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The search for an escape route was short, though it wasn't ideal. Just to the side of the room, in a pathway down to where they were to go to get their prize, a ladder went up into the ceiling. TenTen was a little confused seeing that as the way out, at first, and in her mind, it made little sense. They just got here through an open building. "How does a ground floor open to the street level from a sewer grate?"

It turns out, she forgot the large drop just recently. Naruto had to tell her. "The building we came through was so blasted out, floor by floor, that we were in the basement. Or did you not realize the tunnel we came into from that large underground machine room?"

"...Oh, right. That messes with my head a little, I haven't been inside a building that messed up yet." It was true, most buildings she went inside were built to last, and did, or were just small huts and houses. Nothing to the extent of this city and its multi-floor business buildings.

Even with that figured out, the team knew they were not out of the woods yet. As faint as the sound was, the moment they opened the grate the sonic scanner picked up sounds nearby that indicated the Enclave was still flying around the area. And since the choices were either back the way they came or this sewer entrance, they had to book it the moment they took care of the package.

Heading to the lower room, the team found the entrance to the main chamber and a few terminals with hookups along the wall. TenTen was pointed to the Terminal, where she began her hacking, as Naruto and the others opened the door. The shocks of the coil were intense, but contained, as Tristan was pointed to head down the tunnel.

Coming up with the menu system, the discerning woman found a general shutoff for the power. "I can turn the power off from here, cut the connection from the source. Is that what we want to do?"

"Tristan, what's it look like in there?" Wanting to know if they had it right, the leader of the group was hoping for good news.

It turned out, it was. Tristan gave the device a scan and managed to figure out how the device worked. The sparking electrical energy thankfully only shot up and around the walls instead of directly out. "We can remove it the moment the power shuts off. It is definitely the coil we are looking for."

With a turn to his partner, Naruto gave an affirmative nod. With a button, TenTen powered the entire station down to emergency power, making the room slightly darkened. Not to any of them, but it was still something that happened. Grabbing the device, Tristan came back from the room to hand it over to Naruto. Who went to the woman of the group and gave it to her. "You need to run this back, and quick."

"Wait, what?" Even as she held the device, she was confused. Not as much as their resident naysayer, though.

He had a word to grab the blonde and turn him around. "Are you insane? You can't just hand over this tech to a civilian! Even if she could be trusted, she can't protect it!"

"Stand down. Naruto gave his order." Vargas echoed in hopes Tristan would stand down. He did not.

That didn't mean that the plan changed. "With the Enclave flying around, they are going to want this thing, and now. Seeing as we just stopped the power, they are probably finding ways to trap us here. We can't afford to stick around, and we cannot afford to argue about this. She's the fastest foot we have, and we don't know if that strange sniper is still alive. That Gauss weapon can tear our armor apart, we can't give them the chance to shoot us."

"Which makes this woman much less capable of defending against it when all she has is standard combat armor! What if that sniper gets their mark and we lose the coil?" The argument was sound, but there was only one thing that he was failing to understand.

And Naruto put it simply. "If we go, that weapon tears us apart and the gauss wielder kills us anyway. At least with TenTen, there's a chance of mobility and dodging out of the way. What is the better chance? Three Power Armor-wearing soldiers, who the shooter took two out previously without any trouble already? Or, one agile marksman who already gave them trouble in return? My caps are on TenTen."

"So are mine. She's dealt with trouble before, and has come out the other end alive." Vargas reassured his leader. "Time is of the essence, we need to go."

Not liking this at all, Tristan growled in contempt. "If things go wrong, it's your ass. We lose this coil, you stand down as leader of the Pride."

"Noted, now gear up." The blonde sighed. With his armored friends getting ready to return the way they came, he turned to TenTen. "Citadel, and fast. We'll meet you there. If you see the others on your way back, give them the short version and tell them to keep your back covered."

