Project Recovery

Media: Audio

Title: Recovery Research Log #1

Origin: Twilight Sparkle, EQDA archives facility

Date: 04/23/1681 0823

Recording.........................Start>>

I finally arrived at Canterlot. Here I will be conducting studies into the records from Project Recovery. I am currently being stationed in a storage room underneath Canterlot Castle, where my research will be able to be done peacefully. I currently have some knowledge on Project Recovery, which I shall now state. It is currently known that Project Recovery was officially launched five months ago, on November 16th. The project consisted of exactly 300 working staff, however, the exact amount of people in the site this project was held is currently unknown. Something happened at the project, which’s nature is currently unknown. I assume that most of the site is dead, but details are to be confirmed. The last official signal from the site was delivered four months after its founding. After this distress call was received, a team of ten stallions from the EQDA were sent to investigate and search for survivors. Only one person from the team came back, with one person from the site. The survivor of the military team is deceased, and the survivor from the site is undergoing treatment. The military team was able to salvage massive amounts of data from the site, which they transferred wirelessly to the EQDA. It is now my mission to look through all data involving the project. I will start by looking at data that was collected outside the actual project, and later go into the numerous logs and videos from the site. Let’s begin.

<<Recording.......................End

Media: Document

Title: Project Recovery

Origin: Celestia, Canterlot

Date: 10/03/1680

Log Begin>>

EQDA official instructions:

If you are reading this, congratulations! You have been chosen to be one of 299 other ponies in a matter of urgency. Recently, I had a strange feeling, like I was sensing a strong disturbance outside of Equestria. Due to my busy work schedule, I am forming a team of the best scientist, historians, miners, engineers, and medical experts I can find. You are skilled enough to become part of this team, and I hope your obligation to help others and to help Equestria will help you encourage yourself to accept this request.

If you choose to accept this, then meet me in Canterlot Castle, in exactly four days. If you are not already in Canterlot, a ticket for a train will be included in this document. Our details on this disturbance are currently unknown, so we will be supplying you with a large variety of tools, including a mobile all-terrain vehicle to get you to the site. Even though we have a wide variety of supplies, we recommend you bring some tools that you are used to, as they may come in handy. We encourage you not to pack food or clothes, as they will be supplied to you.

I eagerly wait to see you at the castle, and promise that there, we will go into more detail on your mission.

-Princess Celestia and the Equestrian Defense Association (EQDA)

<<End Log

Media: Document

Title: Celestia’s Diary: Entry #964,110

Origin: Celestia, Canterlot

Date: 10/07/1680

Note: This is only a copy of the entry, edited by Princess Celestia. For the sake of time and convenience, parts of the log have been cut out, in order to pinpoint the data referring to Project Recovery.

Log Begin>>

///////////////////Today I was forced to make another difficult decision, this time referring to Project Recovery. I was pleased that all the people who received the notice came to see me, but not all were happy to come. I must admit, I did not put into account that these people have families they are caring for.

I knew it was dangerous, but I was forced to allow them to take their families. I needed every one of them, and I could not afford to scratch this project. The complete number of people heading to the site of the disturbance is 582, including about 154 children. I just hope that I’m making the right choice. The feeling of it is getting stronger, and I worry that it may be dangerous.

I’m starting to regret sending my subjects to investigate without me. It is true that I can’t attend to this matter directly, due to my busy schedule, but I feel I can do more. I can only hope for the best.

