1465 replies and 12 files omitted.
>>141105"What about sticking drip into changeling corpse?"
>>141106"Well, if they are dead, there is no circulation. And there may be compatibility issues between blood types like in ponies. So I don't know. Maybe if you hung one up and tried to drain it."
>>141108"I don't know how else to do it if you don't have a live changeling."
>>141109Silver grimmaces.
"Well...do you think I could procede without giving him blood transfusion?"
>>141110"I don't think there is much of an alternative, at least for now. You won't have much room for error."
Best Pony quads >>141111Yay!Silver lets out a sigh of relief.
"Thank Celestia...wish me luck."
>>141112Silver returns to the room to find the drone evidently speaking to the private, though they both become silent and turn towards Silver as he enters the room.
>>141113Silver looks between the two with an eyebriw raised in curiosity.
"What were you talking about?"
>>141114"Uh... you know.... conversation." He answers
>>141115Silver is silent for a moment, before shruging it off. He trots over to the two with his medical supplies.
"Our medical officer was changeling bitten earlier, and is hesitant to come himself. However, I have enough medical experience that with his tools I should be more than capable of removing bullet and patching you up."
>>141116The private turns back to the drone, and relates the information. Then an answer that is relayed to Silver
"Okay"
Roll for heal
>>141118Silver does not feel he has a grip on the object
[1d20+5 = 14]>>141119Heal: Silver tries again to remove the bullet.
"Come on..."
>>141124Success! Silver pulls it out, feeling his way between organs and causing limited blood flow
>>141125With the bullet out, Silver patches the changeling up.
>>141126This last part is fairly easy by comparison, simply blocking the entry. Still, it seems like there is a piercing in its exoskeleton that is a weak point.
>>141127"Hmm...take it easy, right there. You do not want to agitate wound."
>>141128The private relates Silver's words, and the creature nods.
First aid complete
>>141129"Alright. Are you ready?"
>>141130The private relates, and he nods
>>141131Silver leaves with the private and the changeling, the two ponies escorting the changeling so nopony messes with him. Once outside, Silver asks of the changeling,
"Where can we find cocooned ponies?"
>>141132The private relates the question, and the drone speaks. Then the private relates:
"When we took them from their homes and their inns, we pooled them into several locations to keep them together and away from the curious. The townsponies who did not leave we placed in a church you found, a school, and in a few in homes further from the center. Your 'military' ponies we placed in the courthouse house basement, and some sort of dairy processing place."
>>141134Silver nods, and looks at the nearby courthouse.
"Show us."
>>141135Silver and the drone exit the room, with the private behind. As they do so, it attracts looks from other ponies who seem distrustful of the drone.
>>141136Silver looks at the ponies as they exit the room.
"Stand down, ponies, he is with us."
As they go to leave the building, Silver turns his head and asks the changeling a question.
"I will admit, I am surprised you were so forthcoming with information. I am very glad if it turns out to be true, just surprised. Do you mind if I ask why?"
>>141138Through the private:
"My squad mates are dead, all of them. Many of my brothers are dead. I am alone and facing death in a foreign and hostile land. Chrysalis and the Hives do not need these cocooned ponies. Nor will it affect my brothers still fighting. Let it be over with."
>>141139Silver nods sadly, being able to empathize with the changeling.
"I am sorry for your loss. I just want to see these cocoons myself, then you are free to go and get away from all of this death."
>>141140"Wait what?"
As the drone has said nothing, this comes from the private. The private relates the message never the less
The private translates:
"He is.... skeptical?"
>>141141"That, I can understand. I would ask you to trust me, just as I am trusting you. I have not tried to mislead you yet."
He looks to the private to address him.
"What is wrong?"
>>141142"You are just going to let him go back to the line?"
>>141139"Even if I wanted to take him prisoner, we do not have resources to keep him for any extended period of time. And just as it will not affect Hives or his brothers fighting if we retake these cocooned ponies, letting this one drone go back home will not affect Equestria or our ponies fighting."
>>141144The private is silent a moment, and then relays the information to the drone. The latter nods quickly and sharply
"Danke."
>>141145Silver, the drone, and the private continue to move towards the courthouse and it's basement.
>>141146The Misfortune County Courthouse is not the fanciest government building Silver has seen in his life. Still, with two and a half floors, bright red brick walls, a dome, Doric columns by the entry way, and marble around portions of the entryway, it's fancier than most structures in this high desert.
Between the town hall and the courthouse is a small area of open grass not more than forty feet across that is a sort of public area. Still, it's decorated with a metal statue - admittedly not life size - of a covered wagon and an earth pony before it on the far left. In the center is the flag pole with the alicorn flag and the green white and blue flag. On the far right is a statue of a pegasus holding what seems to be either a musket or a single shot gun, along with engraved granite stones. Must be some kind of war memorial.
