1465 replies and 12 files omitted.
>>141580"Not far now. If you want to take a break, I'm sure we can rest once we get out of the wind."
>>141581Getting out of the wind is determined most of all by buildings. While some avenues have wind that blow straight through them, those going the opposite direction have buildings blocking the wind. There are some ponies outside, and some vehicles, but it's rather few, almost surprisingly so. The area becomes more dense, with some shops on the buildings. Brick architecture dominates, with many buildings three or four or more stories in height.
>>141582With no real direction for Spark to follow, he heads to the nearest street turn off to get out of the wind.
>>141582>>141583Some ponies look over at this, stand for a moment, and then look away
Waabishki tries to set the coffin down, followed by the doctor.
Makade:
"We could go further." Then when it is set down
"Or not..."
>>141584"We will go further once everypony's strength has returned. It wouldn't be wise to tire to the point of dropping him."
>>141585From within the coffin, Miskobag:
"Are we there?"
Waabishki:
"Not Yet."
She turns to Spark
"How far are we?"
>>141586"I don't have a map. Perhaps the locals can point it out."
>>141587Waabishki:
"Perhaps, if your friendship gets you as far as you claim."
>>141588Spark nods and looks for a pony to ask.
>>141589A grey earth pony in a fur-edged coat and wearing a trapper hat is available
Roll diplomacy Charisma check >>141591He looks over at the procession strangely, and turns his head away at an angle
"I suppose you're new to this city. The hospital is about six blocks down until you get to Red Trout, then go until you get to Tarruga, take a right, then you'll know when you see it on the left."
>>141592"Thanks."
Spark relays the information to his friends.
>>141593"You betcha"
But the pony proceeds onwards, away from the group.
The doctor:
"I think I could find it from Tarruga."
Waabishki:
"So how far away is it?"
Makade:
"Let us get moving."
>>141594"Just a little further now. We are practically there."
>>141595"Okay..."
All four ponies pick it back up again
Roll 2 D20's
>>141597Spark proceeds down Gusty Avenue just fine, and the same down Red Trout.
Spark comes to his first questionable area after intersecting Tarruga. Spark can see that there is a simple barricade with an armored car behind it forming a checkpoint, and at least three changeling drones manning it. The checkpoint is actually in a different direction from the hospital, at least according to the directions, but it's an unsettling sight behind them
Roll 1d20
>>141599There seem to be remarks from the drones, but nothing that can't be ignored.
Spark and friends(?) proceed down the road. As the pony on the streets told them there is a large building of brick and windows at least four stories tall on the left, with a road leading up to what seems to be an entrance
The doctor
"Yes. That's it."
>>141600I have a feeling that I am missing out on a lot because of the dice.
Spark heads towards the building.
>>141601If by "missing out on," you mean being stopped by military police, receiving wrong directions, or getting lost, then you're right.
Don't worry. Dumb luck alone can't get Spark through the next section
Spark and crew arrive at the entrance of the hospital. A couple ponies outside, walking by, stop and stare at the procession
>>141602"Well, now we need to find a means to make a wolf in a coffin needing medical attention not raise any alarm. Any chance you can work some inter-profession charm, doctor?"
>>141603"Uh..." He smiles awkwardly
"It's going to be hard to explain a coffin going through the front entrance."
>>141604"Think we can unload our friend without any more eyes on us and perhaps use a medical stretcher to bring him in?"
>>141605"That... well I don't know where to unload him, but I can definitely say that he'll attract much less attention on a stretcher."
>>141606Spark looks towards the side of the building. Is it more hidden from view of ponies?
>>141607It definitely looks like there could be some areas. There is a loading dock, and much further back, there is a walled in little building with large smoke stacks that, in anycase, has bricks around it. There is also a small area recessed into the ground with stairs leading to it that evidently goes down to an entrance to a basement, or some kind of subterranean level. All of these require the creatures to move in front of windows that are above and could theoretically see it, although the basement entrance is closest, and the wall is furthest away. The wall has the most cover for the actual activity
>>141608He motions the wolves towards the wall.
