Fallout: War Never Changes (Roleplay)

[Pat]

War Never Changes



January 1st of 2290; 6:00 A.M.​

Rise and shine America. The wasteland isn't just quite the same anymore, isn't it? For better or for worse, against all odds, life and civilization is slowly returning to the vast irradiated desert of a continent where they have unfortunately both been a rarity the last two hundred years or so ever since the Chinese nuclear arsenal laid low the Thirteen Commonwealths in the Great War's few short hours of mutually assured destruction. Whether your heart and soul subscribes to old world blues or new world hope, people still have a long way to go before the country is finally rebuilt to semblance of what was. Question is, what flag will be at the top of the scrap heap when all's said and done?

Spoiler: Maps

 

[jole875]

MHB
President's Office
January 1st, 2290
7:32 A.M.

"How many would say are at this outpost?" Eckhart asked as he sipped at his glass of water. "I want to say at least seventeen, maybe more, but no one knows where they are and they didn't bring any paladins with them. If we hit them soon, they'd be wiped out and the bunker would be ours!" The man sitting across from the President was dirty, he had been in the wasteland all his life, he was apart of the Brotherhood of Steel. Not one of the main chapters, but the BoS nonetheless. Setting down the glass Eckhart spoke,"You keep saying "we" and "ours" but I don't think you understand how this situation works. We don't take Brotherhood, and we most certainly don't take turncoats. Mr. Clemon, you are not apart of the United States military, you are not a citizen of the United States, and you are not a member of the Enclave." Clemon tried to say something but Eckhart hushed him immediately,"But you have helped us greatly in repatriating a lost asset, you will be repaid by being relocated to a safe house far out of the reach of any of your enemies. Your family, which you brought, will be sent with you and if you'd like, you can submit your daughter to the Enclave's education program, assuming of course your wife agrees. You will be given a monthly stipend of one hundred caps, or American dollars, and enough fresh and preserved food to last you between supply visits. Mr. Clemon, we don't give this option out often, but you have greatly helped your country." Clemon was almost shaking, whether it was in anger, fear, or realization of what he'd done didn't matter to Eckhart. "Your family is safe Mr. Clemon, and you are to thank for that. Though, let me make it clear to you that if you attempt to betray us," Eckhart paused and nodded past the dirty man, at which point two men in black uniforms and berets stepped forward into Clemon's eyesight,"you will die, and we will not protect your family. Do you understand me?" Clemon nodded his head and spoke with a quiver,"I do, sir." Eckhart smiled and took another swig of his water,"See Mr. Clemon out and call for Agent Giunta, make sure that Mr. Clemon and his family receive a good meal, wash, and a medical check up before you bird them out to their new home." After walking Mr. Clemon out, Eckhart waved over another one of the beret wearing men and started writing on a piece of stationary. "I want four squads, a death squad, and Agent Richardson to hit this facility, hard." Eckhart paused before continuing, thinking about what to say next,"But maintain the standard, no non-combatant casualties if possible, make sure Agent Richardson knows this is a no-miss step operation. I expect this to be a flawless operation, considering there's no Paladins, there should be little to no resistance."

MHB
President's Office
January 1st, 2290
8:14 A.M.

Agent Giunta his partner Agent Sirico were of the same type and variety, both dark haired and dark eyed individuals, probably Italian heritage, Sicilian maybe. They entered the President's office and stood at attention. Eckhart had twenty two Secret Service Agents on staff, these were two of the more combat orientated ones. "Good morning gentleman, at ease, sit down." Both of the men sat down immediately at the seats in front of the desk. "You boys ever been to North Dakota? Doesn't really matter with you two, you're going to Bismarck, North Dakota. You'll have four fire teams at your disposal, put simply there is a Pre-War radio station called the KFYR Station, you are to secure, repair, and prepare the transmitter for broadcasting. This station has connections to other stations all through out the Midwest, my sources say that about twenty percent of these stations are still operational and can be activated remotely from KFYR. After finishing repairs on KFYR I want Agent Sirico and a fire team to start making rounds to the non responsive stations starting with the furthest and working back to KFYR via Vertibird. Fix what you can but do not go chasing your tail; if it can't be fixed, it can't be fixed. Do you both understand?" Both of the men nodded, but Sirico gave a look as if he had a question,"Go ahead son." Eckhart said warmly. "Can I request that Agent Richardson and Agent Rammage accompany us, they have better technical skills when it comes to computers, radios, and engineering than us." Eckhart took a moment and shook his head,"Agent Richardson is currently occupied on another assignment and I need Agent Rammage on site. Can you manage without them?" Eckhart smiled broadly, showing that he wasn't displeased that they admitted to being subpar in a field. The two looked at each other and nodded,"We'll have to read up on some tech manuals, but we'll get it done sir." Eckhart stood and walked around to the other side of the desk. "Good, good! You boys are dismissed, make sure to get a good hot meal in before leaving. I'm relying on you two." Eckhart shook each of their hands individually and walked them out happily.
​

