Ad Victoriam

BDCS #00029: The High Sentinel is an extremely important position within the Brotherhood of Steel. The High Sentinel relays orders from the High Elder to the upper leadership of the Brotherhood, serves as the Elder’s personal bodyguard, and advises the Elder on military matters.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Looking around my quarters, I find it totally unchanged from the last time I had left. Every souvenir and belonging positioned just as I had placed it, all the furniture arranged just how I remembered. A thick layer of dust still coated much of the room, however.

The quarters themselves were fairly large, being sectioned off into several rooms. A central sitting room that watched over the Great Atrium, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an office and a bedroom that both also watched over the Atrium. I looked over at the framed photographs on the wall of the office. In the center, given a place of importance, was a photo of Lion, Mundane Arcane, and myself, posed over the body of some monster. The old days before the Brotherhood, where I travelled the world. Where we travelled the world.

I still miss those times, and wish I could return to what was, but it’s impossible now. Any semblance of normalcy had been struck from my life the moment I founded the Brotherhood.

Lion was a monster of a Griffon, bulky, strong, capable of anything. He was the toughest bastard I had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Seemed to be some kind of Bald Eagle-like Griffon, with a head of white feathers and a steely gaze. He wore finely-polished steel armor, glinting in the sunlight, and emblazoned with his family crest, a snarling lion’s head.

Mundane on the other hand was what had to be the lankiest unicorn in the world. Tall and skinny, any outfit would always drape off of her. Considering by this point she had already been ghoulified thanks to a previous incident involving radiation in some ruins, she always wore clothes. Her typical attire was the traditional vestments of a wizard, though perhaps exaggerated somewhat to compensate for her new appearance. A long billowing robe that covered her entire body, and a big, floppy, and pointed hat who’s shadow hid nearly all of her head other than a pair of eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dark confines of her headwear.

Though I knew what fate Lion had met, Mundane was resourceful and intelligent, with her dramatically increased lifespan she’s no doubt still around. Assuming someone hasn’t killed her.

This does beg a question to me, however. I will need ponies to fill the positions that those two had left vacant. The High Sentinel, and the High Scribe. My right and left hand men. Men is a bit of a misnomer, but the point still stands, damn it!

Standing up, I slip into my coat again. Time to inspect the troops.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I stood in what was formerly a secondary hangar bay, back when the Brotherhood had enough Vertibirds to fill up this entire facility. The entire room had been rearranged, filled with obstacles, makeshift constructions, shooting ranges, and a full half of the space had been turned into a large killing house.

Knights wearing under armor dashed through the obstacle course. A few power-armored figures were sighting their weapons on the gun range. A squad of Lancers was clearing the killing house on foot.

Trudging up to me was a middle-aged stallion, gunmetal in coat and olive green in mane. He wore a set of blue robes and an armband with a stripe of green, yellow, and orange. The mark of a Paladin-Sergeant.

“High Elder. Quartermaster Overcook Fuze. It is my pleasure.” He performed a quick salute before pacing back towards the overlook. “What brings you here, my Elder?”

“I wished to inspect our soldiers, and perhaps review potential… candidates for the position of High Sentinel.” I follow beside him. “It is imperative that I fill this position as quickly as I can. I require assistance adjusting to this new age. Not exactly a spring chicken anymore.”

“The various teams before you are some of our most elite Brothers to date. Recon Squad Phalanx, Demolitions Squad Apple, and the Lancers of the Clipped Feathers Squadron.” Fuze gives a slight hum and a nod. “I believe your next High Sentinel lies in this room.”

“Very well.” Straightening myself up, I shout out, “Phalanx, Apple, and Clipped Feathers, form up!”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Twilight quintuple-checked the list floating inches from her face.

“I have the Bugbear spray, the Changling repellent, did I remember the-” She was cut off as Spike ran into the room, clutching a scroll.

“Twilight, you’ve gotten a letter from the Princess! It says you’re needed in Canterlot.” Spike hands over the scroll to Twilight, who floats it into her vision.

“To my most faithful student,

“I fear that a grave series of events is about to unfold. A series of events potentially culminating in the destruction of Equestria itself.

“Several days ago, a being banished a thousand years ago returned. His name is Joseph Maxson. He led an army during the years following the banishment of my sister, razing towns and fighting against so many other warbands. His was the final, and most powerful warband that we faced. His defeat was costly, and it took many years to recuperate from the damage he wrought.

“I require your presence in Canterlot immediately to discuss the threat of Maxson’s return. I am having an emergency meeting of several of my most trusted advisors, confidants, and military leaders, and I wish for you to be in attendance.

“With love, Princess Celestia.

“P.S.: I am sending the tickets in just a moment. Be sure to pack writing materials. I do know how much you love to take notes.”

Twilight Sparkle took a moment to absorb the writing on the scroll.

“Spike,” she groaned, “I guess I’m going to have to postpone the Everfree Forest expedition. Again.”

“I guess so, Twilight,” Spike agreed. “But hey, we haven’t been to Canterlot in a while! Maybe when this meeting is over we can see the family. Shining hasn’t written to us once since we’ve gotten to Ponyville.”

“Great idea, Spike. I’ve missed Mom and Dad a lot.” Twilight hummed, floating away the scroll and checklist, and pulling another checklist off of the nearby desk. “Let’s see what I’ll need for my trip back home…”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

“Ah, uh, Director, this is an… an unexpected surprise. Wh-why have you come to my, uh, our department?” Chrome Plating stuttered, caught off guard by The Director’s presence.

“Doctor Plating, please, calm yourself. I just wished to be present for the first test of the RoboCo joint project.” The Director, a large Unicorn stallion dressed in a head-to-toe hazmat suit, spoke confidently. “This project has taken ahold of my interest. The ideas that they have presented to us, while being… unusual, are very beneficial to our other research.”

