Olivia was in the range, the newest section of the base constructed at her request. The stone here still had that shiny, segmented look, reflecting the recently-printed adhesive of the construction process. The Forerunner had apparently not considered firearms proficiency to be important enough to be worth maintaining—clearly it hadn't been paying much attention to the world they lived on. Equestria was a dangerous place, and it was her responsibility to keep her crew alive. Somehow. God only knows what I'm supposed to do as a talking horse.
Some part of her wanted to walk right out of the base, find the deepest ravine she could, and throw herself in. Whatever else the Forerunner was, it had been right about not showing her the recording. Now that she had seen what it was willing to show without an order, she almost wished she’d gone all the way. Maybe I will… not knowing everything is worse than knowing nothing.
A loud, mechanical buzzer echoed through the range, and Olivia drew her pistol. The gun clung through her flesh to the magnetic implants she had recently had installed in her hoof, pinching painfully, but that didn't matter. She could aim now, sighting down her left foreleg as targets lit up one at a time. She pulled the trigger with a slight twitch of one of her leg-muscles, which would relay a signal from her implant to the gun. Each time it fired, and each time the target vanished in a faint flash of light—neither the gun nor the targets were real.
One soldier with a gun isn't enough to keep a whole crew safe. I'll have to insist the new crew all gain proficiency themselves. The implants would be easy—none of them were awake yet, so ordering a few changes to the existing array of implants wouldn't even require a surgery. Well, not one they would ever know about.
About a minute later, and another buzzer sounded. Each of the remaining targets vanished with faint flashes of light. "Test complete, Major Olivia Fischer. Your personal firearms proficiency is 2A. Congratulations." Better than she'd ever been as a human. Despite her lack of hands, this new body had eyes like a bird of prey. I guess it's a good thing the natives don't have implants, or else I might have to be afraid of them too.
After a quick shower, Olivia found a message waiting for her, a response from the translation team. She read over it quickly, expression darkening. Given everything she had already learned, the "good" news from her translator wasn't as positive as she would've otherwise thought.
But considering the odds of ever seeing another planet, I shouldn’t complain. It was a shame the last generation had been produced younger than maturity, or else Dr. Irwin could've told her if the ponies had bars. What Olivia really needed was a long night, some rough drinking, and maybe some rough men. The order didn't really matter.
But she wouldn't be getting any of that, and neither would Dr. Irwin. At her order, the translator would continue her mission. Learning it would be a bitch, but so was learning to function with stub-legs and no hands. If I could learn Mandarin, I can do Eoch.
Maybe she would, but not for some time yet. The translation team had well over a year allocated, and that mission was well on its way. That meant Olivia could focus her attention on more pressing matters. "Central computer, are you there?"
"Affirmative."
"I assume this landing site was chosen for good reasons."
"Affirmative. It possesses significant deposits of uraninite, iron, and mineral-based oils beneath impermeable clay layers. It is also remote enough for the furthest extreme of this civilization that the risk of discovery during the formative stages was remote. A decision was reached to avoid more hospitable locations with equivalent properties, as many were in closer proximity to native settlements or might attract them during the decades necessary to establish a manufacturing and resource-production infrastructure."
"If I remember my handbook..." Olivia began, rising from the console and setting off down the hall. The worst offender her new body had was the clopping sound of her hooves, a noise she tried to ignore with great difficulty. Every step was like a tiny nail driven into her eardrums, a reminder of how little the real Olivia had cared about what became of her mental offspring. "We're supposed to build somewhere. Outside the range of existing civilizations, right?"
"If it is possible, yes," the probe responded. "Predictions suggest an existing civilization would be more likely to acquiesce to a request for a colony to a power which already has a foothold on the planet. Modeling based on observations recorded by translator G3.01 indicates this prediction is more likely now that native bodies have been adapted."
Olivia nodded, though of course she knew the Forerunner didn't care whether she acknowledged it or not. In many ways, it didn't care about anything. It wasn't a person, wasn't a general intelligence. It was a bucket made of rules filled with data that sloshed around until something fell out the other end.
