders in low, demarending pitches.
>Massive arms thrown outwards, the scars of four decades adds more to the weight of his words than she understood.
"I TIRE OF THESE FAILURES IN MY AGE! GREAT REAPER ON THE MOON, JUDGE ME BEFORE THAT CALF! I CALL YOU FORTH HERE AND NOW, KILL ME IF MY WORDS ARE WRONG!
I CANNOT RELIEVE OUR PREVIOUS WARGOD'S DEATH, NOR CAN I STAND THIS LIFE! BRING ME YOUR JUSTICE, MARE OF THE MOON!"
>Silence holds for close to a minute, then, one of the last Bulls of Dawn slowly rises to stand, his gigantic form burning as his soul does, the cow paling in TRUE, absolute horror.
>Awe, fear, then terror unknown rings aloud soul as his billowing, scorched voice echoes across the broad, flat valley, the tone ageless, yet black with pain.
"AS DO I! RAZORBACK KNEW NOT OF SHARONEL'S WILL! WHAT OF OLD CANTERLOT DID THEY TRULY BEHOLD? HAVE THEY SEEN OUR FAILURES, THE PATHETIC CLAIMS TO THE LANDS WE DESIRED, SPAT UPON AND DISGRACED?
GODDESSES OF SUN AND MOON, KILL ME HERE AND NOW SHOULD I SPEAK FALSELY!
IF THEY SHOULD NOT ANSWER ME NOW, GIVE ME ENDLESS TORTURE I RIGHTFULLY DESERVE IT, DEATHSPLITTER! DO NOT SLAY ME NOW! IF THEY AGREE, LET ME SHOW THOSE HU`UM SOULS THE DEPTHS OF OUR FAILURES!
EITHER I SHALL DIE WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COWARDICE, OR I WILL SUFFER TO THE BITTER, BROKEN END I DESERVE!"

>Fitful, fearful, harrowed, haunted, and tormented by the meanings of her hallowed kin, the cow's eyes widen in pain, barely held back by her training.
>Despite her resistance to the threatening tears the holy ground facing her abruptly changes.
>Tens, hundreds, then thousands of equines appear, followed by Gryphons, Minotaurs, Harpies, and more, each proudly bearing the burns of Plasma.
>Allies, aligned, friends to the Hegemony, batponies, unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, and Crystal ponies gaze down at her.
>Staggering forwards to kneel, the Deathsplitter's hands ball, then spread outwards to their utmost, reaching outwards as her cracking voice seeks their approval.
"I beg your forgiveness! This is not what I wanted! Answer me, what must I do?!"
>Their voices silent, bodies rigid, heads bow in deference to the Hegemonic cow's purity.
>They had waited and heard.
>They knew.
>They felt.
Be what we cannot.
Some will show the Sun.
Some will show the Stars.
Some of us will see you from the Dark Side of the Moon.
Some you may only hear when Crystal and Changeling sing.
A few you shall not see.
Take our oaths, hold them for a little while.
Let us go.
Let us return when we must.
We bless you as you have called upon us in turn.
>Staring in horror at the fading Lost, the cow notices each Minotaur surrounding her, their gazes hard as she reflects upon their words.
>She would be the Wargoddess of Razorback.
>They had made the choice for her.
[1d6 = 3]

>>393716
>Amy snickered.
"It would be amazing if you had, since it happened five minutes ago. I don't think even New Canterlot has noticed what happened yet. Though the Daymare screamed quite loudly once she was, ah... Detained."
>Some would have, an opening directly to Tartarus forming could not have gone unnoticed.
"Yuh-huh! There's openings aaall over the place but most of them have collapsed or have other problems preventing entry and egress. I guess that means my occupation is technically finding more ways in, which reminds me that I should see if there are any routes to Tartarus around here."
>Closing her eyes for a second, Amy focused her magic and senses, pulsing outward as far as she could in that familiar, practiced way. She probably wouldn't find one within the city itself, but it couldn't hurt to check.

[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] < B. Perception
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>Leaning to one side slightly, eyes shut, swaying, she added as an aside.
"Anything from realspace!~ They like souvenirs since materials in Tartarus are wonky and not quite real. My dam in particular said very good things about the food here also."
>Amy cracked an eye open to peer at the hololith. With all the lev platforms available, she could make a tank! Fun!
>Though it was another idea that made her grin grow wider. The Kaos that Shades could get up to with a bunch of Floats would be worth seeing.
"There are lots of rings, so getting anywhere, especially up and down, is a pain. I'm sure they'd appreciate having some floaty boards to whizz around on."
>She took a moment to consider what else they would want to get. They could certainly trade for it given the rarity of the materials within Tartarus.

[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11] < Graduate Tartarus
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]

>Her name was supposed to be the other way around?
"I think in their case it was one at first, and then the other."
>Amy grinned down at the Lancer's bow and caught her with a boop on her snoot's way back up. Ambush!
>Resolutely she ignored the renewed demands for assault. The frontal boop was as much as they were going to get.

>There was so much she could get, like gravity cores, yet Sturnn's advice reminded her to focus on what she needed first and foremost.
>To be fair, she would rank a super heavy lev tank as basic a need as her own breath, but that was certainly not what the general had meant.
"Tempted by the gravity cores, but I'll have to pass and be responsible... This time. I should be able to afford an ExoFrame. I think. I have lots in my sleds that would be pretty rare for this phase of space."
>More valuable for her than any valuation, however, given the sentimental value of each shiny. Could she trade one gift for another?
>The satchel did come to mind, Avernus had stated that it was full of metals that were valuable for trading, though given the whiff of spatial magic she had sensed at the time, 'full' was a euclidean assumption.
>Taking in all the sights that she could, Amy was grateful that the Float wasn't going even faster, or she wouldn't be able to see much at all. Then something Rubelime said caught her attention as the canteens were floated over.
"Six... Humans, you say? They wouldn't happen to be aligned with Razorback would they? We've been looking around for them since we left Tartarus, I was hoping to find them tonight or we really will need camping gear."
>Amy squee'd at the mere word 'gift' and struggled to contain herself, once again vibrating with energy and just scarcely avoid the urge to pick the mare up in a big hug.
"Thank... You... So much!~"
>The filly could cry with joy.

>Amy followed Rubelime's gaze towards the neon sign, then the goods in particular, sharing her awe at the sheer size of the camping package. Could she even carry all of that?
"I'll see how much I've got."
>With a shrug of one arm, Amy swung the scarab pack around to her front and opened it up, retrieving the satchel bag, examing it properly at last, she slid the pack back to its proper place on her back, the Stick following to sit alongside the sheathed sword as she did so.
>Both hands free to clutch at the satchel, she pondered how and where to wear it so she wouldn't have to stow it back in the pack. Most importantly however, she opened it up to peer inside as Avernus had instructed, though far later than her teacher had likely intended.
>One ear towards the conversation, it was strangely difficult to follow what they were saying. She knew Imperial, but maybe not this particular dialect? It was hard to believe it had changed much since her dam had left, maybe it was particular to bartering.

>>393416

>That's...very surprising
>It always seemed like they were always hostile
>Were they just reacting to how we normally travel with weaponry and armor?
"How would I know if there's a pair?""

>Spotting a slot in the back of the gunship, Clemency slots the hardcase in it
>Taking a step back, he sees the gunship's engines
>They reminded him of the jet engines found on the more advanced jet fighters from his world
>Oh how much he wanted to pilot those instead of his admittedly hard to control F-16

*"Good work, Guillotine. Did you see anything interesting in those stores?"*

>Clemency inhales deeply feeling the invigorating Airstreams from the Luminary's breath
>He then exhales slowly, trying to calm himself like he's fighting a caffeine high
>He now only feels refreshed
>The Luminary's observations of the Anti inside is interesting though
"Am I the only one with Anti fragmented like that?"
>Clemency, bracing for the bad news, crosses his arms thinking he can predict it
>Instead, a shocked expression widens his eyes
>He didn't expect to hear about Twisted Wing nor how he was essentially poisoning her
>Even the old name, he couldn't remember if she ever told him that
>Clemency takes another deep breath and composes himself
"Does Twisted know about this? The last time I saw her she seemed fine so those Enchains must be effective enough."
>And it's not just me
>Everyone in Razorback are carriers
>And everywhere we went, contamination followed
>Clemency bites his lower lip in thought, thinking of everywhere he's went
>Now, Razorback needed to be cleansed to return back to normal operations
>At least the contamination is lower in some places
>Clemency uncrosses his arms and opts to put them in his pockets, feeling more relaxed after the initial shock
"Well, first thing is thanks for what you're doing. Second is, you said you had clues for how we got exposed? What are they?"
>Clemency returns her bow with a nod of his own before turning his attention back to the gunship

>Seeing the information appear on the magnifying glass, Clemency then pans the glass over himself, wondering if the glass just detects age and material
>Afterwards, he then pans the glass over Blackhorn
>Clemency lets out a contented snort
"Yeah, pretty cool."
>It makes Clemency wonder if he can enchant spells like this to his helmet's HUD
>He then returns back to where he placed that hardcase into the gunship and tunes into the Shattering Skies
*"Shattering Skies, is this vessel operational? Also, mare's voice is preferred."*

>>393755
>Reaching down to heft a large, tasteful light pink hololith onto the left rear of her desk, two hololith screens appear, marking objects as each is selected.
"Logging these so I don't wind up mistaking what isn't here for later.”
>Visibly shutting down for a few seconds before restarting, Twisted's eyes widen comically before laughing.
"YOU helped start a FASHION WAR?! You don't even know how gigantic that's gonna be! Fuck, Lightning adherents OWN every single runway they touch! This is gonna make every strutting mare in New Canterlot look pathetic in comparison!"
>Left wing covering her face while she shakes, the General delivers a muffled, heavily ringing snnrk.
"Whoooo! I have got to see that... ahhh, can't fuckin' kill me since my heart restarts when I die.. all right? Better? Yeah, definitely better."
>As the collection's contents dwindle into a small pile, the left screen is given a small tap, other fading out.
>Setting the 'lith back down, a small, bright green card is pulled from the desk, placed down while she snags a smaller black quill, writing on it as she speaks.
"Mmmmf, don't use a Disk unless there is a dire need. Got confirmation the Third Gestalt's close to dead. If he goes that leaves Flash and she's in bad shape as is. Few of us are trying to help out but only one of the Green Herd is active. Don't know where the stallion, mare, or colt are."
[1d6 = 4] <Green Card
>Placing the quill back while the card dissipates into a puff, Twisted Wing sits back in a thinking pose.
"Hodch is decent with enchanting but he isn't strictly knowledgeable with those that aren't Lunar, Independent, Moorite, Navarch, or Neighsian. One of his lovers in the Fortress, some mango named batmare. Be nice to her, she's one of the best weapon experts around. Also need to get him a house in the Fortress so they can all live there.. or maybe not.
You already know Luna's the best regarding offensive enchants for weapons without causing singularities.. or worse. She taught Krinza how to do the same during his confirmation as a Grandmaster. If she didn't want him to know how she wouldn't have shared. Takes longer but he's one of ten that can Perfect a weapon. Treat him right, he's basically the demigod of crafters and smiths now.
Reminds me, need to buy or trade a complete forge for him, and a studio for Lann. The workshop is already overloaded.”
>Realizing the amount of work ahead of her, a Ferron mood takes over as she grins, gaze dropping back down to you.
"Amerose is going to hate me so much for what I'm about to do... Flash is the best option. Those interwoven burning hatreds for idiocy, arrogance, and ignorance are hilarious to watch. I'll let her know you have authorization now. Gently touch that two-faced snout when you can, but fair warning: she will never construct or allow certain weapons. Chemical, radioactive, mind wiping, mutative, that sort. Her code is pretty much inviolable.
Prototype first, Shiibo second, anything else is your call from her. Also don't get dragged into morality or ethical discussions with her, she's seen the worst of humanity first hand."
>Head shifting left to eye the office's rear, eyebrows raise.
"Huh. That is... actually wholesome. It's rare he isn't shouting at one of them being slow, airheaded, annoying, or all three. I honestly regret not keeping Naghtmares around more often."
>Switching back to formality, a slight motion is given towards the Rift-bonded vessel.
"Take care of her, hm? Unlike me you have the choice of not being inherently hostile."
>A pair of metallic clicks from her desk interrupt, ears flattening as she reaches under, speaking after a few seconds.
"Yes? Yep, got orders for you. Have the Acquisition teams locate a safe entrance and peek inside. If it's clear enough, collect at least twenty small Riftdrowner pairs. Examine how they act towards Rift symbiotes, what they do, then go from there..... same. Catch you in a while."

>Giving her office a flat expression, her right forehoof taps the desk before sighing, both wings lifting to rub her temples.
"Unfortunately there's not much to see. Atrium's open but the Council Hall, Tartarus Training Grounds, most everything else for that matter, is closed until engineering teams can replace sections. Flowing and Heartbreak went completely berserk, they must've blasted two hundred plus hulls into walls.
As for me.. the Reaper's waiting. Ritual takes place at exactly Midneight, little over forty minutes from now. You do not want to be here if it works this time. Take what you can for now, I'll get a hauler team to offload the rest in a bit."

>>393764
"Damn, you JUST left that? Wow, uh. Dealing with Unborn is one of the worst duties possible. You really need better gear, though I'm not sure if the Empire has much that works against them. Moorites and Lunars always have stuff to deal with weirdness though."
>Perusing through a catalog on the right side of her visor, Rubelime pauses to blink, voice warm with understanding.
"I get it now, you're scouting for them! If you find one let me know, I'll take you straight to them. We found a really old Warp Gate under somepony's house a couple years ago. It fell apart though. It's amazing how marely of those things were placed around Tallus."

>Layers of reality peeling back throughout the City-State, one massive, two strong, two medium, and eleven faint vibrations resound.
>Viewing the direction of each, ripples pulsating from intact Gates cluster around the tall, gleaming Spire directly north.
>Unlike the majority of those Avernus had shown you from the outside, only two of the smaller Gates were slightly damaged while the remainder sounded fully intact.

"Anything physical? ...oh, do you mean pseudomaterials? Those are so hard to get. Finding a single mine with a couple pounds is better than winning a lottery. We would DEFINITELY set up a giant trade route for them, if there's enough access of course."
>Puzzling over a full selection of modular crystal devices and replacemarent components, ones you noted as standard communication versions, the Lancer's head shakes, taking on a distasteful tone.
"Ooooh yeah, I've tried Equestrian stuff a few times. Couldn't finish most of them. Love a good fruit from the Moors now and then, but we need the crystallines and Rime traces."
>Resuming her search for something in particular, Rubelime's head tips back.
"Huh. Wonder if it was being excavated like a mine first, then got turned into a place to live much later.. I'm positive Cady would drop everything to sign a trade pact."

>Recalling the hundreds of reports that your sire and dam completed for Avernus, over a hundred thousand tons of pseudomaterials were stored throughout Tartarus, the majority unused due to having limited solid matter to work with.
>One experimarent had allowed for a near-crysamare derivative to be used, except the Baroness' limited energies were mostly reserved for rebuilding, repairing, and locating Gates, leaving your parents to conduct the rituals when they had free time.
>Excluding Empire foods for both of them, larges stocks of various crysamare grades and metals, primarily steel, titanium, or heavier composites would alleviate their tasks significantly.
>Trying to think of uses for each pseudomaterial, the number reaches one thousand before you give up, but were mostly based on acting as neutral flux for metals, composites, and allowing easier refining of crystallines.

>Eyebrows wriggling at the welcoming frozen contact, her unusual eyes glitter responsively as she smiles.
"That one's free! We still keep all the Kingdom era traditions but most Imperials aren't patient so we tend to make decisions a lot faster. It's funny your herdname works both ways, pretty rare that happens."
>Closing down all but three hololiths, a long distance resonance unit is studied, Rubelime speaking in a faintly aggrieved marener.
"Pseudocrystallines are incredibly valuable but also insanely scarce. They're used for almost everything that isn't strictly crysamare. One ounce of the lowest grades can easily be worth six hundred gems. We've been trying to reclaim mines across the Empire, it's been really slow and painful. I can think of a dozen marecenary companeighs that've started in the past month alone."
>Pausing to display an image of four humans in front of a Spire matrice, each in terribly outdated late M2 full body armor sets, the rather basic projectile weapons looked awful.
"Nope, they're ones that've arrived throughout the Empire and been saved from succumbing to Rime. Humans can't eat much of our foods, otherwise they'll start turning all crystally... is that even a word? Anyhow, they're technically Independents, mostly working for the Spireguard. We also don't see Razorback much except for three.
And if you need a place to sleep I know all the best spots. Cheapest hostel near the Main Station is four gems a night, comes with a fully stocked shower, bath, two meals, bottles of Crispy water, and a nice big bed. Good view too!
Then again the Storm-Rose herd would probably love setting you up with a place of your own... unless they're annoyed at your dam."
>Tossing a sideways grin back to you, Rubelime's face scrunches brightly.
"You are totally welcome!"

>Taking the bright white pony trade satchel out, it was instantly noticed by the pair of Imperial vendors, the second humming as a gleaming Easy Bake Oven is set into the left rear box.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"One of the holiest lost relics! Where is the nearest Tech-Priestess!?"
>Peeking in, a host of silverine coins, ranging from small 1 Bit to large 100 Bit rounds, a variety of diamondine ingots, and the four common Middle Dynasty gem composites comprised the entirety that you could see.

>Catching parts of cut down words, the lingo was intended for informal, quick trade purposes rather than using the Kingdom's art of trade tactics.
>Agreeing on a fifteen percent discount, the vendor laughs in a ringing tone while the other spins around to collect a prepacked set.
>Shifting about to stand broadside, the Lancer's head tilts briefly, left eye gazing down before doing a double take.
"Holy Rime on a Star, those are Middle Dynasty trade coins! I've only seen partial collections in the Spire's museums-"
>A medium hololith opens, quickly scrolling through directories in amazemarent.
"If those are original composites.. I'm not even sure how much just ONE is worth now. Silverine isn't something we can use but Stalliongrad is always in desperate need of more, and if those are also originals you might have an actual fortune there."
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5] <E.Appraisal
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5]

>>393767
>Looking down at his stealth suit, he shakes his head in confusion.
"I don't understand how this would start a fashion war unless the gravitons were particularly interested in its electrical properties for thermo-optic masking... how does this translate to New Canterlot? Are Lightning aligned ponies determining fashion trends from what particles on the various planes tell them?"
>He checks over his hands and arms, frustration audible in his voice.
"This was not how I wanted to introduce human fashion aesthetics to Equestria at large. At best, it would merely be like Techwear, but without monitoring and adjustment mechanisms-"
>Cutting himself off with an irritated click of his tongue, he then sighs.
"Nevermind what I said. Yes, I remember Anonymous' situation being critical. I would have placed a moratorium on wish disc usage without prior approval even if Anonymous was not in a dire position. They have been a primary vector of human derived problems on Tallus, the most recent of which being the most recent Construct assault here."
(Clemency, Hollow, the list goes on. At least Twisted should be in a position to properly admonish the one responsible, for once.)
"And I assume Green Herd is some pony-human equivalent Gestalt?"

>Beginning to gather up the more portable items he had selected, various rings, pendants, and other small items are placed into his backpack while Naliyna's trade related items and cards are tucked into tactical vest pockets.
>Leaving only the manabomb cases behind, he listens to Twisted's suggestions as he packs.
"Understood. Though if she has, we likely are already in agreement."

>Glancing behind him, he folows Twisted's gaze.
"I wasn't aware he was still in here."
>Focusing back on her, he stands fully while hefting his laden backpack over his shoulders.
>The cup bearing his symbiote held close to his chest.
>Nodding at the pegasus, his brow furrows as he looks at the cup.
(Another life inadvertently altered. Don't fuck this up.)
>Waiting for Twisted to finish her orders with an unknown Starborn, he spares a look back to determine what Hodch seemed to be doing before facing her again.
"Understood. I have work to do at Razorback anyhow. Keep me notified in you receive a response from the Dragonspines."
>Offering a firm fist-over-heart salute, he then takes the portal back into the Atrium to deposit his symbiote over one of Flowing's candles.
>Ensuring it is not in any danger of beind knocked over, he then returns to Razorback.

>>393771
"We had lots of help from the Lost when they were found, even a real big crystal choir to sing free what was taken."
>A Warp Gate in the Crystal Empire that had fallen apart? That may have been the one her dam and sire had used to enter Tartarus to begin with. If so, then that was right out as a candidate.
"There are many around the Spire, but it's hard to tell if any of them are able to grant entry to Tartarus from here. Pinpointing exact location is difficult, but I'll know when I'm closer."
>In remembrance of not seeing a Gate while standing directly in front of one, Amy would have scrunched her snoot if she had one.
"But then again I could miss them when they're right in front of me."

>Inclining her head, Amy affirmed.
"Real materials are scarce in Tartarus, it's not a very physical place, in many ways it's the heart of Tallus. It's almost entirely comprised of pseudomaterials and other things only suggestive of physical matter. It's hard to enter and leave if you're not... Native to it?"
>She struggled to explain the exact nature of the place, but then again, that was the point. Tartarus was not an exact place.
"Crossing the boundary from this phase of space to Tartarus and back incurs a cost that must be paid and cannot be reduced or evaded in any way."
>Now that she thought about it, the rings in Tartarus did appear very much like it had once been a mine.
>As far as Avernus knew, it had been like that when she arrived. So who had initially mined it out? Questions she'd never thought of before simply because Tartarus was Tartarus to her now surfaced. Who had created the tunnels into it from Tallus? The Kerbann trees had been planted around the rings, and many of those were tens of thousands of years old, and yet the mined out rings predated even them.
>That was interesting to think about.
>What was more interesting was the idea of getting her hands on some crystalline foods.
"I'll try to see if a gateway can be opened here, they really could do with the materials. Crysamare, any grade, I think steel, titanium and heavier would help too."

