War... war never changes. In the year 2077, the world was plunged into a new dark age by nuclear war. Vaults, great fallout shelters scattered across the United States of America protect most of the population from the holocaust... though not without perils of their own. Many Vaults were set up to study inhumane experiments. Only a handful were created with the specific purpose of protecting people from the Great War.
One of these Vaults was Vault 117. Before the Great War, a General of the United States Army, General Arthur Ullyses Sherman stumbled on secrets that VaultTec, the corporation that created the Vaults, had been keeping from the public. Under threat of blackmail, General Arthur coerced VaultTec to create a special Vault in the depths of his home state of this Vault, over one thousand people were sequestered away in secret from everyone, even the government.
Some twenty-three years after the bombs fell on October 23rd. The inhabitants of Vault 117, protected from the doom that felled their country. Marched across the radioactive hellscape, through hardships and tribulations. They were not idle in their exile, they trained in the ways of advanced tactics. As General Sherman suspected that most survivors of the Great War would be hostile to anyone seeking to restore order to the wastes.
The people of Vault 117 quickly established a small bit of territory. Enough for them to create farmland with their Garden of Eden Creation Kit, also known as the GECK, scavenger operations, and even a small trading post. And founded the town of Arthur's Bastion around Vault 117. Little by little, Arthur's Bastion is establishing alliances and agreements with other settlements in the Lone Star Wasteland, as well as creating a radio network to establish some reliable communications between these settlements.
The current date is October 23rd, 2150. And War... war never changes.
A group of soldiers were walking on a trail towards a small town made out of scrap iron. They wore blue jumpsuits with the number 117 emblazoned on the back in yellow, and over those, they wore armor. Scavenged armor from before the bombs fell, but still effective despite the wear and tear of time. They were also armed with various weapons. Some were obviously made from scraped parts, others were scavenged relics of a bygone era in Human history.
"Alright Fireteam, now the folks here have asked for our help, 'cause they've had their hands full with Raider gangs, too big for them to handle themselves." The leader of this squad said, a Captain Yancy Briggs.
"And we're the only ones the Overseer sent?" A Sargent Clarence asked.
"Yes, she probably would've sent Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Fireteams to back us up. But SOMEBODY made certain that they couldn't help anyway." Captain Briggs said, glaring at two specific people. A man and woman that looked to be in their early twenties. "SOUND, FAMILIER, ROOKIES?!"
The squaddies in question hemmed and hawed for several minutes. Hiding behind each other, shifting blame and making excuses based, strangely enough on parts of their faces and bodies. "Okay, that's enough you two! Both of you, Richard, Rachel!" There Sergent, a man just slightly older than them said.
"SHE/HE STARTED IT!" The siblings said, pointing at each other.
"Sargent Gemini, just keep your soldiers from fouling up this mission." Captain Briggs said. "Now, I'm going to take the first squad into town and talk with the locals. Second, through fifth squads will man patrols going around this place, I don't want to be caught off guard if anyone tries to attack Scrappers Reach." Briggs then went into Scrappers Reach with the first squad.
"Okay, as I'm Sargent of the second squad, I'm in charge while the Captain is away." Sargent Clarence said. "Sargent York, take the third squad up and down the left side of Scrappers Reach. Sargent Temple, take the fourth squad and do the same for the right side. Sargent Gemini... just remain at the gate with the peanut gallery. I'll take the second squad and we'll establish a perimeter around the town. We'll keep everyone up to speed on the fire team radio frequency."
"And of course you guys get the fancy Pip-Boys," Richard grumbled.
"For the last time, there were only about one-thousand of these made for our ancestral Vault. We don't know how to make more, and we've only found a limited number from deserted Vaults." Sargent Clarence said, pointing to her Pip-Boy 3000. "These are extremely rare and versatile pieces of equipment that can prove vital to surviving in this radioactive hellscape we find ourselves in on a day-to-day basis."
"Then why do you use your's to play video games?" Rachel asked.
"I only do that off-duty! Now pipe down and keep guard over the gate!" Sargent Clarence barked.
Everyone in the second and fifth squads went about their assigned jobs. The third and fourth squads were patroling directly outside of the walls of Scrappers Reach. The second squad was patrolling the perimeter. While the fifth squad manned the gate. "Seriously, why even let us into the Bastion Army if we're just going to be stuck doing thankless grunt work like this?" Richard complained.
