(Hey guys a quick note before we start, I now have twitter where I'll post updates on any stories I'm working on and just get more involved with you guys. so come follow me here NotDixieBiscuit and now back your story)
The rumble of the refurbished army truck was the peaceful compared to the constant shelling, gunfire, and screaming Piper had heard for months. The sky was a depressing gray, full of smoke and dust. The land was covered debris and bodies as if someone threw the entire world into a meat grinder and went to town.
"Hey." Lucky tapped her on the shoulder.
Piper looked up, Lucky sat across from her with the same worried look he always had when they talked.
"We're not on the front lines you can relax." he said "Try and cool down."
"Yeah, can't wait till we get to go home. Getting real tired of being shot at" Piper said looking at the wasteland outside.
"Yea I know, looking at this scenery is pretty depressing." Luck said scratching his stubble. "But hey, at least we get a break from all that chaos we've suffered for months."
The truck grumbled to a stop and an NCR trooper came around and opened the tailgate to let the soldiers out. Piper got off and looked around, despite the filth and mud she'd rather be at HQ than the trenches. Piper and Lucky walked to the commander's tent to report in. They walked past the hospital tent medics, and nurses rushing back and forth. The wounded sat awaiting their fate. Some were praying, others were screaming in pain, and some just laid there like statues with cold, dead, eyes. They passed the armory where soldiers where storing crates of ammunition. They reached the commanders tent and went inside. The two were a bit surprised at what they saw; despite them being in a war-zone the Commander's tent was pretty comfy. A large sofa sat on one end where two NCR soldiers sat sipping coffee and chatting. A large table sat on the other end where a large plate of sandwiches and water bottles sat. in the corner a makeshift furnace crackled providing warmth.
"The perks of being a pencil-pusher." Lucky muttered
"Commander." said Piper as she approached a man sitting at a desk.
The commander looked up from his papers and said. "Yes?"
"Sergeant Piper Wright, reporting in." she said.
"Ah Sergeant good to have you guys back from the frontlines." he said with a half-smile. "We don't have any missions for you at the moment, go to the barracks and cool your heels, there's also hot grub in the mess. take a load off you've earned it."
"Yes sir." Piper said and the two exited the tent.
The went searching for the mess till they were pointed in direction of a large tent. A burly man in a stained apron spooned a heap of diced potatoes, and a block of meat onto their plates and motioned for them to move on.
" Eh beer-boy this brahmin?" lucky asked poking the meat with his fork.
"The man scratched his chin and shrugged, mumbling something about bloatflies and radroaches before again motioning them to move on. They found an empty picnic table and ate.
"Hey cap'n waddya suppose this is?" asked Lucky pointing at his block of mystery meat.
"Dunno, but I'm happy I can eat something other than soggy, flavorless rations." Piper said.
The two ate their food and spent the rest of the day sleeping in the barracks. surprisingly Piper snored the most out of the two prompting many jokes and complaints from both lucky and the other soldiers in the barracks alike. The next morning Piper and Lucky woke up, got their breakfast from the burly man, ate together, went around headquarters talking about the various battles they've fought. A few large army trucks rolled into the camp and the soldiers were lined up behind them. An officer stepped onto a crate and began speaking to the hundreds of Brotherhood knights, NCR troopers, and Minutemen.
"Alright everybody listen up! It's been a long war and I know you've been through some heavy fighting. But, we've got a gift for you guys, courtesy of the higher ups we got you guys some new uniforms, now you guys can look like proper C.A.F G.I's."
The soldiers talked amongst each other about how it was about time they got new clothes or how they hoped the uniforms were good looking. Piper and lucky approached the man handing out uniforms and were asked for their allegiance.
"NCR, Brotherhood, or Minutemen?" he said.
"Minutemen." Piper said.
"NCR." Lucky said.
The two got their uniform packages and changed into them. Each package contained. Standard olive drab fatigues with a gear harness for carrying spare mags and grenades, a pair of brand new combat boots, and a modified NCR trooper chest piece. Piper's package contained a Militia hat while Lucky's had a standard NCR helmet. Piper stepped outside and looked at herself in a mirror, she looked like those soldiers she'd seen on old posters from the 1950's. Lucky stepped out and did a spin.
"Not too shabby." he said.
A soldier approached Piper and saluted.
"Sergeant the commander requests your presence."
She nodded and walked over to the commander's tent. Piper entered inside hat in hand.
"Sir?"
The commander looked up from his papers.
"Wright, we have a mission for you and your team."
"Alright."
"A small village east of here is being held hostage by Legion troops, that village supplies us with crops we can't let it be taken over. your platoon is to go down to the village and take it back. Get your team ready, you move out in 12 hours. dismissed."
"Yes sir." piper said before saluting and exiting the tent.
Lucky sat leaning against an army truck smoking.
"Sooo, what did the CO want?" he asked.
"We got another mission, we move out in 12 hours." she sighed.
"Greeaaat, righty-o then I'll go tell the men." Lucky said flicking his cigarette into a puddle and walking off.
(a little PSA a family emergency came up and I have to go and deal with it. I wont be getting much writing done for the next few days but don't worry I'll be back soon.)