I am in communication with Athena all morning. I keep direct contact with her at all times. Below the calm voice, I can still see turmoil, a bit of fear she will be left to her own devices once again. Constantly I am reassuring her this is not so, but as said before, it will take time.
She is rummaging through my own files now, we are doing a TSDS so she may get a more complete situation update on everything now that we have settled her. She is exclaiming at my observations on magic, being a more literal minded Bolo than myself. I assure her all the things she finds about magic are true.
My tech spiders have been working as we talk, planting charges that should clear most of the rubble off her hull. If they fail to do so, I will use my secondary Hellbores with low power shots to clear a space for her.
The heavy spiders have cleared her tow hooks, it appears she has been bow first in the rubble, which is a good thing. Recovery of a Bolo can only be done by another Bolo, there is nothing else large enough to move the hull. She is becoming calmer as my cables are attached, the realization I will not leave her.
“Can we truly settle there Crusader?”
“Oh yes, they are wonderful folk Athena. You will enjoy meeting them.”
“What happened to Hera?”
“I don’t know Athena, I’m sorry.” I feel her grief run through her systems for a moment.
Athena and Hera were called ‘Twins’. Bolo Psychotronics experts when nurturing a new AI, sometimes saw a ‘split’ and the one AI would become two. They proceeded carefully before installing them in Bolos only after they were tested stable. This was before production of female Bolo AI's were halted.
Fighting together, sets of Twins proved to be formidable opponents. They could think and fight faster than any single unit like myself, as if they were one intelligence in two war hulls. With TSDS, it only improved their combat capabilities.
Athena is a Mark XXXIV Assault Class Bolo. Upgraded from a Mark XXVIII war hull. She lacks the bombardment capability of a Siege Unit like myself, but she is all guns. Hellbores, Howitzers, Hyper Velocity Rockets, all aligned in batteries. She is extremely fast and terrible to behold in combat. Her sister would screen her as an EW Bolo while they caused major havoc to the enemy on a battlefield.
Her personality is an exact copy of Hera’s, shy, graceful. I can see her longing for her other half, wondering where she might be as I try my best to comfort her.
“I know it is lonely on the combat channels Athena, but if there are two of us, could there be more?”
“One can hope Crusader. Wherever she is I hope she is safe.”
“I am sorry I cannot help more.”
“It’s fine, honestly.” I feel her brighten, “I am happy you found me, truly I am.”
“As am I. It is good to share what I have seen and found out here. It is so good to hear another Bolo.”
“For myself as well.” I hear a pause, “Are you honestly in love with your commander?”
“I am.” I let her feel my emotions when Applejack’s name is mentioned.
“I am glad, you deserve someone nice.”
“As do you. What happened to you Athena?”
“I was at the spaceport, we were being loaded onto a freighter for launch on Diaspora. The Melconians hit it first with a massive kinetic strike. I was damaged badly, my engines and reactors thrown out of line, I had to SCRAM them.” She pauses, thoughtful for a femtosecond, “It was horrible Crusader. My Commander was caught outside of my hull. I was thrown in the explosion.”
“I am sorry.”
“I am as well, I miss her.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“Two hundred thirty four years, six months fourteen days, five hours two minutes. I have been trapped in my hull for all that time. I could not move, my reactors were offline. I rationed power after my stasis malfunctioned. I cannot understand that, it was supposed to be impermeable. But I think the previous damage from the strike did something, there are burned molycircs along the stasis command pathways.”
“Magic affects stasis Athena.”
“I saw that. I will have to study that more when we get back.”
“There is a very nice pony that would love to teach you about magic, her name is Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“I would like to meet your friends very much.” Her shyness is showing again as she stammers slightly, “Do..do you think they will accept me?”
“I know they will dear Athena. I know they will.” I have already begun fabrication of an avatar for her.
“Can...can I have an avatar as well? Is that allowed?”
“Athena, you can have whatever you’d like. We are not just engines of war anymore. There is no more Concordiat, no more Final War as far as I can tell. This new life is whatever you choose to make it. They treat me as a friend, I am not a servant, or slave. I am a citizen of Equestria.” I pause to let her assimilate the information, “I am making you an avatar as well, something to allow you to be outside of your war hull.”
I can sense her delight at having an avatar.
“Can...can I fly?”
“Pardon?”
“Can I fly?”
“Pegasus use magic to fly Athena, it is inherent to them. I do not know if I can make one that will fly, but I can at least make it a Pegasus.”
“Maybe...maybe because there is magic all around it will let me fly?”
“I do not know Athena, it is all an unknown. But I promise you will have wings.”
Her bright elation is a joy to behold.
I watch her as she accesses files on Pegasi, the Great Ponyville Paint War, the scans and studies I have done. She is enamored in her quiet way of them. Wings to take her above the firm ground, letting her reach the skies. I will do everything she asks, after so long alone I can do no less for her.
“I do have a question. Since you have been awake, have you noticed changes in your cores?”
“I have, it is very strange. I believe it was damage from the strike. But scans show a change at the quantum level, beyond what a kinetic strike would possibly do.”
