The Fallout WastelandBoard

Mutant Studies – The Master

From the Research Log of Dr. Richard Thoss:

I….I don’t know how to start this log. I was expecting answers of some kind…but this is…. its monstrous. The fear and hatred toward the Super Mutants that I had written off as simply bigotry or misunderstanding or from a simple war were wrong. I was so wrong.

According to the NCR troopers at Fort Amador, the Super Mutants were created by exposing humans to something called the Forced Evolutionary Virus, or F.E.V. for short. And by exposing, I mean forceful experimentation. I had to look at the official NCR records our government acquired to confirm these reports as I could not accept this at face value. According to the files, this ‘Master’ who created the Super Mutants did so by kidnapping humans from settlements, dunking them in vats of F.E.V., and then integrating them into his army. The mutants would lose their identity and any vestige of their former human selves in this process. Using this army, the Master planned on exposing the whole wasteland and turning them into Super Mutants to create a new ‘master race’. I know where I have heard such a claim before, and the horrors such thinking could unleash.

I can now understand the hatred many have for these mutants now. Families were broken, entire towns wiped off the map, and the constant threat of losing yourself, your very existence, to be a part of the Master’s Army. It’s terrifying. If it wasn’t for the timely action of a few individuals, the American West Coast could look very different, and our presence here would likely be for a different purpose. It puts a new light on why these mutants are so lost but does not excuse them from the horrors of the past. We need to tread carefully here. From what the NCR records imply, there are still hostile Super Mutants across the American Wasteland, some of which bear no association with the Master’s Army which means there is still another source of F.E.V. out there that humans are being forcefully exposed to.

After finding out all of this, I am conflicted. On one hand, I want to destroy every drop of this F.E.V. and destroy any chance of this happening to anyone else. However, on the other hand part of me wonders if we can find a way to reverse engineer the process and return these mutants to their human form. Such a task is daunting at the very least, but it could theoretically be possible. But to open Pandora’s Box once more and risk wandering down the same path that the former United States did to create such a virus, is it something we are willing to do? Would the Red Cross or the Swiss State itself risk its ideals for the distant prospect of saving the lives of mutants who have been damned by the rest of the wasteland for their past transgressions?

I have to sleep on this. Do some more research. For now, I will keep my opinions to myself and sort out my thoughts. There are other variables that need to be considered before a choice of that magnitude can even be addressed.

------
Research: Chemistry 8 - 2,000/2,000 -> Chemistry 9 - 0/3,000

Reverend Obadiah, pt. 2
The first tribe Moksa-Be introduced Obadiah to was the Sandmakers, so called because they dwelt in adobe structures constructed under the shelter of the cliffs in the Mesa Verde national park. Linguistically, they were very similar to the Dead Horses and the other tribes of Utah; culturally, however, they were very sedentary, with the ability to make tools and construct housing out of adobe. They’d even developed an agricultural society in the valley, around the ruins of Cortez. In his private journal, Obadiah wondered whether it was right to even consider them a tribe, the only thing “tribal” about them being their utter lack of electronics (and a family and societal structure heavily centered around the clan and motherhood).

He spent a year there, cataloguing their society, preaching the word of God. It was here that his commitment to non-interventionism was tested, however; the Sandmaker’s Matriarch fell ill with a disease Obadiah knew how to cure, albeit with modern medicines and medicinal practices. His compassion won out over his good sense, and he helped heal the chief, and indeed teaching the tribe’s healers some of his techniques in order to prevent it from happening again.

Of course, news of a holy medicine man spread like wildfire, and not too long after he was approached by the high chief of the Ridgewallers, a tribe that lived high up in the mountains to the east. His daughter was pregnant but had come down with a fever that the tribe’s healers couldn’t do anything about. So, taking his leave of the Sandmakers, he and Moksa-be journeyed with the chief east, deep into the Rockies to the Monarch Ridge, where the Ridgewallers lived.

He was, after all, unfortunately unable to save the chief’s daughter - the infection that she’d contracted had by then spread to her bloodstream, and barring surgery with an Auto-Doc there was little he could do. He was, however, able to save her baby - a bouncing boy that eventually lived to succeed his grandfather as chief of the tribe.

It was here, while living amongst the Ridgewallers, that Obadiah first encountered the Twin Mothers, a matriarchal tribe from central Colorado that traded regularly with the Ridgewallers. They were a peaceful tribe, given to philosophy, and Obadiah had a very interesting and intellectually stimulating conversation with their representative while he was there. He must have impressed the trader; the next time he came back, the next season over, Obadiah was invited to visit the tribe - an honor extended to very few outsiders.

And so it was that Reverend Obadiah became one of the few non-Coloroadoans to set eyes on the Nursery…

Always Darkest, Part 1

The man walked over to the heavy book sitting on the table in a small corner of the space he called his workshop, office, and home. He examined the cover, an ancient leather-bound thing embroidered with gold. A personal copy from the author; the only one. It wasn’t a story he was ready to share, but the author had been dedicated. This was what he hoped to be the first copy of many. He gave me this, what, three years ago now? the man thought to himself. He read the title, as he had countless times before.

