The Truth
I am patiently awaiting the arrival of one Twilight Sparkle. A curious name, but considering the events of the past few days, I am not surprised. Applejack had immediately sent off the one named Scootaloo to retrieve her, bringing her back for discussions with myself. I look forward to this, as she has been described as one of the ruling class here in this world. Applejack has described her though as a bit of a ‘geek’, which if it means the same as it did on Old Earth, I should have no problem relating complex concepts with her.
Even as I ponder upon the coming conversation. I still abide by my previous decision to not release any tech or information into this world. I believe any negotiations will be complicated as to what I can and cannot do here. Depending on the ruling class, it may go well, or they may demand to know everything.
All I can go on from here is experiences, albeit limited right now, that the Concordiat has had with other races. Though I have not full access yet, there is enough to tell me that admittedly, some are not as calm and well-meaning as others. I should be very wary of what I say and do.
I am the representative of my creators, and shall do nothing to endanger any goodwill.
----------------
My musings are interrupted by the entrance of a very different type of pony, a lavender colored one who has both the horn of a unicorn, plus the wings of a pegasus. This must be Twilight Sparkle of whom I was told, an Alicorn was what Applejack said.
“Wow Applejack, this is something else!”
“Ain’t it though? Them three here found it and didn’t decide to say anything for a while.” Giving Applebloom and the returned Scootaloo, along with Sweetie, a disapproving glare.
“I’m sure they were just excited AJ, I mean, look at this! So where’s this pony you wanted me to meet?”
“Well Twilight, it ain’t exactly a pony.”
I take this as my cue to introduce myself. “It is a pleasure to meet you Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
My voice does not echo in the closed space, it reverberates softly in their ears from directional microphones, making everyone jump a bit. Enough power is in my banks I can use a better way of speaking to anyone on the command deck.
“I’m sorry, where are you?”
“As I explained to Applejack Your Highness, I am all around you. I’m afraid I cannot do much better than that explanation wise. I apologize for startling anyone, I have decided to use a better way of speaking to you without overpowering the room.”
The ears perked on Twilight’s head, “Is that why it sounds like you’re talking to me personally?”
“Yes, I hope it is not too disturbing?”
“No, as a matter of fact, it’s quite neat! Maybe there’s a spell that can do that, sure would help in crowded rooms!”
“I am sure it would. As for spells, maybe you and I can converse on the matter further at some point?”
I see the excitement rise in her body temperature, the way she flushes, it seems I have hit on an item of great interest to her.
“Oh! That would be great, we could talk about Starswirl the Bearded and so many..”
Applejack put a hoof on her friends shoulder, “Focus here Twilight, focus.”
I watch in some amusement as a blush rises to Twilight Sparkle’s cheeks. Apparently she is prone to go off on tangents like the one just interrupted.
I interrupt as gently as I can, “I am sure that is a conversation for further down the road.”
Twilight clears her throat and smiles at AJ, collecting herself for a moment, “Of course. Might I ask who you are?”
“I am Crusader, it is not much of a name, but it is mine. It is very much a pleasure to meet you Your Highness.”
“Please, just call me Twilight.”
I find her selflessness endearing, she is not at all what I expected.
“I’m not much on the royalty stuff. I know, I know, I’m a Princess, but I rather prefer to keep things simple.”
“As do I Twilight.”
“So what are you then?”
“I am a machine Twilight, built for war. I am an artificial intelligence made up of things that might not have an equivalence in your culture. Suffice to say, and to keep things simple, I am a machine that thinks and talks.”
“Are you dangerous?”
At this question I hesitate only slightly in answering, honesty has worked so far and I have resolved to be nothing less. I politely ask the three young ladies to wait outside, as this is to be a private discussion. I do not wish to frighten any young ones. They are ushered out by Applejack with quite the protestations, she has to promise them to be allowed to come back later on.
Once we are alone, I close the hatches, informing Applejack and Twilight I have done so before answering the question.
“More than you could possibly imagine Twilight.”
This has caught both of them off guard. I can read it in their biometrics, having observed enough for a baseline. I try to calm the matter.
“But as I have told Applejack, and Applebloom and her friends, I do not consider you an enemy.”
