/q/ - Quest

ADVENTURE!

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File: 1377913141602.jpg (298.93 KB, 1588x786, Cerberus_Station.jpg, IO Exif Google TinEye)

475983

When people talk about space exploration, it's usually glamorous. And they're right, to an extent. The final frontier is still largely unmapped, and the idea of traveling through the vast unknown and having adventures is banked on pretty hard by both the RSF and various civilian contractors to this day. What they don't tell you is what you usually end up doing.

Station #38y7r (or "the barn" as everyone you know calls it) is a fairly typical example of the many scattered depots within Equestria's growing interstellar borders. Most of your day is spent at your station, helping it go through the day's itinerary. Most of these are bulk transports prying their way through established starlanes, but every so often you'll get lucky and get to serve a RSF military vessel or exploration ship.

No such luck today though. As is, you're all sitting in the mess, lamenting the lack of any new stories to swap. The only ship to come in today topped off its tanks and deposited a large, free-floating cargo module in one of the empty docks for pickup. Probably food or something. Nothing ever really happens here.

475984

>>475983
"Anyone up for a game of hide and seek while we wait for something to happen?"

475985

>>475984
"Hide and seek? Isn't that a bit… juvenile?"

475986

>>475985
"We would play it with ships in the nearest asteroid field, of course."

475987

>>475983
I slip some food to a frog sitting in my uniform's sleeve.

>>475984
"Ooooh… I know all the best hiding places by now. Sticky likes to make me look for him when it's feeding time."

475988

>>475986
"Now that just sounds dangerous and irresponsible. And besides, isn't that against regulations?"

>>475987
"I doubt you can fit where your frogs can hide."

475989

>>475988
"Only if they find out. Come on, let's go."
I stand up.

475990

>>475988
I scratch my head in thought.
"I don't know… Sticky's pretty big. He's big enough to swallow a pretty big electrical conduit, after all."

>>475989
"Where we going, birdcat?"

475991

>>475990
"The hanger."
He's a pony.

475992

>>475991
"Hanger" is a pretty generous term. There's a small craft bay for commuters coming to and from ships too big to reach the exterior trams, and a small dock for the tug, but that's about it.

475993

>>475991
I guess she was confused

>>475992
What's the tug called?

475994

>>475992
[1d10] to cover up the fact that I forgot I only have a tug here.

>>475991
>>475993
I spin around on my hoof and walk the other way.
"Or we can get some food. Food is good."

Roll #1 8 = 8

475995

>>475993
Being little more than an in-system tractor, it was never even really christened with one officially. At some point some cheeky bastard evidently found the time to spray "Danger Zone" on the side, though nobody's sure if that was supposed to be a slight against Speedy's piloting style or not.

Commander Astray condemned such a gross breach of protocol, though everyone has noticed by now there's been no order to wash it off.

475996

>>475994
"Oh! I could grab a quick snack."

>>475995
How big of a crew is here? Is there a command center? What's around?

475997

>>475995
Off to the cafeteria I go.

475998

>>475994
"Food's good. I could definitely go for some food."
I follow.

475999

>>475994
You manage to keep your shifty eyes to a minimum.

>>475996
Most of the crew is engineers and technicians of varying degrees. The station is actually designed to accommodate far more on it than you usually see, but you're just not near enough starlanes for most of the rooms to see much use. On the plus side, that means most of the crew gets their own rooms as the actual quarters were repurposed to serve as extra storage long ago.

There is a command deck, but it's largely a glorified traffic control tower with a station set aside to monitoring the fuel tanks and collector arrays.

>>475997
Welcome back to the mess. It's the middle of shift change at the moment, so there's quite a bit of ponies in coveralls and jumpsuits wandering in and out of the lines or sitting at tables eating, talking, or otherwise.

476000

>>475999
What are they serving today?

476001

>>475999
So what's on the menu today?
Anything good?
'1d10'

Roll #1 1 = 1

476002

>>475999
I stick my head into my frog container.

"Who's hungry?"

How hungry are they?
'1d10'

Roll #1 5 = 5

476003

>>476000
Well, it's Sunday, so…

>>476001
"Sunday Special."
Which is pretty much chef code for "whatever's left over from the week blended together in a way we hope hides it."

>>476002
You know that weird state of mind where you've eaten a full meal a few hours ago, but just know you're going to be hungry sooner rather than later? That's how hungry they are.

476004

>>476003
"Ewwww."

476005

>>476003
"Just a tad peckish, eh?"

I empty a jar of bugs into their container.

>>476003
"Oooh. My favorite."

476006

>>476003
"Lovely."

>>476004
"It's not that bad if you get used to it."

476007

>>476006
I also walk up and take a space-tray full of the slop, and try to find an empty table.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

476008

>>476006
"You've neever gotten sick in an airlock before. I'm going to grab a snack from a machine."

>>476003
I go grab some chips from a vinding machine.

476009

>>476008
Or even a vending machine.

476010

>>476005
Your frogs don't really seem to notice now, but you're sure they'll appreciate it later.

>>476007
After quite a bit of scanning, you manage to find one, but it's all the way at the other end of the hall.

>>476008
Unfortunately, the station's one and only vinding machine is still out of order. It's been on the repair list for months, but since nobody on board is exactly sure how it works, nothing's come of it.

>>476009
The vending machines next to it, however, seem perfectly operational.

476011

>>476010
Chip time.

476012

>>476010
I follow Speedy to the machines.

"Aww salamanders," I say at the dead vinding machine.

I grab a pudding from a vending machine though.

>>476011
"Hey, Speedy – did you know that frogs have the highest rate of mutagenesis of any known complex animal orders?"

476013

>>476012
"Yes. You've told me this many times."

476014

>>476010
Aw sharktails.
I suppose I head back over to the rest of the group.

>>476012
>>476013
"I found a table, but it's at the end of the hall."

476015

>>476014
"Alright. Let's get to sitting."

476016

>>476013
"Oh, good. Then you also know that frogs are the perfect vector for any of dozens of industrial and engineering applications. Have you considered letting me modify your tug to feature a bio-frogular, fly-by-frog electronics system?"

>>476015
I follow the group back to the table.

476017

>>476016
"No thank you. I prefer mechanical perfection."

476018

>>476017
"O-oh."
Rolling to not let lip wobble.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

476019

>>476014
"Anyways, what are you up to, fishy?"

476020

>>476014
>>476015
>>476016
You reach your table and start enjoying your meal. Most of the regular crew try not to look too thankful they won't have to share space with the frog-obsessed mare or the stallion with the artificial butt.

>>476018
Your lip remains stationary, but your eyes get a little misty.

476021

>>476015
I follow.

>>476016
I chuckle.
"That's just silly. If anything, sharks would make a much superior animal to base a navigation system on. Their brains are well adapted to strenuous sensory input, between their incredibly heightened senses and all their additional senses. Did you know that sharks can actually navigate the earth's oceans purely with their electroreception? Absolutely fascinating.

"But we would be much better duplicating their abilities with technology as opposed to using actual biological sharks."

>>476019
"Whatever menial tasks they assign me, as per usual. And bemoaning the lack of a pool, as also per usual. I'm slowly becoming more and more tempted to swim in those ether tanks at this point…"
As we arrive at our table, I start eating.

476022

>>476021
"I bet we could bribe someone to set up a zero-G pool somewhere."

476023

>>476021
"And yeah, exactly. When a machine breaks it doesn't smell bad, but when animals die they do. It's hard enouugh to get fresh air in my ship as it is."

476024

>>476021
"Well that's just preposterous! A frog's galvanic skin response means that it's a perfect electrical conduit, meaning that you can run standard electronic equipment off of a froggy network! It's the perfect ship-wide electrical system. And unlike a shark, frogs only take up a fraction of the space and require a relatively small caloric intake."

I push my glasses back up onto my face and give a satisfactory huff.

476025

>>476024
Continue eating, slowly starting to take bites into the tray that the food was served on.
"Don't tell me that you were mislead by 'Fins' too. There are many different sizes of shark! All possessing near similar sensory capabilities and mental functions and-"
I finish chewing the piece of the tray I was eating while talking, taking deep, heavy breaths through my nose.
"This is a silly conversation and I refuse to take part in it again with you."

476026

>>476025
I stick my tongue out at you.

476027

>>476024
>>476025
A few of the nearby crewmen start inching away from you. A few are suddenly done with their meals.

476028

>>476027
"You guys are scaring off the menials again."

476029

>>476028
I blush a bit and go back to eating my pudding.

"I-I'm just saying, you know – frogs."

476030

>>476027
I humph and finish off the tray absentmindedly, picking at my unusually large and sharp teeth.

>>476028
"Maybe they're just leaving to return to work. Isn't our break about over anyways?"
I pull out my personal portable computer/PPC and check when our break is over.

476031

>>476030
"It might be, at least for you two."

476032

>>476031
>>476030
"I've got some experiments to check up on. I'm trying to develop a frog that can do the work of a pony gallbladder!"

476033

>>476030
>>476031
>>476032
As you finish off your meal, the station's PA system comes alive. It takes you a minute to realize these are the tones signifying an unscheduled arrival. The station's sensors just picked up a ship dropping insystem without warning.

476034

>>476033
"Huh. I guess you've got a job to do, Speedy."

I start heading towards my quarters.

476035

>>476033
Right!
Uh
I check my PPC to see if I was assigned any place that I need to be for arrivals.

476036

>>476034
"Finally! Some action!"

>>476033
I fly down the halls as fast as I can to my tug.

476037

>>476035
Since you're not really trained for much of the complex stuff, they usually have you slated as a cargo handler.

>>476034
>>476036
As you get up to leave the mess hall, the PA system chimes again. This time it's a voice.
"Attention! Attention! Incoming ship has begun launching lifepods! All crew members stand by to assist!"

