Who are you who does not know your history?

In the 24 years since the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows the NCR has expanded to control a large part of central Equestria. Throughout the land civilization has replaced savagery. Traders have replaced raiders. Deadly mutated bugs replaced with less deadly mutated bugs. Even slavery has been by and large stomped out. Ponies have even stopped referring to the "Equestrian Wasteland" and once again refer to it as simply "Equestria."

Well, at least in some parts. In areas outside the "Civilized Lands" raiders still run free and deadly creatures will still try and eat any living thing they come across. These are the regions that were out of range when the Gardens of Equestria spell was cast. They are still radioactive, tainted, and dangerous. It is at the heart of one of these areas, known as the San Palomino desert, that Stable 34 lies. And it is there that a crew of archaeologists from the Followers of the Apocalypse is being sent. Their goal is to reach Stable 34 and find out everything they can about it. But as it turns out, there is a lot more to the story of the San Palomino badlands than anyone had ever thought.