The Olden World

by Czar_Yoshi

Inspection, One

They followed Selma further, leaving the crate room behind and returning to narrow, metal-lined corridors of pipes and grating and harsh manalights that did their best to flicker the moment someone stopped staring directly at them. Gerardo's headcrest swept back, blown by the ventilation to the point where he was ready to sue to have the place's name changed to the Wind District. Sharpie fared even worse, her long, flowing black locks billowing loosely in every direction and frequently sticking to her face. Selma's mane wasn't long enough to garner more than an unkempt frizz, and Howe's was loaded with so much gel and conditioner that it held its shape like a boulder.

"Gah, I h-hate how cold it is in here..." Sharpie shivered, wrapping her wings around herself as she walked. "It's like you keep those stupid fans that high just to keep ponies out!"

Selma nodded as he walked. "They do serve as a defense mechanism, yes. I am from Yakyakistan and thrive in wind and cold. The rest of the Defense Force is comprised only of pegasi, and they tend toward natural resistances to these things." He let one eyebrow rise, eyeing her shuddering form, and added, "Apparently, that does not extend to all. But as the Sosans are used to the heat of the Earth District, they will surely feel it much more than we do."

"Interesting." Gerardo's talons curled around the grated metal floor as he walked, providing ultimate traction against the winds. "As inspector, however, would that not be a potential security vulnerability, if someone were to reach and shut off the fans?"

"Negative." Selma turned a corner, continuing his march. "If the fans were off, it would merely even the field, not act as a disadvantage. And the control room is placed at an easily-defensible choke that would cost any invaders a large amount of resources to break."

"I might like to see this control room later," Gerardo mused, slipping gently into thought.

As he trailed off, Sharpie hissed, "You know, I once wanted to be in the Defense Force to do my part for Ironridge before I was disillusioned and took this job instead. It's your own fault for that pegasus stallions only rule that I'm not a thorn in your side. Ever thought about how much talent you're wasting by being arbitrarily exclusive?"

"You?" Selma chuckled. "A thorn in my side? Don't make me laugh." As Sharpie's face stretched in a snarl, he added, "I've thought about it a lot, and that's precisely why the rule is there. A basic rule of combat is that pegasi beat earth ponies through superior speed and mobility, earth ponies beat unicorns through greater strength and resilience, and unicorns beat pegasi by blasting them out of the sky, as a certain griffon is undoubtedly familiar with. Now, observe who the sole unicorn in the Defense Force is."

Gerardo's eyes widened. "That is... quite devious. You constructed your army specifically with the intent of winning a one-on-one with each and every one of your soldiers? Engineered it with a critical flaw you could exploit to save your own skin in the event of betrayal? How many of them even know that was the reason for that factor in their hiring?"

"I'm a pegasus too," Sharpie grumbled, pushing her mane out of her face.

Selma didn't even look back. "Ah, yes. The No Mares rule. Stallions only are so the fortress doesn't contain anyone for Valey to flirt with."

Sharpie and Gerardo sighed at exactly the same time. "That is the pettiest excuse for discrimination I have ever heard," Gerardo muttered. "Though, I suppose, it is your militia."

"Pettiness is the lesser half of it," Selma answered, still marching straight ahead. "Valey is toxic to the structure of this organization. I can't fire her, so by giving her as big an incentive as possible to occupy herself elsewhere in the city, her interference is minimized instead. Any step that can be taken to keep her out is a step toward granting the Defense Force some semblance of efficiency so we can respond to crises as needed, fulfill our obligation to Ironridge and not have a repeat of last night."

Straightening his neck, he continued marching. "It wasn't always like this. When I implemented that rule three years ago, the difference was one of the biggest I have ever seen in my career."

"...Your internal politics are very strange," Gerardo admitted, blinking. "Where's Howe?"

"Right here, boss!" Howe piped from the back of the procession. "Figured I'd let you important types do the talking on this one, and all. Did you miss the sound of my lovely voice?"