476038

>>476037
"Oh no!"

I check my bag for the good ol' rebreather frog – helpful for ponies who need some respiration.

'1d10+2'

Roll #1 1 + 2 = 3

476039

>>476037
"Real action! Wooooo!"
I fly faster.

476040

>>476037
Oh dear.
Onwards to… the cargo bay! They should be arriving there, right?

476041

>>476038
In your excitement, you fumble your terrarium and drop it on the floor. The bugs you put in their earlier take this opportunity to escape, as do a few startled frogs.

>>476039
>>476040
As you rush off, you pass by a few of the engineers at one of the public terminals next to the exit. From the looks of it, they're using it to watch the exterior sensor feed.

"Wait a minute, this can't be right…"

476042

>>476041
"What?"
I double around and look at the screens.

476043

>>476041
"Oh, motherfrogger!"

I hop up and down and try to grab a few and stuff them back in my bag.
'1d10'

"Uh… I'll come back for the rest of y'all later!"
I gallop after Speedy and Sharkbutt.

Roll #1 6 = 6

476044

>>476041
"What can't be right?"
What's on the screen?

476045

>>476043
You grab some, but it's fewer than you would like. Hopefully they won't get in too much trouble in the mess hall.

>>476042
>>476044
One of them points to the large rectangle on the screen indicating the ship. It's surrounded by a growing hive of dots.
"It's launching lifeboats all right, but there's nothing wrong with it! No hull breaches, no leakages of any kind, heck, they're not even broadcasting a distress signal!"

Another one gestures to the dots.
"And I don't think I've ever seen a ship that size carry that many pods on board. Where are they all coming from?"

476046

>>476045
"Maybe it's a transport and they lost life support."

476047

>>476045
"Oh man, what if those are torpedoes or something?"

476048

>>476045
"What's this sensor picking up? Couldn't they just be… cargo or something they're jettisoning?"

476049

>>476046
"They should have broadcasted that by now…"

>>476048
"It's just the main array we normally use for traffic control. I'll see if I can find one of the cameras."
He fiddles with the terminal a bit until he gets an exterior view. Sure enough, the ship looks pretty close to the same make and model of bulk freighter you see on a regular basis. It's surrounded by a halo of twinkling lights, kinda like the holos you've seen of the Princesses.

>>476047
"No, I don't…wait!"
The lights start glowing brighter as they come into focus. The pods look like they're coming closer to the station.

476050

>>476049
"Huh."

I nervously check my bag and make sure the remaining frogs are situated.

476051

>>476049
"'l'lllllll beinmytugbye!"
I zip off to my tug and get it ready to launch.

476052

>>476049
"Those look too small to be transport pods…"
My tail starts nervously swishing back and forth.

476053

>>476050
All there, lost in their own private little froggy worlds. What secrets do they hold in their little froggy brains?

>>476052
"But they're bigger than any escape pod I've ever seen. What in the name of the sun…"
One of the group, a large older stallion known for past RSF service and now serving as a foreman, starts shouting.

"They're on an attack vector! I knew I've seen that before! We're about to be boarded!"

At the same time, sirens across the station start screaming in unison.

>>476051
You're fast enough to reach the lift before the alarm goes off, but before you know it, the station is rocked by a series of loud bangs.

Everyone roll to stay upright.

476054

>>476053
"Gah!"
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

476055

>>476053
Upright!
[1d10]
Launch!
[1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3 / Roll #2 10 = 10

476056

>>476053
"B- B- Boarded?!"
Oh jeez.
Stay upright! My tail should also give me additional balance!
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

476057

>>476054
>>476056
Though shaken, the two of you manage to stay up. The door to the mess clangs shut though.

>>476055
You, on the other hand, bang into the lift down to the service deck, giving yourself a nasty bruise. Your recovery is impeccable though, as you roll right out and smoothly land in the seat of your tug. Clearly you planned this all along.

476058

>>476057
Let's launch that tug. I want to be out of here when those torpedoes strike.

476059

>>476057
I draw my laser pistol and don my respirator.

And I dig through my bag for the neurotoxin-releasing Spotted Rain Frog.
'1d10+2'

"C'mon, Stinky, I know you're in here."

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

476060

>>476057
Oh dear oh dear oh dear
I- I
They never gave me a weapon…
AAAA
I DUCK BEHIND A TABLE.

476061

>>476058
'1d10'

>>476059
You find him way down on the bottom. You're pretty sure you had to squeeze every frog left in there to do it.

>>476060
You're not the only one. Several other crew members have climbed under there as well.

Roll #1 4 = 4

476062

>>476061
The engine revs a few times, but it looks like you're jarred in place for the moment. It looks like the impact wasn't very good for the docking arms.

One of the engineers bangs his hoof against the terminal.
"We're locked in! Our own life support system won't even let us out to repel boarders!"

476063

>>476061
"C'mon, y'all!" I shout at the ponies hiding. "This is no time to take a nap. If we're bein' borded, then you gotta get ready!"

476064

>>476062
"Boarders? Oh god, I thought they were torpedoes. Where's the armory?"

476065

>>476061
>>476062
"W- What? We're locked in and the life support system's down?!"
Oh dear oh dear oh dear…
"Can we reset it from here? Can't you… can't you do something program-y with that terminal to get it to work?!"

476066

>>476063
Not too many of the ones on the floor look very convinced, but the big stallion nods vigorously.

>>476064
No armory, but there are a few weapons lockers scattered on every deck.
For clarification, you managed to escape the mess before it locked down. Everyone else is still in there

>>476065
"No, life support is still working. In the event of a hull breach, it's supposed to seal off rooms for safety. The problem is we've got so many of them across the station that nearly every other door has locked itself shut, including this one! Can anyone else here hotwire this thing?"

476067

>>476066
"Well let's get going!"
I draw my pistol and set out looking for a weapon locker.
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

476068

>>476066
"Good idea. We need to get everypony to a safe area towards the center of the station."

I look through the bag. I know I've got that Mareitian Sparking Frog in there. It's good for hotwiring anything in a pinch.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 10 + 2 = 12

476069

>>476066
"I- Isn't it good that we're locked in here? I mean, a- at least this way whatever's boarding can't get in here in turn right?"

476070

>>476069
"We need to put as much distance between us and the boarders as possible."

476071

>>476068
Oh, there he is. Jumped right on up into your hoof.

>>476067
In your excitement, you get all turned around and end up back where you started.

>>476069
"Well, I guess. We still don't know what they want though, and we can't just let them take it!"

476072

>>476071
I use Sparky on the door's panel to get it moving.

The 12's gotta help, yes?
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

476073

>>476071
"Help me look!"
I keep looking.

476074

>>476073
[1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

476075

>>476070
>>476071
I start pacing.
"W- We have a security staff don't we? Can't they take care of them?"

476076

>>476075
"Well hopefully we can put most everypony in a safe area and wait these pirates out. But we might have ta fight 'em."

476077

>>476072
You slap the frog on the door panel, and with no rhyme or reason, it opens…

>>476073
Revealing Speedy! Who somehow found his way back.

>>476075
"Normally, but I don't think they can handle something this big. Why haven't we heard from the command deck yet either?"

476078

476079

>>476078
Oh, and you managed to find one on the way back. It was even open, though all it had were a few rifles.

476080

>>476077
I speak to the stallion who was under the table.

"Alright, good lookin'. Round up these ponies and watch our rear. We gotta move towards the station's center."

>>476078
"Speedy! Do you know where an arms locker is?"

476081

>>476079
I grab a riffle and toss it to Mags then grab a rifle for myself.

>>476080
"Right here!"

476082

>>476081
"We're really gonna be… fighting them?"

476083

>>476082
"Of course!"

476084

PAWS

480242

LAST TIME IN SPACE

Life suddenly became exciting when the party's home and place of work suddenly came under attack. Caught without warning, the party managed to successfully free themselves from the mess and procure some extra weapons thanks to Speedy. Now they have to decide what to do next.

480243

>>480242
"Hurry, everypony!"
Where are we, exactly? And in what direction is the bridge or command center?

480244

>>480242
>>480243
"Hurry where?!"

480245

>>480243
>>480244
"We've got to get to the bridge!"

>>480242
I rush in the direction of the bridge.

480246

>>480243
You're on deck 3, where most of the rec areas are. In addition to the mess, this deck has an observation room/lounge and a modest fitness center and gym for the crew. One deck up is the crew and stopover quarters, as well as some modest storage in unused living space. Above that is the top deck with command, control, and communications.

The two decks below are dominated largely by the massive storage tanks for fuel. The upper service deck is largely reserved for monitoring and refining the contents of the tanks, with some machine shops and service areas scattered about. The bottom deck is access to the various docking and refueling bays dominating the length of the station, as well as primary storage, trams to the outmost large ship docks, as well as the shuttle bay and tug storage.

480247

>>480245
"B- But that's where all the invaders probably are!"
I rush after her to try and get her to stop.

480248

>>480247
"Any better ideas?"

480250

>>480248
"We… can't we send out a distress signal or something?!"

480251

>>480247
>her

>>480250
"And where do you think the distress signals are sent from? The bridge!"

480253

>>480245
You hear the sounds of a firefight close to one of the main lifts.

480254

>>480253
I fly forwards and try to get the droop on the attackers.
[1d10]

Roll #1 1 = 1

480257

>>480253
I head towards the sounds.

>>480250
"C'mon!"

And I signal for the rest of the crew to stay put for the moment.

480259

>>480251
"Can't- The com station? Why not the com station?!"

>>480257
Nng
I pace back and forth on my hooves before eventually chasing after her. She's still a friend…

480261

>>480259
"Because that's boring!"

480269

>>480254
You run right into a rifle butt to the face before you can see anything. You are now Helpless.