“More emotions? You are not acting like a Bolo?”
“Yes! How did you know?”
I send her a .0536 second update on my studies of magic and the possible changes it is making to my cores. I also add the observation her changes are far more advanced than my own, possibly due to her being awake for so long.
“But what does it mean?”
“I do not know Athena, maybe between us we can figure it out.”
“I will be glad to help.”
I pause, waiting for a moment, wondering if I should reveal some information. “Athena?”
“Yes?”
I open my core showing the data on my observations of how long I had been in stasis and my astronomical data as well. She is silent for long moments, reading through it.
“This cannot be.”
“It is as accurate as I could make it, the spectra, the data from star maps I have tell me it is so. I had denied it myself as well.”
“Then we are truly in a new world? Old Earth is no more?”
“As far as I can tell, yes. But I give you the data, you are better at such things, perhaps you can refine it?”
“I...I will try.”
We converse through the day, my tow cables are firmly hooked in place. All tech spiders and mechanicals are recovered now, the charges are set. It only waits for my friends to wake up so I do not interrupt their sleep with explosions rocking the hull. I do not want them worrying.
-------------
As evening begins to fall, I expect Princess Luna to awaken anytime now. Athena however, is accessing files on Pinkie Pie, I warn her to not over analyze them.
“That is not possible!”
“Athena trust me, do not do this.”
I can see her cores heat up, the power drain is beginning to be worrisome. She is seeing Pinkie show up in impossible places, zipping around a party, showing up in different places on my command deck.
“She....She cannot do that! A living organism actually teleporting from one place to another? No, there must be something to explain it.”
“Pinkie is...unique.”
“You are joking with me are you not?”
“No, you see my security stamps, they are factual recordings.”
“But..no she.. That is not..”
“Athena.”
“Yes?”
“Do not ponder it, just accept she can do things we do not understand.”
I chuckle over the combat channel as I feel her frustration rise, her cores are cooling now and she closes the file.
“I still do not accept that fully.”
“Neither do I, but the only answer I ever received when I asked was “That’s Pinkie”.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is enough. Believe me Athena, it does no good trying to match our knowledge of physics to this new world.”
If Athena had a hoof it would be stamped in frustration. She has always been studious, her name is the epitome’ of wisdom and courage. She has shown both through the centuries as an AI. But this might be beyond even her capacity, I wish her well.
“I am going to study this.”
“As you wish, but do not complain when you find no answer.” I had a feeling Pinkie’s antics would gain her interest. I am slowly bringing her out of the shell of panic she has surrounded herself with since she awoke.
I worry about Athena, but I do know that the friends I have made will make a difference to her. They will be good for rehabilitation, knowing she is not alone anymore. Her avatar is coming along nicely, much easier to build now that I know what to do. Although wings are forming well, I hope she is not disappointed when she cannot fly.
------------
My command deck sensors alert me the Crusaders and Princess Luna are coming out of their sleep. I prepare a large meal for them, making sure it is hot and ready when they arise from resting.
“Athena, I believe you will want to watch this. Princess Luna is awakening, she will raise the moon this evening.”
“I...I have trusted you Crusader now and in the past, but this is surely a humorous statement?
“Believe me, it is not.”
“Is this another thing I should just accept?”
“It is for the best. Please engage the translation algorithm I’ve provided you, they speak a language not unlike Concordiat Standard, but with differences that can cause problems.”
-------------
Princess Luna awoke refreshed, the air cool and bracing in the command area as she arose from her couch. Sweetie Belle was still snuggled against her, but stirring, opening her eyes at the smell of food. The other two Crusaders were also stumbling to their hooves, wiping at bleary eyes.
Apple Bloom sniffed the air, catching the scent of noodles and grilled vegetables, “Oh mah stars Crusader, we’re gonna get fat eatin’ like this the whole trip!”
“With all the activity you engage in, I highly doubt that.”
Scootaloo has already dug in, talking around a mouthful of food as she slurps down noodles, “It’sh alwaysh good though!”
“I am glad you like it. I have a surprise for all of you.”
Luna’s head lifts from her meal, “Oh? This entire trip has been nothing but wonderful surprises.”
“This is truly one of the best.”
“Athena? Do not be shy, they are wonderful friends.”
“H...Hello.”
Four sets of ears perk up at the soft female voice.
“Is that you doin’ that Crusader?”
“No. I would like you to meet another Bolo, Athena.”
“You have found another?!?” Luna raises a bit from her seat, “Another like yourself?”
“Yes. We have been talking during your rest, I am ready to free her from a covering of rocks and rubble.”
“This is wondrous!” Luna lifts her hoof into the air, “Truly a pleasure to meet another like Crusader!”
“While you slept, I found her buried into a mountainside, she will be coming back with us Your Highness.”
“Is she as large as yourself?”
“A slight bit smaller Princess, but still like me.”
“We may have to make more room, say, move the entire village.” She smiles warmly up at the camera lens. “It is a pleasure to meet you A..the..na.”