Cocking her rifle, the woman smiled proudly. "Yes, Sir. Come back alive, Paladin." A salute followed. Getting one back, she started up the ladder out. It was just out of the city where it opened, so she had little to worry about with Deathclaws.

"Godspeed, TenTen." With that, he went to gear his Pride and make their way out.

Outside, hopping up from the hole in the street, the dweller took to the skies with her eyes and scanned. "Nothing… Might be further out. Better move." Checking her Pip-boy, she made sure she was facing the right direction. With a burst of speed, she ran for it, her rifle cocked and ready to go.

She hoped to find their returning members, but her route back was straight, the shortest path she thought. Too bad that in her way was eventually a town that was riddled with dull red lights. It was dark, and the entire ruined city before her was nothing but red lights scattered around. Slowly getting closer to some of them, she focused her eyes and stopped dead in her tracks. "Shit… Mines? The entire town?"

As she thought of her options, she was oblivious to the protector of this area, as a shot was fired at her. It hit the ground next to her feet, making her jump and back off. "Get out of here! Get goin'! I ain't goin' back!"

Finding some house wall to hide behind, she sighed. It was a relief. "No way this is that sniper from Olney. Besides, they'd have to drop her in from Vertibird and they can't have known I was coming this way."

Another shot hit the wood beside her. The shot went right through. "I SAID GO! The next one is between your eyes!"

"If you wanted me dead you'd have done it! Besides, I am not an enemy! I am passing through!" She slipped a bit further from where she was, hoping a crouched nature as much away from his aim as she could get without risking him making a clean shot from a guess. "Trying to get to the south!"

"Lies!" The shot fired, and it hit where she might have been having she not moved. Her silence, however, did not trick him. "Come out from your cover, you'll die painlessly at least!"

"I'd rather live and move on! Just let me by! I'm not here for you!" Making her way west, TenTen got ready to fire back if need be. If he wasn't going to let her out without a fight, then she'd give him one.

Sneaking around another corner, she noticed even more mines. "I just want south! Hide and let me by! If I fire you can take me out! If I don't, then I proved noble!"

Counting every explosive disk with as best her eye-sight could manage, TenTen knew it was going to be impossible to run through. "Around is the only way, too many mines. I'd have to sprint and cause a lot of damage, maybe die in the process."

Sadly, more shots in her direction were answers enough. "I ain't fallin' for your tricks! Git or DIE!"

"Forgive me, then, but I don't plan to die!" Holding her rifle at the ready, steadying her breath, TenTen got ready to bolt."I hope he isn't as good a marksman as she was."

A few seconds passed and another shot was fired, and that was her queue. Sprinting into the open, she gazed at the area for anyone moving. Her advantage of sight and night vision helped, and she found the sharpshooter. Readying her stance and aim, she took her shot, and with it broke the sniper of the old man in half during his jammed reload.

TenTen moved forward as she stood, making her way to the tower of the man without getting near the mines. Being below him, she spoke up. "Be glad I chose to spare you! Big Town should be near here, if you need supplies they can provide them! Until then, remember who spared your life!"

Blocking some rocky rubble thrown at her, she scoffed and just ran for it. As she did she heard the cursing of the old man and his paranoid idiocy. As she rounded the entire town, she hoped to make her way to the Citadel quickly.

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Landing near their massive airfield, the Vertibird came near the command building. Jumping out, the woman sniper was bold to walk right for their commanding officer. Entering the mess hall, where he was, the marksman was pissed. "You didn't tell us they had a gravitational device!"

Iruka was finishing his dinner, looking over other reports. He turned to the woman. "Ino. I'm guessing you missed?"

"Cut the shit! I hit my marks, but they were in Power Armor. It wasn't going to be easy, with several of them like that. Had I the time and distance, and the green light to kill, they'd all be dead."

"You didn't, though. We want Naruto alive." He stood to talk to her as her leader. "Taking those with power Armor down in a non-lethal way shouldn't have been a hard ask."

"Normally? Sure." Crossing her arms after taking off her headwear, her long blonde hair flowed behind her. "But that bitch from 101 complicated things."

