Chapter Two

"So what is it?" Corporal Verdun asked, her voice strained from all the yelling the night before.

Sergeant Hoss never stopped looking at the map, "It's a map of the Americas. From Canada to the tip of South America."

The map was old, perhaps older than before the war. It had all the former secret Enclave bases in green and by the looks of it there was alot of those bases. Not only did the USA have them, but every former country had at least one.

Redfords looked up at his Sergeant, "So what. It's not this map is going to help us now. We need to leave or get ready for the last stand of our lives" he said agitated by his superior.

The Sergeant whipped his head towards Redfords, "Fine. Go find a way to get home without being attacked or running out of supplies."

Redfords response was to snort and walk away from his comrades. He was going to find a way to get home even if it killed him.

"So now that you have successfully pissed off Redfords, what are you gonna do? You said it yourself we can't go home and if we stay another night we might not make it" Corporal Verdun asked, she looked back towards where Redfords went and saw nothing but rubble.

"Honestly Corporal I am looking for a damn miracle. In all my years of service I never been in this situation, hell before two months ago I've never been outside our borders", Hoss said while rolling up the map and stuffing it in his pack, "we might as well try to go west. It appears there is a old town there, from the map, and hopefully supplies."

Verdun just shook her head and grabbed her gear. This expedition just gets worse and worse, she thought.

Oaktown, 10 Miles from Hoss' expedition

Rip looked over his gang, fourteen men in total with five whores in lockup down at the police station. Looking over to his left he saw the biggest man he'd ever seen walking up to him. The boys always called him Crush, mostly because his tendency to crush their captives skulls with his hands, he was a tall dark skinned man with bulging arms. His head was shav- "SNIPER!" he yelled as he threw himself down.

Corporal Redfords had a grin on his face as he slid back the bolt of his gun. He had just exploded some giants head and sent the raiders into turmoil. Aiming at some mohawked idiot, who fired on some trees five hundred yards to his left, he squeezed the trigger and watched his bullet tear the man's throat open.

Rip peaked up from his cover to see TinTook fall down and clutch his throat to no avail. He looked back left and witnessed Tidewater get his head split as another round tore apart his head. "Fuckin come on you sorry shits! We gotta take em out!" He pulled his ak-47 off his shoulder and fired to where he thought the sniper was, but he should have just ran. Before he could register his gun going click a round hit his heart. He died before he hit the ground.

As Corporal Redfords killed another raider and was reloading he heard rustling in the leaves behind him. Dropping his gun and rolling over while pulling out his sidearm, he saw his fellow corporal come out of the woods. "Fuck, I almost shot you Verdun. You gotta be more careful."

Corporal Verdun just laid beside him and pulled off her own rifle. After finding her target, a risky raider who was spraying a machine gun particularly close to their position, she shot and her round went right through his eye and slung him back into the building. "My name is Rose, honestly I'm getting tired of Verdun this and Corporal that. We are equals here."

Redfords furrowed his brows. There was no way she should have been able to make that shot. "Okay Rose, how about you take your men and flank the remaining raiders. And first names are unprofessional."

Sighing Rose just got up and radioed her men to flank the raiders, "Uptight asshole."

After the troops had cleared the raiders from the buildings they set up the police station as their camp for the night. Finding five women that looked starving, scared, and just tired, they set their remaining medic to look over them.

"Sir, Ma'am! Sergeant Hoss is back with the Enclave survivors!" one of Redfords snipers announced to the group. Sure enough Hoss led a group of soldiers that were carrying supplies from the ruined base.

As Hoss' group approached Redfords could see that the only thing they carried was ammunition, not the food the were going to need.

Sergeant Hoss looked to his stressed corporal, "What's wrong? Did y'all find any food here or what?"

Redfords shook his head and went to go back to the roof. Hoss thought for a moment and decided to find Verdun. She would have better news, hopefully.

He found her in the motor pool area of the Police station, she was with the Enclave Mechanic looking over a pristine looking police car.

