HELLO MY BEAUTIFUL FALLOUT READERS! I AM BACK AND I AM READY FOR NEW VEGAS! I hope you all are. I was so happy to have finished New Wars are Fought by Old Warriors. Now I can bring you the sequel! I hope you're ready gang!
AUTHOR'S NOTE PLEASE READ!: If you haven't read my first story then this one is not going to make any sense to you. Read the first one before reading this one.
Also like my first story there will be weaponry from other Fallout games and real world clothing and armor. Slight change for vehicles though. Vehicles and aircraft from the 1940s to 1990s! Instead of 1970s. Getting a little modern here. There will also be much more modern music references in here.
I do not own Fallout New Vegas. All rights go to Obsidian and Bethesda.
Without further ado VIVA NEW VEGAS!
Chapter 1: The East and West in the Divide
Intro
War…war never changes. The NCR, with the help of a young Courier, continue to wage war against Caesar's Legion. The Legion's efforts to launch their second attack against Hoover Dam have continued to suffer numerous setbacks at the hands of the Courier alone. With the death of Caesar, Lucius, and Vulpes Inculta, along with the destruction of Cottonwood Cove, The Fort, and the Legionaries at Nelson, the Legion is on its last leg to control the Mojave.
The Courier, a former NCR Soldier turned civilian, has become a beacon of hope for the people of the Mojave Wasteland. Goodsprings, Primm, Novac, some of the many settlements that the Courier has helped against raiders, Powder Gangers, ghouls and other looming threats. His assistance to the settlements has not gone unnoticed by the NCR, specifically General Lee Oliver. As the Courier continues to focus more of his efforts in aiding the people of the Mojave, General Oliver is growing concerned that it's all a powerplay to remove not only the Legion, but NCR forces as well. With Mr. House out of the way and the Legion nearing defeat, the NCR is one step closer to annexing Vegas and the rest of the Mojave. However, with the Courier as a possible complication, the stakes are higher than ever. In order to protect the NCR's plans for the Mojave, General Oliver will stop at nothing to ensure the Courier doesn't stand in his way.
Unbeknownst to General Oliver, there are other players. Hiding amongst the shadows.
The Lucky 38: November 30, 2281. 1:18 A.M.
Sitting in the master bedroom of the presidential suite was 29-year-old Jason Bowers. Jason was a lean man standing at almost six feet tall. With piercing blue eyes, raven hair kept in a high fade style, and a clean-shaven face, Jason was a dashing and charismatic looking man. Covering the entire left side of his neck, going down the left side of his chest was a very angry looking red scar. Though many people throughout the Mojave knew who he was, they always referred to him by his nickname. The Courier. Before becoming a Courier for the Mojave Express, he was a soldier in the NCR Army. Proudly enlisting at the age of 18, Jason served as an expert rifleman with the NCR's 4th Infantry Battalion. His unit was a primary asset in destroying the Jackal Gangs that had set up shop in the Mojave. In 2275, two years before the First Battle for Hoover Dam, Jason was stationed at Camp McCarren. He was a Squad Sergeant leading a patrol that was ambushed by a Fiend raiding party. During the fighting, Jason was severely injured, suffering two gunshot wounds to the stomach and third-degree burns from the left side of his chest up to the left side of his neck. The result of his healed wounds left him with the scar that you see now.
After Jason had recovered, the NCR had medically discharged him and sent him back home to California, despite his arguments that he was still capable of serving. Back in California, because he was no longer in the army and didn't have a family to return to, he felt out of place. Plus, finding work as a civilian proved even more difficult, because whenever people got a good look at the scar on his neck, he was treated like a mutant. Jason finally got a job as a Courier for the NCR, traveling all across California until finding himself back in the Mojave and going freelance.
After getting shot in the head by Benny while trying to deliver the Platinum Chip to Mr. House, he was no longer a simple wasteland mailman. Jason had become a Herald of Tranquility, bringing death to those that threaten the innocent people of the Mojave. From simple raiders, to the great Caesar himself, all that have stood against him had suffered his wrath.
He would never say he did it alone though. He always had help from his companions and close friends. Craig Boone, being Jason's closest friend, was always watching his back out in the Mojave. Rose of Sharon Cassidy, aka Cass, though she was as headstrong as Jason, she was always fair and compassionate with others. Veronica, Arcade, and Raul spent most of their time either helping out in Freeside or at the Lucky 38, but had always been there to assist Jason during major confrontations in the Wasteland. Lily had left a few weeks ago, encouraged by the Courier to seek out the remnants of her past. ED-E was floating in the corner of the room, waiting in stand-by mode. His cyberdog Rex, everywhere Jason went, Rex followed. Said canine was sleeping soundly on the bed as the Courier sat on the edge.
Jason was grateful to have such amazing friends by his side, helping them out just as much as they had helped him.
While everyone else was asleep in their rooms, Jason was wide awake and deep in thought. Earlier his Pip-Boy had blared to life with an encrypted message that he had read over and over again. The message had coordinates that lead to the Canyon Wreckage west of Primm. Beneath the coordinates were the words "Courier Six." It was signed, "Ulysses." Jason had a good guess at who this Ulysses was. The Courier that turned down the delivery for the Platinum Chip. Whoever this person was, he had the answers that Jason needed, and Jason was going to find him.
Finally reaching a decision, Jason stood up and walked over to his lockers to gear up. After donning desert combat armor and a reinforced Sierra Madre security helmet that was painted tan and had an adjustable visor, he loaded up on his equipment. Jason didn't know what kind of threats he'd be facing, but he also needed to travel light. He attached five frag grenades to his belt and sheathed a combat knife. Jason holstered his trusted sidearm that was gifted to him by Joshua Graham, A Light Shining in Darkness and pocketed ten magazines for it. He grabbed his unique marksman carbine, All-American, which he had modified so it would switch between single shot and fully automatic. As an extra touch, he added a laser sight on the side rail for improved accuracy. He loaded a dozen 30 round magazines which were loaded with armored piercing bullets into his pouches. He grabbed a medium rucksack and began loading it with food and medical supplies.
"Let's see, three days' worth of food and water, ten Stimpaks, five bags of Rad-Away, 5 bottles of Rad-X, one doctor's bag, and 1,000 bottle caps. This should be enough." Jason said as he closed the lockers and slung the bag over his shoulder. He turned to leave the room, but stopped when he saw Rex sitting by the door, obviously ready to travel with his master. Jason sighed and knelt down in front of the dog, scratching him behind the ear. "Sorry buddy, but you can't come with me this time." Rex's ears lowered and he let out a whimper. "I don't know what I'm walking into Rex. It's best you stay here, ok?" Jason said, giving the dog one final pat on the back before leaving the room. As Jason got into the elevator, Rex slowly tried to follow him. "Uh uh, nope!" Jason snapped his finger and pointed at the cybernetic canine. "Rex, stay!" He ordered firmly.
Rex whimpered loudly before sitting down, watching as the elevator closed. He laid down and waited for his master to return.
Jason knew he needed to inform Yes Man that he was leaving, but he also wanted to make sure the Legion wasn't going to launch their attack while he was away. He got off the elevator on the Penthouse floor and walked down the stairs to the gigantic screen where the AI was waiting.
"Oh, good you're awake! I was just about to send a Securitron to come get you!" Yes Man informed the Courier in his always joyous manner.
Jason frowned in response. "Why, what's going on?"
"About twenty minutes ago, Mr. House's missile defense radar system picked up something flying North of New Vegas." Yes Man's face vanished and was replaced with a map of Southern Nevada. A small dot appeared on the map and was slowly moving. "The unknown aircraft was spotted coming in from the East and continued in that direction until is was about twelve miles to the North of us. It changed its course and flew North, Northwest. I continued to monitor the aircraft until its signal suddenly vanished right here." The dot disappeared from the map. "Approximately 126 miles away." Yes Man's face reappeared on the screen.
Jason rubbed a hand against his chin in confusion. "Do you have any idea what it was?"
"I haven't the slightest clue. But! The good news is the object was traveling waaaaay too slow to be a ballistic missile. At least we can rule out a second nuclear apocalypse!" Yes Man said happily.
"What about a location? Where the aircraft was before it vanished off the radar?" Jason asked.