“Oh, yeah, ha… ha. The joint project, yes. The new robot. I guess you’ll be wanting to see the viewing room, then.” Chrome turned towards the door marked “Test Lab A7”, placing his hoof on the small pad by it. The sterile-looking plastic door slid open with hardly a sound, revealing a corridor with windows along one side. “This’ll be it right here, sir. No seats, the, uh, Financial Department, they sorta skimped out a bit on furniture for us.”

“I see. Any issues with the project since the last report?” The Director stepped forward into the corridor, peering out a window. The Test Lab itself was similar to the rest of the Canterlot Institute of Technology’s facilities, mostly sterile panelling and smooth linoleum. In the center of the perfectly square room was a RoboCo standard recharging cradle with a protective door concealing the occupant. A few technicians in the red Robotics Department uniform paced about the room, preparing various stations with testing materials. Another set of windows that The Director could not see into all that well from this angle had to have been the control center for A7.

“Uh, some. Medical had some… moral issues with the project. Some of their members said things along the lines of us and RoboCo being, well, monsters. The Ponies on their end ended up getting replaced by Doctor Shackle, who had no such qualms about the project. If anything, I’d say he almost enjoyed working on it.” The technicians began to depart the room, and a suited mare stepped beside The Director.

“Mare Line, it’s a pleasure as always.”

“Likewise, Director. You boys at CIT really know what you’re doing when it comes to robotics. Maybe, if this test goes well, we can… work out a long-term deal.” The Director could almost hear the smugness in her voice. He believed that Mare Line was underestimating the depths of the Institute’s funding.

“Hmm. I believe the test is about to start.”

An alarm blared out, the locking mechanism of the door to the control center snapping into place. Spinning lights painted the room in orange colors, and the seal on the charging cradle came undone. The door sliding out of its’ way, the lone occupant of the pod was revealed.

A large, heavy robot came lumbering forwards. It sat on a trio of legs each with a large all-terrain wheel on the end, propping up the large, heavily armored torso. The torso itself had a large steel dome in the middle, with a slit down the center, almost making it look like a closed eye. Two bulky arms sat on the “shoulders” of the machine, with large claws that looked more like they were knives from a butcher’s shop. A heavily armored head sat atop, an unknown light creating a green glow that almost poured out of the slits cut into it.

The dome in the center slid open, revealing a glass dome containing a brain with a series of sensors, camera, and wires

“Mark Two Sentry-Pony Combat Interface Unit Designation “Buddy”, online. Please input commands.” It spoke in a slightly filtered voice, almost sounding like a character from an old arcade game. The camera lenses mounted on the brain almost bored into the faceplate of The Director’s suit.

After a moment of idling, the Buddy performed several of its tasks spread about the Test Room. It was able to mix together some kind of hard drink, make a small drawing of itself, fold and toss a paper plane, smash through several junked computers in a single swing, and balance itself on one wheel for a solid minute.

After completing these tasks, the Buddy returned to its charging cradle, the doors sealing shut with a loud hiss.

The Director, lost in his thoughts, almost didn’t hear what Mare Line said.

“Just what House wanted.”

He could do nothing but nod along.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

All of the squads assembled before me in a line, I began pacing back and forth, inspecting them silently.

I had done nothing but stare them down for several minutes.

Several, especially among the Lancers, had begun to squirm at various points.

“Hmm. None of you have snapped yet. At least you have some level of patience.” I nod, turning myself towards the line. “One of those among you shall likely become my next Sentinel. Only one.

“I have a series of trials prepared for you, and any Brother deeming themselves worthy. Tests not designed to weed out the weakest among you, but intended to force one to use all of their strengths to their maximum potential.

“Your first trial will be held in one of the lower levels, one specially converted into a labyrinth. Combat robots equipped with stun weapons will patrol the location, several traps, puzzles, and security systems will be deployed throughout. The labyrinth will be a test of independence, and show both, how you tend to approach problems, and how you will perform without guidance or assistance.

“Your second trial will be within the final room of this labyrinth. It will be a computer system, designed by me. It will attempt to capture and interrogate you. Your actions, and successes, while facing it will determine if you are worthy of the final trial.

“Your third trial will be far simpler than the other two. You will be deployed alongside myself on a mission. I have a series of suitable assignments for such a trek lined up. Be prepared for anything.

“Whether you will be my Sentinel or not will largely hinge on the impression you will leave upon me in the third trial. Some of you, however, may prove your worth as Brothers throughout the trials. Do not fret, those who show excellence in their duty will be rewarded.

“That is all I have to tell you today. Report to Sublevel 16 this time next Monday. There you will all be thrust into a… practice run of the first trial where you will be sent in at the same time as random Brothers. It will be vastly different from the real trial, but it will both get you acquainted with the conditions you will be under and ensure that the systems will stand up to the rigors of the trial.

“You are all dismissed.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

BDCS #00523: The Everfree Bunker was created with a special modular system allowing for total rearrangement of several regions of the Bunker in a short period.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

PERK OF THE DAY: ERROR, TOKEN NOT FOUND
Warning, this perk has not yet been assigned a designation or description!
25% increased chance for a negative event!
”Let’s spice things up.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

PRIORITY BAND ANNOUNCEMENT SEPT20 1012A: STARTING NEXT WEEK, TRIALS TO DETERMINE THE NEXT HIGH SENTINEL WILL BEGIN. PLEASE REPORT TO QUARTERMASTER OVERCOOK FUZE OR HIS ASSISTANTS IN SECONDARY HANGAR BAY B FOR DETAILS.