1421 replies and 44 files omitted.
>>121202"Well, I don't think we are alone in this building. It's best to make as little noise as possible."
Sands narrows her eyes and turns her head slightly while keeping her eyes locked on Skies. But she does nothing more and says nothing.
>>121204She looks to Iron and smiles almost smugly
>>121205Mala turns his head, and becomes a little droopy at this suggestion
>>121205"That also could work. I am only one pony out of this group, I am just explaining plan so we have one."
>>121206Silver trots over, and gives Mala some head pats.
>>121203Silver looks over to the firebombs he's packed. "...That could work."
>>121206Dark Star scratches Mala's head
"You're a good boy, i'm trusting you to protect my marefriend."
>>121207"yea i understand. its always better to work together to come up with a plan though."
>>121206Iron chuckles.
"Do you have some tricks in your horn to deal with far away opponents?"
>>121208>>121207Mala closes his eyes, and smiles at the pats, pressing his head upward against the frogs of the hooves as his short fur is rubbed. But when it finishes he says
"But... But I wanted a chance to protect my new friends"
>>121209Her horn glows that yellow-green color just off from her eyes, and pulls out from her pack the strangely curved knife
"There are always other options"
>>121210"It doesn't matter who you are will. By fighting with us, you will be helping to protect all of us; including your friends." Silver smiles at the striped gnoll.
>>121211Iron nods.
"Alright."
He turns to the rest, awaiting the moment to start.
>>121212"Oh... oh... okay"
Blue Skies
"So, will we split up or not, where do we put the archers, and what are we doing with the entrances?"
>>121210Sorry had to go take some meds, i feel like shit"What do you mean?"
Dark Star scratches behind his ears
>>121215"To help you two... To fight for you two. To be useful to someone"
>>121214"I definitely want to get in there and demand surrender or force them into it through my hooves," Iron offers.
>>121217She nods
"That will probably be pretty effective"
>>121216Dark Star continues petting him.
"you will though. you're a Good Boy. Yes you are!"
>>121219He moves forward, now almost pressing into Dark Star, before his tail wags back and forth, and he moves, squatting as if about to sit
His tongue comes out, moving slightly in and out with each breath
>>121221Dark Star's hooves go down the spined back of the gnoll, which arches down onto ribs. The fur is lose and moves around over the body as the hood presses against it, and there is a little fat on him.
He seems to really enjoy it, his tongue going in and out as Dark Star pets him
>>121222Dark Star picks up speed on his rubs
"Whos a Good Boy? Whos a Good Boy?"
>>121223*pant pant pant*
The fur is rubbed by easily, as the organs below the ribs bounce a little. Mala is fairly large, larger than Dark Star, actually. But Dark Star manages
Blue Skies:
"Well? We still need a plan"
>>121224"I Think Silver's Plan Could Work."
>>121225"Do you mean, we split up the group into four and one covers each entrance?"
>>121226"Yea, now that he has explained a little more. i think it could work."
>>121227"You do not want to close any of the exits with fire or other things?"
>>121228"That does actually sound nice."
>>121229"So.... Where does that leave us?"
>>121229>>121217>>121212"You know what? We can all just move into positions, so long as we know where those positions are"
>>121230"That leaves us setting an exit on fire."
>>121230"I take the biggest door possible!" Iron extends his hoof as he exclaims.
>>121231"If a pony could sneak past, they could certainly do it. They could time it at the same time as one of you makes a speech to get their attention
>>121232"Well... they are similar in size, but the one right before the entrance to the center building is most obvious to flee to, as is the one near the street. It also requires the least stealth to get to"
>>121233"Excellent. That is where I will go," Iron nods. "I shall wait for the others to decide what positions they want to take before moving out."
He turns to Sands with a grin.
"I will be in good company," he says, proceeding to turn to Khoi. "Will you also accompany us there?"
>>121233"A Speech?" Dark Star smiles.
"That sounds like an excellent plan."
>>121234Khoi nods
"I may. I do not want to fight, but it would be immoral not to"
>>121235"Well, I'm sure one of you three will be happy to provide. Just... don't get us all killed"
>>121237"So no calling them Dirty hook beaks?"
>>121236With a nod, he returns his gaze to Skies.
"We three will take the entrance you have suggested, boss."
>>121238Jubilosa stares at Dark Star
Blue Shekels
"Well, what I mean is, beware that most of us can't take combat well. Maybe put some of us behind walls of fire so we can shoot over them, or try to attack griffins that jump over?"
>>121239She nods
>>121240"Yea that does sound like something we should do."
He makes eye contact with jubilosa
"i didnt mean you. i meant your captors."
>>121241Jubilosa responds:
"Herzlanders. From the Imperial Remnant, maybe. They have the attitude for it, it seems"
Blue Skies
"Where do you want to go?"
>>121242"Imperial remnant?"
he looks over to blue.
