How's it going everybody? I hope you all are doing good. First off I want to say thank you all for your support. You guys have been very great readers. Thanks too you guys I was able to make 100 Reviews! If it wasn't for you guys, this story wouldn't have made it far. So again, I want to thank you all. Anyway onto the Chapter! Eric talks with the base commanders. Especially Chase's replacement.
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Guest who posted on Chapter 2: To answer your first question, Eric saved Protector McGraw and a few friendly Outcasts, not every Outcast. To answer your second question, Casdin got the alien blaster from Eric long ago, and the Tesla Cannons...Read on to find out.
Chapter 14: Desperate Schemes
Central Command Room: June 11, 2279. 11:08 A.M.
The commanding Generals were leading Eric and his group to the Central Command Room with 35 of the 89 battalion and division commanders following behind. Thankfully when they had released all the soldiers from their cryo-pods, none of them had died from cardiac arrest or pod malfunction. Eric had remembered Colonel Hartigan when he was released from his pod on Mothership Zeta. Since Eric didn't recognize who Chase's replacement was, he would just address the man by his rank.
Before they could move past the vehicle depot, they had to tell them about their other three companions so the soldiers wouldn't panic and shoot them. It had taken a little while to explain to them about Charon, Fawkes, and Uncle Leo. To say that they were surprised at the sight of the ghoul and two mutants was the biggest understatement in history. After the shock had worn off they proceeded to the air traffic control tower so Chase's replacement General and the others could talk with Eric.
General Foster had taken it upon himself to keep a vigilant eye on Eric for two reasons. The first reason was because Eric was the one calling the shots in the group. The second reason was because Eric was wearing a Shadow Knight's uniform and beret.
The Generals led everyone inside the C.C.R. Uncle Leo and Fawkes had to hunch down because of how tall they were. Along with the commanders were Lieutenant Jordan Briggs and a few Shadow Knights. Some of the commanders were doing their best to keep as much distance between them and the two super mutants. Although Eric had assured them all that they were friendly unless provoked, they still looked intimidating to the soldiers.
Butch and the rest of Eric's group were standing by the commanders while Eric had taken a spot by the Generals in front of the command room's big screen with Dogmeat sitting right next to him. Standing next to Chase's replacement General was four of the five guards that arrived with him on the base. They too were keeping an eye on Eric and his group.
The General turned and faced Eric. "Ok Eric, before we let you say anything explain to us how you the hell you managed to find our base? How you and your group managed to make it past our base defenses and why the hell you're even here in the first place?" He said in an unfriendly manner.
Eric was sort of taken aback by the level of bitterness in the General's voice, but figured that he still didn't trust him so he decided to answer his questions. "Alright." He turned his attention to all the commanders. "My name is Eric Daniels and these are my companions." He said pointing to his friends. "Amata, Butch, Harkness, Jericho, Sydney, and Jason and the three good looking people in my group." He said with a smile. "Charon, Fawkes, and Uncle Leo."
Charon didn't know whether or not he should be offended by Eric's comment, but didn't say anything.
General Wells stepped forward. "If you don't mind me asking. What are they?" He asked hesitantly pointing at the mutants in Eric's group.
Eric frowned at the Lieutenant General. "They are people General. Fawkes and Uncle Leo are known as super mutants in the wasteland. They're…mutations of the Forced Evolutionary Virus." All the soldiers in the room gasped in fear of being infected by one of the most talked about experimental viral weapons ever constructed by Wes Tek, a prime defense contractor for the United States Military.
The General looked like he was about to lash out at Eric for bringing in contagious abominations, but the young men was quick to silence them though. "They aren't contagious if that's what you're all so worked up about! If they were I would've died a year ago when I met them. Unless you're thrown into a vat of the virus, you have nothing to fear."
That was enough to calm the commanders and Officers down. Eric pointed at Charon and continued. "Charon is a ghoul. There are many others like him out in the wasteland. Charon is an example of what happens to people who don't die from radiation sickness. They may look…different, but make no mistake, they're still people who've got big hearts and are some of the best damn friends anyone could ask for. God knows that if it wasn't for them saving my ass countless times I wouldn't be alive right now." Eric looked to General Wells. "Does that answer your question General Wells?"
