/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>139336
Saltlick answers
"Stay away from its face. That's how it got Firm Heart. Firm Heart saw it was the creature. You could see it in how he stopped; looked afraid. The thing knew it. It lunged forward, opened its mouth, and used its magic. I think it bit him too. With its teeth."

When Silver has part of his body on the changeling, the black colt pulls back, awkwardly past Silver, jumps back to stand up, pick up his automatic rifle, and then smashes the butt of the automatic rifle against the creature. But the automatic rifle is an inferior club, being too heavy, too unwieldy. The black colt looses control of the weapon as it smashes into the muzzle of the creature, and falls back, with the gun resting ontop of the creature's face until he can pull it up and off.

>>139339
"Let me have your rifle, Saltlick, I will knock it out. Take care of Firm Heart!"

>>139340
Looks like the black colt may have beaten Silver to it. It bleeds from its mouth, and one of its fangs hangs lose. It gurgles as it attempts a hiss. Nevertheless, Saltlick gives his rifle to Silver, while he backs up, and attempts to walk to Firm Heart.

[1d20+5 = 14]
>>139341
Silver grabs Saltlick's rifle with his magic, and bashes the rifle's butt against the changeling's head once more for good measure.

>>139342
Silver hits it in the head, and it quickly stops moving, though it continues bleeding.

>>139343
A heavily panting Silver gets off of the changeling imposter and looks over at the black colt.

"Help me drag this somewhere out of sight."

>>139344
"Where? Like a closet?"

It's a small bedroom. There is a window in the room (that can be covered with a curtain), but few other ways to look inside. There is a bed, a dresser, and a table on the other end, as well as a closet.

>>139345
"That is good idea. We should also tie it up and gag it."

Silver bends down to look at the name and rank on the uniform.

>>139346
Silver can look at it, but the black colt answers for Silver once he notices his intentions.

"Hazelred. Technical Private Hazelred."

The black colt helps shove a sock in its mouth - which may have been necessary just to keep it from choking on its own blood - and ties the creature.

>>139347
"Селестия, черт возьми. We will find you, Hazelred. I promise."

Once that's finished, he and the black colt drag the changeling into the closet, close it, and then Silver goes to check on Firm Heart.

>>139348
Firm Heart is conscious, but breathing heavy. His lips are shrunken, almost like he's dehydrated. He is bleeding from the shoulder, although the wound is not very deep.

>>139349
"He is changeling bitten alright, in both senses of word. Ugh...this was stupid plan on my part. Never should have put him in such danger."

>>139350
The black colt:

"Will he be alright?"

>>139351
"Yes, he will. Water and something sweet to eat will help, but to fully recover either he needs rest, or if we are lucky this fake Hazelred will have some changeling honey. Stay here with Firm Heart, I am going to go back out and check his bags."

Silver leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind him. He looks around for where they set Hazelred's bags.

>>139354
He nods, and the door is closed behind him. The bags lie between the entrance of the house, and a sofa, on the floor

>>139355
Silver looks through Hazelred's bags for either a vial of changeling honey, or some kind of container the changeling might have been using to disguise the substance.

>>139356
No honey, nothing out of the ordinary. Only a few salt crackers, a canteen, a pair of Automatic Rifle magazines, ten ammo clips, and the platoon's lone radio set and an extra battery for it.

>>139357
Silver mutters a curse under his breath, though now he knows why they targetted Hazelred. He finds Brisbuck, and whispers to him.

"Technical Private Hazelred. Firm Heart got bit."

>>139358
There is no stopping his ears from falling down, nor his hair from standing up.

"That's our only radio operator. And one of the very first soldiers to be examined."

>>139359
"Explains why he was targetted. We will find him, but I just need you to keep soldiers calm and orderly while we sort things out in examination room."

>>139360
He nods

"... Who else has been replaced?"
But he says this more to himself than to Silver

>>139361
Silver pats the younger pony's shoulder.

"Do not worry about that right now. Focus on getting us through this."

>>139363
He nods
"Very well. For now, I am keeping them all in our sights."

>>139364
Silver nods back, and returns to the bedroom.

>>139365
It is so. The black colt is placing the imposter in the closet, while Saltlick has moved Firm Heart to the side of the bed

>>139366
"No dice on honey. Has Firm Heart responded yet?"

>>139369
"Uh, sort of. He seems to speak, though it's less clear how much awareness he has."

>>139370
Is there a window in the bedroom, one a pony could fit through?

>>139371
Yes. Awkwardly, but yes.

