Innavedr

by Imploding Colon

Shinra McClane Darpa

"Whew!" Kera gasped, her body thumping across the aluminum interior of the a/c shaft. "This is worse than when I was funneled down the Xonan birth canals!"

Belle gasped from where she crawled directly behind her. "Xonans shove their foals down metal chutes?!"

"Nah." Kera giggled. "I just wanted to get your reaction. Snkkkt-heeheehee..."

"Nnnngh..." Belle frowned. "Kera..."

"Ladies..." Phoenix coughed from behind the two. "A little less chatting a little more shuffling?"

"I don't even know where this darn thing goes," Kera mumbled.

"What?" Phoenix balked. "But I thought you knew the place!"

"Oh, yeah! I totally know the elevator and the hallways!" Kera flung a frown back as she shuffled over a grated vent. "But that all went flank over elbow the very moment you threw us up here, Einstallion!"

"Hey, I was only trying to—!"

"Shhh!" Belle insisted. "Everypony! Quiet!"

"What is it, Miss Bellesmith?" Phoenix whispered.

Wincing, Belle silently pointed straight ahead.

Kera glanced down and immediately grimaced, for she was perched right over the air vent looking into a brightly-lit meeting room. The heads and flanks of several business ponies could be seen sitting down at a long table with Nightshade positioned at the head.

"Alright, ladies and gentlecolts," Nightshade spoke with authoritative presence. "Let us cut to the quick..." Everypony below hushed as she stole the entire room's attention.

"Kera... be absolutely silent," Belle murmured, practically mouthed. She turned and looked back at Phoenix. "Can... we... double back...?"

Phoenix shook his head and mouthed, "I checked."

Belle bit her lip. Looking forward, she motioned Kera along with a gentle hoof.

Trembling, Kera suddenly showed her foalish qualities. Gulping, she inched herself forward, sliding along her chest like an inchworm. Bellesmith and Phoenix followed swiftly behind, struggling not to make a sound or else alert the bodies below.

Down below, the meeting continued, seemingly ignorant of the rogue trio shuffling above.

"The zeppelin that crashed into our facility was one of ours—in that it was constructed at one of our shipyards," Nightshade's voice said. "It's a small transport skiff: gas powered with support manathrusters."

"Commercial, Industrial, or Military?" an executive asked.

"Military." Voices muttered in the room below as Nightshade continued. "The craft was undoubtedly used as a miniature freight transport. Perhaps for relocating troops in small numbers."

"Was it... was it hijacked?"

"That is what Overseer Fatch and the security detachment are trying to determine. Right now, the eyewitness accounts are mixed. Some of the intervening guards say that there was only one equine present during the assault. Others are saying that there were two."

"Wait, it was an assault?"

"That appears to be the case. The zeppelin didn't immediately crash into the facility. Much rather, it idled up to the building, waited for a patrol skiff to show up, upon which there was... an attack of sorts. Metaphysical."

"Metaphysical?"

"The perpetrator displayed amazing mana-conductive capabilities. Our guards were quite literally attacked with magical thunderbolts emanating from the individual's crown."

"Was it natural? Or something augmented?"

"Fatch so far is suspecting an augment."

"Then that means..."

"Yes. This could very well be aftermath from the breakout at the Deep Ridge facility."

"Deep Ridge... it's hard to believe that any of the subjects would have survived a trek for this long," an executive uttered. "What exactly brought the equine here?"

"And why?"

Nightshade's voice sighed as the group above passed over another grate. "So far, the subject hasn't responded much to interrogation. He is proving to be... difficult, to say the least. I've authorized Fatch to incorporate more emphatic forms of communication." Her body leaned forward over the edge of the table. "But we have reason to believe that the subject was acquired from one of the airship possessions."

"You mean for the transport east?!" a stallion barked. "The timing is uncanny!"

Another executive spoke up. "There has to be another angle to this besides one vengeful equine. Perhaps this is all a plot."

"A plot by who?"

"Why, the Council of Ledo, of course! They're onto us! They can't send Enforcers in without proper search warrants, so they're trying to interefere the roundabout way!"

"Now, we have no proof of that. We need to continue as scheduled. We're behind on the project enough as it is."

"But if it's actually them, and they discovered and made allies with the survivors of Deep Ridge—"

"Gentlecolts, please..." Nightshade raised a hoof as she silenced the crowd. "What matters right now is that the ring team is properly equipped to finish with their channeling. Hopefully, the think tank in our northeast branch will have provided us proper housing for the energy beacon."

"Were they affected at all by the zeppelin incident with the Deep Ridge survivor?"