Andrew nodded, but looked as if he were ashamed of himself for treating Eric's mutant friends as if they were a spawn of Satan.
Eric looked back at the commanders. "To answer your question on how I made it through your base defenses. There are a National Guardsmen living in the town of Washingtonville. One of their soldiers volunteered to get us inside the base. Since your turrets have facial recognition scanners, they recognized the soldier. He got us inside and the rest is history."
"How'd the recognition scanners identify that he was a guardsman? If he was part of the New York Guard, wouldn't he be a ghoul?" General Brookes asked.
General Foster nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been 25 years since the bombs fell so wouldn't they be ghouls?" He asked.
Eric cleared his throat. "Actually it's been 200 years."
The room was dead silent. Everyone wasn't sure if they heard Eric right. The General was the first to find his voice. "What?"
Eric let out a deep sigh. "The date is June 11, 2279." He looked at all the soldiers in the room. "You guys have been in cryogenic sleep for over 200 years."
They all didn't know what to say. They were supposed to be unfrozen on October 23, 2102. Once they were unfrozen they were to begin immediate reconstruction of America, because they still had a chance of reviving the country's government. Now…the chance of bringing America back to its feet was slim at best. Their mission was over.
"I'm sorry you guys. Truly I am." Eric said sincerely.
General Wells nodded. "Please continue Eric."
Eric nodded. "Right, these Guardsmen, under the command of Captain Alan Maverick. They were originally supposed to be sent to New York City, but their CO told them to turn around and move to Washingtonville. Captain Maverick said for six weeks straight they had been taking Rad-X and Rad-Away while living in the radiation. He said that when supplies ran out, some of his men became ghouls, but some didn't. However like ghouls, they can be healed by radiation."
This bit of information caught the attention of Major Isaac Hunsaker, commander of the 232nd Medical Battalion. "They can be healed by radiation?"
Eric nodded looking at the commander's rank. "That's correct Major."
"Healed how?" Hunsaker asked.
Charon spoke up. "If I were to get shot in the leg and was near a source of heavy radiation, my wound would heal right up."
Eric nodded. "But too much exposure can cause a ghoul to go feral." He informed them.
Admiral Howard was next to speak. "What do you mean feral?"
Charon decided to answer for Eric. "He means that the radiation eventually causes a ghoul to lose his sense of humanity. They pretty much become mindless, bloodthirsty, cannibalistic killers."
Admiral Howard nodded and wanted to ask more, but Chase's replacement coughed loudly to get everyone's attention. "Sorry, this is all very fascinating and I don't mean to be an ass…"
"You've done a good job at that already General." General Doug Michaelson whispered to himself, but General Brookes caught what he said and pursed her lips to hide her smile.
"But could you please explain to us why you're here and how you even found out where our base was located?" The General asked, his patience running thin.
Eric nodded. "This is how I found your base." He unzipped his assault pack and pulled out the files on the base and handed them to the four-star General.
The General looked up from the files. "Where did you get these?" He asked.
"I'd tell you if I knew. I got those files from a friend of mine." Eric answered.
"And where is this friend of yours?" The General asked.
"He's dead." Eric replied bluntly. "Along with thousands of other people, this brings me to why I'm here." He reached inside his shirt and pulled out his Brotherhood holotags and tossed them to the General who caught them deftly.
The General read them out loud. "Eric Daniels, Star-Paladin, East Coast Chapter, Brotherhood of Steel?" The General returned his attention to Eric. "What in God's name is the Brotherhood of Steel?" He asked handing the tags back to Eric.
Eric put the tags back around his neck and knew that the commanders and Generals were going to ask him a bunch of questions, but he would answer them. "It's a long story, so it'll take some time to explain-"
"Then start explaining!" The General interrupted rudely.
