/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>139000
Silver looks expectantly at the Lieutenant.

>>138881 →
Amber takes herself and her meal to a seat across from Mustard Trim, seeing that he's alone at the moment. "Hello, I won't interrupt you if I eat here, will I?"

>>139007
Mustard Trim pulls his head up from off the table and looks towards Amber. He stops crouching over, and places his hooves on the table.

“Sure.” He answers plainly. The earth pony’s mane is a darker brown, and his coat is the color his name implies. He is young, older than the cook, but probably younger than even Amber. He’s fairly large in size.

>>139008
If Amber is very hungry she's good at not showing it as she's not eating too hurriedly, though she does eye the soup quite often. She ventures to speak on occasion. "You're the newest waiter here?"

>>139011
“Yes” he says, kind of sharply. “Just hired on”

>>139012
"Oh, like me." She continues, "I saw how you were doing and I think you did a really good job.
A whole bushel better than me, I caused some messes…."

>>139013
“Heh” he smiles widely and pulls his head back a little as his ears pull down slightly. “Thank you.”

>>139014
"I don't really know the ponies here, but they seem nice, if a bit odd…" She slurps down some soup. "What're your impressions?"

>>139015
“It’s a big of a mixed group” he answers. “I think most of them are nice. But they are often concerned with their own thing. It’s not like the small town, where everypony knows each other, or at least knows they may see each other again.”

>>139017
“That’s... well, that’s about how it goes. At least... yeah, it’s not been that much different for me. You have to learn whole new grocery stores and laundromats, and you have to make a whole new set of friends.”

>>139019
He smiles at Amber
“It’s a place you take clothing to to have cleaned. I guess you just got into the city?”

>>139020
"I…I just got here yesterday…."
She looks away shyly.

>>139021
This causes him to laugh
“Hehheheh”

>>139022
Cue a scrunchy expression. "The way you were talking, you must have come from out of town too."

>>139023
When his face comes back to meet Amber’s, his laughing stops abruptly, and his smile is swept away.

“It’s just nice to not be the newest anymore. I am from Donmouth. It’s not that far from here, but twenty miles makes a world of difference. I moved here with my mother.”

>>139025
“Is it a hamlet? How big are we talking about?”

test

>>139028
“Heh, yeah. That’s a hamlet. Donmouth had a church and a railway station. And a paper mill my dad and brother used to work at.” He pauses for a moment. “Uh... so what brings you here?”

>>139030
“I can understand that”. He looks up to Amber. His eyes look as if they are two different shades of purple. Then he looks down. Then back up to Amber.

>>139031
His coloration is so similar to mine, it's uncanny, she wonders to herself. Realizing that she was staring she goes back to eating her food.

>>139032
Amber is allowed to get back to her food. Mustard Trim doesn’t start talking to her, at least yet. Over on the far side, de sew finds a lamp.

>>139033
She looks at the other employees and patrons and wonders what aspirations they have, and what events must have coincided to bring them into the same room like this.

>>139034
De Sew picks up the lamp and carries it around to the other side of the room. The zebra colt has disappeared from line of sight, presumably back into the kitchen. Melon Mangrove wipes a table while chatting (without eye contact) to the hat-wearing stallion, who sits a table with one of the giggling mares hanging on him. The other stallion sits across from him, and he nuzzled the second giggling mare. Salt Mixer leans over on conversation with the lone stallion remaining at the bar. It’s clearly around closing time.

>>139035
One thing certainly is very surprising for Amber. "Wow. They became good friends really fast."

>>139036
The Princesses may be gone, but friendship retains its magic

“Floozies and occupation soldiers” Mustard Trim remarks

>>139038
He shakes his head
“Not to them.”

>>139040
Mustard Trim puts his head down
“Maybe. Who do you want to meet?”

>>139042
“Like... a school? Or a bowling group? A political organization? Or are you looking for ‘fun’?”

>>139044
He twists his lips a little, as if unsure what to think of her response.
“That’s the difference between the small town and the city, really. In the small town, and on the farm, what you have to do in life is more or less set for you. Everything you need to do, you are told to do, and you are told how to do. In the city, it’s not like that at all. There are so many opportunities, and so many things you can become. But it’s not set for you. You have to find it yourself. You have to be the one to make it happen because it will not come to you. That’s what I think, anyways.”

>>139045
Amber frowns a bit, her ears drooping. She finished her meal while Mustard was talking and now pushes the bowl away from her, resting her cheek on a hoof. "I don't think I can do that…. I rented the first apartment I could afford and took practically the first two jobs I could find. There's no way to know if I made the right choices or neglected to find something a lot better. It's another odd thing about the city, but…having so many possible choices makes me feel less in control than if I had just a few. Do you ever feel this way?"

>>139046
He is silent for a moment, and lowers his head slightly

“Yes...”

>>139001
I was thinking Brisbuck had left the table by this point, but sure, we’ll go with this

“Uh, sure. I can handle it.”

>>139048
She smiles reassuringly. "I think I made the right choice coming here though, the restaurant's very cozy and you and Salt Mixer are very nice."

>>139050
He lifts his head and smiles back.
“You think so?”

>>139051
"Well, you let me talk about my problems and I feel a bit better now, so, um…thank you." As she says this her cheeks redden slightly.

>>139052
“Heh, well... any time you want to talk, you can talk to me.” He answers, also seeming to redden.

>>139055
“Both of them are a bit older and seem to do this as an... uh... well, you know, as an actual job. De Sew is a mother. She’s fairly professional. Melon Mangrove has been here for a while but she’s in some kind of schooling. Both of them are nice, but De Sew is a little more reserved. There are also two other waiters who do this part time, but they are not here today.”

>>139057
“I mean, it’s like full time. I’m in school. I do this to help support myself and my mother.”

>>139058
She leans forward curiously. "You're in school? What's that like?"

>>139059
“Well... it can be... kind of boring, actually. There’s papers and math and writing exercises. And then you have to take work home to do.”

>>139061
This gets laughter from him
“Something like that, yeah. Though I’ve never been a secretary... Are you not in school?” He asks

>>139062
The auburn-haired mare shakes her head. "No, everything I know came from my parents and the books they collected. As for here in the city, during the day I work at a clothing store."

>>139063
“Huh...” he looks at Amber with a blank expression.
“That’s a bit different. Must not have been a school house out where you’re from.”

