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Member: Scribe Andy Pogue
Service Number: 10483222
Date of Birth: 12-19-2248
Date of Death: Presently Serving
Place of Death: Presently Serving
Chapter: West Coast
Duty Stations: Lost Hills (Current), Hidden Valley, Helios One, Hub Watchpost 002
Areas of Research: Brotherhood History and Legacy, Experimental Enclave Defensive Systems
Archive Submission: Unofficial Dictionary

I don't know the date I'm writing this, but I'm about 95% sure the year is 2281. I want to say it's March, but the terminal I'm using has a busted date register. Either that or I jumped through time to December 83rd of the year 9822. Everyone else is asleep right now and nobody wants to really do anything since the lockdown's been going on so long that sanity is hard to hold onto. I stopped counting the days since McNamara led us here, but I don't really care at the moment. Boredom is a horrible thing to fight, and I got tired of memorizing the rivet patterns on old Enclave Advanced Power Armor Mk. II schematics.

Sooo, since I'm helping out the Lost Hills Level 3 guys with their historical archives part time, I decided to make this dictionary with the help of Ramos and some of the other Paladins, Knights, and Scribes. Lost Hills just got a huge file with the East Coast's data stores that I had forwarded to me for help in this. Without further ado, here is:

Scribe Pogue's Brotherhood Dictionary

Abomination: Refers to anyone not Brotherhood, but usually mutated creatures.

AER-9: A dirty piece of pre-war trash that doesn't compare to the Watts 2000. Also shoots lasers.

Archive Scribe: A Scribe who isn't good at engineering or researching, but smart enough to remain in the order of the Scribes.

Aspirant: Originally a joke to call someone with so much Brotherhood ambition that it gets them nothing but a grave or hatred of their comrades. Now it's a rank on the East Coast.

Bat: A person who's a coward and always complains whenever topside. Typically someone with "Bunker Fever"

Brotherhood Grade: Term used by outsiders to describe something reliable, high tech, and deadly. When used by members; term refers to something that is out of focus, badly in need of maintenance, and been used by 5,000 people.

Brownies: NCR soldiers. Name comes from their ridiculous brown uniforms and high chance of defecating themselves upon seeing our Paladins.

Bunker Fever: An illness common to our members from prolonged time underground. Symptoms include hallucinations, anxiety, depression, rage, etc. (Something I'm feeling while writing this)

Bunker: A dark hole in the ground where most members of the Brotherhood live and work. Usually has great air ventilation and is bomb proof until hit by a bomb.

Can Opener: An arc welder or thermic lance used to separate metal or weld it together based on heat level and focus. Excellent for lighting cigarettes in a bind.

CET: "Confiscated Enclave Technology" Advanced Enclave Technology that far surpasses our own, even after their destruction 40 years ago.

Circle Agent: A member of the Brotherhood's internal security force and former espionage wing. Also known as a "Blue Falcon" or "Buddy Fucker."

Comms Officer: Someone who's always thought they were too valuable for the battlefield, and has enough brains to operate 200 year old Ham Radios.

Compensator: Usually a Paladin or Knight heavy weapon specialist. Name refers to their preference of big guns and thick power armor to "compensate" for small genitalia.

Cooking Cup: A small post-war steel can used to cook up Field Rats and season with mercury.

Corkboard: Or "Mission Board" The board or public network site within a duty station that posts new and available jobs/missions for Brotherhood members to participate.

Dirty Lens: An excuse often used by Paladins or Knights to explain their inaccurate shots with a standard laser rifle. Ex- "How did you miss that super mutant behemoth one block away?" "Sorry Paladin, my laser rifle's got a dirty lens."

Elder's Praise: Being recognized for excellence in the field of combat or research by the esteemed head of the recipient's prospective Chapter. Equates to nothing but "Feelgoods" and remains irrelevant on the promotion board.

FC: "Fusion Core" or "TX-28 Microfusion Pack" A cylindrical yellow battery used to power facility systems or power armor frames.

Field Rats: "Field Rations" Consists of 200 year old canned sludge, slightly radioactive vegetables, and usually a dessert of dehydrated chocolate or radioactive fruit. Quantity based on assigned mission duration.

Field Strip: The act of taking something apart in the field, usually for maintenance. Alternatively refers to getting rid of non-essential equipment/supplies before a march. Ex- "Why you so pissed off?" "Paladin Joe made me get rid of the candy in my field rats when we field stripped our gear."

Full Kit: The full set of battlefield equipment and sufficient ammo. Either consists of Brotherhood modified combat armor or power armor. Weapons vary per unit.

Grocery Shopper: Someone who pissed off enough people to be kicked out of a bunker even under lockdown to go get supplies. Ex- Veronica was annoying the shit out of everyone here, so Elder McNamara made her a grocery shopper for her own sake.

Guard Duty: The duty station/outpost procedure that keeps us all safe at night. Also causes the most suicides from boredom.

