ADOA-EAI-2.2.5(Can't figure out how to delete, anyone who can feel free to)

[Fifteen1413]

Saturday, January First, 1003 - 22:14:37 - Inside of the Friendly Fire corporation primary facility.
"So, why, again, should I pay half a million bits for this... thing."
"Quite frankly, half a million bits is an absolute steal. We've put this model up at one third price for you. You seemed interested at all stages in the process before. Getting cold hooves now?"
"No, it's not that. I was just expecting... something else. Not this."
"Perfectly understandable, sir. She's a bit of a secret project, as it were. The most advanced weapon system we have, by at least three centuries."
"Saying something like that won't impress me, you know. Things 'centuries' ahead have a habit of being a few years ahead at most. I'm looking for field numbers, not estimates."
"Oh, I can assure you, sir, this is not hyperbole. We found an early unit nine years back, right outside of the badlands. Crashed and in a strange crater, half destroyed. The manufacturing date on the plate clearly read 1336. I assure you, this is the real deal when it comes to advanced technology."
"You must be jokeing! You can't seriously expect me to believe that this... thing is from the future?"
"No, no, of course not! That was nine years ago. We reversed engineered the technology and built this model from what we learned. The only part that's actually from the future in her still is, well, the fusion core. We haven't even come close to figuring out how that works, yet."
"... ... Sweet Celestia, you're actually serious."
"Sir, I am always serious when it comes to business."
"Alright then. Let me ask you a business question, then. Why is this model one third price, if it's the unique advanced superweapon that you say it is."
"She's a prototype model. We've been playing around with the coding for the A.I. for the past few iterations. We're not sure the build she has is entirely stable. It should be more powerful, actually, but we haven't had the time to test it yet. A few of her experimental features are also prototypes. Basically, it's the carrot to get you to take the risk."
"The unit might not work, so you put out a disclaimer and a discount. Good thinking. Well, assuming that she works, say, just as well as..."
"Our last fully stable unit build was 2.1.13. I do believe we still have two up for purchase, if you wish. They cost 1,250,000 bits each, in case you were interested."
"Okay, so, assuming that this one works at least as well as the 2.1.13 unit, will it be able to do what I require?"
"From what you have told me, it should. They ain't meant to siege cities, but anything short should be well within her capabilities."
"Excellent. Doctor, when your team contacted me four weeks ago, I must admit, I was sceptical. But, now, after having seen your facility, and this unit in particular, I find myself very trusting of your capabilities."
"Understandable, given what we're offering. Some of it does seem too good to be true at first glance. I take it you will be making a purchase, then."
"Yes, I will. This unit costs 400,000 bits, right? Here. I'll buy the 2.2.5 unit. In addition, I'll put 100,000 bits down on one of the 2.1.13 units, just in case something does go wrong. You'll hold on to one for me, won't you?"
"For a 100,000 bit deposit? It'll be reserved for your purchase for at least the next fifty years."
"Excellent. Alright. I'll also take fifty of the personal strike kits; those were one thousand each, right?"
"Yes. That would bring you to 550,000 bits."
"Good, good! I think that should be everything. Is their anything I need to do before walking out here with my new toys?"
"Yes, there is one thing. The A.I. on the 2.2.5 unit... we have identified a definite bug. It comes from the core system, which we haven't really touched for fear of breaking it. Normally our breaks suppress it... but we took out all, or at least most, of the breaks on her. That was the point."
"I commend you for saying this before you had the money in your hooves, but I would appreciate it if you would actually tell me what the problem is."
"... yes, quite. Sorry. She seems to be hard-wired with specific reactions to the alicorn princesses, jumping instantly to defend any action done by or relating to Celestia, and responding severely negativity to anything related to Luna. From what we've seen, no order seems to have higher importance that this directive. But, unless you plan on trying to assassinate Celestia..."
"I might be brash, but I'm not stupid."
"Then it shouldn't be much of an issue."
"Well, if that's all, then I think we're done here. Unless there she's also allergic to cheese or something."
"No, that should be everything."
"Then consider the purchase complete. When can I expect the goods?"
"If you can carry them, the strike kits are already good to go. We can have the 2.2.5 unit up and ready for you in twenty minutes, right after some final checks."
"Wonderful, wonderful! I can feel my goals drawing closer already!"
______________
Saturday, January First, 1003 - 22:19:04 - Under the Friendly Fire corporation primary facility.
"Ah! Buck!" Star banged his head on the inside of the tunnel.
"Shhh!" Lyra spat. "Are you trying to get us caught!"
"Sorry. That clearance wasn't as high as I thought it was." Star paused, looking at Lyra. "You don't have to be here, you know. You've already helped a great deal just by locating the facility for me."
"Like I'd drop out after coming this far."
Star sighed. It was true, of course; and, give the situation, he really could use all the help he could get. He had been hired by an interested, anonymous party to investigate this off the books, off the grid research facility. These were the things that got food on the table, after all. His mission was to investigate the scope and scale of the facility. No confrontation, no sabatage, just reconosense. Easy, right?
Star sighed again. Things were never easy. At least he had two of the three ponies he trusted most at his back. Speaking of which...
"Stormy, anything on the sensors?"