Eric's fists clenched and gave the older man a hard stare. The General's insolence had gotten on his last nerve. "General I know that you and your men still don't fully trust us, but if you don't tone down the attitude right now I'm going to throw your ass back in your pod!"
Everyone in the room, except for Lieutenant Briggs, Generals Foster, Brookes, and Wells, had the look of complete shock. Briggs, Foster, and Brookes were trying very hard to hide the smiles that were creeping on their faces. Like Eric, they were getting sick and tired of their CG's (Commanding General) hostile attitude towards their guests. Yes, they still didn't completely trust them, but they did unfreeze them and they had shown no acts of aggression towards them and because of that, they were willing to listen to them. If Eric hadn't put him in his place, they sure as hell would have, specifically General Wells.
Butch and the others were afraid that Eric's remark would put them in hot water with the soldiers. They were here to enlist their help, not piss them off.
The commanders couldn't believe their ears. A civilian had pretty much just told their CG, who was four-star General, to shut his mouth. Some of them were inwardly wishing they had a camera so they could take a picture of the General's priceless expression.
Speaking of the General, he had recoiled as if he was facing a striking rattlesnake and had turned purple in outrage. Not once in his entire career as a military officer had someone ever disrespected him, especially a civilian. He was about to give Eric a piece of his mind when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. The General turned and saw Andrew shaking his head no and giving him a disapproving look.
The General took a deep and calming breath. "My apologies Eric. Will you please explain the Brotherhood of Steel to us?" He asked in a nicer tone, though Eric could still detect the bitterness in the officer's voice.
Eric nodded and began explaining the history of the Brotherhood to the soldiers. "The Brotherhood of Steel is a technological organization that was founded at Mariposa Military Base by Roger Maxson."
General Wells' eyes widened. "Roger Maxson? U.S. Army Captain Roger Maxson?"
Eric nodded. "Correct General." Andrew couldn't believe it. Roger was one of his closest friends in the army.
General Michaelson was next to ask the questions. "So, you're telling me that the Brotherhood of Steel are descendants of the United States Army?"
"That's correct sir. After the bombs fell, he and his men packed up and moved to Lost Hills, where it would become the main HQ of the Brotherhood."
"What happened to Roger?" General Wells asked.
"He died of Cancer in 2135." Eric answered him.
The General was next to ask. "So what are the Brotherhood of Steel's objectives?"
"To preserve old world technology, mainly military technology. Now it depends on the Brotherhood Chapter." Eric answered.
"How many Chapters are there?" Admiral Howard asked.
"There are five Chapters. Lost Hills, the Mojave, the Midwest, Texas, and the East Coast, but we just call ourselves the Capital Brotherhood." Eric looked at the big screen behind him. "Is there some way you can pull up a map of America?"
"I can pull up an image." A voice called out from the group of commanders. It was Lieutenant Hawk. The Lieutenant took his usual place at the monitors and started typing in several different sequences. "Ok, pulling up a satellite feed now."
The big screen suddenly had a live feed of the United States. However it didn't look like the proud country it once was. Many of the green grasslands and forests were gone, the atmosphere was severely polluted, and it looked like the country was uninhabitable. It was a sad sight for all the soldiers in the room.
Eric walked forward and gave a lowdown on all the Brotherhood Chapters.
"You said that you're part of the Capital Brotherhood?" The General asked.
"That's correct General." Eric answered.
"So, what are you doing all the way out here in New York?" He asked.
Eric took a deep breath. "Twenty-two years ago, my commander, Elder Lyons, along with his forces arrived in the Capital Wasteland to recover old world technology. However, when he saw how the wastelanders were living under constant threat from mutants and raiders, he dedicated his time to helping them. Along the way, a small group of soldiers under the command of Henry Casdin got tired of helping wastelanders, because they considered them to be a bunch of wild animals. Casdin and his group broke off from the Brotherhood and formed the Outcasts. For years the Outcasts continued to search for pre-war tech and kept their distance so we never considered them a threat. Until the past couple weeks that is."
