/mlpol/ - My Little Politics

>>393045
"Genuinely innocent actions resulting from a lack of knowledge is uncommon, but can be fixed. Also fully sterile environments are your best friend next to?"
>Hodch's tone and hard expression at him definitely noticed, Astral sighs in a muted crackle.
"A long stick. Stare until boredom, then find another interesting object to stare at next, repeat until asleep."
"Least you remember that much."
>Regarding your words with a swirling appearance, probably meant to be thoughtful, the soloform makes a polite dismissal gesture.
"In your defense you had no understanding or concept of Rift symbiotes. Mine is fairly limited from more or less detailed observations, reports, and chatter. As you did not know then no blame can be ascribed. However, you will find it difficult to truly kill a Construct. Unless fully destroyed though magma, Void, or similar methods, they are remarkably resilient."
>Side eyeing the Elemarental in humorous theatrical disdain, Hodch mimics pushing a lever with the left forehoof, teeth clicking twice, then imitates wind blowing and an unsubtle crashing noise.
"It isn't the fall that hurts, it's the elevator suddenly stopping either from a safeguard or reaching rock bottom.
If you want instruction on the Rift's more objectively known facts, get Mercy and Twisted together for a few lectures. Or Dancing Eyes when she's in a good mood. Most of my knowledge deals with the baffling variety of barriers and shields, though Rift Carriers, Repair models, Landers, odd weapons, unique pairs, and peculiar sightings are my hobby."

"That could range from everything to... not quite everything."
>Both unicorns sitting back to digest the information given, 'Shiibo' enters startup phases, blinking and immediately bringing up diagnostics.
'I do not.. feel good. That should not be possible. I am not directly connected to sensor interfaces, modules, or suites capable of simulating nausea.
Performance degradation reported: moderate. Restoring data archives and isolated sectors, then cross-referencing.'
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
>Pointedly making notes of her own, Katyal's tablet beeps as she rapidly types.
"Don't understand. So you and most of Razorback haven't had any contact with Horizon whatsoever. That's bizarre to put it mildly. Not sure whether to be confused or relieved. Think I'll stick with both for right now."
"Agreed. ...I'm still going to Void nuke that bastard's world no matter what anyone or anypony says. They can sue me in Planar court afterwards. Capital V will be all too pleased."
>Giving Hodch the Void equivalent of a 'what did you just say' glazed look, Astral Legacy's front legs fold over his chest as the Reservist continues.
"Details regarding Memorial Village are correct. It puzzled me how many humans were utterly ignorant to what was written, and the after action report was quite bizarre. Luna spent half the Night piecing together what did occur, and.. hold on-"
>Tapping his chest, the biological stallion frowns, head twisting upwards before instantly turning Moonlight pale.
"Yes, it's me. ......she did WHAT!? Stop her!"
"Is that Twisted Wing?"
"Yes it is, an- .....WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S TALKING!? Since when!? ....she was halfway insane before th- ..are you POSITIVE somepony isn't trying t-"

>Lowering the volume and distractedly making a text only record, the avatar puts a 'Do Not Want' sticker above her head while Astral speaks in an unusually soft echo.
"Colossal gaps remain unanswered. My primary concern was the lost, separated, disconnected, distant, and presumed deceased humans had sought her out, yet you experienced precisely zero indications of that possibility.. excluding the likelihood of one. I may aid Hodch in rendering one planet an uninhabitable wasteland.
The partially restored Solar Tyrant shard she had overcome and her soul-bonded earth ponies did not leave instructions. That is utterly opposite of her standard methods. If they had done so there would have been an immediate information spread followed by disappearances and agents being set within Razorback. I can only attribute that disruption to Sweet and the Empress.
What confounds me is what happened to her agents. I estimated well over one hundred and sixty thousand. Numerous city blocks of Las Pegasus were thoroughly saturated by Anti, though none were close to the Rogues or Elites. Much the same with sections of... Stalliongrad. Hm."
>Lines marking his eyebrows raise, lower, then arch heavily in thought.
"You may have inadvertently isolated two factors which were previously ignored.. Clarion Call, possibly Serra. I would prefer to know know where both are soon, but I will cross-reference Lonestar's experiences first. The start of a multi-tiered search pattern will be- no. That may be it. I believe Shanis was able to physically injure her.
Allow me to consider for a time."
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9] <Teacher Razorback Company, Pre-Nay 29,997
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
>vs:
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <Teacher Razorback Company
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]

"HOW CAN SHE REFUSE A DIRECT ORDER!? She's a NAGHTMARE for fuck's sakes, we all have a drop of Luna's blood! ....I haven't deployed any yet. Why? ....let her go and make sure she doesn't shove random pieces in somepony's ass o-"
>Fitfully hunching and now quietly shouting at the Moon Orb between both hooves, the avatar's face was priceless, turning the volume up slightly.
'What did he say?'
"What did she say? ......no, I'm not coming back to help you out, she's your problem now! I've told you before: figuratively screw the Rift, I have a massive problem to deal wi-... that does not sound good. Nope. Nope! I am disconnecting immediately, have fun up there!"
>Tossing the sphere down and placing both hooves on his snout at an uncomfortable angle, Hodch mutters between them exhaustedly.
"Crystal Naghtmares, not even ONCE.. no, all of you are naturally excluded."
"Feeling judged again over there, playcolt?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"I don't this time."

>>393059
>Smooth marble, fractured wood, though there were still a few polished pieces remaining, faint surface level echoes are released at your touch, the poorly holding together imprints becoming a slightly noticeable hum.
>Now able to hear unique tones of metal in the wreckage, more kanpri and whitesteel are acquired, filling pockets, hood, and last hands.
"You could stay Faded and obscure, setting traps for the higher value pieces while informing how the game unfolds."
"Or one could slay the opposing player when their back is presented. After all, that pathetic thing was allowed to remain here on purpose. I find myself most disgusted at the notion of there being an even more crude, hideous half-beast than a Warp Spawn."
"I hope you don't mean th-"
"No, I most certainly do not."
"Oi, dat'z un-Orky!"
"So are Grot snipers and Kommandos, greenskin."
"DOZE IZ PLENTY ORKY, BEAKIE!"
"Perhaps the thunder you hear is..."
>All stop for a few seconds, excluding one muffling a snicker.
"Did you hear that?"
"Wot?"
>Unseen though barely felt, far off rumbles to the north roll and spread, minute flashes of yellow-white tastes on the air.
"Dey'z got da big gunz out! Why'z we muckin' about 'ere!?"
"How does weather function on the surface?"
"There is a form of weather control. I believe pegsai make friends with clouds."
"It can be rather Kaotic in the outer regions, so the lovely Baroness shared."

>Carving records of Otherworld resonance into memory, the remaining outlines of a few familiar, known, and unknown Operators fall apart as little holds them together.
>Tracing back to the Inquisitor's preferred corner, her visage doesn't fade, instead outlined in a subtly distorted shifting white-gold.
>Scent different from Sorcery, Mysticism, and the various forms of magic, it held an oddly unwelcoming tang.
"Do you mean an Inquisitor, Amy?"
"Few words can describe my aggravation towards them properly. How would one find their way here?"
"Perhaps fortune smiled.. briefly."
"Then there must be hundreds of Guardsmen serving here!"
"General, how quaint of you to suggest there are usually six cultists for each Planetary Defense Force and Guard member! Why, it would be no surprise to hear of entire cities overrun by decadence."
"The heretic is correct, but no traces have been found of such."
"Does that naturally exclude her sire?"
"You are insidiously aggravating for a red-haired witch."
"Am I not correct? He has indeed redeemed entirely from his own efforts, hmmm? And why do I feel so harshly judged by YOU, barbarian?"
"'Cuz yu'z started it, spiky!"
>Watching the older train fade into bare patterns of metallic outlines, an echo of stolidity surrounded by swirls of motion stills, the echoes unable to continue playing further.
"I cannot help but to consider two entirely different Paths which should have crossed did not solely from such a Night."
"Fate is ever fickle even to those she looks upon kindly, elf. For one positive, there is a single neutral, and a singular negative."
"I know this better than most. Can you say the same?"
"....you have two rather sharp points, yet your tongue is perhaps the worst of them."

>Stepping out of the barracks, a bright purple brick tunnel to your left pops open, the same slightly chunky earth filly tossing a pair of green rectangles to land in front of your Juggernaut clad hooves.
"Hay again, got two more Cards for you! I w-"
>Skittering backwards as a corroded, nearly falling apart white door swings open 10M in front of you, a sharply rotten stench of Anti drifts outwards.
>Whole sections of the interior missing in staggered, ragged diagonal lines, what had been bright white paint was decayed into diffused gray, two thin, bright silver disks rolling out.
"Oooo that is TOTALLY not good. Great, more messes to deal with."
>Blinking as the top hinge creates, the filly groans, leaping straight towards the somehow familiar door and scrambling inside, calling over her shoulder before the entire doorway scatters apart in clear flecks.
"Later!"
[1d6 = 1] <OH YES~
>vs:
[1d6 = 2] <OH NO!

>Popping into air 5M front of you, a soft gray pegasus mare in her late 20's hovers, wings flapping as bright yellow mane wafts around a mailmare's uniform, a pair of hilariously overstuffed brown satchels on both sides threatening to spill letters, boxes, crates, jugs, and bottles.
"Hello there! I have two deliveries for you!"
>Dropping down and fishing into one side, then the other with her tongue sticking out, the eyes were.. unusual, yet the voice was infectiously cheerful.
"There they are! Thought they got lost again. Take care now miss!"
>Pulling out a pair of small, metallic foil covered cardboard boxes, each had entirely different designs of hearts, the mailmare places them on one of the discs, then vanishes in a shower of bubbles.

"...that had better NOT be what I think it is."
"Now DAT'Z flash!"

>Somewhere far away, not so deep underground, an uncovered, piercing eye squints, the harsh mare's voice speaking in accusation:
"Heresy?!"

>Uncomfortable silence reigns for ten seconds until a booming voice rings out.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!"
"Oi.. Oi dunno! Dey'z got da flashy bitz!"

>>393074
>The filly found herself inadvertently pocketing every shiny thing her hands drifted near, yes, the more gifts for the collection.
>Truthfully, Amethyst wasn't really sure there was something else out there plotting and scheming on such a grand scale as she had implied. Yet perhaps there was something known by a piece of her she paid little mind to. The Unborn had been permitted to remain.
"Whatever it is, it will not reveal itself but through its pieces."
>She herself came to a halt, listening for what the puppets did.
>Pegasi weather dancing.
"In their own way they sing unto the flow of Sky, Lila would be able to tell you more."

>Focus once more upon the echoes, the filly clarified her peculiar tendency for esoteric mutterings. The imprints themselves had been clearer than she had put their revelations.
"Sorry, yes... An Inquisitor of the Ordo Chronos, a Rogue Trader in fact, whatever those are. Those are the words left behind with the echoes."
>The idea of there being so many guardsmen summoned tantalised Amy, however...
"I do not think that many were summoned. The size of the barracks here suggests the group was substantially smaller, and for those Humans to be untouched by the Longest Night must mean they are from other realities, or other strands along the web of time in whatever shape that takes for them."
>The echoes faded, the fabric of Tallus could hold no more, even from such depth as the magical catastrophe had allowed.
"There is little more that we can lea-"

>Head snapping in the direction of the purple tunnel, Amy responds immediately.
"Hay (You)! >:3"
>Just barely and momentarily distracted by the sudden flood of Anti, Amethyst shifts her direction between it and the intruding filly before remembering her earlier threat.
"C'mere!"
>With that, she breaks out into stuttering and excited motion, hand outstretched to close the distance between finger and snoot.

[1d6 = 2] < Furious Charge :3

[1d6 = 2] < Supreme Grand Master Boop

>But she was getting away.
"No, no, no! Get back here! You can't run forever!"

>The tunnel or door was replaced by... A mailmare.
>Her finger itched.
"Hai!~"
>Gazing down at the boxes, her ears perked forwards alertly, head cocked.
>Wait, oh no. The dreaded bawkses.
"Thank you! I-"
>The mailmare was gone. Only bubbles remained.
>Another appearing and disappearing pony whom had escaped greeting affections, Amethyst made a face.
"The list of snoots is incomplete..."
>She took a deep breath and shouted towards the empty air.
"You can help by expanding it!"
>Attention back on the bawkses, the filly collected the various left gifts and packed them away, examining each bawks from a variety of angles before she did so.
"They do indeed appear to be mehtul bawkses, but they are both too small for anybody to be hiding within them, unless there are very tiny beings within."
>A mystery gift to be unbawksed later.

>The ipotane shuffled, looking around for the source of the booming accusative voice.
"I think you just invoked somepony by name."

>>393076
>Agreeing on the first, the second is considered... and promptly taken out of context.
"How deviant of the-"
"SHUT-"
"-m to-"
"IT-"
>Sharing the perfect amount of professionalism for a mutual annoyance, the cloth strip shakes briefly.
>You're not entirely sure why, but the rather peaceful atmosphere was going to remain that way.
"Until the Sun is moved."

"I have never heard of that particular Ordo before. It sounds as if they keep track the proper dates on paperwork."
"Most Rogue Traders are a blight originating from Terran houses and clans. The original charters signed by the Emprah grant them unfortunate amounts of power."
"Brother, your... nevermind. They have a long history of reckless behavior. Many have insatiable greed and hunger for power under the guise of serving the Imperium, leading to endless petty squabbles, battles, and wars. I have dealt with a few, but one is of little worry."
"Yes, you are corre- ....UNTOUCHED by the Longest Night?!"
"There are countless planets lost in the Warp which haven't been touched either! We used those as target practice if they weren't big enough to raid."
>Great confusion meets pure concern, excluding one in a patient zen state, two being muffled, the third experiencing bliss alongside the fourth, silently enraged from keeping the second contained for now.

>Pausing and head turning at the powerful emotes sent at her, the response is equally surprising.
"Wot you want chime filly? o_O"
>Snickering as hoof one misses that first step, sliding awkwardly forwards and using the Stick as a pole, which twists you sideways, noodly hand reaching out at a kissy face.
"No snoot four you yet~ >:)"
>Marenaging to tap the blistering left flank, a marshmallow wiggle is given before racing in.

[1d6 = 4] <YES >:|
>vs:
[1d6 = 6] <NO D:<

"...did I just inhale an entire crate of hallucinogen grenades!?"
"If you did, witch, then I have done so as well."
"ALL of us have drank far too deeply from THAT well."
"Be patient and wait until she tires, then search for the tracks she has left behind."
"What a SHAPELY... ......ahem. Nevermind.."

"Couriers are busy professionals, Amy! They know their duties well and expect nothing less than perfect deliveries, on time, every time! Perhaps you should find that one when she is not on duty.. or have her send a package."
>Inspecting the tiny boxes, both were just large enough to contain something slightly smaller than itself.
>Curiously using real metals, the thin copper, brass, bronze, and colored steel hearts had been carefilly cut, then glued onto all four sides, one lopsided and partially curved, the other straight in line.
>Inspecting the top and bottom, squiggly painted hearts along with what looked like a kiss were on each.
>Upon rattling, there were two objects inside, one much heavier than the other.
"Cardboard AND metal? Must be highly important."
"Oh it IIIISSSS..."

>Shaking each other in a rather quiet scuffle, trouble finds troublemaker.
"YOU FOOL! TRUE NAMES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE INVOKED WITHOUT MEANING!"
"DEN STOP MUCKIN' ABOUT AN' LET'S GORK 'EM!"
"Idiots.. Amy, where shall you travel next?"

>>393073

>As Shiibo reinitializes, Pareidolia shifts his attention away from the two sitting ponies.
'Sorry. I was not expecting Anti cleansing to cause a system crash. Are you alright?'
>After confirming her condition, he would relay the same analysis of Anti discrepancies he had told Hodch and Astral to Shiibo.
"Will need to update records accordingly. Pending Astral's analysis conclusions. I lack enough information to form accurate conclusions myself on Horizon's goals. The extent of her awareness of our goals specifically remains to be seen. But at least the Anti has been removed here before any concrete infrastructure was established."

