The Beginning of the End [Closed]

Cross backed up, apparently Malachite's intel was wrong. What an idiot, but Cross had to keep him alive.

"What kind of fool doesn't get his intel right??!?"

Cross backed up against the overturned table, waiting for the bot's fire to cease all while he slowly slipped his grenade rifle out.... and took his shot.

(EXPLOSIVES 43, Rolling to shoot into the hordes of bots when opportunity arises)

(MAGIC 100, throwing up shield following the shot to protect the doorway)

"Day has officially gotten better." Sky muttered to herself as the robots began to fire at the group, She whipped out her pistol and began to return fire.

(Guns: 50, rolling to hit robots)

Starry Night had fallen back to speak with Shutter during the introduction to the facility, whispering to him to comment on every menial thing she saw or heard Malachite or Gray Mane say. "Ohmygosh! Look! There's all these robots everywhere, we should try salvaging their parts! Oh hey! Did grandpa just say they have robots too? That is so cool! Hey, what do you think of this Malachite guy? He's pretty cute, huh? I wonder if they have food in the cafeteria, I'm famished! OHMYGOSH WATCH OUT FOR LASERS!"

Starry fell to the floor to try and avoid the energy blasts, and quickly pulled a grenade from her utility belt and lobbed it over the table toward the robots with her magic.

Techno jumped behind the table as the bolt hit the wall. "Celestia damn robots!" he yelled as he whipped out a 5mm pistol from his saddlebag. He looked through the doorway and sighted a target, a mister gutsy, before firing a few times, hoping to do some damage to the flying robot, after which he fired up a small shield spell to provide some cover.

(Guns 30, rolling thrice to shoot a mr. gutsy)
(Magic 45, rolling to make a small shield the sgout can use as cover.)

Kes reached back and grabbed onto his Cowpony Repeater, seating it into his shoulder and bracing himself against a wall for support. The signature sound of a lever action rifle cocking filled the hall as the bird chambered a fresh round and aimed towards the doorway; waiting patiently for a chance to open fire on the bots.

The gryphon had chosen the repeater for its higher rate of fire and open sights. The hunting rifle he had would pack more punch but at this range the high-power scope and bolt action could hinder aiming and overall damage output right now.

The instant the opportunity came for the bird to fire he would do so, sending a total of four rounds downrange, each shot aimed at the head or body of one of the bots, before ducking down for a second; doing his best to hide his bulk behind the table.

The entire time he was taking aim, firing, and taking cover the gryphons his face bore look of absolute calm. Not that one could truly see it, what with his mask being in the way, but it was there.

Scrap's fascination with all things technological kicked in when he saw the wrecked robots. His mind was reeling with the possibilities of the technology he could scavenge from them and he ignored Malachite until the robots started to attack and snapped Scrap out of his internal technological fantasy land.

Reacting quickly Scrap drew his new prism rifle, prayed to Luna that he hadnt been sold a peice of junk, and loosed a beam of red energy towards the nearest protectron.

(Energy Weapons 35)

As the crossfire began, Starry wasn’t able to duck fast enough and got struck in the shoulder by a plasma bolt on the way down. Despite the pain, she was able to get one of her grenades over the table, which landed a few feet away from a Mr. Gutsy and managed to knock the thing around a bit, giving Techno the opportunity to get his shots in. Miraculously, his first shot managed to hit a weakpoint in the robot’s armor, piercing it and, even more miraculously, managing to hit a critical gem and cause the robot to go haywire, before it exploded in a spectacular green fireball, knocking around the other Gutsy.

Cross fired his grenade, impacting the second Gutsy and shattering its body with the force of the blast, a protectron getting knocked over by the blast as well. A prism blast flew over his head before he got the shield up, but it missed. Sky aimed and fired her pistol at the knocked-over protectron, shooting through the faceplate and causing the robot’s head to explode in a shower of magical energy.

Kestrel, meanwhile, was taking his shots carefully, managing to drill two bullets into a protectron and destroying its head. The remaining protectron shot at Scrap, but the shot missed and hit the wall beside him. The unicorn grinned, and aimed his own weapon at the protectron while its prism weapon recharged, but his own shot missed just as bad as the protectron’s. Before the robot could open fire again, Malachite popped out of cover, drawing a plasma pistol from his lab coat, and managed to hit the protectron square in the faceplate, the magical plasma melting through it and causing the robot to fall over, dead.

All in all, the fight was over quickly. The group managed to take down all the robots within minutes, injures minimal. If this was any indication of what was to come, this would be easy.

“Well, that takes care of that...” Malachite muttered, pushing the table aside. “And for the record,” he addressed Cross “we destroyed the robots that were in this room days ago. And no others had moved in until today.” he put the pistol back in his coat, before walking into the room, checking the robots to make sure they were all permanently deactivated.

“Ok, looks like they’re down for good. We should probably treat the unicorn, if any of you are good with medicine I have bandages and health potions that can be used.” he said as he pulled them out of his saddlebags. “Also, if any of you are good with lockpicks, you might want to see if you can get through those doors over there.” he nodded towards two doors in the corner.