>>139064
"Not really, no." She shifts around uncomfortably.

>>139065
“You really are from a small place then”

>>139067
“Bet you didn’t know restaurants like this were necessary. Or clothing stores... or any of the other stuff you find in the city.”

>>139069
“You’re not a fan of Jambalry’s cooking?” He asks, feigning skepticism. More seriously, he asks:
“You don’t have any utensils?!”

>>139070
"I don't have anything except for some clothes and my mandolin. I'm already a hundred and fifty bits in debt–" she makes a disgusted expression "–but my landlord told me there's no place cheaper and that I really didn't want to sleep outside for some reason."

>>139071
“Oh... well that’s unfortunate.”

>>139072
She smiles optimistically though tiredly. "It shouldn't be like this for too long, though. With two jobs I should be getting better off quickly."

>>139073
“Hopefully...” he answers, kind of unsure.
“So uh... what’s the clothing business like?”

>>139075
“That sounds about right for this city.” He answers
“Think you’ll have fun doing it?”

>>139076
Amber yawns, her eyelids drooping. "I don't know. Maybe?"

>>139077
“Getting pretty tired there?” He asks

>>139078
Nodding, she answers, "Normally I don't stay up this late." She shifts with a sudden panic. "I–," another yawn, "I need to be getting back. I have work tomorrow."

>>139079
“Do you...” his ears go down, he looks away, then looks back to Amber. “Do you want me to walk to you back?”

>>139080
She smiles at Mustard. "That would be nice, but I don't live very far away, and what about you?"

>>139081
“I stay with my mother further south, in a row house by the river.”

>>139083
“Heh”
But he doesn’t actually have a response to this one.

>>139085
“Uh, sure” he says, awkwardly smiling. “You’re sure you are comfortable walking back alone?” He adds

>>139086
She looks puzzled by his insistence. "I live a ways east of here. There's nothing I should worry about, is there?"

>>139087
“Well, I just... I guess if you feel safe... but if you don’t...”

>>139088
She smiles amusedly. "I'm touched you're so worried about a filly you just met. That's very gentlecoltly of you."

>>139089
“Thank you...” he says, falling back in his seat

>>139090
"You're welcome. Anyway, goodnight and take care on your trot home." She gets up, pushes her chair back into place and starts to turn to the exit.

>>139091
Mustard Trim makes no reply nor movement, and Amber walks unmolested to the front door.

>>139092
Thankfully Mustard has no interest in molesting her at the time, so Amber leaves the restaurant and returns to her apartment.

>>139093
[1d20 = 6]

It’s much colder now, especially with a wind from the north blowing in, unimpeded on the north-south street

>>139094
Amber shivers and pulls her cloak I believe she brought it with her more tightly around herself.

>>139095
She makes her way eastward. It’s done number of streets. There are ponies on the sidewalks, and non-pony creatures both hippoform and not, walking in groups, in pairs, alone, or even stumbling about aimlessly on street corners. The buildings become shorter, and the streets, dirtier the further east she moves. Most areas are lit by street lamp, some are not. On one corner, illuminated almost by floodlights, two pegasi in green uniforms stand carrying what look like carbine rifles.

[1d20 = 4]

>>139097
Most of the streets don’t have any particular problem with smell or garbage, but there are one or two brief segments where a pungent smell comes through. In some areas, restaurants and bars are open and still have life in them. In others, closed, unlit stores create a wall of darkness on the sides of streets. A similar pattern repeats when Amber enters the residential areas.

>>139098
Amber wonders why there would be any eateries or other establishments open at this hour, and how unpleasant it must be for the staff if it's already so late for her.

>>139099
All the same, Amber eventually arrives back at the tenement block containing her apartment

>>139100
See, it was nothing. Mustard was just being a worrywort, she thinks to herself. She goes upstairs to her apartment.

>>139101
Amber makes it back to her apartment at probably around 10:30 PM. She’s spent 10 or so hours working at minimum wage to serve ponies who are far higher class than her, only finally eating leftovers late at night, while being indirectly victimized by political terrorism, dealing with competing agency jurisdictions. and pushing away two colts. Unfortunately, she was unsuccessful in her primary goal of not owing money to the mafia. Could be worse though. Could be a lot worse.

>>139102
The broader context of her situation is lost on her, as she expected the first few days of city life to be somewhat rough. Being far too tired to closely think about her day, she's glad to be one day closer toward not owing any debt, having a warm meal in her belly and meeting some more-or-less friendly faces. She brushes her teeth and says her prayers before heading to sleep, though this time she foregoes thorough grooming and musical practice.

>>139103
Also Amber was unable to use her instrument today. You’ll get ‘em next time, little filly

>>139104
Should we go onto the next day?

>>139105
Depends on the intent for the next day. What do?

>>139106
If it's a weekday Amber would like to go to work.

>>139107
Hmmm... what other ambitions does Amber have for the next day?

>>139108
A chance to play the mandolin and/or better knowing her coworkers.

>>139109
Hmmm...

Regardless, Amber wakes up in her bed, finding herself not stabbed, abducted, nor replaced by a Changeling.

>>139110
Hoping that she didn't wake up too late–lacking a clock makes determining that difficult–she says her morning prayers, takes a quick shower (the cold water unpleasantly waking her up fully), and brushes her hair before she gets dressed and heads out.

>>139111
Onwards to work?

>>139112
Amber heads onward to work, hopeful that there won't be any more mean anarchists this time.

>>139048
Silver nods, and gets up to find the black-coated light machinegunner who pulled the cart to recruit him into his telegraph repair squad.

>>139114
This pony is perhaps the strongest in the platoon, and if he isn’t, he’s not far off. He seems fairly plain in expression, and asks,

“Do I need my gun?”

>>139113
No anarchists. Yet. It’s colder today than yesterday, with occasional wind. Looks like there may be rain. High Sewn stands immediately outside the door of her shop, smoking a cigarette. The window of the display case is new and clean, but many items are missing from the display.

>>139116
Shivering, Amber is eager to get inside the shop. She doesn't know why High Sewn would be standing in place like that, whether to smoke a cigarette or not. "Hello Miss Sewn! It's a nippy day today, isn't it?"

>>139117
“For you I suppose it is”
She blows out smoke

Amber makes it inside the store easily enough

>>139118
Just like yesterday, Amber looks at the shelves and replaces whatever's scarce with supplies from the back.

