Fallout Equestria: Remnants

Time: 0900

Location: Containment Force Armory

the captain told us lots of what happened he says he doesn't remember the past 200 years but knows how the Ship has gone to shit and how the disease that was going around mutated and prevailed againt the vaccine.

"those egg heads were pretty devastated when that virus or disease mutated or what ever it was called...sometimes its hard to remember things every now and then...of what happened..."

"well...what did happen?...what happened to everypony and...the Overseeing Commander?"

"he is dead...I remember that part crystal clear...like it was moments ago"

he frowned and looked down as many of his own soldiers or some of the other ponies looked shocked as if they hadn't known them selves. were they frozen up like us too?

"hey wait a minute I recognize you! your that Elite thing that dated that mechanic mare!"

my ears perked up and I looked at a rather chubby security buck.

"I yes that's me! you knew Circuts?" I stared at him with hope, hope that maybe Circuts was still alive maybe even in a cryo chamber like us!

soon everypony looked at each other all whispering about Circuts

"yeah we knew her! she was the one who lead ponies like us to those chambers! if it weren't for her well...we would be extra bone décor to the floors..."

"so your the Elite who was with that mare...mother of Celestia how did I not recognize you earlier...oh thank Celestia were saved!"

they all started to talk to each other all full of hope. I didn't want to crush there hopes, but I had to tell them that I wasn't even fit for combat yet, I barely even know how to use a gun!

"I...look I'm No-"

"are you going to make the bad ponies go away?"

a small filly looked up at me tugging my coat, she looked up at me with hope too. I just looked at the little filly, amazed that something innocent and beautiful still exists on this ruined ship. I couldn't back down now, I couldn't let innocent ponies be trapped here. not now

"yes I'm an Elite, and I was trained fully on close hoof to hoof combat along with Weaponry training"

I didn't lie about Hoof to Hoof combat, at least there were some truth.

the little filly smiled and jumped around happily running off to her mother who was a CONtainment soldier.

I looked at the captain and nodded

"ill help any way I can"

He grinned

"Finally some good news...right....right lets get you suited up and get you up to date on whats going on"

The captain yelled around at a couple of ponies that nodded and they escorted me to a Large room with shelves and shelves of protective equipment and crates of rifles and ammunition

"good goddesses you ponies have enough to supply a whole attack!"

one of the Bucks nodded and laughed.

"that's our plan! were gonna take over the ship one bit at a time! from those dam crazies"

"wait till you see what were gonna retrieve to really put a number on them fucking cannibals"

the mare spoke and chuckled

"so pretty much the captain wants you to choose anything here...also...isn't that the Commanders coat...?"

I looked at my white trench coat and nodded

"yeah it sure is, he gave it to me when I was just a filly"

they both just looked in awe and I just stood like an idiot and chuckled it felt weird for almost every pony to get worked up about something like me. I remember I was a experiment long ago, but a failed one according to my carte taker....

"Silver Line.."

"what was that?"

"hah, nothing anyways...ill take a look around see if I find anything"

they left and I wandered around the massive room full of killing devices and protective gear, nothing caught my eyes I wasn't too much of a fan of the CONtainment armor or the security gear either, I sighed softly thinking about Circuts now worried again. Next thing you know I was laying on the ground with a big metal crate laying on me

"cock sucking son of a fucking pig bastard bitch!" I kicked the metal crate off and the top broke, getting up surprised by my vulgarity. I trotted to pick up the crate to only find one thing in there, it was a Black Tactical vest, a big one too that was in good shape and it looked sharp as well.

"well well what do we have here..."

looking up at the broken shelf above I looked down at the vest and picked it up looking at its details it had four magazine pouches on the top and a few pockets at the bottom, peeking on the insides it had many pockets meant for Bullet resistant plates. and they were filled with heavy ones. I smiled and looked at my coat. I undid the cape and it fell to the floor leaving me with a fancy jacket. then I put the vest on zippering up and tightening it and I put on the cape again.

"whoa, fancy much there....you sure that's all, that's kinda...simple"

the buck said with a cocked brow"

"yeah I like this, just this is fine"

"alriiight"

they both led me back and the captain smiled

"so you say you know how to use any of the weapons yeah?"

I kinda hesitated

"yeah, just kinda rusty is all. but yeah I know how to use any weapon that we have"

he smiled and chuckled

"well then your gonna love what we have in store for you!"

he nodded his head to one of the guards and a couple of ponies carried a wooden crate out from under a table and placed it down. they opened it and lifted something out of it, placing it down they ripped the foam from it and pulled it out

"a Minigun?..."

I didn't know the first thing about those things! I felt nervous and my legs got shaky under my coat.

"nice huh?? the CONtainment force and the RFSF took the design from Equestria and fitted it to use this"

I looked at the giant weapon and started to think, If I was going to use it I might as well get a good look on how it works. Ive seen CONtainment soldiers use it when ever I would walk by the shooting range as a colt.

"wait until what were gonna take back..."

the captain walked over to a table and I followed him, he layed out a map of the whole Fleet ship and all of its levels and sectors, now I think of it, our home was gigantic. the ships length entirely was 4 kilometers and had 20 different large levels. he put his hoof on a certain part in the back. A large room it was, he was putting his hoof on a Hangar used to load things into the Fleetship back when it was first launched. It was one of the bigger places in the Fleetship.

