A little bit of plot build up.
Some things are just meant to be kept secret...
-Musket and Bear: Intel-
The night was still in progress. A no rest routine for everyone as they continued preparing... It was a fully rushed time for most.
She hasn't spoken ever since everything that she had heard about the messages.
As she was off duty, Piper only sat on a nearby crate while cleaning her plasma rifle prototype with a clean clot.
Haylen who was busying herself on observing the other personnel all around was still quiet as well, though she seemed to have eased for a bit.
Her eyes setting at Haylen, Piper quietly sighed and finally began.
"You... Don't have to worry, Haylen... About..."
She paused. Piper felt hesitant to continue, but to see Haylen turning her head at her, she got a quiet response.
"I'll be okay, Lieutenant. And about... Earlier... I keep promises."
Piper inhaled a bit deep. Technology was something the Brotherhood mainly goes after for. But, a possible opportunity like this? She's just as surprised that Haylen would actually keep such a thing. Even if she think of the Scribe bluffing, Haylen's eyes said it clear as proof. Her body language clearly showed how terrified she still was earlier on hearing the records messages for a second time.
"I can tell you're being honest, Haylen. But... It's not necessary-"
"I just don't want to make the situation any worse, Lieutenant..."
Piper was rather surprised at Haylen when she was cut off by the statement. But with Haylen making eye contact with her by the time she said it, Piper clearly saw it in Haylen that she wasn't bluffing. At all.
"It's necessary that I have to say this, Lieutenant. Just so that I wouldn't have to worry about you being suspicious about me, though I trust Danse, but with his full loyalty on Elder Maxson, I figured it may only make things... Complicated, regarding technology. Especially now that relations around factions are stable at the very least."
Piper met a smile from the Scribe. She did have a point. Perhaps... She did misjudge the Brotherhood of Steel a little at the beginning. This wasn't something she'd expect about interacting with a member of the Brotherhood. But just with everyone in the Enclave not comfortable with the other faction, perhaps it's just best to keep it as it is...
"To think... I often wonder... How Casdin thinks about the Enclave Outcast..."
Piper only gave a gentler smile at Haylen's statement before a reply.
"When I was still at the airbase, I've heard from the others the Outcast had long removed the word 'Brotherhood' on their name, as they proudly represented their name in the Enclave as none other but Outcast. To think... If the Enclave under the real Amanda adopts splinter groups, I wouldn't doubt that maybe in the future, there could be more factions tied in with the Enclave. The neutral one as I refer it. I mean... Were not that good, but we're not that bad either... Just neutral, trying run our military."
Piper slowly replied before following it up with a long sigh.
"And here at first, I thought you were just a reporter."
Piper just smiled a bit at Haylen's statement.
"I was. But, I have reasons. Reasons why I joined the Enclave... It's… Rather, a personal one that I'm not... Good talking about..."
"I won't push you, Lieutenant."
Piper gave a small nod at the Scribe, but then she heard Haylen speak again.
"How do you think that the Brotherhood on the west coast would react to all this? Minutemen on California? I mean, there's also one chapter on New Vegas, so I've heard way back before but, they dissolved before we even lost contact with them. But we still keep in contact with the original chapter with its high elders of the council in California."
Piper only stared at Haylen for a long moment before finally giving a response out of her thoughts.
"To think... That if the west coast shares the ideology to Maxson's Brotherhood, I suppose there could be possible arguments, but if it's settled politically, through a peace talk, maybe it can work out to pardon the Minutemen chapter established there. I mean... They're the Minutemen after all. They're always reasonable."
"I will put faith on that, Lieutenant. But as far as I'm concerned there's still the Institute that Elder Maxson originally prioritizes here in the Commonwealth other than searching for technology. I'm worried that what if, our ranks get infiltrated. I'm worried that what if the Institute is just using these conflicts to bide its time before pulling something out of its sleeves. I'm even worried that what if they're-"
"Hey. It's fine, Haylen. Stop worrying too much. I assure you, that things will get better once the NCR are dealt with. I just know it..."