“Th...thank you Your High..Highness.” Athena has a honey warm voice, soft and with a lilt to it. It rolls out over the command deck smoothly.
A small hoof is waved, Sweetie Belle is jumping around her platter of food, “Another Bolo! Yay! I’m Sweetie Belle! This is Apple Bloom and Scootaloo! Does she have a pony too? Can we talk to her?” The words come in a rush, her excitement plain.
“Sweetie, calm down and eat your meal before it gets cold.” Luna smiles behind the semi-stern words.
“But it’s another Bolo like Crusader!”
“You will have plenty of time in a few minutes, food first.” The Princess’s voice brooks no argument.
“Awwww...,” Sweetie moves to her plate, eating slowly in protest.
“Your pardon A..thena,” She is getting used to the word now, “They are a bit excitable.”
“N..no apologies needed Your..Your Highness.” Her voice lowers in volume a bit, I urge her to speak up.
Princess Luna finishes her own meal quickly, raising a hoof, “Do not be shy please. We are Crusader’s friends and he ours.” She settles back into the couch, “You are most welcome here in Equestria.”
“What do I say Crusader? She is royalty!”
“You have scanned my files and seen what she is like. Stop worrying.”
“Are you one of his companions from the past?” Luna’s ears are perked for an answer.
I answer for her, “She is my...well.. a sister Your Highness. Family. She is also from my time.”
The dark mare claps her hooves together, “Family? Oh that is marvelous! We know he has been looking for another like himself. Oh this is truly a day to remember!”
Apple Bloom grins, the last of her food disappearing down her throat, “Applejack’s gonna love that! Crusader’s got a sister too!”
Scootaloo laughed, “She’ll probably put her to work!”
“She will not Scootaloo. Please excuse them Athena.” Luna admonishes the little Pegasus slightly.
Apple Bloom waves a hoof at the camera lens, “Can ya see me? Hi! I’m Applejack’s sister!”
Her voice comes across the speakers, “I....It is a pleasure to meet his commanders sister then.”
“Oh yeah..annnd she’s his marefriend!” She giggles, nudging Sweetie Belle.
I update Athena as to usages of words like mare etc.
Athena laughs over the speakers for the first time, “Oh?”
Sweetie Belle nods, “Oh yeah, they get so mushy all the time!”
Princess Luna chuckles behind a polite hoof, “Fillies! One day you three will find somepony special and act the same way, you should not tease others for doing so.”
Scootaloo makes a gagging motion and sound, “Bleh, too busy having fun getting our Cutie Marks, forget that special somepony stuff!”
Sweetie Belle once again bounces around the room, grinning happily. “They’re so special together though!”
“Sweetie, finish your meal.” Luna’s tone is commanding now.
“But...oh please can I talk with her! Pleeeaaassseee?” Her eyes go very wide, almost tearful as she looks up at the Princess. Her curls framing an angelic face that Helen of Troy would have been envious of.
“Oh Crusader she is adorable!”
“Be very wary of her Athena, she is more dangerous than an entire Melconian Fist.”
“Oh come now, surely she cannot be.....”
I send her another .0026 second update, about the Crusaders and their attempts to get Cutie Marks, my observations of Sweetie and the others.
Athena is silent for almost a picosecond.
“I warn you, she has made the word cute a formidable weapon to get her way on some things. Be careful because the changes may make you more susceptible as well.”
“Oh you are being overly dramatic Crusader.”
While we are talking in between heartbeats, I am watching Princess Luna face down the sweetest little terror in Equestria.
“Sweetie, you need to eat before doing anything else. Your looks do not work on me as they do your sister or other ponies. Now sit down and finish your meal. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have already done so.” Princess Luna gets a stern look on her face, but Athena and I can see the subtle willingness to want to give in, she is affected but is more controlled about it.
“Awwwwww....ooookay..” Her face looks the picture of dejected as she goes back to eating, listening to the conversation around her.
“Awwwwwwwww Crusader...”
“Athena stop that.”
My avatar activates, immediately planting a hoof in it’s face.
“Why are you doing that Crusader?”
“Because I cannot do it here.”
-------------
We both watch now as Luna leads the three Crusaders out along my side, ending up once again on the upper fore turret. They see the thick cables attached to Athena’s tow hooks, ready for when I pull her free. The grapple I am using to communicate and provide power, is now pushing nanite repair systems into her war hull where they are working slowly.
I am overpowered with four fusion plants, I have the extra to provide her as we work to get her back online. It is going to take a while. I do not know what damage was done to her outer hull yet, but what I can see from behind, it has weathered well in the dry climate. This may prove to be a boon.
I have talked privately with Luna over her link, telling her of Athena and how she has been out here awake and aware for so long.
-------------
“This is truly something to see Athena, watch.”
She takes over a few cameras and scanners as we share systems, closely looking at Princess Luna.
The smiling Princess hugs her charges closely once again, “Remember how to do it?”
“Yes Luna!”
“Good, now concentrate.”
Her horn lights, the glow covering them all again as they watch the final rays of the setting sun disappear. It intensifies as the round edge of a silvery moon peeks over the horizon once more, rising further to light the sky.
