974 replies and 22 files omitted.
>>163000He holds up the rifle, and lets the bolt fly forward.
"Whatever lets me kill more of these bastards." He answers
>>163001"Well, you are leader. Wherever you think we would do the best at, that is where we will go."
>>163003Silver tilts his head in response to the scrunch.
>>163004"You've been in the game longer than I have. You decide."
>>163005"Uh, okay. I guess oil plant then."
>>163006He nods
"Let's get to it.'
And he gets into his car, which has a shattered window and a few bullet holes
>>163007Silver gets in as well.
"I hope Homeguard pays for car damage received in line of duty."
(You) are all cute ponies
(You) are still all cute ponies
(You) all continue to be cute ponies
>>163045I hope the poners come back soon.
Things haven’t work out too well for my schedule this month, but things might be better soon.
>>162990 →Amber goes into the barn to see that it is divided into essentially two segments, although there is a large door between the two segments. The front of the barn includes a table and some sort of wooden mechanism that appears to be designed to keep a cow in place. The existence of running water and sinks suggest that this area is intended for procedures on larger livestock. It is much cleaner than a standard barn by far, yet still Amber is probably glad that this isn't the location she was operated on. The second portion is a more traditional barn, with multiple stalls for cattle (presumably, judging by the size) to stay the night. There is a ladder to an upper loft that is actually more closed off than in a traditional barn - it's actually more like a home attic.
I won’t have much time this week, but maybe this weekend will pan out.
>>163050That is excessively silly.
>>163054It is indeed, but priceless.
>>163052This is going to be an interesting week for work, but I am looking forward to playing again.
>>163051Interesting for sure. Amber heads to the upper loft and looks for a secluded space to make a nest out of.
>>163061The upper level of the barn is enclosed rather than open, more like an attic than a standard barn loft. And like an attic, there are items around, including a crook and an odd device made of metal with wheels on either side of a pair of grates. The ceiling is triangular and low, and not all of the floor is covered, though where it is, it is with boards. There are multiple spots where Amber can see down through the floor to the barn/stable below, these gaps in the floor occurring by where the roof connects with the wall. There are many places where the floor is more or less clear, and Amber can make a nest there.
>>163062Arranging some loose hay to make a bed, Amber rests there, wary of any unfamiliar sounds.
>>163063The loft has less hay than a standard barn, evidently owing to the awkward means of entry into the loft. Nevertheless, there is indeed a quantity of bedding straw stored which Amber may make use of. There are small circular windows on each end. There are many sounds in this location. Outside were the sounds of chirping birds and distant baahing. Inside, a restless cow and a pair of sheep make regular noises. And yet, for all of that, it's much quieter than Amber's apartment at midnight.
>>163064It's perfect! The highfalutin griffons next door might not be able to understand it, but for Amber it's a serene and restful place that reminds her of home. Not to mention it's secluded and out of public eye. Before fully committing to relaxing, however, Amber looks for yet another hiding spot within the loft to keep her mind at ease.
You know who's a cute pony?
(You)
There might be Spark tomorrow.
>>163083>>163073wags tail>>163072N-no u!
blushes>>163069There's a spot in the hay that blocks line of sight with the entryway, and is out of sight of the gaps in the floor near the roofing. This place is cozy enough even to sleep.
>>163008"Heh, if I get anything out of it, I would get more than I expected." He proceeds down a line of row houses that seem rather new, and past stores that are much larger than SIlver recalls outside of department stores, often taking up whole blocks.
>>163097This is fine. Amber stays here and waits for the cover of darkness. She might even "doze off," however that may be possible in a dream.
>>163098Silver "oooo"s and "ahhh"s at the sight of the stores.
"They must sell everything there is to sell in those places..."
>>163099Amber settles in
Roll DieListen. Wisdom modifier.
>>163100"Not everything, but you can get food and washing detergent."
Cowtown has never, to Silver's recollection, had proper zoning, with brick factories next to elementary schools next to taxidermy shops next to tenements. And it still doesn't. But there's a clear trend of fewer residential buildings and more factories the further south Spec drives, with factories existing in clear clusters. The grid pattern is often broken to allow for bigger blocks. There are fewer old tenement buildings, more rowhouses, and a few more factories than Silver can recall.