>>139119
As per usual, there’s a set of socks and coats that are missing, but also a number of items from the higher priced racks. High Sewn walks in with that half-annoyed expression on her face, holding a coffee cup and a newspaper. She sits down at her desk, opens a notebook and the receipt drawer, and starts taking notes.

“Remember to take note of inventory” she says to Amber without looking away from her note book

>>139120
"Of course, ma'am!" Amber sets to it, dutifully writing down numbers for each type of merchandise, while making a mental note of any differences.

>>139121
Merchandise is slowly being used up, that’s for sure. Soon enough, the store is ready to be opened for the morning.

>>139122
After that necessary work is done, Amber opens shop and stands near the door.

>>139123
It isn’t too long before customers come by. The first mare in says she’s just looking, and walks past Amber. She tries to look at clothing, but ultimately leaves without buying anything. The sand is true of the second mare. The third one comes in, tries on a sweater and buys it, leaving quickly.

>>139125
It’s fairly low cost purchases at the moment, but there are some sales. The highlight of the morning is High Sewn making Amber stand perfectly straight and still (and taking off her other clothing) while she uses her to fit and work on an ordered dress.

>>139126
This is quite unexpected for Amber, who never worked as a model before. She does the best she can despite the awkwardness of standing still while a stranger performs measurements. One question raised, however, is the suitability of herself for fitting as she is shorter than most other mares.

>>139127
High Sewn rebuffs these concerns
“She’s just as short and round as you, don’t worry.”

>>139115
"Depends on how long you are willing to carry it around. I do not expect we will find enemies, but we should expect unexpected."

>>139129
“Do you need me to cart something else around?” He asks

>>139131
“Oh, don’t be too offended by it. Those drugged up trigs they expect you to pay extra for for fitting don’t have body shapes found in nature. At least not on mammals anyways.”

>>139132
"Huh? Who are you talking about?" Amber looks more confused than ever.

>>139130
"Maybe. We are going to investigate telegraph outage, and if it turns out to be fallen pole, we may need your help fixing it."

>>139133
Damn it. Should have said “twigs” instead of “trigs”
“Oh, never mind that. How hold still and suck in. I need to mark a spot on this fabric.”

>>139134
He nods
“Very well”

If instructed by silver, he retrieves his gun from the cart. If not, he simply follows the other ponies.

>>139135
"Ok." She sucks in her belly, her cheeks puffing out.

>>139135
Silver directs him to take the gun, just in case. With that, the squad moves to the telegraph office, to first see if the pony inside has any information for them.

>>139136
"There you go. Good girl. Now stand still." She takes a number of measurements, and especially tries to cut parts of fabric next to her. "Keep standing still" she says. It takes a few minutes, but she gets what she needs, and releases Amber.

>>139137
The jet black earth pony pulls the massive gun out, and carries it in a sling over his back, along with several magazines It's a gun almost built for Earth ponies, and it shows off his strength well. Still, he'll probably need to set it aside if heavy lifting is necessary.

The Lunar Telephone and Telegraph Company is located in a small pale brick building along Main Street, south of Old Mecc Trail Road. The flat, black colored roof hangs over the side of the building some ways. Inside, beyond a wooden floor and behind a hardwood desk, a pegasus mare with a long, yellow braided mane, a reddish brown sweater, and bright, green eyes watches the ponies as they enter.

>>139150
Silver bows his head to her.

"Excuse me, I heard there was problem with telegraph lines."

>>139151
"The line is down." She answers plainly. "The line to Wald at least."

>>139152
"Can you offer any additional information? We are going to see if we can repair it."

>>139150
"Mmmm" Amber mutters uncomfortably, particularly as she hears the snipping of scissors next to her. After it's over she dons her dress again and takes her place near the door, glad to be over that inconvenience.

>>139153
"Well... It worked yesterday. Now it doesn't, as of the first of this morning. It's not receiving any signal, and we don't know if anything that is sent makes it through. I think our equipment here is working. It's probably the line."

>>139154
Amber finds herself in a position of authority to modify the heating arrangement for the store. The light from outside is dimmed by clouds, and again most ponies entering want the lower cost items.

>>139155
It doesn't seem to be too cold, at least for Amber, and she doesn't want to meddle with the heating or do anything that may irk High Sewn.

>>139157
The inside of the store drifts colder, but High Sewn doesn't say anything.

>>139159
The remainder of the morning section is fairly uneventful. There are some customers, but they don't need more help than "where are your x?" some of which Amber can answer, and some of which High Sewn intervenes to answer

>>139160
Amber nonetheless keeps an eye out for any potentially malicious loiterers.

>>139161
No political extremists who did not possess the intent to buy clothing could be found outside or around the store. There was a young mare with disheveled mane and a grey sweater who stands in place and sways a little that High Sewn watched after she came into the store. Evidently she didn't take anything, as High Sewn stopped watching after she left.

>>139162
Amber wonders why that mare looked a little off-kilter and hadn't bothered to brush her mane, but doesn't say anything.

>>139155
"Do you think it could have been cut by Changeling saboteurs?"

>>139163
And so, Amber makes it through (part) of her shift. Lunchbreak time.

>>139164
"It's.... possible, if they made it this far. could be a sudden gust of wind breaking a pole, or a bolt of lightening. Could be a rat chewed through it, or some other wildlife. It could even be a pony rebel, or a deserter."

>>139165
Unfortunately lunch takes money, a.k.a. cash, and that is the one thing Amber doesn't have at the moment. Another day will pass without lunch. It'll get better when I'm paid… she thinks.

>>139165
"Alright. One last thing: are there any tools we should have to fix wire with?"

>>139167
“Oh... I don’t know tools very well..” the mare answers.

Amber Grain volunteers the following
“Well, it’s the same as testing any other wire that sends an electric current. You get a electric tester like a multimeter, try to put a current through the wire, and see if there is a current through each section to isolate the section with the problem.”

>>139166
That’s a pretty good attitude to have. Food is only for winners

>>139168
Unfortunately it's hard to maintain a positive attitude with an empty belly as the hours wear on.

>>139169
Guy arrives at perhaps 12:50, wearing his fancy vest. He starts moving items to the display case, with some consultation with High Sewn on what items belong there

>>139170
Amber tries to help him in any capacity, from carrying the items themselves to preventing any dragging on the floors.

>>139168
Silver smiles, and looks at the mare.

"Do you have a multimeter we can borrow, then?"