"we happen to have a Walking Pilot with us..." he smiled "and were gonna go take this hangar back for one important reason...to get our hoofs on a UCCMS"

My eyes widened and I gasped

"the Universal Combat and Construction Mechanized Suit..."

The captain laughed and tapped his hoof on the map

"That's right, we move out early in the morning so get some rest...but...the only thing I ask from you is to cooperate and do what ever it takes to save ponies...and make sure that Pilot isn't hurt in anyway..."

Afterwards a couple of the ponies lead me to a small makeshift room that once served as a extra small room for the armoury, this place might as well be a safe house rather than a "armoury"

"Yay your gonna make the bad ponies go away?!"

The little filly from earlier ran into the room and tugged on my coat again. I couldn't help but smile and slowly sit

"That's right, all of us will make them go away"

She smiled happily and dug into a little bag she carried with her and pulled out a small figure of one of the famous violinists aboard the fleet ship, it was a figure of Pleasance Shine one of the talented violinists that played all sorts of styles. I don't know her much or I haven't listened much either but she's well respected. The little fully put the little figure on the floor and looked up at me

"I want you to have it, it's my lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky hero figure! My daddy gave it to me for my birthday!"

I looked at her surprised from how long the title of the little figure was, I chuckled and picked it up with my magic and looked at the little white Pegasus figure playing the violin with her wings

"Why don't you keep it? Your dad gave it to you after all"

She jumped a little like a little dog barking

"No I want you to have it! It will give you luck even though it may not seem like it it will never fail to save you from the deepest of problems!"

I started to laugh

"What's your name little one?"

The little fully tilted her head

"My name is Little Espy Jr! My momma named me after my big sister who is right now down in Equestria isn't that cool!"

I froze for a moment and stared down at the little gift. She has no idea how long it's been, I started to feel really bad for her still looking at the little figure

"What's wrong mister...don't you like it..."

"Huh no no of course I like it it love it in fact"

I picked the little filly up and hugged her

"Don't worry Little Epsy. I'll make the bad ponies go away"

The little filly giggled while I set her down again.

A mare in CONtainment armour walked around the corner and looked at me and then at her daughter.

"Come along Epsy, it's bed time"

The little filly quickly ran to her mother and followed her out

"Thanks, she needs friends after well...you know.....but thanks again..."

The mare said while they walked out.

I got up and sighed softly

"That's adorable"

Flare peeked her head around the corner of the door

"Yeah..."

Flare walked in and looked at the little figure that I still held with magic

"My isn't that Pleasance Shine?...is somepony a fan?"

"W-what?! No of course not that music is boring! That little filly gave it to me as a good luck charm"

Flare smiled and laughed a little

"That's adorable! I'm a little jealous"

Flare walked up and grabbed the figure with her magic and examined it

"Scratches...I think I bumped into you once when I was just a filly...I remember I was late for school and when the special ground units were returning I slammed into you..."

My eyes widened and I stared at her, I remember now. I was with my care taker and the Fleet Commander

"It was you...you were that filly huh..."

She smiled and blushed a little scratching the back of her head with her hoof

"Yeah...after that I realized who you were and well...I kinda...stalked you for a couple of years...well....kinda still do"

I stared at her with the most unamused look

"You....stalked...me...?"

She blushed even more

"D-don't take it the wrong way you idiot it's not like a have a crush on you!...I was just curious how you lived is all...since you were a big deal amongst the ponies"

"I see...well...we should get some rest big day tomorrow"

She nodded and agreed saying good night and left, I layed on my cot and looked at the little figure eventually falling asleep despite the noisy generator next door humming. I had fell into a deep dream.

"Don't be foolish pony!...all looks are deceiving"

The octogenarian zebra studied and judged me silently. He stood fast in a combat ready position

"I want to test your strength...hit me..."

I had told my teacher he is a bit old looking to be a trainer for Elite Experiments. I had offended him? I wasn't sure, I raised my hoof to strike him as he ordered.

"Foolish pony!"

Swiftly past judgment he in a blink of an eye swooped me off my hoofs into the air before slammed both of his hind hoofs into my chest, sending me on my back wheezing for air.

"W-what the hell is wrong with you?!"

I stood up and yelled "you told me to hit you and you continue t-"

I was again, sweeped off my hoofs, how ever this time the old buck forced my face into the cold hard floor causing my nose to bleed.

"First thing to learn about your enemy is to always pay attention! Bah! Your a waste of my time"

I wriggled out from under his hoof and stood up backing up, fearing that he might try something again

"Well at least tell me what's going o-"

I seen it, he struck when I was talking, a obvious off guard point for anypony. His hind hoofs moved again and he lowered himself once again he again was ready to use his entire lower body to swoop me off the ground again. Reacting quickly I turned and looked back and kicked but he rolled to his back and stopped my kick easily without effort.

"Ah, so you seen it"

He smiled and slowly got up, a bit shaky from his old age and looked up at me. I was convinced that looks were really deceiving, my ass was kicked by a old small Zebra

"Now that you know to always pay attention we shall begin our first lesson"

"And...what's this le-Gah!"