>>139372
"Hmm...anypony have ideas on how to get Firm Heart out of here? He is in no shape to continue this, and I do not think I would put him through this again either way. I will continue examinations."

>>139373
The black colt nods

Saltlick:
"Keep ponies away from the living room and hallways, we can take him to the bathroom"

>>139374
Silver nods, leaves the bedroom, and informs Brisbuck and Amber Grain on what to do.

>>139375
They are notified Though I am not clear on what exactly it is they are ordered to do

>>139376
Direct the soldiers to temporarily keep out of the living room and hallways so Firm Heart can be put in the bathroom.

>>139377
This is done, with the house cleared, and Firm Heart moved to the bathroom, placed down in the bathtub

>>139378
Once he's safe in the bathroom, they reorganize the line of soldiers, and Silver enters the bedroom with Saltlick and the black colt.

"Alright, this should not be too hard...I hope. You two saw what Firm Heart did, think you can guide me through process?"

>>139381
"Uh... The light is shined above, or maybe it was into the eyes.... I don't know the rest." Is as much as Saltlick can answer.

>>139382
"Ah, so it is just as I already knew. Good! Now, if I act as if something is off, like Firm Heart did, please interfere. While I think I can take more than he can, I would like to avoid getting changeling bitten if I can."

>>139384
"Well, I don't know that he wasn't going to do more... but the creature attacked him."

Then they answer Silver
"Okay."

And Silver presumably starts again

[1d4 = 2]

>>139385
You would presume correctly.

>>139386
The soldiers come in one by one. Some times they are silent, sometimes they ask questions.
"Okay, so what is this for?"
"So what do I do?"
"Is that it?"
One small snow white stallion even asks
"Are you looking for a Changeling?"

Silver doesn't detect any changelings in the first big batch. At least, he hasn't identified any, and none have revealed themselves.

>>139387
Silver does his best to answer their questions. As for the snow white stallion, the best he can do is to smile awkwardly and tell him the following:

"Everything will be explained once we have finished. Do not say anything to others to give them false impression of what is going on before then."

>>139388
Silver does not find any Changelings. Well... if there is a white spot in the pupil, that's something like a cataract, or other natural thing, right? They aren't Changelings? Are they?

Amber Grain intrudes inside the room

"Sir. One of the members of the Machine Gun Attachment has vanished."

>>139389
Silver pales slightly at the news.

"Anypony else?"

>>139390
"Everypony else is accounted for. Except of course, Technical Private Hazelred." He answers, not happy with this predicament.

>>139391
"We need to hurry and finish. We do not have much time before changelings decide to do something. Keep close eye on our soldiers."

>>139392
Silver finishes the set. Silver didn't detect any Changelings, assuming he knows exactly what a Changeling looks like. Brisbuck has the whole set at attention outside.

>>139393
He sighs, puts on the bravest face he can, and addresses the platoon.

"Soldiers, I am afraid I owe you explanation, and grave news to go along with it. Changelings have infiltrated Vale, and 332nd. What you just went through was test to sus out any disguised changelings. Those of you gathered here have passed. Technical Private Hazelred, as well as one member from our machinegun attachment who has already fled, have unfortunately been replaced. If we are to get through this alive and find our missing compatriots, I must have your complete cooperation and attention."

>>139394
Some, perhaps even most, take the announcement stoically and accepting the situation. Some seem excited for potential combat, grabbing their rifles. And some are genuinely terrified. Silver can't see them shake from where he stands, but he can see ears drooping and hear gasps.

They all listen to him.

>>139395
"There is not much time, but we will get through this. Vale can not fall into Changeling hooves. Now, first I will expect you all to remain in your squads until this has been settled. Second, do not let your squadmates leave your sights. Third, we will use code phrase to distinguish ourselves from any changeling infiltrators. It will be in two parts, phrase and counterphrase. For phrase, you tell your fellow platoon member 'klutsy', and for counterphrase, they will reply 'draconequus'. Memorize this. Only use it when necessary to avoid changelings picking it up and using it to trick us. If other pony fails to use counterphrase, assume they are disguised changeling. Finally, I want all of you to ready yourselves and perform these tasks I am going to give you to their letter. C Squad and our machinegun attachment are going to be watching and guarding town hall, where much of 332nd has been occupying. A Squad, you will take equipment to fix telegraph line on top of feed store, then you will join C Squad and machinegunners. B Squad, you, myself, Liuetenant Brisbuck, and Sargent Amber Grain will go into town hall and confront Captain Forrester. Understood, Soldiers?"