"What happened?" Lieutenant General Wells asked.
"Well, the High Elder at Lost Hills has been in a losing fight against the New California Republic or NCR for short." Eric looked at the big screen behind him and pointed at California. "The NCR has control of everything from northern Mexico to Oregon. The NCR has adopted an old world democracy type of government and next to the Midwestern Brotherhood; they are the strongest military force in the West. They've been at war with the Brotherhood for years."
Eric shook his head. "Sorry I'm getting off topic. Lost Hills wanted to gather more troops to fight the NCR so they dispatched their most feared warrior, General Drake Marshes. General Marshes, along with 5,000 elite Brotherhood soldiers were sent to retrieve both the Capital Brotherhood and the Outcasts to fight the NCR."
"So what brought you here?" General Brookes asked.
Eric sighed. "Along the way, General Marshes got tired of listening to the High Elder and went rogue. He made a quick stop in the Midwest where he told the Elders there that me and every other soldier under Lyons' command were nothing more than a bunch of murderers. He used that to gain some extra firepower and equipment."
"He arrived at the Capital Wasteland where he met up with a few Outcasts. Marshes and Casdin had a meeting and Casdin had told him the same thing Marshes told the Midwest. He also told him that the people of the Capital Wasteland were hostile to anyone but the Capital Brotherhood and would kill any outsider force without remorse. After his meeting with Casdin, he killed six of his own men and blamed their deaths on the Capital Brotherhood."
General Foster knew where this was going. "Now General Marshes is attacking you and anyone else in the Capital Wasteland."
Eric looked the Brigadier General in the eye. "Attacking? He's fucking slaughtering us. Marshes launched a full-scale invasion against the Capital Wasteland. Three days ago, the Capital Brotherhood had 400 well-armed and well-trained soldiers. Now we are down to less than 60 maybe 50 soldiers. Marshes and his men have destroyed all of our bases in the region except for one and wiped out entire settlements and cities. After his men got a firm grip on the Capital Wasteland he killed Casdin and the Outcasts, because they were a liability to him." Eric looked at all the commanders in the room. They had been listening to every word that he said could tell that they already wanted to help. "There were over 15,000 people living in the Capital Wasteland. When Marshes launched his invasion, an estimated 3,000 had been killed, no not killed, slaughtered! They were slaughtered like animals. Every day Marshes isn't stopped hundreds of people continue to die."
"So what do you want us to do?" The General asked.
Eric looked to him. "I need your help. The people of the Capital Wasteland need your help."
Before the General could reply a few loud beeps were heard. Everyone looked towards Butch, whose Pip-Boy had made the beeping noise. He chuckled embarrassedly. "Sorry." Butch said before looking at his Pip-Boy. The encrypted tape he found on General Chase had finished decrypting. He began to read everything on the tape. Everyone turned their attention back to Eric and the General.
The General shook his head and let out a sigh. "Look. What's happening to your people, it sucks, it really does, but this is not our fight."
Eric felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "General, please you need to understand-" He was cut off by the General.
"There's nothing to understand. I get it, you need help and innocent people are dying because of a madman. Well guess what Eric? It's not a fight we're getting involved in. That's the end of it!" The General almost shouted, regaining his bitter attitude.
"Eric." Butch said trying to get his friend's attention. He had finished reading everything on the tape and it had something that Eric needed to know.
Now Eric was pissed at the General. "Oh so you just plan on leaving a bunch of innocent people to be murdered? Two of my men died trying to get us here." Eric asked heatedly.
"Eric!" Butch said louder this time.
"You have my condolences." The General said very insincerely. "But I have news for you. The only people I took an oath to defend were the American people!"
"Eric!"
"In case you didn't notice asshole, everyone born in post-war USA are technically descendants of the American people." Eric scoffed at the man. "If I didn't know any better, I would've mistaken you for a Chinese collaborator." The moment those words hit the General's ears, he was thinking of ways he could kill Eric.
"ERIC!" Butch shouted at the top of his lungs.