I held my throat as he just hit it with his hoof, he then jumped in the air and with a scary spin slammed the side of my head. I landed with a hefty thud on the metal floors as he landed silently and looked over smiling and laughed.

"The first lesson is to learn to pay attention all the time! Hahahah!"

Time:0600
Location: Containment Force Armoury

"Waaaaake up wake up!"

Flare ran and jumped on top of me and started to bounce pressing her hoofs on my stomach

"Gah! What?! What's going on?!"

I shoved her off and rolled off the cot hitting the floor, I expected to hear ponies screaming and rushing around but only to hear Flare giggling

"Hahah! You should've seen the look on your fa-"

Before Flare could say anything else a while cot was thrown at her knocking her down

"I'm going to eat breakfast..."

I sat down in a medium sized room with about 15 other ponies eating there meal. I looked down at a ration pack that said "Maple Oats"

"Huh...lets see...two century food that seems like a good idea"

I teared it open and took a bite of the cold oats packed together in a small aluminum like foul pack.

My ears perked up and I looked down at it, it wasn't all that bad it was actually pretty good. I then continued to stuff my muzzle in the packet until the captain walked up reading a dusty looking book.

"Hey, you know how you said your going to Equestria....? Well since your going I had found this old book in a locker from the Speacial Ground Unit's quarters..."

He said while flipping through the pages and tossed it on the table, I picked it up while still munching on the oats.

"Equestrian Mobile Task Force Presents...the Equestrian post-apocalyptic Survival Hoof Book...huh...I guess I'll give it a read"

"I'm sure it will come in handy...anyways I have somethings to take care of"

and with that he walks away, Flare right after plopped down beside me.

"So...what are we gonna do once we get down there?"

I looked over as she daintily opened up her ration with her magic.

"One thing at a time...lets focus on this first..."

After a hour the captain ordered a lot of his soldiers to line up by the door along with me after breakfast. There was about 20 CONtainment soldiers suited up in your normal set of Heavy Reactive combat armour and I along with a few others stood around the UCCMS pilot who stood there with nothing but a black jump suit on.

"Hey. Your that Elite thing huh?"

The pilot looked at me with a cocked brow

"Yeah...that's me..."

She just huffed

"I'm a little surprised your not boasting about such a thing, your okay in my book"

I gave a puzzled look

"Uh....thanks?"

"ALRIGHT listen up everypony. We are heading out now but before we go I just wanna recap on what's going down in a nutshell. That mare right there in the black jump suit!"

The captain pointed with his hoof

"Should be not harmed by anything at all costs! Remember when we get to the lower levels it's LEFT not right Hangar B-221! Don't get it mixed with the other local hangars! Now let's take back out home!"

Everypony cheered as the captain waved a pony to press the control the massive door. It slowly opened up separating into the sides and ceiling making a terribly loud rusty noise that echoed into the darkness.

"Go go go! Let's make this quick!"

Everypony charged forward into the dark hall, before I left Little Epsy waved.

"Good luck mister!"

I smiled and waved before running off with everypony else, with Flare by my side.

We passed by the ponies who tried to attack yesterday, I leaned down slowly and grabbed hold of my crowbar and yanked it from the mare's head. I was sickened and kept following the group as black ooze leaked from her head wound.

It was eerily quiet. We were all surprised that we haven't run into anything yet. A buck opened up a hatch to a ladder

"Everypony down here!"

Instead of using the ladder a lot of them just jumped down, no pony moved or said anything when they jumped down. I climbed down and found out why.

When I put my hoofs on the floor I was greeted with a thick slimy substance. It covered our fore hooves slightly

"Oh Celestia fuck me what is this shit?"

One of the soldiers yelled out

"I don't know maybe just some polluted water...after all it has been over 200 years..."

We all kept moving forward making our way through the high viscosity like fluid.

"Hey. This is a maintenance door, it should lead up to the hangar, panel is still working so...I should be able to work on it..."

One of the soldiers took off her helmet and with her horn started to fiddle with the panel with a bunch of instruments that I didn't know.

BANG

We all jumped and looked at the door.

"W-what was that..."

"It might be one of those crazies!"

"They can't get us....so when I open this door make sure you guys are re-"

Then a mare's voice muffled through the thick steel door

"Somepony please let me in! Is there any pony there please those things are after me!"

I quickly pulled a magazine from my vest and clipped it into the assault rifle I scavenged off that crazy pony earlier, I pulled the bolt back and turned the safety off and held it close to me as the mare at the door looked at me and nodded to me and a few others ready.

She slammed her hoof on the door control and it opened quickly, I stopped my self from shooting

"Stop!..."

We looked down at a dirty mare in a ruined mechanics uniform, she looked up at us crying

"Please help! There after me!"

I waved a couple of the soldiers to move forward with there rifles at the ready.

"Hey hey your okay now we got you what happened..?"

One of the bucks from the back walks forward and the mare clung to him

"I'm fine now....that we all get to see Celestia TOGETHER!"

The mare looked up with a crazed look and revealed a vest full of C4 blocks and started to laugh crazy as she pulled on a cord and the explosives beeped rapidly, everypony gasped, before I even knew it my self I shoved the buck to the side and turned and lowered my self and kicked the mare off her hoofs, I pulled my self forward again and with all my force smashed my hind hooves into her chest sending her flying back.