>>139396
"Sir, yes sir!"

While Brisbuck is content to more or less go along with this, he still feels the need to override Silver on one thing

"But first, we have a wagon filled with a belt-fed machine gun, two automatic rifles, a 2-inch mortar, and two dozen rifle grenades near the hotel that we are not leaving unattended."

>>139397
He nods, grateful for the reminder.

"Of course. Machinegunners, go and fetch that wagon and bring it along with you to C Squad. Unless Lieutenant Brisbuck or Sargent Amber Grain have anything they would like to add, I believe you are all dismissed. You know what to do."

>>139398
So it begins. Now the question becomes where to set up around Town Hall, where to confront Forrester... and to wait for the pieces to fall in place

>>139399
Silver instructs them to set up outside the front of town hall, and for them to try to keep themselves in inconspiculous locations such as alleys and side streets, and for sharpshooters and scouts to get onto as high a ground as they can, such as on the rooftops.

As for Captain Forrester, Silver hopes he can draw him out into the open, where they stand a better chance, but failing that he might just have to face him in the town hall.

>>139400
A squad goes off for the telegraph line along with Salt Litck, while C and B squad go to pull the contents of the wagon. At least it's still there so far, but the platoon is getting looks from members of the 332nd already.

>>139401
"They know we know," Silver utters under his breath, as he helps his troops move the wagon and get set up outside town hall.

>>139402
A question from Brisbuck
"Do we need to hide the machine guns?"

>>139403
"If we have small tarps or something similar to that we can use, it is good idea."

>>139404
“We have buildings and cover.” He answers

>>139405
"That would work as well."

>>139406
He nods, and goes off, leaving Silver to himself. A section from C squad goes over to the sheriff's office, while another goes to the adjacent Courthouse, along with the one machine gun team. Already, a pony or so from the 332nd questions the deployment, but a squad sargent claims this is standard garrisoning of the town until further instructions are received. Getting behind the Townhall seems to require more ponies, and Brisbuck seems to want to wait for the completion of the task of A Squad.

>>139407
Silver follows this instruction from Brisbuck. Not only does he think it's a wise decision, but he wants the colt to get some experience commanding the platoon.

>>139408
The sun is low on the horizon. It will set soon.

A squad arrives, and seems to move in to a house just behind the town hall.

>>139409
Silver turns to Brisbuck once it seems like A Squad has set up.

"We set, Lieutenant?"

>>139410
He nods

“There are likely to be more of them elsewhere in town as well.”

>>139411
"Of course, but let us focus on task at hoof first. If you are ready, let us take B squad inside."

>>139412
B Squad is composed of its sergeant, a peach unicorn named Hartley armed with a submachine gun, along with the black colt who is the squad machine gunner, a smaller purple unicorn who is the assistant machine gunner, and three other ponies who act as scouts or riflestallions. Besides these is the rifle section, including a corporal and private Frostbark, who total six stallions with rifles. Twelve ponies, one light machine gun, one submachine gun, and ten rifles, of which two are grenade capable and one possesses a scope.

>>139413
Silver addresses the squad before they proceed.

"Alright Soldiers, this is it. Remain calm and cool, follow our lead, and we will come out of this alright. Ready?"

>>139414
Entering through the front door, no pony yet. Parts of the squad come inside.

>>139415
Silver calls out into the building.

"Captain Forrester?"

>>139416
No reply back

>>139417
"I do not like this. Be on your guard."

>>139418
The sargent nods.

>>139419
Silver advances slowly, along with his squad.

"Captain Forrester? We need to talk, there is something gone wrong in Vale."

>>139419
There are many parts of the Town hall building, including a pair of offices off to the left, a kitchen, bathroom facilities, a big room with tile floor that seems to be used for food... But it's the main hall, and the stage behind it, which takes up half of the building. That, presumably, is where Silver and company go.

The room is darker than when Silver first entered there a couple hours before with the setting of the sun, and Silver ca see that objects are moved somewhat on the stage. Or, more likely, Silver takes notice of things on the stage he had not before: a few cardboard boxes, and a table. At the table sits Captain Forrester, hat removed. The greyish white stallion sits upright, leaning over a set of papers, looking down at them, and holding a pen through magic embrace. Standing, reservedly, to either side, are two guards, all with weapons, though none brandishing them threateningly. Two carry carbines, and two carry submachine guns. One of the submachine guns is a Changeling model and issue.