Music plays over the speakers. Familiar patriotic tunes played on familiar instruments, though the specific incarnation is not.
>>163101"More industry. We must be getting closer."
>>163103Some chirping, a sound of a door closing, some light talking outside. Nothing especially loud or major.
>>163108It probably is her friends enjoying some fresh air. Even so, she dares not stir lest it be something more sinister.
>>163119Perhaps its better that way, remaining undisturbed out of the way of the world. Amber doesn't hear much, until after a few minutes, the silence from outside becomes palpable.
>>163102Over the radio, communications continue to come in
"Anypony have any more cars?"
"Silver Lake over here. We're just on the edge of the danger zone. We have police cars to spare. Three cars and two ambulances."
"Yeah, send a few our way over here in Ashborn. We've got major congestion and several wrecks."
"This is city center, we have buggers holed up in the regional administrative building."
"Clear 'em out. Whatever they are doing there, it isn't good."
"They are fortified. We cannot advance."
"Alright. Stay on the line. We might get support."
Silver and Spec move to a new area, and Silver knows they are getting close. The grid pattern is interrupted by larger blocks, with large tanks for liquid storage, and hundred plus foot tall distillation towers protruding out of labyrinths of pipes and valves.
Spec:
"This is it. Six Sisters Oil Conglomerates' Midtown Refinery."
>>163148"Alright, where do we go from here? Just look around for signs of combat?"
>>163149He picks up the radio, and speaks into it
"Home Guard reinforcements approaching the Six Sisters Refinery. Where is the danger?"
Reply:
"We're pinned down near terminal two transfer station by Distallation Towers 1 and 2. Multiple hostiles, armed."
This facility seems to be a combination of older buildings and newer constructions. This complex must surely have been built before much of the neighborhood around it, and the dense network of pipes almost resembles a briar patch that stops abruptly at the road, with a simple chain linked fence around it. Spec drives around. In some areas, pipes move over the road and into a closed factory or set of tanks on the other side of the road. In a couple areas, an apartment building exists on the other side, although here too, the apartment buildings are taller and cleaner than Silver remembers being prevalent in this side of town. Along the side of the road are ponies. Half at least are earth pony stallions, occasionally walking with a mare and a small herd of foals, and sometimes alone in blue denim uniforms. But most of the remainder are bat ponies, and while Silver has surely seen these creatures before, he may never have seen a large bat pony stallion in blue uniform walk with a suitcase, a bat pony mare, and one, two, three, four foals, all but one seemingly under the age of ten.
>>163150That is certainly unusual. Silver thinks its a good kind of unusual, though, there needs to be more bat ponies in society like that. He prepares his equipment for the upcoming battle during the trip.
>>163151Unfortunately, in this future, bat ponies do not fear walking about in the open in broad daylight.
Silver has expended multiple rounds from his Jenny, and has not mounted the bayonet. Also, he is bleeding.
>>163152As Silver mounts his bayonet, he asks, "There does not happen to be medkit in car?"
>>163153"Yeah, there should be one there."
He looks over
"It's a frontline kit. Pretty decent."
Spec turns around through a road that takes him into the tangle of pipes.
>>163154"Alright, thanks."
Silver looks for the kit, and works on bandaging himself up so he doesn't bleed to death.
Medical roll required? >>163155I mean, he canSilver finds the kit, and sees that it has the usual components - iodine, alcohol, cotton, an empty hypodermic needle, and bandages. But it also has new additions. "Atropine" and Penicillin are in the mix, as well as a couple new items - a gel in a container, and a vial that glows bright blue.
>>163156Silver inspects the two new additions before applying the bandages.
>>163157Both are clearly magical in nature. The gel is alchemical and to be applied topically, and the vial can either be injected or ingested.
>>163159“Quick healing formula. For traumatic injuries.” He says
>>163160"Huh. Amazing."
Silver gets to wrapping up his wounds.
>>163163It’s… not his best work. Blood still seeps out.
>>163164Silver lets out a groan of frustration.