Piper wanted a small nod and a reply.
"So until tomorrow is all we have. And with a strategy already planned, there's still some time left before storming Quincy. We can wait for Danse to return, or check up on how they're doing on the joint investigation."
Piper gave a simple nod.
"As much as I'd like to check up on that, but we don't really have that much time to spare, but maybe just a quick trip to the former bunker would be fitting before the operation."
She earned an acknowledging nod from Haylen before a response.
"Railroad?"
"Yep. On their new relocated agency once Outcast bunker. Based on the recent Enclave archive reports."
"To think, the Outcast seem to respect the Enclave more in loyalty... I never really expected such a transitional phase to happen."
"With an unpredictable leader? Anything's possible, Haylen."
There and after Piper hopped back on her X02, she and Haylen took one of the few vertibirds on standby for departure, and onto the former Outcast bunker now serving as Railroad agency.
"Based on the simple background, the Railroad were once a secret organized synth sympathizer faction?"
"Yes, Haylen. They free Synths from the 'Slavery' of the Institute. Smuggling them out however, they can and helping them in secret to be moved safely away from the Institute's reach. Though, it's ridiculous, but I'd say it's just how they see it fit for themselves. They're still serving their purpose even now as a fully absorbed agency into the Enclave. They put up a ridiculous synth sympathizing show, but they make up for their skills in infiltration, espionage, and mostly in gathering Intel. Basically, like a little competition between them and Nick about that. But they're serving their roles just finely."
A short pause as Piper turned her head down at Haylen who nodded before asking.
"Assuming, they got Railroad agents anywhere, they could gather most informative sources that can either be valuable and risky."
Piper gave a small nod.
"Yeah."
"But what about the Enclave? How do you run your system regarding information if you don't mind me asking."
"Our Enclave Intel officers separate archives from basic files to exclusive data. I'm thoroughly impressed how they run the system. Most info commonly read by the personnel are the exclusive data shared and gathered. The basic ones mainly go to the archives where we can simply learn of what information we like. Basically like a newspaper, or as it's called in the pre-war for the archived news of information. The exclusive data is today's version of pre-war televised news slash live, as well as radio broadcast, like what we still have today. Enclave records kept history of life, and it's luxuries from the days before the Great War."
"You have televised news feed?"
"Something close to it, instead of the actually being shown on a televised screen, it's more of the recorded and sometimes even live audio reports that is most likely listened into."
"Live radio broadcast reports then."
Piper just simply nodded before responding in question.
"How are things truly going between the Brotherhood relations? I mean, you're in contact with your other chapters, right?"
"We are in contact with the council back at California. Every chapter and detachment alike are, too. But some who were unfortunate like the detachment on Vegas were already gone before they even went off the radar four years ago."
"Since there are still chapters further on the west coast, any others you've lost contact with?"
"There are still some detachments active, all but Texas as there really is nothing there, other than that made up tale of a Brotherhood chapter there, but it's just petty lies as no reports were really recovered there. As for the Midwest, the Brotherhood Council never sent any more detachments further, as it poses a risk of further actions of going rouge off radar. Safe to say, the Midwest is off limits and ignored as the rest of the Brotherhood of Steel simply just moved past and pretended it never even existed."
Piper gave an acknowledging nod.
"And I assume your high Elders know about the Outcast ten years ago?"
"Yes, very much likely. But I'm just not sure how the reaction would it be that the Outcast still exists, now as a part of the Enclave. The Brotherhood doesn't tolerate rogues."
The topic was suddenly changed when Piper decided to ask a different question.
"What are your thoughts about... Sarah Lyons?"
Of course... She just had to ask... Though, she wasn't planning on telling but to wonder the side of the Brotherhood at least, it was just tempting to know.