I realized what I had done and tried to warn the two soldiers in front

"WATCH OU-"

BOOM

I watched as the explosion decimated the crazed mare...along with the two soldiers that were in the hall. The force of the explosion sent nearly all of us into the disgusting water.

I quickly got back up to hear everypony's muffled yells. I stumbled forward in hopes that maybe the two bucks in front were fine. I was wrong...horribly wrong...stared at the hall that dripped with flesh from the mare and the two bucks. The first buck looked fine. If it wasn't for the missing legs and shredded chest. The second buck was pushed into a sharp piece of metal debris from the wall, his helmet had came off revealing his last and horrified expression as metal stuck out of his chest and forehead.

I stared with a horrified face

"There...dead..."

I leaned against the wall not knowing how to react

"Hey it's fine it's not your fault! We were just...just...stupid to not realize it's not your fault Scratches you saved most of us"

Flare yelled as my sense of hearing came back

"There still dead..."

I shook my head as everypony moved forward

"Let's focus on our task...we can't focus on our losses later..."

One of the Bucks spoke, I started to walk forward with them again and looked back at the scene once more before continuing towards the hangar with the group

The mare again started to fiddle with the door controls until it finally opened up we watched as the gigantic gate opened up. A couple of soldiers lit some red flares and tossed it across the room. Dimly lighting the hall of downgraded machinery and crates.

"It's all empty...I dunno...I got a bad feeling about this..."

Flare said only making it more creepy

We walked forward, but there's one thing that bothered me. When me and flare left the chambers I noticed there was a lot of dust when ever we took a step but here there was barely any. Put me in a state of unease

"Keep your eyes peeled...I don't think we're alone in here..."

I said as me and flare walked into one of the ruined Transport ships.

Flare stopped and looked around the interior of the ship, and sighed slowly before leaning against the wall of it

"I miss my ride..."

I looked at her remembering that she is a Transport Pilot.

"What did you transport anyways?"

I said while walking into the cockpit that was meant for two ponies. They had to sit down in a weird way. She made her way past me and flopped into the left seat and looked out the cockpit's window.

"Mostly supplies, from one end of the ship to another sometimes I transport security units to a situation"

She lifted a cigarette but from the ground and looked at it and gasped

"Look at this!"

She floated it to my face and I examined it and my eyes widened, it was recently put out. Smoke still emitted from the used up cigarette,

Just then the hangars lights flashed on and there was ponies all around on the cat walks above pointing there weapons down

"fresh meat guys ahahahah!"

We both scrambled away from the cockpit as bullets flew right through the old glass.

"Return fire!"

One of the Bucks from outside yelled as a bullet hell skirmish broke out. I peeked my head out and look out

"Where's the pilot?!"

A couple of the Bucks shrugged as they were reloading there rifles.

"Hey you your the one with the big fucking gun remember use it!"

I looked down at the minigun slightly hidden from my cape. I had no idea how to use it, or how to even aim it!

Flare then flipped a switch on the weapon started to push me out of the ship holding down the trigger on the side with her magic

"Stay still!!"

She yelled as then the bulky weapon began to release hundreds of rounds a second. She aimed at the cat walk and blew a couple of the crazy ponies away.

"I got it!" I yelled over the gun fire

I pulled from flare and pointed the hefty gun up at the other side of the cat walk

"Get the big fucker with the Minigun!"

Before they could fire I unleashed bullet hell on them and watched as the bullets teared through them. I continued to fire along the cat walks. Spinning in a slow circle as many of the crazy ponies tried to take cover.

Half way the weapon stopped firing and let out a loud beep. It had run out of ammunition.

I clenched my teeth in fear and jumped behind the ship avoiding the returning fire from the ponies again.

"Where is that pilot! Is she with anypony?!"

I peeked my head around the corner and by some pure luck, I felt the hot flame of a missile shriek past my head and hit the ship by us turning half of it into a burning wreckage

"You gotta be kidding me!"

Panting feeling lucky I rushed out from cover and lifted my rifle and aimed as best as I could and fired upon the enemy.

I watched as two dropped and laughed

"Got a couple..."

"There's even more coming from the way we came in!"

One of the soldiers yelled as a bullet bounced off the top of his helmet.

I felt a jerk and a thud along with a stinging sensation and I fell back onto the floor

"Ah fuck that hurts!"

I held my side and looked at my vest to see a large hole with the large bullet barely stopped by the plate inside

"Oh Celestia I feel lucky..."

I crawled back Into cover and tossed the bent bullet away from me and unclipped the used magazine from my rifle and tried to put in another

"Come on you son of a bitch just go in alre-Ah!"

I squirmed and rolled behind the other side of the ship and looked down my hind leg to see it with two holes.

"Ah! Not so lucky this time!"

I tried to unjam the magazine from my rifle but it wouldn't budge I yelled in frustration.

"ALRIGHT YOU FUCKIN FAGOTS COME TO MOMMA!"

We all turned our heads to a gigantic metal behemoth. It was the pilot, she was inside of a UCCMS.

I watched the yellow mechanical suit walk on two legs making a loud metal boom everytime it took a step. She raised its arms and smashed the two fists of the behemoth together making a loud clang noise

"Let's have some fun!"

