Dark Star has been contracted by the occupying government to lead a team to infiltrate and stop a meeting of the Communist party in Baltimare. He discovers that they are importing arms, and more importantly, special forces advisers from foreign nations. Things reach a literal boiling point when a warehouse of gasoline drums is set on fire, and now we will see who will live and who will die
Welcoming Silver, the unicorn fighter
1692 replies and 109 files omitted.
>>72679So let me see if I have this right. Toward the shore is the encroaching troops, and away from the shore there's more troops?
>>72680This room must have been a navigation room. There is a big table in the center with a map, and a couple desks by the left wall and the far wall
>>72679"I was about to go to the other side of the ship so we can board the boat without any fear of these ponies at the docks cutting off this means of escape." Iron keeps trying to turn on the boat. "Why did you come back?"
>>72683On the desks are papers that don't seem to have any immediate relevance. You get the impression that the papers on these desks have been moved quickly.
>>72684"What makes you think I left? Anyways, Dark Star needs someone to escort him to the hospital"
>>72685"Was she in here too? She must have cleared out all the important stuff." I take a look at the map.
>>72686"He is inside the ship. I suppose you do not control those ponies at the docks, do you?" Iron keeps trying to turn the boat on.
>>72687The map shows a few meanderly routes from Griffonia to Baltimare, presumably past naval blockades. From this position a few papers can be seen on the floor
>>72688"Who do you think called them in?"
>>72689I fold up the map and take it, then inspect these papers on the floor.
>>72690Well, it's a big as hell map. Like, the full table. He'd have to set his drink down. Fortunately, there is a chest on the far wall for that purpose. Anyways, he picks up the papers. They look like portions of a manifest or contract. Judging by the pagination, they must have been part of a larger stack that fell out
>>72689Iron stops his attempts on the boat and returns to the dock. "Well, if you say what you are implying is true, I suppose I can live for a few more seconds. Unless you made them target me." Iron decides to start going to the ship. "Follow me, I can guide you to him."
>>72692She seems to comply, silently following
>>72691I grumble as I set my drink down no the chest. "You better not spill Tipsy, you hear me boat?" I fold the map up the best I can and then glance at the papers to see if there is anything that would stand out to a pony of average intelligence.
So Brie flies off toward the sea, since that's the only apparent avenue of escape, intent on gaining distance and altitude, from which he might be able to circle around behind the encroaching troops. We're talking minutes of ascent, and much is likely to occur in that time, from which he should have a decent vantage of.
>>72693"By the way, we spotted a griffon that did not align with the interests of the communists. Said she was from Sunset," He says while going up the stairs to the top floor. "Sadly, she was not very talkative about her group and left. Any information on them?"
>>72694Mostly it is numbers. But it does have the names of some manufacturers and purchasers
>>72695The air is colder as he ascends, certainly darker. There are clouds further to the North, city lights to the west, and darkness with scattered lights to the east
>>72696"Sunset? That's the capital of New Mareland. She told you she was working for the Blackhooves"
>>72697"Not that I remember. She told me, somewhat jokingly, that she was part of a large band of thieves." Iron is nearing Dark Star's position. He seems somewhat troubled.
>>72697I shrug and take them. Maybe studying them later will prove useful. I quick check the chest after reclaiming my drink, knowing full well that the griffon got to anything inside first.
>>72697Still ascending, now in a circling pattern
>>72700Where does he intend to land there after?
>>72699Are you sure she got there first? The chest seems locked
>>72698"Plenty of thieves around here to go around"
>>72701Eventually, once he's reached sufficient elevation, he's going to circle back around and then descend to try and approach the troops from behind. I mentioned that, I'm sure.
>>72701"And I don't suppose they left the key around here somewhere..." I double check around the room.
I also assume that I don't have any way inside it besides trying to break it?
>>72701He stops outside the room. "She was cryptic. She could be a changeling for all I know. Something about I should not haven seen her face and jumped off the railing of the room Dark Star is in right now." He opens the door for Skies and notices Spark is gone. "You can stay with Dark Star. I think he's pondering about recent events. I will go look for the unicorn fellow." He starts to walk off, looking for Spark.
>>72703No key, but there is a rifle leaning against a wall
>>72704"Changelings can be anypony, anywhere, anytime. At least that's what we tell the ponies anyways, in the hopes that they'll be less willing to conspire against the government if they think they may be helping foreign spies. But obviously, if she was intending to operate secretly, it's a bad thing for people to see her in her work"
>>72706Would the discharge alert the police outside, or have they not come within range for that yet?
>>72707It seems the rifle is unloaded, if he was intending to shoot it
>>72708Of course it is... and it is a griffon design anyway correct?
>>72706"I guess. We tried to trade information for safety, but, as I said, she jumped out the window. I suppose that is important." Iron is looking around the adjacent rooms to where Dark Star is. "Why are you cordial to me after all I said at the warehouse?."
>>72709Indeed it is. Not really useful as muck more than a long blunt object
>>72710"Oh, so you do recognize your statements as of the sort that would induce to resentment?"
[1d20-1 = -2]>>72711"Might as well give it a swing." I, probably foolishly, take the rifle and bring it down onto the chest as hard as a level 5 unicorn sorcerer can.
>>72712It looks like this attempt was not very successful
>>72710On the top floor of the superstructure are the three doors
>>72711Iron looks to the roof, somewhat uncomfortable. "It was not nice of me to talk to a mare like that. The loss of your tribe is truly the most horrible thing a pony can go through. I suspect I would be just like you if it happened to me." Iron walks a bit to the left. "While I disliked that you seek to spread the bleakness of the world to Ash instead of reassuring there will be someone to protect her, I did go out of line by my accusations of lack of motherhood." Iron walks to the right. "I can see that you are broken, scarred beyond belief by the loss of your family and friends. There is no honor in speaking ill of the disadvantaged." Iron closes the distance between him and Skies. "I ask of you to punch me for my outrageous behavior. To bury the hatchet."
>>72713Am I allowed more attempts?
>>72715At first, she too is uncomfortable, avoiding eye contact. Finally, she raises her head and smiles. It's a warmer smile than the almost malicious grin she had earlier. "Maybe you are fit to be husband or father after all. I'll punch you later. When you are not looking"
>>72715Sure
[1d20-1 = -2]>>72716The sorcerer is disappointed in his strength. Perhaps he should work out more... He tries again.
>>72717Apparently, this is as hard as I can do it.
>>72716Iron lets out a small breath, obviously relieved. "I will be ready for it."
>>72713Iron decides to check out the room in front of Dark Star's room.
>>72717The Dice Gods have not smiled upon Spark. The rifle bounces and hits the floor
>>72719A Door to your left, right, and your front. From the right is heard a bouncing sound
>>72720Iron goes towards the bouncing sound.
>>72721>>72722Skies prances off to the left. When Iron opens the door, he can see that it is a room with desks on the left and far walls, with a large table in the center. More importantly, Spark is holding a rifle and hanging his head in shame near a chest on the far side of the room
>>72702If he wants to reach a police roadblock, he could do that
>>72723>>72721"What are you doing? You dropped the bottle and broke it or something?"
>>72725"Never that. I can't get into this chest. I suppose you might though. Want to give it a shot?"
[1d20+5 = 24]>>72726"I guess I can try to break it." Iron walks towards the chest, turns around, aims for the chest and releases a buck on the chest.
>>72727And with that, the lock seems to break, and it pops right the hell open
>>72712>>72717>>72721>>72726>>72727Woke up just to kek at this.
Okay, now I sleep again.
>>72728>>72726"Well, there it is. Give me some of the loot it has. I would appreciate a reward for my efforts."