> Terminal 0014523
>Date 14/3/04
>Log Number 1
>Operator: Crimson Crosshair
>Log Begin...
>As I gazed up into the sky, I thought about how life might have been before, if it was as peaceful as the history books lead on, was it more so than that, or was less peaceful than we were taught to believe? I would have to say that my guess is that it was either as or greater, because if things had been like they are now then I highly doubt we would even be here.
> But no sooner had my mind started to wonder, had I been brought back into reality by a unicorn mare with a white mane and coat, and fiery red eyes.
>"Hey, don't drift on me, you're still on unofficial patrol, remember?"
>My soon to be wife, [Error 4: File Corruption], is right, I still have to finish my patrol of this residential sector. Maybe I should elaborate a bit, I'm a guardspony in the Stalliongrad Civil Defense Force, and I take my job VERY seriously.
>"No, ma'am, no drifting, have I told you how beautiful you are today?"
>"Oh shove it, what were you thinking about anyway?" she giggled lightly as she playfully nudged me.
>"How beautiful you are."
>"I call bullshit, but I'll take it."
>We continued on for about five blocks and came to rest in a park, I stood ever vigilant while she relaxed on a park bench. We just smiled at each other and watched the fillies and colts run about on the playground, just enjoying themselves and having fun.
>"I hope this ends soon, I'd like to quit the SCDF and settle down..."
>"I know, but just think what Empress Applejack wants for us. She'll end it all at the peace summit next month, don't worry.", she smiled up at me once she finished, she honestly believed what she said.
>"Yeah, maybe...I just don't hold your sense of optimism. Alright then, ready to continue our-..."
>"Bro, get home, pack some shit, then get over here to the Applejack Memorial Station!", that was my brother popping up in my private comm channel and backing out after he spoke his bit.
>"What's up, Crossy?"
>"Bro just told me to do a few things, sounded really rushed and urgent."
>On a hunch I scanned through the comms channels, only to find them all static, apart from the emergency channel and the siege channel which were absolutely alive...odd.
>"Hop onto my back and I'll fly us home."
>"Why? We can walk, it's only five blocks, love."
>"Damnit, don't fight me on this, I'm not flying us for the fun of it!"
>"Ok, sorry...", I barely heard her say meekly as she clambered onto my barding.
>We were flying silent until I knew nopony could hear me, "No, I'm sorry...I'm just afraid is all..."
>I caught bits and pieces of what the two channels had to offer...and I am scared shitless.
>"Why, what are you afraid of?"
>I sighed as I searched for the words to use, and I finally settled on the blunt approach, "The CE launched all their armament, their primary targets being us, the USC, and the NLR."
>I heard her gasp in shock, but not say a word, I couldn't blame her, this was a VERY bad scenario that only the higher ups had contingencies for.
>We landed on the porch of our home, nothing special, just a typical brick house, and I bucked the front door open. If things go as I think they will, then I won't have to worry about anything being stolen. We walked into the living room, where I pulled out a pair of saddlebags for both of us.
>"Go pack what we'll need, then fill the rest up with guns, ammo, barding, and medical supplies. Alright?"
>"Da, I'll be done in three."
>"We've got two, now go and hurry up, we'll meet back here when we're finished."
>We went our separate ways, she went to her study, and I went to our room. I had just stepped over the threshold when I heard a beep from my ear piece, heralding a pony joining my private comms channel, "Bro, where the hell are you?!"
>"Home, we just started packing, don't get your dick in a knot."
>"...who the hell is 'we'?!"
>"Wow, you're some special kind of stupid ain't ya? Take a guess, moron."
>"...dude...no, leave here there."
>"Hey, fuck you, and just when were you gonna tell me that Omega-Level threat protocols were enacted, huh asshole?!"
>At that I shut the channel down, I hope the static busted one the prick's eardrums. My outro may have been spoken a bit too loudly, because I heard her call from the stairway.
>"What's going on, are you alright, Cross?"
>"I'm fine, just finish up, one minute!"
>"I'm already done though."
>"Alright then, on my way down."
>I was SO kicking his ass later.