"Hang on one second." The screen changed repeatedly and rapidly to make it look like the AI was blinking. "If my calculations are correct. The last known location puts it at the US Air Force installation Homey Airport. Also referred to as Area 51."
"Area 51…" Jason whispered to himself. He remembered seeing a few reports about Area 51 during his time at the Big Empty. It was supposed to be one of America's most top-secret military testing facilities.
"You don't think it could be the Legion do you Jason?" Yes Man asked.
The Courier shook his head. "No, there's no way. The Legion doesn't believe in using advanced technology, especially aircraft. No this is something else. Do me a favor and continue to monitor. See if anything else comes up."
"You got it buddy!" Yes Man said as the screen changed into an image of his face with a thumb's up.
"Alright Yes Man, something important came up and I have to leave for a few days. I don't how long exactly, but I need to head out on my own and I don't want to be gone if the Legion launches their assault. Can you give me a current status on the Legion's activities?" Jason asked.
"Sure thing! I've been monitoring the Legion every 15 minutes to see if any changes have occurred. So far there aren't any signs of Legion reinforcements moving in to reoccupy the Fort. Your attack on them last week and the death of Caesar and his right hands really did a number on them." Yes Man informed the Courier.
"Good. I'm heading out. If the others ask where I'm at…just tell them I've got important Courier business to take care of." Jason said heading up the stairs.
"You can count on me Jason! You be careful and have safe travels!" Yes Man said with such optimism that no human could ever have.
As the elevator doors closed behind him, Jason shook his head before letting out a chuckle. "Oh my God, if that smiley screened motherfucker tries any harder to kiss my ass, he might actually succeed."
Once the elevator stopped on the casino floor, Jason began his trek out of the city and across the Mojave.
Canyon Wreckage: November 30, 2281. 5:43 A.M.
Jason's journey from Vegas to Primm went pretty smoothly, encountering only a few raiders and wasteland creatures. Upon arrival to the canyon, his path was blocked by a coyote and her pups. He drew his sidearm and fired a round in the air, quickly scaring off the dogs. Holstering his weapon, he approached the wreckage where graffiti was tagged on some of the debris. "Lonesome Road." Jason inspected more graffiti. "You can go home Courier." "Courier Six?" The one bit of graffiti that caught his attention said two words. "The Divide."
Jason had heard stories of the Divide. It was supposed to be literal hell on Earth. Regardless of what it was, he needed to make this journey. Taking a deep breath, he began making his way through the canyon wreckage to venture off to the Divide.
Pass to Canyon Wreckage: December 2, 2281. 8:14 A.M.
(AN: It takes 3 in game days to travel between the Mojave and the Divide, but I dropped it down to 2.)
Traversing his way through the treacherous terrain proved to be more tedious than Jason expected. However, he had finally reached an end and was met with pretty strong gusts of wind that carried sand through the air. He put his reinforced helmet back on and lowered the visor to shield his face from the elements.
"Sonuvabitch!" He said as he made it to the end of the cavern where the wind and sand started to die down. When he reached the edge of a cliff, he couldn't believe the sight before him. Jason slowly lifted the visor and examined the destruction throughout the horizon in total disbelief. It was as if the Earth was cracked wide open and hell was unleashed. Jason squinted his eyes and saw several collapsed buildings and several others that were capsized by the massive crater that ran through the region.
"God almighty. What in the fuck happened out here?" Jason asked out loud. "Better question I need to ask myself, what the fuck am I getting into?" Taking one last look at the devastation, Jason turned and made his way over to a bunker with a sign that said "Hopeville Ballistic Defense Station." "Well, I guess it's do or die…probably gonna be die." Jason said as he entered the bunker.
About thirty minutes after Jason had entered the Divide, nine figures dressed in black army fatigues and tactical vests, arrived and stood by the cliffside, all of them examining the destruction for themselves. These figures were all wearing black face wraps to keep their identities hidden. The most identifying thing about them was the American flag, sewn into the right shoulder of their uniforms, and the black berets that had a golden emblem. The emblem of a bald eagle with the American flag in one talon and an assault rifle in the other.
The leader of the group looked to the man that had a radio. "Anything?"
The radio operator tried adjusting the settings on the radio and put the hand mike to his ear. He shook his head. "Nothing. The signal is all scrambled. I can't reach anyone."
"Shit, alright. We still have our orders. From here on out, we stay alert, and we tread carefully. Our primary focus is to shut down those silos." The leader told them. "Let's move with Pride."
"Lion's Pride!" The group responded.
Hopeville Missile Silo Bunker: December 2, 2281. 9:52 A.M.
"Let's go ED-E." Jason told the clone of his robotic companion. They had just made their way through the silo complex past all the Sentry Bot defenses. Throughout the complex, they had encountered several corpses of men that looked like ghouls. Only they weren't ghouls. They all looked like their skin had been ripped clean off of their flesh. Plus, they all wore salvaged armor that resembled those of NCR troopers and Legion soldiers. Upon reaching the outside, ED-E began to produce static from his speakers. "ED-E? Are you ok?" Jason asked in concern.
Finally, the static stopped and ED-E looked to Jason, but he didn't let out his usual beeping. Instead, a deep and gruff voice resonated from the eyebot speakers. "There's your signal… faint, but there. Just like NCR – voice without fire, without strength, sick… Heard tales of you walking the Mojave. Giving the two-headed bear strength. Giving hollow men like Kimball, like Crocker, half the life Hanlon had. Now… let's test that strength. That… "conviction." Courier."
Jason narrowed his eyes at the eyebot. The voice may have been completely monotone and unrecognizable, but he already knew who the voice belonged to. "You're the original Courier Six."
"I was. Like you – and not like you, in all the ways that matter. Spent too many years looking for you – now, letting you come to me. Thought carrying that Chip would end you, no… you got lives in you, hard to kill. Storms, bullets… sand and wind, yet still you walk. For now."
The words that were spoken to Jason made him feel like this original Courier Six knew him personally. "We've never spoken before. I'd remember your voice."
"Words aren't the only way couriers meet… sometimes it's the paths we walk. But no… we've never spoken before now. You may not know my voice, but we've walked the same places. The Long 15 to Primm… that wasn't the only road you ever walked. I've been to your home, the place you kept returning to… may not be the place you were born, was the place you gave life to, same thing. People forget couriers can keep communities alive… until the day they're gone, and their breath catches in their throat."
Jason listened and had to admit there was a lot of truth behind the man's words. Couriers can know of others simply by the places they've traveled. "So, you're the one who sent the radio message… Ulysses."
"Not my given name, close enough. Took it from history, found it in a book. It's an Old-World name. Ulysses lived a long time ago, long before the Old-World set fire to itself. He made a mark without being myth. Had to fight during a time when his world had two flags, and had to make them one."
The Courier instantly knew of who Ulysses was referring to. "You're honoring history, not stories. Ulysses S. Grant."
"History. Yes. Ulysses walked a hard road. A general, like Caesar and Oliver. He was Brahmin-stubborn, gave him strength on the battlefield. He led his side to victory, turned two flags into one. That's when he lost. When the fighting was done, the sickness took hold. Lesson there, if history's to be believed. One you should heed."
The man's wisdom astounded Jason, but he brought him here for a reason. He needed to know that reason. "You brought me here to talk. If you wanted to kill me, you'd have waited until I came for the Chip."
"No…no, I couldn't. And I'm thinking you can't kill me either. If you did, you'd answer for it, just as I would. Let the land do the killing for you, that's one of the things you taught me. Killing is personal, so's vows, promises. Last bit's more important to me than the first."
Jason cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Wait… so you swore not to kill me? Why?" He asked.
"What kind of world would this be if Courier killed Courier? You've got enough distance ahead of you. Save your breath for the road, don't waste it on words."
"Well, you did go through a lot of trouble to lure me here, so let's get on with this." Jason said with firm resolution.
"America sleeps ahead of you, its nightmares filled with quakes, storms. You'll need to find your own path. That means waking America's spears up from their slumber. There's ways. Warheads set off the collapse, warheads could open the gates again. You're resourceful. That machine, robot with you, can help you find the warheads you need to destroy… and their trigger, the detonator. The way ahead is below. The tools are there. The rest, up to you.
Jason slowly nodded as he processed the information. "Alright. I'll find the trigger. And then I'll find you."
