Explaining To Do
Overseer Fatch was not in a good mood. Angry lines crossed the dark brown features of his muzzle as he marched down a rubble-strewn hallway of the Nightshade Facility, flanked by subordinates.
"Overseer, the Madame is asking for another update. She says that the ring team is getting close to a breakthrough, and she wants an update on the think tank. Are they any closer to completing their augmentation of the airship?"
"Does that lady expect me to be in four places at once?!" Fatch growled. "I love the Madame with all my heart, but this tears it! I'm having to manage a hangar full of multiple hoverships AND facilitate the requisition of runic metal AND clean up a Spark-forsaken zeppelin crash ALL on top of babysitting a bunch of ponies who shouldn't even be here to begin with!"
"Overseer, you know how much this project means to—"
"Well, it's certainly taking its toll on me!" Fatch grumbled. "I know Madame Nightshade has her glorious 'vision of the future' that she wishes to achieve, but at what cost?!" He stopped before a pair of double doors leading to the most damaged section of the building. "There are just too many fissures in the whole plan, and I fear we've burned all the bridges that we need in case we have to backtrack!"
"My apologies, Overseer. But I am just a messenger."
Fatch sighed, running a hoof through his frazzled gray mane. "I know. I know. Believe me, son, I completely envy you. I'm starting to think that—in this company—it's better to be a leg than a head." He pressed a button before him.
The double doors swished open, and Shell's scarred face turned to stare at him.
Fatch and his closest workers jolted, their expressions paling.
Shell quietly gazed at them. Behind him, three hovering managliders could be seen levitating beyond the open gash in the glass windows of the crash site. Many of the Nightshade workers who were cleaning up the mess did so now with a degree of sluggishness and anxiety, constantly casting glances over their shoulders as the uniformed stallion pivoted about and marched icily towards Fatch.
"Greetings, my little ponies. I am Prime Enforcer Shell of the Ledomaritan Defense Initiative." He scuffled to a stop, blinked, and said, "Quite the hole you have here."
Fatch gulped. "Erm... yes. Yes, we... erm... we had a zeppelin veer off course and collide with our facility here. We've been spending the past twelve hours in... erm... assessing the damage."
"I trust nopony was hurt...?"
"Believe it or not, we were well prepared for this, sir," Fatch said. He cleared his throat and extended a hoof with a trembling smile. "My name is Overseer Fatch. I manage the industrial sector of Nightshade Industries. I work directly under Sir Ordo of the Domestic Division and—"
"Mr. Fatch, how does a two-ton zeppelin with Ledomaritan registration and slow manathrusters get past the local security grid and still manage to crash into one of Nightshade Industries' most important structures?"
"Erm... well, Enforcer, sir, believe it or not—collisions are quite common in a city like Blue Nova—"
"Except that they're not," Shell droned. "I'm familiar with the statistics of every major city, Mr. Fatch. Blue Nova hasn't had an airship crash in nearly twenty-two years, and that was an incident involving inclement weather. Now, don't pretend that Nightshade Industries is not in possession of exceptional security detachments. I had to speak with no less than three patrols along the way here."
"Your knowledge of Blue Nova's history is exceptional, Enforcer," Fatch said, his expression bordering that of a frown. "Though I am tempted to question the authority with which you've presented yourself here."
"National security," Shell said. "The zeppelin that crashed here was hijacked by two fugitives who are a threat to the Council of Ledo and the Confederacy abroad."
Fatch squinted. "And you know this... how?"
Shell's horn glowed. From behind his back, he levitated a shattered shard of the crashed vehicle's hull. A numerical inscription was on its side. "This registry matches that of an airship which, just days ago, was tethered to a Ledomaritan military observation post located over a hundred miles south of here. Seeing that Nightshade Industries is the generous organization that creates these vehicles, I'm quite certain you of all ponies would agree that vehicle registries simply aren't duplicated."
"That... that..." Fatch glanced between the shard and Shell. He frowned. "How on earth did you acquire that? It was being held aside for a company investigation!"
"I make it my business to ascertain the truth behind recent calamities, especially when enemies of the state are involved."
"Enemies of the st-state...?"
"It was two suspects who hijacked the craft," Shell said. "One in possesson of a manasphere, and the other capable of wielding exceptional magic. Utilizing great force, they were capable of single-hoofedly leveling an entire company of soldiers to the floor and taking the zeppelin as their own. If they are here—if they are on the loose in Blue Nova—then they are a great danger to the city, the citizens... and to you."
Fatch held his breath. He glanced aside. His subordinates looked timidly back. Clearing his throat, Overseer Fatch glanced back at Shell. "Negative," he said. "There were no suspects to be found in the zeppelin ruins. At least, not yet. Unless our investigation turns up something significant, it would seem as if the crashing zeppelin was a derelict when it got here... sir."