On a brighter note, the crime rate//////////////////////////

<<End Log

Media: Document

Title: Official Project Recovery Personnel Count

Origin: Overseer System Watch, EQDA Headquarters

Date: 10/07/1680 1432

Log Begin>>

Overseer: 1

Supervisors: 10

Miners: 28

Researchers: 53

Medical Team: 41

Historians: 32

Engineers: 37

Care Takers: 12

Security: 27

Mess staff: 10

Inventory management: 30

Technical department: 18

Press: 1

Others (non-working personnel): 128

Children: 154

<<End Log

Media: Audio

Title: Leaving to Recovery

Origin: Overseer System Watch, EQDA Headquarters

Date: 10/07/1680 1436

Recording................... Start>>

Hello, this is System Watch, reporting in. I have been chosen by Celestia to personally watch over Project Recovery, a position I take with much pride. Hopefully, I will be able to lead everypony there to finding the source of this disturbance Celestia has been talking about. I am to leave in about an hour, and I just finished categorizing all the people in the project. I would like to take this time very quickly to talk to you, General. I wasn’t able to contact my family due to a malfunction in my communicator, and I fear I will not get another chance to talk to them while I’m over there. I would be very thankful if you told my husband and daughter that I will miss them, and I will be there soon. Thank you in advance. Ma’am, we need you to help. I’ll be right there. Anyways, I need to help some ponies get into the vehicle. I will record my experiences in the project just like the other 10 supervisors. I hope to see you soon, and I will not disappoint you Celestia.

<<Recording................... End

Media: Document

Title: Operation Recovery

Origin: Command, EQDA Headquarters

Date: 03/07/1681

Log Begin>>

Official Orders:

As of now, you and your squad are being sent to Project Recovery, a research site located outside of Equestria. Yesterday, we received a distress signal from the site, entailing that they are in need of urgent help. Their current nature is unknown, but it is clear that something is wrong there. We need you and your team to investigate, gather information, and rescue anypony that may still be alive. To better equip you for the mission ahead, we are assigning two new people to your team. We are giving you a recruit who recently finished training. It is a very promising soldier, who will be a valuable asset to you. The other person we’re assigning to your unit is a member of the EQDA office of information and research. He should be useful when gaining information. We will ship your team to the research site in 2400 hours. We wish you the best of luck on your mission, and hope you are successful.

<<End Log

Media: Computer File

Title: Operation Recovery Team Assessment

Origin: /////////, EQDA Headquarters

Date: 03/07/1681 1438, edited: 03/13/1681 1536

Log Begin>>

Name: Gleaming Will

Sex: Male

Race: Unicorn

Age: 32

Rank: Captain

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Unit Leader

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, 4 smoke bombs, rifle Mark-3, 4 flash bombs, gasmask

Notes: Gleaming Will, despite his lack of social skills, may be the best leader figure, and for that manner one of the most professional, ponies on this team. Graduating magical college with straight A’s at the young age of 16, he is a bright and well–mannered stallion. Unfortunately, his strict personality makes him very bitter, making him not the most likable of ponies. Despite this, he is able to present himself as a figure of authority, and shines at making logical decisions that lead his team to victory.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased.

Name: Steel Hoof

Sex: Male

Race: Earth

Age: 42

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Melee specialist

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, iron armor, shotgun Mark-1 (prototype), sledgehammer, gasmask

Notes: Despite his age, Steel Hoof seems surprisingly energetic. Originally a carpenter, he was always a hardy worker, who did much work with little reward. He was recruited by the EQDA after he helped Ponyville Police Officials take down a robber, by beating him with his hooves. He is very skilled in the arts of close range combat, and his strength, mixed with his resolve, makes him always ready to dive in head first into the heat of battle.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased.

Name: Ricochet

Sex: Male

Race: Earth

Age: 52

Rank: Corporal

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Pistol Specialist

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, two revolvers (mark 1), gasmask

Notes: The oldest member in his unit, and one of the least spoken. We know little of him, as he one day came to our offices and asked if he could join. Due to his age, there are no records of him, as most have been erased, probably by him. He has an unnatural talent with his revolvers, allowing him to shoot at long distances, and ricochet bullets with stunning accuracy. We are unsure if Ricochet is is real name, but it is what he called himself, and what we will call him until we can dig up more records on him. He doesn't talk to anybody but his commanding officers, presenting a puzzling challenge. Either way, his pistols make up for his lack of identity and potential danger. Still, he is to be monitored.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased.

