2282
Capital Wastes
A searing pain went through the leg of Cassandra, the Lone Wanderer, as the deathclaw sunk its jowls into the closest limb it could find. As an instinct, Cassie slammed the butt of her assault rifle into the creature's skull, causing a pool of oozing crimson blood to drip onto the ancient sidewalk of Old Olney. By her side, Fawkes the supermutant and Dogmeat attacked the beast. Fawkes was able to terminate the deathclaw with a round of fire from his Gatling Laser. "Thanks," murmured Cassie as she injected a stimpak into the torn and bloody wound.
"I think," grunted Fawkes, "that we must find something better to do than wander around the Capital Wastes looking for trouble."
"Mmmm, I am not too keen on going to the Pitt again." The Savior of the Wastes recalled the first and last time she visited the dangerous hell hole.
"Maybe we should catch up with the Brotherhood."
Cassie was an honorary paladin for the Brotherhood of Steel, an organization devoted to its pre-war technology and protecting the suffering people in the Wastes. She was especially close to Sentinel Sara Lyons, the daughter of the Elder of the D.C. chapter. Together, they had gone into the Jefferson Memorial and risked their lives to start Project Purity. They were inseparable friends; not bad considering their first encounter in the downtown D.C. ruins. She had even given Cassie her beloved Fat Man.
In no time at all, the trio travelled to the Citadel and were met by a hundred paladins by the entrance.
"At last," Paladin Tristan said to Cass, "We received a message from the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood."
"So this is what the big hoo hah is about," replied Fawkes.
"Shut the hell up, mutie!" shouted a nearby initiate. "See, this is why we have to kill all supermutants. Who can trust one?"
Gunny walked over and smacked the jeering boy across the ear. "You shut the hell up, Rooney. Fawkes here is a regular Paladin as well as Cassandra."
"Yes," said Tristan finally to Fawkes. "This message was received last week, but the static was so atrocious that it was only until now that we could make out anything."
"Hey, hero, my father wants to talk to you," Sara strolled through the line of BoS soldiers. "Come with me."
They (meaning Rothchild and Elder Lyons) were sitting on Rothchild's bed. As the Lone Wanderer walked in Rothchild tried to smile, but there was a look of agony. Elder Lyons only nodded.
"As you are probably already aware," said the scribe, "we have finally deciphered the cryptic, barely coherent message sent by the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel. The chapter possessed a base at Helios One for countless years. Not long ago, a faction known as the New California Republic, or NCR, overran the defenses of our Brothers and took possession of the stronghold. There was a complete massacre. According to this message," he gestured to a holotape held in the hands of Scribe Peabody, "two-thirds of the BoS in the Mojave were killed. They have since been hiding in a hidden bunker. This message was sent shortly after moving to Hidden Valley. A strange courier was able to settle the feud between the NCR and the BoS, and the bunker is no longer in lockdown. They have asked every faction of our Brotherhood to send recruits over to the Mojave Desert to help get the Mojave Brotherhood on their feet again."
"A courier?" asked Cassie, cocking a black eyebrow.
"Yeah," said Sara Lyons. "The holotape goes on about 'em. Said he was some sort of hero to the Wastes. Remind you of someone?"
Cassie smirked and rolled her eyes. Rothchild continued, "We have tried to contact the West Coast Brotherhood, asking if they too have received this message. No replies yet."
Elder Lyons stood up and dusted himself, "You see, Cassandra, we think that it would be a good plan to send you, Star Paladin Cross, Sara, and Durga in the Vertibird out to the Mojave. We will supply you with everything."
"But what about us?" whined Fawkes. Dogmeat, seeming to understand the situation, burrowed his scrawny head into his black paws.
"Fawkes, you are a beloved affiliate of the Brotherhood," said Sara putting an arm around the mutated warrior. "This is why we have a special plan for you and Dogmeat. Instead of going to Hidden Valley, we need you in the downtown ruins cleaning up a glowing one infestation in one of the tunnels."
Fawkes scratched his head sadly and grunted, "Well, I guess it's still better than hunting deathclaws."