Fallout Equestria: Operation Suscitabo Solis

The morning came soon enough. Nothing had changed, still the dreary gray cloud covered sky. No rain thankfully. I rolled over and got up. I had a lot to do today. I reviewed my plan in my mind as I ate. Yup, meet the Initiate in the cave, then knock him out and take his gear. Hide my wings under the uniform and then head back to the base. Use his tags to get in, and then find a way into the hangars. My lack of voice I'd blame on a sore throat. Sure it wasn't the greatest plan, but what else did I have to go with? No other pony was crazy enough to try it, so just maybe the Rangers wouldn't expect it. It would either work or I'd end up as a pile of glowing ash.

I didn't want to think about that part too much. The day was mostly uneventful up until I was ready to head out. I grabbed the cloak and pulled it over my stable jumpsuit. I wouldn't need weapons for this mission, I'd be borrowing from the Rangers. It all seemed to be working well up to the point when I was waiting in the cave. Okay, he should have been here by now. Something was up. I got down from where I was perched and looked out the cave entrance. Then I felt a sharp metallic crack on the back of my head. Ow! What was that? I didn't have much time to think or react as darkness poured into my vision and I slumped to the ground.

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring up at a metal roof with some kind of retractable light hanging over my head. I looked side to side and quickly realized I was somewhere in the Airbase hangars. Okay,not raiders. But how the heck did I get here? Had the Rangers known? I rolled off the bed and tried to figure out how long is been out. An hour? Two hours? Long enough that I had no idea what time of day it was. The lack of windowsill the place didn't help either.

"So your up now! I was starting to worry."

An older pink coated mare walked into the room. Procter Raspberry. I'd recognize her anywhere. I looked down for my slate, but it wasn't there. I looked up in embarrassment that I couldn't respond.

"It's okay Amaria, I know what your thinking. How did I be up here? It's quite simple really. We brought you here. Star Paladin Big Red took action before you did something stupid."

I looked at her in surprise.

"We figured out what you were up to a couple days ago. A pony with your determination was bound to get in. I still wonder why you never asked to see the Elder?"

She handed me the slate from the nearby counter and I quickly put in on.

"Do you feel funny at all? Any numbness anywhere? Any pain?"

I shook my head no. I actually felt pretty good considering what had happened.

"I did ask to see the Elder, and was refused." I wrote. "Was I supposed to just rot away out there and forget about the chip?"

Raspberry paused a moment.

"The Elder sometimes does things for unknown reasons. However, I think he's trying to protect you from something."

"Protect me from knowing who and what I am?" I wrote. "Seems a bit crazy."

"I knew you'd be a handful since the first time I saw you." Raspberry said softly. "Your reckless, but in a good way. Reminds me of myself when I was younger. Now, enough chit-chat. Elder Corncob has asked to see you. I suspect it's about your attempted break in."

I gulped. Oh great, now the Rangers were pissed at me. Raspberry noticed my panic.

"It's okay, he just wants some answers, he's not mad at you. I actually think he's a bit surprised you'd try something like this in the first place. Now if you'll follow me please."

She turned and walked out the door. I followed her down a series of halls and rooms. Some were empty, others looked like classrooms, storage rooms. And plenty of Steel Rangers everywhere. Initiates, Knights, scribes, squires filled most of the place. Perhaps it wasn't so bad my plan hadn't worked. I would have had quite the time getting around in here without getting noticed. For an old airbase the place was surprisingly big. I wasn't sure if it had always been this large, or if the Rangers had added on to it. Regardless, they certainly had done a good job keeping it together. We turned yet another corner and faced a large door with two Rangers in full power armour on either side of the door. They both had massive beam guns on their battle saddles. Gatling beam guns, if I wasn't mistaken. Raspberry walked up to the door and opened it. I followed close behind, not really wanting to be left outside. Inside was a large well lit room with round table in the centre. Holographic projections flickered above the table. I'd heard of these tables, but never actually seen one. Apparently they'd been quite common military hardware back in the day. An elderly buck with a long white beard leaned over the table, not really paying attention to anything. He heard us coming, and looked up. He made a gesture to Raspberry, who turned and disappeared into a door on the side.

