Fallout Equestria: Baltimare Heights

The lights of my room flicked on causing me to furrow my brow and hide my face under a foreleg. I gave a yawn; my sleepiness receded and I took note of my senses. A hoof was wrapped around my stomach and my back was pressed against a warm body. A blanket had been moved over me at some point in the night and I felt well-rested for the first time in a long while.

"Well then. That's not quite what I had expected," came the voice of my mother.

The foreleg moved from around me and Xeyal nudged the back of my neck. That got me to get up off the bed, "I'm up, I'm up. What time is it?"

While I stretched my legs, back and neck, Xeyal got up with a yawn of her own, "It is almost supper time."

Turning and giving her a look of my cluelessness, she reiterated that. "Five in the evening," and with a rare bit of snark, she added, "Turn on your pipbuck."

I raised one eyebrow and did just that. My HUD displayed the time; I always forget that. "Got it, I'm not a smart pony." Turning my attention to Silver Torrent, I asked my next question. "So, how did things go with the Overmare? Oh! I have your bags. Espresso Cream has let us keep our weapons as a just-in-case."

"Luckily, we won't need them. The Overmare seems to be on our side with this but she is hesitant to change the status quo without good reason." She gave a small sigh and shook her head. She took a moment to levitate her bags onto her back. "She asked me to retrieve the ponies she needs for proper counsel. She wants you both to attend as well. Xeyal, can you bring a few of the elders up to her office? The guards won't stop you, but do be careful. Come on, we have no time to dottle."

Xeyal and I both went about getting dressed. I got into a fresh stable jumpsuit while she donned her stable security barding. With our saddlebags on we left my little room. As we walked, the ponies we were passing would pause and watch us. I couldn't make it out, but I could hear their whisperings. Probably due to the zebra with us.

When we reached the atrium, Silver stopped us at the door. "We'll ride down the elevator together, Shimmer and I need to go talk to Espresso. Xeyal, you need to talk to the elders and have one or two of them send someone up. You are to come too."

Neither of us spoke, opting instead to glance at one another and nod in unison. Silver smiled, "Good, today is the day we reunite this stable." With that she pushed the door open to the business of dinner time rush hour. I normally sleep until 8:00 so to see it this full felt… uncanny.

Most if not all the tables were full, leaving several variously sized groups to stand along the walls and converse. The uproar of conversation and laughter made it damn near impossible to distinguish any individual by voice alone. Throughout the crowd were several of the security ponies and as we entered several ponies took note of us. That included a couple of guards.

We didn't linger, Silver had already started toward the elevators at the back of the room. I looked over to see Xeyal gulp her discomfort, even though she wore a calm cool expression. When we reached the elevator the guard beside it looked at Xeyal in shock. "What are you doing up here, zebra? Shouldn't you be down there shoveling shit or something?"

I wanted to buck him. I wanted her to buck him. Instead of bucking him, she stepped to the side showing that along her armor was the word "Security" just like his. "I'm up here because the Overmare has deemed it necessary. Step aside and let us through."

He seemingly ignored her barding and status, choosing instead to hold his ground and double down on his vulgarity. "Look princess, I don't know how you came across that barding but even if you are in security, you have zero pull on this floor." He gave a simple curt nod and from behind us a couple of guards came in closer. "You two ladies should go get some food or something. This zebra's coming with us to the security holding cells."

Silver Torrent and I both stepped in closer to Xeyal. "What's your name?"

"That's none of your concern, now move it. You know the rules." The other guards moved in closer, flanking us. Taking a quick look around, a semicircle of ponies were spectating this fiasco.

Silver and I didn't budge. It was my turn, "Look, I've dealt with far better fights than you could provide. The Overmare has requested us to speak with Espresso Cream. We'll be sure to mention the hassle you're giving us."

He didn't speak, instead taking in the gathered crowd. "Fine. If you three are going to speak with Espresso, I'll be joining you. No funny business, you hear me?"

He didn't move. So I told him what he wanted to hear. "Fine, sure; whatever. Let's go!"

Giving us an all knowing smile he turned and ran his keycard. The elevator door opened and the four of us boarded. He boarded last then held the door for one of the other security officers. It was Ace Wild. Of course it was Wild Ace. Why would any other asshole be here?

