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Post by Draft Design on May 5, 2013 12:21:44 GMT -5
Draft Design was now sitting alone, on one of the bar stools in a small and dingy diner within the city of Manehattan. The corporal was hardly recognizable without his armor on, appearing much more like an average pegasus than an intimidating Rainlock soldier. After his mission at the Changeling hive, Lady Rainlock had given Draft the day off. And he was going to kick off the rest of the evening by sulking.
The waitress behind the counter dropped a greasy sandwich in front of him, as well as a basket of hay fries. The pegasus picked up the sandwich, leering at the illuminated city outside the windows as he took a bite. He needed time alone to be bitter over what had happened during the mission. He didn't like that Starling had his own plans without telling Draft, Gilda, or Rainlock. He didn't like how ungrateful Gilda was, and that she was blaming him for what had happened to her even though it had been out of his control.
But Draft especially disliked that Starling was letting the changelings off so easy. Starling had said that those responsible for what had happened to Gilda would be punished, but he had been sure to not make that clear when talking with Chrysalis. So much for standing up for what was right. And aside from what happened to Gilda, the changelings had invaded Canterlot during the Royal Wedding. They had been allied with the enemies of Equestria just a few weeks ago. To merely lock them into a permanent alliance with Equestria seemed far too sparing, especially for creatures so undeserving.
But whatever. Draft wasn't angry, or even terribly upset with Gilda or Starling. He just wanted time to indulge his displeasures, enjoy bathing himself in everything he disliked about what the two had done. He couldn't do the same with the changelings. They were insects, being despicable was in their nature. How could you feel disappointed in creatures you knew were going to be awful? No, he couldn't waste time thinking over what the changelings had done. He already hated them, and knew they weren't capable of anything better.
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 9, 2013 15:15:43 GMT -5
And just like that, his old officer sat down in front of him. "What's with the greased lightning?" He asked regarding the sandwich, "Since when do we Rainlocks eat in such dumps? Food in the mansion getting too fancy for ya?" He asked, Draft, nudging him fondly. When Draft's stern face didn't change he sighed.
"Aight, look junior," He started, "I been back for just a day, I hear from Rainlock she sent you on a special mission, that you performed as well as could be expected, the Field Marshal had other plans... No need to wallow." He said, looking at Draft, "Hey, I'm serious. There's only so much a Rainlock soldier can do on his own. We're used to working with a team, having the same goals, fighting the same fight. They put you with a punk griffon and an unruly soldier, I'm sure you made me proud."
He ordered himself a sandwich as well from a waitress passing by, he looked sharp in his Rainlock uniform, the waitress must have noticed, since she brought his food far faster than she did Draft's. Maybe it was just because of the uniform?
"Look, what I'm saying is don't worry, Lady Rainlock won't let everything the Changelings, or Starling for the matter, did slide. Of course last I heard she was showing him around the mansion," He glanced to his sandwich, "Anyway, look Draft ya did good. With the information the Changelings can provide, we're far better off. Don't resent yourself for not being able to stop it."
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 9, 2013 15:49:06 GMT -5
The sound of a well known voice surprised Draft. He didn't need to confirm who it was, but he turned from the window to the other pony all the same. The expression on his face didn't change, however, and he was left staring at his former officer with a mouthful of half-chewed sandwich. He swallowed it after the friendly nudge, looking back down at the hay fries sitting in the basket.
What Major said was right. Draft knew that before he had sat down. He had done his best, and he certainly thought it was all he could be expected to do. "Yeah," Draft answered, keeping his eyes on his food. "I guess it's frustrating. Starling practically lieing to Rainlock, deciding he's gonna change the plan to his liking without telling anyone. Not being able to do anything about it. And also having to deal with a griffon that needs an attitude adjustment."
Draft took another bite of his sandwich, chewing and swallowing it before continuing. "I don't get it. Starling's gotta have his own motives. Letting the changelings off easy like that. Useful information or not, he practically offered them amnesty." The Rainlock soldier blinked, staring hard at nothing for a moment, trying to think about the situation.
"Glad to know I did the right thing though," he said, turning back to his former officer. "I mean, I knew I did. But it's good hearing someone else say it."