((This story occurs three and a half months after the conclusion of the events of Stormy_Skies A16-EQ-UNI-ECO. Stormy has probably been living with Star for most of this time. The eleventh glyph has been found. Star and Twilight have settled into a strong, stable friendship, though Twilight obviously still loves Star(It's beginning to fade, though.) Lyra kind of pops in and out on occasion. The company you are investigating, you would know, is a underground military production facility, specializing in providing powerful magical and scientific weapons to those who are unscrupulous and very rich- but that's about all you'd know. Stormy would be picking up energy signatures of advanced technology, though not too much of it. The facility is physically located about ten kilometers outside of Manehatten, about sixty kilometers from Ponyville. Yes, there is snow outside. It's actually lightly snowing right now. You three are in an access/maintenance tunnel going under the main production floor. If you've read the timestamps correctly, you would find that, given that the dialog would take about three minutes to complete, these two event are taking place at roughly the same time. You can not hear the two misterious voices, they're just there for mood building and story purposes. A little meta to set the scene. Good luck, and remember to have fun!))

[StormieSkys]

((This might be a bit difficult for me to be the side, but it will be good practice)) Her eyes flicker onto the aperture symbols for a moment, using her internal sensors to pick up on as much information as possible, "Some energy signatures that relate to advanced technology, however that is not surprising. But, the advancement of these technologies are. Not a lot of it, but, advanced none the less. I have a lot of information, do you wish for anything more specific?" she asks, looking over at Star. She has changed a little over these months, she has been upgraded so her AI and OS are more stable, and an upgrade to her sensory systems. Also she has devolped a little bit more of a personality. ((Sorry for the long time to reply, wasn't sure what to put))

[Fifteen1413]

((You're a side character in the way Star was a side character last time. I think being the second most important pony in the plot should be doable! BTW, how was the lead in? Work for you?))
"Any point where there's a grouping of advanced stuff? That would likely be their most important research area." Star looked back and forth at the tunnel, which forked ahead. "And a facility map would be nice. Yes, I know you can't get me one. Still, it would be nice."

[StormieSkys]

She thinks, "Well... above us, mostly. Above and to the right left area there is a HIGH reading. Hm. And a map, I could try to hack into there systems here and provide one. Though it may risk getting caught.... however, I can disguise as a valid user just checking the map. That would require a manual check of the login logs to be caught, an automated system would see it as normal." she looks at him again, "That is, if you wish to take the risk. It would help us greatly."

[Fifteen1413]

"They. Have. A. Wireless. Network?!" Star looked at Stormy, stunned. "You know the state of our computer technology, Stormy. That's fifteen years off, at least!" He turned back to the tunnel ahead. "What have I gotten us into!"
"He means, yes, go for it." Lyra said. "Sure, we could be caught. But we're screwed for sure if we get lost down here."

((I'm not saying that's at all unreasonable given the facility in general, but remember, think 1970's! It works fine here though.))

[StormieSkys]

"::CONNECTING_TO:UFFCPF_NET:: ::FORCE_CONNECT ID 1172 (EMERGENCY_CONNECT)::" she spouts out some more information loading through directories... "::FACIULTY_MAP.nav DOWNLOADED:: There. We have a map now." she projects the map infront of him, and even had where they were, and where the items of interest were, "It was very easy to hack, I suppose no pony would have tech advanced enough to do it. Also I added some more revelent data, such as items locations, and our location."