"I want to be far away. Further than the natives will ever find us. Somewhere we could build a whole city and never get discovered unless we want to. We have satellites, you must have a place in your database like that. Find me the closest one."
There was no pause. Either the Forerunner had already considered similar parameters, or it was just so smart that there was no delay to its computation. "I know of several sites. One is a tropical island surrounded by hostile seas, which the natives avoid for reasons I cannot determine. The other is a more remote, mountainous region. Not a single individual of the various native equestrian races has been observed traveling towards this region of the planet. Based on calculations incorporating the—"
"I don't care," Olivia interrupted. "You already said tropical island, so let's shitcan the other one for now. Can the Sojourner go that far?"
"With cargo," the Forerunner responded. "Several times on a single tank of fuel. You should be aware, however, that I cannot determine why no settlement has taken place here. The natives possess sailing ships, as well as airborne vessels which propel themselves via unknown means. Both avoid the island, even though it is within easy sailing distance of another continent populated by individuals of a less technologically sophisticated species."
"Sounds fascinating. Sounds like it might kill my squishy scientists if I don't investigate it first." She turned for the hall, marching back towards her quarters. "Prepare a fleet of automated drones. I want the entire site examined before my scientists are prepared. Once I have a crew, we'll explore it and possibly begin construction. So, whatever you have to do to ramp up production..." She waved a hoof through the air. "We have time to kill while the translation team is learning Eoch. I intend to see it used productively."
"Input accepted," the computer replied. “Be advised, this will require a significant increase in resource allocation and distribution. This increase cannot be accomplished in total secrecy. It is possible this site will be noticed."
She shrugged. "Well, make us some defenses while you're at it. We can't hide in a hole forever, Forerunner. It's time we roll this train along."
"Command override accepted," the Forerunner said. "Preparation for first settlement on KOI-087.01 has begun. Please provide object designation for the official record."
"Object designation?" Olivia asked, raising one eyebrow. "Not planetary designation?"
"Affirmative."
She hesitated. Olivia had forgotten about this. Asking the probe to get ready to build their first city was a major turning-point. Until this point, the mission might fail. Until the first city was built, whoever was in charge could determine the planet unsuitable and shut the Forerunner down for good. That could never happen now. Now the Forerunner would switch into overdrive, until its computational core became the center of the first city they built. On whatever this place was. Not a planet, but... it seemed enough like a planet from where Olivia was standing.
Planets ought to have good names. "Earth," she said, without thinking. "Best planet I know. We'll call it Earth."
"Input accepted." The probe said.
* * *
Then the manufacturing began. It took weeks, weeks Olivia spent with very little to do. She studied what she could about the dangers previous generations had faced, but found that frighteningly little was left for her to study. Olivia made up the difference by preparing the "Forerunner Base" with every defensive system in their records. She didn't care that doing so would slow the production of the equipment to found their first city. After all, if Forerunner Base was ever destroyed, it would take with it any chance of future generations.
She supervised the installation of concealed, motion-tracking anti-air guns. She worked an earthmover, opening enough space for mortar emplacements on the mountains overlooking the Forerunner. She spent hundreds of hours watching the camera footage from many, many concealed watch posts, placed in an increasingly wide circle around the Forerunner Base. The only thing she didn't do was tackle any of their scientific problems. There were several facing their nascent colony, and it was possible Olivia could've made some progress figuring some of them out. What had killed the previous, human crew? Could future humans be created who were immune to the effects? What about the anomalies about the planet itself? Olivia didn't care, leaving those questions for when the scientists woke.
Much changed in the base besides the defenses. The probe greatly expanded its manufacturing capacity, digging out vast spaces under the ground to make into new workshops. Olivia inspected each new manufacturing area, mostly because she was often bored and didn't have anything better to do. A growing warehouse started to fill with heavy machinery, modular building sections, and more manufacturing tools to be used in the new city. Oliva checked everything the Forerunner made, though the labor was mostly pointless. It wasn't as though she even understood most of what it did.
