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Stand to Eagle, come in Eagle

Eagle here

Do we have confirmation?

Affirmative Stand, Raven Rock is completely destroyed.

How?

Initial scans reveal the base's reactors went critical.

Cause?

Can't tell, but the only one with direct access to them appears to have been the ZAX

What about survivors?

Unknown, sir. None answered our calls and hostile forces are heavily present in the surrounding areas, so assume all members of the east coast mission are KIA.

And the Chicago branch?

Unknown as well Stand. Did not respond to attempts at communication on any known frequencies. Encountered hostile forces while attempting a flyover, was forced to abort.

Very well Eagle, return to base.

Affirmative Stand, returning to base.

Steven took a drag of his cigarette and looked over at Paul, the other man on guard. He was also smoking and the pair's helmets were lying beside their feet. Both men were in their black power armour suits.

"I don't even know why we have to guard this place" complained Paul, "the only ones that use it anymore are Abercrombie and his boys"

Steven just nodded, unsure of whether to say anything. Abercrombie didn't take kindly to people breaking regulations and he assumed complaining was in there somewhere. Abercrombie also had a habit of sneaking up on people, so Steven was always careful about what he said when there was even the slightest chance it might be overheard.

Still, he had to admit Paul had a point. The path they were guarding was the only one that directly led to the Enclave bunker known as the Stand. The door they were sitting in front of led directly to the vertibird hangar, but like Paul had mentioned nobody but a select few used this route anymore.

The base was self reliant in most aspects, using geo-thermic energy to power its machinery, to go along with a large wealth of hydroponics and an underground stream and water scrubber to provide the basic necessities of life. But for the rare times that people had to leave there was another secret entrance that lead to a fully built and operated Rattler ranch, a perfect cover, and most preferred that to the harsh wind that normally swept this other path.

And when Steven thought even further, this path was hidden behind a fake wall as it was. So unless someone specifically knew it was there, they wouldn't be able to find it anyway. He sighed. There was no point thinking about it. Guarding pointless paths was just a fact of his rather boring life.

He got brought back to reality when Paul nudged him and pointed down the path. Squinting, Steven saw the outline of a man approaching. It was a large man, wearing a duster over black armour. His hair was long, dirty but tied neatly into a pony tail and he had several scars crisscrossing his face and, likely, his body as well.

"It's Abercrombie!" hissed Steven. Both men frantically threw their cigarettes onto the ground, stamped them out and picked up their rifles. As Abercrombie came closer, both men snapped to attention, both stiffly saluting.

Abercrombie stopped just in front of the two, looking them both up and down. As he saw their helmets on the ground his face turned into a scowl and he continued on, not bothering to salute back.

Paul sighed with relief and pulled out another cigarette. "I thought he was going to rip us a new one for sure" he said, lighting it with a small lighter. Steven just nodded, watching as a vertibird came hurtling back over the mountains and disappeared behind an outcrop, into what Steven knew was the hangar. He pulled out a cigarette of his own.

"Toss me your lighter" he said.

Paul laughed. "He finally speaks!" he said, but quickly handed the lighter over. Steven lit his cigarette, handed the lighter back and stared up into the darkening sky wondering when, or rather if, his life would ever change.

Abercrombie punched his code into the keypad next to the door, which hissed open as he pushed enter. He was angry at another break in protocol from the guards at the entrance. Was it really that hard to keep a freaking helmet on?

In fact, he could track all of the Enclave's troubles to breaks in protocol. They had left the tanker, an obvious unauthorized way aboard the Rig, untouched for years when they should have tied that loose end from the very beginning. They should have destroyed the NCR as soon as it appeared that they could be a threat. And they definitely should not have had a ZAX in control of Raven Rock. The rules clearly stated that only human personnel were to have control over military assets.

He realised the irony too, as he stalked through the hangar bay in his combat armour and duster. He should have been in power armour, as a ranking official and squad leader, but his squad was irregulars and he refused to let another member of his squad wear lesser armour then himself. Just another reason to be annoyed with Hannibal, he thought to himself.