To see Haylen was quiet for some time, Piper patiently waited until Haylen finally opened her mouth to reply.
"I honestly think that hardly anything would change if she was still alive, and as Elder on the capital Brotherhood, just like her father, their ideals were to be helping the people on the capital. But even with the Wanderer in charge as Sentinel, the ideal is still the same. Only that they're thinking the Enclave today is the same Enclave they fought ten years back. But their outlook. Not all chapters of the Brotherhood of Steel don't share outlooks other than their differences of ideologies."
"I see... But, how was she presumed KIA?"
"There, really wasn't much evidence about the report regarding it. But rather, most assumed it and decided to leave it be as the Enclave before were still needed to be dealt with. Though, the campaign against Super Mutants was a success, but the loss of Elder Lyons and Sarah Lyons had to come into an alternative solution. The Wanderer was then appointed as Sentinel a few years back after the defeat of the Enclave."
A long pause. For some reason, Piper felt knowing a bit more about the precious chapter... The pieces of information on the airbase archives and data weren't much stating about the Enclave commanders from the capital ten years back...
"Can you tell me a bit more about the president of the Enclave ten years back? I've read some information on our archives but it wasn't fully detailed..."
Piper earned a disturbed look from the Scribe, but to see Haylen turning shortly, she got a response.
"Like your AIs, and Patriot, the Brotherhood codex stated John Henry Eden was a ZAX Artificial Intelligence, and seeing as the Enclave's president. I've heard stories that the Wanderer even met the president. Says he's a programmed computer. Based on the further Intel, he's mixed of personalities out of pre-war president of the pre-war America from before... Like for instance, a radio statement from him stated he grew up in 'Kentucky' as a sort of reference to one of the oldest pre-war presidents from long ago."
Piper gave an acknowledging nod and listened further.
"Further ZAX information regarding 'Eden' also serves as a monitoring system for the former Enclave on Raven Rock, programmed to 'ensure' continuity of their government based off the pre-war ideology. But hear this, Lieutenant... He's also modeled after the original Enclave AI called MODUS. Thought, barely anything was known about that, but codex records labels it as the older and earlier version of the Enclave's AI monitoring systems on their formed government."
Piper let out a huge sigh... How fucked up was their older chapters truly were?
"The Enclave after all... Was the last Government of pre-war America... Only now... We dispersed from its original ideals, and focuses to be an independent, standalone military force... Free to operate function from the original ideals of the Enclave that tried to wipe out the wasteland of life not only once..."
She slowly said quietly. But she didn't felt shame of it. She was proud of her role. Only shame she felt were the originals still haunting even the former remnants who now serve the Commonwealth Enclave. Shared stories by said remnants soldier and even officers alike via archives were as depressing, heartbreaking, and filled with dread.
"Independent... The codex stated that Eden wasn't as bad as he was thought of... At the very least... Even the Wanderer confirmed this years back..."
Piper suddenly heard Haylen some, rather slow and quite stuttered.
"What do you mean?"
"Eden did share an ideal with the Wanderers' father, James was his name; to provide clean drinking water for the capital, as Eden believed the American people were worth fighting for, referring the people of the capital, despite his still ruthless and horrific genocidal ideals.
To whom I refer worse was Colonel Augustus Autumn. Autumn, however was an independent commander, who also opposed Eden. Based off the Wanderer, both Autumn and Eden are still a fear of influence on the wasteland, but both have different personas. Autumn, unlike Eden was far worse. He doesn't only intend to plan on genocide, but also crave full control over the Enclave to satiate his crave for power. Internal conflict was even raised between the two, all these were added on the codex based on the Wanderers' perspective. And with Autumn in charge of the scientists, for some unexplained reason, he possessed James under his influence. The wanderers' father was used and tricked using Eden's ideal to provide clean drinking water, but in the end, got resulted to unfortunate results, for the Wanderers' father. Death."