"So, I do everything in my power to protect you from the wasteland, and it it isn't enough for you. No, you have to go disappear for hours on end countless times, and now you try to infiltrate our base. Peculiar."

I just stood there. Elder Corncob seemed to have a change of tune just then.

"Look, I just want to know why your doing all this. Okay?" He said in a calmer tone.

Okay, this was my chance. I flipped up my slate and started writing. Then I showed him.

"Ah, the chip. You never forgot that did you. I am assuming you want it, and an explanation what it's about. Sadly, we are limited in our knowledge of what is contained on the chip. It uses a specific port that will only work on a specific Pipbuck. Where that Pipbuck is, we do not fully know."

"What am I?" I wrote.

" That is a interesting question. As you are likely aware, you are much larger than a pegasi mare should be for your age. We suspect that for whatever reason, the ponies who put you in that Stable also managed to genetically modify you somehow. We also found additional implants when we used our Auto-Doc to check for injuries when you were out"

"What?" I wrote. "How? I've got Strength, Healing and some Purifying thing , but what else?"

" There are two implants on your brain. I have little knowledge of what they do, but I can safely assume they are responsible for extended memory of some kind, and may also increase your cognitive functions. There is also an additional implant in your torso that I have only seen once before. I believe it to be some kind of combat enhancement. Who ever put these in you was certainly planning for something. Now, I have more questions for you. How did you manage to evade us so often, and even get into the perimeter of our base with being seen?"

" I really don't know. I just did what came to mind." I wrote.

I was telling it as it literally was. I had planned what to do, but not really how to do it. That part had just kind of 'happened' as I needed it. The Elder looked a bit surprised.

" Remarkable. You've been using techniques that take even the best ponies years to master. And you say they just pop into your head? Truly remarkable."

I'd always kind of wondered myself where I got some of my ideas. Well, even how I knew how to fix so much stuff. I'd never done that stuff before I was sealed in that Stable. Maybe implants weren't so bad after all if they let me do this kind of stuff.

"I assume your going to ask about the Stable you were put in. I honestly hoped I'd never have to do this." He sighed. "From what the Steel Rangers collective knowledge has compiled on various pre-war research and projects, it was found that there were several 'black' programs. Programs so secret even the Princesses themselves knew little to nothing of them. You, I believe, are the possibly the key to one of these, and wee sealing in the Stable for a specific time to activate the program. We have collected a few fragments of of information on it, but it isn't a lot to go on. A project called by two words, but only one could be made out. Suscitabo, or in its proper singular form, Resuscitabo. In the common language it means Raise. The other word remains a mystery. Due to Cataegis Industries research into extreme magical energy uses, it has been assumed that it was some kind of weapons program. Something that could have changed the war. Now, you are likely wondering why I am telling you all this now."

I nodded, fascinated to be hearing this for the first time in well... ever. He continued.

" I initially wanted to keep this whole discovery quiet. Keep you out of it, and out of harms way. As you should be aware, the Pegasus Enclave knows of this as well, and would likely use you in horrible ways to access it."

"Then why did one of them try to strangle me to death?" I wrote.

"He was likely after the implants in your brain, and was willing to kill you to get to them. The Enclave is cruel and thoughtless. They care nothing for the lives of ponies down here!" He snorted angrily.

Okay, somepony did not like the Enclave. He continued on.

"When it became apparent that you weren't going to sit around in New Springs and behave like a normal pony, but rather gave the patrols question drills and then disappeared for long periods of time, I decided that perhaps withholding information would only lead to you doing something drastic. It turns out that you did just that, but we caught it just in time. I was planning on inviting you here for a friendly discussion about this, but it appears fate had different plans. That leads us to the matter at hand. Both you and I want to find out what this project is. We want answers. The Steel Rangers can not send Knights to do this, as it would be far too obvious that we were looking for something. You, on the other hand, are a single non-obvious pony."

I looked at him with my head tilted slightly. He cleared his throat.

"Well, relatively non-obvious. Sure your a bit different, but shouldn't stick out too much. Now, I know you aren't going to need much for fighting training to head out into the wastes. The last two days have proven a lot about your skill."

"A few questions?" I wrote.

"Certainly. Ask away" He replied.