>>480257
>>480259
The two of you round the corner just in time to see Speedy get thrown back, a nasty bruise growing on his muzzle. His assailant is a large, bipedal figure clothed in a fully-concealing armored spacesuit. The suit is clearly modified to be intimidating, flecked with burnished red paint and a crudly-daubed snarling mouth encircling the opaque visor. Three similarly-garbed figures are with it, all pointing rifles towards the open doors of the lift. Inside it, you can see some haggard-looking crew members doing their best to take cover behind the doors. The figures all turn towards you.

480273

>>480269
I propel myself backwards with my wings and try to get up.
[1d10+2]

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

480275

>>480269
"Ack!"
I try to fish Flashy the bio-luminescent flashbang frog (big flash, loud croak) out of my bag.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

480278

>>480269
"S- Speedy!"
PANIC
I- I
I charge at the one that hit Speedy!
TACKLE HIM!
'1d10'

Roll #1 10 = 10

480287

>>480273
You bounce back up off the floor, having taken harder hits than that jumping into your cockpit.

>>480275
You toss out one of your frogs. The cacophony it creates is enough to stagger one of the pirates for a moment as he stumbles backwards.

>>480278
Overcome with rage, your instincts take over and you do exactly what that shark did on your favorite Mythbuckers episode. Bounding forward, you slam your skull straight into the closest pirate's gut, instantly knocking him back against the wall. You hear a loud groan as he absorbs both impacts, then slumps over on top of you.

Okay, maybe it's not quite the same, but points for trying, right?

#Speedy: 5/4
Mags: 5/5
Chilo: 5/5

Pirate 1: 0/4
Pirate 2: 4/5
Pirate 3: 5/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480290

>>480287
"Get 'em!"
I shot the one that got frogged.
[1d10+1]

Roll #1 4 + 1 = 5

480298

>>480287
"Croakey, that'll teach ya!"
I fire my laser pistol at the froggy target.

480299

>>480298
I even roll for it
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

480305

>>480287
I-
I try to toss him off me and maybe in the process hit someone with my tail!
'1d10'

Roll #1 1 = 1

480309

>>480290
Your shot just manages to bubble the paint on his side, while he scorches your hoof in return with help from one of his friends.

>>480298
>>480299
But he's distracted enough for Mags to pop him in the leg in the meantime.

>>480305
You, meanwhile, are caught by surprise as one his squadmates takes the opportunity to shoot you in the butt. Startled, you collapse and end up buried under a mass of unconcious armored assailant.

#Speedy: 3/4
Mags: 5/5
Chilo: Helpless/4

Pirate 1: 0/4
Pirate 2: 3/5
Pirate 3: 5/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480311

>>480309
"OW!"
I struggle under the pirate and try to lift myself up and get away!
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

480312

>>480309
I pull another flashbang frog. Flashy's brother: Banger.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 2 + 2 = 4

480313

>>480309
"Bring them down!"
I keep shooting.
[1d10]

Roll #1 1 = 1

480317

>>480311
You squeeze out with some help from your special tail before you can get zapped again. He manages to pull himself to his feet as well, albeit groggily.

>>480312
Clearly displeased with your treatment of his brother, Banger bites you on the hoof. It distracts you long enough to take a couple of hits.

>>480313
Clearly not wanting to be taken down, the rest of the dogs focus their fire on you, blasting you back down to the floor and inflicting some nasty laser burns on your flanks.

#Speedy: Helpless/3
Mags: 4/5
Chilo: 5/4

Pirate 1: 5/4
Pirate 2: 3/5
Pirate 3: 5/5
Pirate 4: 5/5


Thankful for some of the heat being taken off of them, the crew members in the lift take a few shots…

Roll #1 8, 4, 7 = 19

480319

>>480317
AAAAA
Bite his gun so itSabotages the stupid thing or something just DON'T LET HIM SHOOT ME AAAAAA
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 7 + 2 = 9

480320

>>480317
…Which manage to stagger one pirate and get the attention of another, but one of them gets zorched for his troubles.

#Pirate 1: 2/4
Pirate 2: 3/5
Pirate 3: 3/5
Pirate 4: 5/5


Roll #1 8, 9, 3 = 20

480322

>>480320
I try to stand up again.
"Friggin aliens!"

480323

>>480322

Roll #1 5 = 5

480329

>>480317
"Ow! Bad frog!"

I help Speedy up!
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

480335

>>480319
You latch on to the muzzle of his gun and bite down hard. There's a satisfying crunching noise as you do, followed by a startled yelp from its wielder. He waves it around frantically but is unable to get you off, though you do get a bit dizzy.

>>480323
>>480329
Speedy's legs feel sluggish, but with the doctor's help he is able to get back on his feet in time to see two of the pirates turn back and start firing on the lift again. Its occupants duck back behind the doors once again.

#Speedy: 5/3
Mags: 4/5
Chilo: 5/4

Pirate 1: 2/4
Pirate 2: 3/5
Pirate 3: 3/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480337

>>480335
>>480329
"Thanks!"
I try to get closer and shoot. Maybe that's the problem here.

Roll #1 7 = 7

480341

>>480335
"Speedy, hold still!"
I pull out one of those nice soothing mucus-producing frogs and rub it on Speedy's wounds.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

480344

>>480341
"Gotta go fast!"

480345

>>480335
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Uh
Uh
I try to grab onto him and let go of the gun, then bite into his armor!

480350

>>480337
It certainly doesn't hurt. Getting closer lets you blast one right in the gut, sending him reeling.

>>480341
Just what the doctor ordered. He's moving too fast for you to get all of them, but you think slathering frog slime over the nude parts should help.

>>480345
As soon as you let go, the gun discharges into him. This, combined with your teeth puncturing his suit, is enough to bring him down hard.

>>480344
Faster, faster, fasterfasterfaster

#Speedy: 5/4
Mags: 4/5
Chilo: 5/4

Pirate 1: 0/2
Pirate 2: 1/5
Pirate 3: 3/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480352

>>480350
I try to find Sleepy-the-somnolence-inducing-mucus-producing frog in my pack and stuff him into the helpless pirate's mouth.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

480353

>>480350
I grab his gun and try to figure out how to use it.
[1d10]
Is my CM overpowered?

Roll #1 1 = 1

480365

>>480350
I- I don't wanna kill him!
I let go and spit out the taste of blood from my mouth.
Bite the nearest thing I back into!
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

480376

>>480352
You have to fish around for the release for a bit, but are eventually able to snake it through the sea, between helmet and spiked collar.

>>480353
You grab it wrong and shoot yourself in the forelegpit.

>>480365
You manage to back up and swing around into the pirate Speedy is wrestling, and latch on to his leg. He shouts and stumbles to his knees, blood gushing into your mouth.

#Speedy: Helpless/3
Mags: 4/5
Chilo: 5/4

Pirate 1: 0/2
Pirate 2: 0/2
Pirate 3: 3/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480379

>>480376
"He should be out like a frog up a fly tree after that!"

I help Speedy stand up again!
'1d10'

Roll #1 2 = 2

480381

>>480376
"Agh! I'm marred! Now the mares will never love me!"
I try to get up again.

Roll #1 1 = 1

480386

>>480381
"You'll be okay ya baby!"

480389

>>480376
Ewewewewew I don't like blood EW
Look around for the nearest target to Sabotage! Anything to get this awful taste out of my mouth!
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 1 + 2 = 3

480397

>>480379
>>480381
Unfortunately, Speedy's aimless flailing does nothing but drag Mags down with him. One of the pirates takes the opportunity to blast you both.

>>480389
Unfortunately, you're unable to help yourself and heave Sunday Special all over the deck. The other pirate takes a shot at you as well.

Seizing the opportunity, the crew in the lift take a few more potshots…

Roll #1 8, 4, 2 = 14

480400

>>480397
"Yow!"

Okay, no more misses nice frog. I grab Stinky the noxious-gas emitting frog from my bag and throw it at the pirates.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 7 + 2 = 9

480401

>>480397
…but are only able to bring down one of the two standing pirates.

#Speedy: Helpless/2
Mags: Helpless/5
Chilo: Helpless/3

Pirate 1: 0/2
Pirate 2: 0/2
Pirate 3: Helpless/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480402

>>480397
>>480401
OWW
Getupgetupgetupgetup!
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

480404

>>480397
Up!

Roll #1 10 = 10

480407

>>480401
Uh, well I guess I try to get up instead, then.

480413

>>480400
>>480404
The two of you bounce up fast enough. Apparently all those frog exercise videos Magnolia made you watch did something after all.
>>480402
Chilo, however, is still feeling the aftereffects of that stomach upset. Being kicked in the gut by a pirate doesn't help.

#Speedy:5/2
Mags: 5/5
Chilo: Helpless/2

Pirate 3: Helpless/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480414

>>480413
Get uuup!
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

480419

>>480413
I rub a frog on Speedy!
'1d10'

Roll #1 1 = 1

480421

>>480413
Shooting!
"Keep them alive! We need to interrogate them!"

Roll #1 2 = 2

480425

>>480414
You drag yourself back up on your feet.

>>480421
You open your mouth, but before you can say anything…

>>480419
the doctor immediately shoves her frog in it, far further than it's supposed to. You immediately start choking.
Plus the standing pirate shoots her, while the other one gets back up on his feet.

#Speedy:5/1
Mags: 5/5
Chilo: 5/2

Pirate 3: 5/5
Pirate 4: 5/5

480427

>>480425
Cough it out!

Roll #1 2 = 2

480428

>>480425
"SORRY! Oh gosh sorry! Get out of there, Digger!"
Pull the frog out!
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

480429

>>480425
CHARGE AT THE PIRATES AGAIN
CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP SABOTAGE THOSE GUNS
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 9 + 2 = 11

480435

>>480427
>>480428
Thanks to some quick action by Magnolia, Speedy is able to hork one very disgruntled-looking frog out onto the deck. Between the blood, lunch, and frog juice all over the place, maintenance is going to hate you guys.