Had an Accident: Refers to when someone forgets they have a dip in and have nowhere to spit inside their power armor helmet. Usually happens when breaks are interrupted by surprise engagements. (hard to clean out)

Holotag: Tiny tag worn by all members of the Brotherhood for identification in case of death. Tag has name, title, service number, date of birth, and chapter. Usually worn in the boots of field soldiers in case of dismemberment.

Hyd Fluid: Reddish and thick mechanical fluid from hydraulic systems that leaks everywhere in garages and supposedly adds unique flavor to field rats.

Initiate: The training rank of all Brotherhood members aspiring for the title of Knight or Scribe. (Reportedly dumber on the East Coast)

K.S. Mafia: The unofficial club of East Coast members who're promoted to "Knight-Sergeant." Members typically shred all contact with former buddies to flaunt their authority with hopes of appeasing those above.

KFL: "Knight for Life" Usually referring to a troublemaker who cannot get past the standard battlefield eligible rank.

Knight: Mechanics and techs on the West Coast. Basic grunts on the East Coast. Mostly serve as Scribe errand boys, and weekend warriors in times of desperation in the west.

Lancer: A specialized member of the Scribes dedicated to our West Coast Vertibird squadron. Increasingly common on the East Coast after they took Adams AFB's Enclave transport fleet. I don't know enough about them to say anything snarky.

Learning Objective: A pointless task given to subordinate under false pretenses about its vitality to our mission. Ex- "Why is Scribe Joe studying old world recipe books?" "I gave him that learning objective because I'm planning on having Mess Officer Susie usurped."

Level 6: Died. Ex- "Why didn't Joe come back from that Op?" "He went to Level 6" (Not euphemism for Hell)

Libo: "Liberty" Authorized time for rest and recuperation within a designated vicinity. What everyone lives for.

Light Duty: Term that refers to a status used by medical for classifying minor injury cases. More commonly used by slackers to get out of training operations. Ex- "Why's Knight Joe staying behind on this scouting run?" "He sprained his ankle five weeks ago and has light duty till the day he dies."

Lockdown: When a Bunker shuts and locks all doors. Nobody enters, nobody leaves. (The death of us all)

Logistic Corps: Members of the Brotherhood who feel tough enough to get out of the lab, but not tough enough to actually fight. They also move supplies.

Lyons' Pride: An extremely experienced fighter whose goals are misdirected towards other ambitions. Ex- "Paladin Joe's a badass. Shame he gives his rats to wasters" "Must be in Lyons Pride."

Mandatory Fun: Unit activities that nobody wants to do, but ordered by command for morale and camaraderie building purposes (Usually lowers morale and stirs resentment). Ex- "Wanna go do literally anything we want now that the shift is over?" "Can't, we gotta go to SP's cookoff on level 2 right now for mandatory fun, remember?"

Maxson Blood: A person has "Maxson Blood" if they show exceptional bravery in the field of battle.

Mess Officer: In an organization dedicated to science, these are the only people dedicated to art… Usually rushed, shitty, and under-cooked art.

MFC: "Micro-Fusion Cell" Regular ammunition for most Brotherhood weapons. More common use has members remove the oscillator for heating field rats, or giving vibrating companionship.

Missing Motivator Unit: An expression used to describe someone constantly complaining or having low spirits. Ex- "Why's Scribe Joe so sad?" "He has a missing motivator unit. You should requisition a new one for him."

Nepitist: A brother or sister who's a piece of garbage, but only favored due to their parents who were prominent members.

Nuka Cola: Sugary prewar beverage usually used by Apprentice Paladins to dehydrate themselves for medical leave before training marches.

Optic Upgrade: Excuse used by Paladins and Field Knights issued Power Armor to explain their lack of perception. Ex- "How did you not see those raiders 100 yards away" "Sorry Paladin, I need an Optic Upgrade." Occasionally used in place of "Dirty Lens."

Outcast: A true and die hard member of the East Coast Chapter during their civil war whom ultimately reigned victorious.

Overcharged: Angry or upset. Ex- "What's wrong with Knight Joe?" "He's been overcharged since Scribe Susie broke up with him."

Paladin: Warriors/Defenders on the West Coast, Battlefield Officers on the East Coast. Typically think they're better than everyone else.

Played the Market: Refers to our victory over the NCR in Redding that completely obliterated their gold based economy. Ex- "I can't believe I finally got assigned to Paladin Joe's unit! He's a badass!" "No way! Didn't he play the market back in 59?"

POG: Person Other than Grunt- Scribes, West Coast Knights, East Coast Lancers.

Post-War Schematic: A set of schematics roughly based on pre-war ones for Knight manufacturing purposes. Though readable, they typically look like the precious art of a four year old.

Power Boner: Something someone with authority, or someone who's recently been promoted gets in order to show they have power (Applies to both men and women members). Ex- "Why did Paladin Joe make me clean my quarters again when it was fine the first two times?" "He has a power boner, plain and simple."

Pulling a Lyons: Going out of ones way to waste Brotherhood resources. Ex- "I saw Knight Joe pulling a Lyons on our mission last week." "How so?" "He wasted 30 MFCs against raiders who had nothing to do with our objective."