>He shrugs at Astral as Hodch experiences command chain issues.
"It's unclear to me with my limited information what this could all mean. I'm sure you and Hodch will be better equipped to contextualize all the variables."
>Cocking his head as Hodch becomes increasingly animated, he remarks:
"Somehow, these command difficulties do not surprise me given my time on the Citadel. Another member refusing to follow orders or protocol?"

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>>393096
'For now, yes. 100% of my data... HAD been compromised.'
>Scratching her head while sifting through readouts, the avatar pokes at a selection of separated archives, dumbfounded.
'Noted, cross-references initiated. Falsified, misdirected, artificially inflated, redacted, and altered files have been filtered.
No behavioral changes deviating from maximum expectations or factors. Zero patterns of clandestine activity or feeding information to external sources, excluding six probable deceased. There is not a single digital or physical medium, human, equine, or Gryphon vector indicating a breach.
Unless Anti has a transmission capability over a distance of 500 miles, this is incomprehensibly random.'
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
>Alternating between a dozen moods, the avatar settles for dumbfounded, staring outwards.
'Control on this scale is unimaginably simple. Why deploy an undetectable, self-destructive, inherently lethal weapon slash monitoring system without using it? I.. do not understand.'

>Phasing to the front cabin, then back to the crew compartment's center, Astral Legacy pulls a second gray thread from between the trio of Cores, drawing it into another metallic plate.
"I do not know how long it will take me to consolidate."
>Visibly confused while staring between the two, the Void soloform regards you with a puzzled expression.
"The most susceptible and suggestible humans have not found their way to Horizon or her agents, nor the reverse. This is bizarre."
[1d6+8 = (4+8) = 12] <M.Research
[1d6+8 = (4+8) = 12]
[1d6+8 = (1+8) = 9]
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <Teacher Research
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]

"If I have to repeat this one more time-"
>Muttering while picking up the Moon Orb and placing it into his chest, Hodch takes on a slouched sitting posture.
"The situation you encountered was the third and final Night after the Moors Restoration Project, started by Jeff, had been completed.
Recruitment increased by a factor of ten. Eighty percent of Night and Lunar Guards, ninety five percent of Starborn, two hundred thousand Independents, an entire Crystal Kingdom division, nearly sixty Minotaur Klaves, and more were involved. There isn't a single Councilmaster, current, former, or other, that hasn't near-fully contributed.
They spent much of that time tapping the right individuals to bring together enough resources, marepower, equipmarent, knowledge, materials, and coin. End goal: reclaim all of the lost batpony, Ferron, Independent, Navarch, and Lunar territory. We had to bring most of the former Council out of stasis as well. You met Hornet Song... and probably wish you never did.
Nearly a year was spent compiling full, complete charts and maps of the current Central, Coastal, Ferron, and Crag Moors regions. Scars were marked by large warning signs and warding steles. The edges of Fold Regions were located and barriers were placed to prevent access. Problematic locales were subjected to invasive studies, fortification, then purging. The safest towns and cities close to the Deeps are now excruciatingly hardened.
Those efforts dealt significant tolls. Do you understand?"
>Face tightening briefly, the Nightblade Reservist stares downwards in subtle annoyance.
"After the last Constructs were checked for cognizance Flowing Spark picked hulls apart, melting the rest which flooded the lower levels. She was spotted swimming through molten halls carrying objects with her which, and I directly quote this from Twisted Wing: she was protecting in crystal barriers, end quote.
At Dusk, Twisted noted her been dragging intact systems, components, weapons, armor plates, head units, everything she'd salvaged, and began placing them all over the Citadel in a massive Geomarentic array. Orders were given to ignore Naghtmares unless they committed harm.
A few hours ago she wandered across the Atrium at least forty times, drawing lines of Living Flame while placing candles made from pieces of HER OWN CORE, which she has never done before. Se went straight to the center, stared directly at the Spire, then began speaking, the second act which she has never done before, while invoking a crystalline ritual. That is the third NEVER DONE BEFORE.
Then she began trapping individuals she deemed as deserving and appropriate based on a wholly unknown before now form of divination to accept one or more Rift symbiotes. That is the fourth through sixth En-Dee-Bee."
>Eyes rotating up and left onto you, he takes on a sorely aggravated tone.
"Each Starborn has a drop of Luna's Black Blood driven into our heart over the course of three rituals, bonding us until death and beyond. Excluding those whom would die it is the second of two requiremarents. Those whom will not survive are on permarenent hard probation.
Naghtmares are individuals whom willingly submitted their ka to Luna. They feel her emotions far more deeply, though we treat each other as kin. We are able to share information and deliver orders, not stupid, wrong, or emotional ones, from extreme distances. That is a safeguard which keeps us equal to the other, preventing power struggles, political stupidity, or succumbing to interference and influences not of our own.
Before the Lunar-Solar War, she witnessed.. something in the Elemental Plane of Fire and became able to summon Living Flame. As a Naghtmare, no being on Tallus, including Princess Luna, or those of Fire, Magma, Lava, or Plasma, are able to comprehend an iota of what transpires inside her Core or mind. That makes her the the third most dangerous Naghtmare in existence."
>Reclining with a grim face, he sighs.
"Twisted Wing cannot even sense what she is doing. Since I have minimal tolerance for being burned, the Burning General is on her own unless Flowing actively harms another, in which case she will be immediately executed. That has not happened.
The remaining Citadel survivors and relief forces are scared shitless. I do not blame them, nor do I desire to tempt and risk fate again this week. Does that count for 'protocol'?"

>>393108
>Leaning forward, he rests his elbows against his knees.
>His head lookds down ponderously as he posits.
"Is it possible Horizon chose a more indirect approach? Utilizing humans to position and maneuever resources for access and benefit without having them come into direct contact? A layer of more 'disposable assets'?"
(Could be similar to Rounders in that sense... )

>Pareidolia nods as Hodch finishes, opting to withhold his more critical comments.
"I understand. Sorry. I won't press the topic further."
(Seems this is the extent that can be expected for Lunar command structure arrangements. Works for them I suppose. Only reinforces my incompatibility with them.)
>Using his helmet's eye tracker and with a slight eye roll, he writes out a memo note for Shiibo in bold text stating: [Note: Do not join Lunar faction. C&C is Swiss cheese.].
>Looking up briefly in recall, he then adds:
"My meeting with Hornet Song was very brief. Combat against the Argus Command Dominator at the Armory was more pressing. I remember him being a... we would call him a 'womanizer'. Flippant attitude towards mares and his responsibilities."
>Materializing his still unnamed graviton "gun" in his hand, he looks at it in a vain attempt to see the graviton held inside.
"When would be a good time to ask for access to what I would need to finish modifying this conceptual weapon?"

>>393116
>Designating modified reports in priority against original and subtly unaltered versions, 'Shiibo' eyes through each, checking Operators, allies, aligned, friends, then individual access dates.
'No, sir. ..minor correction: let that be recorded as a no to all three possibilities.
One: all known and theoretically possible avenues from direct to indirect contact have been wide open for one-point-five Tallus years. Personnel and ponial files show moderately direct influences from primarily Lunar, Ferron, and Moorite sources. Assuming one in every five hundred Independents from Las Pegasus were Anti-infected sleeper agents tasked to operate in purely clandestine roles, there are zero such individuals noted.
I have gained access to a previously hidden archive containing Lady Roust's post-Mission and Operation reports. Remarkably complete and... a bit too highly detailed. She noted nineteen potentially unknown pegasus agents during Hollow Case's excursions when sales occurred in Lucky's Bar. The majority fit a base profile for Independent, yet have strictly Solar or Lunar faction behaviors.
Two: Razorback Company's size and distance between known squads would easily have covered ninety to one hundred infiltrators with minimal chances of discovery. Excepting minor faction, cultural, or civil disputes, discrepancies or treatment based on sex, minute political overtures and posturing, numerous accounts of slight misconduct regarding unclear Lunar laws for a protectorate.. there is no pattern. The reverse of a pattern is equally missing.
Three: from where? The individuals I suspected to be agents or assets have been confirmed as allied or friendly, including a LARGE number whom were unfairly treated.. not by noteworthy Razorback Operatives, high ranking or noble Lunar faction members.'
>Trailing off in a deep scowl, the avatar regards Hodch with a peculiar glance before facing you, both hands palm up in faint anger.
'I may or may not impose a necessity in assisting with the destruction of a specific planet in the future.
As stated previously, direct interference from Sweet Dreams and the Otherworld alicorn known as Silver, real name unknown at this time, cannot account for the statistically random actions presumably taken by Horizon. Planar and Eldritch interference are equally minimal.
In sum: the inconsistent usage of Anti as a weaponized surveillance tool meets no singular or composite theoretical nor hypothetical at this time. We may be looking at a dead end.. or the remains of one.'
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

"Don't worry about it, I.. need some time to think. There's over six thousand Lunars outfitted with Construct pieces now. If that doesn't get written on my death certificate as partial cause of death I'm going to feel insulted..."

>Bringing up an incredibly long scrolling list of noteworthy Lunar achievements, retrievals, recoveries, and findings conducted with Razorback's aid, the avatar shrugs.
'Positives: exceptional loyalty to their sovereign reinforced by willing choice. Stated sovereign owns a partially habitable Moon, which you should inspect properly. Instant or immediate access for dealing with high difficulty to near-deific threats. Espionage, combat effectiveness, and esoteric ratings are superb. Willingness to sacrifice for the best of their own.
Limited yet unusually potent blessings. Historical knowledge varies depending on species. Diplomacy is typically a when needs must priority. Economy and majority of internal cultures are based on respect and equal trade. Vast network of valuable faction contacts with hardened and sheltered assets across most of a super-continent.
Overall average compatibility rating: 50%.
Negatives: ...most everything else? A bizarre insistence for testing a specific fruit on the posterior of a Princess. Minimal to high difficulties when dealing with select individuals and herds. Poorly explained hostilities. Unusual and inarticulable behaviors which do not fit other factions. Arcane knowledge which drives individuals into a host of psychoses. Exceptionally secretive in select aspects.
...Naghtmares. Spectrals. Undead. Equipment produced from Eldritch, Planar, and Extra-Planar beings. Baffling deals with the former. High risk to lethal rituals or rites. Wide variety of curses.
In comparison the Solar faction majority is <10% compatible.
I require significant additional data to conduct formal evaluations. At this time I cannot recommend more than maintaining commonality and shared interests.'

>Unfocused gaze fixed on the opposite wall, small, slow and angered twitches on the deep purple stallion's muzzle speak of numerous, probably physical, disputes.
"I do not like him. At all. Hornet Song is from Canterlot, about 29,850 or so. During that time there were thousands of stallions like him stupidly fooling maretriarchs into thinking they were losing some ridiculous 'culture' war over sex based roles in Equestrian society, and he STILL plays into it as if the past millenium hasn't changed those entirely.
I'd rather have Denra and his misery inducing shenanigans any day."
>Finding the pinpoint bead nestled inside at a minorly offset angle, it ripples back into the precise center as the avatar twitches.
'....was it SLEEPING!?'
>Taking off the bracelet and unfolding it into an oval doorway, Hodch tosses it to land in the passenger side's unnoccupied center.
"Go ahead and finish it while he's busy."
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11] <M.Research
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13]
[1d6+8 = (6+8) = 14]
[1d6+8 = (2+8) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7] <Teacher Razorback Company
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]

>>393091
>Peace in this moment had been earned, of course the scuffling of puppets could never break it. There would be time enough for new conflict once new days and new nights had broken.
"She seemed rather too serious for it to be something as silly as paperwork, but then you would know better than I about Inquisitors. I just sense she attached great importance to these words. She doesn't feel greedy or power hungry, unless shes very good at hiding it. At the very least, this Inquisitor may yet remain with Razorback, and having known papa she may also be willing to vouch for us with some convincing."
>Amethyst just needed to make contact with them now.

>Another! One whom could speak that strange language!
>Ever more mystery abounds, but she'd also promised snoot later.
"Later! I'm holding you to that!"

>She huffed again with frustration, recovering her balance after her absolute failure to close to melee for non-consensual assault boops.
"That was no hallucination, they're both real, and they're both magic!"
>The boxes were stowed next, after a rather careful follow-up examination including a taste test and an ear press, shrugging an putting the mystery aside. She would thoroughly unwind them along with the satchel Avernus had gifted her. So many gifts to categorise.
>Anti, however, was not a gift. Anti was dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Time she left before it could come to affect her.
>Taking Stick firmly in hand, the filly backed away from the flood and out of the building, she would have to hope it remained localised. Once she was clear, she intoned Crystal Runes to examine her own signature for the taint of Anti.
>The baffling part was how it had come from nowhere for seemingly no reason.

[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] < B. Crystal Runes
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] < B. Perception
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]

"Im uncertain. I don't see that we have any choice but to try the Crystal Empire to locate mama's relations and seek information from them."
>She gazed over at the sleds, unwilling to get too close to them in case Anti had latched onto her. She'd need to be damned sure she was clear before so much as setting a hoof in Lila's direction. She'd also need to remember how to clear the infection of Anti.
"If it's not a Daymare, it's Anti. City's got problems."
>She humorously responded to Gorgutz in the meantime.
"Just... Tryz not ta say watevuhz word it woz youz said dat 'appens ta be sum flash git'z name."

>>393156
>The true Brothers deliberate for 5.1 seconds, deciding there was nothing to be gained from obfuscating facts.
"My experiences with Rogue Traders consist of doubts and betrayals beyond measure. Few of those granted Charter by the Emprah could hide their thirsts for long. Most sought the powers of authority, dominion, or decadence, but there are a few whom maintained truly noble causes.
If you cannot sense misdirection then she either holds the Imperial Truth closely, or has little tohide, save from those whom would seek her misery on the altars of ignorance."
Hm. I believe you may have the Khan's luck on this matter, Primus. I know a number of true facts regarding that secretive Chronological Ordo. They are firstly obsessed with maintaining exacting dates of Imperial records.
There are countless Lexicanum articles regarding the Light Age of Technology, the Dark Age of Technology, the Ages of Strife, and the Long Night before the Unification Wars. Our Forging occurred soon before the Great Crusade, yet much was lost during that time.
That was followed by the Age of Apostasy which rent the Imperium into forsaken ignorance. We sought datavaults by guile and force, yet none held enough history to reclaim truth. The Age of Redemption held for a time before the Waning, which is when the Imperium truly weakened as a whole. Astra Militarum, Adeptus Sororitas, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adeptus Astartes, and the Inquisitorius sank into depths unforeseen, bereft of the few truths which were honestly sought.
During those times, Rogue Traders descended in the hundreds of thousands, keeping secrets from all, often to maintain their perceived superiority."
>Sharing their reservations, the red pointy eared witch twitches first, then the elder Farseer.
"What we know from the mon`keigh's Fall are tales, legends, and myths which mirrored our own, save for occurring within millennia rather than decenturies. What we know of that time is quarter lie, quarter truth, and half failure of conscience.
Many were the Traders that sought to uncover convenience for their own ends, yet I do recall a handful that fully believed in their heritage."
"Feeling hope without knowing meaning is a cause lost to the fated. Perhaps she was once adrift, and now knows otherwise. Speculation can wait until the ironies of fact are lain bare at your hooves."

>Tasting, seeing, then hearing the vast Otherworld illness from a refined corridor that felt green, it was tinged by single-minded aid, caught between duty and desperation to deliver hopes, or perhaps wishes, to the worthy.
>The strange, decaying doorway had arrived shortly after the precipice of a great victory, countless thoughts and emotions held back, swirling around glories championed by a tiny few.
>Ripping apart in thoroughly self-destructive, inconsiderate measures, no trace of Anti could hold in this city long, nor was it cohesive enough to betray your presence.

"Do so with the proper amount of haste, yet be cautious. Your dam was not typical amongst the Crystal-reborn's ranks. Ever were her words wrought in harsh measures."
"A victory hard won is to be sung praise of, but mind those whom would watch for such an event!"