"Because that's how you earn citizenship in Arthur's Bastion." Sargent Gemini said. "You two aren't descended from General Arthurs men from Vault 117. Therefore you're just Residents of the Trojan Slums. You have to serve five years in the Bastion Army to earn the right to live within Arthur's Bastion itself. And frankly, the both of you should be grateful that you even got into Fireteam Delta."
"And where do they get off getting the fancy toys?" Rachel said.
"Because only descendants of Vault 117 can be trusted with a Pip-Boy without any qualms. Not to mention that all Vault-Born are trained since we're young in combat and tactics. And besides, you two in particular barely passed the Conscript Entrance Exam." Sargent Gemini then took out two pieces of paper.
"Do you keep our tests on your person at all times?" Richard asked.
"No, I keep the test results and notes from your CEE's." Sargent Gemini said. "Now Richard, your drill instructor said that you did quite well on the firing range. Hitting twenty out of twenty bullseyes before needing to reload your training gun, including the sniper range... but that you're an irreverent coward who hides from the slightest noise."
"Haha!" Rachel laughed, sticking her tongue out at her brother.
"Which brings me to you, Rachel." Sargent Gemini said. "Your drill instructor gave you marks for your physical strength, and your aptitude with rapid-fire weapons... but after that is demerit after demerit for wasting ammunition, screaming like a lunatic during combat scenarios, and... 'taking the last bacon lettuce and tato sandwich from the canteen'. Okay even if that's annoying I wouldn't put that into an official record." Sargent Gemini read. "The point is, your both loose cannons that frankly shouldn't even be allowed out of training! The only reason you're even here was that the Overseer has a soft head!" Sargent Gemini ranted.
"Hey, I'm just one of those guys who test really well," Richard said.
"All I heard was that I just had to shoot the targets. It's not my fault if I got excited." Rachel said patiently.
"Well here's a news flash for ya'll! You're soldiers!" Sargent Gemini barked. "You're supposed to follow orders, you're supposed to protect the people of Arthur's Bastion, which so graciously gave us a chance for respite from the grasp of the Worm God and its puppets!"
The siblings just looked at each other. "Maybe for you, we grew up in Trojan Slums. We were raised by robots." Rachel said.
"My point is, you should be taking these things more seriously! Frankly, you two should be grateful that we even have such an easy assignment while the Captain and the others are doing all of the dangerous tasks." Sargent Gemini ranted. "The Wasteland is dangerous, too dangerous for a pair of screw-ups like you to survive in without someone getting hurt, I am of course speaking of you two hurting each other, and other people!"
"We're never going to live down that training accident, are we?" Richard said in resignation.
"Don't bet on it kids!" Sargent Gemini ranted. "And back to the Pip-Boy's, I'm a Sargent and I've more than served my five years. But even I'm not trusted with one! Do their reasons make sense? Yes! Am I bitter that I still don't have one? Of course, I am! The most I'm trusted with is this radio!" He said as he showed the radio in question. "And this thing is so busted up that I can only get military frequencies and garbled transmissions from Longhorn Radio."
"Look, we're sorry for even bringing it up!" Rachel said. "We'll keep quiet and we won't complain about the mission-"
"JUST PAY ATTENTION!" Sargent Gemini yelled. "Or otherwise you two or going to be killed-" He was cut short, as a sound like the crack of thunder echoed across the entire region. Sargent Gemini was silent... and there was a clear hole through his head.
Rachel and Richard were shocked as their Sargent fell dead to his knees. All was silent for several minutes before the siblings screamed. "CAPTAIN! THIS IS PRIVATE RICHARD!" Richard shouted into the radio. "SARGENT GEMINI HAS BEEN SHOT! HE'S DEAD, THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE, AND RACHEL GOT SOME OF HIS BRAINS IN HER MOUTH! Over." Richard shouted as Rachel was trying to get the taste of his brain out of her mouth.
"What?!" Captian Sherman replied. "I just finished talking to the mayor of Scrappers Reach. Fireteam Delta! All squads, regroup at the main gate and look for Sargent Gemini's killer! They may be the Raiders Scrappers Reach asked us to deal with."
Eventually, Fireteam Delta fully regrouped, Richard and Rachel were still in shock about Sargent Gemini's death. "Looks like a sniper round did him in. And a pretty high caliber one too. Not the sort of equipment that Raiders would typically have." Sargent Clarece noted.
"Yeah, I think everyone in the Wasteland heard that gunshot!" Richard said. "I even found the bullet that killed him!" He said, displaying a blood-covered bullet.