Shell's one good eye narowed. "Is that a fact?"
"I've already submitted my report to Madame Nightshade."
"Well, you may wish to submit another one." Shell stepped back. "Evans?"
The Nightshade workers watched as a pale enforcer with sandy brown hair marched up. The somewhat frazzled soldier did his best to maintain composure as he telekinetically dragged a body over and dumped it before the group.
"Unnnngh..." the pony groaned. He was a stallion, dressed in the blue colors of a Nightshade security detachment. Only... his uniform was tattered in several places and his body freshly bruised. "Pfftt... snkt... Overseer F-Fatch...?"
"What... How..." Fatch grimaced, his face paling. "What in spark's name is the meaning of this?! What have you done to one of my guards?"
"He did it to himself," Shell droned. "The moment he resisted telling us the truth was the very moment he allied himself with the fugitives that I am tasked with finding. All it took was a little bit of persuasion, and he realized it was in his best interest to stop lying to me."
"A zebra..." The guard sputtered, curling up into a fetal position. "It was a zebra and s-some creature with antlers. I'm so sorry, Overseer. I'm so sorry... b-but the zebra survived..."
"A zebra, how interesting," Shell said, stepping over the spasming body of the guard to approach Fatch. "Did you know that I made no mention of a striped equine when I spoke with this gentlecolt? And yet he volunteered the information—not only gladly, but specifically. As it would so happen, there is a zebra with a manasphere who is currently in the Council of Ledo's top five most wanted list. He has connections with forces that are capable of knocking entire zeppelins out of the sky. Do you realize what this means?"
Fatch was dead silent.
Shell loomed before him. "Overseer, your dedication to the executives of Nightshade Industries is admirable. But the secrets you are attempting to harbor threaten the very existence of everything we hold dear. It would behoove you to cooperate with us just like your... employee here realized it was wise to do."
After a few seconds of contemplation, Fatch calmly said, "I cannot confirm nor deny the presence of a zebra fugitive on this property."
Evans flashed a look at Shell.
Shell was silent as a statue for a while. Eventually, he nodded. "Very well." Swiveling, he faced his subordinate and said, "Enforcer Evans, send messengers to the southern armada. Have Captain Filta pilot the Steel Wing and two other zeppelins towards this location. While you're at it, set up a level one security screen with the local detachments of the Ledomaritan Defense Force."
"Aye, Prime Enforcer, sir!" Evans scampered away.
Fatch's jaw dropped. "What...?! You're sending a battleship here to Blue Nova?!"
"Affirmative," Shell droned. "Quite frankly, there is no alternative measure. This target must be acquired at all cost. It is part of a grand operation whose success may actually dictate the fate of Ledomare's military contingency."
"How can you do this?!" Fatch sputtered. "You have no right to tread all over our property with—"
"If you care so much about Nightshade's operations here, then perhaps your own actions are what deserve to be analyzed," Shell said, his voice reaching a heated, growling pitch all of the sudden. His one eye twitched as he bore down on Fatch. "By keeping these secrets, you are inadvertently protecting the one link to Ledomare's single greatest enemy aside from the Xonans. I am talking about a fugitive so strong, so single-hoofedly powerful, that when she discovers who is here, it will be she who arrives here with the anger of a million marching soldiers, and it will be up to her discretion whether this city stands or gets razed to the ground. Would you like to take personal responsibility for that?!"
Fatch stumbled back, his lips quivering in horror.
Shell breathed calmly as he said, "Now, would you kindly tell me the true fate of these two fugitives who crashed the zeppelin here...?"
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Oh snap, I'm getting a heavy feeling when Dash gets here it's going to lead to another fire-bombing, but with a few more casualties than the last one...
Anyone else find Shell using "my little ponies" to be hilariously jarring?
... Shell is bringing out the Big Stick(s).
2675738 damn, didn't catch that, either i misclicked or the site derped
ps. you said five-ish
And Shell is still a little jerk!
2675973
Oh. Close enough. The ish-es go in opposite directions, so that's totally the same number
Hmmm, this is interesting. Im still waiting for shell vs Seclorum and it appears to be closer now. Shell obviously knows RD is coming for Pilate and Belle, now to wait.
Ask and you shall receive...
Ah, THERE he is.
Friggin jerk.
Well, well, well. Are you actually afraid of her, Shell? Imagine if he finds out what is going on in those facilities: "Damn it, Nightshade, I'm the only one authorized to perform inhuman experiments on innocents to create horrible out-of-control abominations around here!"