>>141609It's another long movement of several hundred feet across grass and the procession would look very odd to any outsider, but the creatures make it there. There are three sides, absent actually entering
>>141610Spark looks for anypony that might be spying on their plan.
>>141611A pony crosses the street, but it's simple enough to wait them out. It's impossible to say what is seen from windows, as these are black tinted.
The wall on the left side from the road, and nearest the ponies, is the most visible to windows. The wall next to the road is most visible from the road.
>>141612It is worth the risk of exposing what somepony might see in the window as chances are, it is a sick pony that can't do much to alert anypony to what is happening.
>>141613>>141612Spark goes perhaps behind the wall, or in the segment in front of them.
Waabiski, then the doctor, and then Makade set the coffin down. It's Miskobag himself who opens the lid
"Are we here? Why are still outside?"
Makade:
"What if this had been a search! Play dead!"
Waabishki:
"Not yet. But we are going to move you into.... what did you call it?"
Doctor:
"A stretcher"
Miskobag
"After travelling in that, heh, I'd love a chance to stretch"
>>141614"They will accept us in without question if we put him on the stretcher. Don't worry."
>>141615Now Spark must obtain a stretcher
A small argument breaks out over the rifle. Makade tries to pick it up
The doctor
"Where are you going to hide that? You can't be seen with that."
Waabishki
"Why did you bring that?"
Makade:
"I'm not going anywhere unarmed, especially far from home"
Waabishki
"Just put it away"
Makade:
"
Well it can't stay here"
>>141616"The rifle can stay in the coffin because nopony will move a coffin. We will be right back to collect it. If you must, you may stand guard at the coffin."
Spark heads inside the hospital and asks for a stretcher.
>>141617Makade bears his teeth, not liking this answer, but Spark is on his way.
"A stretcher... What for? Where are you from?"
>>141618"I'm just trying to help my friend. He has a lot of swelling and can't move."
>>141620[1d20+3 = 19]Not sure why it is a bluff, but ok.
>>141621Spark needs to persuade her to give a pony outside of the organization a stretcher.
Anyways, the grey earth pony mare tells Spark,
"Oh. Well if it's urgent, we have some in that room there. On the left, down the hall."
>>141622Spark obtains the stretcher.
>>141623Spark takes the stretcher out and brings it to the creatures
Miskobag actually
is standing at the moment, but he seems fine to move into the stretcher when it comes
"I can walk... But stairs... that may be a challenge."
Makade places the rifle next to Miskobag - or tries to - trying to hide it under his fur. This action displeases Miskobag and the doctor.
>>141624"We won't get very far with the rifle there. It is best if you hold onto it Makade. Just don't get spotted with it."
>>141625"And how will I hide it?" He asks
>>141626"It might be hard to hide, but the coffin has worked thus far. If you can think of a reason we can convince the ponies to let us in with it, then we can bring it along."
>>141627"The coffin? I don't know what would make them let you bring that inside."
>>141628"Hmm... maybe there is a box of medical supplies?"
>>141629"If you could get something inside the hospital that could help us hide a long rifle..." He says
>>141631"Well... a coat... or... maybe a box of the right shape?"
>>141573Silver lets out a sigh.
"Alright. Go back and tell others that we have wounded, I will stay here and watch changeling."
>>141633"Yes Sir."
Silver remains in watch over the creature, as the private lopes away
>>141634Silver returns to watching this same changeling he helped earlier. He knocks the rifle away, just in case. He points at the changeling's bandaged abdomen.
"It is ironic. I pull bullet out of you..."
He points to the fresh bullet hole in him, still hurting like hell and still making it painful to breathe.
"...you put bullet it me."
>>141635The creature maintains its eyes on Silver. It pulls its lips even further back, and it tries to scoot backwards towards the wall.
>>141636He chuckles lightly, and shakes his head.
"I know you can not understand me, but when you said you were going to find other group of changelings, I thought you would go back to front."
>>141637The creature blinks, with diagonal eyelids, and finds the wall with its back.
