2nd Egg - Industrial Revolution

[itsfromtheshow]

Some would say that I'm rather late with this statement, but I say I'm being fashionable. I'm quite glad that that insidious centaur Tirek got exactly what he deserved! Grrgh, I offered him quality scientific genius under the conditions I could manage and he poo-poo's it like last week's chili dogs!

[Oh, yes. Some people wouldn't take too kindly to trying to team up with supervillains.]

... Ehh, not that I didn't give him the ol' what for! Don't look at me that way, I was completely on your side.

What was I saying... oh yes, having been sent flying over town gave me a good view of the place. It's, to put it politely, a backwaters dump! What you all need is mechanization. Industry!

Science!

So that some magic-hungry goat doesn't get the better of us ever again, I, the ingenious Dr. Rrrrrobotnik, am announcing plans to start up an ironworks, for metalry and robot-building! Well? This is your big break! I could use some mini-err, partners for this noble venture. So who's in!?

Comments

[soulofblue]

[oh look it's the walrus mugger. Pollo is much less surprised by the content of this message than he otherwise would have been; he never expected...well, sensible things, out of the walrus mugger.]

As it happens, I've actually been building robots for some time now! There's industry around, if you know where to look.

[itsfromtheshow]

You!

[Oh, good, it's the guy he tried to mug. But let's not bicker about that. Not in public. He composes himself.]

... unicorn that I've never seen ever before in my life are a robot-builder, eh? And exactly what do you build them with? Two by four's and hay?

[Says the guy who built a robot with ham.]

I've been here for nearly a month now and there's not one whiff of pollution! Whatever work anyone's doing around here, it's much too small an operation.

[soulofblue]

What would be an appropriately sized operation?

[itsfromtheshow]

Where I came from, I had factories paved over all four corners of the globe. Why, just the sight of my Oil Ocean Zone when the early morning smog rises over the landscape overwhelms me with joy!

[And on that note, he wipes a tear streaming down his black eyes.]

... But a humble, mid-scale workshop should do for now.

[ceasetoexist]

Don't see why you'd bother. You might as well just drop a bomb on the town, considering how well any the hicks here can probably deal with technology.

[itsfromtheshow]

Hmmmmmm, you think that'd work?

[He's actually considering it.]

[ceasetoexist]

Probably not? At least if you try, don't tell 'em I suggested it.

'Nough small talk though. You looking to play the technology business, I might be looking to buy. See. I need steel. A lot of it. Soon.

Oh. Also big flashing neon lights. Can you do that too?

[itsfromtheshow]

And me with my hopes up. [Genuine disappointment drizzle over his words.]

Oh well, always room for fun another time. Clever Robotnik always delivers on his end of the bargain! Just what rottenness are you up to with all this anyway, my boy?

[poolicide]

...is your name seriously Dr. Robotnik?

And you want industry?

]Talk about coincidence.]

[itsfromtheshow]

And just what is wrrrrrrrong with my marvelously noble name?

[poolicide]

Nothing...it just sounds made up.

I mean, Dr. Robotnik? Sounds like Dr. Evilheimer.

[visual]

[notgivinguponyou]

[...He wasn't really well-versed on this sort of thing, but that kind of sounded like a villain in one of Fred's comic books. But hey, benefit of the doubt.] I dunno, the magic around here seems to make up for most of the lack of technology.

[itsfromtheshow]

Magic, pah! [His face contorts into the most disgusted of grimaces.]

What good is power that can't fall into my flippers? Use your head, young man. Clearly we need something to offset yet another freak accident when everyone's "magic" gets pinched and pilfered by some power-mad looney. Not to mention that us non- ponies don't get any!

[He raises a flipper holding up what looks like a mini-pincher grabber handle attached to a glove. The 'hand' clenches as the flipper bends slightly.]

I'd have appreciated getting to lift stuff with my marvelous mind like your garden-variety unicorns too, but nooo! It's always the hard way with Robotnik.

[notgivinguponyou]

I think that the fact it was a "freak accident" means that it doesn't really happen all that often. But yeah, there's nothing wrong with being prepared. So, what kind of robots are you looking into making?

[Visual]

[adandyinspace]

Well it's about damn time!

[Cue throwing his arms about. One needs to stress when it's about damn time.]

One of you robo-nerds better build me a vacuum, or so help me.

[Visual]

[itsfromtheshow]

Don't tell me what to do, you cool fool! [Robotnik doesn't have to build anyone their vacuums. Robotnik doesn't have to do anything!]

The least I deserve as this town's future foremost robot-builder is a little courtesy.

[Visual]

[adandyinspace]

[Dandy proceeds to inhale.]

PLEASE?!

[oceanicbrave]

I don't know if that's a good idea. Just forcing technology on these people seems so wrong.

[Says the girl with the quite clear lab behind her.]

[itsfromtheshow]

Can those words actually be flowing from the mouth of a fellow scientist? You of all people should know better! Technology improves lives and anything that can come out of this is for the better.

[oceanicbrave]

But lumping it all on them at once when they're clearly not comfortable? It'll disrupt their lives too much. If we were to try to introduce it...it HAS to be gradual. Get them used it. And plus, maybe they don't WANT to advance yet.

[4thdimensional]

I have to wonder about the effect of suddenly deluging our hosts with that level of foreign industry. Rather dizzying, I imagine.

[Says the pony building a time traveling sports car in his backyard]

[polyturtle]

[Threadjacking hmm hmm]

Well, its possible to do, and there are several of us could probably easily do it if we put our minds to it. There are beneficial technologies that could be used...

[He has to admit, the temptation of making a laptop is strong. Has been for awhile thanks Zetta.]

But yeah, I don't know if turning this place into a technopoly is a good idea either! Especially assembly line robots.

[No offense, Pollo.]

[4thdimensional]

Yes---not when magic can accomplish many of the same ends. That imposing metal could cause a bit of discomfort.

Not to mention the danger of introducing these things on a massive scale when no one outside our very small circle understands how they operate. What happens if there's a meltdown we can't fix?

[itsfromtheshow]

You're telling me about dizzying! I can barely keep up with all this magic. So what if I want to make this place feel a little bit more like home? I can't be the only one on board with that!

[He flails his fists about as he speaks.]

[4thdimensional]

I do understand, to a degree. But I worry it won't be homey at all if it causes us to be exiled. People are easily frightened by what they don't understand, and it only takes one mistake for them to cast you out.

[Oh yeah. He knows all about that one.]