Piper folded her attention on Haylen and asked.
"What was the full result?"
"Internal conflict, regarding 'Project Purity' a massive water purifier in the Potomac tidal basin to provide clean drinking water. Autumn wanted to use it under his influence. To control. To gain more power, but Eden was on the obstacle. Then came the Wanderer in the image during those times. Where she was being located by the Enclave, under Autumn to get a part of the purifier to fully activate it on the basin, which was the Garden of Eden Creation Kit or GECK. They did manage to get it, but Autumn intently contaminated the water with a modified FEV. To cleanse the wasteland. That's how he would get full control aside from removing Eden out of the image. If he succeeded, on both removing Eden and cleaning the wasteland, Autumn could easily recall all other remnants from all over the wasteland to reconnect. And by mean cleanse earlier, he intended to it to unite the capital and have the Enclave as it's saviors."
Piper folded her arms firmly.
"As a reason to be the only one's with rights to rule because they're the only 'Pure' untouched by radiation?"
"Pretty much likely, Lieutenant."
Piper mentally cursed. Though the information was beneficial for the Enclave records to expand further, but the origins were just as disturbing.
"At least now... They're out of the picture. I can only sympathize for the former remnants on the airbase still uneasy when educations regarding the Enclave's origins are talked..."
"Well, Eden is long gone now. Stories around the Capital spread about the Wanderer convincing Eden to shut himself down, ceasing his function permanently. Autumn, however... He was presumed dead after the destruction of Raven Rock, before the Enclave's independent last stand on the Adam's Air Force base without its Colonel in charge. But rumors has it, about sightings four years later after the Enclave's defeat. Assuming former remnants. But the status of Autumn remains unknown, as it is undetermined whether he was truly killed or not."
Piper was silent for a long moment. But skirt, she gave one simple response afterward.
"Best to leave it that way. We would rather have Patriot as Amanda's right hand."
Haylen gave a respectable nod. But as they continue further, , they were dropped twenty meters away form the bunker now Railroad agency.
Upon enter the bunker, they were immediately met by the sight of busy Railroad agents.
Directly heading over to one of the other rooms serves as offices, there she saw Desdemona typing on a terminal.
"Desdemona."
To gain the woman's attention, she gained a nod and was featured for her and Haylen to come in.
"You're here for the investigation?"
"Yes... We were hoping to get an update. How was the progress?"
There was a pause from the agent then came a small sigh before a reply.
"There was a small report from one of our agents. Though, the areas they're currently investigating are clearly being occupied by NCR personnel, but they're handling it fine. I've sent message to the airbase regarding this investigation and a team was dispatched to deal with the NCR. Just a minor patrols.
As for the investigation, our agents, and a Brotherhood squad are still on progress."
"And the report?"
"Report was detailed from an outpost. E 29° E 37°. They detailed it to be some sort of, Enclave facility established out of a small airfield."
Piper froze. The coordinates Colonel Amani gave her when she gathered the rest of the other remnants... The exact location where she was told to give to Patriot...
Piper immediately asked right away.
"What else was reported other than that?"
Piper waited shortly as Desdemona grabbed a folded from a drawer in her desk before handing it to her.
"I've taken notes based off the report. Apologies, but I don't have much time to spare for now, I'm still monitoring Minutemen activities other than the investigation. That folder contains the current report, further reports may soon be received, and I'll let you know once we get an update."
Piper gave a nod and was dismissed.
Turning to Haylen who gave a small nod, they both walked out of the office and out of the bunker.
"Already another revelation for an early report... Assuming that's the Colonel's?"
Hearing Haylen speak as she walked beside, Poor let out a small sigh before quietly responding.
"Should be no surprise... It's... Just typically Enclave..."
As they made their way back to the vertibird, they flew on the way back to Goodneighbour.
"Do you think... The Enclave on the west coast would take the news? About a synth infiltrating the ranks?"