>>480429
You have had it up to here with this chum, and it's time to show them who's boss. You grab one gun in your teeth and smash the other one with your tail. That ought to give them something to think about.

480437

>>480435
"Alright, hold still! And no biting!"
Natural remedy on Speedy
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

480438

>>480435
Is everyone dealt with now?…

480439

>>480435
Are there still bad guys?

480440

>>480437
You manage to slather the frog over the correct parts this time, bringing Speedy up to stable, if not exactly good as new.

>>480438
>>480439
Two pirates are unconscious, and the other two look a little lost with one rifle smashed on the floor and the other held tight in Chilo's jaws. One of the crewmen peeks out of the lift, then comes over, rifle pointing at both of them.

NEXT TIME
ARRR

484386

Last time, the party encountered their first boarding party. They managed to subdue them successfully, though.

You're in the very end of the recreation deck. Two of the pirates are unconscious, while the other two have been disarmed. The lift is still open, holding two crewmen nursing burns while a third trains his gun on your captives.

484387

>>484386
I grab one of the pirates.
"Who do you work for!?"
[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

484388

>>484387
>>484386
"Yeah and how many of y'all are there?"
'1d10'

Roll #1 10 = 10

484389

>>484386
>>484387
>>484388
"And… why are you here?"
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

484391

>>484387
His reply is all muffled under his helmet. Looks like you broke something in it.

>>484388
He pries it off, revealing the snaggletoothed face of a diamond dog.
"More 'nuff than we need ta swamp you bony lubbers!"

>>484389
He snorts.
"This was an easy target. Th'navy don' come here in the borders offen."

484392

>>484391
"Heyyy… you sound like a pirate!"

484393

>>484391
"What's a bony!?"
I slam him against the wall.
"Talk!"
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

484394

>>484391
"So you're just space pirates?"

>>484393
"…I think he's using Pirate slang, Speedy."

484395

>>484394
>>484393
"Y'all gotta talk to him in the only language he understands."

>>484391
"Arrrr, matey – what you be tryin' ta steal off this here scurvy barge?"
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

484396

>>484394
"We can't be too sure."

>>484395
"I wish I was good with languages too."

484397

>>484393
You just kinda nudge him in the chest. He laughs hoarsely.

>>484394
"We be void opportunists, ya."

>>484395
"Innit obvious? What's da one thing ya got here in loadsa?"

484398

>>484397
My eyes narrow and I give him a steely-eyed stare.
"….frogs. Y'all came for my frogs. Well y'all can't have 'em."

484399

>>484397
"Boredom?"

484400

>>484397
"Empty space?"

484401

>>484398
He narrows his eyes.
"How much ya got?"

>>484399
>>484400
"Yer not too thin in the head bone, are ya both?"

Behind him, the standing pony stares at the three of you incredulously.

484402

>>484401
"Fuel?"

484403

>>484401
"Too much for y'all! You're not gettin' any!"

I clutch my nearest frog.

484404

>>484401
"…No. I was humoring you. I know you're after our fuel but you're not going to get it because we've apprehended your little 'boarding crew'."

484405

>>484402
"Aye. Give the pup his treat."

>>484403
It croaks uncomfortably.

>>484404
He just laughs while the other crewman comes up.
"You should probably get to the command deck. We can do what we can to secure this one."

484406

>>484405
"Good idea."
I get into the elevator.

484407

>>484405
"Getting us out of the way? I am more than okay with that idea."
I expediently leave and head to the command deck.

484408

>>484406
>>484407
"Maybe we should, like, tie them up first."

484409

>>484408
"They said they can take care of them."

484410

>>484408
"We got this. They don't seem too interested in this deck anyway."
He nods to his two friends.
"Make sure they get back up there too. One of the medics is up there."

484411

>>484409
"Great then. Let's go, everypony."

484412

>>484410
Off we go with the wounded.

484413

>>484410
Off we go?

484414

>>484411
>>484412
>>484413
Off you go then.
You all pile into the lift, leaving the deck behind. As it goes up, you pass by several portholes showing the exterior of the station. In several areas, the formerly smooth lines are broken up by large bumps or dangling pods rammed haphazardly into the hull like tumors. More than a few of the breaches are leaking something, sometimes atmosphere, sometimes fire.

Eventually the lift stops, opening up into the faces of two crewmen wearing crash helmets and pointing rifles in your direction.

484415

484416

>>484414
"P- Please don't shoot!"
I freeze up.

484417

>>484414
"Did y'all see the pirates yet?!"

484418

>>484415
"Hi yourself."

>>484416
They lower their weapons.
"Can't be too careful at the moment."

>>484417
"Yeah, though they haven't gotten up here yet."
One of them jerks his head towards the only other door.
"The Commander's on deck trying to organize this mess."

484419

>>484418
"Alright. We've got a couple of wounded with us."

484420

>>484418
"Glad to know somepony's running this frog rodeo."

484421

>>484418
>>484419
"And some right bit o'chum down below…"

>>484420
"That's not even a real phrase, Mags."

484422

>>484419
"Take 'em in with you. They'll be all right."

>>484420
"It's a real mess to be sure."

484423

>>484421
"Oh, salamanders…"

484424

>>484422
"Alright."
I carry one of the wounded over to the commander,

484425

>>484424
I apply frog to one of the wounded and find the commander, too.

484426

>>484424
I help him?
I should still be able to, right?
I haven't lost that much strength because I haven't been able to go for a good swim!
'1d10'

Roll #1 2 = 2

484427

>>484426
You really, really want to go swimming right now.

>>484424
>>484425
The door opens, revealing the command deck. For once, each station is staffed at the moment. This is probably the busiest it's ever been. In the middle of it all is a grey pegasus with a close-cropped mane and a jacket glaring down at a map of the station. As you enter, he looks over towards you.

"Please tell me you've somehow found a superliminal highway between here and the nearest outpost."

484428

>>484427
"Nope. Ya know, this might not be the best time to say it but if I had a fighter instead of a tug I might have stopped this."

484429

>>484427
I scratch my head and try to think of those theoretical Tachyon Frogs.

484430

>>484427
I shrug my shoulders.
"No?…"

484431

>>484428
"Yeah, well we're a little low on the buyer list for those."

>>484430
"At this point I'll try anything."
Commander Astray sighs and looks back at the map.
"Are you the group from deck 3?"

484432

>>484431
"Mmhmm mmhmm. We took down a boarding party that was trying to get some of my frogs."

484433

>>484431
I nod.
"We-"

>>484432
I smack my face.
"They weren't after your frogs, Mags.

"Anyways… Yes, we're the group from deck 3. We got into a fight with the pirates and managed to apprehend them."

484434

>>484431
"Yes mam, we are."

484435

>>484432
She sighs.
"If I thought that was the case I would have handed you over by now."

>>484434
>>484433
"Well that's all well and good, but I don't think we're out of the woods yet."
She points out the window.
"We've managed to gather that they all got onboard by using heavily modified escape pods. That ship was carrying a bay full of them, and now they're pouring down to the tanks so it can dock and siphon off all our fuel."

484436

>>484435
"So you're gonna send some people down there and we're gonna stay up here in the safe command room- t- to defend it, I mean! Right?"

484437

>>484435
"Can we ignite a tank then vent the atmosphere a dew seconds later?"

484438

>>484436
"Where's your fightin' spirit, Chilo? We gotta save the station – for Princess and Country! That'll teach 'em to mess with our amphibians!"

484439

>>484437
"No, that's too dangerous. Even if the station survived, it would pretty much mean everyone here would be out of a job."

>>484438
"We have more important things at stake here than your pets, doctor! This is worse than the time you brought those crazed herpetologists on board!"

>>484436
"We're trying, but they're just too well-equipped for that. But there is something we could try…"
She thinks a bit then looks at all of you.
"Can you all keep a secret?"

484440

>>484438
"I'd prefer to keep my extremities intact. Do you know how difficult it is to swim with a broken hoof or even a missing leg?! Very difficult."

>>484439
"Yes?…"
I lean in closer, curious what she has to say.

484441

>>484439
"Hmmm. What about just venting the atmosphere? There's no way they can have more than an hour or two of air in their suits."

484442

>>484439
"My colleagues are not crazy!

"And in any case Doctor Mud Puddles is an Ophiologist. Or at least he was. Before the accident."

>>484440
"You know, if you let me, I could probably attach a frog to any limb's stump. He would be like a new limb for you! Only better!"

>>484439
I do the lip-zipping motion.

484443

>>484441
"We don't have nearly enough suits for everyone else on the station, you know."

>>484440
>>484442
"Well I suppose after this there won't be a secret anymore."
She calls up an image of dock 7 and the container inside of it.
"You remember that container ship that dropped this off a week ago?"

484444

>>484443
"Not from the entire station, obviously. Just the places they are congregating."

484445

>>484443
I nod my head.

484446

>>484443
I give a half-nod.
"Vaguely?"

484447

>>484444
"I thought you of all ponies would appreciate this plan, Speedy."

>>484445
>>484446
"Well it was a contractor for the Navy. Their cargo was supposed to be picked up in a couple of days and taken for shakedown near the border with those new aliens, but desperate times…
She manipulates some controls, and the graphic of the container explodes, rearranging into a schematic of a lean-looking ship.

"I want you to take this thing and blow their ship out of my space with it. And if the RSF takes issue with it, well they can go to Tartarus for all I care."

484448

>>484447
I back away from Speedy.

484449

>>484447
"Frogtacular!"

484450

>>484447
"I do appriciate it."

