//------------------------------// // Damage Critical. New Body Required. New Mission Received. // Story: SMP-5N // by Okhlahoma Beat-Down //------------------------------// "Hey, kiddo." Jack called over the radio. "Just calling to let ya know that, ahaha...how do I frickin' put this...ha...we're probably gonna invade anyway. So, just a heads-up so you don't piss yourself when we Lunar Mortar that place to the ground. You're gonna want to tell them, so we don't kill a bunch of unaware ponies. Oh Jesus, that sounds frickin' stupid." "Affirmative. I will alert them." I replied. "You do that. Plus, I'm spending a few billion figuring out a way to turn ponies into people." "Why, sir?" "So I can bang those ponies with the hot voices once they're human and if they're hot. Seriously, their voices are pretty much the hottest thing right now. So, just try and bring me them alive, kiddo. Cool? Cool. Ciao." Right. He tells me to tell them the moment we're about to go and speak to them about leaving the castle? Asshole. After hearing that news, I begrudgingly tromped in, followed by PAY-N3, WAR, and JET. All 4 of us had heard Jack's transmission, and my replies, so we couldn't lie. Not with Godzilla behind us. Celestia seemed surprised to see us. "Gentleloaders." she nodded. "Ma'am." we bowed in return. "I come bearing distressing news." "Hmmm...What is it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes as she gazed down at us from her elevated throne. I gave my life a quick backup file, and cleared my microphone. "Hyperion's plan of settlement has turned into a plan of premature invasion. I request no part in the upcoming assault on the castle, for I do not wish to slaughter the innocent. I am deeply sorry. Cough." "What?" Celestia growled. "They plan to invade...tell them to send their finest." "Ma'am." I replied. "By the time that I reply to his ECHO, Jack will have sent a fleet of Hyperion ships. None shall be unarmed. A 0.01% chance of fighting back and succeeding alone is all you have against them." "Well," she said firmly. "I'll just send them their collaterals, yes?" A sudden force began to lift me up, as though wind catching a leaf. The floor began to diappear below, and all that were visible were Celestia's enraged eyes. My circuits were going into shutdown, sensors going offline. "Owch." I slurred, just before my vocabulator shut off. Behind, the sound of a crackling meant my squad was gone. Their shells smashed to the floor, the loudest being PAY-N3's hulking form crashing to the marble floor. Still, Celestia continued the assault on my shivering steel body. "Tell Handsome Jack to expect a fight. His warriors will lose. And as for you: get out." The final words triggered the force surrounding my body to tighten exponentially, as my entire system locked off. Light. --------------------------------------------------------- PWR LOADER SMP-5N RECONSTRUCTING. Dammit. Is that asshole making me go back there as this again? I was just killed, for god's sake! Leave me be! "Oh, back are you?" Mr Blake asked. "Affirmative." I replied flatly. "My old body is critically damaged: the Princess destroyed us all at once." "Hmm, yes, I can see." Mr Blake muttered. "Well, since you seemed incredibly adept at using it, Handsome Jack decided to have you placed as a PWR Loader again. In fact, the same body from your first incursion with our new enemies. That, and since it seems you have a bone to pick from them, he has given you a high command post on the ground forces." "Again?" I asked. "Does he like me for some reason?" "Well, it's possible he has a pang of guilt for killing your parents and family..." "Unlikely." "Exactly, Loader. Now, he has given you the task of setting up a command post under their city. It shouldn't be that difficult: seismic scans are indicating that there is a mass network of caves underneath. The biggest is situated directly under the streets. Set up the command post as your system tells you, we send the equipment required, and fairly soon we'll have a way to jump them from below. Any questions?" "Negative." "Very well. You know the drill." Just before the brown coated man could turn and leave, another guy, presumably an engineer of some description, ran up holding a small piece of paper. He stopped in front of Mr Blake, and handed him the page. "Hmmm..." Blake put some bony fingers to his chin and began to rub quietly. After a moment, he sighed, dismissed the engineer, and turned back to me. "Loader, there has been a serious change of plan. We will be unable to drop you straight into the city underground." "May I ask why?" "See for yourself." Carefully, he showed me the sheet of paper. On it was what appeared to be a sattelite image of the city. Except now there was a huge pink dome surrounding it. "Our scans are showing that it's made of pure energy. The very same kind which is used in shielding. Which means the city is now, by our method of entry, impenetrable. You're going to be dropped into a cavern nearby. Find a way to dig underneath the city and into those caverns. Then, set this down." Mr Blake handed me a small beacon, of sorts. Carefully, I grasped it in my claws, before reaching back and latching it to my lower segment. "That beacon will signal for us to send Constructors, and a Fast Travel station. I assume you know how to operate the latter?" "Sir." I replied. "Excellent, Loader. Do this right, I can pull a few strings and promote you. Sound good?" "Sir." I smiled with a grin only I knew existed.