Collaboration Pt I

Shortly after our meeting let out and I was informed of the seemingly conclusive theory, things slowed down for me; at least for a solid week until it was early December. I headed back to the new home that Sophia purchased near the Westin Ranch and found her lounging about. She asked a bunch of questions in regard to the whole event, but I was again unsure of what I was allowed to disclose or even knew.

As the sky got darker, we headed out to the downtown and across the street to the "Stockman's Association" which turned out to be something of a general store/caravan organizer, but with a strange back door. Sophia and I bought a few convenient pieces of furniture up for sale and the nice "little person" helped us haul it back to the house. We got a few tables and cushioned chairs, but that was largely it. When we got back, I got to take a good look at our new home.

The place was quaint, but enough for the two of us. It consisted of a large open room, with two sets of windows. One set was looking out beyond the walls of Shady Sands, and the other was overlooking the street on opposite ends. The other two walls were both blank but had wooden doors. The northern door was to a little supply room, and the opposite door was to a small bathroom. With a set of comfy chairs, Sophia and I toasted the new place with a hit of diluted Jet and a relaxing night in.

Later that evening when we were good and euphoric, Paul dropped by. How he knew where we lived I don't know, but he stopped in to look at the new place and drop off my payment for the job I did. Paul left a canvas sack by the door and said it contained $2,000 which more than made up for the cost of our new home. Paul left shortly after and Sophia and I went to sleep on our still dusty caravan bedrolls (We forgot to buy a bed and mattress).

When morning came, I was happy. I was paid, living in a new home, had a great wife, and all my troubles from the past year were history. I wasn't given any task by Paul or Captain McNeil, so I had the foreseeable future free. I spent the next few days doing what I couldn't do upon arrival; exploring Shady Sands.

I was fairly familiar with the downtown area, the shops, the police station (obviously), the hospitals, the bars, the power plant, and the eastern residential/farming district. Houses, ranches, and farms dotted the surrounding city for miles in all directions, and the Bazaar saw no shortage of traffic. Within the city walls and following the main road south from the gate, was the government district. This area was a small one and primarily consisted of two buildings. The main building was a giant one of similar Shady Sands architecture but with a large dome on top and signage said it was the, "Council Hall." On the other end, separated by another wall, armed guards, and energy barrier was the "Presidential Mansion." It was a different building made of bricks and adobe Sandcrete, but decorated with flowers and tall palm trees that I again couldn't quite tell if they were real.

Upon approaching the Presidential Mansion, I asked the blue dressed policeman who the President was and got informed somewhat rudely. "President Tandi? You new here or some shit!?"

So, there it was, "Tandi". That was the leader of this nation I was unintentionally serving. I recalled mention of that name before and was directed to the plaza between the two government structures. In the lavish courtyard were Shady Sands residents lounging about, not having access to the two buildings that made up the Government District. Sophia and I sat on a bench in the center plaza and looked over the looming statue. I looked at the statue that displayed a grey man standing triumphantly decorated in such a way to depict a proud warrior. Sophia looked around from the bench, but I got up and looked at the little plaque.

Shady Sands Vault Dweller Memorial

On this site in 2161, The Hero from the legendary Vault 13 approached the New California Republic's first President; President Aradesh; and offered his services to solve the problems of the humble community for which our Capital gets its name. The village of Shady Sands was the Hero's first encounter with post-war civilization, and that hero went above and beyond the call of duty to assist in any way he could. In the early days of the Post Nuclear world, strangers coming out of the desert to offer assistance for the good of humanity was a rare event. Not knowing the Hero's destiny, our community offered him aid, and he more than repaid his debt by saving our very own Tandi (Current President of The NCR) from an evil raider clan. The People of Shady Sands were more than grateful for his act of heroism, but little did they know; he would go on to save the entire world from the Master's Super Mutant Army.

…

There was more on the plaque in regard to donations and what not, but I couldn't stop thinking about this "Vault Dweller" guy and the current "Chosen One." I wondered if the two were related somehow, but everything the "Vault Dweller" did seemed super noble. As for the, "Chosen One": it seemed like that guy just caused destruction everywhere he went. Then I thought about the current president of NCR named "Tandi" and considered the plaque. If that hero guy saved her in 2161, that was 80 years ago!? How the Hell old is President Tandi!?

Anyway, I headed back to Sophia and went back to downtown where we got some more furniture for our home. I spent the next few days continuing to move in and getting to know the NCR itself.

During one of my walks around Shady Sands, I explored the southeastern corner of downtown. This was a largely unpopulated part of the city, but housed several unique structures. There were a few blacksmiths and leather tanners, but also a unique facility with NCR banners around it and armed men in that familiar "Ranger" style combat armor. The sign on the fortified building said, "New California Republic Ranger Headquarters." I instinctively lowered my head and moved forward for fear of being recognized by one of them as the supposed chem pusher.

Heading down the street, I eventually looked up and saw a unique structure bearing zero resemblance to the standard architecture of town. The thing sat alone near the southeastern wall and was made of what looked like concrete and steel. Reinforced pipes and electrical tubing hung along the walls and the roof had a flat top but with metallic domes on the corners.

