Chassis

by LoosePartyCannon

Damage Control - Edited by Endless Aviator

Elizabeth

As I awoke to the sound of my Chassis's V.I shouting reports at me and the feeling of my bones mending themselves I first became aware of the fact I haven't actually died yet. Opening my eyes I saw I would have to first repair the shattered attachment I use for a left eye. It seems 87% means they still function, they just have huge cracks on the surface. Slowly moving my hand to my left eye I softly pulled out the orb, leaving the wires to retract into its holding place. As I examined it the tip of my finger retracted into my hand and out emerged a small cutting laser. Like most of the tools built into me it was strong enough for bodily repairs but not much else. It took me a few minutes of sealing the cracks and reconnecting the circuits on the back but after that it was mostly functional again. With a soft hiss and click the orb snapped into place and I could clearly see again. It took me a few years but the pain of removing and attaching body parts had started to slowly fade away. Still stings like a bitch though, don’t get me wrong. With my eye repaired and my insides being slowly, and painfully, mended I decided to check the damage on my Chassis. Powering up my Chassis's helm the controls and displays lit up before me. Aside from minor burn damage to the armor there was nothing too bad. As I was powering up the suit completely I found out why the V.I said there was minor damage. The metal cover that was built in to protect the glass covering the cockpits window was jammed and the sensory cameras were fucked. Meaning I was blind in my cockpit. Sighing I got up from my small chair and moved to the left wall of the Chassis. Unlike the newer chassis, older models often jammed in certain areas, this fact is made up by the chassis bigger storage and space for the pilot with the chassis doubling as a home with the pilots seat on the top floor and the bedroom below next to the reactor chamber. As I walked to the side of the room I climbed the small step ladder and opened the hatch on the roof.

As I stepped onto the roof I was blinded by the sunlight that suddenly dumped in. Lowering my hands from my eyes after they started to adjust I saw I was in the middle of a desert with no end in sight. This wasn't a major problem, just means I will have to live off supplies for a few days. The extreme heat of the desert made the chassis's exterior and my prosthetic limbs hot to the touch.

"Ok, now I'm seeing why the engies said I should wear a LANS." I muttered begrudgingly as I climbed down to the front of the ship. Just as I thought, A piece of debris had gotten lodged into the protective covers gears and the camera was completely fried from re-entry. As I got to work with getting the metal out with the assistance of some of my bodily tools I was stopped as my Chassis picked up something on the short range scanner. Turning around I saw nothing but sand... Activating my built-in sensors I picked up two lifeforms of unknown species. I spent a few minutes  motionlessly staring out into the desert looking for whatever is out there all I saw where the shifting sands and all I heard was the howling winds. When I checked the sensors again It said that nothing was out there. Either more than my left eye was busted in the crash land or something is stalking me. I decided it would be best to focus on fixing the damage done to my chassis and getting inside before whatever is spying on me tries to get closer. Getting the metal out was simple and didn't take long, the various damage done to the chassis's joints on the other hand...

"Well shit, hope the others made it so I can get Tyler to do this crap." I groaned to myself.

Later...

"Your Majesty, one of the desert patrols have come seeking an audience, something about a "giant machine." One of my guards said to me, his gleaming black and dark green chitin/steel armor, face obscuring hood, and Halberd marking him as a Royal guard.

"Let them in." I commanded him. He saluted and signaled for the guards at the hallway doors to open them. When they opened, in walked a pair of sand covered, and obviously exhausted scouts. They wore yellow painted leather armor and caps and wielded bows and short swords. As they walked down the emerald carpet leading them towards my regal marble throne I looked over them. They were both female, and had an almost identical look. They were probably sisters from the same house of commoners. They both had pale blue hair and matching eyes, the only way to tell them apart were the scars on each of them and the scratched breastplates. They were both decorated soldiers and had been fighting for years now, that much I knew. What I didn't understand however was the shocked expressions that adorned their features. As they approached my throne they knelt down.

"Arise noble scouts, what is it you have to report?"  I spoke to them as they stood up.

"Your Majesty, While my sister and I were patrolling the Western Plains last night we saw a great explosion tear through the sky. We saw multiple pieces of what we thought were small meteorites crash land a few miles away from us. Being the closest to the crash site we were ordered to check it out. It took all night but we got there. As we got closer our connection to the hive mind started to fade and we stopped hearing the whispers. We found out that what we thought to be meteorites was actually metal and destroyed machinery." One of them told me, the excitement in her voice becoming more apparent with each detail, as well as my own interest.

