Sentinel Adam Taurus

Sanctuary Hills

2287, November 14

Maxson was to his immediate right to his left Piper as they walked in silence. Adam's power armor foot falls where heavy. Each step a pounding on the road as he walked passed the settlers, Preston had gathered quite a number of minutemen as he was by the bridge leading to Vault 111. In his power armor he was very light. He bared the pain to look down Shaun even at this age he looked so much like him. I'm so sorry Nora, Adam thought with a heavy heart. His heavy armor, clanked on the metal floor of the Vault-Tech elevator to enter Vault 111.

"You don't have to come with me" Adam said. Piper looked a little nervous before glancing at Elder Maxson.

"I owe you this much Soldier…lets finish this" he glanced behind him a few more knights had followed who nodded. The minutemen in their best uniforms themselves nodded to the knights, something was going on but Adam couldn't think of anything at this moment. He needed to finish it, his time was at an end here. The Commonwealth held too many memories now, he needed a change of scenery after everything he had been put through. The pre-recorded voice welcomed him and the three walked up to enter the vault proper. The old metal stairs groaned under his power armor as he walked up to enter the place where he was frozen for 260 years. He ignored the dead people he had once called neighbors the final steps to his cryo pod felt heavy much more than the last few times he there. Maxson didn't speak as Adam lowered his stance and the Elder helped him remove his helmet. Piper kept a bit of distance looking down her arms behind her.

Closing his eyes Adam sighed and nodded to Maxson, who hit the release and the cryo pod opened and awaited for a new body to hold. Adam looked frozen for a moment, Wait for me I will see you and Nora soon enough again. He gingerly placed Shaun's body into the pod and gently crossed his arms like one would do in a coffin.

"I'm so sorry Shaun, I'm sorry I wasn't able to watch you grow…I couldn't save mother…I couldn't stop the Institute from turning you into a monster" he squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep from crying. Anchorage was so much easier he really wanted to be a dad. Adam really wanted to go to the park with Nora and Shaun…before the world ended.

"I'm going now Shaun…dad…dad has to work, The Brotherhood wants to save the world and well…I'm pretty damn good at shooting people. I made a living of it before…this" the sound of metal groaning replaced his words as he tighten his fist. After a brief moment of silence Adam straighten himself and nodded to Maxson who closed the door. The voice from the pot informed him of the pod restarting and the body was instantly preserved.

"Elder" Adam said helmet tucked under his arm Maxson turned to him.

"Yes soldier?" he asked his voice betrayed no emotion, a rarity when the young man always spoke with a passion and reverence to his beliefs.

"If I fall in battle, if you can recover my body…would you ask Proctor

Ingram to put me in one next to my wife" Maxson nodded and handed him his helmet back.

"You have my word soldier" he knew Maxson enough that he would have offered his hand but it would feel awkward with the massive hand of the power armor and his smaller hand. Maxson returned his helmet and they exited the Vault. On exit he found a clean line of knights to his right and on his left the minutemen. Preston stood rigid and called out.

"Attention!" heels clicked metal and boots alike.

"Present honors!" the metal fist of power armor hit the knight's chest and the minutemen offered a military salute. They set this up behind my back Adam couldn't help it that old soldier in him awakened and the pride he felt on the two groups he belonged to filled his chest. This was a sorrowful day for Adam but as he looked on the minutemen and the Brotherhood of Steel stand as allies before him. Adam grinned under the helmet and walked between them.

"Sentinel after you are done with your business here I expect you to return to the Prydwen, I have something to discuss with you and my senior staff" Maxson said.

"Any sneak preview sir?" the grief would always be there, but he was a soldier he knew how to deal with it, how to put it aside and do his job.

"War, we are going to war" was the only answer Maxson could offer. Two Vertibirds to take him and his men back to the Boston Airport.

"I will return to the Prydwen, as soon as I finish off my business here sir. I owe this settlement and the Minutemen that much" Maxson stood at the edge of the Veritbird as he saluted Adam fist across his chest and firm nod. Adam's fist clanked against his armors chest as he returned the salute. The Vertibirds flew away and the minutemen filed behind him as he returned to Sanctuary. The minutemen assembled before his home, Adam placed his armor on its holder and rolled his shoulders and neck. His neck was stiff after being in that damn thing for hours. He was still in that general's uniform he relieved from the former General. From his coat pocket he retrieved his Generals hat and smoothed down his warriors cut putting the hat on. Hands behind his back he walked before the gathered minutemen, Preston waiting next to him patiently. When he stood before them Preston updated him on the situation with the Brotherhood.

