As Celestia's Barrier advanced across Canada, one last train managed to flee Halifax. Forced off the main lines into the wild, the people and ponies onboard find themselves fighting for their lives, and souls...
Sorry to un-cameo you there Vox - I'll need to find another way to slip you in, perhaps when we meet the Equestrian Resistance properly. 'Vox Populii' and all that
Tess has a civilian killcount in the triple digits. Lightning just accidentally mindraped Verity (altering her memories) and turned Nepenthe into a god damn supervillian?
People don't realistically fuck up this consistently. This whole thing is approaching Darkness Induced Audience Apathy. Why should anyone become attached to these characters when everything they do is doomed to failure?
Oh wow, Lightning made a couple of mistakes with her new dreamweaving ability. First she tried to help Rio, but made Nepenthe stronger and accidently changed Verity's memories, so much for keeping her from trying to make the same mistakes Vigil. But seriously what in the world are the Elements thinking when they gave her this ability, it's pretty much a shame that she did some real damage to the girls. Though I wonder when they get out of this, will they get Jewelup and will Lightning eventually tell them of her new ability or will Verity figure it out? Guess I'll probably find that out later. I'm guessing in the very next chapter, Nepenthe, Lightning's Big Bad, will finally take notice of our heroes and will start chasing after them after they escape her the first time.
Ya know... I wonder if, in some ways, Verity's transgendered mom being ponified into a stallion can count as a Take That against Chatty (a transwoman herself, who wants to become a pony)...
I was wonder if our main characters would take their train by the route of the Montréal-Halifax Ocean VIA Rail passenger train that takes 22 hours 40 minutes travel time, taking a 1346 km route through Canada or use a more direct route through the state of Maine?
I would also reinforce the outside doors, install extremely large shotguns or punt guns for unarmored newfoals, large animal net guns for armored royal guards, and install an authentic, top turret from a B-17 bomber on the top of the brakeman’s cupola, with a unicorn using her control temperature magic to keep the gun barrels cool.
For additional inspiration, please watch the 1944 educational documentary “Loaded for War”, produced by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company.
This documentary film has many ideas for this story and other stories with similar narratives.
Being a lifelong railroad fan, I know that railroad people are some of the most creative people I know. In addition, a diesel-electric locomotive is a diesel engine that drives an electrical DC generator whose output provides power to the traction motors.
Where can our crew find a steady supply of electrical energy? During “The Last Roundup” episode, a Pegasus named Derpy by accident was able to create electrical discharges with a small cloud that demolished the town hall steeple. If by mishap one average Pegasus can create enough electrical discharges to damage a sturdy wooden structure, then an average Pegasus can create enough electrical discharges, with a small cloud in a boxcar with an electrical transformer linked to the traction motors to power a train.
I can think of other interesting ways to create offensive and defensive weapons with Pegasus weather control. For example, Boston has many narrow streets. Have Pegasus Ponies for Human Life and some small clouds hide in nearby buildings. Then, flood the adjoining streets with about ten centimeters of water. With all the damage the war has caused the city, a flooded street would not be noticed by the Solar Empire’s army. When a herd of newfoals stampede down the nearby streets, the Pegasus create enough electrical discharges to knock out or kill the newfoals.
One way for our central characters to keep their train going toward Montreal is to have the ponies assist in pulling the train. After all, in the episode “Over a Barrel” four ponies were able to pull an engine and a long passenger train at a fast speed, at least 30 miles or 48 kilometers per hour from the afternoon on the first day to the following morning of the second day. In the episode “Sleepless in Ponyville”, the unicorn foal Sweetie Belle pulled an overloaded cart many times her body weight up and down hills.
Moreover, pony engineering of vehicles is amazing. In the episode “Testing Testing 1, 2, 3” an Earth pony was both the pilot and engine for a pony powered helicopter. I would love to see more of these pony powered machines featured in The Conversion Bureau: The Other Side of the Spectrum stories.
In the ‘Winter Wrap Up’ episode, Twilight Sparkle used a come-to-life spell to animate a one-pony-powered snow plow for clearing the snow from farm fields. If a unicorn cast a come-to-life spell on 9782’s engine, our crew could run the engine on unicorn magic alone.
Or, our central characters could see another group of refugees on another train using unicorn magic to power their locomotive. Also, it would be fun to see locomotive 8888 running on unicorn magic.