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 9, 2013 16:02:52 GMT -5
"Starling has earned the right to make such decisions in the field. He's never failed Equestria before... Hay... if you wanna know what I've heard? He pretty much destroyed hundreds if not thousands of undead... all of their forces outside the Necropolis... all of their generals... everything, by himself." The Major said, leaning in, "What does that do to a pony? To live where nothing else does? When everything miles away wants you dead? For a whole year he's been gone, dealing possibly more damage to the undead than the entire Rainlock Security Force combined could have and not suffering a single casualty and not only that, but turning two of our enemies, the undead and the changelings, against each other. As I hear it, he brought them to the point of extinction. He single handedly defeated the Ice Queen, who eradicated all of Stalliongrad. He defeated a Dracolich, was the Griffon Councillor's favorite stallion, not to mention he brought down the Iron Shoes himself, hay, what didn't this guy do?" The major stopped there, pausing for a moment to let it sink in.
"So let me ask you this, really, who are we compared to him? What do we know that he doesn't? What can we see that he can't? Can we really try and judge someone who's done so much for Equestria and asked for nothing in return? He has all the power, he can command the entire Equestrian Army, Royal Guard included, he probably has so much money lying in his vault but never uses it. My only question regarding his motives is - when is he going to stop risking his life and let others take the glory?"
He leaned real close to draft for this next bit, "I heard the Lady was sending a message for the Head of Security to keep an eye on the Griffon. Must be something Rainlock knows that we don't." Even someone as low down as Draft knew what that meant. No one had met the Rainlock Head of Security except the Lady. It kept everyone on edge trying to figure out who he was. He could have been disguised as an ordinary grunt, might even be in the Canterlot Court. All they knew was that he was a very powerful pony. If the lady asked him personally to watch over Gilda, well, that might just mean she's that important.
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 9, 2013 16:20:18 GMT -5
Draft listened as Major listed off Starling's accomplishments. After all the field marshal had done, Draft couldn't argue that he didn't deserve the right to make the final call. What irritated Draft was that he had hidden his motives until after-the-fact. He had tricked Draft and he had tricked Lady Rainlock. There was half the problem.
After hearing all that Starling had done, all that he did, and how much power the field marshal really had, Draft couldn't help but think what might happen if Starling turned against Equestria. It was a scary thought. Was there a fail-safe?
The thought was soon tossed aside, however, when Major brought up the Head of Security. And more interestingly, that Rainlock had instructed him to keep an eye on Gilda. "If she's got him watching her, it has to be for good reason. It's certainly not because she's fun to be around." The corporal looked down at his food in thought for a moment. "You don't think it's that eye of hers, do you? Rainlock had that thing on pretty tight lock-down before it wound up lodged in her skull. Powerful artifact, isn't it?"
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 9, 2013 23:51:21 GMT -5
The major shrugged, Draft knew well enough that even if the Major did know something regarding the eye, he couldn't talk about it. "But these are just rumors, all of it, I've got nothing solid on either Starling or that griffon.' He concluded, "Thing is, now that we don't have changelings floating around our heads spying for the enemy, we can finally start doing the real thing. Rainlock's been organizing us for some raids, I have absolutely no idea where, but it should happen soon.
"We did find a whole load of information in that Magister's Palace you know, gonna get published soon." He changed the subject, "They also uncovered the location of a city in the Zebra Lands, an entire underground city, can you imagine that? I think they've also found something about the Crater in the Northern Barrens, but that's for the Archaeology geeks, I've got little understanding for the subject."
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 10, 2013 20:06:19 GMT -5
Draft was somewhat disappointed at the major's response. He knew his former officer couldn't say anything about the eye, but it would have been nice to know whether it was the eye or the griffon that was so valuable. "Good," Draft answered in response to the news about Lady Rainlock organizing raids for the security force. "Doesn't mean the city's safe now, but I'm sure it takes a lot less effort to maintain security when you don't have to second-guess who is and isn't a bug."
The corporal furrowed his brow, looking out the windows at the city streets. "At least I hope. Starling better be keeping them in line. If I find a disguised changeling I won't hesitate to smash it's skull in."