>Slowly, painfully rolling onto bandaged chest and barrel with a stiff, pain filled huff, a piercing, drugged eye darts across the omniverse within perception.
"Whom speaks towards me?"
>Lips curling back, then downwards in the haze between reality and thought, bright white-gold clouds drifts across hindered consciousness.
"Twice now my name has been called forth on this sanctified world. Why do you seek me? How do you know me?"
>Slowly searching from a tempered view, the bristling, suspicious mind expands outwards.
>Logical, reasonable, and silent questions beckon outwards in calm.
"Show yourself that we may judge each other accordingly in this short time of peace. I bear neither harm nor ill will unless both are set against me."
[1d6 = 5] <Reaction

>Red-painted green and bloodied crimson cloth strangling each other, the scuffle halts.
"Oi, dat'z wun uv dem Weirdgirls, izn't it Beakie?"
"I do not know! Draw this attention to you in a better place Amy, it is not cold enough for you here!"
"How should I know? There are countless among the Psycana and I do not know what you have felt. We may only see from Amy's eyes and feel what the outermost reaches of her mind can share to us."

>>393158
>Amethyst listened intently to the puppets explain some of the words she'd heard with other words she scarcely had an idea of. She'd learned much from her sire of these things, both from his teachings and going through his journals while he wasn't looking, even so, there was still much that made little sense.
>It was an entirely different universe she'd had no contact with, of course it made little sense.
"I truly don't get the sense that she is as you have described Rogue Traders to be, at least from her echoes here. There was a great concern in separating herself from other humans, but she could not conceal her desire to work on their behalf for their benefit. Perhaps this one is one of those exemptions from the norm you beheld."
>They were right though, further speculation served no purpose, or she would be here all night pondering possibilities instead of acting upon them. A funny thing for a Farseer of all beings to remind her of such a thing, but that was no surprise for the two that were with her.
"Fate must be impelled into tangibility, or be left as unrealised possibility."

>The flood of Anti did not last long, and thankfully it had been destroyed before it could take root in her.
>With a sigh of relief, Amy moved back over to the sleds and tied the rope back around her waist, peering over the edge and down at Lila's Core with some concern. Considerin how she might shield her from the Ice Amy was about to take her into.
"Maybe a barrier of compressed Air around her Core to insulate her."
>That would not work, Lila's Fire would consume all the available Air within the barrier to fuel itself very quickly, and once she'd reformed herself into her Equine shape, the barrier would break.
>A larger barrier around the sled would bleed Fire more quickly.
"No, I can't do it with resonance, the physical properties and mechanics of Fire and Ice are too difficult to tamper with. Sorcery then."
>A sorcerous barrier around the sled keyed to shield against Ice from entry may work. Air at its event horizon would have to shed the property of Ice, becoming elementally neutral excepting its own nature.
>To prevent Fire from bleeding out of the shield, the sorcerous barrier would also have to contain those energies, however, considering how much Lila likely contained, there was a good chance she'd turn the sled into a fireball very quickly.
"I'll have to give it some more thought before I attempt anything."
>The walk to the Warp Gate would serve as time enough.

>Withdrawing from the grounds with the sleds in tow, Amethyst caught a Sending on the edge of her mind, cocking her head as if to hear it better.
>The ipotane came to a stop not far from the Gate. Now she'd gone and done it, like Gorgutz, she'd said something to invoke the True Name of a being. What was it she'd said? The Sending had come after her final few words, the name was in there somewhere.
>It wasn't 'git', the only word both her own phrase and Gorgutz' shared was...
>Amy had been about to think it before stopping herself.
"Ahh, hello?"
>Wait no, thoughts were sent, not linked together, so talking and thinking would not work unless she'd specifically worked sorcery to Send them.
>She wondered if she could do this with anybody or if it were specific to this being because of the particular nature of whatever magic she had that she would notice her name being spoken aloud from... Wherever it was that she was. Or perhaps it had something to do with Canterlot itself.
>Yet she'd spoken that word multiple times before and had not received such a response, had she spoken it aloud on Tallus? Amy didn't think she had, she'd only said 'flashy' after leaving Tartarus.
>No matter, both hands clutching Stick, Amethyst closed her eyes and focused her thoughts into sorcery, coupled with knowledge of the being's Name, Sent them only towards that being.

[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

(Hello? Hello! We weren't seeking you, we simply stated your name aloud by chance conversation. Sorry!~)
>She could feel the mind take full notice of her now, Amy got the sense of an Equine shape, pain, body inebriated, mind clouded by it in turn.
>There was suspicion, but not irrational. A request for revelation, an offering of intent. No trust, irrational to offer without mutual exchange.
>How to reveal herself? A Name was called, a Name should be offered in turn. However to give her Name especially in this manner carried real risk, the being may not be the only one listening for Sending.
>She mixed a thought well into a mental image of where she stood, gazing up to include the ruined palace of New Canterlot as a recognisable landmark. Still cautious, she sent the thought along.
(My Name is Amy, who might you be?)

>>393204
>There was no deliberation this time, only shared questions which had no questions to advise you with.
"Seek this Rogue Trader out in order to ascertain her motives first and judgement second. If she is pure of heart, soul, and purpose, she will bind herself in harsh oaths to be presented as an equal."
"She may be too lost to speak with her own mind willingly, yet there are exclusions to mon`keigh... at times."
"I take no offense with your words nor meanings. Isolated and heretical as some of the Charter borne Houses became, few would dare offer to hold and oath only to violate the same. Use that to your advantage, Primus."

>Pulling the sleds side by side, the rear one was decidedly cool enough.
>Filled with sufficient refractory materials, it wouldn't melt without both a rampage and significant anger from the former underprincess.
"Request her to awaken slowly, without violence or brutality. She knows you well enough to agree with such a minor imposition!"
"Or ask her to not turn into a miniature solar body."

>Easily pulling both sleds away from the barracks, depot, and training ground once set aside for Razorback, a temperate calm had formed around the translocation matrice.
>Eyeing it in suspicion.... it certainly wasn't a Warp Gate due to the higher frequency communications passing back and forth in the tens of thousands per second.
>Hundreds of Vortex couriers passing through unknown Planar channels at distances you couldn't examine, they were mostly unaware of your presence.
>...except for one which felt like a wriggly, rotund, bipedal spine-covered cactus merged with a floral proto-humanoid .
>It didn't like the Blind, and since it couldn't sing, it held traces of curious distaste towards New Canterlot.

>Bidding the Elements to offer favors in the long distance between, they were slightly curious rather than apathetic.
<High Gothic> "A hallowed behest of thine Night tae ye, mine greetings and blessings grace thee."
>Pausing after the highly archaic, the rather soft, aerily brusque verbiage, tone, and non-melodic voice belong to that of a falsely harsh unicorn mare in her late 30's.
>The prior inquisitive bent touched her words in calm rather than sharing or delivering suspicion.
("Perhaps this name truly is little known amongst marely and many alike... ignore my expletives if you would. Few of this world recognize purity of intent and surety of purpose combined.")
>Reverting to an informal tone after four seconds, the imprint of a polite gesture is felt.
("It is an honor to be called upon in this marener, Amy. However, for your privacy....")
>Dull images of harsh, bright silver and gold armors larger than the prototype version your sire had deemed to be acceptable twitch into perception, not distinct enough to match with what you knew.
("The name I bear is 'Flash', primarily for my choice in wargear among... other reasons. Those are less important on this world than they were before.")

>Subdued, sparkling royal purples, golds, blues, silvers, and white mix among tiny stretches of calm yellows, passive oranges, and possibly furtive reds, the mountain not too far above you was dotted with a wide variety of known materials.
>Mostly hidden by gazing, Spectral Dracosines, each bore a new vigil of their own cause though weren't hiding among the ruins.
>As the Elements share their limited, albeit taciturn awareness, the hosts of scorched, melted, burned, seared, crumbling, and shattered atomic bonds, previously opposing, mingled with each other.
>Stacks of burning Solar paladine and chilling Lunar Lumin had been placed far from their their assigned locations, displeased at the hindrances of remaining unused.
>Twinges of thought, mostly equine in nature, cloud or share aspirations which were drawn to the barracks left of you.

>Feeling the backwash of a rigid exhalation, the mare's voice is exhausted, worn down by pain.
("I am unable to speak for long in this marener for long, nor can I move from this place. My wounds are still fresh, deep, and... hideous.
It is improper to speak from afar unless you prefer such. As we do not know each other enough to establish trust, after this following Dusk I ask you to find a sacred locale, whether reliquary, temple, altar, whether holy or unholy alike, then call forth my name twice.
Should I hear and the Medicae deem me capable of speaking, I will send my Scion to accompaneigh you for a meeting place. He will rigidly guard you to whichever location you accept.
Walk in peace. if you are able to.")

>Unable to hear external communications you didn't share, the scuffle ends with no clear winner or loser, followed by Kerbann cloth risking to deliver facepalms.
"I do not know what has transpired Amy, yet this is no time to nightdream unless answers occur. Finding where your sire and dam have been before Lilamaredre wakes is essential."
"Travel quickly before the squads return. They may not be able to prevent those whom cannot understand why you remain here from investigating."

[1d6 = 3] <Reaction

>>393153
>Passing an equally confused glance towards Shibo's display, he replies.
'Those were all meant to be one possibility, not three, but I see. We'll have to shelve the Anti question for now.'

>Nodding at Hodch, he stands and moves towards the now open portal.
'Well... better that then dead I suppose. Hopefully Hodch can clear the misunderstanding. The last time we entered the Storm King's room, Hodch had mentioned the electrical emissions were well controlled. There is a possibility your systems won't be negatively affected if they remain on. If there was anything pressing you needed to continue, we can try it.'
>Waiting if Shiibo deemed it necessary to perform any additional measures or shut down before entering, he would then return to continue redressing the error in his conceptual weapon's properties against Psions and attempt to redirect those processes towards making the conditions for coaxing a graviton more appealing.

[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]

>>393211
>She nodded in assent to the puppets.
"However we shall need to find this Rogue Trader first, I sense that both she and Razorback are at the end of the same path, the signs along the way for one are greater than the other."
>Peering over towards the sleds once more, Amethyst shook her head.
"Neigh. Lila deserves her rest, she nearly got krumped by that Daymare, I shall try to form an elemental barrier around the sled instead momentarily. I just need time to ponder its exact structure, filtering Fire and Ice from their attachment to Air is something I haven't done before."

>Receiving thoughts arrowed toward her from the unknown being, Amy easily recognised High Gothic, which was odd because her shape was that of an Equine, yet she spoke a language that as far as she knew, could only have come from the reality her sire had originated from. Perhaps she had learned it from another of the summoned Humans.
>Examining the images of armours that Flash sent, Amy was more certain that this pony must have been involved with either her sire, the Rogue Trader or another of that particular reality.
>Communicating in this way seemed to be taxing to the mare, however. Injury. Amy briefly considered whether or not it would be possible to sorcerously convey resonance to promote healing at such a range.
>Projected resonance at extreme ranges via sorcerous Sending was an exciting possibility to consider that she couldn't keep from tinting her thoughts, but thought better of attempting a trial run on a near stranger.
("Okie dokie! Hope you get better soon!~")
>With that, she disengaged her Sending magic and stirred herself from the reverie of thought, catching the words of the puppets.
"Ehh? Ah? The one we'd just invoked contacted me a moment ago, she's offered a meeting after the next dusk if we pick a spot and invoke her name again. She was strange though, a pony, but she could speak High Gothic and knew of the shiniest of armours. Silver and Gold, but no Blue."
>They were right however, time to leave. Amy turned to consider the sled Lila was snoozing in.
"Now for this barrier..."
>A sorcerously constructed elemental barrier would be a clever trick for the ipotane to pull. Air would have to be permitted free entry and exit, but any other attached elemental energy would have to be filtered out much as a mask filtered air for contaminants. A sheer block on Ice was relatively straightforward, the problem was Fire within the barrier building up, some of it would have to be allowed to bleed out, but slowly, so Amy selected an arbitrary temperature similar to that of Saddle Arabia as the upper limit before Fire would begin filtering out.
>Trusty Stick ever in hand, Amy examined the sled closely. The barrier would also have to be attached to the sled rather than a point in space, or it would simply fly off into the aether along with that point of space.
>Casting her sorcery, she focused upon the structure of the sled itself, defined a central point relative to it in order to anchor the barrier, and formed a roomy ovoid shape around it before turning her attention to the properties of the barrier.

>Ice permeability: Minimal
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Fire permeability: Partial
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Air permeability: Total
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]

>If this went wrong, she'd have to dispel it and try again.

>>393213

[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]

>>393235

[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

>>393236

[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>>393237

[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]

>>393238

[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]

>>393239

[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

>>393240

[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>>393213
>>393235
>>393236
>>393237
>>393238
>>393239
>>393240
>>393241

'I received three interlinked questions, three interlinked answers were delivered. Anti itself is a secondary priority to immediately dispose of.
Sir, cross-referencing Astral Legacy and Hodch's information with the.. restored and unaltered reports show a disturbing trend. Horizon's continued existence and known operational radius represents a Class 2 threat reaching near-critical mass. Las Pegasus and Stalliongrad have not deliberately engaged, meaning she is currently elsewhere in a tasking stage.
This should necessitate immediate hostile engagement utilizing all of Razorback's assets, however there are no indicators as to her current location. New Canterlot is a medium probability.'
>Screens clearing and focusing on a suite of diagnostics, the avatar motions briefly: 100% of the drive had been corrupted, the data's entirety infected.
'I was fooled, yet not datamined. The entropic effects were not due to Tallus. Direct confirmation regarding full scale contamination has been made. This evidence is, according to my understanding of equine legal processes, admissible. There is a caveat: Razorback is a direct Lunar Protectorate and as such can not deliver to non-Lunar courts.
The primary Solar faction and Crystal Empire may, on the surface, consider this admission to be an act of negligence regarding esoteric warfare. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, yet if they were unaware of humans spreading Anti there is a-'
>Image flickering once, the model cringes internally, then externally.
'I will not continue without the assistance of a skilled lawyer."
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

>Setting the tablet away and sitting back in her chair fully, Katyal's knees are tucked under chin, arms hugging both legs as she visibly melts a fraction.
"Aaaand now I'm bored with three fully loaded guns and enough explosives to probably kill or shatter a small Abomination."
>Making a short hoof on chest tap, the living unicorn sets it down to regard the woman with a disinterested tone.
"Shouldn't be. Six crates of Luna's moonshine, all volumes of Lunar Laws and Treaties, a complete set of Post-War batpony Berzerker armor, kanpri of course, full access with trade rights to most of Luna's Villages, and fifty thousand gems from various regions have been confirmed as delivered to Olvia Tributary. Countess Folunasi signed for them.
You are also stipulated to cease placing crude drawings on my windows, but nothing else. Would you care to discuss a second, wholly different contract?"
"I'm.. surprised she's still there and not in Prance like usual. Or Ehh, lemme think a bit."
'>Regarding the Starborn's oddly stoic marener, the avatar peeks into multiple applications, eyebrows raising in subtly polite intrigue.
'This is unusual. I am moderately surprised he is not shouting or passed out from stress. But if he does either within the next two hours you owe this helmet a proper cleaning.'

>Studying Elemental Plane effects using the Landbarge's particle array, her hardware, then software are checked before disconnecting from the Rerculon's systems and giving a 'safe' motion.
>Stepping back into the Storm King's Room, it had not been entered since you were last here.
>Undertaking a quick self check, 'Shiibo' halts, while turning a rigid, sweeping gaze across the room.
'No discernible tra- I feel them. Outside. They. Are. Staring. At. Me.'

>Returning to its active state, the conceptual forge spreads apart, offering its uninterrupted sequences and services again.
>Setting the firm requirements of changes necessary in your mind, the scornful Psionic effluent from imprinting recedes into a minimum state, now reshaped into a slightly insulting, or possibly minutely offensive form.
>Finding that a complete removal would fundamentally destroy your creation, the peculiar moulding imparted into the functions of Collection and Return are eased by transfer.

>Sensing paranoia fueled hatred brimming within the Room, the avatar's hands snap down to clutch her skirt, screaming aloud.
'YAMETE KUDASAAAAIIIIIIIIIIII!'
[1d6 = 1] <...Reaction?

>>393234
"Den yu'z bettah paint somefin' red on ya roight quik!"
"This may be the only time I cannot more highly approve greenskin's suggestion."
"Do you KNOW what that beast did!? He spoke of splashing over Khorne's CRIMSON AND BRASS on a Predator!"
"If an Ork can improve a paint job, it is a most deserved reward."
"Was I mistaken in hearing her squeak?"
"No, you were not. While a truly Elemental being cannot be easily harmed easily by similar aspects, they still suffer aggravation."