"Okay, so I know you guys were watching me and all that. Fine. But why so secretive about it? Why not let the ponies in town know your protecting them?"

"You are our primary goal. The other ponies are merely there. They were useful for the time being. Now their use is done. I will comment no further about this." Elder Corncob replied.

Okay, so now I was beginning to see it all come together. The Steel Rangers were going to use me to get some kind of super weapon, trampling and using any pony possible to achieve that goal. Great. I didn't really have any options here, so I decided I'd just agree with it. But if there was a weapon, the Rangers sure as Tartarus weren't going to get it if I had any say in the matter. Not if they were going to take advantage of ponies to do it. I then wrote down my final question.

"I need to find out what's on that chip. Where to start to find the PipBuck?"

The Elder shrugged.

" New Pegasus would likely be the best place to start looking. Now, before you go, Raspberry will escort you to our armoury. If you are going to make it out there your going to need some gear."

" So, I really have no choice then?" I wrote.

"No, not the way I see it. Find and bring back what ever this project is. So, yes or no?"

"Yes."

Okay not the way I'd like it to be, but if they were going to give me stuff I wasn't about to complain. Following their demands was another matter. Procter Raspberry returned as the Elder levitated out the square black chip the placed it on my outstretched hoof. I quickly pocked it, and thanked the Elder. The armoury was huge. Freaking huge. Power armour everywhere. Guns of various sizes lined the racks. Ammo by the crate load. These ponies didn't mess around when it came to weapons. I selected a basic set of combat armour, consisting of chest and leg pieces. Heavier than what I was used to, but it would work better. Weapons, well that was a different story. They didn't let me have any of the battle saddle weapons. Darn. I wanted that .50 cal rifle so bad. My allowed options were the more common firearms and basic beam weapons. None of the pistols interested me. Too small, and I rarely used them. The rifles were mostly small caliber or automatic. Not my thing. I did however find a few boxes of beam rifle parts. I inquired about these, and was told if I could make them work, I could have them. Sweet! My beam rifle was going to get completed. I took a couple different barrels, a few lenses, a long scope, and a recoil compensating stock. I nearly pissed myself when I found an overcharged beam receiver. Sure it was slightly broken, but I could strip some parts off it no problem. My Stable jumpsuit also got an upgrade. They put some kind of lining that I'd never heard of into it. Apparently it could now resist beam weapons better. The final item I received was a Steel Ranger holotag. This I was told was so that any Rangers wouldn't interfere with me. Yeah, more like they had a tracking device on it. I just took it, but I certainly wasn't keeping it. A few hours later and I was being escorted back with several boxes to New Springs by Big Red himself, who apologized profusely for knocking me out. For a big tough stallion he definitely had a soft side. I had to reassure him twice that I was fine. Apparently he'd had to use a stealth buck to pull that off, and he didn't feel it was fair. The rest of the evening I spent tinkering on my beam rifle. I managed to retrofit most of the parts onto my beam rifle, and tweaked the firing capabilities a bit. The first shot I took with it let out a low buzzing roar as it shot blue beam, completely incinerating a small boulder. Okay, this thing was powerful. Not as actuate as I'd like it to be, but I could fix that once I found a beam focuser. I gathered up a small pile of ammo, food, meds, and the few small items that that I considered special. I sorted these into my saddle bags and the packed up the .44 magnum for delivery. Rather coincidental I needed to go to New Pegasus for two things now. Tomorrow it was off to New Pegasus.

The next morning I was up before the sun. I slipped on the X-27 jumpsuit and strapped on the combat armour plates. I then tossed on my saddle bags, slung both my .308 and my new beam rifle on either side, and then tucked over the back dusty riot cloak. My get up was a bit heavier than I liked to carry, but all it would affect was how long I could fly. I tucked the black chip into an inner pocket of my jumpsuit, and then headed out the door. I locked it behind me, and placed the key in a crack under the door frame. I took a look back at the little shack as I headed into town. I wondered if I'd ever see it again. Perhaps, but it was one big wasteland out there, and I was just one pony. Anything could happen. I tried to not think about it too much. As I walked through town, I definitely gathered some attention. I heard low conversations between the ponies as they watched me pass. Probably the armour and dual rifles I thought. Even the Sheriff managed to sit straight up and stare in bewilderment. He'd probably never seen a pony so heavily armed in his entire existence. I chuckled to myself. And here they thought I was just the crazy mute repair pony who asked weird questions. I paid them no mind and continued on my way. Flax saw me and ran up to me.

