1560 replies and 6 files omitted.
>>139234She 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.
>>139235She'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"First, I need to check that you have not been replaced by changeling.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."
>>139236She'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."
>>139237There'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.
>>139238Silver 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
>>139240Brisbuck's ears go down.
"What else do we know?"
>>139241Alas, 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."
>>139242Pretty sure Governor Bush won Texas
"Trenchcoat?" She seems a bit astonished by this. "I think I'll try a woolen coat then. More ladylike."
>>139243He 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."
>>139245Briskbuck 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>>139251There'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?"
>>139254She 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."
>>139256He 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.
>>139258Silver can see the corporal is near. He is not listening.
>>139255Amber 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."
>>139261He 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"
>>139263He nods, clearly frightened but a least in control of himself
>>139264Silver 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.
>>139264It'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.
>>139266She 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.
>>139265Brisbuck 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."
>>139267She goes to meet the new customer.
"Hello, can I help you with anything?" she asks cheerily.
>>139268He nods, and is on his way. Presumably, Silver orders the same to his Platoon Guide, Sargent Amber Grain, who goes to assemble the platoon.
>>139270That 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'."
>>139268He 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
>>139272Naturally 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.
>>139274Firm 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."
>>139277Some time passes, leaving Amber alone with Guy again.
>>139279Amber does not strike up a conversation with Guy unless if he talks first.
>>139279Silver 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
>>139284Silver 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?"
>>139286Silver 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!"
>>139291They 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.
>>139292Silver 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?"
>>139293The 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."
>>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."
>>139297The 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."
>>139299One 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?"
>>139301With 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."
>>139302Silver 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."
>>139303The 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>>139303The 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>>139305Silver'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?"
>>139306This 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."
>>139307Silver 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>>139308Evidently 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.
>>139309Silver 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?"
>>139311The group from the 332nd turns around and leaves more quickly.
The two scouts are also slightly cowering, with their ears down.
"Uh... Yes?"
>>139312He 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."
>>139313The 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."
>>139316He 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."
>>139317Some take it stoically, while a few soldiers seem pleased to hear this.
>>139318Silver 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."
>>139319The 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."
>>139321Within 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>>139322Firm 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.
>>139322Silver 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>>139324Firm 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."
>>139325He 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."
>>139326He nods
"Alright..."
Then he speaks to the ponies in the platoon
"Each, one at a time."
>>139327Silver allows Firm Heart to take command of actually leading the troops, and motions for the Lieutenant and Amber Grain to help him keep the soldiers in check.
>>139328Presumably, the ponies are taken to a ranch house somewhere, and kept outside while the examinations take place in a bedroom.
>>139329Silver, Brisbuck, and Amber Grain make sure to disarm each pony before they enter, under the reasoning of not wanting an accidental discharge to hit the platoon's medic, and give their weapons back once they leave. Only Saltlick and the machinegunner still have their weapons inside, though they should probably keep them out of sight until it's necessary.
>>139330The ponies are kept in line outside of the house, taken into a living room where their weapons and non-essential packs are removed, and then they are taken to a bedroom where the door is closed.
It's actually not very long into the process at all that there is a "thonk," loud cursing, a smash, and a crash from inside the room.
>>139333Silver barges inside to see what is going on, leaving Brisbuck and Amber Grain to keep control of the ponies in line.
>>139334Standing over the edge of the bed and aiming his rifle - with full bayonet - downwards is Saltlick. Firmheart lies on his back on the floor grabbing at his shoulders and making strange breathing noises. A dresser looks pushed out of the way, and there is a lampshade and a broken lamp next to him. The machinegun colt stands over part of the floor next to the bed. Silver has to move over to see what is obscured by the edge of the bed and both Saltlick and the Machinegunner. It's what Silver could have expected: a black, almost beetlelike thing with insectoid eyes, black chitinous skin, and holes in its limbs, all together in an equiform body. It bleeds out from part of its uniform a blue, slightly green tinted substance that must be an alien blood. Silver can see this blood on the floor and on the edge of the bayonet, and the dropped machine gun not far off. The creature tries to rise and fight its captors as the machine gunner tries to keep it on the floor. It hisses as the machine gunner recognizes he must keep distance from its face.
>>139335Silver jumps to help the machinegunner keep the changeling down.
"What did he do to Firm Heart!?"