Authors notes: "Again, Ideas are appreciated along with suggestions. Let me know your thoughts and how I can improve. Speaking of improvement, I'm going to try another crack at chapters 1 and 2 once I get chapter 7 out.
Liberator continued cooking lunch for the rest of the Minutemen. When he was done with that, he was busy cleaning out his Quarters. The Minutemen enjoyed their freshly cooked meal while the Star Fox team had to drink liquefied rations through a straw. For half an hour they saw Liberator and several Minutemen carrying loads of rubble out of the doorway leading to the tunnels. They finally cleared it. Liberator was nervous.
Fox walked up and asked, "What's wrong is there something down there?"
Liberator replied "There is down in the tunnels is Sarge our old sentry bot he was decommissioned due to corrupted programming knowing my old friend General Mcgann he reactivated Sarge to keep the armory safe. I tried to rescue him but that Queen made sure I didn't. What I'm saying is if we try to take him out, he will mow us down if we win, he'll set off his two nuclear fusion cores taking out the fort and us with it. Not to mention several mines and a turret waiting as well."
Slippy walked up "I got several emp darts when he's hit and shuts down, we can grab the fusion cores out and unlock the armory."
Liberator shrugged "Worth a shot."
The group went down into the tunnels. Liberator went first the right wall was marked with the Minutemen emblem. On the left was old storage filled with wooden crates. Up front was a mine that started beeping. The ghoul just shrugged while Fox and Slippy took cover. He smirked and pushed a button disabling it.
Fox and Slippy looked on in confusion while Liberator chuckled "Yeah, some genius made these things beep and easy to disarm not sure why? The point of a mine is to stay hidden and kill not beep to give the enemy time to run smh."
Both Fox and Slippy were just thankful Liberator knew what to do. On the left was old storage full of dry rotted crates while the right side had seven bags of cement and ten cannonballs. A few steps forward was another mine which again Liberator disarmed and took with him. A turret opened fire. Fox used his blaster on the turret destroying it. To their left were old rusted shelves with mostly junk on them except a couple of fusion cells and a laser muskeTheyThe moved past one of the collapsed sections and went around.
Up head around a corner was where Sarge rested still waiting for intruders. Slippy fell into the room causing Sarge to reactivate. "MOVEMENT DETECTED. SENTRY BOT DESIGNATION SARGE POWERING UP E RRR OR IFF FILE CORRUPTED ENGAGING DEFENSE PROTOCOLS"
Slippy fired the emp dart shutting Sarge down. Fox quickly ran behind Sarge and took out his fusion cores shutting him down for good. In front was the armory's terminal. Liberator spoke "I got this no need for hacking I know the password. "United We Stand." With a clink the door opened.
His face soon turned to sorrow as he saw his friend General Mcgann. His body was somehow perfectly preserved if not just a little discolored. Fox saw Liberator's sorrow while the old ghoul quietly mourned his death.
He then got on McGann's terminal.
User General McGann signed in
[User Logs]
[Attacked in the night]
Last night at about 0200 I was woken by a crash that shook the whole castle. Lt. Foster reported that some huge creature had breached the western wall. I sent him to radio for reinforcements, while I used the tunnels to lock down the armory. Shortly after that second crash caved in the only exit from the tunnel. The only thing I can think of large enough to do that kind of damage is a Behemoth, and if Super mutants have taken the courtyard, I can't risk the artillery falling into their hands. All I can do for now is set up defenses and wait for someone to dig me out.
[Bolstered my position]
It's now clear that we must have lost the battle. I've heard something pounding on the armory door, but the walls will fall in before that door gives way. In case they attempt to clear the rubble from my quarters, I've set up all the defenses that were left down here. I don't like to think about Super Mutants using our artillery against helpless settlements. I'm running low on water, but I still hope that the survivors will regroup and mount a counter-attack in time.
[Final entry]
This will likely be my final entry. My supplies have all run out, and I've given up hope that rescue is coming. The only thing left is an old case of wine I found. I know it will only make the dehydration worse, but at this point, I'd rather meet my fate with a toast.
General McGann
Commonwealth Minutemen
Liberator began to curse himself under his breath. He whispered, "I'm sorry sir I'm sorry."
Fox comforted him "It's not your fault we saw how big that thing was there's no way you could have killed it. May I ask? How close were you and Mcgann?"
