Ave Deus Mechanicus: On Equestriaby PleaseDoNotDeleteMeChaptersUplink One: ArrivalUplink Two: ExperimentsUplink Three: HuntingUplink Four: MeetingUplink Five: Contact IUplink Six: Contact IIUplink Seven: Contact IIIUplink Eight: Contact IVUplink Nine: NegotiationsUplink Ten: TacticsUplink Eleven: AttackUplink Twelve: Escape IUplink Thirteen: Escape II [Edited]Uplink Fourteen: Escape IIIUplink Fifteen: SurpriseUplink Sixteen: AssassinationUplink Seventeen: Flight IUplink Eighteen: Flight IIUplink Nineteen: Interlude IUplink Twenty: Interlude IIUplink One: ArrivalAuthor's Note I know I’m not the first to come up with a concept like this. But here is my stab at the Mechanicus finding Equestria. Uplink One: Arrival Uplinking.... Loading.... Loading.... Loading.......... Auto shunt found Designation: Cassius Rank: Arch Magos Location: Byzantium command throne. Uplink successful +His servants+ Crimson warning sigils lit every screen. The bridge shook and rattle sparks raining down on the various shrines and alters where servants of the machine god stood or sat hard plugged into their consoles focusing on their tasks. No words were shared between them too focused where they in ensuring their debt to the Omnissiah was paid. The only light was that from warning, blinking bathing the bride in crimson then darkness. Crimson then darkness. Everything shook, the blessed metal threatening to buckle. Through it all the arch Magos sat hard plugged into his command throne expression unreadable even through the noosphere, the invisible data network that bonded all their souls to data. He was too focused on guiding his ship through the immaterium the hellish flip side to reality where all ships of the Imperium are forced to traverse, it is a realm of thoughts and emotions rather than stone and steel, their navigator had died shortly after they made the jump leaving Cassius, Captain of the Byzantium and Arch Magos Explore of Mars the only one capable of guiding the ship, and failing miserably. They had been trapped in the warp storm for what felt like an eternity. The shifting tides preventing any hope of returning to real space. The Ark Mechanicus was lost, battered on all sides by the tides of unreality against it’s gellar field. The only barrier between the servants of the Machine God, and the native inhabitants of the realm they traversed. Despite the battering it held firm, the holy machine spirit dutifully holding reality in and the abominations out. But that would be useless unless the could— There Just for a second Cassius saw a spec of light and aimed for it. Plowing the Ark Mechanicus through a wave of pure raw emotion, he pierced the vail between what was unreal and what was and finally freed his ship from the tides of the warp. +++ Cassius asked in binary to the helm servitor. The simple minded slave drooled out a report from chapped lips in it’s usual monotone. Cassius aloud himself to sigh, he didn’t need to since his lungs had long since been replaced with an augment that breathed for him, but it helped his mind relax his mind. the Magos asked allowing curiosity to flow through him. Another tech priest answered in place of the servitor.A lower ranking one still mostly human, aside from the most basic of augments, he could understand lingua technis just not speak it. According to his noosphere tag he was Maximal. “According to the hymns, power had not returned to Deck 13.” He started reading off the terminal before him. “Also hanger 55’s door is non functional, and we are leaking promethium from a spare directional thruster.” The young adept turned from his position to look at Cassius directly now. “Aside from that... well done piloting the Byzantium.” The young adapts face was holly organic aside from a single green optic on his right eye. His skin was pale with some fuzz growing from his chin and black hair down to his ears. In many ways he reminded Cassius of a younger version of himself. Given enough time maybe he could rise the ranks of the cult. “All operational.” Looking in front Cassius for the first time noticed the planet. It was a blue green orb dominating the viewer, appearing to have multiple biomes and continents. He didn’t recognize it from his data base, but it seamed untouched. New planets for the Imperium were discovered every day, but seeing one untouched by... well seemingly anything was a rarity indeed. Cassius contemplated to himself. His cogitators could be heard spinning in his head. He knew he would regret this next question before he even asked. Settra responded. He was the ships astronomer, even older than Cassius, his augments were large and bulky giving him a bloated appearance underneath his crimson robes. Cassius asked the sensorium operator. Her legs were completely removed, replacing them was a set of slender hooves that magnetized to the deck. She reminded the Magos of a Sicarian Ruststalker in that regard. she reported. This got Cassius to sit up. the Magos asked. the Magos quickly amended. Settra immediately interrupted the report making Cassius feel anger before he deleted the emotion. The astronomer continued on regardless. If Cassius still had his eyelids they would have widened in shock. Geocentric planets were incredibly rare, but they did exist. But one so small? Much less one supporting life, and industry? It went against logic. Settra nodded and continued. If Cassius had eyebrows, one would have raised at that. <‘near perfect sync’> Cassius quoted back. Cassius contemplated to himself, his internal logic engines wired to life in sync with one another. He was alone with no way of contacting the wider Imperium, in an uncharted system, in a ship full of the Omnissiah’s devoted. And a planet rich in rare minerals. They would need resources to do another warp jump just to get their bearings, but now a warp storm was raging, and Emperor only knew when that would pass. He needed time. Something to occupy his thoughts while he waited for the storm to go away. The planet had inhabitants and resources. Along with a mystery of how it came to be the center of a solar system, and teaming with life. Yes, this would work. He would occupy his mind in solving the mystery layed before him. In time he would return to Mars a changed man. They missed there target, but this would be their new goal. He would plunder it’s resources. Collect all the knowledge of its inhabitants, then return with all he could carry leaving behind a dead rock... or perhaps, a new and enlightened forge world. Either way, the Omnissiah’s will would be done today. Cassius stood from his throne. Many cables disconnect from his multitude of sockets in his flesh slinking back into their holes like predatory serpents, some even hissing. He felt the manafold leave him as he disconnected from the Byzantium’s machine spirit. He stated through the noosphere so all could hear him. With that he left the bridge his centipede like legs clicking under his robe. The doors machine spirit opened automatically allowing him to exit. +++Transmission concluded+++ New Uplink? [Y/N] Y Loading... Loading.... Loading.. Loading..... New Uplink Found Designation: Rohn 55 Rank: Skitarii Alpha Location: Alexandria Lander Uplink successful +His Will Be Done+ Rohn sat strapped into the crash couch with the rest of his squad numbering 5 in total, while the Arch Magos stood in the center of the lander never taking his optics off the door. The Alpha admitted he was exited. Never had he seen a Magos before. Especially not Cassius. He had served on the Byzantium for almost a century, and never once did any of the skitarius, tech priests, or slaves talk of a time when the Arch Magos left the bridge, much less journeyed down to a planet. There was even talk in the noosphere that he couldn’t leave the bridge, that he had permanently attached himself to his ship so that were he ever removed both his and the ships vital systems would fail. That was proven false due to