A History of Oregon Since the Founding of the Knights of Polaris he chuckled to himself. The only reason it didn’t say complete history or include his name was because he had refused to sit for interviews like he had been asked. He couldn’t bring himself to relive some of those memories. Slowly, he opened the book and began to read the first chapter;

Founded in the year 2175, the Knights of Polaris remain a bastion of order in the chaos of the Oregon Wasteland. Their history largely began with the arrival of refugees from Washington known as the Knights, and tribes along the northwestern coasts of Oregon known as the Astkin. The refugees brought with them advanced technology, which prompted the Astkin to invite them to stay. These groups soon intermarried, though it would be the leaders of the Knights who would leave their mark on history, create technology, and instill wisdom that has been preserved throughout the ages.

The Glassmaker, forger of the first Nova Blades, from whom the Nova Smiths take their name. The Crossbearer, who united the faiths of the Astkin and Knights into one. The Acolyte, who founded the Three Guards of the united people to keep them safe from all dangers. And of course, the Immortal, who led the Astkin and Knights together as one, taking the translated name of one of the largest Astkin settlements and combining it with the name of his people to form the nation they are today; The Knights of Polaris. The man flipped ahead to the next chapter.

The Portland Outlands have long been a target of many merchants and conquerors. Possessing the only access to trade in Washington and connections to the east of Oregon, the wealth of the settlements is often spent competing with each other. The Outlands are controlled by twenty settlements, including Vault 23, Moda, Ohsu, Omsi, Union, and several others. By far the most prominent settlements are the Bridge Cities, the Willamette River in the center of the city. This position grants them control over trade between the East and West of the city, and the best access to Washington. Trade moving in all directions must in some way answer to the merchant councils of these settlements, and the settlements have a united merchant council, although this is not to be mistaken for an actual government of the sub-region. Because of the divided authority in the Outlands, the area is home to a prominent raider gang known as the Pressgangers, who are most commonly bribed by the settlements to ensure safe passage of trade through the region, a tax that the settlements can afford and a threat they cannot fully dispel due to the presence of other factors. Additionally, the area has become a battleground of subterfuge and intrigue between agents of the Knights of Polaris and He flipped forward again.

The Kingdom of New Prussia is a bastion of order in the heart of Oregon. Long an ally of the Knights against he skipped to the next chapter The Kingdom of Yew rules to the south of New Prussia. While it is often seen as a vassal of New Prussia, it is a fully independent nation. Thanks to an ancient Garden of Eden Creation Kit, or GECK, the region has low radiation and fertile soil. As a result, it has often been a site of clashes between the Knights and he skipped forward again. The Children of the Lake are a mysterious cult that rules the Shroud region. They often raid New Prussia and on occasion Portland for people who, according to escapees, they sacrifice to their god in the Devil’s Lake near the coast. Due to their hostile nature towards the other powers of Oregon, they are often seen as allies of he turned to the next chapter again, knowing the words that would be waiting if he continued reading, but still he pressed onwards. The Scorch is a region that serves as the southern bastion of Oregon’s frontier and is ruled by a principality of the same name. The leader of this principality is given the title of Ash Prince, which has been passed down by the Pendergast family since the principality’s founding. However, if someone builds a great enough following (roughly five hundred people given the low population of the Scorch) they are granted the right of challenge to take the throne in a duel to the death. However, the principality has been in political turmoil for the past fifty years since Ash Prince Orpheus was killed by he flipped forward one final time and stopped on the page he always dreaded, yet always felt drawn to.

The Cause was formed initially as an organization akin to the Knights of Polaris, dedicated to protecting the people of Oregon from the various threats of the Wasteland. Formed from remnants of the American Military housed in bunkers built under the Great Mountains, the Cause was largely beloved by the people of Oregon and seen as a meditating force between the various conflicting powers, and were even said to be working towards a peaceful unification of the region. However in 2173, two years before the Knights of Polaris were officially created, the Cause was taken over by a new mysterious leader known as the Sightbringer. Utilizing the already large number of psychically gifted individuals within their ranks, the Sighbringer formed a new philosophy dedicated to conquering all of Oregon under the assumption they were superior because of these gifts. Five previous attempts have been made by the Cause to take control of Oregon. In all cases, the Knight of Polaris assembled coalitions to oppose the Cause, usually including New Prussia and the Scorch. The most recent war ended fifty years ago during the Battle of the Closed Eye at Crater Lake, when the Immortal and Sighbringer fought a duel that saw the Sighbringer wounded and his armies driven back into their bunkers.

The man flipped again to the end of the book.