Eric whipped his head around to face Butch. "WHAT?"
Butch pointed at his Pip-Boy. "You need to see this!"
Eric gave the General one last hard stare before walking over to Butch. "What?" He hissed.
Butch held his arm out so Eric could read what was on the Pip-Boy. While Eric was reading, there was talk amongst the commanders. They were whispering about several different topics, mainly what was happening in D.C.
General Wells and the others were staring holes in the back of the General's head. Foster, Michaelson, Howard, Webb and Brookes were silently wishing the General a long and painful stay in hell, while Wells was wishing that Chase were here. If anyone could resolve this situation, it would be Chase.
Eric had finished reading what was on the wrist-worn computer. He looked at Butch with disbelief. Butch had given Eric a nod to confirm that everything he read was true. Eric leaned close to whisper so only Butch could hear what he needed to say. "You and Harkness get a couple stealth boys ready. Just in case."
Butch nodded and grabbed Harkness to brief him of what Eric told him.
Eric turned his attention back to the officers, but kept his attention focused on the General and Lieutenant General Wells. "Did I tell you guys that I found General Chase?"
The eyes of every soldier in the room had widened and there was some more talk amongst the commanders.
"That's impossible! General Chase died in a fire at his cabin." General Wells stated.
"Yes he did die, but it wasn't by a fire in his cabin." Now Eric had Wells' undivided attention. If his best friend didn't die by a fire, then he needed to know what happened. "We found Chase's skeleton in a bunker underneath his cabin. Chase had been shot in the front and back at least twenty times. All I have to say is that General Chase is a tough bastard and a persistent one too, because he left a final recording." Eric said holding up his Pip-Boy. "You want to hear it?"
The Generals and commanders all nodded. Eric pushed play and every one listened to the recording. As they listened, they heard Chase curse from the wounds he suffered by the attack. They were listening to him cough and gasp for air, but it wasn't until Chase mentioned a few statements that really caught their attention. 'If you found this, then you'll know that I was betrayed. That fucker sent a group of mercs to try and kill me.' And 'I'm asking anyone who is listening to this tape to please stop that traitorous motherfucker! He's at Rebirth right now!'
Everyone continued to listen as General Chase talked about how someone could get inside Rebirth and how someone had to stop the man that had killed him.
As soon as the tape ended, Eric looked at the commanders, who were all in complete shock, some of them were even in tears, because of how much they respected Chase. The Generals were all just as shocked. Two of them in particular were the most devastated, General Wells because Chase had been his closest friend since he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and General Brookes. Brookes put a hand over her mouth and had tears streaming down her face.
"That's right!" Eric said getting everyone's attention again. "There's a traitor on this base. As a matter of fact, he's in this room right now!" There was more chatter coming from the commanders. Eric turned to face General Wells. "And he's standing right in front of me." Andrew raised an eyebrow at Eric as if he was implying that he was the traitor.
The General looked to Wells and before anyone could react, Eric drew his Beretta and aimed it. The General turned back to Eric only to be met with the gun being pointed between his eyes, which widened in fear.
"Here's your traitor everybody. General Buzz Babcock!" He announced loudly. The man who had commanded American troops in Canada was the traitor.
Big Town Prison Camp: June 11, 2279. 11:35 A.M.
Two Lost Hills Knights drug an unconscious former Paladin Commander Mullen into the camp filled with prisoners. After Marshes had his men kill everybody in the settlement, he had them convert it into a prison. Most of the prisoners were common wastelanders, but there were a few soldiers from Lyons' Brotherhood.
During the standoff between Marshes and Mullen and his men, Marshes was able to kill all five Warriors before knocking Mullen unconscious. He then ordered two soldiers to take him to the camp so he can have some time to think to himself.
The two soldiers unceremoniously tossed Mullen into the camp with all of the other prisoners.
"We should just shoot him. He's a traitor!" One Knight said.
"We can't. Marshes ordered us not to touch him. I don't plan on pissing him off today." The other Knight said. "Come on let's go."
