2276, the year in which the already shaky relationship between the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel's Mojave chapter took a turn for the worse. The year that HELIOS One was torn from the hands of the Brotherhood in what was known as Operation: Sunburst. This year would be engraved in the memories of those who survived the battle at the solar plant who hid out of fear, and the few abandoned or cowardly members who never returned home. One of these survivors, was a Brotherhood of Steel Paladin known as Claire Simmons, whose fate was left to the wasteland when her allies assumed the worst for her.
She remembers the feeling of her body being trashed by a hail of bullets during the attempt at defending HELIOS One, what felt like needles piercing through her armor with ease quickly disposing her and her fellow Paladins. As the loud clang of her metallic shell against the dirt signaled the death of the young warrior, the NCR muscle continued on inside the facility. Unfortunately for both them and her, there was still some kick left in Claire's body, whether it be from a rush of adrenaline or a different fate already sealed for the woman by the Wasteland. However, Claire wasn't about to let what little life she'd been granted be foolishly wasted against overwhelming odds. She took the chance to abandon her people who had so equally abandoned her, and managed to escape the scene unnoticed among the commotion.
Through what could only be described as miraculous if not nearly impossible to accomplish, Claire escaped the battlefield at HELIOS One and arrived at the Scrap Yard of Old Lady Gibson. The old woman, both concerned for Claire's life and seeing her armor as potential profiting in terms of repair when the wounded soldier felt better, took her in and allowed Claire to hide out in her garage until the commotion had settled and she was safe from harm. Finally able to catch her breath, Claire stared up at the ceiling while her heavy breathing echoed through the mostly empty garage. With the silence of the building being provided to her after Lady Gibson had gone outside to ensure her safety, Claire's mind began running astir with questions. "What...", she asked before coughing, " What did I just risk my life for? What did we just gain from losing so much of our chapter?" Before she was able to conclude the various untrusting questions about her loyalty to the Brotherhood, she felt a heavy pain on her chest. She clutched her chest before letting out a series of strained coughs, rolling over onto her side before fainting from the pain.
Days passed, and eventually Claire regained her consciousness and strength with the help of Lady Gibson who sought out the medical aid of a traveling caravan. As Claire sat up on the side of the bed and took off her helmet to hold her forehead, she opened her eyes to be greeted by the kindly old woman and merchant who restored both her and her equipment to working condition. The two smiled when they saw Claire had finally come to. "Good to see you're awake!", Gibson remarked happily, patting the noticeably cleaner shoulder pad of her power armor, " I was hoping those repairs would be worth the hassle!" "Oh? Well thank you.", Claire responded tiredly, looking over at the merchant who had been standing there quietly with what seemed to be a First Aid Kit in his hands. " I suppose I should pay you two?" Gibson and the merchant exchanged looks before turning back to Claire, both shrugging to give off a neutral response. "As much as I'd love to have you pay me for fixing you up, I was hardly able to do much in the way of medical assistance. Consider my help a onetime only offer, I didn't expect a half dead woman to be carrying much pocket change anyway." Claire nodded thankfully before turning to the Merchant who had been less social than Old Lady Gibson. "And what do I owe you, sir?", she asked nervously, unsure of whether or not he expected a pay for saving her life. "I'll tell you what," he replied, nudging the chest plate of her armor, "my bodyguards were taken out by some Raiders at Novac just South of here. I'll lend you some armor I have on me to prevent the NCR nearby from opening fire on us, and if you can get me back to the Crimson Caravan Company safely then I'll consider your debt repaid." Pondering the offer the man had given but seeing no better alternative, Claire stood up from the bed and thanked Old Lady Gibson before heading out with the trader. With the Metal Armor the merchant had given her to keep her safe from NCR suspicion and a temporarily newfound purpose, Claire set out to escort her savior safely to the Crimson Caravan, though the long journey north may prove troublesome.