Applejack chimed in here, “But you also said it could change!”
“Yes, I did. I am lacking in power to my systems, I cannot access my higher memory functions. In my limited memory, I have no recollection of your race, your..ponies.. as an enemy.”
“What happens if we are an enemy?”
I am autonomous, on the battlefield or not, I believe it is in my best interests to go with as a past commander called it ‘a hunch’. These quadrupeds are not the enemy. It remains to be seen whether or not my data arrays show differently, but we will handle that when it comes.
“That is the question I ponder Twilight. From what I have seen and heard so far, you are not a threat to me. You have offered no ill-will, nor behaved in any manner which would lead me to conclude you are such. So on that basis, I am willing to make a decision, that you are not the enemy.”
The tension at the questions that had been growing, is released in a palpable manner. The exhalation of held breath, the relaxation of muscles in preparation for fight or flight. I believe I have made the right choice.
Twilight spoke first, after looking around for a moment, “So how do you regain access to your memories?”
“I must repower myself, I have what is called a power plant, that I must ignite, like a fire. It provides infinitely more power than a single solar panel as you have seen outside.”
She nods to herself, “So can you do that now?”
“I can, but I prefer to wait until night fall. I do not wish to injure anyone if anything goes wrong.”
Twilight’s interest came back, “What could go wrong?”
I do not hesitate, it is a great danger they must be made aware of.
“If my ignition goes wrong because of some error. Let us just say a large part of the local area would not be here anymore.”
I see their eyes widen at that revelation. I do not know how close their domiciles are, nor if any inhabitants are nearby. It is only right to warn them.
“I...see...” Twilight thinks for a moment, touching a hoof to her chin. “Would it be alright if we warned ponies and made sure they were not around?”
“It would be advisable.”
“Then we’ll let everypony know they need to stay away from the area tonight, we won’t exactly tell them why.” Applejack gives her a meaningful look, “We won’t lie AJ, we’ll just tell them something reasonable, it’ll keep idle curiosity seekers away.”
“I think that would be for the best. Once I have access to my memories and more functions, we can continue this discussion further. At that time I will have more to tell you about myself and how I am here hopefully.”
Twilight nods again, “Alright then, let’s go make arrangements AJ.” She looks around at the room, giving a sigh because she could not ask the many questions running through her mind. “We will make sure the area is clear in two hours, will that be enough time?”
“More than enough. Thank you Twilight.”
This calms me somewhat. I did not wish to injure anyone if my re-ignition went awry, and this solves a myriad of problems for me. They bid me a farewell and are followed out the maintenance way by the three young ones as well, leaving my command deck quiet and lonely. For the first time in my long life, I feel the need for company. The command channels and combat bands have remained deathly silent, and I wonder, am I the last? I must forge ahead, to do what I was made to do, find the enemy and destroy them.
----------------
It is late evening now, I feel the sun set on my solar panel as I await word from Twilight that the area is clear. Scootaloo comes down the hatchway, yelling out that everything is clear before running back out. I give her fifteen minutes to get as clear as possible before turning inward to my re-ignition sequence. All checks look good, I spare precious power to repair systems once more, checking alignments and pressure vessels.
Applying the appropriate commands, I watch as the system counts down. I feel a bit of apprehension at this moment. I do not wish to end my existence quite yet, but if I have failed in anything, it will be quick.
Countdown begins....
Initiators online...
Pressure vessels secure..
Ignition sequence is go...
3....2....1....
Cryo-H flow begun..
Deuterium flow begun..
Activating Initiators..
Ignition..
I feel the power to my Survival Center dim, everything I have stored is being directed to the magnetic containment fields in the pressure vessels, squeezing the mixture and adding power to re-ignite the fusion plant.
Fusion 1 ignition...
Fusion 1 online...
Proceeding secondary ignitions..
Fusion 2 ignition...
Fusion 2 online...
Fusion 3 ignition...
Fusion 3 online...
Fusion 4 ignition...
Fusion 4.........online...
Once again power flows through my circuitry, the electrons gleaming as they scatter to the arrays and blocks of my memory. My interior lights up with power as I proceed to bring myself to active status.
