When the bombs fall, the world is dropped into a land of confusion. No one knows what to do, and the first line against mass panic are the first responders. The brave mares and stalions that once risked their lives for ponies, now do for Equestria.
Asclepius is just an EMT, an Emergiancy Medical Officer of Aspa River Hospital. He's the only pegasus in town that can tow the sky Ambulance where it needs to go. But as the bombs fall he, and the other emergancy servivces of the town, need to make Aspa River better for the future.
So they help to form the first major faction of the Arimaspi Territory wasteland, the Responders.
“It was a little general Hospital in a little factory town."
Aspa River is a small town on the northern edge of the Arimaspi Territory, an ancient name that has been on all the maps but is basically meaningless. Just like most rare and unseen creatures, there may once have been such a thing as the Arimaspi people… But modern sightings are just mythical. Cryptids. Askepian had never seen one, and he’d lived his entire life in the area. Few ever did before the blast.
That last day was calm, as if the world itself was waiting for the bombs to fall, for change to come across the little ponies, but this, this was just a small town, and Askepian wasn’t often called into action. He was an ambulance pegasus and so few emergencies happened in town that he would only get called into action four or five times a day. It could be forgiven that he had taken to sleeping on his landing pad as he waited in between calls on his twelve hour shift.
You might think it would be dangerous for there to only be one Ambulance Pegasus in town, and you would be normally right. There were actually two, Askepian in the day and Vejovis at night. The old stallion was somewhat standoffish and Askepian only saw him during shift turnovers. He found him to be scruffy, kind of rude, and not the type of pony he’d be super interested in getting to know. Of course, they never had time off at the same time, so it might as well be for the best.
On that final day Askepian woke up from a quiet nap to the sound of giggling and a hoof ruffling his feathers. “Wah?” He asked, yawning as he slowly got to his senses. The first thing he could see was a cute unicorn mare, her blue mane covering his eyes and making it impossible to see anything but her muzzle. It was his partner, Caduceus, pressed almost nose to nose with him. He could taste her breath and a thrill shook through his body before he realised that the alarm was ringing outside of his field of attention.
“Wake up you sleepyhead, we’ve got an emergency at the old Orange place.” She said, using her magic to pick him up to his hooves. “Old Lady Jaffa could be in serious trouble you know.” Her magic was soft and gentle, even while moving him. She’d learned how to do that in the big city, training in a large hospital. Before he could even think to start she’d already buckled him up to the ambulance as well.
As he made sure the harness was fully secured he looked back at Caduceus. “Aren't those Oranges like… Super rich now? Why do they leave their grandmother down here in this dump?” Askepian grinned as his partner kicked his shin while she climbed up into the cab. “What was that for?” He asked, a little playfully. Her waking him up that way had filled his mind with thoughts that weren't exactly conducive to work.
“It’s not a dump, you git. It’s your hometown, appreciate it.” She grabbed the reins, which she had attached without him noticing. It was a little bit unnecessary, he had already started to move, and it rude to use them that way. Of course, it’s easier for a magic user to steer in a storm, someone who could watch better than the pegasus driver, but when skies were clear it was standard for them to not come out at all. “It’s a cute small town, everyone’s friendly. What more could you want?”
“You're only saying that because your from Pentroland.” Askepian said tersely. “Come off it.” Portland was the largest city in the Territory, Right where the Warlander river fed into the Marrion, moving back north towards Somnambula. “A small town like this is unimportant, boring. We probably won’t even be hit by a megaspell if they ever throw them. Even if we were, they couldn’t get a big one off here. It’d just hit the factory, and anything less than a full megaspell blast would be a blessing.” Askepian tried for a laugh, but of course, Caduceus wasn’t laughing.
“That wasn’t funny.” She said, coldly. “You know perfectly well places near here will get hit if they fly. We may be protected from the eastern launch zones, but a Megaspell might be launched down the Delta and river. Who knows how deadly that blast might be?” Of course she would be worried more than him, Pentroland would get hit if anyone did. It was a far more tempting target than here. “There might not be much here to hit but the factory, but if it did, you’d be sorry.”
