//------------------------------// // Chapter Seventeen / E // Story: Another Life // by Ironwolves21 //------------------------------// Observation Talisman Echo-661, transcript #177 Transcript request submitted: 2000/10/18 at 0837 Zulu Request approved: 2000/10/19 at 0546 Tango RE: Observation Talisman Echo-661, transcript #177 RE: Captain Iron “Riot” Venture and Doctor Usineighn Transcript of interview between Doctor Usineighn and Sergeant Moon Dancer, A.K.A. “Sled” Dated 2000/09/05 -Begin transcript- (Shuffling papers.) Damn these ponies….I thought the military thrived on punctuality…..ugh, twenty minutes late…..(impatient tapping on desk.) I swear if that half-breed is not here in another five minutes, I will bury him right alongside “Captain” Venture. (Disgusted sigh.) That is it! I’m through waiting for some enlisted swine! He will- (Sound of door opening, closing.) Sorry Doc got held up in…..traffic. You were two blocks away. What can I say? It’s a crazy town……street vendors and nut-jobs runnin’ amuck in the streets, it’s absolute chaos out there. (Exasperated sigh.) I see. Well, at least you are here…..albeit nearly thirty minutes late, have a seat. Now, do you know why you are here Sergeant? I’m assuming it has something to do with Hoofington. You would be partially correct in that assumption Sergeant. You see, I am looking for very specific information about a very specific pony but, we shall get to that in due time. Alright, whatever you say Doc…..CO says I have to be here, better than standing watch in the brig anyways…. Indeed. So, you are originally from Canterlot correct? That’d be correct, can’t really stand the place though, too damn crowded. And both of your parents along with your youngest sister still reside in Canterlot? Yes ma’am. Your twin is also in the REA? Yes ma’am, stationed in Appaloosa currently. It says here that you are currently single with no children? Yes ma’am, (low chuckle) not from a lack of trying on my part though…..I just haven’t found the right mare to settle down with yet, and that’s correct, no foals...that I know of. I see. So, let us get down to it shall we? (rustling papers) You were present for nearly the entirety of the “fighting” near Hoofington? If by “fighting” you mean the three-year-war we were slogging through over there, then yes. Interesting, and during this time you were primarily assigned to the 221st Airborne’s 2nd Battalion, E company, under Captain Venture? Yes ma’am, Captain Riot was one of the best damn stallions I’ve ever served under. (Derisive snort.) Right, of course…..now, seeing as how you were fighting those striped rebels, did your…..colourful heritage cause you any undue hardship? My what? I’m not sure I see what you’re getting at Doc….. Well, your mother being a zebra of course. I don’t see what this has to do wi- It was such a shock when your father went and actually married her, as I recall it caused quite the scandal for your father….cost him his tenure at the university did it not? And let us not forget about your sisters. Your youngest sister, Shadow, seems to have gotten the best lot in life of the three of you. Why, one would be hard pressed to tell that she had an ounce of stripe in her. Your twin though, poor filly…..what was her name? (shuffling paper, inaudible muttering) Ah, here it is, Grace. One might say it would be very easy indeed for somepony to mistake her for a zebra….in fact, has she not had a difficult time with her own military career, primarily because she looks more like one of those cretins than an actual pony? I think I even remember reading something about her assaulting fellow serviceponies….landing her in the forsaken backwater of Appaloosa. Oh, and we simply cannot forget th- Let me stop you right there. You’re trottin’ through a minefield here Doc, if you’re not careful……well, let’s just say that bad things happen to ponies that run about all willy-nilly like in a minefield. How about we just keep my family out of this, alright? (Quiet snort.) Why of course Sergeant, I have the tendency to get a little off topic sometimes….. (Chuckle) So, you served with E Company nearly the entire time, your last three months with Easy Company spent as Captain Venture’s radio operator? That’d be correct. How would you characterize the Captains behavior during your time as his radio operator? Insanely heroic, I saw that stallion doing things that few, if any, commissioned ponies would even contemplate, let alone do. And here we had our CO running out into enemy fire dragging PFC’s back to our lines…..simply amazing. (What appears to be the sound of grinding teeth.) Yes, very heroic, I am sure…….So you are saying that not once did Captain Venture display any conduct unbecoming a commissioned officer? No outbursts? Ludicrous orders? Abnormal mood-swings? (Laughter) Oh man Doc….are you serious? Most of us had been out there for three years or