"As far as archaeology goes, I hope they find some better candidates this time. The last batch was embarrassing," the corporal spoke, finishing with another bite of his sandwich.
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 11, 2013 15:03:18 GMT -5
"Couldn't agree with you more, hope the one I shot died." The major said, "What a reckless, selfish, son of a serpent." The major finished up his own meal in several bites only.
"Well we've got a big crew heading up there, guards, archaeologists, the works. Things already being explored and uncovered. Rainlock style, no mercenaries this time, the Lady allocated all of our site teams there. It's like a city down there I hear. Maybe you'll stop by sometime?"
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 11, 2013 22:55:31 GMT -5
"I'm the one who carried him to the hospital, remember?" Draft added. "Should've seen how big his eyes were. Looked like a drowning guppy. His type are always pathetic once they get taken down a notch." The corporal chuckled lightly. "Speaking of which, what happened to the unicorn that was with him? I thought part of the deal she made was that she was gonna start working for Rainlock. Haven't heard of her since."
"And yeah, I'll try and stop by, provided I've got enough time between assignments. It'll be good to catch up, and see what all you find down there." The corporal began the task of eating his hay fries, but stopped after a few, finding them of a less than appetizing quality. "That city's Equiterian I assume?" he continued, wiping his hooves off with a napkin. "I don't know who else it would belong to, but it still boggles me how big far their borders went."
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 13, 2013 15:43:34 GMT -5
"Oh that one? The Royal Advisor took her under his wing until the Lady can find a use for her. What a whiny loser, she's got no room under the Lady. Hate whiners, 'oh no you shot my friend, oh no why are you doing this...'" He imitated with a high pitched voice, "Sheesh."
In response to his mentioning of the Equiterian borders, the major nodded. "Well, according to what I hear, they ruled pretty much everywhere at one point. We here in Equestria broke up from them apparently. No one's sure of the how's and why's yet though. I do know Destrier and Starswirl and the King and Queen were all Equiterian prior to founding Equestria. I gotta admit though, sometimes, I just wonder what happened to them. A worldwide empire gone with no explanation, no evidence... it's just as though they left the planet. Or someone did a very good job hiding all of their corpses."
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 13, 2013 20:43:51 GMT -5
"I'm sure she's fit for office work," Draft stated, crumpling the napkin. "Paper shredding maybe, as long as you put a gag over her. Someone's gotta push pencils."
"Yeah, it's weird," the Rainlock soldier said, commenting on the disappearance of the Equiterians. He lightly threw the napkin into the basket in front of him, watching it land unceremoniously among the hay fries. "I'm not the pony to ask on theories. That's a mystery someone else can solve."
Draft tapped his hoof lightly on the counter, trying to think of something else to say. "For curiosity's sake, how much longer you think it'll be before the dogs turn tail? If I recall, their allies are now on our side and they've yet to gain a significant victory. Unless you count Ponyville and Fillydelphia, which I don't."
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 25, 2013 23:47:10 GMT -5
"If you ask me?" The major said, "They've got more stuff up their... well, vests, than we think. This whole invasion has been happening in stages. Their target doesn't seem to actually be conquest, otherwise they'd have marched against the other cities by now. I think they're out to spread as much chaos as they can. A diversion for something maybe? Maybe they just want us to have no choice but negotiate."
"One last bit about the Equiterians though and this is interesting, I think so at least. From what I gather from the eggheads, the Emperor never seems to be physicall described anywhere, but they found mention of his cadre in the Magistrate's Palace. If I recall correctly they were all the equivalent of our Field Marshals, all the best in their fields. There was a planar, a golem master, a master of arms and a fire mage... or maybe more it's just what I remember. Apparently they were a pretty tough bunch. Can you imagine that? If they were all on the level of Starling then I shudder to think at what could have brought them down."
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 26, 2013 18:17:44 GMT -5
"Expecting negotiations is giving the dogs too much credit," Draft stated. "I don't even know what they'd want from us. Certainly not land. Their warlord's probably making them fight us just so they stop fighting each-other for two seconds. Wouldn't surprise me." That was how Draft saw it at least. Maybe this entire invasion was just so they could scratch the itch they had for violence and bloodshed.