him being right in front of him alive and well. To Rohn the Magos was absolutely beautiful. He towered 3 times the height of a Skitarius even while he hunched to fit into the lander. Most of his body was gone, with no flesh visible at all. His form bristled with archaic augments crafted in gold and steel. His hunched back showed the hints of a heavy miniature nuclear reactor chugging away dutifully keeping him alive. His optics were baleful crimson, reminding Rohn of his home world of sacred Mars. Rohn knew he could never reach the level of augmentation as Cassius. Being a Skitarius his most augmented part were his legs, replaced from the knees down to allow him and his fellow rangers to run for great distances without tiring. He also possessed a gas mask and optics fused to his skull like all others, with a power pack on his back and antenna. Soon enough the craft reached the ground and the door slammed down the machine spirit sighing having fulfilled its purpose. The bar around Rohn 55’s battle chase swung up and him and his four companions moved out the door in a V formation riffles at the ready blood red robes flapping in the breeze. In contrast to Mars, the meadow they found themselves in was incredible green and smooth. Green rolling hills replaced red rocks. The blue sky having none of the pollution of continental factories. The mountains were tall and jagged, no mines or quarries in sight. The air was clean and pure, even breathable to humans without oxygen filters. It disgusted Rohn 55. Another major difference was the gravity. Mars had less gravity than Holy Terra. Thought he had never set foot on Old Earth, the Ark Mechanicus was equipped with a chamber where he could experience the gravity of the Throne World. This world’s gravity was more that Terra. He didn’t know precisely by how much. But he estimated the planets gravity sat at almost double or even triple that of Mars. With no threats in sight he issued the all clear code to Arch Magos Cassius, he exited behind the formation, taking in the sights and deploying various tools from his body to test the air. He then ordered Rohn’s rangers to fan out and examine the surrounding area. The meadow sat on the edge of a dark forest that Magos Cassius almost immediately ran towards his dozen legs clicking in perfect synchronization under him. Rohn 55 let the Magos go take his studies while he investigated a near by stream. The water flow was low, likely due to the high gravity but the Alpha took out a clear glasstek jar gathering a sample. Holding it up to the light he could make out small insects inside. Even if they were small, the little Xenos fascinated Rohn as they swam about in their prison. He heard a twig snap and turned his gun sights on the noise issuing an order his squad to form up around him. Exiting the brush was a red entity. It had a muzzle and long white mane styled into a spike pattern. It approached without fear, cloven hooves stepping on the grass. It was no bigger than Rattling, it walked on all fours curious of them rather than afraid, The Alpha kept his distance unsure what the beast was capable of even if it only came up to his waist. His metal legs backed away from the unknown beast servos whining and clicking. The Xenos stepped over the stream leaning down to sniff the sample Rohn 55 had just taken. The alpha turned off his weapons Safty hearing the machine spirit hum to life ready to kill. As it got closer Rohn lined up a shot right between the eyes. Before he could fire a red robe filled his scope and Rohn looked up to see none other than Cassius himself standing between him and his target. Rohn demanded. He would apologize later, right now he needed to protect his master, but he was in the way of the shot. His fellow rangers came into position lining up their shots. Was all Cassius said asserting his authority through those simple words. The Magos extended his hand to the creature allowing it to sniff his palm similar to how a Guardsmen greeted a Canid. The Xenos equine sniffed the hand of the priest before the Magos brought his metallic claw to the creatures head... and unexpectedly began petting it. The beast enjoying the motion got closer to the Arch Magos, allowing the tech priest to pet him more leaning in. The Magos said to himself. The beast looked up to Cassius smiling, then displaying brief shock, before passing out cold, eyes closed. It’s chest rose and fell signaling to Rohn that it was still alive, only asleep thanks to a potion Cassius injected hidden beneath his robes. Cassius stood and pointed to the Xenos. he ordered the cohort. Rohn nodded before two ranger grabbed the quadruped and took it to the lander. Uplink Interrupted Uplink Two: ExperimentsSugar Dance watch from the bushes the odd creatures as they left their red bird flying machine. The creatures didn’t look like ponies at all. They seamed to be made entirely of metal, and walked on two legs with flat bits of metal at the ends of their legs. There upper legs had odd talons that reminded him of a griffin’s. In their claws They held carved wooden sticks with golden swirling designs on the side that they pointed at everything. Sugar remained incredibly still. After a few moments the one in front made a noise that hurt his ears and out of the metal birds mouth came a hunched larger version of the creatures with even more shinny arms and legs and even a few tentacles. The shining creatures then split up with the big boss one going over to the boarder of the Everfree Forest along his many insect like legs. The lead small one walked slowly over to a stream. Sugar Dancer was afraid it noticed him, but it didn’t seam to, he watched as it pulled out a clear cylinder then collected some of the water. He thought it was going to drink it from the cup but he just kept staring at it like it had never seen water before. After a few seconds Sugar decided to say hi. He left the bushes only for the shiny creature to drop his glass and start pointing his carved stick at him. Sugar approached slowly trying not to scare the creature who kept backing away from him the closer he got. Soon he crossed the stream and leaned down to sniff the creatures glass, it had wired symbols along the side sticking out in a line and looked scratchy. He gave it a small sniff, it didn’t smell like glass, it smelt kind of like the material in clothes, but older and also odd. He twitched his ears as the metal thing turned a switch on the side of his stick pointing it at his head. Just then the big red boss one was standing in front of him looking down. Red eyes aglow in his crimson hood. It stood before him draped in cloth what was visible didn’t look pony at all. It radiated heat with several spiky bits poking from the darkness of his cloak, he felt they to we’re watching him curiously just as much as the head was. It reached out a talon to Sugar Dancer who gave it a sniff. His talon smelled like melted bits. Sugar smiled up at it showing he trusting the scary creature not to hurt it. The being raised it’s talon above him, then began stroking him behind his ears. Sugar had never been pet like a dog before. It felt, good, the strange friends claws dig into his coat just right, sugar leans in looking up into the strange beasts red eyes, smiling. He knew he wasn’t a bad creature. Just scary looking. Just then something pricked Sugar Dance in the neck. Looking down he saw a black snake with a needle head retreat into the creatures robes, then nothing else. +•+ When light returned he saw two of the creature, but they were both different. They towered over and were screeching at one another in their harsh tong. Looking around he was in a dry cave choking with alien smells. Neither payed him any mind as they argued. Sugar Dancer tried to get up and sneak away only to realize he was strapped down to a table. The two beings stopped arguing and looked down at him. Before he had time to open his mouth a snake