While the Immortal emerged victorious from the Battle of the Closed eye, he has since withdrawn into his personal chambers and is rarely seen, leaving the tasks of governance to other groups within the Knights, primarily the Sol, Nyx, and Twilight guards, along with the Church of the Light River and the Nova Smiths. Time will determine the fate of the Knights, and of Oregon as a whole. Next to it was a small handwritten note from the author.
time is not on our side Immortal. Please, act.

The man closed the book and sighed.

He did his research. But there’s so many gaps, so much is wrong he thought to himself. But he knew why these gaps and inaccuracies existed. Some of it was his own intentional deception, other parts unintentional mythmaking to fill in the gaps he chose to leave there. How could I have been so wrong? Why did I let this happen? He closed the book and turned away, walking back to his workbench. He’s right about one thing, time’s not on our side. The Immortal rested his head in his hands. And it’s my fault. He began to weep.

Reverend Obadiah, pt. 3
Where Zion was a wild paradise, a testament to the enduring power of nature and the beauty of God's workmanship, the Nursery was a testament to Mankind's ingenuity, the fulfilment of the command to be stewards of the Earth and to subdue it. The gurgling of clean water and the chirping of unmutated birds was accompanied by the soft thumps of the machinery that took in the water at the head of the valley, purified it, and sent it back into the riverbed to water the rest of the valley and then the lands beyond. Foxes and rabbits chased among the tall grass, past dozens of Mr. Handies that tended the flowerbeds as well as the biome-specific greenhouses on one side of the canyon.

The Nursery wasn't the home of the Twin Mothers - that honor was given to a Pueblo-like community a few canyons over - but it was the home of the Twin Mothers' goddess, Diana - something Obadiah quickly discovered was a robobrain, a dying one at that. The Twin Mothers hoped he could do something for her; unfortunately, regenerating her brain, which was slowly degrading, was something beyond his medical ability, or indeed beyond anyone's medical ability. The best he could do was scrounge up some Mentats to temporarily increase her brain function to optimal levels. While she was riding the high, she told Obadiah her story.

The Nursery had been a project of the EPA, a complement to Project: Safehouse - where the latter would safeguard humanity, the Nursery would safeguard nature, at least that of continental North America. The actual project had been constructed by Greenway Hydroponics, and its leader Derek Greenway. Complementing this was a vault that he'd proposed, one populated by old people and infants, one where the children would not be instructed in the use of technology as Derek believed that all technology would be rendered inert, and that dependence on them was a sure way to death. The inhabitants of Vault 29 would be sent out into the world with only the most rudimentary of knowledge, left to rediscover the advances of the old world at their own pace.

Diana, having been installed in the Nursery, had disagreed with the program from the start. When the bombs fell, she appropriated a satellite dish, aimed it at the vault, and managed to remotely hack the mainframe inside. With her control, she redirected the project, teaching the kids respect for nature, advanced agricultural techniques, etc. While the core of the experiment stayed the same - they weren't taught to use or rely on advanced technology - they were steered towards naturalism and a worship of mother nature, rather than left to form their own societies once they left. When Diana finally opened the vault, she introduced herself as the goddess that they had been waiting for, and had been around to guide them ever since.

Of course, now she was dying, and she didn't know how to breach it to them. She'd been hoping that the New Canaanite, with his medical knowledge, might be able to prolong her life, but not even the brightest of the pre-war medical establishment could reverse brain degeneration. Obadiah urged her to tell her children the truth, but Diana could not bring herself too. She died, leaving the problem in Obadiah's lap, whereupon he too, found he could not bring himself to tell the Twin Mothers that their goddess had been merely a computer. Instead he tried to make her an angel, who had fulfilled her duty and returned to the side of God in heaven - a convenient and heart-soothing lie.

Obadiah and Moska-Be stayed among the Twin Mothers for 3 years, helping them adjust to the loss of their goddess, and ministering to their needs both physical and spiritual. Obadiah also watched over the Nursery, using what little mechanical knowledge he had to try and keep the facility going on its mainframe alone. Eventually, though, the problems began to stack up, and he himself developed a medical problem which would require returning to New Canaan for treatment. He was overdue to report back to the Bishop anyway, so he and Moska-Be left the Twin Mothers and headed west to New Canaan, to get the medical help he needed and to debrief his newfound geographical and cultural knowledge.

It was here that he first heard of the rising strength of the Legion...

America’s Other Most Favorite Pastime
Empire Confederation

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was Amore, sung by Dean Domino - can you get enough of that voice?

This is Mr. New Vegas, taking a short break from the music to come at you with some news: Chairwoman Veronica, in her capacity as Sole Proprietress of the Strip, has issued an advisory to NCR citizens who may be thinking about taking a road trip to the City of Sin this year. NCR citizens should be aware that secure parking is only available at the South Gate, either at the Casa Madrid Apartments’ parking lot, or inside of McCarran, recently opened to motorized traffic. Motorized caravans are encouraged to either stop at Cassidy Caravans’ new facility south of the old airport, or to continue northeast to the Crimson Caravan compound. People who might be thinking of traveling all the way to New Canaan should be advised that there are currently no fuel stops along the route, and you may be returning the way you came on horseback.