One place she visited most of all was command, where the gestation pods quietly churned night and day. She spent much of her free time there, listening to music or eating her nutritional supplements as she watched her fellow exiles grow. The vats had one clear wall, so she could look in if she really wanted. She didn't very often—the only thing more disgusting than a baby was a half-formed baby that was also an adult, their body filled with implants and wires in addition to the muscle, skin, and sinew.
"They all look the same," Olivia said, only a few days before her companions were scheduled to be released. "Why didn't you gather more samples? We don't all have to be identical clones."
"A previous order," the Forerunner replied. "It was determined that as little disruption as possible should be introduced to the lives of the native creatures. My only sample was gathered with considerable difficulty and human intervention."
"Find another way," Olivia ordered. "Maybe camouflage drones would work. Maybe you could dig around in the trash. I don't want my city to have hundreds and hundreds of me in it."
"Input Accepted," the Forerunner said. "Suggestion: the translation team is in close contact with aliens. Deploy collection equipment and have that team recover samples."
"Sure," Olivia nodded. "That's fine, but I want you to be doing it too. Their language is important. But might as well let her try. Oh, and... I want something to dye my coat with. I don't want to look the same as the others when they wake up. Maybe a light olive, something regulation." She'd already shaved her mane down to something like a short pixie cut, as short as she had worn it in the service, as well as trimming her tail. "There's a way to do that, right?"
"Input accepted," the Forerunner said, leaving her last question unanswered.
But Olivia didn't mind. She walked away from the screens, over to the wall where the gestation pods were located. Her companions had nearly been completely grown. Tomorrow, they would wake up. Tomorrow she would meet her crew, and take them with her to build a city. Maybe that would make this Earth worth living on.
And if not, there's always the cliffs. Whether she would find her own way to jump off, or send the rest of 'Earth' off first, that she hadn't decided. She would have to see how things went.
Fuck you, Olivia Fischer.
Oh boy, an interesting twist that was hinted in the last chapter....
This Olivia....I like her, she's forceful, but oh boy, her going up against Celestia...gonna be interesting.
If this is not the only module sent into space this universes humanity may cause countless planetary wars enslaving/eradicating species without ever knowing it......... until someone finds it that is technological more advanced.
As far as we know original Earth may as well be destroyed at this point in time.
Always look forward to these chapters, really. The story is only getting better as we go and I don't really see where it will end, which is a good sign
So far, she is in the right
Did I understood right? As long as there is no city, Forerunner would allows for a colonization to end in failure if it was deemed as such by current human overseer? When a city will be established it won't ever let go of trying to achieve success no matter what anyone says?
Oh boy. This could be good, or very, very bad, depending on why Morning Dew died. (Even "good" scenario could have a few radioactive mishaps, but there's no another way around it.)
I have a really bad feeling about this. Not Olivia, but I feel she may have just accidentally said the equivalent of 'make as many paperclips as you can' in telling it to make a city.
Wait, what's she naming Earth? The city?
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Looks like that is the case here. Apparently, whoever programmed the thing thought that if the colonists start thinking cities, they see that it can be done. Seems logical.
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Or earth could very well be the planet they are on right now.
Wouldn't that be one heck of a twist?
I mean just think about it, what would the forunner be wanting to hide from the others about the world they are on?
Awesome chapter!
And as far as I can tell this story ain't gonna be like the movie AVATAR especially not the ending. Thank god!
Oh my gosh! I think I might have figured out what secret the forunner does not want them to know! The world they are on, it's actually earth isn't it!? Maybe I'm wrong but that's what some of the hints seem to be leading to, at least to me.
Cause I can't understand what else it could be that would cause the crew to lose so much morale if they knew. Just my thoughts on the matter, maybe I'm right or wrong, guess we'll find out soon enough. Xd
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yep that's what i got.
I really, really hope human colony and Equestria&Co would reach peace and coexistence, instead of doing "let's protect my pony friends by killing every unborn child on this colony and the rest of humanity by shutting down the Forerunner! Yay!" shtick.
So far everything's good, but you never know.
Isn't james G4.01?
other than that, excelent chapter.
@Alkarasu : i see you
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Against Celly? Olivia only wants to build a city outside of Equestria. Not sure why should the Sun Princess get offended by it.
Mandarin isn't that hard is it?