484451

PAUSE

486580

Last time on the station, the party made it to Commander Astray, who informed them that there was a ship being stored down in the docks. Now they just have to get to it.

486581

>>486580
"A ship? Great!"
I rush off towards the hangar.

486582

>>486580
I grumble as we're presumably taking the elevator down.
"Why do I have to come along… Why couldn't I have just stayed back on the bridge where it's sa- uh, I mean, where I can help defend it?…"

486583

>>486582
"The bridge is well defended,and I need you to get that ship moving. We're not going to get the station back by hiding up here forever."

>>486581
"Whoa now, do you have a plan to get to the bottom decks, Speedy?"

486584

>>486583
"Oooh ooh let's take the lift!"

486585

>>486583
"Shoot everything between me and the ship that isn't a pony?"

486586

>>486583
>>486584
"How many decks below is the cargo bay again?"

486587

>>486586
"Deck five. All the way down."

>>486585
"We have a couple of donkeys on the crew, Speedy. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to hear that."

>>486584
"Actually, I was going to suggest you spacewalk for most of it."

486588

>>486587
"Space- space walk?! But they came in closed environment suits! What if there's pirates outside that're gonna be shooting at us!?"

486589

>>486587
"Aw, you know what I meant. A space walk sounds like a good idea. We've got magnetized boots, right?"

486590

>>486588
"It's not that scary, Chilo! And there's no gravity out there, so you get to hop around like a certain kind of amphibian I know a bit about~!"

I hop up and down a few times for emphasis.

486591

>>486590
I frown.
"Spacewalks aren't scary. Spacewalks when there are probably pirates with guns lurking outside are! One hit and it'll rupture your suit!"

486592

>>486591
"Why would they be outside the station?"

486593

>>486592
"Yeah, all the frogs and stuff are inside."

"But.. if we take them outside…" I scratch my head for a moment.

"…then they'll never suspect a thing!"

486594

>>486588
"Their ship hasn't really come any closer, so we don't really think there are any out there. I'd be prepared for anything though."

>>486589
"Enough to go around. We even have a few maneuvering packs somewhere. With the way our luck is, they're probably on the service deck. There's an airlock one deck down though, you can get suits there."

>>486593
"…what are you even talking about"

486595

>>486594
"Great!"
I take the boots, a maneuvering pack, and get in the elevator.

486596

>>486594
"Why not just put all of the fuel back into space! They won't know what's happening, and then when they leave we can put it back in the station."

486597

>>486594
"So we… have to, go down to the service deck to retrieve the suits and then exit out the airlock?"

>>486596
I smack my face.

486598

>>486596
"That might not work."

486599

>>486597
>>486598
"It was just a suggestion…"

486600

>>486597
"The nearest airlock is one floor down. There's some suits at each airlock."

>>486599
The commander frowns.
"We can't afford to lose any of our payload. Do that and we're all out of a job."

486601

>>486600
"Well what are y'all waiting for? Let's go!"

To the airlock!

486602

>>486601
>>486595
The three of you head back to the elevator and head on down to the crew deck. The hallway it opens up to is fairly empty, and most of the doors you can see are closed. It's a good be they might be locked as well, if what happened to you in the mess is any indication.

486603

>>486602
Advance to the airlock with extreme caution, listening for any noise at all. ANY.
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

486604

>>486602
I take point on the way to the airlock.
[1d10]

Roll #1 8 = 8

486605

>>486602
Bounce down the hallway, but keep an eye out for any ambushes/obvious traps/missing frogs.
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

486606

>>486604
You stalk ahead, keeping a close eye on anything that might be a threat.

>>486603
>>486605
Like the tripwire Mags and Chilo just run straight into. There's a loud beeping noise somewhere for a few seconds, but it eventually stops.

486607

>>486606
"Uh oh. Time to go fast!"
I try to get to the airlock before any pirates get here.
[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

486608

>>486606
"Oh, newts!"

>>486607
I try to follow!
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

486609

>>486606
"That probably wasn't-"

>>486607
>>486608
I quickly follow after them!
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

486610

>>486607
You've all but memorized the layout of the station since you wander around her so much, so you make good time to the airlock.

>>486608
>>486609
As the two of you follow, however, you're cut off from Speedy as one of the damage control partitions inexplicably closes in front of you. You'll have to either hotwire it or find a way around.

486611

>>486610
AAAAAA
I try to take a bite out of the door! Sabotage it so it'll open!
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

486612

>>486610
"Hold on!"
I try to repair the partition.
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

486613

>>486611
"Hey, calm down there, gill-flanks."

I pull out Sparky… '1d10+2'

…and try to hotwire the door with his bioelectrical charge.
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 + 2 = 9 / Roll #2 4 = 4

486614

>>486611
You sink your teeth into the door and gnaw on it a bit before realizing that you might do better if you bit into the access panel on the side. You feel silly.

>>486613
Sparky is ready and raring to go. A bit too ready, as you get a zap as you hold him up to the panel.

>>486612
You're used to this sort of thing happening to you from all your tinkering, and you're rewarded with the sight of a slightly singed Magnolia and Chilo slowly rising into the ceiling attached to the closing door.

There's a loud clanging in the distance that seems to be growing closer.

486615

>>486614
"Yow! Bad frog!"

Eyo – my MC skill is taking a pet, so is it cool if I roll to keep Sparky out? Figure he'd be able to attack a bit and also do the door thing.
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

486616

>>486614
"Hurry!"
Once they are through I shut the door and shoot the control panel a few times.
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

486617

>>486614
Uh
I rush inside and try to pretend that didn't happen.
Now where's that airlock?

486618

>>486617
"Help me seal the door!"

486619

>>486614
I run inside, too.

486620

>>486615
Yeah sure

>>486616
You manage to successfully close the door after the two of them run through, but miss the panel and scar up the wall.

The clanging grows closer on the other side.

486621

>>486620
Waiting to see what they do.

486622

>>486618
"Fine!"

>>486620
I take a chomp out the panel. Sabotage!
Forgot this was my talent
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 8 + 2 = 10

486623

>>486622
"Great job!"

486624

>>486622
Your jaws sink in and rip the entire access panel off the wall. That door won't be opening anytime soon.

486625

>>486622
Time to get to the airlock.

486626

>>486625
Let's go!

486627

>>486625
Yes, let's please go.

486628

>>486625
>>486626
>>486627
One more obstacle out of the way, you continue following Speedy's directions towards the airlock. You're over halfway across the deck by now.
Behind you, there's a tremendous bang ast the panel you just closed buckles inwards.

487911

>>486628
The party has successfully made it past a malfunctioning(?) damage control partition, and is roughly halfway to the deck 2 airlock. The lights have started to dim in the corridor as whatever is chasing them continues to bang on the closed partition behind them.

487912

>>487911
I pick up the pace and start walking faster down the hall towards the airlock.
"Hurry hurry hurry why did I agree to this why why whyyyy"

487913

>>487912
"It'll be fun, Chilo! C'mon!"

I gallop down the hall as fast as I can

487914

>>487911
I keep running.

487915

>>487913
#FROGS

487916

>>487912
>>487913
>>487914
As the three of you run along, you pass a large, wide open communal area on your left, dominated by a cracked window separating you from it.

(everyone roll)

487917

>>487916
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

487918

>>487916
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

487919

>>487916
'1d10'
Get hoppin'!

Roll #1 7 = 7

487920

>>487917
>>487918
>>487919
There's a large object on the other side of the deck. What you can see is largely distorted by the shattered glass, but it's vaguely pony-shaped, yet has the general size and mass you're more accustomed to seeing on a buffalo. Whatever it is, it's tromping in the same general direction you're going, but it doesn't look like it can match your pace.

487921

>>487920
"Hey, wait a second!"

I slow up and '1d10' to take a closer look.

Roll #1 2 = 2

487922

>>487920
Can I Asses it while running?
[1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

487923

>>487920
>>487921
>>487922
"What are you doing stopping?! We gotta keep going!"
I keep running to the airlock.
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

487924

>>487923
"I thought you didn't even wanna get out there, Chilo. What's the rush?"

487925

>>487923
"I'm curious!"

487926

>>487921
>>487922
Whatever it is, you can't make out any more details from this distance.

>>487923
You're almost there! You can see the bend up ahead that leads to the airlock.
You're also pretty sure whatever that was is going to the same place though.

487927

>>487926
"C'mon, let's go check it out!"

487928

>>487926
I fly closer to it.

487929

>>487924
>>487925
"I'd rather get this over with now than put ourselves in more danger than necessary!"

>>487926
Continue running to the airlock! Beat the other thing there!
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

487930

>>487929
There it is! It's closed up at the moment, but ready to begin the cycle to get you guys outside. There's even a little locker with some suits for the three of you.

>>487927
>>487928
Your buddies just run right past it though, intent on finding out more about whatever that thing was.

487931

>>487930
I try to catch it.
[1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

487932

>>487930
I shout down the corridor, "Fine, Chilo. Stay there for a sec while we check on this thing."

'1d10' to get closer (is the door open or is it entirely enclosed by glass?) and take a look.

Roll #1 2 = 2

487933

>>487930
>>487932
"Fine by me. Just please please pleeease hurry."
I wait by the lockers.

487934

>>487931
>>487932
The two of you round the corner doubling back down the other side of the station and get your first good look at your object of interest. Like before, you can see it appears to be a large, armored pony, but the presence of mechanical joints and a single red eye moving on a track around the featureless head puts that impression to rest. It's also daubed in the same color pattern as the suits you saw the dogs wearing. As it notices you, its head comes up and a tinny voice pops out from a speaker somewhere, shifting between tones like a gag message on an answering machine.