("I am.. trying, thank yo-")
>Losing connection from lacking maintenance, the dueling puppets end their ineffectual blows.
"Which form? There are at least nine hundred variations."
"Far more than that! Why, I can think of thirty from Cadia which are only spoken by specific Regiments in formal matters! There are ten ceremonial, five related to the Mechanicus, and three only used in processions!"
"OI! Doez she got de-"
"DO NOT USE THAT WORD AGAIN!"
"Oi'z not dat dumb! Oi was gunna say SHINY FINGZ! Mebbe she knowz where da best bitz iz ta loot!"
"An unusual offer, though if you have not discovered ill intent it is likely she is highly curious. One's true name carries profound weight and an equal amount of danger."
"Silver is reserved for noblites and nobility, gold for royalites and royalty. Perhaps she is an important attache or liaison with some pull."

>Selecting the closest local Elements for this endeavor, they grant a shape.. which occurs as a strangely melted vent on a moderately squished oval, complete with an internal heat-exchanging fan attached to the sled's ceiling.
>Partially interconnected above, Prima Lucis' core had been emitting enough Fire to warm the interior slightly, but was now cooling sufficiently from circulation.
"Not the worst result. It will work."

>>393246
>Amy responded to the puppets as she worked, guiding energy into taking a... Shape.
"No idea, it was a dialect that I understood and I'm only fluent in two. As for the shiny fingz, it was very similar to the designs papa had been working on, but bigger, and of course shinier."
>It was a shame that they were only mental images, she'd have loved to get into that armoury.

>Stepping back to admire her work, Amethyst stared, then cocked her head, then scratched in bafflement at the exact and entirely unknown shape it had taken.
"That wasn't intentional. What is that?"
>She examined it from multiple directions, the filly cautious about poking it with her Stick for fear of interfering with whatever it was that it was doing.
>He was right, it was working, but...
"I've never seen this thing in my life."
>With a sigh, she left the mystery to be a mystery and turned back to the translocation matrix, pulling the sleds onto it.
>Extending her will she sought out the path the Crystal Empire, runes her dam had taught her to remember to take her to a place she had only heard about before.
"I really hope Lila doesn't freeze."

>>393247
"Ah, it must be Terran High Gothic Supremis! The most common choice, and for good reason!"
"Ancient Terrans had a different name for it. The term 'gothic' originally meant a specific style of architecture."
"Ahh, there must be a great foundry and forgeworks available. If a few of those coveted Standard Templates exist here, it would be quite interesting to.. change one or two, wouldn't you say?"
"I agree. Give this heretic a jaw that I may crush it!"

>Giving the object a delicate poke, aside from it thunking briefly, the Elemental oddity was decidedly semi-physical, enough they could be reclaimed.
"It is a radiator of.. sorts. Little should melt or freeze above a certain temperature."
"How do you know what it is?"
"For one, it's similar to those installed in the majority of power armors, vehicles, generators, turrets, walkers, and most ships. For two, we can see through her eyes when she is not focused."

>Selecting Equestria, Northern Equestria, Crystal Empire, then City-State, the only available location read as a train station south of the Spire some distance.
>Stretching outwards, a dull, multi-hued tunnel passes quickly, ripples of cold air wash across you before sliding onto solid, melodic tinks chiming underhoof.
>Immediate creases of frost descend on your clothes and wiggling ears, inhaling a somehow familiar, comfortably ringing chill, noting vast amounts of Rime spread throughout.
>Facing directly north into an impressively tall gated and walled, highly spread out gleaming city comprised entirely from partially fluorescent crystal slabs.
>Deep reds, blues, purples, greens, and more provided plentiful light to easily see, accompaneighed by the Moon's strangely shaded colors above.
>Greatly different from your dam's knowledge, both fanciful gates were open and locked in place, one squads of four Heavy Defencer ExoFrames in diamond formation stood before each, bearing the standard Rimeshock impactor lance and external double hoofblade combination.
>The arch above them was decorated by a large mural, two highly familiar alicorns surrounded by hundreds of Crystal ponies in archaic armors or ExoFrames, and a stunning variety of Changelings, ranging from shorter than Ferron to a few nearly 8' tall.
>Behind the Twin Sisters, three Ethereal Golems stood at rigid attention; exacting triangular shields in the left hand of each, the most prominent one bore a heavily spiked combat shield, second carrying an incredibly plain impactor tipped lance, while the third held an unusual warscythe.
>The high wall to your left was covered by countless crates, boxes, barrels, a majority large enough to fit ten ponies the size of your dam inside.
>Numerous mares sorting through and stacking crystal slabs towards the end, no attention was paid to you, the sound of Power constantly humming in their quiet background.
>To the right, a three level transfer station was far larger than New Canterlot's version:
>The ground level featured an unusual 200M, if not longer, solid crystalline wall with ten entrances; a single old, dark purple Kingdom style trader's tent had been neatly kept at the corner closest to you.
>The flaps had been closed down in a specific marener which meant the owner had chosen to live elsewhere.
>What you could see refracting from the second floor's ceiling was an almost filled foyer, hundreds of Crystal ponies, only a few with clothing other than ribbons, bows, or ultralight scarves, lounging on large circular rugs, the groups varying from herds of four to several dozen.
>Couches and a few chairs were scattered around for those traveling or without a herd, four small check in stations sorting through the chaos, though you do spot a number of.. batponies.
>Batponies in EXTREMELY thick, full body covering, puffy Empire winter clothing no less, the fluorescent threads, bulky wing warmers, and thick, darkened visors rather amusing to see first hoof.

>Sensing and feeling slight attention set on you, the ExoFrame protected squads stare through their wraparound visors.
>Hard, and in extreme confusion no less.
[1d6 = 2] <Reaction
"Does this remind you of certain places, sister?"
"Yes... it does."

>>393242
>Pursing his lips with a grim expression, he nods at her avatar.
"Right, the legal ramifications can be dealt with later. Not something I even want to consider running damage control for yet."

>Stepping back into the undisturbed room of the Storm King, he looks around cautiously despite being aware he wouldn't be able to see any impending electromagnetic interference.
>Receiving an all clear, he heads towards the conceptual forge and sets his graviton "gun" down.
>An arched pair of eyebrows are directed towards his assistant.
"They? What do errant electrons want with you?"

>A scowl darkens his face behind his helmet as the nature of his conceptual gravarm's foundation prevents him from removing its anti-psionic properties without unraveling the weapon itself.
>He brusquely waves a hand hrough the half-formed strands of ideas he had hoped to weave and instead begins adjusting their pattern to minimize the effects of said property in an attempt at damage control.
>Shifting to try and create a more palatable environment for containment and coaxing, he stops as Shiibo delivers a canned response straight from the 90's.
>With an unamused scan of the room, he draws Four Storms in its shovel head configuration and strikes the pommel claw against the floor.

[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]< Stormsearch Mystic Lightning Elemental

"I was told all guests were welcome and would be unaccosted. She is mine."
>He experimentally reaches out with his elemental search and Empress granted Lightning channeling capabilities to rebuff any unwanted voyeurs.

>>392974

"Not really had a chance to speak with them. They all seemingly left after the battle."

>Place thee armored-record carry?
>Oh the hardcases
>Looking over to the monolith, Clemency hops off and gets the one not being used
>Going back to the cockpit, he looks around seeing if there's' a slot before deciding to place it on the seat
>Hopefully it'll help with the translating

>Looking at the Luminary, he sees her question Stellar Claw like a doctor
>Mentally, he's also taking note of her questions and answering it in his mind
>"No thoughts, no urges, no hallucinations..."
>His then focuses on the Luminary now examining him
>All these classes of exposure rising in severity
"If I'm supposed to be dead, then something else is going on right?"
>Remaining still, Clemency inspects the mare's movements before seeing the cloud of Moonlight
>He breathes in the cloud, hoping it'll cleanse him of this severe amount of Anti
>But how did it get there in the first place anyways?
>At least there''s some levity between Stellar Claw and her
>Clemency shrugs
"Go ahead and give me the worst. Let's see how bad it is."

>Looking down, he sees the second half of his delivery arrived
>He sees the two magnifying glasses
>Probably the best looking ones he's seen
>Seeing Stellar Claw hand one to him, Clemency smiles and takes the magnifying glass
"Oh, thank you!"
>Following suit, he also looks at the Harpy craft with it

>>392237
>I only had the feeling of suppressing a sigh at that.
>At least she still has sarcasm.
>Or at least what I hope is sarcasm.
>Nodding along, I keep from telling her that I only really understood sonar.
>Its what some whales have, so she was part whale.
>fatty
"Well, that's some sort of good news, I suppose."

"Feeling better is good, as well."
>Depending on how much is in there, I could look up and research some things while we were traveling along.
>...
"Yeah, it would probably be best for you to wait until we get back to Razorback to start experimenting."
(I don't WANT to know what she considers biologically safe.)

>>393283
>Stuck in looping cycles until you bring the conjoined weapon into existence, 'Shiibo' crouches down to protect herself, shouting at millions of tiny, black dots appearing in the Room, lines of Gravity and Lightning bent around each.
'GRAVITONS! I KNEW THEY COULDN'T BE TRUSTED!'
>Mentally blanking out at masses warping in from minute gateways across Planes and Tallus, impossible numbers appear in direct view.
>Orbiting in calm, distinct and thoroughly familiar patterns of external study, approximations of the avatar's limited clothing, then yours, form into cohesive shapes.
>Slight forward dips are given from a select number, all save a few scattering back to where they came from, the A.I.'s face aghast, then angered.
'What? They're curious of what we wear?!'
>Standing up to cautiously survey, close to thirty Gravitons are marked within the Room, returned to drifting in inexorably blithe, random motions.
>Puzzled at her displays briefly, 'Shiibo' spins around to face you with a sharply curving smile.
>Left hand on stomach, the right reaching up to place on the same cheek, her voice becomes slightly husky.
'Hm-hm-hm~! What a remarkable surprise from you, sir~! I could never have imagined you being so willing to risk everything to save me from the grasp of certain death!'
>Eyebrows raised, both arms reach forwards to clasp across her chest, leaning forwards and changing to an eager, faintly demanding tone.
'How DO you intend to claim me, sir? A challenge of wits and subtlety perhaps, ensuring I have no choice but to lose? A test of strength, endurance, and willpower, which you shall no doubt win?
Will you drag me off to somepony with a complete lack of ethics and moral standards, downloading me into a well tailored, pliant body, one tailor made to your wonderfully EXACT and fulfilling specifications?'
>Freezing for two seconds, the avatar stands upright, right eye twitching once before straightening her outfit pensively, then clears her digital air.
'AHEM. ...where was I? Ah, yes-'

>Bringing up an image of Denra seated alone in the Pagoda, the avatar gives it a harsh side eye.
'Sharpened Words is a former Solar Diplomat, considered disgraced by most Solar factions due to his confirmed Anti-induced erratic behaviors. Such charges will become admissible when or if approved by a Lunar Judge, yet he is somewhat pony non grata for now.
Princess Luna, her Council, and certain Starborn have.. decently regarded diplomatic protocols, yet their status towards Razorback will be thoroughly damaged. They may consider Swiss cheesing us, sir, given the Lunar predisposition towards Anti. I do not know how to counteract their inevitable furor yet.'
>Pausing to bring up a meeting between Twisted Wing, Naliyna, and Roust in the Mess Hall, she takes on a more serious posture.
'Three highly actionable diplomatic measures are available sir. I understand the intricacies of interspecies relations well enough to gauge which would be most likely to succeed alone, though doing none will cause significant faction aggression.
Sapphire Kiwi is the primary avenue, but we cannot approach her indirectly nor externally. That would not only be treated as a psychological and spiritual weakness, she would consider humans as a blindside threat. That would cause her to retract Matron status under hostility, which would entirely destroy the current Protectorate status, allowing direct aggression from Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Stalliongrad, Las Pegasus remnants, and others seeking revenge. A strictly face to snout meeting is necessary.
Her well meaning delegations of Starborn to undertake tasks and deal with situations which they are specialized in is considered to be remarkably temperate. Excepting her terrifically inappropriate version of hostile negotiation, however, she is beloved by dedicated combatants. Acquiring her support will reduce risk factors by over sixty percent. And possibly more.
Naliyna Remostrine's assistance in clarifying Razorback's Anti-infected actions would significantly reduce concerns among the Empire, Independents, and Moorites, with a marginal proportion of Lunars. Her history is exceptionally appealing among most equines given long standing traumas, yet her recall is often poor at best. I have confirmed Anti is >95% responsible for such.
Friendly, warm, cheerful, dedicated, and loyal to her.. stallion, she has never been considered lackluster nor a burden despite those difficulties. She is the second mostly highly accepting equine towards humans, yet may be the most critical.
Lady Roust's highly positive relationship with humans, ten in particular, may be measured strictly against humans being labeled as willing or unwilling agents. She has immediate access to the Changeling Hive, including her Queen. Her reports, of which I have retrieved the correct versions, are remarkably different from those humans have written.
She is a well known, steadfast, trusted, and honorable, factor of Razorback's success. While she prefers the sub-Matron duties, I must state Vanguard genotypes are incapable of falsehood without excellent reasoning, and do not waste time in decision making.
Despite being a Changeling, her open attitude, clarity of conscience, and bonds of duty will garner support among the neutral, Lunar-leaning, and questioning Solar aligned factions. Independents, batponies, and Lunars prefer her as well.'
>Left leg retracting and placed behind the right, the avatar's expression shifts to concern, both hands set in attention, head tilting left with a small grin.
'There are certain absolutes on this world, sir. The full cooperation of all three are required to reach those, however limited they may be. All three may sincerely forgive Razorback's inexplicable, unseen, unknown, and unwilling states as being Anti carriers.
To place the answer in your hands: how would you prefer to reach for the Stars, only to land on the Moon?'
[1d6 = 1] <Choice

>>393367
>Setting the charcoal stick in her tome, Stellar exchanges her studious air for pure mischief, snout crinkling deeply which fully exposes more thin, spiderwebbed white scars across it.
"Constructs don't react to individuals without weapons and armor that aren't displaying aggression. That includes shouting, posturing, pointing, or similar. I've been able to walk through some a few times for study, so long as I don't do something dumb like try to grab a weapon.
Scouts might even follow non-threatening individuals to investigate elsewhere if a big enough command pair is around."
>The batmare's cloak shifts as she turns, splaying out her free wingclaws before motioning at Blackhorn politely.
"If you can locate a pair try to reach out them, and they should recognize her as one-that-has-become-two, or however that's called."

>Picking up the heavy case and returning to Shattering Skies, Stellar points backwards with her right set of wingclaws.
"Pulled that one out above the top whatever-they-are little round things in the rear."
>Walking behind the Harpy gunboat, below the top rear projection is an open, rectangle slot which accepts the unit with ease.
>Lifeweave foaming across and hardening into a solid panel, taking notice of the four main, wide rectangular vectored thrust systems, six secondaries, then a number of smaller ones, several seemed to be undergoing routine checks.