Quiet filled the air as the flew the last mile to the old lady Jaffa Orange’s house. Askepian couldn’t help but wonder if the munitions factory would be hit, the water that had once been filled with kite surfers, the navy mares who were moving crates to the front line. When they arrived it felt to Asklepian like a blessing.
It took him a few seconds to hit the release on his harness and get out once more. By the time he had Caduceus had already knocked on the door and gotten no response. The partners couldn’t know if Ms. Jaffa could respond or not. After they waited as long as they could, they barged in. Thankfully the door was unlocked and they didn’t have to break the nice crystal glass that filled it. They didn’t need Oranges suing the hospital. That would put their asses on the line, and not in a fun way.
The decor of the house was old, and almost seemed to be restored. It was unlikely that the house had remained original for all this time, but, when a house was four hundred years old, rich people liked to make that obvious to those who visited. The place looked just like it did in old photos, most of which adorned the walls as the pair walked in. There were even a pair of dueling swords hanging over the doorway as they moved into the sitting room.
There was where they found Lady Jaffa Orange. Old money, and it was easy to see. Her hair was up in a crimped chignon style, tied in a little knot at the base of her neck. “Oh, you're finally here.” The old mare said, first looking at Caduceus and then at Askepian with interest and a little bit of disdain. “I was just a bit faint this morning, but after sitting down I blacked out for an hour and I couldn’t get up. Something is dreadfully wrong.”
“It’s alright ma’am.” The pegasus said, smiling as his partner began to use her magic to prick the old lady’s arm and test her blood. “We’re here for you,” Caduceus nodded at him, and he nodded back. “We’ll just get you to the hospital, alright?” Caduceus lifted Jaffa up with her magic, and moved her along the halls. Once the old Earth Pony was in the back of the ambulance, she used her magic to lock the door and smiled.
“Oh, please, would you leave a note on the door for my dear Clementine. She’s in school right now and she’ll worry so much.” Askepian shrugged and moved back, writing a short note and sticking it to the door. It said that Jaffa was at the hospital and not to worry, but she could visit if she came over.
As he put his harness on, Askepian motioned Caduceus to him. “I did a few blood tests” She said, nodding to the back of the cab. “She’s anemic. Celestia knows why, but we really do need to bring her in.” He nodded as she went back and sat with the old mare and he strapped himself in, flying quickly and carefully through the air and to the hospital.
Once they arrived, Caduceus took Jaffa out of the back, and began to guide her to the elevator back into the hospital proper, but she was startled and cut off when an explosion crashed through their senses. At first Askepion was horrified, had what he’d just joked about come to pass? But as he looked at the horizon he could see no mushroom cloud over Pentroland. So, what happened?
Footnote
Askepian Rod Trait Discovered Deep Sleeper: You sleep more soundly than most. You have learned to recover from your flying even when sleeping in uncomfortable places, just as if you were in a bed. Unfortunately, you automatically fail Perception checks to wake up unless you are taking damage or someone spends a full turn waking you up.
Aspa River Firehouse, Arimaspi Territory Tuesday, March 17th, 10:45 AM Final Day minus 2 Hours Florian Cross “At eleven in the morning, we all heard the factory blow, The blast took out the windows, and the shrapnel fell like snow."
The blast cracked the windows of the firehouse as chief Florian Cross looked up from his table. Even from four miles away he had to take notice. The firehouse crews attention was immediately won over from the game of poker Florian had been dealing when the first low rumble has reached them. It had come from the docks, and with a glance outside he could see that everyone was staring at it. The one military installation in town, the munitions factory, was in flames.
The fire crew was only six strong, a small station for a small town. There were a few volunteers but they usually didn’t need to call them in. Today seemed like they would, so without even checking the alarms as calls began to pour in Florian nodded at one of his ponies to hit the signal for the volunteers. He knew that if anything was happening, anything dangerous, it would be at the factory. They shouldn’t need to leave instructions, not after that blast.