Central Command Room: June 11, 2279. 11:39 A.M.
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a ripper. Eric had his sidearm pointed right between General Babcock's eyes. The four-star General had the look of utter fear written all over his face, but his arrogance immediately returned. "Are you insane? I'm no traitor! I've devoted my life to my country and my countrymen! I took the oath to defend the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. The day I become a traitor will be the day I blow my brains out! I'll be damned if I'm going to be accused of treachery by some stupid fucking kid!"
General Wells stepped forward to try and defuse the situation. "Eric, I'm going to have to agree with General Babcock. He's no traitor. Sure he may be an ignorant arrogant fuck-head with a piss poor attitude."
Babcock turned to face the second-in-command. "Gee, thanks Andrew." He said affronted.
The Lieutenant General put a hand up to silence Buzz. "You shut the fuck up General, right now!" He growled. "You're on thin ice as it is."
General Babcock's face turned a dark shade of purple in indignation. "You ungrateful prick! How dare you disrespect your superior officer!" He snarled.
"SHUT UP!" The Lieutenant General boomed giving Babcock the evilest glare possible. He looked to Eric. "Listen Eric, unless you have any credible evidence, I'm going to have to ask you to drop your weapon."
Eric looked to the two super mutants in the room. "Butch!" His closest friend stuck his head out from behind Fawkes with a raised eyebrow. "Show General Wells what you found!"
Butch stepped out from behind Fawkes and walked over to Wells. He went through the notes on his Pip-Boy and showed it to the Lieutenant General. "I found this inside Chase's overcoat."
Andrew looked at the Pip-Boy and read what was on the screen. The headline of the holotape already caught his attention.
Central Intelligence Agency
General Chase,
Your suspicions have been confirmed. Early yesterday morning at 0800 hours, CIA and FBI tactical teams launched a raid at General Babcock's place of residence outside Washington D.C. General Babcock was nowhere to be found, but upon inspection of the house, documents were found in his possession in a secret wall safe. Further documents in question were filed away inside his personal computer. The documents inside the safe contained vital information about Rebirth Army Base including the location, defenses, and base personnel. On General Babcock's computer we found something that you need to know. It seems that General Babcock has placed a five million dollar bounty on your head. By now, every mercenary and PMC across America knows about it and will be coming after you to claim it.
While Andrew was silently reading the note, no one in the room noticed Babcock's four guards slowly reaching for their sidearms.
Secondly, we found evidence that General Babcock has indeed ordered his men to execute well over 10,000 Canadian civilians. He'll be charged with treason, murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
I have every agent looking for Babcock right now and with the help of the FBI, we'll find him. Until we do, it'd be wise to get your ass to Rebirth ASAP. You're men will keep you safe.
Your friend,
Chief Special Agent Brad Coulson.
When Andrew finished reading, Butch walked back over behind Fawkes. The Lieutenant General didn't need to read anymore. He was beyond furious. He was fucking pissed. He was furious with himself for not realizing it sooner. Andrew drew his 9mm service sidearm, cocked the hammer back, and pointed it at the back of General Babcock's head.
Babcock's eyes widened. "What in the hell are you doing Andrew?"
"SHUT UP YOU TURNCOAT FUCK!" The Lieutenant General thundered, causing some of the commanders to jump. "General Buzz Babcock, you are under arrest for treason and the murder of General Constantine Chase along with the murders of many innocent civilians." General Babcock looked like he was going to refute the accusations, but Andrew wasn't going to let him get a word out. "Don't even think about denying it Buzz. We've got the evidence. You're finished."
Instead of accepting or denying the facts, General Babcock just started laughing wickedly. "Actually Andrew, it's you that's finished."
Before Wells could ask what he meant, he felt the barrel of a 9mm being pressed against the back of his head. It was one of Babcock's guards wielding the gun. Eric was about to kill the guard when he felt a 9mm being pressed against left his temple. It was another one of Babcock's guards. The rest of the Generals went to draw their handguns when the other two guards pulled two 9mm pistols. One guard was pointing his guns at Generals Michaelson and Webb and the other pointed his guns at Generals Foster and Brookes. The guard pointing the gun at General Wells pulled out a second gun and pointed it at Admiral Howard.