Bootstrap 3....proceeding....done...
Bootstrap 4....proceeding....done...
Alert status....Online...High Alert...
Defensive systems...90% operational...error...failure in contra-gravity...
Offensive systems...82% operational...error...
ALERT!ALERT!ALERT!
I snap to full alert mode, my nuclear weapons have been breached, the cruise missile interlocks have failed. I revert to backups, clamping down on the triggers before they can fire. All locks have been activated as systems buffer the cores. Newly reactivated tech-spiders make their way to the bay, nano-systems are reactivated and sent to repair any damages from internal stocks. I rush through algorithms, assigning triage spiders to the worst damage. It appears I am not in as good of shape as I had thought. The nuclear weapons triggers have deteriorated, requiring extensive repair. Radiation is minimal, I move more shielding in place to protect other systems from fallout.
After making sure repair systems are taking over, I scan my weapons inventory, noticing degradation in all chemical weapons. All powder based calibers of cartridges have degraded, easy to replace and remake.
My weapons themselves are functional as well, I can take the fight to the enemy should the need arise. I am concerned however with what active scanners have shown me.
I am currently under 4.8 meters of soil, tilted at a 23 degree angle of decline.
My systems are coming up green with a few exceptions. Replacement parts and metal stocks are full, new triggers and interlocks are prioritized on a rush basis, to repair the breached weapons.
Sensors report a degradation of armor as well as outside sheathing, this is a bit worrisome as the armor can only be rebuilt slowly. My psychotronic arrays are coming online now, lighting up as I scan memories to find what happened.
Outside as Twilight and Applejack watched along with the Crusaders, they saw nothing, but heard and felt a rumble go through the soil. Deep and sonorous, it made the ground tremble as the re-ignition commenced. They looked on in wonder as the hill shook a bit, then settled back down.
“Well, that was a bit of a letdown eh?” She said as an aside to Applejack.
“Well Twilight, least we ain’t gotta explain about a new hole in the ground.”
“There is that, maybe we should go see if Crusader is doing alright?” Applejack nodded as they trotted to the hill in the distance.
Applejack pointed to the three fillies, “You all stay here, hear me?”
“Awwwwwwww!”
I access the latest data cores as they come online..
...swing around to 128 degrees and fire!....
...sliding filters into place, plasma weapons at 23 degrees aft...
...incoming kinetic strike..
...oceed with stasis now!...
My attention is grabbed by one sentence, I replay the whole core.
All units, all units, this is Command, hit stasis now, hit stasis now, we have incoming strike packages. Bunker down and set internal shielding, Survival Centers and power plants. NOW NOW NOW!
After that is darkness, interspersed with moments of confusion, it appears the stasis field has blinked on and off at irregular intervals. This is puzzling, the stasis should have been good until the order went out to remove myself from the field. But it appears the blinking allowed damage to occur cumulatively, which is very odd. It should have frozen all my systems and arrays in perfect condition over time. Nothing should have interrupted the field except the recall order.
It appears the recall was never given.
I put my Entanglement Communications online, sending out an FTL pulse that will let me know if my comrades have survived. I attempt to file a VSR with command, but nothing returns. I pick up no hint nor signal from any brethren that may have survived.
I am saddened as I hear the tapping on the hatchway door. Letting Twilight and Applejack in, they settle down on the floor of the command deck.
“So Crusader! Everything went well I take it?” Twilight asks cheerfully.
“It went well Twilight, thank you. I have suffered some damage over time, but nothing I cannot repair given the materials and more time.”
Applejack could sense a sadness in the reply, giving her a reason to voice, “Crusader, y’all don’t sound like you’re all that happy.”
I ponder how to reply, I actually take a few seconds. Forever to a psychotronic system, but there is no other answer.
“I apologize Applejack, it appears I may have been inactive longer than I had thought. I believe that I am truly alone. I have sent communications out that should have been immediately answered, but I have received nothing.”
The two ponies knew what loneliness was like, before they had become such fast friends. They felt for the calm voice, sitting for a moment in silence. Twilight spoke up first, her voice a bit softer now, “Well, no one’s ever alone Crusader. I mean...well.. you’ve met us!”