Florian hopped over the edge of the ledge, down to the garage with the fire engine. Without a word he grabbed the wooden pull bar with his teeth, beginning to move even as Firefly pulled up the door before buzzing back to the engine and climbing on. Newer trucks existed, sure, which might be powered by Spark-Batteries or old earth pony steam engines, but a small town like Aspa River didn’t need any more than one full-torque horsepower.
Air rushed through Florian’s ears as he barreled through the heavy dust that began to settle on the streets within five miles of the factory. They had to get there as soon as possible, so he didn’t bother to do anything but let his ponies run the siren and bearl through anyone who got in his way. Few ponies were so stunned by the blast that they couldn’t get out of the way, but many were still standing without understanding even after they moved full speed past them.
As they approached the factory they were forced to slow down. The rubble was strewn all over the street, broken glass and rocks making Florian have to be careful where he put his hoof. “Sweet Mother Celestia,” He muttered as he moved closer to the massive building, setting up the engine as close as he could. “Everyone off!” He yelled as he put the breaks on, setting it up as a break against any more explosions. “Everyone off! We need to start clearing casualties, who knows what else in there hasn’t blown yet. Hallagin, break down the door, your first. Dustdevil, I need you to clear the area behind the engine to put casualties.”
Haligin moved like lightning, grabbing his namesake tool and prying the front doors open with gusto. He smashed rubble ahead of him under hoof and axe, clearing the obstructions so the others could pile in and gather the hurt and dead. The factory could, at any time, be the most populated building in town with the navy stationed here gathering shipments from the loading docks. Florian couldn’t help but stare at the sign, half of which was burned away. Once reading Bang Brothers Artillery Factory, it only the words Bang Artiler were left standing.
The building probably wouldn’t collapse, at least not quickly. It was made of steel and brick, and while many of the bricks were now dust in the wind the steel should hold. Unless, that is, the inflammable gasses used in this mess of a factory floor had been ignited and weakened the steel beams. With their fireproof barding the firefighters could walk through the flames without harm, and as his crew moved through the building Florian was glad for it. Even as he heard small blasts sound around the floor, blasts that he knew were sending shrapnel and tearing barding on all sides.
At that point the second of the first responders arrived, the medical team. It was just a pegasus pulling the hospital ambulance, with a unicorn mare standing on top. Florian gestured at the evac point, yelling. “The wounded are over there!” He then returned to his work, using the hose to put out major fires even as the unicorn mare was stunned at the amount of ponies already on the ground. Twenty in ten minutes, and more were coming out even as small blasts could be heard reverberating through the building.
Even as he moved his hose to another part of the wall Florian was watching the door, and he could see Hallagin stumble out with another four ponies slung over his back. His barding was torn, several major burns and cuts on his legs. But he just shrugged them off at the evac point and went back inside. Thankfully the volunteers were arriving, the four helping with the evac point and dealing with anything they could before the ponies were ferried back to the hospital on the other side of town. The fire crew was being tested to the limit, and all they could do was hope that they wouldn’t be pressed beyond it.
---
As hours wore on, the rest of the casualties were removed from the burning wreckage of the building. The pegasus ambulance driver seemed strained, taking everyone he could as soon as he knew they were stable, and he was already tiring. The crew volunteers were helping stabilize the casualties, care for them, do basic first aid. This was the kind of disaster they were trained for. Florian, compared to his mares and stallions who had rescued most folks, was relatively untouched, even considering shrapnel in his shoulder.
Once the area was fully cordoned off by the police, the area around the factory was as clear as it was going to be. Everyone was accounted for, either wounded or dead. The factory could still be dangerous, the fire crew couldn’t tell how many munitions were left unburned so procedure was to leave it for 48 hours so that they were as sure as possible that the fires were out, than have the Hazmat squad go in and clear it up. For now, all Florian could do was pull the truck, so he walked back to the pull bar.