So, TB3, it's been almost a year now. Is this fic dead, to the grief of all your adoring fans, or are you still working on it?
Because, you've done a really good job with this one, and I know that I can't wait for it to continue, so I hope it does, but I do understand if you moved on to bigger, & better things. If it's the latter, I'd just like some closure.
Wow, I honestly was unaware that its been six months since the last chapter was posted - cripes!
Truth is, I've been distracted by an ongoing job hunt since the end of March - lots of things have changed in my life these past few months and without that stability I'm finding it hard to write fanfic.
I do have high hopes though of a turnaround in my fortunes soon, and then I'll be able to once again get back to writing.
All I can ask for now is that you awesome folks remain patient - I'll do my best to not keep you hanging indefinately
One of my friends asked me why all civilians were not evacuated from New Brunswick before the barrier made landfall. I asked my friend, “During the Russian invasion of Germany during World War Two, why didn’t all Berlin civilians evacuate from Berlin and escape to the west before the Russian Army surrounded Berlin?” Months before the actual Battle of Berlin started, German civilians heard the sound of Russian artillery bombardments. The city of Berlin was under Allied air attacks both day and night. But, in spite of all the wartime hardships, many Berliners choose not to abandon their homes and desert their businesses.
I have written a list of suggestions to improve the setting of “The Conversion Bureau: The Other Side of the Spectrum” stories. I wrote this in about two hours and will not be offended if they are not a good fit for Last Train From Oblivion.
As a military history enthusiast, I would love to know what the Order of Battle for the Ponies for Human Life and United Nations forces are between Truro, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec. With three years to prepare for the enemy invasion, the PHL and human combat engineers should have been able to construct command posts, secure communications networks, and supply depots, as well as field fortifications, artillery fire support bases, and river patrol boat bases with overlapping fields of fire, so that multiple shooters can attack at once from different directions without danger of hitting one another. The United States army has issued a number of field manuals, some available online or in used bookstores, which describe these structures in great detail.
For example, UN military forces would have constructed a series of field fortifications protecting road and rail junctions, important bridges, and evacuation depots. With the bombing of the highway interchange northwest of Truro, I imagine that these remaining transportation junctions would now be protected by PHL and United Nations soldiers and armored vehicles. Also, some senior UN army officers would have some somber explaining to do as to why they left the Truro highway interchange unprotected.
I can imagine that the west bank of the Saint John River would have a line of field fortifications supported by howitzers and river patrol boats protecting the river’s west shoreline from invasion. From looking at maps, I imagine that the Saint John River would be the most logical place to slow the advance of the newfoal armies. Also, the PHL and UN forces would have enough soldiers to protect the river from the city of Saint John - New Brunswick to the south to the city of Fredericton - New Brunswick to the north. In both World Wars, armies maintained longer defensive lines. So, it would be possible for the United Nations to maintain a much shorter defensive line in the 21st century.
Where are the artillery fire support bases and their forward artillery observers? A two pony artillery observation team, as ponies have excellent eyesight, with their low profiles, would make them ideal to sneak near groups of enemies undetected. Also, such a pony observation team would make for a welcome addition to the train’s crew. These two pony observers could call in air strikes, artillery barrages, and requests for supplies, such as ammunition, diesel fuel, and food from local UN forces.
With much of the action in North America on the East Coast, I am surprised that there are few descriptions of boats being used in harbors, lakes, and rivers. In addition, there are many lakes and rivers between Truro, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec.
In Fugitive Pieces, I found this:
Well, uh, I'd say this was a goof up in the docs.
5537298
It totally was, but it also made for an awesome cameo!
5537329 Hilarious, awesome, and a Big Lipped Alligator Moment! at the same time. Impressive.
5537329
Annnnnnnnd... fixed.
Sorry to un-cameo you there Vox - I'll need to find another way to slip you in, perhaps when we meet the Equestrian Resistance properly. 'Vox Populii' and all that
Oh Jesus Christ.
Tess has a civilian killcount in the triple digits. Lightning just accidentally mindraped Verity (altering her memories) and turned Nepenthe into a god damn supervillian?
People don't realistically fuck up this consistently. This whole thing is approaching Darkness Induced Audience Apathy. Why should anyone become attached to these characters when everything they do is doomed to failure?