>>139172
"Uh...."

>>139171
He looks back at her at some point with annoyance or even disdain, but mostly leaves her alone. Amber is able to help with an overly long dress than otherwise risked dragging, although he is able to carry an entire mannequin by himself.

>>139173
Griffons are stronger than I thought… she thinks, though she is taken aback by his aloofness.

>>139174
He seems aware of Amber's presence, just non-interactive.

Afternoon shift is soon to begin

>>139175
With not much else to do she starts that.

>>139173
He looks to Amber Grain.

"Do you think you could help her, maybe describe what device looks like?"

>>139180
The mare:
"Uh...."

Amber Grain:
"Do you think this filly has ever worked on a tractor before? C'mon Platoon Sargent. Let's see if the 332nd or some farm around here has one."

>>139181
"I have never worked on telegraphs or tractors, so...let us go see if 332nd has one."

>>139182
Silver, Amber Grain, Saltlick and the Machine Gunner leave the Lunar Telephone and Telegraph Building, and start walking their way to Old Meccs Trail Road and the town hall. The 332nd is of course spread over a larger area, so they see a green stallion with a big, steel helmet covering much of his head sitting in front of what seems to be a grocer not far from the town hall. There is a group of stallions there, including a beige one, and a blue one with whom the green stallion converses.

>>139183
Silver approaches the group.

"Excuse me sirs, you would not happen to know if your Platoon has multimeter among its supplies?"

>>139184
Silver must have surprised the group by his approach, judging by their expressions. The blue stallion - looks to be an earth pony, but with the way his uniform is positioned it's hard to tell if he's simply covering up wings - raises a hoof up in the air as if to signal silence, and then turns his head to Silver

"A multimeter?"

He pauses for a moment, but just as Amber Grain is about to but in, the blue stallion says:
"Yes... We are certain to have one somewhere in our stacks of material. I am unsure how long it would take to find it. You can look through the materials at the rodeo park, or search a garage in this area. They are sure to have the same."

>>139185
He nods.

"Thank you. Sorry to interrupt, we will be on our way."

Silver leads his posse to the rodeo park.

>>139186
Silver goes back a street, past the jail and the sheriff's office, past the Hotel, onto another street, and past a few more small houses with greenish brown wood and covered porches. There is a small open green area that must be a park but Silver can tell was probably common pasture area less than a century ago, and next to it is a set of stables, a ticket stand, fences, and raised seating area that is unmistakable as an arena with a fenced in, oval shaped dirt center. And yet only so much dirt is visible, as in the center are so many wooden crates, a few green tents, and several barrels.

>>139187
Silver groans at the sight of all the crates, tents, and barrels.

"I did not think it would be this much hassle when I asked you all to join me."

>>139188
"I never expected anything less from a war. We're just over the one year mark." Amber Grain replies

Walking through the Entry, Silver sees another pair of flags - the blue flag of the two sisters, and the green, white, and blue flag. Silver walks past a black and white photograph of a large cow and a pegasus standing next to it, and of a stallion, wings partly spread and holding a rope in his mouth.

Inside the arena, Silver can see a gate that is closed at the moment, but has larges tracks of dragged crates and other items, and hoof prints abound. Amber Grain walks in, carefully looking around, the machine gunner stands back, but Saltlick flies around, looking at stacks of crates. Silver can see that most contain food in MREs or cans, but some contain medical supplies, ammunition, binoculars, and various other items. Saltlick is the first to see it. "Over here. Electronic repair equipment." Saltlick tries to pull it out of the set of crates, but the machine gunner has to come over, place his gun and bandolier off to the side, and pull out the crate himself. When he does so, a pair of crates fall down several feet. Still, it's a simple enough matter to open the crate, at least for Amber Grain.

"Got it" Amber says.

>>139189
"Great! Eh...let us hope there is nothing fragile in those crates..."

>>139190
From further back in the arena, on the opposite side of the fence and in front of the opposing set of sands, a pair of ponies watch as a third moves closer. The one moving has a visible carbine on his back, a standing stallion lacks a helmet, and all three wear brown uniforms that identify them as support personnel. They weren't there when Silver's team entered. Now they look at the ponies.

Amber Grain is not bothered by this, retrieving not only a multimeter, but clamps, a medium sized spool of wire (and telephone wire at that), clamps, a car battery, wire cutters, and a few other items. The black stallion could surely carry all of this himself but for the gun, so parts of the set are distributed among Silver's team.

>>139199
Silver takes his fair share of the equipment. He waves and calls out to the support ponies.

"We apologize for mess! We just need to borrow some equipment!"

>>139201
They don't respond by voice or gesture. They seem close enough to have heard Silver, but then again a new wind enters, blowing easterly through the valley and creating noise through the flapping of tent roofs.

>>139202
Silver cups his forehooves around his mouth and shouts to them.

"YOU HEAR ME?"

>>139203
No response from the supply group. At least one looks at him

>>139204
"O...kay."

Officially weirded out, he leads the squad out of the area and towards the direction of the telegraph outage. Once out of town, he turns to his compatriots and speaks in a low voice.

"Have any of you three noticed anything...odd, about 332nd?"

>>139205
When the ponies pull out, the three supply personnel enter the arena through a gate on the opposite side. All three go to the location of the tipped over crates, with the one with the carbine watching over Silver and his team as they leave (he never brandishes the carbine; it remains on his back), while the two unarmed ponies proceed to right and pick up the fallen crates.

Amber grain replies:
"They don't seem to like us here"

Saltlick
"I haven't interacted with them here at all."

The black colt remains silent

>>139205
Being aware of an outage is quite a different thing from locating the precise source of the outage.

[1d4 = 2]

>>139206
"I do not know, but something about this seems bad. My gut is telling me that longer we stay in Vale, more danger we are in. For instance, mare at telegraph office said that this telegraph line was working yesterday, so unless High Command decided to spring news of our arrival to Vale on 332nd last minute, they should have known we would be here. But nothing was prepared for us, and their Captain spoke and acted like he had no idea we be here and told us to be on our way to Front. And on their Captain, while none of you met him or his entourage, it was just like with those support ponies: just silently watching us, blankly, only addressing us when absolutely necessary, and way he spoke was like in those stories about souless metal automaton ponies. No normal pony, not even Captain, speaks like that."

