Ad Victoriam

BDCS #03521: Vanhoover is the home of the manufacturing company Atlas Industrial Concern. Much of life in the city is dominated by this company. It is said that police forces within the city are bought out by the company.

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I could see Vanhoover in the distance and already was unhappy with what I found.

I stood on a hill to the south of the city, a single naked raised point of land jutting out of the hilly forest around the area. It was cold, wet, and muddy, having rained earlier, and a fog still persisted.

But the city itself?

This entire southern edge was lined with factories and warehouses, smoke stacks rising into the sky, cargo airships bobbing and weaving through plumes of smoke. The whole place was heavily industrialized, reminiscent of both Industrial Era cities and modern-day factory complexes. On many of the buildings was a heavily stylized “A” logo or a large sign: “Atlas Industrial Concern”.

As I moved towards the city, I came across a concrete roadway bending west towards the mountains, and it was here the dirt road from where I awoke ended.

I was now in civilization again.

I passed a few small buildings on the edges of the factory grounds. Security stations, transformers, and fenced-off storage yards lined the southern edge of Vanhoover’s industrial district.

It seemed these properties stretched another mile, then were followed by factories and power plants and warehouses for countless more miles. Was this entire city just a massive factory?

I realized why this city was likely so dense with factories. Far away from the prying eyes of the majority of Equestria’s population and the rich elite in Canterlot, this city was separated by forests, deserts, and mountains from the rest of Equestria. The city was not concerned with aesthetics, just with how efficient they can be and how much they could squeeze out of the area.

Finally, after nearly two hours of walking through Vanhoover, the factories were slowly replaced by offices and distribution centers. Stores and restaurants began after that, and then I found myself in what was likely “downtown” in the city. This seemed to be where the small skyscraper core I saw from a distance was located at. Many colleges and government facilities were also here. It seems that Equestra had transferred from garrisons of the Royal Guard or Royal Army to local police precincts, which suited me all the better.

With the end of dense factories came crowds of Ponies trying to go from place-to-place in the city. I was stared at by many, and some even seemed frightened by my appearance. I paid them no heed,

Here in the center of the city, I also found the primary train station. It was a simple matter of reading maps to figure out which train I should get a ticket for.

Walking over to the ticket counter, I prepare the bag of bits in my hands.

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“Hey, pal, you awake?” The Pony at the counter appeared to be nodding in and out of sleep before I spoke up, not aware of my presence. He is jostled upright by my words, almost smacking a hoof into his face.

“Uh, hey… AHH!” Panicking, the Pony ducks under his side of the counter and hits a switch closing an overhead shutter, locking me away from him.

“Excuse me, sir, I just wish to purchase a ticket. I’m not some monster who stalks ponies in their sleep most of the time, I swear!” With a light-natured laugh, I attempted to reassure the stallion. After a moment the shutter reopens and he emerges back from below.

“You promise you aren’t, like… a weirdo monster from the sea or something?” I nod, and he looks over a screen on the desk. “Well, our only train leaving for the rest of the day is the Royal Line Express. It’ll be stopping at Perspiration Station under Cloudsdale, Royal Station in Canterlot, and Grand Central Station in Manehattan. We still have multiple tickets for overnight travel available, and if you wish you could also prebuy a ticket for tomorrow's train lines.”

“Royal Line Express is fine. How many bits for the overnight ticket?” I start counting ahead, already knowing it to be a hefty sum.

“Thanks to the Royal Line being government-owned, it’s on the cheaper side but a little less comfortable than corporate-owned trains. It’ll only be 100 bits for the overnight. Could I get your name?” I hand him about a third of what was in the bag Weathered Hooves gave me, and he inputs something into the screen.

“Joseph.” With this, he hits a button and the sound of a printer can be heard. He pulls a ticket out from under his desk, handing it to me.

“Train leaves in about an hour and a half, though you’ll want to be here a little bit before then. If you’re hungry, there’s a good sandwich place across the street. Shouldn’t be too busy, dinner rush is over.” Pocketing the ticket, I nod to the clerk, turning towards the seating inside the station. The Royal Line Express is currently in the station, though it seems some maintenance Ponies are replacing a few parts.

I decide to buy a newspaper and a couple tech magazines. The ride to Cloudsdale would take until about 2:30 in the afternoon tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure I had plenty to read.

I was honestly shocked none of the Ponies I encountered made such a fuss over my appearance before the clerk. Perhaps they saw me as someone not to question? Perhaps they simply didn’t care? I remembered in the hundred years before my imprisonment I could send entire towns into hiding just by being present. Ponies were fearful of the unknown then, and I would presume they wouldn’t have changed that part of their psyche over the years, yet here I am.