It has been very hard to work around my schedule. But I am confident that things will clear up soon to allow me to play again.
>>163167hopes>>163165Spec drives around and into a gated entrance. A grey colored pony peaks its head and ear tufts over the edge of the window in the security booth.
>>163169Silver, the armed and bloody pony, looks at the apparently cowering security pony.
"Excuse me, mind taking test to see if you are changeling?"
>>163170The creature raises its head further, and Silver can see slit, brown eyes.
"How do I know that
you are not a changeling?" The frightened stallion says
>>163171"You have flashlight, yes?"
>>163172"Uh." He looks down
"I think there's one here..."
>>163173If Spec has stopped, Silver gets out. If he hasn't, he asks him to stop, then he gets out. He approaches the security booth.
"Here, shine it in my eyes. If they shine back like they would normally, I am pony. If you see flat color underneath, I am changeling."
>>163174The pony looks up. Silver can see that the stallion is a bat pony, and he is in a uniform. The uniform's blue coloring implies a general worker's uniform, rather than a security guard.
He is tentative, but takes a light, and shines it towards Silver's eyes.
>>163175Silver shine and reflect as a pony's eyes should, even though the light makes him squint a little.
>>163103The light moves, and the stallion winces.
"Uh, what am I looking for?"
His lips are pulled back, showing teeth and fangs.
"I'll just... I think that's good..."
>>163181Silver nods, and holds his hoof out for the flashlight.
"Alright, now you."
Everyone above and below this post are cute ponies
>>163183hopes>>163184no u>>163182He hoofs over the flashlight
He presses his lips together, and opens his eyes
>>163187Silver now procedes to shine the flashlight in the pony's eyes.
>>163188He flinches. The pupils close, narrowing to vertical slits, and the brown irises reflect back a somewhat yellowy gold.
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]>>163189Sense Motive: It seems legit...but is it really?
>>163190He seems to generally have no idea what the hell is going on.
>>163191Fair enough. Silver turns off the flashlight and gives it back to him.
"You are good. We are members of Homeguard coming to reinforce soldiers pinned down here at plant. Can you point us where they might be?"
>>163192He points a hoof behind him and to his right
"Over there. I think there's..... three of them? I'm not sure. They have guns though. They are where the pipes connect from the first collecting tank off of the terminal to the first distillation tower. I think their goal is to create a backlog of gas in the system to create a pressure build up and an explosion. That tank is connected to the port terminal, so it will definitely take the entire refinery offline. Maybe not for long, but if a fire spreads it could do a lot of damage."
>>163193Silver's eyes widen. He thinks he made a good choice in coming here first.
"That would...not be good. Is there anypony left here who can operate system once we stop changelings, if they start process?"
>>163194"Uh, well, barely, but yes. Half of the operators have already left when the sirens started. We were keeping a crew to shut most of the systems off and flare off the excess gas, but they are intimidated by the gunshots. I think some may be hiding. And either the changelings have an operator or two hostage, or they were among the operators, because they have shut down the flares."
>>163195"Alright. We will see if we can find or rescue some of them. Thank you for all your help."
Silver gets back in the car.
"Let us not dilly dally. Time to stomp some bugs."
>>163196Silver returns to Spec, who is watching Silver as he approaches
"Don't have to tell me twice" He says, and starts driving forward into the plant at a high rate of speed. Some of the road is paved, but most is gravel, and much of the ground is covered in dirt or gravel, with more than a few patches stained with remnants of tar. Most of the ground, however, is covered in densely packed blocks of large industrial equipment. Shiny, silver steel, cylindrical towers ten feet thick and a hundred and fifty feet tall, ringed with walkways and ladders, large storage tanks, cooling towers on top of twenty foot tall condensation units, large white tanks, and myriad labyrinths of pipes going every which way, sometimes crossing over the roadways
Spec:
"So it's the terminal? Towards the harbor, I presume?"
>>163197"He said they were going cut off first collecting tank off of terminal to first distillation tower. If they do, pressure will build in tank until it explodes."
>>163198"Seems like the hard way to do it if you ask me. Anyways, let's go find this thing. It's got to be near the harbor..."