I walked around the structure and eventually reached the side where two heavily armored men stood with large assault rifles. Right between them was a set of steel blast doors that had a strange emblem in the middle. The emblem consisted of a blue wreath encompassing three black gears with a sword going vertically through the middle. I approached the sentries who were clad in grey prewar combat armor and looked at me through black visors. They fidgeted with their rifles as I got closer, but I simply asked what the place was. The soldier guys said the place was the "Brotherhood of Steel Shady Sands Safehouse/Embassy" I pretended like I knew what they were talking about and walked back home.

I initially heard about the Brotherhood of Steel/BOS from my guard friends on the road to New Reno and heard plenty of mention about them since getting truly involved with Paul and Captain McNeil. However, nobody really told me who they were. Apparently, the NCR was working with them since Captain McNeil said we had to bring our findings their way. Still not really sure how significant or who they were exactly, I did remember the fact that the BOS had been monitoring the Chosen One for a while, and that they were our next lead.

After arriving back at the house, it was late, and I went to bed with Sophia. The quiet week of moving in, setting up, and getting to know the country I was serving ended the next morning (Sort of). We were awoken in the early hours of dawn by a knock at the door.

I quickly threw on a simple getup of sweats, a t shirt, and flip flops (Not expecting who was there). I answered the door to be greeted by Detective Paul and Captain McNeil who said; "It's time to go, your presence is required."

I studied the duo. Both looked very serious and wore black shades covering their eyes. Then I noticed Paul in a New Reno thug level clean grey suit, and McNeil wore a more ceremonial looking military uniform. The uniform consisted of a tan collared button up shirt with an NCR flag on the right sleeve, clean brown cargo pants, and light tan boots. He had a similar leather satchel slung across his chest and the same green beret resting at an angle atop his head.

I briefly looked at myself, and asked if I should change, only for Captain McNeil to say, "No time. We are on a strict timetable."

I gave a quick, "See ya later" to Sophia and headed out with the two feeling largely underdressed.

I struggled to keep up in my choice of footwear (That *Clip Clop* probably sounded especially stupid given the company I was with) but we walked to the main street and then south through downtown towards the government district when I asked Paul, "What's happening?"

Still staring straight ahead, Paul responded with, "We got news of what happened at Vault 13."

I asked, "Wait, 'The Vault 13?' Like from the stories and stuff?"

He nodded and began, "That Chosen One guy apparently found the place a little over a week ago. Ran some errands, and some anonymous wasters tracked the guy to its location. Turns out driving the only working car in the known wasteland attracts a lot of attention… Anyhow, we have reason to believe that squadron of Vertibirds you saw upon leaving the military base last week just came from some sort of raid on the place because the Chosen One left almost immediately… Our sources identified the sight of a battle in the western mountains and the evidence lines up with recent reductions in deathclaw attacks in the mountains…"

I was really curious about how the "Enclave" raiding an old vault would have any impact on the deathclaw attacks in the region. Although, I was more shocked at the fact Detective Paul acknowledged the old vault's existence (Seemed to just be a legend around these parts), so I said, "Damn, I didn't even think the place existed."

He nodded and said, "Neither did most people. However, things took another turn when one of our operatives up in Redding radioed Captain McNeil with word of another squadron heading southwest from up north only around the same time. The only communities up past Redding are Klamath and the tribal village of Arroyo. We heard from an agent in Klamath detailing no change in activity. So, we believe that Arroyo was targeted, but we don't know why."

I asked, "So what does it mean if that little tribal village was hit? And where are we going?"

The captain remained silent as we entered the plaza of the government district and Paul said, "Our agent reached Arroyo last night and confirmed the scene. What he reported falls directly in line with all their previous activities. This means that the Enclave isn't playing hide and seek anymore. They're making their presence known, and moving in, which means we have to act… So right now, we're linking up with our Brotherhood Ambassador and having a word with the Brotherhood representatives here in town to plan our next move."

Just then, Paul led me to a bench, and we took a seat while the captain entered the large council building. We waited there for several minutes and I asked what my role was in all this. He said that I was one of the key figures in the initial investigation, and I may be called upon to explain what I know. I tried to say that the two of them knew way more than me, but my unique role in all the activity around northern California might be needed for another perspective on the matter.

Captain McNeil left the building shortly after, following a tan guy with grey hair, a clean grey suit, and yellow vest underneath. Paul and I stood up and we met with the "Ambassador." Paul shook the guy's hand and exchanged a brief introduction. Then the ambassador leaned in and extended a hand to me with a puzzled face (probably thinking I was a bum based on my apparel that morning). I shook his hand and the guy said he was "Ambassador Chakrabarti." I still felt horribly under dressed in my flip flops.

I thought about the guy's strange last name and recalled the strangely diverse population in Shady Sands. I'm something of a mixed man, and was often mistaken for a tribal. I remembered most communities I found myself in consisted largely of black, white, or Hispanic people left over from the old world, but Shady Sands had a strange mix of people I never thought existed. Not mutated, just… Different.

Anyhow, after shaking hands with the impeccably dressed ethnic man, we departed towards the BOS Safehouse/Embassy I saw only the day before.