“Everyone in.” He said, nodding over at the pegasus to continue piling a couple critical cases into his ambulance. “I can cary everyone up to the hospital, and we need to get the Tartarus out of here. In Celestia’s name, no one can be left outside when we evacuate.” Slowly they moved in, climbing into the now empty tank on the top of the wagon by removing it’s lid. The building was rubble, and the danger zone was clear. It was time to leave.
With the assurance of a tap on his withers Florian began to walk forward, pulling the cart towards the hospital across town. The Earth Pony didn’t move quickly, but ponies still got out of his way. Everyone who had been left were resting in the bed of the tank. Even though the fire truck weigh him down down, even though his strength was a third that of only an hour or so before, Cross still knocked the odd obstruction out of his way.
The hospital parking lot had been taken up by a lot of the less grave cases from the factory, a few nurses caring for them while others waited to be treated. There had been blessed few who needed immediate doctor attention, and they were likely all in surgery now or dead. Those outside, they just needed rest, a little bit of treatment, and care. The crew, well, though they were nowhere near the best off their injuries were relatively minor, even with shrapnel in their limbs and small scorch marks singing their fur.
“Well, at least you're okay.” A beautiful voice came from behind Florian. It was Ms. Hello, one of the nurses of the hospital. “I hope you don’t mind if I give you some… special treatment.” She said, brushing against his side. She was a bombshell and it made his spine tingle like heaven. “I mean, that adrenaline must be one hell of a drug, if you can think like that with that many burns.” She whispered into Florian’s ear, catching him off guard. It seemed that he had been rather more obvious than he had supposed.
“Oh, nothing could make this moment better.” Florian said, grinning at her. They had had a thing, once or twice. Out of the corner of his eye he could see nurses come for the truck, and he started to walk to the curb… right next to the bushes. “A Pretty mare like you taking care of me? What could possibly go wrong.”
“Well, I might have an idea.” An earth pony stallion said, coming into view. He wore a pressed navy blue shirt, a tightly tied dark blue tie, and a blue peaked hat bearing a shining gold badge. “Detective Shield, nice to make your acquaintance.” He put out a hoof, shaking Florian’s firmly. “I’m in charge of the Bang Bros investigation, do you mind if I interview you?” The fire chief shook his head at the other earth pony. Sitting down on the curb, and accepting a cigarette from the detective.
“No, I don’t mind.” Florian said, letting the cigarette dangling out of the corner of his mouth. “S’long as you don’t mind Ms. Hello here taking care of my wounds. I’m not a fan of leaving burns untreated just so some city boy can ask me questions.” He took another drag from the cigarette. “I don’t remember much though, it’s a bit frantic from my prospective.”
Footnote
Florian Cross Trait Discovered Pain Train: You have trained as the pony with the power of a steam engine. You have learned to move without stopping through any kind of obstruction. When charging ponies will get out of your way, whether they want to or not. However, your a responder, you learned to safely plant those ponies on their plots. You can no longer do a true charge, your charges do no damage as you pass through ponies.
Aspa River Hospital, Arimaspi Territory Tuesday, March 17th, 12:36 PM [Final Day minus 5 Minutes Golden Shield “We could get no help from out of town for half a day or more. We had near a thousand casualties and beds for ninety-four."
Something was weird about the factory blowing up like that, and Golden felt like he could get to the bottom of it. The factory manager was saying that it clearly had to be sabotage, and the chief was on his side. But for Detective Shield, well, his gut felt wrong. Something was just not right about it. There had to be evidence, and golden was out to find it, gathering reports from witnesses at the scene of the blast. Of course, the Chief wanted Shield out of the way, so that’s why he’d been sent up here.
After he interviewed the fire chief Golden began to interview other survivors, about half the force helping him out while the other half were down doing evidence gathering of the blast zone. “It was a sharp blast, quick. If it had been sabotage whoever it was died as soon as it happened, suicide.” One of the factory workers said. Her blond mane was tied up in a welder bun and she talked with authority. “It came from the fuel tanks for the welding equipment first, not the easily exploded munitions. That would have taken minutes to get through, not even a rifle could do it in a single shot. But we didn’t hear anything until the blast.”