"As we neared some of them we saw words and pictures, but most of it was either too burnt to be made out or gibberish with missing words. We found patches of glowing rocks and metals, when we went to investigate it felt like our heads were splitting. Feeling drained and in pain we retreated to the hive but along the way we found this massive metal thing out in the dessert. It was far more advanced than anything the Equestrian engineers, Griffonian Golemancers or Menatorian Metal Sages could have ever built. We stood far away and observed it and a small creature emerged from it and started pulling stuff out of the thing. It started looking around and we thought it had spotted us so we turned tail and made it back to the hive." She stated. As I looked at her face it was clear they had been walking all night, their sand and dirt stained armor and faces clearly proved this.

"You have done well by making sure to relay this news to me my changelings. Guard, see to it that these two are given a warm meal and the rest of the day to recuperate. To have them report for duty in a tired state would help no one." I said, commanding one of my royal guards.

"Thank you, my queen." The other scout said to me as they smiled and walked off with one of my guards in tow. Pondering this news it came clear to me what I had to do. Rising from my crystal throne and walking down the steps, I continued in deep thought as my other guard followed closely behind my flowing green dress.

"Your majesty, what is it you wish for me to do?" He asked me, his voice muffled by his black iron helmet. I had to look down at him as he stood a foot shorter than me.

"Round up a small team of a trained soldiers, ask the scouts where they found the metal machine and head out to it. If it is a threat to the Hive I want it destroyed. If it is non-hostile and can be reasoned with I would very much like to speak to it. Either way I would like to learn how it was made, whether it be from scrap metal or from conversation. I want any plausible possibility relayed me as soon as possible." I ordered him. He saluted me and ran off to do what I had ordered him to do. As he left the throne I sighed to myself and walked back to my throne.

As I approached it I saw myself in the light radiating off it. I stood at seven feet tall and my wavy green hair went down to my back. I was widely regarded as one of the most beloved and beautiful changelings, whether it is true or they simply wish to boost my ego or have no knowledge of the other hive leaders, this is no matter. Though many people love me there are also those who despise me, for good reasons of course. For years now the Changelings of the Equestrian Badlands have been getting by through miracles and teamwork but soon we will need to find a steady food source. Most species find us repugnant either from the other Hives doings, the few wild changelings that become disconnected from the Hive Mind or from my own sins. Regardless, with the war going on the idea of forming a treaty with one side has become more and more appealing if it means we can interact with another society and fix the damage done to each other without the threat of a public outcry or being threatened or bullied by the other races. No matter the outcome of the war the Changeling species will survive, we must.

Elizabeth

Finally. It had taken the better part of an hour but I had finally removed all anomalies stuck in the Chassis armor and fixed the wiring. Screw what the other pilots say; this thing takes as much time to fix as the newer models do. Having fixed the exterior I climbed the metal ladder that was jutting out of the ship's side. After reaching the top of the ship I pulled one of the leavers jutting out of the top and the ladder slid into the armor plating and was locked into place. No need to give potential threats a way up. Opening the hatch and climbing in I could see that the metal plating had slid away and gave me a full view of the desert. Climbing into place I activated the Chassis engine causing it to stand at its full height and bellow out a faint hum. Now that I was operational I maneuvered the machine over the small sand dunes and onward. To say the land looked dull would be an understatement, there was nothing in sight for miles on end. I continued walking for about half an hour until my scanners picked up the same signals from before except on a larger scale. No longer threatened I turned the Chassis around and saw on the scanners a small group of about twenty was hiding over the top of a nearby sand dune.

"Now then you sneaky bastards, let’s get a good look at you..."  I muttered to myself as I ran up the dune, my mechanical feet thumping in the sand alarming the unknowns, and reached the top within seconds. Looking down I saw a small platoon of strange humanoid aliens. It was hard to get a good look without my primary camera operational but I managed to zoom in slightly. They wore scratched and damaged armor but there were signs of the steel armours former glory as it still shined in some places and these unknown creatures wore cloth hoods that hid their faces. If I could harbor a guess from their exposed shells they were bug like in appearance, had hardened Chitin instead of skin and even through their hoods there was a faint green glow, most likely their eyes. They seemed to be soldiers, perhaps from a scavenger or barbaric encampment hidden out in the sands.

"Metal creature! We mean you no harm and wish to speak to you!" One of them shouted. After a while of staring down at them and them staring back I decided I might as well try diplomacy. After all, the number one rule of space exploration is: 'Don't piss off the natives.'

Bringing up a new screen I activated the speakers which slid out of the roof and spoke. "Then speak." I replied. They seemed surprised at my voice, perhaps they were expecting something metallic or gruff?