The speakers blared as she lifted the right arm and firing a huge gauss rifle that was attached to it. We stared in awe as its left arm raises and we watched as a missile popped out and activated rocketing into the group of ponies that were firing at us, she fired another and another watching the catwalks fall along with the remains of the crazy ponies.

We all stood still watching the pilot climb out of her seat she stood on her hind legs while holding onto a metal bar by the cock pit and waved

"It's been a long time since I've done that!"

I sighed and dropped my head to the floor in relief.

"Scratches! Are you alright?"

I looked up at a worried Flare and patted her head

"I'm fine it's just a flesh wound!"

I smiled attempting to relieve her. She calmed down a bit loosing up a bit with a sigh

"I'm lucky that this stopped that round...that would've ended horribly..."

Before we could say anything else a missile hit the giant metal behemoth

"Ah! My leg!"

The pilot yelled and started to back up. There was a large button meant for the UCCMS to access other parts of the hangar. She slammed on that and the doors opened up.

"Everypony in this hangar!"

We all started to make a run for it as the pilot do as best and she could. I watched as a soldier in front of us exploded.

I looked back and seen a pony in thick looking armor holding a huge rifle.

I pointed at him

"Hey you pilot get that big guy!"

She popped another missile from her silo and I watched it rocket into the catwalk. I turned my head and gasped as I fell into a smashed up part of the floor that was a hole and caught my self hanging

"Ah! Dammit!"

I tried to pull my self up, Flare came to my aid dodging bullets as they whizzed by us like metal mosquitoes.

"I got you Scratches I got yo-"

I watched and fell as a round hit her chest. She fell back out of view, and I watched as I fell down the dark void.

TIME: Aprox 21:00

Location: Lower maintenance levels

I say up quickly and gasped holding my chest. My HUD blinking blue being my only light source

"Flare...."

I slowly got up and winced in pain and I looked down at my leg with two bullet wounds all I can do is hope that it doesn't get infected.

Limping around I noticed I was in a maintenance room. Completed with the bones of ponies decor, perfect just perfect.

"Alright Scratches...you were down here once...just...where am I..."

My HUD still blinked in the dark every few seconds. I managed to find my way out of the room by a half closed door. I was scared I'm not gonna lie. I stared down the old rusty hall as dust flew up everywhere and the old place creaked and echoed in the darkness. I jumped at every distant sound as I limped my self down the hall way. It was much more crowded and small compared to the upper levels,

Bonk

"Ow..."

I held my muzzle and looked up at a door that read 'Maintenance Storage'

"There's gotta be something useful..."

I turned and looked behind me and looked down the hall once more quiet as possible. I let out a small sigh and raised my hind legs and slammed my hoofs into it, again and again and and again until finally the old door busted down loudly and dropped to the floor letting out a loud boom as it hit the floor, I cringed and looked around and limped in my leg hurt in more than ever.

There was a pitifully made barricade that the door knocked over, I walked past it and looked at a single skeleton sitting in the corner with a lot of vodka bottles and a single old rusty gun laying by him, suicide. I walked closer and closer until I spotted a weird device on his forehoof.

"Now what is this..."

I muttered quietly and lifted it off his old skeleton, it was a rather bulky looking device. It was smashed up and had a bullet hole right in the screen.

"Pip-buck...3000...pip-buck?..."

I played with it for a while until the topped opened up and popped out a cold cartridge. I jumped back and dropped it hoping it wasn't another dam trap

I picked it up slowly again and examined it. It appeared to be an old tape?

"Pip-buck 3000 huh?...weird...weird..."

I rummaged through the storage but found nothing. That is until I spotted a cylinder dusty glass tube laying by a mail shaft. I limped over and picked it up with my magic. As soon as I picked it up My vision went blurry for a few seconds and I heard the screams of a whirling storm

"TO THE STABLE TO THE STABLE!"

I dropped the thing and backed up lifting my rifle.

"W-what the hell was that!...."

I took a deep breath and slowly picked it up again, but that feeling wasn't there again. I blew the dust off and I looked down at the exact same device that the skeleton had. I looked at it with excitement and tried to open it up, it was not use I even tried smashing the glass, that only broke it from its holder inside of it and it now jiggled around inside the tube, I think it turned on? The screen was a bright green but it stayed bright green and nothing else. I sat there with disappointment.

"What's this?...a message..."

I looked down at a little chip tape to the side of it, I ripped it off and put it into a little slot that had a cord leading up to my HUD.

/Message playback/ Date: Corrupted Time: Corrupted

/play/. "Hey there guys. I know your all having a rough time with the air recycler and all and I know how you love those Pip-Bucks from Equestria. So to pay up for all your hard work I'm sending one to each maintenance storage and checkpoint! Also your monthly pay on bits is DOUBLED. We hope that the Commander and I satisfied your complaints about pay. Have a good day!"

/message complete/

I blinked a few times

"Pip-bucks...from Equestria? What the hay is going on here?"

I sighed and looked down at the device in the glass wanting to use the strange device.

"Maybe another time..."

I slid it into my saddlebag and limped my way out of the storage room. My HUD still being my only light source.