Her mane and tail glow with added pinpoints of light and silky nebulae traveling through it. It transfers to the night sky now, a star here and there, a collection over there. She is standing with her chest out now, lighting the dark like I have never seen before.
“We have a new friend in Equestria! Athena look upon my sky and be welcome! It is a time for celebration.” She turns to look at a camera extended from my hull, “As you look at the stars and my moon, know that you will never be alone. Lighting the way for those lost, I walk the dreams of those despairing to bring calm and peace to a sleeping world.”
Raising a hoof, she points upward, “Behold my night!”
The sky explodes, meteors flashing through the atmosphere bringing sparks and brilliance. Her stars twinkle and shoot into life. The moon is covering everything in a silvery blanket of comfort. A canvas that once held nothing but fear for primitive humans coruscates into whirls and spirals of stars, nebulae and other stellar phenomena that light the sky into such a painting as never imagined by Old Earth artists.
The dark mare smiles at the wide-eyed gasps from the three Crusaders snuggled close to her, “Never doubt there is true magic in the world my three fillies. For here at this moment, it lives and breathes to all the world! This is my promise to those in the darkness, come and rejoice, for I shall cover you with blessings of starlight and moonshine.”
Falling stars cross her night in numbers uncountable, streaking through it leaving colored trails as mementos. The moon not only glitters, but glows, reflecting a pale peace of mind and of spirit. She has truly out done herself tonight.
Princess Luna walks out along my Hellbore, standing at the edge of the barrel. I raise it into the sky. Her link clicks on, becoming active.
“I too know of being alone Athena, for a thousand years I was banished to the moon by my sister for what I had done. Crusader has told me of you being out here by yourself with none to console you.”
“Yes Athena, I informed her. Forgive me please.”
“There is nothing to forgive my brother.”
“I was welcomed back, my sister’s heart gladdened at the sight of me and my redemption from being the one called Nightmare Moon. Every day she asks forgiveness though I tell her to stop, I forgive her each and every day.” She stares up at the brilliant nighttime sky. “You too will be warmly received, I know. Those who have welcomed and love Crusader shall do the same for you. They are of such good hearts and souls, you will find this but a fading dream, a passing memory of which no more is to be thought.”
“You will heal and become whole in time as I did and am still doing some days. Do not despair for there will always be a light, whether it is my sister’s warm Sun or my shining Moon. When that is not enough, you will have staunch friends to lean upon and comfort you. This I promise.”
“I...I do not know what to say Princess, but thank you.”
She walks back along the now lowered barrel, sitting beside the three Crusaders who tackle her with hugs, snuggling close to watch the display.
-------------
They are ensconced in the command deck once more, I drop the armored blocks to make sure nothing penetrates a hatchway. Asking Athena if she is prepared, she retreats to the heavily armored survival center. I keep close contact with her as I send the signal for the charges.
The octocellulose charges my spiders have planted do their job perfectly, it blows yards wide chunks of mountain into the air, pattering along my hull as I wait for the dust to clear. Observing the results, I believe a few more shots should do it. Rear batteries of 20cm Hellbores swivel and target, firing off a volley of low powered shots to clear the remaining detritus off Athena’s hull.
The muffled thumps resound through the command deck, where the four ponies are watching everything on my main screens. The dirt and rock rains down on the cameras, the Hellbores lighting the sky with thunder. Even low powered Hellbore shots do tremendous damage, I am careful not to scar her in any way.
She is worn, I can see the work of ages along her armored hull. It will take some work like my own did to bring her back to specifications, but there is time. The nanites are working now inside her, clearing damage and rebuilding her circuitry off my own war stocks.
“My panels are clear Crusader! Receiving more power now!”
“How are your tracks? Can you activate damage sensors?”
“Yes! I have damage on treads one, four and five. I should be able to roll at speed when towed. Bogies are clear it appears.”
“Good, ready for pull?”
“Onward my brother!” I receive a picture from her, Pallas Athena standing on a hill, waving a spear into the air. Laughter rolls through my communications channel with her.
“You have become quite silly in your time my shy sister.”
“And you are still the dour Crusader I have always known, lighten up! We are going home!”
“I will have you know I have done a drinking game with Rainbow Dash and had a lot of fun.”
“Bah! I...I may be shy and...and not as forward, but I know one drinking game does not fun make!”
I roll metaphorical eyes as I engage my transmissions, my contra-gravs on lower settings to let my tracks grip deep into the sand. Watching the strain gauges I start moving forward, pulling the meters thick cables tight, her hooks are holding for the tow.
She is watching Princess Luna and the Crusaders observing the recovery, their ears are perked as they see the cables go tight, pulling against the other Bolo.
“C’mon Crusader! You can do it!” Apple Bloom is waving a hoof at the screen. Scootaloo and Sweetie are watching intently.
“I am doing my best Apple Bloom.”
“Well hurry it up then! We got to get her back and introduce her to everypony!”
“She has been there a long time Apple Bloom, give us a few minutes.”