He strode through the hangar at a fast pace, briefly aware of a Vertibird landing to his right. He knew who it would be but hoped the man would just ignore him.

"Abey!" someone shouted.

Abercrombie sighed and turned, seeing a man hopping out of the recently landed Vertibird. He was a small man, someone not suited to combat work, but he made an excellent pilot. His leather jacket looked like a tight fit and he had big dark goggles over his eyes, his roughly cut blonde hair falling over them ever so slightly. But the worst part was the giant grin he had on his face. He knew him as Eagle, although whatever his real name had been Abercrombie had never known. He had to admit the man was a hell of a pilot, even despite his rather annoying behaviour.

"How you been Abey?" he said, walking over and giving the military leader a slap on the arm. Abercrombie grunted a barely audible answer. "Oh, me too" he said, sighing. He looked sad for a moment, then his smile came back. "But hey, that's life right!"

Abercrombie didn't have time for this. He turned and walked away without another word but Eagle obviously didn't take the hint, following closely behind.

"So...you going to see the General?" he asked. Abercrombie nodded, "Me too! Funny that. He said he wanted to see me for something special. What do you think it is?"

Abercrombie shrugged, trying to end the conversation by not saying anything. Clearly it didn't faze Eagle.

"I hope it's something to do with you. Wouldn't that be awesome? Us, working together?"

The thought almost drove a shiver up Abercrombie's spine, and he was a seasoned veteran.

It didn't take the pair long to get through the hangars and into the military offices. They were located just outside the hangar, in between it and the civilian and research areas. Originally they had been on the other side of the base but, after several complaints, they had been moved. Why soldiers had bowed to civilians was beyond Abercrombie, but then he wasn't in charge.

The General's office was off to the right, isolated enough to give him privacy but not enough to make it hard to get too. As they approached a large guard was standing outside.

"You're late" he grunted, looking at Abercrombie.

Abercrombie knew who he was, at least by reputation. Sundiata Barger was the man the General used for all his dirty work, a towering hunk of flesh that rivalled even the legendary Long Haul Grimlock in size. Considering Grimlock was half machine, that was quite an impressive feat.

"He in there?" he asked. The giant nodded. Abercrombie headed in.

Apparently Eagle tried to follow, but Barger stopped him. "One at a time" he said, his deep voice echoing off the metallic walls.

The General's office was heavily furnished, with bookcases across every wall stuffed with pre-War books in good condition. His large desk dominated the centre of the room; it had a computer terminal on it, but he was busy reading a written report.

He looked up as Abercrombie entered, then continued reading. "You're late" he said in a condescending tone, as if he expected better. Abercrombie's anger began to boil back up to the surface. "Your report?"

Abercrombie stared at him for what felt like an hour. The old man had wrinkles over every spot of his face and yet still managed to radiate power. He was still in good condition, considering his advanced age, but there was no hiding his grey hair. Abercrombie actually doubted that he did. The fact that he could accept something like that made him seem even more powerful for some reason. He was also wearing his reading glasses.

Abercrombie reached in to his pocket, pulled out an item and tossed it onto the desk. It cluttered across it noisily. Slowly the General looked up at him, then down at what was now sitting right underneath his nose on the desk.

"And this is?"

"Dog tags" answered Abercrombie, "Diesel's tags. A Deathclaw ripped him to pieces"

"Ah" said the General, "Such a shame" he finished, turning back to the report.

No sorries, no signs of remorse. It took Abercrombie every fibre in his body to hold back his rage.

"My man died attempting to complete this pointless mission" he said through clenched teeth, unable to control himself.

The General looked up, a slightly amused look on his face.

"Pointless?" he questioned, "You do understand that our military needs far exceed our current population?"

"Yes, but-" Abercrombie started.

"And that the Deathclaws provide an interesting opportunity to bolster said military needs?"

"Yes...sir" Abercrombie added, remembering protocol. The General nodded.

