//------------------------------// // CEASELESS DISCHARGE // Story: Volition // by PredictableOffender //------------------------------// You have planning this ball for a exactly one week now, your deadline is in two more work filled weeks, luckily you and Rosetta are making good time. You learned the purpose of the ball is to both intimidate Equestria and make good ties with them so hopefully they don’t attack. The intimidation part is just showing off the GKS CEASELESS DISCHARGE and hopefully the carnage it can bring if anyone tangled with it. The plan is to have the Princesses ride on ol’ Ceaseless so they can witness a display of its almighty firepower against a particularly threatening patch of dirt. The best part is that you get to come along for the ride. You did get to learn something about the captain of the base, she is known as “Captain Gilda Auditore the Dragonslayer.“ A title she gained after she single-handedly killed a fully grown spined green dragon after the rest of her squad fled. Rosetta has known her since basic training although all you know is what she told you because you never actually met her. Rosetta also told you about how the captain holds a grudge against one of the elements of harmony for an unspecified event vaguely 10 years ago. Gilda has known Rosetta for 8 years and she barely knows anything about her. You have just finished a plan that will allow the large number of guests to exit the Ceaseless Discharge while tearing down as little tents as possible. So basically its a problem of placing the Ceaseless Discharge and managing what comes out of it. Your solution is to have it hover right at the cliffside where is pretty the only place it would fit and have a path lead them to the ballroom. Rosetta had you walk that path with 100lbs of gear just to see if even the fragilest of ponies can walk it. Since that is finished you decide to help Rosetta with organizing the band before both of you get interrupted. “Attention!” a female voice cuts through the silence. Having never done anything else you immediately stand beside Rosetta and copy her stance before getting a look at the officer. Whoa. She is gorgeous. Okay to elaborate you have to start with those strong piercing amber eyes of a dragonslayer. Coupled with the proud stance and magnificent body neatly and tightly wrapped in her officer’s uniform. She had a beautiful white crest with deep purple accents to top it all off. “Something wrong with you soldier?” She caught you with your mouth hanging wide open. “Ma’am this is the civilian I’m borrowing for this project.” Rosetta pitches in and the officer pauses. “At ease.” The officer turns her attention to you. “Now may I have your name?” “This is Surtr Meligined this is the man Admiral Abysswalker picked to be your assistant.” “I know I’m not supposed to question orders but why was I given an assistant that I can’t understand?” you also have a similar question. “He has never been wrong so far.. So I trust his usefulness.” “We can talk later but I need an update on the planning for this ball.” You and Rosetta give a detailed description of the work you have done and the plans of how it will be when finished. You try to drag this out as long as possible just so you can look at her longer. Once she left Rosetta immediately begins teasing you for your reaction to her and the obvious infatuation you have formed for her. Rosetta has the band play more romantic songs for the event and has all the flowers switched to roses. You both still have a mountain more work to do. ~~~ Seven days later. Luckily today you get to skip the agonizing morning commute, the shopkeepers started to think you are crazy for bringing a lantern to work everyday anyway. Mostly because you slept in the ballroom last night because you have to organize the band and set up a schedule for the night itself. You get you of the sleeping bag you set up on the stage and start to put your uniform on. Once you are ready you sit yourself down to wait for the band to arrive. Once they arrive you simply show them a neatly created schedule, sheet music to play, and little else so they can do what they think is best. ~~~   Six days later. For some reason Artorias has been delaying the announcement if we all have to wear our uniforms or can take our own formal wear. This fact is important today because you rented the town’s printing press for use today and the Admiral still hasn't decided. Just when you decide to go pester the Admiral the PA system pipes up. “This is Admiral Abysswalker... For all those permitted to attend the upcoming ball you may wear whatever formal attire you please.” not only was that convenient it felt really odd to hear Artorias speaking formally. Other than the circumstances that brought you here that has to be the weirdest thing all month. You had set aside 3 hours for convincing the Admiral so you decide to head back to and begin sorting out what is to be done on the Ceaseless Discharge during the 7 day trip from here to canterlot. Guess that means the ball itself is prepared. You wander back to the officer’s nest and knock on the door. Hopefully Rosetta won’t drop in and reassign you to bakery duty or something. Gilda answers the door, you still can’t get over how stunning she looks in that uniform. “Yes?” “Yeah I forgot about you not being able to talk... “ You pull the a pen and paper you keep handy and present it to her. “Oh that’ll make things easier so what do you need me for?” Gilda walks back into the  empty hallway and walks into a door you assume is her office. Her office has a Gryphon Kingdom banner flying along the wall opposite the door while everything else is perfectly organized. A glass display case showcased a pair or reinforced talons with the left one being heavily damaged. “The Admiral is really anal about keeping offices clean.” you grab your pen and paper. “As long as this place is under construction Admiral Abysswalker will be here and he will get the big chair.” she sighs. Gilda chuckles when she read the text. “I guess we should get to that I have a map of the decks and some unclassified schematics.”