"Are you going?" She asked. " I knew you would eventually." I saw the slightest trace of a tear in her eye.

"Hey Flax, I'm sorry about this. It's not your fault or any pony else's. I've got some very important stuff to do, and I can't wait around on it." I wrote.

"Will you come back?" Flax asked.

"I don't know, I'll try to if I can." I wrote after wiping off the first words.

"Okay, be safe." She replied.

"You too." I wrote back. I was going to miss her. She was perhaps the lonely pony who I could actually have a good talk with. I wasn't like her friend or anything, but we got along well. I turned and continued out of town. I looked down over miles of sand, rocks, and scatter remains of society. Off in the far distance to the north west was one of those M.A.S.E.B.S. towers. It was impressive to thing that they had stayed standing all these years. New Pegasus was somewhat south west of here. I headed off in that direction. I soon found the crumbling remains of the I-15 and followed them towards my destination. Sure the raiders attacked this route, but it was a better option than going overland and running into Goddesses knows what. Giant radscorpions, hell hounds, raider camps, anything was possible out here. I didn't feel like testing my luck out on those. I followed the trail of cracked pavement and rusted out wagons till the light started to fade. I opted to stay in an old service station for the night. Just barricade myself in, and I should be fine. If only things worked that well. I pushed open the door, and no sooner than I was three hoof lengths in, the floor gave out into a nest of mole rats. Fuck! Nearly scared to shit out of me. I flew out of there in hurry and opted for the roof. From there I shot the few that had followed me out the door. Well, for day one this wasn't too eventful. I had a light supper of a few greens and bread, but I didn't fall asleep immediately. No, not out here. I leaned up against the metal sign of the station, and listened to the sounds caring over the night air. I could pick out most of them, but nothing hostile. Just bugs, mole rats, and other creatures.

"Hello!" A metallic voice sounded right behind me.

My heart lurched into my mouth as I whirled and fired point blank into the Spritebot hovering mere feet away from me. Blam. It crackled and sparked as it fell to the roof. I breathed heavily, trying to regain composure. Okay, how the heck had this gotten so close without me noticing? Even more peculiar was the fact that it had talked. What the fuck? Since when did they talk? Okay, this was just too weird. Something was after me, and I wasn't sticking around to find out who or what. I grabbed my things and took off at a low flight down the old highway. I'd already dropped the holotag down an old toilet some miles back, so there was no way it was the Rangers tracking me. Two sprite bots within only a few days. This couldn't be coincidental. You are usually lucky to see one every month out here. And that's when I ran smack into raiders. Only I saw them before they saw me, so I had enough time to hide above a dune beside the road. I peered over the crest of the dune with my scope as they passed, but caught the slightest glint of light from the opposite dune. A scope? I looked again, and caught a slight shadow as it moved behind the dune. Definitely a sniper. Maybe the same one from the radio? Either way I wasn't going to give my position away by firing if there was another sniper here. I ducked down and made a side pass around the dune as the other sniper opened up on the raiders. Sure I was missing out on the raiders, but going hoof to hoof with another sniper wasn't happening tonight. Especially after that Spritebot. I eventually found a partially intact passenger wagon that was on its roof and crawled under it for the night. Not pleasant by any means, but it would suffice. I awoke next morning the sound of distant voices. I carefully peered out from under the overturned wagon, but saw nothing. I crawled out and peeked over the side. There. A few hundred feet off stood three strangely coloured creatures. A thought came to my mind. Alicorns, but how? The princesses were long gone, so these certainly weren't them. I felt uneasy as I watched them. No cutie marks on their flanks. Weird. Okay, so a lot of stuff was strange out here in the wasteland, but this was a whole new category of strange. As I listened, I picked out small snippets of their conversation.

"Is she the one the Goddess wants?"

"We don't know."

"She has that weird blue suit, she has to be!"