Name: Eagle Eye

Sex: Male

Race: Pegasus

Age: 23

Rank: Gunnery Sergeant

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Long range support

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, long range rifle Mark-1

Notes: With his level of maturity, it’s a miracle that he ever got as far as he is now. Cocky, irritating, unfocused, and immature are understatements when being compared to him. He doesn’t listen to many orders, and instead prefers to riddle mission briefs with wisecracks and jokes. This has put him and his team into some pretty difficult situations, as he also doesn’t think before acting. This, however, is made up for in his high moral, and his uncanny ability to fire at targets with stunning accuracy, no matter how far away. He was the first tester of the long range rifle Mark-1, with which he was able to fire upon a moving target from a building five blocks away, the entire length of our testing course. Even though he may endanger the team, his accuracy may be needed. Also, looking back at the distress signal, they may need as much firepower as they can get.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased

Name: Flambé

Sex: Male

Race: Unicorn

Age: 35

Rank: Lieutenant

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Flame Specialist

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, flame-proof suit, lighter, dragon breath (prototype)

Notes: An extremely dangerous addition to the team. At the age of 22, he was put into a mental institution, where he spent his days until he was 33 for trying to burn down his parent’s house. Being a pyromaniac, he was an obvious candidate for our testing of the dragon breath: a device that would allow non-unicorn soldiers to use fire on the battlefield. After many iterations, the device was fully operational. Sadly, due to a classified accident, in which he tried to set the entire testing facility on fire, the device was fused to his back. Well, that is what he thought. We never were able to find out if it was actually fused to him, as he threatened to burn anypony who tried to remove it. He seems to have a certain attachment with the device. This is probably due to that this is the first time he was able to light a fire since he was 22, as at the facility, they removed the ability to cast any fire spell from him. Even though he is dangerous, he is now glad to serve those who gave him the ability to light fires once more. If you didn’t get it by now, he is a pyromaniac. And a damn good one.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased

Name: Speed Run

Sex: Male

Race: Unicorn

Age: 27

Rank: Corporal

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Crowd Control

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, machine gun mark-1, 4 flash bombs

Notes: One of the better disciplined members of the group. Speed Run was originally from Manhattan, moving to Canterlot once the EQDA was established. In training he passed with an exceptional rating. He showed a special talent with firing weaponry at a very fast rate without losing much accuracy. It was a good move to have him train with the machine gun, which he was able to use quite effectively. His skills eventually landed him a spot in the T.R.O.T unit, where he became one of the most normal people there. In summery, he is good at what he does, and is not crazy. A pretty good deal coming from T.R.O.T.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased

Name: Tick Tick

Sex: Male

Race: Earth

Age: 38

Rank: Corporal

Unit: T.R.O.T (formally from the EQDA weapons division)

Position: Explosives Specialist

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, pistol mark-3, 4 bombs, 10 time bombs, experimental bomb propelling device

Notes: At first glance he seems perfectly fine, but his partners argue otherwise. A clock worker from Ponyville, he became very interested in working for the EQDA in its early stage. He moved away from Ponyville to work in the EQDA weapons division experimenting with timed explosives research. Here, he ended up becoming the inventor of the first time bomb. After this, for unknown reasons, switched from weapons research to active field duty. He says that his decision was motivated by him wanting to make sure his device is used properly. His partners, however, believe that he just got “interested” in seeing things explode.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased.

Name: Panic Attack

Sex: Male

Age: 26

Rank: Medical Officer

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: Field Medic

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, pistol mark-3, first aid and surgical kit, medical saw (approved as a weapon by the EQDA weapons division)

Notes: The medic in the group, and probably the most logical of the group, according to his partners, due to his undying desire to get out of the unit. He joined the EQDA from Canterlot awhile after it was founded. He is a great field medic, and because of this was given to the unit that needed it the most, T.R.O.T. However, due to Tick Tick and Flambé, he is extremely afraid of his teammates, and wants to transfer to another unit. He only decided to go on this mission if afterwards he will immediately be transferred to another unit. Either way, he is the only one in the group with medical experience, and is thus a valuable member of the team.

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased.

