Chapter 16.5 - Supplementary
Emails cont.
J,
I have a favor to ask. And it’s kind of a big one. I’d rather ask it in person though, so let me know the soonest we can meet up. We’ve been friends for a long time now, and if I’m going to help, I’m gonna need you to help me help you, you know? Thanks.
-WS
J,
I did it. I managed to get a position in the armed forces where I can finally do some good. It’ll take time to figure out who I can trust, but once I do, I’ll be able to expand our network from there. Things are looking up. I’ve already found three like-minded ponies who’re looking for some payback against these jerks. I just need time, and resources. My funds are being monitored by my work for security purposes, so I’m going to need a separate bit account to deal with bribes. Think you can set something up for me?
-WS
SZ,
I understand that you might be a little surprised to see this email on such a sensitive information network, so please, do not panic. I mean you no harm. I merely have taken an interest in your research as of late. I’ve seen that you have been doing quite a bit of poking around lately, and on such a wide variety of interesting topics too. I could use a competent hoof like you. While I am sorry to hear of J’s death, you seem to be making excellent use of his network, so it is my hope that we can still work together in the future, if you are willing. Please, send me a line, sometime.
-0
[This message has been marked as Spam]
#$N@TURAL M@LE 3NH@NCEMENT!***) BUY N0W!!$$$$
J,
I think I found a lead on this 0 guy, albeit a really weird one. Now, this is just a fringe theory so take it with a few grains of salt, but, I don’t think this guy is inside any of the known star systems.
I’ve been taking some ships out on some scouting runs, checking random nodes to try and trace that signal. I still haven’t found much on the where end of things, but I might have a lead on the how. Weird signals have been popping up on the M-Net, and I’ve been trying to triangulate some of them to get a closer look at them. No such luck so far, but in the process we found something else. A ship.
It was only a short glance, and command would start asking questions if I tried to explain why I tried to cart it home, but we found an ancient battleship east of the Rim. A big one, and a really, really old one. I don’t know how, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we found this while looking for 0. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to board, but all of the information we got from the various satellites you’ve been harvesting have been pointing to the ship as a possible lead.We also found something else. Not even a short jump from the ship we found an M-Net repeater, only this one was running silent. It was still running, I checked, but it was locked out to all access, and without the correct codes and port numbers, I don’t think I’d be able to break in. I sent some word up the chain about them, implying that there might be some shadow network somewhere. That should at least get them to send more teams to investigate. As to who would be able to finance such a thing I’ve got no clue, but what I know for sure is that somepony, somewhere is fielding illegal repeaters to spread their own network. Next chance I get, I’m looking for more. In the meantime, what would you think about recovering that ship?
-WS
J,
We lost a big one today. The UCC authorized it despite the opposition we’ve been trying to build out there. A whole damn center full of the fucks. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I don’t like it, and it can’t be good. They’re not just working in the shadows any more. I worry about a full mobilization, but my allies here in the military just don’t see it. I’m getting frustrated here. How are things back home?
-WS
WS,
Please stop making traceable references. If anyone finds these messages they’re gonna find us. You know we can’t afford that.
-J
J,
Sorry. I’m still new at this.
-WS
Marevald, Monico, and Gramps would like to extend this very special offer to you for your continued patronage of the Paradigm Travel Agency, with our new frequent flyer program...
J,
Remember when we were younger, and I met my wife? Times were so much simpler then. No skulking around, dodging inspections and generally bucking up the system. Of course, that was before I had a kid. I… sorry. I know you hate it when I talk about personal stuff. I wanna drop by sometime soon and catch up. I have some leave coming up and I’d love to drop in. Let me know if we can arrange it.
-WS
J,
We don’t really talk anymore, do we? Feels like it’s all business between us now. This crusade, it’s eaten us. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. Maybe I should have stayed home. Still, I’d love to talk again sometime, maybe when this is all over. I know we can’t now, for obvious reasons, but it’d be nice to just sit back and shoot the breeze, like we used to. Know what I mean? Update soon.