[Fifteen1413]

"Stormy, I could kiss you." Star said. "Never doubt the supercomputer android from another universe!" He looked at the map. "Now, I don't know about you two, but 'inner sanctum' sounds promising to me. It'll either be where they keep their most advanced stuff, or their center of command. Either way, it'll give us plenty of information about them."

[StormieSkys]

She nods, "That makes sense I suppose. I'll follow your lead..... I think I stepped in poo."  she shakes her hoof a little, "That is not pleasant."

[Fifteen1413]

"In a maintenance tunnel?" Star said. "That... doesn't make any sense. These tunnels really shouldn't be used for waste disposal."
"Theory fit facts, Star, right?" Lyra said. "If they are being used for waste disposal..."
"There must be a backup somewhere in the system. This part of the building must be damaged. So..." Star's eyes shrunk. "They're going to send repair ponies to the leak. We might be getting company real soon. Okay, the map says.... this way! Everypony, move!"

[StormieSkys]

She continues to follow him, matching anypace he picked up to. She looked around, "Perhaps you should have worn masks before coming down here, these tunnels seemed to be filled with mold." she keeps scanning, "::FORCE_DISCONNECT:INVALID_USER:: Oh. That might be bad as well." The map still stayed up of course, since she downloaded it.

[Fifteen1413]

"Okay. Wait. Hold on." Star paused. "These tunnels are filled with mold? These are the maintenance and repair tunnels! They should be used on a daily basis! That's why we came here at 22:00, so we would avoid the workers who use them regularly!" Star looked at the map. "That doesn't make any sense. They shouldn't be in disrepair. Unless..."
"The map is wrong." Lyra deadpanned. "I knew that it had been too easy to find this place. We've been lead into a trap."

((Please stop adding details, okay? Not forever, just until we get out of the facility.))

[StormieSkys]

((Alright then)) She withdraws the map and frowns, "Hm. That can not be good." she keeps following them, looking around for danger.

[Fifteen1413]

((Sorry. By which I mean physical details. Don't put any more physical descriptions in. The other stuff is fine. Like, the disconnecting thing, good. The mold, bad. Okay?))
"Okay. Okay. New plan. We just... follow Stormy's signal detection. Simple. So, uh where too?" Star said anxiously.

[StormieSkys]

Her eyes turn to constant aperture symbols, "Down this tunnel, but it may be a trap loke Lyra said, so maybe somewhere else..." She keep looking...

[Fifteen1413]

"Oh..." Star shook his head. "You know what? It's unscientific, and probably stupid, but we're going with gut feeling. This way. Unless you get a for sure positive hit."
"Finally!" Lyra grinned.
The three made their way through a series of tunnels, eventually coming to staircase. The sound of mechanical humming was heard above them.

[StormieSkys]

She looks around the stairwell, "I am still surprised how ponies here seem to be able to go down stairs, how does that work anyway?"

[Fifteen1413]

"Simple traction. The coefficient of friction between our hooves and the-"
"Not important." Lyra walked up the stairs. "We're going this way, right?"
"Not until we have a little more information. Stormy, do you detect any voices?"

((For instance, deciding yourself whether their are voices out there is something that is perfectly acceptable. I want control of the physical space while we're here, but I'm far from stupid enough to think just parroting everything I tell you to say for thirty frames wouldn't be really boring. Feel free to make decisions on anything that is not physical!))

((Also, horses can walk up steps. Like, normally, in the real world.))

[StormieSkys]

She opens her sensor channels, looking for something out of the ordinary. She raises a brow, "Nothing out of the ordinary... this seems... strange. Usually there is something at least... such as the sound of...." her eyes widen a little, and she speaks more softly "Voices! I hear voices..."

[Fifteen1413]

"Close or far? Few or many?" Star asked hushed.
"Oh, come on, you sissy!" Lyra ran up the steps. "Find out for yourself!"
"Lyra!" Star hissed, then sighed. "Mares!" He bounded up the steps after her. "Come on! We can't let her go out there alone!"

[StormieSkys]

She nods and follows, after Star, right behind him "Tell her to becareful, that of we caught it will be her fault!" She sighs, "Lyra please slow down. We must remain silent and unnoticed.."