"You couldn't take her out?"

Growling under her breath, the woman was not amused. He didn't know the situation. "Reports had her pegged as hardly a threat, and she was presumed dead for a while. My primary target was their sharpshooter, turns out she's one too. Their armored sniper lost their weapon, I took down their heavy-arms unit and as I was lining up a shot to hurt another one she took my rifle scope out with her ballistics rifle. At MY max range."

That did surprise Iruka, but he was not about to let that stop his point. "Fluke, mostly. She took your scope, and then what happened?"

Explaining everything from start to finish, she made it a point to consider the fluke, and that this was an unknown variable within their supposed saboteurs. And when hearing of the gravitational event, Iruka finally understood.

"... I see. We're flailing in the dark in the wastes, the Brotherhood is making moves, with Naruto as their vanguard. This Vault Dweller, TenTen, is causing much strife. She was never detailed as a combatant, and our information shows nothing but her being alongside Naruto. We can now assume she was taught how to use firearms more effectively."

Ino frowned a little, wanting payback but knowing her orders were to stay put now. "Coil, gone. Defenses, lacking. We're going to be finishing our base and getting ready for the final codes. How long until then, will be the determining factor. We stalled the Brotherhood's advance by taking out Prime, but they have the momentum and we're playing catchup."

"Report to the outer perimeter. You see anything that isn't Enclave, it dies." Iruka marched out. "I'm cracking the whip on the mobility of our base of operations."

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The bun-haired woman made her way to the Citadel's front gates. She didn't see anyone on her way back, but she was tasked with the coil. She'd look for them after delivery. Heading to the gate, she was stopped by the guard. "Hold!"

"TenTen, Honorary Pride member. I have a delivery to make."

One of the guards recognized her. "Where's the rest of the Pride?"

Shaking her head, she huffed in exertion. "In trouble. Half are wounded in retreat, I didn't see them on my way back. The other half I left in Olney on Naruto's orders."

The two guards looked at one another. Opening the gate, they let her pass. Upon reaching the inner sanctum of the Citadel, she was met with Cross. "Star-Paladin, TenTen reporting."

The half-cybernetic woman had her attention pulled to the voice of the bun-haired dweller. "Ah, the Pride returns? Where's the Paladin in charge?"

"Pride's in trouble, I'm here to make a delivery of the objective, and will be heading back out to find the returning wounded." Presenting the coil, TenTen hoped she could find them on her way back out.

Though the coil was taken from her, Cross wasn't done. "Saying they are in trouble and you alone are here, that's not going to stand. The report, TenTen. What exactly is going on?"

Sighing a little under her breath, she kept her cool. "Ma'am. We arrived on the outskirts of the city and were under fire. One of the Pride got hit with a Gauss rifle, Naruto claimed, and one of our rifles was destroyed. Entering the city, we were further attacked by the one who held the gauss rifle, who took another member out of the fight by destroying tier power supply. The wounded were escorted by support out of the area, as the remaining Pride went to claim the Coil. We did, with trouble along the way but nothing else took our members from the fight. Sensing the Enclave's advance on us, Paladin Naruto had me come back with the Coil alone, I was faster than a team wearing Power Armor. I objected, and so did Tristan. Still, it was his order, and I was only obeying my orders."

"I see… And the others?"

"I didn't see them on my return, which is why I was planning to go out to find them and support their return after completing my objective."

Cross hummed aloud for a moment. "Wait here. I'll get Elder Lyons." With a salute, the two split off, with the darker woman marching for the upper levels.

Having time, the marksman chose to go toward the armory. During her sprint out, she had to let her armored skirt go. Coming to the quartermaster, she asked for her old one or a replacement. Though she was given a glare about it, she took it in stride. Having to wait for them to modify her next armored skirt since they let the old one go unattended, TenTen made her way back to the main area. Looking at where Prime used to stand.