-WS
SZ,
Who are you? What do you want? and what do you mean J is dead?
-WS
Out of curiosity, is this stories canon have Alicorn Twilight in it's past and Princes Cadance?
Though I have to admit, it certainly sounds interesting that the Princess sound like they disappeared without a trace. I wonder where they disappeared to?
Though out of the chapter, it seems like we might be going through old Emails of the previous account holder while Fritter is trying to contact some of Junkyards old Informants.
6758193 it might have helped that some months back I rewrote the first chapter and quietly replaced it. Still, challenge accepted. I hope that you'll enjoy the ride.
6757169 As for one and two, I can't really say anything without spoiling it. As for the rest, you are correct.
6753291 Thank you for sticking with it!
6759592 Always spell out numbers, don't just press the 2 and 1 key for "Twenty One."
6760114 This is not a universally accepted convention. Many style-based exceptions exist.
6761588 It's part of it. The prejudice is still there, It's just amplified when some smelly, cocky-ass pegasus walks up and demands service.
I've seen a wide variety of sci-fi and stories. I think some of the most telling influences on the universe have been from things like Eve Online, Cowboy Bebop, general cyberpunk as well as spacepunk. Part of my college education factored into this as well, as I took some of the basic sci-fi tropes that are well used in other media an basically pictured in my mind what the MLP universe might look like given 3000+ years of virtually uninterrupted economic and technological development. From there I projected out what advances might take place and decided on a sort of Retro future vibe that combined new technology and old [just because something is obsolete doesn't mean that it's useless. People, especially businesses, are going to use it until its too cost prohibitive to do so.] That is also how I came up with the Sparkle Drive, since I needed a method of FTL travel but after thinking for a few minutes I realized that they wouldn't need it. Why invent something to make you go really fast when you can just mass teleport?
6766320 The acronym and the nickname was probably one of my more inspired moments while writing this story. Every time I write it I chuckle.
6766521 A 'Changeling defense' is saying. "It wasn't me! A changeling did it!" Due to how convenient of an excuse it could be, it usually gets thrown out.
6766577 Maybe I should rename the chapter 'The burning eyeballs'.
6766394 Prism is/was the tower controller. She was constantly interacting with all the pilots that were coming and going from the station, which meant that she would also be the one who would be the one of the first points of contact for law enforcement, military, and other personnel. It also means that she would likely get to know a lot of the pilots and their ships by name. Jess is one of these cases, since forging friendships with people who control exactly how long you're going to be waiting or where you are going to park is good for business.
As for why Jess, well, normally the PBJ wouldn't spend a lot of time an effort to bring in a single criminal if they're not getting paid to do so. It would be an unnecessary expense, and hard to justify in face of other targets they could be chasing. So in lieu of no one getting sent out, Jess went, partly because it aligns with her ethos, but mostly because that SoB hurt her friend.
6800217 You'd have to say it right in order to have any noticeable effect. Oh, and also be this guy.
It's official, I'm all caught up. Now the downside, I have to WAIT just like all the other bronies for the next adventures of the crew of the Scrap Bandit.
If there is any flaws, and I'm reaching here, is that there doesn't seem to be an overall plot. It's just Horizon and gang going from one crazy caper to another; no villain to defeat, no empire to overthrow, no overall goal that the crew must accomplish. It's all just a bunch of subplots bound together into a neat little package.
But like I said, that's just me being nitpicky. I really enjoy this story and can't wait to find out what happens next.
6804117 I'm working on it! I swear!
6804117
I think that grand master plan is hidden below all the minute details. Also, emails, cutouts from history books.
Celestia and Luna just disappeared. The next cutout said about opportunities. Now since someone got to have power, would they want to give it back? Would they do every possible subtle thing to prevent them from returning?
And something big tried to poison colonies. Why? There should be big reason.