This is Mr. New Vegas reminding you that you’re nobody until somebody loves you, and that person is me - I love you.

Operation Varrak

The ironclad Devastation bobbed along the North Atlantic, lights strung along her sides, as the black fins of waves churned and dipped underneath her. A relatively moderate sea state. A curtain of steam rose from the ship's twin funnels. It wasn't the only one. The swirling stars overhead gave way to a column of steam and cloud in the distance, illuminated by lightning, and from some distant source on the ocean's surface. The Captain, one arm behind her back, walked about on deck, eyepatch lifted, and faced out towards the sea. Her first mate, a short-haired lady with a sullen look, hovered near her, steadying herself on the rail.

Commander Gundega Kreslina: "-And so the barometric pressure is continuing to drop. She's seaworthy alright, Captain, but depending how much weather we have to fight..."

Captain Viktorija von Voldemariene: "-We might not have enough fuel for a return trip. Understood. Thank you, mister Kreslina. Does... the crew know? About the weather?"

Commander Gundega Kreslina: "Hard for them not to, Cap. Anyone can look out a porthole."

With that, the Captain wandered to the right, under the shadow of one of the pancake-shaped turrets. She fell with a thud onto the slick deck, and the XO ran to steady her. Looking towards the object that had caused her to trip, they found a cot lashed to the deck, and a red-haired fellow wrapped in an oilskin, unhappily stirring. He grumpily looked up, only to be scared stiff by the Captain's glowering face, and empty eyeslit. Slowly, rubbing his bruised head, he got up, and the trio began to withdraw to the chartroom.

Commander Gundega Kreslina: "Are you alright, Captain?"

Captain Viktorija von Voldemariene: "Sigh... yes. Thank you. Good morning, mister Linhardt. What are you doing here?"

Chief Engineer Albrecht Linhardt: "M-m-morning, Captain. Very sorry. I was... just sleeping, it... can get a little intolerable in the boiler room, I was hoping to cool down."

Commander Kreslina: "How can you sleep here?"

Chief Engineer Albrecht Linhardt: "I can sleep anywhere, ma'am. If you don't mind, I'm gonna go find the head-"

Captain Voldemariene: "Just a moment, mister Linhardt."

Albrecht Linhardt: "sigh... fine, I mean, er, aye, Captain."

Captain Voldemariene: "How are you all holding up in the engine room? How's the crew's morale?"

Albrecht Linhardt: "Ma'am, I... don't know how people work. I'm more of a machines guy."

Commander Kreslina: "..but?"

Albrecht Linhardt: "Well, some of the stokers have been kind of shaky lately. They're acting like we're gonna fall of the edge of the world or something."

Commander Kreslina: "And what do you think?"

Albrecht Linhardt: "I think they're a buncha cowards. I'm eager to punch through this column of seamounts or whatever's going on, Captain. So we can get to the fine sunbathing weather on the other side... not that I'd be doing that, of course.."

Commander Kreslina: "Captain, if even Lin here's noticed, morale has to be, er, bad."

Captain Voldemariene: "At the moment. But I trust this ship, and I trust her crew. Once we punch through the mid-atlantic ridge.."

Commander Kreslina: "Then what, ma'am? From what reports we've heard from the adventures of the Swiss, America is an insanely heavily-armed continent. Advanced weapons systems beyond almost anything Europe had, just lying around to be snatched up by any no-goodniks."

Captain Voldemariene: "What's your point, mister Kreslina?"

Commander Kreslina: "I, er, don't wish to speak ill of the Devastation, ma'am, but-"

Albrecht Linhardt: "I will. Ship's obsolete, Captain. If we face a serious fight, with no support to call on, we might all get ourselves killed. Might be that she should stick around the Baltic sea, where it's safe."

Captain Voldemariene: "Mister Linhardt, you're suggesting we abandon the mission? I'm not the type of girl to just give up, without accomplishing a damn thing!"

Albrecht Linhardt: "Er... I'm... sorry... the Sumpurnis - no, she doesn't have the range - maybe... when the Urania's finally commissioned-"

Commander Kreslina: "We don't have to come home empty handed, Captain. We could... survey the Saharan coast-"

Albrecht Linhardt: "Pre-war encyclopedias put it as one of most uninhabitable spots on the planet, ma'am. I doubt it's gotten much better."

Commander Kreslina: "Wait, right, the charts! There's plenty of islands off the African coast that might be more noteworthy - for one, Madeira's an option."

Captain Voldemariene: "Madeira... why's that island sound familiar?"

Commander Kreslina: "We were supposed to get an intelligence dossier on it, ma'am. Someone at ONYX KEEP must have goofed, and forgot to actually deliver it to the ship."

