Title:           Mission 01 Tape
Author:          SpartanonB094
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/HmWgaSkq
First Edit:      Wednesday 14th of October 2015 12:17:22 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Wednesday 14th of October 2015 12:17:22 AM CDT

>*click*
[Anon]: Is that a recorder?
[Celestia]: Do you mind?
[Anon]: As long as you bury it deep in your files, I won’t.
[Celestia]: Don’t worry, this won’t become public in a long time, if at all.
[Anon]: Fine with me, ma’am.
 
>Celestia gently clears her throat
[Celestia]: As Shining has told you, the Helping Hoof has disappeared, and the culprits are pirates operating in the Hook Gulf.
[Anon]: What details can you tell me about the Helping Hoof?
[Celestia]: It is the most modern and publicized general cargo ship we have. It’s commanded by Glittering Shores and a crew of twenty three of our best sea ponies.
[Anon]: I assume “sea ponies” is just a title and not another species.
[Celestia]: Correct. Most of the crew is comprised of earth ponies, Captain Shores included, but his first mate is a pegasus named Strato. There are a couple of unicorns as well. Each of them have years of experience.
 
[Anon]: What makes you certain that pirates captured the ship?
[Celestia]: We received a ransom letter at high noon today. It was sent by the Blue Talons, and they’ve claimed responsibility for the ship’s disappearance.
[Anon]: Pretty bold for a gang of pirates.
[Shining]: The Blue Talons is one of the biggest pirate groups in the world. Their decentralized organization allows them to have independent groups operating in waters around the world.
[Anon]: Sounds like you’ve had to deal with them before, sir.
[Shining]: There were a few instances along our coast, but nothing as bad as this.
[Celestia]: Which is why we’re asking for your help, Anon.
[Anon]: You want this situation to be handled discretely?
[Celestia]: Yes. The disappearance of the Hoof alone is causing major ripples in the news. If word gets out that pirates captured it, there is going to be, at the very least, a lot of heated debates that we don’t need.
 
[Anon]: Has anyone else read the ransom letter?
[Celestia]: No, the letter was sent directly to me, and I believe you should know what it said.
[Anon]: What are their demands?
[Celestia]: The Talons are willing to release both the crew and the ship to us in exchange for three things. The first two are the Hoof’s cargo and a substantial “finder’s fee.” The second is “any bipedal beings of interest you are in contact with.”
>Beat
[Anon]: That’s awfully specific, ma’am.
[Celestia]: I thought the exact same thing, Anon. There’s no doubt they were asking about you and your kind.
[Anon]: Is there any way they could’ve found about us this quickly?
[Celestia]: I can only think of two possibilities: either we have a mole, which is extremely unlikely, or they have found one of your friends and want more.
[Anon]: With respect, ma’am, I don’t think they could’ve captured any one of us.
[Celestia]: If they’ve received the same training as you have, then you’re probably right. If anything, your friend may have stumbled into this group, and now they’re curious.
[Anon]: Maybe, ma’am, but we’ll only know for certain when we get to the Griffon coast.
 
[Celestia]: Of course, Anon, and when you get there, your tasks are as follows: Locate my little ponies and bring them to a place where you can contact me and I can retrieve them.
[Anon]: You have communications equipment, ma’am?
[Celestia]: Just because we rely on magic doesn’t mean we don’t delve into the field of electric appliances, Anon.
[Anon]: Alright then. When do we leave?
>Luna activates a teleportation spell, and she and Anon disappear from the room
 
>There is a moment of silence
[Shining]: Do you really think another Spartan’s out there?
[Celestia]: I don’t know for certain, but for his sake I hope there is. He has such high hopes he isn’t alone, I’m afraid he’ll do whatever it takes to find them.
[Shining]: Whatever it takes…
>*click*