Beside her came along one of the Scribes. "Excuse me, weren't you one of the ones who left for Olney?"

"Yes, the Pride brought me along. You are?"

"Scribe Vallincourt, I gave the Pride an experimental technology for Deathclaws," TenTen remembered someone mentioned this Scribe, and turns out the Scribe knew she was on the mission. "Was it ever used? Did the test succeed?"

Trying to remember exactly what the test was supposed to be was hard enough with her worry, but the Vault woman could only really remember the Deathclaws from the camp being affected. "Well, most of the beasts inside the city were still attacking us, but there were a few from a camp nearby we passed through that turned on the Enclave before suddenly dying."

"I see. Then the signal frequency device was a success. You wouldn't happen to have it on you, by chance?"

Shaking her head, TenTen had to apologize. "Not on me, I didn't even know about it until they mentioned you'd be happy to know the results. They will have it on them when they get back, though. You can ask when they return."

The Scribe was a little confused. "Wait, aren't they, if you are?"

"No. I was deemed the fastest to deliver the Coil, our main goal, to the CItadel in haste. Problems divided us a bit, but they should be on their way back themselves. The Enclave bugged out, so it shouldn't take more than a day."

"Thank you for your time." With a bow, Vallincourt hummed and tried thinking of ways to improve based solely on word of mouth from someone who was not informed of the device or mission. "Maybe if it was a little more powerful… Or less… Hmm…"

Not taking long after, Lyons himself was coming down to meet her. "TenTen, Paladin Cross informed me of the brief information you had on the mission so far. She is handing the Coil to the Scribes for study into the weapon we are trying to create. Do you have anything else to mention about the Pride's whereabouts?"

"No, sir. I plan to go back out to search for them. Cross didn't want me to just yet." She wondered why, but she was gearing to join so she couldn't really keep sticking her head out of being given directions.

Gesturing her to follow him, she did to the map. The Elder picked a Scribe from his chair. "Check for the Priority Signal, give me an update on anything new." When the Scribe went to work, Lyons turned to her. "I cannot have our greatest assets running off at this crucial time. And of this moment, I have our mightiest combat forces gathered for a full frontal assault."

"Uh-oh. I can't fathom why he needs me, I'm not as combat effective as an entire force ready to march. He has to have me on something more discreet." She was half right. "Then we should be waiting for the Pride, right? We want our forces at top strength."

"Indeed, but even our mightiest force will have no way to win." Facing her, he spoke plain. "Whilst the Pride and yourself were away, we finished decrypting the information gathered by the assault team that led to Prime's destruction. And with some luck, we hacked a communication signal on an Old World Military frequency. Time is now against us. Whatever forces they sent to stop you from getting that coil, it was token manpower given to the cause of capturing Naruto and the Coil to rob us of every advantage we had on them. The true threat is nearly upon us."

The map itself scrolled north to a new location, where it pointed to a large field of buildings and pavement. TenTen knew this kind of geography. "It's some sort of base, right? The roads are large, with long prongs… Airbase?"

"Given their fleet of Vertibirds, we're certain it is being used partially for that purpose. However, it's the Mobile Base they have built there that we need to worry about." Heading to the visual holographic image table, the Elder produced an image. It was rough, but it was certainly impressive. "The data we uncovered linked the satellite usage to their next phase, a base for their activities throughout the wasteland. We know not when they started building this monstrosity, but it is either complete or nearing completion, for its full capabilities."

Already seeing the problem, it was insane how the Enclave could do all this without being caught. "Why couldn't we figure this out sooner?"

"Our leading theory, by Rothchild, suggests it was already being built on-site with limited resources, hidden behind small trade caravans through intermediaries. We noticed a week ago that large orders of mechanical parts were being driven north but had no idea for what. After Ravenrock was destroyed, they most likely expedited plans to finish their new base of operations."

"Makes sense, I guess. Their underground base which was fortified like hell was gone, and they were being hunted. Still, a mobile base? One that moves around? They could park outside the CItadel and bomb us to ash." She still wondered, though. "What has this got to do with me? What am I supposed to do, alone, against that thing?"