"And the shooter hasn't taken any more shots... okay." Captain Sherman then looked around the area. "I'm assuming that neither of you moved the body."
"I think I swallowed some of his brains... does that make me a cannibal?" Rachel asked with concern.
"Not if you enjoyed it." Captain Sherman said. "Okay... I'm guessing the shot came from that ridge. I'll take the first and second squad up one side, third and fourth will take the other. And you two... go into Scrappers Reach."
"What?!" Rachel said in disbelief. "But he was our Sargent-"
"Which makes you liabilities in combat. I'm sorry, I understand why you want to come. But all your desire for revenge will do is cloud your judgment, and put the entire Fireteam at risk." Captain Sherman said. "So you're going on shore leave in town, and after we've figured out what we're dealing with here. We'll return to Arthur's Bastion, and report to command about this. Am I clear?"
"As crystal, sir." The siblings then went into Scrapper's Reach. "And this place smells even worse than the Wall," Richard said.
"I will never complain about the Livestock Auction House again!" Rachel said, holding her nose.
"Come on, let's see if we can get some food," Richard said, he and his sister found their way to a saloon.
"Welcome to the Fairy's Hovel, just sit yourselves down anywhere and someone will get to you in a moment." The slightly pudgy bartender said.
The two siblings found an empty booth. "Well, it looks nice enough. Good music... even if the jukebox is playing 'Big Iron' like pretty much everywhere else in the Wasteland." Rachel said, as indeed the jukebox was playing the three-hundred-year-old country song by Marty Robbins in question.
"Yeah, but I blame the equipment more than people's tastes in music for that. Most of this stuff hasn't been properly fixed since before the bombs dropped." Richard said, and as if on cue a waiter was knocked out by a ceiling decoration falling on his head.
"Not again!" The bartender said in frustration. "Alright! Listen up!" She said as she rang a triangle. "Anyone looking to work off their debts, or want a free meal, or want some caps. I'm short-handed on help, and frankly, I'll take any help that's offered... except for Lazy Bob. I offer enough caps for at least a few days of supplies, and he doesn't even budge."
"Hmm... Rachel, follow me and keep quiet, I've got a plan." Richard then went up to the bartender. "Yeah, my sister and I will take you up on that offer."
"Well, you look a little overqualified for waiting and bussing tables." The bartender said.
"We're short on caps," Richard said.
The bartender looked suspiciously at the siblings. "They call me Nimue. And to be honest, you look like your more suited to fightn' to me. So... I'll pay you two-hundred and fifty caps. Only if you're interested of course. See, I've got a problem with mole rats in the basement. And if you bring me their teeth as proof, I'll reward ya'. Heck, if ya'll bring me any usable meat from those critters, I'll pay extra."
"So a sack full of teeth for some easy money. And some irradiated meat for a bonus." Richard said.
"Ya'll ain't ever hunted mole rats before have ya? 'Cause if you have you'd know that as small as they are, their teeth can cut a man's arm off if they ain't careful. Plus where there's one, there's always more. But if you two think you handle it." Nimue then placed a pair of 10mm pistols on the table, as well as several 10mm bullets. "I expect to see these guns back in one piece. They were gifts from one of my ex-boyfriends, man really liked collecting 10mm pistols."
"Well, I've already got a rifle. So... we'll just take one pistol and the ammo." Rachel said, and Richard did just that. They then went to the basement... and quickly found the guilty mole rats.
"Wow... that is a lot of mole rats right there," Richard said.
Rachel double-checked the ammunition in her rifle. "Dang it! I knew I should've stocked up on rounds. Okay... I'm going to have to actually try to aim with this thing." She then aimed.
"A fair point, aim for the heads!" Richard said as he aimed his pistol. They did so, killing a few, and they were quickly overrun by the mole rats.
On the ground floor, there screams, and the sounds of gunfire could be heard. "Sent another poor dumb bastard to their death?" Said a patron at the bar.
"Technically two. And for the last time, I'm sorry I took a kid's word at face value. I didn't realize he was a blowhard until AFTER the mole rats ate him." Nimue said. "And besides, they're from Arthur's Bastion... or that slum they've got. The point is I thought they could handle unwanted vermin." Nimue said as she cleaned one of the glasses.
