Fandom The Floating Settlement

[Wylrin]

The sun was high in the Mojave, radiating both heat and light in excessive amounts. It was for this reason that Leander would don a pair of sunglasses ("for the occasion," he'd said) while John remained squinting behind his normal pair of glasses. Their radio signal had stretched across the reaches of the desert; now all that remained was to wait for the arrival of who, hopefully, would become part of the new settlement. Well, perhaps "new settlement" was stretching it. "Settlement under construction" was more apt. Whatever you wanted to call it, they aspired for it to become a thriving community.

The aircraft carrier sat in a very docile manner on the river. Its massive structure might have been seen as an imposing military presence. In the wasteland, it would be foolish not to assume the worst. John hoped that, with time, the residents of the Mojave would come to accept the vessel as not only a constant part of their lives, but one of peace and prosperity, as well.

The anthropologist was eager to meet the ones who answered the radio signal and were making their way to the rendezvous point, but he would not be present on the riverbank. No, Leander had insisted that he remain on the aircraft carrier for a multitude of reasons which may or may not have included "the old man's health." The aforementioned old man might have protested, or, considering his more diplomatic nature, might have quietly disagreed. Either way, on the aircraft carrier he remained while Leander would be the one to greet the newcomers.

So there he stood on the water's edge, a few rowboats sitting quietly on the river behind him. His hands clasped neatly behind his back, Leander kept his eye out for any who would approach.

 

[Pat]

Kile marched towards Leander with the catlike bearing of a nightkin. He's been traveling across the desert for days now to the coordinates of this aircraft carrier the radio signal repeated over and over again on loop like one of those old Children of the Cathedral broadcasts. Still couldn't quite tell if his mind was playing tricks on him or not, but as he approached the man he realized what he thought was a hallucination that led him to a mirage, is an oasis. "Big ship, little river," he points at the tens of thousands of tons of steel behind Leander. "How get here?" Kile questions. "Only one way go now, can't turn, can't get much farther, why trap 'selves?" He sits down as he patiently waited for Leander's answer. Idly he rummaged through his pack to grab a bottle of sunset sarsaparilla, and then casually takes the cap off with his teeth before beginning to take measured sips.

Wylrin .​

 

[thorspuddingcup]

Emmie had been hanging around the outskirts of New Vegas for longer than she had wanted. Although there was plenty to explore and unearth from the ruins of the pre-war city, the residents were incredibly dangerous. The less time she spent near the strip, the more likely she was to not get caught up in local gang wars. Or be scooped up by one of the casinos to become one of their many women of the night. That was what had happened to her mother. As much as she loved her mom, Emmie didn't want to venture down the same path.

The mysterious broadcast was the perfect excuse to get out of town while she could. Work helping found a new settlement, a moving settlement, sounded promising. Emmie had been wandering alone for the past few years, and it would be nice to sit down and find a place to call home for a while. More than anything, space to stash her beloved pre-war collectables was what she looked forwards to the most.

After a few days journey, Emmie had finally arrived at the coordinates provided by the broadcast. Before her, on the water, stood a massive vessel. Her mouth formed a silent "O" as she looked up at the structure in awe. Where did such a machine come from? Did it work? Where did these people find it? Then a thought crossed Emmie's mind. This didn't belong to the Brotherhood, did it? Emmie had never personally encountered the Brotherhood of Steel, but she had heard less than savory thing's about them from the mouths of eastern traders.

But instead of a group of people enshrouded in power armor, there was a man and a super mutant near the river bank. Emmie's hand immediately went to the small knife she kept on her at all times upon seeing the mutant. But, the mutant didn't appear to be attacking. No, he was just...sitting there. Perhaps he was one of the more 'friendly' ones? Regardless, Emmie approached the two with caution.

"Hello, I'm here about the broadcast?" she asked while nervously adjusting the strap of her backpack.​

Pat Wylrin

 

[Pat]

"Me named Kile." The supermutant introduced himself when he saw Emmie, offering the newest arrival to the wasteland meet and greet a massive olive green hand to shake. Remembering what Morpheus taught him, he bares his teeth at her in his best impression of a smile. Kile then taps the sand between himself and Leander, inviting her to join them. He didn't know what to make of her yet. Wasn't close to a prime normal for sure, but nonetheless soft beyond her apprehensive demeanor. She reminded him of the babbling cultists that littered the roadside like flies as what was left of the Master's orphans they desperately cajoled into following their disoriented flight eventually went their separate ways once the bucketheads tracked them down in what was left of the land the Children of the Cathedral informed him was called the state of 'Organ' in a distant time.

But her true nature would remain to be seen. Not all thinkers were bad. "Ever need heavy lifting done, ask for Kile." He addresses Leander and Emmie, hope in his voice. "Can gently lift many things quickly for long time. Not too bad fighter either," he remembers to mention, thumbing the pommel of his knife and the sling of his treasured missile launcher for additional emphasis.

