“No matter what happens, HOLD THIS POSITION!”

The sun was starting to get close to the horizon as best as Chrome could tell through the ever present cloud cover over head by the time him and Mercy crested a hill and looked down on what Chrome could only assume was Rally Point.

The town was somewhat large and surrounded on all sides by a wall of stacked sky carriages both military and civilian four high. Inside the wall spaced every thirty meter was a tall guard tower that gave the ponies inside clear views of the sounding area. The area leading up to the town was clear of anything that could conceal anypony trying to sneak up on the town for 300 meters out. The gate that the road lead to had four guard towers inside the wall and two smaller ones on either side of it. In front of the smaller guard towers was sandbag barricades set in a random pattern to keep somepony from being able to run straight at the gate.

As they neared Chrome saw the ponies manning the towers inside the wall carried large scoped rifles while a second pony next to each sniper had binoculars scanning the horizon. The two smaller towers outside the gate sported a minigun each with a pony behind them ready to use them if need be. Behind the sand bags at least a dozen ponies were scattered and armed with either a shotgun or carbine rifle. Every single weapons was aimed at Chrome and Mercy and tracking them as they approached the gate.

“Not another step farther unless you want to become bloody stains on the road!” A female voice yelled at them and Chrome could see a yellow unicorn mare with an orange mane holding a device in her magic that was connected to a smaller one next to her that seemed to lead to speakers attached to the two small towers.

Without a word Mercy stopped in her tracked and Chrome followed her lead. “Lay down any weapons or explosives you are carrying on the road and prepare to be searched. “ The mare told them.

“Oh come on Hallow, do we really got to do this same song and dance every damn time I come by?” Mercy called loudly to the mare.

“No Mercy you know the rules, no one gets into Rally Point unless we know exactly what they are carrying. Any high level weapons will be confiscated till you leave.” The mare replied with annoyance in her voice, apparently Mercy must say the same thing every time.

“Fine!” Mercy yelled back and started to remove both his revolver and rifle as well as his hidden knife. “Best do as they say stable pony, or else they won’t let you into the town and may just shoot you on the spot.” He said looking at Chrome who quickly removed Melody from his saddle backs and set it on the ground and followed Mercy as he stepped back.

A few second after they backed away four ponies started to make their way through the sandbag maze towards them two armed with carbines and two with shotguns, all of which were trained on Mercy and Chrome as they neared and a stallion kicked the guns and knife closer to the barricade. “Stay still, any attempt to resist will be met with force. Any hostile act will be met with lethal force.” The stallion said nodded at the two mares and second stallion with him who approached the two travelers. The stallion stayed back keeping his shotguns trained on both of them, his mouth near the bit read to fire if needed.

The two mares and stallion patted down Mercy and Chrome, dug through there saddle bags, even checked their Pip-bucks inventory screens before doing another pat down and checking Chromes mane and tail, and Mercy’s tail with fine toothed combs they pulled from their saddle bags. Once they were done with the combs one of the mares nodded and turned back to the stallion. “They are clean.”

The stallion nodded. “Check in with the Sargent at the check point. “He said nodding back towards the yellow mare with the loudspeakers. Mercy nodded and him and Chrome walked over and with the four ponies around them and picked up their guns.

The four ponies escorted them through the sandbags till they reached the mare with the loud speaker who had moved off to a small shed built under one of the smaller towner. “Please sign in and list any and all weapons you are carrying as well as your business in Rally Point.” The mare sad as she stepped around the desk in the small shed and placed a ledger on top of it along with a pencil. “And if you cause any trouble for residents of Rally point you will be subjected to either time in the brig or for more serious offences executed on the spot by one of the guards.” She said stiffly eyeing both of them.

“Come on sergeant Hallow Point, when have I ever caused trouble?” Mercy asked and Hallow Point rolled her eyes.