"No, thankfully. They are still in one piece. I wish I didn't have to rely on them, but—as you all well know—this damned war has consumed the best of our brightest minds. And on that note..." She shuffled out from the table and trotted towards the far end of the room where a door lay waiting. "I must go visit Novus."

"Your brother? With all due respect, Madame!" An executive sat up, exclaiming, "We're in a crisis right now! Things are going down to the wire enough as it is with the ring team and the project. If we're expected to deliver this beacon back east, then how can we accomplish it with you distracted—"

"This is not a distraction!" Nightshade suddenly thundered, shaking the walls and the ceiling of the place. Even the metal walls of the air vents shook around the three ponies, making them freeze in fear. "The beacon is the distraction!" she shot daggers at her subordinate with hard blue eyes beneath her sun hat. "My brother has given more than anyone else in this corporation... in this family! If you respect me, then you will respect him, for it is in honor of his indomitable spirit that this project was ever first engaged!"

The executive in question melted from her glare. "Yes, M-Madame," he stammered in a wilted manner. "I am sorry for questioning you."

"And you have my pardon," she said, her voice calm yet still resolute. "Remember, what we do here is for our future, and for the future of all ponies. Sir Ordo is seeing to the ring team. I want you to prepare two messages. One for the citizens of Blue Nova, to keep their minds at ease. And another for Seclorum..."

"Prime Enforcer Seclorum?" a pony spoke up. "What do you wish us to tell him?"

"What else?" Nightshade took a deep breath, turned around, and opened the sliding door to the next room. "That we are delivering him the bane of Xonans that he's always asked for..."

As the room quieted down below, Phoenix and Belle exchanged curious glances. Kera shuffled ahead, and they both swiftly squirmed to catch up.

Comments

[Cynderfall]

What is going on!

[Wobble]

Hmm, interesting. I'm sticking to my theory on it being a nuke of some sorts.

[Jake The Army Guy]

Beacon? What beacon?

Ten burpees. Yippie-kai-yay, mother bucker. Knock 'em out!

[RoboRed]

And thus, news of Pilate's arrival passes to Belle's group. Shame she doesn't know it yet.

[dragonridergoku]

We now have confirmation from Nightshade herself that Floydien is alive. Now Belle needs to figure out about Pilate. I cant wait until we figure out that RD was supposed to be the "bane of Xonans" and Nightshade meets Shell. I wonder who would win, Seclorum or Shell. Im also curious about these Deep Ridge survivors Floydien seems to be one of.

[That_one_guy]

Nightshade fills me with dread. She's so unlike the earlier antagonists, she is clearly utterly competent.

[Personifire]

I do wonder about Novus. We've yet to meet him. I don't even know what to expect!

[terrycloth]

This is giving me definite 'Full Metal Alchemist' vibes. They're making a philosopher's stone?

[Tom the bomb]

Wow... Could they have found out a way to use pure chaos as a weapon? Will Dash power it? Will it be a bomb or is it just unleashing Chaos Dash on a certain group and then using some sort of force to subdue her...

[Emberspeak]

Wait a second. The Deep Ridge facility was run by Nightshade. Does this mean that Nightshade were involved in Blue Shelf? If so, why were enforcers aware of it/allowed to take it over?
It might be that Ledo and Nightshade both have secret research facilities, which emphasises that division between the council and Nightshade.

Eh.

Anywho, I was half expecting that ventilation shaft to break whilst they were shuffling along above the meeting. I mean seriously, why wouldn't you just stop until they had disbanded rather than risk being heard?

[durandana]

This is my favorite chapter title so far.

"C'mon Belle! We gotta find the DARPA chief before the terrorists activate the bomb!" Kera frantically whispered.
"Okay, okay, but how? Where? Where do we start?"
"Why not use the directional microphone to listen in on those guards?" Phoenix suggested.

And then Rude & Reno show up.

[Lightning Bearer]

So apparently, Floydien is alive. Also, am I mistaken, or did those Nightshade goons that Belle ran into in the wilderness mention something about this "Ridgeside" place?

We also get more insight on Nightshade. As is par for the course, I've been wrong on a few things. For one, they're not trying to help the Xonans, or pit both sides against each other for their own profit, as I'd earlier theorized. And for another, they're not running the Council of Ledo like I thought (though I'd be surprised if they wasn't some corruption there). I'm still wondering what their angle is. I mean, if they really wanted to help in the war effort and defeat the Xonans, why would the Council be so hostile to them? What relationship, if any, do they have with Blue Shelf? Shell doesn't seem like the corporate crony type, so I don't think he works for them. Others have theorized that the Dash and her stay in Blue Shelf somehow ties into Nightshade's secret weapon, but things aren't seeming to add up for me, unless I'm just missing something. And what about Belle? A brilliant unicorn with a horn broken in a manner ponies seem to associate with Nightshade is given a fake death (apparently with her having no memory of it) and just happens to end up at Blue Shelf.