- - - - -
>[Error 23: Missing Data]
>[Source: Remote Deletion from Terminal 10863]
- - - - -
>We were nearly to the AJ Station when I heard a chime, telling me that somepony opened my channel back up, only one pony other than me has the password. "Hey dad, kinda busy flying with two hundred and ninety three pound, can it wait?"
>"Hello son, you are on the way to the Applejack Memorial Station, right?"
>"Affirmative, Crimson Actual, one minute out and coming in hot, request eastern doors be open upon arrival, how copy?"
>"Solid copy, Crimson Actual, eastern doors will be open, be careful out there."
>The little mare on my back poked my neck lightly, "Who was that, Cross?"
>"Grand Artificer."
>"Wh-what?! Why would the Grand Artificer be talking to you?"
>"Checking up on something, hang on, we're going in for a hard landing!"
>As I neared the open doors, I tucked my wings in just before they would have clipped the steel frames, which would have probably broken them, and started to quickly lose altitude. Once I hit the ground I started to try use my armoured hooves as brakes, which eventually worked.
>"The ride has come to a full and complete stop, all passengers are free to disembark now, please take all overhead luggage, and exit through either the left or right side exits. Thank you for traveling Air Cross, have a good day."
>No sooner had I finished, had my lover jumped off my back and embraced the solid ground like a long lost child.
>"Oh come one, it wasn't that bad."
>I looked toward the sounds of hooves coming up the stairs and saw my brother, Dyno Run. I waited until he got close enough for me to hit, and when he did, I applebucked him right in the ribs.
>He fell to the ground coughing and gagging, "What the fuck was that for, asshole?!"
>"That was for telling me to leave her, if you EVER even JOKE about putting her in harm's way, I promise you brother, that I will kill you in the most creative, painful and amusing way I can think of, got it?!"
>"Y-yeah..."
>"I think I outrank you, so I ask again, GOT IT?!"
>"Yes, sergeant!"
>"Good, let's go nurse Shot."
>"I can't believe your brother's such a dick, it's amazing how different you two are, like night and day..."
>"Yep."
>We went down the wide stairs of the metro as I heard sirens and klaxons start outside, and I heard the emergency shutters close up on all the doors and windows of the station, thirteen tons of steel encased the station now. As soon as we reached the floor below, I was embraced in a hug.
>"Hey dad, good to see you again." I said as I smiled at the dust coloured unicorn stallion who stood before me, he was about late fifties I think, with mustache and beard combo, his mane, which was grayed heavily but still had streaks of black in it, still sported the typical well kept style he always had, even in times like these he still managed to look scholarly.
>Console stepped up to be beside me, "I'm Console Shot, you're sons keeper.", she said in good humor.
>Dad chuckled a bit at the joke "I always thought your brother would be the one with the keeper, what with how foalish he acts, but it's good to finally meet you, my name is Historic Tome." he bowed slightly to Console.
>She mouthed his name a few times before her face lit up with surprise "Y-you're the Grand Artificer! But wait...that would mean...", she looked between the both of us, "...but..."
>"Yep, I'm the son of the Grand Artificer himself, Applejack's go to stallion for anything dealing with records or history, speaking of our lovely leader, did she make it down here?"
>"Yes, she's in a meeting with the leaders of the military and SCDF that made it down here, you might want to find her later and get the debrief, I'll tell her to be on the lookout for you also."
>"Thanks, dad, well I think we're gonna go drop this stuff off somewhere and go to sleep."
>"Good idea, military leaders have their quarters being constructed in the maintenance tunnels, go pick out a room...I think the security room is open still, better hurry up."
>"Solid copy, thanks."
>"Oh, by the way, have you seen your brother?"
>"I think he's in med-bay."
>"Strange, well alright then, I better go check up on him. It was nice to finally meet you Console!"
>"Likewise Mr. Tome."
>At that, we were left alone in the dark tunnel, just the two of us, I looked over at Console and she gave me the most mischievous grin I've ever seen...and then I awoke. I awoke in a dark cold room whose only light was coming from a candle on the desk in the opposite side of the room, with a warm mare cuddled up to my left side, and my Colt AR-51 standing by the bed to my right. This was reality, the dark, hard, cold reality. I was dreaming of my life, the most memorable part of it from before.