emerged from the one on the lefts robes and stung him in the same spot as last time. As he went under he could hear them getting back into their argument again like he was nothing. •+• When Dancer next awoke he was alone. He was in a black metal cube with a single glowing orb above him. The orb was suspended by a black wire and let out a low buzz that hurt his ears. Looking around he saw a door, but it didn’t have a way to open it from his side and seamed unnaturally tall and narrow for a pony. There was a small slit on the bottom another piece of metal blocked. Looking down he was horrified to find is coat criss crossed in stitching. Odd metal plugs were also inserted into his elbows. He felt a buzz at the back of his head and tried to take out the plugs to no effect. His skin was opened up and sealed again by these interlopers. They saw what was inside and left their metal probes in his guts for easy access. Sugar Dance thought of his friends and family, his younger sister. What if they had a way to read his mind through the plugs in his head? The buzzing between his ears could be them listening to his thoughts at this very moment. He curled into a ball and began to cry. •+• Connection reestablished Loading.... Auto shunt found Designation: Cassius Rank: Arch Magos Location: Byzantium Medicae Lab Deck 22. Uplink successful +The Flesh is Weak+ Before Cassius stood Shearia the Biologis of the Byzantium. She was a strange priestess by Mechanicus standards, preferring instead to augment herself with extra organs and biological limbs rather then mechanical ones. Her shoulders were draped in a white sash where 8 extra organic arms were stitched to her flesh, that being said she was not entirely against nonorganic augments when it suited her. Possessing a green lease in place of an organic orb. As well as a medical mechadendrite complete with various potions and administrators. Cassius asked the medicae. Shearia pulled up a data slate held in one of her arms, scratching across it with a stylus that replaced one of her would be organic fingers. “Specimen 12445 is male, possessing organs consistent with that of old Terran Equines although shrunken down and with exaggerated features: the head, brain, hooves, and eyes for example are much larger then that of a standard equine.” Shearia answered reading almost directly off her notes. An annoying habit, especially for Cassius who possessed internal logic banks but each priest or priestess had their preferences. Cassius asked. “Unknown.” Shearia answered before continuing. “Muscle structure is also increased.” The Biologis continued. Cassius interrupted with his own observations from the planet. Shearia rubbed her chin ponderously. “Possible.” She added that to her notes. “The nerve plug I installed indicates higher brain functions, as well as vocal cords I found earlier in surgery.” Cassius repeated back intrigued. Shearia nodded. A whole new language by a race that had just developed locomotive engines on a geocentric planet. Imagine the philosophies they had come up with, the myths to explain their place in the universe. The lore in their archives. It would all be his if he had the key to their tong. Cassius was starting to let his excitement get the better of him. “Not with just one specimen.” Shearia replied. “I’d need more specimens from the same area.” Cassius nodded. An unexpected message flashed into Cassius’s manifold. The door to the Med bay sighed open revealing a tall thin black hooded figure. Various antenna sprouted from its back mounted power pack. It strode in on a tripod swinging counter cog wise clawed feet scraping the metal floor. It wasn’t in a hurry but reached Cassius in 5.6667 seconds after it entered coming to a stop. The figure removed the hood revealing a bowl shaped head covered in emerald optics all evenly spaced. Cassius recognized her immediately, his fluids running cold it was the one priest he hoped to deal with the least. “Don’t you start with me Arch Magos.” she put special anger into flesh voice that wouldn’t be possible through the hymnals of the noophere. Primus Dominus Catherine is the Tech Priestess in charge of all Skitarii maniples of the Byzantium. A woman of rigid structure and a short fuse. Unlike Arch Magos Cassius who removed most of his emotions long ago. Catherine preferred to keep hers in for (she claimed) combat purposes, even (Cassius suspected) enhancing her normal human emotions. Particularly her anger. As such she was not a priestess to be angered lightly. And it looked like she was very very mad at Cassius. Catherine said switching to a form of binary only available to high ranking officers, keeping Shearia out of the conversation. Before Cassius could respond Catherine interrupted him for yet a third time in as many minutes. It was really starting to anger him. Catherine continued her rant. Catherine took the binary version of a inhale before continuing, allowing her cogitators to cool for a second before heating up again. Cassius responded. She pointed to her chest which displayed the cog Mechanicum. she then pointed to Cassius. Their was logic in what the Primus was saying. A commander being part of the initial team to an unknown world was against logic. Cassius admitted defeat and bowed his head to Catherine bringing it to about eye level with her mask. Cassius admitted defeat to her logic. Catherine folded her uppermost arms together, likely smirking underneath her rebreather at her victory over her superior officer. “What is known about the life forms?” Catherine asked Shearia not even bothering to turn her head, but she did focus four of her optics on her. “Going off of Specimen 12445 we are dealing with sentiment quadruple equines, of increased strength, capable of speech on a world three times Terran standard gravity, that is also geocentric.” Shearia quickly read off scrolling through her notes fast. “Unknown tech level, but we couldn’t find any nonorganic air craft in their atmosphere.” Catherine nodded turning her attention away from the Biologist and to the captain. “Mission?” She asked her hands going straight to her sides. Cassius responded. The Primus nodded rotating her waist 180 degrees and striding back her same path. Cassius amended to the mission parameters. The door sealed shut behind her. Uplink Interrupted Uplink Three: HuntingUplinking. Loading... Loading.. Loading.... Loading... Loading..... Loading.. Loading... Auto shunt found Designation: Catherine Rank: Primus Magos Dominus Location: Unknown World assigning designation: VP- 23336789432 Uplink successful +For the Omnissiah+ Approximately 5 Martian standard months have passed since the discovery of planet designated VP- 23336789432. In that time Dominus Catherine and her cohort had managed to capture 10 equines who wondered into the Forest of Horrors (as her Skitarii called it). To raise moral she would sometimes lead her troops through the woods on hunts. They were entertaining, with many deadly creatures, but didn’t have the same feel of a Death World jungle like Catachan. The creatures where just as massive sure, but they weren’t as smart and seamed to only blindly charge at her troops. They chose a clearing in the forest to set up a landing pad for the lander as well as camp, a few basic pre fab structures were erected but nothing that would go noticed by an average fly over. They abducted those who wondered in figuring few would come to investigate a disappearance in what was likely one of the most dangerous woods on the planet. During these abductions they had found three classes of equine of various hues, designated: Terra, Aerial, and Aethereal. Terra Equines have enhanced muscle and bone structure, they are the most similar to the creatures of Old Earth. Aetheral Equines posses long bone spikes protruding from their skull. They are their version of psykers no daemonic possessions have been observed but their bodies are executed and incinerated