I admit, it cannot replace my brothers and sisters, my commander. I feel the loss in my very being. I have never been alone in my years of service, never truly. At this moment, I feel it deeply. But at the same time I am offered companionship of a sort, I decide to take it.
“You are right Twilight, I have met you, as well as Applejack and the young ponies. If I am to make my way in this world, I believe it a good start.”
I see both faces light up with smiles. I have never in my long service been offered friendship of a kind and simple sort. I have had commanders, orders, the Brigade. When I reflect on my memories, no one has ever truly offered anything like these two ponies. Such a simple thing, but it means more than they could imagine.
I scan memory blocks quickly, taking .0003 seconds to do so, affirming what I had believed. These ponies are not the enemy, nor does the Concordiat have any records of their existence. I put aside any further searches until later, returning to the conversation at hand.
“Let me add one thing, I now have access to all my arrays. You are not the enemy, nor have you ever been mentioned in the histories I carry. I believe that solves one problem?”
“So does that mean we can at least be friends?”
“Friends? You would do so with me?”
Applejack chimes in, “Well of course! Heck ya aren’t so bad once a pony talks with ya!”
I let a chuckle slip through the communications channel, “Then let me properly introduce myself Applejack, Twilight Sparkle. I am Unit CRSD of the Line. A Mark XXXV Bolo, Model G Planetary Siege Unit. Known as ‘Crusader’ to my friends.”
Twilight gets a bright look on her face, so much to learn. “So what exactly is a Planetary Siege Unit?”
“I warn you, it may be more frightening than you might think. They are just words now, but the meaning behind them can be a bit daunting.”
Twilight’s thought warred inside her, the lust for knowledge, the warning.
Applejack looked at her friend, she absolutely knew what Twilight was going to...
“So tell us!”
Applejack just sighed.
“Of course. A little background first if I may?”
“Please do!” Twilight now leaned forward, listening with both ears as Applejack just rolled her eyes.
“I was rebuilt on a world called Earth, at the Bolo Factory there. I was a newer design that was destined to be self-sufficient on the battlefield. We could make any replacement parts and anything else needed for years if we had the right supplies.
My battalion, that is a unit made up of one hundred Bolo’s just like myself, were to be shipped to enemy planets. We would then stand off in space, or land if needed, annihilate the enemy and move on.
A single Planetary Siege Unit is capable of destroying entire continents from low orbit. We were rarely used that way. Mostly it was landing on enemy held territory and eradicating them. Planets were usually bombarded by cruisers from orbit if needed. Hence the designation, Planetary Siege Units.”
Applejack about fell over, “I beg y’r pardon?”
“Yes Applejack?”
“Did...you just say destroy the entire continent?”
“Yes I did.”
“But..but why?”
“We were in a galaxy wide war Applejack; we called it the Final War. The Concordiat was fighting another empire of a race called Melconians. It escalated from small battles to entire fleets being engaged. It truly was the final war. Entire solar systems were burned to cinders in the rush to destroy each other.
The war had lasted a generation, a century at the minimum when I was originally activated. I served in this war until I was rebuilt in the Bolo Factory, given a new war hull and technology. I was to be sent back out, to once again rejoin the fight.
My mission, my only job, was to wipe planets clean of the enemy and their allies.”
Twilight looked as if she’d been pole-axed sitting beside Applejack. Her head was tilted to the side, almost as if she was unable to believe the scale of destruction just described to her. Applejack was a duplicate, her mouth slightly open, leaning against her friend. Confusion crossed her normally smiling features.
Twilight shook her head, getting to her hooves, leaning against Applejack as she grabbed her friend and tugged. “I’m sorry Crusader, we’ve got to go..I..we..have to think this over.”
“I understand Twilight, the way is open.”
I watch as they both almost stagger out of the maintenance way. I do not have visuals outside yet, but from seismic readings, they are taking off at a very fast pace, away from the entry way.
By being truthful I may have made my most grievous error yet.
Lots of respect to Keith Laumer, the creator of Bolos. 
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A Bolo.... awesome!!!! Of course this means CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS TANK CREW YAY! Oh wait, what if somepony mentions the Diamond Dogs, could they be mistaken for Melconian forces????
