Tran Sketch had returned to her quarters like she had been recommended by her colt friend but only after checking up on the maintenance room to see Purple Steel wasn't there meaning he must have already returned his own living quarters if not had already been there prior to the alarm, the alarm itself had been ended about an hour ago however the Overmare had not issued a speech over the Stable broadcast tannoy system nor given permission for the residents to leave there quarters. The windows set into the living quarters of Tran Sketch's revealed a very empty corridor which made sense given the emergency circumstance however Sketch was now concerned after all this time that had passed and no word from the Overmare.

Nova Sprocket was on the way to Sketch's living quarters after the Overmare had asked him to leave her and Senior Paladin Grey Shell to discuss the reasoning for the forced entry of Stable 200, he wasn't too keen on leaving her with the armour clad stallion however the Overmare's word was law and he had to obey her request as much as any occupant of the Stable but at least Nova was reassured that she would be safe between the guards stationed outside the room and a considerably more powerful magically enchanted machine gun turret at her disposal that was there specifically for the safety of the Overmare which would be as simple as a hoof tap on a engage button mocked up as a lamp switch.

Having fetched the cake from his room he had brought it along to Sketch's room, knocking on the metal door with his forehoof and the plate balanced between his teeth balancing the cake carefully, Sketch peered out the window besides the front door and saw it was Nova so she opened the door via the control panel besides the door, her smile subtle.
"Well guess you decided to bring it here then... so what's going on that's keeping the Overmare so preoccupied she hasn't informed everypony its okay now?"

Nova set down the plate on a coffee table as he sat on the Stable Tec issued sofa as he patted the spot next to him with his hoof to gesture for Sketch to join him, she closed the door behind her now and trotted to the sofa making herself comfy, her focus between him and the curiosity as well as the delectable looking cake he had brought along.
"... Seems this place isn't as well hidden as we've been lead to believe, we had unannounced guests who decided to let themselves into the main entrance."

Sketch looked at him confused, understandable considering nopony ever considered much of the outside world beyond their sheltered life let alone the concept other ponies entering their home.
"What do you mean? Somepony from the outside the Stable?"

Nova shifted, somewhat awkward not sure if he should reveal any more than he had however this was the pony whom he loved and he couldn't he couldn't deny her curiosity, had the roles been reversed he'd want to know what was going on to.
"Steel Rangers, that's what the one in charge of them said anyway, they're well-armed and there armour is much better than our guards. Truthfully the leader of them almost seemed disappointed that Overmare Blitz didn't try and resist them so I'm guessing he wanted an excuse to kill us soon as he could."

Sketch shook her head, not sure what to make of this as it seemed so surreal and odd, sure in the past there had been scuffles amongst the Stable dwellers but that was resolved either via argument or the Overmare stepping in and setting straight the guilty party in fact the only time death was a predominant issue was when somepony passed away from sickness or old age so to hear of anypony who seemed like they wanted the justification to kill in cold blood was outlandish.
"No, that can't be right. Why would anypony willingly want to kill another?"

Nova gritted his teeth, the expression on his muzzle showing frustration.
"Because the buckers came in armed to the teeth and with armour which currently only the turret in the Overmare's office has a chance of penetrating vaguely at best, it was the way he spoke and acted but his Luna damned visor hid his face so I couldn't make out his expression but I'm sure as anything he was baiting us”

This was not exactly what Sketch had expected to hear or truthfully wanted, it was easy to complain about the mundanity of their lives in the stable however it was predictable and for the most part drama free which in the end suited everypony despite their muttering so this particular scenario was very much the extreme opposite of Stable life. The simple fact was this threw a wrench in the works and had the potential to ruin what was a very well organised and managed livelihood.
“So umm…. Those Steel Rangers are with the Overmare now, I don’t know how to feel about that if they’re the way you make them sound”

The stallion sighed and looked uneasy as he spoke.
"If you're uneasy then imagine how I feel seeing as I'm one of the few who sees her on a regular basis, I won't lie to you, I'm concerned this "chat" of theirs will end with the Overmare dead and all of us in the Stable next but she insisted I leave her to deal with them herself and that the security would be adequate, it's... not weighing easy on me right now and if there talk goes wrong it's my fault if anything happens to her, isn't it?"

The question caught Sketch off guard, if anything the only time Nova had shown any signs of uncertainty was when they first met but since then he had seemed confident in what he done but now here he was doubting and showing regret for events that may not even occur, she had to play the reassurer at least this one time it seemed, she just hoped to Celestia she done it right.
"The Overmare is capable, she has her security and that turret thing you mentioned ought to be a deterrent in its own right yes? She obviously didn't think you needed to be present and well, we have to trust in her judgement, if she says she's okay then you can be sure she is and besides would the Princess's really allow such a brutal thing?"

