Fallout Equestria: Into the Abyss

M.E.P.S, short for Military Entrance Processing Station, was a brick building with the block letters at the front entrance. The whole building looked like a factory. The irony that this factory produces civilians into sworn service ponies before they ship out for basic training. The carriage ride was cramped with three other ponies and our recruiter. He was to check us in. Despite the conditions we were in high spirits. Singing and joking through out the ride.

"Hey what M.O.S are you taking? One asked.

"I'm going to be a artillery pony"

"Infantry"

Then came my turn. I looked over the list of jobs that could suit me. Artillery required precision and accuracy in maths. Something I was never too good at. I didn't want to be a paper pusher in the rear echelon or behind a terminal and miss the action. Water purification? That's a thing? I should have really thought it through and did my research. But I had in mind to fight.

"Infantry as well" I blurted. How hard would it be? Very hard as I would learn later on.

We arrived at M.E.P.S and disembarked from the carriage, Sgt Spear Head lead us in. We were then checked for any contraband by the guard ponies. After Littlehorn, security was not taking any chances and were thorough in their search. They seized a candy bar but nothing serious was found and we were allowed through. The security turrets eyeing us the whole time.

"Them turrets will shoot ya if run. They can sense cowardice." One of the guards joked. They really want us to lose control of our bladders do they? The turrets turned back to face the entrance once we all passed through. We dropped off our saddle bags in a locker room and then had to sign in at the front desk and present our papers. The receptionist was an older stallion, he bore a mean look at us.

"Army huh?" He stamped our papers and gave us name tags with our branch on it.
"Have a seat and pay attention, when a staff pony tells you to do something like stand in line by a wall and shut up. You do it."

Yes sir we all replied.

The room was mostly quiet with whispered conversations at the corner. Recruits were milling about papers in hoof or levitated to and fro to the various offices and back to receptionist and to the offices again. Nurses and doctors also walking around distinctly, with purpose as we would all learn to do. What seemed like hours had passed a nurse opened a door and ushered our group to stand and line up on a red line on the floor.

"Hurry it up!" a pony in a navy uniform yelled out. "This shouldn't take you five minutes to do. Get moving, with purpose! You wanted to join the military, well this is your way in."

After we finally got the line in order, a nurse went down organising who still needed to take the aptitude test, the personality test and the medical examination. I signed to do all during the weekend, even opted to stay in a nearby hotel.
After the lines were squared away, my group was ushered into a class room. Again we had more official documents to sign and waited for further instructions. Through out the M.E.P.S process there was a lot of waiting.

After the waiting around we were ushered into another room where we had to wait again. This time for a pony to interview us while he or she typed it down in a terminal. A lot of the questionnaires were same on the application I got from my recruiter. so there weren't any surprises to catch me off guard. While my stay at M.E.P.S they would also do another background check on both criminal and medical history to see if everything matches up or stands out.

"Anything you want to tell us now? If you are caught lying and we find out and trust me we will find out. It is a criminal offence and your service terminated. Possibly even jail time depending of severity."
I gulped. I'm sure I hadn't done anything wrong or had any serious injury during as kid or something.

"No ma'am" I said quickly.

More stamps, hoof scanning, cutie mark identification and signing, I was now sent off to take the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery. A.S.V.A.B for short, is to test our comprehension, mathematical, mechanical, magical skills and puzzle solving. This was to determine what jobs we could qualify for in our service contract. It was nearly impossible to fail, even a dim wit who manages to score the minimum can be given something. Following the aptitude test was a rating section and then a personality test and a rating section for that as well. We had the option to either take A.S.V.A.B written or by terminal. The terminals were crude but worked just fine, the later models that were made by Stabletech were much more durable and better in performance and space capacity, later on the tests would be done souly on terminals. The whole process took hours. I was nearly dosing off from boredom. A few others were as well, so I wasn't alone in this endeavour. I scored average as I have thought, 70 points. The Sky Guard recruits naturally got the higher scores. They weren't just a fighting force in the air, they also handle cloud control other complex technical jobs that can only be done in clouds, that of course only pegasi can access. The other branches like the army had their fair share of high end jobs as well. But most of them tend to favour unicorns and pagasi for their natural abilities. Earth Ponies tend to get the ground jobs.

After completing the tests. I was to report back to the reception desk, from there I was told were my liaison's office were at or recruiters for those who don't know the M.E.P.S lingo. My score as they assessed wasn't bad for an earth pony and I could still qualify for most of the M.O.S's available. This part was just only the A.S.V.A.B section and it was over for me and I was allowed to gather my belongings and wait in the cafeteria or DEFAC Dining Facility or Mess hall as it was referred. We were allowed a pretty decent meal of hay sandwiches as we waited for our carriage to the hotel.