>>141638Silver scratches his chin, trying to think of ways to communicate with this changeling but failing. He instead decides to whistle a tune while he watches the drone and waits for some ponies to get back and take his wounded compatriots away.
>>141639A pony Silver can quickly recognize as Amber Grain walks in,
"Klutzy"
>>141640"Draconequus."
He rubs the area around his new gunshot wound, wincing.
"I need to stop nearly dying. I have more than filled my quota for today."
>>141641"Good to see you're still alive sir, and indeed I think we've all filled our quota. Is this the last of the Changeling positions?"
>>141642"I would hope. It seemed like there was more than there aught to be here, but we still need to check grain elevator to see if there are still changelings there."
He gets up from his previously seated position, with no small amount of effort.
"Nng...even if there are, I do not plan on sending our ponies in there. I have different, better plan."
>>141643"Even a single Changeling on Equestrian soil is more than there ought to be."
Amber looks down at Silver's wound
"The Grain Elevator is compromised? What do you have in mind?"
>>141644It's a nasty wound, rifle-caliber and punching straight through his chest. It's a wonder how he's still alive, let alone conscious.
"Using our mortar and at least one of those AT guns to blast grain elevator to rubble, if changeling position is still there."
>>141645He stares down at it
"Well, that's definitely the safest option. We've lost too many ponies today."
>>141646He nods, and lets out a little wince as he takes a breath.
"That we did. I do not plan on losing any more of our ponies. Have you heard anything from Mild Mill or Hazelred yet? I saw that shell hit their position."
>>141647"Yes. They came up and met with us outside the facility. It was a bit of a tense moment, with Mills forgetting the password, but we sorted it out."
>>141648Silver sighs in relief.
"Спасибо Селестии. I was worried when I saw top of church tower just disappear..."
He looks down at the wounded but stabilized soldiers.
"I do not suppose you brought other ponies? These three need to be brought someplace safe, and I have changeling prisoner I need to escort."
He silently adds in "...again." under his breath.
>>141649"No, they hit the steeple above him. When that happened, he figured they had his location and ran out of there along with Hazelred, who I'm told, was almost dragged. Maybe the Changelings were just firing at random and got darn lucky, because they didn't shoot that position again. Still, his shots caused the Changelings to think they were being flanked, and to keep a portion of their soldiers out of the battle until it was already too late."
He too, looks at these wounded ponies.
"Well, we're trying to get a truck working to take the wounded back to town hall. I'm not entirely sure how that's going. Privates Marsh Grass and Silent Spring made an almost heroic effort to take a wounded pony back to the town hall on their own already."
Then he looks down to the drone
"Why don't you just shoot it?"
>>141650He looks at the drone as well.
"Despite fact that he is reason I have very big hole in me, I am only pony he shot, and I am still alive. And despite that changelings probably would not show such mercy...it would leave bad taste in my mouth to shoot enemy who has already surrendered."
>>141651"Are you sure? I think I would have shot him already... But you are the Platoon Commander now, Silver Sword."
>>141652He chuckles, though there's remorse to it.
"I hope not for long, and that Lieutenant makes speedy recovery. It also means you are now my second-in-command."
An event that was omitted, but should have happened, was the door opposite Silver's last position being opened, the corpse of a drone being pushed aside in the process, and the pink pegasus pony walking through.
>>141653"Indeed it does." He says, smiling for just a moment, before the smile is removed. "Let us pray for the swift recovery of all. Come now, let us go see if they've got it working."
>>141654Silver nods, turns to the drone, and gives him an order to stand up and start following him. He turns to Amber immediately afterwards.
"Follow drone so he does not get any funny ideas."
>>141655"Alright, let's get this roach upright"
He moves closer in, and using a rifle, makes a waving motion to get up, and then pokes him with a bayonet just to emphasize the point.
The ponies go outside, to hear the sound of a diesel engine and to see an attempt at loading the wounded into the back of the truck.
Silver sees the private from earlier, and the pink pegasus corporal. They have with them the one daffodil colored private who helped translate before. He keeps his limbs tight together.