"We were sent by her majesty Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the Badlands of Equestria. She requests an audience with you. You are welcome to travel with us but any threats or displays of violence will be meet with hostility, being." One of them shouted, clearly the commanding officer by the stained green cape and shield he wore. His voice was masculine and almost sounded scratchy, like two people were trying to talk at once. Their threat was laughable as there was no way they could hurt me, but with no direction to go, allies to support me or even signs of civilization the idea of going with these strange natives grew more and more appealing.

"How do I know you won't turn on me the second I leave my Chassis or try something else? Alien species aren't usually fond of the unknown." I question.

"By my honor and the Queens orders I and my soldiers will not harm you. I take it you are not native to this world Being? Then let me inform you that this is the Badlands, the no-mares land separating Griffonia and Draqlen. It is home to the most hostile creatures known to Changeling kind and this desert stretches on for miles, it would take weeks to make it to either country without a guide, granted you don't run afoul of the bandits, slavers or the many horrors that prowl the dunes." He informed me. I thought about this for awhile. On one hand I would be heading into a possible trap if I go with this motley crew of aliens, or go alone, possibly damage my Chassis, run out of supplies and get hurt. But I could also find survivors...

"Alright, I'll go along with you to see your Queen." I said reluctantly as they visibly relaxed.

"Ok, we will lead the way back to the hive. I promise you will not regret this." The CO told me as we began to walk down the sand dune.

"I better not, for your sake." I said. With a sign I walked along with the warriors in silence.

Vectis  

"This is Captain Vectis of the RADC Phantom, if anyone is out there, please respond..." I repeated into the escape pods radio. Either no one survived re-entry, no one has access to a working radio or everyone collectively decided to screw with me. Sighing, I was about to stand up before I heard something, a faint signal. After a few seconds of turning dials and boosting the receiver I could make it out clearly.

"This is Tyler Faye, Chassis Pilot and designated scout for Fire Team Recon. Is anyone alive out there? Hello?" He sounded fine, tired but fine.

"Tyler, this is Vectis." I said through the radio's mic.

"Vectis? Fuck, I thought you died in re-entry. I haven't been able to contact anyone from Recon but if I can get my long range radar to work I would be able to find them, but it got damaged in re-entry and I don't have the equipment to repair something as bad as this." He informed me.

"Well on the upside at least we know we made it and if an escape pod and a light armored Chassis can make it then I'm sure they can. I crash landed onto a plateau in the middle of a mountain range, where are you?" I asked as I looked out of the cracked window of the escape pod and towards the grey cliffs and rocky terrain, It would be a dangerous trek down to the ground but I could make it.

"I'm in a forest of some kind. Can't really tell what time of day it is, the trees are so damn thick. I managed to find a defensible position to set my camp so I'll be able to spend a few days here if need be. I think I saw a farm a few miles west of the forest. If I'm right then that means there’s a town nearby. Should I make contact with the natives or keep my distance?" He asked.  

"Scout it out first. We are on a world that has never been explored and we have no idea how the natives would react to us. No doubt they would have notice your landing in the forest so I wouldn't stay in one spot for too long. Find a secure location, repair as much of your Chassis and equipment as you can, discover if the locales are friendly and then make first contact only if necessary. The brass will fry my ass if we start a war.” I informed, planning out my next move in my head. “I'm going to start making my way down the mountain. If you need to talk to me connect to my headset. I'm sending the frequency to your Chassis's database now." I ordered him after giving his question some thought.

"Understood sir. Shutting this channel down." He told me as I heard the faint sound of gyros and gears turning in the background. After a few seconds all I could hear was static. Getting up from my chair I turned around and gathered my supplies. I had my now torn blue and gold dress uniform and a basic  trooper helmet. It would suffice for now. My scales were also hard enough to take a bullet or two without the armor so worst case scenario I could go naked if the armor was destroyed. I grabbed my twin pistols and spare clips and strapped them to my belt. The Anaconda revolver and my M1911 where the only weapons I had, thankfully they were strong enough and lightweight, anything bigger would only slow me down. I opened one of the compartments in the roof and pulled out a small hiking bag. Inside was an assortment of supplies including flares, food, water, medical supplies like gauze, a de-sterilizing agent and some small explosives used to clear rubble. With everything I would need for now I opened the escape pods door and emerged into the outside world. Grey stone and silver storm clouds went on for as far as the eye can see, it looked like Limbo. But what surprised me wasn't the lack of vegetation, as I could notice it on some mountains and cliff faces far off on the horizon, but the strange shadows and shapes in the distance. They appeared giant in size and where flying, but whatever they were I could not tell. I stood staring for awhile before I heard a faint screech behind me and decided it would be best to move on more quickly. What ever inhabited these mountains was stirred by my landing and something told me they weren't too fond of visitors. I made my way down a jagged path as the flapping of approaching wings grew louder.