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What is That Thing They Say About Powder Kegs?...

Ashton, one of the largest settlements in the wasteland that once was Virginia, stands proudly despite the death and despair that surrounds it. The hustle and bustle of the town's large market district filled the town with noise that made it feel more alive than most other places in the waste, the activity not being too uncommon for Ashton. Ashton acted as a sort of hub for the Virginian Wasteland, it's easily accessible location made it a mandatory stop for anyone traveling around the wastes and the protection provided by the Trade Union's army makes any pack of raiders think twice before attempting to attack the prosperous settlement.

Situated safely in the center of Ashton sits the seat of the Trade Union's Government, the Hall of the Union. Before the rise of Abraham Gray it served as the home and workplace of the Ashton mayor and other important local positions but has since been reserved for the Trade Union's officials only. Inside sat an aging man behind an old oak desk, various papers and folders littering the top of the desk. The man was around his forties, his head and face were adorned with jet black hair that had begun to grey due to both age and stress, he wore a crumpled old suit that had obviously seen better days, and a large scar trailed down his face through his left eye rendering it useless.

This was no ordinary man but rather President Harrison 'Gravedigger' Gray, the leader of the Trade Union and its people, he took his time as he read through the papers his Council had already approved before signing a couple and throwing away a couple more. As the President of the Trade Union there were plenty of trade agreements that crossed his desk, some reasonable and others completely insane, and he had to look over each and everyone. Even though he could delegate this tedious work to a subordinate he didn't quite trust anyone enough to properly do so, after a few minutes he set his pen down as he sits back slightly in his chair. After a moment of silence a knock on his office door breaks the moment of calm, with a sigh Harrison calls the person in.

A young man, in his early to mid twenties, walks in before nodding his head towards the President. This young man was no other than Vice President Marshall Gray, the President's son and right hand man. Harrison looks at his son for a moment before returning the nod, "So, watcha doin' here son?" The President asks in a gruff voice and his southern accent being made clear, "Need somethin'? Is that Todd fella givin' ya trouble again? I swear-" The President asked before getting cut off by Marshall, "Uh, no pa… Todd has been pretty docile as of late." Marshall started, his voice noticeably softer than his father's and lacking the southern accent, "The Council has been getting pretty antsy lately, asking me to speak to you. They're worried about your latest speech and the implications of it…" The speech Marshall was referring to was when Harrison implied that he would expand the Trade Union's borders, the Council of the Union was obviously worried about this.

After Marshall went quiet Harrison took a moment to answer, pulling a cigarette from his jacket pocket, "Ah, that's why ya here. Well don't cha worry my boy, everything I do is for the Union and all that sh*t." Harrison said as he waved his hand carelessly, "Now tell those damn Council boys to calm the hell down or I'll find people who can, got it?" Harrison demanded as Marshall nodded before saluting and leaving the office without another word, Harrison let another sigh escape his lips as he finally lit the cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. After taking a quick puff Harrison walked over to the small window in his office and looked down at the streets below as various people of various ethnicities walked about and did their business. His father built the foundations of the Trade Union but he would be the one to truly make the Union great, a force to be reckoned with. With that thought Harrison went back to his desk to finish his paperwork, he had troops to organize as soon as possible after all...