"The Goddess hasn't said anything yet. We will follow this one until we know."

Then they vanished in a flash. Okay, either I was imagining shit or just crazy. I didn't hang around to find out. More smashed wagons and more cracked pavement. A couple radscorpions, but that's about all I encountered for then next few hours. Barring any more strange occurrences I should be able to nearly make it to New Pegasus by nightfall. That's when I heard the screams. I twitched my ears forward. Definitely in front on me. I picked up my pace to a brisk run as I closed the distance. Two bucks in some kind of leather and metal getup had corned a mare against a fallen over billboard. I levelled my beam rifle and trotted up. The mare was cowering and sobbing.

"None of your concern, move on!" Barked one of the bucks as they levelled their shotguns at me. "Lower your guns or is my concern." I quickly wrote on my slate.

They stared at me a moment, then whispered to each other.

"What kind of gun is that?"

"I don't know, but I don't want to find out."

"What's that plate armour? Talons or something?"

"If she's with them, I'd rather not mess with her."

They then both lowered their guns

"Okay, whoever your with, just please don't shoot us." the one said to me.

Apparently my getup made them think I was with some kind or mercenary group. Okay, I could work with this.

"What's going on here?" I wrote.

"Simple, she refused to pay the bodyguard fee for trading this highway. So if she won't pay caps, she'll pay the other way." he explained with a snicker.

The mare peeked out from behind her hooves and whimpered.

"What's this 'other' way?" I wrote.

"Oh, the GOOD way!"and started to laugh.

Okay, didn't like this. Extorting ponies for caps, and then if they didn't pay, this? An idea flashed in my mind.

"Alright, you've had your fun, but if you so much as touch my client again, I'll put you down. Got it?" I wrote.

I stared long and hard at the two bucks. They seemed awfully nervous.

"Okay, okay, we're sorry we bothered you, just let us go please?"

I motioned with my hoof down the road. They took off in a hurry. So, that had worked alright. I came up to the mare, who was still sobbing.

"Th.th. thank you." She blubbered.

"It's okay. I'd do the same for any pony." I wrote.

She smiled and got up, wiping away her tears. She was probably only around 21, just a couple years older than me.

"I suppose you want something for that?" She said as she dug in her saddle bag.

"What? Oh no, I don't want anything." I quickly wrote.

She looked relieved.

"What's with the slate?" she inquired".

"Can't talk. Long story." I wrote.

"Oh, sorry." She replied.

"It's okay. Where are you headed?" I asked.

"Just a bit further down the road. I was just trying to deliver this letter to a farm when those bucks got me. Mind if I tag along for a bit until then?"

"No problem." I wrote.

We kept on moving, not really talking, but I knew she was definitely happy I'd happened to come down the highway when I did. A while later she turned off to the side and waved good bye. I returned the wave and kept on my way. I could help but feel watched though. Something was definitely out there. I kept on going as if I knew nothing, but I constantly twitched my ears back and forth scanning for any sounds. As the light began to fade, the illuminated hulk of New Pegasus came into view. Multicoloured lights shone from a centre mass of buildings, while an other ring was barely lit by dim yellow light. Nothing like I remembered it. Sure most of the building were still there, but most were crumbling burnt out hulks now. Nothing of the shining clean office buildings and apartments was here now. Even the bustling cloud city above was gone. It had apparently taken a direct hit from a balefire bomb, but somehow a defence shield had covers most of the city on the ground. The area was surprisingly devoid of wreckage. Likely scavenged for building material, or all incinerated years ago. I tried to not think about that too much. All those defenceless ponies who had died. I came up to gate, and was halted by one of the guards. He looked me over, and then asked me my purpose.

"Delivery." I wrote.

"Alright, your clear to go in, but don't try any funny business. No shooting or your weapons will be confiscated."

I nodded in agreement, and the fate was swung open. I slightly dark street bordered by dilapidated brick buildings was on the other side. A walked in, and the gate was slammed behind me. That's when I noticed him. A dark grey pegasi stallion with black mane and orange eyes peered at me from a corner of an alley. I caught a slight silhouette of a rifle barrel at his side, but not a lot else from due to the shadows. When he noticed I was looking at him as well, he ducked back into the alley.