The screaming from downstairs kept going for several minutes, complete with a handful of explosions. Eventually, and to the surprise of everyone in the bar. Richard and Ratchel emerged from the basement, covered in teeth marks and scratches. "We... we got them. We got every mole rat we found down in that basement." Richard said in exhaustion as Rachel hefted a burlap sack onto the bar.
"This... is filled with every bit of usable Mole Rat meat we could find." Rachel said, breathing heavily. "And THIS." She said, hefting another sack on the bar. "Is all of the teeth!"
"We. Want. DOUBLE. What we agreed to, madam." Richard said with a deranged look on his face.
Nimue was flabbergasted that the Rookies survived their ordeal with the mole rats... if only in the sense that they weren't dead. "Okay... that was two-hundred and fifty if you came back alive from culling the mole rats." Nimue then went to her safe, opened it, and took out the caps. "So that's about five-hundred, plus bonus's from the teeth and meat." Over the next hour, Nimue paid out for every set of mole rat teeth, and meat she could use in the restaurant. "Okay... I think that should cover everything. And I'm pretty much broke from that." Then a sly look went across the woman's face. "You know... seeing as how you put in so much work for this. I'd be a shame if I couldn't make a meal fit for such heroes."
"We came here in the first place to get a meal. And instead of service, we've spent almost an hour nearly getting eaten by mole rats! And another... hour... Ray, have we gotten any messages from the Captain?" Rachel said with dawning realization.
"As a matter of fact... none. I had our radio turned off." Richard said, he then turned on the radio.
"-I repeat... Fireteam Delta has been captured by Raiders. The Raider Gang outside of Scrappers Reach... there more well organized and equipped than we expected. " Captain Sherman's voice was on the radio frequency. "I take full responsibility for this mess, to any military personnel coming through the area of Scrapers Reach. Follow the frequency from my PipBoy."
"Can we get a to-go order on that meal?" Rachel asked.
The twins made there out of Scrappers Reach, following the PipBoy signal on their radio. Eventually coming across the Raider's camp, mostly made up of tents and a few ramshackle huts. "Okay sis, let's see what we're dealing with," Richard whispered as he took a pair of binoculars, and looked around the camp.
"Can you see Captain Sherman and the rest of the Fireteam?" Rachel asked.
"I just started, so no." Richard looked over the camp. "Okay, that big orange tent over there is likely the barracks. The green one next to it, is probably where they keep their supplies. See that big shack in the back? That's probably where their leaders are, and the rest of those huts. They probably use them as a jail. We need to get to that and free the rest of the Fireteam. Now the key part of this-" Rachel just leaped out of there cover, and started shouting as she charged towards the camp. "-the element of surprise..." Richard said in disbelief. "I can work with this.
Richard snuck through the camp, while his sister tore through the Raider camp with her rifle and her grenades. Killing anyone Rachel missed in her rampage. Eventually, there was no one left outside.
"So... are we done here?" Rachel asked Richard, exhausted by her berserker rage.
"I wouldn't bet on it. Let's find the Fireteam." Richard said, and they inspected the huts. And true to Richard's assumption, their squadmates were being held inside.
"Rookies... you managed to take out this camp by yourselves?" Captain Sherman said in disbelief when he saw the corpses of the Raiders littered around the camp.
"Yep, I wanted to sneak around, but... Rachel went nuts. Again." Richard said.
"Oh like you're plan would've worked." Rachel said derisively.
"Enough!" Captain Sherman yelled. "You both have done well. But this isn't over. We need to apprehend the leader of these Raiders, and figure out where these degenerates are getting this kind of equipment." Sherman then found a discarded laser rifle. "Like this, for example, most Raiders wouldn't even know what a laser rifle is, never mind be able to hold it without dismembering themselves!"
"Then if you don't want to see anything that'll press your buttons," Richard said. "I suggest that you don't look in their supplies tent."
Later that night, the leader of the Raiders returned to the camp with his warriors. "Richard, are in and Rachel in position?" Captain Sherman asked over the radio.
"Roger that sir, we've got a clear view of the Raider boss... and thanks for sharing your night vision sniper rifle," Richard said as he and Rachel were on an outcropping overlooking the camp.
"Just wait for my signal to open fire! I've got the rest of the Fireteam spread out all over the camp to surround these dregs." Captain Sherman said.
"Roger, over and out," Richard said, and he waited for some kind of signal. The night went on as the Raider leader and his men searched through the camp. But earlier, Fireteam Delta had moved the corpses of the dead Raiders out of sight. Leaving the camp comparatively deserted.