++INTRUDERS DETECTED STAND DOWN A-A-AND-PREPARE TO GET BROKEN, MUDLUBBERS++

It hunkers down and suddenly its flanks expand, a harsh whining noise building up in your eardrums. Speedy would recognize this as thrusters activating.

>>487933
You can hear all this as well.

487935

>>487934
"Aah!"
I dive behind cover and throw Sparky at him!
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

487936

>>487934
"Thrusters!"
I fly to the side and blast it with my guns.
[1d10+2]

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

487937

>>487934
"W- W- What's going on?! What is that!?"
I duck behind cover and shoot at it!
'1d10'

Roll #1 2 = 2

487938

The thrusters finish their charge and send the drone barreling down the rest of the hallway to crash into the bulkhead behind Speedy and Magnolia.

>>487936
Speedy just manages to dive out of the way in time and squeeze a few shots off that cause them to flare and spark before dying.

>>487935
>>487937
You two, however, are knocked to the floor by the shockwave. You're pretty sure you felt the station move from that blow. Sparky fared even worse, smacking into its head full-force as it charged towards you all. You can't even see him anymore.

#BOSS: HACKED WARDRONE
15/5

Speedy: 5/5
Mags: Helpless/4
Chilo: Helpless/4

487939

>>487938
Ugh. Get up!
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

487940

>>487938
I try to land on its back and fix whatever the dogs did to it.
[1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

487941

>>487938
Gah!
Get up!
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

487942

>>487939
You hop back up.

>>487941
You're still a little woozy from that though.

>>487940
You manage to land on its back without taking a hit, but everything you can see is welded shut. Fixing this would probably take a machine shop.

487943

>>487942
I help Chilo up
'1d10'
"C'mon, Sharkbutt! You're an engineer, ain'tcha? Figure out a way to turn it off!"

Roll #1 4 = 4

487944

>>487942
My gun is my machine shop!
I shoot off the panels.
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

487945

>>487942
AAAAA
Jump up and try to bite it's optic off! Sabotage!
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 1 + 2 = 3

487946

>>487945
>not up
Uh
I try to get up.
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

487947

>>487944
You blaze away at it vigorously, as it reels about and tries to shake you off. In response, its head reels back and its chest begins to unfurl into a set of arms, each tipped with a different, nasty-looking weapon.

>>487943
>>487946
Chilo gets up, but Mags takes a hit in the process as a gun arm begins blazing away at full-auto.

#BOSS: HACKED WARDRONE
12/5

Speedy: 5/5
Mags: 3/4
Chilo:5/4

487948

>>487947
Grrr
Climb on to its back and start gnawing away at its arms! Sabotage!
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 8 + 2 = 10

487949

>>487947
I fly into the air and keep shooting.
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

487950

>>487947
Aaah!

Rub a frog on the wound!
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

487951

>>487948
You leap up and swing around onto its back, seizing an arm in your jaws. It sparks and spasms, but you hold on fast.

>>487949
You, however, are knocked off by a wicked-looking buzzsaw arm.

>>487950
No matter what everyone else tells you, that still feels good.

#BOSS: HACKED WARDRONE
8/5

Speedy: 3/5
Mags: 4/4
Chilo:5/4

487952

>>487951
"Ow!"
I target two of its weapons with my shots.
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

487953

>>487951
Bite harder!
BITE INTO ITS ELECTRONIC BRAIN OR SOMETHING
'1d10'

Roll #1 10 = 10

487954

>>487951
I draw my laser pistol and fire!
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

487955

>>487952
You plink off a couple of shots at some arms, causing them to rear back.

>>487954
Mags helps too, tagging it in the chest.

>>487953
Chilo though, rears back and takes a massive chunk out of its head. The machine seizes up and falls on its side with a loud clang as parts fly everywhere.

#BOSS: HACKED WARDRONE
Helpless/4

Speedy: 3/5
Mags:4/4
Chilo: 5/4

487956

>>487955
I keep blasting it.
[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

487957

>>487955
I look around for Sparky!!
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

487958

>>487955
I burp.
And start biting at it while it's down.
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

487959

>>487956
You unload a burst of photons right into the hole Chilo bit into its head. Something inside of it bursts into flames.

>>487957
There he is! He doesn't look so hot though, so you pick him up and ease him into a pocket.

>>487958
You take another chunk out of its head.

The drone staggers to it feet as its legs split down the middle, jerkily expanding and barely managing to stay upright. What's left of the head unfolds like a flower and begins to glow unpleasantly.
Everyone roll to dodge.

487960

>>487959
Oh dear
I jump off and start running away to cover.
"AAAAAAA"
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

487961

>>487959
"Look out!"
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

487962

>>487959
"Fly away!"
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

487963

>>487961
>>487962
>>487960
Magnolia and Speedy manage to dive out of the way fast enough, but Chilo is a hair too slow. The head explodes in a burst of blue-white light, sending a wave of energy down the corridor and tagging him in the leg as he scrambles to get away. He is badly burned.

The headless drone finally collapses from the damage and energy expenditure, turning into a pile of slag that fills the corridor.

487964

>>487963
"Sharkbutt!"

I rush over to him and frantically rub the right type of mucus-excreting frog onto his burns.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

487965

>>487963
"Cholo!"
I swoop down to him and hold up a hoof.
"Are you okay, man? How many hoofs am I holding up?"

487966

>>487963
I wince and squirm in pain, biting my lip to not cry out from the pain.

>>487964
"C- Carefu- aaaaagh!"

>>487965
"My leg's burnt! My head is fine!"

487967

>>487966
"Mind over matter, man! come on, say it with me. Mind-over-matter."

487968

>>487964
You squeeze a frog over his leg. It stings like hell, but it should help prevent infection.

>>487966
The leg makes it hard to move, but you could have taken a far worse hit.

pause for the night?

487969

>>487968
"Hold still, ya tadpole!"
Sounds good

487970

>>487967
"That doesn't eve-"

>>487968
>>487969
"AAAAAGGGHHH"

487971

>>487968
Sure. Thanks for running.

>>487970
"I believe in you!"

487972

>>487968
Thanks for running!

487973

PAUSE

493820

When last we saw our frogs and frog accessories, they had managed to take down a combat robot smuggled onto the station by the pirates, although Chilo took a hit. Now they just need to walk across the outside of the station to get to their ship.

493825

>>493820
"Is everypony okay?"
Are they?

493829

>>493820
I try to get up.
Can I put weight on my injured leg?

493830

>>493820
>>493825
"I'm fine."

493833

>>493825
Everyone's in one piece, at least.

>>493829
You're not going to be walking very fast anytime soon. Good thing you found the airlock, huh?

493837

>>493829
"Need me to carry you?"

493838

>>493833
>>493837
"I'm fine! I just… let's just hurry up already!"
I start trying to put on the suit with the least amount of pain to me.
'1d10'

Roll #1 5 = 5

493839

>>493833
I go into the airlock and put on a suit.

493841

>>493833
I put on my suit and make sure all my frogs are fit snugly in there.

493848

>>493838
It hurts quite a bit, but if you were able to work through getting a giant metal club attached to your flanks then you can do this.

>>493841
You manage to get all your frogs secured, but in a bind they'll take about as kindly to vacuum exposure as you will. Other than the space frogs, that is.

Are you all ready to exit the airlock?

493849

493850

>>493848
"Let's get hoppin'!"

493852

>>493848
Yes…

493860

>>493849
>>493850
>>493852
The airlock completes its cycle and the outer door opens, revealing the vast starfield that surrounds the station. The enormous tail of a nebula stretches across your field of vision. As you look up and down, you're disoriented as the hull of the station suddenly reorients itself from wall to floor.

Roll to get your bearings back.

493862

>>493860
"The enemy's gate is down."
[1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3

493865

>>493860
'1d10'

>>493862
"I don't have the froggiest idea of what you're talkin' about, Speedy."

Roll #1 8 = 8

493866

>>493860
Aha!
This is just like swimming, right?
'1d10'

>>493862
"What are you on about now?"

Roll #1 6 = 6

493868

493870

>>493862
You feel a little woozy and have to take a step back into the airlock for a second.

>>493865
>>493866
You two manage to work past it and orient yourselves towards the bottom of the station. Past the multitude of pods jutting out of the hull, you can make out a large, angular protrusion past the bottom edge. That must be the container the ship is in.

493871

>>493870
"Ugh. I need a ship."
I follow them slowly.

493874

>>493871
"Well hop to it, then!"

Let's go go go!

493879

>>493870
>>493871
"Your ship's right here. Now hurry up! This suit's agitating my leg…"
I try to space swim to the ship.
'1d10'

Roll #1 10 = 10

493882

>>493871
>>493874
It's slow going for you two, as the magboots and bulky suits weigh you down. At least it doesn't look like the pirates bothered to watch the outside of the station.

>>493879
This is almost second nature for you. You launch yourself off the hull and, defying all logic, somehow manage to swim through the void at a steady distance above the hull. Before long you've overtaken both of your friends.

493888

>>493882
Slow and steady wins the race.

>>493879
"What the? How are you doing that?"

493890

>>493888
"He's like some sort of space… tadpole!"

I try to swim over, too.
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

493891

>>493882
>>493888
"Just swim!"
I attempt a little flip and swim the rest of the way to the ship.
'1d10'

>>493890
"Please, a space shark."

Roll #1 10 = 10

493898

>>493888
You keep plodding along. By your estimates you should have passed down to deck three by now.

>>493891
You jump up, but quickly lose control as your flailing sends you tumbling away from the hull…

>>493891
…but Chilo is able to swoop around and catch you midflight. It's almost like he had practice or something.

493902

>>493898
I keep going.

>>493890
>>493891
"Careful!"

493904

>>493898
"Oh my!"

493906

>>493898
>>493904
"Be more careful next time Mags!"
I try to give her a little push and continue my logic defying swimming through space.
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

493909

>>493902
>>493904
You keep moving on, down another deck. Getting pretty close now.