The soldiers and Eric's group all went for their sidearms, but were stopped by the guard holding Andrew at gunpoint. "You draw your guns and I splatter the General's brains across the wall!" He threatened.
The commanders all took their hands off their sidearms and since Eric's life was on the line as well, Amata and the others kept their hands off their guns.
"Drop the gun!" The guard holding Wells hostage ordered. The Lieutenant General sighed and let the gun fall out of his hand.
Eric didn't like the position he was in. "Shit." He hissed through clenched teeth. He looked Babcock in the eye. "I should've known you weren't the only turncoat motherfucker on this base!"
"Shut up!" The guard holding Eric at gunpoint shouted. "Put your gun down!"
"Fat fucking chance." Eric growled.
Dogmeat was growling at the guard who dared to threaten the life of his master.
The guard pushed the barrel of his sidearm against Eric's head a lot harder. Eric smiled evilly. "Ok, I'm going to kill you first."
"You got guts kid." The guard complimented. "Lower your weapon before I kill you."
Instead of lowering his gun, Eric cocked the hammer back and pressed it firmly between Babcock's eyes. The General remained unaffected by this action. "Go ahead, Corporal! I'll take your General with me!"
The guard was about to respond when Babcock raised a hand to silence him. "It's alright Corporal. He'll lower his weapon when I'm in control." The General looked to the door. "Corporal Wilson, get in here!" Seconds later, the Corporal in question walked in the room with a small weapon's crate. The two MPs guarding outside the door quickly glanced inside the room and saw what was transpiring. They immediately radioed for backup.
Babcock looked back at Eric. "You see Eric, one way or another, everyone on this base will follow my orders whether they like it or not!" Corporal Wilson knelt down and opened up the case to pull out a strange weapon that most of soldiers in the room had never seen before.
Eric turned to the right a bit to catch a glimpse of what the Corporal had. His face paled when he recognized the weapon. "You have a mesmetron?"
Babcock smiled in admiration. "So you do know this weapon! However, it's not just any mesmetron. As you know, a mesmetron is designed stun people, but this one is very different. This mesmetron was designed to control people. One blast to the head and all I have to do is issue an order and presto, that person is under my control." Buzz said proudly. "Once I'm in control of everyone on this base, we'll spread our influence across the wasteland and everyone will know the name of the Enclave!"
Eric's eyes widened and his trigger finger was starting to twitch. "You're with the Enclave?!" He shouted.
Babcock frowned. "Judging by the shock in your voice, you know the Enclave. The question is how?"
"The Enclave is an enemy of the Brotherhood and NCR. All Enclave personnel are to be reported to the Brotherhood for the crimes of murder, genocide, kidnapping, rape, and so many more fucking things." Eric told the General.
"What's the Enclave?" General Brookes asked.
Eric sighed and decided to give the condensed explanation. "The Enclave is also known as 'The New American Government.' They are the direct descendants of the United States Government, mainly the President, and other top politicians. Their objective is to bring back old-world America, but instead of a democratic government, it's a dictatorship. They like to impose their will on everybody and they don't hesitate in killing those who refuse to join them." Eric looked Babcock in the eyes. "Too bad for you, because they've been wiped off the face of the earth."
General Babcock frowned to the point where his eyebrows were meshing with his eyelashes. "What are you taking about?"
Eric smiled which infuriated the General further. "Oh, you see they made their first move on the west coast where the Brotherhood and NCR joined forces to eradicate them and their base at the Poseidon Oil Rig. Then over a year ago, the Enclave launched troops from Raven Rock to try and control the Capital Wasteland. With the help of the Capital Brotherhood, they didn't last long."