>>141656"Ah, good, you are here. I need to talk with our 'friend' again."
While he says this, he looks to where he left the other two wounded changelings, already having an idea what might have happened to them in his absense.
>>141657The first drone, the one Silver set against the truck, is still there, propped up and notably without any bayonet wounds. The second one, the one with the bandage around the neck, is missing from its position.
>>141658"Hmm..."
Silver quickly returns to the matter at hoof, and looks at the daffodil-colored stallion.
"I am sorry about dragging you all way out here, but I would appreciate it if you would translate for me again."
>>141659"Um... Okay..."
His eyes dart around at the scene before him
>>141660Silver notices this, and decides to lead the drone and the pony away from the scene of carnage, so they can have a quieter conversation without eavesdroppers.
"When you said you were going to find other group of changelings, I thought you would be going back to changeling side of front."
>>141661The private speaks to the drone, and then Silver gets the reply:
"This was much closer."
>>141662"Yes. And also our next target, after retaking telephone office. I thought that would be obvious."
He points to the hole in his chest.
"You know, I am rather cross about this."
>>141663He maintains the awkward smile for another several seconds, until that slowly fades to a more angry, determined expression.
Then he starts yelling. The private doesn't have any difficulty in translating it word for word, almost as it is spoken, and his soft, almost intimidated voice contrasts strongly with the creature in front of him.
"The other drones in my squad - my whole platoon - died so that our brothers in the mountains may live. I ran away. I surrendered. If I had set the grenade off, it could have helped the night attacks. Their deaths may have meant something. Now, my brothers will die in greater numbers because I was weak."
>>141664Silver doesn't falter in the face of the drone's anger, but inside the unicorn knows it's justified.
"I will not belittle you, your brothers, and what you have accomplished. You are fighting for your country and your people, just as we are. And, from that perspective, you and your brothers have already done much here to help changeling war effort."
>>141665There is a pause before the translator starts to speak, whether because the words are more difficult, or because he needs a moment to process it.
The drone must need time as well, because he is silenced, at least for the immediate time being, by Silver's words in reply.
>>141666Satin trips."I will be honest with you, you and your brothers have inflicted large casualties against us, particularly among our officers and squad commanders. While there are not many dead, there are many wounded, with many unable to continue fighting for some time. It will be hard to defend if your forces successfully push us back to Vale. And with how you successfully held up our communications, there is little chance for our lines to reinforce in time for your assault."
>>141667This is relayed, and takes him a moment to reply. His voice is nearly emotionless:
"Maybe then... I can be satisfied."
>>141668Silver nods. He actually smiles at the changeling a little, and salutes him.
"You and your brothers have fought valiantly in face of such adversity, and have achieved great success for Hives. There is no dishonor in that. I salute you, as worthy adversary."
>>141669There is no matching smile. But there is a sharp nod.
"So I die now?"
>>141670Silver shakes his head.
"Unless you want to, no. I will cut you deal. Even with you shooting me, I have not forgotten how you returned our missing ponies to us. Life, for life. Return home to Changeling Lands and live to fight another day, I will not stop you."
>>141632“Know of any boxes about the right shape that a hospital would have around?”
>>141674"Well... One of those tubes for maps and posters would fit it. Or at least it would if there were no scope... I don't know. There must be something in there somewhere."
>>141673Silver nods.
"Just be sure to actually
leave Vale this time. I can not guarantee you will get so lucky as to encounter me rather than another pony."
>>141676"Uh, Okay." He says. His mouth hangs open
>>141677Silver stares at him for a few seconds, then tilts his head in confusion when he doesn't leave.
"Is something wrong?"
>>141678The translator raises a hoof, and for the first time, raises his voice
"Flieg, du narr!"
The drone, right in front of Silver, transforms in a brilliant flash of yellow-green into a grey pegasus, and then jumps up and takes flight towards the twilight.
>>141679Silver watches the drone slowly disappear into the distance.
"That got him to go. Strange. He almost looked my son, if I just got passing glance at him."
>>141680The private turns his golden eyes to Silver as he speaks, but has no comment.