Once the two of them had finished signing in Hallow Point looked over the book and nodded then looked at them as a smile crossed her face. “Welcome to Rally Point, the safest place in the wasteland, please enjoy your stay.” She said and waved to one of the sniper towers and one of the ponies waved bellow the tower and the sound of a loud engine turning sounded along with an alarm and slowly the gates to Rally Point started to rise just enough to allow Mercy and Chrome passage inside of the wall before the engine cut out and the heavy gate slammed down again.

After making it through the layers of chain-link fencing that was set up inside the gate that forced them to walk back and forth along a set path while under the watchful eyes of half a dozen more guards Mercy and Chrome finally were allowed to enter rally Point proper. Chrome was shocked at all the ponies he saw walking around the town. There had been a lot of ponies in the stable but do to the way the halls were set up you never saw many of them in one place. But in Rally Point the streets were wide for the most part but would suddenly narrow at regular intervals and every pare of the street were packed with ponies going about their business or just enjoying walking around or looking at the shops that were set up near the gate. Sprinkled throughout the ground Chrome caught glimpses of more ponies dressed in the same dark green combat armor and helmets as the gate guards move in groups of two throughout the crowd.

“Quite a sight isn’t it stable pony?” Mercy asked looking at him and Chrome blink realizing he had been staring. “Yeah that’s how all newcomer react when they see Rally Point. Not a lot of place in the wasteland are this safe except for places like Tenpony but those ponies are assholes so few people ever get to see the inside. But no one has ever been able to take the town and trust me, many have tried.” Mercy said as he moved through the crowd. “But you saw just how they defend the gate, mix that with the patrols around the wall, the snipers in the towers, the fact half the population is in the guard and has side jobs for when off duty, coupled with the fact a caravan group and mercenary company has their headquarters in the town and you have one hell of a defended town.” He chuckled as Chrome was struggling to keep up with him.

“Now then Stable Pony, this is where we part ways. “Mercy said as he stopped in front of shop with a picture of a pistol painted on the front. And he pointed a hoof down the street. “You’ll find an inn and restraint down that way, you can’t miss it.”

“Wh-what? You’re leaving?” Chrome stared at him.

Mercy stared at Chrome. “Well duh, what you thought I was going to baby sit your ass forever? Fuck no! I was being nice and getting you to this town, now you’re on your own. Do whatever the fuck you want but you’re not coming with me. I got business to deal with and you’ll just get in the way.” A small bag levitated out of Mercy’s saddle bags and he tossed it at Chrome who caught it barley. “That’s your cut of the caps we scavenge while you were with me. It’s not much but should get you a room and a meal. I recommend trying to find work, though it shouldn’t be hard as there are always things breaking down and a properly trained maintenance worker is extremely rare.” And with that Mercy turned and walked into the shop leaving Chrome staring after him

Chrome looked around himself. He didn’t have any idea what to do. He was pretty sure if he tried to follow Mercy anyways he’d most likely shoot Chrome. But he didn’t know anyone else out here. Chrome stood there a long time till a guard finally told him to move along as ponies were starting to complain about the earth pony standing in the middle of the road. Sighing Chrome made his way down the street towards the inn Mercy had told him about, it was as good as any place to start trying to figure things out.

<<>>

Chrome woke up the next morning and stretched before rolling out of his bed at the Inn. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes with one of his hooves before looking at his Pip-Bucks clock. “Fuck I’m late!” he said and grabbed his utility barding and put it on and headed for the door, freezing when he found it was the stable door it should be. “Oh…yeah…”He said his ears drooping as the memories returned to his now awake mind and he sighed shaking them from his head. He needed to get some food and then try to find work. The caps Mercy had given him wouldn’t last more the two days. He’d gotten lucky and scored a free meal and discount on the room last night by fixing the owners radio, Mercy had been right about the lack of trained maintenance ponies out on the wastes.