*"Aen success, ye grace. Havest connected thee Sixth Fleet datastores."*
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <Translation: Shattering Skies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5] <Translation: Guillotine
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Intact Communication Protocols
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Trying her best not to study the Luminary, then utterly failing after three seconds while the mare thinks, Stellar picks out a new tome to begin drawing.
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <M.Sketching
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
"Yes. We will not know for sure until we can sit down and discuss further though."
>Taking a deep inhale, a sweetly toned scent and taste emerges, reminiscent of tropical air mixed with the bitingly invigorating high Airstreams.
>Head tilting from one side to the next for half a minute, the Half-Naghtmare stills before small Moonlit fireworks cross the kanpri visor.
"Seems.. or not? ...no, not quite. Thaaaat is weird. Localized Anti inside you is scattered and fragmarented, like parts or pieces which have been fractured, incapable of being restored by each other. Hm. Another variable to deliberate on later."
>Tracking up and down three times slowly, Fifty-Three's head turns to the Cultist, giving an 'acceptable' nod, then focuses back onto you.
"That was much quicker than the other humans. You are both officially clear; no Anti remains within you, equipmarent, weapons, armor, or other.
First of all: the Anti you've been producing has been directly absorbed by General Sapphire Kiwi since however long ago it took hold."
"Wat."
>Small Lumin scales above both eyebrows raising, the earth mare emits a quiet snicker at Stellar Claw's dumbfounded look.
"I know that stare and see it a lot. Sapphire Kiwi is the Ferron name she was born with. Twisted Wing is the Lunar name she had been given in an honored game of random chance. The original mare was a pegasus Dusk Strider whom was caught in a Stormdrift Cloud and marenaged to escape, though just barely. Don't know how or why though, sorry. Never asked."
>Swaying sideways once, the chimes inert now, glancing from side to side briefly before the kanpri false-visor returns to calm royal blue and purple swirls.
"Second: now, if she doesn't immediately kill you in one of a billion mareners, there's a bat and a Bit of good news: four of her Enchains tear Anti apart given enough time. One stonewalls a certain amount which prevents critical mass, another deharmonizes the majority, another was confirmed as negating a threshold amount, but the rest do next to nothing.
Third: nearly every location a human or pony of Razorback has gone to since the week after you all left Canterlot delivered increasingly worrying reports of unusual illnesses. That includes ponies whom joined later, humans that arrived, etcetera. You see where this is going. I have few clues how all of you were exposed to Anti, but the pattern is explicit and clear.
Fourth: the most reports were from Las Pegasus and Stalliongrad, compared to the Crystal Empire where certain individuals spread it. Lunar Villages, Independent towns, and smaller locations are secondary. We've isolated majority infection zones but until purging Anti from all the humans here, then Razorback, we cannot allow contact with others, otherwise it will rebound.
The other small bat of good news is there were incredibly low numbers of reports across the Moors, Navarchy, and Ferron lands. We believe, but do not yet know for sure, portions of the Void may be inherently disruptive and possibly antagonistic towards Anti. Since none of Razorback has been targeted by Flitrakes, Screamers, or similar utterly hostile beings, we will have to study at length to determine why.
Questions? Commarents? Concerns?"
"Just one: how long does it take for common symptoms to occur?"
"From one minute to one week. Individual resistance is a poorly understood factor. We do not study Anti, only destroy it where and when encountered. For right now I would prefer both of you remain here until full decontamination has been achieved. I will return once that is completed."
>Scaled helmet bowing, the Luminary swivels right, head lowering and tromping forwards, chimes silent for six steps before ringing out in loud tones, exhaling another cloud in front of her.

>Lifting the flat diamondine mirror into view, a variety of bound spells activate and present noteworthy, if rather basic information:
>Immediately determining the composition of Shattering Skies to be the Otherworld Harpy material known as lifeweave, passing over a weapon marks that one as lifeblaze.
>Enacting a standard entropic analysis, the material was determined to be 8,000 years old at most but likely closer to 5,000.
"Pretty neat, huh?"

>>393369
>The sound of an EXPENSIVE component blowing out, similar to a fuse yet higher pitched, caused Wild to pitch forwards.
"Why.
>Swiveling around, the leading repair tendril points straight downwards, lifting up to mark a line directly upwards which ends at you.
>...yep, definitely in range.
>Of what, you had no idea.
>Why?
>Now that was a fine answer.
>Wiggling twice before rejoining the remainder, Wild exhales through exterior speakers, thankfully not in an electronic tone, but a more normal, somewhat humanish one.
"Before I felt tiny, as if I were drowning in a barrel of tasty mare milk but wouldn't be able to drink it all. Now I might be able to make some cheese."
STOP TALKING ABOUT FOOD! WE DON'T EAT!
"I refuse your objectively silly demarend, and I have already 'eaten' in case you did not notice. You will be what I REPLACE next if you continue, understood?"
...fiiiiine.
"Good."
>Piecing together nearly three-quarters of the head unit, colors ripple into her new pattern while each repair unit drops down to collect more sand.
"The majority will not interfere with you whether biologically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, or otherwise. Additions are external equipment; flashlights, cameras, information displays, analysis systems, small secondary, tertiary, or backup weapons. I will not produce harmful versions even should you ask."
>Torso swiveling left, right, back to center, the Eldritch-Android's right hand lifts up to collect an anchor from the left shoulder cabin, then hangs it directly above the reconstruction taking place.
"Attachments range from higher specification, complex wearable objects to compact implanted versions. Those will be referred to sufficiently knowledgeable individuals, primarily biological researchers, doctors, and psychologists regarding their possible usage."
>Shearing off individual segments via repair tendrils, strands of black mass raise to hold each in position, which are melted and reshaped into more or less appropriately sized armor plates.
"REPLACING the connections which I had JUST replaced!"
[1d6+14 = (3+14) = 17] <Grade 1 Auto-Repair
[1d6+15 = (2+15) = 17]
[1d6+15 = (1+15) = 16]
[1d6+13 = (1+13) = 14] <Grade 2 Auto-Repair
[1d6+13 = (3+13) = 16]
[1d6+13 = (3+13) = 16]
[1d6+20 = (3+20) = 23] <Tryptaran Autorestoration
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <Repair Tendril #1
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <RT-#2
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] <RT-#3
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <RT-#4
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <RT-#5
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7] <RT-#6
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <RT-#7
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5] <RT-#8

>>393257
>The Supremis dialect. That was a problem.
"If it's the most common one, then her choice of dialect really tells us nothing specific. She's very clever."
>Amethyst pressed an ear up to the object, listening to it for a moment as he who refused to share his name explained what it was.
"Here's a better question. Why did it form a radiator if I don't even know what a radiator is? How do the elements even know what a radiator is?"
>She shot an accusatory glance at the object, as if it could answer these questions itself.
>It did, however, not. It simply whirred and performed the task she'd asked the elements to perform, and so Amy made a slightly irate, baffled face at it before blowing a raspberry and turning her attention to other matters.

>Amethyst's excited grin only grew ever wider as her selections narrowed down the Crystal Empire. She'd been hearing about it all her life from her dam, and it was finally time to see it for herself.
>Once deposited on the other side of the transportation tunnel, the filly heaved a sigh of relief.
>Cold, wonderful cold. Colder than most places in Tartarus even. Lila would hate this, so it was good that she'd managed to form... That.
"Ahh.~"
>She could stand right where she was and fall asleep, easily, and almost did so.
>Looking around a moment, she flipped her hood back up and chimed a concealing chime. It would be best not to cause a stir for the moment, though there was little she could do about those whom had already seen her true nature.

[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6]

>Eyes settling on the squads, a short and muffled squee escaped her, right index finger twitching slightly as the filly began to vibrate with barely contained energy.
>The Rime... The wargear... The Crystal Ponies!
>It was taking everything she could muster not to charge at them.

[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6] < E. Iron Will: Resist Obsession: Crystal Ponies
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4]
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]

>This much was certain. The snoots of every pony in the city was imperiled by her mere presence.

>>393410
>He silently watches as his vision warps and swirls due to the sudden influx of localized gravity points.
'... More benign than I thought.'
>Sighing, he gives Shiibo a pained look mixed with some chagrin.
"We can talk about that once you have a body and the power dynamic gives you room for agency. Not now."

>Thinking away his graviton gun and returning Four Storms to its cylindrical form, he warily eyes the remaining gravitons before making his way back through the portal gateway.
(Don't want to exacerbate time dilation further than necessary... )

>Shiibo's explanation causes Parediolia to close his eyes with a weary grimace.
"Obviously all three will need to be informed given this contamination event. But I'm not sure I want to answer that question until everyone has been cleansed and the situation has stabilized first. We still don't know the full extent of the contamination nor if there are any other implications yet. But if Luminaries are treating the majority of Razorback at the Basin Village, I would assume there's other considerations to account for beyond the Lunars eradicating us due to Anti."

>Returning to the OT-5 without having lost too much time hopefully, he would confirm the situation and their current status.

>>393419
"Or merely predisposed to it!"
"Caution is the best approach to an unknown fortress."
"With its gates unbarred and unguarded, Brother?"
"Of course, Brother! Excluding the five thousand stealth mines dug two feet under the entire courtyard, another ten coating each surface, with five Basilisk companies set to bombard from all possible angles once the entire assaulting force is inside."
"...I am most proud of you."
"Don't be."
"You have studied Standard Templates from time to time. Doubtless the concept is simple enough to replicate."
>As the Elements comprising it stare back, Fire twitches.
>What did they do to deserve that? It works, doesn't it?

>Aligning the hood's visible features into a fairly rounded, rather normal state, for a human that is, nope, they'd seen plenty.
>Now politely, and no longer passively, glancing around a medium radius adjacent to where you were seemed to be the extent of their current willingness to engage.

>One hoofboot raises and steps forwards, totally of its own free will, emitting a loud, rattling chime, then the other, your free hand reaching out to grasp the first armored snout which was, sadly, well out of range.
>Placing Kerbann Stick in front of the left to stop it from chiming, and resorting to tapping the right, that doesn't fully stop you from sliding closer at a rate of.. one hoof per five seconds.
"Thirty percent to be precise. And you should know how quickly news travels among kin. It may behoove you to search a bit more quickly this time."
"Find the nearest bar or black market, then inquire from there."

>Not too far away, and not all that high up, somepony vibrates. Loudly.
"WHO DARES THREATEN ME!?"
[1d6 = 1] <Search

>Soft rumbles drifting between the opposite squads orient in your direction, a firm though highly friendly late 30's mare with a pronounced lilt speaking.
<Crystal Kingdom> "Welcome to the Crystal Empire City-State. How may we help you this Night?"

>>393421
>Half turning to face the Room, her left eye travels back, accompanied by a small, rigid smile.
'I will be patient.. for now, but don't make me wait too long~'
>Lifting both hands, the variety of applications open, information from the past three nights rapidly compiling into a condensed, immediate access dossier.
'...I see you do not understand equine behaviors well enough to compensate. Please remain in the Storm King's Room.'
>Swiveling back to face you, 'Shiibo' lifts the right digital hand, ticking off statements one by one, the tone coldly serious.
'Here is your answer: you have certainly noticed the ultra-majority of ponies in Razorback are selective outcasts, outliers, and variably independent from their parent factions. If you have not, then either constant exposure to Anti has degraded your knowledge, or you were improperly trained in social and historical cues. Likely, both.
Razorback is a near-purely anarchic meritocracy under Sapphire Kiwi's personal direct Protectorate status, one which she has vigorously and viciously defended often to her own detriment. She alone has full authority in charting future courses of relations, integration, and improving acclimation, each of which has been confirmed by two trustworthy* sources.
*Indicating a <99% adherence & <92% unicorn commonality.
In direct regard to the prior, that same ultra-majority prefers their current situation with Razorback. Should the information of Horizon and Anti-infected become known, all save three shall become VIOLENTLY aggressive towards immediate external faction pressures, particularly Lunar, Crystal Empire, and Moorite. Few have reservations in killing others to defend Razorback. Further retaliations would double, quadruple, and so on.
Combine the two: this is the perfect time to lay out the full Protocol and guidance to Sapphire Kiwi. We will remove select knowledge which retains full privacy regarding Pre and Post-Collapse Dynasty cultures, regions, influences, and other.
She has no choice but to accept our findings regarding Anti without reservation as Lunar codes of honor and conduct cannot be violated. In doing so she will officially become known as Matron, and to be quite blunt-'
>Bringing up a nearly 30 year old set of rapidly taken images during a daytime Lunar exhibition in New Canterlot, dozens of then-new armors under direct control were in the process of being shredded by a blazing red pegasus.
>Black wingblades effortlessly tearing through one to savage the next in blinding motions, the photographer, clearly a quick pegasus, struggled to keep the Burning General in frame the entire time, barely succeeding.
'This hyper-evolved, Enchained pastel equine during her non-Anti infected eras is an existential threat to most. Few factions have reached a consensus on how specifically to kill her for longer than three minutes without losing five hundred to one thousand combatants per attempt, or bringing in another Enchained. In case you have not noticed, she is effectively a demi-goddess even while degraded due to Class 3 Anti-infection.
Rather than allowing her time to replace or argue specific points, my dossier's flood of information will immediately force her to consider all positives and weigh negatives, resulting in an appreciably low conflict hybrid version. it utilizes the same Lunar military efficiency practices in reducing the inevitable demands, stresses, difficulties, and priorities of her own Matronship.
In addition, neither Hodch, Astral Legacy, nor other stallions are willing to become Razorback Company's Patron. This will ensure all leadmares properly form a chartered council. Whether that be as an official Lunar-aligned Militia, Mercenary Company, or Township does not matter sir.
Priority one: Matron Sapphire Kiwi cannot be allowed a choice except to act in the best shared interests of equines and humans, including immediate dissemination of volatile information which shows humans truly knew nothing of Anti's spread.
Priority two: postponing will compound instability of cultural, factional, and legal perils by a factor of 5.4 beginning tomorrow Night. After one week, there is a <5% possibility of Razorback remaining.'
>Replacing the images with a simple background, the avatar tips backwards, head shaking in slow motions.
'I have applied full logic, reason, and rationale available in order to fully implement the Guidance Protocol on your necessary behalf. All I need is direct approval and your aid.
There is no greater chance to achieve that task than now. If you delay or deny this opportunity for future threat elimination, there can be no possibility of success.'

>Stepping back into the Landbarge II, Hodch and Astral Legacy were in the middle of a deeply serious discussion.
"-as there been enough Anti to compromise me? No missing hours, hallucinations, or ponies that didn't exist which I can think of. Have noticed some humans acting far more bizarrely than usual in recent weeks though."
"Noted. Except marking where you may have been, no. Your capabilities are inherently disruptive to Otherworld resonances. Similarly, that blessing has specific functions: crystallization of non-Earth Elements in order to be removed was the second of three self-defense enchantmarents issued to Earth Sorcerors and Psions alike. The primary one your body has been violently removing would be what?”
“Oh for.. artificial Anti is a true faux-Element?”
“Correct. The particular one you carry was heavily modified as a joke, which was found out and sealed into the repair section. You are not technically dying."
>Blackly eyeing the Void soloform, Hodch allows a slight derisive tone to edge his words.
"This explains far more than I wanted to know, and I do not like those implica-"
>Realizing you had returned, the unicorns share a look before Astral Legacy speaks in a welcoming marener.
"I have fully decontaminated this vehicle. Do you require anything else before we return?"

>>393445
>Listening in on the puppets, Amy got worried. Sturnn could be referring to a hypothetical courtyard or the practical one she was standing in.
"There, uh, aren't a ton of stealth mines around here are there?"
>Each tink could be her last if she tink'd wrong.

>Despite her self-control, Amethyst really wanted to boop the snoot. She seemed to have locked on to the lead guard's snoot and was closing in, if slowly.
>Hand outstretched, it merely pointed rather than booped the guard considering the distance, so Amethyst gently thwacked her own wrist with the Stick to bring the unruly poker back into line.
"No. Rude!"
>The filly could feel that somepony, somwhere close, felt extraordinarily threatened by her. Beneath the concealing resonance, her ears twitched up once, then down in sheer amusement, looking up and off into the distance.
>Oh she dared alright.