"I'd like to give the speech to distract the griffins."
>>121212>>121239>>121241"Alright, here's the situation.
There are four entrances: North, East, South, and West. The North entrance is right across from the connection to the central hallway of the building. That's the easiest way for them to get out. It's also one of the easiest for us to get to.
Then there is the East doorway. That is maybe across from an exit to behind the building and towards the sea, but we don't know. It's most likely locked, if not boarded up. It's also easy to get to. The east entrance is also next to a stairwell, which we know can go both up and downstairs.
Then there is the entrance to the West. That entrance, we know, is right across from an exit to the street. It's probably locked, but still. There is also a stairwell there. This one is harder to get to.
Finally, there is the one furthest to the South. That one may have an exit across from it, but if it ever did it's almost certainly boarded up. It's also harder for us to get to.
Don't forget that there are stairs and rails overlooking the central area"
>>121243"Grieffenhiem" She answers
"The Griffin Empire. If not one of them, one of the surrounding areas. They all have the same decadence to them"
Blue Skies:
"Just... do a good job. Remember that you have several civilians here who you may need the help of, and who will want sympathy for their own personal struggles, as well as for all of the... victims, of the organization here"
>>121244"I will definitely take the North entrance with Sands and Khoi," Iron responds with certainty. "We will strike them down when it is time."
>>121246"Tear the door down, ask for their surrender and if they do not, I beat them up until they do, right?"
>>121244"Dark Star and I will cover North."
>>121244" i won't let you down,blue."
"Grieffenhiem? what do you know about this situation?"
>>121249"I suggest you two take the West. You might need to sneak in to deliver the speech."
>>121251"If it is what you suggest."
>>121248“Oh, there is no door”
>>121249“Hmmmm.... it looks like Iron wants that one”
>>121250Her tail, cat like, with a puff at the end, flips, and she looks away for a moment with her catlike eyes
“I can say they’ve been the sick bird of Griffonia for quite some time, and that they are... Como se dice.... ‘consolidando’? They are... becoming as one. Maybe that is why these are here. But I do not know”
>>121253"Consolidating? that....seems very very dangerous."
>>121253Iron's ear flickers at the sound of his native language, storing the possible question after taking down the big group of griffons.
He turns to Silver and Skies.
"My decision remains firm. We will act as the enforcers of justice from the main entrance. You will have to choose another door."
>>121254Her eyes are narrowed
“Indeed. Much like the Colonists. They try to dominate over everything. But we shall beat them back”
>>121255“Well okay then. Don’t get overwhelmed”
>>121256"It should be alright with three ponies dissuading them from exiting through the northern door, right?"
>>121257“Not if they force through en masse. It may be better to block off two doors and have only two groups”
>>121256"Damn colonizers, beat them all back."
>>121258"I see. I assume Star will do that part of the job with Silver, then?"
>>121259She nods
I still think he may have told all of them>>121260“Probably. Where is Midnight?”
>>121249“What do you think, Silver?”
“Alright... the south entrance is less important. Somepony stealthy will go light a fire there with our fire bombs to close it off. The west entrance will have silver and probably dark Star. The north will have Iron. The East... well, that will either be closed off with more fire, or covered by midnight. I don’t suppose anypony will want to throw firebombs from the second level or shoot arrows from there?”
>>121265Iron glances at Sands when Skies' suggestion props up.
>>121266Her eyes are wide, not obvious expecting that
“Uh... maybe?”
>>121265"I would but shoot arrows from there but, it'll be hard to do that from the west."
>>121267"Your choice, Sands," Iron places a foreleg on her. "Choose what you think you will do best."
>>121269Now she smiles.
“Sure”
>>121264Sands:
“Give me another smoke”
>>121268“So... you’d rather go to the west?”
>>121270Iron blinks, not sure if she chose or not, but assumes that time will tell what she chooses.
>>121270"thats what i planned on doing. but then again. im not sure anypony else could shoot well from there."
He puts his hoof to his chin in thought
>>121272“Well... you have one other archer. And firebombs. If you want to use those”
>>121274“They should be on the floor of the bathroom” she answers
>>121270He does so, and holds his lighter up to light it for her.
>>121276>>121271She takes the cigarette with her magic, then takes a deep puff
When she pulls it out, there is an orange, glowing end.
“I may be able to light something with this”
>>121277Iron nods, putting his hoof near the glowing end of the cigarette.
"I assume you want to set the place on fire, then?"
>>121278“That’s kind of the question”
>>121279She shakes her head
“If only brick and mortar burned”
>>121280Iron pouts slightly over her comment.
"I assume it does not, from your comment."
He gently squeezes her.
"At least you will get to stab some of them to death."
>>121281*squeeky*
She is squeezed
She takes another draw, and says
“I’d do worse to them if I had the chance”
>>121283He stares vacantly at a wall.