Now that they weren’t being shot at, the group could get a clearer look at the Cafeteria. It was as they expected, tables and chairs where ponies ate at. If it wasn’t for the destroyed robots everywhere and the occasional pile of ash and blackened skeleton, there wouldn’t be anything strange about it.

Nestled into the corner of the room was a walled-off kitchen, with an opening where food could be handed out. In the corner opposite of that were two doors, the ones Malachite pointed at, one labeled ‘Medical’ and the other ‘Security’. On the side of the wall opposite those two corners was another door, labeled ‘Living Quarters’, and another door on the remaining wall, labeled ‘Laboratory’.

Scrap let out a deep breath after the fight was over, by some miracle he escaped the fighting unharmed despite missing his shot at the protectron. Starry on the other hoof wasn't so lucky and caught a plasma shot to the shoulder, unfortunately Scrap wasn't a doctor so he couldnt offer his services in healing.


Instead he headed over to the locked doors to see if he could try and unlock them. Levitating a couple bobby pins and a screwdriver out of his bags Scrao set to work on the lock.

(Lockpick 39)

"Yes! Somepony should probably help out the unicorn! The unicorn's shoulder was nearly melted off, and the unicorn is in massive pain at the moment!" Starry shouted. "Why am I always the first one to get shot? I swear, it's like the goddesses are playing tricks on me! Me and my damned luck!"

Starry didn't even bother getting to her hooves. She wanted to explore the kitchen for something to eat, but she would wait until she was patched up first. She didn't want to bother standing yet, since she'd probably have to lie down for treatment, and it would hurt to stand on that leg.

"Sorry for that little outburst," she said to Malachite, offering him a smile. "My name's Starry Night by the way."

Seeing that the fighting was over Kes quickly reloaded his repeater to its max capacity, seven rounds, and placed it back in its holster.

Looking around Kes began to weigh his options. Security and Medical looked to be the smartest choices right now. The possibility of getting better armor or weapons a rather significant factor in that decision, add to that the possibility of getting some healing items and it only made sense to get to one of the two doors.

Alas, Kes was terrible at lock-picking; thus, he would have to wait and see if Scrap could get into the door.

If he was able to crack open the Armory, Kes would make his way over towards the door and carefully start exploring the room beyond. No telling what was locked away within. Hopefully it would not be more of those damned robots.

If Scrap failed Kes would just stand still until the group was ready or somepony needed his help.

Techno grinned at his success and extreme luck with the pistol he almost never used. 'S not every day you hit the one part in the robot's body that would make it explode on the first shot. He lowered his cover shield and slid the pistol back into his bags after reloading it, and he walked over to Starry, who's shoulder had seen better days. There was a glowing spot on her shoulder where the bold had struck, so Techno got right to it, but not before making a passing comment. "Why is it that somepony ALWAYS gets injured on the first shot...?" he said to himself as he gave Starry Mad-X and treated the wound.

The door to medical took a little work, but Scrap managed to get it popped open while only losing one lockpick. The door to security had a much more complicated lock, but as luck would have it Scrap managed to crack through it quickly without loosing a single lockpick.

As the door to security slid open, Scrap was greeted by the sight of a short hallway with two doors and a active prism turret on the other end. A crimson beam shot by his head, going right past his ear and singing some of his fur from the proximity. Now might be a good time to get out of the way.

Malachite meanwhile, turned to Starry as she spoke to him. "Nice to meet you Starry Night. Wish we could of met under better circumstances." he would of said more, but then the turret started firing at Scrap and everypony turned their attention to that.

The sound of beams being fired past through scrap, most not hitting him but a shot got his ear. Sky quickly gritted her pistol in her teeth, and proceeded to go destroy the turret. since the turrent was still transfixed at scrap, Sky had enough time to line up a shot.


(Roll to destroy turret: GUNS 50)

Before he could even get over to where Scrap was working on the security room door, the tale-tell flash of a prism weapons laser soared out from the hall, just barely missing the kid. Kes sped up his approach, and braced himself against the doorframe reaching back and drawing his Repeater once more.

The bird allowed Sky to fire off her shot before he popped out of cover and drew a quick bead on his target and fired off 2 rounds.

That is assuming that the turret was not destroyed by the pegasi's shot first. If it was, Kes would just holster his weapon and then make his way down the little hall rumbling out a quick 'follow me' to Scrap in the process.

(Rolling to fire and hit the turret twice if need be. Guns 75)

Sky's shots were wildly off, competely missing the turret. However, when Kestrel came by, he managed to hit the turret on his first shot, damaging the turret's prism and knocking it out of commision.

With the threat taken care off, Kestrel's investigation of the hallway would turn up two doors, one locked by a computer terminal, the other unlocked and with a sign that said 'Armory'.

The inside the armory was four lockers, each unlocked. The first contained a sniper rifle with a box of 20 .308 rounds, along with three sets of police barding. The second contained a simple 10mm Pistol and leather barding. The third contained a set of reinforced leather barding. And the fourth contained two sets of combat barding and a plasma pistol.