Nova snorted a little, he never really bought into the whole Princess Luna and Celestia watching over the ponies, they had died according to history during the mega spell barrage that had made Canterlot nothing more than a large memorial of ruins or so older ponies had said who'd heard the stories from their parents and they from their relatives before. Of course he tried to respect most of the Stable looked to the dead Princess's as Goddesses that had transcended their physical forms and looked out for everypony from above but he just couldn't buy into the horseapples.
"For what it's worth I don't mean to sound rude but if they were looking out for us don't you think they'd have stopped the Steel bastards entering here in the first place?"

His point was valid yes, but still she had faith in her belief it was one of the things that spurred most ponies on so of course she'd have to defend her thoughts at least a little, it's not like the non-believers were shunned but they were sceptical.
"I'd like to think they just hadn't noticed them or did so to late personally, they can't watch over everypony every second, we should just be glad that the Rangers haven't done anything more than enter here from outside so maybe it's their way of looking out for us... or we were just lucky, either way we're still alive and well so that should be good enough shouldn't it?"
She nuzzled him affectionately, she hated trying to be the one on the opposite end of cheering up somepony but this was her coltfriend after all and exceptions could be made when it was your lover.

Sketch's attention and words brought him out of his funk a little, he knew somewhere in his mind she was right, maybe not so much the Goddesses aspect but the fact that everypony was still alive, no warning siren or Steel Rangers going room to room and gunning them down so maybe it was an okay sign, he looked to the cake.
"Hey, thanks, I know it's not your thing as normally I need to be the one to cheer you up but hey you did okay, so you want a slice of that cake then or is it just going to be a centrepiece on the table?"

She smirked as she got a knife with her telekinesis.
"You bet your flank I want a piece of that cake, first ever strawberry I'll have tasted so this moment has to be savoured and afterwards I'll help you try to forget your woes with my own special treat"
She said teasing, her voice suggestive.

The Overmare's Office:

Senior Paladin Grey Shell trotted irately back and forth meanwhile in contrast Overmare Blitz was sat behind her desk calm, beneath that metal visor she imagined the Senior Paladin was looking frustrated or annoyed which provided her some amusement though her neutral expression made sure she didn't give that away, she glanced at the wall clock directly ahead of her on the wall adjacent which the Paladin kept pacing back and forth in front of.
"45 minutes... 45 minutes and still you do not explain your reasoning, it's as though you’re stalling for time or otherwise have this foolish concept that I should be denied the knowledge why you entered this Stable at all"

He stopped pacing and his head turning towards the mare who did nothing but cause him irritation, had this been one of his Rangers he'd have been within right to administer punishment for subordination however as it stood despite being his rank it meant nothing to the mare bitch in front of him and truthfully he had no right to dish out said punishment, not for now anyway he reminded himself making this more bearable.
"You really want to know so bad huh? I'll give you something, when you were made Overmare they did something right, you're stubborn as a Tartarus damned mule"

The Overmare smirked, whether it was meant as a compliment or insult made no odds she was glad to be pissing him off, small payback but payback non the less for entering this place when they shouldn't, it was a dangerous game she was playing but she figured she'd win as the Senior Paladin seemed to rely more on force and intimidation than using his brain.
"Why thank you, I learnt from my mother, she was a pretty good example and I was stubborn as a filly anyway so that aspect of me requires no effort"

Tilting his head Senior Paladin Grey Shell didn't know how to take this mare now, part of him wanted to make her learn respect for superior ranking officials and part of him admired her for how gutsy she was, this Overmare was wasted here and would probably make a good Steel Ranger assuming she got her head around using weapons, he took a resigned breath before speaking knowing he'd have to tell her to shut her up or at least part of the overall goal.
"Not too far from here is Fillydelphia, a stallion by the name of Red Eyes has established a major outpost and frankly even with all of our firepower we can't get close to him or the factories he has up and running again, he is also notorious for using slaves for these factories as free workers. We need to establish a foothold but to do so we need a place to set up base close enough to observe but far enough and hidden away to work out a means of attacking with a safe fall-back position"

The Overmare resisted rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"So... if I'm understanding this properly you figured you'd use our Stable as that position yes?"

The Senior Paladin nodded.
"Yes indeed, however we hadn't counted on there being anypony alive in here still, most Stables these days we find are devoid of life so we assumed incorrectly it would be the case for here to"

"So that leads me to my next question, if this place is so hidden how the buck did you find it then?"
Overmare Blitz asked genuinely curious.

"Well we have access to the maneframe that contains all the data on Stables locations, something Red Eyes would kill to have and I do mean literally. It was discovered this Stable provided the best location however you and your ponies inhabiting here have complicated that somewhat so I suppose a new proposal will have to be put together, one which involves a how we say... mutual co-operation, you said you'd consider us threats yet the real enemy of ponykind is Red Eyes slavers and those Alicorns he's sided with. You’re stable if it were ever discovered by him would be nothing more than a whole workforce for him so I'm offering you a chance to aid in our attempt to bring Red Eye's to justice thus stopping any more slavery"

It was a lot to swallow, Overmare Blitz was not all that knowledgeable on the world outside the vault and 200 years was a long time for things to change yet the Steel Ranger may just be saying anything he thought might convince her to agree to the demands, though on the other hoof it would make sense such threats would exist in a broken society now.
"...If I was to agree, what reassurance can you give me that no harm will come to anypony living here and that you won't out stay your welcome for that matter?"