"Like you wanted I worked out an agreement with Paladin Dense to form an alliance" said Preston.

"We provide artillery support, and scouting that would normally take Veritbirds from more pressing matters" Preston waved his hand out dismissively.

"If we find any super mutant strongholds or Gunners dug in tight, we call in the Calvary and the Brotherhood fly us, power armored knights" grinned Prescot.

"That's good, well lets address the men" Adam patted Preston's arm and turned to look at the gathered men before him.

"Minutemen! I stand before you a proud man to have served with you all" Adam started he looked left and right the assembled Minutemen looked ecstatic to hear him.

"So it is with great pride that I say you are the guardians of the Commonwealth, the Brotherhood may help and destroy the Institute, but it is up to you build a new Commonwealth, a new hope for the people. So make me proud and continue to defend the Commonwealth and remember freedom for the people by the people!" Hancock won't mind I think he grinned in his head as the Minutemen all cheered in agreement.

"Preston have Castle call me a Vertibird from the Brotherhood, we will speak before I leave" Preston looked pensive but nodded none the less.

"You got it General" he saluted him and walked off the Minutemen disassembled to return to their duties and some make the track back to their homes. Adam entered his home closing the door behind him to find Codsworth working on something. Piper as expected was waiting for him

"Ah Sir! Welcome home shall I prepare dinner? I found some Saulsberry stake you might find appealing" his robotic butler asked.

"No thanks Codsworth, but can you go check on the crops? I need a moment with Piper" Adam said taking off his hat and dusting himself off with it.

"Piper…about what I said inside the Vault" he began.

"No, its fine blue I mean she was as much a big a part of you as…your son" Piper smiled with no mal contempt.

"Thank you…I" he tried to say it, to say he loved her and he meant it as well, but he couldn't he felt it would only make things harder.

"I know blue, me too" she stood and he kissed her squeezing her as close as he could. As he kissed her she giggled and parted laughing.

"Jeez…shave that thing will you? You're starting to look Like Maxson with that haircut too" she laughed.

"Hey! It's a warriors Mohawk" he grinned.

"Pfft great now you have the Brotherhoods bad taste in fashion too, lucky me" she drawled grinning.

"Hilarious Piper" he rolled his eyes as they parted. They were silent for a moment before he sighed.

"Piper also what I said, I need to get out of the Commonwealth for a while…too many…ghost" he never was that great at expressing his feelings. Nora was patient however and she helped him be better at it but, now he wasn't sure. Adam felt he might be reverting into the old soldier to cope, it was the best way he knew how to deal with grief. He lost plenty of soldiers in Anchorage and the grief was sometimes overwhelming, but he learnt to deal with it. Keeping busy and having something to do always helped and in the Prydwen where he was a soldier, he would have plenty to keep him busy.

"I…I understand blue you went through a lot" she stroked his bearded chin. He leaned into the touch, the guilt he once felt when he had started to grow closer to Piper was thankfully no longer there. Nora would have wanted him to move on, he knew her well enough for that. So he took her hand into his gloved one and gave it a kiss.

"Thank you, I know not's fair to you…so If you ever feel the need to just move on okay?" he threw it out and Piper blinked before grinning in her usual cocky manner.

"Hell blue I think you were the only one crazy enough to put with me" he laughed shaking his head.

"Fair enough…but still Piper" he started

"Oh just hush and come on…this couch won't get messy itself…or well, you know more than it already is" he chuckled and as he felt her unbuckle the chest plate under his duster coat. An hour later he put on his hat and turned to see Piper pull on her black shirt on. She grinned and winked at him, as he came up behind her and kissed her cheek.

"You know, if you leave no private time….if you cheat on me" she said and smirked making scissors with her fingers.

"Hah, as much as a celebrity as I am in the brotherhood, I rather not risk your wrath, I've seen what you can do with a laser rifle" he chuckled.

"You better…now go before I make a scene and" she was cut off as his gloved hand wiped a stray tear from her eye.

"I won't forget about you, I will clear my head and after I'm done helping Maxson, I'm going to station myself here…we can build a life me you, and Nat the little devil" he chuckled.

"Yeah she's too much like me" Piper laughed thinking of her sister. Especially after that story of her head-butting that kid that tried to kiss her. A knock distracted their attentions and Preston's voice reached his hears.

"General Vertibird is on its way Dense himself is on it" Preston advised.

"Right on my way" he knew Piper wasn't for too much mush, neither was he. Nora liked it when I tried to be romantic he shook his head, that was then and Piper wasn't Nora. The engines of the
Vertibird were now with in hearing distance. So without wasting more time he and Piper exited going their separate ways.