“You know we keep guards at all times?” The navy stallion Golden was interviewing said. “The doors have to stay open in case of an emergency. We have word that the zebra stealth technology is enough to disguise them from us, so maybe they got through that way. I don’t know.” Golden shrugged, giving him a cigarette and moved on. He was right, it was possible, but was seeming less and less likely. Why would they sacrifice an advanced stealth agent to a suicide mission?
Before He could begin to talk with higher up factory administrators, slightly scorched but mostly unharmed in one corner, Golden was shocked by a flash. It was like lighting, sudden and bright, but it didn’t go away. No, it was just that his eyes slowly adjusted and it dimmed slightly, turning the whole world stark in contrast like when the sun was directly above. All the administrators were looking behind him, and it wasn’t long before Golden had to turn and see it. The cloud of ash and dust.
A burst of green fire was billowing into a mushroom cloud ahead of the detective, centered directly on the munitions factory. They were hit. Silence filled the air, up until the roar of the blast reached them. The sound was deafening, overpowering, shattering the windows of the hospital. Everyone was stunned, even as the blast slowly died to a low roar, and not a word was said for a good minute as all watched the radioactive necromantic fire.
A single voice broke the silence, and it took a second for Golden to realize it was his own. “Well, I suppose it wasn’t sabotage. No reason to hit it twice.” His jaw was set hard even as his sarcastic comment shocked those around him, and he walked in to scramble hospital staff.
Footnote
Golden Shield Trait Discovered Skilled: Since you spend more time improving your skills than a normal person, you gain more skill points. The tradeoff is that you do not gain as many extra abilities. You will gain a perk every four levels. You will get an additional 5 skill points per new experience level.
Aspa River Hospital, Arimaspi Territory Tuesday, March 17th, 1:00 PM Final Day, 9 Minutes after Caduceus Staff “It was worse than combat medicine, supplies were draining fast. Bandages ran out and antiseptics wouldn't last.”
The blast struck a cord through the exhausted hospital staff, and Caduceus was up there as the light gave her a migraine. She’d had to do so much for the factory, but so many needed help. It only took an instant after the Earth Pony Detective’s words for her to get to her hooves and turn around towards the hospital. “Askepian, get hitched up. I need Volunteers, we’re going to try to bring everyone here to the hospital. Try to gather some earth ponies that can pull carts.” She said to her partner, a soft note of sorrow piercing through her hard voice as she saw the exhaustion on his face. But he did as she said, letting her take care of what was needed.
Walking back through the doors, Caduceus stepped up to the secretary at the front of the emergency room. “I need you to organize nurses to start bringing anyone non-critical outside, and organize a separate wing for anyone contagious, the magical radiation will be weakening a lot of immune systems soon. Than anyone not absolutely necessary here I’m going to need with me, people with any level of first aid can be useful out in the field so we can get people here alive.” The Secretary seemed to pause for a second, but he nodded and began to do calling and gathering of everyone he could.
Caduceus used the stairs to get to the fifth floor, which was as it was supposed to be. Sure the power wasn’t out but the elvetors were now being used for the moving of patients. “Madam Chief,” She said, brushing aside the questions of the secretary. “I need your help. We are going to be overrun very soon and we need anything we can.” The chief was staring out the window. “Ma’am… I know you left the warzone before but… we need your help now. You know what to do, don't you?”
The chief was a white earth pony mare with a dappled yellow mane, wearing a lab coat over business attire. Her right fore-hoof was replaced with an aluminum contraption, and above it her medal of service was pinned.“The fucking Zeds. They did it. We’re all fucking dead because they did it.” She took out a flask from her front pocket, drank a sip, and put it back. “Fuck it. Let's do this shit. Caduceus, I assume you know that emergency medical services like you need to be in charge right now.” “Yes Dr. Heartburn.” Caduceus said, nodding. “I’ve already started organizing but I don’t know for sure if we have enough people to-” She was cut off by the elder mare’s aluminum hoof slamming. Dr Heartburn was an earth pony mare with a business-like demeanor. Ever since she’d shown up, right after being honorably discharged from the Ministry of Peace Medic core for injury.