 

[holyman1998]

The Old Arch
January 1st 2290
Ghoul Settlement

It had been five months since the old settlement in Bridgeton was driven away by raiders. Escaping in the night, our ghouls find themselves hunkered down at the pre-war arch. Hoping to invite more ghouls to their cause, some of the former vault scientists spend their time inside the arch building, experimenting ways to tame feral ghouls, hoping they can be brought out of such a state. Meanwhile, the leader of the settlement looked over the Mississippi river, wondering what to do next.

"Those smooth skins never learn. Let's hope scavenging missions to the east go better..."

(Not much, but it explains why our ghoul friends are set at the arch instead of actual bridgeton.)

 

[RIPSaidCone]

-----

The Imperial Household
Gyŏngungung
6:14 AM

A gentle sigh left the nostrils of the young woman as she slightly shifted position in her recliner, long, elaborate robes following her every movement as she done so. Jet black hair uncommonly frazzled and in a state of 'bedhead'.

The room, her 'living room' was still quiet in the early hours of the morning. Most of the staff were still in their quarters, and though a constant guard presence was kept, they knew to be quiet around her quarters. It was a large room, well-decorated and furnished, without a scratch or speck of dirt to be seen. Not that any of that interested the Empress. Her attention focused more so on the map that laid on the short, glass table in-front of her. It was a map of the Mojave, as the Americans called it. Intelligent, observant eyes scanning over each and every detail of the paper before doing so all over again.

To think so many had died for so little. Although she supposed that Dam was a valuable prize, given what had been sacrificed in the pursuit of it, it was a wonder why both factions hadn't tried any alternatives. Perhaps that was just the mind of an American, short-sighted and with a lack of any real focus beyond their next war.

Three solid, but quiet chaps on her doors drew Empress Noe from her thoughts and into the present once more. Ordering whoever was on the other side to come in, the doors opened behind her, and the sound of sandals clapping lightly against the polished wooden floor of the living room approached. It was one of her servants, the middle aged man dressed in a traditional hanbok patterned with an elaborate labyrinth of floral designs in a variety of purples, the official color of the Imperial family. The servant giving her a deep bow before speaking.

"Your Highest Empress, we have received a report from Senior Colonel Rhan. The sterilization of Seobu Aida Ho is at 55% and rising."

Two nods were her first response. "And the barbarians?"

"Being registered, organized and trucked to Seupo Kaen as we speak."

"Thank you for the update. Tell the Senior Colonel he has my gratitude."

The servant gave his own firm nod, and a secondary, deep bow before turning in an almost perfect circle and making his way back towards the doors from which he'd came. Once more leaving the Empress to her thoughts. Only now noticing how warm the room was, having forgotten to turn down the heating prior to going to bed the night before. But it was a comforting contrast to the bitter cold outside, regardless of how serene the snow appeared to be as it fell to the Earth from outside her window looking out to the palace's interior courtyard.

Now she wondered what she would be having for breakfast. The thoughts of her army's eastern operations fleeing from her mind as quickly as they had arrived.

-----

 

[Pat]

​

"I'm sure many of you have been wondering as to what form Phase Four would take shape under my leadership. Though our accomplishments together since my son passed the torch down to me have been many, let us not waste time recounting them so that we may keep this directorate meeting short for the sake of the work there is ahead of us." Nate said before deferring to Dr. Secord, acting division head of the Commonwealth Retention Bureau, to stand and finally begin the prepared intelligence briefing.