Eric was expecting General Babcock to be shocked by this bit of information; instead he had that same smug smile on his face. "Even if what you say is true, I have damn near 30,000 men on this base. I'll resurrect the Enclave and not you, your precious Brotherhood, or the NCR will stop us. So get ready, because you're going to be the first test subject for our mesmetron. Corporal Wilson if you would please."
Corporal Wilson, with the mesmetron in hand, moved towards Eric, but as he did he felt like he bumped into a wall. Suddenly, before his eyes, an angry Butch decloaked in front of him.
"Hi!" Butch said as he pushed the barrel of his 9mm under Corporal Wilson's chin and pulled the trigger, splattering Wilson's brains across the ceiling.
The guard holding Eric pointed his gun at Butch. Before he could pull the trigger, Dogmeat launched forward and clamped his jaws around the guard's hand, causing him to yell out in pain and relinquish his hold on the gun. Eric pointed his gun between the guard's eyes and fired, effectively dropping the rogue soldier. The two guards aiming their guns at the officers were about to react when Harkness decloaked behind them with two 9mm pistols.
Harkness whistled to get their attention. They both turned and as they did they were tackled to the ground by two of Foster's Shadow Knights. The Shadow Knights fought the weapons out of their hands before mercilessly beating the shit out of them.
One Shadow Knight pulled out his sidearm and shot the guard he tackled in the chest three times. The other Shadow Knight repeatedly punched the guard in the face before pulling a combat knife from a sheath attached to one of his boots and slamming it into the guard's neck.
The guard pointing the gun at General Wells rotated his sidearm towards the two Shadow Knights. Andrew's Ranger instincts kicked in. At incredible speed, Andrew spun around and smacked the gun out of the turncoat's hand. The guard threw a left hook at him, but Andrew raised his right arm up to block and countered the attack with a left hook that broke the guard's nose. Andrew followed that up with a right elbow to the face. The Lieutenant General then began ramming his knee into the guard's stomach before grabbing him by the collar and delivering a skull breaking head-butt. The guard was seeing stars and Andrew wasn't going to let up on him.
He looked to General Foster. "Mike!" Andrew kicked the guard in the gut, sending him to Shadow Elite's commander. Mike grabbed ahold of the guard by the neck and twisted it to the left, resulting in a sickening snap. The General let the guard's lifeless body fall to the floor.
General Babcock went for his sidearm, but a shot rang out and he felt like his hand was on fire. He growled in pain and looked up from the wound and saw Eric aiming the Beretta at his head. The General looked back to the front of the room where the rest of the Generals, commanders, and Eric's group had their guns drawn and pointed at him.
Babcock couldn't believe it. For the first time in his life he had been beaten. What was worse was he had been beaten by a civilian. 'How could this have happened?' He asked himself. Babcock was a firm military man who had climbed his way to the top and anyone that dared get in his way would have suffered severe consequences. Some of them would even end up going A.W.O.L…permanently.
Now everything was in shambles. His plan to control every undisciplined, Chase loving, ass kissing soldier and to bring the Enclave to power was finished. He was finished. And it was all because of some wannabe soldier boy!
"No." Buzz growled through his teeth. "No, no, no, NO!" He kept looking back and forth between Eric, the other officers, and the commanders. "IT'S NOT POSSIBLE! YOU CAN'T BEAT ME! I'M GENERAL BUZZ BABCOCK! I'M THE GREATEST AND MOST FEARED GENERAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY! YOU WILL ALL FALL WITHOUT ME IN COMMAND! YOU WON'T SURVIVE WITHOUT ME!"
General Wells picked his gun up and pointed it at General Babcock. "We don't know that for sure Buzz, but what we do know is that we won't survive with you!" With that, Andrew fired his gun and put a bullet between the eyes of the deranged turncoat General.
Finally, General Chase's killer has been put to rest.
Well, what did you guys think? I bet some of you were expecting that...maybe not. I hope you guys liked it. Remember to leave a like or review, or both. Ideas/constructive criticism welcome.
I'll try and update the next chapter ASAP before Christmas. If I can't then have a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hanukkah!
NCRMC signing off for now.