"The Divide will send it's worst against you, it may break you. We'll see if you're stronger. Road gets rougher from here… Courier. Left marks for you, colors will tell the way, if you're smart. They'll lead you to your home one more time, lead to the ending of it. Maybe remind you why you wander."
Something Ulysses said left Jason with more questions. "Wait a minute. What do you mean my home?"
Instead of getting Ulysses voice, Jason got ED-E's beeps in response. A clear indicator that the conversation with Ulysses was over. "Are you ok ED-E?" The bot beeped and floated happily in the air as a confirmation to Jason's question. "Ok… let's go find that detonator." He said as they made their way into Hopeville, keeping his rifle ready for anything.
Inside the Bunker: December 2, 2281. 10:01 A.M.
The group of soldiers slowly made their way through the silo complex. Not once did they encounter any enemies, just destroyed defenses and scarred corpses. They reached the office of the base commander. The emblem on the floor read "Ballistic Defense Division. Commonwealth Defense Administration."
The leader of the group looked at the Latin words in the center. "Exitus Acta Probat… the outcome justifies the deed."
One soldier carrying an M249 SAW was baffled. "That means what exactly?"
"It's another way of saying the means to an end are justified AJ. Basically, there's a justified reason for launching nuclear Armageddon." A female soldier said as she removed her face wrap, revealing the face of Captain Melissa Broadhead.
The leader of the group removed his balaclava. Lieutenant Eric Daniels. The Lone Wanderer of the Capital Wasteland and commander of Lion's Pride. Though Captain Broadhead outranked him, she was merely acting as his advisor and following his lead. "Nothing in this world would ever justify that." He said as he walked over to the desk where Melissa was staring at the corpse of a ghoul in a US Army officer's uniform. "You know who he is?"
Melissa nodded solemnly. "General Martin Retslaf. He was the commander of the Ballistic Division." She reached into the collar of the General's shirt and pullet out a pair of dog tags. "General Wells will want these."
Eric walked around the desk and spotted a 10mm pistol on the floor and an empty vodka bottle. He knelt down to pick up the bottle and sighed. "Guess he couldn't live with the guilt of having to press the button that lead to total destruction." He looked to the central computer system behind Retslaf and knew it was the primary launch computer that was linked to all the missile silos in the Divide. He turned to his expert hacker and tech wiz. "Alright Toshi, you're up."
Specialist Toshiro Sonda, aka Toshi, slung his gauss rifle over his shoulder and pulled out a weird looking knife that glowed a bright blue color. He forced the knife into the holotape port and was immediately granted full access to the computer. As he typed away on the keyboard, he asked his Lieutenant, "So what do you think happened to this place Eric?"
Eric shook his head wondering the same thing. "I don't know." He turned to Melissa. "Didn't you say this place was struck by a powerful earthquake before the bombs fell?"
Melissa nodded. "Yeah, but it wasn't strong enough to cause damage of this magnitude. It had to be something else… Reynolds," She looked to the team demo expert. "Since you used to be with the NCR, do you know what happened?" She asked the former NCR Ranger.
Sergeant Jake Reynolds took a swig of whiskey from his flask before putting it away. "I only heard the rumors. The NCR discovered this place and tried to annex it so it could be a new supply line for us. The Legion tried to take it from us, there was heavy fighting. After that no one really heard anything. A Ranger patrol was sent out and when they came back, they said there was nothing left of the place. The whole region had been destroyed. Our forces we sent here never came back."
"I think I know why." Toshi said with wide eyes as he looked to Reynolds. "When did the NCR lose contact with its troops here?"
Reynolds rubbed at his mustache as he thought about it. "Uh, 2277. Beginning of the year I think."
"Cap, LT, you might want to look at this." Toshi said as the two officers walked over to him. "According to logs, there was 120 silos throughout Hopeville and Ashton. It looks like General Retslaf managed to get 100 of them in the air on the day the bombs fell. But," He pointed at the most recent logs. "look at the dates these ones went offline."
Eric and Melissa looked at the screen and to say they were in shock was an understatement. 14 of the ICBMs that weren't launched went offline on January 12, 2277.
"Oh my God." Melissa breathed out. "They were detonated inside the silos."
Eric nodded in agreement. "It's the only explanation as to why the whole damn place looks like the gates of Hell." He looked to Reynolds. "That explains what happened to the NCR and Legion troops here."
"Not only that." Specialist Ignacio Marin, former Legionnaire now squad medic, walked into the room and handed something to Reynolds. "Found this on one of those corpses."
Reynolds inspected the item closely. It was burned and faded, but he knew what it was. "It's an NCR Ranger patch." He said with a hint of sadness.
"Not just NCR, some of the corpses are wearing what remains of Legion uniforms." Marin told them.
Eric let out a long breath. "Jesus, those that didn't die turned into those things. Christ what a way to live. I don't even know how they'd be alive after surviving nuclear blasts."
Ignacio slung his M4 over his shoulder. "It's possible they suffer from the same mutation as ghouls. Radiation could possibly be a healing factor. It's the only reason as to how they can still be alive in their current state."
Eric's medical and scientific knowledge told him the same thing. "There's nothing we can do now. Command wants us to shut down the remaining ICBMs and that's what we are going to do. Toshi do your thing."
Toshi hissed. "Uh, I can't. Access to the ICBM shutdown systems have been transferred to another station."
"Can you find out where?" Melissa asked.
After typing in a few sequences, he got a location. "Silo chamber 15. Which… is all the way on the other side of the Divide." Toshi said as he and everyone's stomachs dropped.
"Fuck." Eric grumbled. "Well, hope you're all locked, cocked, and ready to rock, because we may have a hell of a fight ahead of us. Plus, we need to find out who activated the silos and why." He said as the group left the room.
Toshi pulled his knife out of the computer and sheathed it, quickly following the others out.
Ashton Missile Silo: December 2, 2281. 12:05 P.M.
Jason raised his marksman carbine and fired three rounds at a marked man, hitting him in the chest. Jason walked around and looted all the ammo he could find off of the dead marked men before heading to the silo control panel. A small console popped up and ED-E used his electric charge to power up the consol. A switch to activate the silo and grant him access to the bunker popped up.
Jason reached for the switch, but hesitated for a moment. "This better not bite me in the ass." He grabbed the switch and pulled it. Jason watched in both awe and horror as the silo doors opened and the missile fired into the air.
High Road Entrance
"GO GO GO!" Eric ordered his guys as he and Melissa fired their M4s at a group of tunnelers. AJ used his SAW to cut down an entire pack of hulking tunnelers that tried to swarm the two officers.
"Get down!" Reynolds shouted to the others as he carried a shoulder-fired machine gun. The rest of Lion's Pride ducked as Reynolds unleashed a barrage of machine gun fire on the tunneling predators, tearing them all apart.
The group all looked around before getting back to their feet to inspect the carnage. Eric looked over to his demo expert. "What the hell is that?"
Reynolds chuckled with joy. "My new toy."
"Guys…" Private First-Class Richard Spreng, Eric's sniper shouted to them. Everyone looked to him as he pointed at the ICBM that was in the air and flying over Hopeville… right before it air-burst high in the sky.
"God in Heaven!" Marin said in complete shock and fear.
"FIND COVER! GET BACK IN THE UNDERPASS!" Eric ordered his squad frantically.
AJ took off running away from the underpass. "Fuck that! I'm taking my chances with the nuke!" He shouted as he dove for cover behind a burned-out truck.
"AJ!" Melissa shouted, moving to go get him.
"Melissa get down!" Eric said as he grabbed her and brought them both to the ground as the concussive force from the blast hit their position. The rest of Lion's Pride took cover by the burned-out vehicles and concrete medians on the overpass as debris from buildings and vehicles flew around them.
Back at the Silo
Jason forcefully pried the doors open into the bunker as the power of the blast reached his position. "Come on ED-E!" He shouted as the eyebot flew in to the bunker. Jason quickly followed inside and they boarded the cargo elevator that lead down deeper into the bunker.
High Road Entrance
As quickly as it began, the extreme winds from the concussive force of the nuclear detonation died down. Small bits of debris continued to fall to the Earth, but it wasn't enough to cause any harm. The Shadow Knights all slowly poked their heads up from their cover to see the massive mushroom cloud that was still looming over Hopeville.
Eric groaned as he held Melissa in his arms. "You ok?"
Melissa inhaled deeply and exhaled. "Depends. Did we actually just survive that?"