I sat in the room for a while eventually unjamming the magazine from the assault rifle and properly clipped it in and let it hang on my side ready to use, it was my last magazine so I had to make sure each round counted.

"Bzzzzz-....Bzzzrzzrrzzzz. Scratches! Is your radio working?"

I jumped and looked down at a pocket, I had forgotten about that radio. I quickly pulled it out of its prison pocket and responded

"Yeah! I'm here! Is Flare alright?!" I shouted

My voice echoed through the dark room and halls before the radio blipped a few times

"Yes she's fine she's resting right now. look I know where you fell. Your in Maintenance travel tunnel 23-A. There should be a maintenance checkpoint nearby, turn left of that and you have to pass through the oxygen recycler in order to get to the ladder hatch do you g-bzzzzzzzz"

The captain's muffled voice disapeared

"Captain?....hello...?!"

I sighed and stuffed the radio back into the pocket of my vest and peeked out looking down the hall ways

"Alright...this way..."

I walked down the hall I was supposed to go quietly as possible. It all smelled of musty rot down in the hall, but the darkness of the hall and the combination of dead silence with the occasional creaks made things creepy.

I continued to walk down the dreaded halls my HUD lighting my path every few seconds.

CLANG

I was startled by metal clanging around in the distance, I quickly reached back for my rifle and lifted it with magic now more nervous than ever, what could possibly be alive down here?

Then I heard a small steady clicking noise, I looked around puzzle and pulled out the glass cylinder and looked at the strange device emitting a constant clicking sound, my ears twitched as the dead silence made even this sound loud. But the clicking meant one thing and one thing only.

"Radiation..." I mumbled

I started to walk faster and faster I knew the basics of what radiation can do and I've seen some ponies get seriously messed up by it. I finally met a door half open and squeezed my way through.

"Y-you!..."

I jumped and might have squeaked a little and turned. My HUD blinked and revealed a face that made me jump out of my fur

"GAH!"

I jumped back and lifted my rifle, and stopped my self taking a closer look. He was a ghoul like the captain only fully ghoulish?

"I-I- I'm sorry I thought you wer-"

I was cut off

"Your from a Cryo chamber weren't you...Celestia praise our work...the Cryo chambers...they really worked! Hahah! They really worked!...look at you!...perfect!...oh Celestia praise our work!"

He yelled and tried to cry, but he couldn't he could only let out a few dry sobs. He looked around as if somepony was after him as spoke in his sandpaper voice

"What happened to you.."

He shook his head and paused

"Long story short....this oxygen recycler was attacks by...t-those dam crazy ponies long ago, I was caught in the radiation blast and...well...turned into this..look...I-it's dangerous here kid...uh..."

He quickly looked around and dug into a couple of blankets in the corner of the room by a few old control panels

"Take this...go. Go that way until you get to a hatch its safe up there, there's others like me but there not sane hurry go for it! And...good luck....Elite..."

I looked at him shocked as he slid a old bat and a grenade across the floor, picking them up I gave him one last look before leaving

"Why don't you come with me?"

He shook his head

" I'm finished...but...go...live...reunite what we once were. You are my last hope, that's why We created those pods now go!"

He yelled as I quickly ran cross the room and passed the other door racing down a cramped hallway. That's when I heard the most ear piercing screech, I looked back and was horrified. I looked at several 'ghouls' that glowed, there hair was missing and some of there jaws were hanging down to there chest. I screamed and looked at a ladder in the distance. Lit dimly by a orange spinning emergency light, I ran faster and faster and finally got to it. Before I could take a step on it how ever I felt one of there cold slimy jaws bite down right on my shot leg, I let out a scream of pain.

"AHH!...dam son of a bit-"

I was quickly pulled down by another I was getting beat down by large hoofs and one of them even closed their jaws on my side I squinted and lifted the rifle and let loose hot lead on them. It did the job, I got up in a instant and winced at my wounds. Another jumped at me, I moved pulled the crowbar from my side and slashed sideways taking the top of his head off with pure brute force from the tool. More came my way and I backed up repeating the last move over and over. The floor shook and a larger ghoul revealed its self from the darkness, it was faded but it had a torn up RFSF jump suit on. It roared and slowly walked towards me. I froze and watched as the thing even taller than me walk its way over, snarling as its rotted small eyes focused hard on me.

"What area you doing I said run!!"

The ghoul from before ran up and jumped up on its back holding onto it with all his power. He was holding a makeshift grenade and pressed a button on it and it started to beep rapidly

"Go on kid! Do this old buck a favour and don't make my mistake of watching!"

He smiled sadly as the orange emergency light lit his face, more of those monsters started to scratch at him as he closed his eyes looking at peace. I turned towards the ladder forcing my self up, ignoring the pain listening to the rumbling roars of that thing along with the beeps of the bomb.

BOOM!

Everything shook as that little makeshift bomb created a blast wave so hard that it felt like the whole Fleetship was going to blow. I jumped up and watched dust blow out of the hatch and panted, at this point wheezing and trying to hear things again

"Dammit...dammit scratches DAMMIT!"

I yelled, another pony with a good mind died. I peeked my head down in the darkness

"I'm sorry...I didn't even know your name..."

I sighed and slowly got up and looked around, I limped my way out back into a familiar hall. I pulled my radio up

"Captain...? Are you there...?"