"I would not put it against you."
>>121284She looks away herself, grits her teeth, and says
“Just... punch them real good”
>>121282“I can go to the south, maybe shoot some of them in the back. Or above to the second level. Or, I can stay by your side”
>>121285"Will do, Sands," he responds sternly.
>>121285"We Could both shoot them from the balcony."
>>121287She nods, and she smiles.
“Let’s run that by silver and midnight”
>>121288"I do not see problem with it."
“Alright then... looks like we know at least most of what we are doing”
>>121290Iron nods.
"I will enact the blunt force trauma and scare tactics to take out the will of these souless beaked folk."
Spark will continue in the north soon.
Floof pone sticks head out of bushes
>>121302Sorry i didnt post yesterday. i had a Fever.
>>121303Awww! I'm sorry to hear that, buddy. I'm glad to see you back, though. You feelin' any better?
>>121305Not really. although i think my fever has broken.
>>121303Aww, it’s okay little edge pone. I hope you are feeling better now than before
>>121304>>121303*Hugs both ponies, keeping mouth and nostrils firmly closed bear fever pone*
>>121306Awwww! I hope you start to feeling better soon.
>>121307is huggedhugs back I guess we could proceed to the next stage as soon as everypony is here. Midnight may be absent, which could be problematic
>>121308*Is hugged*
\r
>>121311*is hugged back*
Um... was Dark Star wanting to go to the upper level and shoot his bow?
>>121310Hello
>>121312Iron wants to enter through the northern door and act as a stone wall with Khoi (and maybe Sands, depending on what she believes is best at)
Hmmmm....
Even without Midnight around, Dark Star could go upstairs
>>121314Sands seems just a little hesitant to leave Iron with Khoi, but is even less desirous of melee combat, so she slinks off. Khoi and Iron don't know each other well, but she seems.... motivated
>>121315That is all Iron needs to know, as far as he knows.
Should Iron move out now or wait for Silver and Midnight to choose their positions?
>>121316As soon as Iron moves into the actual opening itself, he will be visible to the creatures inside of the square, and from basically every point in the square. This is true of all of the characters. Silver and Mala (and White Sands) are at a special disadvantage because they will have to run past an opening to get to their positions.
>>121318I'm wondering if someone else should take control of that character
>>121320Sounds like they'll need a distraction.
Is it time to pull out the trans advocate Iron again? >>121321Now a distraction could work
>>121322Being on the top level may result in some enemies at the East and West doors being out of line of sight. Dark Star should also be up there before the others
>>121323Hm...Is Skies around Iron for him to ask?
>>121325"Boss, the path for Silver, Midnight and their companions seem to be pretty exposed," Iron comments.
>>121327"Have you come up with anything to alleviate this small blunder? I could act as a big distraction if need be."
>>121329"I think Silver and his companion are just going to have to run past and hope it will be okay. A distraction may be possible, but it is more likely to alert them to danger and will be very dangerous for the one putting on the distraction"
>>121330"Do you think making noises with rocks would help, at the least?"
>>121331"Hmmm.... It could. But there are a large number of them and every single one of them would need to be distracted and not paying attention while also not being aware of danger. If even one of them is looking that way and thinks something is strange, that might alert all of them"
>>121328Just be sure to be up there
before combat begins
>>121332Iron hums.
"That is a problem. Not to mention they will be nervous of the bat-winged pony if they were to casually glance her way."
He looks at Skies.
"I suppose I could stir up trouble of some sort by mocking a big griffon or something."
>>121334"But if you do that, you've substituted them noticing they are under attack because they see silver to them knowing they are under attack because they hear you"
>>121335Iron huffs in frustration.
"Alright. Maybe I could just make an extremely awkward conversation to make everypony look my way. Would that work?"
>>121336Dark Star puts his hoof to his chin in thought.
>>121336>>121337“Maybe it would be better for Dark Star to draw their attention - he’ll be on the second floor and so out of range.... hopefully...”
>>121339“To go to position upstairs? Certainly we can.”
>>121340>>121339"I assume I will have to hold for now, considering the possibility of our cover being blown before the roof pony squad gets there," Iron comments.
>>121342“But once it doesn’t matter if the cover is blown... feel free to be as loud, rude, and obnoxious as you like to our griffin hosts”
She says with a smile
>>121341“Up the stairs. We can go in front of them or behind when there”
>>121343"Lets go in, in front of them."
>>121345“Okay... but I’m best at shooting from behind”
>>121346"Then we can go in the back way."
He Smiles at Her
>>121348“Alright... just remember that somepony needs to tell them all who we are, and give an ultimatum to surrender.”
Outside of the bathroom, to the right on the other side is a stairwell. Going up one flight leads to a landing with another door and another set of stairs going further upwards
>>121353"I'll be sure to include that."