>>139208
"I see" Amber Grain responds. "Well, in fairness, their communication has been out a while now. Before we headed out for Vale from Virtue, it seems. So I really can believe that they never got the message we'd be here, and I wouldn't be surprised either if Command never sent out a message at all. They may be skeptical of a fully armed, large military unit arriving in without notice, especially if they think their communication lines have been cut. Having someone ransack their stacks of supplies may not help."

>>139209
Silver offers a thoughtful grunt.

"Perhaps. But with rumors of upcoming Changeling assault, and how important Vale is to our Frontline forces, I would not like to take chance. I would ask that you all travel as group for as long as you can and not let each other get out of sight. Even if one of you need to defecate or urinate and you need to stand right there and watch them, it is good idea to maintain VC."

>>139210
Amber::
"What about the remainder of the platoon? Thirty-eight ponies and also the machinegun section. They are also in town."

>>139211
"Once we have repaired telegraph line, I will share my suspicions with Lieutenant, then we will gather platoon together and check each soldier to make sure they have not been replaced. We will make it out to be routine inspection. Another thing, do not breathe single word of this to others in platoon."

>>139212
Amber Grain is distinctly worried, as are the other two ponies.

"Very well..."

>>139213
Silver breathes a sigh, though not necessarily one of relief.

"Thank you. But, first things first: let us repair telegraph line."

>>139214
"Very well. We need to test parts of the line determine where the breakage is."

>>139215
"Then let us test right here. We may have already passed it."

>>139216
"Alright"

The ponies go over to the edge of town, past the last building, and on the line by Old Mecc's trail, just before the road goes into a fallow field by the riverside.

Saltlick makes good use of his wings, and flies up the side of the pole towards the top, where he introduces the multimeter, and uses the clamps.

"Okay... signal will come from Wald to here, or at least it seems to. I can't really confirm that. But there's a dead line from the Vale line. The problem is further into town."

>>139217
"Then let us head further in, now that we have starting place."

>>139218
They nod. Silver and company proceed further into town, and test the line in front of the general store.

"Huh... There's a signal coming from Vale, but none from Wald. We are just passed the source of the outage."

Saltlick jumps down from the pole, and then flies over to the top of the feed store, inspecting the connector where the telephone, telegraph, and electric lines connect with the top of the feed store.

"Uh, Platoon Sargent, I think it..."

>>139219
"What is it, Saltlick? What is wrong?"

>>139220
"Uh, you want me to describe it, or do you want to come up here and see?"

>>139221
Silver looks concerned at his other two compatriots.

"I would rather see it, if there was way for me to get onto roof."

>>139222
Looking around on the other side of the feed store, there is a ladder allowing access to the roof. Going up there, there is a flat roof evidently made of wood. Silver sees that there is a cross beam with insulators on the top of the pole, presumably carrying electricity. It's the insulated cables that run below the eletric lines that Salt Lick points to as a point of concern. There are two cables, each connected to the pole at two points. And both are severed in that inch between each connection. It's a fairly clean cut, which appears to be possible only by instrument, and it's in the one location such a cut could occur without the line falling down to the ground for lack of support.

>>139223
"Saboteur..."

Silver pales slightly at the sight of the cut wires. He looks to Saltlick and speaks with a sense of urgency.

"Fixing telegraph can wait. We need to alert Lieutenant Brisbuck and our platoon. Now."

>>139224
"For what it's worth..." Saltlick adds
"This is one of the only places you can access the line without having to climb a 17 foot pole, or fly."

But Saltlick is as disturbed as Silver, with a blank expression in his eyes. Amber Grain pulls his submachine gun from on his back, to hold in front of himself.

>>139225
Silver looks to the soldier under his command.

"Come, we move as unit. Do not lose sight of each other as we go get Lieutenant."

He leads his group further in town to find other members of his platoon, and ask them where Lieutenant Brisbuck went. He tries to maintain a calm expression on his face in the meantime.

>>139226
The feed store, like the hotel and town hall, are located on Old Mecc's Trail Road, making it a straight shot for Silver and company to the location of most of the platoon, who are hanging around the hotel. The ponies with Silver are decidedly worried, with Amber Grain and now even Saltlick carrying their guns out in front of themselves, and the black colt seriously contemplating doing the same.

A white earth pony sitting down in front of the hotel says,
"He's inside the town hall there."

>>139227
Silver nods, and heads to the town hall with his ponies. He looks hurriedly for the Liuetenant.

>>139228
Silver enters inside the town hall to find an entrance way with a reception area off to one side, and a brief hallway that goes forward with branching hallway holding offices to one end, and a large meeting hall on another end, that holds a raised platform with a podium, a number of chairs, a wooden seal with "Vale, State of Casadia, Born and Raised on the Mecc's Trail" on it, and the image of a river, forest and mountains Silver has seen on the flag, along with the Equestrian and green white and blue flags behind the podium and to the side of the seal. On the tan painted walls are a few pictures of Stallions and what seems to be a mare with shortcut mane and earrings. On the far wall is a painting of what seems to be a river with jumping fish, perhaps a salmon run.

Standing between the seats and the raised section is Brisbuck, as well as a few ponies from the platoon; the corporal who suggested the sleeping arrangement earlier, and a private.

>>139229
Hello

>>139175
The afternoon shift starts, with Guy and presumably Amber assuming their positions

>>139230
Silver steps up to the Lieutenant, maintaining a calm expression, but speaking with words laced with urgency.

"Lieutenant Brisbuck, Sir? I need word with you, if you please. Preferrably in private."

>>139231
Not long after the opening, the first customer comes in, an older mare who seems to be looking for waterproof or resistant items. She doesn't immediately ask for any assistance from Amber or Guy.

>>139232
He turns away from the corporal.
"Uh, sure, sargent."

>>139233
Amber will stand near the "Outdoors" section and smile at the older mare.

>>139234
She doesn't seem to e interested in something oudoors-y per se, at least if her choice of sections is a reflection of her preferences and not her ignorance of the selection. She is nearer the fancy clothing.

>>139235
She'll walk over to that section. "Would you like some help, ma'am?"

>>139233
"It will just be minute."

Motioning for his squad to follow, he leads the group, now including the Lieutenant, into a secluded room. He makes sure to close the door before he pulls out his flashlight and turns to the Lieutenant.

"First, I need to check that you have not been replaced by changeling. Keep your eyes open, please."