Eric nodded he said as he helped her off of the ground. He looked to the rest of the squad. "You guys ok?" Reynolds had a small cut across the side of his face and AJ had a light gash in his shoulder. The rest of them were ok. One of them was missing though. "Where's Myers?" Private Amanda Myers, the designated marksman and AJ's assistant gunner was nowhere in sight. "Myers!"
"Myers! Call out!" Spreng shouted.
AJ spotted a massive piece of corrugated tin with an arm sticking out underneath it. "Over here!" The squad gunner waved as he ran over to move the tin off of his squad mate. AJ rolled Amanda onto her back and saw blood running out of her right ear. "Myers, Myers! Come on wake up!" He said as he gently patted her check. Marin knelt down next to her and started checking her over for any visible injuries. "Come on Myers! Wake up!"
A couple seconds later, Myers gasped and jolted up, but AJ held her in place. "It's ok, it's ok. It's me, it's AJ."
Myers was taking quick shuddering breaths before her face showed signs of extreme pain. "Ahhh fuck!" She held her hand against her head. "Oh, what the fuck happened?" She asked, still slightly dazed.
Eric knelt down in front of her. "Are you alright Myers?"
Amanda blinked a couple more times until her vision wasn't blurry anymore. She slowly nodded. "Minus the worst hangover feeling I've ever had in my life, I'm fucking fantastic… My right ear is slightly ringing though." She said pointing at the blood that went down the side of her head.
Marin leaned in next to the ear. "Can you hear anything I'm saying?"
Amanda raised her hand and did the so-so gesture. "Little bit, sounds kinda muffled."
Marin looked to Eric. "She may have a busted eardrum. There's a clinic just outside of Vegas. The doctor there is very experienced and may have the equipment to help."
Eric nodded at the idea. "We'll get her there as soon as we've finished up here. Right now, we need to get to silo 15 and shut down the remainder of those nukes. My question is, who the fuck just launched that one?" He asked while looking at the still present mushroom cloud.
"Eric, over here." Melissa said as she knelt down next to the corpse of a marked man. Eric walked over to her as she dabbed a finger into the blood on the ground. "Blood's real fresh. Can't have been dead for more than an hour. And…" She picked up a spent shell casing. ".45 Caliber. None of these guys have any weapons that fire it and you haven't pulled your sidearm so that only means one thing."
"We aren't the only ones here." Eric concluded for her. "Whoever they are. They may have the answers we need. Starting with the fucking ICBM launch." He looked to his squad. "AJ, Spreng, Reynolds, Marin, Myers. You guys find a way to gain some high ground and scout ahead. Let us know if you spot anything and try to clear the way of any obstacles. The rest of you are with me."
Sunstone Tower Roof: December 2, 2281. 6:13: P.M.
"Hopeville, High Road, Ashton… tiny cracks in the Earth, nothing compared to the road carved ahead." Ulysses said through ED-E's speakers. Though his voice was monotone, Jason could detect a slight hint of anger. "Before you… this is the edge of the Divide. Ahead lies your work, the history you burned in the Earth. What you brought to the people here."
Jason was immediately perplexed. "What are you talking about? What happened here?"
"You delivered a package. Had markings that matched those in the Divide. Not all… but enough. Military markings, from some place the Bear had savaged in the West. Maybe seeing those markings on it reminded you of home… made you carry it."
Jason quickly scrambled though his memory to remember the package Ulysses was talking about. Nothing came to him though. "This package. I don't ever remember delivering something like that."
"It was from West. From deep in NCR. Whether made by them or not… it came here. Through your hands. It was a device, a detonator. One I'd never seen before, or heard before. You carried that thing to the Divide. I know because I followed you as you walked the road, watched you do it. You brought it here, to the community you built. And you are responsible for what happened after. When the device opened, started to speak." Ulysses informed the Courier. His anger becoming more evident. "When it did, the Divide answered back. Those missiles you've seen, buried in their silos. They exploded beneath the ground, cracked the landscape. Sand, ash… the dead… the Divide skies became a graveyard."
Jason's heart was slowly dropping further and further into his stomach. Ulysses was telling him that his actions caused the destruction of the Divide. There's no way. Jason refused to believe it. "If what you say is true, how did you survive?"
"Should've died here. The machines here… saved me. I was the only survivor, or thought I was. Your package, the message inside, awoke medical machines… close to the one that shadows you… began to build themselves, then others. Maybe they saw the flag on my jacket, thought I was of America. If so, history saved me. A sign."
"So, this revenge for nearly killing you then." Jason surmised.
"Not the name I'd give it. Not the name the dead would give it. Revenge isn't the message I have for you. More than that… Courier."
Jason shook his head in denial. "I'm not responsible for this, there's no way I could have known!"
"If you had been there when it happened. If you had seen the Divide break, you would know it. You carry death wherever you go – if the Mojave doesn't know it yet, it will. What happened here… can happen again. You've already proved it, what you did in Ashton. The silo there.
"I had no idea the silo was active until the missile was in the air toward Hopeville." Jason exclaimed defensively.
"Didn't stop you though. Like carrying the Chip to Vegas. Old World death in your hand."
"What happened here was an accident. Any anger you have, you need to let go." Jason said.
"Accident? Ignorance is a choice. The Chip. A choice. As for anger… it is what I carry for the dead, and all that come here."
"You think I'm responsible for this. My question is what your tie to this place is." Jason said wanting to know why this man was so adamant about the fate of the Divide.
"The community that was once here… and the package you brought… both had markings of the Divide. Markings of America. You've seen the marks, the symbol. As early as the Hopeville silo, maybe. Carried it etched on your weapons." Ulysses said referring to the Red Glare rocket launcher on Jason's back. "The Divide, its buildings, its people, were built around those same markings, surrounded them here… Markings like the flag on my back. When I followed your road to the Divide those years ago, I saw the symbol I wore all around me. An Old World symbol. Strong, to survive here. Its people strong. Outlast the Bear, outlast the Bull. Promise of something better. Caesar was right to want it dead. NCR was right to want to rake their claws in it."
"Seeing it… changed me, just as seeing Hoover Dam changed Caesar and the NCR."
Jason finally began to understand why Ulysses was so attached to this place. "You believed in this place. What it once was."
"There was hope here, another chance. A new nation, stirring to life. A place I could have set my flag. Not the America of old. But something larger than the tribes of the East, something larger than the houses of the West. Something better. The Divide… could have bridged both, like Hoover Dam. Now like the Dam, it's too covered in blood to see what it could have been. You gave life to this place. I followed your road here, saw the Divide. You led me here, so that I could see. Then you brought it to an end."
"And that's why you want me dead." Jason said.
"My history isn't revenge, or hate. The road that brought us both here – isn't about that. It's about the message you carried. The one in that package, whether you knew it or not. The message that one can kill a nation. Can kill a symbol. And all that gather beneath its flag. I don't blame you for the Divide. I blame you for what you made me see. Now you will see what you brought to the Mojave, and that will be my message to you."
Jason creased his brows at that. "What message?"
"Killing one will end both. And you made me see how one could do it. Your ignorance, carelessness, can be used with a purpose."
Jason sighed. Knowing he wasn't going to get any more from this conversation, he decided to end it. "You wanted me to come to the Divide. I'm here. Now what?"
"The way ahead and below – leads to the heart of the Divide. There… you and I, we'll have an ending to things."
Edge of the Divide Cracks: December 2, 2281. 10:13 P.M.
Inside a burned skyscraper that still stood tall on the edge of the Divide, Spreng and Myers was looking down into the chasms bellow where many collapsed structures and debris lied. They were providing overwatch while Marin and AJ were getting some rest and Reynolds stood guard. They would swap out shifts at the end of the hour.
The climb up to the edge proved almost impossible. They had encountered several enemies and had to dodge a building that fell into the canyon below.
Spreng was surveying the surroundings below. Taking out any marked men that entered his M110 crosshairs. His suppressor did good work of keeping the scarred men and tunnelers from locating them.
Myers used the scope on her SR-25 to mark any areas that may prove treacherous to the rest of the squad. She spotted something in her crosshairs. It was a man, wearing a breathing mask and wasn't skinned like the others they had come across. He was standing outside of a bunker entrance. Next to the entrance was a sign that read 'Silo 15.'