And the two hear gunshots
>>163199"That is where they are. Follow that noise!"
>>163200Silver and Spec continue down the road to where they see a large square probably at least fifty feet wide, and with at least two half-cylinders with hemispherical ends sticking out of it, with pipes coming off of the top. At the bottom is an enclosed set of grates ten feet tall that hiss with the sound of burning gas, and a narrow smoke stack extends high above this structure, with largely invisible fumes spewing out the top. Large round pipes come out of this structure, and move forward and up only just allowing a pony to walk underneath them. They go to a cylindrical tower, which is only just the first in a row of cylindrical towers that extends off several hundred feet to the left, perpendicular to the car. Off to the left, Silver can see a few pill-shaped tanks, and pipes leading to a very tall, very straight cylinder or smoke stack.
In front of Silver, above the square block, and to the left of the row of towers, Silver can see the end of a line of pipes that extends and disappears to blue skies with a few scattered clouds and the orange tint of the rising Sun, slightly distorted by the heat of rising gas fumes. Silver must surely be by the sea.
There are two sets of gun shots. One is a singular popping of what is probably a lower power civilian gun coming from outside of line of sight at the far end of the row of towers. But the other is the crackling sound of automatic gun fire, probably from a submachine gun. It comes from behind the left side of the square unit, and blocked from line of site by the pipes that connect the square to the row of towers.
>>163201Silver looks at Spec.
"Think our ponies are ones using civilian weapons? Those changelings we fought earlier used submachine guns."
>>163202"Our ponies are the ones who called for help. I'm pretty sure of that much."
>>163203"Use radio, maybe they can tell us which ones they are."
>>163204Spec calls on the radio
"This is Homeguard calling Celestial Oil Refinery. We are in the plant. We have two contacts. Gunshots. One automatic, one not."
A voice answers. And.... Silver can already tell it's that same bat pony from earlier.
"I don't know, I think they had pretty big guns. I'm not sure where they got them from."
>>163205Silver looks to his son.
"Well...your call, Spec."
>>163207"I could try investigating one of groups, see which is which perhaps."
>>163208"That seems pretty dangerous" Spec says
"You go up to them and ask 'hey, are you a changeling'. Sounds like that can go wrong quickly."
>>163209"Maybe. Or we could just pick one and fire upon them. I think it is ones with submachine guns, from how they are positioned and that we know they are using such weapons. And who is more likely to be pinned down, group using submachine guns or basic rifles?"
>>163210"A submachine gun is a short ranged weapon. Best for getting up close and clearing an area. A rifle is longer range, and if it isn't semi-auto it's probably not great for short range."
>>163211"So you think it is ones with rifles that are changelings?"
>>163212"No, just that if you're pinned down, a submachine gun isn't at its best use."
>>163213"Well, we have to do something. What would you do? One of these groups is pony and other is changeling. Do we rush in and join battle against one of them hoping it is right choice? Do we hang back and scout them hoping that something will give away which is which?"
>>163214He blinks, and starts to breath heavily, and sweat.
"They did this before to us. They did this quite a lot. We tried to have special codes, special words or questions. Of course they tried to learn the answers... Here's the thing, neither of them know where we are, so if we go around them, they won't know where we are."
>>163215"Let us scout them out from distance, then. If one of them are bleeding ichor, they are changelinga."
>>163216Spec nods, and turns the car engine off. He holds up his Jenny.
The Jenny Battle Rifle, while not having quite the range or penetration of the old bolt action rifles, still has enough range and penetration as can be desired, and the optic gives the gun the feel of a battle rifle. Though the recoil may make it impractical for use as a full auto at range, it still holds value in the short range and for those who can control short bursts.
>>163217Silver holds his own Jenny up, gently yet firmly caressing her sleak and sturdy frame. He peers through the rifle's scope to look in the direction of the machine gun wielding combatants.
>>163218To do so, Silver must find line of sight. By going through the underpass under the pipes, Silver will be off to the side of the machine gun wielders, and the riflemare both. He might be visible, especially to the latter, but he will be in line of sight. Silver can alternatively go around the large, square block, trying to get behind the machine gun wielders.