No one said a thing as the doors closed. The guard that held us up hit the third floor button and as the elevator lurched to life he laughed. "Y'all think this'll change anything? You ever met Espresso Cream? He's not an easy going stallion. You'll see, we'll have that zebra in a box for questioning on how she ever got up to the second floor without us noticing."

I bursted into a laugher fit, one that required leaning against the wall and smacking a hoof against it. Both him and Ace Wild shared a look of discontent.

"I used a cloak of invisibility. An ancient zebra artifact passed on to me by my grandmother. I then hacked into an unused room and slept there for a day or two… or was it three?" Xeyal shrugged and smiled politely. "It makes no difference, I suppose."

Anger flared up in their eyes and I couldn't be happier for it. "Look, we've all met Espresso Cream. I'm fairly sure you and that dishonorable asshole there will understand soon. Thanks for the escort though, I hope you both get to shovel plant food after this."

Glancing ever-so briefly at Ace Wild. The red stallion had a more relaxed demeanor to him. Just as he looked over at me, I looked away and just as I looked away, the elevator stopped. It was only one floor after all. The door opened and the new asshole guard stepped out first, followed by the three of us and followed up by Ace.

Our journey through the empty halls proved to be a silent time. No one spoke and when we finally reached our destination, we were met by Espresso Cream. He was having a conversation with the mare who sat at the front desk. We took their attention upon entering. "What's all this?" Espresso asked us.

Silver stepped forward to answer but our nameless new friend took charge. "These two have been harboring this zebra up here. They were going to use the elevator to smuggle her back down to the lower floors. I, for one, think they're working on some sort of sabotage to flip the stable!" Ace Wild was nodding his own agreement.

His sheer incorrectness made all three of us and Espresso Cream start laughing. Him and Ace both appeared to cringe seeing their boss laughing their accusation off.

Silver coughed into a hoof, drawing everyone's attention. "Yes, well… While this has been an unsavory sort of entertainment: We have more pressing matters."

"What would that be, Ms. Torrent?"

"Espresso, I was sent to find you. The Overmare has requested a conference. She also requested Xeyal here to accompany a zebra elder. We also need the Chief of Engineering, a zebra named Oazu."

Espresso nodded, "Okay. Xeyal?"

"Yes?"

He looked at both his subordinates. "You're free to go. Please communicate with Oazu as well as Burdal then return to the Overmare's office." He hadn't moved his eyes and didn't react to their reaction.

Both guards started to speak over one another but Espresso Cream talked over them in a more commanding voice. "Night Flare! Ace Wild! Did I ask for your opinion?"

Both of them snapped to attention. "No, Sir!"

"Night Flare. Please return to your post. Ace Wild, stay here." He wore a grim glower.

Night Flare gave a small bow and dismissed himself. I smiled seeing Ace Wild shift uncomfortably on his haunches. I leaned toward him. "Not so powerful now, huh?"

That got me a sharp glare from him. Just then Espresso interjected. "So, I heard you had these two lovely mares slated for recycling. Then this morning I see a bloodied white room with a shell casing in it. When I spoke with Ms. Stone, I noticed she was limping." He paused and turned to me. "May I see your left foreleg?"

I walked forward, magicked my sleeve up and put my leg on the desk. He got in close and ran a hoof gently up my leg, reversing the fur. He saw the bullet wound and turned my leg to see the exit wound. "Thank you." He took a step back and returned to standing on all four.

"Snowflake Flurry told me she had concerns. I've already spoken with Little Sweeper and he confirmed my suspicions. Now, what I need from you is honesty. Why did you shoot Glimmer Stone with her own weapon?"

He stiffened up. "You see sir, she was reported missing and dead days ago and during her initial escape, she stole my brother's baton and gave him a concussion and broke his ribs. He's still in recovery. I did it for him."

Xeyal stepped forward, placing herself between him and I. "She did take his baton, but I was the one that kicked him into the wall that knocked him out. She didn't touch him."

His jaw hung open for a moment, then he looked back to the chief. "Look, I-"

"No. You've abused your position and the power of authority you've been given, however I don't have time to deal with you right now. I'll give you this one warning. Do not slip up or fall out of line again. Otherwise I will request your position be vacated."

