White Mesa

Things seemed to be going fine all around White Mesa. While there was a lot more malfunctioning equipment and security systems than usual, this was more of an annoyance than an actual problem.

Unfortunately for Gordon Freecolt, this caused him to be twenty minutes late by the time he got to the transit hub for the facility. While waiting for the train had not taken long, it still added that much more time to the already appallingly late stallion.

When it did arrive, Gordon boarded it quickly, hoping to get to his workplace sooner rather than later. One other pony boarded the train. A pegasus pony with a blue coat and black mane, wearing the same white lab coat and red striped tie that was required of all research members.

The door to the train closed, then the train started its journey into the tunnel ahead.

“Good morning, and welcome to the White Mesa Transit System,” a female voice sounded, slightly distorted by the speakers.

This announcement came as the train passed a small outcropping in the tunnel the train traveled through, where a single scientist lazily waved to the stallion watching as he waited for a train. Gordon waved back.

The train also passed a small outcropping, where a security guard stood, banging at the door to get into the security room behind it.

‘Yet another security malfunction,’ Gordon thought.

“This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the White Mesa Research Facility personnel,” it continued.

The train passed a small security station and armory where two griffon and a earth pony were stationed, wearing blue shirts and black armored vests. None of them bothered to have their helmets on at the moment. One griffon looked up from his computer screen to catch a glimpse of Gordon and the pegasus. Confirming their identity, the guard went back to his work.

“The time is… eight, forty-seven A.M.”

Gordon frowned, reminded of his tardiness.

“Current topside temperature is… eight, degrees with an estimated high of.. twenty one. The White Mesa compound is maintained at a pleasant sixty eight degrees all times.”

The train came out of the tunnel and into a large open room, where two outcroppings connected the transit system to the offices to the left. A small open area allowed some other office workers to take in the view of the cafeteria below, where beings of all races ate. Ponies, griffons, camels, and zebras ate their breakfast is the open space.

Gordon turned to the pegasus. “So what sector are you headed for?”

“Hm?” The pegasus hummed as he looked up at the orange stallion. Gordon was about to ask again before the blue stallion figured his question.

“Oh, I am heading for Sector—”

“This train is inbound from… level 3 dormitories, to… Sector B Weapons Development And Testing,” the train announced, interrupting the pony.

The blue stallion frowned in annoyance. “Yeah, there.”

“If your intended destination is a high security area beyond Sector C, you will need to return to the central transit hub in area 9 and board a high security train,” announced the train, as if to taunt him. A silence reigned until the pegasus spoke up.

“So, where are you going?”

“Sector C,” Gordon replied.

“Studying the crystals from the human world?” he asked. Gordon nodded in response.

The train then came to a large metal door, blocking the tunnel. The train stopped, as a griffon at a security checkpoint to the left looked at Gordon and the pegasus before walking over to a control panel and allowing the train access. Three arms with panels at the end removed themselves from the center of the door, showing a small opening in the blast door. The door then divided into four different parts, as each one slid to fully open the tunnel to the train. A small cable extended from inside the tunnel, connect the two lines, allowing the train to continue.The door behind it closing after it crossed through.

“If you have not submitted your identity to the changeling screening system, you must report to White Mesa personnel for processing before you will be permitted into the high security branch of the transit system,” the train announced.

The train soon came out of the tunnel, into a very large room. A heavyweight transit system ran below, carrying things far too heavy for any race to carry from sector to sector. A small outcropping from the left contained a black pony with a green mane. Gordon knew this pony as Black Jack, a co-worker in Sector C.

A beep sounds as the train stopped at the platform. “Now arriving at… Sector B Weapons Development And Testing,” the train announced as the door opened.

The blue pegasus walked out as Gordon stayed in his seat. The pegasus and Black Jack shared a look as they passed by. Black Jack smiled as he saw Gordon and took a seat in the train, while the pegasus continued on towards the security checkpoint at the edge of the room.

After a few minutes, the train door shut and continued on its journey.

Just a minute after departing the entrance to Sector B, the train had passed the weapon assembly rooms, where teams of unicorns, pegasi, griffons help assemble large, rocket-propelled missiles, each carrying a bomb. While Gordon was not aware of how powerful the bombs were, rumors from those who worked in Sector B suggest that they will be powerful enough to level a city block.. But that was not Gordon’s field.

Gordon was a theoretical physicist who had earned his PHD at Canterlot University. Being enrolled at one of Equestria’s most prestigious universities, and with Equestria being the largest contributor out of all the nations to White Mesa, all but guaranteed that Gordon would end up working at the facility.

The train would go through another blast door before it exited Sector B. It would soon come to a dead end, where to the left there was a view at the rest area, which gave its own view to the arctic weather outside. The train then descended.

“Due to the high toxicity of material routinely handled in the White Mesa compound, no smoking, eating, or drinking are permitted within the White Mesa transit system,” the train reminded.

The train stopped its descent and turned around to attach to the ground cable lightly covered in snow. It was snowing outside, giving the feeling to those that watched it like the holidays were upon them, even if Hearth's Warming was last month. The train was sealed to keep the occupants warm as it continued on, unbothered by the cold.

The train continue through a small maintenance tunnel, where two earth pony members of the maintenance crew were getting onto a service elevator.

The train would exit from the tunnel and have a good view of a large chariot parked on the small runway that was nestled in the canyon. What caught Gordon’s attention, though, was the ponies exiting it.