Name: Data Bug

Sex: Male

Age: 38

Rank: Lieutenant

Unit: T.R.O.T (Formally EQDA Office of Intelligence)

Position: Data collection

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, automatic pistol mark-2, data collection supplies

Notes: Data Bug is one of the two people transferred to T.R.O.T for this mission. His main purpose is to collect data from the site and transfer it to the EQDA archives for later analysis. He is a very smart stallion, being one of the brightest technical officials and strategists in the EQDA. Thus, he is arguably the most important person in this mission. The one drawback with him is that he isn’t very experienced in combat, and thus will ally on the rest of his team to protect him.  But with the nature of his teammates, I doubt he will actually have a problem staying safe, as long as he doesn’t get in their way.

Status: K.I.A

Cause of Death: Suicide, shot in the head by shotgun mark-1

Name://////// (The Rookie)

Sex://////

Age://

Rank: Private

Unit: T.R.O.T

Position: General Support

Equipment: Radio Transmitter, gasmask, full body armor, dual blades, rifle mark-2, audio recorder

Notes:///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Status: M.I.A, presumed deceased

(Some of this file has been classified by General Shining Armor. If you have any questions or concerns, please make an appointment or mail them to him. Thank you, and sorry for the inconvenience).

<<End Log

Media: Audio

Title: Operation Recovery unofficial notes, Fear

Origin: General Shining Armor, EQDA Headquarters

Date: 03/07/1681 1556

Recording....................Start>>

This is General Shining Armor. I am recording this unofficially, and this report will not be sent to Celestia, but will still be stored in the archives as usual. I am not supposed to not talk about this, but I feel that I should have a bit of opinion in this matter. Tomorrow, team T.R.O.T will start their two day journey to site Recovery. Everypony involved already knows this, but nopony is saying it: we are all scared. Celestia usually knows what is going on, and this is the first time I have ever seen her worried. We try not to mention it, as to not jeopardize our loyalty to her, but we all feel it. She’s also been acting very strange around this operation. She even sent the Rookie, our little secret. I met h... it today. Sorry, almost said something I shouldn’t say. Anyways, we met today. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was still unsettled. It was completely covered in armor, and had a gasmask on. It refused to take it off, which I respected. Through the entire meeting, it didn’t talk much. It only talked when I asked her why she joined the... project. It said that where it came from, she didn’t have anything. It said that even though it spent its life with nothing, it swore to work so that others did not live the existence it did. Thus, it decided to join the project, where it would be able to do so. That isn’t what worried me; it’s its records that worry me. Looking at the videos of it train, it was amazing. I have never seen that much skill in my life. Why would Celestia send someone as powerful as it? Either she knows something, or she is as scared as we are.

<<Recording.......................End

!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!!

DUE TO A DYCRYPTION MALFUNCTION, ALL VIDEO RECORDINGS IN THIS PLAYLIST HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED. THIS TERMINAL WILL SWITCH THEM INTO THEIR TRANSCRIPTS, WRITTEN BY THE SENDER OF THIS MAIL IN CASE OF ANY CORRUPTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OPERATOR OR ADMINISTRATOR. THANK YOU.

!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!

Media: Video (Corrupt)

Title: Operation Recovery video feed: General Shining Armor

Origin: General Shining Armor, Equestrian border outpost pi

Date: 03/12/1681 2143

Manuscript by: Celestia, Canterlot

Log begin>>

Voice key:

Blue: Shining Armor

Orange: Celestia

Green: Data Bug

Shining Armor is in a small shack, out looking a dirt road. The shack is made of a dark wood, which the one room is covered in. In the direction of the path is a large window, which right of it is a door. Out by the path is a sign, which reads “Now leaving Equestria.” The shack is on the side of a grass hill, and beyond the hill in view of the window is a range of snow-capped mountains. The camera turns, revealing that Shining Armor is sitting at a small round table. On the table are playing cards, illuminated from a light fixture. On the wall Shining is facing are cupboards and metal chests, where supplies are stored. On the wall is a poster, which has a variety of pony silhouettes saluting under text, which says “For Equestria We Serve.” Sitting at the other end of the table across from Shining Armor is Princess Celestia, who is holding two cards up to her face with her hooves.

How long has it been?

Be patient, general. He will be here soon.

... When are you going to talk about it?