Captain Voldemariene: "Sigh... mistakes happen. Wish they wouldn't. Any chance we could contact the radio at Finistere, see what they have?"

Commander Kreslina: "The wireless room's been trying, ma'am. They haven't managed to get through tonight."

Captain Voldemariene: "Alright, I'm curious. Mister Kreslina, take us about. I want a course plotted for Madeira. Mister Linhardt, head for the engine room, if you will."

Albrecht Linhardt: "First thing, Captain. ...after I find the head, so, er, second thing. Oh, actually, make that third, I could use a cup of that koskela stuff..."

Captain Voldemariene: "What will we find in this strange land, this 'Madeira'? What discoveries await in its cliffs and jungles? What strange and exotic peoples to us, what cultures and traditions will we encounter? Well, whatever we find, I'm sure it'll be nothing like what we've ever seen before..."

(..over to you, The Arthurian Brotherhood-)

With the air force now becoming a larger part of the NCR military, a small order of older light bombers were put down to create the first squadrons outside of the trainer units. With research into more advanced aircraft engines still ongoing the idea to put orders down had been delayed in turen for an enlargement of the Army’s logistical branch. The growing automobile industry of slavages and built cars ahd become a larger part of the California countryside thanks to the expansion of highways and the fuel industry. With the large supply of ethanol of cars being a benefit for caravans that primarily operate within the NCR Borders. Along with more orders for more specialized weapons for weapon squads. With the ever growing maritime industry as well gaining steam as more ships were being constructed with now all three shipyards continuing their competition as two larger designs were being constructed. With the Swiss pointing to the open European markets many have begun to prepare for the opening of trans-Atlantic trade once again thanks to the Panama canal. With few trade partners besides vegas or the numerous separate tribes scattered through western america the option of a larger market which could be far more beneficial for the long run the stalling california economy could become lively again without the constant need for border expansion.

Production:164,000
2x De Havilland Mosquito-40,000
12x Mack NO.7-9,000
12x Willy’s M48-9,000
6x M2 .50 HMG
6x FN MAG
6x M79 Grenade Launcher
6x Union Pacific FEF Train-6,000
2x Victory Ship- 60,000
3x Bay Class- 30,000
2x Type-V class- 10,000

Construction:830,000
50x Farm-500,000
3x Large Factory-300,000
3x Small Facotry-30,000

Total Cost:994,000 caps

The Bear and a Dove

The two men sitting in the office of the Presidential Residence sat across from a side table, a long discussion between President Honeyfield and the leader of the Followers of the apocalypse. While the followers had never been a large organization they have held importance thanks to their knowledge of medicine and history from before the war. Most of their conversation had been about mending the gap left by the last administration's dismissal of the followers from governmental positions and assistance.

“I admit what your offering is generous Mr.President, your asking for me to police our membership far beyond even what kimball was demanding. It would be impossible to simply stop people from criticizing the NCR” said the followers leader “We are an organization committed to peace and trying to uplift the wasteland.And our leadership is not as top-down as you may think”

“And I'm not asking for that Doctor, just for your members to stop spreading anti-government sentiments and committing them. The followers have an important part on the West Coast thanks to your humanitarian efforts and I would like to support your efforts. No taxes on Follower property, free transportation along government rail services, even monetary assistance towards operation within New California Territory.But the fact that many of your members have been spreading disparaging messaging about the NCR government needs to stop. I have reports of members like a Dr. Rivas purposefully delayed in the repair of Helios One, and another Tom Anderson committed large theft of water from NCR operations and even going as far as the murder of a NCR Corporal.” A lot of said information though was bening purposefully suppressed from spreading outside of certain circles. If the warhawks had gathered any of the information the entire organization would probably be having a lot more trouble then just getting donations to continue existing. Bruce personally saw it as just the point to keep them enough in line. “These actions are puting relations far beyond the disagreement of NCR foreign policy and into pure hostilities. This deal is far more generous than any that congress would give to you if this information was handed over to them.”

With the followers having a long history it was easy to pin issues with their free teaching methods. The Great Khans took the knowledge of basic science and reading and became the biggest drug makers in the Mojave. Keeping the Fiends juiced up till they migrated away from the mojave. The Kings were a major thorn to numerous citizens passing through Freeside and there were reports of those drained by Vegas casinos being the biggest targets. Or even releasing the simple fact Caesar legion was founded by a follower would put a major target on their back and segment the image of pure anarchist that they try to keep of themselves.

“I have no knowledge of any members killing NCR officers. And Dr.Rivas has made numerous complaints that your specialist Fantastic was a conman for the whole operation.”
“Your organization's lack of a hierarchy outside of the NCR has led to many of these instances bening put aside or left in limbo. But this is why i'm allowing this talk. The followers get plenty of benefits and we can fix our disagreements. All you need to do is inform your distant hubs be a neutral party when talking about the NCR and our operations”

With a few more hashing out of other minor parts of any agreement. The Follower leader eventually folded to sign the agreement. Moving to help cut down on another group that has left the civilian population questioning their elected officials.