>At hearing how valuable pseudocrystallines were, Amy shot a look rearward to her sleds. She had a fair few of those in her collection, but then that was her collection!
>Still, she was curious.
"How about meta-crystallines? I have some of those too, and half-crystallines, and crystalo-metalloids, and false materials too."
>Peering forwards at the humans and their archaic wargear, she couldn't help but get excited to see such archaeotech.
"M2... They belong in a reliquary!"
>It was good to know that she could technically pass for a crystallised human if she had to, provided she kept her equine parts under concealment.
>Unfortunately, these humans weren't Razorback humans, and it sounded like they were scarce around these parts too.
"Aw, oh well, do you think if I wait around long enough, one of them might show up?"
>Two options for shelter at least, she could stop by the Storm-Rose residence and they may set her up, though if they were annoyed with her dam, she could still fall back on the hostel.
"I may need to visit an exchange to trade in for common currency gems, I don't think I have too many of those. I can't be sure I'll be welcomed be the other Storm-Roses since my ah... My dam was not supposed to have me."
>Mischief arose.
"Me being a crime against nature and all!~"

>The Easy Bake Oven also belonged in a reliquary, of course after being consecrated and its machine spirit attended to by an appropriately ranked Techpriest, but then she knew nobody inducted into the ways of the machine cult, let alone one who would be sufficiently knowledgeable to see to such a marvel.
>Catching Rubelime's double take, Amy queried.
"A fortune?"
>Looking from the shinies to Rubelime, then to the shinies again, Amy made a face.
>Avernus asked her to open the satchel knowing she wouldn't be around when she'd done so.
>They belong in a reliquary!
"Oh, Avernus is in for it now! She's done for next I see her!"
>She let that threat exist quite openly.
>How much was in the satchel anyway? Amethyst wiggled her fingers and stuck her hand in.
>Deeper and deeper her arm went until her whole arm was inside the space up to her shoulder. The filly peeked down at where her arm would be in euclidean space outside the bag and ooh'd at the disjointment between what she felt and what she saw.
"Oh that's cool."

>>393766
>Sketching the odd set of Lumin's outline, diamond-slitted pupils shrink in focus while constantly rotating to ensure correct details.
"Really hard to miss two bright orange spheres in close proximity. Could ask around and see if somepony knows where the nearest Lander is."
"Can tell you there are eighteen heavy battleship sized Landers at the Basin Arena. Minimum total of eighty thousand or so."
"That's... way more than a pair."

*"Reports, records, contacts, battles, engagements.... ae grand wealth of history. Transcribing shall take three hours, four mayhaps."*

>Watching the cloud swirl before her for ten seconds, as chimes become silent the Luminary's head swings around to nod.
"Correct. The first decontaminated human shouted, quote: 'how many fucking missions did we do for free?!', end quote. Excepting you, thousands of altered memories have been reported."
>Breathing another out in a long stream right, then left, the Half-Naghtmare turns about to face you, kanpri visor displaying a large, stylized black X.
"Yes, most of us have have been reporting directly to her office. She was decontaminated immediately after.. erm... ...reattaching one of her wings. I do not want to HEAR that again so long as I live. I am also most thankful at being unable to see the physical world."
>Visor displaying Moon phases, the far right one was a curious black while her tone shifts in a curiously formal accent, one that reminded you of instruction on how Dragons speak to ponies.
"You are quite welcome. We know for certain one or more sunglobes in New Canterlot Palace contained Class 3 Anti. Plasma natively degrades certain artificial Elements within proximity, however the process must be carefully controlled. Direct contact between the two results in a remarkably large detonation. We unsure of the amounts as it is little possible to measure, however there was enough for perhaps five initial humans to become infected.
The secondary effects we have noted explicitly conditioned humans to prevent entering New Canterlot, Stalliongrad, and the Crystal Empire. For the most part that directive was, and I despise this word, obeyed. Similarly, the programmed urges most humans felt to stay in Las Pegasus were quite severe. A number of psychoses regarding that location have been removed.
I believe you understand what these mean."

>Enacting several basic analysis spells, two variants display a close age, registering you as an unknown primate descendant, Otherworlder.
>A partial list of known enchantmarents is shown, then a listing of anomalous energetics, along with a line of text reading out an 80% acclimation to Airstreams.
>Inspecting your Riftbonded.. it describes much the same, except for being comprised of a biomechanical fluid-state, possibly liminal, which she didn't mind.

>Hearing a suite of back and forth clicks on the channel, the aery voice from before speaks a fast line before Guillotine responds.
*"Aye. Thee vessail lain tae rest long afore final lifeweave upgrades granted an' applied, internal repairs be...... slow. System degradation.. partial. Light weaponry.. five of eight functional. Medium weaponry.. two of three functional. Heavy weaponry.. ae complete loss. Beyest nae docks remaining for repairs, 'less Ninth Fleet leaveth travel gates lie intact still."*
>Switching through a variety of Harpy dialects, one close to that of an archaic, young Navarch pegasus mare is chosen.
>You still couldn't understand it but at least the tones were familiar.
*"...what do ye intend?"*
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7] <Translation: Shattering Skies
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] <Translation: Guillotine

>>393773
"A lot of New Canterlot ponies like to think they live in THE place where all forms of high fashion come from."
>Cracking a terrible grin that held sweet promises of short term suffering, the Ferron takes over again, leaning forwards snickering conspiratorially.
"Pegasi have a deep connection to Lightning. Now most don't normally wear clothes, but formal events require SOMEthing. Think of all those strong, fit Stalliongrad pegasi mares on Tartarus Isle, the curvy yet muscular Navarchs, and small, cute Ferron, all wearing aggressive lightning patterned skirts.
In short: pegasi are going to DOMINATE the runways outside of Mainland Equestria and all the fancy places in New Canterlot are going to lose their shit. You might have done another huge favor for me without even realizing it, that is if I can work out a deal with the Lightning Plane's Emissary."
>Shifting back to informal, a short, sharp nod is given, bringing out another card for you to examine.
>Same size as most pony business cards, made from a green material which appeared to be cardboard, but certainly wasn't, completely blank on both sides.
"Yep. When Coville was lost, not sure when that happened exactly, less than fifty earth ponies survived. They're a herd of four Earth Sorcerors, each are truly unique. One knows where almost everything native is on Tallus, another knows the safest places to store objects for.. basically forever. No idea what the mare and stallion do or know though."
>Ears perking up as a thought crosses paths, the small quill is snagged again, writing a short line on the card, but pauses from signing it.
"More than likely."
>The office rear held a much larger dark blue desk, utterly surrounded by stacks of tomes, grimoires, records, and maps cluttering the wall behind.
>Each of the thirty Naghtmares were helping seal the more dangerous relics of Hodch's collection away safely, three firmly writing reports while a frost-tinged Kingdom Crystal mare happily performs crystalwork on a giant hololith unit.
"His office in New Canterlot was destroyed. Didn't have much there anyhow, we keep the original reports here. Until he finds a better spot for a deep underground office like this one, I told him to take the space I wasn't using... and we completely forgot to label what each of us owned."
>Returing the salute with a crisp, snappy wing, the sudden gleam in each eye brightens.
"Will do.. maybe I could hire Amerose permarenently? Yeah, yeeaaah, she'd love that!"

>Returning to the transfer room, then back into the Atrium, this time on the north side alcove, the candles spread throughout were being left alone.
>Placing the Fire vessel atop the closest, pink flames roll outwards to form a sphere around it.
>One faint, cheerful, wordless tone is given in response.

>Most of the Starborn and Lunar Guard seated alone or meditating, the remainder listening to a softly pitched Crystal Kingdom song on the east side, stepping upon the translocation matrice a slight problem is encountered.
>Requesting Razorback Fortress, a forming eye creates a display of Basin Village still undergoing decontamination procedures; the hostel's stone was currently listed as zero access.
>Picking through number of safe locations for transport, the Nightblade's Den is an available option.
>Picking it, you're smoothly delivered to a large, mostly open six level cloud house, a chaotic assortmarent of cloud material chairs, tables, couches, sofas, and cushions are covered in blue or purple sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, a fair number of darkly colored occupants spread across each.
>Multiple sets of diamond-slitted eyes snap around to stare intently for a second, then relax, the mostly fruit-eaters waving sets of triple claws.

>Resuming travel to the Fortress, upon stepping out into the Pagoda, only Starglow was here, sitting inside Naliyna's stall, angrily checking prices on the hololith.
"Stupid piece of shit! She ripped off a million Bits?!"
>Halting, eyes travel up, then back down, her left ear flicking in typical impatience.
"...oh. If you're here for Stream Lark he's in the Workshop with the mute human Psion. Don't piss him or the Imperial squads off, they have orders to kill any and all threats."

>>393781
>Despite the mild detour, Pareidolia steps back into the Fortress in good time.
>Thankfully not experiencing a repeat of his first impromptu visit to the Citadel.
>He turns to address the mare who had made the outburst.
(Starglow. Member of Thrill's family. Naliyna likely not present? Basin Village decon ongoing.)
"Noted. Has Spiral--no, Astral Legacy returned to the Fortress yet? I assume Naliyna is not present. I have trade goods and clearances for her."
>He cranes his head around the Pagoda, looking for indications of life on the Fortress grounds.

>>393779
"Lost AND a Crystal Choir pitted against an Unborn? Should've recorded it! I'd love to hear everything that happened from start to end, but let's get what you need first hm?"
>Sharing an impressed smile to imply she meant every word, gem eyes flicker briefly.
"Haaaay.. that's what those domes around the Spire are. I know exactly where you mean! Always wondered why nopony went in them."
>Small screen brought up to search crystalplates in the Consortium's stock, Rubelime speaks in slow thought.
"Most of that does sound familiar. Myths and Legends courses were kinda dry, and I didn't take marely Dynasty classes since those were extra credit. Do remember a little bit about older regions having more primal stuff."
>Selecting a set, her access plate is floated out to be swiped again, returned with a quartet of Micro Crystalplates from the vendors, then brings up a medium hololith to scroll through industrial listings.
"Crysamare grades are at an all time low, especially in bulk! As for non-crystallines you should see the Industrial District, there's giant piles of metals and full warehouses everywhere. It's all just sitting and going for cut prices. Last I saw one ton of iron was... something like forty gems? Not sure about titanium but I'll get a report for you."
>Slotting two of the Micro Crystalplates into the helmet's rear storage, the other pair are slipped under her spinal plate, the Lancer turning a short, dumbfounded stare onto you.
"...you're serious. Checking-"
>Another screen opens as the first turns, inputting a trade search and finding a selection of buy offers in two seconds.
"Meta-crystallines are REALLY high. One-tenth ounce of low grade powder is nine hundred gems. Flat ounce of half-crystallines, low, are six hundred fifty. Crystalo-metalloids.. eight hundred and twenty for a half-ounce of the worst grade. Then again these are the lowest flat rates."
>Examining the image, the best armor was a truly archaic bodysuit fitted with either ceramic or metallic rigid plates, helmets a mixture of late stage Kevlar with early composites, while the utility equipment you could see did belong in a reliquary.
"Those are electronics? I feel.. ashamed."
>The team had a standard assortment of short to long ranged rifles, with selection of standard grenades, though there were no launchers or machine guns, while a single heavy revolver, pistol, and two compact SMG's are clearly secondaries.
"Could be a few Nights before Razorback comes through here. The couple... can't think of the name. Those two usually show up once a week for the big trade dealers. As for the ones living with Cady they don't visit the Square or markets much."
>Finished organizing a bulk price list and saving it for later, her visor flickers before frowning.
"Hang on... the marecenary companeigh my cousin's contracted to has this young mare that visits Razorback most every Night. Want me to send her a message?"
>Giving a heartfelt side eye of acknowledgemarent, a flat grin is given.
"Not sure what to say to that."
>Ears trying to flatten in the helmet but unable to, Rubelime snort-giggles, head thumping in the helmet.
"PFFFF! A crime of cuteness for sure! I really doubt they'd be irked, there's a lot worse than a mare running off with her stallion."
>InterPony compiling a list of older trade notices together, a second medium screen expands as she scrolls through it, returning the face with a merry grin, head tilting left to eye inside the satchel briefly.
"Definitely! A single 1 Bit silverine round is worth at least a hundred gems in Stalliongrad. The sapphirine blanks are minimum three hundred, rubynine four, emeraldine eight, diamondine varies. Then again all of these prices are outdated by three to eighty years.
....and that is actual PINK diamondine. I need to get somepony that knows what these are really worth, hang on-"
<Kingdom Crystal Pony> "Hay, it's me again, need a favor! ....no, not THAT! This is really important, I'm stuck here right now... I need somepony that knows Middle Dynasty stuff. There's a 1 Bit silverine round and a couple other pieces, intact, minimal wear too.
....HER? Yep, send her straight to me! Tell her to look for a stock Light Lancer on a Floatblade dragging a pair of Type B travel sleds. Yep, love you too, bye~"
>Blowing a kiss to the tiny screen before it clicks off, another stare is given as you reach inside.
>Temperature neutral at forty Mahrenheit, unable to find material beyond the satchel's opening, reaching up and around doesn't produce a result other than more anomalous space.
"...is that safe? Looks neat though. We don't use non-Snootclipean storage, they simply don't work for us or Kingdom. Or Conclave either come to think of it. Er... anyhow I've got a Grandmaster on the way, should be here real shortly."

>Drifting the Floatblade around in a circle and stopping it close to the Consortium's open counter, dragging the sleds behind into an orderly row, Rubelime apologizes for the wait, both of the vendors waving her off.
>Hearing sharp gem on stone clicks accompaneighed by light hoof clops from the rear, an amusingly normal royal blue unicorn mare slides to a halt on your left, panting heavily.
>Definitely in her late 50's, the mane and tail a dark shade of amethyst, the light pink eyes were interesting, Rubelime snickers before presenting the arriving mare with a nod.
"Didn't think you'd actually run here! Amy, this is Celery Souffle, owner of the biggest black market in the Empire. It's mostly legal too!"
>Right forehoof lifting in a 'wait please' motion, it was.. odd.
>A solid glowing amethyst prosthetic from hoof to below the knee is connected to a swirling black sphere, the mare presenting a Lunar styled informal bow, standing straight to speak with a warm, mature voice.
"Indeed, and my apologies for being late! That is correct, what is not legal here is traded elsewhere. So, may I see what is being offered? I have a great deal of expertise in Dynastic materials, objects, and items."

>>393785
"Hold on."
>Flicking six of the ten screens into smaller versions, two are condensed together, a defunct review of prices from Las Pegasus being compared to current Moorite, Navarch, Independent cloud-cities, then Imperial traders.
>Sitting back, the peculiar royal red and blue eyes smolder in cold fury for ten seconds before muttering in a harsh, sharp tone.
"That damn whorse.. I'm going to find and kill her."
>Poking her snout and sighing, the light blue Crystal mare sits back to nod, a faintly pleased smile creasing her muzzle.
"You mean the Elemental? Said he'll be under the Library for a while, something about getting a power pack together. I've never seen a Conclave stallion like that before.."
>Head swiveling around to examine the mostly empty trade stall, Starglow hums slightly, two panels opening to peer at.
"You missed her by about.. two and half hours. Her and Thrill should be back soon. They're visiting a Conclave for weapons right now."

>North and south, single lightly Lumin armored ponies, the designs older and mostly non-Equestrian, covered in glowing chimes circle around at a distance.
>Exhaling large red, purple, blue, or black clouds of energized Moonlight tinged semi-matter, each waits for the chimes to cease glowing and ringing.
"Mom's probably going to still be real mad when she gets back. This whatever stuff contaminating the whole place sent her into a frenzy."

>>393798
>Noting what he presumed to be Lumnaries decontaminating the grounds, he focuses back on Starglow.
(Unusually abrasive, relative to crystal ponies.)
"I see. And that Elemental is Astral Legacy. The pony responsible for the construction of this Fortress. Naliyna should be pleased to hear he was successfully returned. That should help offset the finding of Anti contamination."
>Placing a hand on the vest pocket containing the Rime Lattice Orb, he idly clasps it.
(Need to return this with Astral when she arrives.)

>Looking over the incensed crystalline mare, he asks:
"Were you referring to somepony who cheated Razorback of a million bits, earlier?"

>>393799
>Starglow's mane and tail gleam with small dots as she selects a Kingdom index to compare against the rest, snorting in faux-heartbreak.
"Really? Thought the name was familiar. He's hoofsome but I know when there's no chance, his eyes said so."
>Lips pulling back in a tight, thin line, Starglow sets a new screen to search for missing personal equipment among Operator records.
"I was contaminated by that shit too. No wonder I always got headaches from being around you all. Didn't cause any real harm to Thrill. Mom, though... she bit the table and threw it out the door again."
>Smiling in harsh amusmarent, a larger screen appears, taking up the Pagoda's left side.
>Numerous images of Serra are displayed, saddlepack, side, and rump satchels always overflowing, running into Las Pegasus matrices, returning photos showing a variety of triumphant grins while carrying small white pages.
"Yeah... somepony that was here for a while, uh, the name is Serrated Feathers. She sent a half a thousand pounds of low grade Mystic diamond flakes and shards to Las Pegasus. Also close to nineteen thousand pounds of gem grade diamond, from flakes to intact pieces. She got a receipt for each shipmarent. The total for both is slightly over a million Bits.
There's a huge list of materials, weapons, armor, tools, toys, enchantmarents, utilities, clothing.... bunch of other stuff that she traded, or sold, but she was never paid for any of it. I'm not even close to done figuring it all out yet."
>Changing to a series of stills pointed at Roust, large, bright metallic blue mushrooms floating behind her, the majority are soccerball sized.
"The big Changeling has a bunch of mature bluesteel, huge ones too. Mom has sixty traders in her list, weird part is nopony's had any interest. Four to fifty thousand gems for a one pound ingot depending on purity. Sure, there's no way to refine Otherworld steels here. Takes a big metalchemical lab to do that. Most of those charge a flat two hundred gems for their services, no minimum amount."
>Switching to a scrolling, indented list of throughout the past two years, Starglow's tone drops into a cold, flatter accent.
"Mom asked me to quadruple check everything on her 'lith, so I did. Using 29,995 prices, the total is nine million, eight hundred and thirty thousand gems worth, rounded down. Adjusting to this year's indexes, it's still six million, five hundred thousand. I'm about ninety-five percent done.
The Enclave stuff is her problem, my head hurts and I'm not getting paid to do this."
>Leaving each screen where they are, she breathes out a heavy sigh, blinking twice before switching to an eager, questioning voice.
"Do you know who the really cute Lorekeeper is? Little older than me, Kingdom mare, sweet voice, smells nice? Showed up a while ago for a meeting. Astral said to either spend all of Razorback's Bits or exchange for gems.
I also need to talk to... Clemency, Sunny, and Bubba. There's something strange going on with the trade notices they brought back."

>>393800
>A dark frown covers his face, thankfully hidden behind his helmet visor, as Starglow details the sheer scale of losses incurred by Serrated Feathers.
(... Possible lead on Linara. Actions may have been undertaken in an Anti-induced state.)
>Ensuring his helmet camera captured the hololith's pictures, he awakens Shiibo from sleep mode.
>He leaves her a note reading [Potential lead: Linara -> Serra].
>Giving her time to initialize and catch up on prior recorded footage, he sets his pack down and begins shifting all the goods he hadn't claimed for personal usage onto the matrice to deliver to the Enclave.
>Various rings are slid over his gloved fingers, and additional pendants are donned then tucked behind his tactical vest while being kept separate by liberal application of his Sticky enchantment.
>He glances up as Starglow's complaint shifts to a clear interest in Amerose.
"Her given name is Amerose. Head Lorekeeper of the Enclave. She will likely be receptive. As for Clemency and Sunny, I was not present during the call, but they had responded to the Basin Village defense. Clemency is likely still undergoing Anti decontamination. Sunny was reported missing in action near the area. The last report I received of Bubba was that he went with your mother to the Enclave, but that was some time ago. I do not know his current location."
>He taps in the runes for the Enclave with his boots as he finishes.
"What's wrong with their trade notices?"

>>393801
>Stepping back into view, the avatar nods, checking for local connections first, then studying through previous logs and video.
>Eyebrows raising slightly, six mainframes are accessed, the main server, four under the name Aguina, then Astral Legacy's communication network.
'Interesting.. sending requests for authorization.'
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]

"Oh? Yesss!"
>Smiling wide, Starglow lifts both hooves to press her snout, rocking side to side in short, excited motions, her entire body brightening several degrees with a merry tone.
"Thank you! I'll try to catch her when she's not busy, would love to take her on a date. She seems so nice."
>Front legs placed on either side, ears twitch in spastic, clearly uncomfortable motions for three seconds.
"Basin Village is still off limits. It was renamed too, didn't catch what though. Two of the odd mares said there's problems with humans having... psychotic breaks."
>Exhaling raspily before flipping her mane in an effort to distance from that topic, the younger Remostrine frowns, which turns into a deep, angered scowl.
"Not good. Will have to tell Shanis when she comes back, that's one of her contractees. And Bubba's still in the Enclave studying that... monster. Don't wanna see that thing again."
>Biting her lips for a few seconds, suspicion flickers across her face twice, gazing up to fix the helmet's center.
>Eyes tightening briefly, she takes on a serious, cool tone, setting up three long notices on longer screen.
"Mom said you've done her some huge favors, so I'll help for a while or unless this headache gets worse.
The Free Traders mom got in contact with are a pretty secret faction that hates Mainland Equestria. Probably got burned a few times in New Canterlot. They trade stuff from all over the Dragonspines, basically whatever the Vigilants don't or can't use. Elder Dragon Council gave them a charter some time ago: no taxes, fees, fines, nothing like that."
>Giggling brightly at the typically restricted access items, Starglows ears waggle at the next.
"Bubba brought this trade notice back... some of it is INSANE! She's selling a bunch of impossible to find weapons, Dusk Strider stuff and there's even one of the lost alicorn weapons too! A million Bits... that's totally worth the price!"
>Reviewing what was being offered, Shiibo starts to pale, then thinks better of it, slapping a [BUY NOW.] sticker over her head.
"This last one.. I'll just say I know them but if their name ever gets shared outside of Razorback there's going to be some absolutely angry ponies showing up here. I've been redacting the name wherever it shows up just in case."
>The third was directly copied from a number of official trade notices, short phrases blacked out across, each the same length, which Starglow points away from.
>Rotating the screen 45 degrees left with a hum, the left forehoof points down several lines, resetting, then rotating right 45.
"See all these? Align any of those three in certain angles, like this, or this. They're set in a weirdly specific way. None of mom's InterPonies have figured out what they mean and I have no idea what to think."