after study concludes just to be safe. Aerial ones have so far only been observed, capture has proven most difficult of the three equine races seen. Unlike some species the equines did not appear to be divided by race or appearances. There were no observed biases between the different classes which seamed odd given there obviously different biologies. The biologus was currently determining if interbreeding between the classes was possible. During one of the hunts through the woods in search of what the Skitarii called a "rockgaiter" Catherine was suddenly struck by a living ballistic missile. She was taken far away from her troops and slammed into a rocky cliff leaving an indent. She groaned as her cogitators ran self repairers informing her of all the damage done. She blinkclicked it away and stared at her attacker. Before her stood one of the rare Aerial class. It's coat was a cyan shade that matched this worlds sky perfectly, it possessed a prismatic mane cut short and spiked. It's wings appeared strong and fit, along with the rest of its body having clear muscle definition, this was clearly an alpha flier, it’s flank was branded with a sigil of a white cloud producing a prismatic lightning bolt matching the mane. The beast snarled at her as she stood her dislocated joints welding into place with a smooth clicking of blessed titanium, it would take more than that to put her out of the fight, still... she had fought orks with less of a punch. His face was the very image of wrath. Hers, she quickly amended. The beast had the trademarks of the female genus, shorter muzzle, larger eyes, leaner frame etc. But she knew how to use it to her advantage. The xeno spoke to her in its native tong, still beyond her cogitators ability to translate a single word, probable an insult. Catherine brought herself lower to the ground feigning injury. The xeno approached slowly, asking a question in its odd scratching voice. Once it was close enough Catherine lashed out bringing her electro whip from her cloak and rapping it around the xeno's leg. It tried to ascend and escape her, Catherine merely activated the whip with a flick of the switch on the side. Motive force coerced through the beast, it convulsed crying in anguish. But it still remained conscious ripping the whip from the Dominus's grasp. All of Catherine’s augments at the moment we’re geared towards close combat, but she wasn’t entirely out of ranged weapons. From her cloak she produced an arc pistol, lighting exploded from the barrel striking the beast dead on. It forced the beast down to her level. Finally on the ground the leader of the Byzantium Exploritor skitarii legions didn’t relent her attack. She held down the trigger getting closer to capture. Once with a few feet the xeno bucked at her hand flinging her pistol into the brush. 'Cleaver girl.' Catherine thought to herself. The xenos tackled her forcing the primus down under her body weight. Catherine kicked digging a claw into the midriff of the beast. It backed off the dominus, but it still didn't retreat. The two warriors circled each other, scanning, waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally Catherine grew impatient and charged the beast. Instead of flying up the creature instead ducked underneath the tech priests wide legs becoming tangled in her robes. Catherine pivoted a leg, slashing along the creatures stomach spilling red life fluid onto the grass, the beast reared away, the scratch open to the elements clearly causing the xenos great pain. While it cried it pulled itself free, scrambling away from the tech priestess. Still it didn’t run away. Unsurprisingly the cyan and prism xenos charged yet again, soaring through the short distance on her wings, the blood flowed from her side like the tong of a canid sticking its head out a Leman Russ hatch. Catherine pivoted her self away from the living projectile at the last possible second then sliced down with a vibrio blade hidden in her cloak. The perfectly crafted shivering sharpened steel tore through flesh, muscle, bone, muscle, then finally flesh again, as if it were cutting through water. Once the crawling milliseconds passed by the beast zipped by in front of the dominus loosing control and slamming into a tree. The beast was finally incapacitated. It lay there, dismembered, crumpled, and twitching in a pool of its own blood. If Catherine had a mouth she probably would have chosen that moment to spit on it. Still... That had to be the best fight of her life. The adrenaline, the unpredictability, the rage on both sides. The dopamine in her brain was unmatched. It was like when she got her first mechadendrite grafted to her spine. She could feel the excitement flowing through her brain like a drug. To think it all came from such a being. She looked down at the wing by her feet. Stabbing it with her leg she brought it up to her optics examining it closely. It would make a fine trophy to add to her collection... but it seamed such a shame to cripple an opponent of such skill. It defied logic she knew, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted another challenge like this beast had brought. a skitarius asked over the noosphere. It had taken them quite a while to get in communication range of her. The xenos must have brought her miles away from her troops in but seconds through a hostile environment. There was definitely more to this then she knew. She reported sending a location tag so her troops could meet up with. She received affirmations of the tag from every single one of the troops in her squad. So this wasn’t an ambush. This creature acted alone. Primes Dominus Catherine thought about what to do with the still living creature when her troops would find her. She could kill it now, easily in fact. But they needed an aerial. It was such a waist of good potential. When the alpha came through the brush the rest of the squad followed bowing before her and requesting status updates to her condition. She calmed her troops with soothing binary and explained the events as efficiently as she could. Some of the skitarii wanted to execute the xeno and were already aiming their weapons at it. Catherine halted them however, pointing out one of their objectives was capture and abduction not extermination. This satisfied the more zealous skitarius who holstered there weapons. She instructed her troops to carry the xeno back with the utmost care and if possible see if Shearia could provide medical aid. Her troops let out confusion codes but followed their orders all the same. Two carried the incapacitated mare while the rest acted as guards, taking off into the woods as fast as there legs could carry them. Now alone (aside from the alpha ranger that first contacted her, who insisted on not leaving her side) she pinned the blue wing trophy to her belt as a show of respect for the enemy. With that settled she took off into the Forest of Horrors with the alpha ranger following close behind. This mission just got more interesting. Uplink Interrupted Uplink Four: MeetingSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Five: Contact ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Six: Contact IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Seven: Contact IIISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Eight: Contact IVSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Nine: NegotiationsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Ten: TacticsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Eleven: AttackSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Twelve: Escape ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Thirteen: Escape II [Edited]Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Fourteen: Escape IIISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Fifteen: SurpriseSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Sixteen: AssassinationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Seventeen: Flight ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Eighteen: Flight IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Nineteen: Interlude ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Uplink Twenty: Interlude IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink One: ArrivalAuthor's Note I know I’m not the first to come up with a concept like this. But here is my stab at the Mechanicus finding Equestria. Uplink One: Arrival Uplinking.... Loading.... Loading.... Loading.......... Auto shunt found Designation: Cassius Rank: Arch Magos Location: Byzantium command throne. Uplink successful +His servants+ Crimson warning sigils lit every screen. The bridge shook and rattle sparks raining down on the various shrines and alters where servants of the machine god stood or sat hard plugged into their consoles focusing on their tasks. No words were shared between them too focused where they in ensuring their debt to the Omnissiah was paid. The only light was that from warning, blinking bathing the bride in crimson then darkness. Crimson then darkness. Everything shook, the blessed metal threatening to buckle. Through it all the arch Magos sat hard plugged into his command throne expression unreadable even through the noosphere, the invisible data network that bonded all their souls to data. He was too focused on guiding his ship through the immaterium the hellish flip side to reality where all ships of the Imperium are forced to traverse, it is a realm of thoughts and emotions rather than stone and steel, their navigator had died shortly after they made the jump leaving Cassius, Captain of the Byzantium and Arch Magos Explore of Mars the only one capable of guiding the ship, and failing miserably. They had been trapped in the warp storm for what felt like an eternity. The shifting tides preventing any hope of returning to real space. The Ark Mechanicus was lost, battered on all sides by the tides of unreality against it’s gellar field. The only barrier between the servants of the Machine God, and the native inhabitants of the realm they traversed. Despite the battering it held firm, the holy machine spirit dutifully holding reality in and the abominations out. But that would be useless unless the could— There Just for a second Cassius saw a spec of light and aimed for it. Plowing the Ark Mechanicus through a wave of pure raw emotion, he pierced the vail between what was unreal and what was and finally freed his ship from the tides of the warp. +++ Cassius asked in binary to the helm servitor. The simple minded slave drooled out a report from chapped lips in it’s usual monotone. Cassius aloud himself to sigh, he didn’t need to since his lungs had long since been replaced with an augment that breathed for him, but it helped his mind relax his mind. the Magos asked allowing curiosity to flow through him. Another tech priest answered in place of the servitor.A lower ranking one still mostly human, aside from the most basic of augments, he could understand lingua technis just not speak it. According to his noosphere tag he was Maximal. “According to the hymns, power had not returned to Deck 13.” He started reading off the terminal before him. “Also hanger 55’s door is non functional, and we are leaking promethium from a spare directional thruster.” The young adept turned from his position to look at Cassius directly now. “Aside from that... well done piloting the Byzantium.” The young adapts face was holly organic aside from a single green optic on his right eye. His skin was pale with some fuzz growing from his chin and black hair down to his ears. In many ways he reminded Cassius of a younger version of himself. Given enough time maybe he could rise the ranks of the cult. “All operational.” Looking in front Cassius for the first time noticed the planet. It was a blue green orb dominating the viewer, appearing to have multiple biomes and continents. He didn’t recognize it from his data base, but it seamed untouched. New planets for the Imperium were discovered every day, but seeing one untouched by... well seemingly anything was a rarity indeed. Cassius contemplated to himself. His cogitators could be heard spinning in his head. He knew he would regret this next question before he even asked. Settra responded. He was the ships astronomer, even older than Cassius, his augments were large and bulky giving him a bloated appearance underneath his crimson robes. Cassius asked the sensorium operator. Her legs were completely removed, replacing them was a set of slender hooves that magnetized to the deck. She reminded the Magos of a Sicarian Ruststalker in that regard. she reported. This got Cassius to sit up. the Magos asked. the Magos quickly amended. Settra immediately interrupted the report making Cassius feel anger before he deleted the emotion. The astronomer continued on regardless. If Cassius still had his eyelids they would have widened in shock. Geocentric planets were incredibly rare, but they did exist. But one so small? Much less one supporting life, and industry? It went against logic. Settra nodded and continued. If Cassius had eyebrows, one would have raised at that. <‘near perfect sync’> Cassius quoted back. Cassius contemplated to himself, his internal logic engines wired to life in sync with one another. He was alone with no way of contacting the wider Imperium, in an uncharted system, in a ship full of the Omnissiah’s devoted. And a planet rich in rare minerals. They would need resources to do another warp jump just to get their bearings, but now a warp storm was raging, and Emperor only knew when that would pass. He needed time. Something to occupy his thoughts while he waited for the storm to go away. The planet had inhabitants and resources. Along with a mystery of how it came to be the center of a solar system, and teaming with life. Yes, this would work. He would occupy his mind in solving the mystery layed before him. In time he would return to Mars a changed man. They missed there target, but this would be their new goal. He would plunder it’s resources. Collect all the knowledge of its inhabitants, then return with all he could carry leaving behind a dead rock... or perhaps, a new and enlightened forge world. Either way, the Omnissiah’s will would be done today. Cassius stood from his throne. Many cables disconnect from his multitude of sockets in his flesh slinking back into their holes like predatory serpents, some even hissing. He felt the manafold leave him as he disconnected from the Byzantium’s machine spirit. He stated through the noosphere so all could hear him. With that he left the bridge his centipede like legs clicking under his robe. The doors machine spirit opened automatically allowing him to exit. +++Transmission concluded+++ New Uplink? [Y/N] Y Loading... Loading.... Loading.. Loading..... New Uplink Found Designation: Rohn 55 Rank: Skitarii Alpha Location: Alexandria Lander Uplink successful +His Will Be Done+ Rohn sat strapped into the crash couch with the rest of his squad numbering 5 in total, while the Arch Magos stood in the center of the lander never taking his optics off the door. The Alpha admitted he was exited. Never had he seen a Magos before. Especially not Cassius. He had served on the Byzantium for almost a century, and never once did any of the skitarius, tech priests, or slaves talk of a time when the Arch Magos left the bridge, much less journeyed down to a planet. There was even talk in the noosphere that he couldn’t leave the bridge, that he had permanently attached himself to his ship so that were he ever removed both his and the ships vital systems would fail. That was proven false due to him being right in front of him alive and well. To Rohn the Magos was absolutely beautiful. He towered 3 times the height of a Skitarius even while he hunched to fit into the lander. Most of his body was gone, with no flesh visible at all. His