It buzzed for a few seconds and I got a response

"Ahahah I knew you would get out!...now come here...lets talk about that little escape shuttle of yours"

Location: CONtainment Forces Head Quarters

Time: 1900

My HUD created an annoying beep along with

"/Radiation Sickness Detected! Seek medical help immediately/"

The 'Pip-Buck' also just clicked rapidly it being near me. I painted and felt my legs go numb from exhaustion and this radiation sickness. My vision was getting blurry. I powered through my wounds until I got to the gate with a couple of bucks in security riot gear.

"There he is, hey are you alright?"

I looked up and slowly leaned to the side and collapsed hearing the muffled voices of the Bucks calling for help.

"Ouch..."

I whimpered quietly as my eyes opened up again. I slowly tried to get up but failed and I felt regret when a sharp pain caused me to wince and fall back

"Hey hey easy now, you really messed your self up"

I looked over at a nurse what held a clip board jotting down something.

"Where is Flare? Flare Signal"

I said, my voice raspy and hard sounding.

"Oh I'm sorry she has passed away"

My eyes widened as he burst out laughing

"Hahah! I'm just kidding my friend she is Oka-"

I grabbed his collar with my magic and pulled him close growling as I was disgusted by the twisted joke.

"You thought that was funny?! That is a friend of mine how dare you!"

My raspy voice added to the intimidation. Something took over me for a moment, and before I could even register it I had slammed my hoof into his face. He fell to the floor holding his bleeding muzzle, he didn't say anything as I flopped back on the bed coughing.

"A-ah I'll go get her actu-"

He stumbled to his hoofs and looks at the mare already standing at the door with a curious look. The nurse just walked out leaving me and her in the downgraded room.

She walks up to the bed and sat down beside me.

"You know I told him to say that...heh...didn't expect you to well...punch him"

She was startled when I hugged her tightly, holding her close I did not let go for a long time, she hugged back too.

"You scared me flare....when you got shot..."

She let out a small chuckle

"Ah this mare will be fine. My suit barely stopped it"

She gave a grin as her chest had a bandage going around her chest

"So...how does it feel to sleep for three days straight?"

I choked a little and held a hoof to my forehead

"I was out cold for three days?!...I don't even feel all that well rested.."

She tapped a IV bag hooked up to my forehoof.

"It's probably all that Equestrian crap getting rid of your radiation"

I sighed softly looking at the ceiling

"Hey...I know it might be kind of personal...but...who are your parents?"

I stopped and thought about it. She had a fair point, who were my parents?... RTW?...Celestia? No of course not! Why would they be?

I looked at the pilot sitting next to me, she smiled and looked over putting her meal down for a moment

"Don't worry about me, worry about your self there scratch. I'll be fine 'it's just a flesh wound' "

She let out a chuckle and patted my muzzle with her hoof

"Just...don't get your self almost killed again...do you know how much radiation you soaked up? The doc was surprised you didn't succumb to death!"

I looked up from my meal again and our muzzles met, snout to snout we both blushed catching a glimpse of each other's eyes

"Ah! Uh...um...that was...kinda...weird..."

We both awkwardly sat there tapping our food
We continued to eat and the captain approached us

"I owe you a huge thanks Scratches...with out you out there in the battle escorting my soldiers none of them would have have made it...we lost a few good ponies but it was for the better of others...now...about that little escape you had planned..."

Me and flare looked up from eating a 200 year old ration pack

"Mm! Yes!"

I wiped my mouth

"Before that..."

I floated up the strange device from my saddlebag sitting in the corner of the fixed up room

"My my is that a Pip-buck? Now where did you get a little treat like that?"

He grinned

"I found it in a maintenance storage check point thing...is it...Equestrian?..."

He nodded

"Yes of course it is. It's been a while since I've seen one...they come from a company called 'Stable-Tech' crafty little things..."

I looked at the device

"How do you get it open...?"

He stopped stumped for a long moment

"You know...I don't even know...I guess your gonna have to find a key or something...keep it anyways. Maybe you'll find it useful at some point"

I set the cylinder down and looked at flare slurping up a hay burger out of a packet, I chuckled and turned back to the captain still a little uneasy from the radiation

"RTW left a note when I woke up...he told me to get the hell off of the ship in a nutshell saying a code that will get us off in the Commander's shuttle"

The old buck thought for a second

"RTW....I'll help you...just...be careful down there...when I've been receiving 10 year old messages from equestria...others...like me have survived, who ever this was said that it was hell down there....just...be careful..."

I nodded in agreement, only because I had no idea how the world below had become.

Suddenly we were cut off my blaring alarms and spinning orange lights. Me and flare looked at each other and then the captain

"We can't get a break can we!"

He yelled, everypony rushed around. Most of them climbing into there suits while others hid in rooms

"You know! How about let's get you set up now before we run out of luck!"

He nodded and we nodded in agreement

I swooped up my saddlebag and lifted my rifle from the table. I nodded at flare and we followed the captain out into the hall where more ponies rushed.

"Don't leave mister!"

I heard that familiar voice and turned looking at a Little Epsy tugging on my sleeve

Kneeling down I smiled

"Don't worry these ponies will make the bad ponies go away, I promise. And...ill promise I'll be back soon...okay?..."

