War... War never changes.

When nuclear hellfire rained across the world, untold billions perished as a result of the bitter struggle over the last drops of oil. Many were instantly vaporized, perhaps a preferable end as those who withstood the blast either died a painful and drawnout death from radiation of became reminiscent of the walking corpses from hollywood movies. What was left of humanity lived on in specialized underground habitats that were marketed before the apocalypse to be safe havens. In actuality, they were cruel social experimention facilities designed to subjugate its inhabitants to the stresses of isolation for the actual beneficiaries of the whole ordeal: The Enclave. The Enclave decided that the apocalypse was inevitable and embraced the idea that if they, the important people of the time, survived, then so to would America. The deaths and torment of the test subjects would be a neccessary sacrifice for the future of democracy. However, though The Enclave did expect the irrelevent masses to not take kindly to this, they did not take into account the possibilty of them being able to fight back. As their main headquarters on the east coast was destroyed by an individual known only in NCR records as "The Chosen One", a majority of the survivors headed east to regroup and recover in the nation's old capital.

The Brotherhood of Steel, a heavily-armed technology hoarding knightly order descended from pre-war military, had also sent a party to the capital. The reasoning behind this being that the place, as the former capital of a nation that waged and won many wars since its conception through technological might, must have some powerful and arcane weapons, armor, and other military goodies to reclaim, restore, and protect from the unintelligent and undeserving savages of the wasteland. Unfortunately, (in the eyes of the High Elders of the West Coast Brotherhood) the Elder in charge of this expedition, Owyn Lyons, had taken a liking to the savages inhabiting the Capital Wasteland and changed the mission to fighting raiders and slavers, eradicating the Supermutant scourge, and improving the life of the average wastelander through the supply of pure water. He had also began recruiting from the local population, not by requiring them to preform some great act of service beforehand but by accepting and immediately training anyone with the eagerness to bring peace to the land and the skills to help contribute to it. Believing Lyons to be a traitor, the West Coast cut off supplies and communications to the Capital. The Mutants were killed, the raiders and slavers were eradicated, Talon Company was driven out, many damsels were saved, and The Enclave was discovered and defeated once again.

This happy ending was not to last as Owyn Lyons died of natural causes. His daughter and successor, Sarah Lyons, was KIA soon afterwards. A series of ineffectual elders later, and the leadership role fell into the hands of a 16-year-old Arthur Maxson. Arthur the last descendant of the fabled Roger Maxson, the original founder and leader of the Brotherhood. He proved his worth quickly as he was an exceptionnal warrior and diplomat. His first achievements were defeating the Supermutant leader Sheperd, and brokering a peace between the Brotherhood Outcasts and brought them back into the fold. His most notable achievements were abandoning Lyon's mission of nation-building and civilian protection to focus more on threats like the mysterious Institute reported to be north in The Commonwealth. Thus the people of the wasteland had been left to fend for themselves once again. Many were less than displeased by this, and not all of them were just average wastelanders.

As there were paladins, knights, and scribes that disliked Elder Lyons' decision to reach out to the people of the wasteland. There where those who genuinely approved of protecting the innocent and were vocal about the decision to leave to fate. These members however, were a small minority and were only taken seriously when they decided to start disobeying orders and abandoning their posts to safeguard people in need. Arthur Maxson was in a predicament about this. He knew that the soldiers just wanted to do what was right and save the wasteland, just as he was raised to do under Lyons leadership. However, he believed that the best way was to seekout and destroy threats before they make themselves known rather than dealing with them as they come. If he simply regulated them to menial tasks they would just sneak off to play the hero, and if he kept them in the brig it would be a waste of their skills. What was also problematic was that the rest of the chapter have began to idolize Arthur, some to the point of worship, and the threat of "friendly fire", "misfires", or other weapon-handling related "accidents" happening to the insubordinates grew with each day.

Thus Elder Maxson decided that the best course of action was to exile the upstarts on the condition that they can return if they scout out the remains of the East Central, Texas, Gulf, and South East Commonwealths in that order and see if they can re-establish connection with the Chapters that where sent to the areas. If they succeded, then they would have knowledge of what would await them after they've dealt with the Institute and the experiance should expose the horrors of the wasteland to the exiles and make them more subordinate to the codex and his command. If they fail, it would just confirm the dangers the places held and strengthen resolve to eliminate any and all threats to humanity they can find.

These Exiles went off to prove their worth to the brotherhood and the strength of their convictions. They have no idea of the battles to come and the events to transpire. In their quest, they will determine the fates of countless people and multiple factions in the wastelands. For in this world, blood will be spilled, lives would be lost, dreams will disappear or be realized, and war... war never changes...