"'Miss' is very much the wrong word, but yes, I did notice your unusual silence," Gerardo replied. "It was a welcome change. Please, do carry on."

"No need," Selma interrupted. "We are here."

---

With the swish of a card key and a hiss of moving metal, a door swung open, bathing the room beyond in light. Selma entered first, horn brightening in intensity until the entire room was lit.

Gerardo's eyes eagerly swept it, tracing the forest of thick pipes rising from the floor as they threaded their way into the stalactite-laden ceiling. The walls were all bare stone, with the roughness and shape of a natural cave, the metal-framed door in which he stood the only link back to the industrial fortress. A smattering of half-opened crates and discarded tools lined the walls, and he instantly stepped forward, beginning to search.

"They aren't there," Selma droned as Gerardo poked at a box and discovered a logo.

"I am well aware..." Gerardo hissed to himself, brain clocking into overdrive. This was what he should have been thinking about on their walk from the elevator: he was a detective, and needed to detect. Up until then, his plan of action had been pitifully obvious to the point where it was Selma doing all the work, and without being proactive that would never end in success. He needed to find a card to play, and he needed it soon.

The sound of wings fluttering passed overhead, and he momentarily noted Sharpie's suited body flitting around the pipes. Instead of looking up after her, he began to check another crate, pretending not to notice when Selma spoke again. "Do you really think I would leave your things in the first room you would have me take you to? This inspection is going nowhere fast..."

"Up here!" Sharpie suddenly chimed.

Gerardo looked up to see her hovering by a pipe, indicating something attached to the surface. Spreading his own wings, he kicked off the ground and drew level beside her. "What have we here?"

"See for yourself," she said, poking at what appeared to be a darkened glass dome with a metal base, bolted onto the pipe and leaving a braided wire running off to the shadows of the ceiling.

"This can't be..." Focusing hard, Gerardo stared into the surface, and thought he made out a darker spot beneath the glass. "Is it a security camera?"

"The entire facility is constantly monitored," Selma remarked. "Real-time video is available anywhere, and recordings are kept for twenty-four hours."

Gerardo's eyebrows rose. "Is there any chance we might be able to see such recordings?"

With a wordless nod, Selma turned and exited the door, beckoning them to follow with a hoof.

Comments

[RoboRed]

[Cold Bolt]

"I've thought about it a lot, and that's precisely why the rule is there. A basic rule of combat is that pegasi beat earth ponies through superior speed and mobility, earth ponies beat unicorns through greater strength and resilience, and unicorns beat pegasi by blasting them out of the sky, as a certain griffon is undoubtedly familiar with."

I've thought about this too, and he's got the right of it, I'd say. Airborne pegasi can stay out of an earth pony's range easily, unless they're carrying a projectile weapon - but a bow, crossbow, or firearm would be very difficult to wield by mouth and hoof alone. Earth ponies are much stronger and hardier than unicorns, and I believe I heard once that the card game says they're naturally magic resistant; I owe Selma's overpowering of Maple to his abundant skill (and her distinct lack thereof). Meanwhile, unicorns have built-in ranged capability for making pegasus mobility all but useless.

...There's a chance I've been thinking about this a little too much.

[Czar_Yoshi]

9020563 Overthinking is good! This story is absolutely packed with tiny connections and background details like that, and if anyone notices and comments on something that truly doesn't make sense, odds are I'll turn it into a plot point down the road anyway. I spend incredible amounts of time thinking about this, as well.

And yeah, Maple has no experience as a fighter, and Selma has a lot. It's an advantage, not a guarantee.

[bronyheat]

Stallions only are so the fortress doesn't contain anyone for Valey to flirt with.

The one sentence out of Selma's mouth so far I know is 100% truth!

[sploopy slooder]

it would be pretty amusing to see the footage of starlight just poofing into existence out of nowhere, considering noone saw her teleport into the box. just a random ass child appearing in the middle of a fortress.