Then the Raider leader tried to get into his main lodge. "Weapons free! I repeat to all squad: weapons free!" Captain Sherman yelled over the radio.
"And I got a clean shot at the boss," Richard said as he fired a shot into the Raider leader's leg. Causing the leader to fall on his back, howling in pain as his warriors were butchered by Fireteam Delta's superior tactics.
"We're clear. Somebody put this filth under, and we'll make for Arthur's Bastion as soon as possible." Captain Sherman instructed.
By nightfall the next day, Fireteam Delta had returned to the city of Arthur's Bastion. With several Brahmin in tow, carrying their loot from the Raider base, as well as the humiliated Raider leader as a prisoner. Arthur's Bastion was surrounded by a wall that went around the city, within was the Trojan Slums. A ramshackle village made from scavenged materials, where non-citizens dwelled, including Ghouls, robots, and Humans that weren't born from the survivors of Vault 117. The people of the Trojan Slums, despite what the name might imply. Are actually well taken care of by the Citizens of Vault 117.
The Citizens of Vault 117 on the other hand, lived within the Bastion itself that was within the Trojan Slums. Also walled off, within was a stark contrast from the Trojan Slums. The Bastion was like an oasis in the middle of the post-apocalyptic wasteland. This was the land that, when the Vault Dwellers of Vault 117, first used their GECK on. Creating a new city above their Vault.
Fireteam Delta arrived at the Bastion proper. "Now I think we've all earned some rest after everything we've been through." Captain Sherman said. "I'll process the prisoner, and work on my report to High Command."
"So... we all just go home?" Rachel asked.
"So you'd want to help me fill the mission report?" Captain Sherman asked.
"FIFTH SQUAD FALLING BACK!" Richard screamed as he and his sister ran for their lives into the Trojan Slums. "Never... never will we do paperwork."
"Well, mom and dad are probably worried sick about us," Rachel said and so the siblings made their way through the shantytown. But eventually, they arrived at their childhood home.
"Mom! Dad! We're home!" Richard said as he knocked on the front door. Eventually, a Mr. Handy robot answered.
"Richard... Rachel... you're alive!" The Mr. Handy hugged both of his human children. "Robecca! Our children have returned!"
Then, a modified Assaultron robot came to the door. "Oh, my babies!" Robecca said and hugged Rachel and Richard. "I was so worried about you!"
"If we had a cap for every time we heard that." Rachel said under her breath.
"We were gone for only a week," Richard said. "We would've been back sooner, but the Captain had to rent some Brahmin to carry home all of the loot we got from a Raider camp."
"I'm sure you have quite the story to tell! And I'm also certain that you're starved for something other than those protein rations they have you eating." The Mr. Handy said. "Robecca! Let us go to the kitchen, and get our children something yummy!"
The siblings smiled, and eventually. Dinner was served. "I know we've said this over a hundred times. But Mom, Dad, you're the best!" Rachel said.
"It's just the same soup we've made for you since you could properly eat solid foods," Robecca said. "Not to mention it took a lot of trial and error to make it palatable for Humans."
"So, how was you're first big adventure in the Marines?" The Mr. Handy asked.
Richard and Rachel explained at length their adventure with Fireteam Delta and at Scrappers Reach. "Well, it's getting late. Time for bed." The Mr. Handy father said.
"What?!" Rachel said in disbelief.
"We're twenty! We can stay up after seven!" Richard protested.
"Don't address your father like that." Robecca admonished. "But I agree with you. You are old enough to stay up late. But after an adventure like the one you've had, you'll probably go to bed comparatively early anyway."
"Darn straight!" Rachel said.
"Well... alright, you are old enough, and you actually went through on joining the Bastion Marines." The Mr. Handy said.
"Great, I'm going to see if we can pick up anything good on the radio," Richard said as he excused himself from the table.
"If anyone needs me, I've got some books I've been meaning to catch up on." Rachel said as she also left the table.
"We raised some good kids Reginald," Robecca said to her husband.
"Yes, even though we weren't programmed to raise children without Human oversight," Reginald said wistfully. "Just programmed by the designers of our Vault to make robots that can think and feel as humans do."
The two robots hugged each other, glad that their adopted Human children returned home safe.
Just as unaware as Richard and Rachel, of the adventure that the two young Bastion Marines were going to to be involved with... and the mark on history they would leave on the Lone Star Wasteland.
Because war... war never changes.