Raids & Ruin

The Raveners had had a very good year. Their raids had swept over the land like an unstoppable tide and left the surrounding areas next to their home in ruins, those foolish enough to settle near the hardened tribe of raiders being shown the depths of their folly by the wholesale burning, pillaging, and slaughtering of entire settlements and leaving nothing but ash, bone, and blood in their wake. Better yet were the broken shells of those captured in their raids, clapped in chains and dragged back to be worked for what remained of their miserable lives, further conditioned to their newfound state of servitude by chemical addiction in the form of Jet and Buffout laced rations. Dull minds and strong backs made for good slaves and any dissenters willful enough to stand out were used as examples, males being locked in confining cages and left to starve to death while the tribe's winged friends picked away at the soon-to-be corpses, while females were subjected to a far worse fate best left unthought of. While the newest slaves were tasked with assembling gathering grounds and the beginnings of a factory, the immense wealth seized in their raids was put to the purchasing of arms and armor from the various caravans that still passed through Ravener territory.

Bradshaw, former Arkansas
“Dad, why can’t I stay up a little while longer?”

Tom looked at his son, Thomas Jr., who looked back at him with that look he always used when he thought he could sway his old man to his side. The one most parents would know, the one where he makes his eyes all big and sad looking. He saw the same look two days ago when Junior had broken the kitchen window with a stray baseball and tried to fib his way out of it.

“Sorry champ, but your momma said you gotta wake up mighty early for school tomorrow,” Thomas Sr. said smiling at his son. “Besides, you still ain’t fully made up for that window you busted.” Junior threw his arms up and let them fall beside him. “But dad—“ Thomas Sr. raised a finger to hush him. “No buts, get some shut eye. I’ll be back in a minute to check on ya.” Senior went to turn off the lamp, but before his hand touched the chain he heard Junior pipe up.

“Love you dad.”

Thomas Sr. smiled and looked over at his son. “Love you too big guy. Sleep tight.” He bent down and planted a kiss on Junior’s forehead, before turning to walk out the room and head towards the kitchen. Beth was needing help with the dishes.

Six Hours Later
The sound of gunshots outside woke Thomas and his wife, Beth, from their sleep with a jolt.

“Thomas, what’s going on out there?” The sounds of shots ringing off were close together, and immediately Thomas’ mind went to the only thing that could explain what sounded like a full response from the town militia. He was almost certain Brock had his hands full on this one.

“Raiders,” he said to his wife. He jumped from his bed and rushed to grab his rifle, threw on some more combat-appropriate gear, and headed towards the door ready for war. Bradshaw had seen a fair share of raider incursions as of late, but from the sounds of constant gunfire and shouted commands he figured this was a Hell of a lot bigger than the occasional scouting party of Jet-addled meatheads looking for some tiny little shantytown to pillage.

His train of thought was derailed when he heard glass shattering and a scream come from down the hall.

“Tommy!” Beth shrieked and called for Thomas, but as soon as he rounded the corner he saw Beth, collapse against the wall as an arrow flew into her right shoulder. He heard repeated shrikes of “Dad!” as he rounded into his sons room and discovered that, no it wasn’t some drugged up bandits, but something else. Something that sent a chill down his spine and caused his hairs to stand up as he saw the assailants slip out the window with Junior in tow, his screams still resounding in his ears. He took aim and fired at one of the shapes moving into the shadows, and gave chase as he saw it fold on the ground. It’s partner, looking back for only a second, continued running as Thomas gained ground and loaded another round into his rifle.

As he drew closer to the lifeless body on the ground, he saw other corpses littering the streets, but unlike his fresh kill these were men of the town guard, their uniforms marred by arrows, slashes, and stained red with blood and gore. He continued pursuing the stranger carrying his child, but was soon brought to a halt by a sudden sharp pain that shot throughout his body.

He looked down and saw the arrow that had gone straight through his knee, crumpling to the ground and only able to scream his sons’ name as he was carried off into the night.

The Next Morning
Thomas didn’t know the extent of the attack until the next morning. He had seen the bodies of the slain town guard, and he was saddened to learn that Captain Brock Stillman was among the dead. While he never learned the official cause of death, word spread around town that Captain Stillman was discovered in the front door of his own home with the top half of his head cleaved from his body, leaving only a bottom jaw and a flapping tongue, along with a horrified wife who had, as Thomas did, also seen her child carried off into the night by a mysterious force who was only known to the townsfolk by the carcass of a slain attacker shot by Thomas himself.

The corpse was certainly not that of a raider. It was a man, clothed in what appeared to be a makeshift outfit of natural materials, items from the forest, and a mask made of tree bark and deer skin with two eyeholes cut out. He had a reddish beard, and two blue eyes that seemed to stare out into the eternity he was surely facing.