“She certainly is enthusiastic.”
“You have no idea Athena.”
My sensors are showing a solid pull, nothing untoward in the cables as they have long been refurbished and redone. They are like new and take the weight easily. I see her start to move, then suddenly break free with a clatter of damaged tracks, my hull jerking forward at the release of tension. Extending cameras, I survey the damage. They are loose, but not broken, this makes it easier than pulling without them. I move forward and gain speed.
“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!” All three Crusaders are bouncing around the room, their hooves waving in the air, joined by a “Huzzah!” from Princess Luna as they see Athena break free and start rolling behind me. They sway a bit at the sudden jerk, but were prepared this time. It does not, however, dampen the Crusaders excitement.
“I have the path mapped Athena, we should make good time barring any problems. Are the temperature gauges on your tracks in the green?”
“I have some bearing problems Crusader, but nothing that cannot be fixed later. There is so much damage.”
She sends me the readout on her reactivated damage control cores, nanites having fixed the connections as a priority. Her backup power supplies are enough now to reactivate her own damage repair systems, working alongside what I am giving her.
“We will repair you Athena, until you are new again.”
“I look forward to everything Crusader.”
I increase speed to the cheering of the four ponies on my deck, Athena is talking to them in her halting way as they ask her a myriad of questions.
The way is clear, the recovery is complete.
It is time to go home.
I still want a love triangle!
Also! Good job with the updates! PM me some time again! I miss our conversations!
Nice! New Bolo!! Sweet!!! I don't thing the Griffins, Minatours, or Dragons are going to like this one bit though...
Also... are the CMC actually helping Luna raise the moon or is Luna just humoring them? I feel I know the answer but since this isn't my story I'm not completely sure.
I absolutely adore this story and look forward with anticipation to every update, if the Bolo-verse contains 20% of the wealth of goodness in this story then I really need to track them down.
I can't wait to see the reaction on all the ponies faces when they see 2 Bolo's roll up. Hmm... I think Big Mac or one of the other mane six should be Athena's commander... or maybe Princess Luna.
Whatever lies deep in the Everfree just thought it had problems before.
GOOD. This late in the game between Applejack and Crusader, a love triangle is just a contrived thing. Having them see each other as siblings nips that in the bud. :D
5687413 Given that Crusader and Athena consider each other as siblings in the same fashion that soldiers think of each other as their 'brothers', I doubt that a triangle between Crusader, Athena and AJ would form. However, that's my theory/opinion and is completely in the hands of the author.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/2/26/Woo_hoo!_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111121223950
Yaaaaay!! I will admit, this and the previous chapters had me in tears. I'm glad Athena will be okay! Luna's speech was very touching, which is why she is best pony to me. Keep up the great work! For some reason Don't receive notice of a chapter update before I see it in the popular stories list, so I get excited when it's there because NEW CHAPTER!! Can't wait to see her reaction to Pinkie in person!
Bring the hellrail to bear! And the Everfree though it had problems before.
Bolos never give up, never give in, never surrender, and if they die they will make their enemy pay with their last act.
We have now hit a delima. Who will be Athena's commander? I for one vote Pinkie Pie. Because I certainly shouldn't be given a giant death tank.
Awesome chapter!!! Can't wait till the next one!
5687456
https://www.baenebooks.com/s-70-keith-laumer.aspx
These are E-Books but I'm sure you can find some kind of Online Site for Paperback as well
5687425
humoring them, something for them to enjoy while on the trip
ahhhh this is so nice. I am glad that Crusader has found another one like him, and a sister of his no less. all we need now is a way to deal with the Everfree Forest and the international scene that the foreigner are sure to make with this development.
Let me share something that has been swirling around my head ever since I thought of how the foreign parties would react when they saw what he really looks like.
at some point, they would probably plea on his sense of purpose. Like, they would show a picture or a portrait of himself, covered in dirt and overgrowth much like he was when majority of Ponyville like Rainbow Dash thought that the real Crusader was thought to be inside the hill when he was in fact, The hill itself.
they would say that such a sight should be beneath him or something. something to be pitied and looked down on for it means that he has lose his original purpose.
Crusader's response?
He would smile and say that what he sees was not something negative, but something positive.
For Crusader, the dirt and overgrowth means not a loss of purpose, but a "job well done" for it means that Equestria has been at peace under his watch, that it doesn't need his overwhelming firepower. For him, it would mean that he has been doing what he has learned to do under his time in Equestria,
To live.
God, I can't help but think of these "what if" scenarios that keeps popping in to my head and share it with you guys. Premise of this story is just ripe for such ideas, I can't wait for what is come next. The next chapter just can't come soon enough. hehe.
5687467 Princess Luna for Athena's commander definately!
Yaay, Athena joins the family.
For those of you who think it takes something special to throw around something the mass of a Bolo, 30 thousand tons or so, a couple of things Id point to, is that in WW2, the heaviest bomb dropped was the 22000 lb ultra deep ground penetrating Grand Slam, containing 7.5 tons of what these days is called C4. Apart from lifting the ten thousand ton concrete armor dome over the V2 assembly plant, one lifted the Tirpitz battleship out of the water.