"But sir, I-"

Espresso Cream shook his head and shouted back at him, "Ace Wild, you are dismissed! Return to your room, you're on suspension until further notice."

His ears drooped and he nodded. "Yes sir." He turned and left the office as quietly as he could.

The doors slid closed and Espresso turned to Snowflake Flurry. "Please remove Ace and Sweeps from the next week of shift scheduling."

She nodded primly, "Sure thing, sir."

"Alright, let's go. Xeyal, please be quick. We will meet you upstairs and don't worry, we won't start without you." Silver Torrent didn't like wasting time.

The Overmare's office is a lot bigger than I had expected. A large circular metal desk that seemed to slope toward a small pale mare took up the majority of the room. The rest of the room consisted of filing cabinets and dressers. Photographs and frames covered the walls and behind the Overseer was the circular window that looked out over the atrium. There was a door to our left, a simple wooden door with an elegant bronze lever-handle. It caught my attention, being the only wooden door in the entire stable.

The mare stood with her hooves on the desk to be able to see us over it. "Ah! You've arrived!" She wore a smile and her stable outfit, She dropped the floor and disappeared for a moment to walk around the desk.

Espresso gave a kind bow, "Evening, Sweet Beets."

She nodded and looked at the three of us. "You there," she pointed a hoof at me, "Shimmer Stone, correct? Both Espresso Cream and Silver Torrent have reported to me on how their excursion went. However, the last time I saw you was just as the teleporter whisked you and your friends away."

I was about to speak when Silver gently shouldered me. The Overmare continued, "I'd like to hear your perspective on your escape because you caused quite an uproar with your departure, hospitalizing three of my guards." She seated herself.

I started again, "I was made privy to the potential dangers they were facing and had to rescue your scout team and my mother. I hadn't planned to bring anyone, but I'm forever thankful that they had joined me last minute. There's no way I would have been able to save any of them by myself."

She nodded along as I spoke. "I would like to extend my own thanks as well. For if you hadn't gone none of our issues would have been solved." She paused, touching her hoof to her chin. "Then again all my other reports on the tower mission seem to be in agreement that you were the one who took charge in clearing the tower of its hostile inhabitants. Can you please explain to me how our stable was in danger?"

I nodded. "Sure. A ghoul by the name of Fulsome Quibble convinced most of the ghouls who had chosen to stay in the tower that our stable was a threat to the stability of the tower's power grid. The tower has an exterior barrier spell that has been maintained since the war. He planned to shut down the stable, but he didn't have any way to access the power grid. Between my group and Espresso's group forced him and Willow Sky to flee the tower. However, they aren't the only standing threat we face. These Steel Ranger guys are well equipped and heavily armored. They sent a scout party and one of them had a pair of grenade launchers the size of me attached to him."

The Overmare's expression was that of horror and deep contemplation. "We have no choice but to protect the tower and treat it as a part of our home."

"It's always been a part of our home, we just never realized it." Silver Torrent added, "The issue at hoof is that the tower was a research hub for the MAS. It hosts several dangerous artifacts and many secret experiments that can be ridiculously dangerous in the wrong hooves. Both Quibble and Willow have had access to all of that since the war, there's no telling what they will come up with."

Espresso's smooth deep voice held a grim tone. "They're bound to do something. It's only a matter of time."

The doors opened behind us and in came three zebras. In came Burdel, Aozi and Xeyal. The Overmare was up and welcoming them immediately. It left me looking back to where she had just been then back again. Wow! She's quick.

Burdel, the elderly but burly zebra elder had to be the tallest one in the room now and seeing him towering over the little pale colored mare was something to behold. Beside him stood Aozi, He wasn't a very big zebra, short and skinny. Wearing a baggy brown maintenance jumpsuit and with his head held low made him appear frightful. He looks as if he were feeling out of place or troubled.

Xeyal came over and sat next to me once her and the Overmare exchanged greetings. "Aozi is a little skittish."

Seeing him hesitate to shake the Overmare's hoof, "I figured it was something like that. This meeting seems promising so far."