Also, I'm assuming this "think tank" is Props, Clark, and Ebon.

Gosh, I love conspiracy crap like this!

[Jake The Army Guy]

2660085

Oh, don't misunderstand, it hurt like a bitch, and I was sore as shit afterwards.

But I did it.

[Honeytiger]

Dammit Nightshade, you are why we can't have nice things.

[FloydienSlip]

I was expecting them to fall through that vent the entire chapter...

Also, Floydien is alive, albeit being very uncooperative. I like that.

Was Nightshade involved with Blue Shelf? Could that be the real reason why Ebon and Props know Belle?

[zaponator]

Okay, so they weren't making a cage for Dash. I wonder what this beacon could be then...

[Nevlamas]

2658905 From the sound of it, something like the God Emperor from Warhammer 40K, or the Manns from Team Fortress. This sentence

for it is in honor of his indomitable spirit that this project was ever first engaged!

is what leads me to that opinion. I am absolutely positive that he is clinging to life. This does of course shed an entirely new light on Nightshade: all these experiments she does to safe her brother. Now I wonder how Kera and co. are related to that. Also, it means she has a weak spot: fanatic love.

Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse, and that all that they cling to shall fade to black.

[The Great Turnip]

This doesn't bode well for Floydien. I s'pose he should have just asked politely instead of hijacking a zepplin and engaging in electrifying aerial warfare.

Nightshade is competent and seems somewhat sane. I like that in a mar- villain. Novus sounds like her weakness, however.

[AppleTank]

2661808
Famous scientist.
Like how we know who Einstein is.

[Riverwing]

2661808 As was I. Kera in particular.

[MellowMabari]

As sinister as Madame Nightshade is, I can't take her completely seriously because of her sunhat. I'm sure beneath it lurks evil the depths of which I cannot fathom, but still...sunhat. If Dash ever faces her I'm expecting some witty/nonsensical one-liners on how stealing berets was a lot cooler.

Also, a beacon, hmmm? And they're planning on going East? Well, at least if Dash is captured again she'll be heading in the right direction, which I suppose is a lot better than being Discord-i-fied in a tomb a gazillion miles below the surface.

[kihutaja]

There seems to be some interesting backstory for Novus. I get the impression he's ill or permanently injured after some accident.

I'm happy that Floyden's alive. BTW, he is not an "equine"...

[dashie76]

IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!

So this chapter was riddled with mystery.  You do not know how much I was SCREAMING at Nightshade to mention a zebra while Belle was listening in.  Also, I suppose that Floydien has now been captured, unfortunately.  If he was going after Nancy Jane, then what was he planning to accomplish with being captured?  He doesn't seen like the type of character who would get kidnapped in that way...but anyways, now we've got a ring team and a southeastern beacon involved in mysterious project.  My guess is that the ring team must be directing the beacon towards the Xonan warfront in the southeast.  As a weapon against the enemy or an aid for Ledomare's forces, most likely.  Also, that title - I suppose that Imploding had to run out of ideas eventually.  And now we get to meet Nightshade's presumably injured brother.  Joy!  These are my thoughts so far.

-MASH

[whizzball1]

Nightshade will be a very formidable opponent. Also, I thought she was going to mention a zebra like 50 times throughout that chapter

-Spirit

[JustAnotherTimeLord]

This is interesting indeed.

[Zecoro]

at least we know floydian is alive.

[Regidar]

All this air vent crawlin', giving me Half-Life flashbacks...

Finished up Dark Side of the Moon! Over halfway done with Pink Floyd's Discog!

[Tim the Planes-pony]

A conspiracy that is going to be burst wide open I see.

[Hazard]

I could only imagine how fruitless interrogating floydien would be.

[UglyTurnip]

I wonder when Pilate and Belle will reunite...

[djthomp]

So, a useful eavesdropping opportunity?

Make that very useful.

[Ditherer the Fussbudget]

6204968
The thought of their trying makes me smile.

[arancaytar]

Shinra McClane Darpa

I get the Final Fantasy and the Die Hard reference but not the "Darpa". DARPA?

[Tim the Planes-pony]

8065878 DARPA could refer to the US military's advanced research division. It is where they test things like railguns and transparent armor.

05/13/2017 19:54 UTC

[Vupsi]

Am I the only one reading Nightshade in Principal Cinch's voice?

-Solar Shift

[FOXTrot2]

6204968
Flodien will be floydien

[CrystalWaters]

I don't know about this brother Novus.
I'm having flashbacks to Shell talking about his beloved and how he's doing everything for Ledo...