Oh wow, Lightning made a couple of mistakes with her new dreamweaving ability. First she tried to help Rio, but made Nepenthe stronger and accidently changed Verity's memories, so much for keeping her from trying to make the same mistakes Vigil. But seriously what in the world are the Elements thinking when they gave her this ability, it's pretty much a shame that she did some real damage to the girls. Though I wonder when they get out of this, will they get Jewelup and will Lightning eventually tell them of her new ability or will Verity figure it out? Guess I'll probably find that out later. I'm guessing in the very next chapter, Nepenthe, Lightning's Big Bad, will finally take notice of our heroes and will start chasing after them after they escape her the first time.
Just a few typos.
hide
I think this should be either "one forged" or "forging one".
too
That was... interesting. So Nepenthe has some semblence of free will now? Also, I was hoping that 8888 would have a bigger role. Ah well.
Just so you know, this story is disturbing. Brilliantly, brilliantly disturbing.
Ya know... I wonder if, in some ways, Verity's transgendered mom being ponified into a stallion can count as a Take That against Chatty (a transwoman herself, who wants to become a pony)...
5701150 considering that verity's mother was named Jason when she was a man, probably :p
5734952 Well, I've never seen what Chatty's birth male name was before her transition, but still the coincidence is hilarious.
5735327 Vox and I had a good long laugh over that one.
I was wonder if our main characters would take their train by the route of the Montréal-Halifax Ocean VIA Rail passenger train that takes 22 hours 40 minutes travel time, taking a 1346 km route through Canada or use a more direct route through the state of Maine?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_%28train%29
http://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains/atlantic-canada/montreal-halifax-ocean/schedules
Also, it would be fun to see the train stop for an hour as mechanics weld chain link fence or windshield grilles over all the windows.
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/163945/1804747.aspx
I would also reinforce the outside doors, install extremely large shotguns or punt guns for unarmored newfoals, large animal net guns for armored royal guards, and install an authentic, top turret from a B-17 bomber on the top of the brakeman’s cupola, with a unicorn using her control temperature magic to keep the gun barrels cool.
For additional inspiration, please watch the 1944 educational documentary “Loaded for War”, produced by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company.
This documentary film has many ideas for this story and other stories with similar narratives.
Being a lifelong railroad fan, I know that railroad people are some of the most creative people I know. In addition, a diesel-electric locomotive is a diesel engine that drives an electrical DC generator whose output provides power to the traction motors.
Where can our crew find a steady supply of electrical energy? During “The Last Roundup” episode, a Pegasus named Derpy by accident was able to create electrical discharges with a small cloud that demolished the town hall steeple. If by mishap one average Pegasus can create enough electrical discharges to damage a sturdy wooden structure, then an average Pegasus can create enough electrical discharges, with a small cloud in a boxcar with an electrical transformer linked to the traction motors to power a train.
I can think of other interesting ways to create offensive and defensive weapons with Pegasus weather control. For example, Boston has many narrow streets. Have Pegasus Ponies for Human Life and some small clouds hide in nearby buildings. Then, flood the adjoining streets with about ten centimeters of water. With all the damage the war has caused the city, a flooded street would not be noticed by the Solar Empire’s army. When a herd of newfoals stampede down the nearby streets, the Pegasus create enough electrical discharges to knock out or kill the newfoals.
One way for our central characters to keep their train going toward Montreal is to have the ponies assist in pulling the train. After all, in the episode “Over a Barrel” four ponies were able to pull an engine and a long passenger train at a fast speed, at least 30 miles or 48 kilometers per hour from the afternoon on the first day to the following morning of the second day. In the episode “Sleepless in Ponyville”, the unicorn foal Sweetie Belle pulled an overloaded cart many times her body weight up and down hills.
Moreover, pony engineering of vehicles is amazing. In the episode “Testing Testing 1, 2, 3” an Earth pony was both the pilot and engine for a pony powered helicopter. I would love to see more of these pony powered machines featured in The Conversion Bureau: The Other Side of the Spectrum stories.
In the ‘Winter Wrap Up’ episode, Twilight Sparkle used a come-to-life spell to animate a one-pony-powered snow plow for clearing the snow from farm fields. If a unicorn cast a come-to-life spell on 9782’s engine, our crew could run the engine on unicorn magic alone.