Sweet Beets motioned for everyone to group together. Once everyone was seated, she clapped her hooves twice. "Aozi, I have asked for your presence here because of your keen expertise. I know you're still new to your current posting as our Chief Engineer, but you understand the stable's functions better than most others. What insight can you provide in regards to our home's stability?"

His eyes grew like bulbs, as a smile crossed his face. "Ma'am, I just do my job and I try to do it well. The stable needs me to." He scratched the bottom of his chin while thinking. "From a mechanical perspective, the stable runs fine. However, due to how many times parts have been replaced and replaced again, almost all of our systems have suffered a lot. You can't follow any pipe down there more than ten feet without seeing an old patch or a section replaced with repurposed parts. This also applies to our furnaces and power generators. If it weren't for talismans being easily replaced, nothing would have lasted this long. I would like to take apart and clean rust off some of the key parts but we can't afford to shut down the systems."

My eyes glazed over for the majority of his spiel, up until he mentioned the talismans. Everyone else seemed to follow though so I didn't feel bad for not really listening.

The Overmare spoke again, "Thank you for the input. If given the opportunity: Would you like to learn more about the mechanical operations of the building above us?"

He had a moment of contemplation before giving a slow nod. "Isn't that the ministry hub? Are there schematics or would I and my team have to create new ones?"

Espresso gave some insight, "The scientists were meticulous and there are bound to be schematics somewhere up there."

I chimed in with a useful tidbit, "Turns out that the computer systems share personnel data."

Aozi bounced to all four and trotted in place. "That means that I probably have access to all that information!"

The Overmare tapped the floor with a hoof, signaling him to calm down. "Espresso, in what condition is the tower? What approach would we want to take if we wish to restore it to a usable standard?"

He looked around at us all first, giving the question a moment to linger. "There are plenty of supplies left unused that can be utilized. I'd recommend we start small and have cleaning crews clear out the dead and debris that has accumulated. Starting with the lower floors and working our way up. There are a total of forty-five floors, the top floor is inaccessible."

Silver spoke up, "We also need to make sure that security is posted at the main entrance. From my understanding there is a deadly fog that blankets the outside every now and again. If the doors open while it's present, everyone who is caught in it is as good as dead. Making sure it is locked and secured is a priority."

I stood to add a piece. "Major Starsail will have that taken care of for now, I don't believe he can lock it down, but he and his ghouls are on guard."

"And who's this Major Starsail? What is a ghoul exactly?" Burdel, the zebra elder asked, having stood for his question.

I sat down and Silver took to standing. "The ghouls are ponies who have been heavily mutated by magical radiation. They look like dead ponies but are very much still alive and can probably live indefinitely. I, for one, want to know more about them and study their sickness." She sat down and added, "Major Starsail is trustworthy."

The Overmare looked to Burdel, "I know my mother's mother implemented several unsavory policies and caused a rift in our stable. I've given this issue a thought since I was a foal, of how I could reunite our stable. Despite my predecessors' shortcomings, the rift between zebra and pony is more complicated and will be very difficult to repair. I don't believe that anything you or I say can change the feelings everyone else harbors." She sighed and looked around. No one said anything so she continued. "I have already spoken at length with Silver about policies that can be changed or removed but I'd like your input as well."

If the giant zebra was feeling any certain way, he hid it well. "You'll need to be more specific. The current policies treat us as a pest."

Sweet Beets smiled, "Sure." Her horn began to glow as telekinetically picked up a vanilla fold and levitated it from behind her desk to the zebra. "This documents all the rules my mother and her mother put into effect that involve and perpetuate the separation. I have already taken steps to dismantle these rules and return our stable to its original directive. The one given to us by Twilight Sparkle."

Burdel had taken the folder and laid it on top of a nearby cabinet. He took his time reading, letting the room fall silent. Xeyal spoke up in his place. "I believe that the tower will provide plenty of room for everyone. We will want to set limits and restrictions on the laboratories and catalog all the dangers there."

"There are other settlements located in Baltimare, I believe it will be worth looking at our available stocks and potential trade goods." I added, thinking back to the radio broadcasts.

Sweet Beets looked at Xeyal and nodded then looked at me. "You and Xeyal have good points and while establishing ourselves as potential trade partners will be a necessity in time, for now we do need to focus on securing the hub and making sure everyone is safe there."