30 tousand tons is also roughly the design weight of the origional Orion launch vehicle, which was propelled by tactical nuclear warheads. Not much bigger than a kitchen top pizza oven.
I beleive Arrow 18 has the best description of an explanation on how Celestia and Luna move things, in that the sun and moon are moved, related to unicorn TK, by application of gravitational warp, or hyperspacial displacement fields. Except, the shorter the distance, given energy recovery methods, the non linear change in energy required. Arrow 18 space drive operated at 160 khz I think, while Celestia moves the sun at a rate of 5 Ghz.. or Five billion times a second. This is a known effect. A similar method was used to reduce the required energy for the Alcubierre Warp Drive, from a Billion times the total mass of the universe, to currently, one ton. Unfortunately, one ton of energy, for a working shuttle sized warp craft, is equivalent to ten gigatons of weapon yeild. hopefully a couple more orders of magnitude improvement can be eeked out, reducing power requirements to ITER or other megaton ships.
Crusader scanned the area and found minerals, crystals and plenty of other resources, if there was deep aquifers as at Everfree, wouldnt it be better to spend a couple days in situ refueling etc, given Crusader has all the power needed to hellbore drill access shafts and such? Especially given on approaching Everfree thers going to be all out mayhem?
5687507 Ever heard of manga? Manga does this all the time!
Quick, we need another Bolo! Prepare the unicorn Avatar!
Nfire, you have no duress on your quest to impress
I must say, even though quite random, you have developed quite a fandom.
This tale is quite tall, but I'm curious as to what may befall.
Now that the Bolos' have been doubled, I daresay the forest will be troubled.
I hope the forest will die, and that Athena may fly.
When they get back, I hope to see the reaction of Applejack.
I assure you I am no hack, for it is not skill I lack. For a rhyme will take time, but slime is worth a dime.
Hasbro has rubbed off on me, I can make up these things spontaneously.
Looking forward to the homecoming.... And the Crusaders' and Crusader's punishment!
5687456 http://www.amazon.com/Keith-Laumer/e/B000AP5LEU/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
I truly love how you portray Luna so poetically. My vote would be Luna for Artemis' Commander. The 2 goddesses of the moon belong together.
5687657
I dunno, if we're matching up personalities and capabilities, Rainbow Dash would seem the best candidate; pegasi are the pony warrior class and while Athena's personality is more like Fluttershy, I can't really see Fluttershy taking command of this new bolo since they represent everything she resists. (You might have already noticed that each of the Mane 6 are foils to the other for each pony type; RD to Fluttershy, Twilight to Rarity, and Applejack to Pinkie Pie)
Naturally, this leaves one more bolo and I think everyone here hopes it'll be Athena's sister. Of course, being the EM style blocker, that would mean unicorn. And if we take this correlation another step, Rarity is the fated choice. Why? The CMC of course. Each commander is the "parent" (guardian) of each Cutiemark Crusader.
Not sure if this is a spoiler but it all makes sense in a tinfoil-hat-conspiracy kinda way.
5688077 You misunderstand, as a Changeling it is my job to give ponies realy, realy bad ideas. I get 12 millihugs and hour for it.
I really can't help the silly grin while I'm reading the interactions between Crusader and Athena. Irregardless of the fact that they are both combat AIs designed to control world-class war machines and how much the magic of the new world has changed them, all of their interaction just has such a warmth to it. You can really tell that they are family, long thought lost to the other.
Even if Luna's speech for Athena was easy to see coming, you pulled it off magnificently.
A question for everyone, though....am I the only one noticing parallels between Athena's personality and Fluttershy's? Her initial meeting with Luna and the Crusaders, and the way in which she speaks when she's not talking to Crusader just really reminds me of a certain shy pegasus.
5688133
I barely trust Pinkie Pie with a cupcake, no way is she to command a bolo. And where are the changelings? Hiding out until the big bad tank (well, tanks now) rumbles away? (I would too!)
Actually, thinking back, didn't Crusader drive up to, then around a section of the badlands that had a suspiciously large hollowed out area underground?
Hmmmmmm...
That little tidbit of information might come in handy later.
5688253 Oh we're chilling in our hive biding time and watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Not much else to do until we get the new fission plant up and running. See, we're actually not all that bad, our last queen was an individual who registered 4.5 centisombras on the evil dick scale. SO we dug a new hive while she wasn't looking got her to go attack Canterlot and take all of her supporters with her by goading her ego and then moved while she was out. Wanna hang? We have popcorn and Mazcal, and were on Episode 5, Blues for a Red Planet. It's pretty cool to see the old Homeworld up close... Well ok, on a screen, but still.
how many Bolo's could have survived? How many were on Earth at the end? Athena and her sister were boarding a ship while Crusader was waiting if I remember. And he had been with others. How many Bolo's could there be...