She walked over to a control panel hidden in the wall to light up the table her colleagues were sitting around into a three dimensional holographic map of Maine. Several of the division heads lifted their limbs from it's surface in surprise, though Dr. Oman and Dr. Filmore appeared largely nonplussed when the newest modification to the meeting room flickered on, they and their subordinates built and installed the damn thing after all, though the two were just as intrigued about the projection as everyone else. It took a month and countless Watcher pods to complete this cartographical nightmare. Her fingers deftly typed in the commands to run a preprogrammed executable that highlighted radiation levels. "As you can see, Far Harbor is not the only area within Maine that suffers from the supposed local phenomenon that the islanders colloquially know as the 'Fog', a radioactive mist which has sporadically blanketed the coastal areas of the former state, recently becoming lethally more severe. The latest conclusion of Dr. Holdren, which you may read for yourselves..." She nodded to an android to begin passing out folders to the various division heads containing the research gathered remotely by the Institute's series of fog condensers. "Suggests that this increased severity is in fact a sign of the anomaly's peak. Come springtime, this Fog should disperse entirely." Dr. Secord stated. "At the personal request of Grandfather, the Bureau has lately conducted exhaustive reconnaissance and surveillance of the region and it's sparse inhabitants with the states intent of determining how to best approach our ultimate goal of Maine's complete annexation.

She turns to Nate for him to expand upon her line of thought. "This is, in summary, Phase Four. Our considerable progress in the past three years of development will not be able to protect us when the next invader of the Commonwealth arrives if we do not begin to provide a solution the wasteland can accept. Our latest courser pair, units X7-47 and X1-49, have confirmed intelligence reports of the return of civilization not only to the west coast, but to the atlantic seaboard as well. To protect my son's legacy, I refuse to allow the directorate to jeopardize the fulfillment of Institute's mission through inept complacency. To survive, we must continue to expand our influence so that our military isn't hopelessly outmatched by nations that have grown beyond city-state status." Dr. Oman, a true believer ever since Nate encouraged Dr. Li to groom the young woman as a replacement for division head and marry a pardoned Dr. Virgil, Dr. Filmore, Dr. Holdren, Dr. Cruz, and Dr. Binet, all nodded in agreement, though he noted Dr. Binet appeared reluctant. The recall of the third generation of synths, and the creation of a third exhaustively designed to limit the chance of any units developing sentience, took a great toll on him he might never recover from. Even before that, the loss of his pet project Eve, and the temporary banishment of his son, instilled doubts in him Nate believed would never fully heal. Had Liam Binet not returned to the fold after he contributed to designing a new version of Code Defender, a valuable scientist may have been lost. Dr. Loken of course would be adequate as a replacement, but Nate needed someone who understood what synths were capable of leading the vital synthetic division. "Though we are determined to do whatever is absolutely necessary to ensure our work here continues unabated, Phase Four is, in essence, primarily a large humanitarian relief operation that focuses on garnering the good will of as many wastelanders as possible to prevent a repeat of our historically bad public relations with the Commonwealth." He added before motioning towards Dr. Secord to resume. "Alana, you may proceed."

"We believe we can dramatically accelerate our annexation of Maine through setting up hundreds of fog condensers where they're needed most, buying settlements time they may not have to wait for spring or simply ensuring that they reclaim areas swallowed by the Fog entirely earlier. More importantly, they will allow the Institute to propagate a calculated lie that we solved the environmental disaster." Dr. Secord proposed. She added a model of an Institute planned community to the map where the Fog was the thickest. "Here we will create an industrial scale fog condenser that shoots electricity from it's top to give the impression of a terraforming effort. Inspired by places such as Sanctuary Hills and Covenant, it will house up to a population of two thousand residents, the very earliest of which will be immigrants from Far Harbor and those who are seeking amenities and commodities found nowhere else in abundance within Maine. Android troopers will patrol major trade routes, even escort every caravan, as well as come to the assistance of settlements under attack by raiders, while Z-01 units will focus on cleaning up mutant infestations, and courser pairs on wiping out raider gangs where they live. Free supplies, medical services, and synth labor will be available to settlements that allow our agents inside their walls. Once the Fog lifts our diplomats will organize a meeting at our hub of activity in the region, to be named Clearview, about how the settlements of the area may finally apply for annexation. To achieve victory, power demand will be at an all-time high. Losses, though expected, will be low enough for us to double size of the C.R.B. when it comes to the amount of synth and robot soldiers currently commissioned by the time the Fog lifts. To ensure our factories work around the clock, teams may have to conduct scavenging missions and create small settlements akin to the ones Grandfather used to administer as the General of the Minutemen."

"And there you have it." Nate announced as Dr. Secord shut off the holographic map. "Preparations have already been made, and once you return to your divisions there should be details on your terminals essential to completing the work load this endeavor requires. Now, if you will allow me, I have to see to it that Far Harbor is informed of their coming role in all of this." He smiled before fiddling with his pipboy and teleporting out of the Institute's suffocating confines.