form bristled with archaic augments crafted in gold and steel. His hunched back showed the hints of a heavy miniature nuclear reactor chugging away dutifully keeping him alive. His optics were baleful crimson, reminding Rohn of his home world of sacred Mars. Rohn knew he could never reach the level of augmentation as Cassius. Being a Skitarius his most augmented part were his legs, replaced from the knees down to allow him and his fellow rangers to run for great distances without tiring. He also possessed a gas mask and optics fused to his skull like all others, with a power pack on his back and antenna. Soon enough the craft reached the ground and the door slammed down the machine spirit sighing having fulfilled its purpose. The bar around Rohn 55’s battle chase swung up and him and his four companions moved out the door in a V formation riffles at the ready blood red robes flapping in the breeze. In contrast to Mars, the meadow they found themselves in was incredible green and smooth. Green rolling hills replaced red rocks. The blue sky having none of the pollution of continental factories. The mountains were tall and jagged, no mines or quarries in sight. The air was clean and pure, even breathable to humans without oxygen filters. It disgusted Rohn 55. Another major difference was the gravity. Mars had less gravity than Holy Terra. Thought he had never set foot on Old Earth, the Ark Mechanicus was equipped with a chamber where he could experience the gravity of the Throne World. This world’s gravity was more that Terra. He didn’t know precisely by how much. But he estimated the planets gravity sat at almost double or even triple that of Mars. With no threats in sight he issued the all clear code to Arch Magos Cassius, he exited behind the formation, taking in the sights and deploying various tools from his body to test the air. He then ordered Rohn’s rangers to fan out and examine the surrounding area. The meadow sat on the edge of a dark forest that Magos Cassius almost immediately ran towards his dozen legs clicking in perfect synchronization under him. Rohn 55 let the Magos go take his studies while he investigated a near by stream. The water flow was low, likely due to the high gravity but the Alpha took out a clear glasstek jar gathering a sample. Holding it up to the light he could make out small insects inside. Even if they were small, the little Xenos fascinated Rohn as they swam about in their prison. He heard a twig snap and turned his gun sights on the noise issuing an order his squad to form up around him. Exiting the brush was a red entity. It had a muzzle and long white mane styled into a spike pattern. It approached without fear, cloven hooves stepping on the grass. It was no bigger than Rattling, it walked on all fours curious of them rather than afraid, The Alpha kept his distance unsure what the beast was capable of even if it only came up to his waist. His metal legs backed away from the unknown beast servos whining and clicking. The Xenos stepped over the stream leaning down to sniff the sample Rohn 55 had just taken. The alpha turned off his weapons Safty hearing the machine spirit hum to life ready to kill. As it got closer Rohn lined up a shot right between the eyes. Before he could fire a red robe filled his scope and Rohn looked up to see none other than Cassius himself standing between him and his target. Rohn demanded. He would apologize later, right now he needed to protect his master, but he was in the way of the shot. His fellow rangers came into position lining up their shots. Was all Cassius said asserting his authority through those simple words. The Magos extended his hand to the creature allowing it to sniff his palm similar to how a Guardsmen greeted a Canid. The Xenos equine sniffed the hand of the priest before the Magos brought his metallic claw to the creatures head... and unexpectedly began petting it. The beast enjoying the motion got closer to the Arch Magos, allowing the tech priest to pet him more leaning in. The Magos said to himself. The beast looked up to Cassius smiling, then displaying brief shock, before passing out cold, eyes closed. It’s chest rose and fell signaling to Rohn that it was still alive, only asleep thanks to a potion Cassius injected hidden beneath his robes. Cassius stood and pointed to the Xenos. he ordered the cohort. Rohn nodded before two ranger grabbed the quadruped and took it to the lander. Uplink Interrupted
Uplink Two: ExperimentsSugar Dance watch from the bushes the odd creatures as they left their red bird flying machine. The creatures didn’t look like ponies at all. They seamed to be made entirely of metal, and walked on two legs with flat bits of metal at the ends of their legs. There upper legs had odd talons that reminded him of a griffin’s. In their claws They held carved wooden sticks with golden swirling designs on the side that they pointed at everything. Sugar remained incredibly still. After a few moments the one in front made a noise that hurt his ears and out of the metal birds mouth came a hunched larger version of the creatures with even more shinny arms and legs and even a few tentacles. The shining creatures then split up with the big boss one going over to the boarder of the Everfree Forest along his many insect like legs. The lead small one walked slowly over to a stream. Sugar Dancer was afraid it noticed him, but it didn’t seam to, he watched as it pulled out a clear cylinder then collected some of the water. He thought it was going to drink it from the cup but he just kept staring at it like it had never seen water before. After a few seconds Sugar decided to say hi. He left the bushes only for the shiny creature to drop his glass and start pointing his carved stick at him. Sugar approached slowly trying not to scare the creature who kept backing away from him the closer he got. Soon he crossed the stream and leaned down to sniff the creatures glass, it had wired symbols along the side sticking out in a line and looked scratchy. He gave it a small sniff, it didn’t smell like glass, it smelt kind of like the material in clothes, but older and also odd. He twitched his ears as the metal thing turned a switch on the side of his stick pointing it at his head. Just then the big red boss one was standing in front of him looking down. Red eyes aglow in his crimson hood. It stood before him draped in cloth what was visible didn’t look pony at all. It radiated heat with several spiky bits poking from the darkness of his cloak, he felt they to we’re watching him curiously just as much as the head was. It reached out a talon to Sugar Dancer who gave it a sniff. His talon smelled like melted bits. Sugar smiled up at it showing he trusting the scary creature not to hurt it. The being raised it’s talon above him, then began stroking him behind his ears. Sugar had never been pet like a dog before. It felt, good, the strange friends claws dig into his coat just right, sugar leans in looking up into the strange beasts red eyes, smiling. He knew he wasn’t a bad creature. Just scary looking. Just then something pricked Sugar Dance in the neck. Looking down he saw a black snake with a needle head retreat into the creatures robes, then nothing else. +•+ When light returned he saw two of the creature, but they were both different. They towered over and were screeching at one another in their harsh tong. Looking around he was in a dry cave choking with alien smells. Neither payed him any mind as they argued. Sugar Dancer tried to get up and sneak away only to realize he was strapped down to a table. The two beings stopped arguing and looked down at him. Before he had time to open his mouth a snake emerged from the one on the lefts robes and stung him in the same spot as last time. As he went under he could hear them getting back into their argument again like he was nothing. •+• When Dancer next awoke he was alone. He was in a black metal