"Then your mission isn't pointless. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your man" Of course, Abercrombie knew he couldn't have cared less, "but I called you here for a report"

"I have several men stationed outside the cave" said Abercrombie, "when they come out my men will capture them"

"You didn't go in?"

"Diesel did, sir. That's how he died"

"Sacrifice is necessary to pave the way for success" said the General absently, as if quoting someone else.

"I did not feel it prudent to risk further military assets considering our...situation, sir"

The General smiled, obviously aware of Abercrombie turning his own logic against him. "And all your men are there?"

"No, most are at one of our safe houses"

The General hummed and turned his attention back to the report.

"I'm disappointed you didn't come through, but no matter. We have a new assignment for you anyway"

"Sir?"

"We'll brief you tomorrow. Tonight you'll stay here. Rest, recuperate, say hello to old friends, you know, what normal people do" he said, emphasising the word normal as if Abercrombie was some kind of freak. Which he and his irregulars, who spent most of their time off base, must seem like to the general population.

"What about my men?"

"I assume they can survive one night on their own" answered the General. Abercrombie nodded. The pair sat in silence for a few minutes. "You're dismissed" he finally said. Abercrombie snapped a crisp salute and left, not waiting for the General to return it.

Eagle was waiting outside. "How was it?" he asked, but Abercrombie shoved him out of the way and kept walking, heading for the barracks to find himself a bunk. "I guess I'll see you around!" Eagle called after. Abercrombie didn't bother to turn around.

He signed in to the barracks and was taken to small room. The officer that took him there apologised that there wasn't anything bigger, anything befitting an officer, but Abercrombie just waved him off. The last thing he cared about was the size of his room.

He honestly couldn't understand why the General's reaction had troubled him so much. He knew, right down to his bones, that the man wouldn't care about Diesel, so why had he expected different? Maybe, he thought, because that's how I feel?

Diesel had been a lifer, a seasoned veteran in the Enclave. Abercrombie had ordered him in first because he thought his experience would keep him safe, something that obviously didn't work out as he had planned. He had lost a good friend but the fact that the men above, the General and the Council, didn't even seem to care almost drove him to insanity. Why are we fighting, if not for our people? he thought angrily.

He spun and punched a wall locker located at the end of the bed. He punched it again and again, leaving a large dent in it and blood running down his arm as he split his knuckles open. His anger and energy spent, he stepped wearily over to the bed and collapsed onto it.

A new assignment, he thought, probably some other pointless crap that leads to nothing. Eventually sleep found him as he travelled back through his memories, remembering the times he had with Diesel.

Farilla DuShon lay back, sighing contently. As the General's wife she had many perks, but none so fine as this.

"Ready for another round?" asked the man lying next to her in the rather large bed her husband had gotten them. She smiled broadly at him.

"Get out" she ordered sweetly. The man looked confused at first but, when her expression didn't change, he picked up his clothes and left, grumbling to himself all the way. She sighed again as she realised life was good. The General was away so much that he either didn't know or didn't care about her transgressions and she found that sleeping with the various different members of the Enclave provided a rather stimulating way to pass the time. It wasn't hard to get their attention either, as she was stunningly attractive and knew exactly how to use it. Even the women couldn't escape her sway, although she only went after them on the rare instances when she was really bored, wanted to take the woman down a peg or was heavily drunk. Sometimes even when she was all three.

Her room was heavily decorated, with fine silk wares left over from before the War as well as several knick knacks the General had procured from the Wastes. It made her feel important, but ultimately she felt they held little significance. Insecure attempts to buy her loyalty from a man that ultimately didn't care. Still, she thought they were pretty so she kept them around.

She looked up at the ceiling at the mirror that covered the roof above the bed, staring intently at her reflection's eyes. They asked her the same question they always did; when is this life going to change? When will the emptiness be filled?

Usually she could answer it with a witty remark or something similar, but this time she felt different. She continued to stare at her reflection and began to wonder...when, or rather if, her life would ever change.