Quartermaster: A person who denies you the things you need in order to go on mission or do your research. Typical quartermasters were bullied as kids, so they love saying "No" to people. See "Power Boner."

Requisition Form: A form that requires 10,000 signatures and a minimum of 13 years waiting period before utilized as toilet paper by the outpost quartermaster.

ROBSEC: "Robotic Security" Automated security that Guard Details activate when they're feeling far too lazy to keep watch themselves.

SATCOMM: "Satellite Communications" The act of linking with old world satellites. Or refers to a station or outpost outfitted with long range signal transmitters for long range communications.

Scav Run: The typical mission for most West and East Coast missions. Typically goes like- "See that ruin that hasn't been touched for 500 years?" "Yes?" "Go see if there's anything shiny over there and don't get killed."

Scribe: The brains of the Brotherhood. Tech preservationists and tech researchers. The Brotherhood would be no better than primitives without them. Ex- We were smart enough to make this dictionary.

Sizzler: A pulse grenade. Nicknamed as such because of the bacon frying sound inside a power armor armor helmet as the suit's systems shut off one by one. Ex- "Why isn't Paladin Joe moving?" "He was in range of that sizzler. Go give his suit a jump so he can run the on board repair sequence."

SP: "Senior Paladin" A man who's done enough to command Paladins, but not enough to earn Head Paladin. Upon promotion, they are taken in for brain surgery to have the part of their brain that processes "Joy" removed. Usually recognized by permanent scowls (In my experience)

Squire: Children of Brotherhood members. Sometimes integrated orphans on the East Coast. "Make perfect lightweight shields" according to the Paladins (Just kidding)

Steel Be with You: Originally a joke phrase between members of the West Coast Chapters. Adopted as a serious mantra on the East Coast. Joke Ex- "How can I assault that position when I'm down to only 10 rounds?" "Don't worry, Steel Be with You… Kidding! Have some of my ammo."

Sweep & Retrieve: Similar to "Scav Runs" Sweep & Retrieve operations usually have a specific goal or technology to be acquired after eliminating known hostiles.

Tool Room: A designated room within a major Brotherhood installation inhabited by those who aren't good at mechanics but are relatively decent at retrieving things for those who are.

UDT: "Undiscovered Technology" Uncatalogued item retrieved on an op that is usually shiny and has lots of buttons. UDT Items range from prototype toasters to guns from the planet "Xzarn"

Upped Wattage: Similar to "Overcharged" but alternately refers to someone with short temper. Ex- "Stay away from Head Paladin Joe, he's got upped wattage since dealing with those KFLs"

Valley Lung: Refers to a condition specific to the Mojave Chapter's "Hidden Bunker" patrols. Aluminum dust in the lungs and subsequent metal poisoning causes long term breathing troubles. Similar conditions reported by members scouting "The Divide." (Unrelated)

Vault Dweller: A term referring to the old folk hero from California, but more commonly referred to outsiders with astonishingly limited intellect. Ex- "Where'd you guys get that cool armor?" "We're Paladins of the Brotherhood. You a vault dweller or something?"

VR Sim: "Virtual Reality Simulation" A computer with a neural interface system utilized by Knights and Paladins for non-lethal mission training purposes. Universally used by all members on particularly lonely nights for "alternate" purposes. (Delete "Scenario History" after use)

Waste Day: That day of the week where everyone not on duty cleans their already clean rooms or barracks for no other reason than to waste the time of those with more enjoyable plans.

Watchpost: Similar to a "Bunker" but far worse. Usually a post war structure with poor ventilation and limited room for a minimum garrison of 4 Paladins, 4 Knights, and 3 Scribes. Watchposts serve as Comms stations, safehouses, and organization HQs in high profile settlements.

Water Core: A recharged Fusion Core that has lost its maximum power capacity usually due to powering 200 year old buildings without rest. Ex- "Why did you bring 8 FCs on this patrol down the road?" "I only got water cores since that 6 month Op. You'll have to swap me out every hour or so."

Working Party: A group of anywhere between 2-6 idle soldiers drafted onto a menial job. Usually for cleaning something or running an errand the Head Paladin can't be bothered to do themselves.

[Unofficial Brotherhood Dictionary concept was adored by Head Scribe Wisner upon Scribe Pogue's return to Lost Hills. Let this document serve as a means of camaraderie and a universal link between our Order's members across the wastelands - Head Scribe Wisner (LH)]

Legacy: Scribe Andy Pogue continues to serve and research with distinction.

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*Inspiration for this entry is from Arthur Guy Empey's WWI autobiography titled, "Over the Top" as well as my own military experience and a list of "Americanisms" I made for my Ukrainian friends.*

*If you have ideas to expand on the dictionary, just PM me. I'd love other contributors and I'll give you the proper credit. I'll add more to the dictionary as they hit me, and add more of these terms to my stories going forward. Thanks for reading!*