Once at the hotel we were sent off to room that caters to the armed services, specifically the M.E.P.S ponies as we were called. We were assigned rooms, room mates, food vouchers and told to enjoy our stay even wonder around however we weren't allowed room service or visit other ponies' rooms. As soon as I got to my room, I racked out for good hour before heading to common room to see what's going on with the other ponies in my group. A few ponies sat around playing cards at a table, a billiards game was also going in the corner. A small group were sitting down for a movie in the centre of the room, taking up a section of the space. Naturally the ponies started splitting themselves into their respective branches and competing against each other at the billiards table. I joined in was folded in with the army which made up the largest team. The second largest team was the Sky Guard. Only three were in the navy all unicorns, and the marines held the smallest number of mostly earth ponies. The game lasted hours as we shared stories with each other, where we were from, why we joined up, who wanted to be an officer and so forth. I learned that a large majority of the earth ponies who were joining up were from Ponyville, a small farming town not far from Canterlot. They naturally teased us city dwellers that we're going to be in the great out doors a lot during our training. The pegasi boasted that they get to train at the wonderbolt academy under the best and experienced flyers. We laughed and sang together, though our branches were different and the rivalry among us was already taking shape. It was like we were family off on a great adventure together even if it was for the time being. The pegasi ended beating us by five.

The next morning we were up well before Princess Celestia had raised the sun. Did she still hold that responsibility being no longer the Princess of all Equestria? Who really knew, I sure as hell didn't even after decade later. We lined in up twos right breakfast and headed back to Station. It was a quiet ride, most of us have never been up so early before and we were getting as much shut eye before our "In depth physical examination".

Upon reaching the station, a marine corporal stepped on board the bus and addressed us with a low tough voice.
"Alright listen up. I want ya'll to exit this bus on my command. You will do so quickly and form a column, four ponies deep. When you've formed up place your saddle bags down on you right and await further instructions in the position of attention."

"Aye Sir" We responded. Half deadpanned.

"I can't hear you. Sound Off"

"AYE SIR" We repeated loudly.

"Get off my bus"
We got off as quickly and formed the column as ordered. The receptionist from the day before came out to see us. But the marine wasn't finished.

"Everypony you will be interacting today has either been in the military or medical professionals. Each of them has stood where you stand now. You will give them the up most respect and will address them as sir or ma'am. Sound off!"

"Aye Sir".
Then the receptionist addressed us to file in from the left. The next column will follow the last pony. We were again searched and checked in. Again we ordered to wait in a line to enter a class room and then wait for further instructions. We listened to a short presentation with a nurse who went step by step with yet more files and paper work for the exams and personal information. Afterwards it was breathing test, we were each given a tube and upon my turn I was to place it on a recording device. Then blow continuously into the tube until we hear a click from the recorder. The nurse would show our results and we recorded it in our files, removed our tube, disposed it and moved on to the next room.

Once we were all situated in, we were then hurried into an examination room in small groups to have our eyes looked at. It was very much the same as when one goes to their eye doctor for their annual check up. The doctors and nurses would mark the results on our files. Next was the hearing test, I had completed the first section early and I was ushered into a small room by myself with stools, headphones and a small controller that were linked up to a device outside.

"Have a seat and place a headphone over your ears. You will hear beeping noises of various volumes and pitches, when you hear it press the button on that controller."

The beeps started out low in tones and then rose higher in pitch and then lower in volume. Click click click as I heard each note. My hearing was quite good, working in a loud bustling city I would have expected to miss some of the higher notes but apparently It was like listening to a music box on its lowest setting. You could hear it albeit faintly. When that was done, we went in the clinic and waited for our turn to for our blood to be drawn. Great, I never was a fan on needles being stuck into me. With that I was surely going to enjoy reception at basic training where every antibiotic, and immunisations in existence would be stuck into in a short period of time.

The line was fairly long, there was around forty of us that needed to have a needle stuck into us and suck some blood out and there were only three booths to do the job. So to speed up the process some of us who still had a good time to wait were allowed to do our urinalysis. The mares went with mare sergeant and the stallions went with a stallion sergeant to the latrines. There we gave our files to a specialist in the other room through a counter window and he each floated us a cup and lid with a label that had our name, number and cutie mark on it. We did our business in the stalls four at a time and it was awkward for the whole duration, the sergeant watched us the whole time. One poor colt just couldn't manage and he was called out to turn in his cup, collect his paper work, get out of the latrines, drink more water and try again later.