Turning her head over to Haylen, Piper took a short moment before responding.
"We don't know their status... But if the news reaches them, for sure... It won't end well... But... They deserve to know the truth. It's their right."
She earned a small nod from Haylen.
"I just hoped that the Colonel doesn't come back... I mean, there's still two divisions here of the Enclave, which could still be a reason for her to do so..."
"I'm sure the commanding officers will discuss that once this conflict here ends... For now, there's still the NCR to deal with-"
Piper stopped in mid sentence as she noticed just down below being a small gunfight on the road between NCR personnel, and a small Enclave unit.
"Take us down there! We need to help them!"
Piper ordered the pilots as she readied her plasma rifle.
As the vertibird hovered a feat above ground, Piper jumped down with Hayden followed behind them both charged onto the firefight.
"Flank them!"
Piper shouted over to the small group, who were all wearing X02s, and only one non-feral in X03 on the group.
The firefight was a bit long but the exchange of firepower turned the tide on Enclave favor as power armored NCR personnel didn't stand a chance after human personnel began surrounding then with a non-feral flanking the front with a heavy incinerator.
With Haylen firing a laser rifle while taking cover behind her, Piper slowly advanced with suppressed firing, while addressing the small unit further.
Down to the last man, NCR corpses littered the road. Thanks to her addressing them, but surprisingly, few of the personnel seemed adapted already to combating NCR.
Approaching the non fear who had a Corporal rank on the X03 helmets shoulder pad, Piper began.
"Patrolling the road?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. Unfortunately, we ended up encountering this NCR patrol, quite a number, but we managed, thanks to you."
"I didn't know we already have patrols?"
"Giving the recruits the chance to be on the field would be their first steps on deployment. Soon they might as well be deployed for combat, but depending on their performances, as the commanding officers instructed."
Piper gave a nod, and just as she and Haylen were about to head back on to the vertibird, Piper's eyes through the orange tint of her X02 helmet caught glimpse on one of the X02 suited personnel disposing NCR corpses. Left on the X02 chest piece tagged 'Lyons' on it.
Sarah...
Stopping suddenly on her tracks, Piper only watched as the certain soldier rejoined the small unit, but not before turning a head over shoulder to look at Piper. She couldn't tell what expression was wore under that X02 helmet, but silently turning away and following the small unit, Piper quietly sighed.
"Lieutenant... You okay?"
Turning over to Haylen who seemed to just stood from behind her, Piper quickly nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah... I'm fine."
"You know that soldier?"
"Um... I thought the name was just familiar to a friend..."
She lied. She couldn't bring herself to tell about Sarah. Just how will Maxson and the Brotherhood react to that? How would Haylen react to that? She just had to respect Sarah's wish to be away from the Brotherhood... But with Owen gone, maybe the Enclave was the only option left for her to be away...?
"Oh... Well, let's go?"
Piper just vaguely nodded before walking back with the Scribe to the vertibird and continuing to Goodneighbour.
Upon arriving, Piper left her X02 on a repair station before heading over to the same secluded establishment with Haylen.
Seeing the folder on a table, Piper began looking through the papers with Haylen helping along, though it was a few papers on the folder, she chose to read the other parts of the notes taken on the report.
Intel Report 1: Facility
On the hidden location between coordinates E 29° E 37° was a small airfield liberated by the Enclave. Empty, but regarding its compounds, contained information on spare terminals.
As reported, the airfield was explored and whatever pre-war technology salvageable are allowed to be given to the Brotherhood unit while investigation progresses. Non-serous topic.
Another part of the report stated a facility on one of the compounds, non-salvageable parts and tech as well as some medical and scientific plans via terminals. Further knowledge shall be looked into it.