Myers tapped Spreng on the shoulder and pointed in the direction of the bunker. "Right there to my ten-o clock. Further up the canyon walls. See it? See him?"
Spreng aimed his sights to where Myers was directing him. "I got him." He pulled out his radio. "LT can you hear me?"
The radio was filled with static, but Eric was heard through it. "What have you got Spreng?"
"I've got the location of silo 15. We've also got eyes on someone standing outside of the entrance." The sniper informed his Lieutenant.
"Under-[static]…We've spotted some-[static]… They've got an eyebo-[static]… They're heading to s-[static] 15. How copy over?"
"LT you're coming in broken and barely readable. Did you say there's someone else going to the silo?" Spreng asked.
"Affirm-[static]…Do not engage if you sp-[static]…" The signal was immediately cut off.
"Shit." Spreng said as he put the radio back. "You catch that?" He asked Myers.
"Sounded like he said don't engage if we spot whoever they saw." Myers surmised. "Our mystery man just went back in the silo." She informed her fellow sharpshooter.
Spreng resumed looking throughout the canyon until he spotted someone coming out of rooftop of a destroyed hotel. "Rooftop down below. Giant sign that says Boxwood Hotel."
Myers aimed her rifle and spotted a man with an eyebot. "That must be the guy the LT saw."
"Keep your eyes on the silo. I got my eyes on him." Spreng told her as he watched the man talk to the eyebot.
Boxwood Hotel Roof: December 2, 2281. 10:24 P.M.
"Thought that explosion, that building falling deep in the Divide might have been your work… wouldn't kill you, maybe close. Knew you'd survive… but no need to go any farther. You've brought me what I need. That machine with you, sealed in the Hopeville silo." Ulysses informed Jason.
Jason frowned at the man's voice that echoed from the eyebot. "What do you need ED-E for?"
"You gave it a name?" Ulysses asked in disbelief. "What was it to you? Companion? Slave… weapon? All of that, nothing compared to its primary function. It's a messenger. Like us… and it shares our history. That's why I knew you'd come, Courier. Couldn't stay away, it's who you are."
Jason's suddenly grew angry at Ulysses. "You're not taking ED-E from me Ulysses."
"The machine you brought is mine now, it's coming home. It carries the message you brought here… and it'll do what it was programmed to do; whatever it can to get home. The giants here will listen to it. I'll bring the Divide to your home, your nation. Let its flag burn, just like you let the Divide burn… Big Mountain access code… Ulysses. Command override… Navarro."
Jason took a step back before being violently electrocuted by ED-E's zapper, causing him to let out a scream of agony. Jason fell to the ground and continued to twitch from the electricity that jolted through his body. He watched as ED-E flew off to where Ulysses was hiding.
As soon as the electric shock wore off, Jason took a few moments to regain his strength. Picking himself and his rifle up off of the ground, Jason had fire in his eyes. "I'm coming for you Ulysses." He said as he made his way off the building roof to the ground below. He spotted a group of deathclaws lying lifeless on the ground. Each one of them had a single shot through the head. He didn't have time to figure out what happened to them. Jason was more focused on getting ED-E back and stopping Ulysses. He quickly navigated his way through the terrain, using the collapsed building as a bridge. Any and all marked men that stood in his way were cut down like wooden boards in a sawmill.
Back on the rooftop of the hotel, Eric and his squad burst through the door to escape the tunnelers inside the building. Melissa primed two frag grenades and tossed them down the stairs before Eric slammed the door shut. The resulting explosion killed at least a dozen of the underground creatures and blew off the limbs of several others. This caused the surviving tunnelers to retreat back deeper into the building.
The group took a second to catch their breaths before Eric pulled out his radio. "Spreng we're on the rooftop. Can you see us?"
"I got you LT. The entrance to silo 15 is to your three-o clock. Your mystery guest just cleared a path for you guys all the way up there."
Eric used the ACOG scope on his rifle to locate the bunker. "I see it." He lowered his rifle and looked up just in time to see three of the remaining five ICBMs sticking out of their silos at the top of the cliff. "Guys we gotta move!" Eric said as Melissa, Toshi, and Eric's radio operator, Staff Sergeant Carter Weston, quickly moved to reach the silo.
Ulysses' Temple: December 2, 2281. 11:00 P.M.
Jason quickly punched in the sequences needed to free ED-E from his tube. As soon as the doors opened, ED-E booted back up to life and let out an elated series of beeps.
Jason sighed with relief. "You ok buddy?" ED-E responded happily. "Alright. We need to stop Ulysses." ED-E shook with determination, flying over to a Commissary terminal and activating it for the Courier.
The Courier quickly accessed it and drew as much 5.56 ammo along with six grenades and a dozen Stimpaks. Loading a fresh mag into his marksman carbine, he and ED-E made their way further into Ulysses Temple. When they entered the silo chamber. They saw Ulysses standing by one of the ICBMs. The room was filled with more missiles that were all ready to fire. In front of Ulysses was a tattered American flag, hung up proudly. The symbol of the Old World, the same symbol on the back of Ulysses' duster.
When Jason got closer, Ulysses turned around and walked down the steps until at last… the two Couriers finally met, face-to-face. Jason saw that Ulysses was a strong African-American man with dreadlocks and wearing a breathing mask to conceal most of his face. Floating behind him were three eyebots similar to ED-E
"Even in this place, NCR's shadow falls. Or is it just you, Courier, without the Bear's corpse to weigh you down. Judging by your shadow… maybe you can't let your machine go. Doesn't matter now." Ulysses said as he folded his arms. "Either way, the Divide giants are awakening. The missiles here, on their way home. There is no way to stop them."
Jason could've killed Ulysses right here, but for some reason… he didn't want to. Ulysses was a former Legion Frumentarii that stopped believing the words and the will of Caesar, because he believed in something greater. A nation that could prosper and be stronger than that of the NCR and the Legion. Jason shared the same beliefs as Ulysses. As a former NCR soldier, he had opened his eyes and stopped seeing his nation for what it was. Instead, he saw it for what it is. Everything Ulysses said about the NCR is true, and eventually it would lose its structure and die out.
Slowly, Jason set his rifle on the ground and looked the fellow Courier in the eyes. "Ulysses. I understand why you're angry. And I don't blame you. What happened here at the Divide. I accept what I have done and I take full responsibility. I am truly sorry for I have done here. You have to believe me when I say I never meant for this to happen. But what you're doing, it's madness!" Jason said, hoping to reason with the man and talking him out of starting another nuclear apocalypse.
Ulysses unfolded his arms and gestured to the Courier. "No, now there is purpose. I believe you when you say you were… careless. The Divide… the Chip… the machine you brought here… Many messages can be taken from that, intended or not. What I do now is an act of conviction."
Jason let out a small huff, but he wasn't going to give up until neither of them had nothing left to say. "If you blame me for the Divide, then let me answer for it, not others."
Ulysses let out a light chuckle. "Blame you? No, learned from you. Both the weapon to kill a nation, and the strength to do it. You showed me a road, a way to carry my message. You've already answered for what you've done. Now the flag you follow will answer for it." Ulysses crossed his arms again. "You walked the West, didn't stay. You know the reason… the Bear grows without structure, follows a symbol without knowing its history. And knowing that you believe in the Bear's sickness and have given it strength… then that gives more reason to lay waste to your homeland. After this, only one flag will remain over the Mojave. Let that one fly, or destroy itself."
The next question Jason asked caught Ulysses off guard. "Even if I don't consider the NCR my homeland anymore?"
Ulysses narrowed his eyes slightly and unfolded his arms. "Yet you give strength to the Bear."
Jason shook his head. "I give strength to the soldiers in the Mojave. Not the NCR itself. I give them strength not to benefit men like Oliver or Kimball, I give them the strength to survive against the Legion. I don't do it so they can eventually take over the Mojave. I do it so that they may eventually return home. Yes, I have done a lot for the NCR, but…" Jason pointed at Ulysses for emphasis. "you must have seen a lot of the things I've done for the people of the Mojave. Westside, Freeside, Primm? I made sure Primm remained independent from the NCR. I made sure Westside had a steady water supply, even if it meant dooming the NCR farms in the Mojave. My actions have proven that I'm not only fighting for the frontline soldiers of the NCR, but for the people of the Mojave."