“The f*ck we gonna do? The whole guard is dead, our kids are gone, and the only thing we know about these f*ckers is that they just spent one night wiping the floor with us,” said Sal, the resident complainer-in-chief who always had something to say in any situation. Usually in the bad ones, and never saying anything remotely helpful.

“Sal, just keep your mouth shut for this one, it ain’t the time to be runnin’ yer trap,” said Hezekiah “Hezzie” Bishop, the town store owner and go-between for Bradshaw and the caravans. The meeting in town hall was tense and tempers were running high. Thomas was laid up in the clinic for that nasty arrow wound, but he knew that squabbling wasn’t gonna help him find Junior.

While Thomas laid in recovery and while the townsfolk argued among themselves, in a lonely shack in the woods on the far edge of the town’s boundaries, the lone resident sighs in sorrow at his failure to stop it. He knew what was coming, what the townspeople would do, but they wouldn’t just stay out of the damn woods. Now blood had been spilled. Children snatched from their homes in the night as their families were massacred. He girded his loins for the inevitable conflict that was coming, and he knew which side he would be forced to take.

He recalled the exact thing his mother told him before she passed: “Family is Forever.”

In the Wastes
The town of Bradshaw has issued a distress call to the wastes. Anyone who is able was invited to come and help rid the town of the “infestation” of barbarians in the hills, and any who came to fight would be rewarded with the following:

1.) 20,000 caps without interest.
2.) A plot of land in the township for their use.
3.) Any loot taken from the savages.

Within a small office on a rocking ship, a man wearing a newer New California Republic Naval uniform was typing away on a terminal.

After-action report of NCRS Bear Engagement

During patrol of channel islands outside of Angles Boneyard coastal waters. Weather was beginning to turn to Rough seas with recorded 3.2 meter waves. Overcast skys were keeping visibility to moderate with large radar contact being approached at 0537 on Wednesday morning. Vessel was a Rader vessel known as DEATH band, confirmation by bolth visual confirmation along with increasing power of their radio broadcast. A recovered pre-war container vessel that had been the mobile base and radio station of the same name. The Raider vessel was estimated at 280 meters long with a gross tonnage of 68,000, unknown crew aboard. The vessel had been a continuous operation thanks to modifications, added armor and armament consisting of numerous crew carried small arms and self made heavy weapons.

Considered hostile due to continued actions against civilian targets along the coast and radio broadcast covering numerous crimes and anti-government sentiment, it was under Captain Konall Cullen order to engage the vessel. After an order over radio traffic to have the vessel surrender, the Raiders refused and began opening fire with numerous small arms. Due to the distance between the two vessels at 1.2 km, their fire was not effective. NCRN Bear began engagement with its main armament of two 5” Guns to great effect. Under continuous fire the Raider vessel's upper decks and above deck containers converted to housing was set aflame. While numerous smaller fires and subsequent explosions occurred thanks to said fire spreading through the vessel. Though fire was started and spread after a recorded 23 minutes, Captain Cullen orders were for a torpedo spread to be sent into the DEATH band to ensure the vessels destruction. A full spread of the vessel's three torpedoes were sent into the starboard side of the vessel. Of the three fired, two were confirmed hits alongside the midship and astern of the vessel. After the torpedo hist DEATH band began taking heavy lists to starboard. Lookouts confirmed that fire had taken over their launch deck and had taken out all auxiliary launches or boats the vessels could use. A final armor piercing shot sent by gun #2 into their hull lead to a large detonation of a estimated ammunition or fuel storage at their midships. Leading to the vessel breaking along the keel and it sinking shortly afterwards.

Total engagement time from order of surrender to DEATH band loss:37 Minutes. Total expenditure of munitions were recorded as 37 5” shells, 3 torpedoes, 2 illumination shells, 92 40mm shells. No NCRN casualties with DEATH band assumed sunk with all hands. No continued broadcast of DEATH Radio since the end of engagement.

With much of the NCR civilian population beginning to travel far more along the rebuilt highways and rail systems, newer roads were constantly built to expand over much of Northern and southern california. Outside of the large mountain ranges between california and nevada most of the smaller settlements would now be connected by official roadways instead of random footpaths through the desert. Even the sparsely settled area around the state of Navarro was being built up in hopes that more people would move into the region and begin building up the area. A large extension was also placed upon the built up I-5 that stretched from the Boneyard to Dayglow. Stretching now all the way to the end of Baja State roadways would now connect southern and northern California with roadways. Now with infrastructure spread though the nation more and more investment was heading into smaller businesses and ventures. Nearly a dozen smaller manufacturers and guild houses were popping out through the rural or city outskirts through california. While the massive factory plants that make up the major cities of southern cali, the northern territories were beginning to expand the economy away from just simply agriculture to a more thorough mix of jobs.