After that ordeal it was now time for my blood test. I saw one of the mares passed out on her chair, she had two bandages one on each foreleg, it looked like somepony screwed up with the needles. Then came my turn for the hot seat. I sat down on a chair and waited for my doom. A nurse came up and accepted my paper work, cleaned off the surface where I can rest my foreleg. She was very cute mare, jet black mane with blue highlights and lavender coat. Her lab coat covered her cutie mark but I'd imagine it was medical related. She was pleasant to talk to, she asked what M.O.S I was looking into doing as she strapped my foreleg and cleaned the spot where she would do the deed.

"Infantry. I think" I said.

"Looks like you'll be right in the action. You could get hurt." She said in a concerned tone.

"Well, somepony's got to do it. Even if we do get..."
She stuck me right then and there. Oh she was good, she was cute, had me talk which got me distracted in focusing on her and not the needle. Then something went immediately wrong.

"Oh dear. Your vein rolled, I'm going to have to try again."
Good grief.

"You took that rather well" She said as she bandaged my foreleg.

"There's no need to be a hero like Macintosh's Marauders. We should be trying to save lives than taking them and losing so many in the process. If you want to help make a difference? Check out being a medic."

A pacifist by nature like barer of the element of kindness now Ministry Mare; Fluttershy. With death and destruction one can get use to it, even fond it, as well as to yearn for it's end. I intended to be right in the danger with the rest of my fellow soldiers and do my duty, but the nurse's words made me ponder a while. As a combat medic, I would be in no less danger as well as saving lives. I thought of Silver line. If a medic didn't come to her aid, she would have died on that field in pain. If I ever meet the medic that saved her, I would shake their hoof and thank them. But would I make a good medic? I don't know anything about medicine let alone first aid. Even my talent in selling news papers didn't give any hints of medical know how. Then I realised something, just as I had learned to do a job that eventually lead to my cutie mark, perhaps I can learn to save lives on the battlefield.

After a lunch break we met with a doctor who went over our medical details and asked us various questions to find anything that contradicted what was on the files and multitudes of paperwork. I stuck to what the recruiter suggested "stick to the script". I answered honestly and to the point. More signing and stamps, this section was then completed. Hours and hours had passed as each of us had to hurry up and wait to the next phase of our examination. Once done we had to hurry up and wait for the next. We kept ourselves entertained by conversing with our fellow companions in this endeavour. There was usually a pony who know knew just about everything.

"I hear that the Royal Guards might be folded into the Army. They're not getting many new replacements for the losses early in the war." A mare opened up.

"Nonsense! Then who would protect the Princess. I hear the Zebras are scared shitless of her, because they still think she's Nightmare Moon or something. She will still need protection." A stallion replied.

"How?" I interjected. "Didn't the the six friends free her from that form years ago."

"Ayep they sure did. But the Zebras have this superstition about the stars. It was the stars the helped Nightmare Moon escape her imprisonment on the moon after all. And to the Zebras, that's a bad omen or curse."

"How do you know all this" I asked.

"My family knew some zebras that moved to Equestria years ago. They regard Equestria as their home now but the war ain't making it easy for them."

A doctor opened the door next to us abruptly ending the rather interesting conversation.

"Next group, females first."
Me and my new buddy waited until finally the doctors ordered to see us buck's. We got up, gathered our things and went in.

"Strip down, place your things in the cubbies and line up"
Oh boy this was going to be awkward. We lined along the wall to have our height and weight measured in. During the wait, we observed the previous group of stallions doing strange aerobics directed by the doctors. One such set of exercise was to squat on your hind legs and attempt to walk from one side of the room and back without falling. The strangeness of it all intrigued me, it looked like a pony trying to imitate the walking of a duck.

"Next!" A buck in a navy uniform called out.
It was my turn. I made my way to the scales, they recorded my measurements and weight. And then sent me back to the line and wait for further instructions.

"Eat a sandwich boy, you've just made the minimum standard" The sailor joked.

The first group that did the strange aerobics went in one at a time into a room to see a doctor. While that was going on, it was our turn to do perform these moves. First our hooves, legs and joints were looked at to see if there are any defects in our movements or anything else that stood out. Any scars we had we had explain how we got them. Mine were mostly paper cuts and abrasions so they weren't anything serious as I had to explain. They could think they're some kind weird disease or mutation or something. One poor buck had large scab and was told that he couldn't continue due to danger of infection that could prevent him from passing.

"We care about you, we want you to pass. We just don't want you to catch any bacteria and get an infection from these floors" The examiner mare said. They want us to pass and the same time will find any small detail to be somehow serious?

