A/N: This is my second Fallout Fanfic. There will be four chapters, each focusing on a different NCR soldier during the defense of the Mojave and retreat of the NCR .This one is focused around a NCR ranger at Helios One.
I sat on the hot sands of the Mojave Desert just outside Helios One. The solar power plant, once considered unimportant due to its lack of ability produce power for the Republic had become very important now. It was part of the second line of defense for the Mojave. Troopers, Rangers, engineers and civilians milled around looking lost and confused, some were crying, tears falling to a dead earth.
Hell, I was crying, my tears were just barely hidden my aviators, my hat pulled down over my eyes as far as I could get it. The sound of Taps being played by a single horn made look up to the NCR flag waving high above the ground tied to the solar collection tower.
I looked back over the yard of solar panels shining under the hot Mojave sun, a squad of the 1st recon was cleaning their rifles with two of my fellow rangers, their faces covered with dried blood, dirt, and tears. They had lost their Lt at Forlorn Hope when the Legion poured across the Colorado. I had heard that he ordered the rest of the camp to retreat while he climbed to the top of a nearby ridge and stayed till he ran out of ammo and then he charged in the legion with nothing but a 9mm with two magazines and combat knife.
I noticed one of my fellow Rangers in his Black armor, duster torn for Legion bullets and machetes, walking towards me, I stood up and saluted, tears coming from under my sunglasses.
"Ranger, Chief Hanlon wants all of us in the main lobby of the power plant in five mikes."
"Yes sir" That's all I could get out in a weak voice.
"Ranger, stop crying, your among the elite here, if 17 year old kid who's never seen combat above shooting the random rad roach or coyote sees you crying it'll drop morale faster than a month's pay at The Tops" He said to me in a stern yet almost fatherly voice, slightly muffled by his mask.
"I expect to see you there in two mikes ranger, and don't forget your rifle." He said as he turned and left.
I turned and picked my trail carbine up off the ground and headed inside towards the main lobby, following most of the rangers inside to be briefed.
I recognized a few old friends among the thirty or so of us, as we stood waiting of the Chief to appear for somewhere.
A ranger vet standing by the main doors with his helmet off snapped to attention and yelled
"Officer on deck!"
We all snapped into sharp salutes and stood perfectly still as Hanlon walked to the center of the room, a massive revolver strapped to his thigh.
"Rangers, I just received word of some very bad and some good news. We're going to start with the bad news. The Courier is dead."
As soon as those words left his mouth every person in the room went dead silent, you could have heard a pin drop on the beat up old tile floor.
"Also as many of you know we have lost the Dam, along with Camp Golf and Camp Forlorn Hope. Since we have lost Forlorn Hope that means our right Flank is weak. That's where you men come in, there's 35 of you, ten of you are Vet's some of the most elite forces we still have. The rest of you are experienced rangers, you have fought the Legion before, and you know their tactics, strengths and weaknesses. Now there's 35 of you and sixty miles of land that's needs to be patrolled, for some that's impossible, but I think my rangers can do it."
We stood silently waiting for him to finish.
"Well can you god dam it?"
I opened my mouth first "You bet Kimball's useless ass we can"
"Dam good answer ranger, you and the First Recon are covering everything from Novac to a wreaked highwaymen out along 95."
"The First Recon sir?"
"They've requested that they help defend Novac ranger, payment to an old friend. You have a problem with that ranger?"
"No sir"
"Alright then you vets can leave, everybody else stay, I have a present for you."
All ranger vets walked out but the one by the door and two troopers carrying a large crate walked in.
"These came in from the Boneyard yesterday, rangers today is the day you get your black armor and your sequoias."
Every ranger dreamed of getting their Black armor and a sequoia, and know were just handing them to us.
"When I call your name get up here and take your revolver and armor and get ready to be assigned."
The Ranger Vet by the door said as he lifted a clipboard.
"Jackson, Alex"
A young lady stepped forward claimed her weapon and armor and walked out.
It went on like this for twenty minutes.
I was the last one to get my armor.
"Scha- your last one get up here ranger."
I walked to the front of the room, collected my armor and went to a restroom to go change into it.
I slid into the black armor, put on the helmet, slung my rifle across my back and walked back into the yard towards my tent to get my bag. The First Recon was waiting on me to get and ready.
"You the Ranger we've waiting on?" A man with a hunting rifle stood near the entrance to the tent staring me.
"Yes Sir Captain Schaefer of the 12th Ranger battalion."
"Staff Sergeant Bitterroot of the First Recon, acting commander of Hawk 2-1"
"Well then Sergeant let's get moving, we have a town to defend and legion to kill"
A/N: Wow it's been awhile since I've written anything.
As always read and review. And I'm sorry this lacked action this story is going to be more of a before and after the battle rather then blood and screaming.