"I hope that car is runnin' or it has a shit ton of food in it Verdun" he said to the Corporal whose face wasn't stress but awe.

"Has no food in it, but it does run" she said smiling, "hell it looks like it also runs off of fusion cores."

Sergeant Hoss took a moment to think that over, "You fuckin' with me Verdun?"

"No, it's a running machine just sitting down here" she said never losing her smile.

Quickly the sun's rays turned into a full moon and the base was sent on edge. None of the soldiers knew if the ghouls would attack, drawn by the gunfire of today's battle.

Sergeant Hoss climbed the stairs the the second story to check on the machine guns being set up in the windows. All of the teams being extra careful of accidental fire. He then made his way to the roof to talk with Redfords.

He found the man sitting on an AC unit with his rifle sweeping the northwoods, "Corporal," he said making the man stand at attention, "At ease, get ready for a trip. In the morning me, you, Verdun, and that Mechanic are taking a car to Texas." With that he went back down to recheck the machine guns.

The Corporal just continued looking out of his scope at the woodland below, he might be getting out tomorrow, but his men were stuck here. Alone and without any comms.

Atlanta, CSA Capital

President Knox was sitting at his oak desk. His meeting with that sexy secretary had been foiled by his idiot son Jackman. If only Jackman was like his good son Junior.

"Mr. President, Sir. Mr. Alaway wants to see you. " Knox didn't even notice his door had opened up until his new secretary popped her head in.

"Well send him in than" he said. She might not be as bright as the last one, but she definitely made up for it in other areas.

As he was thinking about those other areas, a man walked in. His face was hidden by a Fedora and tinted shades, he wore a clean black suit, and carried an atmosphere of a man who gets things done. For a price.

The man took a seat before the large president, "Why Hussein it has been a while, hasn't it? Anyways I must tell that your request has been… accomplished," his voice was clear and precise, a perfect representation of english.

Hussein Knox looked at the man for a moment and got up from his chair, "Very good Mr. Alaway, would you like a drink?" he asked while pouring two glasses.

The suited man considered it, but the journey to California was long and he'd rather get it over sooner than later, "I'll have to decline Mr. President, I must simply be getting going." As he got up to leave the President spun around and planted two 9mm rounds into his skull.

Walking over to his desk he hit the intercom, "I need a clean up in my office. A visitor has made quite the mess."

As he sat back down and leaned back the President thought about how his new play was going to make his country the country. "Now that I've provoked the bear let me stun the knight," and with that he started writing a letter to his old war friend, a man who could really stun the infamous Brotherhood of Steel.

Oaktown

Sergeant Hoss slammed the trunk of the car, he had just finished loading supplies and was going to find Redfords. As if on cue however the man walked through the doorway and into the motorpool.

Corporal Redfords looked over at his Sergeant, "Sir, I am ready to leave. " He then proceeded to open the back door and sit down.

The Sergeant could only shake his head, that Corporal was only getting harder and harder to deal with. And after he had told him about their soon departure he only had gotten worse. This was going to be a long trip.

Hoss checked over the fusion cores, they were underneath the driver's seat, and called to Corporal Verdun, "Get that mechanic and we are gonna rocket away." He watched her salute and walk away, that was odd. Verdun was normally a very lippy subordinate, but as of late she hadn't said a word. Fuck this was going to be a long fucking trip.

After Rose Verdun had found the mechanic, they had all gotten in the vehicle and started driving. Hoss, seeing that his two corporals were being complete fun killers decided to talk with their newest member, "So Mr. Fixer dude, what were you doing at that enclave deathtrap?" the Sergeant asked swerving violently to get his attention after he didn't talk for a few moments.

"Fuck! Calm down! Alright, I was there to help salvage a lost civilian chopper. And my name is John, John Cyca."

"John, huh. Well the names Mack Hoss, and it's a fuckin pleasure to meet you. See my two corporals here won't talk and if you weren't here I would have to… well I would do something stupid that's for sure."