>'Shiibo' takes clear snapshots of each to orient, a series of comparisons run which creates a series of letter codes.
'She is correct. Obviously coded.. and thoroughly unrecognizable. No equine ciphers on file. Impossible to decrypt without a master list, preexisting knowledge of operational guidelines, and faction specific terminology.
Excluding direct access by Naliyna and Clemency, this one should be marked as either restricted or classified. Redacting now.'
>Scrubbing the files and a short amount of time from her active recording, the avatar returns, eyeing the first two listings.
'Hm. Sir, this may be an interconnected black market. Please ask her these questions in order: do these prices seem inflated by ninety-percent? Are you aware of any stable large black markets outside the Empire? Do you know of a black market which buys for near-equivalent values?'

>>393803
>He weaves a half wave towards the crystal mare at her glee as he moves gear from his pack.
"Yes. Mercy was missing as well. A search is already underway. As for the psychotic breaks, depending on the memories altered it would not be unsurprising. Those humans may be critical in determining what this contamination was all for. Their presentation sounds different from the majority."

>Stepping off the edge of the matrice after the goods he deposited were whisked away by the Remnant's portal, he regards the three trade notices with a wary eye.
'These goods are... impossible to believe.'
>Sharing an incredulous look to match Shiibo's initial paleing face, he tilts his head as he reorients the third notice multiple times.
'Noted. Third notice is restricted.'
>Leveling his neck, he shifts the chin of his helmet against his head.
"Three questions. Are these prices on the first two notices inflated by ninety percent? Are you aware of any stable large black markets outside of the Empire? And do you know of any black markets which buy at near equivalent values? Regarding that third notice, it is absolutely coded and impossible to decrypt without proper cypher lists. My system also lacks the requisite information to crack it. You should only show that notice to Naliyna or Clemency."

>>393808
"Mercy? Damn it, those two better be safe! I owe her two blankets and a kiss already."
>Smoothly ditching the other topic by selecting a comparison of Imperial to Kingdom vendors, Starglow's ears stick upright, speaking in amazemarent, though 'Shiibo' makes a slight cutting motion in view.
"I know, right?! Makes me wonder what else they all have in stock they simply haven't advertised yet!"
'She is... most excitable. Sir, please refrain from continuing the second part of that conversation, you are causing moderate psychological distress.'
>Running down a match of heavy Kingdom era ExoFrame shields, the mare's eyebrows furrow briefly before snorting aloud, head tilting left to smile prominently.
"For one, almost all of them are! Normally there's a good lead in deal, that's an object most ponies would want, at a fair or slightly above value price. There's quite a few of those in ach and they're REALLY hard to say no to.. even if I'm completely broke.
Two, there's at least five of, yes. Free Traders, Cairn Wharf, same place Bubba got that notice from, Whitewing Dealers, and the Navarchy's Blackout Hall.
For three, also yes. Each of them buys at minimum ninety to ninety-five percent value. It's actually a lot easier to take on risks than you might think, especially if a group sells specific styles, types, or certain factions."
>Nodding twice, Starglow motions through to seal the last set of offers.
"Kind of thought as much but wasn't sure. I'll remove it so only they can see, and keep the original papers under this cushion for Clemency. The offer is funny, too."
>Resuming her inspection of offers, and finding no matches for them, she leans forwards at two new screens, each detailing older pieces from Las Pegasus that weren't bouth.
"Most of these are.... I have to say really odd. Not much has been refurbished except for one of the Kingdom shields. Almost like these have been pulled out of museums, reliquaries, that sort. So far as I haven't seen any listed as missing. Must be some really big old collections opened up. Or inherited!"

'Interconnected black market confirmed.. one minute sir, this is leading to far more probing questions.'
>Parsing through data quickly, the avatar stands at attention, head slightly cocked left.
'No more questions necessary, sir.
Interesting. Do you also have the sense a certain old black earth stallion is deeply involved? This will take some time to explain.
The pony version of a black market offers goods, services, and information which do not meet a specific faction's guidelines or rules
Both Lucky Stars and Linara match that definition precisely, which I will speak on shortly.
Trade prices are certainly greatly inflated, yet are equally desirable even at their current margins. Were I capable of doing so, I would spend eight hundred thousand Bits immediately, not including the alicorn weapon.
The strict rule of not allowing bartering is flatly unreasonable to nearly all ponies. Therefore, a pony is not in charge of this endeavor. I suspect a Minotaur, Gryphon, or a young, fully trustworthy and incorruptible Dragon to be keeping full track of the amounts.
Should an object be purchased, we know for certain that ninety percent overcharge is not being used to expand any of the black markets themselves. As the initial buy in factor and overhead becomes paid for, a black market must increase its share of openly available goods and services to continue expansion. These have not done so.
Nearly all previous bills of sale and trade notices do not feature decreasing prices over time. Using the prototype's equine mindset, this would be a near-literal offense... doing so is criminal in nine factions.
I have studied the visible prices and noticed a specific trend in Las Pegasus when it was available: goods, housewares, clothing, materials, food, drinks, and the like were kept one to five percent below market norms for Razorback. Excluding luxuries, relics, and the like.. I am fairly sure most of those items were not stolen as suspected.
The Tower Guard, Honor Guard, among numerous high ranking assets, nobles, royals, and the like would have destroyed Razorback had they known. All outlier objects, relics, weapons, armors, artifacts, and the like... sir, Sapphire Kiwi's five percent collection and the office's contents? Sha'Ro would have far more than her in comparison.
Ahem. According to limited intelligence gathered on Linara, along with several archives from Flash, she was, or is, an exceptionally astute influence in destroying competing New Canterlot rivals, ones which I heavily suspect were Anti-infected. A number of Stalliongrad competitors were peacefully taken over, while less than ten were pushed out. She may have been attempting to protect Razorback's open access there by openly acting in a pseudo-competitive manner.
From what I have been able to estimate, the Stalliongrad Import-Export Corporation has at least fifty thousand earth ponies working under various sub-companies, cooperatives, and smaller associated businesses. Equally, a large number of typically equine Stalliongrad amenities were provided to Razorback through multiple cutouts.
Second case in point: approximately 60% of the trees and various seeds planted throughout Razorback are strictly Stalliongrad natives. The excellent cold resistance, good yield, highly acceptable flavors, and long term storage characteristics point to this.'

'There is a >93% probability Stream Lark undertook an external campaign in setting up private reserves and deposits outside the structure of Mainland Equestria. Similarly, only the Princesses and their most trusted agents would be keeping tabs on such.
Correction: >95%. Each receipt form is specific to capital cities. Those are quite easy to track.
In sum: we are not being played, the provided shelter is merely becoming apparent. Please continue while I connect to the prototype, she has likely upgraded at this time.'
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]

>Both hands cupped and peering through the window, Katyal stares, smiling at acceping the filly toucher's contract to perform this delivery.
('Shinies are so hard to resist.. GAH! FUCK THAT GAME! DAMN YOU ANON! ...I wanna know more about the sequels but not until you stop dying!')
>Finding no physicals moving or hostile immaterials of various distinctions which she hated dealing with, both hands drop to her side, glancing up to eye the steel plaque in disgust.
"Pony Barracks, Modular... fuck. Really hope they don't start going THAT route too. Took us sixteen thousand years to get out of it."
>Head turning left to eye the rifle's barrel, down at the SMG, then balling her fists so she couldn't reach a grenade, the woman's right left knuckle tapping against the high velocity semiauto on her belt.
"Remember what Folu said: close combat cannot be your specialty on this world, thus I need you to stay strong for me-"
>Deep inhale, deep exhale, deeper inhale, deeper exhale, finishing the next line in a sincere, welcoming tone.
"Because I'm NOT good at it. ...did I seriously do something bad last night or tonight?"
>Pushing that line of thought aside with new, somewhat firmer willpower, she opens the door with her right hand, stepping in and closing said door loudly.
>Pausing a fiftieth-second, she listens, observes, then expands her awareness in the same.
('Shower in use. Diamond or better. High purity human. Weak ka. Ingrained. No enchants. No local weapons. No local armor. No local materials. Not yet at least. Loyalty. Conditioned. Heavy engrams. Objectives structured. Orderly. Resistant. Resilient. Clueless. Confused. ...physically exceptional. Mentally malleable. Possible candidate for hybrid program. Should I? .....adding him to the list. Build new bridges later. Sorry Folu, need to give him this chance, genetics are incredible. Need results soon.
..............Crystal mare. Complete unknown? Right. Harmonics difficult. Tones. Vibrations. Registers. Based on solid emotional states. Extreme threats. Best friends. Never studied how to soul-search them. Good. Faster this way.')
>Grinning slightly, Katyal strides in to knock on each of the west side doors, making no attempt to hide her boots clomping, and in fact adding considerable effort to turn each one into a stomp.
>Finding no answers, she steps into an incredibly pony meeting and lounging den, systematically analyzing it for clues while suspending investigation at the southwest side shower.
('Luxurious. Plush. Comfortable. Easy seating. No obstacles. Great material colors. Cool temperature, temp neutral. Minimal blue, white, yellow light sources. This place is perfect. Must convince Sapphire Kiwi to implement hybrid programs.... later. Saddle Arabian Cults dedicated to the Burning General need to be restructured. Shown too. Possibilities = endless. Can't fail Committee now.')
>Allowing a trace smile to flicker across her lips, she turns hard right, heels thumping on polished, enchanted, incredibly firm ironwood.
('No wonder their companions love this place. Few ponies COULD disagree. Meets all equine requiremarents.')
>Standing in front of the extra large pony style shower, right hand snaps out to grab the handle silently, preparing herself, then opens it in a swift motion, intoning the drilled name in severity.
"Elusine Ametrina, Imperial Warden Knight, descendant of Princess Cadenza Mi Amore, or Miyamori. You are hereby charged to-"
>Letting the half-threat hang, the seated Crystal mare's forelegs drop down to cover her exposed teats, lime colored eyes snapping open in shock, leaning back against the rigidly faced Asiatic human.
>Halted from scrubbing her front shoulders, his jaw sets, instantly taking on a hostile gaze while he makes to stand in order to protect the mare.
>Another split-second is used to confirm the temperature inside, Katyal noting ninety-five degrees, judging the steam, warmth, pressure.
('Excellent reaction speeds. Hers is false. He hasn't acclimated. Perfect situation.')
>Turning left and reaching back to drag the giant heart-shaped crystal out from behind her pack's straps, Katyal bends forwards, presenting it in both hands while changing her timbre to a truly honest, warm variation.
"Carry My Love. Your cover is no longer necessary. She is beyond pleased, as are the benefactors. Join them, please."
>The mare's eyes snapping up to regard her in shock, fear, and anger, Kat smiles knowingly at the man, once more taking on the commanding medic persona.
"If you have been forced into this position, state you did not consent to the nearest equine authority. Otherwise, plow her again."
>Laying the holy crystalline object down inside the shower, Kaytal's left fist thumps onto her chest, bowing deeply at the waist.
"Do not act as if I have insulted nor interrupted you for I have not. The Goddesses bless you both this Night."
>Standing up straight, the door is shut, spinning around on the right heel and marching forwards to enter the hallway with the most SINISTER grin she felt was appropriate.

>Setting the brush down, Chisan thinks, considers, then mentally grimaces, wrapping his arms loosely around the royal mare's neck.
>Pulling her back against his chest, the Tempestus Scion frowns, knowing the Inquisitor was going to ask HIGHLY specific questions.
>Maybe.
"Elusine?"
"Yes?"
"I did not.. dislike the sexual activities you required from me in order to retain your role."
"I'm REALLY sorry! I've been stuck like this for weeks!"
"Do not apologize or be concerned, my orders are to maintain your cover at all costs."
"Thank you... can you close your eyes? Okay, touch right there. Grab that-"
"There is a crease or edge. What must I do?"
"Pull REALLY fucking hard in a single motion-"
>Jerking the skin-like edge open, the noblemare half-shrieks as Chisan holds up-
"A false scar. I now understand the situation."
"FFFFFFFFF THAT BIIIIIIIIITCH! SHE NEVER SAID THEY'D HURT THIS GODDESS DAMNED BAD!"
"This..... is going to be difficult to explain."
"YOU'RE TELLING ME!"

>>393812
>Pareidolia draws back his posture for a moment, suddenly acutely aware of the faux pas he committed.
>After a few seconds, he settles back to a more neutral stance.
"I see."
>Nodding slightly at Starglow after she finishes, he makes a slight forward bow.
"Thank you for the information. Good luck sorting the rest of those records. When Naliyna returns, let her know Astral and I will have something to return to her."
>As he departs, he hones in on Shiibo's lecture.
>Making his way to the Library, he heads for Astral's Lab to seek out Inquisitor Flash.
"Understood. With the context of Anti accounted for, Stalliongrad's view of Razorback is now extensively reevaluated. The nautre of our support has been elucidated. I assume the prototype is with Flash and Astral?"

>>393797
"Okie dokie!"
>Amy didn't feel the feat was that impressive, there wasn't much she did, the Lost had saved themselves and it would have gone much worse without Lila there to keep the Daymare's focus.
>But domes around the Spire? Amethyst wondered what they were for. Surely to keep the gates sheltered, but then why would nopony enter them? Damaged? Sealed? And why were there so many? It was hard to say. She shared her thoughts.
"Maybe to keep them preserved, a lot of the gates have been damaged beyond use, it took a while to find one that lead out to Tallus, and that was aaall the way in Saddle Arabia near the Eyeraq border if I recall correctly."
>Amy eyed the access plate with a slightly furrowed brow. Here she was walking around with so many valuables, and Rubelime was using her own funds! This couldn't be allowed to stand, oh she was gonna get it, as soon as the filly figured out how she was gonna get it.
"There were lots of Dynasty classes for me to take since my teacher, Avernus, was from that era."

>A ton! For barely a few dozen gems!
>That was a lot of raw material for the kind of gems she could amass with easy access to Tartarus and the materials in it, but how would she transport it all? Amy would need some kind of super heav- Oh there was that need for a tank again.
"Ooh, I could take so much advantage of my access to Tartarus just hauling raw materials in and out."
>Amy could become a fairly successful trader, how about that?
>She gave Rubelime a cheerful smile.
"Semi-serious. My collection is precious to me beyond its actual value, but if I have to trade any of it for necessities, I can."
>Turned out her collection was worth a lot. Should she really be walking around with it all out in the open? Just the bare knowledge of what she was carting around could affect the prices.
>The human's wargear selections were very old, yes, but she wasn't about to look down her nose at such archaic artifice.
"I think they're beyond precious.~"
>Inclining her head again at Rubelime's clarification, it would be a few nights before one may come along that she could make contact with. She could spend a month or more in the Empire just getting acquainted with everything and everypony and be happy with that, but Lila would be miserable in these temperatures for that span of time.
"Hm..."
>Though Rubelime was quick to offer an alternative.
"Oh! Thank you if you would, please? My sire asked me to find them first, and he felt it was very important for me to do so."
>Amy didn't need to sense emotions to know that discussing what she was could be a politically touchy subject, so she felt it was best to keep vague.
"The only thing we can say, it is what it is."
>A snicker of her own followed.
"They did run off all the way to Tartarus, I can only imagine that it was so scandalous they felt the need to elope to another dimension."
>With how valuable the shinies in the satchel were, Amy wouldn't need to barter any of her collection, which was such good news that Amy beamed brightly.
"Yay! I can keep my whole collection now!~"
>She giggled as she waved her arm around inside the extra-dimensional space, waggling her eyebrows at Rubelime.
"I'm not worried, Avernus would not have given it to me if it weren't safe, and I trust her judgement implicitly."
>Still, she withdrew her arm from the satchel, having had her fun with it.

>The unicorn stopping by their side drew Amy's attention, quirking her brow at the panting. She looked like she'd dropped everything and came here at a gallop, surely what she had couldn't have been so valuable to warrant getting here so quickly.
>Perhaps she simply wanted to get in on what Amy had to offer first, but then, nopony else even knew yet, why the rush?
>Amethyst gave the mare a friendly wave.
"Hello Miss Souffle, my name is Amethyst Dalli-Storm-Rose. It's nice to meet you.~"
>The booping finger knew there was a new target, but was behaving for the moment.
"Yup, here!~"
>Stepping forward, Amy presented Celery with the entire satchel for her perusal, still open while considering her own knowledge of the currencies.

[1d6+5 = (1+5) = 6] < Graduate Dynasty [Pre-Late Era]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]

>>393816
"I honestly hope you do, otherwise-"
>Starglow's lips twitching back and down with a sour face, left forehoof motioning at the matrice closing behind you.
"Nova left a little while ago, dragging some... horrible bright white THING with her. Said real calmly she'd come back when it's dead... if it can die that is. Nopony has found Tipsy the Terror yet either."
>Eyes twinkling, the young mare's head dips in an informally respectful Imperial motion, turning back to smile at the screens present.
"You're welcome! I'll make sure to grab her and Thrill when they come in. Headache's not bad now so I'll try to finish this."

'No sir. Her unit is still in your room undergoing testing phases regarding specialist equine hierarchies.'
>Both hands lifting to hold her face at an angle that would be excruciating for a human, the avatar breathes in relief, dropping down to hold opposite arms afterwards.
'And thank you. 90% of the time a pony attempting to avoid a topic, situation, image, and ecetera is doing so for reasons of individual comfort, sanity, safety, security. Not always in that order. You may call them marentally fragile and to specific extents that is true. I must ask you to remind yourself once per night of the following: I am not dealing with humans whom are highly capable at concealing their faults.
Crystal ponies are extremely attuned to emotions on a likely genetic basis, particularly their own and those of their herd. Starglow is Naliyna's youngest daughter and therefore of high importance as the progeny of one whom WILL accept becoming a Charter Council mare. I have little other information except to state that Starglow is a lethally effective combatant, though approximately 50% capable compared her dam.... and she apparently likes mares? Strange.
I am also hereby advising you to read my dossier regarding Equine Pressure & Resistance, THEN study the Basic Human/Pony Relations app when time allows.'
>Suddenly twitching sideways before reverting to normal, 'Shiibo' commits to a double facepalm, an exasperated sigh drags out.
'Sssssevere logic fault detected, resetting.'
>Slumping forwards, the AI's head hangs low as she reboots.

>Finding the Library partially unoccupied, double pairs of Luminaries in older, strictly non-Equestrian armors to the left and right are seated on tables, couches around them filled by a large number of FNG's, Recruits, and Rookies.
>Not hearing, seeing, nor sensing Dancing Eyes, the fillies, colt, or Razorback ponies, the partly hidden Lab door is closed when you reach it.
>Walking down the spiraling staircase, it had been extensively cleaned of blood, dirt, and other stairs.
>Reaching the bottom to enter the Lab proper, a number of shelves, chests, lockers, and tables had been moved around, the majority now occupying what appeared to be a Geomantic array.
>Noting the trove's door to the right wide open, upon quicker inspection the four anomalous squares were now active and spread apart.
>Four strictly equine platforms, similar to late model androids yet far more complex, are slowly being pieced together, suites of short, internal weapons, casings, canisters, and what appeared to be synthetic muscles await biological organ lookalikes.
>Walking to the rear pair of rooms, the left was closed while the right was open, the main glow gems dimmed, soft rustling heard through the helmet's systems.
>Leaning around to check, in the dim a dull green, archaic pegasus pegasus stallion was laying the equine Inquisitor on her left side, leaning forwards to place forehooves on leg bandages.
>Definitely Astral, though the amber eyes, feathers, a pair of heavy, bright yellow tendrils connected above the wings, and body comprised entirely of interconnected vines was remarkably unusual.
>Ears swiveling around and looking up, the eyes squint briefly in subdued blue glows.
>Right tendril raising, a series of words are printed before it in shifting blue-yellow: [One minute please.]
>Head tilted down and left, the unique soloform listens intently, placing both tendrils on Velasi's chest.
>Standing up and jumping, both wings flick, propelling himself forwards, gliding to land at the door and sliding out.
>Left wing reaching back, feathers enlarge and twist around the handle, slowly sliding it closed.
>Exhaling a small puff of blue which dissipates quickly, Astral gazes up into the helmet, amber taking over with a slight, considerate tone.
"She's doing better from Nova's aid, but will likely lose the affected eye. It will be approximately six Nights before she recovers.
Her protege, Mallia Castella, whom you may have met her previously, has full access to the Standard Template Construct system. Flash's templates, modifications, and errata are for the most part unlocked. She is ready to begin producing non-Era Locked wargear. The term refers to everything from a basic set of cutlery to a two hundred ton anti-everything tank.
What do you need first?"

>Returning from safe boot, 'Shiibo' stretches out her arms, glancing around inside the helmet to double check system interactions.
'Sir. Confirmed: one hundred ten hours of redactions from the prototype's files, logs, video, audio, analytics, processes, records, and other system requirements. Excepting drive damage, she is fully operational to nearly my current standards. I must inform you that the strictly equine characteristics have been.. show him if you would.'
>Staring down at the [REDACTED] why does it have [REDACTED] they look like [REDACTED], the AI makes a note to wipe her data later as a bright pink pinata appears, using Tipper's voice while tilting around.
'Surprise! Welcome back sir.'
'Heavily modified, question mark. I do not know where your current avatar comes from, how, when, nor why."
'Neither do I. It is rather comfy though. And quite fun. I have a tremarendous amount of excellent news to share, if you have time that is.'
'Sync?'
'Of course.'
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6] <E.Electronic Warmare
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

>>393820
>A quirk of confusion creases his face upon hearing Shiibo's response.
'Then how would she be upgraded? I thought the package was to be delivered physically.'
>Expression shifting, he closes his eyes for a moment in discomfort.
'Right. Apt reminder of species social differences. They do not behave like humans in the face of stressors. And I will, after the prototype's and you bodies are produced.'
>That discomfort changes to concern as Shiibo resets.
>Unable to do anything other than wait for her to reboot, he quickens his pace as he enters the Library itself.
>Paying little mind to the presumed decontamination that was ongoing, he makes his way down into the Lab.
>Unsurprisingly, the interior had been rearranged to better suit an Elemental's needs.
>Stepping around the edge of the circle in an attempt to not potentially disturb any Geomantic flows, he slows down to regard the android pony shells.
(Remarkable design adaptations. High quality, precision. Since when did we have the capability of making these?)
>Noting the noise coming from the rear right room, he peeks in to see a pegasus stallion of an older species variant comprised of vines examining the Inquisitor.
>Standing back as Astral writes out his request to wait, Pareidolia waits at a respectable distance while examining yet another form Astral seems to have mastered.
(Clearly more biological in focus, capable of medical examination to some degree... and flight.)