Celestia looks down from her playing cards.

What do you mean?

I mean that Data only mentioned that he will be here. Why didn’t he say we? What happened there?

I... I am worried too. But we have to hope that they all come back safely.

Yes, but hope can’t...

He is interrupted by a knock. He and Celestia turn to the window, where a black pony in a ripped jacket is. He has a broken gasmask over his tattered mane; he has a black eye, many scratches, and broken glasses on his face, and is filthy.

Data!

Shining Armor jumps out of his chair and bursts through the door. Data is standing outside with a mark–1 shotgun, and is dragging behind him a pony, which looks drugged. He is also in terrible shape, the white pony littered in scars and scratches. He is covered in dried blood, and appears to be smiling.

(Weakly) Hello, General.

He tries to salute, but Celestia stops him. He nods, and puts his hoof down.

Is this the survivor you were talking about?

Yes sir. You can take him.

Data Bug drops the survivor, his body limply falling to the floor.

I had to drug him up a bit to get him to stay still, but he’s out. I suggest you put him in detainment for awhile. He... he...

Don’t answer, we will. Where is the rest of your unit? Where is the transport?

The transport broke down about three quarters the way here. As for my unit, they didn’t make it.

I’m... sorry. They were good people. Anyways let’s get out of here.

Shining Armor puts the survivor over his back and starts to walk away. He turns his back on Celestia and Data Bug. He starts heading to a nearby transport, which looks like a large train on wheels, which only has one car, as the engine and main car are fused together.

If we start driving now, I think we can get to Canterlot before it gets too late.

I’m sorry. I can’t.

A deafening gunshot sounds. Shining Armor and Celestia both turn around to find Data Bug, his neck a bloody stub, and his head blown off. A pool of blood flows from where his head was. The shotgun falls out of his hooves. They both fall silence.

I... I... I...

He’s... dead.

I... I need a minute. I’ll take the survivor.

Shining Armor drops the survivor, which Celestia uses her magic to put on her back. She then runs into the transport. Shining Armor turns back around to the body, and leans over it. He looks at it for a bit, and then opens one of the jacket pockets. Inside are nine dog tags, which he collects. He grabs one from Data Bug’s neck, and takes it off. Shining Armor puts the tags away. He stays there for a bit, staring at the body, and then picks up the body, and starts to walk to the transport. The footage cuts out.

<<End Log

Media: Audio

Title: Recovery Research Log #2

Origin: Twilight Sparkle, EQDA archives facility

Date: 04/23/1681 1946

Recording......................Start>>

After hours of rummaging through many pieces of data, I was able to dig up some interesting facts about the project. Apparently, there were 582 ponies there, instead of the scheduled 300. Even though this is interesting, the most interesting piece of data came from the video log and the assessment of the team. It is obvious to see that whatever happened there was terrible, enough so to take out some of the best stallions the EQDA can send. Somehow, this “Dr. Red Heart” is also an apparent danger, something I will have to warn Celestia about. Another thing I am curious about is this rookie. Not because of its strange behavior, but the fact that it brought a recorder with it. I wonder if its recordings were also sent here. I will have to check into that. I have been trying to dodge it, but I will have to go into the data from the site tomorrow. I have found something big, and it may be a danger to everypony.

<<Recording.........................End

Media: Audio

Title: Twilight’s log #6537

Origin: Twilight Sparkle, Canterlot

Date: 04/23/1681 2053

Recording.......................Start>>

After today, I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep. And I know things are only going to get worse from here. This team was extremely renown for their skill, and for them just to be killed this easily.... it’s bizarre. I also found out today that my brother is apparently involved in this operation, and is a general for the EQDA. I was wondering what would happen when the EQDA merged with the royal guard, but I wasn’t expecting him to become a general. He didn’t even tell me! Well, I guess I understand. Now being in the same operation he was in, I can see he was very busy... Tomorrow I will have to find out the hideous truth of what happened at Project Recovery. I was never scared of the truth, but for the first time, I am.  But I have to remember that I am doing this for my friends, and for Equestria. I can’t let them down.

<<Recording..........................End