A brief indication of disbelief overcame Ulysses for a second. "Your actions have carried strength. Even though you don't stand for the two-headed Bear, you still speak for it. I'll hear your words. Even if I will be the only one to hear them. If you believe it should not die this day… then answer me why." He said as he put his hands on his hips.
"One can build a community, make it stronger. You saw it in the Divide, even blamed me for it." Jason said as Ulysses processed his words.
"History has proven this. Our history. And you think that you have this strength? Enough for all of NCR?" Ulysses asked.
Jason shook his head. "No. Not for the NCR. For something greater. Something the NCR will hopefully learn from, or end up falling apart trying."
Ulysses immediately knew what Jason was referring to. "The Mojave."
Jason nodded in affirmation. "Without Vegas or Hoover Dam, the NCR will have nothing to gain, and hopefully they'll learn to become what it once tried to be. If not then it will be their own downfall. While the Mojave will become its own place, a nation that neither the NCR nor the Legion could ever be. I believe the same things you believe. That one person can make… or break… a nation."
Ulysses saw the conviction and reasoning behind the Couriers words. "It may be… that as much destruction has been written in the Earth here… you may build something else, as you built in the Divide."
Eyebot Containment Room
Toshi finished hacking into the Commissary terminal and had a gleeful smile. "Oh my God I'm such a cheater." He said as Eric looked over all the items on the screen. Somehow, Toshi managed to drop the price of every item down to one cap.
Eric shook his head in amazement. "Toshi, you're getting promoted when we get back." He said as he withdrew enough ammo for both his and Melissa's M4s and a couple Stimpaks.
"LT are you there?" Spreng asked frantically through the radio.
Eric quickly replied. "What's wrong Spreng?"
"Several hostiles are amassing outside of the bunker entrance! They're about to breach!" Spreng warned.
"How many?" Eric said as he and the others readied their weapons.
"Too many!"
Eric looked to the others. "Stick to the shadows!"
The group ran into the containment room and sealed both doors leading inside. Carter and Toshi hid underneath the table next to the window that could peer into the room while Melissa and Eric hid behind the eyebot containment pods. The Shadow Knights all pulled out a stealth boy and quickly turned invisible. Seconds later, dozens upon dozens of marked men sprinted past the room. None of them bothering to look inside.
Eric cautiously glanced at the window. At least a hundred of the skinless bastards had to be inside and more were continuing to pour in. He pulled out his radio. "Spreng, listen to me." He whispered. "Get Reynolds to seal the bunker entrance. He's got the green light to use his nuka missiles."
"You guys will be trapped if he does."
"We'll find another way out. Just do it. Once the entrance is sealed, lay siege to these sonsabitches."
Edge of the Divide Cracks
Reynolds aimed his missile launcher at the entrance to silo 15. It was loaded with a nuka missile. Created from the same concept as the nuka grenades that Eric had shown him. "Back blast area clear?"
"Clear." Myers confirmed for the Sergeant.
"Firing." Reynolds said as the nuka missile soared from the launcher, across the canyon and into the marked men at the entrance of the silo. The explosion incinerated several of the scarred men and sent several more flying over the ledge to plummet to their death. The explosion also delivered the requested result as chunks of massive rocks from the cliff collapsed down, blocking the marked men from entering the silo. Reynolds loaded a second Nuka missile and fired it at the collapsed building that bridged the two gaps that led up to the silo. The explosion killed at least 30 more marked men while the building collapsed down on the ones beneath it.
Myers and Spreng quickly went to work at picking off those that were still standing.
Silo Chamber
Ulysses crossed his arms again. "You have spoken truly. There is a shadow of a nation behind you, the hope of a people… yet it may not matter. The Divide still stands against us."
Jason whipped his head around when a loud bang was heard near the entrance he had come from. "What was that?"
Ulysses unfolded his arms and drew a 12.7mm sub-machine gun. "Our enemies gather outside… shadows of the Bear and Bull… they will have found their way in, just as you did. It was always my intention. In case I could not kill you, the marked men would flood this place, cut off your escape. If we cannot prevent what comes, then let us make our stand. Two Couriers, together, at the Divide."
Jason picked up All-American and readied it for combat. "We'll give them a fight the Divide couldn't. Now tell me, is there a way we can stop the missiles entirely?"
Before Ulysses could reply, ED-E started playing another one of Dr. Whitley's recordings. "Experiment log 369248/A. Eyebot Duraframe universal interface override system. This is Dr. Whitley presiding. Initial tests of the override system are promising. Against unsecured or lightly-encrypted targets, the Eyebots have a 98% success rate. More heavily protected systems are still problematic. Military-grade encryption presents a very real possibility of critical overload of key systems. We've stopped tests before any robots were destroyed, but if we don't address the problem our Eyebots will fry themselves hacking military networks."
Jason couldn't believe what ED-E was suggesting. "ED-E… if you do this. The encryption will kill you."
ED-E replied with sad beeping before his tones changed into more determined beeps.
Jason nodded sadly. "Ok buddy. If you're sure about this. Do it."
During the exchange between the Courier and Eyebot, Ulysses had run towards the entrance and started setting up plasma mines, hoping they would take down many of the marked men. He ran back over to Jason and handed him a stealth boy. "We will let them walk into death's hands before delivering it ourselves. You understand it will take some time for the machine to stop all five missiles?"
Jason attached the stealth boy to his wrist. "Whatever it takes, right?"
While ED-E was working to stop the missile launches, the two Couriers activated their stealth boys and moved to find cover. Ulysses hid behind a couple crates closest to the entrance while Jason hid at the far end. He aimed down his rifle at the entrance and waited as the marked men finally broke through the door. Several marked men were instantly liquified by the plasma mine set up by the door. That didn't stop the rest, however. As dozens of marked men spilled into the room, they kept getting blown apart and turned in to liquid by the mines until the traps were all used up. Ulysses poked around his cover and fired a burst of rounds into three marked men that killed them instantly. Jason was firing one round at a time, nailing most on the marked men in the head. The Divide warriors began to spread out in an effort to try and flank the two enemies. Ulysses tossed a frag grenade at the entrance and took off for Jason's position as his Eyebots drew the fire of the marked men. The grenade exploded and killed at least six marked men hunters.
As Jason loaded a new magazine into his rifle, something was screaming in the back of his head to move. He dodged to the side as a marked men ravager deactivated its stealth boy and swung a Blade of the West. Jason got back to his feet as the ravager tried to swing his blade again. Jason ducked down and grabbed the marked man by the arm to prevent him from attacking again. The Courier pulled his sidearm out and shot the skinless foe in the side of the head, quickly ending its life.
Coming up from behind him was another ravager armed with a thermic lance. Before he could attack, Ulysses used his flag pole "Old Glory" and slammed it against the man's head. The ravager was knocked to the ground and Ulysses knelt down, wrapping an arm around its neck and twisting it violently. With the man's neck broken Ulysses pulled his SMG out and loaded a new magazine, firing on more opponents that tried to swarm the silo chamber.
Eyebot Containment Room
Eric and his group readied their weapons and opened the doors killing several marked men that stood in their way. Melissa unsheathed a throwing knife and tossed it at a hunter, nailing it in the neck. A ravager charged at the Shadow Knight and swung a sledgehammer in an effort to take her head off. Melissa quickly fell back on the floor as the hammer narrowly missed her by a few inches. The female Captain followed up by performing a kip-up, landing back on her feet as she drew a combat knife and began to repeatedly stab the ravager in the stomach. Melissa finished the skinless opponent by stabbing it between the eyes.
Carter slammed the butt of his rifle into the back of the head of one hunter before firing on three more. Toshi fired an energy burst from his gauss rifle, nailing a marauder in the head and knocking it off its shoulders.
Eric took out the remainder of the marked men that managed to make it inside before the entrance to the silo was sealed. He looked to his squad. "Let's go!"
Silo Chamber
As the two Couriers battled the Divide, ED-E had managed to stop three of the missiles from being launched, but began to feel its circuits starting to fry. ED-E wasn't about to quit though. ED-E shut down a fourth missile and was about to begin on the final one until… a massive hole had exploded where the Eyebot's speaker was. Towards the entrance was a marked man scout, armed with an anti-material rifle. The Eyebot continued to hover for a few seconds before it fell to the floor with a loud clank.