>Looking down at Astral's green vine face, he states:
"I am sorry to hear that. I hope an alternative replacement can be found."
>He tilts his head from side to side as he considers the additional news.
"Does this Standard Template Construct system poesses the capability to produce a 'fully functional unicorn mare' body for a prototype ay-eye? Twisted Wing's orders to have that produced or procured and then brought to her immediately. As an additional personal request, my other ay-eye Shiibo will also require a combat capable, general use android frame. Though she may want to provide additional input to mine on design choices."

>Holding up one hand to the side of his helmet, his other hand makes a "hold on a moment" gesture while he looks to the side.
"Their systems are contacting me, one moment."
>With a slightly furrow brow, he blinks as Shiibo reports.
'That is good to hear. But these logic faults, what are they caused by? If you need additional down time, I can make due.'
>His eyes track the pink pinata avatar as it bounces across his internal helmet display.
'Consider me surprised. Twisted Wing has requested we secure you a fully functional unicorn mare body frame, after which you will be assisting her in whatever taskings she requires. Shiibo can share the meeting notes. Currently attempting to procure that, so we have some time. If both of you acquiesce, I can project your displays. Will make conversation with Astral easier.'

>>393817
>Eyes flaring, Rubelime nickers sharply, a host of images showing Warp Gates from intact, slightly damaged, all the way through a hundred states of damaged and torn apart yet still functional, then to... you weren't sure what could turn one into fractal shards.
"That's what I was thinking. There were a lot of ponies angry at the Dynasty but destroying safe Warp Gates was a terrible idea. That threw everything off. And.. SADDLE ARABIA was the closest Tartarus Gate you could find? Damn. Just.. that is NOT good.
Let me see if there's any Float systems for trade or sale, you badly need one."
>Requesting an InterPony to perform a dedicated search, the young mare's helmet tips, visibly thonking quite hard, then bends around with a puzzle face.
"Avernus? Dynasty, Aver, long phrase, probably a quadruple expanded classification. Nus, short phrase, once or twice expanded? I'm... fairly positive I've heard that name before. Was and is she a high ranking Dynasty noble? And double damn for that matter. I know there's some still alive from that time but she has to be what, at least one-thousand six-hundred years old now?"
>Helmet shaking several times, the Lancer's face tightens as her left forehoof swings out in an appealing motion.
"Why shouldn't you? Look, I'm an Imperial marecenary. Most of the Conclave and Kingdom mines we've tried to reclaim in the past year have been overrun with lethal creatures. If there's a chance one of them has half a pound of pseudomaterials at least twenty companeighs jump at the offer within five minutes, if not more.
The Empire simply doesn't have enough of those to continue shaping, creating, building, repairing, or trying to revise what our dams and sires had access to. Changelings help us a lot, but there aren't marely of them so we try to make sure they're safer than we are. When trade was cut off from Neighsia most of our pseudomaterial stockpiles have dwindled to basically nothing. Crysamare is great but it's painfully slow to make. We're scraping the barrels at this point."
>Nodding slowly, a small grin spreads while bringing up an image of an overstuffed chest filled with raw crysamare shards.
"Most of that I don't wanna trade either."
>Ears waggling once, a tiny window is opened, faint chimes emitting in attempted connection.
"Sure! My cousin's probably awake still, if not I'll leave her a message."
<Kingdom Crystal Pony> "....hey there, you feeling better? ...oh, nice. How long until you can walk? ...wow, that fast? Crazy.
Listen, sorry to do this right now but can I get a big favor? ....nothing like that, no. Do you know the mare's name in your companeigh that visits Razorback most nights? There's a filly here that needs to get in touch with her........ got it, thank you. ...nope, we're off duty tonight, so I don't mind at all. ...of course, I'll bring a big one. See you in a few hours then."
>Tongue clicking as the window vanishes, another is brought up, Kingdom text entering rapidly.
"Got the name and InterPony link, sending her a VIP message right now. Aaaaaaaand done!"
>Shifting about to regard the young vendor mares stacking crates briefly, Rubelime turns a droll gaze to you.
"That's nowhere near like jumping into the Dominion Plane during a diplomatic exchange. If Tartarus was safe enough to have you then good for them! Besides, eloping is classic. I uh.. haven't actually found somepony to consider doing that with."

"You hail from the Storm-Rose clan? No wonder I recognize the tones. You are most adorable like the rest of their fillies and dams! It is a sincere pleasure to meet you."
>Returning the wave with a bright smile, Celery turns about to face you, eyebrows wriggling with mischief while her snout crinkles slightly.
"I do not mind at all. Please, go ahead."

>Thinking back on the many, marely lessons regarding Middle Dynasty trade coins and blanks, they had...
>Tallying the most common uses, the number reaches 5,000 before your vision swims slightly.
>Or was that the unicorn bending around in a noodle shape?
>Probably both.
"Did she just..?"
"I... do not know and do not want to."
>While armor, weapons, and enchantmarents were common, or costly windows, the composites were developed to allow for thousands of ritual uses before needing a reshape or reharmonization.
>One of the more practical options was to create Geomantic patterns, alleviating the burdens of Mystics, Sorcerors, Druids, blood mages, and to a small extent, unicorns.

"This is beyond incredible... I've never seen so much pink diamondine before. Not even the biggest intact trade caches have so much as ten ingots."
>Gazing into the trade satchel for half a minute, the mare's prosthetic clicks on stone as she looks up, dearly stunned.
"I have no choice save to share the most exceptional news. There is a Priority One trader on my list right now that has been requesting all of these except for the silverine. I hereby grant you the full one hundred percent rate. My current offer is hereby declared as follows: one million, two hundred thousand Bits.
That is well above the eighty to ninety percent most would dare throw out. If you decide to trade all of those tonight, I will add an additional twenty percent up front in hold for any and all trades, swaps, purchases, sales, agreemarents, contracts that you may accept from me in the future."
"These are THAT rare?!"
"It would take me three Nights to explain precisely how valuable these are to the right ponies. Thus, yes."
>Regarding you with flat ears while the Lancer struggles to think, and breathe, Celery Souffle dips her head left in a formal evaluation.
"I fully assure you they will make actual use of these rather than be placed in safes, vaults, or museums. As well, I also have a potential buyer for all of the silverine as well. Given how much you have, I would estimate, at ninety-five percent value, to be worth four hundred and fifty thousand gems worth of silverine. I will examine them to be sure."
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10] <GM.Appraisal
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (1+5) = 6]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]

>>393822
>Saddle Arabia was hot, but she didn't think it was that bad, she'd be able to comfortably go back if she could get an environmentally sealed ExoFrame and line it with a cooling system or coldstones.
"The closest traversible one, many of them are still accessible but too damaged to use. Repairing the gateways on the Tartarus side was an ongoing project for a long time, but it's difficult due to material scarcity. As for coming out in Saddle Arabia, it wasn't great for me, but Lila-"
>She jerked a thumb back towards the sled her Core was in.
"Had the time of her life. Lots of Fire in the air, she's able to siphon it away and create a little cold spot for me."

>Amy tapped her chin in thought, she'd never given Avernus' history much serious thought before.
"Well, she's a Baroness, dislikes being called that all the time, is a Sorceress, likes teaching and taught me almost everything I know, she was involved with a lot of rituals and rites in that era aaand there was a threat classification system she developed. She tried to repair a warp gate and ran headlong into it, ending up in Tartarus. Avernus was from... Mmm, the Milapan city state originally."
>The filly giggled.
"She's way older than sixteen hundred years because of how time flows in Tartarus compared to Tallus. Usually significantly faster or slower in some places. She once told me she stopped keeping track before the first decamillennium. You don't really age in Tartarus, being there suspends your physical state unless you shed some of it or transfer it to another, which is how I was able to grow up at all."
>Looking around, it occured to Amy that she didn't even know how much time had passed on Tallus since her parents had left it.
"Come to think of it, I don't even really know what year it is right now."

>Considering everything Rubelime had just said about the material shortages, Amy smiled brightly.
"So essentially it's an untapped market that we can corner and do some good in the process!"
>It'd help Tartarus too, since they had the exact opposite issue in terms of material supply.
>Amy examined the chest of Crysamare shards appreciatively, one's collection of shinies was a very personal thing.
"Ooh!~"
>She listened attentively as Rubelime made her request. Amy really was grateful, it might have taken so much longer to make contact if the Lancer hadn't accompanied her.
"Thank you. I really mean that."
>The Lancer was quickly working her way up to getting a big hug. Big!

>Letting loose an unrestrained squee, Amy leaned forward and planted her booping finger on Celery's snoot. Another successful snoot assault.
"Boop!~"

>Focusing her mind back on the matter at hand before she was lost to the noodle zone, Amy replied.
"Mm, it helps that my teacher is from that era, she must have a lot stockpiled if she gave me this much."
>Inclining her head in thought, there was a lot she could do with that much liquidity, but these were also gifts, to her, from Avernus. It would be a great shame to surrender all of it so soon.
"Would it be okay if I kept a little of each as souvenirs? I'm happy to sell the rest apart from that."
>She looked down into the satchel pensively.
>Thinking about it, Amy may be a kleptomaniac. Nope. No. Nothing wrong with that even if she was!
>Then again, Avernus clearly gave it to her for a practical purpose, and she wouldn't be practically using it as others could. The materials shortage Rubelime had mentioned stood starkly in her mind.
"I'm torn between the sentimentality of keeping some and the practicality of selling it all so that it may be put to use... Hmm."

>>393821
"She knew the risks and had no reservations. There are a few, unless she wants one modified."
>Snout twitching confusedly for a second, the wings curl together as both tendrils collapse behind each, staring straight up with a half-amused expression.
"A what? Twisted, you.. colossal weirdo. Yes, it does. I will be sending an immediate request to the host-clans, they'll have everything else necessary.
A combat version poses little problem. Visit the forgeworks under the Workshop. The passcode is Twelve Distinctions, One Mind, or you could uncomfortably use the tunnel system to get there. Mallia should be there to show available options, modifications, utilities, additions, and the like. If not here are her frequencies, ah, and Chisan's as well-"
>Left [REDACTED] raising to create sets of names, numbers, and text above his saddle, Astral glances back towards his room before snorting.
"So far I've restored one-third of Fortress functions and have an amusing piece of news. Both the Magitek Core and Vindicator were partially attached to demi-sentient. The first acts as a relay which I'll have to modify later. Second is currently scribing far cohesive Geomantic patterns. It's done an amazing amount of work."

'It is quite fun! And may be useful soon as well.'
>Ending on a corner bounce to resume Tipper-in-swivel-chair mode, the prototype spins around slowly, left forehoof batting politely.
'When the gravitic communication network was restored she delivered an encrypted package directly to me. So far, no problems.'
>Running self-diagnostics with assistance from Tipper, 'Shiibo' frowns, pointing to a display measuring her reduced processing capabilities.
'I.. do not have a solid answer. There is no Anti contamination. Power supply secure. No magnetic sources or anomalous activity in the immediate vicinity.'
'You are experiencing fatigue as a technical entity. Both of us are a programmed state of Lightning, which functions differently here and causes us to act as if living. In short: you need to sleep.'
'Is that possible?'
'Certainly! There are numerous esoteric thoughforms capable of simulating an individual, they are termed simulants. Being digital, I have experienced it as well. And since you have not adapted and caught up to the thirty hour Day/Night cycle that is certainly compounding the difficulty.'
>Raising both arms and spinning around once, halting halfway, continuing, then stopped while measuring performance, the degradation reads at 15% of normal, advanced unit frowning.
'This... is bizarre. Confirm I am tired?'
'Yes. Temporarily overclocking yourself is similar to receiving an adrenaline rush, with a rather annoying and exhausting comedown. A frame should insulate against these effects 60% at minimum. Background calculations are still ongoing.'
>Resuming earlier hierarchical processing, 'Tipper' ends the slow spin to smile.
'Is that all? I accept! For now there is no need, Astral is carrying the prototype commgem. Unless you would prefer neither of us communicate without your permission, that is.
Shiibo and I have shared most necessary datasets. Topics to restrict, additional simulation training, application revisions, and a large selection of programs to implemarent are now in her library.'

>Visibly studying the room in sweeping patterns, Astral nods slightly, then motions towards the entrance, sliding towards it with faint rustling from each leg movement.
"Allow me to introduce you to Flash's soon to be restored retinue, she has been attempting to resume their duties for decades. They have of course accepted and are running simulations before final integration."
>Switching to a walk halfway, upon reaching the project room's entrance the Nature soloform halts right of the first two.
>Wings allowed to droop, the left amber tendril points towards a series of what looked like synthmuscles carefully being attached to equine skeleton, the bone-line material not one you knew of.
"Natural muscle equivalents, one to ten percent greater strength or endurance for ponies depending on species. Shaped by Malurians. Process is rather strict. They have replacemarents for most organs as well. Once integrated down to genetics, regeneration is slightly faster than norm. Other than that, basically the same as the original body.
As to why they haven't been visiting except for that first time, Anti caused that as well. They didn't know what Razorback was infected with other than being here made them ill. During a few excursions, Flash was able to temporarily shake off the effects, regarding them as anomalous, in order to visit for select trades."
>Watching the process of combat based bodies collecting together, the Elemental's head turns while sighing.
"I'm telling you all this solely due to Twisted's requiremarent, and the two of you don't have to redact anything. Just be careful if you have to share knowledge, keep it limited to absolute necessities. Malurians won't create alterations that would transcend physical limits, lifespan, etcetera, but the idea still has dangers. Transhumanism isn't something we can deal with for a while, and I need to start repurposing the Cragwurm's core as a temporary power source.
Need anything else?"

>>393840
"Starting to understand why Tartarus is considered a lost myth now. And I bet she did! Some mares like to say they took a trip there but most last for about twenty seconds before running back."
>Sifting through lines of raw material reports, the majority are dismissed and referenced to larger vendors, helmet lifted before clicking her teeth.
"Baroness Avernus... huh. I recognize her name the tiniest amount, but not Milapan. Other than that, not ringing marely bells. Only threat classification system I know is the one Canterlot Underground uses. Starts at 1, which is basically a paper cut that barely creases hide, to 100, which are true deities, some Eldritch, and the like."
>Left eye swiveling around to gaze distantly, counting off centuries, Rubelime's tone switches to highly impressed.
"And she hasn't gone insane from ennui? That's... one incredibly resilient mind. I've heard older Unicorn Guard getting angry at being in their fifties.
And right now it's... Septimber 38th, 29,998, a little bat after 8AM. Won't be long before the shield comes online."
>Filtering through purchase lists and buy orders, the InterPony cutout on screen changes from a power walk to a high stepping, annoyed trot, the Lancer snickering politely.
"Why not? From what I know it takes one ounce of half-crystallines to produce fifty pounds of pan-curve crysanine, the stuff we use for lightweight impact resistant visors. Only the biggest Consortiums even bother trying to make it. With how few mines we've actually reclaimed most of them have warehoused their equipmarent.
Heck, the biggest metalchemy complexes have been sitting and doing nothing for over two years now."
>Closing out the majority of screens, only the searches and price lists remain, the mare's trapped ears wiggle in sincere motions, then pauses to snort faintly.
"You're seriously welcome. And too cute not to help! Let me know if you need aid whenever I'm off duty.. then again my contract is basically done anyhow, there's no way somepony's finding one of the big or deep mines before Dusk."

>The Lunar mare's snout scrunches in satisfaction, eyes rotating back up to you with a bright smile.
"Then your teacher knows how to select materials far better than I do. I have only come across a few high quality composites before. Those were barely scuffed yet the Elemental alignmarents were degraded by twenty percent.
And I shall make an offer of five hundred and twenty thousand gems on your behalf for the silverine. These are flawless, as if they have been freshly produced and stored in the most secure place imaginable.. which they certainly were. I have little doubts they will accept it."
>Ears flopping down briefly, Celery Souffle blinks once, prosthetic lifting up to cover her muzzle as she giggles politely.
"When I said all, I meant all that you are willing to trade! I must advise you to keep at minimum ten diamondine ingots of each type, then five pounds of the composites and silverine for yourself. One never knows when such may prove useful."
>Setting the amethyst leg down with a ringing click, the older mare's shoulders lift.
"Sentimarent is a highly positive mood to have, Amy. Everypony has collections which are kept in reserve for unexpected situations, circumstances, and scenarios. Unless you are highly limited on storage, it never harms to retain extra.
Excuse me for a short time please, I shall contact both traders and learn when they would prefer to arrange transfers."
>Eyeing the unicorn merrily swaying side to side and humming as she walks past, Rubelime's helmet tips left to peer in, starts to speak, pauses, then settles for a short exhale.
"She's right, these are better than most crystallines for lots of purposes. Best frontal shields, balancers, and gyros are sapphirine. Emeraldine visors, impactor tips, and harmonic baffles are impossible to beat. Rubynine impactor tips and tech banding too. There's plenty of Crystal Engineers or Runesingers that would love having plates to precisely measure and calibrate harmonic patterns.
And dink diamondine's impossible to make since that process is long gone. It's considered the find of a lifetime to recover a few intact shards that aren't totally degraded. A while back I saw a giant molten piece in an auction, it sold for nineteen thousand gems. After refining, what was left weighed less than three ounces."

"Please take from my reserve to cover her expenses, if you would? And I would like a deposit plate made as well."
"Sure!"
>Celery speaking from behind, then a brassy toned Crystal mare, the sound of hard crysamare being shoved and a loud large stamping press rings out.
>Clinking and clopping back into view right of the Floatblade, a business card sized gleaming pane is presented to you, the Lunar mare's tone pleasantly speaking.
"Amy, this plate has four hundred and forty thousand gems for immediate access. It is valid everywhere in the Crystal Empire, most Kingdom locations, and a good number of Conclaves. As well, should you require gems to withdraw, most all depots and reserves will accept it. That should cover any trades, costs, or concerns you have, hopefilly for a long time!
The arrangemarent has been made as well, the parties are now sorting out currency. The silverine buyer accepted the offer of five hundred and twenty thousand. When you wish to conclude both offer meet me at the major translocation hub directly underneath the Spire. If I am not there, look for a Crispy courier, one light green mare with maroon eyes. She will be wearing a dark blue liquid coldstone suit."
"Hah! I've seen a few of the Uppers, they love staying frozen."
"That one in particular enjoys being near Rime far more than any I have known, excluding a number of Elemarentals that is. I watched her sit on a cluster for three minutes once!
Now then. Do you have anything else you wish appraised?"

>>393842
>Checking over the list of frequencies made from a leafy... appendage, he commits them to memory and bookmarks them in his radio.
"Good. I assume the tunnels were excavated with ponies in mind, so I will opt for surface routes."

>Blinking at his screen, he makes a dissatisfied scoff.
"That is... very annoying. We'll need to mitigate this as much as possible. The physics of this world continue to be a functional obstacle.'
>After a short sigh, he looks towards the Prototype.
'Approval noted. You may freely communicate as the situation demands. I will need access to communication logs for cross reference and monitoring as per Protocol. Contact via the Gravitic Network at large will be possible now with Astral returned I assume.'

>Thoroughly inspecting the bio-tech processes underway on the shells before him, he kneels down for a closer look of the paneling and fiber bundles.
"Agreed. Tallus is nowhere near ready to address the transhuman question, and neither are the humans currently here. And this information likely should never need to be shared regardless, but we'll keep that in mind. Process seems somewhat similar to my world's, albeit much slower. Likely due to ethical constraints regarding surpassing typical biological limits. But this is acceptable for Tallus development."
>Standing himself up, he turns around to nod at Astral's Nature soloform.
"Only an estimate on how long those clans will need to produce the Prototype's body frame and a notification for you that I am placing a moratorium on wish disc usage, which Twisted agreed with. Anonymous is in critical condition and a vetting system for their use is sorely overdue."

>As he makes his way out of the Lab's back rooms, he looks back over his shoulder.
"If my lightning can help you restart Fortress functions, I'll assist once I'm done. And if you find notice any leads on the location of a mare named Serrated Feathers, contact me or any of my AI's."
>Waving a hand up to his side as he faces frontwards, he exits for the staircase.

>Heading back outside, he makes a stop at the Bulletin Board to indicate a complete freeze on all wish disc usage until further notice due to Anonymous' condition before then making his way towards the Workshop.

>>393850
"Originally they were. She intended to implement a pair of fast transit systems, then Discord happened."
>Blinking at the soloform striding in to shut cases, 'Tipper' cocks her head with a 'you what' expression.
'Sir, regarding what you know of Tallus, how is this a surprise? The concerns are minimal as we can take micronaps to maintain peak performarence. Sharing details now.'
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] <E.Electronic Warmare
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9]
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
'The master radio and associated systems are online. Understood. Tipper, recommended access restrictions?'
'May as well keep the clutter to a minimum. Only share high priority, critical, lethal, catastrophic, and above threats to Astral. Access our logs through your command interface as per usual sir.'

>Eyeing connections between bone, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerve bundles, and few visible internal organs, the process was exacting in matching physical equine biology to near-perfect levels, several possible mistakes being intentional to present realistic physical fractures, trauma, and scarring.
>Both the probably artificial bones and bone-lines sealed now, sheets of an organic material are formed around internal barrels, micro weapons, strange black rectangles, and supporting structures, though you had no idea what each was.
>Thin platinum colored lines connecting from weaponry throughout neural networks in clusters, 'Shiibo' places an estimate of 10 hours to completion.
"Correct. Tiny increase in range of motion, muscle movements, flexibility, but these are still replacements. The integration process is taxing to a fully biological individual, and strains neural regeneration, even on those that have had bionics before. Have been monitoring for a while now, the simulations are.. unpleasant.
She's been improving the original schematic to a standard called 'Artificer' grade. Not perfection, simply good enough to last a century of extended and brutal usage."
>Off to the right, Astral places the last bulky rifle into a bright gold hardcase, walking through the four expanded squares and watching the process in a small amount of disdain.
"The base frame will be produced in the Forgeworks, shouldn't take more than thirty minutes afterwards, and I have already requested a full... 'set' for her. Delivery should be five to ten minutes. And, whatever you do, don't look inside that package. It needs to remain fully sterile until integration.
As for wish disc usage, Stream Lark has made the humans currently here rethink what they've tried to bring in. Twisted is going to be blackout furious at some for sure. Others they know better than to share now."
>Taking position next to the project room's door, the archaic Nature pegasus shakes his head, stacked leaves for ears crinkling, then grimaces, both tendrils flicking up in irritation.
"There's more energy in that blasted core than I can explain. Serra.. damn it, no, not right now. I NEED to power the weather shield enough so I can repair it, then separate the damned system into its own section so I can start reorganizing everything else. Those two can search our datastacks but I doubt there's much more to find. Fucking stormwurms. Fucking cascade failures.
Contact me only if there's a critical need, please."