Behind Silver and the group, on the opposite side of the hall, at the very end of a row of seats, are a group of soliders reclining in their seats, the exact numbers hopefully being counted by the corporal, but hard for Silver to discern at the time. They sit down and don't carry their weapons, but Silver can see rifles - full sized rifles, not carbines - to their sides.

Forrester looks up with yellow-green eyes:

"Yes, Sargent Sword? Given that your platoon is still here at dusk, I would have to assume something is wrong, to disrupt your march to the frontline."

>>139421
Silver maintains a firm, unshaken tone in his voice, though even he recognizes that they are currently surrounded.

"Indeed Sir. We have located source of telegraph line problem. It is clearly work of saboteur."

>>139422
"Really?" He asks, his tone kind of hard to place

>>139423
"Indeed, we think it is work of anarchist rebels, or changeling saboteurs. Either way, it is clearly deliberate attempt to cut communication of our Frontline forces in area from Command in Wald, and as such we are to remain here to garrison and guard Vale from any future attempts."

>>139424
He raises an eyebrow
"Is that what you were told to do when you left Wald? Garrison a location until further notice when a line is cut?"

>>139493
"No, that is what we were told to do by Command when we fixed telegraph line just now. Vale is too important to let rebels or Changelings get hold of, so our platoon is to garrison Vale. This brings me to second item: Command was most concerned with your lackadaisical methods of protecting Vale. You missed several important telegraphs while line was out, you did not send out repair teams to locate source of outage and fix it despite having more than enough supplies, and Vale is improperly garrisoned for being such important location. They have decided to transfer command of Vale Garrison to our own Lieutenant Brisbuck."

>>139494
"Heh, all orders from Brigadier General and up must be written on signed orders." He is smiling, though there is something unusual in it

"Are you who you claim you are?"

>>139495
Silver maintains his stoic expression, and appears unfazed by the Captain's accusation.

"You will have to bring this up with Command yourself when you go to receive your new orders, but for now you have been ordered to turn over all documents and orders related to defense of Vale to Lieutenant Brisbuck and to cede Town Hall to him and our Command Squad."

>>139496
"I repeat" he now says more angrily and forcefully
"All orders issued from the Brigadier General and up must be in writing and signed"

The ponies at the far end have taken notice, and stand up

>>139497
The unicorn does not give ground.

"Sir, I must request you calm yourself. These are not my orders I am giving you."

>>139498
"Where are your papers, Changeling"

>>139499
"Actually, that brings me to final item. Due to threat that this sabotage was performed by Changeling Infiltrators, and that they may have replaced members of our platoons, Command has ordered both of our platoons to perform mandatory testing to determine if any changelings exist."

>>139500
"Testing? To be performed by whom?"

>>139501
"Our medical officer, Firm Heart, is most qualified to do so, however it is likely any member of our platoon would be suitable candidate as it is unlikely there are many if any at all who are Infiltrators. Command mentioned that it would be preferable that it was not performed by any members of 332nd, however, as you have been here longer and there is greater chance of Infiltrators among your ranks."

>>139502
"How was this sent? By telegram?"

>>139503
"As I said, it was sent through telegraph from Wald. This testing is non-negotiable, Sir, and we are under strict orders to place any who decline under arrest."

>>139509
"Hmph! Then let's go see this alleged telegraph. These sorts of things leave paper trails, and I'm sure the ponies at the office will be willing to help. As for any 'testing,' we have a couple medical personnel of our own who are trained to help."

>>139514
"Indeed. If you would all head for telegraph office, we will go."

>>139515
He nods. Slowly.

>>139516
Silver motions for his squad to back out and step aside to allow for the Captain and his soldiers to exit the building.

>>139518
The captain stands up, staring back at Silver and Brisbuck to Silver's side

"Stallions! Up!" Forrester calls out to the ponies at the back, who pick up their rifles and stand up. Two of the ponies in Forrester's guard detail move forward, going to the door and through it. The other two ponies move around to Forrester's side.

>>139519
Silver waits for Captain Forrester himself to leave before he follows. He makes sure he has his flashlight at the ready, and keeps it out of sight.

>>139520
The two guards who move through yell "clear," and Forrester moves across the stage, onto a set of stairs at the far left end that takes him down to ground level. His other two guards follow quickly behind. Forrester slowly exists the building, before saying "follow them" to the troops in the back.

>>139521
Silver follows Forrester with the rest of his squad in tow. He waits until the Captain and his men are in the area in front of the town hall before he tries to get his attention.

"Captain Forrester?"