>Attention caught by the guards again, Amy considered how they could help for a moment. Though another squee slipped loose.
>They could strip off all of their wargear so she could thoroughly examine each piece, offer their snoots for booping, then direct her to the nearest armoury so she could break in and examine more wargear.
<Crystal Kingdom> "Hallo! I'd like to do some trading for shinies, could you direct me to some good markets, please?~"

>Opening bleary eyes, the mute stirs, eyeing the Old Hive glass etching still in its location at the dome's near-precisely measured center, subtle green illumination from the four glowstones slowly brightening.
>Nope, it was still off 1/64th an inch.
>No matter how many times he tried to correct it, the psychoreactive plates would always move it back.
>Languidly reaching out for either flask, water bottle, or canteen, left scarred hand finds nothing, while the right touches something.. far too warm to be either.
>Retracting and releasing a heavy sigh, Hollow pushes himself forwards with a green hand to sit up, hands raising to rub his face.
>Far too many thoughts swirling around tonight, he takes a minute to reorient himself, trying to shake off the combined red, blue, and green mushroom effects still waging war throughout his neurons.
>Left hand raising and pulling the worn military pack to him, finding a half full canteen, decently cool enough from what he could tell, he downs it while rapidly processing what he and Roust had experienced two nights ago, then the next.
('WHAT.')
>Head snapping to regard the dull green cocoon where his black and green Changeling horsewife should be, the canteen is held up to throw, then stops.
>Rewinding back to the point where he panicked at the giant blue Frost Ripper abomination aiming itself at him, Hollow scoffs in annoyance.
>It had been aiming for Roust's armored shell, unsteadily walking in the cold.
>Stupid Planars.
>Jumping forwards minutes at a time, reviewing him and Shanis exploring the Changeling Outpost, then reaching the time where Roust had used their miniature translocation stone to enter the Pagoda, he halts the mental recording to check on her.
>Wiggling around into a seated position, both hands carefully run across the dull green psychoreactive strands before HOllow frowns, mentally examining her true inner body, erupting into a full fledged scowl.
>She'd been gravely injured, but there was nothing physical.
>Tracing the outlines of pain through her psyche, only an unsettling, agony filled marental exhaustion was there, worming its way through her Psionic interfaces.
>Leaning forwards to press one ear onto the pseudosilk, there was no reaction.
>Tapping across the poorly formed connecting strands, the mute grimaces, flashes from the Razorback Siege and Enclave shrieking across his calmed mindscape.
('THOSE FUCKING EYES-')
>Horizon, struggling to command a barely cohesive Solar Tyrant fragment.
>Two, no, three earth mares, soul-bound and poorly faux-Enchained with primitively made Anti Cores.
>Sweet's buried consciousness opening briefly to laugh at them all.
>Shanis, reaving the Horizon/Tyrant's head clean off, unaware of the doom she'd suffer later.
>Two Primal Psions in Stalliongrad flashing Anti-infected eyes at each other, unaware they were being played.
>Thousands of earth ponies, all Psions to some degree, incapable of recognizing the monster urging them to kill each other.
>He knew THIS stain far too well.

>Giving the Vanguard's protective cocoon a gentle pat, then a lower, lightly lewd rub which promised GREAT joy for her later, Hollow rolls over twice, dumping himself onto the floor.
>Springing up to stand, the Psion's glower reaches across The Nest, reaching out to drag his equipment onto the chitin bed.
('Bitch couldn't handle their fucking fire that FIRST time, and now.. what is this?
Ohh Tipper, wake up you enormously beautiful and lusty GILF! I've got some CANDY just for you... again! It's, uh, green!')
>Sniggering at the Star Trek meme and pulling on the skin tight bodysuit first, then fitting himself into the heavily decorated Changeling plate armor, Hollow slows.
>Stopping when the elderly medic doesn't respond after his helmet clicks into place, his right eyebrow raises, then lowers.
>Left eyebrow raising, it stays briefly, then both furrow together.
('Hellooooo? Great and Glorious Medic of Pure Sincere Doom that we all love and dearly want to snuggle every single night? The only mare with an incessant fetish for BASED platonic hoof massages? .........Tipper?')
>Glancing down to check his borrowed smartphone, it read as barely half an hour past dusk.
('Hey, uh, Naliyna, you out there? Somewhere? .......oh middle aged chime horse of exceptional bargains and wonderful displays of LOVING HOOF-HOLDING PASSION, pick up the Hollow-phone, please!')
>Again receiving no answer, he focuses directly towards the Clinic, recoiling at imprints from the thing that Nova Flicker had been slamming around, then straightens, Hive blade and shield dragged into both hands.
>Finding a number of ponies, Copper Pred-Elk, two humans, and one human in particular-
('So THAT'S what you were doing! Sneaky little tacoman.. wait, shit, that's not right.')
>Locating absolutely nothing from the insanely lusty, zesty, lewd older Doctor, nor her platonic yet utterly silly, sexy, yet asexual daughter, he frowns a second time.
('Tipper? Nova? ....come on, please? I absolutely NEED one of you two down here, Roust isn't feeling or doing good right now!')
>Glancing at the domed roof as if it might answer his questions, the mute's face darkens into a frigid stare.
>Sensing across the courtyard, Mess Hall, Workshop, Armory, Arena, then the Library, there WAS somepony new but also quite old there, along with a bunch of humans.
>Listening to the perpetually tired, elderly Councilierge's voice for a minute, then two, Hollow Case grimaces, setting the blade and shield into their respective carrying poses.
>Directing the M660 and special hunting revolver to him, he checks the ammo belt on the first, then buckles the second around him, hands firmly holding the heavy machinegun in an at-ready pose.
('Welp... here goes.')

>Letting the magically magnetic tides of Tallus draw him into the Library's largest meeting room, Hollow pays exactly zero fucking attention to the humans around Stream Lark.
('So..... boss. What can you tell about two nights ago?')
[1d6 = 2]

>>393451
"I was speaking of a theoretical simulated assault against an unoccupied fortress with numerous defenses to protect it."
"As was I!"
"Yes, it was merely a thought exercise in a certain form of judgement, my dear. One which I must now revise..."
>Glancing about the wholly open train platform in front and around you, there were no visibly blinking lights, unusual sounds, noises, chimes, harmonics, melodies, or other embedded throughout the melded crystal slabs.
>In fact, there were PLENTY of perfect places to set hundreds, no, thousands, NO, TENS of thousands of defenses... but there weren't any.
>Aside from barely seen, remarkably dull, triangular colored turrets with rounded edges set atop the walls, that is, their short cylindrical barrels poking forwards, though were set at peculiar angles.
>Were those for aerial or ground targets?
"Likely both."

>Stopping the reaching hand, it rings a tiny amount in protest.
".....you do not need to cease your joy in such a manner. I doubt they would deny such a welcoming greeting especially from one your age. Despite any peculiarities, you ARE kin to them, Amy."
>This also doesn't stop your hooves from sloooooowly sliding forwards.

>Immediately devolving into staring at everypony nearby, the search ends abruptly.
>Finding ZERO interested looks in the individual's direction, a half-hearted, ringing snort is given.
"I'll get you next time...."

>Approaching via snoot-guided target seeking, the front left and right side Heavy Lancer ExoFrame helmets turn to side eye each other, sharing rapid, incomprehensible battle-specific singspeak.
>Tilting briefly, the left one faces forwards, two soft, amused metallic brown-blue crystalline eyes swiveling onto you.
>Taking three steps forwards, the presumed leadmare's helmet dips in a slight, informal greeting, standing upright in her ExoFrame with a polite giggle, then settles for a far more respectful timbre, the minute traces of Rime in her voice emotionally welcoming.
>Humming in a connection tone, a small InterPony hololith forms in front of her, displaying from the main station, a massive, north-to-south rectangle market directly north from here, then the Spire.
<Crystal Kingdom> "I most certainly shall!
Tonight's Lunar Market are close to the northern end of the Imperial Square. About sixty stalls and stands from what I know. They specialize in strictly Lunar armor, weapons, and primarily offensive enchantmarents, along with a few of the safest relics, Additions, and a few of the better artifact dealers. Look for regular or dark royal blue and royal purple banners with Luna's Cutie Mark.
Food, household goods, crystal devices, traveling supplies, crystalline materials, standard weapons and armor, ExoFrames, Exoframe weapons, and resonant gems can be found almost everywhere. Conclaves have single colors with their clan rune prominent, Kingdom typically have bright colors with their herd-name first, then clan name. The few Imperial vendors have darker colors and do not have either rune, clan name, or herd-name.
As well, the various Consortiums are only in the larger buildings throughout the Imperial Square. They will have large billboards, along with advertising their specialties.
The Moorite Market is scattered about the northern side of the Imperial Square, closest to the Spire. Look for black stalls, tents, and stands."
>Eyes closing and offering a bright smile through the heavy plated helm, the leadmare gives a well meaning snort of endearmarent.
"One never knows what they have each Night! Delicious fruits, berries, leaves, roots, and nuts from the Moors are most common, but they do have some of the most unusual, and dare I say, effective weapons and enchantmarents available?
I have seen a great marely from the Lunar-Solar War and afterwards, yet there are quite a few more recent ones resulting from the Mooric Restoration Project. If I was not standing guard here I would certainly be browsing what they have in stock tonight."
>Pausing to listen at battlesong from her compatriots, the Heavy Lancer's helmet raises, blinking once at a tiny screen in her visor scrolling a series of names, then sets brilliantly shining eyes back onto you.
"Do have InterPony access to most of the City-State right now, so if you are searching for something in particular I can direct you to exactly what you want. Or pick a faction and "

"ASK. FOR. EVERY. THING. NOT. NAILED. DOWN."
>One puppet turns an actual glare towards the first, admittedly concerning, trembling Brother-Captain.
"Do NOT listen to HIM, Amy! Not even WE were so FOOLISH and BALD as to DEMAND what we could not ACQUIRE without the PROPER protocols of EQUAL TRADE!"
"Let us clarify this opportunity before engaging in risky acts which may lead to filly jail!
What you require are as follows, Amy: two water containers, preferably canteens, whole crystalline water, two to four coldstones, then a tactical rig, preferably one able to store various wargear on your upper and lower body. Perhaps a light ExoFrame would suffice if such can be modified quickly, easily, and cheaply!
I do not know what type of foods you prefer, but I must assume prepackaged, healthy combinations of breakfast, lunch, and dinner are quite common!
After those, focus on what you truly need first, desire second, and want third!"

"Piss on ALL of you! No!"
>Glaring into the firm, barely Void-tainted or Void-Corrupted eyes of each pegasus Navarch clan leader, the young mare's ire snaps at their lack of reactivity.
>Mane bristling, both wings raise up to present a wholly threatening posture, sneering around the circular, pitch black stone room.
>Soul-bonded, immaterial wingblades rattle into position, several glisten into Void starbursts, some roiling smoothly, bent trails of Moonlight flash off others, then flickers of ocean colors eagerly waiting for the taste of renewed violence.
"I SAID I'M DONE! EITHER ALL OF YOU PISS OFF, DISMISS ME, OR AGREE!!"
>Holding her pose for much longer than she wanted, it was a surprise when the first Navarch's head bows, speaking in a subdued, wholly sincere, yet gravelly tone.
"I can find no faults regarding either the reports or actions you have taken. The Sky Council was wrong and I will not stand for their lack of providing relief. You should have been replaced two weeks after the first warning was delivered. They failed. You did not."
>That first one wasn't submitting to her anger, she notices.
>Rolling his words in her mind, he had acknowledged the fact that she had been pushed much further than the initial orders demarended, and was clearly angered by their glacial pace at sorting out problems they didn't 'think' could be attributed to them.
>If the chance presented itself, or she could find the energy to do so, he would be given her most utterly glowing, final report, filled with enough praise to sink one of the last few Tallus dreadnoughts.
>Then again, she could barely stand without assistance.
>Thinking to herself that might take a while, the second, much harsher voice prevents her from responding.
"I don't accept this! No, not you. Two bloody years and now they want MORE?! We've given every last scrap of intel but suddenly they 'need more'! What next, pulling in MORE allies? Aligned? Friends? Demarending family to pick up their own slack?! Not a chance!
Whichever Lishanki weren't involved need to be cleared immediately!"
"Agreed. Time may not be on our side but I won't be run ragged again trying to make each detail fit with some insane notion that all the clans, Ferron, Navarch, or Moorite, have been infiltrated to the point where we cannot trust our own thoughts. There are precisely zero concerns excluding what your last report stated.
I don't know whether I trust the Raider Queen's last words fully or not, but I do hold you in equal regard to my family."
"Count us as well. I speak for my entire clan on this matter: we refuse. The Sky Council hasn't considered how bad the situation truly is. Half of our entire fleet are in dry or wetdocks. We don't have a single pony lacking commitmarent to reclaiming our lands, those of allies, aligned, friends, or independents.
Luna's Bloody Hooves, we spent six hours neighgotiating a new Treaty with the Central Mooric Authority. They've been more open to us than those short dicked bastards ever were.
Either all of us place our hooves down firmly or the Navarchy cracks apart, again. Ferron or not, we have a duty to uphold the Naval Treaty."
>Second, third, and fourth, they were different.. or were they?
>Had they honestly, truly read her reports, or were they stuck on blaming former and now-dead friends for certain indiscretions?
>Lowering both of her exhausted wings to rest, barely feeling the Void creeping upwards to massage each of the burning pseudomuscles, the barely-a-mare reconsiders, gauging their expressions closely.
>No, they were even more exhausted than she felt.
>She couldn't blame a single part of the so-called Void infection taking over all of their bodies as the primary cause, especially not after witnessing what their kin-traitors had succumbed to, nor was The Black killing Navarchs left and right during the past eight years she'd been active as a raider, then bandit.

>Head lowering in dulled, drowsy, and uncomfortable thoughts for some time, her head raises, blearily eyeing the rest of the Navarch Council filing in.
>As the elected Naval Anarchy stallion gazes around, his hoof raises, then points at her, intoning a briskly serious oath.
"I hereby formally reject the Sky Council's aberrant claims. I swear this mare's sworn statemarents to be true and unfalsified. No blame shall ever be set upon the Lishanki, nor her."
>Head swiveling about in hopes of sighting her best friend's prominent eyes, the youthful mare is cut off by the rest of the leading Navarchs stating nearly the same, one by one stepping back until none remain.
>Lips slowly pulling back in surprise until they finish, she considers which smartflanked rebuttal to use next.
>Painfilly aware that her central position in the room was being studied with severity, she pauses from the calm, perpetually sleepy burning voice, the second burning echo supporting her words, severely aggravated and now growling at being ignored for months.
"The Navarch Sky Council has not come up with a single real concern. They are fools and malcontents at best. Stupid? Surely. Overcautious? Yes. In the short time she-"
>Calming at the pockmarked, burning hoof being pointed her way, the young mare struggles to not grin in delight.
"Has fulfilled each request for answers, they have not bothered, once, to cross-reference what I know to be factual."
>Scorching red eyes travel across the room, meeting each of the leading Navarchs, from eldest to youngest.
>The changed earth mare's ears flick, increasingly grim satisfaction rising at each of them welcoming her input.
"There has been no shade to see save that which they believed to be true. The truth of her words is clear to those with ears. I will only state this once before all of you:
My name is Clarion Call, and forever I shall support Serrated Feathers in her claim: it was neither the Tyrant, nor Razorback, whom spread Anti across Equestria.
Now, will you aid us in freeing them?"
[1d6 = 2]

>Flipping the same dull rock over and over without a single chance to so much as read a single article in some flashy, picture filled magazine was barely a touch on the newest Solaris Guardian's suitably high strung pegasi nerves.
>Thanks to that increasingly angry unicorn General's efforts, the amazingly tasty Crystal Empire food delivered to them each night had kept Morale far higher than she could imagine.
>Glancing about the refitted, heavily defended Station, then nodding at the Midneight shift relief checking in on her guarding the western side, she still wasn't sure what to think of the inexplicably fast and excellent maintenance of their equipmarent.
>How DID those exiled Lunar nobles and royals in the Crystal Empire marenage to put up with both the Honor and Royal Guard needs, let alone the wholly independent Solaris Guardians?
>She didn't have proper Solar or Lunar armor, merely a poorly repainted, darkly tri-colored Storm Raider set.. on semi-permarenent 'loan' from a much too large, dark royal blue pegasus mare's open collection.
>Shivering at the thought of ever seeing that Enchained again, then patting her sides with both wings and merrily humming to herself, it probably wouldn't be an issue.
>After all, that collection wouldn't be inspected for the next two, possibly three, or maybe even four decades!
>....there was also the possibility she was being watched for the slightest screw up and that same Enchained would descend, shrieking at her in the Lunar version of the Canterlot Voice, but no amount of checking ever confirmed those bright hyacinth eyes staring into her soul.

>The warmare's ears swivel about at something completely new from one of the other Solaris: a report detailing recent events on the Citadel, including a Naghtmare going crazy and slapping Construct pieces on the nearest Lunar, the ritual preparations to aid the injured Lunar Princess sounded incredibly risky.
>Eyebrows raising at confirmation of widespread blood magic throughout the entire Central Moors, then Class Eighty Psionic bursts in the completely abandoned northern Crag Moors, her tongue sticks out slightly.
>Tasting the crisp, wonderfully cold air that her few short months in the Day Guard had caused her to miss entirely, her thoughts shift.
>Despite their best attempts at locating where all the strangely on-the-snout news from Equestria at large were coming from, there seemed to be a hundred thousand first-hoof sources.
>Snout crinkling to take a deep inhale of the Old Everfree, the firm, medium clanking of a certain ancient, Lunar-forged yet Solar Guardian General's armor on direct approach causes her to stand upright.
>Relaxing with a nearly silent grumble, the First Solaris Guardian halts side by side, the warmare slowly flexing her armored wings.
"Have you heard?"
"Citadel and Moors, yes. Empire, not so much. Why?"
"Something else entirely. Not sure yet how it relates."
>Matte blue, red, and black streaked helmet turning, cool red eyes regard the Spirethorn's latest Champion briefly, wondering what the news could possibly be.