I reviewed some information on my Pip-Boy. After attempting to discover the status of the Everfree Bunker, I would also need to travel to the other two of the major bunkers that remained after the war, and seek out some of the things I simply didn’t have time to do before I was defeated.

Defeat… I do not feel anger towards Celestia. I understand that I was not open with her or Equestria, and the Brotherhood were a total mystery. With how we fought against the other warlords and the Enclave, what reason should she have to trust in the Brotherhood. I feel somewhat upset my plans were interrupted, of course, but anger and hate would likely get me nowhere. I needed to focus on the future, not dwell on this cruel past of mine.

There was a long list of leads I never followed and secrets I never unearthed. There was said to be a hidden cache of Securitrons somewhere deep in the Badlands. There were still the mysterious Vaults, whose purposes were still unknown. The Enclave’s true base had never been found. For all I know another faction has already found these and more, but I still hold out hope that I could secure them first. Who knows what kind of damage one could do with the Enclave’s weaponry and armor?

After rereading much of the information relevant to my current objectives, I hear the train whistle and a conductor shout for orderly lines. It was time to go. I had gotten lucky so far, but I doubted that luck would last.

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BDCS #02342: The Sand Worms are a gang of bandits known to occasionally rob trains going through the Badlands. They recently have begun using powerful weapons from an unknown supplier.

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RECON SQUAD CAESAR REPORT: WESTERN REACHES SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1012 UEDS
RECON SQUAD STATUS: OPERATIONAL
RECON SQUAD COMMANDING OFFICER: PALADIN GOLDEN CORNFIELD
RECON SQUAD PRIMARY SCRIBE: FIELD SCRIBE LOCKGATE
AUDIO LOG BEGINS:

This is Recon Squad Caesar’s 5th report on the Western Reaches. After finding the shards of the High Elder’s armor, we have been looking all over the area. One of the bards in the area informed us that a biped was seen working with a local group scouting out a valley not far from our camp.

Knight Trailblazer was sent in civilian clothing to question around the survey camp. A being matching the High Elder’s depictions (minus the Power Armor, of course) had assisted them in exchange for payment, going by the name Joseph.

A few travelers further to the south had mentioned seeing him heading northwards to Vanhoover. We are hesitant to scout out the city itself, so we are watching roads. We are certain, however, that he may be attempting to take a train out of the city, if he has not already done so.

We recommend teams be sent to monitor and watch the stations in Cloudsdale and Las Pegasus, and that we be relocated in the near future once we have ceased watching Vanhoover.

AUDIO LOG ENDS:
RECON SQUAD CAESAR REQUEST FOR INCREASED SURVEILLANCE: APPROVED BY ELDER WATCHER
RECON SQUAD CAESAR REQUEST FOR RELOCATION: APPROVED BY ELDER WATCHER
CONCLUSION: Recon Squad Caesar has allowed us to project where our High Elder’s journey may take him. I recommend they be transferred to assignments of high difficulty in the future as throughout their reports they have displayed confidence, competence, and a particular willingness to deal with civilians. They may be important to diplomacy efforts with small towns. -ELDER WATCHER

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“Sawdust, d’ya have the bomb set up yet?” The mangy Diamond Dog paced towards the cloak-wearing Pony. Around them stood various other beings with weapons and makeshift armor. They were standing on a set of rails cutting through the desert. Sometime later that morning, a train carrying an important package they were informed of would be passing through. The group didn’t quite know what was in the package, but they knew what it looked like, and how Boss wanted whatever it was.

“Nawy’et Bore, gotta get that gubbin into that part there before it can go bang y’know dog?” Sawdust mumbled. He was among the most skilled demolition experts in the Sand Worms, but his way of speech left much to be desired.

“Hurry up. We gotta hour before the train gets here. I don’wanna miss it, or the Boss’ll hide me.” With that the Dog turned to the other raiders stood around the tracks. “Farce Sight, Belthead, go set up the machine gun on the hill there. Jack Rose, go on the other hill there with the rifle. The rest of you, set up the camo netting and fill the sandbags so we have cover from the bomb. We ain’t got much time.”

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I was sitting in the dining car of the Royal Line Express, eating a salad and drinking some kind of cola. I was having brunch, having slept long and hard on the rather comfy bed in my sleeper. The train rattled a bit from time to time, resulting in me spilling a small amount of my drink, but at least the meal I consumed was fresh and not millenia-old MREs.

It was at this point the train was rocked by an explosion somewhere near the front. I immediately dived under the table, using my Pip-Boy to equip my Combat Armor. The car suddenly flipped on its side, derailed and knocked off the tracks. I could hear cries of pain from the other Ponies in the dining car, as glass shattered and plates flew into the air. After a moment of this violent movement, the car came to a stop on its side.