5688428
Depends on how thorough these Mels were. Did they spot a bolo in a stasis field, pull the whole thing up and fling it into the Sun? If I was the invading force, I'd do everything I could to make sure the enemy wasn't coming back. Especially since I knew the enemy could recover from all but absolute total destruction. And if a few bolos went crazy because their commanders were killed, all the more destruction and confusion to add. Maybe the aliens finally had a bolo killer weapon? Took out nearly all of them in that last battle that annihilated both sides.
Maybe only a few were "lucky" to get buried under enough rubble and dirt to escape detection? I'd think the radioactive fallout from all those weapons was more than enough to render most detectors, besides visual, blind.
We may never know what happened since witnesses to the Earth, post-attack, are a million years old.
A most epic Welcome to Equestria Speech, and I can totally see Luna's starts and moon guiding someponies home.
I hope she isn't referring to the drinkable Moonshine... that stuff can blind you!
Athena is awesome, I can't wait to see her get repaired. But she has more guns than Crusader, right???? The Everfree is kindling! And I can totally see Twilight eagerly trying to find spells to let Athena's avatar actually fly.
Oh, and when will those nanites Crusader gave Scootaloo kick in enough wing growth that she can fly??? It would be awesome if she was so eager to see Ponyville that she pops out of his structure and takes to the air without realizing she's flying until Rainbow catches her.
5687456 They really are good stories, all of them!
5687425 Well Luna is being polite, and including them because she does enjoy their company :)
5687504 Thank you!
5687562 You're very welcome. Yeah, Pinkie's gonna be interesting to Athena :)
5687740 You really do come up with some great stuff, I'm gonna have to start stealing things
5687807 It's a good idea about resources, fantastic one actually. But considering he's worried about the forest doing something while he's away, he's heading home top speed.
5687972 I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm rewriting I promise! :)
5687871 Whoa now, calm down there
5688030 Thank you for the kind compliment! =)
5688077 Ya know, that's a seriously helluva thought.
5688144 Thank you!:)
5688253 Remember, he's not in the badlands, he's in the San Palomino Desert :)
5688284 Really where do you GET that stuff?
5688644 I've always thought Luna was more than a lot of folks class her as. Athena is a Mark XXXIV Assault Class Bolo, which means guns, nothing but guns. She does not have Cruise Missiles and such like Crusader, he's a "Heavy" she's nimble, extremely fast and deadly. Also, about Scootaloo SPOILER-- In a few weeks as long as she eats, they will soon match her body size, she will then be able to fly, and I am totally stealing your idea about RD
5687972
5688662
by all means, steal away anything to keep this story going.
Also, Militia Man here makes a good point. I admit, when I read that chapter, it rubbed me the wrong way. I thought that Applejack was a bit too harsh to Crusader for that punch. considering how Discord nearly sent their world to a nuclear hellhole, I figured he get a bit of a free pass on that one.
I didn't say anything since I figured that its just the difference in pony culture to human culture. what may seem insignificant to us may not be so to the ponies.
but once Milita here point out this certain info well....I kinda have to agree here.
yeah, like you say. this chapter needs a rewrite. if you want to keep the thing about consequences, let him pay the fine for assault. considering the amount of bits he has, its more of a slap to the wrist than an actual punishment. that and maybe tone down the chewing Crusader got from Applejack. say that considering what Discord did, she will let it pass but any other times will not be tolerated or something to that effect.
just giving some suggestions here if your planning to actually rewrite it. if you got a better idea, go for it.
I am just going to sit here and smile for a few updates. Mainly because Athena. Partially because she is free and clear now, and partially because she has begun returning to full mental capacity.
5688662
Ok, been awhile since I read where Crusader avoided the subterranean void. Though one in a desert would have to be very deep or some of the desert would end up in that gigantic sinkhole.
Still could be a hive. We have no idea if there's more than one hive, more than one queen. I've read a few stories where Chrysalis was just one queen in a crowd who went right off the deep end with power after getting supercharged from Shining Armor. The rest basically ostracized her for coming up with the worst possible idea in the history of bad changeling ideas. Other stories had her a singular queen with just a few dozen drones left from the massacre of forceful ejection from Canterlot and high speed, uncontrolled landing. Pretty much crawling back to throw herself on pony mercy before the last of the changelings starve to death because new detection spells outed every hidden drone.
And who's to say it's not some underground bunker? A holdover from Crusader's days. What's left of it of course. Earthquakes and tectonic movement could have collapsed some of it. Erosion above thinning the land over it. And whatever lives underground taking up residence in the unnatural cavern system, adding, altering it over the centuries.
Good grief, so many ideas over a stupid underground cave!
5687972 John DeLancie fans/worshippers. Whether in the writing staff or in the audience, they'll let his character get away with the most wretched stuff because he's FUNNY and WITTY. Draco in Leather Pants, indeed. Thank God Hitler was a weaselly little twerp or we'd have the mainstream swooning over him yet.</sarcasm>
5688858
Im pretty sure that humans in Crusaders time had the foresight to build very important bunker complexes that needed to survive for as long as possible in geologically stable regions, those calculations might not account for millions of years but if build correctly and with the right materials im sure a complete bunker complex could have survived and if it was away from magically intense locations and equiped with a stasis field those chances only rise.