 

[Locklaklazarii]

January 1st 2290, the Utah Wastes

The light crust of snow beneath the Legate's Feet softened each of his steps as he walked out of his tent dawning his usual armor, a great metal skin that gifted him with the face of Mars. Cresting over the edge of the cliff face he stood to see many cohorts of his great legion joined him there at the limits of their Utah Border. The small pillars of dark dense smoke seemed to hoist up the rising sun, with a simple nod the Trumpets and Trombones sounded and the camp awoke. Files of men assembled before the great Lanius, scourge of the East, it was he that had led them here and had led them all these years, and it is to him all the Legionaires looked up to. Lanius was a myth, and ideal, the embodiment of merit, strength and dedication to the legion. The Crowd that had lay at the feet of the behemoth of a man was silent for none dare speak out of turn.

"For years we have sought the Utah and It's great salt lake, instructed the white legs to burn the New Canaanites down with their city of ineptitude, and now their Great Salt Lake lay at our feet within our grasp. I know many of you both men and boys wish us to fight the Bear and think this but trivial conquest. To those I assure you that day will come, the day when the mighty Bull shall gut the great Bear of the West, but first we must feed, regroup and grow evermore stronger. We will forge boys to men, barbarous tribes into magnificence and set free all those whom we come across in the great ritual of violence, with this lake comes a promise, one of perpetuity, inevitability, and reconstruction... As we are all aware Mars reshaped this land with fire that men may yet be reborn freed into the violence that made us, it is we who are tasked with the holy duty of reshaping it to Mars dream for our people a dream that sees us shed the skin of weakness and profligation. We shall let the blood weep into the dry soils of the wastes only for it to regrow into perdition for the weak and paradise for the strong as nature and the gods had intended. Take up your spears, take up your guns, armor, and courage for today marks the beginning of the reign of Mars Ultimo and the Bull on which he rides upon. Legio Aeterna!"

"AETERNA VICTRIX" Called back the mass of men, before the horns sounded up that they were breaking camp for yet another march into a campaign for the wastes of the new world.

 

[jole875]

MHB
Barrack's Five
January 3rd, 2290
1:52 A.M.

A loud siren blared eight times then,"INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING," a prerecorded voice repeated three times; followed by the distant burst of air defense systems firing off. The seven men stationed in barracks five were up and out of their beds, sprinting, before the next looped siren blare could go off. As they sprinted out of their barracks, into the hallway, and up the stairs, they ran past President Eckhart, escorted by a dozen secret service agents. Eckhart gave them a glance and a slight nod, but the men barely noticed it. The seven men were heading up towards the hangar platforms as the president was heading down towards the lockout area. Eventually the seven men ran into opposite directions until they each were on a hangar platform. As they each entered a platform they were handed a headset,"Eagle to squad, check in." One by one differing voices rang in with a "Check." After the check in the pilots were hurried to their fighters, Stingrays,"What's the opposition?" Eagle asked through his microphone. "Brotherhood of Steel is launching an attack, we were able to disable all of their launched missiles but they have Xian-85 jets and repurposed vertibirds inbound for an assault. Focus on the jet craft, sixteen in total," a feminine voice responded. Eagle nodded to himself,"Copy. Let's get to it."

"Cardinal stick to Sparrow and Mallard. Hawk, Falcon, stay with me, Crow?" Eagle ended his orders with a question to the last remaining pilot. "Yes Eagle?" A response came in from a hoarse, older, voice. "You want to play chase, or keep with us?" A strangle cough came over and Crow responded,"I'll peel right and firewall after we engage the bandits." Eagle didn't respond but steadied his craft, he wasn't shaking but he was feeling a little tight in the saddle. "Alright, I got tally on the bandits. Thirty vertibirds, sixteen 85s, they don't see us yet. Wings split, Crow maintain center." The pilots did so, giving Crow the center while pulling away to his left and right. "They see us, in range!" With that Crow dipped then pulled up, launching two rockets and volleying a burst of fire at the slightly condensed group of vertibirds and fighters. Both rockets hit their targets, taking out two different vertibirds, while his burst of gun fire nearly tore a Xian 85 in half. Not even looking at his work he jerked his Stingray to the right and hit the thrust. Six Xian 85s followed him, leaving nine to deal with the six remaining Stingrays.