Going past these, the flight of stone steps leading up to the courthouse doors is perhaps as high as eight or nine feet. Entering through the brass-framed doors, Silver sees himself inside a kind of landing with doors on the far side, a tile covered hallway leading left and right, and to the sides, wooden stairs leading up and down.
Door the stairs there is only a much smaller hallway to the county clerk's office, the county treasurer, and the records room.
>>141147Silver takes the stairs down.
>>141148The private says, "to the left."
There is a wooden door here that is broken open, which leads into a front office, and then through there to a room in the back. It is row of shelves and some number of filing cabinets, with walls that have windows along the top. But it's what's between the shelves that Silver is interested in:
Thin cocoooned ponies. Some of these are transparent, some white, and some have a blacker shade. In most, he can see at least some of the details of the creatures underneath. Most are male. Most are stripped of all clothing. The few that don't wear Equestrian Army uniforms. Their appearances vary from near fetal positions with closed eyes, to crossed limbs like they are in coffins, to less elegant, generally death-like poses. Some have eyes opened like inglorious dead, and some are closed. There are maybe 30 or so in this room, though it's hard to tell with not all of the room visible at once. The cocoons prevent Silver from moving through.
>>141149"Sweet Celestia...you were not lying one bit..."
He turns to the drone, looking almost astonished.
"How did you replace all of them in such small time frame? As far as I know, your operation only started between last night and this morning."
>>141150The private speaks to the drone, who says some things back. The drone's response seems almost short compared to the response
"A cattle trail took us through the front. We found a truck heading through the valley and pretended to be lost soldiers whose truck breakdown. We replaced the driver, and hid the vanguard in the truck. The vanguard entered the town and replaced key communication personnel and officers. We tried to drug the food, but the group was too large so we instead waited until night. We made a point of replacing the sentries and guards before nightfall. That is when the rest of us came. We took most of the personnel while they were sleeping, going room by room. Then we took the townsponies, going house by house. Most were gone, but many were here. This took all night. Not all of the ponies were taken. Some, like truck drivers, were left alone because they would not notice. Some of the ponies were awake and fought back. We explained the sound of gunshots to those left behind as soldiers spooked by coyotes in the night. Some became wise; we took them too. There were more ponies here than there were of us. We only replaced those whose absence would be noticed first."
>>141151"Huh...methodical. I would be impressed, if it were not so scary how close my platoon could have come to suffering same fate. It is good thing we did not accept your offer to provide food."
Silver looks back at the cocoons, then again at the drone.
"One more question, if you do not mind. Did your group know we were coming at all, when my platoon marched into Vale?"
>>141152"We knew that combat troops could be sent as reinforcements or replacements, along with supplies. We did not know that your specific platoon was coming through, or that it would stay."
>>141153"That would explain your commander's insistence we leave for front line as soon as possible, besides that our presense would jeapordize your mission to cut Frontline off from Command..."
He scratches his muzzle in thought.
"I do apologize, but there is one, final question that I would like to ask, before you go. I noticed one of my ponies disappeared while we were preparing to confront your commander. Was he disguised changeling going to alert your unit that we were onto you? Were you prepared for confrontation before shots were first fired, or did it catch you off guard?"
>>141154"That pony strayed from his unit and was replaced. He was in an attachment, and Ponies in attachments tend to be less well known by other members of the unit. He left when there seemed to be some kind of inspection for changelings, and he told us. We did not know if you were suspicious, if this was part of general paranoia, or if it was a real eye exam.
Confrontations are always possible, so some troops were set up around the town hall. My unit was positioned to defend the telephone office after the town hall fell."
>>141155"You would not happen to know where he ended up, exactly? We already found our radio operator, whom had also been replaced."
>>141156"Most likely in a house on the other side of the river" He said
"I think that is where they found him."
>>141157Silver smiles brightly, and even offers the drone a hoofshake.
"Thank you. I would say you have more than upheld your side of bargain, now I will uphold mine. Life, for life."
>>141158The drone backs away slight, and the private translates. The drone speaks
"I may go now?"
>>141159Silver nods. He still offers the hoofshake, if the drone so desires to except it. That is, if changelings are familiar with the act.
>>141160The creature looks down at the hoof for a moment, and looks away.
>>141161Silver just shrugs, and retracts the hoof. He asks of the changeling, before he leaves.
"What will you do?"
>>141162"Do you want me to tell of how my unit was destroyed? Is that what you want?"
>>141163Silver is a little taken aback by the changeling's statement.
"No, just...wondering what you will do now. If you would rather not, you do not have to say anything."