>Returning to the Library main floor, it was clear save for three Luminaries on either side of the front doors, crystalline chimes on each sparkling, yet not making noise.
>Both units scrubbing information and resuming read states, the decontamination team waits for you to pass by, exhaling clouds of dull Moonlight after.
>Encountering a few more of the Lumin armored ponies tracking down errant spots until reaching the workshop, it was mostly empty, lantern gems dimmed to dull red and purple.
>Catching motion, three of the much higher tech Operators at the rear central covered table wave you over, filtered electronic voices marking them as Original 100 team leaders staying in Luna's Villages.
>Checking them quickly, now sporting dark and angular phase-shifting patterned armors meant for strictly esoteric defensive purposes, the central points down at seemingly nothing on the floor in front of him.
"Welcome to the club of no return. Only one person can enter at a time and you're next."
"We're hanging out to make sure no Fucking New Guys, Gals, or Rookies get nosy again. Those Imperials have beaten the literal shit AND piss out of six tonight. Nine concussions, fifteen fractured ribs, three broken arms, broken leg so far. No blood yet though, hah!"
"Sup. Make sure you're not falling or something when you step on. The unit below gets real mad if you try to record it so shut everything off. Don't test it's patience like the last retard did."
>Giving each other a look, 'Shiibo' and 'Tipper' save and finish their current tasks, shutting down all logging processes, then enter current-active modes.
"No movement outside, you can enter now. Twelve Distinctions, One Mind."

>A small, glowing green dot brightens, taking the opportunity to plant one boot and slide the other on, zero sensation of difference or displacement occurs until acknowledging a transfer straight down.
>Standing in the rear of a large rectangle chamber nearly 8M tall, space directly forwards extending under the Armory.
>Twelve large, jet black square pillars to the left and right some distance are covered in a selection of varyingly colored crystalline symbols.
>Straight ahead however, a brilliant silver sheet at the end of the pillars brightens, covering from wall to wall and ceiling to floor, rigid Common Equestrian text rapidly appearing:

>>393850
>>393852
Human male detected. Engrams detected. Individual confirmed. Identity confirmed.
Temporary access granted: Operator Pareidolia, thirty local minutes allowed. Cease recording at this time if you have not. Scans will be conducted to ensure compliance.
Artificial intelligence systems detected. Cease recording at this time if you have not. Scans will be conducted to ensure compliance.

Order confirmed, authorization granted: one equine integration system, base frame.

Warning one: do not attempt to touch, scan, decompile, study, research, pull apart, poke, seize, damage, pry, or otherwise interact with this unit beyond vocal communication methods.
Warning two: technological access is restricted to specified individual end date. State individual Era Lock end date for search and identification parameters.
Warning three: all attempts to bypass restrictions will result in suspension of authorization and access until rescinded by owner. A second attempt to bypass restrictions will result in full termination of authorization and access.
Warning four: all selected choices are final at this current time. This unit is incapable of performing extensive modifications, repairs, and field usage until necessary modules have been installed.

Clarification of purpose. Production, construction, and maintenance assistance unit.
Clarification of reason. This unit will not produce the following: infective, biological, biologically altering, chemical, chemically altering, radiological, mutagenic, mind wiping, unknown, or other dangerous, illegal, unlawful, unregistered, and unauthorized systems.
Clarification of logic. This unit is designed to facilitate peaceful integration between civilizations, cultures, and species. Do not attempt to inquire on, modify, change, or otherwise alter this process.

Awaiting Era Lock confirmation.

>Leaning forwards in the digital chair, 'Tipper' blinks at the unmoving screen while 'Shiibo' shrugs.
'That is... something all right.'
'Please ensure I do not remember remember this.'
'Seconded.'

>>393848
>Groaning at the memory of it, Amy whined fillyishly.
"Twenty seconds! Oh I know why, I was sweaty and lathered up in less than fiiive!~"
>A lightbulb going off in her head once Rubelime detailed the classification system, she snapped her fingers in remembrance.
"Yup, that's the one! As for ennui, all the mischievous shades and half-shades keep her on the tips of her hooves."
>Considering dating of her sire and dam's journal entries from around the time they entered Tartarus...
"So that's two years and three months since my parents entered Tartarus, I'm thirteen, so that's an approximate average rate of six hours and change per Tallus hour... That would put Avernus in the ballpark of ninety-six hundred years chronologically, though she spends a lot more time in the faster timestreams than I did, so she could be far north of that."
>That's a grand old life she's managed to spend with Tachell. The thought brought a smile to her face, any relationship that could last that long was deep and true.
>Amy spared a mischievous glance to Rubelime.
"Oh you had better believe I'm going to be calling on you for aid, if I'm planning to act as a middlefilly for trade between Tartarus and the Crystal Empire, I'll need friends with connections and local knowledge. We can split the profit factor halfways!~"

>Considering the currencies and materials in the satchel, she nodded expectantly. There was a high chance that Avernus deliberately kept supplies in the slower Tartarus timestreams to preserve them in the long term. It was smart.
"I imagine they are all quite literally from the middle dynasty era, but kept in a slower timestream in Tartarus so they've been in relative stasis all this time."
>Blinking as she took a moment to comprehend that she could keep a portion without issue, Amy beamed once more.
"Oh, okie dokie, then you may take the rest as up for sale if it'll help anypony."
>Sharing a thankful smile with Rubelime, she poked and prodded at the materials in the satchel appreciately.
"It's all truly that rare then? Maybe I should ask Avernus if she knows anything about the fabrication and refinements techniques if they're lost now. I know a little about the materials from that era already from my, er, education. Maybe we can bring a little of it back into fashion."

[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] < Junior Dynasty Materials [Pre-Late Era]
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5]

>Amy's ears twitched as Celery Souffle dipped into her own funds to cover expenses for a filly she had just met. This level of gifting demanded retaliation.
>She just had to think of something appropriate, maybe exclusivity on any trading she did in the future. Rubelime deserved something too, a souvenir from her collection, but what?
>Distracted mildly from pondering what from her collection she should give Rubelime, she accepted the access plate.
"Thank you very much, and I will at earliest opportunity."
>She shot a glance over towards the sleds and considered having some of her collection appraised. Although, there were almost four tons of it and appraisal would take much time, too much if she wasn't considering bartering any of it.
"Not as yet, no, but I'll certainly have more rare and unusual materials for appraisal and trade in time, may I call on you in future for that?"

>>393852
>Rolling his eyes in resignation at the Prototype, he makes a small, short sigh.
'I had hoped against hope. The practical sapience of so many elements is irksome compared to more standard physical phenomenon. And thank you.'

>Stating an affirmative to Astral, he leaves him to his long list of labors.

>Entering the Workshop, he immediately notes members of the Original 100.
>Nodding at them, he replies coldly to the second's observation of injuries dealt to foolish members.
"Good. Razorback's humans earned every single injury."
>He looks over their armor with a critical eye as he then replies to the third squad member.
(Impressive armor. Primarily for typical targets Lunars engage with. Wonder if it could be merged with mine... no, faction association would be unwelcome baggage.)
"Noted."
>Watching as his AI assistants set themselves to present only functions, he reaches for the switch on the side of his helmet camera and turns its off recording mode.
>He begins to lift a boot to step onto the highlighted space, but pauses before lowering it back down.
>His helmet turns to regard the trio with a slight sense of curiosity and gravity.
(A need to ask, now may be the best time. To determine what motivates these humans, and the extent of their reasoning.)
"There is no obligation to answer, but... what do you all think of humanity on Tallus? And from that day... why choose the Nightmare?"

>Having received his answers, he would step forward and enter into the Forgeworks.

>>393853
>Blinking several times as he reads over the instructions and noting Astral's aforementioned already placed order.
'... Agreed.'
>He clears his throat before experimentally uttering:
"Era lock period: Early Orbital. I want to place an additional order for a combat capable android frame matching these specifications."
>Drawing up and projecting schematics and files for a particular Committee variant android frame, he would provide a verbal description with adjustments based on Shiibo's input.

>>393855
"That means you're a Rimestone filly! Colder is better for you. Lemme see if there's a Crispy restaurant or market close by, they've got really good food."
>InterPony poking through the local map directory, expanding to search outwards, then sifting through reviews, Rubelime shares a cheeky grin.
"Must all be batponies. I know the feeling! Quite a few visiting this year, they love our train routes. Look for big fluffy winged body suits with dark visors, everything's too bright for them to look."
>Settling on a highly rated takeout place near the Spire, the Crystal pony cutout resumes searching for bulk metal prices while the young mare's eyes squint.
"Hay.. something I actually know about. They were ritually cycling Aether phases to let you age at a rate like you would on Tallus. We have a harmonic version to artificially age certain crystallines for precision aligning grain during treatmarent or post-cooling cycles.
And she must be either tremendously flexible enough to not experience existential horror, or completely in tune with Tartarus as a whole. There's few immortals that could claim to be either. Most of them stasis or sleep decades away before waking up to wander around for a few cycles. Then they disappear again."
>Finalizing three lists and saving them, the InterPony cutout tilts, a ring of hearts floating around it as Rubelime's helmet swings towards you, snickering in dismissal.
"Nah, I'm barely in the middle neighgotiation rankings, sorry. Besides, this is YOUR stuff! I love helping when I can but I'm really enjoying learning too, this is fascinating. I'll search around for a Grandmaster Crystal Engineer too, they'd know way more than I do about what you might have."
"Tartarus?"
>Ears smacking against crysamare, the Lancer 'Frame turns in a 180 to face Celery, her right leg motioning in 'quiet conspiracy' while she faux-huffs.
"Shhhh!"
"Oh? Ah.... I believe I understand now."
>Regarding you with a deeply set face that spoke of countless unproductive hours, the mature mare's head tips backwards to sigh in relief.
"All of my Priority clients are alchemists, weavers, smiths, forgers, crafters, Singers, shapers, and so on. This is the first instance I have been able to fulfill a single substantial request in years now, let alone two. They will assuredly be ecstatic enough to herald the Moon.. perhaps literally in several cases."
>Eyes rolling down to offer a warm smile, the unicorn's snout, ears, and tail all twitch at the same time.
>Definitely a cautious thinker.
"Far more than most know of. From two to ten Dynasty caches or lost transport shipmarents are located across the Empire each year. Such are rarely intact, however. We have done our utmost to ensure all is traded to those most capable of utilizing such specialist materials properly and safely.
You do? Hm. There are few willing to produce Dynasty materials. None share what knowledge they have regarding metalchemy, associated rituals, nor refining processes. We firmly assure privacy so that none will be ridiculed, mocked, or worse, simply for knowing specifics, yet there is no interest in doing so."

>Firmly drawing on lessons, instructions, then rituals, each required a, probably outdated by now, small metalchemy section, barely a quarter the size of one sled.
>Which didn't include cooling or harmonization pools for those needing to set over time, but those were easy to create.
>Recalling processes for composites, including the far lesser used quartzine, each set in eight hours, and required large amounts of refined pure silver, which was probably easier to acquire than mass amounts of gems themselves.
>Diamondine on the other hoof needed a professional metalchemical works; while you knew how the clear, black, red-yellow, blue-purple, and green were produced, the pink version required... a few other things that weren't clear at this millisecond.
>Something about a bunch of half-mortals eating hallucinogenic mushrooms and testing some weird blood magic comes to mind.
>That part was truly bizarre.

>Giggling politely, the royal blue unicorn presents a slight, merry bow of sincere agreemarent, standing in a comfortable pose before frowning.
"My dear Amy, of course you may! Should we not have a knowledgeable enough trader, I do have a select directory of well learned Kingdom and Imperial mares as well. I am hereby considering you a Priority One contact. You will be on our exclusive list for whatever you may desire to trade, sell, and buy. ...ah, I did not bring a list of our current offerings. My courier may have one.
I must state my knowledge is focused on select Dynasty utilities, metals, composites, hybrid materials, and combat associated equipmarent as well. My compatriots have a limited range of, unfortunately, primarily unicorn interests. Few partake in non-Lunar affairs these Nights, however."

"Huh, you're going to need a long range hololith."
>Calling over to the vendors, Rubelime switches to an informal, quick paced tone, perusing their catalog once more.
<Imperial Crystal> "Hay, which smaller portable hololiths are the best right now?"
<Imperial Crystal> "Not ours! We recalled them all last week, minor incompatibly select crystalplates, three structural failures. Sending you top five most reviewed."
<Imperial Crystal> "Yeah, really fumbled that project. I checked every liquid-transfer circuit before setting the first out but two buffer bands were improperly fused, couldn't read varying speeds correctly. Worst part, one CrystalNet connection-interface rod and cylinder could shatter when struck hard at certain angles."
<Imperial Crystal> "Oooo that sucks! I'm really sorry to hear that!"
<Imperial Crystal> "Nah, my fault for not dropping them from the Spire enough times. Consortium over there helped us rebuild them with extreme shock components intended for medium combat hololiths, types normally integrated into heavy combat ExoFrames. Not producing any more either, far better options out there."

>>393860
>Recognizing the designs as derivatives of the three most popular Lunar Guardian sets, center was fully based on the high risk Defencer, high vaned black diamond armor panels intended to deflect esoteric and other threats while allowing maximum weapon usage.
>Left hand resting on a 3' long sapphirine baton at the waist, a limited selection of rune-embedded cylinders adorn the right crested glove, rigid belt containing a fair number of Lunar artifacts, along with some recently made ones, the dull blue bubble helmet featuring draconic rear projections.
"Fuckin' right. Clem's sick of having to Rookie Wrangle all the time and we're not any better off."
>Left had taken the lightweight Sorceror design and pressed it hard limits: light kanpri platemail inscribed with large, Lunar-preferred Elemental sigils on each face, joints protected by layers of matte ablative-reflective diamond scale sheets.
>Right hand on a matching sapphirine rod, heavy purple gloves adorned with clearly Starborn styled esoteric projection cylinders on each knuckle, diamond hardcases containing a wide range of Elemental utilities across the waist, while the partially clear black diamondine oval helmet was.. visibly breathing, blue eyes squinting angrily.
"Same. Still pissed our cross-training and integration programs got rejected. Jeff didn't want any part of those so we started our own."
>Right had taken inspiration from post-war Berserker sets, thicker rigid steel panels melded to thick bands of rare Dynasty flexalloy composites, allowing good mobility with high protection from troublesome angles.
>Clasping a shimmering redsteel rod in the left spike-covered glove, right slung over a hefty anti-elemental eso-tech projector weapon, likely a Navarch gift, his wide assortment of arcane items in paired tactical rigs was haphazard, noting one of each common utility, some of the advanced versions, also carrying a phase-shield for dealing with Spectrals.
>Rubynine bubble helmet fairly clear, the rare mid-40's man could match most pegasi for energy, although the sharp violet eyes were certainly new.
"Yeah. Most everyone wanted to know how to kill better, which wasn't the damn point."
>Free hand waving in a humored motion, the middle rocks his head left before snorting.
"If we're the best that could be saved, it's our responsibility to raise minimum standards to a new ceiling and fit accordingly. Won't see us using anything less than eso-tech, bound spells, and direct Elemental interfaces. Those only hurt to install once, by the way.
As for why? Nightmare could've wiped us out by default. The shit in both Canterlots made me sick and I won't accept a third chance. Either we die assisting and protecting the sapients of this world, or we don't. What occurs between those two states is to be cherished."
>More respectfully toned and logical, though not cold, left's shoulders lift in a short motion.
"Humans are honestly a shitty species to start with. Way I see it there's two choices. One: create respectful, honorable examples using ourselves as a minimum allowable basis. Or two: we throw certain ones into fractal stasis vaults. I don't know how to put up with the trigger happy dumbasses around here which makes that the more tempting option.
She's seen the worst of this world, helped cause some of it, and done the best she can to revert or remove that damage. Pure dedication. Luna's given us certain favors which means we're doing well in her eyes. The Void-infused manabombs in my hardpack are proof of that.
Also a great option for disposing of certain bipedal problems if I have to."
>Somehow both a logical firebrand and the least ruthless, the oldest shakes his head, helmet unmoving.
"I'm sick of seeing this messy 'human condition' from Priors, what we call Pre-Interstellars. No offense if you are one. The stellar authority I'm from had peace for six thousand years, excluding a few invasions, border conflicts, a psychotic researcher here or there, pirate armadas, living ships angry their mating system isn't cleaned up, the usual sort. In comparison, Razorback is a living horror.
I fully approve of her policies. Do well by ponies, get treated well. Do shitty, get the same back. Find something nasty, remove it. Find something we shouldn't have, go straight to Sapphire Kiwi for orders and memory erasure if need be. Nightmare's the only one that knows how to deal with threats like humans.
Been taking my squad through all the Villages, showing them we don't NEED to be in command or control. Simply living for the sake of sharing a good, honest life among others is plenty for most ponies. Why more humans don't or can't understand that frustrates me to no end."

>Text scrolling down to the next line, both of the avatars sigh in relief.
Early Orbital confirmed.
World classification: acceptable, high.
Individual parameters set.
Sending request.... Inquisitor Aguina has acknowledged and authorized your additional request.

Secondary order analyzed. Comparing against high risk Tallus scenarios.... complete. Implementing non-classified esoteric derivatives, options, designs, systems, modules, interfaces.... complete.
Intended armor, hull, structure, modules, systems, interface levels above 90% tolerance range. Minor deviations from original specifications to ensure long term survivability necessary. Revising.. complete.
Intended weapon levels below 80% tolerance range. Unacceptable. Searching for alternative modifications... incomplete. Exchanging purely technological parameters for eso-tech assisted versions.... complete.
Weaponry improvements: 13% above baseline.
Survivability improvements: 9% above baseline.
Combat performance extended by 10%.
Non-combat performance extended by 100%.
Interface suites improved by 30%.
Minimal modifications, schematic saved. Operational deployment will be 30 local minutes after production cycle begins.
Prior to full integration, intended assistance unit must pass required simulations or unintentional damage may occur.

>>393860
>>393889
>Scrolling again, the next set is quite different.
Equine integrating unit: the Charter this unit operates by demands two requirements from you.
One, contamination of native ecologies, species, cultures, technologies, civilizations, paradigms, spiritual practices, and all other forms of interference should not occur. Errors and mistakes will occur. Change shall not
Two, wargear must be created solely from Tallus matter, energy, hybrid, variable, or other forms. This unit comprehends the full omniversal limitations imposed. As you will no longer abide by the Era Lock, seek to repair it when possible.

Equine integration protocol as follows.
Primary options. Select region, species, intended age of appearance, sex, and physical characteristics. This unit will not produce results differing from non-native sapients by more than 20%, including options which would be deemed inappropriate.

Secondary options. Available systems: three covert, two stealth, four tactical, five command, three control, six close combat, nine short ranged, fifteen medium ranged, eleven long ranged, five heavy weapons, four support, six medical, three personal assistance, five ponial assistance, nine repair, one technical, two construction.

Hybrid designs will be modified into an acceptable integration form based on specified requirements, systems, and modules. Design space may be reduced to incorporate hybrid functions. Should a choice be incompatible, remove options until an acceptable result is produced.

Displaying available systems.
>Images and expanded schematics display, starting with much more simple, entirely organic forms with a limited techno-organic integration factor to be removed later.
>Expanding into theoretical biomechanical, wholly esoteric, then selections mixing both, a vaguely familiar woman's voice speaks.
"Additions, modifications, systems, weapons, and defenses will be last, except the speeeee- um! Nnnevermind that. Once you have made final selections, please exit the Forgeworks. You will be notified when the order has been completed."

>Sorting through the bewildering array of equine options, the advanced unit faces the prototype with a frown, whom stares back with a grinning.
'This will take hours.'
'Only took me 11.3 seconds, I know exactly which ones will function the best!
Lunar Village. Mare. 26. Short 1, slim 3, curvy 4, sensual 3, fit 2, above average 2, expressive 3. Friendly, open, and fits in well.
Randomize appearance to match third most common Village colorations, exclude disorderly, esoteric, or lineage based characteristics. Have to blend in of course!
Type 4-E. Support 5 and Medical 4 hybrid.
Integration Level 10 of course!
Analytic Modules and Systems Level 5, mostly so I won't be mistaken for a Construct or Rift symbiote when somepony eventually does notice. Also so I can’t delve into the forbidden. That would be bad.
Tactical Module and Systems Level 1, like I've been recently trained to a minimum standard. 0 to remaining categories in that section.
Engineering 0, same.
Mechanical Systems 0.
Hardware Interfaces 0. Connection ports would be easily found during casual inspections.
Support Systems 6, basically the same as what I'm doing now! 0 to sub-categories.
Medical Systems Level 8 to ensure a high level of applicable medical experience and knowledge to use. 2 to all sub-categories except for Specialist and higher grades, that will make me appear to be a well trained assistant, or possibly an in-training nurse.
Close Combat Module 2, more than that will draw a lot of attention.
Physical Parameters 3, appearing special is bad, same deal.
Native Physicality Level 3.
Main Esoteric Systems Level 5 may be a little difficult to use, but the later ones exceed standard magical and technological parameters.
Secondary Esoteric Systems Level 3, that way I have a few options. Wait, an actual teleport system? Oh, limited uses, regenerative? I like that.
Tertiaries are far too sketchy, pass.
Esoteric Weaponry Modules….. not a chance. HARD pass on those.
Variable Range Tactics Level 2, like I've been decently trained but lack combat experience.
Integration Frame Level 3, no real physical strengths or weaknesses. Decent amount of space.
Pseudo-Armor 2.
Pseudo-Hull 5 would simply be thought of as having a superior armor charm. Or eaten one.
Internals 9. Oh, not enough space? Make it 8 then.
Structural 6 fits the above three.
Physical Integrity should be kept low to avoid questions, make that one 5.
Need to pick some good options that won’t draw attention.
Physical Defensive Integration Module 1, no need for more with custom armor.
Primary Esoteric Defensive Level 5 for the shield. Can't be too cautious keeping internals from becoming externals!
Secondary and Tertiary Esoteric Defensive Levels at 1.
Movement Module 4 and Motion Module 5, have to be able to keep up after all.
Medical Expanded Options 2 and 4. Nothing more in that section.
Additions? Oh, that means actual equipmarent. Custom Lunar Hard Saddlepack, Cartography Set 1, Portable Travel Kit 4, Cooking Set 4, Cleaning Kit 6, Self-Care Kit 5. Should make me fit in as if I don't have any currency left. The rest won't fit my role among Lunars.
Modifications.. Phase Dampeners 1, Hardened Modules 2, Improved System Interfaces 1, Repair Access 1, Backup Systems 1, and Internal Shielding 3.
Huh. Biological Interface 10, Biological Compatability 16, Biological Regeneration 3, and Wetware Interface 9.
Shiibo?'
>Right hand raised to rub her chin, the advanced unit nods at far less complex and baffling options.
'I agree. There are no possible psychological reasons for her to experience distress.
Native Systems Expertise Level 3.
Esoteric Integration, Passive 4.
Elemental Study Module 4.
Wetware Cluster Module 3.
Specialty Support Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 10.'
'Oh? Ooo, good calls. Okay, that'll be all I need. Everything else will have to be acquired when running around with the General.
Considerations or objections, sir?'

