//------------------------------//
// Three, More exploring 
// Story: Rick's mission on Equestria 
// by Scorppio500 
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	I finally was able to officially observe the dominant species. The equine-like creature I saw on the bench was a homeless man. Boy are these things colorful. They were so brightly colored my photoreceptors started to fry. I warped some new ones in from the FOB just in case, but before they fried completely, I snapped some pictures of the locals, and adjusted my photoreceptors to colorblind.


I didn’t bother to wait around town. I booked it back to camp in half the time it usually takes. But since it was the morning, I made it back just before midday. On my way back, I saw some towers rising out of the side of a mountain, overlooking some other city.

After giving my report I requested my CO that I do some recon to take some pictures of the surrounding area, especially the towers on the mountain. The CO permitted it. I set out on foot and found a viewpoint.

I decided to get a higher elevation to get a better look at the towers rising over the city. It was a bit risky, since I risked being spotted. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had been spotted already.

I managed to take some pictures of the castle and city below. The azimuth I was looking down at and the sunset made for some beautiful pictures. I sent them back to camp for the boss to upload to FreeTec’s servers. I signalled for my return.

Upon my return, everyone was asleep except for the guards. I relieved them. The moon was breaching the peaks of the tower mountain. 

I sat down. The nights have been uneventful ever since we moved camp. Nothing came out of the forest unless it was harmless. Deer-like animals and rabbit-like animals have been observed. Postures of each animal as well as structure seem to be more cartoonish in comparison to the fauna of Earth.

I sat back with my back up against one of the logs around the firepit. The stars were so bright that night. I decided to power down into sleep mode, light sensors set to detect dawn light levels to power on.

Dream Sequence: “How can a mechanical presence dream? How can humans be here on Equestria? How can beings of great violence seem so peaceful? Technology vs Magic… how does one survive without it?” I heard a voice so sweet and kind it must have come from a goddess! But I’ve never heard such a voice… how was this person able to access my secure data vault?” Sleep mode was overridden by my CO. Something seemed to have spooked him. I noticed everyone else was spooked.

“The voice in our heads… did you hear it too, Rick?” “I heard a voice in my mind as well. It was with me when I was accessing my secure data vault, but I have never heard such a voice in my life. All signals with the wavelength to access my files remotely have thus far proved to originate from Sol. Civilian radio stations do not exist here,” I replied. 

“What did it say to you?” I told them all what the voice said. When I asked if this is what they heard, they nodded. The CO hammered it all into his daily report.

“Did we get the green light to search the areas yet?” I asked. “The order hasn’t come down from the top yet. The men we need to find are still out there, I know, but we need more intel as well.” The private assigned to our squad spoke next. “So, why don’t we ask the locals? I know it sounds crazy, but how bad could they be? They’re obviously civilized.” Everyone stared at the private as if he had lobsters crawling from his nose. 

Despite our initial judgment, we considered it. We unanimously voted who would go to represent us. Of course, all fingers pointed to me.