>>139236
She's an off white, middle age mare wearing a black semi-formal outfit. She turns to Amber. "Hi. Yes. I need something for the rain."

>>139237
There's a room in the hallway from which they entered off to the side, which contains cabinets, several sinks, a stove, a table, has a tile floor, and generally seems to be intended to be a kitchen. The corporal follows Brisbuck and Silver to the location, but the door is closed behind them. It's a large room, and there is a door on the other side, but that is also closed.

"... Sargent?"

Silver still manages to pull his flashlight on Brisbuck. His pupils dilate, and there is some reflection from his irises, though nothing else seems abnormal. He manages to keep his eyes open.

>>139238
Silver lets out a sigh of relief, and puts his flashlight away.

"I apologize for that Lieutenant, but we can not take any risks. We investigated telegraph lines, as you ordered. They have been cut deliberately and evenly with sharp object, in place that is unlikely to have been result of intense wind, wild animals, or debris, right here in town."

>>139239
"But that's not entirely water repellant, is it?"
She answers

>>139240
Brisbuck's ears go down.
"What else do we know?"

>>139241
Alas, these were the days before Gore-Tex, unless if a magical equivalent exists. This store is not known for its selection of enchanted clothing.
"Wool will keep you warm even when wet. Something else to consider is a trenchcoat, made of…what was it…'gab-ar-dine.' It's called a trenchcoat because it's worn by soldiers, and if it's good enough for them, it must be fine for you!"

>>139241
"Little, definitively. They were cut early this morning, and whoever did so did their best to hide it. It was made in one of few places where it would not cut lines between poles, but still disable our connection with Wald, where telegraph, telephone, and power lines intersect on roof of Feed Store. And while I have no definite proof...I have suspicions on where those responsible are. I think 332nd has been infiltrated by Changelings."

>>139242
Pretty sure Governor Bush won Texas

"Trenchcoat?" She seems a bit astonished by this. "I think I'll try a woolen coat then. More ladylike."

>>139243
He blinks
"We're well past the front lines. And there's not much cover to hide behind except the rolling hills, and even those aren't very helpful. How many Changelings could we be facing?"

>>139244
"I am unsure to what extent. At minimum, I am suspect of Captain and those of his soldiers who greeted us as we arrived to town, as well as three of 332nd's Support Staff."

>>139246
"At the moment? Black. It matches more of my outfits than most colors."

>>139245
Briskbuck breathes out, and then back in
"He has been avoiding basic questions, like when the last supply shipment came in or how much stock they have, but he'll ask me questions like what units we're going to be assigned to or where we'll be placed."

>>139247
"He was unaware of our impending arrival today, did not have anything prepared for our unit, and seemed to want us to move on. Unless High Command left him completely high and dry in intel since yesterday, I can not see explanation for his behavior or that of some of his subordinates."

Silver paces back and forth in the room.

"Our platoon is in danger longer we stay here, but we can not let Changelings have Vale if 332nd really has been infiltrated. I have working plan of action, but as you are our Platoon Lieutenant, I wish to hear if you have any plan for us to follow, first."

>>139249
"Well, maybe he has some complaint against replacement troops, command, or combat troops. He might be opposed to the war, or be offended to have to share resources with another unit. I'm not sure. We shouldn't rule out mutiny either. Somepony doesn't have to be a changeling to be a threat to Equestria... but it would be hard to tell if they were a changeling... what is your plan?"

>>139248
>>139251
There's a decent enough looking woolen coat that is a dark grey, almost black. It isn't super fancy, and looks more like a coat you'd take off per custom upon entering the indoors

"Hmmm... It may suit my purposes"

>>139250
"We gather our platoon in center of town as we did earlier, but this time we check each of them to see if any have been replaced by changelings. We must keep quiet on this however, to prevent information leak, and if we must we should present it as necessary medical examination. Once that is out of way, and any infiltrators dealt with justly and appropriately, we will assign squad to fix telegraph line while you, I, and another squad go to confront Captain to discover whether or not he truly is changeling. Even if he is not, changeling or not, his behavior has been inexcusable and must be addressed. Rest of our platoon should be ordered to stay on guard, in case something were to go wrong."

>>139253
"Changelings... when they are found... They don't like to be found. Not at all. We should be worried about what they will do when they are caught. And if he, or somepony else here is something like a pacifist anarchist... those are more common in the West than you may think, well... who is in on the plot?"

>>139254
She nods, but is mostly quiet, pulling out the jacket, and trying it on. She comes back, and pays in paper bits that Amber can see is a new currency.

>>139255
"They will lash out, and attack. As I said, we must keep quiet, at least until we have confirmed our platoon as being changeling free. If there are rebel Anarchists, we will deal with them justly yet firmly. We are not cruel, but we must not let rebels undermine Equestria in her time of greatest need."

>>139256
He nods
"If they are replaced, then where are the ponies?"

>>139255
>>139256
"Currently, only us five are privvy to any of this information. Assuming corporal has not been eavesdropping."

He looks to the door he closed, and opens it with his magic to make sure.

>>139258
Silver can see the corporal is near. He is not listening.

>>139255
Amber looks at what the paper bits say on them.

>>139257
>>139259
"Just one more minute, Corporal."

He closes the door again, and address his Lieutenant.

"Likely nearby. It is too difficult and dangerous for changelings to move captives far behind our lines. If any changelings are found, we capture them alive if we can and interrogate them."

>>139261
He nods
"Then we'll want to separate ourselves from the 332nd."

>>139262
"Indeed. We will also want to stay as one group as we gather our platoon together. If indeed there are changelings here, any of us would make for tempting target to try to replace."

There's a number of patterns of intersecting lines along the back that could only be guessed to be some kind of anti-counterfeiting measure. That or they really didn't want the piece of paper to be plain. Everything is in red ink. Over these lines in the center, are two horseshoes opposed to each other, and to each side are big red "50"s. And in red text, at the top in the red band around the sides of the bill is:

"New Mareland Military Authority"

Below that:
"In
Circulation Set
In
East Equestria

Fifty Bits"

>>139263
He nods, clearly frightened but a least in control of himself

>>139264
Silver smiles at Brisbuck.

"I am impressed, Lieutenant, despite being afraid you have control over yourself. That is excellent quality to have. Now, let us go gather platoon, starting with..."

Silver opens the door again, and goes out to address the corporal.

"Alright corporal, unless you are finished conversing with Lieutenant Brisbuck, we have task for you.