>>141164Through the private:
"I cannot do anything other than find other changelings"
He says
>>141166With that, the drone goes outside, or tries to, leaving Silver
>>141167Silver lets him go, then turns to the private.
"Let us go tell Lieutenant what we have learned about where cocooned ponies are."
>>141168"Um... yes sir."
He turns around to head out
>>141169Silver looks back at the cocooned ponies one more time, before going to join him.
>>141170They lay there. Whether these cocoons continuous drain the life essence out of their captives like the sap tap of a maple tree is not known to Silver.
Silver goes with the private back towards Brisbuck, whom he finds in the main hall.
>>141171"We found captured 332nd ponies!"
>>141172Brisbuck looks up towards Silver
"Good. Good, Sergeant."
>>141173"Not only that, we now know where they had placed captured townsponies, and general location of where our missing machinegunner is."
>>141174"Excellent. That is one less thing to worry about."
He pauses for a moment, and then,
"Our scouts believe we know where the drones at the Old Stone House fled to. We believe they went to a dairy processing facility just west of the town."
>>141175"That is problem. When they captured members of 322nd, they split them up between courthouse across street from here...and dairy processing plant."
>>141176"I see... They made a stand at the church, so it makes they would at the dairy plant as well."
>>141177"We need to be careful about using mortar against them, lest we accidentally kill number of ponies in process. We may need multiple squads to take it without explosives or excessive casualties."
>>141178"Yes. That is true."
Brisbuck looks away and then back to Silver
"The Front line is under attack, and this valley is the only quick way to funnel troops, supplies, and the wounded either towards the frontline or away from it for a decent-sized area. The light goes out in less than an hour. If the Front is really under attack, we
have to secure everything by the roadway."
>>141179Silver stands up tall, and address his officer.
"If I may, Sir, I have tactical suggestion."
>>141181"These changelings are fairly deep in enemy territory, have limited supplies and equipment, have taken massive casualties, and are surrounded, outmanned, and outgunned. They did not have enough changelings to replace everypony in 332nd and remaining townsponies, we have already wiped out two squads completely, and their remaining forces have split up to defend their last holdings in Vale. If we wish to quickly and efficiently destroy changeling defenders before night comes and without losing many ponies, then we must commit fully to assaulting each remaining group of changelings in turn with all of our troops and press our numbers advantage in each individual battle. 'Defeat in Detail'."
>>141182"That sounds excellent, Sergeant Sword. We had to split up before because we were surrounded and did not know where the enemy was. Now, we are on the advance. Let's show them what little ponies can do."
>>141183Silver nods in determination, and salutes Brisbuck.
"We await your orders, Lieutenant."
>>141184"Retake Vale, and do it before nightfall. You know what to do."
>>141185Silver nods, lowers his hoof, and shouts out for the entire building to hear:
"
ALRIGHT SOLDIERS, I WANT EVERYPONY GEARED UP, OUTSIDE, AND IN FORMATION IN FIVE! WE ARE TAKING THIS CITY BACK!"
>>141186This provokes a rather loud response of yelling and wooing as ponies go outside, carrying their guns from their positions.
Going outside, in the front row, Silver can see the ponies of his platoon. Behind him stands Brisbuck with his helmet and carbine. In front of him stands Amber Grain and Salt Lick, though the former is fairly wounded. Firm Heart is absent from the section, but a rather tired looking Hazelred is now present. In A Company, Silver can see the ten ponies there, including the pink corporal. The ten ponies of B Squad, including its wounded Sargeant, a cream colored Pegasus scout, and the black colt with the machine gun stand next in line. Then the 10 ponies of C Squad, including Sleetfall and Cornflake. Finally, there are the four ponies of the weapons section.
All ponies able to stand are accounted for. They cheer,
"Woo!"
"Let's beat these bastards back!"
"Squash these buggers!"
>>141187"Ponies! It is time! These changelings thought they could control us, fool us, that we would let them capture innocent ponies freely and let them get away with it! They deride us as 'little ponies'! Let us shatter these delusions! We outnumber them! We outgun them!
And we know right where they are hiding! We will drive these roaches from their nests and liberate Vale and all captured ponies therein! Let us show them what little ponies can do!"
>>141188Loud cheering erupts, and several ponies hold up their weapons into the air.
"Wooo!"
"Let's take it back!"
"Stomp the roaches!"
>>141189"Soldiers, follow me!"
Silver leads the sufficiently hyped up ponies towards the location of the dairy procession plant, prepared to take the location from the changelings.
>>141190Silver can certainly charge if he likes, but Brisbuck and Amber Grain have information on the details of the location.