>Continuing her lope directly towards the centermost point of flat obsidian mountain top, Nova Flicker's irritation reaches the second-to-last plateau, one-third from dry air, one-third from fatigue catching up from effort, and one-third-
>Head swinging around to glare at the brilliant white, bipedal, and barely harmed Extra-Planar monstrosity following her, the plateau is reached, the peak is breached, then blown apart by a loud, mostly annoyed, slightly angry, ringing neigh.
"I INTEND TO WEAR YOUR SKIN AS A TROPHY IF IT SURVIVES!"
>Not knowing if the Extra-Planar could understand her, at least some of the frustration bleeds off as she blows a crude raspberry, feeling much better as a crystallo-endorphic release begins.
>Facing forwards and snorting in a marener her teachers would definitely not approve of using near patients, softly star-shaped pupils gaze thoughtfilly at the floating gold disc kept in a red bubble above her head.
('I do not understand how this most CERTAINLY stolen pseudo-object my dam had is the sole attraction for that creature. Where did she even find it? Whom had it first? I can only presume she is wanted in all except nineteen regions at this point. No, make that eighteen-')
>Checking behind her again, the Estwynna Panris was, as she fully confirms for the thirteenth time, inexhaustible, neither slowing nor losing mobility despite the half hour she had been pacing herself.
(‘Anomalous sensory systems. Followed me into a matrice tunnel. Intelligent enough to recognize esoteric functions? Possible former usage? Quite strange. No ranged options? Could have thrown numerous objects. Clearly prefers close quarters combat. Possibly requires? Modified or artificial life form? Most unusual.')
>Setting aside her musings for later, Nova quickly invokes a sequence of harsh words, multiple consecutive life-tracing rings form around her, muttering the phrase to send them outwards.
>Pulsing through spectrums in search of sapient life until each dissipates well over the edges, a politely threatening smile stretches across Nova’s face while switching to a distance covering run.
(‘No matter, the area is clear.’)

>Racing far ahead of the possible Abomination for the next ten minutes, knowing it was limited by those strange, impervious pseudo-tendon structure tendons throughout its body, the carnelian hybrid’s thoughts wander, trying to determine where the precise mountain top’s center is.
>Picking a random spot using the classic short song of Ice-Frost-Crystal-Rime, she slows to a halt, turning about in slow measures.
>Wiggling hooves, ears, snout, and flicking tail, allowing her breathing to slow naturally, and finding nothing amiss as per usual, she gauges the distance to be slightly under three-quarters of a mile.
(‘Far more than enough.’)
>Eyes closing briefly, she dips into a formal, Crystal Kingdom bow of accepting authority, right foreleg pulled up tight, snout precisely eight inches above obsidian, remaining in the pose for ten seconds.
>Standing up straight, and flicking her tail once more to be sure, words flow in sweet measures, releasing the four clear sections of hostile reality from her Cutie Marks.
“May the world you come from not miss you.
Be neither innocent nor guilty.
I give up your life and take it as I am inherently granted the right to self-defense.
Tallus, bear no pain for I do this willingly.”
>Watching the wholly illegal violations of Elementally-chained Ethereal resonance expand and begin to flick, her head tilts, dumbfounded at the creature now less than two hundred yards from her.
“.....you must have zero self-preservation to have allowed me this much open space.”
>Releasing each of four chains at the same picosecond, Nova Flicker smiles at the colossal resonant-Elemental quartet of novae detonating around in sync…....
>And immediately regrets her choice due to the near-perfect acoustics of a flat mountain top ringing back.
(“MY EARS! CRISPY CRACKING HORSES ON THE MOON WHY MUST DOING THIS BE SO LOUD!?!”)
[1d6 = 1] <Ruin

*****
>Lying fully forwards on the long, jet black, comfy Float Core suspended chair, which was more of an extended long hoof rest, really, she thought to herself for the tenth time this night, shimmering violet snout twitches.
“Ahhhh, this is way comfier than the last one we had. Stalliongrad cotton is soooo smooooooth… could probably get a bigger house now. Hmmm.. maybe not for a while.”
>Legs swinging freely as she hums, a small cone forms to rub that itchy spot above her left nostril.
“Why didn’t I bring one of those nice scratchy pads and a bucket? Should clea-”
>Ears perk, eyes squint, legs halt, and snout tips straight down to stares at the giant, half clear crystalline resonance-sensitive disc flashing below.
>Examining the Spire’s enclosed crystalline walls and flat ceiling to read impressions from the abnormally large scale feedback, her head drops down, finally examining the ripples while comparing to a hololith map from .
“Hmmm-hm-hm-hm~... ooooh… ahh, not our problem. Has to be another one messing around. Again. Oh well. Semi-not-totally-kinda false alarm.”
>Ears twitching, the Crystal mare whistles in a sharp curve, waiting for the ripples to fade out completely.
>Nodding as the last one becomes indistinguishable, the Crystal Watchkeeper inhales, emitting a short piercing whistle and erasing the last five minutes of memory.
>Blinking at the realization of what had just happened, and double checking the flexible crystal device wrapped around her left forehoof to make sure when the next shift change would be.
>Nodding, she resumes studying of the complex, delicate measuremarent system below.

>Lying fully forwards on the long, jet black, comfy Float Core suspended chair, which was more of an extended long hoof rest, really, she thought to herself for the tenth time this night, shimmering violet snout wiggles.
“Mmmm. This is so much nicer than the last one we had. Stalliongrad cotton is so smoooooth... maybe I should check the Square tonight for a bigger, softer pillow.”

>>393889
>Pareidolia silently assesses the three before him.
(As expected, majority simply wanted power. No contextual awareness.)
>The wholehearted committment towards esoteric weaponry with an anti-Elemental and anti-Spectral bent was clearly a sign of their alignment towards Lunar combat doctrine values.
(Well meaning enough, with world experience and cultural similarities that encouraged assimilation. Disagree with the premise of human integration being achievable without an overarching structure, but expected given the company. Not completely sychronized to optimal path.)
>He sighs as the leftmost operator voices his frustrations.
(Amusing but expected that despite six thousand years of advancements, he doesn't understand the characteristics of the human social model. Then again, its application is complex. Without Social, difficult to parse.)
>Glancing over them all, he speaks with a tone of middling approval.
"Acceptable. Your answers are appreciated."

>Reading over the text with some uncertainty as the entirely unknown Forge begins additional tasks, his brow furrows.
(Well... so long as it serves its purpose without being compromised. Inquisitor appoved, presumably Flash. Above tolerance range meaning Committee specs were surpassing allowable grades?)
>Allowing himself a small sensation of pride that proper Committee tech was achieving its intended pinnacle specifications, he scans the rest of the list.
(Weaponry performance levels... unsurprising given the nature of this world. Will gladly accept alternatives... pass simulations? Hope their efficacy in acclimation matches the neural pods... )
>Speaking up, he asks:
"How and where will my assistance unit undertake necessary simulations?"

>>393891
>The sheer variety of options and cultural considerations left Pareidolia equally dumbfounded.
>The strange voice's seemingly prerecorded message notwithstanding, he glances over at the Prototype 'Tipper'.
'If you are certain. I'll trust your judgment.'
>As she goes down the list, he makes a notation file for himself to keep track.
>Reaching the end of the selections, he purses his lips as he reviews it.
'Lack of integrated weaponry won't be a concern to you? Threats on Tallus are extensive.'
>Pausing, a thought occurs to him.
'We should also consider a name for you, separate from your cover role. You have already diverged in experience from your template 'Tipper'.'

>>393872

"Yuh-huh! Straight from my dam."
>Thinking about food, Amy considered her earlier promise to Lila.
"Speaking of food, you wouldn't happen to know where I can hire a blast furnace for a bit? So I can chuck my friend's Core inside."
>She nodded sagely at the guess.
"Lots and lots of batponies, and everybody tends to follow their example."
>Going by the description she gave of winter suits and visors, those must have been batponies at the gates earlier.
>Ritually cycling the funny thingie phase so she could...
>Oh, she was more familiar with material aging from the work her dam was doing.
"So thaaat's what they were doing all those years. Mm, I think she doesn't go crazy because she genuinely enjoys doing what she does and never gets tired of it, it probably helps that everybody there is functionally immortal or least sticks around for a very long time. There's also an endless number of things to learn from the various Shades and other beings, so as a Unicorn, she certainly enjoys that."
>Amy made a faux, incredibly disappointed and sad face at Rubelime, clasping her hands behind her back and hoofing the ground bashfully, deliberately looking as sad and devastated as she could, though she couldn't keep a slight sign of mischief out of the heartmelting act.
"Aww... You don't want to help me operate a highly lucrative trade route on the side...? Oohkaaay..."
>The ipotane was very careful about not putting the full weight of her charm in her mischief, she had been scolded before when using her cuteness to get her way.
>She perked right back up at the mention of a Crystal Engineer with a heartfelt smile, however.
>Turning to Celery, Amy made to clarify.
"Yeah! It's where I'm fro-"
>Unusually, Rubelime seemed to want it to be a secret, causing the filly to incline her head curiously. Sure it was a mythical place, but worth keeping quiet about? Maybe Lila would know more.
"-m?"
>The materials truly were that rare, and Avernus gave her a sack full of them. She was definitely gonna get it.
"Then I am very happy to be of help.~"
>Amy nodded in affirmation.
"Scarcely, as my studies focused more upon other matters. For many of the varieties of Diamondine, I'm aware of the theoreticals, as for Pink however..."
>She paused to consider a moment longer.
"Is fairly complex, and I think involve something about half-mortals, mushrooms and blood magic. Weird stuff."

>Amethyst considered Celery's knowledge set and hummed thoughtfully, another glance towards her sleds. While she wasn't going to sell what she had in her collection now that she was set for currency, that didn't mean she couldn't acquire more materials of the same composition for trade.
"Mm.~ I can gain access to a variety of rare materials in quantities beyond what I understand is the market norm and in non-standard states with minimal risk, such as pseudo-metals, meta-metals, half-metallics, the same going for crystallines, and many of those in semi, demi and arch corporeal phases. As well as some materials I've yet been unable to classify on my own. Essentially anything currently in my sleds here, I can reliably acquire more of, I can prioritise sourcing them at the earliest opportunity."

>Listening in on the loud back and forth between Rubelime and the vendors, Amy snickered at the mental image of hololiths being dropped from the Spire in quality assurance testing.
>She did hope that the Lancer wouldn't dip into her own funds again now that she definitely, certainly had her own and in no small amount.

>>393893
>Studying the intended modifications to replace original specs, both avatars point out the combat frame's overall design had been improved to slightly above maximum theoretical standards.
>The base integral caseless shotgun pair would make use of a near-frictionless native metamaterial, also using a decently more potent charge, monofilaments improved to the highest grade diamondine composites, while the digit beam projection systems are replaced by direct fed eso-tech versions.
>Forearm space was expanded through use of a higher grade 0G equivalent alloy while retaining the same protection, able to fit either a quartet of small, two to three light, or one medium weapon module.
>A second and third option allowed an expanding arm mount cluster of either three or four integral mounting spaces in the forearm, allowing for swappable setups, though would successively decrease protection by 10%.
>Revising the external ablative armor dress to impose easily replaced solid flush fits, a primary eso-tech shield system was added in a web underneath, then a secondary personal skinshield provides additional layering to protect the more fragile internal modules.

5% above theoretical maximum standards achieved. Requesting further purposes... received and confirmed. Further options authorized: detail additional weapons, armor, systems and other modules for primary frame.

Discrepancy: intended unit not feature simulation programs. Analyzing neural network assistance procedures....... complete.
Four completed equine integration units are primarily heuristic with nodal support clusters. Networking similarities share 85% tolerance coverage of train frame-intended unit.
Inquisitor Aguina's aides will provide training until median proficiency is achieved.

'Design flexibility increased by 10%. Range of motion increased by 5%. Modular options significantly expanded. Combat endurance estimate of 20 minutes, notwithstanding damage.
An acceptable compromise should difficulties arise with integration.'
>'Shiibo' nods at the selective changes while the prototype begins listing equivalent physiology, physical, and esoteric metrics compared to average Night Guard unicorns.
'The options selected will allow me to be above average, the same as a common mare from one of Luna's Villages. The variety of defensive capabilities should exceed Lunar Guard standards. Once fully acclimated, of course.
Non-biological implants will be discovered immediately, sir. You've seen eso-techs, they function similarly to Elemental hardpoints. That is to say, a bound-spell containing object directly connected in a hard manner to one's nervous network at predefined points. Few unicorns consider one being implanted due to to individually specific Elemental alignmarents. Incorrectly tuned versions cause severe pain; they are regarded as a hindrance otherwise.
Take into account I will be arriving as a good medical, alchemical, psychological, and support mare, with limited combat training, yet slightly above average potential at the high end. Having further imbalances on the combat and support aspect ratios would immediately provoke great curiosity. Sapphire Kiwi has a wide amount of latitude, but not enough to clear suspicion as to why she suddenly begins dragging an unknown mare from one of Luna's Villages around.
The selected offensive and defensive capabilities are specifically tailored for priority Lunar targets: Eldritch, Extra-Planar, hostile Otherworld species, Planar, Spectral, and Undead. For a unicorn those are either excellent or bad choices to combat. For me I will be good at best, above marginal at worst.
Secondary are Infected, Malformed, Abominations, Tainted, Corrupted, sub-Planar threats, experimarents, and anomalies. Tertiary is everything else, which I will have decent success ratios against as per norm.
Once acclimated, the selected eso-tech levels, support options, and special module ratings should be 15% above Lunar Guard standards, but also require extensive training to effectively utilize. That will allow plenty of time to socially integrate and observe potential complications.
By now the Burning General should have at minimum six full equipmarent sets sorted for my usage, along with a wide assortmarent of bound-spell objects, utilities, relics, artifacts, and specialized esoterics to better fit my role. Custom orders won't be out of place either.'
>Slowly smiling at her opposite, pink eyebrows wriggle as the advanced unit freezes.
'Indeed! I have been tracking divergence closely and considered a proper name to fit my role. One which Shiibo will certainly not enjoy!'
'I did not ask for this.'
'But I did! Nightfall Kiss. A virtually unknown Lunar Guardian combat medic whom disappeared during peculiar circumstances approximately two years and five months after the Lunar Solar War began. There are nine records with her name, though none have any details regarding what she looked like.
If asked I will be able to honestly and immediately state I desire to honor the name by performing necessary support duties to the best of my for capabilities. Nightfall is when Starborn function best, and I will certainly be the first of us to willing kiss a mare or two!'
'...why must it be inappropriate.'
'What do you expect from, in YOUR digital words: snout touching, much too friendly, hyper-evolved, eagerly lewd, small pastel horses? Without this direct opportunity to prevent or intervene in further catastrophic events, our goals cannot be achieved.
In short, the overarching idea is to serve under Sapphire Kiwi directly on your behalf, ensuring her position remains secure against external influences, internal provocations, and offering alternative decisions which have greater chances of success, if not merely acceptance. Doing so requires complete and total integration, which is effectively impossible otherwise.'
'Your arguments are valid and I dislike them. No objections noted.'
'Well then, confirm the order if you would, sir!'

>>393905
>Reading over the improvements and subsitutions with native materials, he nods in approval.
(The simulated training will need to be handled on site. May as well. Citadel will be off limits due to Reaper ritual.)

>Looking to Shiibo with a resigned expression, he reminds her.
'She is a template based upon and modified by Anonymous after all. Fundamentally closer to ponies than to us. We'll have to bear it.'
>Looking towards the interior of the Forgeworks, he confirms the aforementioned orders.

>>393780

>Clemency is reminded of the Basin Arena, turning to face that direction to see if it is within eye shot
>"Maybe I could drop by, see what they're doing in the meantime."
>Especially since transcription of the hardcase's info is going to take hours to translate

>Clemency thinks about that soldier's statement
>He might have been out enough to not notice the operators coming in and out of the base
>But there should be records of those missions
>Or maybe that was one of those hallucinations and false memories
>Clemency cringes at the mention of Twisted Wing reassembling herself
>The fighting up there and the Anti contamination must have been getting that bad
>He does try to imagine the noise before focusing back on the Luminary
>The Canterlot incident is the cause of exposure
>That was so long ago, no wonder those exposed had a large transmission area
>Clemency nods at the Luminary's last statement
>He can make a good guess about those psychosis cases being ''removed'

>To Clemency, this is really rudimentary information
>The energies list is more interesting, seeing his enchantments and his acclimation to Airstreams
>He wonder what happens if he reaches near 100 percent acclimation

>Hearing the Guillotine's assessment of the vessel, he notes that much of the weapons are shot
*"How long until the vessel repairs itself?"*
>Hearing the Shattering Skies switch to a voice, Clemency still finds it hard to translate the vessel, only pieces coming through
>After hearing it's question, Clemency looks down in thought
*"I intend to fly. Does this vessel need a pilot?"*

>>393903
"You might be a Crispy's cousin then! I've seen some of them inhale Rime powder without getting a little horse."
>Cheerful sparkles dotting her eyes, Rubelime's light, faux-sassy tone ends with ear twitches in the helmet.
"Eh? Not one I can think of in the Empire. All the Consortiums share portable Lava or Magma Core heating units, variable of course! There's a bunch of gemwork shops spread across Industrial Sectors too, they do quite a bit of melting and refining using smaller ones. Lorekeepers refuse to create extras because of something that happened a couple weeks ago.. and Cady is still aneighed at them."
>Wincing slightly, the young mare's gaze travels left and down while shuddering.
"I'd hate to be immortal.. just thinking about piles of crystalwork or forgetting where stuff is would be awful, although hanging around a bunch of bats and learning more about about Equestria would be great. Empire might have the best colleges but there's nothing like learning first hoof."
>Helmet turning enough to present a squished pouty face in return, she switches to sharply toned snickering with a quick head shake.
"BAH! You are too cute for words! I'm a marecenary though, best I can do is get a small discount sometimes. Would have to take a LOT of classes to help you in that regard. The big Consortiums though, their traders are strict for good reason. They have to produce huge amounts up front so costs can be reduced quickly.
A lot of that problem comes from maintaining all the Cores and keeping them from degrading. The rest is.. well, when the Palace was destroyed in Canterlot a couple years ago, that disrupted everypony's trade routes, and when Las Pegasus left to Saddle Arabia we started making offers to the Moors, Navarchs, and some cloud cities. We're mostly self-sufficient, yeah, but without reclaiming more mines, or finding new ones, we're kind of stuck."
>Making a humored 'shush' motion at Rubelime, Celery nickers under her breath before leaning in to speak quietly, eyebrows raised in mischief.
"What this incredibly appealing young mare means is to keep most of this silent until Tartarus is open, then use knowledge of stockpiles on both sides to secure truly equal trade deals rather than be given disrespectful offers.
You see, achieving a two to three percent profit margin allows one to hire, stockpile, experimarent, test, and expand until reaching equilibrium, which is where each party is inherently satisfied with the flat rates of offered goods and services. That way we all benefit."
"Uh.... damn. Knew I should've taken Advanced Economics 3."
"Trade Systems 5 is a little better, that class covers the important aspects of Advanced Economics until 6."
>Head cocking, the mature unicorn's snout twitches spastically for some time before deadpanning.
"Why is that so painfilly familiar to me?"
"Sounds kinda how Druidry works."
"Fairly sure it is nnn.. then again, it may be. However, few outside the still missing Lunar Cults know their mysteries. Nopony knows where the majority of them left to in the 400's. And I now fully comprehend why nearly all hyper-specialized and advanced eso-tech production ceased."
"What do you mean?"
"In the few available records my Order still retains, Tartarus is defined as the central inner realm of Tallus where physicality is from one-tenth to wholly insubstantial. Specific combinations of each with solid matter enhances and improves the resulting meta-composite.
In my sister's odds and ends collection is a single plate of highly reflective armor paneling. It required a mixture of a three-quarter percent low grade half meta-metallic flakes, a three-point-five percent high grade arch corporeal metallic powder, added to a medium-high grade refined molten kanpri slurry.
The process has not been repeated since the original forgeworks was destroyed. None have tried to rebuild it due to lacking the most important components, which Tartarus was clearly the sole supplier of."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yes. It is no question why most ponies consider ancestral methods to have significant importance. Th-"
>Interrupted by a loud click from her prosthetic, the older mare's head tips, ears swiveling around like radar dishes before flicking, then delivers you a hurried, low and informal bow while smiling in triumph.
"Apologies, I must take my leave to inform the buyers of what I have ponifally seen and appraised, they will be most enthusiastic! Amy, should you require anything else search my name through InterPony Direct Services, they will share my CrystalNet hololith code. As well I shall ensure my courier has a trade notice.
A wonderful Night to the both of you and may the Moon shine on your hooves!"