cube with a single glowing orb above him. The orb was suspended by a black wire and let out a low buzz that hurt his ears. Looking around he saw a door, but it didn’t have a way to open it from his side and seamed unnaturally tall and narrow for a pony. There was a small slit on the bottom another piece of metal blocked. Looking down he was horrified to find is coat criss crossed in stitching. Odd metal plugs were also inserted into his elbows. He felt a buzz at the back of his head and tried to take out the plugs to no effect. His skin was opened up and sealed again by these interlopers. They saw what was inside and left their metal probes in his guts for easy access. Sugar Dance thought of his friends and family, his younger sister. What if they had a way to read his mind through the plugs in his head? The buzzing between his ears could be them listening to his thoughts at this very moment. He curled into a ball and began to cry. •+• Connection reestablished Loading.... Auto shunt found Designation: Cassius Rank: Arch Magos Location: Byzantium Medicae Lab Deck 22. Uplink successful +The Flesh is Weak+ Before Cassius stood Shearia the Biologis of the Byzantium. She was a strange priestess by Mechanicus standards, preferring instead to augment herself with extra organs and biological limbs rather then mechanical ones. Her shoulders were draped in a white sash where 8 extra organic arms were stitched to her flesh, that being said she was not entirely against nonorganic augments when it suited her. Possessing a green lease in place of an organic orb. As well as a medical mechadendrite complete with various potions and administrators. Cassius asked the medicae. Shearia pulled up a data slate held in one of her arms, scratching across it with a stylus that replaced one of her would be organic fingers. “Specimen 12445 is male, possessing organs consistent with that of old Terran Equines although shrunken down and with exaggerated features: the head, brain, hooves, and eyes for example are much larger then that of a standard equine.” Shearia answered reading almost directly off her notes. An annoying habit, especially for Cassius who possessed internal logic banks but each priest or priestess had their preferences. Cassius asked. “Unknown.” Shearia answered before continuing. “Muscle structure is also increased.” The Biologis continued. Cassius interrupted with his own observations from the planet. Shearia rubbed her chin ponderously. “Possible.” She added that to her notes. “The nerve plug I installed indicates higher brain functions, as well as vocal cords I found earlier in surgery.” Cassius repeated back intrigued. Shearia nodded. A whole new language by a race that had just developed locomotive engines on a geocentric planet. Imagine the philosophies they had come up with, the myths to explain their place in the universe. The lore in their archives. It would all be his if he had the key to their tong. Cassius was starting to let his excitement get the better of him. “Not with just one specimen.” Shearia replied. “I’d need more specimens from the same area.” Cassius nodded. An unexpected message flashed into Cassius’s manifold. The door to the Med bay sighed open revealing a tall thin black hooded figure. Various antenna sprouted from its back mounted power pack. It strode in on a tripod swinging counter cog wise clawed feet scraping the metal floor. It wasn’t in a hurry but reached Cassius in 5.6667 seconds after it entered coming to a stop. The figure removed the hood revealing a bowl shaped head covered in emerald optics all evenly spaced. Cassius recognized her immediately, his fluids running cold it was the one priest he hoped to deal with the least. “Don’t you start with me Arch Magos.” she put special anger into flesh voice that wouldn’t be possible through the hymnals of the noophere. Primus Dominus Catherine is the Tech Priestess in charge of all Skitarii maniples of the Byzantium. A woman of rigid structure and a short fuse. Unlike Arch Magos Cassius who removed most of his emotions long ago. Catherine preferred to keep hers in for (she claimed) combat purposes, even (Cassius suspected) enhancing her normal human emotions. Particularly her anger. As such she was not a priestess to be angered lightly. And it looked like she was very very mad at Cassius. Catherine said switching to a form of binary only available to high ranking officers, keeping Shearia out of the conversation. Before Cassius could respond Catherine interrupted him for yet a third time in as many minutes. It was really starting to anger him. Catherine continued her rant. Catherine took the binary version of a inhale before continuing, allowing her cogitators to cool for a second before heating up again. Cassius responded. She pointed to her chest which displayed the cog Mechanicum. she then pointed to Cassius. Their was logic in what the Primus was saying. A commander being part of the initial team to an unknown world was against logic. Cassius admitted defeat and bowed his head to Catherine bringing it to about eye level with her mask. Cassius admitted defeat to her logic. Catherine folded her uppermost arms together, likely smirking underneath her rebreather at her victory over her superior officer. “What is known about the life forms?” Catherine asked Shearia not even bothering to turn her head, but she did focus four of her optics on her. “Going off of Specimen 12445 we are dealing with sentiment quadruple equines, of increased strength, capable of speech on a world three times Terran standard gravity, that is also geocentric.” Shearia quickly read off scrolling through her notes fast. “Unknown tech level, but we couldn’t find any nonorganic air craft in their atmosphere.” Catherine nodded turning her attention away from the Biologist and to the captain. “Mission?” She asked her hands going straight to her sides. Cassius responded. The Primus nodded rotating her waist 180 degrees and striding back her same path. Cassius amended to the mission parameters. The door sealed shut behind her. Uplink Interrupted
Uplink Three: HuntingUplinking. Loading... Loading.. Loading.... Loading... Loading..... Loading.. Loading... Auto shunt found Designation: Catherine Rank: Primus Magos Dominus Location: Unknown World assigning designation: VP- 23336789432 Uplink successful +For the Omnissiah+ Approximately 5 Martian standard months have passed since the discovery of planet designated VP- 23336789432. In that time Dominus Catherine and her cohort had managed to capture 10 equines who wondered into the Forest of Horrors (as her Skitarii called it). To raise moral she would sometimes lead her troops through the woods on hunts. They were entertaining, with many deadly creatures, but didn’t have the same feel of a Death World jungle like Catachan. The creatures where just as massive sure, but they weren’t as smart and seamed to only blindly charge at her troops. They chose a clearing in the forest to set up a landing pad for the lander as well as camp, a few basic pre fab structures were erected but nothing that would go noticed by an average fly over. They abducted those who wondered in figuring few would come to investigate a disappearance in what was likely one of the most dangerous woods on the planet. During these abductions they had found three classes of equine of various hues, designated: Terra, Aerial, and Aethereal. Terra Equines have enhanced muscle and bone structure, they are the most similar to the creatures of Old Earth. Aetheral Equines posses long bone spikes protruding from their skull. They are their version of psykers no daemonic possessions have been observed but their bodies are executed and incinerated after study concludes just to be safe. Aerial ones have so far only been observed, capture has proven most difficult of the three equine races seen. Unlike some species the equines did not appear to be divided by race or appearances. There were