I kicked out the emergency door on the top of the car, emerging out into the Badlands. From ahead, I could hear gunfire and see flames from the engine of the train. I called forth my old Gatling Laser, Dauntless, and advanced towards the combat.

The combatants, which appeared to be Ponies, Griffons, and Diamond Dogs in cloaks, had not noticed me. I was able to circle around behind them, to where a few of these bandits had set up a machine gun nest.

“Surrender immediately.” I stated to the two firing the machine gun. Instead, the ammo carrier flipped towards me, attempting to draw a pistol. A few shots from Dauntless stopped the carrier. “I meant it.”

The gunner raised his hooves, eyes wide at his fallen comrade. I swapped out Dauntless for Pew-Pew, intending to use the gunner as a bargaining chip. Tied him up and hauled him onto my shoulder, keeping my gun trained on his head.

I called out with my voice. “SURRENDER PEACEFULLY AT ONCE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!” This caused many of the bandits to stop firing and turn to me. A Diamond Dog, the largest in the group, barked out an order, and some of the bandits fired on my position. I threw the bandit down, materializing my old Riot Shield in that hand, using it as mobile cover. I charged the bandit lines, blocking bullets and darts with the heavy metal shield.

Reaching the first barricade they set up, I bashed one of the two at this pile of sandbags with the shield, and put one shot into him and his friend. They both went down for the count. Taking cover, I tossed a Plasma Grenade into the next cluster of bandits. A splatter of goo later, and several more have been wiped. I put the pistol and shield away, reequipping Dauntless.

Standing up from the cover, I lay down fire on the few remaining bandits. Those foolish enough to leave cover are cut down by laser fire. All that remained were the bandits near the front, including their leader. I dash forwards, taking out a bandit preparing to toss dynamite. The bandit drops the lit stick, resulting in a chain reacting taking him and the nearest bandits out.

I replace Dauntless for a shock baton I kept for situations like this. Smashing the Diamond Dog in the head with it, he convulses and drops to the ground. Suddenly, I felt a massive force smash into my back and a gunshot cry out. My armor had deflected a shot by some kind of large rifle.

I took cover, once again equipping the Wazer Wifle. Suddenly the world slowed down as I entered the calming state of VATS. Spotting the glint of the scope in the distance, I line up a shot. Time returns to normal and a beam strikes the sniper through his lens.

With that, combat had ended. I spot a distant squad of Pegasi dashing through the sky, likely patrolling this area to look out for bandits such as these. I launch a flare into the sky, and see the Pegasi begin to approach. I judged that they were about 3 miles away, so I had enough time to flee. I activate a Stealth Boy and begin to move away, following the tracks.

I must avoid Celestia’s forces by any means.

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BDCS #0022: The Equestrian Military is made up of 4 branches. The Royal Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Guard. Each has their own roles, command structure, and history.

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BARD CODENAME “FACTORY” REPORT: VANHOOVER SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1012 UEDS
BARD STATUS: OPERATIONAL
BARD MISSION: INFORMATION GATHERING
TEXT LOG BEGINS:
Attached to this report is a copy of a ledger for a train that left Vanhoover Central Station last night, and a copy of a report from the Vanhoover 5th Precinct. The ledger included a list of every being aboard that train as well as cargo. One being is listed as “Joseph” and species is listed as “Unknown”.

The report from the police station details the very same train having been ambushed by the Sand Worms gang earlier this morning, and how a mysterious figure defeated these Sand Worms, alongside mentioning disappearances or wounded individuals.

Our Elder is likely somewhere along the rail lines in the Badlands.
TEXT LOG ENDS:
ATTACHED FILES: BCFR-VCS-01; BCFR-V5P-01
CONCLUSION: This is further proof that I, and Recon Squad Caesar, were correct in our previous assessments. In response to this report, I plan to increase the number of scouting missions in the Badlands regions temporarily. I only hope our Elder was not wounded in the battle. -ELDER WATCHER

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“Thank you, my Princess, for accepting the terms of Steel Heavy Industries’ contract with your Royal Army. We can not wait to show some of the wonderful creations we have built!” The suit-wearing Pony bowed his head once more.

“You are dismissed, Alloy Steel. Please, tell your siblings I said ‘greetings’.” With that, the industrialist Steel left the throne room. Her guards closed the doors behind him, and this marked the end of Celestia’s open court. She had received a courier with a message earlier that day. General File had requested her attendance at a meeting between commanders of the branches of Equestria’s military. Captain Armor, Admiral Sailing, and General Parachute would also be present.