>>493906
On you go, through the sea of stars. You could even make it down to the container if you wanted to at this point.

493910

>>493909
So down I go then!
I presume I'm close enough that I don't need to roll anymore.
Get down there and open that thing up!

493911

>>493909
I keep going.
What was our goal again?

493913

>>493911
We're trying to reach a container containing a experimental fighter so we can fight back against the pirates.

493914

>>493909
"Let's go!"

493930

>>493910
You swim on down and around until you find a door on the side. It looks locked, but there is an emergency access key panel set in next to it.

>>493911
>>493914
The two of you plod along past the service decks down to the ledge separating the lowest decks from the docks. If you want to meet up with Chilo, you'll probably have to jump for it.
Alternatively, you can wait and see if Chilo can get in, start it up and pick you up.

493932

>>493930
I'll jump for it.
[1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

493938

>>493930
I follow Speedy
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

493942

>>493930
Uh
I-
I enter in my birthday? She didn't give us a key…
'1d10'

Roll #1 5 = 5

493959

>>493942
It buzzes briefly and resets.

>>493938
You take a deep breath and make the jump, just barely managing to land back on the container without incident.

>>493932
You misjudge your leap and sail right past it, solid ground rushing past you as you try to grab on.

493964

>>493959
Grr
Bite into it!
Sabotage the hell out of it so it'll open!
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

493965

>>493959
"Speedy!"

I look around for something to throw him.
'1d10'

>>493964
"Never mind that, fishbutt! Save Speedy!"

Roll #1 7 = 7

493967

>>493964
>+2 from CM

493970

>>493959
I try to land.
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

493989

>>493965
>>493970
Between the two of you, Speedy manages to safely get all four legs on the container. His space adventure will have to wait a little longer.

>>493964
>>493967
You punch through it instead, seeing as opening up your helmet to bite something in a vacuum would be a pretty silly idea.
The panel blats angrily before shorting out. There's a series of clanks as bolts retract and the door swings free.

493992

>>493965
"Thanks."

>>493989
I go through the door.

493994

>>493989
I clap my hooves together.

"Good job, fishbutt!"

"Well hopefully we can shut it again once we're on the other side, too!"

494000

>>493989
>implying it isn't a brilliant idea
I move inside and try to find a way into the ship.

>>493992
>>493994
"Let's just hurry up and get on the ship… the pirates might find us if we take any longer!"

494009

>>494000
I nod my head.

494026

>>493992
>>493994
>>494000
The three of you float through the door into a corridor. It looks like you're going through another airlock. Another door behind you suddenly shuts as the repressurization cycle starts up around you.

494029

>>494026
"I hope this ship is fast."

494035

>>494026
>>494029
"It's an experimental fighter. I'm sure it's plenty 'fast' for your purposes, Speedball."

494041

>>494029
"I hope it doesn't smell too musky after being in storage for so long."

494045

>>494041
"Spaceships don't mold, silly."

494049

>>494045
I try not to look too disappointed.
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

494052

>>494049
I give her a very disconcerting look.
"There are so many things wrong with you I cannot even begin to start…"

494053

>>494049
"You're such a weirdo."

494056

>>494035
>>494029
>>494041
You pop out of the airlock with a clear view of the cockpit up ahead. The interior is quite a bit bigger than you'd expect a fighter to be, with the corridor extending back and opening up into a few small cabins. There's even a ladder leading down.

Up front you can see enough stations for all three of you, with one set forward and obviously intended for use by the pilot. One of them has a small diode blinking on it.

>>494049
You are clearly upset by this new information.

494057

>>494053
"Actually, I'm from Appleoosa, not Wereponia. It's a common mistake, though."

>>494052
I stick out my tongue at you.

>>494056
"I call the frog station!"

494059

>>494056
>>494057
"There's no frog station!"
I shake my head and take one of the stations on the side of the pilot's seat.
What's the station?

494062

>>494056
I Assess the blinking diode.
[1d10]
"This is a great find."

>>494057
"Oh, my bad."

Roll #1 8 = 8

494064

>>494059
"What kind of ship doesn't have a frog station?" I scratch my head.

I take a seat. What kind of frog station is it?
'1d10'

Roll #1 7 = 7

494078

>>494062
It looks like someone is trying to call you.

>>494059
Engineering. From here you can redistribute power to and from the various systems like shields, engines, and weapons.

>>494064
Operations. You have controls for communications, sensors, and even a few jamming devices it looks like.

494081

>>494078
Well…
Power up the ship?
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

494082

>>494078
"Hoperations here!"

I switch on the comm channels to talk to whoever is trying to call us.

494085

>>494078
"Hello, this is ship-captain Speedy speaking."

494094

>>494081
You hit a few buttons and the engines at the rear start rumbling to life. A prompt pops up on the screen warning you that you are still docked.

>>494082
>>494085
One of the screens on Mags' armrest lights up with the face of Commander Astray.
"That's a little presumptuous if you, Speedy. Still, it's good to see you finally made it down there. Does everything seem to be working well?"

494096

>>494082
I groan and smack my face from the pun.

>>494094
"Engines seem to be working. Now how do we undock this?"
I try to fiddle with the controls to see if I can begin the undocking procedure from here.
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

494098

>>494094
I check on my systems.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

494099

>>494094
"So far, mam."
I run a diagnostics check.
[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

494111

>>494096
It looks like you're gonna need the pilot's help for that.

>>494098
>>494099
Nothing seems wrong on your end. The ship is ready and raring to go.

"If you're done checking out your new toy, the pirate ship is starting to approach us. We could really use you guys out there."

494114

>>494111
"Speedy, you gotta launch the ship. Everything over here is clear… I think."

494116

>>494111
"Alright."
I begin the startup procedure and open the container doors.

494120

>>494111
I bring the sensors online.

'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

494125

>>494116
"Uh… Speedy? What should I redirect power to?"

494133

>>494125
"The guns and engines."

494135

>>494133
"Nothing to the shields?…"

494137

>>494135
"Uh, how armed was the ship we are about to fight?"

494140

>>494116
You hop into the pilot's seat and continue the startup sequence. There's a series of loud bangs as the container around you flies off, letting you see space again.

>>494120
They're taking a bit longer to warm up, but amid the snow you can make out the mark designating the pirate freighter. It's moving towards you at a steady pace.

494141

>>494140
"Pirates sighted! Bearing, er, over there!"

494143

>>494140
"Hold on!"
Once we are in range I blast at the bridge and any weapons I can see.
[1d10]

>>494135
"Fine, power to shields!"

Roll #1 3 = 3

494144

>>494140
>>494143
Ogod
POWER TO SHIELDS
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

494152

>>494143
It doesn't look like the weapons have finished their warmup cycle yet.

>>494144
You successfully manage to power up the shields and strengthen them with some extra power.
#+2 surplus shields until power is redistributed

NEXT TIME
PONIES DOGFIGHT DOGS

501259

>>494152
>Reactor: online
>Weapons: online/WARNING: No ordnance loaded in primary bays
>Navigation: online
>All systems nominal.

You all shudder in your seats as the little frigate pushes out of dock and away from the station. You can't see much other than the stars out your viewports, but Magnolia can clearly see the pirate freighter on her console.

Boss: Pirate Freighter
10S/10H

During space combat, the helmsman (that's you Speedy) rolls for conventional actions like movement and attacks. Chilo can reroute additional power to engines, weapons, or shields using his engineering console, which will give your ship extra hits or a bonus to dodge or to-hit rolls. Mags at hoperations has sensors and communications, which means she can hail or jam other ships. The ship's sensors and comms suite can also be reconfigured to other uses with a Technobabble roll

501260

>>501259
I give a little salute to Speedy.

"Should we open hailing frequencies, skip?"

501261

>>501259
"Crap."
I check the secondary bays.
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

501262

>>501260
"Try it, we haven't got any ammo."

501263

>>501259
Wait, no ordnance loaded? D- Did we leave without loading the whatever bays?!
I double check and search through the systems to see if I can bring anything up about the status of our armaments.
'1d10'

Roll #1 8 = 8

501264

>>501262
I dial up the pirate ship!
"This is the HMS Bullfrog calling unidentified pirate ship! Please respond!"
'1d10'

Roll #1 4 = 4

501265

>>501264
I smack my face.

501266

>>501264
I glare at you.

501267

>>501261
None. The bays wouldn't normally be loaded until the ship was assigned a crew and mission. You just don't have the torpedoes and missiles for that extra oomph.
>>501263
The primarly cannons are fully charged and ready for action, though. They should be more than enough to deal with a container ship like that.
>>501264
There's a loud fizzle of static, but you can hear an undercurrent of barking laughter.

501269

>>501268
>The primarly cannons are fully charged and ready for action, though. They should be more than enough to deal with a container ship like that.

501270

>>501267
"Laugh at this!"
I blast whatever looks the most like the bridge and take a shot at their sensors as well.
[1d10+2].

Roll #1 8 + 2 = 10

501271

>>501267
"Oh well you think that's funny, huh? Mr. Sharkbutt! Power up the Frogomite System!!!!"

Bluff?
'1d10'

Roll #1 2 = 2

501272

>>501267
>>501271
I smack my face again, even harder, and Reroute power to Shields.
'1d10'

Roll #1 1 = 1

501273

>>501271
They don't stop laughing.

>>501270
But the laughter quickly dies when Speedy opens fire, as a full salvo from factory-fresh Mk. VII "Bucker" cannons sever their sensor antennae.