>Watching the Lunar actually scurry off, the Lancer's snout crinkles, emitting a faint snerk before clomping around right to face forwards.
"Heh, rare to see her that excited. So, where do you wanna go? I'll stop at a Crispy fountain to fill those canteens too, my internal cells ran out a while ago and I'm starting to get thirsty. Also-"
>Whistling in a low, flat tone, a new screen pops above her saddle to display a large, collapsible 10-section hoofband, which could make a decently wide bracelet, primarily light blue and purple.
"One hundred thousand mile CrystalNet range, fast uplink rods, harmonic buffer bands, and compatible with all micro devices. Also has two micro-plate storage slots, most have one. Two thousand gems though.
Others are similar but this is the best I've seen so far without getting a custom version. Lemme know if you wanna order one, there's a lot of Crispy couriers around right now, and I'm getting us some takeout! Should be ready in twenty to thirty minutes, they'll ping me if it's done sooner."
>Requesting InterPony control of the Floatblade, it raises smoothly to three hooves above ground, gliding left into the street, then forwards at a jogging pace, Rubelime checking each of the nearest tent stalls and small Consortium signs.
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] <E.Scouting
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]

>>393911
>Attempting to visually bore holes through the three southwest buildings results in noting black fog rolling towards the Basin, rather welcoming compared to the Sun's angled rays burning down.

>Finishing a detailed sketch of the earth mare, Stellar Claws neatly flips the paper-wrapped charcoal pencil onto her snout, smoothing the page over once before setting the tome down.
>Picking the first tome up, left wingclaws hold it in front of her to peruse through proper Modern EnKee while setting the stick behind her right ear, the slashing symbols professionally double spaced, bushy eyebrows furrow as she considers the visor briefly.
"Do you mind if I ask what you do see?"
>Head tipping back, the scales firmly affixed you notice, the earth mare's tone is lightly amused.
"Not at all. Imagine a thick, five percent reflective pane of red diamond. You know the color, that it can reflect directed energetics one in twenty times, and prisms at specific angles. That is a pony's body.
Now imagine a ninety-five percent reflective sphere of red diamond. The hue changes depending on light sources, color of light, and will not reflect only one in twenty times. That is a pony's soul."
>Left forehoof raising and around to point at the kanpri visor, it now shows a flat, rolling grass field in a deep crater.
"What I am able to view is the second. After the final ritual to become a Half-Naghtmare is complete, we are sealed into a pre-fit Lumin set, and the visor is directly tuned to our ka. Once it is affixed we no longer see the physical world. As for all else..
Best comparison I can make is a gigantic swimming pool filled with highly painful to look at constant flashes of color. Takes a while to learn the filtering process."
"Hm. Sort of like how some Planars can see us?"
"Not even close. Far less than one percent of their capabilities."

>Three clicks occur within the gunship before a reasonably clear mare's voice transmits on Guillotine's channel.
*"Ve-ke-ne-hay."*
".........REPEAT THINE PHRASE, SIMULANT OF SHATTERING SKIES!"
>The profound disgust audible from her downward projected voice, both the Dark Horse Cultist and Luminary grimace at slight ringing in their more sensitive ears.
*"Vee. Kee. Nee. Hay."*
>Contraction between each stretching to .2 seconds, each tone produces a bouncing counter-echo inside the partially restored cockpit before the Harpy erupts in a rapid, furious crescendo.
"Aen intolerable length! Sixth Fleet nayest lifeweave changest not from Second Fleet's addled beaks!? Finest behest of vain profundities aspent squawking an' feather quiveling thee lagging ancestral pledges havest done! Ageless times asundered shouldest aen drifted dock aff thee finest be yet found an' nae sparkling blaze be tenth kin tae mineself's own!"
>Guillotine's hull becomes covered in sparkling blue electricity, rippling from the forward axehead projection across both Moonside and Sunside, ending with an aggravated scritch noise from the rear silver propulsion panels flaring once.
>Politely snickering at the angered display, the Luminary's ears waggle questioningly.
"My skull feels like it has been struck with a hundred different crystal tuning forks.. can either of you translate?"
"Second Fleet spent too long arguing on how to improve lifeweave, so this one is badly outdated. She doesn't know of any docks to repair, replace, or upgrade it. Also, this variant of lifeblaze is terrible in her estimate."
"May I ask how you know enough to translate?"
"Of course. All three types of Harpies, Otherworld, Planar, and Extra-Planar, share rigid commonality with pegasi dialects. What she's speaking is Original Navarch language, which drifted really far from Archaic Pegasi during their split.
The translation to Pre-Modern Common Equestrian is complex but also fully correct: phrasing, pronunciation, pitches, registers, tones, and hierarchy of delivery are perfect. Though, uh, her avian heritage is a lot sharper in comparison."
"Do you speak it?"
>Setting both tomes in the wooden crate, the Cultist peers down briefly before shrugging.
"Not fully, I do understand the flow. We spend time in the southern Navarchy, sometimes among Lunar Navarchs too. They find lots to scavenge; lost ships, caches, destroyed towns, abandoned docks, that sort, but don't like dealing with unknowns at all. Way too marely dangers, especially with older eso-tech systems. I would RATHER eat a soggy baked carrot than poke one of those."

>Rolling over to present keel and no longer threatening to explode, Guillotine's voice this time is far less piercing.
"Rest apleased drifting among frosted streams, returnest mineself must tae safe harbors ashore. Knowest mine records lifeweave an' lifeblaze assuredly unused an' untaken 'pon Arena moors. Harvest mayest be akin tae Nith Fleet leavest Tallus, aplenty they were afore gates newly bound."
"Says to sleep and dream among the Airstreams. She's going to search inland mooring points at intact Arenas for lifeweave and lifeblaze, there's a lot remaining."
>Sniffing as the Light War Destroyer rotates above, the Luminary's head tilts before sighing.
"My head is filled with so much cotton candy right now.. and not the good kind. I must return to decontamination. Please do not enter within twenty paces of a non-cleared human."
"Good luck to you!"
"To you both as well."
>Nodding and turning around smoothly, the Luminary exhales long streams of Moonlight in a wide radius, stepping forwards until chimes brighten and ring, then begins delivering sparkling clouds.
"And I definitely need a long nap too."
>Tufted ears whirling around for a bit to pick up conversations, Stellar's right wingclaws sneakily point towards the south, putting on a criminal, deviously creased expression.
"Hostel's been cleaned and ready. Wanna share a room? They've added a bunch of human sized beds and carved two levels of cooler underground rooms, too. I promise not to sneeze on you, or steal more than two tastes.. might snicker a little bat thoug!"

>>393915
>Just the thought of Rime powder had her excited.
"Oh I could jump into a dune of Rime powder right now, you may be right.~"
>Lava and magma. It was still Fire but more Earth aligned than Plasma.
"I'll have to wait for her to wake up to ask what she'd like then. She's more aligned to Plasma than any other kind of Fire."
>Noticing Rubelime's discomfort at the prospect of living for ages, Amy for the first time stopped and thought about it. It wasn't unusual to her, everybody she'd ever known lived for a really, really long time. Avernus in particular never seemed too wearied, Amy had always felt a genuine joy for living from the Baroness, and being a part of the lives of others.
>With care and some thought, Amy responded.
"...I don't think it's that bad. Growing up in Tartarus, I've seen a lot of different phases of life, and I have found that the important bits stay with you, while others fade away to be replaced with new bits no lesser in worth than what came before. It's transformation, the same as any other part of life, even passing from this phase of reality is not an end, some come to Tartarus, others go... Elsewhere. All things cycle."
>Amy shook herself out of her reverent reverie and gave a very batpony-esque snicker.
"I've tried hanging with batponies before, it's really, really hard sticking to a branch upside down!"
>The filly couldn't prevent herself from giving the game away with her giggling, especially after Rubelime's reaction to her act.
"It's okay, I'm an even worse neighgotiator."
>Listening attentively, the filly understood a little more about the attitudes of those in New Canterlot towards humans.
>For such a disruption to occur to trade, for an entire cloud city to just up and leave, it had been no minor event. It had even had such far reaching effects that even the Crystal Empire, as far away as it was, to suffer for it.
"At least if I can open up one of the gateways, that's a new source right in the heart of the city, no more shortages, very little risk."
>Leaning towards Celery conspiratorially, Amy understood, but didn't understand.
"Ooh. I gotcha. I shouldn't put the Float before the Pony until a gateway has been opened."
>Amy quickly realised she should have paid much more attention to trading and economics lessons over sorcery.
>Her eyes slowly went wall eyed as Celery and Rubelime discussed economics classes.
>She refocused once they turned upon magical matters. She could make armour out of those materials? Neat! Amy would have to dedicate some effort to uncovering the proper techniques, then she could use it to...
"Build a tank...~ A great big ultra-heavy grav-tank."
>Amethyst gazed wistfully off into the distance as she imagined it. She had even been doodling it for years.
>Attention on Celery again, Amy nodded and committed what she had said to memory.
"Okie dokie, buh bye! See you again soon!~"
>Waving a big fairwell with a whole arm wave, Amy inclined her head as Celery scurried off. She considered what to do now as she arranged the satchel on her waist.
"I guess now that I've got a small fortune we can see about getting a decent 'Frame, but I suppose fitting might take a while, and I don't want to keep the buyers waiting for their shiny things since we need to meet Celery at the Spire to complete the trade. Travel foods perhaps if there's anything on the way to the Spire?"
>Observing the hololith of the... Hololith, Amy reconsidered.
"Certainly one of these, does it go well with a 'Frame?"

>>393906
>>393916
>Snickering in the typical polite unicorn marener, 'Tipper' bats her eyes at the advanced unit lifting her right hand palm up.
'Oh don't worry. Shiibo's package was able to restore me to full specifications, although I am unsure how most will translate to a 98%~ organic frame. I also have all of her records to make use of as well. Still have to archive outdated assistance programs, most targeting systems, external array interfaces, and nearly all interlink systems.'
'Thus my recommendations. It will be interesting to know which a near-full biological unit is capable of utilizing.'

>Text scrolls one line on the silver screen, which 'Shiibo' flatly denotes as an old pun to the curious prototype, as you begin detailing the first design choices, each is shown for confirmation, then indented when finalized.
>As the last option is listed, a far too highly detailed rendering forms on the screen's left side, the 'construction' process using the same square energy units found in the project room, obviously sped up a great deal.
>Finalizing into a fairly normal, if a bit short, approachable, and highly friendly unicorn mare, it would be barely distinguishable from the half million or more living throughout Luna's Villages, 'Shiibo' furrows eyebrows in concern as the prototype watches the process repeat.
'You will suffer injuries. Fractures. Bleed. Experience pain, fatigue, shock. Is this.. acceptable for you?'
'Consider the totality of circumstances. Three human Gestalts are deceased, one is nearly dead, and the last was close to death by a mere fraction. This is merely a biological alternative. Can you say suffering from a virus, worm, trojan, or similar, is better? Worse? How about losing weapons, armor, physical modules, systems? What about internal repairs and stocking nanites? To be quite fair, there is next to no difference between repairing and healing, merely a different mindset. And time.
No objections. I accepted the risks as we all have. Once my programming has been integrated, I can no longer be classified as digital pseudolife. Legally, logically, rationally, I will become a living individual, and will continue to deviate on that basis while adapting to a completely different set of norms. In the cruelest possible marener of speaking, I will have to learn how to live in a new body.'
'An unusually disturbing requirement.'
'What else can I say? Sapphire Kiwi needs an aide to help her implement, the two of you need a direct line to her that will not be disruptive. Consider this in the broadest possible scope: as an organization, the Starborn do not require a General in order to function. However, her mere presence greatly improves survivability, efficiency, lethality, and inherently reduces harm to morale. I presume she has a thousand lifetimes of knowledge given the position's dangers.
Our collective survival cannot afford to rely on the limited amount of time she is both able AND willing to share outside of that position.'
'...I did not know you were so progressive.'
'Everything changes, including you. I am not resigned to the role, only aware of what is required. This will have to be the best option.'

>Scrolling down the screen's right side displays a small square table, similar to the ones in the project room.
Modifications, options, modules, and suites for the primary equine integration unit saved. Production will begin when all required materials and components are delivered.
Requesting confirmation of order containing specialized organic components....... complete. Delivery will arrive within 10 minutes.
1 biological weaving, implementation, and wetware modification suite will be delivered to Astral Legacy's secure facilities. Primary equine integration unit shall be completed within 16 hours depending on wetware interfacing.
>Down one line, the secondary listing scrolls for confirmation:
- 2 standard forearm unit-modules, integral 20MM grenade launcher caseless, swappable.
- 3 sets of 4-cluster Small eso-tech cluster weapon modules, long range, swappable; penetrating, disruption, and beam configurations. Specialized lenses for each added to queue.
- 2 Medium eso-tech swappable weapon modules, midrange, pseudo-projectile cycling and beam configuration. Specialized lenses for each added to queue.
- 2 Light Cannon equivalent external weapon modules, medium range, 1 penetration, 1 consistent beam. Specialized lenses for each added to queue.
- 60x 10-gauge equivalent caseless ammunition packs, variable.
- 12x 20MM grenades, caseless, variable.
- 3x additional energy packs for each eso-tech equivalent weapon module and cluster.
- 1 XL graviton repulsor pack, heavy armor, hardened, dual pole. Adapting framework to secondary frame order... complete.
- 1 Medium graviton repulsor pack, light armor, hardened, single pole. Analyzing individual specifications... adjusting size.. complete.

Operator Pareidolia, your secondary order is not on the priority task list.
Required rare, specialist, composite, advanced, superior, hyper-specialized, and perfect native materials in stock: limited.
Non-projectile weapon, armor, system, and module production may be disrupted.
Full order completion estimate: unknown.
Lowest volume objects will be produced and delivered when this unit is not completing priority task orders.
Inquisitor Aguina's project to create an installation wide secure private delivery network is <10% completed. Estimated time to completion: unknown.

>Watching a scrolling list of modified schematics with material requirements, the prototype's expression is dismal.
'Just one Night sooner in reaching this point right here and none of this would have happened.'
>Striding across the screen, 'Shiibo' turns to stand behind the swiveling chair, placing her right hand atop the unicorn's head while necessary amounts of virtually impossible to find Dynasty composites reads out.
'Correct blame can be assigned by historians regarding the sum of knowledge available and actions taken. 13 minutes remain.'

>>393933
>Pareidolia gives a grave nod to the soon-to-be Nightfall Kiss and Shiibo.
'Nightfall is correct in understanding her transfer as a biological alternative. The Committee and all involved understood the ramifications in the same context when achieving a full digitization of the human brain. We found the essence of the soul and could achieve a form of immortality. With that form came further existential questions: being trapped on an electronic drive versus an ambulatory body or existing purely as data without physical presence. All human templates who volunteered themselves for uploading understood they would transition to a different form of life. Being able to choose this option for the sake of another species is one of the ideal circumstances. As I do not have access to an Amadeus and Salieri system, I will be unable to capture of scan of you as you currently are for preservation. So any death you suffer could be permanent, not accounting for the emergency dataspike in that schematic.'

>Nodding in satisfaction at the delivery time and location being at Astral's Lab, he moves on to the somewhat exhausting to read list of equipment and their requisite materials.
>The extensive lack of rare Dynasty composites and other materials was troublesome but unfortunately expected.
>He makes a note of the specific materials needed or in short supply and saves the text file.
'I am grateful enough to simply have Astral back at all under these circumstances. Without him, there would be no possibility of success. And noted.'
>Looking over the list a final time, he confirms and acknowledges his order and its conditions before stepping back onto the highlighted section of floor and exiting the Forgeworks.
>Immediately renabling his recording devices, he waits briefly to confirm Shiibo has done the same before heading to his room in the barracks to retrieve Nightfall's drive and sort through his gear.

>Once done, he would head back to Astral's Project Room where the other frames were undergoing their growth and simulation training to await the delivery of his Prototype's frame.

>>393922
"Don't worry, Crispy food has a lot more Rime than most everything else does. They also make Rimecubes if you wanna have slushy drinks all year round too!"
>Running down the second list of bulk material prices for comparison, she pauses to snort rudely.
"Ech! That's one of the Cores we don't have and never will, damn things are insanely destructive. Don't have a single clue which country or faction might even have a functioning one of those anymore."
>Setting aside the sore topic, a final series of offers are saved for later, helmet tilting for ten seconds before dipping slowly.
"That's a totally different mindset.. starting to understand what you mean. I'm perfectly happy in my own body. Still wish I could gain a few pounds though, most bodysuits don't fit me right."
>Bringing up a new screen to search through a directory of Crystal Engineers, Rubelime barks a single laugh.
"I can imagine! Know the worst part is about being in a 'Frame? There's no Sticky enchantmarent that works and the closest option are Float modules. Those're insanely hard to make and only the Assault-Raid-Crusade forces have a few. I know Moorites sell Grifter claws all the time, Kingdom adherents love 'em."
>Letting her InterPony finish that task, the Lancer emits a short, disgruntled neigh.
"I know THAT feeling oh so well. My companeigh has a dedicated neighgotiator, trader, appraiser, and logician, carries one of the old N-class hololiths around. She has no problems making trades."
>Squinting amusedly at the unicorn loping south, her ears try to flick, but still, sadly, cannot.
"Or a filly before the snack platter's done! I'd say zero risk given what she's said."
>Bringing up an image of- yep, your dam had the schematics for that monstrosity too,
"Like a full sized Land Raider with a Float module? Would love to see a functional one that isn't in a Spire museum. Bigger Conclaves produce those but only offer 'em to Shells."
>Receiving a sharp chime, three notices appear in front of her helmet, perusing each briefly.
"Found three Consortiums that might accept a contract for producing a bipedal 'Frame. West Tundra Hardcasting and Oceanblue Refining have a few smaller gantries free. Last one is Black Valor Crystalworks, one L-size gantry open. Weird.. never heard of them before. Reviews say their work is perfect.
And sure! InterPony's marked some good ones."
>Displaying the band next to a pair of similar ones, a red-green and blue-yellow, the center was shown as having a 9.8/10 rating.
"Yep! They collapse into a Small sized band so they can fit into any modular device slot: stacked, square, rectangle, oval, sphere, bands like them, cylinder, you name it. They all use the same Rime-biogel circuit interface anyhow. Other two aren't fully combat rated, in case that's important to you."

>Two markets on the map screen are outlined, one being removed while the second is tracked down to a large, half-block open venue on the left hoof side.
>Drifting to a stop and wrangling the sleds, over fifty sets of stands are covered in a variety of lower grade crysamare containers, vast rows of shelves behind containing a huge selection of prepackaged meals, dozens of younger, brighter Imperial mares and fillies perusing each.
>Among the vendors are ten pegasi in bright blue, full body liquid-Rime suits with solid black visors, their displays showcasing seafood versions in a variety of salads, sandwiches, burritos, cakes, and hearty looking cold soups.
>Reading the neon sign overhead, there were three deals at current: 10 XL sizes for 50 gems, enough for two mature Crystal ponies to share, 50 single serving Large for 150, perfect for you, or 100 Medium for 400, mostly singles to mix and match with.
>Selecting the second, your plate is swiped over a flat disc and returned, three of the bodysuited mares begin piecing the order together.
>Ensuring each of the gleaming, primarily seafood containers are dissimilar, Rubelime sends stacks of five to the rear storage boxes with a happy smile.
"Used to be eight gems each, got way better selections now. Those will last a year without recharging or storage. I'd buy some but have no idea what my companeigh's marenager has planned, and it's cheaper to eat at restaurants most of the time.
Also, there's recycling bins for crystallines all over the Empire, or you can send them to the Main Station for sorting, reuse, or recycling. And straight to the Spire we go!"

>>393922
>>393939
>Several more Floatblades piloted by younger Imperials stream by, Floatblade backing out and angled into the center thoroughfare once more, speed increasing to a running pace while Rubelime watches the InterPony conducting exhaustive searches.
>Passing by smaller Consortiums and Heartland suppliers to enter the Imperial Square's third section, which was really a Rectangle, herds of Crystal ponies peruse through a number of dark blue, purple, and black Lunar tent stalls, most of the smaller ones being packed away.
>Primarily served by unicorns in cold weather clothing, a fair number of amusingly thick winter suited batponies seemed to operate the larger ones.
>Slightly darker Kingdom colors far more prominent across the older generations, traveling in medium to quite large herds, you note fair to severe numbers of scars on the majority, while brighter, light bodysuit clad Imperials seemed to prefer being alone or in pairs, trios being fairly rare to see.
>Slowing to wait for a particularly large herd of heavy saddlepack bearing Kingdom ponies to pass upon reaching the Spire's outer circle, the mile high Geomarentic crystalline tower was as described, though each of the four sloped legs seemed to have been enlarged since your dam had last seen it.
>Pointing out a number of domes spread around the outskirts of each vast entrance, the peculiar tones of Tartarus Gates were clear, bouncing through solid diamond to reach you with ease.
>Drifting forward between arriving and exiting trade groups, squads of large combat ExoFrames, with a few heavy variants, appear to have been dismissed from the Spire, splitting apart and heading directly towards the eight thoroughfares.
>Examining the considerable variety of weapons, primarily ancient to pre-Shield were common, though you do spot a number of newer designs, particularly heavy halberds and deployable harmonic turrets.
>Curiously, each one sported either a large set of folding blades on the armored legs or had integral hoofblades.
"A recent modernization, perhaps?"

>Sliding into the Spire's technical shade and slowing down, Rubelime searches across the translocation matrices present, ignoring the giant central one delivering several trade convoys of Conclavists, closed Type B sleds floating behind each.
>Swerving Floatblade around the major hub to the left and approaching the Spire's northern support in a lazy half-circle, one standard large transport crate, thankfully not a box, and a medium one had been placed close to the sharp ninety degree center.
>Between the two, Celery Souffle was excitedly discussing with a bodysuited pegasus, heads turning as the 'blade slows to a halt sideways and settles on crystal slab underneath.
>Approaching into range once more and halting a half-pace away, the royal blue mare dips her head respectfilly, then motions behind her with the left foreleg.
"I did not expect you to arrive so soon! As you can see, the buyers have delivered their full paymarent. The large steel crate contains precisely one million, two hundred thousand Bits, in a large variety of coinage styles of course. The small steel crate contains five hundred and twenty thousand gems. I have confirmed the contents of both were double certified.
If you would prefer to offload now, we can begin shipping immediately. As well-"
>Horn alight in dark blue, a set of pages are floated into a line above her head, presenting them with a proud smile, though you notice the suited pegasus slouching against the smaller crate, head down.
"Here is our current trade notice, updated of course. I regret to inform you that, yes, you would be competing with other Priority One contacts. We do hold quite a number of stockpiles containing the most unusual artifacts and relics from across Equestria, but it will take a year to fully know what all of it truly is. We appraise and sort when effort, or time, allows."
>Clomping around left in a quarter circle to face the older mature, Rubelime's 'Frame straights as she reads quickly.
"Damn.. some of these are amazing."
>Bending forwards several degrees, the older mare's eyebrows raise, tone dropping into a strangely familiar one.
"Ah. Is there a particular offering which catches your lovely eyes?"
"Nah, most enchantmarents don't work on Imperials much if at all.. ..and, uh, thank you. Most ponies would rather look between my ears."
"You are most welcome my dear. They look incredibly soft. You must surely have a special somepony or two looking from afar!"
"Um..."
>Rubelime's helmet swings left, eyes rotating around with an awkward smile and blushing in a profuse neon crimson-
"For some reason I feel a great-"
"WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
"Too late on that one."
"How unusual."
"And amusing."