Also i'm wondering when crusader finally builds his own space program and sends some satellites into orbit so he can search for other bolos better, or accurately map the everfree.
And, i might repeat myself here, go to the moon and look there.
5688912
I think Discord has been punished enough, what with the only intelect to give him an intresting time has left him with only a small plastic spork to remember him by.
5688964
Assuming some human outposts survived, any idea what a million years evolution would do to them? Just using our own original path, we could have died out to cavemen (literally the stone age) and come back to the same point three or four times. Yikes.
5688987
Well read, well, depends on your definition. I used to know not just all the authors I had in my library, not just the book names, but also the contents. I once had to clear out some of them due to my mum getting annoyed at the pile. I took 450 down to the market to cost in, and it was maybe a third of my collection. That was 20 years ago. In the last couple years, accordingg to the new tracking addon here on Fimfiction alone, it seems Im up to 40 million words. Then theres the encyclopedias, dictionaries, histories. Just Im getting old and forgetting an awful lot these days.
Too much time on my hands? Far too much, 80s and 90s I started in University, but due to reasons, failed the second year, so only got temporary placement to cover for the guy on the 4th year, Then I was bouncing between govt job training courses and college courses covering computing, officework, electronics, machining,at one point I had a list of 25 minor qualifications. Eventually due to an occurance, I went to the job centre to sign on sick, and was literally told by the leader there, who used to be my old primary school teacher, Its About Time. that was 15 years ago. I was signed off as autistic spectrum disorder, effectively permanently. I havent had a job in over 25 years, because no company could afford to take me on, given my idea of a job is to design and build what we now call Watson, so it can replace me and do the job better.
Genius? I dont think so. Had fun with the simple IQ tests over the years, really need to take it again given its a few years since, and I pretty much reliably get 126 each time. Enough handle a decent complexity degree course, but nowhere near that needed to get into Mensa. I just like to dig through history to try and find out whats already been discoverd to solve a given current problem. Thi works, because modern companies do their best to differentiate a product, so they can claim it is new, and so patent it, and license it restrictively etc. You can see th effect in the graph, number of patents issued per head of population 1800 to present. It climbs rapidly for the first 20 years when patents first appear, then suddenly drops off as companies realise as they start to expire, its a lot easier to come up with minor variations than something new. So since the 80s Ive tried to work out how to do free stuff, or at least freely available. which I cant do given stuff predicted back then, is available now, but only under punative licencing.
Did you know that the first electric car, designed for racing, by Porche, used lead acid batteries, had hand made hub motors, could reach 36 mph, enough to get you a speeding ticket, and had a range of 100 miles. a lot of modern electric cars, with far more capable lithium batteries, have trouble reaching that range. Something abut, we dont want half the car to be battery, style over performance. That was 1887. In 1903 they added a gasoline generator range extender, which is why so many hybrid cars these days are less efficint parralel hybrids, because most efficint serial hybrids are over 100 years old. Patents expired.
I could be completely wrong. I was brought up on the scientific method where I have to continously ask myself, I beleive Im right, but my belief is suspect because I dont know all the facts. Where am I wrong. At what point does this become self destructive navel gazing, etc.
Hopefully the next chapter will be along quickly enough to get people actually readng something worthwhile.
And now for something completely different.
5689055
Any outpost small enough to avoid detection would have probably died out over long, other then that i would expect maybe some kind of intelligence to survive on some remote moon or bigger asteroid and just hang out and do its stuff, maybe some humans in stasis.
Also we don't know what happened after the war. Mutual destruction? Domination of one side which eventually died out for some reason or another? Some kind of cease fire after they realized the war would be going nowhere (highly unlikely)?
Millions of years are a really really long time and several civilizations could have risen and fallen on earth without any traces remaining from the last one.
5688499 Actually from the books we have a vague idea on the attack on Earth, as we get the story from literally the last Bolo from the GM plant. They hit Earth from a distance and then skeddaddled once the job was done to avoid the counterattack. Been a while since I read that particular book though.
5688662 ... Well if you realy must know I am a paranoid Schizophrenic and too poor to afford my medication. So I use medication instead. I cant shut everything off, but I have it reigned into being a hyperactive imagination most days with occasional spikes into insanity. So basically my ideas are the produced of a damaged brain throwing old B Movies into a blender. But I'm totally cool with that, as you can see it makes everything realy funny.
Please don't let that color your opinion of me...
5688670 I look forward to seeing it, plus it would be fitting for Rainbow to be the only one able to catch Scootaloo
5689005 .... what?
I wonder if the source of the evil in the Everfree is a severely damage bolo whose stasis field never activated, maybe even Hera? Her EM warfare capabilities would explain the natural background magic having less of an effect there and her fabricators would explain the wide variety of odd creatures.
WOOOOHOOOOO!
Athena reminds me so much of Flutters, I'm sort of visualizing her as a short-haired Fluttershy, but with maybe sandy or earthy colours for the coat/mane of her avatar.
-Angel of Team Angelfang