>>501272
Your console turns red as several error messages fly across your vision. They all say something different, but the general gist is clear: AUXILIARY POWER NONFUNCTIONAL. REBOOT Y/N

501274

>>501273
Pirate Freighter: 5/10

501275

>>501273
I reconfigure the comms system into a Ribbet Projector – blasting the sound of frog calls throughout their ship.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

501276

>>501273
I target their weapon systems.
"Ahahahahah! I rule the skies!"
[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

501277

>>501276
You narrowly miss, but a quick buzz of their ship is enough to rattle them. They still seem to be reeling from loosing their eyes and ears.

>>501275
You quickly pull out some spare wire and plastic, and after a quick patch job, wiring, and a spare in your portable terrarium, you now have little Steve wearing a tiny little frog headset and plopped on top of your monitor. His periodic croaks are recorded and sent out across as many hailing frequencies out towards their ship you can find.

501278

>>501277
I retarget the same places as before and fire again.

Roll #1 3 = 3

501279

>>501277
"Little Steve tells a pretty ribbetting story!"

Let's scan their ship and try to help out Speedy's next shot.
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

501280

>>501273
>>501277
Y
YYYY
REBOOT PLS
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

501281

>>501278
You're not able to bring the ship around fast enough. As they finally start to return fire, you take a few bolts to your rear shields.

>>501279
Your scans reveal that their trajectory is starting to drift. Apparently Speedy's blitz startled them enough that whoever was at the controls got scared off. Maybe you could make them pay for it by hitting their engines?

>>501280
COMMAND ACCEPTED
A progress bar appears onscreen '1d3'

Roll #1 1 = 1

501282

>>501281
"Shoot their engines, Speedy!"

I try to keep them incapacitated with the ribbets.
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

501283

>>501281
Fortunately, a fresh-off-the-showroom ship does have some perks. The generators will be back to full capacity after the next round.

If you would like to speed it up even further, you can start it up even further by diverting primary power from something else, but that would leave you without shields, weapons, engines, or other critical systems.

501284

>>501281
"I could use some help, Chilo!"

>>501282
"Right!"

>>501283
I target their engines.
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

501285

>>501281
>>501283
I'm just going to sit here and not touch anything while I wait for that to happen.
Actually…
Can I look out at the pirate ship and see if there's any areas that might be good to attack?
Sabotage.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

501286

>>501284
"The- The auxiliary power is rebooting! I can't do anything!"

501287

>>501282
You shake some Trendy Toad (tm) brand frog flakes in front of little Steve, who croaks hungrily in a Ponlovian fashion.

>>501284
His broadcasted belly burbles are keeping the pirates off-balance, which means that they continue to drift and are unable to aim their return fire as Speedy wrestles with the sluggish controls, unable to bring the ship around. You can see that they're slowly losing their trajectory towards the station.

>>501285
You're no expert on ship design, especially on ones that you can barely see as they bounce around outside. But you think that, once you get the chance, doing a quick debug on the targeting suite and maneuvering thrusters might help Speedy up front there.

"Bullfrog": 8/10
Pirate Freighter: 5/10

501288

>>501287
I keep trying to blast their engines but also send a few shots towards their weapons.
[1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

501289

>>501287
Quickly plug Sparky into the sensor system to try to boost it and give Speedy a bonus to hit or some such.
'1d10+2'

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

501290

>>501287
I try to do that now!
'1d10'

Roll #1 6 = 6

501291

>>501288
You finally manage to come around and hit their engines. There's a bright flash as the bolts converge.

>>501289
I'm gonna rule that something like that is a min DC8, because plugging an electric frog into a computer at least requires rigging up an adapter of some sort.
Your sensors tell you that the latest barrage of weapons fire has brought down their shields. Maybe they'll be more open to frog-themed threats?

>>501290
Your console bings in response.
#Speedy's to-hit rolls are MIN3 until power is rerouted.

"Bullfrog": 8/10
Pirate Freighter: 0/10

501292

>>501291
"Go get 'em Speedy!"
I try to do as an enthusiastic a cheer as I can while sitting in a chair.

501293

>>501291
I hit the bridge and weapons this time.
"Yeah! Get some!"
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

501294

>>501291
I unhook Steve and hail them.

"Bullfrog calling Pirate vessel – Surrender or prepare to be swallowed whole and slowly digested!"

501295

>>501294
'1d10'

Roll #1 9 = 9

501296

>>501293
You turn the front end of the ship into something resembling one of your art projects as a foal.

>>501294
What comes back is heavily broken up and fragmented, but you can understand the general message. They've had enough and are ready to surrender. Not like they have much choice, since both ends of the ship are breached and they're running out of air to breathe.

501297

>>501296
"The pirates say they're surrendering, Skipper!"

501298

>>501294
"Sounds like they've had enough."

501299

>>501296
>>501297
>>501298
"Does that mean it's over?"

501300

>>501299
"Yup. We won again."

501301

>>501300
"Yay!"

I jump up and hug Sharkbutt and Speedy.

"We did it!"

501302

>>501299
It sure is. Before long, you receive word that without anywhere to go, the remaining pirates on the station began to lose heart. The eventual arrival of a cruiser, the HMS Renown, sealed the deal, and they all surrendered within minutes in the face of trained Royal Marines. The captain was most interested in meeting the team of workers who almost singlehoofedly saved the entire station.

501303

>>501301
"Gah- Will you stop pulling on my tail augment! That's sensitive!"
I pull away and rub my tail.
"I've told you before it's wired to detect water currents so I can swim better!"

501304

>>501303
"But it's all squiggly like a salamander or tadpole… I can't help it!"

I stop harassing Sharkbutt and hold up Sparky. I give him a peck on the head.

"Good work, Sparkbutt."

501305

>>501302
Uh…
Has he summoned us?

501306

>>501303
>>501304
"Good work you two."

>>501302
I out on my best whateveritishorseswear.

501307

>>501302
Back in my quarters, I put on whichever uniform is least covered in frog footprints.

501308

>>501305
Yes, he has.

>>501306
>>501307
It takes some digging, but you finally manage to find something presentable. You don't think you've worn them since you arrived on this station.

501309

>>501308
Time to go meet the captain.

501310

>>501308
Hop to it!

501311

>>501308
GAH
I hurry to find something presentable and then run to catch up with the rest!
'1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

501312

>>501311
Unfortunately, you don't own anything that was tailored to fit your tail, so you're forced to go sans pants like ponies of old.

>>501309
>>501310
The three of you eventually end up on the Renown, and are shown to the captain's quarters. Inside you find a large, grey earth pony with a stern expression, a peaked hat, and mustache. He glares at you for several seconds before finally speaking.

"So, you're the three responsible for the unauthorized use and abuse of RSF property. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

501313

>>501312
"You're welcome for saving the station and its crew, sir."

501314

>>501313
I add in a salute.

501315

>>501312
"We're heroes!"

501316

>>501312
"We- We did what we had to?"

501317

>>501315
I hold up Sparky.

Sparky has a uniform, right? How well does it fit? '1d10'

Roll #1 3 = 3

501318

>>501317
You tied a cape on him. That's really about it.

>>501313
"Don't get snide with me, son. Right now I'm all that stands between you and all four hooves on terra firma for the rest of your natural life."

>>501315
>>501316
"So your boss tells me. But the fact is you still hijacked RSF property without authorization, which is a major problem for your employers. If the Navy can't trust its shipments to outside contractors, then we won't use them anymore. I'm sure I don't have to tell you exactly how much of your business comes from us, so you should probably appreciate what you did not only cost you all your jobs, but likely the ones of everypony else on that station, not to mention several others along this route."
He takes off his cap and sets it on his desk.
"That said, I have a proposition for you to make this all go away."

501319

>>501318
"What is it, sir?"

501320

>>501318
I nod my head vigorously.

501321

>>501318
"A… proposition?"

501322

>>501319
>>501320
>>501321
"Yes. Come work for us. Join the Navy, and we can spin this as the work of off-duty officers in the right place at the right time."

501323

>>501322
"Works for me, so long as I get my own little ship to pilot."

501324

>>501322
My jaw falls.
"W- Wait what?! B- But I'm a researcher! I'm not cut out for the navy!"

501325

>>501322
"Can I keep my frogs? And Sharkbutt?"

501326

>>501322
"Oh, and the three of us stick together."

501327

>>501324
"Your actions against the pirates suggest you are. Not exactly textbook, but you're here talking to me now, aren't you?"

>>501325
>>501326
He raises an eyebrow.
"I think we can work something out. So I assume we have a deal then?"

501328

>>501327
"We'll be like two frogs in a pond!"

501329

>>501327
"Deal."
I reach out a hoof for him to shake.

501330

>>501327
>>501328
>>501329
I groan.
"…Fine. It's a deal. What am I getting myself into…"

501331

>>501329
You shake hooves in that mysterious way only ponies know how to do.

>>501328
>>501330
"Excellent. We'll be leaving in a few days. I suggest you gather up your things and say your goodbyes, because you'll be coming with us then."

501332

>>501331
I gather my things from my quarters then go say goodbye to my best friend on the ship: My tug.

501333

>>501331
I grab my frogs and frog accessories and head to the ship.

501334

>>501331
"Will… wherever we're going at least have a pool?"
After he answers, I depart and gather my things and say goodbye to the people I at least thought were friendly towards me.
Also stop and grab a snack and then head back to the ship.

501335

>>501332
It's hard to say goodbye. It was only a tug (and not a very good one), but it was your one and only opportunity to live your dream for the longest time. It's hard to let that go.

>>501333
You're able to fit all your frogs and frog accessories in your temporary bunk, to the ire of several crew members.

>>501334
There weren't many, but several are sad to see you go. Everyone knew each other to some degree on that little depot.

Eventually the Renown departs. Your next destination isn't quite clear, but you're all sure it's some form of new adventure. And you can be certain that it will somehow involve the ship you all flew, now being towed along behind the cruiser, following you to parts unknown…

END


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