2675918 He burned an entire forest to the ground. What could be bigger than that?
It is amazing how far an empty shell can propel itself forwards.
Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse, and not through experimental means.
Hmm, I used to work with a Drill Sergeant Fatch. He was a massive tool.
Thirty-five wide-arm pushups for reminding me of him, ):(. Knock 'em out!
There's a party in Blue Nova, and everyone's invited!
Y'know, for a pawn of the Ledomaritan autocracy, Evans is kinda cute.
And what of the creature with antlers? Much spit, yes yes yes?
I feathering hate Shell...
2676333 He burned down an entire forest, big deal. How about he razes an entire industrial city? With the workers and inhabitants trapped inside for their supposed derelictions of duty of not meeting his standards?
That's a pretty good way to describe Rainbow there at the end. Destruction follows in her wake.
Shoulda opened with that, buddy boy. Woulda saved yourself the exertion of beating up a dude.
Red Sector A - Rush
Man, that would be nightmare fuel in a can.
And on a more important note: Shell's back! Yes! As fun as subtlety, intrigue and grand over-arching plots are, having a character who is a complete, single-minded, capable bastard thrown in there to butt his way into the mix is better.
(Oh, and I wonder what will happen when Dash meets the ring? Will she get caught and be used as a weapon, only to be freed by her friends? Or will she overpower it and break it? Maybe it will reveal some kind of cosmic secret of the machine-world?)
uh oh...
love how dash is described
if only he truly knows how powerful she is cough sonic rainboom and takeing of pendant cough 
Confirmed, Shell is apart of the WYK project.
I thought I could smell Shell in the air. He makes me want to burn things.
And now, the pieces are assembling. All we need is for Dash & Co. to stop by Foxtaur and pick up Eagle Eye and Josho, and then it's north to Blue Nova and everyone will be ready for the party of the year.
ah, shell, my favorite corrupt military man.
i always picture him with an Australian accent.
2677402 http://youtu.be/Bg11n6b_Mag?t=1m15s
Moment related.
2679295
I have seen. . . things. Indescribable things. Fatch's mind is a joyous land of colourful equines compared to what I have seen
(Goes to scrub self with bleach in a shower).
Damn, I hate-love Shell with the intensity of a thousand super-charged bowling balls.
Things are heating up. Excellent.
Something tells me he and Nightshade are going to come to blows.
I ship it.
2679150
Ryder white from dead island or?
I have found that I really dislike stories where the antagonist is a major dick. Thankfully, the writing is good enough for me to continue.
And I'm going with the idea that 6 stories are the "too", and the other "back again".
Dashie...
I get the feeling that Shell ain't underestimating you no more...
Dammit, Shell, let my alter ego do his job!
As soon as I saw Shell's name,it filled my soul with a burning rage..
Oh, Shell, how I've missed your presence...
Wait no, that other thing -
How I wish you'd been catapulted into the sun. Yes, that's more accurate.
I love how everything is coming together (and in the process getting closer to falling apart). One might say its almost...chaotic.
Honestly, why is there no Discord emote?
Well, atleast it hasn't started raining squids yet.
Dammit, I liked it when he was out of the picture.
Shell may have embellished on the details a bit, but That kinda would be Rainbow's reputation at this point.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Oh, awesome! Shell's back! And boy, is he mad. Nothing else here, really, but with all of Shell's resources, how long can Belle, Pilate, and co. stay hidden? These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
God dame I hate shell but he makes such a good bad guy because he is so easy to hate
So, Shell is back looking for Dash's friends in Blue Nova. The residents of Blue Nova better hope that Dash doesn't show up too, or I have this uncanny feeling that the city will end up just like the Foxtaur....
Shell is back...
-Spirit
2675901
You know, I've attributed it to his decent into madness, myself.
Things are about to get very, very hairy for both Nightshade and everyone else in our Noble Jury.
2677363
God, I love Rush. You continue to please me with your music choices.
[ANDREW RYAN INTENSIFIES]
And that is why in the end corporations are subservient to the military.
And so Shell shows his ugly mug again, much to the chagrin of Nightshade Industries.
Honestly, I know everyone hate Shell... but I kinda love/hate him and here is why.
Sure Shell may be one of the biggest swing low Ledomare has to throw at them, but you can't hate the man from being all but inefficient?
Shell follows orders and will get the job done, at any cost.
Tell me, if you owned a country and you wanted a flawless army, and Shell wanted to enlist, would you tell him buck off? I wouldn't.
But then again his is a dick, that's why I love/hate the guy.
Hehehehe, this was probably the best line I've read for a while in this story:
It's a good one and so very, very true. Onward, and... hopefully we'll get back to a Dash chapter soon.
~SolidFire