Post

Lengo wrote:

"This is Sunnyvale. We are under chemical attack, I repeat, we are under chemical attack. Some form of gas has exploded out the Follower's compound and anyone within a few feet of the building is dead. We are trying *cough cough* to evacuate the area. We can't keep order, my men are either dead or dying, the whole town is falling ill and dying within hours. There's something wrong with our medical supp- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?! *erratic gunshots, civilians screaming* ARGHHH!"

Advisor: Mr. President, as far as we are aware this incident so far is isolated, convoys heading to San Fran from Sunnyvale have been stopped and their supplies disposed of. The army has taken control of the Followers distribution cent-

"THIS IS MAXSON!!"

Advisor: Maxson, we are aware of the supply contamination and fresh supplies are being couriered to military bases.

"OUR SUPPLIES ARE FINE.*gunshots and rapid laser fire* WE'RE UNDER ATTACK BY BROTHERHOOD FORCES!!"

Advisor: Maxson, what Brotherhood forces?

"ALL BROTHERHOOD GROUNDFORCES!!"

"This is Sergeant Peters of the Sunnyvale Garrison, the Brotherhood of Steel is attacking from the south, I re-*cough cough* repeat, the Brotherhood of the Steel are attacking from the south! Our garrison leader is dead, several creatures in hazmat suits have been sighted attacking civilians near our positions at the Town Hall and there's only a couple dozen of our men lef-*Fatman explosion, radio silence*

Advisor: The explosion at Sunnyvale and the supply contaminations were meant to cripple our defensives in preparation for a Brotherhood assault. Mr. President, we need to organize our military response to their offensive immediately.

"THIS IS MAXSON, WE'VE LOST CONTACT WITH THE NATIONALIST PARTY HQ!!"

Hsu: Delta Team, do you copy?!

Delta Team: Loud and clear, Mr. President.

Hsu: You are being assigned to Maxson to rescue a VIP.

Delta Team: Who, Mr. President?

The Vice President.

Thomas Edwin had been awoken in the night, gunfire, chaos, an explosion somewhere on the other side of Sunnydale. The sky was becoming a rusted red color, the smoke leaking from what he presumed was the Follower's Base looked different from anything he had ever seen. He could make out bodies lined up across the front of the Base, NCR soldiers dropping dead where they stood. Thomas would certainly never again complain about having to book a hotel on the opposite end of the city again. He hoped Dean made it to Maxson before the explosion otherwise he'd most certainly be dead. Thomas immediately started getting dressed, he eventually had to choose between his Follower Labcoat and his old NCR Ranger armor.

Thomas left his room with his rucksack filled to the brim but still relatively lightweight. The other residents had fled the Hotel, doors left half open and even a couple of smashed windows. Thomas was about to turn and leave when he felt a voice calling him from the room he just passed on his way to the stairs. He retraced his steps and found a young woman stood by a window, calling him over. He hesitantly walked over to her. "You're that Follower, right? Science guys?" she said, with a slight whisper, as if she was asking a forbidden question. Thomas begun to recognize her from earlier in the hotel lobby.

"Yes, I am. Thomas Edwin. Miss Maguire, is it?"

"Eve Maguire, yeah. Saw you in the lobby saying goodbye to that Mr. muscle man. I'm getting a terrible feeling you know even less about what's going on then I do?" She said with genuine concern, absentmindedly grinding the butt of her exhausted cigarette against the window frame.

"Something's blown at the Follower's base. The sky looks like its decaying. We better get out of here. Why are you even still herE?"

Eve looked as though she took offense to this, although partially exaggerated. "Bodies are piling up in the streets, and there's more gunfire then I've ever heard at once before. Apologies for not running out into the meat grinder..."

Suddenly, the increasingly loud laser fire registered in both their minds. Thomas turned to the window, slowly pulling the revolver from his ranger jacket pocket. "Quick with the gun there for a Follower." Eve whispered from the opposite side of the window frame, leaning her leftside against the wall. "That armor too, I'd say you're more of a Ranger" she added. Thomas ignored her, concentrating more on the metal figures, descending down the street, laser rifles in hand. He recognized them immediately, he felt he was back in Northern California, the day the Brotherhood stole the NCR gold reserves, the first time he saw power armor. The first time he saw Them.

"You alright there, Thomas? You're sweating a little..."

"I've seen them before. It's the Brotherhood of Steel."

Eve laughed a little before she the serious fear in Thomas' eyes. She tried to calm him down a little, placing a hand on his forearm. "It cant't be the Brotherhood, silly. They're basically extinct. You guys blow their bases to smithereens!"

Thomas turned to look her dead in the eyes, the bright beams from uncomfortably laser shots reflecting on the window, masking her entire right side in bright red for just a second. Thomas took her hand and half dragged her out the room.

"We have to leave. Right now!"