"Preston…you're in charge until I get back so do me proud Colonel" Adam saluted Preston and the Minutemen Colonel returned it with a bittersweet smile.

"I will hold down the Fort General" Preston said and walked on. Adam turned as the Vertibird landed blowing up air. Adam held his hat down and was about to walk to the Vertibird before he stopped, turning back to him Adam grinned and took his hat. He would not lie that he became pretty damn attached to the hat. So with smirk he threw the hat to Preston who caught it.

"Adam" he said his name bewildered. "I...can't really" he started.

"You can and will Colonel, I need you to guard the Commonwealth for me, now then until we meet again my friend" Preston clutched the hat with a sense of pride and snapped to attention saluting
Adam until he reached the Vertibird and flew off.

"You have done well Sentinel" Dense said.

"Thanks Sir, it was thanks to you that I stand here today" Adam meant it Dense shook his head.

"No, I merely opened the door for you Sentinel, and I should be calling you Sir you outrank me now" Dense quirked his lips upward.

"Hah you're right about that Danse…all the same thank you" no hand shanking for them, not for brothers both of them fist across chest saluted each other.

"So anything you can tell me on Maxsons meeting?" asked Adam, curiosity was eating at him, they just went to war with the Institute what other war could Maxson want to wage? He couldn't really think of anything he was still new to the wasteland after all.

"I'm afraid I'm on the dark of his plans, however if I know Arthur he has another noble cause to take up." he wouldn't say he completely agreed with Maxsons views, synths weren't all that bad. However the Institute creating more would have been a massive mistake. They didn't need another problem, the Wasteland had enough problems without a Synth uprising.

The Prydwen

Above Boston Airport

2287, November 14

"Well we will find out soon enough I guess" mumbled Adam as they approached the flying Airhsip. The Prydwen even after seeing it countless times he found it to be an amazing sight to behold. My new home he thought with a warm feeling to his chest. He had made Sanctuary as close to home as possible during his quest. Now the prospect of making the Airship his home appealed to him, a home that would take him from this place that held too much pain for him to deal with at the moment. Bracing Adam felt the Vertibrid buckled as it docked. The two brotherhood men stepped onto the Lower deck Captain Kells was already at the end of the catwalk to greet them.

"Paladin Dense Sentinel Adams, welcome back Elder Maxson is about to begin to address the whole of the Brotherhood" Adam nodded and saluted Captain Kells fist across his chest. His coat bellowed out as he followed Captain Kells into the Command deck. Entering Maxson was before his assembled senior staff.

"Brotherhood of Steel! You have all performed admirably, our battle with the Institute will be remembered in the Commonwealth and be retold in the Citidale for generations. The scribes will document the bravery of our brothers and sisters, those who won us the war and those who died in the line of duty" Maxson speech as expected whipped everyone into reverence. He had a talent for public speaking I'll give him that Adam thought crossing his arms as he listened.

"However our victory here and the success in which the Commonweatlh is already spreading in brought to me the attention of a cause greater than we could ever imagine" Maxson brought his fist out and opened it motioning to Adam.

"As we expand and humanity continues to tame and resettle the wasteland we are under a very pressing matter that will continue to plague us" Maxson closed his eyes and closed his fist as if grasping for something.

"Power…electricity, even in the capital Wasteland this problem has not been solved to its fullest. A problem I wish rectify." That's a better goal I don't fighting for. Adam felt a smile tug at his lips, he could bring light to Sanctuary in a more permanent manner.

"Years ago our Brothers in the West went to war with the NCR where they defeated them and captured the Solar Power Station Hellios-one. With that power Station the NCR can power everything west of the Colorado River." Maxson moved to the left and right with a passion, so much so the gathered staff began to nod and practically bounce in place.

"The NCR then had the audacity to capture a prewar Dam that could power the entire East of the Wasteland. As we speak they hold this Dam from another enemy of mankind that seeks to bring an age of slavery and barbarism" Aam was now lost, the NCR? And slavers?

"The man calling himself Caesar and his legion is waging a war as we speak agains the NCR. He wishes to take the Dam for himself and power his delusion to build an empire. He has enslaved and murdered his way to the Dam and are currently at a stalemate with the NCR. It is my hope that you will join me again as we March and attack Caesar from behind, with our numbers and technology we can cut a swath through the Leigon and reach the Dam. Our only real trouble will be dealing with the NCR Caesar has numbers but his tech is very low, we can overwhelmed them with power…and with Liberty Prime operational we can take that Dam and hold it from the NCR and their superior numbers." Maxson nodded slammed his fist into his open palm.