Burdel closed the folder and left it where it was. Turning back to the group "I find these changes suvice. Allowing freedom to all ponies and zebras will help. I am also happy to see proper rations to all rather than that previous staggering of class tiered food." He turned to Aozi, "Are you opposed to having ponies as a part of your team?"

Aozi hesitated and slowly shook his head no. "Some of my engineers may be against this though. Forced cooperation may backfire."

Xeyal nodded, "I agree, words alone will not turn back time and easily mend our broken bonds. We zebras have many reasons to feel betrayed."

The Overmare gave a small sigh, "I understand this and I will be holding a full stable announcement tomorrow. This will require everyone to be present. Burdel, will you help me with planning this speech? I would like you to help deliver it."

Burdel gave the Overmare a slight leer. 'Only under one condition. Once we have established the hub, you and I will build a council that will lead our home moving forward."

Her eyes lit up, "Yes of course, I had already planned to discuss that matter with you. Ms. Torrent had mentioned it this morning."

Espresso spoke up, "Alright, while the two of you work out the details, I will take Silver Torrent and Shimmer Stone with me up to the hub. I want to meet with this Starsail fellow and gather information on all these experiments."

Burdel gave Espresso Cream a leveled gaze, "Xeyal will go with you." He looked over at Aozi, "Would you like to stay here or go with them?"

Before Aozi could answer, Silver spoke for him. "I believe he would be better off staying here. Ghouls are… a wake up call… and I bet most of the stable will have trouble seeing them."

Aozi stood and stepped forward, "I believe I can speak for myself here, yes? I would like to see the outside. I would also like to take a look and see if I can find any schematics to bring back."

Silver Torrent didn't argue and no one else spoke up so Aozi sat and smiled "I am glad that is resolved. I will accompany you."

With that, Espresso nodded, "Just be aware that it could be dangerous, so we will not be splitting up, let's go." He gave the elder and Overmare a solute before making his way to the door.

I stood and followed, as did Silver, Xeyal and Aozi. Aozi was a bit giddy, almost prancing with anticipation while Xeyal and I both walked slower anticipating the need to close window blinds.

We made a left into the teleporter room where Silver Torrent started it up and we all gathered into the glass chamber. The teleport went smooth and everyone clambered out of the tower's teleporter room. It was still dusty, but now that the lights were working, I could actually see the layer of dust over everything.

Aozi immediately made his way to a nearby terminal but realized quickly that he couldn't access it. "Crap, it's locked." he mimbled.

"Doesn't matter, it probably doesn't have anything related to engineering. That console was probably used for maintaining the teleporters.

"These teleporters are a part of engineering though!" He sternly countered. "It may not create energy but it does consume it and I'd like to know how much."

I sat back and shrugged, "Silver could have it for you."

She gave me a squinty glare before walking over to Aozi. I just smiled and Xeyal chuckled into her hoof, "You know, we don't have time for that, right? We can't leave him here and we don't know where Major Starsail is."

"Good point, but having him gather information he can use later is just as important." I told her without hesitating. "We have time, though I believe we'll be spending the night up here anyway."

Watching the two of them work at the terminal was leaving me feeling antsy. I stood and walked out into the main lobby. No one was here and the setting sun filtered through the clouds. The ravaged streets and dilapidated buildings were glowing gold in the evening sunlight. The stained glass mirrored Twilight Sparkle onto the floor below the long desks. I walked down the steps and stood under her, looking up at the cloudy sky between the buildings. The ghouls had cleaned up the lobby. All the bones were pushed to one corner while the dead ghouls and the two metalclad pony corpses were gone.

"She was the unicorn responsible for this hub and our stable? Twilight Sparkle?" Xeyals voice was quiet and soothing.

"Yep. She's our ministry mare." I answered without looking away. The buildings I could see were decrepit. Missing windows, some of which had been boarded over. One giant hole was blown out of one of them, leaving a pile of rubble on the sidewalk below it. "What do you think the ponies out there know? Do you think they're all crazy ghouls or trigger happy giants?"

"I don't believe so. I do remember those broadcasts you played. That DJ Pon3 seemed to have good sense."