When Crow peeled away, the two groups unloaded twelve rockets into the Xian fighters, knocking out four of the nine. "Split to wings, Hawk go with Sparrow. Cut these Chinese loving fuckers to pieces. Crow you good out there?" The response took a second but Crow responded,"Still getting tailed hard by three, but three turned off and are headed back now." Eagle grunted and pulled his controls,"Get on the grapes and make it quick, we still need to chase those vertibirds." The groups split into three wings, and within minutes they had shot down four of the five 85s. "Eagle you got a kill on that bandit?" With a launch of a rocket and flurry of gun fire Eagle blue the jet apart. "Yes, tally on those three bandits from Crow? Crow make your way back, hit a buster." "No tally, should we pursue the vertibirds?" A second later Eagle responded,"Cardinal, Hawk, and Sparrow go pursue. Mallard and Falcon, we're gonna go meet the bandits in the middle." With some turns and navigation Eagle and his wing squad caught the Xian 85s by surprise, taking them out before they knew what was going on. "Crow, where are you at?" Crow coughed roughly and responded,"On my way back, they're persistent fuckers." Eagle chuckled and swung himself upwards. "Stay low Crow, we're going high."

"Dive on em boys." With that command Eagle, Falcon, and Mallard dived on the three 85s chasing Crow, taking two of them out easily. The last must have tore his controls out because as soon as Eagle dived on him, he was straight up in the air heading for clouds. "Fuck he's fast, Mallard tail him. Hawk you got a rocket left, hit his ass." "Copy." Hawk launched his last rocket and in response the bandit deployed flares. "Flares? What the fuck, Xian 85s don't have flares." Mallard said, his voice high pitched due to his young age. "The older ones do, made at the beginning of the war." Crow responded with disgust,"He's fucking good, take him out." The chase continued for some time, the 85 dipping and dodging the gun fire from behind until eventually Hawk loosed a volley and ripped off his right wing. A few seconds later he launched out of his cockpit with a parachute. "He punched out." Falcon muttered. Crow coughed and wheezed with a laugh,"What's the plan Eagle?" Daniel sat thoughtless for a few seconds, rolling around words on his tongue. "Cut his chute for him."

"SIMULATION COMPLETE, PLEASE EXIT YOUR PODS AND PREPARE FOR DEBRIEFING." A robotic voice sounded off in Daniels ear drums. He sat up and looked around the room, he had been in the simulation chamber for two days straight. "Good job boys, lets hit debrief." When Daniel turned towards the door he saw the face of someone in the simulation, Eckhart. "I watched the simulation from the control room, you all did exceedingly well. Expect a bonus in your pay checks." Going from man to man Eckhart shook their hands. "I've waved the debriefing for today, go get something to eat and rest up. Tomorrow morning at eleven thirty you'll be debriefed on the simulation." As the men walked out an older man with white hair walked up behind Eckhart and coughed. Turning to the man Eckhart smiled,"Good to see you again General, your men are getting better with each battle simulation." The man nodded and shook Eckhart's hand,"They are but we need more jets, I have fifteen more pilots waiting to join up. Crow still has a few good years in him, so don't talk about replacing him." Eckhart's smile faded,"General Saxon... You're right, I've been focused on civilian projects as of late, always actually. I will divert some of our budget towards the acquisition of new aircraft." General Saxon nodded and smiled,"I was thinking more of, eh, above ground aircraft manufacturing hangar." Eckhart stopped shaking Saxon's hand and stared for a few seconds,"Until we can expand the civilian sector I can only do search and acquisition." Saxon smiled,"I understand, Mr. President, I just take pride in my work, as you do in yours." Remington Saxon, half brother of Thomas Saxon, and Chief General of the Air Force. He hadn't been Eckhart's biggest fan but he supported him against his half-brother, and was the first to demand that Thomas be executed.


MHB
President's Office
January 3rd 2290
10:23 A.M.

"Has Agent Richardson reported in?" Eckhart asked his assistant sitting beside him. "Yes, zero Enclave casualties, six brotherhood dead, eleven captured: two women, one man, eight children." Eckhart nodded and looked at his assistant. "Ages of the children?" The assistant turned a page and looked at something sideways,"Two infants, one toddler, four small children, and one teenager." Eckhart should his head and sighed,"Send the infants and toddlers to one of our civilian bunkers, have them integrated immediately. Send the children to Vault 14, and...." Eckhart looked at his hands,"Send the teen to reeducation, nothing too harsh." The assistant smiled and began writing down Eckhart's orders. "What about the adults?" Eckhart looked at her with a sharp gaze,"Interrogation or execution, five day interrogation period to see if they talk. If they talk, send them to reeducation."

"Here," the President pointed to a position on the map of Boston,"Pre-war records tells us that there is a strong listening station here called Satellite Station Olivia. Send three radio technicians, an engineer, and two squads here to secure and set up the station. If we can get this old bitch going we can find out where the largest points of population are, pinpoint groups, or even maybe find out about our enemies' movements. Make it happen."​