"Now brothers who is with me! Who wants to go down in history as the saviors of the East!"

"For Elder Maxson!" Captain Kells proclaimed.

"For the Citidale!" Dense next to Adam proclaimed. Snapping to attention Adam threw his fist across his chest and announced.

"For the Brotherhood of Steel!" Adam proclaimed with a sense of pride and bubbling feeling Maxson's speech instill in him a sense of purpose. After his proclamation all the present members saluted as well and proclaimed the brotherhoods words of pride.

"Ad Victoriam!" the room and the rest of the Prydwen all proclaimed with vigor.

"Good! Everyone return to their duties, we make preparations to return to the Citidale to rearm and begin our quest West" The gathered crowd dissipated and Captain Kells nodded to him and Danse before leaving.

"Well I figured you would be leaving with the Prydwen instead of remaining stationed here, so here" Adam looked confused as Danse handed him some keys.

"I talked to Maxson earlier my private quarters are yours until you return" Adam was about to protest about it but Danse would have none of it.

"No complains soldier, you're a Sentinel and you should rest there instead of the main deck where most of the men sleep" Danse insisted. Adam knew the Paladin to be too stubborn to argue this.

"Alright, thank you my friend" Adam smiled banged his fist on Danse chest plate.

"Well looks like I will be seeing you then sir" Danse nodded and left to return to Boston Airport. Danse would be left in charge of the Garrison in the Commonwealth. Hunt down left over synth, and muties to cleanse the Commonwealth. The rest of the day was spent on the Prydwen arranging for his power armor to be retrieved from Sanctuary Hills and sent here, then off course beginning preparations to leave the commonwealth. The Minutemen and the little farms the Brotherhood took 'donations' from the little farms they controlled gave them enough supplies to add to their stores and fly to the Capital Wasteland.

Inside Paladin Danse room, or rather now his room. He placed his duster coat and armor inside his footlocker. At the bedside table he placed his gloves and put down his pit boy on, he sat hunched over with a cigar on his mouth. He didn't like smoking and certainly didn't care for it still but, today he found an odd comfort in the cigar. Taking a puff of it he exhailed a long puff and rubbed his face looking to his left where they left him a new uniform with his very own flight jacket. Always wanted one of those, damn Teagan wouldn't sell me one he grinned weakly. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a holotape, Codsworth said Nora left it for him. He never listened to it. He had tried the moment Codsworth gave him the tape but, he couldn't he was so afraid of its contents that he couldn't bring himself to listen to it. Now he had to he needed closure and listening to the tape would be the final memorial to his lost family, taken by cruel fate. He picked up his pit-boy and placed the holo-tape inside the slot and hovered over the play button. With a deep intake of breath, he exhaled and played it some static played and his heart shattered at the sound of baby Sahun giggling and his laughing wife's voice played. He put the cigar out and placed his hands on his face.

"Oopsie. Ha ha ha. No, no, no. Little fingers away. There we go. Just say it. Right there. Right there. Go ahead" Nora started and Shaun giggled happily and he could practically picture her tickling Shaun's stomach as he giggled happily.

"Ha ha! Yay! Hi honey! Listen" Nora tried this time with Shaun still excitedly wriggiling around no doubt.

"I don't think Shaun and I need to tell you how great of a father you are... but we're going to anyway. You are kind, and loving," Shaun laughed and Nora laughed shushing their babe.

"And funny! Ha ha. That's right. And patient. So patient. Patience of a saint, my mom used to say." Nora said with so much love that Adam felt the tears slip from his iron will.

"Look, with Shaun, and us all being at home together... It's been an amazing year. But even so, I know our best days are yet to come. There will be changes, sure. Things we'll need to adjust to. You'll rejoin the civilian workforce, I'll shake the dust off my law degree" she looked a little uncertain they were still new to the whole parenting at the time, both of them were nervous. However he couldn't have been happier at the time. Damn it all he held his face in his hands as his tears leaked.

"But everything we do, no matter how hard... we do it for our family. Now say goodbye, Shaun... Bye bye? Say bye bye?" Shaun giggled as Nora no doubt held his little hand waved it around a useless gesture when recording a holo-tape but something he would have loved to see her do.

"Bye honey! We love you!" with a heavy heart the holotape ended. Adam Taurus leant on his shoulders on his legs his eyes red and teared stained looked at the metal ground. With a voice that belonged to a broken men he spoke the last words he dared remember about his old life.

"War…war never changes"

So this story is about the East Coast going to war against the Legion and the NCR for control of Hoover Dam. The sole Survivor spearheading the campaign against the Legion and NCR along with a surprised from the east.