"Are we sure this will work?!" asked a guard over the sound of the Vertibirds Rotors.
"I have no idea! It is worth a try!" answered Captain Daniel
"Approaching LZ! The Guards have noticed us by now!" reported the Pilot.
"Touch us down and take off immediately, be ready to provide support if needed!"
"Roger that!"
The Vertibird touched town allowing Daniel and his guards to jump out. Once on the ground the Vertibird took of again and began circling the bunker entrance.
The Brotherhood guards visible tensed up as Daniel approached with his six Power Armor wearing guards. "Uh.. Can I help you?" asked one of the Guards gripping his minigun harder.
"I am here to speak to the elders" responded Daniel
"And who uh… Might you be?" asked the guard again
"Tell the elders that Captain Daniel Smith of the United States Army wants to talk to them" replied Daniel.
"Uh… one moment please" said the guard as he entered the elevator and disappeared once the doors closed
That left Daniel and his guards outside with the other Brotherhood guard who was having an intense stair contest with them clearly afraid of them.
After 10 minutes the guard came back with a person is red robed following them "Greetings Captain, I am Head Scribe Valeria. You can tell me your message and I will pass it to the elders"
"Miss Valeria, my orders are to talk to the elders personally," said Daniel
Valeria looked at Daniel with narrowed eyes "Who ordered you such a thing?"
"The President Himself, I am to discuss the relationship between the United States and the brotherhood. Now am I and my guards allowed to enter or am I to return and report the lack of any kind of will on the side of the Brotherhood?"
Valeria contemplated the choices for a moment "Follow me captain, I recommend you and your guards don't stray away from me, the other members are not used to…outsiders wandering in the Bunker." She said as she motioned for them to follow her. Fitting everyone into the Elevator was a bit problematic but they managed and rode down to the first level of the bunker.
The doors opened and instantly the group was met with not so well-hidden hostility. Everyone eyed them as if they were the devil himself walking. The group soon entered another elevator and rode down to the last level and approached the council room. "Your guards will have to stay outside Captain"
Daniel ordered them to stay outside and entered the room with Valeria. In front of Daniel sat a group of 5 old men with Valeria taking a seat at the table they were at. "Welcome to Lost Hills, I am High Elder Jeremy Maxson. If you don't mind my brashness, why are you here?"
"I am Captain Daniel Smith of the United States Army 4th Company, 1st Brigade, 91st Division. By the orders of the President of the United States of America I am her to begin talks about the re-incorporation of the Brotherhood of Steel into the United States Army"
"And why would we do that?" asked Maxson
"For the rebuilding of this great Nation of ours, High Elder, we are dedicated in this task and have already reincorporated several Settlements and larger Cities"
"The Brotherhood was created when its founders seceded from the Country, for a good reason might I add, why would we want to be part of a State that we seceded from?" asked
"How much do you know about the reason for the secession?" asked Daniel
"That the government you represent experimented on people with a virus that created the current Super Mutants"
"Ah then you are missing the full picture here. During the Resource Wars China deployed a Bio Weapon we called the New Plague. A very dangerous Virus that killed 200 thousand in a short amount of time. West Tek was commissioned to develop a cure for it. in 2077 the development was still taking place and experimentation with FEV was carried out on War Prisoners. The cure was never completed as the scientists were executed by your founders due to not possessing enough information and mistaking the purpose of the Tests.
In its incomplete state it was left in the Mariposa Base and years later gave rise to the Super Mutants due to not being secured correctly because the scientists were executed and you abandoned the Facility."
"Are you claiming that the Super Mutant filth roaming the Wastes is our fault, Captain?" asked Maxson
"No High Elder, I am saying that the reason for your secession was because of misunderstood information. Because of that the President has offered all members of the Brotherhood a presidential pardon should you decide to rejoin the United States" said Daniel taking out a neatly folded document and handing it to the Elders.
Executive Grant of Clemency
Jack Chruchill
President of the United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
Be it known, that this day, I, Jack Churchill, President of the United States, Pursuant to my Powers Under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, of the Constitution, Have granted Unto
All past and present Members of the Brotherhood of Steel
A Full and Unconditional Pardon
For any action undertaken from October 20th, 2077
Signed
Jack Churchill
President
(Seal of the Department of Justice)
Everyone read through the Document before Maxson placed it on the table and looked at the Captain. "So you really are the remnants of the Government, huh. Why did the government not respond to our declaration?"