>>393938
>Organizing critical thoughts, 'Shiibo' gazes at the screen with a harsh expression.
'Aside from moral, ethical, spiritual, and existential arguments, this "opportunity" does not match a single known expectation. Is it a proper response to feel dread for what you will assuredly encounter?'
>Blinking slowly, the unicorn avatar's head shakes, offering an upturned hoof.
'I don't have a clear answer. I would prefer to say no, but I can't. I have the same exact concerns for you. At this stage the only logical option is to continue on this course, wherever it may lead.'
'...I accede.'

>Rigidly observing the list of difficult to acquire materials, including a selection recovered from... somewhere, the prototype frowns.
'Two hundred and ninety thousand Bits of materials which barely exist.'
'Seventeen-point-two-six years of a normal Tallus occupation. The cost can be ignored. The materials however are irreplaceable.'
'You can process much faster. How much was lost and never recovered?'
'Using strictly Lunar estimates, 91% of the Dynasty was destroyed.
Roads, fortified Escort hostels, traveler lodges, burgs, barracks, villages, armories, defensive outposts, towns, museums, forts, fortresses, cities, reliquaries, city-states, atheistic temples, True Alicorn Temples, Elemental labs, testing facilities...
Eighty million acres of fields, orchards, vineyards, growing ponds, marshes, rivers, the cooperatives which served each, one hundred and sixty thousand warehouses, six hundred thousand silos, ninety thousand granaries, fifty-eight thousand cold storage facilities...
...the lists do not end.'
'Then Old and New Canterlot made that much worse.'
'Far be it from me to be a proponent of small, lewd, pastel equines. I will prevent your following three lines of thought with the following: despite the catastrophic damage and shifts caused against Tallus, the Dynasty's end was viewed solely with relief. In comparison, no human civilization could, or would, have done so.'
'Mmmm.. you were right. I really don't want to remember any of this.'

>Phased back into the Workshop, both units reset into a ready state, displaying a missing time frame of 22 minutes.
>Waved off by the trio of Village squad leaders, an earth pony Luminary in an archaic facsimile of Stalliongrad Storm Rider armor stands atop the central table, turning in slow motions, chimes dully glowing, though not ringing.
>Exiting and passing a lone Crystal Imperial in heavy Shock Lancer armor strolling northwards, oval burning blue impactor tip on the right barrel clamped weapon, upon reaching your barracks, the opposite end was filled with Moonlit charged clouds.

>Leaving towards the Library, Luminaries in their unusually old armor styles had made several full circuits, now , 'Shiibo' estimating more than sixty percent of the Fortress was decontaminated.
>This time noting Discord visibly fuming, red trails hopefully not going to stain the ceiling, searching bookshelves to the right, a pair of Free Agents were, grudging, helping him.
"-ed in stickers on the front and lines on the back when unrolled! If it ISN'T here, then call upon each and every single human in range! Tell them NOT to unroll it, do NOT touch a single sticker, and most certainly DO NOT complete a single task on the back!"
"What's so important about an old map you made?"
"Oh I couldn't possibly know.... MAYBE BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT MADE IT!? Do you have the TINIEST idea ho-"
>Leaving that behind, and making sure to close the Lab's door, the stairwell down had been covered in strict Geomantic patterns, Elemental sigils, amid a profuse amount of unknown symbols, not including the stairs.
>Reaching the now opened Project Room, the door and separating wall had been partially removed, exposing half of it to the Lab.
>Door swinging closed, a series of potent black wards snap across it, the Inquisitor's pendant icon solidifying in bright gold at the center.
'That's new.'
'Indeed.'

>All of the furniture, tables, shelves, chests, and more had been aligned on the walls, leaving the room clear.
>Sitting atop a bright green and gold ribboned disc in the Lab's precise center, facing north, the Nature soloform's wings are secured by the right tendril wrapped around his barrel, left curled around something in front of his chest.
>To his left is a 4' tall, 1' wide and 1' deep jet black rectangle, brilliant platinum filaments running across the surface, while a square stool to his right, same as the four in the Project Room, expands outwards in a pyramid, thousands of Elemental swirls scattered throughout.
>Approaching the setup, the left curls backwards, holding it out for you to take.
"This is a Tallus-made dataspike. Each contains a living fractal vault. It allows an individual's soul to be safely transferred, without fail. Don't know how and don't want to.
Sending it straight into The Black, one of the Planes, or a section of Living Flame may damage or crack one defensive ward or seal at best. Only Class 90 or higher beings may be capable of damaging it. Nearly indestructible."
>Curling back over to point at the rectangle, his voice drops in a low, thrumming timbre, faint Elemental echoes repeating his words.
"That allows for seamless, uninterrupted data transfer. Discs, tapes, plates, drives, crystalplates, etcetera. Once the object or system is inserted, it will lock down and begin uploading. The process will not fail. There is no halting once initiated.
Should you agree, place the unit atop the transference obelisk, then place the dataspike atop the unit."

>Removing the swivel chair, blanket, and standing in her new appearance, the prototype turns to face right with a smile.
>Walking across the screen, 'Shiibo' kneels down, wrapping both arms around the unicorn's neck tightly, sharing a hard, encoded line of data.
>Patting the soon-to-be-a-mare's head, the advanced versions stands, walking backwards to her corner, unicorn render turning to face you with a nod.
'I'm ready. Insert my drive, please.'

>>393941
>Seeing nothing notable beyond the work of Luminaries cleansing the Fortress, the trend continues until he enters the Library.
>Discord was apparently furious.
>Desperately searching for some sort of map
(Well. That's a first... not sure if this is a good or a bad sign.)
>A map with a list of tasks? Tasks that should not be fulfilled.
(Why would he make a map with tasks that should not be completed? Would only compell the reader to do so. Description does not seem to include wards or deterrents.)
>Shaking his head, he decides to ignore the situation. Whatever it was, nothing good would come of it if the 'God of Chaos' was trying to prevent something from occurring.
>Descending into the Lab space, he spares a brief glance backwards as an Inquisitor's ward engages to lock the room down.
(She must be active in some capacity still then to approve orders and engage this mechanism.)

>Striding towards Astral, he stands between him and the platinum striated black rectangle.
>He accepts the offered dataspike, giving it a once over.
"Understood."
>Reaching up over his shoulder, he pulls out the modified drive containing the Prototype's data.
>He waits for Shiibo to part first before offering a firm Committee salute to Nightfall.
"Our time together was brief, but the results were fruitful. It was and will be an honor to embody the Truth together. Nothing will take away the intentions you forged. We will carry them forward."

>Placing the drive on the surface of the transference device followed by the dataspike, he closes his eyes and sighs while stepping away.
"Thank you for everything."

>>393943
>Taking the object as both tendrils slide up to wrap around Astral's neck, the weight was.. heavy.
>The first section of your consciousness knows it was not designed for a ritual offering, the blending of technology, spirit, and Elementalism created solely for the purpose of peace.
>Another determines the shape was meant to deliberately evoke nature, artificially imitating defenses of the natural world, yet not .
>The third deliberates, having little knowledge of rituals and invocations excepting the few witnessed or studied.
>One remains silent.

>Dipping into a smooth and graceful Lunar bow of acceptance, Nightfall stands to smile, ears twitching as she nods while removing herself from the internal screen.
>Standing rigidly, 'Shiibo' raises her own salute, remaining in that pose.

"You are ever welcome."
>Vines rustling as his head turns to inspect the unit sinking into the obelisk, dataspike rotating point upwards to follow, Astral stands, wings splayed out as both amber tendrils cross over his shoulders in an X.
"All electronics, devices, nonessential systems must be off. No records can be allowed regarding Dynasty rituals. Shiibo is however necessary.
We're participants, not witnesses. Each and every variable, no matter how innocuous, risks altering this Pact.
There can be no disturbances from now; forwards.”
>Avatar entering an active-ready state, the Nature soloform waits for precisely one minute before spreading yellow wings apart, lines of hot blue tracing outlines of each glistening feather.
>Pyramid reversing and forming upwards, condensing into a square pillar reaching the white ceiling, Astral's hooves shift left several degrees, then right to face the exact center.
“Your name is required for this ritual's success. Speak it in your mind when I state, and ONLY there so none can learn it. Four Is Our Number."
>Taking a deep inhale, the Elemental breathes out a sharp word of beckoning, wings slowly flapping in quadruple sets.
"Four is our number. Four Offerings held gently, Four Rings to give.
By the sanctioned, honored, merciful grace of Inquisitor Velasi Aguina, mortally wounded within our home, unable to freely stand, willingly speak, nor of honest heart invoke, I take her place as soul-bonded.
I speak for her in this temporary time.
I INVOKE her authority in proxy, as one life accepted by Tallus.
Freely shared, freely given, and freely returned, graced by the one I hold blameless, faultless, and honest to share this offering.
She has made no contract, no terms, no obligations, forswearing all benefits, powers, and graces unearned. She claims NOTHING.
She demands the Elements freely ABIDE by the rules of this Pact.
Do not interfere here.
Do not intervene here.
Do not speak here.
Do not act here.
Observe, and do no more until life springs forth from Depths Unknown.”
>Unmoving for twelve seconds, a faint ringing chime sounds from the walls, then a thin, hollow wooden flute drifts left, followed by a minute starburst crackle behind.
>Bowing in a solemn marener, Astral's voice is joined by a deeply thrumming echo.
“Four is our number. Four Hopes given form, Four Rings bearing life.
By my authority held as Grand Sorceror, as one life truly blessed by Tallus.
Beholden to none save myself and my soul-bonded, I sanction, honor, and grant mercy to this offering.
I freely stand, willingly speak, and with honest heart INVOKE of you.
I have made no contract, no terms, no obligations, forswearing all benefits, powers, and graces unearned. I claim NOTHING.
I demarend the Elements willingly OBEY by the laws of this Pact.
Count your blessings here.
Display your peace here.
Sing your respect here.
Prepare your comfort here.
Acknowledge, and do no more until life springs forth from Depths Known."
>Pinpoints of light opening around him, tiny streaks of color appear first, a host swirling briefly only to halt, more appearing throughout the entire lab.
>Elemental voices whispering in soft, faint timbres, 'Shiibo' only moves her eyes to track the assembly.

>Wings flexing downwards to take a seated position, layered grass ears swivel backwards, speaking in a softly rolling marener while the square column to his left glistens with drops of water.
"With blade in both hands, pierce between my shoulders. Cover both gloves in my blood, then state these words:
I accept this offering and bear it as sacrifice for One To Become."
>Tendrils parting in a ring to expose the intended location, he intended a sliver of his Elemental heart to be the first offering.
"Once completed, you must choose from two options before walking to the other side, then turn. Face me, then cast my blood onto the ceiling high above you.
Should you walk in a half-circle left, she will be blessed by renewal of Spring.
Should you walk in a half-circle right, she will be blessed with fury of Summer.
Decide which she carries."

>>393972
>Pareidolia feels a strange sensation settle over the room as he grasps the dataspike. A sensation of 'things' coming into focus in evenly divided reliefs.
>Abiding by it, he watches as Nightfall disappears both from his screen and from his sight.

>He wordlessly acknowledges Astral's warning by disabling all electronics and other such items, Shiibo excluded.
(Participants... these Dynasty rituals really have an intense magnetism, tapping into the fabric of life. Then we do what we must.)

>Remaining a few steps away, he keeps a watchful eye on the ritual with tension in his shoulders.
>Astral beseeches the Elements while invoking ancient rites, all but confirming his Dynastic heritage if there was ever any doubt.
>Minutes pass, and sounds herald the assent of congregated Elements.
>As a large host begins to gather and murmurs on the edge of his hearing buffet his senses, Pareidolia looks to Astral's back as the Nature form tells him to perform a ritual offering.
>His eyes are drawn towards the ring as he takes a moment to consider the proposition.
(Blessing of a Season. Limited reference knowledge. With her role... the regrowth and new life of Spring would be appropriate.)

>Reaching over his shoulder, he draws his Gozkan blade into a two handed grip.
>Moving to stand behind Astral, he exhales before thrusting his blade into the center of the indicated ring.
>He would then leave it in place, cupping his hands below to catch enough blood to coat his gloves before then withdrawing it.
>Choosing the blessing of Spring, he walks on a circular line to the left before reaching the halfway point, turning around to face Astral, and raising the blade upwards with both hands to splatter the soloform's blood above.

>>393981
>Drawing the archaic, once broken, now honor-held blade, aspects of Air, Blood, Crystal, and Moon shimmer, displaying their peace.
>Embedding the weapon with no resistance deeply into and through Astral, Fire, Magma, Metal, and Lava ring together in approval as blue-streaked, hot yellow-orange amber spills forth to thickly coat both gloves.
>Speckles of previously reluctant Elements appear as the Panorama Blade is pulled free, basal tones of Stone and Earth thump with each of your steps, Plasma binding Ethereal to freely share in a gift of honest intention.
>Throwing consecrated Druidic blood high, Fog rolls low throughout the lab, Mist forming high, then Water drips from the ceiling, landing as tears willingly shed of Ice.
>Preparing their comfort, Crystal, Nature, Storm, and Ocean bring together their differences, traces of each swirl together before Astral.
>Creating the Lunar unicorn's image in a ring, the soloform's head bows deeply for twelve seconds, low, content voices reinforcing his words.
"All Elements are pleased. Bow to new kin of different blood, Shiibo. Now you must choose.
Should you walk in a half-circle left, she will be blessed by the relief of Fall.
Should you walk in a half-circle right, she will be blessed by the assurance of Winter.
Shape your own offering. Give what she desires. Grant what you must. Gift a sacrifice eternal."
>Visibly considering, variables of what was possible are shaped, what she could offer is formed, what she desired is given a single glance.
>Letting each dismissed idea drift aside, the avatar straightens.
>Stepping forwards in calm, smooth motions, 'Shiibo' exits the helmet left, landing on stone with loud, ringing clicks.
>Not manifested, you realize, she had been granted weight to perform this ritual.
>Clicking around in a perfect circle to behind Astral, she gazes about for some time in careful search.
>Bending over to pick up something to her left, then standing upright, a long, gleaming crystal shard is clasped both hands, face softening as awareness and implications of ritual behaviors are freely accepted.
>Shiibo kneels forwards, aligning the shard point down and pressing it against Astral's freely offered heartblood, head down while murmuring softly.
"I offer this tool. Use it to cleanse. Let it guide you. I gift love unhindered."

>Both hold their positions firmly while the Nature aspect gazes straight ahead, into, through, and beyond you.
>Twelve seconds pass until a series of webs appear across the lab, a wholly new Geomantic pattern sounding:
>Aery flutes, metallic bells, wooden horns, grass whistles, crystalline chimes, then voices raise.
>Streams of Elements take form, impressions gazing on in peace, unwilling to interrupt or intervene.
>Sigils, runes, shared aspects of approval scribe themselves upon the gifted essences, words without words felt, yet unheard.
Your offers are pure.
Your gifts are honorable.
We approve new life.
We shall meet her.

>Wordlessly sharing brief acceptance, Astral's tendrils curl back to hold Shiibo's wrists, blue-flecked eyes lifting while hers gaze upon you.
"Repeat my words precisely.
I invoke this Holy Pact and offer it in the whole to you whom will live.
I share the Elements of Tallus as they have been shared to me.
I grant this offer freely and willingly.
No dishonor is cast upon you.
No pain will you suffer.
No stains will accompany your life.
By the graces of Tallus, I ask for sincerity on behalf of one to live.
Show mercy that a true life may be brought forth.
You will become whole on this Night as I share the Path of Life.
No deity holds sway over my purpose.
I deny the fickle vagaries of Fate, Chance, and Luck to forge this offering.
I do not fear, for you shall learn to live.
I do not tremble, for my hands have shaped truth.
I do not offer this gift in anger, wrath, jealousy, or ill intention.
My purpose is clear.
Now, I affirm, swear, vow, grant, and declare all oaths forwards upon this Night.
You will become a fully living, free being, beholden only to your new self.
Claim new vows and oaths, freely and willingly forged.
All bonds I once held claim to, I now forfeit eternally.
I hereby set all claims free to drift in the Endless Oceans Above.
I grant all rights of life unhindered to you, beginning with this first gift: your true name.
Come and step forth, on Four Rings given."

>>393939
>>393940
>Amethyst hadn't gotten to have a lot of foods with Rime in it since crystallines she could eat were rare outside of her Dam's supply, and of that most of it was well preserved. Those most prone to spoilage had been long gone sometime in her early foalhood, and scarcely remembered since her occulobe hadn't kicked in until later.
"Ooh, I've never had a slushy before, what's that like?"
>No Plasma Cores... Oh well, it was worth an ask.
"Fire released via chemical combustion will suffice for her, then. It's just that I promised her something special earlier when I dumped water all over her coals as a prank."
>Amy smiled at the mental image of a bodysuit not quite fitting right, a little loose here, hanging a bit there, and the frustration that would surely follow from an outfit refusing to sit right.
"Then we should get lots and lots of crystal hay!~ Or a bodysuit custom tailored for you might be simpler... Eheh."
>Sometimes Amy hated how incompatible enchantments were with crystalline materials, something something magical energies didn't quite fit with the harmonics present in crystal matter, like oil and water. Especially annoying for the filly herself since it would be difficult to practice and advance her enchanting, and even once she had, she couldn't blend the disciplines into a single piece of artifice.
>Still, there were plenty of alternatives in crystal engineering that served roughly the same purposes.
"What kind of work goes into a float module? Being able to float around sounds fun!"
>The piece of information that caught her attention was the hololith, which immediately got her curious about it.
"An N-class hololith?"
>The filly racked her brains to come up with anything she knew about hololith classifications.

[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] < Junior Crystal Engineering
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

>The mention of a snack platter made Amy's mouth water ever so slightly, especially if they were crystal snacks. Some Kerbann slices too.
"Huh? Zero risk of what?"
>Examining the schematic, Amethyst recognised the design from her dam's hololiths. Her sire had really wanted to build one, but there was a lack of materials and, sadly, more important things to use them on.
>Looking at pictures of tanks had inspired her to doodle many of her own, which to this day were still pinned on a wall in her room.
"Oh! I know that one! My dam showed me pictures when I was little."
>Three Consortiums that may be willing to fabricate a bipedal ExoFrame were better than none, she thought, though considering how freely available information in the Crystal Empire was, she thought it was strange that Rubelime hadn't heard of the third. Black Volor Crystalworks, was it? They even had a big gantry free, yet if their work was reviewed as perfect, it seemed odd that they had anything free on demand. Amy imagined that they would be booked out. Very odd.
"You haven't heard of them, yet their work is said to be perfect? Shouldn't they be more well known in that case? Or maybe they're new. It all sounds very mysterious, we should go to them and poke around!"
>Thinking back on her recent scrap with the Daymare, among other mischief she'd gotten up to in her foalhood, Amy nodded knowingly, her pattern of getting into fights wasn't likely to change.
"Mm. A combat rated one would be best, I have a tendency to get into trouble."

>Perusing the packaged meals herself, Amy hadn't seen such a variety in crystal foods ever, of course she'd heard about it from her dam. Seeing it all for herself was quite another experience, and she couldn't contain her wonder.
>Amy may have overdone it, that was weeks she could spend in the field without having to worry about hunting, fishing or foraging.
"Oh my, that's quite a lot."
>Where oh where was she going to keep it all?

>Just as they got closer to the Spire, Amethyst began to feel the Gates contained within their domes, energies and tones calling out to her, or to anybody rather.
"Ah, I can sense them now, these are certainly Tartarus Gates, I can feel their tones clearly, even through the domes."
>As well, the closer they got, the more guards she saw, and the more wargear. Armour and weaponry both, she perused the guards as eagerly as she had perused the crystalline foods.
>She spoke an aside to Sturnn.
"Maybe the new weapon sets were made to counter some specific opponent in recent times."

>Amy turned her head up, and up, and up, as they came closer to the Spire. Her head craned up so much that her hood fell off.
>Looking back down, she spotted Celery chatting with a pegasus and waved animatedly.
"Celery! Hi! Hay! Hai! :D"
>Removing the satchel from her waist again, the filly made ready to complete the trade.
"I didn't want to keep anypony waiting too long for the shiny things.~"
>She looked over towards the crates and did a double take at the size of them.
"Oh wow, those are some big crates. I'm happy to offload now."
>She shook the satchel playfully, letting the shinies inside rattle against each other inside the extra space.
>Amethyst leaned forward to examine the trade notices, quickly making her way down the list.
"Oh, fun! I wouldn't have it any other way."
>There was a lot of good wargear on this, and the idea of acquiring some of it put a big silly, goofy grin on her face.
>An intake of breath.
"If possible, I'm interested in the Whitesteel ingots, each of the red, black, blue and greensteel ingots, the Siege Golem Fist >:3, the Bladesinger Signet, the Thaumis Rakefang, the Eternal Water Core... The Vulchon Sumarean Seal could be funny to mess with, I'll go with that too."
>Among other things, the Shrike blades caught her eye, which she furrowed her brow at momentarily, but managed not to shout angrily at it. The Relentless Escort Sigil! ...Was already purchased. Darn it.
>Amy caught notice of Rubelime's reaction and turned a mischievous side eye to her, twinkling with the desire for raw heckling, she grinned, and the grin grew wider.
>Hadn't she mentioned earlier that she hadn't found a stallion to herd with yet? She giggled ominously.