John looked over at Redfords and up a Rose, "I thought they just ran into relationship problems, " at this Redfords whipped his over to John with his mouth open and Rose looked out the window, red faced.

Hoss chuckled, "Well it would be nice if that were the case, but I ain't to sure that it is."

John was still trying to avoid Redfords' death stare, "Yep, don't think that's the case at all Mack," he said finally getting Redfords to turn his head.

Hoss looked to his left and spotted an old sight, "There is an old plantation house way out yonder, y'all wanna stay the night there? Or go on towards the city of Holland?"

Corporal Redfords was the first to speak up, "Holland, we need to travel as far and fast as we can."

Hoss looked at him with the rearview mirror, "Fine. I was jus- FUCK! HOLD ON!" he screamed swerving to the right. A rocket hit where the would have been and tipped the car on two wheels and as another hit just a second later, the car flipped over a few times and landed in a ditch.

Hoss kicked out the front windshield and crawled out, upholstering his pistol and grabbing Rose's outstretched arm. "Rose I need you to fire on those bastards, I think they are at the plantation!" he yelled while trying to wrench open the backdoors.

As he opened the back drivers side door Redfords crawled out, his rifle already in his hands. "Thanks for the assist Sir."

Hoss was already trying to open John's door when he heard a yell and saw Rose tumble down the side of the ditch. Wrenching open the door and throwing John out he grabbed the mechanic by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes, "John are you any good in a firefight?"

The mechanic shook his head, yes, and caught the pistol that Hoss had thrown at him, "Good then you can get up and fire on those fuckers!" the Sergeant yelled as he ran over to Rose.

To the sergeants surprise, he wasn't the first one there. Corporal Redfords had ran from his sniping spot and was currently helping Rose bandage her arm, "Fuck, Redfords status update," the Sergeant asked.

Redfords never looked up from Rose's arm, but did reply, "Looks like a nest of raiders, Sir. And Rose here got hit in the arm. "

Hoss had a smirk and was going to make one of his smart-ass comments, but John's yell grabbed his attention, "You all best get up here, looks like they are charging on our position!"

As Hoss scrambled up the hill he could see about five raiders, with pool cues to pipes, all sprinting towards them while a dozen raiders took potshots at John.

He reached for his sidearm, but remembered that John had it. Frantically he searched for another weapon as the raiders soon closed the gap. He was good at hand to hand combat, but five raiders with weapons was not fair odds.

Right before the first raider, a man with a rather large crescent wrench, was about to jump at Hoss, Redfords put a bullet through his throat causing him to stumble and fall. Chambering another round he looked at the next raider, but was surprised when she was filled with holes.

Looking to his left he saw Rose reloading her rifle, "Looks like that bullet didn't effect your aim, huh?" Redfords said before killing another charging raider with a headshot.

Rose looked over at him, his helmet was off and she saw his Sarge style blonde hair. He was an attractive man in her eyes, with his sharp features and piercing blue eyes. "You wish, my aim can't be beat," she said while taking down the last two raiders with bursts from her rifle.

Redfords shook his head, "Maybe, you made a few shots before that have even impressed me. "

Rose scoffed, "Impressed you? Well damn I might as well get a fucking building named after me for doing that!"

"Don't let it get to your head Rose. I'm still the sniper of the group," Redfords said, "And Dylan."

Rose threw him a curious glance, "Dylan?"

"My name, you wanted to know it," he said before going off to find a spot to snipe the raiders still in the house.

Hoss was arguing with John on the best approach for the house when Rose crawled over to them, "Mack, here's your rifle. We are going to provide covering fire while Dylan gets them," she said while giving the now joyful Sergeant his gun back.

Hoss looked at Rose, "Now who is Dylan and how is he getting them?" Hoss said while shooting his gun at the house.

Rose stopped to reload and said, "That's Redfords and I saw him sneaking around to the back of the house."