Can't wait to see the city Olivia's going to build.
Oh yeah, why is the story called Message in a Bottle? I can't draw any conclusions based on what I've read so far
There is an infection growing in the badlands of equestria. I'm not sure the ponies are up to destroying the cancer before its too late.
Oh man when James and Lighting Dust was on the run, I was wondering if James was gonna take her home.
:tiny foal #1: Welcome home, James!
:tiny foal #2: *salutes* Thank you, Ma'am Sir!
:Lighting Dust: What the buck is this, an army of foals?
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But it's the fun kind of cancer. The one that consumes matter and spews out cool science and shit. Why would they wanna destroy that?
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I beleive its because the probe(bottle) was sent to space adrift, with no particular concern of finding a planet. The humans inside are a message of peace and prosperity to the stars.
Makes sense. Olivia; Olive.
Building automated defenses.....I get it, but at the same time, being a reader and knowing more than Olivia does...not sure it's a good idea. James is desperately trying to reassure Lightning that humans aren't threats, after all, and this doesn't exactly help.
Oh my God, they're all clones of the same dead mare. There are so many ways that could make things go terribly wrong when contact actually starts.
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No! The planet, except the probe doesn't categorise the planet as a planet! Probably because it's not orbiting a stellar body, so doesn't fit the definition of a planet it has stored. As Olivia points out though, it "seems enough like a planet".
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Hey if England can be a city why not Earth?
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England isn't a city. The Vatican is a city/nation example. "England is My City" is a song lyric it has no effect on the status of England.
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That's probably why they were *supposed* to make peaceful contact. But if they couldn't even manage it with the ponies... yeah, outlook is not good.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England,_Arkansas
And just for fun, here's Ponyville's equivalent:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humansville,_Missouri
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Would have been very cute if there had been some cigar smoking no-nonsense General foal with shades trotting in Celestias court and presenting their land claims, guarded by crack-team of foal elites.
Olivia's mostly as expected so far—considerably worse than the best case expectation after her last chapter, but not all the way down to the worst case expectation. Regarding her tendency to go, "fuck it, whatever, just do something", I like the contrast between her careless order to get samples (among other things) and her careful order to investigate the site of the new colony (despite her careless manner of discarding the other choices).
However, this is a new and concerning development:
I can't quite tell if she's contemplating "Jim Jones mass suicide", or "dust off, nuke the entire site from orbit".
Did she slow down the growth of the scientists? Kill off a whole batch? From James' view of events, Olivia grew in about a week.
I'm starting to wonder what Olivia's motivations are. One of them is obviously keeping her crew safe, but I don't get why would she decide to create a city. If you want long term safety the best way to go is to make a good first contact and make allies, and I don't think creating an alien (for the natives) military base in a feared island will help in any way. Same with creating as many crew members as possible.
As I see it, Olivia's decisions are just hurting the possibilities of making a good first contact. So, what drives her to make those decisions? Loneliness? A desire for normalcy and familiarity that comes with a city? Desire for power? Or perhaps fear, and that's why she wants so many defenses?
Olivia seems to still have her "Whatever the fuck I don't give a shit," attitude. That might have some really bad consequences.
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There are plenty of odd city/town names.
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You maniacs! You blew it up!
media.giphy.com/media/bSdkuLDnrYheE/source.gif
___________________
On a more serious point though, this seems rather ominous. The original Earth is kind of like a plant that's scattered its seeds to the solar winds and sown them across the galaxy, whether that's a good thing or not. Humans are kind of like an invasive species here and things like Olivia's "expand and supress" attitude and the Forerunner's forthright "complete objective: expand at all costs" programming are furthering that. Whether or not it's a good idea to colonize an alredy developed world and set loose a machine that's one wrongly phrased command away from going all grey goop didn't seem to occur to anyone involved.
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I think she's setting up so that she can negotiate from a position of power. It's a lot harder to deny humanity a colony when it's already been built and is bristling with extremely advanced automated defenses. "Better to ask forgiveness than permission" and all that. Also what a couple others here said, if city construction is begun, the Forerunner probe won't consider the operation a failure and do what it normally does (terminate the crew and try again).