“Ms. Staff. We need more than just emergency services. Bring me that detective and the Fire Chief down there. I have a feeling we’re going to be breaking a lot of rules to save lives.” Caduceus nodded as the older mare stopped, walking back out of the room and shuffling down the hall. “Look, keep doing what you're doing. I’m going to need you to work with me on the medical side of things. I’ll start doing what I can as a doctor, which isn’t much.” She tapped her aluminum hoof to the side. “But first we need organization.”
“You,” Caduceus said as she walked out of the director’s office and into the area with the secretary. “I need you to work with the Chief and do anything she needs. Get the detective, the fire chief, and do everything she says. Absolutely everyone else is of vital importance, but if you need other people get some volunteers for messages and organization down there.” As she moved her hooves down the stairs she could hear everyone being moved according to her instruction.
Some of the ponies who were not contagious but needed to be in a safe environment were being moved upstairs. Most were slightly impaired, or hobbled, but many were mostly able to move on their own. “All of you, I need you to figure out if any of you are going to volunteer to help. I’ll send a clerc to get you and you’ll do what you can up here. We need every hoof we can get.” She noted all the injuries were simple and physical, nothing that couldn’t be gotten around. “You’ll be safe, but to save lives you need to help.”
After that she went down to the ground floor, staring at everyone who was able bodied enough to help her. Most were standing and ready to help, even with limbs lightly bandaged, they could pull carts or do first aid. “All of you.” She notably shook her head at the police and the fire chief. “We need to save everyone we can. So each of you need to go in and start to evacuate people. I know this will be hard, but surviving is harder.”
Footnote
Golden Shield Trait Discovered Natural Leader: You have some natural leadership abilities and have managed to cultivate them. Anyone who follows you naturaly is granted a +1 bonus to special to do your directions. The strong get stronger and can pull carts longer, the Crippled are able to overcome their injuries, and those on the verge of meltdown are able to pick themselves up and do what they need to.
However, the stress of leadership is straining and you have grown used to getting people to do what you say. For every 5 people under your leadership you gain 1 point of stress, and when speaking to ponies who are not under your leadership they naturaly act with -1 disposition at all times due to how bossy you can be.
Golden was hesitant when the bright young unicorn mare shook her head, gesturing for him and his people to step down. They had all been up and ready to do anything they could for the people of their town, but he waved them to the side. Before he could question the mare, however, a security cane right in front of him. “Sir, your presence is requested by the chief of medicine. Please come with me, this is urgent, obviously.”
He nodded and followed her, noticing that the fire chief was a few feet aside and also coming along. “Ah, Florian, nice to see you. Haven't seen you since the incident at the police mare’s ball.” The fire chief rolled his eyes good naturedly and shrugged.
“You know full well that was your fault. Who the hell serves rotgut like that at a polite social function?” It was true, the stuff they had served had been strong… in fact it had technically been from the evidence locker and true moonshine. “Besides, who cares about a few broken tables.”
Shield shrugged, but grinned, friendly shoving the other earth pony a little. “Don’t blame us because you can’t hold your brew. But whatever, you paid for them in the end.” At the larger stallion’s tongue sticking out Golden grinned happily, friendly laughing as they walked up the last flight of steps to administration and moved towards this other chief they would have to see.
“Gentlemen, I hope you don’t mind my breaking up the games but this is a serious matter.” Sheild watched the mare as she spoke, examining her. She was tightly dressed, with a tight bun and businesslike attire. She instantly looked no-nonsense as she peered over her glasses. “As I’m sure you realize our town was hit by a megaspell. But I’m not sure you understand the gravity of what’s going to happen next.”