Sighing once more he left his room and made his way down to the common room of the Haven Inn. As he reached the foot of the stare the owner a cyan earth pony mare with a green and purple mane by the name of Glory Spring smiled at him. “Why good morning Chrome, did you have a good night?” She asked in a cheerful voice and Chrome nodded. “From how you looked last night you defiantly needed it. “She chuckled. “So will you be staying for breakfast or will you be heading out to try and find work?”

“I could use some breakfast if it’s not too much trouble Glory Spring.” He said and she chuckled.

“Please darling call me Glory, you don’t need to be so formal.” She said as he started to make a couple of snack cakes. They had already had a talk last night about the fact he didn’t eat meat and when her learned other ponies did he was glad his stomach had been empty at the time.

Chrome took a seat at the bar. “How much?” He asked fishing in his saddlebags foe the bag of Caps.

“I decided that for fixing my radio I’d extend the free meal to include breakfast too. “Glory smiled at him and she slide the plate in front of him along with a Sparkle-Cola “Enjoy.” She said then turned and walked to the endo of the bar when a stallion called for food.

Chrome ate in silence; he had to admit for 200 year old food the snack cakes were very good. Once they were finished and the cola drank he pushed away from the bar and headed out into the busy streets of Rally Point
.

<<>>

Chrome cursed as his wrench slipped off the bold and his head collided with the generator’s outer casing. Cursing still he rubbed where he was hit before he grabbed his wrench again. “You ok Chrome? “Asked one of the town guards peeking into the shed that housed the generator.
“I’m fine Sharp Eyes, wrench just slipped.” Chrome replied after removing the wrench from his mouth.

“Alright, be careful I don’t want to be held responsible if you get hurt or the generator gets damaged.” Sharp Eyes reply before he went back to standing guard at the generator door.

Chrome grabbed his wrench again and finished tightening the bolt then nodded before slipping the wrench into one of the loops on his barding. While Chrome had been wandering around the streets he had been approached by a lieutenant of the town guard asking if he was an actual stable trained utility pony. When he replied he was they had guided him to the side of the road and offered him a job to fix one of the generators of the town as it was having a few issues. When they offered 200 caps for the job Chrome had accepted right away much to the delight of the lieutenant who then led him to the generator she’d. The guard had let him in and been given order to keep an eye on him. While he might be working for them, they were very protective of what they had and wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to sabotage the generator.

Chrome stepped out of the shed. “Alright, that should do it for now, it’s not the best job but using old spare part scavenged from other generators it’s the best I can do. “ Chrome said and the guard nodded before retrieving the bag of caps from his saddle bags and handing them to Chrome. Thanking the guard Chrome made his way back into the crowd past the chain-link fence that surrounded the generator shed to start wandering around once more.

“Excuse me, Mr. Fragrance; may I have a word with you?” A male voice said behind him. When chrome turned he was greeted by a short red unicorn stallion in a dark blue suit and bowler hat with a dark blue mane.

“Yes?” Chrome asked.

“My boss would like to speak with you. “The stallion replied.

“Um…lead the way?” Chrome said and the stallion nodded before turning and walking into the crowd with Chrome following behind him.

The stallion lead Chrome through the crowd for some time till they came to a building with a sign that read “INFORMATION” above it. The stallion went into the door and chrome followed him into a somewhat clean room with several chairs lining one of the walls and a small able with several magazines on it. Across from the chairs was a small desk with a yellow unicorn mare in an old dress sitting behind it. “Wait here. “The stallion told him before going to the door that was behind the mare’s desk and knocking twice before entering.

Chrome took a seat in one of the chairs and looked around the room. “Well some one’s nervous.” The mare said looking at him from behind her desk.

“Oh…um…no not really.” Chrome said and the mare giggled before shaking her head and going back to whatever it was she had been doing.

After a few minutes the stallion from before came out of the door. “The boss will see you now.” He said stepping to the side of the door. Chrome got to his hooves and walked in with the Stallion right behind him.