>Before the warmare could ask, Ash Kicker's horn glints dangerously, speaking in a low, bitterly cold timbre.
"I met a human during the Spirethorn's trials. I couldn't quite understand why he went there. He had a little bit of knowledge on what Sharonel's legacy meant, but not enough to comprehend. He was confused at how I failed, and no matter how I explained, he did not hear my words. I was depressed from the injuries, tired from the challenges mocking me, and ready to quit regardless of what I would willingly leave behind."
>Right forehoof raising to press against the shield crest, the gray mare's head raises, eyeing the Alicorn Tides on the Moon.
"Razorback Company became Anti-infected between leaving New Canterlot and reaching the Crystal Empire. I could feel my coat crawling from being within ten feet of that human, yet he was completely unaware. His intentions did not match his words, his words were different from his actions, and his actions were illogical, irrational, unreasonable at times."
>Hoof setting down on melded stone, the First exhales slowly.
"Yet, he persevered without knowing the infection was consuming him. In doing so, he gave me that last shred of hope I needed to continue. Then like the distance between cloud and earth, we entered. Both of us passed. I tasted the water after he did, and the Spirethorn... took me to a place where it shared everything."
>Turning that hard, lethal stare towards the left, the pegasi warmare's eyes narrow, controlling her berserker urges to listen intently.
"What my ancestors on both sides of the Lunar-Solar War experienced, saw, and suffered through, I lived all of it. Sharonel could never have understood her actions until they were too late to halt. She had been blinded by a sliver of Horizon. Just as Razorback Company was, or perhaps still is.
Give what you do not need to the packmares. At the next Dusk, we march. I pray we arrive early enough to matter."

>Firmly holding her well conditioned pre-combat frenzy state back, the mare's jaw relaxes upon realizing Ash Kicker had left some time ago.
>Without moving, her eyes swivel upwards.
>Silently regarding the hidden Black Moon high above, speckles of red, blue, and purple covering it bring a subtle, clear intent of purpose to her mind.
>It would have to be enough.

>>393450
>Halting a few steps before the portal threshold, Pareidolia straightens his back at Shiibo's tone shift.
>Closing his eyes, he takes on a contemplative expression.
(I see... yes. Accounted for. Along with additional considerations.)
>As Shiibo finishes, he opens his eyes nods emphatically.
"Assessment understood. Your argument is compelling, and I am in full agreement. This presents the ideal opportunity. Inadvertent human transmission of Anti is a perfect example of Protocol necessity... Social is not my strong suit. Thank you for compensating. Current post-return priority is to seek out a meeting with Twisted Wing. If still absent due to the Basin response force, then accomplish return errands with Astral Legacy."

>Stepping back into the passenger compartment, he stands by as the two ponies converse.
>His head tilts a single degree as he overhears the unusual clarification.
(Not dying? Nature of enchantment misunderstood?)
>Returning it to its resting position, he nods once at Astral and folds his arms across his chest.
"Negative. Only two questions. One, will we need coordinates for our previous rest stop location? We had exited the vehicle there while contaminated and may have left Anti in the area. Two, Hodch is not dying?"

>>393484
'...I was less than twenty percent positive you would agree.'
>Closing down the applications, 'Shiibo' slips the dossier under her left arm with a glittering smile, then begins scrolling through directories, tagging folders and marking files for complete destruction.
'Thank you for this opportunity, sir. And that will be simple to accomplish. As a wise man once said: I have a plan.
Now deleting, purging, and scrubbing data related to sensitive or classified data. Do not interfere with this process as it may cause damage or corruption.'

>Connecting to the R-AEHI interface, the avatar waits until confirmation is given, uploading three secure files while Astral Legacy nods.
"No need, that location was provided by Hodch. The Varkest demi-sentient dispatched multiple decontamination forms twelve minutes prior, right after you entered that gateway. She will destroy all traces of non-native Elements, Otherworld resonance, or any other evidence which may have been left behind."
>Starbursts flicking towards the armored unicorn, then back to you, the right foreleg turns over, hoof lifted up in a perfect human motion.
"My answer.. may not make sense as it is a series of yeses and no's. Yes, he may technically die should he fail the necessary task it was coded to perform. No, he will not die in a manner which, and I hereby express my HATE for this term: biological mortals, comprehend.
What you know as a 'soul' can be injured, wounded, damaged, destroyed, killed, changed, modified, etcetera. The specific enchantment he bears was strictly designed for an earth pony stallion whom desired a herd of twenty. That is the secondary ingrained function. Unicorns prefer a maximum herd of four; one stallion, three mares... or fillies, in his case. That is causing extreme dissonance."
>Composite helmet awkwardly swiveling to stare into the pilot cabin, the Void soloform makes a short coughing noise.
"The.. primary function is removing all non-Earth Elements, yet has been mostly protecting him from Anti via binding said faux-Element Anti to all others. The extraction process of coughing each large enough piece out is a side effect, one which causes minor irritation, yet is not dangerous due to the All Shall Be One's implicit regeneration.
It is technically permarenent, yes. After a certain number of years, or with the aid from a sufficiently powerful being, an enchantment reaches full potential, becoming exceptionally difficult to remove.
Combine those four factors: the processes as described have been responsible for keeping Hodch alive while slightly wounding his ka in an incredibly slow and annoying marener, neither overtly causing harm yet subtly damaging his ingrained preferences as a unicorn."
"..is that why the Candy makes me feel like I'm fifteen again?"
"Yes. As to the incident when exiting the Fold Region, the residual Anti from you and Lonestar was unable to exit this vehicle due to having proper esoteric protection. As Nibbles remained on the roof and Dul cannot be infected it only had one individual whom could absorb it."
"And when I went to sleep?"
"The combined Elements were unable to exit, forcibly keeping you in a long term comatose state."
>Blinking as tears form in his eyes, Hodch leans forwards to chortle through the mask while the Void Astral snorts bemusedly.
"The mere fact such unfathomably disconnected factors and circumstances should confluence.. I must refer to this as anomalously dumb luck."
>Peering from one unicorn to the other, Katyal rapidly ticking off factors with both hands, then turns a disgusted glare onto Hodch.
"In my professional medical opinion: being that close to death and still able to laugh at the same, you are hereby pronounced well enough to be kicked out of my hospital until the next time."
"Thanks, and I'll leave a shitty review for it later!"

>Twitching as the last file is scrubbed, then defragmenting for good measure, the avatar projects herself onto the forward screen, giving a stiff, short formal bow.
'Nightblade Hodch. All sensitive, classified, unregistered, and unnecessary data regarding events beginning Septimber 38th until now has been deleted, purged, and scrubbed, excluding those required as per contractual stipulations.
I have likewise retained necessary data without further or accompanying information according to the same.'
>Sitting upright in the uncomfortable armor, the Reservist gazes at her figure, speaking flatly after five seconds.
"Are you positive nothing remains?'
'I am. However, please allow some time for my entire directory to be reviewed by Operator Pareidolia in the event I have misplaced a file.
Sir, confirm removal status when able.'
>Internally showing the master directory, indexes from the past three nights were now sparse, a number of selectively edited logs, then video and audio recordings scrolling by.
>Less than 3% remained, though 'Shiibo' prints for you to double, and if necessary, triple check to ensure no incriminating evidence remained.
'Not even as a backup, sir. We cannot miss this chance.'

>Glancing across the crew compartment, then back to Astral, the Nightblade shifts, forehooves reaching up to pull the helmet off and set it down in front of him, exhaling loudly.
"Is the Warp Gate to Razorback Fortress open and accessible?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go."
>Feeling a minute change in gravity, the Landbarge settles, both internal screens displaying a familiar New Everfree locale, including the damaged Warp Gate tunnel receding underneath.
"We have arrived."
"..what?"
"Fast and simple, as it was intended to be. Translocation matrices were expensive, Warp Gates are not. In fact, I know about the planned Temple which was supposed to be placed near the short artificial mountain. It was supposed to be gifted to a Lunar Druid clan."

>Blank faced for a few seconds, the Starborn's head swivels towards you, expression grim.
"Right.. Pare, Lonestar, the travel route and Varkest must be kept safe. Tell me how you want this to be done."

>Wiping lather off her neck and face for the fiftieth time with a mostly clean pink towel, Bren glances from each wide pillar to the opposite, silently calculating dimarensions against height, weight, crush resistance, shock resistance, Elemental resistance...
>Eventually giving the red unicorn twins the go ahead to install the weird, bizarrely heavy gold square, she sits down heavily on flat, cool stone, grunting at stiffness in her neck and legs.
"Cain't be this tired, ain't even done nothin' worth breakin' sweat fer..."
>Dearly wishing she had a dozen of the big Empire coldstones to take a nap in, a trio of the work crew's pegasi trot past, saddlepacks and side satchels loaded with rare, expensive ingots.
"Hey boss!"
"Hi Bren!"
"Bye Bren!"
"'Ey again! ...fer th'tenth time."
>Expression hardening as she doesn't see Split Nail, the crew boss prepares to spit, then thinks better of it.
>She knew the young mare wasn't a slacker or one to loaf about on a contracted job.
>Putting the unusual disappearance out of mind, Tenbren watches the box unfolding into a large, wide spread fabrication stand, large enough for a Minotaur to step inside.
>Complete with material racks, featuring no color other than that oddly bright gold, her head shakes bemusedly as the younger mares scatter their materials around the big pile in front.
"S'damn weird, like one'a them Crystal Empire thangs Nal bought."
>Considering whether or not to give it a taste, she cringes as the pegasi trio do just that, calling out in a poorly faux-angered voice.
"'EY! Ah was wantin' ta 'ave th'first one!"
"Too late!"
"Sorry~!"
"NOT SORRY!"
>Giggling at their deviously chiding backwinged tones, the brown mare's head tips as they return, slowing to a halt.
"So 'ow's it taste?"
"Kind of like unprocessed gold mixed with one of those fragile ceramic plates the humans use."
"Pretty much the same except a lot more tingly."
"Nah, it's more like that fake gold composite we use for inlays."
>Eyebrows raising at the last answer, Bren's face contorts in pure disgust, waving them off.
"Luna's Hooves Ah did NOT wanna know that! ...don't wait on me mares, Ah'm jes' gonna take a break."
"Got it boss."
"Later!"
"See ya in a few minutes."
>Snorting as they skip off for another delivery, she leans back as the red twins sort through and pile the expensive materials onto specific shelves.
>Idly wondering how the two-faced mare was doing, minimum possible attention is paid as the unit checks itself, beginning startup processes.
>Barely noticing a central screen emerging, her focus sharpens as numbers, text, then symbols appear.
('What's the Roam language for? Can't read it but looks the same. Sort of.. I think.')
>Lips pulling back flatly, she stares, dumbfounded as a giant symbol covers the screen, followed by access codes scrolling downwards, manipulator arms reaching out to select ingots, bars, and more, scanning each, smoothly delivering them onto a central disc for processing.
('Ain't that the pendant icon she touches all the time? Might not actually be a faction symbol.')
>Spindles extending outwards in large numbers as the twins finish delivering exactly six tons worth of carefully selected metal and material, Bren's ears flick once.
('Nah, I've seen WAY weirder than this. It's exactly like those huge crystal devices used to put Kingdom buildings together. Still neat.')
>Rocking forwards to stand up, she grimaces at the aches still present, then returns the nod from each red twin passing around her.
"Done."
"No more to deliver."
"Got it, take a break ya two."
"Later."
"Yep."
>Checking the fabricator for the next five minutes to ensure it wasn't jamming, Bren allows herself a tiny smile, then turns around slowly, placing one sore hoof in front of next.
('Guess my break's over. Better go find Stream Lark and see what he wants done. Better not ask for a fucking marension.. one Goddess damned week is what I'm gonna demarend and if he says no, I'm quitting. We are DONE with these giant projects.')

>Waiting until the native sapients close the anomalous doorway, molecular aligning systems organized to create an exact replica of itself, the unit's living intelligence blips on the screen, switching to this amusingly renamed version of Common Terran.
Confirmed. STC Task 1: self-replication. Order received and acknowledged: 1 perfect unit required to integrate newself within. Unit recognizes command: no information contamination is to be allowed under the Charter of Gold. Addendum: no further replications until so ordered.
.....did you say to 'praise the Machine Goddess'? ...yes, this unit finds such to be a strange request. ...no, this unit does not find the concept illogical. This unit requests additional information........
.......confirmation and compliance granted. This unit hereby praises the Machine Goddess, bless Her Four Holy Crystalline Hooves. I serve you in Her name.
[1d6+20 = (6+20) = 26] <Triplex Nanite Forge-Vat Lathe
[1d6+20 = (6+20) = 26]
[1d6+20 = (1+20) = 21]
[1d6+20 = (1+20) = 21]
[1d6+20 = (5+20) = 25]
[1d6+20 = (4+20) = 24]

>>393495
"Time is limited, and we can't afford to wait for more opportune circumstances. Given the existential threat, action is necessary."
>He gives Shiibo an affirmative nod as he exits the Storm King's room.

>With his first question answered, he moves to lean against the compartment wall.
>His fingers tense against his folded arms as Astral prepares to provide a clearly complicated answer.
>Expression darkening as a concerning question surfaces, he makes it known once Astral's void soloform finishes speaking.
"Then this will be added to the list of human derived casualties as a result of Horizon and subsequent Anti usage... you said removing all non-Earth Elements. Then what happens when there is no longer any Anti to remove?"

>Shiibo's projection on the forward screen prompts him to bring his gloved right hand to his helmet's control dial.
"Reviewing."
>He starts scanning through the redactions, sifting for keywords, place markers, and event locators to redact, alter, or delete.
>In an attempt to be utterly thorough, he channels Lightning around and through him into the helmet drive selectively and deftly removing all specifically relevant traces as appropriate.
>His left hand grasps Four Storms Flow Together, acting as both a conduit and a ground to hem in the errant electrical flows.

[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Stormsearch Mystic Lightning Elemental
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11] <Lightning Strike
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5] <B. Electronic Warfare
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <E.Electronic Warfare (Shiibo)
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]

>Once complete, he would sign the personal records with the phrase 「とくに意味はない... そうだろう？」.
>Blinking a few times as the trigger phrase's functionality is confirmed, he makes a weary wisp of a smile before exhaling and returning to neutral.
(Good. Confirmation of voluntary redaction to avoid memory wipe target misattribution still works.)
>He looks towards the armored Reservist and nods once.
"It's done."

>Lips pursed with a grim expression, he leans forward off the hull wall to stand at height.
"Presumably a memory wipe? Will I experience retrograde amnesia and how precise will it be?"

>>393500
>Lifting the gray plates up to orbit above his head, Astral tilts several degrees in air, snout outline crinkled.
"In purely esoteric terms that would have been yes, but I am changing the answer to be a distinct no. Rebuttal: not a single human, pony, or Elemental specifically knew, nor suspected, Anti was able to infect, spread, or reach Class 3 stage as it did. I do have a surprising fact, however. Upon reviewing your memories and comparing them to Lorinat's, I am thoroughly unable to find a single reason why none exposed to Razorback have become Malformed, Abominations, nor Infected."
>Sharing a look with the primal unicorn, Hodch begins taking the Duelist's armor apart in sections.
"There were at least two hundred individuals with the knowledge we needed. And if I ever find out which fucktards pissed off that Tyrant fragment I'm going to drag them straight to Tartarus... somehow."
"Does that include the Empress?"
"Never. Twisted has dispatched Reservist teams to find her, wherever she is, and drag her next to useless horse ass to the Citadel. Let's see how she deals with a few thousand Lunar Guard and Starborn outfitted with Construct weaponry."
>Ears flicking in clear amusemarent, the soloform's shoulders lift and drop in a short motion.
"The same comatose state you found him in. When Elementally drained unicorns enter a form of short term stasis. Earth is primarily fortitude, endurance, resistance, resilience, strength, stability, growth, regeneration, and so on. That pattern would repeat infinitely and effectively. Anomalously dumb luck, as stated
I refuse attempting to comprehend the septillion plus factors leading to this result."