“Is that Princess Twilight?” Black Jack asked from beside him.

“A reminder to all White Mesa personal, Princess Twilight Sparkle, along with five heroes of the Principality of Equestria are visiting the White Mesa Research Facility. Please be on your best behaviour,” confirmed the train.

He could see the princess and her friends looking around in amazement at what little of the facility they could see from there. In the five decades White Mesa had been running, it had changed the world. And White Mesa was still much farther ahead than the rest of the world, ensuring the entire place seemed like it was possible only in science fiction.

Gordon looked over and noticed Black Jack had a look on his face. One that seemed to be a mix of anger, surprise, and excitement. Before Gordon could question it, the look disappeared and Black Jack went back to his seat.

“Please keep your limbs inside the train at all times. Do not attempt to open the doors until the train has come to a complete halt at the station platform. In the event of an emergency, passengers are to remain seated and await further instruction. If it is necessary to exit the train, disabled personnel should be evacuated first. Please, stay away from electrified rails and proceed to an emergency station until assistance arrives,” the train advised as it entered another tunnel.

The train came to another blast door, the security station was occupied by a unicorn this time. Like the blast doors before it, the center was taken apart by three arms, and split into four as it allowed access. Soon enough, the train was on the other side as the door shut behind it.

As the train continued on, lights on four sides of the tunnel turned on, illuminating the way forward. This happened for a series of lights down the entire tunnel, until every corner of the passage was well lit.

The train continued on until it came to yet another blast door. This one did not have arms holding the center plate, or a security checkpoint. It, instead, opened instantly for the train, clearing the way into a room where two massive lasers were running. One was already exposed when they entered, the other’s shielding was being removed by a massive robotic arm as a zebra wrote some things down on his clipboard.

The train continued through another blast door that closed behind them, sealing the room in case of a massive explosion that the lasers could cause.

“Do you have a friend or relative who would make a valuable addition to the White Mesa Team? Immediate openings are available in the areas of: materials handling, and low clearance security. Please contact White Mesa personnel for further information,” said the train as it went through yet another blast door

The train continued on as Gordon saw a large robot walking down below towards an opening door while two research team camels were walking towards a different one at the other end of the room. The train stopped for another blast door to open as Gordon watched the robot, reminded about how much had been done in just five decades. While these robots were similar to the magical constructs of the past, these were far more efficient and did not take an amazing spell caster to make.

“If you have an associate with a background in the areas of: theoretical physics, biotechnology, or other high-tech disciplines, please contact our civilian recruiting division. The White Mesa Facility is an equal opportunity employer,” the train reminded. Not that Gordon needed reminding. Almost everyone he knew worked at White Mesa.

After passing another blast door, the train reached a dead end and started descending.

“A reminder: that the White MesaHazard Course decathlon will commence this evening at 1900 hours in the Level 3 facility. The semi-finals for high security personnel will be announced in a separate secure access transmission. Remember: more lives than yours may depend on your fitness,” the train announced.

When the train stopped, it started backwards, towards a robot and green glow that Gordon could see in the distance. The train slowed down to a crawl as it passed the robot, and sped up again when it got passed. The green glow was soon found out to be a biohazard leak from a storage tower.

“A reminder to all White Mesa personnel: regular radiation and biohazard screenings are a requirement of continued employment in the White Mesa Research Facility. Missing a scheduled urinalysis or radiation checkup is grounds for immediate termination. If you feel you have been exposed to radioactive or other hazardous materials in the course of your duties, contact your radiation safety officer immediately. Work safe, work smart. Your future depends on it,” the train grimly reminded.

Two research ponies panicked at a control panel, the pool of toxic liquid almost spilling into their platform, showing Gordon exactly why he should be careful.

“Sucks to be them,” Black Jack joked.

Gordon frowned, a bit confused. Black Jack was not one to make grim jokes like that.

A beep sounded, bringing him out of his thoughts. “Now arriving at Sector C Test Labs And Control Facilities. Please stand back from the automated door, and wait for thesecurity officer to verify your identity. Before exiting the train, be sure to check your area for personal belongings. Thank you, and have a very safe and productive day,” the train said.

Gordon looked out and saw the entrance to Sector C, and the earth pony guard Gordon knew as Azure Hoof walking to the edge of a platform to get them. By the time the train had stopped, the guard was already there and ready to open the door. Gordon and Black Jack got up from their seats. Gordon waited at the door. He wanted to get down to the test chamber quick before his tardiness pissed off his co-workers even more.

“Morning, Mr. Freecolt, Mr. Jack,” the officer greeted as he put in a code to open the door.

“Looks like you're running late,” he noted as the door opened.

Gordon and Black walked out of the train as the door closed behind them and the train departed. The small walk towards the sector airlock spent in silence until Azure spoke up.

“You know, Barney has been rather scarce lately,” Azure mentioned. “Tch, guess his bar tab must’ve finally caught up with him,” he joked.

Gordon smiled. ‘Yeah, that does sound like his friend.’

They reached the airlock and Azure punched in another code to open the entrance to the airlock. Gordon and Black walked in, door closing behind them. A griffon behind bulletproof glass looked at Gordon then frowned.

“Ah, c’mon, you cut the ponytail,” he said. Referring to Gordon’s decision to cut his mane short. “Sell out,” he added.

Gordon ignored this as he and Black stood at the next door, waiting for the guard to finish putting his code in. After he was done, Gordon heard the clicks from various locks from the door, and he prepared to enter Sector C.