>>139264
It's not as pretty as the old money.
She accepts this currency, provided it's the amount listed for the coat, and wishes the mare to have a nice day and to keep warm.

>>139266
She gives a wave, and is out the front door - but not before immediately putting on the new coat. Guy is talking to a male customer, who looks back to Amber as she passes by.

>>139265
Brisbuck gives a weak smile at Silvers words.

The corporal blinks

"... Yeah?"

>>139267
"Go tell rest of platoon to meet in center of town, like we did before."

>>139267
She goes to meet the new customer. "Hello, can I help you with anything?" she asks cheerily.

>>139268
He nods, and is on his way. Presumably, Silver orders the same to his Platoon Guide, Sargent Amber Grain, who goes to assemble the platoon.

>>139270
That he does. He also turns to the remaining three ponies.

"Let us go find our medical officer, and convince him to help us with this 'surprise medical examination'."

>>139268
He nods

Soon enough, they come across Firm Heart, who is pulled off to the side

>>139269
"Uh... I think this sir is helping me" He answers

>>139272
Naturally this first thing Silver does is check that Firm Heart isn't a changeling, before swearing him to secrecy, filling him in on the current situation, and letting him in on the plan to check the entire platoon for changelings under the guise of a routine surprise medical examination.

>>139274
Firm Heart seems more than a little unsettled about the situation.

"Uh... Okay. You may want to figure out where to do this for the best privacy, and also, be prepared if we actually do find something."

>>139274
"We're also going to need a story for what we are examining for" he adds

>>139275
>>139276
"Hmm. Perhaps Town Hall, if we can figure out way to keep 332nd away. We will also have ponies watching to make sure nothing happens if changeling is found. As for what story to use...would it be too obvious to use eye examination? Perhaps for cataracts, near-sightedness, and just general poor vision. Soldiers need to be able to see what they are shooting at, after all."

>>139278
"Town Hall seems pretty well occupied by the 332nd. Maybe, but it'll be hard to keep them away. As for cataracts and long term problems... They'll just ask why that wasn't checked for at training."

>>139277
Some time passes, leaving Amber alone with Guy again.

>>139279
Amber does not strike up a conversation with Guy unless if he talks first.

>>139279
Silver rubs his temples in thought and frustration.

"Lying convincingly has never been my specialty. Maybe Equestria was too concerned with making sure we had enough units, so they skipped processes they normally would have done earlier."

He puts some more thought into where they should perform their examination.

"Hmm...think one of these abandoned houses would do trick?"

>>139281
"Doable, yes. We'd need everypony, or almost everypony, outside while they enter a group at a time."

>>139282
"Alright then. How quickly do you think you could get prepared?"

>>139283
"We just need a house and we need everypony assembled" he answers

>>139284
Silver nods, and looks to Saltlick and the machine gunner.

"Go find empty house quickly and assist Firm Heart in his preparations. Lieutenant Brisbuck and I will go see how Sargent Amber Grain and corporal are handling assembling platoon."

He pauses for a moment, before dismissing the group.

"Before we dismiss, there is one issue we should address. We should come up with code phrase to speak, so we can know we are not changelings without having to shine lights in each other's eyes."

>>139285
"Uh, sure? Any suggestions?"

>>139286
Silver scratches his chin some more, before he comes up with something he's certain nopony or 'ling in their right mind would ever think to say:

"Klutzy...draconequus."

>>139287
"Uh... What's a draconequis?" He asks

>>139288
"It is kind of creature Discord is."

He looks around at the group.

"...how do none of you know that? Have you never read any stories about him?"

>>139289
"Oh... So that's what those are called."

The machine gunner adds
"Well, you're sure right about one thing. No changeling would ever think to say that."

>>139290
"Let us hope so. Now, you all know your jobs. Let us get this done! Dismissed!"

>>139291
They nod, and leave

Outside, the platoon stands at attention on the road.

Brisbuck stands besides Silver, as does Firm Heart, and Amber Grain is in front of Silver. Behind him, Saltlick is absent (as ordered) and Hazelred stands at attention. Behind him, A company, including the corporal, are at attention. Behind them is B squad, which includes private Frostbark (this time), but not the squad machine gunner (as ordered). C squad, notably, has two ponies missing - scout riflestallions assigned to the machinegun secton. They were a "buddy pair" together, so both ponies assigned to keep track of the other are missing.

More unsettling, is the absence of the entire machine gun attachment to the squad.

>>139292
Silver looks bewildered as to the disappearence of the entire machine gun section. He calls out to the congregation.

"I am count lot of missing soldiers. While some have been excused by me personally, two scouts from C squad and our machine gun section are missing. Anypony care to fill in details?"

>>139293
The Sargent who leads C section volunteers the following

"Sir, the platoon has been heavily dispersed since we ended lunch. Troopers have walked around and explored. They must be somewhere around town."

>>139294
"I am afraid this meeting is manditory for all soldiers. Sargent, take two soldiers and bring them back ASAP. As for your own missing scouts, it might be beneficial to check their room incase they returned there after lunch."

>>139295
He nods, and goes off

>>139296
"As for rest of you, I am afraid you will have to find way of entertaining yourselves here until your compatriots return. Nopony is allowed to wander off until we have finished here."

>>139297
The soldiers begin the time honored tradition of standing still while memorizing the number of bricks on the street-face of the courthouse, and counting the number of birds to fly by in a given minute.

C squad sargent comes back denying that the missing scouts are inside the hotel.

>>139298
"It was worth shot. We do not have forever, but please keep looking, Sargent."

Silver looks at the rest of the soldiers.

"I did not meant you could not converse in meantime. Just do not leave area and make us look for you."

>>139299
One brave soldier sits, and soon, another follows, then another, until half of the platoon is sitting. They start talking.

The Sargent comes back with what seems to be the entire machine gun attachment.

"They took up occupancy of a house just across the river, and did not hear the call to line up." The sergeant answers

>>139300
"They are excused then. Though it makes me wonder if I should reverse my decision regarding B Squad..."

He regains focus, and looks at the Sargent.

"Still no sign of your missing scouts?"

>>139301
With added time, the two scouts come into view. They are followed by three members of the 332nd with their carbines out. The two parties are in dispute:

A brown stallion of the 332nd claims:
"We found these two near he outside of town looking through house of an evacuee. They had broken a window and kicked in the door when we came by and noticed the disturbance."