Gold shook his head, deciding to just listen for now. “You see,” said the older mare, nervously tapping her aluminum hoof on her desk. “Emergency procedures are fucked. You might expect ponies to gather together, reform Equestria, but that’s not going to happen. Because right now, assuredly, every major city in equestria proper is dust. We were hit, and we are barely a priority target, so the government is dead. Do you understand?”
The detective hesitantly nodded, knowing it was true. If there was any kind of government left it wouldn’t be trying to save the unincorporated territory. They would be in Equestria proper, and the Arimaspi government was a free for all when it came to regulation. “Ma’am, I think I know what you mean. But there isn’t much we can do about that, so why do you want us here.” The fire chief remained silent, and Sheild didn’t know if it was for lack of something to say or from a place of cunning.
“Well you good chief, I need you to go out and scavenge.” She held a hoof up before he could say anything. “Scavenge is the best term for it. You need to go into town, and get anything that we can use to save lives. Medical supplies, anything antiseptic from bleach to sanitizing fluid, cloth, food. Those are first priority, more comes later.”
“Ma’am, that’s not legal.” Came the voice of the large Earth pony stallion. “That is personal property, you can’t just take it from people's houses.”
“It’s to save lives. Anyway,, houses aren't first. First we need to scavenge from the stores down there, and protect them from other scavengers.” The mare said, and it took a second for the Golden to realize just how serious she was. “Look you two, don’t you understand? We are the only people here strong enough to save the most amount of lives. Other people, their going to fuck with us. Society, it’s not coming back.”
She walked to the window, tapping her aluminum hoof on the glass and gesturing at several ponies who had already gone to raid a store, just barely in sight from the hilltop office. “Don’t you see?” Yes, they did. Both earth pony stallion nodded and accepted it. Shield left, saying he’d go create order and begin to bring in what is needed.
As he walked down the stairs he looked around, trying to find anyone able bodied enough to help him scavenge. Golden knew that they would need strong backs for this.
---
“Look, what do you need me to do?” The fire chief said staring at the other pony. “Well first and foremost I need more scavengers, your men will be doing anything that the police won’t.” She sighed, and looked depressed as she stared at him. “I… also need one of you to stay here, and execute anyone we can’t save. We don’t have materials to waste on the dieing, so an axe to the neck is the only mercy we can give them. I’d say a gunshot, but…”
“What? I can’t ask one of my people, the exhausted and hurt, to do something so gruesome. It’s absolutely horrifying that you could possibly think of such a thing!” Florian said, staring at the chief medical officer
“And It’s more horrifying that it needs to be done. But it does need to be done.” She sighed, wiping her eyes with the ribbon of honor on her shoulder. “It has to be a citizen, you see. We can’t have an official executer, it can’t be police… that is one line I won’t walk over.”
“I.. We aren't citizens. We’re-” He was cut off by her voice.
“Look, your the only one that can get someone to do it. I’m not going to ask someone off the street to kill those they love. But you, and your people. Your not police, and your not the ones who have to make the decision. It’s the best there’s going to be.” She sighed, staring at her hooves. “Just… Get a volunteer. Someone without family ties, someone who can… who can do what needs to be done.”
“Fine.” Florian said coldly. “I will do it Madame Chief. But only because your right, this hospital can’t take care of one tenth of this town, not matter the entire thing. We should have listened to you… but we all thought you were paranoid.” He shook his head. I’m not going to like whoever is willing to do it… And that’s why I have to do it myself. I can’t let anyone else take this burden.”
Footnote
Florian Cross Quest Perk Added Executioner: You are the last face that many will see. The grim face of death, giving the stroke of mercy. You are the one that proves that they are truly unable to be saved. As a result, you lose one point of disposition with the members of your own town, but gain 5% in intimidation whenever you have your axe on you. However, you are a valued member of the comunity, and in time, they will understand.