"Bleh not exactly my style..." Cross decided to slip on the combat barding but it didn't sit too well with him, it felt too...."pedestrian" What Cross really wanted was some Officer Uniform from the old war, but he would make do,

Still he saw Scrap lunging for the plasma pistol, and Cross telekinetically snatched it up before he could get it.

"Sorry Scrap, but truth be told I can let you hurt this arcanic tech, I've seen how badly you treat your crap"

Starry trotted up to the computer terminal, and started tapping away, without even asking or being asked to. She loved computers, and this was the first one she'd since in over a year since she left Stable 113. Finally, a chance to put her hacking skills to the test!

"Hey, Malachite, right?" she said, trying to make small talk. She spoke in the toughest and most confident voice she could muster. "So uh, you into these robots and science and things? You know, I'm a scientist myself. Yup, self-trained. I'm a bit of a heavy reader, if you get my drift, been working these muscles since I learned how, and they ain't failed me yet." Starry gestured toward her skull. She was referring to her brain as a muscle.

"You got a... special mare in your life? You know, somepony who can take care of ya? It's important, you know. The wastes can get real lonely... and dangerous. You need a smart, capable partner for protection!"

Scrap fell backward in shock after the plasma shot whipped by his face. Fortunately the others werent so slow to react and both Kes and Sky fired shots at the hanging turret.

When the turret was dead the group moved into the hallway. Searching the crates in the armory nothing really piqued Scrap's interest untill he saw the plasma pistol.
Lunging for it he almost had it in his hooves before Cross yanked it away.

"Cmon Cross, please let me have that plasma pistol. I got us in the armory! Please just let me have it!" Scrap groveled in the voice of a broken pony. "Please, please,pleeease!"

Kestrel quickly entered the armory and claimed the first locker for himself. The gryphon grabbed a set of the Police Barding and set it to the side. That sniper rifle and .308 ammo were also quickly claimed by the bird.

The weapon was in excellent condition it would seem, no doubt because it had been just sitting there in the locker for who knows how long.

This would make an excellent addition to the gryphons already impressive arsenal. Shifting a few things around then checking his Pipbuck Kes made a list of his new gear.

1 set of police barding, 1 lever action shotgun, 1 10mm SMG, 1 Hunting Rifle (fully modified), 1 Cowpony repeater, 1 set of combat armor, and quite a collection of ammo.

Hmm...at this rate he might have to hand out some stuff so he could make room in his bags for any new gear that the group came across.

"Um, yeah, I guess you could say that. I am fairly good with science and machines, although not as much as Gray Mane. He's a genius." Malachite responded to Starry as he waited by Security. "He taught me pretty much everything I know."

He listened Starry's second question, his face turning a slight shade of red. "Uh..eh...er...No, not really." he answered, rubbing his head. "My parents died a few years ago, Raiders, and Gray Mane found me and took me in. I've been pretty much living with him ever since..."

It took Starry a bit, but she soon managed to hack the computer's security protocals and open the door up. Inside was most likely the Head of Security's office, judging by the nice mahogony desk and high-quality furnishing. On the desk was another computer, unlocked and filled with audio logs, and a locker was behind the desk, containing a very nice looking suit of light armor, and a lightning pistol, along with several spark batteries to power the thing.

"Umm why do you want it so bad? you suck with arcanic weapons, plus as you know....they don't really make these anymore....but I'll tell you what, you can either get me a Unicorn officer's barding or a dozen party grenades and I'll consider it a fair trade. This offer lasts while I'm still happy with you" Cross snickered. This poor pony wanting something so pointless as a mere pistol surprised him, but it still left him in an advantageous position.

As far as Cross knew their might not be a unicorn officer's barding in this facility, nor did he believe anypony other than Starry knew how to make party grenades.

Cross walked off from Scrap, and went to go see what was happening at the terminal, he was still laughing when he saw Starry trying to flirt with Malachite, '...and she wonders why she was such a prime target for mareknapping, bemusing Cross

Cross felt much much better, more like his old self. Maybe he could get these ponies working fo-...with him after all

Suddenly Starry got passed the computer, and some items were unlocked, and Cross's eyes grew wide as he saw audio logs, and he quickly tried to reach them so he could study them

Giving up Scrap headed out back into the hallway. At this point Starry unlocked the other door. Rushing in Scrap searched for something good. He spotted the lightning pistol and quickly dived upon it.

"MINE!"

Scrap tried to grab the lightning pistol, So Cross took all the ammo for it

Had to make sure he had the advantage

and with that, Cross fell to the back of the group to activate the tapes and listen to them out of earshot of EVERYpony, ESPECIALLY the griffon

Sky looked inside the armory, nothing really worth while to take. Other than the ten milliliter pistol. 'could probably take them for parts or find a way to use both of them, yeah it could work.' Sky thought, As she grabbed the pistol and put it in a second holster.

"Oh! I have an idea!" Starry told Cross, excitedly. "Cross, why don't you hand me that ammo, and uh, you, what's your name? Why don't you hand me the pistol? And then I'll work out who gets it!"

As if her suggestion were not appealing enough, Starry levitated three of her firebombs out of her belt. She was practically giggling with excitement. "You know, I think I'm a very fair judge of who gets this weapon, seeing how I unlocked the door and all."