I sighed and looked for solace in her eyes. "The Mayhem Mall says otherwise. I don't know what to expect, but I want to go find out. The Heights was looking for ponies."

She didn't break eye contact. "Do you plan to leave?"

"No… At least not yet." I couldn't keep looking at her, so I looked back up at Twilight Sparkle. "I don't believe I'll be much help here though."

Some static began to fill the air followed by a deep stallion's voice. It was that DJ, "Hello Wastelanders! I just finished dinner and before I could even throw the bean can away, somepony was giving me an update. Today started off with good news and now it will end with some great news! There is a group of heroes in Hoofington that has been carving out the raiders and slavers, making room for the settlements there to be traded with. MegaMart has reopened its gates for ponies passing by there. Also, it turns out that Old Appleoosa has seen those heroes from Manehatten pass through, and trade routes are safe once again."

There was a pause with a rifling of papers.

"Now for the news that interrupted my dinner. We all know how dangerous Baltimare is, right? Some ponies from a village north of there witnessed something incredible. The Ministry of Arcane Science hub lit up like a Christmas tree the other night. It would be a death wish to try and visit that place though. Anyway folks, that's all for now, take care my dear listeners and enjoy some of this smooth music."

The transmission switched over to music using piano to accent a brass base. Xeyal and I looked at one another and I switched off my radio. She hummed for a moment, "It appears we're on someone's radar."

From above us a speaker crackled to life and out came a voice. "Major Starsail, please report to the main reception area. Major Starsail, please report to the maon reception area. Thank you!"

"Was that Silver Torrents' voice?" Xeyal asked as she stood and turned back.

I stood and looked back as well. Silver was standing behind one of the reception desks talking with Aozi and Espresso Cream. "Let's go, I guess." Xeyal and I went and rejoined them, "Aozi, I know where one of the Engineering offices are, would you like me to take you there?"

Aozi bounced on his hooves, "Yes please!"

"No. We will go later. For now we are here to speak with Starsail." Espresso Cream was stern in this choice."I want to make sure the tower is safe. I still don't trust it."

I sat down heavily and pouted. I really didn't want to wait around for more politics. "Fine. We'll go afterwards." I said watching as Aozi deflated, his enthusiasm was welcomed though. A thought cross my mind as I looked out at the debris filled street. What's it like for ponies out there…

The elevator gave a ding and the doors opened. Out stepped Starsail and Misty Grace. "You called?"

I laughed as Aozi took in the sight of the two ghouls walking toward us. His wide eyed expression was a mix of shock and horror. His mouth held a quiver and he was moment from screaming when I stepped in front of him. "Don't," Was all I had to say. "No need to be scared. They're ghouls. Just hold your breath."

He still wore a mask of fear, but he gave a small nod of understanding. I looked over to the ghouls as they reached us. He looked over us all, "What's happening?"

"We needed to speak with you about the future of this tower." Silver Torrent informed him, "This is Espresso Cream," She gestured to the large earth pony, "he is our chief of security in the stable and he wanted to speak to you."

The ghoul looked up at the massive buck. "I'm Major Starsail. I've called this tower home ever since the final day of the war. It was my last security post given to me directly by Applejack, the ministry mare of Wartime Technology."

"Good to meet you. You've really be alive that long?" Espresso Cream asked in bewilderment. "My concerns are in the safety of this tower and the dangers that it holds. We need you to come visit Stable 107 and meet the Overmare."

Starsails good ear perked up, "Fine." He answered plainly, "I suppose if the stable plans to move into the tower it would be worth providing my assistance in reestablishing this place. The ghouls still here have be working on stabilizing protective protocols and securing the experimental floors." He began to cough and the sound of it made me cringe.

Silver Torrent waited for him amd turned to Misty Grace. "You're familiar with the computer systems and machinary here, right?"

She responded with a little squeak and a nod. "I was an admin here in the tower so keeping track of paperwork and personnel."

"Would you please take these three with you? Aozi, the zebra there, is our Chief Engineer and has been tasked to collecting schematics and oporational statistics on the towers systems."

Misty gave a smile, "Sure. I can give them a tour and help him precure the information needed."

Footnote:
No levels gained, but you do feel more experienced.