Aspa River Hospital, Arimaspi Territory Tuesday, March 17th, 3:20 PM Final Day, 2 Hours After Emerald Clover ”We did triage in the parking lot, ranked minor, major, grave A sad-eyed fireman gave the stroke to those we couldn't save“
Emerald woke up to the sound and bustle of the hospital, not knowing exactly how she got there. Her fur was singled off, and she could feel her skin warp and react to the necromantic energies of the big bomb. Would she be mutated? Have Cancer? She didn’t know, she couldn’t tell.
“Oh fuck oh fuck, what the fuck!” She yelled, startling the crowd around her. Her skin burned, and she could feel something just under her skin in her side. Could that be the cancer growing already. She may not have been too smart a pony but she listened to the radio often enough to know what might be happening to her.
As she watched and woke, pain filled her world. More and more of it. She was starting to panic, and it was spreading from her. “Celestia, won’t someone help me?” She’d come to the hospital, she could remember, because they said to come climb into the cart. It was a safe place. A little down the row a unicorn mare was examining ponies and using a marker to make little marks on their foreheads.
As the nurse neared she could see the symbols, a one and a two, and very rarely a three. Ones, it seemed, were whisked off to be treated first. Twos came next, but only when there wasn’t a one. She wasn’t sure what would happen to threes. At least she wasn’t until she saw a sadness fire pony walking and hugging the mare on the far end of the line.
With a short startled yell, she was dead. The axe taking her head off, after hugging her. Emerald was shell shocked, how could those around her be so unreactive?! She watched as the unicorn came closer to her. But as she did she became more and more certain that she would be marked with a three.
When the unicorn came to her, she whined and pleaded. “P-please! You can’t, don’t make me a three. I can’t die.” But even though she couldn’t see what the mark was she was so certain it was a three. She needed to get away from these mad-ponies
As the unicorn moved on, Emerald ran and didn’t stop. Back to town, back to the sane world. Where these mad ponies would never go.
Aspa River Hospital, Arimaspi Territory Tuesday, March 17th, 5:40 PM Final Day, 5 Hours After Smudge Stick ”A local healthfood herbalist brought everything he had. The painkillers were useful, and the poultices weren't bad.“
Smudge was tired as hell, walking out of town. She had spent the last few hours gathering up her entire home, all of her things, to bring to the doctors at the hospital. They scavangers had told her supplies were running low, so she though that it would be a good idea to try and bring in her stock. It was a long time, but eventualy she arived at the front entrance to the hospital.
"Halt!" A voice came, a stalion in a police uniform. His left arm was wrapped in a bandage, but he still stood tight and errect. "Name and profession?" He asked, doggedly looking her up and down. He seemed to snear at her clothes and her wagon a little bit, the Romani athstetic only making him seem more stand-offish.
"I'm Smudge, I run the herbalist in town?" She said, looking herself up and down. She was dressed in her traveler's best, a bright yellow sun dress with flowers on it. Her hair was done up in braids, and she grinned as he examined her. "Why is that relevent?"
"We have to seek out unsavory elements... it's a new policy."
"Sounds a little fashistic to me." The stalion shrugged, but nodded his head to the side. A sign, hand painted on a clip board, said that behind was a suply depot that would take any donations. Written in a different pen, it also said that they would be giving out ration chits for support.
She sighed and walked around the corner, horn flaring as she moved her cart in front of the others. Her light yellow coat seemed to glow slightly blue under the new light sourse, a purple light that had clearly been meant to be handheld. when she let her cart go to a stop, she smiled and nodded at one, before walking away from it. Several helpers started to search her supplies for anything useful, though she did have to helpfully point out the medical uses of several herbs they looked like they were going to throw into the pot.
"Look..." One said, who walked over to her. The mare seemed to be in charge, light red hair tied in a knot. "I understand that whatever you gave us is extreamly useful, but we can't give you more than one ration chit. That's as best as we can do for only one shipmentm it should get you through the day." Her voice had a weried tired aspect to it, as if she'd repeated those words all day. Smudge only nodded and accepted a chip. "The kitchens are around the corner, dinner is in about an hour. This one should be good at least, perishables are all going on the fire tonight."