Or, our central characters could see another group of refugees on another train using unicorn magic to power their locomotive. Also, it would be fun to see locomotive 8888 running on unicorn magic.
So, TB3, it's been almost a year now. Is this fic dead, to the grief of all your adoring fans, or are you still working on it?
Because, you've done a really good job with this one, and I know that I can't wait for it to continue, so I hope it does, but I do understand if you moved on to bigger, & better things. If it's the latter, I'd just like some closure.
6187142
Wow, I honestly was unaware that its been six months since the last chapter was posted - cripes!
Truth is, I've been distracted by an ongoing job hunt since the end of March - lots of things have changed in my life these past few months and without that stability I'm finding it hard to write fanfic.
I do have high hopes though of a turnaround in my fortunes soon, and then I'll be able to once again get back to writing.
All I can ask for now is that you awesome folks remain patient - I'll do my best to not keep you hanging indefinately
I don't know if you know this, but your story has a section on the TV Trope's page for TCB.
6306301 He knows. I wrote a lot of it :P
One of my friends asked me why all civilians were not evacuated from New Brunswick before the barrier made landfall. I asked my friend, “During the Russian invasion of Germany during World War Two, why didn’t all Berlin civilians evacuate from Berlin and escape to the west before the Russian Army surrounded Berlin?”
Months before the actual Battle of Berlin started, German civilians heard the sound of Russian artillery bombardments. The city of Berlin was under Allied air attacks both day and night. But, in spite of all the wartime hardships, many Berliners choose not to abandon their homes and desert their businesses.
Dear TB3:
I have written a list of suggestions to improve the setting of “The Conversion Bureau: The Other Side of the Spectrum” stories. I wrote this in about two hours and will not be offended if they are not a good fit for Last Train From Oblivion.
As a military history enthusiast, I would love to know what the Order of Battle for the Ponies for Human Life and United Nations forces are between Truro, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec. With three years to prepare for the enemy invasion, the PHL and human combat engineers should have been able to construct command posts, secure communications networks, and supply depots, as well as field fortifications, artillery fire support bases, and river patrol boat bases with overlapping fields of fire, so that multiple shooters can attack at once from different directions without danger of hitting one another. The United States army has issued a number of field manuals, some available online or in used bookstores, which describe these structures in great detail.
For example, UN military forces would have constructed a series of field fortifications protecting road and rail junctions, important bridges, and evacuation depots. With the bombing of the highway interchange northwest of Truro, I imagine that these remaining transportation junctions would now be protected by PHL and United Nations soldiers and armored vehicles. Also, some senior UN army officers would have some somber explaining to do as to why they left the Truro highway interchange unprotected.
I can imagine that the west bank of the Saint John River would have a line of field fortifications supported by howitzers and river patrol boats protecting the river’s west shoreline from invasion. From looking at maps, I imagine that the Saint John River would be the most logical place to slow the advance of the newfoal armies. Also, the PHL and UN forces would have enough soldiers to protect the river from the city of Saint John - New Brunswick to the south to the city of Fredericton - New Brunswick to the north. In both World Wars, armies maintained longer defensive lines. So, it would be possible for the United Nations to maintain a much shorter defensive line in the 21st century.
Where are the artillery fire support bases and their forward artillery observers? A two pony artillery observation team, as ponies have excellent eyesight, with their low profiles, would make them ideal to sneak near groups of enemies undetected. Also, such a pony observation team would make for a welcome addition to the train’s crew. These two pony observers could call in air strikes, artillery barrages, and requests for supplies, such as ammunition, diesel fuel, and food from local UN forces.
With much of the action in North America on the East Coast, I am surprised that there are few descriptions of boats being used in harbors, lakes, and rivers. In addition, there are many lakes and rivers between Truro, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defender-class_boat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defender-class_boat#/media/File:USCG_defender_class_NY_harbor.jpg
Your friend,
Dances with Unicorns
Dear TB3:
You might get some ideas from the Home Guard that operated in the United Kingdom during World War Two.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Guard_(United_Kingdom)
Check out the photograph of the British Home Guard’s improvised weapons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Guard_(United_Kingdom)#/media/File:British_Home_Guard_Improvised_Weapons.JPG
Your friend,
Dances with Unicorns