"Close?" replied Liberator. "I was there when he was born. For over two centuries, I have watched my closest loved ones being there when they are born and being there when they die that's the curse of being a ghoul. I wasn't there for Mcgann when he died sure he may have been boastful and prideful but he didn't deserve this. Despite his flaws as a person and a General he was always there and watched over us. As a true General, he led on the frontlines beside his men pistol in one hand sword in the other. Most of all he loved his troops and his people. I just wish I was there for him it's easy to die when someone's with you but to die alone that's hard."
Fox's ears folded remembering how his father died wishing he could have been there for his father or better yet save him.
The old ghoul sighed as they opened the door to the armory. Slippy pressed the big red button opening the door. With screeching and creaking the door opened letting sunlight into the west bastion. On a table was what they were looking for the schematics for the 12-inch mortars. In a corner were parts and barrels for the mortars along with more cement for the platforms. He gave the schematics to Slippy and Sturges. He walked down back to McGann and carried him out of the tunnel his rescue had come forty-seven years late.
Several Minutemen grabbed their shovels and got digging preparing a grave for McGann. They had no materials for a coffin so they were going to have to drape him over with a blanket when they were done. Slippy used his scanner to get the measurements and design of McGann's uniform. When Liberator had his back turned, they scanned him to get his measurements. Much like Fay, Fox and Slippy had an idea to surprise the old ghoul and make his day better.
Liberator then asked, "Preston do you know how to play Taps?"
Preston shook his head "I'm sorry General I've never played it."
Cody answered, "I do General."
He reached into his bag and pulled out his fife and began to play taps.
Three Minutemen armed with Laser Muskets did the three-gun salute while the Minutemen flag was draped over McGann.
*Crank* *Boom* Crank* *Boom* *Crank* *Boom*
The Minutemen flag was draped over McGann's body. Carefully the flag was pulled off and was tri-folded. The Minutemen and Star Fox team saluted. Liberator then gave the eulogy.
"I know none of you met McGann but you doing this means so much to me to put it short McGann and Becker were the last two Generals who knew what the Minutemen are fighting for. We are fighting for our freedom our people our future. I know we lost many brothers and sisters along the way but we also must be thankful for those we still have and for the new ones we gained. If it wasn't for our new friends here...*Gestures to the Star Fox team* We would have gotten our teeth kicked in even worse. We owe our thanks to them. McGann thought we were fighting Super Mutants, in reality, it was the Mirelurk queen but it's because of him the armory is safe and because of Slippy and Fox old Sarge didn't go off in two mushroom clouds. The point is we owe debts to our friends both old and new."
Liberator nodded and McGann's body was lowered while several Minutemen began burying him. The old ghoul stepped down and went back into the tunnels. He went in and found his old army trunk inside his old fatigues and combat helmet. He picked it up beat the dust out of it and put it on. When he stepped out, he was no longer in his tattered militia uniform or worn out under armor glove but instead clad in his army fatigues and helmet. There the tapes read "U.S Army George H. Washington."
"Alright, y'all take the rest of the day off. I'll deal with the cement the artillery platforms will be ready I'll get the molds from the armory. With the parts, we have along with the parts I can salvage from the destroyed mortars."
Took a little while but the platforms were now drying with the molds in place and to Liberator's delight, the barrels of the destroyed mortars were intact. Of course, he got to cleaning out the barrels and salvaging gears levers nuts bolts anything he could scavenge from the destroyed mounts anything beyond repair was thrown on the scrap pile.
Krystal meanwhile looked at Cody with worry she sensed quilt and dread within him. It didn't take a telepath to see he was going through withdrawal. Cody began whispering to no one in particular "Get away get away why won't you leave me alone."
Krystal could tell he wasn't talking to her but she could hear voices in his head.
Back on Corneria...
Evan's armor clanked as he walked the chemo was already making him very sick but he insisted on accompanying Fara and Katt on their walk to the mall. Nathan meanwhile was babysitting Fara's little sister Lilly. The Cornerian people noticed the heavy damage done to his armor covered in scars and holes from heavy blaster bolts. A kind Samoyed and her pup walked up and apologized heavily on behalf of the Cornerian people since they didn't know about Shear's loyalty to Andross.
Evan turned on his translator and gave a light chuckle "No worries I know it wasn't your fault besides us Minutemen are used to getting shot at however I must say thank you to your people if it wasn't for them this cancer would have taken me but it's because of your people I now have a chance the cure isn't out yet but I have hope."