more, of course everypony had their bad moments…..but it was because of ponies like Captain Riot that some of us made it through at all. I see. Just a couple more questions for you Sergeant…. (Shuffling papers.) You were Captain Ventures radio operator for just over three months before suddenly being transferred, why is that? Did you say or do something that offended the good Captain? Not at all Doc, what happened was simple really….I got myself promoted, and let’s just say that there are not a whole lot of Sergeants acting as RO’s. The rest was simple logistics; Dog Company needed NCO’s….so that’s where they sent me. They replaced my ass with some turkey named Skyrunner….. Simple logistics you say? Hmm, very well, moving on. It says here that D and E companies were the only two companies that did not retreat alongside the rest of the REA forces when the order to withdraw was given, and that during the “intense” fighting that ensued, your commanding officer was killed by enemy fire and you took command of the “besieged” company. Doc, I’m not hearing a question so far…... In good time Sergeant. So, after surviving hours of “brutal” combat, you managed to lead the six other survivors back to friendly lines. To recognize your feats of heroism, you were granted a commission to the rank of captain along with some silly medal, and you were on track to become the permanent commanding officer for D Company. If you could get to the point sometime today Doc…I have shit to do….and you tone is starting to grate….. Of course, very busy, I am sure…....My question is this: after being hoofed a commission, to the rank of captain no less, something that somepony with your……familial difficulties, would be hard pressed to ever achieve through normal means…..you just hoof it back, flat out refuse it……why is that? Oh that’s easy Doc…..I didn’t deserve it, I don’t deserve a commission just because I was the highest ranking pony to walk away from that hell-hole…..while over two-hundred good ponies never got to leave that place at all. That’s why. I….do not understand…. (Laughter) I know you don’t Doc, ponies like you usually don’t understand, probably never will either. See you later Doc, hopefully you find something better to do with your time than messing with ponies that have enough weighing them down already. Wait! You have yet to hear my offer Sergeant. Offer? Funny, seemed like you just wanted to talk shit on the sacrifices of ponies much better than you, and dig up some dirt on Captain Riot….. Oh not at all Sergeant! I have nothing but the utmost respect for those that have fought for Equestria, of course. Please, return to your seat. I think I’d rather stand if it’s all the same to you….. Very well, as you wish. Now, as I was saying, I do have quite the attractive offer for you. If you were to provide me with the, oh what was the quaint term you used? Ah yes, if you were to provide me with the “dirt” on Captain Venture, I could insure that you were given an immediate transfer to any posting of your choosing, and an immediate promotion to Second Lieutenant. Now how does that sound Sergeant? Would that be worth telling me the truth about an unstable pony that is surely only a tiny step away from injuring or even killing innocent ponies? Especially since you seem so eager to be away from Canterlot? I might even be able to do something for Grace…...perhaps a less stressful posting? Say one of our Co-op platoons we have with the stripes? I am sure she would fit right in. All you have to do is give me information on a vicious murderer. (Low laughter, possibly cracking vertebrae) Oh man Doc…..if it wouldn’t land me right into the brig that I’m guarding, I’d beat you senseless right now. Wh-what!? Well I hardly think there is call for- Shut up. You want the truth about Captain Riot? Guess what, I’ve already told you the truth. (contempt filled laugh) If you want somepony that’s going to lie for you, you’re gonna have to find somepony else. You can keep your transfer, and your gorram promotion, I didn’t want it from the REA, I sure as heck don’t want it from you. (Hoofsteps, door opens) Oh, by the way Doc…..you might want to watch who you’re disparaging the Captain in front of, most ponies that know him would have beat your skull in by now….Just a friendly warning….have a fantastic day Doc, it’s been fun. (door slams) Dammit! (Glass breaking, heavy breathing.) That….that little! Gah! Faust Dammit! Of course he would not give me anything of use! Of course not! (ripping paper) (Sound of Usineighn audibly trying to calm herself) I'm tired of waiting... I've waited for years! I'm not letting this slip through my hooves. I'll... I'll just have to go see the stallion himself. It doesn't matter if 'Doctor' Mirian has refused my entry and requests... (Laughter) Maybe, if I give him enough rope, the good captain will do me a favour and hang himself. -End transcript-