Jason witnessed ED-E's destruction and shot the marked man in the head before running over to his now destroyed companion. "ED-E…" The Courier whispered in sadness. He looked to the control panel and saw the fifth missile was still armed and ready to launch. "Shit." He turned to Ulysses who was still holding off a group of marked men hunters. "The last missile is still active!" Jason shouted.
A marked man marauder, armed with a Red Glare rocket launcher howled at the Courier and fired rocket after rocket at him. Jason tried running for cover, but one of the red rockets landed less than three feet away. The explosion sent him flying towards the missile in the center of the room and left him with a massive wound that ran from his stomach down his right hip. The Courier was bleeding profusely from his wound and he was letting out long ragged breaths. His Monocyte Breeder implant was already going to work at healing him and fixing his wounds. Unfortunately, the wounds were so severe that it would take a lot of time until they were fully healed.
Ulysses ran over and grabbed Jason by his collar, dragging him over to the launch console as he continued to fire at the marked men with one hand. At the console, Ulysses finished off the remaining marked men and started punching a series of buttons before more showed up. He reached for the switch.
"What (Gasp) are you (Gasp) doing?" Jason asked as blood spilled from his mouth.
"You have spoken for the Bear. It shall not die this day. As for the Bull… the will of Caesar is nothing to me, but hollow words. I intend to repay the Legion for the death they have brought to Dry Wells. For the history that Vulpes destroyed." Ulysses said as he pulled the switch.
"No." Jason gasped as the ICBM flew from the silo.
Several more marked men appeared into the chamber and Ulysses ran from the Courier. He fired on the marked men to draw their attention away from his injured counterpart. One marked men hunter fired a marksman carbine at the former Frumentarii, hitting him once in the shoulder and a second time beneath the left side of his ribs. Ulysses staggered back, falling over the railing of the catwalk onto the platform below.
Jason's vision started to go blurry. There was still a dozen marked men alive and they were all moving towards him. He started to think this was it. He was going to die in this ungodly hell. As his vision dimmed, he saw a bright blue burst of energy hit one of the marked men in the back, ending its life. The marked men all turned around and were met with a storm of bullets that tore them all apart, one by one. As the marked men fell, Jason saw four figures dressed in black slowly approach. His vision finally went dark and he lost consciousness.
Eric knelt down next to the unconscious man and put a hand against his neck to see if he still had a pulse. It was weak but it was there. Melissa unslung her bag and pulled her med kit out. Using her medical training as a firefighter, she quickly applied gauze and medical wraps to Jason's stomach. Carter went through the room making sure all of the marked men were dead.
Toshi walked over to the console and quickly went to work. He saw that the remaining missiles had already aborted their launch, but the fifth one was in the air. "LT, I got one missile inbound for Arizona. A place called Dry Wells."
"Can you stop it?" Eric asked.
Toshi looked at the control panel which had been mostly ripped apart by gunfire. He shook his head. "Negative, there's no way to abort the launch."
Eric cursed as the group heard someone walking up the catwalk across from them. They aimed their weapons as they saw an injured man who still had his skin. He was clutching onto the wound on his side as blood spilled from the one on his shoulder.
"Who are you?" Eric asked, keeping his weapon trained on the man.
Ulysses dropped his SMG and looked at the man. "I'm the one who launched the missile."
"Why?" Eric demanded.
"So that the Bull may understand the true meaning of suffering. The same way they have made others suffer." Ulysses said.
"What do you want me to do with him LT?" Carter asked, as he kept his M4 aimed at the man's head.
Eric thought about it for a few seconds before lowering his rifle. "Stand down." The others lowered their weapons. "You got a name?"
"Ulysses." He answered. That's when he saw the American flag on their shoulders. "You bear the symbol of the Old World?" Eric and the others frowned in confusion before looking at the flag on their shoulders. "It is the same symbol I wear on my back."
Carter took a few steps to the side to see the back of Ulysses' duster. His eyebrows shot up. "He's got the American flag."
"Why do you cling onto it?" Eric asked.
"In hopes of finding a nation that is worthy of planting it." Ulysses answered.
Eric looked at Ulysses for a few seconds before turning to Melissa. "He going to make it?"
Melissa looked at Jason's Pip-Boy. "Yeah. He's got a couple healing implants. It's going to take some time for them to work their magic though." She said as she pulled a foldable stretcher from her pack. Melissa and Toshi helped lift Jason onto it and strapped him down securely.
Eric looked back to Ulysses. "Who is he?"
"He is the Courier. Jason Bowers." Ulysses answered Eric.
Eric cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Courier?" Before Ulysses could answer, explosions started to rock the silo chamber. "Fuck, we'll have to finish this later. Is there another way out of here? The main entrance is blocked off."
Ulysses nodded. "There is another. It leads back to Hopeville. Follow close." He said as he walked towards the end of the silo chamber.
Carter and Toshi helped carry Jason out as Melissa and Eric followed behind Ulysses.
Eric pulled out his radio. "Spreng come in."
"LT? Were you able to stop the missile?"
"No there's no way to stop it. Listen to me. Head back to the cliffside by the Hopeville Silo Bunker. We'll link up with you there!" Eric instructed his men.
"We're on the move LT." Spreng replied.
Pass to Canyon Wreckage: December 3, 2281. 4:03 A.M.
Eric and the rest of his squad reunited by the cliffside after making their way back through the Divide. Ulysses stood by the group and looked down upon the Divide. The one place he called home.
He turned to Eric, who ordered his men to bed down for a few hours, telling them that he'd take first watch. As the others found a spot to set up their sleeping bags, Marin went to work on checking Jason's wounds and changing the bandages. "I have questions for you."
Eric walked over and stood beside Ulysses. "Well that's something you and I have in common. Hopefully you can answer mine if I answer yours."
"If I have answers, I will provide them." Ulysses said.
Eric smirked. "What do you want to know?"
"You bear the Old-World flag on your shoulder. Why?" Ulysses asked.
Eric looked out at the Divide. "My companions and I serve a nation that was created by the remnants of the U.S. Military. Thousands of soldiers placed in cryogenic stasis, waiting to be released so that they could rebuild what they once stood for."
"Cryogenics. Saw stuff like that at Big Mountain." Ulysses told Eric.
"Then you know what I'm taking about?" Ulysses nodded in reply. "Good. At least I don't have to explain in detail. I serve under their military. Act as an advisor to their Generals. We've started creating a nation with the help of the Midwestern and Texas Brotherhood."
"The Brotherhood?" Ulysses asked skeptically. "The organization that only cares about the technology of the Old World, not the symbolism or strength behind it."
"The Midwest and Texas are different. They abandoned those beliefs long ago. They're more focused on creating a place that people can live happily and call home. Same as us." Eric said, defending his Brotherhood allies.
"Home." Ulysses said as he looked back at Divide. "A place worthy of the flag that you and I bear. Tell me. What brought you here?"
Eric took a deep breath. "We arrived in the Mojave a few days ago when we got word from our HQ that they detected the missile systems here being activated. We were ordered to stop them from launching… oh boy, I'm going to have a hell of a time explaining this." The Lieutenant said dreading the next radio call when they could finally get communications again.
"What business do you have in the Mojave?" Ulysses asked.
Eric rubbed tiredly at his chin. "We were sent to the Mojave in hopes of allowing the NCR to join our alliance."
Ulysses scoffed. "NCR. The words of the Bear are just as hollow as the will of Caesar. Cancerous."
Eric nodded in agreement. "I'm aware, my demo expert Reynolds," He said gesturing to his snoring Shadow Knight. "he was an NCR Ranger. He believes the same thing as you."
"Then why would your nation want to ally themselves with one that hardly has structure?"
"They hope the NCR would be reasonable to accept." Eric answered.
Ulysses snorted at that. "Hope? The two-headed Bear does not care about the beliefs that your nation has. They only care about what they can take. NCR may accept, but if they do, their hollow ways will affect your nation and the two Brotherhoods. The Bear will end up being your downfall when they collapse. If you want an ally worthy of being apart of this faction of yours," Ulysses pointed at the still unconscious Jason. "the Courier is your best choice."
Eric frowned. "Why him?"
"Because he has plans for the Mojave. Plans that do not include the malignant ways of the Bear, or the Bull. He will shape the Mojave into something that neither will ever be." Ulysses explained.
