Chapter one : Forgotten Force
Dry. that was the only word that could describe how he felt. His life and everything else in this forsaken land was dry. He looked out the window to see the destroyed landscape, well light by the strong sun overhead, before him. It was once a mighty city, he told himself, but the city of El Paso that was before him was a skeleton of its former glory, a sad reminder of what had become of them, the Enclave, and the rest of the world. He was not alive when they were in their glory days but he heard a lot about it from so of the old timers. The Enclave, was the force that would fix this broken world, but the repeated defeats of the Enclave on all fronts put and end to them.
"You should be eating not daydreaming, Captain" First Lieutenant Loset sat across from him with a concerned face.
"Not really hungry, and it taste dry" Dry, yes Dry. he could not escape it the feeling was always around him, as if it was trying to kill him.
"Dry or not you need to eat, you were up almost all night and we have a long day today"
"A long day of nothing for my night of wasted work" he replied he had stayed up all night coming up with plans to he solve the problems they had. "The Major wont even listen to half of the plans i came up with, I don't even know why i bother." The issues that were before them were numerous and deadly. The reactor needed parts replaced, the water filter system is barely holding on, pest keep killing crops in the farm, and most dangerous of them all were slowly dying out. This outpost once held 70 strong, now there is barely 40 of us left. Every generation there are fewer of us to carry on the duties left to us. Even though there is less of us we can barely maintain our numbers, and our supplies are dwindling. To the point where even if a child was born we would not have the means to keep it alive. We are dying.
"He does listen you have to be patient the major has a lot on his plate. He won't be able to make a decision immediately, give it time he will like one of ideas." Loset was trying to reassure him that things would work out. He did not agree, we have been waiting out here for a long time and things only get worse the more time passes. But he knew that there was no point in wasting his breath, arguing with her would not help anyone so he simply nodded and shoved some food in his mouth. They ate in silence.
When the two finished they headed back to the conference room. "Captain Carter, First lieutenant Loset reporting to Major Dean" Carter announced their arrival. Major Dean looked to the pair.
"Come on in have a seat" after addressing them he motions to the others that were present with them to get ready. First Sergeant White and Doctor Sarah Dean, the Major's daughter, were with them this morning while discussing the state that they were in. All stayed silent, waiting for the major to speak first. The major cleared his throat and stood up. The major was getting old Carter analized, he is moving more slowly and resting for longer and longer periods. He is well into his fifties, the once seasoned soldier was now an old bag of bones trying its best to stay together. He will retire soon Carter thought, and then i will be the one that leads us. I just hopes there is still time by then.
" Let us continue to discuss a course of action that will fix the problems we are facing." Major Dean stated in solemn voice" Now if anyone has any good ideas i want to hear them now"
He was staring at Carter as he said this, as if to say that he had to be the one to solve all their problems. Funny thing is that he had, Carter had spent multiple night racking his brain on ways to fix one problem or another and had several viable and legitimate solutions, or so he thought. Carter stood up never breaking eye contact with the major.
"I'm going to restate my earlier plan of recruiting outside forces to bolster our…" before he could finish Major Dean interrupted him.
"We have already gone over this one it will not work. The savages out there can barely speak let alone be useful. And attacking and conquering the nearby settlements won't fix any of our problems. it only make us a target and make us more enemies." Before he could go on Carter interrupted him.
"Sir, if increases our numbers we will be able to stand up to any force that comes our way. Furthermore we will be able to send groups out to gather vital materials and supplies. ANd that also means we will be able to sustain a larger force."
"Silence Carter I will not go over this the savages out there cannot be used your plan will not work moving on to"
"Why can't they be used. If they're stupid that's better it will make them easy to control."
" They are stupid and cannot be trusted, furthermore they will never amount to anything but a group of useless scavengers."
" then why did we lose to the NCR, a group of useless savages beat us to a pulp, and made us run with our tail between our legs. We are the only ones left"
"Shut your mouth" This time first sergeant White butted in. "The NCR a ungrateful savages that stole our glory from us with the help of those Brotherhood Bastards"
"My point is we need a large army and we need to do it now we don't have much time." Carter turned to Sarah " Doctor how long do we have befor the current population is no longer able to support itself?" He know the answer in fact she had stated it at the beginning of the meeting as the reason it was even happening at all in the first place.
"Little less than ten years, fifteen is more likely if we go on an even more strict rationing plan."
"We are dying and i have a way for us to get out of this hole we are in"
"Enough, Carter leave us now." Major Dean looked very tired as if talking was wearing him out.
"Yes, Sir" Carter was furious but he knew he was not going to get any where with this old man today. The room was quiet as Carter slowly walked out of the room. Major Dean took a few minutes to compose himself before continuing the meeting, Loset proposed they send someone to scout the nearby areas for people of talent or valuables. First Sergeant White proposed moving the group somewhere else more hospitable. In the end no clear conclusion was made and the day concluded with no plan of action in sight.