The room beyond was much different than the one Chrome had been waiting in; books lined one of the walls with a painting across from them. In the center of the room was a well preserved dark wooden desk with papers stacked on top of it and a terminal with a white stallion with a red main in a black suit sitting behind it. What caught Chrome’s attention the most though were the two griffins on standing in opposite corners of the groom behind the desk wearing leather armor and seeming to glare at him when he entered.

“Thank you Poker Face, you may leave us.” The stallion behind the desk said in a well-spoken voice and Chrome heard the stallion behind him leave and close the door. “Please sit Mr.’ Fragrance, no need to stand.” The stallion gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. Chrome carefully took a seat. “Now then you are probably wondering who I am and why I’ve asked you here.” Chrome nodded.” Well the answer to the first question is my name is Grand Scheme, I run this branch of the Information Brokers in this part of the wasteland. And for the question that just formed in your mind, we deal in information on many subjects ranging from the minor to the deepest darkest secrets. You’d be surprised what ponies are willing to pay for certain pieces of information.” Grand Scheme chuckled.

“As for why I asked you here I am in position of a bit of information you may be interested in. “he smirked. “It is about that friend you came into town with, No Mercy.” Chrome started to open his mouth to speak. “Ah ah, I said there is a price to the information we deal in, this is a shop same as all the others. There is a Price to the information.” He said as he leaned back. “It’s a simple trade, one piece of information for another.”

Chrome looked at the stallion for a long while before nodding. “I thought you would be interested. “He chuckled. “It is a very simple piece of information I seek, one I think you very well possess.” He smiled widely as he looked at Chrome. “Tell me everything you know about the large bloom of flame that came out of the base of the mountain a few days ago.”

Chrome blood froze in his veins as he was reminded of what happened to his Stable. “Ah I see I have touched on a bad memory, I do apologize, but several people saw the flames as they shot very high into the sky you see and sadly I haven’t had anypony available to go and investigate. And then what do I learn walked into town yesterday? None other than a pony fresh from a stable wearing scorched utility barding. Now you can’t tell me that is a coincidence.” Grand Scheme smiled wider. “All you needed to do is tell me what you know and I’ll tell you what I know, simple isn’t it?”

Chrome stared at the stallion, his mouth dry as he remembered the smell and the sight of everyone he ever knew nothing more than burned husks. There was no reason he needed to think about it or even tell Grand Scheme anything. It’s not like No Mercy hadn’t made it clear they weren’t friends and that he was just leading him to the closes town to dump him off. But…No Mercy was the only pony Chrome knew out here, at least enough to say he knew anything about the stallion. And the stallion could have just left Chrome to die in the wasteland.

Chrome looked at the floor and took several deep breaths before he looked back up at Grand Scheme’s smiling face. “Alright…deal.”

“I knew you’d agree. “He chuckled. Chrome took another breath and told the stallion everything he knew about the last day of Stable 173. Ending with him emerging into the wasteland as the only survivor. “My…that is very unfortunate. “Grand Scheme said, during Chrome’s telling of what had happened the smile had slowly slipped from his face and was replaces with a look of sadness. He shook his head. “I am very sorry to hear you had to go through such an ordeal. It seems I am in debted to you as I don’t believe the information I have is equal to making you have to relive what happened to you. You must understand I had no idea it would be something like that.” He said and shook his head sadly. “A deal is a deal, I’ll give you what I know about your friend.”

He leaned forward putting his hooves on his desk. “You see yesterday your friend accepted a job to hunt down and wipe out some slavers that have been terrorizing the area. From what I’ve heard he found their hide out, unfortunately it seems one of their snipers got a lucky shot and he was knocked unconscious. In short, you friend has been captured by slavers Mr. Fragrance.”

Author's Note

LEVEL-UP!
New Perk Added: Lucky Streak: This perk permanently adds a +1 to your luck.

New Quest Perk: Information Debt: The regions Information Brokers owe you information do to the price of what you gave them. This perk can only be used once on certain pieces of information.