Lyons stared at her with a gentle smile. "Dear girl, I don't suggest you do a thing alone against it. I wouldn't send my force against it unless it was the only way. Between the completion of this base, their further attempts at connecting to orbital ordnance, and their fleet of Vertibirds, the Brotherhood is once again meeting an advanced threat. But we've gotten through the worse situations with less manpower before."

"Then what would you have me do?"

"TenTen, before we proceed with asking you of this, there are many who still view you as an outsider, and many who do odd jobs for us are mercenaries out for the pay we provide. Be it in caps, or technology. This mission we have ready for you is too important to let doubt stand. When the end of the Enclave is spoken of, what will our records show? A mercenary helped us in a crucial moment for victory? Or a Vault Dweller who earned her place amongst the ranks of Steel that bind us in brotherhood?"

The question was asked, the die was cast, and the coin flipped. Like a doe being blinded by bright lights, stood the bun-haired woman. Knowing full well her life was going to change dramatically in one way or another, she had to choose for the sake of those she cared about. "This is it… Even if I join later, it would be less symbolic."

"If it helps your decision, you will be directly under Naruto's command. He will be your training officer, and your direct superior until your training is finished. At that point, you may join one of the branches of our order."

That did help ease her nerves a bit. Being under someone like Tristan was not ideal for her. Still, this was a choice she did not see coming so soon. It took a minute, but she decided to lay out terms. "I'm pretty sure I'll be a Knight over a Scribe, and with combat experience under my belt, I'll become a Paladin like Naruto. As long as my direct superior is Naruto throughout, I have no objections to joining the Brotherhood."

The look of surprise from the Elder was something to see, as he eased into a laugh. "Hah! Ahhh, I see. Well, that shouldn't be too much trouble. Though you will still have to take orders from others from time to time, of course. But if you wish to stay directly partnered with Naruto, then that can be arranged. Are you ready to join, Initiate?"

With a smile and salute, the young woman accepted. "I can do anything, as long as I have Naruto by my side." With that done, however, she did wonder what this would mean for their missions. "Do I have to go through a ceremony or something? I don't think we have time for that."

"We don't, which is why this is more a formality than anything. Officially you are an Initiate, things can go smoothly from now on. When I give an order to you to carry out, I won't be hammered by complaints for giving such important work to a base mercenary. There are those who deem you worthy of full Knighthood already for your selfless help so far, like Cross. With luck, that can be arranged within the month."

With that out of the way, he led her back to the map. This time he pointed out the base. "We cannot launch our offensive due to their Vertibirds. Even if we have time before they lock into orbital ordnance again, we can't stop them from making that connection without heavy losses. So, we need to oppose their air superiority directly."

She remembered this. TenTen knew very well that the reason they were even after the Coil was to do just that. "How long until the Tesla Coil is operational within a weapon?"

"Using our knowledge, we can have a working anti-air cannon within twelve hours. But we will still need to be inside their base at Adams Air Force Base to devastate their aircraft to the point we can move in." The map moved again, but he didn't indicate anything about the placement. "We need someone there the moment we have it working."

It was obvious where he was going with this. "And that's me. You want me to sneak in somehow, and be ready to receive the cannon?"

"You and another, yes." Getting a questioning look, he explained. "The weapon we have in mind is as large as a Missile Launcher, or Fat Man Launcher. Without the strength to wield one, you would require a suit of power armor to use it. You have yet to undergo Power Armor training, so we cannot give you a suit of armor as of yet. You will be accompanied by Paladin Cross yet again, as you and she take the underground presidential railway to the base itself. We're already clearing the path there, and the Enclave seems to be holding up within Adams for the time being. Besides any threats towards the White House Ruins, and whatever you find lurking within the metro, you should have little trouble getting to the base. The railway and train are still functional, and the connection to it from here is clear. You will go there, take the train, and arrive at the base for your mission."