"Well... we only need long enough to uproot Red Eye's hoofhold of Fillydelphia and then we can move our operations there instead and you see for yourself how armed we are, we're no pushovers so any attack on this Stable will dealt with more swiftly than that 200 year old gun you have in the entrance. Though we will also be calling upon some of your food and water supplies to, to keep the troops in healthy order after all the scrounged food is all well and good but freshly grown crop would make a pleasant change for the Steel Rangers" Senior Paladin Grey Shell sat down now.

Overmare Butter Blitz noted how subconsciously her hoof had been near the disguised turret button all this time, as though she had suspected she'd be attacked.
"And what would happen if I so kindly refused your idea? Hypothetically speaking of course"

The mirth that had filled the Senior Paladins voice at the entrance had returned when he replied.
"Well, in that case hypothetically, we couldn't guarantee your safety given how important a place like this would be to those who'd appreciate all the things you ponies have at hoof, fresh food is non-existent and pure water even harder. There's a lot of nasty things in the wastes besides what I mentioned though if Red Eyes lot scouted out here you'd be how they say fucked, without us here you'd be outgunned and outnumbered not to mention either way in the aftermath we'd claim it from the attacking force so it's in your interest for the continued survival of your home, though of course that's hypothetical anyway right?"

No matter how it had been worded it sounded like the threat was aimed in a way that one way or another the Steel Rangers wanted use of Stable 200 and would get it, so it'd be better if at least everypony was alive even if it meant the inconvenience of playing host for the Steel Rangers.
"Yes of course, purely hypothetical, the terms are... agreeable for the time being. I assume you are going to contact your commanding officer assuming you answer to one?"

Grey Shell nodded.
"Yes our Elder, I will have to inform her of this arrangement but that won't be too hard, and naturally I'd prefer to do that in private, I've already indulged you to much as it stands"

"By all means, there are plenty of areas free at this time till I inform the residents they can leave there rooms"
The Overmare said ensuring she made it clear she would not be made to leave her own office just because of this Senior Paladin, this was still a Stable under her control so they'd have to play by her rules to.

"Fine, fine I'm sure I'll find somewhere suitable enough to make contact, now if you'll excuse me I have arrangements to sort as do you no doubt?"
He asked the Overmare, though it was moot as the Paladin knew very well the mare would have to arrange her own issues now added by the Steel Rangers soon to be presence, Grey Shell exited the room and shortly after one of the Security ponies entered just as the Overmare was pulling out a a bottle of aged cider from her desk drawer to calm her nerves as her hoof was now away from the turret release button.

"Well I'll be damned if that brutish foal doesn't leave you shaken at least a little, practically made it clear either we allow them to play house in our Stable or they'd see to it they can get it off us forcefully, I don't believe for a minute that it's beyond there capability to just gun us down if they want the place so badly"
The Overmare said uneasily her nerves shot and not bothered if the security officer saw her moment of weakness right now as she poured some of the cider into a tumbler and drank it one gulp, pouring another as quick as she'd drank it.

The security officer approached concerned, clear from his voice as it was rare to see the Overmare visually shaken.
"Umm are you okay Overmare Butter Blitz?"

She laughed hollowly as she faced the security officer.
"I've been better but hey I'm alive at least, I spent that entire time thinking he'd shoot me dead, the bastards want control over this Stable, our home no less and my hoof has been forced behind my back. Honestly never thought I'd see the day a pony manages it but that day has come"
She downed the second glass of alcohol.
"Do me a favour and this applies to all security from now on, keep a close eye on our guests, I don't trust them and their intentions but for now I have to act on the interest of everypony that calls here home which means at least pretending to agree to be helpful, it goes without saying don't make it obvious your observing them but I suspect he trusts me as much as I do him”

The security officer saluted with his front right hoof.
"Yes ma'am, I'll notify the other security and leave you to regain your composure, we won't let you down nor the other ponies depending on us"

"Thank you, for being understanding of the circumstances, we're to play a dangerous game and as much as I hate to bring all our little ponies into this I suppose it was inevitable that everypony would be drawn into this as a pawn, difference is I will not use them as sacrificial pieces but rather keep them safe from harm’s way within my power. We will not be used by some armour wearing ponies as a hideout for their little war games raids, this is our home and nopony is going to take that from us if I can avoid it..."
Pouring a third glass she remained silent now and the security guard took this as his hint to leave her be.

Author's Note

And another Chapter bites the dust, if folks feel this is going to slow please tell me however I prefer a slow and detailed build up but I appreciate others may not so I apologize to those who prefer stories that get to the point at a more speedier pace.