I smiled reassuringly and she have a little smile too

"Okay mister! Bye bye!"

She smiled and seemed pretty calm for a filly in this situation. She ran off into a room and me and flare continued to follow the captain all the way to the Master's Bridge. They cleared out a lot while I was resting.

"Alright the shuttle is down there I hope you know the code!"

He hollered and he waved a couple of ponies with saddlebags of ration packs and ammunition down into the shuttle

"Of course we do!" I yelled out

"Whoa whoa whoa! I'm piloting that thing?!"

She pointed at the shuttle and we all tensed up as a bullet whizzed by us like a metal mosquito

"I think it's time to go!"

He widened his eyes and we climbed down the ladder and into a small cabin that was the shuttle, then I stopped in my tracks. How could I forget...? What about Circuts?! Or my caretaker and the Commander. How could I forget about them what happened I can't just leave...can I...?

"Scratches what are you waiting for? the code!"

Flare screamed

I snapped out of it and rushed up to the cockpit and looked around for the panel and started to press in the code with my hoof

"55j...690...22c5!"

The old shuttle powered up the panels flickering to life as old lights dimly lit the cabin.

"Commander's Emergency Shuttle in effect! All systems nominal! Pilot launch at anytime!"

I looked over at Flare Signal

"Now or never..."

I rushed back to the door and sorted the saddlebags full of supplies in a storage box and looked at the commander

"Stay safe Scratches...I'm sure we will meet again soon!"

He smiled and watched him lift a shot gun rushing back as doors to the bridge and the shuttles slammed shut and sealed.

I stumbled back into the second seat by Flare.

"I...I haven't used a ship like this before...it's all different there's...it's just"

I put my hoof on her nervous shoulder

"Its fine...it has to fly the same way with those sticks right?..."

She looked over with her helmet on and nodded

"Yeah...alright let's just hope this Rust bucket doesn't blown up on us...A-A.I...L-LAUNCH!"

She yelled and I quickly strapped my self in, I thought about Circuts again and felt guilty as if I just ditched her

We both were pressed against the seats as the engines blasted and the thrusters powered us down a narrow tunnel until we hit a cover. I watched scared and amazed at the same time as we flew out. It was a smooth feeling, not long after zero gravity kicked into place

"Hello pilots! A- oh my your not the Commander's pilots...where is the Commander...?"

The little screen in the middle of all the controls showed a picture of a little filly A.I

"The commander and his pilots are dead! And we're just trying to get to Equestria! Can you do this?!"

The shuttle rattled as we got closer to the planet

"Of course! I'll help anypony in need! I can't guide you guys since your the pilots silly but I am a gunner bot A.I isn't that cool?! I'll make sure I protect you from debri because there's plenty!"

Along the rattling we heard a whirr and a click as a old satellite bounced off the side

"Wow this thing has a lot of advancements!"

Flare yelled

"Of course silly! This is the Commander's shuttle!"

The little fillies voice yelled as the turret boom and vibrate above, we watched as large debri and satellites exploded silently.

"Clench your ass cheeks to the seat cause it's gonna get bumpy!"

Flare yelled as things started to shake violently. It was not long before the front view was covered by a large flame

"Is that normal?!"

I pointed

"Uh...maybe?! I dunno I've never done trips to the ground don't ask me!"

"That's great to know!"

I yelled back at her and things started to clear up

"Incoming transmission:...HAULT YOU CRIMINAL SCUM. You are locked on by missiles of the Equestrian Air Force! Identify your self!"

Flare plugged a cord into her helmet and started to yell

"This is Transport Pilot FlareSignal! Serial number 22-554 currently in an escape shuttle preparing for an emergency crash landing!Abort missile strike I repeat Abort missile strike!"

The robots voice returned

"Identity not valid in Equestrians logs have fun burning and crashing Zebra Scum! ALL MISSILES AWA-Bzzt"

"Oh dear! That's gonna be a lot to handle! 24 Equestrian Arcane missiles are headed are way. Would you like me to try and counter them?" The A.I Asked

I yelled over the noise of the shuttle

"NOOO just let us get hit!"

I yelled in sarcasm

"Okay!"

We both tensed up

"No no! Uh counter them please!"

"Of course! There closing in 800 meters and fast!"

The optimistic AI said as the turrets buzzed. We passed through the clouds as Flare struggled with the controls. My heart skipped a beat as a missile exploded right In front of the wind shield

"That was close teehee!"

The AI said as we cleared from the clouds. I peeks my head up and stared at a few snowy mountains and gasped!

"Flare!"

"I see them!"

She slammed her hoof on a button and a huge burst of energy from the thrusters sent us gliding to the right, we bounced off the side and we jerked around violently

"Incomimg!"

BLAM

We started to spin violently as fresh cold snow blew everywhere inside blowing across our bodies. I had no idea what was going.

"Shit!"

We hit another small mountain ridge before crashing in the void between the mountains. Parts of the shuttles crumpled as the supplies in the back flew around free. I banged my head against Flare's helmet and Everything went dark, again...ugh.

Footnote: level up

Rad resistance: you've soaked up so much radiation so far you've gained a small amount of radiation resistance

Espy's figure: Gained 1+ Luck