Construction:690,000 caps
Roadways built up and expanded(see new map under structure)
12x Small factory-240,000
10x Junkyards-200,000
15x Ranches-150,000
10x Farms-100,000

With much of the California economy being protected by many of the wasteland woes of raiders and mutated creatures. A number of private individuals have finally begun expanding massively into export and manufacturing markets. Established juggernauts like the Gun Runners, Crimson Caravan, and the Van Graffs had established their own large pants for production. Spreading through the west coast easily thanks to their own caravans. While newer faces had begun to supply the growing civilian economy of california. California Motors had found the ford assembly plant to have been such a successful venture into motorisation they had begun to be an official supplier of motor vehicles to most of the civilian population. Being mass-produced cars instead of refurbished patch jobs had begun to spread trucks and cars made by ford, chrysler, kaiser, and many other american car manufacturers onto the market. Graduates of the Angles Medical University had created their own private medical supplier, producing many of the drugs in rare supply for purchase in mass amounts. The Dayglow technical Association founded by a number of salvagers and ghouls had gone even further by being the self proclaimed first electronic company after the war. Refurbishing and reproducing a number of electronics like radio’s, terminals, and civilian robots like protectrons and Mr. Handy’s for personal use. With rumors of markets benign expanded into the old world of europe, hope is that reaching a no doubt new market would allow the NCR bear to finally shake a number of cobwebs and scars of its vast back.

Construction:
17x Rail lines-17,000

Company’s Founded: 1,200,000 caps spent
Gun Runners (Military Industrial Complex)(Small Arms)
California Motors (Mass Production)(Unarmored Vehicles)
Angles Medical Union Supplies( Quality over Quantity) (Drugs, Medicine)
Crimson Caravan (Jack of all Trades) (Small Arms, Armor)
Dayglow Technical Association (Jack of all Trades) (Electronics,NCR Tec level robots)
Van Graffs( Quality over Quantity)(NCR Tec Level energy weapons)

The Arthurian Brotherhood wrote:

General Carl Duval
Panama Canal Zone – Fort Davis
Commanding Officer's Log
08-08-2289

Subject: The Status of Colon

It has now been a week since my arrival to Panama and every day I miss the Alps more and more. This new land is vital to securing regional stability and its strategic significance is invaluable, especially in regard to military affairs and trade. However, between the local insects, the swelting heat, and the non-stop rain I find myself wishing for a blizzard while standing atop the Geneva Wall. Regardless, the Federal Assembly has begun making moves to diversify the garrisons present at the Canal to include those from local factions. Already, Naval Station Rodman has been agreed to be jointly operated with the New California Republic and an NCR garrison is enroute to begin operating out of Fort Amador on the Pacific side of the Canal. That means that I will be overseeing their stay here in Panama. Based on the reports, the NCR seems to be the most well-off faction in the New World that we have encountered. Hopefully their military is in a similar organizational state to their country. It would certainly make my life easier. However, that issue is secondary to the problems we had playing out in Colon.

Originally, the city was scouted out and claimed by the Republic of Texas, however, since we arrived the Swiss Special Forces have been ensuring the city’s protection. With the recent influx of traders and merchants on both sides of the Canal as well as the growth of New Providence, the troops are stretched thin. In the spirit of international cooperation, the Swiss Armed Forces have turned full control and oversight of the city to Texas following several lengthy meetings between city officials, Texan representatives, and myself. I pray to God that I have a break from hearing American Southern accents, keeping up with them is too much. Why do they combine so many words together! English is challenging enough as it is! Regardless of my language issues, the townspeople seem to be taking the change well so far. Red Cross aid is still passing through the town and the Texans have taken up the mantle of the city’s protectors with ‘gusto’? Their word, not mine. On my side of things this solves so many logistical headaches on the Atlantic side and allows me to put more focus on New Providence and dealing with the rising concerns over the mutants and ghouls in Greenburg. Doctor Thoss has requested a meeting with me in regards to the situation. What exactly he is presenting I don’t really know, but I have learned to listen to what the Red Cross suggests. Though, Director Braun does not usually give me the option to ignore her.

Other than our new arrivals and international presence, operations are continuing as normal. Ships arrive on a daily basis, immigrants steadily flow into Lake Gatun, and the 2nd Fleet is busy blowing pirates out of the water. I think the vessel count was up to twenty-two on the scoreboard the men set up in the lobby. They started creating a betting pool out of the killcount. I may need to address that at some point. Then again, it may show how effective our designs are, especially with the Alpine to be stationed here in a few days. Give the design teams back in Genoa something to consider.

I am still adjusting to the position, but I think this will turn out to be quite an interesting post.

tag: Callinoria, Empire Confederation

Texan troops, due to largely bureaucratic reason, have been unable to do much with any claimed and scouted areas. Finally however, motions passed from higher-up that the 8th Company would be moving forward. The city had long since been cleaned, and now they began repopulating. The SS Houston (the one of two commercial ships) is scheduled to return with immigrants and civilian contractors to begin populating the region and getting the area up and running for economic turn.