A dark purple scout responds:
"We were just looking around. We saw a house where the window was busted and the door was kicked in so we stopped by to take a look. Then these ponies came by. We didn't take anything!"

The brown pony responds:
"Perhaps only because we stopped you."

>>139302
Silver just lets out a sigh of relief. He also makes a mental note about that house.

"Thank you for returning our missing soldiers to us. They have been keeping us waiting for some time. We will deal with this disturbance in due time, I assure you."

>>139303
The brown stallion - he looks to be a corporal by his insignia, does not back away, but moves forward.

"You should keep your soldiers on a shorter leash. They are burglarizing the houses of evacuees. If they had done in this in foreign lands it would be unacceptable. But this is the homeland. This is unacceptable! Make an example of it now before all these new greens, rejects from the first round of the draft, sack our own cities in the future."

He holds the carbine out in front of himself, wings spread in evident excitement.

>>139304
>>139303
The two scouts weren't asked to give a response, but they give one anyways:

"It was like that when we found it! Honest!"
And
"You can search us, we don't have anything."
And then
"Uh, yeah! Search him!"

>>139304
>>139305
Silver's expression quickly fades from his relieved smile to an annoyed frown, and his face becomes quite firm after both groups speak. He trots forward slowly towards both the scouts and the group from the 332nd...but seems to be focusing mostly on the brown stallion.

"Corporal Asswipe, what is name and rank of Supreme Arbiter of Justice in this platoon?"

>>139306
This definitely gets him to step back, and pull the carbine closer to himself. But he does not crumble

"I do not know your unit, but Captain Forrester is the highest ranking Stallion here."

>>139307
Silver does not back down, and makes a loud buzzer noise in response.

"EEEEENNNNNHHHH!!! Wrong answer, Corporal Skidmark! 'Platoon Sargent Silver Sword' was your correct answer, do you want to see what you could have won?"

feels kind of bad for not having another segment for Amber

>>139308
Evidently not.

He backs away, at first in a single step, but then several steps, though always facing Silver. The other two soldiers, who never moved as far forward as the brown stallion, move back when the brown stallion comes closer to them. Quickly enough, they move off and away.

>>139309
Silver shouts after them as they hurriedly leave.

"NEVER SPEAK TO YOUR SUPERIOR THAT WAY AGAIN, OR YOUR ASS WILL BE GRASS, YOU HEAR ME!"

With a heavy snort of air from his flared nostrils, Silver calms himself down, and addresses the two scouts. His voice has a measure of concern for his soldiers.

"You two alright?"

>>139311
The group from the 332nd turns around and leaves more quickly.

The two scouts are also slightly cowering, with their ears down.
"Uh... Yes?"

>>139312
He smiles at the pair, and offers them a hoof to help pull them up from their slightly cowed position.

"Good. Not going to let some Corporal Shitstain from another platoon bully my troops, tell me how to run my own damned platoon, and demand I discipline my own soldiers."

>>139313
The deep purple stallion smiles, though kind of awkwardly, and extends his hoof to be pulled up, which he presumably is. The other stallion, an aquamarine colored stallion, also rises. both lift their ears.

"Thank you, Sargent"

>>139314
"So, see anything interesting before you were chased off by Three Stooges over there?"

>>139315
"Well... the house had been broken into. A window was broken, a door was broken. Some furniture was turned over, I think. Bedsheets were pulled down. There weren't drawers turned over or anything though, like the house was searched. I don't know if anything was stolen."

>>139316
He nods, and turns to go back to being in front of the platoon. Before he does so, he briefly pauses to turn his head back to the scouts.

"And there is no need to thank me. It is part of my job to protect you from dungheaps like that thinking they can bully you into submission. You are my soldiers, not theirs."

He turns to look at the platoon.

"And that goes for rest of you. If anypony tries that shit on you, even if it is Captain Forrester himself, you come to me. I will sort it out."

>>139317
Some take it stoically, while a few soldiers seem pleased to hear this.

>>139318
Silver steps to be in front of the Platoon.

"Alright now, I believe that is everypony accounted for? Those few still missing have already been excused by me. If you all would line up once more, we can begin."

>>139319
The ponies line up, of course missing the aforementioned ponies excused by Silver. They stand up at attention.

>>139320
"Now, I know you are all eager to continue your well deserved rest, but there are still couple of things to get through first. Now, first, due to speed with which Equestria performed most recent draft and recruitment, many of you have skipped steps in recruitment process you would not have had skipped otherwise. This is natural, Equestria is in its greatest need it has been in for over millenia, and you have all risen to occasion. Among these steps I have learned some of you skipped is eye examination, so to ensure I know you can actually see what you are shooting at, Firm Heart here will be performing quick, routine eye examinations on each of you. So long as he has your full cooperation, this should not take very long. Once it is complete, I have important tasks for all squads."

>>139321
Within the ranks, some are confused by the idea that something as essential as an eye examination has been skipped, while a few chalk it up to the incompetency of Equestrian High Command. They talk amongst themselves

>>139321
>>139322
Firm Heart is not quite done with the platoon. He addresses them all:

"Unfortunately, it isn't only lazy eye and deteriorated vision we need to be worried about. Unfortunately a particular variety of parasitic worm has been more prevalent this season than most here in the Equestrian West. You see, there is a variety of roundworm that is spread by flies and bad water that crawls around under the skin. The easiest way to identify it is when it moves around the eyes, which it loves to do. The worm is mostly harmless but, well, with your eyes essential to the defense of Equestria, Command isn't taking any chances. So they've ordered screening for the worms, and any permanent damage caused by them as well."

This explanation doesn't seem to comfort them much more.

>>139322
Silver speaks up over the congregation, holding up his hooves to quiet the ponies down.

"I know, I know, it is odd. But if we get through this quickly, it will be last we have to worry about it until after we win this War. Now, if I may direct your attention to Firm Heart, he will show you where to go for examination."

Should probably strike >>139323 since it seems to contradict >>139321

>>139324
Firm Hear comes closer to Silver, and whispers:

"Sargent, you can't just 'examine' ponies to see if they are changelings. You have to make sure they won't kill you when you find them."

>>139325
He whispers back, hopefully briefly enough that it doesn't worry the soldiers.

"Saltlick and that machinegunner from Squad B will be your assistants, so they will always be there with you and patients. We will also make such patients are disarmed before going in."