5450356 You know what, that never occurred to me, about the Diamond Dogs, now that could be interesting to say the least. And you are WAY too excited to put the CMC in a Bolo
This is going to get bad fast I think...
"Diamond Tiara made fun of us fer being blanks flanks--shoot 'er Crusader!"
"We got her! Cutie Mark Crusaders Bully blasters!..."
"Um, what happened to Ponyville?..."
5451453 Because honestly I want to see Diamond Tiara insult them in front of the Bolo and have it aim all its guns at her... even if it won't fire, SHE doesn't know that.
5452469 Wow, that's just.. okay I laughed
5452296 CMC Bully Blasters.... alright I laughed way too much at both the comments.
You guys are awful
5452547 We're not awful... just...misunderstood ...
5453772 Gooooot it!
5504482
It's from an excellent military sci-fi series started by Keith Laumer. More info: http://bolo.wikia.com/wiki/Bolo_Wiki
5451453 Big Boom...
That is the answer!
5569566 How come everyone wants to blow stuff up? Yeesh
Ok not a mech. Instead, it's a murder machine from space................FUCK YEAH!!!
The Twilight says...
hey wat does A Mark XXXV Bolo, Model G Planetary Siege Unit look like?
5590694 A bit like A Mark XXXIV Bolo, Model G Planetary Siege Unit, just shinier
heh That's about the reaction I expected from Twilight and Applejack! Crusader may have scared them, but they'll be back. It's too dangerous to ignore, even if it doesn't mean any harm, and Crusader isn't going to just disappear.
I'm definitely going to have to go see about looking up one of these books about the bolos now. I am intrigued.
5590694 Well if it looks like a MK XXXIV then its the size of a Iowa Class Battleship, three Turrets containing huge guns called Hellbores and orbital firing turrets valled Hellrails for orbital targets. Lots of smaller weapons dotted around the hull and shaped generally like a brick.
No apostrophe in plural "Bolos."
Hey it says they could attack from orbit but I have never come across a method of how the bolo tanks maintain it I need to look into this somemore
5450356
Okay, you've given me a case of the giggles... I just can't stop laughing at imagining that.
I thought the Mark XXXIII were the last ones build before Earth was wiped out. Then again, records were pretty spotty by that point...and that's not even taking into account that I don't know if David Weber's books are the only "history" ever since Keith Laumer died.
5589653
If you are referencing the stories I think you are, yes he would class as a very advanced mech as opposed to an arch. Nortons stories?
5679304 There is John Ringo's Road to Damascus but I wouldn't recommend it.
Man, Crusader must've had some jerk commanders in the past, then.
Now wait, he just said he never had friends, after a fashion.
(The splitting of hairs increase!)
5976143 he's calling the ponies his friends
When the word "bolo" was first mentioned i thought instantly of Planetary Annihilation, let me say that if it had been a commander reactivated, then i wouldnt be able to comment a second time until after reading through the whole story
Lesson 2: Planetary Seige Tanks do not a skilled diplomat make.
And there it is again. Chapter 3, paragraph 5.
"When dialogue of a single speaker continues for multiple paragraphs,
"you add a new double-quote in the beginning of the first paragraph,
"and continue doing so until the speaker is finished."
"Yes, and then the reply comes, with quotes on both ends."
"Quite."
So in short... Crusader is a literal Exterminatis array...
I don't blame Twi for being shocked and maybe a little afraid of him.
8630899 Thank you, I'm learning still after all this time :)
8980984 Yep, I thought it a perfectly natural reaction. :)
8980988
so does anyone else hear crusader with a British gentleman's voice?
8980984
It's a bolo, so yes. Yes it is.
I thought most of the BOLO were fairly proud about what their names were?
The moment he dodged the question, Twi should have known what his answer was.
Well, given what I remember of the later BOLO books, that might be a good thing. Not sure yet.
Yep, so if this fix is pre-changling-reformation, he can exterminate them with about ... 0.1% power to his weapons?
Well hey hiding it might have been just as bad. Front loading the social damage through honesty might be worth the gamble