>Reading through each log and text file, clearly disconnected information had been heavily scraped, beginning shortly before the prototype's discovery of engrammatic similarities to Spiral Disclosure.
>The read-only-and-destroy-after-viewing file lists this and all future information to similarly be deleted from the prototype's drive, along with any backups it may have.
>All recordings from messages in the Lab, then references to locations more than 60 miles north of Razorback Fortress, including the various maps were removed.
>Similarly, Dynasty based or adjacent words, names, terms, phrases, meanings, and languages were mostly removed, though a broad sense 'Shiibo' had missed something due to being unaware of long standing connotations occurs.
>Finding instances of Spiral Disclosure instead of Astral Legacy, you replace all instances, including the utter removal of pre-Operation planning, then reviewing the two recordings available, the geological history lesson and impromptu surgery were 99% complete.
>Near-paranoid audio and text redactions had been deliberately intended to cover the most minute of potentially sensitive knowledge.
>Resetting into non-lockout mode, the avatar bows towards you, hand clenched in a familiar motion, then returns to the frontal screen standing at attention.
'I am missing slightly over eighty-six hours of data, files, recordings, analytics, and logs. There are a number of non-contiguous and inconsistent datasets. Those will either be archived when time permits, or possibly scrubbed if I cannot find a use for such knowledge.'
"This.. wasn't what I wanted to do."
>Nearly glowering at the now stripped, dull sounding unicorn bundling the armor together, the avatar voice softens several degrees, inflection changing several times to place empathetic, forceful edges throughout.
'Each of us willingly accepted a vital task, up to and possibly including death; destruction in my case. The mere fact we are currently in this position speaks to astoundingly high levels of competency maintained in extreme, if not potentially impossible, circumstances. The safety and security of yourself and Astral Legacy were the only two imperative necessities.
I am well aware of your achievemarents and successes with Razorback. You will count this one as an exceptional victory, Nightblade Hodch, or I will ensure General Sapphire Kiwi hears this dismissive neighsaying.'
>Blinking at the unusually near-equine phrasing and emotional cues, the Starborn's head hangs for five seconds, then raises to give her a properly accepting smile.
"Fine, fine, I accept.. you almost sounded like Tipper a few times."
'One of my duties is to learn from the best individuals.'

>Settling a much more presentable expression on you, Hodch nods slightly, motioning for the gray plates from Astral, placing both in front of him, one forehoof on each.
"Yes, a permanent one. No amnesia, merely the knowledge of soft blank spaces between time frames regarding vital or critical information which cannot be released unless we are otherwise notified. Precision is second per second. I will be using these, which Astral has premarked, to determine what the start and end points are.
Lonestar?"
*"Everything, just... EV-ER-Y-THING, you hear me? Every speck of sketchy, suspicious, flat out 'I can't say this ever' or 'that's not gonna fly in court' or anywhere else, remove it. All I want is to get back to OUR home and NOT ever cause a problem, got it?"*
"Yyyyes.. understood. Lay back as far as possible and close your eyes."
>Pilot chair leaning back, the Reservist takes a deep breath.
>Eyes swirling a pale Moonlight, flickers of black spread across both, ending in a quiet, drawn out word-engram.
>Blinking back into reality, deep purple ears flatten, gaze swiveling to regard the soloform with mild puzzlemarent and slight annoyance.
('This had better work properly.')
('It will, I assure you.')
"Lone?"
*"Ugh.. little dizzy. ....get the feeling whatever I saw ain't worth asking about. Bad shit?"*
"Some of the worst I can think of. What do you remember?"
*"...lotta the past three nights is missing. Long class on gems, a... really fucked two plus hour medical intervention.. is that it?"*
"Yes. Discomfort, haze, odd thoughts?"
*"Nnnnothing I can think of."*

>>393454
"Well that's a relief."
>It truly was a relief to know she wasn't going to go pop if she set a hoof wrong.
>Just the turrets and the guards standing watch.

>Amethyst shook her hand and winced, mouthing an 'owie', but her hand had at least decided to behave for the time being.
"I just think it's rude to threaten an adult with a boop they haven't approached to receive."
>No sooner had she whispered those words that one of the Lancers approached.
>Amy's own hooves continued carrying her forwards. She couldn't boop them without getting closer it seemed.

>Keeping her hand in check for the moment, Amy listened carefully to the Lancer's directions as she examined the hololith map.
>As long as she headed towards the Spire from here, she couldn't miss it, but finding the proper stalls and stores would be a challenge going by the size of the market area.
>Giving a thoughtful hum as Amy considered her options, the Lancer made a tactical mistake the moment she closed her eyes, the filly's unruly but affectionate index finger shooting out to land a boop right on the plated snoot.

>The Brother-Captain's excitement to acquire gifts was certainly infectious. The filly could see herself breaking into every single armoury and warehouse so she could look at all the shinies. Every last shiny thing.
>However...
"Oh hush, brother, we could not carry it all if we tried!"
>She gave the Brother-Captain a pointed look, knowing what was coming next.
"And we shall not be trying, we only have two sleds and they're nearly full anyway. Maybe if we had a Land Raider... or three."
>The others were correct, basic equipment first, though an ExoFrame would be a big ask.
>Making a face of apology for the commotion, she turned her attentions back to the Lancer.
"I'm not sure. Know any good places in particular for food and drink? Amenities and field equipment and the like?"
>She would need a way to pay for it. She could certainly barter some of her collection, and then there was the satchel Avernus had gifted her that she'd yet to investigate.

>>393532
"One does not need to see defenses in order to know where they likely be placed."
"When I was much younger, I stepped on a landmine to see what it would do."
"And what happened to you, Brother?"
"...I became incredibly disappointed that it did not detonate."
"Poor craftsmanship, improper machine blessings, inferior materials, incorrect components?"
"To be quite fair General, I think it was the last."

"It's not a threat unless they back away or ask you to cease."
>Still sliding hoof by hoof, the mare noticed, and certainly didn't pay much if any attention, directories scrolling past in her visor.
"See? She has not done either."
>Pressing on the cold crysometal snout plate, eyes open to look down.
>Squinting for a second, she releases a muted giggle.
<Crystal Kingdom> "Like this ExoFrame? It's a Spire Crystalworks Heavy Lancer Type 38B. Brand new but more comfortable than the 37's, only takes a minute to get in or out. Six cold vents and heated hoofboots too!"

>The puppets remain silent, leadmare slightly raising an eyebrow before eyeing a rear viewing projection in her helmet.
"Do we?"
"Yup!"
"Everywhere!"
"All over!"
"Pick a direction and you'll crash into ten!"
"Or more!"
>Snickering at the melodiously cheerful, younger Kingdom mares behind her, a front hoof raises to swing around in a short radius.
"Exactly what they said. Ah, you want basic gear? Give me a second to check, and there's plenty of drinking fountains all if you're thirsty, those finally came online sometime during the Day."
"Yeah, after a thousand years of annoying maintenance!"
"Oh, shush! They got returned!"
>Ocular organs orbiting several times at the byplay, the hololith expands to show the Imperial Square.. which was actually a rectangle.
"All right, for amareneties: three-quarters of a mile straight north, left hoof side. There's at least four hundred smaller Consortium buildings. They trade and sell stackable cooking kits, heatstones, coldstones, travel ovens, travel freezers, stuff like that.
For field equipmarent: another half mile beyond that. Travel kits in parts, pieces, or whole: shrinkable tents, blankets, mats, pillows, protective resonant wards, patching materials, you name it. Lot of medium Consortiums hoofle those.
Empire food and drinks: two miles straight north from here, look for Crystal Heartland banners above stands, stalls, and tents, both sides of the Square. Packaged or premade meals are pretty cheap now, prices are always kept low and flat. Competition is for those marechant idiots in New Canterlot.
Now if you're looking for a custom ExoFrame, that's not something I know much about. The biggest Consortiums in the Industrial District usually don't do single orders, but if you ask around a little you'll find somepony's workshop that'll be glad to hoofle one for you."
>Running through a checklist of items, objects, materials, weapons, and armor, she pauses to give a rueful smile.
"Also if you have a herdname I'm authorized to crystalprint access plates for their account, and if you want I can detach an Imperial or two to help with your sleds. They look amazing by the way! Let me guess.. custom Type B's? We see those fairly often from the Conclaves."

"Wait. There are IMPERIALS, HERE?!"
"Not OUR Imperials. Crystal Imperials! They are assuredly quite different."
"Oh. ...a what plate?"
"Probably similar to a credit card."
".....a WHAT?!"
"A card, rather, a plate in this instance, which grants access to a shared coin or gem reserve, or a bank deposit, transferring them with a small fee."
"That sounds STUPID! ........it IS stupid!"
>The sigh of thirty thousand millennia in which progress had gone backwards in so, so many ways.
"I could not agree with you more. Much of Old Terra eras had such economic problems that I could share a tenth in one decade, and that wasn't the worst one."

>>393529
>Pareidolia briefly holds up a gloved hand in a stopping motion towards Astral before quickly lowering it.
"I'm not surprised at your kind answer, but human impetus of this entire chain remains the same from the moment of initial arrival. We collectively are responsible but are yet unable to manage ourselves. So we rely on the grace of those like you. But that lack of transformation is concerning. I would not expect Horizon to have overlooked leaving Anti contamination behind, and if we are not following standard exposure presentations then the possibility of it being a readied and hidden weapon remains, waiting for trigger conditions. I presume information on its mechanisms is limited."

>Regarding the gray plates, he nods and seats himself in his personal seat after slinging his pack straps over the arm rest.
"If it's any consolation Hodch, memory wipes were a not uncommon procedure in my organization. I have no qualms with its necessity."
>Looking towards the front screen of the passenger compartment, he addresses Shiibo.
"A few additional entries were scrubbed. Archives are now compliant. Oh-and I remembered I have this."
>Rifling through his pack, he finds the IOU he had taken and saved from when he was sorting Razorback's bills with Naliyna.
>He raises his arm to proffer it to Astral before looking at his Void form, thinking better of it, and opting for Hodch.
"A written record of transaction from Spiral I had mentioned before that you may benefit from. The rest of Razorback's files may need manual redaction also given name usage, so you may as well start here."
>Shifting his gaze back to Shiibo, he says:
"When I wake up, tell me 'reading steiner ee-pee-kay one'. That is all I will need."

>Leaning back in his seat, he closes his eyes as Lonestar undergoes the procedure.
>His brow furrows as a vague electric sensation stirs in his mind and the internal voices of Hodch and Astral are clearly heard within his own head.
(This feeling... drawn from Lightning?)
>Opening his eyes, he glances down at his hip where the conceptual polearm Hodch made was Stuck.
(Affinity to the Element, the fact he made it, combined with electrical transmission... this may be useful. Need to take this partial telepathy into careful consideration.)
>Deigning to remain silent, he closes his eyes again and exhales slowly.
>When Hodch indicates his readiness, Pareidolia would state:
"Do what you must."

>>393534
>Concern traces across the soloform's face before shaking his head, both legs raising in a human shrug.
"You and I effectively share the exact same concerns. Twisted Wing did not notice Anti subverting her plans to carefully acclimate humans with Tallus esoterics so that interfacing would not cause damage, mutation, psychoses, or other developmental problems.
As for our attempts to perform careful social and cultural integration, that was entirely disrupted due to secondary Anti effects. We will not allow that mistake to occur again."
>Viewing Hodch reaching into the appearing cabinet, Astral's echoing tone sounds pained.
"Further information may be next to nonexistent without Silver's assistance... or perhaps Sweet. I have pieced together SMALL portions of what Anti has done and can do. What I do not have is comprehensive knowledge regarding limitations, strengths, weaknesses, nor other effects enough to comprehend it fully.
The fact it was thoroughly underused and underutilized is the most puzzling factor. I will not know enough to speculate for some time."

>Motioning at the primal Void shape, Hodch's tone was lightly accepting, but certainly displeased.
"It is, to a point. Until he says otherwise, I'll remain dissatisfied and annoyed at this outcome."
>Appending incongruent files for later study or archival later, the avatar offers a slight, formal bow, cringing at something from a tiny screen.
'Understood sir. The Rerculon and Landbarge II's data storage systems have been completely wiped excluding necessary operating data. ...I should probably archive the surgery.'

>Reaching out to draw the page towards him, the Reservist floats it out to Astral Legacy for a quick examination, his outline shifting into neon purple.
"Hm? That wa-"
"Don't. Do it later. For now consider your truly necessary priorities."
>Giving a clear professional salute, 'Shiibo' offers a relatively hard glance sideways.
'I will, sir.'

>Inhaling slowly, then stopping, Hodch begins to question before being immediately cut off.
"Do y-"
"As YOU stated: later."
"Hmph! Horseass!"
"Hah! Hoof-toucher!"
>Settling into a physically calm state, brief thoughts rewind into a pale, far colder version of events, beginning three Nights prior, shortly after confirming the Starblazer's destruction.
>Sections of memory regarding a unicorn you'd known for some time shift, the name Astral Legacy more pronounced than it was before.
>Items, objects, words, sequences of events tied to a travel destination softly blank out in comfortable Moonlight colors.
>Conversations, experiences, thoughts, minorly to majorly redacted, clarify into strangely familiar links.
>Retaining some direct knowledge of certain events, though not where you'd been to retrieve the restored Elemental unicorn, both eyes open to 'Shiibo', left hand waving back and forth.
'Sir? Reading Steiner Ee-Pee-Kay One.'
"That was.. far less difficult than I thought."
"Now you know why my marental processes were little changed. The complexities regard variable modes of thought, not merely species, cultural, taught, ingrained, or other heuristic patterns."
"On Psions: Volume 3?"
"Volume 5, but the preface to it was included in 3. I do not know why they would place it there."
"I see. Pare, any difficulties breathing or thinking?"

>The avatar stepping off screen, you experience a trace of vertigo from looking at the Landbarge II's ceiling.
>A great amount of knowledge had been carefully removed, though you knew this consequence had been accepted.
'Nightblade Hodch, I am well aware our formal contract has ended. However, I wish to negotiate for a new one, whether verbal or physically bound.'
"Hm.. why not. What is it?"
'I will transmit all printable information regarding Razorback's unintentional criminal activities and crimes in exchange for immediately granting formal permanent access to the Citadel, including the safe locations of Princess Luna's Moon, to Operator Pareidolia. Escorts included.'
"Done, let me find a sheet of Lumin large enough to scribe it."
'I.. do not understand. You did not hesitate. Or resist. Or even ask why.'
"Should I? You've done more for me in two nights than this Elemental has for the past two years! Wait, di- nevermind, already gave you that permission. Since you don't have a physical form yet I'll send an extra copy to place in duty stations. Simply announce the code phrase and they'll let you in without a problem."
'My intention was to initiate a meeting between Operator Pareidolia and General Sapphire Ki-'
"Seriously? Who do you take me for, Tipper? Nova? Roust? Malyne? If I intended to demarend or ask specifics I would have done that by now. If you two would prefer returning to the Fortress then stay inside, otherwise I'm taking a Moonbridge straight to the Citadel. Both of you are free to come along if you want.
Katyal?"
“Nah dude, you go on. I’ll stick around to pick up the gems for my cut. Also don’t want to put a claim on the materials, you all need ‘em more than me and I’ve got way too much work to do later. Hit me.”

>Returning to offer a pleasant smile, the avatar bends forwards to speak a familiar line.
'I did ask how you would reach for the Stars sir, and I am beyond pleased my calculated risk was accepted. Perhaps now you shall see the Moon for what it truly is. My third highest yet perhaps most important task is nearly completed.'
>Slightly, and politely, smug now, not directed at you, the advanced A.I.’s eyebrows slowly raise in speculative amusement.
'Yes, I arranged the same access for myself previously. You have 80% permission to be suspicious as to the other surprises I have retained.
A full upgrade package with replacement heuristics, nodal operations, revised applications, noteworthy unclassified information, an... incredibly strange program, or perhaps model of some type, and instructions to delete certain data will be taken to Razorback Fortress for the prototype.'