no observed biases between the different classes which seamed odd given there obviously different biologies. The biologus was currently determining if interbreeding between the classes was possible. During one of the hunts through the woods in search of what the Skitarii called a "rockgaiter" Catherine was suddenly struck by a living ballistic missile. She was taken far away from her troops and slammed into a rocky cliff leaving an indent. She groaned as her cogitators ran self repairers informing her of all the damage done. She blinkclicked it away and stared at her attacker. Before her stood one of the rare Aerial class. It's coat was a cyan shade that matched this worlds sky perfectly, it possessed a prismatic mane cut short and spiked. It's wings appeared strong and fit, along with the rest of its body having clear muscle definition, this was clearly an alpha flier, it’s flank was branded with a sigil of a white cloud producing a prismatic lightning bolt matching the mane. The beast snarled at her as she stood her dislocated joints welding into place with a smooth clicking of blessed titanium, it would take more than that to put her out of the fight, still... she had fought orks with less of a punch. His face was the very image of wrath. Hers, she quickly amended. The beast had the trademarks of the female genus, shorter muzzle, larger eyes, leaner frame etc. But she knew how to use it to her advantage. The xeno spoke to her in its native tong, still beyond her cogitators ability to translate a single word, probable an insult. Catherine brought herself lower to the ground feigning injury. The xeno approached slowly, asking a question in its odd scratching voice. Once it was close enough Catherine lashed out bringing her electro whip from her cloak and rapping it around the xeno's leg. It tried to ascend and escape her, Catherine merely activated the whip with a flick of the switch on the side. Motive force coerced through the beast, it convulsed crying in anguish. But it still remained conscious ripping the whip from the Dominus's grasp. All of Catherine’s augments at the moment we’re geared towards close combat, but she wasn’t entirely out of ranged weapons. From her cloak she produced an arc pistol, lighting exploded from the barrel striking the beast dead on. It forced the beast down to her level. Finally on the ground the leader of the Byzantium Exploritor skitarii legions didn’t relent her attack. She held down the trigger getting closer to capture. Once with a few feet the xeno bucked at her hand flinging her pistol into the brush. 'Cleaver girl.' Catherine thought to herself. The xenos tackled her forcing the primus down under her body weight. Catherine kicked digging a claw into the midriff of the beast. It backed off the dominus, but it still didn't retreat. The two warriors circled each other, scanning, waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally Catherine grew impatient and charged the beast. Instead of flying up the creature instead ducked underneath the tech priests wide legs becoming tangled in her robes. Catherine pivoted a leg, slashing along the creatures stomach spilling red life fluid onto the grass, the beast reared away, the scratch open to the elements clearly causing the xenos great pain. While it cried it pulled itself free, scrambling away from the tech priestess. Still it didn’t run away. Unsurprisingly the cyan and prism xenos charged yet again, soaring through the short distance on her wings, the blood flowed from her side like the tong of a canid sticking its head out a Leman Russ hatch. Catherine pivoted her self away from the living projectile at the last possible second then sliced down with a vibrio blade hidden in her cloak. The perfectly crafted shivering sharpened steel tore through flesh, muscle, bone, muscle, then finally flesh again, as if it were cutting through water. Once the crawling milliseconds passed by the beast zipped by in front of the dominus loosing control and slamming into a tree. The beast was finally incapacitated. It lay there, dismembered, crumpled, and twitching in a pool of its own blood. If Catherine had a mouth she probably would have chosen that moment to spit on it. Still... That had to be the best fight of her life. The adrenaline, the unpredictability, the rage on both sides. The dopamine in her brain was unmatched. It was like when she got her first mechadendrite grafted to her spine. She could feel the excitement flowing through her brain like a drug. To think it all came from such a being. She looked down at the wing by her feet. Stabbing it with her leg she brought it up to her optics examining it closely. It would make a fine trophy to add to her collection... but it seamed such a shame to cripple an opponent of such skill. It defied logic she knew, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted another challenge like this beast had brought. a skitarius asked over the noosphere. It had taken them quite a while to get in communication range of her. The xenos must have brought her miles away from her troops in but seconds through a hostile environment. There was definitely more to this then she knew. She reported sending a location tag so her troops could meet up with. She received affirmations of the tag from every single one of the troops in her squad. So this wasn’t an ambush. This creature acted alone. Primes Dominus Catherine thought about what to do with the still living creature when her troops would find her. She could kill it now, easily in fact. But they needed an aerial. It was such a waist of good potential. When the alpha came through the brush the rest of the squad followed bowing before her and requesting status updates to her condition. She calmed her troops with soothing binary and explained the events as efficiently as she could. Some of the skitarii wanted to execute the xeno and were already aiming their weapons at it. Catherine halted them however, pointing out one of their objectives was capture and abduction not extermination. This satisfied the more zealous skitarius who holstered there weapons. She instructed her troops to carry the xeno back with the utmost care and if possible see if Shearia could provide medical aid. Her troops let out confusion codes but followed their orders all the same. Two carried the incapacitated mare while the rest acted as guards, taking off into the woods as fast as there legs could carry them. Now alone (aside from the alpha ranger that first contacted her, who insisted on not leaving her side) she pinned the blue wing trophy to her belt as a show of respect for the enemy. With that settled she took off into the Forest of Horrors with the alpha ranger following close behind. This mission just got more interesting. Uplink Interrupted
Uplink Four: MeetingSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Five: Contact ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Six: Contact IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Seven: Contact IIISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Eight: Contact IVSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Nine: NegotiationsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Eleven: AttackSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Twelve: Escape ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Thirteen: Escape II [Edited]Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Fourteen: Escape IIISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Fifteen: SurpriseSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Sixteen: AssassinationSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Seventeen: Flight ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Eighteen: Flight IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Nineteen: Interlude ISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Uplink Twenty: Interlude IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