8268095
Huh. Well I guess they need names for stuff but still. Seems kinda egocentric to name the planet that the people already living on it probably have a name for already.
Just something I noticed. It says she spends thousands of hours watching footage. 1000 hours is 42 days without sleep, only watching videos, so that seems a bit much.
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Maybe, but that would still not get them any allies or make the natives accept them. Just tolerate their stay because they've been forced to. I think Olivia is not thinking in the long term. At least regarding their relationship with Equestria.
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No she didn't, it took months. It's a little unclear exactly how long, but there are multiple times (such as when she was in the hospital, and when she was in the basement at city hall) where "weeks" went by. They're easy details to miss, though.
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I had intended that to be more of an exaggeration from her perspective than actual fact, but the fact that you noticed the specifics probably means I wasn't obvious enough, so I've changed the number so it works both ways.
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Ahh, okay. Yeah, I hadn't noticed it from a 'her perspective thing' since it seems to be happening in a more literal narration as opposed to her telling the story or dialogue exaggeration. I do see what you were going for now though.
Yeah, she's a real moron here too.... Seriously, who thought she was appropriate? Did they not screen her for basic intelligence? Or did she lie during the testing, giving the answers she knew they wanted instead of what she'd actually do.
Olivia is obviously suicidal as noted by her many derogatory remarks for her past self and the crew and having no real interest in her duties. As for the automated defenses it is just to compensate for the fact that Forerunner will now be gathering so much resources as to be impossible to miss by the natives. The types of defense installations also contributes to my claim Olivia is suicidal as she is indifferent to collateral damage they will inflict or the response it will trigger.
I still want someone to inspect the computers systems for age related damage as it might explain the problems the teams have had and the apparent firefight I think the old command center had suffered.
Oh man...I don't know whether to think of these developments as good or bad; it still entirely depends on the details of what happened before which we still don't know beyond extremely vague generals. I suspect we aren't ever going to know either until Lucky Break eventually figures it out herself, which from a writing perspective makes sense; generates an aura of mystery, allows the author to control how much revealing details are given at a time, etc. But from a reading perspective...it's making it really hard to wait for the reveals.
I'm guessing Olivia forgot to tell forerunner not the goto Dodge Junction, here we go again. those poor townsponies
This is either really really good, or really really bad. Not to sure how well ponies will react to building of a colony right in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention exactly why the mountain is abandoned (dragon territory?).
The island is cursed.
"computer, confirm analysis of object on screen 3."
"......analysis shows it to be a large three foot tall by one foot wide gestation pod..."
"computer, does that look like a facehugger from alien?"
"....... affirmative"
"hmm well damn, at least we know why this place is uninhabited."
"shall i prepair an orbitally delivered tactical nuclear strike?"
"probably shouldn't chance it. still i always wanted to fight a xenomorph..."
Wait so the Forerunner probe's AI isn't an artificial general intelligence? I'm not an expert (barely an amateur really), but it certainly seems capable of making predictions across a wide range of domains.
I'd love some information on the specifics of the probe's AI later on in the story.
Well. This is awful.
Not awful writing, mind you. The incoming conflict is awful, but conflict is the core of fiction.
Anyway, Olivia here is extremely bitter and suicidal. I mean, she has good reason. Since a few of you seemed to have missed it: the original Olivia wasn't all that interested in what happened to her... clones(?). Need a good word for it. In anycase, whatever her motivation she clearly didn't want to leave her life behind and joined the program for selfish reasons. Reasons that wouldn't behaviouraly manifest at the time because she was right where she wanted to be.
Our Olivia has those memories, but now she's here. Right where she had no interest in being. So only now do psychological problems manifest. Among what's already evident, she has some cognitive dissonance (if I used that right) since she still identifies as Olivia ("I learned mandorian...") while cursing her for putting her here.
So far, that's resulted in very short sighted thinking and a disregard for the consequences of her actions. And that could only possibly get worse under pressure. Like, say, in a conflict with the native inhabitants?
This is not going to go well.
I'm going to be cursing this Oliva before this story is done, I think.