Seeing him point to the map for her directions, as he told them, TenTen couldn't wrap her mind around a few questions. "Sir, how will you get the weapon to us? If the train goes into the base, we're going to have no way to contact the Brotherhood for delivery."

Lyons, it seemed, planned for everything. "When we see the train's departure, we will have our signal that the moment the weapon is ready we can deliver it. We have two Vertibirds from the previous Enclave assault, one still flying Enclave colors and symbols. We hope to land this near your entrance and place the weapon there. Hopefully, our soldiers can be on standby to guard you along the way. But if all they can do is deliver the weapon, then it will be enough. To take their attention away from this dropoff, we have a small force ready to attack as a diversion. We have planned for this entire operation, and we cannot wait for the Pride to return."

"But they would be a major help in this operation. Is there no way to get them back in time for this?"

Shaking his head, it was clear he already knew more than she did about their timetable. "We cannot wait. We do not know how long until they are ready to launch another strike, and we cannot sit on our hands as they get ready to wipe us out. Besides, I don't think we have to worry about the Pride. Scribe Galvin?"

"Sir!" The Scribe jumped up. "On your orders, I monitored the Pride's priority message frequency. It seems they have safely left Olney and have regrouped with the wounded. They reported that we should be receiving the coil by the time we got the message."

"Thank you. Keep monitoring for Enclave activity reports." With the Scribe continuing his work, the Elder nodded to his new Initiate. "There you have it. When they arrive, we will take care of the wounded and have them ready to march. If all goes well, you will regroup with the Pride at the base to destroy it once and for all. Is the operation clear?"

Seeing an actual military leader like Lyons clearing every doubt, being on top of every report, and being ready for every scenario. It was surprising to see, but not unwelcome. "Naruto mentioned Lyons was a hell of a leader. I can see why he respects this Elder so well. Why he trusts him. That's enough for me." Saluting, she was firm in her answer. "Sir, you can count on me!"

"Then meet Cross at the gates. We have an escort, experts in navigating the ruins of the main city area. As I hear, you know them well. Dismissed, Initiate TenTen." With a salute back, he dismissed her. "Steel be with you."

"Steel be with you, Elder." Getting her gear ready and seeing about her skirt, she was disappointed to see it was still not ready. Not having time, she chose to go without it and ran up to the gates. Passing through, she saw Cross talking to a group of soldiers in green. Suits of combat armor she knew well.

Turning to the woman running up to them, Cross looked at their partner for this mission. "TenTen. What is the word from Elder Lyons?"

"TenTen? Damn, you're hanging with the Brotherhood? I thought for sure you'd have joined us given the time. Then we heard you were dead for a week." Coming around, Reilly herself put a hand out to her rescuer.

Taking the hand, TenTen grinned wide. "Can't keep us down. Seems we both have the devil's luck." With the group altogether, it was getting time to leave. The time being short, the new member of the Brotherhood answered both questions. "Sorry, I didn't exactly think. Everything moved so fast for me. Still, the Brotherhood needs all the help they can get, and I am providing as their newest Initiate." Turning to Cross, she nodded. "And we're going to be teaming up on this one, Paladin. I'm at the ready."

"Well… The armor still suits you, so you haven't forgotten about us at least. Glad it's done the job of protecting you well."

With a proud smile, TenTen put a hand on the armor. "It's like a second skin to me at the moment. It doesn't feel right going into battle without it."

The clock was ticking, and Cross was not about to wait any longer. "You can talk on the way. Reilly, your rangers will be guiding us to Penn Ave, we need to get in front of the White House. We have an advanced guard waiting for us, protecting our way into the tunnels. As agreed, we have already helped repair your weapons and you will be receiving your payment in caps upon deliverance to the guard forces, who have your payment there."

"Then let's go, me and Eugene will mow down Mutants to pave the road!" Brick was excited to have another go, now that her weapon was practically factory fresh. "I'll lead!"

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