The exercises begun. The examiners observed us head to hoof on each movement to make sure our bodies were mechanically sound. Keeping balance in itself was a challenge. Then we did various walking speeds, then a short canter, fairly easy at that part. Then came the strange walk. The examiners even had a name for it: The Duck Walk. Go figure.
It wasn't as hard as it looked. As long as you use your forelegs to help keep your balance and shift your weight so you wouldn't stumble.

The final examination was the physical. I entered the clinic room where an old stallion was waiting for me. Here I would get the thorough look through from my ears, eyes, nose, mouth. Then my breathing and heartbeat using his stethoscope, blood pressure and so forth. I'll spare the details of the rest. It's practically the same as going to your doctor for a physical check up, but at M.E.P.S it's more in depth.

Once complete, followed by more stamping and signing. I was led out to the main waiting room. The receptionist then told me to check in with my liaison in their office. The other ponies who had finished the physicals were there waiting for their turn to check in with their recruiters. I turned in my files to them, was congratulated on passing the toughest part of M.E.P.S and then sent out to do one last thing before I sign my contract.

Myself and small number from my group waited in the office spaces near where the A.S.V.A.B testing room was. New faces were there, many eager to get going as many of us were the day before. A young mare sat next to us and asked what goes on here. What, she didn't know? We couldn't help but snicker to each other after what we've been through.

"You'll find our soon enough" said a mare next to me.

"Yeah, you're in for a real treat over these next coming days" I followed.
She looked utterly dumbfounded. Had she just decided to join up without doing any kind of research or did her recruiter left out important details in the steps of joining the Equestrian Military. More hoof prints, pictures my face and cutie mark later I was done. This last step was to put me in the military records as well as for final background checks. I was now to report back to my liaison who was waiting for me. There on the his desk was a chair, ink, quill and a stack of paper. This time it was the contract that would get me in the army. My time here was nearly complete.

We went over the various benefits and skimmed over terms and conditions that was listed in my contract and what not that I had to initial and sign. Then came to choosing what my M.O.S would be. Infantry or medic? I took a moment to think about it.

"It doesn't really matter if you go medic or infantry. The war effort is scaling up that more recruits are going to be looking into infantry units. If you go medic, you'll find yourself working with the grunts one way or another anyway, unless you get a rear echelon posting. You won't be out fighting all the time, it's pretty much a nine to five job is what your getting, like with any job here. When your unit gets deployed is when you may see some action. And when you get out, you'll have medical experience that could help you in civilian life as well."

He then continued.

"However during your time. There will be times that it's going to be ugly, you'll see ponies mangled and shot. They'll be crying for you to save them, many of them could be your friends that you'll make. Many of them may die in your hooves. Your fellow soldiers will rely on you to help them get through the trials ahead. It's a tough, demanding job. But take it from me, you'd want a job that allows you to adapt to your special talent."

"Hawking news paper headlines and sales?" I asked stupidly.

"You'd make a good communications pony or supply clerk. Safe and away from the fighting. Are you sure you want to be medic?"

He told me how it is. I was signing up to be sent to war. My eventual rendezvous at Stalliongrad, Hoofington and my last battle inside Brimstone's Fall all began here.

"I want to be a medic. I want to help ponies, save lives if I can."

He marked down my option and slid me the document.

"Sign your name on the dotted line"

Sgt Spear Head and I waited in room with about six others who were joining army with their recruiters. The room had a podium and behind it along the back wall was the flag of Equestria and the flags of each branch of the Equestrian Military. We stood in a line, none spoke. Some of the other ponies' families arrived to watch and show support on this important day for us. My folks and a couple others didn't come, all we had were our recruiting sergeants. No one spoke a word, our eyes fixed to the podium as we stood at attention. An officer approached the podium to address us. A second lieutenant from the small brass bar on his uniform.

"Anypony having second thoughts, or anything they're with holding that they didn't reveal during their tests?

"No sir"

"No one enlisting to avoid their criminal offences both minor or severe?"

"No sir"

"You are here on your own volition?

"Yes sir"

"Lying to enlist is considered fraudulent enlistment which is a criminal offence. If there's anything you are hiding we will find out, so speak now." No one answered. Our eyes remained fixed forward.
"Very well, you are to recite the Oath of Enlisment. Raise your right hoof. Repeat after me."

"I. State your name."

"Hawk Line"

"Do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the lands of Equestria against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I may bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the Princess', the ministries and the officers appointed over me. Long Live Equestria"

"From here on out. You are no longer civilians. Welcome to the Equestrian Army fillies and gentlecolts."