Wylrin , thorspuddingcup .​

 

[PeteTheWitcher]

One of the Institute’s finest coursers took off for the Mojave in a search for a Synth. Jenny was not scared of the Mojave nor was programmed to feel fear or any negative emotion. The female Synth played off acting like a human just fine, for as long as no one got close to her. Her personality chip helped too in camouflaging her real self. Jenny picked up a mysterious broadcast while out on the road thinking this could be the lead to the escaped Synth, they would try to get as far away from the commonwealth as they could. Too bad Jenny picked up the scent and started tracking them down or if not she would find them. A few days later Jenny came across the group when she spotted Kile and began to observe him like he was an experiment. The Institute had used the FEV virus and from what she observed he did not seem hostile or stupid. She looked away from him and walked to Leander, “Hello, I am here for the Broadcast...I would like to understand why the signal is coming from you and who are these people.

 

[Pat]

"Voice in box tell why we come. How lady find us if she not bother a listen?" Kile questioned Jenny. "Boat needs crew. Without crew, boat empty, only good for lightning copper floss and rusted scrap metal." He begins picking at bits of meat stuck in his teeth after what he believed was his little eloquent speech. "Tell who are you first." The supermutant childishly demands of the woman.

Wylrin , thorspuddingcup , PeteTheWitcher .​

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

Leonard slowly puffed on his cigarette as he took in the view from a nearby hill. "My, my that is not what you see everyday." He muttered to himself seeing the aircraft carrier in the distance. Pre-war America must truly be a sight to behold if they build something of the size and still be able to float let alone be used as a floating airport. He had heard the broadcast on the radio during his broadcast and was doubtful such a thing would be so far inland, yet here it was. He was here he might as well check it out.

He could see the value of a settlement in a place like this, it looked it good conditions, already made to hold large amount of people and easily securable. Then again, something this large was surely noticeable by any bandit or gangs in the region. That is if it not already ran by bandits, in his long experience he knew not to take radio signals as face value. That was one of the reason he was investigating this place, he wanted to make sure this was no lure for the amusement of the gangs. As he neared the aircraft carrier he had his hand close to the revolver.

At the rendezvous point he saw that people already gathered there, including to his surprised a nightkin supermutant of all things. He almost drew his revolver at the sight of it but since it wasn't trying to rip people apart he thought better of it and gave it a chance. He remained quite studying everyone as he lit a new cigarette.

 

[Wylrin]

In all honesty, Leander hadn't been convinced people would come. Or, at least, friendly ones. He'd half expected a raider gang to show up, or perhaps the NCR or the Legion, coming with troops instead of settlers looking for a new home. It would appear - at least for the moment - that he didn't have to worry about such things. Unless, of course, these were the most subtle raiders out there. He wouldn't put it past raiders to be charismatic when it was convenient to them.

Ah, but he was allowing his mind to wander, which he really ought not to do when meeting new people. To say he was surprised by the arrival of a supermutant would be an understatement, though he didn't allow for this to show on his face. John had told him to be tactful, and so he would be.

Despite all of the older man's attempts at preparing his apprentice for whatever the potential settlers might bring, the questions from the supermutant were not something he had been prepared to answer. Why trap 'selves, indeed. Leander was aware of the dam upriver. How to explain, then, that it was a conscious decision to be here despite the dam up ahead, to "trap themselves"?

He was struggling to find a good way of answering that when a woman approached. Oddly enough, Leander was just as surprised by her as he was by the supermutant. For whatever reason, she wasn't quite who he had expected. Or maybe he was just gawking at the fact that yet another woman managed to be taller than he was.

As the supermutant went on, referring to himself as Kile, Leander quietly noted that he seemed interested in helping. Well, that was good.

It was also good how many people were showing up, yet another woman approaching him and asking him difficult questions. Ah, perhaps John should have been here. The older man had a better way of explaining his ideas than his apprentice did.

Raising what he hoped was a placating hand, his eyes flicking to regard the man approaching for a moment, he said, "You all ask very good questions. It is my hope that I can answer them all in time." Smiling gently, he went on, "Perhaps it would be best if I offered some information regarding this place, and if anyone has any questions afterwards, they could be addressed then. I'm sure you're all wondering about the... management behind this settlement. I can assure you, this settlement is unaffiliated with any major group or faction. We prefer to think of ourselves as independent."

Pat thorspuddingcup PeteTheWitcher ThatGuyWithSouvlaki

 

[thorspuddingcup]

"Uh...I'm good...thank you." Emmie said in response to Kile. "I'd prefer to stand.". The mutants manners surprised Emmie. Especially since he was better behaved than most of the people residing in the Wasteland.

Shortly after they were joined by another woman. Her words her sharp as knives, and she had a very "no nonsense" manner about her. Emmie found herself feeling a bit of both respect and apprehension towards her. "We came about the broadcast, same as you." Emmie said, feeling the need to explain herself. She didn't notice the man with the revolver silently watching them from a ways off.

Before the stranger could explain herself, the human man spoke. Despite really answering their questions, Leander seemed to raise more. Where were the rest of the settlers, surely they wouldnt be starting a new settlement with just the four of them? The reassurances that Leander and his associate were not affiliated with any major faction was a comfort, especially since Emmie had begun to worry she had just enlisted into the Brotherhood of Steel by just showing up. But, if they weren't a part of any faction, where did they get their funding? Surely they didnt just have this massive machine laying around?

Rather than asking her questions, Emmie stood quietly and awaited Leander's welcoming speech.