Stepping into the map room, all 4 leaders of her military forces are arguing and squabbling with one another. The map on the table showed a map of all of Equestria, with a few markers posted onto it.

“What is the meaning of this, General File?” Her commanding voice silenced the Ponies in the room. Clearing his throat, a large, broad-shouldered Earth Pony stood up.

“My Princess, my Rangers have been noticing unusual activity in several regions. It would seem some unknown threat has arrived in Equestria, though we do not know much about it.” He pulls out a long pointer, aiming it at the table. “Several armored individuals were spotted by Rangers in these three locations primarily. They do not match the description of any known military force. What appeared to be a large squad was found scouting out areas in the Western Reaches, just south of Vanhoover, a group was spotted near Las Pegasus patrolling out in the desert, and a patrol was spotted earlier today in the Everfree. Several flying machines believed to be related to this group were spotted flying near some of the smaller settlements around the Everfree, contents unknown. It would seem that this group is preparing for something beyond our knowledge. I suggest we send Army patrols into the Everfree to find the source of these armored Stallions.”

“During a training exercise over the Badlands some of my pegasi managed to capture a picture of a fight between a gang of Sand Worms and these unknown individuals. The Sand Worms were outmatched and fled deeper into the desert. The armored Ponies seemed to use energy weapons of unknown origin.” General Parachute used her wing to place a photograph on the table. It depicted a sight familiar to Celestia. It took her a moment to make the connection.

“Hmm… I believe I may know the background of these Ponies. They are dressed in the same armor as a society that existed a millenia ago. I am sure you all know that following my sister’s banishment, Equestria had a period of strife?” Upon receiving several nods from the gathered commanders, Celestia continued. “These were one of the many groups that fought in this period. The Brotherhood of Steel. I did not truly know their goals, but between the ferocity they showed in combat, and their technology still not matched by modern creations, my younger self fought them as well. I personally used the Elements of Harmony on their leader, imprisoning him. He threw himself in the sea before the full effects of the Elements could manifest. The Brotherhood disappeared practically overnight following his defeat. Their sudden activity gives me worry.” She sighs, composing herself. “The weapons we once used to defeat them are gone. I destroyed them, as they held lingering traces of dark magic. I fear if we act too quickly and harshly, we may plunge our nation into a war we may not be able to win. My orders are as follows: continue sending Rangers and other scouts out to search for groups of these Brotherhood soldiers. Take as many photographs as you can and attempt to document their actions and locations. Perhaps if we are able to accrue enough evidence, we can piece together the plans they are following. You are now dismissed.”

With that, the commanders split off, likely to find the nearest messengers to send out orders. Celestia felt fear again. Celestia did not wish for the war to rekindle and hoped she made the right move.

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“What is it now, Watcher, haven’t I told you that I want nothing to do with your recreation of the old days?” The gravelly voice of the Headmaster of the Scientific College of Manehattan blurted out from the terminal screen. “I’ve said it already. I’ve put that stuff behind me. I have commitments and I cannot afford to leave this post at this moment.”

“Mundane, please. I have pleaded with you time and time again. I have great need of your knowledge and abilities. Much of the bunker is still lost, and-”

“And nothing, Watcher. You should do well to respect my wishes. You have just said the same things as last time. What makes this time around any different?”

“I… well… I was going to wait until I got more concrete information, but I believe now is a good time to inform you of what we have been up to.” The Zebra straightened himself up, preparing himself for what he was about to tell this mare. “I am sure you are familiar with the old legend of the Elder’s return. How he supposedly said he would return? Just a few days ago matched this prophesized date perfectly.” He sends a packet of information on the terminal. “We found what looked like stone shards of Power Armor on a beach just miles from where the fateful battle.occurred. One of our Recon Squads managed to find evidence of Ponies in the Western Reaches encountering a being calling itself “Joseph”. One of our Bards was able to recover a ledger that lists the very same being on a train bound for Cloudsdale, the train that was blown off its tracks earlier today by the Sand Worms.” Watcher clears his throat. “We have irrefutable evidence the High Elder has returned and is on his way towards this very bunker.”

“Maxson’s… alive? You… you are not lying. I do not lie either, I am far too busy to simply leave, but tell Maxson to come see me when he can. I have many things to inform him of.”

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PERK OF THE DAY: SCIENCE!
Due to your extensive knowledge of technology, machines, and electronics, you can modify energy weapons and high-tech armor in nearly any way possible.
”They asked me how well I understood theoretical physics. I said I had a theoretical degree in physics. They said welcome aboard.”

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BDCS #04023: Crystal-Cola is the most popular brand of beverage in Equestria. The Crystal-Cola Corporation owns many of the other popular drinks consumed by Equestrians.