"Doesn't explain the alliance with the bugs though," he admitted. "Or the griffons." The pegasus would offer up theories, but every single one of them sounded stupid even in his head. Another case for someone else.
"As far as the Equiterians go, like I said, it's weird. The whole thing's weird. It's something the nerds can figure out. That's why they send some of us to tag along, right? So they can dig in the dirt while we keep them from being eaten." The corporal grabbed what was left of his sandwich, shoving the entire thing into his mouth.
With nothing else to say and a lot to chew, Draft took a moment to look around the diner at any of the other ponies in the building, waitress included. Maybe he'd see something noteworthy. Maybe. It was wishful thinking, but he still had the rest of the evening and no idea what to do with it.
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 27, 2013 0:02:26 GMT -5
"That's what you do then? Go on and rob graves while the rest of us suffer?" Asked a nearby pony, from his looks he seemed like a drifter, most likely a refugee. "There's dogs out there killing us and instead of helping you're off plundering riches?" the pony called out and stood up from his own table. The diner's matron looked at him impatiently.
"The Rainlock Security Forces has taken into Manehattan all refugees since the invasion started and made sure to create communal shelters as well as arm the Fillydelphia Resistance." The Major replied coldly, not bothering to even look at the angry refugee.
"Shelters my flank, you have an army. You should have helped take our homes back. Instead your 'Lady' is sitting on her flank all day counting her gold!"
At that the major, draft and several other ponies who draft recognized as fellow Rainlocks out of uniform took to their hooves, followed by a group of refugees taking to theirs.
"I strongly suggest you take that back, now." The major said, stepping up right into the pony's face.
"Or what?" The pony asked defiantly, grinning at the fact he hit a soft spot, "You'll go cry to your ..." But the pony was not able to complete that sentence as the major punched him in the face. The diner matron went off to the back room with a frustrated growl as a brawl commenced. The Rainlocks versus the refugees.
The Rainlocks, though far better trained, had little room to maneuver and little time to form or execute and strategies. The brawl was messy, explosive and intense, but it ended rather fast, at least as far as brawls go. The refugees were beaten out of the diner just to get held up by on duty Rainlock officers and then get forced to clean the mess in the diner at the barking commands of the matron and then be thrown back into their shelters.
The victors, the off duty Rainlock soldiers took to their seperate ways, the major and Draft going towards the mansion while the rest went off to pick up their meals in another diner. The major, having been in the thick of the melee was suffering from a black eye, many scrapes and bruises and a swollen ear. Draft was much better off with just a split lip and a minor nose bleed.
"Sure showed those ungrateful bastards." The major said, grunting as his ear throbbed painfully and then laughing, "Can't beat a good brawl!" He called out, patting Draft on the back heartily.
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Post by Draft Design on Jun 27, 2013 18:32:33 GMT -5
Draft thought he was able to spot a few other off-duty Rainlock guards as he looked around the diner, but it was a pony from a nearby table that stole his attention. "For Pete's sake," the corporal thought to himself, forcing the food in his mouth down his throat. "Guy makes it sound a lot more romantic than it actually is."
It was enough that this punk thought he should be in charge of what the RSF did and when. But as soon as his insult towards Lady Rainlock had hit Draft's ears, the pegasus had jumped up from his seat. The other Rainlock guards in the room all seemed to have the same idea. The little turd certainly wasn't gonna back down in front of his posse, so it was no surprise when the major punched him square in the face and the diner had soon erupted into a brawl.
By the time it was over, Draft only had a busted lip and a small nosebleed to show for it. Major was much worse off, having been in the thick of it. Draft watched for a moment as the refugee and his friends started cleaning the diner, then followed the major down the street.
"Yeah," Draft answered after the other pony had patted him on the back. His tone and demeanor clearly lacked any sign of satisfaction. "Ungrateful punks. We keep this city protected against the dogs, clean of changelings, and all they can do is complain. Without Rainlock they'd be dog chow, and that's after the bugs have had their way with them."
The corporal wiped some of the excess blood from his lip, taking a better look at the major's injuries. "I'd like to see one of them pick up a sword. For all that talk about what we should be doing, they sure seem content to sit back and do nothing. Not like the military is turning down volunteers."
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