"The Declaration arrived in Washington on the 21st of October. The President and the cabinet was evacuated to a secure location on the 15th once it looked more and more likely that a nuclear War with Chine was going to Happen. When the declaration was passed to the president, it was 7am October 23rd, just and Hour before the bombs fell."
"What would happen if we would decide to rejoin the Army?"
"For a month all of you would be exempt from taxation, but as soldiers and as such Government Employees you already receive a tax break of 50%. That one month would be spend relocating all personnel, equipment and technology to the Sierra Army Depot Military Base. Evaluation of the combat ready personnel, Officer evaluation and subsequent training. The council of Elders would be incorporated into the Officer corps while the Scribes would be incorporated into the Army RnD. Initiates would have to enter Basic training and would then join the Army while Knights and Paladins would go through a Week-long Retraining process and then join an already existing Company. This Facility would be demolished as to prevent it being captured by Enemy Hands"
The Elders looked at eachother each one nodding the High Elder then looked at Daniel "Captain, if you would leave the room for the time, we have to discuss this amongst ourselves"
"As you wish High Elder" said Daniel giving a salute and turning around to leave the room.
Once the doors were closed Maxson turned to Valeria and asked "Child, is what he spoke of the FEV true?"
"Our data on the FEV and times before the war are limited, we know that the Vats containing FEV were left as they were without being secured. The validity of the reason for its creation however are unknown, the data doesn't delve into it at all" spoke Valeria.
"Alright, Lyons what is your opinion on it all?"
"I think its we either take this deal and live or in the future our children will fight and likely die"
"What makes you think that?"
"You heard him, they already started taking back territory. This coincides with reports we received from our Knights in the NCR. Vault City and New Reno is under their control, this Sierra Army Depot is likely somewhere in that area aswell. Its obvious they and the NCR will fight sooner or later. The question is not if but when they will turn on us if we don't accept this deal"
"So how do you vote?" asked Maxson
"I vote to accept and hope for a better future than certain extermination"
"Vree, what is your take on it?"
"They have new Technology, they have New Power Armor, new Weapons and Vertibirds. With technology like that I agree with lyons, its not a matter of if they beat the NCR and then turn on us but a matter of when. And I would rather stand on the winning side while also getting a chance to learn about that technology"
"So it would seem, everyone cast your vote" said Maxson. After a minute the votes were counted "4 in favor of accepting 1 against and 1 abstained. May we find peace at the end of this bloody trail"
*3 months later*
"Order! There will be order!"
"Representative from Sac City is recognized"
"Thank you, mister speaker. I am sure all of you are aware by this point what is happening in the north. Tribes are disappearing, all of them either left or like in the case of Arroyo, the Village turned into a proper town. Vault City opening up, New Reno pacification, the Brotherhood Migration. There is no hiding it anymore, there is a new Entity up in the North. They claim to be the Government of Old, they claim to be the People that led to the wastes existing in the first place. Just a month ago a new Radio Station started broadcasting, saying how there is no future with our republic, how they will reclaim their lost territory and rebuild the old nation.
I ask you members of congress. How are we supposed to deal with this threat, while they prepare and arm themselves We are negotiating with Caravan Companies. While they incite Riots and call to open Rebellion against the Republic, our President is negotiating with the Water merchants. While they violate our border and prepare to strike at our republic we are here negotiating about the inflation rate we would like to have.
I ask of you fellow members of congress, Why is our president not taking any action? Why are we allowing this threat to exist while we have the means to Destroy it? I propose that we demand from our President to deal with this threat once and for all, least it grow to prove disastrous to our Republic
The fact that the Brotherhood of Steel made their way up north to join them is proof enough that they mean no good for the Republic, they provide shelter to a sworn enemy of the Republic.
And lets not forget the report of the Ghouls from Gecko, they want noting more than to exterminate an entire people. To that I say let us end this threat, if must be, let there be blood to protect the Republic and its People from the Tyrants. Let us surpres the obvious domestic terrorists and let us deal with the threat at its heart.
I, my fellow congressmen and countrymen, I call for war to deal with an existential threat. Do you support me on this hard road ahead?"
The congress exploded into cheers, While President Tandi sat in her seat, observing the Madness in front of her.
I keep forgetting to mention this so here i go, I have a Discord server where you can ask me anything about any of my stories, feel free to check it out 76KtjunQvZ