The Samoyed smiled tail wagging "It's an honor to meet my first human what's your name, young man?"
Evan smiled "Commonwealth Minuteman Evan Johnston at your service."
She shook his armored hand "I'm Mya this is my son Thomas."
The young pup wagged his tail "Mr. Johnston can I have a picture?"
Evan nodded sure thing. Mya pulled out her camera drone and took a picture together. They parted ways and continued on their mall walk. Other Cornerians looked with wonder as Evan clanked around in his armor. He was so enamored with Cornerian architecture everything looked so sleek and new a far cry from Quincy or what was left of it. He gritted his teeth furious that the Gunners took his home.
Fara and Katt sensed the anger in his body language along with the sound of his gritting teeth. Evan took notice and tried to hide it. He thought to himself "That's the thing about Cornerians their sense of smell, hearing, and perceptive nature it's as if I can hide nothing from them."
Fara asked, "Evan is something wrong?"
He sighed "Just thinking about Quincy it wasn't perfect but it was home."
Katt asked, "Sugar is that where you came from?"
Evan answered "Yes it was, to be honest, most Minutemen aren't from Quincy but all over the Commonwealth. Heck some of us aren't from the Commonwealth take my General for instance he's from Texas. However, my home was a near-death sentence for the Minutemen as a whole only two groups came to my town's aid. The first being Cody's Youth Remnant the second being Hollis's group. Everyone else left us for dead all because they thought they should be General. The little boys and girls of the Youth Remanent had more guts courage maturity and loyalty than the adults of the groups that left us for dead. Think about that the little ones held the line and died so we could escape. You should have seen Cody he is die-hard fanatic thinking it would be his final moments only for Liberator to save him by the skin of his teeth.
Neither Katt nor Fara knew this.
He spoke again. "I've lost everything my home my family before all this mess I was just a storekeeper with my grandparents and those beasts took it all. I don't want any of you to lose what I did. I will not let anyone harm you or Fay. I don't want to lose another family."
Kind smiles formed on the muzzles of the two girls. Katt said to him "You got us Fay and Star Fox you will not lose us you don't need to watch your back we'll do that for you."
Fara told him. "Please you don't need to hide behind that helmet we know the past few days the chemo has been wrecking your body."
Evan replied "I'm scared to look in the mirror every time I take my helmet off and get out of my armor hair falls out. I've been feeling weaker even walking is becoming difficult, to be honest, I can barely stand without my armor."
They took him back to Katt's place so the Spaniels wouldn't freak out Evan since has been hiding his deteriorating condition they can smell it but not see it. He clanked into the living room of Katt's massive apartment. He kneeled on one knee while the girls helped get his helmet off. It hissed as it depressurized. When they lifted off several strands of brown hair fell out. They looked at his face and saw the white of his eyes yellowed. His skin looked sickly. Both recognized it as jaundice. When it opened Evan slowly climbed out of his armor. He weakly walked towards the mirror and was horrified. He was losing weight as well he realized he started to look a bit like Cody sickly and emaciated.
Fara saw this and got her communicator to call the hospital only for Evan to stop her.
"Please let me be I know I'm sick but if I can't fight defenseless in a hospital it'll be Quincy all over again. I have to march on no matter what to be the bulwark against any threat."
Fara yelled at him "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHY YOU MINUTEMEN ARE LOSING? YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT OTHERS BUT NOT YOURSELVES I SAW CODY IN KRYSTAL'S ARMS HE LOOKS LIKE A ZOMBIE HE RUNS HIMSELF INTO THE GROUND! Look you need help, Evan. Fay would never forgive us if we'd let you carry on like this.
Evan didn't he climbed back into his armor and got his helmet back on. They attempted to grab him but he sprinted through the glass and jumped. In his T-45 he landed with a loud boom. The armor did its job well not a scratch from the fall. He got up and sprinted into the night his armor clanking all the while. Fara immediately called Pepper knowing he could handle the situation delicate Evan was more of a threat to himself than the populace sure he has power armor but he only wants to kill Venomians everyone else is under his protection.
Pepper nodded "It's ok Fara will find him honestly if anyone's going to be pissed it's Liberator, he's not going to be happy finding out one of his soldiers went AWOL.