"How can a simple courier like him turn the Mojave into a thriving nation like that of ours?" Eric asked.
The question gained a chuckle from Ulysses. "You are new to the Mojave. When we return, listen to others that speak of him. Listen to the radio of Vegas. That is how you will truly receive an answer to your question." Eric nodded slowly at the response he got. "I have nothing else to ask. What answers do you seek?"
"Out of all the places in Legion territory, why did you launch the missile at Dry Wells?" Eric asked.
"It was where my tribe was brought. Before being cut down by the Legion and erased from history. It served the Legion as a place for reinforcements and supplies before heading to the Fort to fight the NCR. Now, it serves as nothing but a crater to the Bull."
"What about the slaves there?" Eric asked, knowing innocent people had to have died.
Ulysses let out a breath through his mask. "The only slaves there, were the ones that were crucified for everyone to see. As a reminder of what Caesar's will is for those who stand against him."
"How many Legion soldiers were at Dry Wells?"
"Thousands." Ulysses replied.
Eric's eyes widened at that, but decided not to say more on the matter. The Legion had slaughtered tens of thousands of innocent people over the years. They deserved a little payback. He sighed. "If what you say is true… then me and my guys have some work ahead of us. Which will include spying on the NCR."
"Believe me when I say you have a better chance finding an ally with the Courier instead of the Bear." Ulysses assured.
Eric nodded. "Plus, after dealing with those fucking tunnel creatures. I'm ready to get away from this place."
Ulysses looked to Eric. "This isn't the last you've seen of them."
Eric turned to the former Frumentarii. "What do you mean?"
"As I told the Courier, the tunnelers will eventually spread out from the Divide. May take years, maybe less, maybe longer, but they will eventually reach the Mojave." Ulysses explained.
Eric's eyes widened in alarm. "Then we need to stop them."
"You know of a way?" Ulysses asked.
Eric nodded. "Yeah. A very effective way that's going to take some persuading to do it." He looked at the wounds on Ulysses. "Have Marin take a look at your wounds. After that get some sleep. We leave at noon."
Ulysses hesitated for a second then nodded. The Shadow Knight Medic treated the man's injuries while Eric stood watch, multiple plans forming in his head.
Canyon Passage: December 5, 2281. 12:43 P.M.
The journey back to the Mojave had proven to be a little more difficult as they had to carry a still unconscious Courier on the stretcher. His injuries were almost finished healing. When they reached the canyon passage, Melissa fired at group of coyotes, scaring them away. Eric and AJ set Jason down and removed him from the stretcher, placing him against the entrance to the passage.
Eric looked at Jason's Pip Boy which had a distress beacon added into it. Even his Pip Boy didn't have that so Jason must have installed his. Eric activated the beacon and looked to Ulysses. "You sure you don't want us to stick around?"
Ulysses nodded and set a duffle bag down next to Jason. "You have more important plans ahead of you. Go. I will stay until someone comes for the Courier."
Eric nodded. "What will you do after?"
Ulysses was quiet for a few seconds before replying. "I will be around."
The group of Shadow Knights left while Ulysses remained by Jason's side. Waiting, watching.
2 Hours Later
Jason slowly stirred before opening his eyes. He quickly stood up and looked around trying to figure out where he was. There was no one else there. It took a few moments to realize he was back in the Mojave, by the passage that lead to the Divide. "How did I get back here?" He asked himself.
He saw a duffle bag next to the wreckage and opened it. Inside the bag was a holotape from Ulysses. He inserted it into his Pip Boy and listened to the message that the other Courier left behind, the meaning behind it. Jason pulled a duster out of the bag which had a black spade and yellow 21 on it. Inside the bag was also a set of elite riot gear in prestigious condition.
"Jason!" A voice shouted.
Jason turned around and saw Boone and his companions running to him. Rex sprint at Jason and tackled him to the ground. The cybernetic K9 licked at his master's face, happy to see him again. The Courier chuckled as he gently pushed the dog off of him. "Ok buddy I'm happy to see you too." He said petting the dog.
Boone, dressed in his 1st Recon survival armor put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Are you alright?" He asked in concern that the others had as well.
Jason nodded. "Yeah. How'd you guys find me?"
"Yes Man detected your distress beacon going off. We came here as soon as he told us." Arcade told Jason.
The Courier frowned and looked at his Pip Boy. "I never activated it. I don't know how I got back here."
"Speaking of which." Cass walked up and slugged Jason in the arm… hard. "Where the hell did you go?"
Jason rubbed the sore spot on his arm. "Nice to see you too sweetheart." He said, knowing full and well it would piss her off.
Cass snorted like a raging brahmin ready to strike again. Veronica stepped in between the two. "Hey play nice!" She said keeping her power fist against Cass. "Jason why did you leave?"
"You've been gone for five days amigo. The last time you vanished was the Big Empty. We thought for a second they kidnapped you again." Raul said as he dusted off the hat to his Vaquero outfit.
Jason rubbed a tired hand against his face. "Let's just get back to the Lucky 38 and I'll explain everything."
"Including the nuke that went off in the Legion?" Boone asked.
Jason's face hardened at the mention of the nuclear missile. "Yeah."
H&H Tools Factory: December 5, 2281. 3:08 P.M.
Specialist Tanner Williams, the reconnaissance operator of Lion's Pride wasn't happy when he saw the rest of his squad. He had been ordered to stay back and gather intel while the others went to shut down the silos in the Divide. "When you guys said you wouldn't be that long, that didn't mean be gone for five days without reporting back."
The group set their bags down against the wall. "We didn't expect to be walking into hell on fucking earth Williams. Carter with me." Eric said as he and his radio operator walked outside. Carter pulled the little satellite from his radio and pointed it at the sky. Eric put the hand mike to his ear. "Shadow Command this is Shadow Scout come in over."
A few seconds went by before they got a response. It was General Mike Foster. The commander of Shadow Elite. "Shadow Scout where the FUCK have you been? You've been radio silent for FIVE FUCKING DAYS! On top of that we have two confirmed detonations! What the hell happened?!"
General Foster's anger didn't faze Eric. "Shadow Command be advised; mission took a drastic turn for the worst." Eric began to fill in the General on everything that happened at the Divide and who had launched the missiles.
"Goddammit. Are your guys alright?" Foster asked in concern.
"We're fine. I gotta take Myers to a nearby clinic to get her eardrum checked out."
"Alright, but you can confirm the threat in the Divide is over." The General asked, straight back to business.
"Sir there is another threat present in the Divide. A much greater threat than the remaining ICBMs." Eric informed the older man.
"What kind of threat?"
"The kind where I am requesting immediate orbital bombardment of the region until it's a crater sir." Eric said with fire in his voice.
The Courier's Mile: December 5, 2281. 5:00 P.M.
Several irradiated deathclaws had finished tearing apart the marked men that dared to attack them. The creatures began to feast on their flesh when a bright light caught their attention. They all looked up and saw a pillar of light enter from the sky until it reached through the massive crack in the ground… in the heart of the Divide. Without warning, everything from Hopeville, to Ashton, to Ulysses' Temple, was incinerated in the blink of an eye. The steel girders of the destroyed buildings, the concrete overpasses, the burned-out vehicles that littered the Divide, were vaporized into nothing but tiny little particles. The marked men that were scattered across the region were dead before they even realized it. A quick and painless death brought to them after a long time of suffering. The tunnelers that laid beneath the Divide, hidden in the rocks below, the caves that were formed or the buildings that still stood, couldn't dig fast enough to escape once the beam of light touched the ground. It was as if every tunneler turned to ash at the snap of someone's fingers. (Thanos Reference!)
The beam of light continued to burn into the Earth for a few more seconds before it vanished. Everything within a twenty-mile radius was reduced to nothing. What was once a place with giant cracks in the ground and all that remained of the pre-war military base… a place filled with nothing but suffering, was now a giant crater that ran deeper than the cracks of the Divide and reached a little past its borders.
For the first time since its birth, the storms of the Divide have finally rested.
THERE YOU HAVE IT! :D Chapter 1 for Battle for True Democracy is up and it is off to hopefully a good start. You guys are the judges of that. As always remember to leave a like or review...or both! Constructive criticism is always welcome. Also I had to add my little Marvel reference to honor the memory of the late and great Stan Lee! Excelsior!
Alright guys, until the next chapter.
NCRMC signing off for now.