The plant is located immediately west of town, a few hundred feet from the main cluster of buildings. It is north of Old Mecc Road, or to the right, and connects to the rail line in the back. it is just below, and somewhat south of a large hill, as at that point the valley takes a bend southwards as it goes further west. It's walls are painted white and it is mostly one story, with a number of loading docks, and four large stainless steel cylinders. The 332nd was evidently using it for at least some storage or loading and unloading, given that it has space for carts and trucks.
The most significant thing by far, however, is what the Changelings have captured. They have apparently taken a couple small, admittedly outdated Equestrian Anti-tank guns and have placed them near the roadway, one each facing east and west. The guns are not powerful enough to take out most modern tanks, nor are they especially effective at the anti-personnel role as artillery. Still, they have a means of combating against cover, and more importantly, a means of destroying almost any vehicle the 23rd or command in Wald could send down Old Mecc Trail road.
>>141191They will definitely want to make their assault from the hill. Is there much cover on the hill, any brush or tall grass?
>>141192The hill, while not nearly as tall as the Unicorn Mountains that loom over the horizon to the south and southwest, is still quite tall, perhaps a thousand feet to its crest. However, the slope down is not straight or consistent, but has several ridge lines, which slope down and in one instance next to town, curves south. These ridges could hide an area behind them.
The hillside itself lacks substantial cover. Much of it is low grass, parts of it are completely barren dirt, and the hill is dotted with Big Sagebrush, the most common large vegetation in the region outside of irrigated fields. The sage brush can be several feet high in many areas, and can perhaps obscure a pony that is prone behind it.
The one hill is far from the only notable detail, although it is the most notable. Similar hills exist on the opposite side of the valley, although of course further away and usually smaller. Behind that the hill - to the right relative to Silver's position, and to the Northwest of the town - is a small break between hills where a creek flows, as well as a railway and dirt path. The creek and railway presumably connect up to Benson and another portion of the Cascadian Front, and both connect with the valley at Vale.
The houseline ends only a couple hundred feet from the base of the dairy processing facility, with several houses facing it. The tops of the grain elevator and church are within theoretical rifle range of the dairy processing facility, albeit a scoped rifle would be preferred.
>>141193Silver poses a question to Brisbuck and Amber Grain.
"Do any of our soldiers have scoped rifles?"
>>141194Brisbuck:
"One scoped rifle for the platoon."
>>141195Silver points out the church tower.
"Send him and one other soldier to watch his back. Having sniper support may be crucial in battle to take outside of facility. We should also use ridgelines and brush on hill to station rifleponies. Our first targets are their AT guns and any snipers they may have."
>>141196"It could be. But be aware we don't have any soldiers who are experienced marksmen. In fact, we are almost out of combat experienced ponies at all, not counting today, that is. We are down squad leaders on both B and C squads.
A sniper in the church probably won't be noticed by the changelings and probably will not be shot at by the anti-tank gun, but it's also possible it won't have the best angle on at least some lines of attack.
We can definitely use the ridgeline, but note that that's beyond the range of submachine guns. Our rifles can shoot that far, but it's not close range."
>>141197"Indeed. If we can, we can also use our MGs on ridgeline to keep any changeling defeders suppressed. It would give those with SMGs chance to rush down to close range without getting shot at."
>>141198"True. And when we clear the building, we will want to use SMGs up close. We don't know how many changelings will be there. We know there were around a squad's strength when we made them flee from the Old Stone House. They didn't have a machine gun, which is why we were able to drive them out in the first place, but we don't know what they have there."
The Platoon has its three light machine guns, and the medium machine gun. Of course it has the mortar. Of Changeling machine guns, the captured one is out of ammunition, one is blown to hell, and the Equestrian heavy machine gun is shot to Tartarus. Changeling rifles are allegedly slightly better at range, but generally comparable, and Changeling machinepistols are a preferred captured weapon.
>>141199"I imagine we have at least one pair of binoculars among us. We should be able to scout out changeling positions before we make our move, and see what they have outside."
The mortar is definitely out of the question for this assault, but the MGs are fair game. Combined, they should be able to provide enough suppression against the changeling defenders to allow those with SMGs to advance to the plant.
>>141200"Yes, we have a couple pairs. Nopony has reported machine gun fire from that location thus far."
>>141201"Regardless, scouting location briefly before assault is good idea."
>>141203Silver continues to advance to the location with the squad, asking for one of the pairs of binoculars along the way.
>>141204Silver goes past the courthouse, further down the road to the Inn, and even further down to the creek. He crosses the bridge and sees a few houses on the other side. Then he goes past the Old Stone House, a two story house with a historical marker, and whose stones show signs of bullet chipping
>>141206"This was where they held up. Unfortunate that it had to be historical building."