Rick poured rounds downrange a few hitting an unlucky raider, he then got to thinking Dylan has been in my squad for five years and I've never known his first name.

Dylan had snuck into the back of the house, he already dispatched one raider watching the backdoor and was about to kill another. As he looked at the man he became confused, the raider was wearing a confederate officer uniform.

Still a raider is a raider and with a squeeze of his silenced pistol the raider fell to the ground. Moving through the house he entered the living room and found two raiders gunning at his squad from the main windows.

Aiming for the one closest to him he fired and before he hit the ground fired on the second one. After searching that room for hostiles he then moved up a staircase. Running down a hallway he threw quick glances into rooms he passed by, one was an old nursery of sorts now serving as a sex room. Stopping in the doorway he fired on two raiders that were tangled together.

Moving to the last room he was tackled by a large raider sporting a pool cue, "Looks like it's yer turn ta die motherfucker!" the raider yelled as he lifted up his pool cue, ready to strike.

The raider never got the chance as Dylan shot his crotch with his pistol and as the raider fell to ground fired again at his head. Dylan quickly got up and radioed Sergeant Hoss the all clear.

Mack entered the plantation style house and took in a big gulp of fresh air, "Nothin' like raiding fuckin' raiders I tell ya," he said getting a glance from John.

"Jesus Mack, who did you ever get to be a Sergeant?" John asked the man seriously.

Mack scratched the back of his head, "Well… uh, I did lead the Atlanta Marines before gettin' caught with the Vice President's daughter," he said, "and their was that time I told General Knox Jr to fuck off. "

Rose looked over at her superior, "Wait so you're here as punishment? Then why the hell are Dylan and I here? We graduated the academy at the top of our classes!"

It was Macks turn to be confused now, "Why are y'all here. I mean why are we all here actually, and why the hell did the Enclave know we were coming?" he asked looking over at John.

"Hey don't look at me, I thought that you guys were just some swamp inbreds role-playing at first." John said trying to clear his innocence.

The conversation would have continued if weren't for Dylan walking through a doorway carrying a confederate officer's uniform,"I don't think we were the first out here" he said throwing the clothes on the ground.

Mack walked up to the uniform and picked up the jacket, rummaging through its pockets he found a dog tag. "Says here this belonged to Captain Horris Hunt, wait a minute weren't he the one who died protecting Frankfurt from supermutants?"

Rose walked up to him, "Yeah that's right he did. I remember hearing about it a few days before graduation, he held off a horde of greenies alone while the citizens evacuated."

Mack pocketed the tags and threw down the jacket, "I guess the CO back at base has alot of explaining when we finally return."

After the group settled in Dylan took first watch on the rooftop. He pointed his rifle in one direction however, Oaktown. He still feared for his men, they were alone and running low on food. He knew even if he traveled back there was nothing he could do.

Watching the road to Oaktown for a few more minutes he heard footsteps approaching him. Getting up he turned around and saw Rose walking towards him. She did live up to her name, she saw beautiful no doubt. From her brunette hair to soft face and curves that her tight armor left little to imagine. "Hey Rose, why are you up here your shift starts in an hour?"

She walked past him and sat on the edge of the roof facing Oaktown. "Just wanted to talk Dylan. But if you wanna go to sleep that's fine too."

Dylan put down his rifle and sat beside her. He felt like a damn kid again sitting and talking, "You worried about our men?" he asked.

Rose sighed, "Yeah, I was trusted with their lives, but now it feels like I've abandoned them. And I understand that the Enclave is closer than home, but I still would rather be home. "

Dylan understood, abandoning his men was eating him up, but he knew that if he stayed they would all just die, "I know how you feel, but we couldn't have just stayed there. Don't worry they'll be safe and when Mack leads us to them we will have more supplies than we know what to do with. "

Rose looked over at him, "I thought first names were unprofessional?" she asked.

Dylan shrugged, "You called me an asshole."