>>121354If Dark Star goes up, he finds the door opens inwards to a hallway
>>121356No immediate activity in the hallway. It's actually less well lit on the second floor, with painted off white walls on both sides, and a tan set of tile on the floor
>>121357Does Dark Star see anypony in the hall?
>>121358Judging from what can be seen and heard, nocreature seems to be active in the eastern hall, second level at that moment
>>121359Dark Star Creeps towards the position they are moving to.
>>121361To the right, presumably, is the North side. This would place them above Iron, and above the entrance to the other part of the building. To the left, presumably, is the South side. This would place them opposite Iron and the entrance to the other building. To the left and in front of them is a closed but wide pair of wooden doors that evidently enters a room that partly hangs over the central square, and also covers the eastern entrance from above
>>121363He goes to the spot the decided on before
[lonely pony stuck in the north noises]
>>121515[floofy unicorn in the south noises]
Alright ponies... let’s try this again. Who is here?
>>121524REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>121528>Canadian Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
>>121529I’ll take you to Tim Hortons later
>>121530Eh thats pretty Good m8. Can we get a bag of milk along the way?
>>121531>milk in bagAlright, that’s way too much Canada for me
>>121532All hail, the glorious leader black Trudeau! hey you got any ketchup chips,bud?
Alright, I am at my apartment. Who is here?
>>121535Before she goes upstairs, Blue Shekels ask midnight
“To our winged pony friend, would you like to guard the East entrance that goes to the hallway and the seaside exit, or would you rather trust that be walked off by flame, and instead stand beside silver or iron at either of two other entrances?”
>>121538Midnight pauses for a moment, considering her options.
"I will take the east entrance."
>>121539Blue shekels looks at midnight for a moment, and pauses, as if not certain. But then she speaks
“Okay. That should divide them, hopefully.”
She moves forward a step
“It will be dangerous to go alone. Take Jubilosa.”
The weird catbird looking thing pauses for a moment, then steps forward, each paw in a line, and with some raised hairs visible between the ends of her forelegs legs and where the leather vest begins. Her head moves from direction to direction in quick, clean movements, like a bird, and she looks at midnight with slit, green eyes
>>121540Midnight politely nods to Jubilosa
"It will be good to work with you."
>>121541She twists her head significantly to the right, causing medium-brown feathers on her neck to pop out almost like cards in a deck-mid shuffle. She responds,
“Who are you?”
>>121542"I am Midnight, I am working with the other ponies here."
>>121543“Working what, exactly?”
Her paws are almost in a line one behind the other, and dried blood stains her brown leather vest running down from a slice in the middle, which overlays her dark-gold fur.
>>121544"Well, I am just here to follow orders, not make them. And now, you and I will be working defense."
>>121545“What... what are we defending against?” She asks
>>121546"I... Am not completely sure..."
>>121547She nods, slowly. As she does so, her green, slit eyes are wide and fixed on midnight
[continuing to look for terrorists noises]
Are these terrorists religious based, closer to Muslims? Or are they simply trashing things Antifa style?
I wonder what the bugs are up to...
>>121551Spark finds himself walking through the active mine. Most vehicles move, some do not, and there is no shortage of workers, both actually working and standing around. Some, at attention, some, idle or waiting.
>>121561Spark doesn't really know that at this point. It looks like the exterior panel, as well as part of the engine and transmission block, where damaged by blunt force applied from the outside
>>121567Ruby is still over playing with Mutey and Broody over by the partly flooded area in the lower mine. A couple workers look over, or seem either irritated or intrigued by the presence of the foals, but most pay them no mind, or seem to not notice them.
>>121573Yay!
Spark ponders for a moment.
"Are there workers here that would do something like this?"
>>121576Wasn't the boss there talking to Spark last we left off?
>>121577We'll go with that
"Some of the workers are Equestrians from the area. After many of them refused to work here we replaced them from workers from the Crystal Empire.... they are marginally better. The thing is, really any of them could be motivated to sabotage the equipment. They are not too thrilled about mining for the Hegemony"
>>121578"Any of them make any threats that could be more directly related to these attacks?"
>>121579"Threats? No. No threats. Well, except maybe Gemmy last Tuesday. But mostly they claim it's an outside force"
>>121580"Well, let's hear about Gemmy. Might as well while we figure things out."
>>121581"He made a threat about damaging his shovel last week after being ordered to do something he didn't like. He was detained."
>>121582"Do you think that others that were his friends might not have taken a liking to your punishment and acted out?"
>>121583"The Gendarme say that reprisals and being tough stamps out the will to resist"
His facial expression betrays some doubt
>>121584"Which is why you are having terrorism obviously, internal or otherwise. Your defenses are weak and you don't have a clue where or when it will happen again, but you can be sure it will."
>>121585"Look. I know we are having problems, alright. I just need to make it stop. We haven't met a single quota"