As the last part of the report was disposed bodies on the other side of the compound. All stuffed and sealed on large containers, well-organized for disposal. Said bodies shall be recovered and would be brought to Enclave custody. Short autopsy done stated the bodies was and may have been deceased only days, perhaps during the USAF-Brotherhood conflict took place. Regarding missing USAF and Brotherhood patrols, both USAF and Brotherhood of Steel must not be informed, yet about the recovered bodies. The Brotherhood unit under Paladin Danse were reasoned to keep the information classified for now to prevent any tension from either organizations.
"Lieutenant, I've got part of the report stating the Enclave's-"
"Hold on a sec, Haylen..."
Piper immediately interrupted as she read another paper.
Intel Report 2: Test Subjects?
This regards the missing patrols of the USAF and Brotherhood of Steel under Elder Arthur Maxson.
While the Brotherhood unit investigates the other compounds, our agents found bodies on an infirmary. Abandoned, perhaps. Medical tools etc were recovered other than bodies. Quite a number, but regardless, the corpses seemed to feature effects of mutation... Bodies shall be delivered to the airbase for our science staff to study the bodies. Said mutations seem like failed mutations of Super Mutants...
Side note: the bodies recovered were former USAF and Brotherhood personnel alike. Perhaps some tie-in with the compounds being a facility may imply these USAF and Brotherhood personnel are likely to be... Test subjects?
Piper tried to remain clam... Failed mutations of super mutants? Like the creation out of the Forced Evolutionary Virus or FEV... But it just doesn't seem likely possible to just create it on a secret facility only to what... Use it again on the wasteland? To cleanse it?
"Lieutenant, there's something you might wanna see..."
Turning her attention to Haylen who was handing her a paper, Piper met an extremely disturbed expression on the Scribe's face.
Turning her eyes on the paper, Piper began to read what was written on it...
Classified
-To be recieved by Enclave officer only-
As disturbing as it is, one of our agents discovered hidden plans, rather thrown away and some found burnt.
Rather, scientific based on current report, but said plans were notes for a modified, and controllable Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV) project undergoing on the compounds serving as facilities...
Perhaps that concludes purpose of its remote location...
Enclave notes shall be delivered to the agency for deciphering another Enclave project called 'United States Secret Service' under control of Colonel Amanda Amani.
Further reports shall be received before sending full Intel report to the airbase.
"They're planning to recreate the FEV..."
Hearing Haylen's stuttered voice, Piper couldn't respond... What was the point for all this when Colonel Amani already have soldiers, control and even resources... What more was there for the FEV to come into play once again...?
Unless...
Her eyes turned to Haylen, Piper cleared her throat and responded.
"If this has any tie-in with the archives on the airbase... But I just need to gather a bit more data from the airbase regarding previous FEV records on the archives..."
"What more would the Enclave use the FEV for or on what had they used it before on the older chapters before the Enclave's relocation to the Capital Wasteland?"
Hearing this from Haylen, Piper took along moment of silence in thinking. But for what seemed to be half a minute, she finally managed to respond.
"As similar to your old tale on your codex... Regarding that Vault Dweller, and that mutated organism? We have something similar but on a different scale based on the records in the archives..."
"What is it, Lieutenant?"
Piper took along pause. Though, those older records on the airbase that she read were way back so many decades ago. It was too hard to believe if it even was true, regarding the other destroyed Oil Rig, an outpost called Navarro on Vegas, and the discontinued FEV project all at the same time way back long ago...
"It can't be possible... It was just an old Enclave myth..."
Piper muttered under her breath, but was still heard by Haylen.
"What, is it, Lieutenant?"
Turning over to Haylen who asked slowly, Piper gave a slow reply.
"I mean the FEV project Colonel Amani's secretly undergoing. It's just too impossible to tie that up to an old event that not even the remnants on the airbase thinks it was even real."
"An old event?"
"More of an old myth actually... Just an old FEV myth called Frank Horrigan."
Had to cut this one out. Continuation's very soon.
Response to recent reviews: Pieces would keep on littering the chapters. These aren't the whole thing, yet...
ripntear