Fallout Equestria: just Arma things

"So what were your original orders, Corporal?" I inquired.

"We were being sent to investigate a radio station that failed to check in. We believe it was CSAT, but we never got to the radio station as we got sent here." Flint answered. "We originally had an M.O.I spook with us but he’s MIA. As for what’s left of the squad, we have Specialist Candy, who’s our Corpsman. Then we have Private Shepard, who’s the ammunition carrier for our BAR gunner, Private Ackerman."

"Did the presence of a spook tip you off that it might be CSAT and not just some mechanical failure?"

"I don’t know. With tensions so high between China and Rohadine, it’d make sense to assume it’s CSAT."

"Huh. Well whatever it was we can’t worry about it right now. It’s better to just focus on getting out of the city. If the fog stays like this after half an hour, we’ll just have to move through the fog."

Flint nodded as he stood up, then he walked over to the other three. Blue tapped my shoulder to get my attention. "What’s a CSAT?"

"CSAT is an alliance of multiple nations that are working together with the nation of China. The word CSAT is an abbreviation for Canton Protocol Strategic Alliance Treaty. They’re one of Rohadine’s biggest enemies in the current geopolitical situation. It’s honestly a mess I’d rather not explain, I really hate politics."

Blue nodded, before going back to staring straight ahead blankly. Before long thirty minutes had passed, meaning it was once again time to move forward. Unfortunately the weather was still awful. Still, it was better to just get out of the city as quickly as possible.

A blast of laser impacted the Cpl. Flint, the impact turning him into ash. Not that was something I haven’t seen before. We dove for cover as laser fire dropped Pvt. Shepard as well, though he didn’t get turned to ash.

"Ackerman, lay down fire!" I took command. The BAR barked as it spat return fire. I grabbed the frag grenade from his webbing, before pulling the pin and letting it fly.

The incoming fire stopped after the frag went off. I advanced slowly out of cover, moving up until coming across several bodies. They looked like mercenaries to me with their armor. One of them let out a groan of pain. I pinned the still alive pony to the ground with my foot as I pulled out my sidearm.

"Ackerman, Candy, Blue! Get up here!" I pressed the barrel of the pistol against the back of its head as a threat. "Who sent you after us? Who wants me dead?"

"I ain’t talkin." It spat.

"One of you give me a knife. Now." I ordered the remains of my squad. Ackerman gave me his knife. "Now, you better start talking or you’re going to start losing bits."

It just spat again. Fine. If it wanted to be difficult, so be it. I stabbed the knife just an inch into the exposed flesh, then started to drag it across him, carving lines. It let out a grunt of pain. "Come on, just give me the information I want and I’ll release you. It’s real simple."

It broke when the knife reached bone. "Aghh! Goddesses stop! I’ll talk! I d-don’t know who, boss just said he was some big shot slaver. I told ya what ya wanted, hold up your end of the agreement."

"Wasn’t so hard was it? Thanks for the information, now I’ll release you." I fired point blank into it’s skull. Its brains splattered across the concrete from the new hole in its head.

Grabbing what was useful from the dead, we kept on our way towards the edge. The three survivors kept quiet after that. The weather luckily started to clear up; now we could see down the street again.

"Commander? Why’d you do that, you said you’d release him?" Candy spoke up for the first time.

"Well I did release him. I released him from his suffering. He was already shredded by the frag, it was a mercy killing.”

"There’s no such thing as a mercy killing, commander. That was just murder." Ackerman interjected. Blue kept quiet.

"Would you rather I let him bleed to death? Or let him come after us again? I don’t like what I did either, but I’m just trying to get us all home."

"And how are you going to that?"

"We just need to find what brought us here in the first place, then maybe we can use it to get back home. And if it doesn’t work... we’ll cross that bridge when we get there."

It must’ve been enough of an answer as they went silent again. I fucked up didn’t I? No, I was just doing what was best for our survival. Right? I did what I had to do.

Blackjack, I think you did the right thing in that situation. You were looking out for us, that’s all. He was a merc, he could’ve come back with bigger weapons.

Yeah, I guess you’re right. Thanks.

Looking back at Blue, she nodded. It made me feel a little better for whatever reason, but I’m just glad it did. The feeling didn’t linger for long however. Instead I replaced it with some good memories of home.

By the time the light started to leave the sky we had reached the outskirts of the city. A River separated the city from the rest of the wasteland, with a bridge to the west being the only way across from here. Instead of risking traversing in the dark, we set up camp in an old shop. Blue just stared off into space again as I lit a small fire for light and warmth. Ackerman started to strip his BAR, while Candy just stared at the fire.

"I’m gonna head up to the next floor to see if there’s anything useful."

Going upstairs led me to a hallway with a few doors. The first one had already been rotted away by time, revealing it to be a kitchen. As I entered the room a voice from above me caught my attention.

"Blackjack! I found you!" The female voice spoke with a small hint of glee. A crimson colored pegasus dropped down from a hole in the roof. She quickly pounced me and... gave me a hug?

"Uhh... Hi. Who are you and how do you know me?"

The mare dropped back down to the floor, her expression turning to a more saddened one. "You don’t remember me? It’s me, Scarlet. We’ve been fighting together for a year now. You seriously don’t remember me?" She sounded like she was almost on the verge of tears.

"I’m really, really sorry Miss, but I honestly have never met you before."

She sniffled before clearing her throat. "Well, maybe I can help you remember."

Foot note:
Companion added to party.
Companion Perk Added: Obsession: When you are knocked unconscious, Scarlet gains a 20% damage bonus, but takes 10% more damage from hostile fire, along with a 100% chance to suffer a mental break upon your death.