Chapter 9: Gatherin' a Posse

The remaining Minutemen stood silent as the elevator lowered them into the vault. Everyone watched as Preston, Lucky, and the others entered heads held low, they were covered in dirt, blood, and ash their faces showed to emotion. Preston sat in a chair and took his hat off in mourning, the lieutenant helped Pvt. Grenier into a chair and went off to fetch a first aid kit to patch up his friend's leg who'd taken a few bullets in the final attempt to push the enemy back. Piper and Nick entered the room.

"What happened? Is it okay to return?" Piper asked

"No." said Preston

"What happened out there son?" asked nick

" their numbers were too great we couldn't hold them back." said Preston

"Oh no." said one of the civilians.

"We better find a new place to settle down, won't be long until they find this place." said Pvt. Grenier limping over on a crutch.

"The civilians can go to our different settlements, the minutemen return to the castle. We gotta find out who these people are." said Preston

The next morning Preston rode the elevator up to the surface and sat in horror at what he saw Sanctuary had been set on fire the night before, now the buildings were burned out and large columns of black smoke rose into the air as if signaling the whole Commonwealth they had failed at their mission to protect the people. They took the next two days to disperse the citizens into new settlements while Everyone else returned to the castle. Preston met with the highest ranking officers in the minutemen accompanying him was Lucky and the two troopers.

"How can we be sure we can even stop these people, you saw what happened to sanctuary...Snuffed out in a day then burned to the ground." said one officer.

"No matter what we need to stick together against this threat." said Preston

"If I may intrude these people were packing tech unseen in this area that means these people have had to come from somewhere far." said lucky

"And who are you three?" said Ronnie Shaw

The Minutemen's second oldest active member.

"I'm Lucky and these are me mates, Lt. Fennel, and Pvt. Grenier, we're NCR."

They all looked confused.

"NCR?" asked Preston.

"The NCR is the closest thing to a Government in the wasteland, we're prominently in the west. We've seen tech like this back home from a few organizations." said the lieutenant.

Suddenly the meeting was stopped as the hum of vertibird propellers could be heard. Everyone grabbed their weapons and ran outside expecting another attack. When they arrived two Vertibirds one green and one gray were sitting in the middle of the courtyard while a group of minutemen gathered weapons drawn Preston and the two troopers along with Lucky approached the birds. Two men stepped out one wore an officer's hat and olive suit the other was a Brotherhood Member by the look of his robes.

"Attention Commander on deck!" shouted Fennel and both stood straight up and saluted.

"Greetings General."

The two men walked forward and saluted them

"who's in charge here?" said the General

"I am." said Preston

"We need to discuss some matters with you." said the brotherhood member.

"Well come on inside." Said Ronnie

They followed Preston inside each man was accompanied by either a team of knights or troopers like the lieutenant. They all gathered around a large table.

"so who are you people?" asked Preston

The General stepped forward.

"I'm General Lee Oliver, NCR Military." he said

"I'm Elder Sigrun of the Capital Wasteland chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel."

"We've come here because you guys are the only other prominent military here and a war is Brewing, we got word of your fort being destroyed by those wearing crimson armor and Strange power armor, well they are known as Caesar's Legion and the Enclave. The legion wishes to enslave all under their banner we've fought many campaigns against them in the west." said General Lee

"The Enclave are the remnants of pre-war America they want to take back what was once their home by force we have fought them in the past they are not to be under estimated." said Elder Sigrun.

"Why would they attack us and so far from their territory." asked Preston

"They have gotten stronger and they've joined forces which isn't good we have already engaged them in parts of Nevada and DC, but we are going to need all the allies we can so we've come to you, our informants have told us that MR. House has also affiliated with the Enclave that means they have a powerful ally Mr. House controls New Vegas the only place where Casinos still exist he has a Powerful robot army and limitless resources. We need your help." said the general.

"We're only a militia we don't have the supplies or firepower for a war." said preston

"You have the people's support they are willing to fight alongside you. We can provide weapons and transports from tanks to Vertibirds but you guys can give us the numbers and support we need. Will you help us fight this common enemy?" asked Elder Sigru.

Preston looked over at Ronnie

"what should we do?"asked Preston

"Sir we all took an oath and swore to protect the people of the Commonwealth at all costs and if that means helping fight a war then so be it." Ronnie said.

"Then it's settled, On behalf of the Minutemen we'd be honored to join." said Preston

"Today our forces join together to stop an evil I can't well Imagine, the NCR will be proud to fight alongside you." said the General saluting

"The Brotherhood of Steel will Stand by you, Ad Victoriam!" said the Elder giving a Brotherhood salute

"The Minutemen will always protect the people Commonwealth or not." said Preston.

With that they began discussing battle plans to fight this newly arisen threat. In the following days the newly appointed General of the Minutemen gave a speech to all those under their banner.

"To all citizens who stand by the minutemen this is General Garvey Speaking, A few days ago fort Sanctuary was suddenly attacked by the combined forces of caesar's legion and the Enclave. Our Great fort was destroyed but from the ashes we will rise I ask that you stand by us as we join the NCR and Brotherhood of Steel in fighting this rotten cancer that is spreading across the wasteland. As I Speak our men get ready for war, we will not surrender until our last bullet and our last breath!"

The wasteland carries many tales of gunslingers in the west, to secret societies in the east, this is but one of the many tales passed on as the generations go by, how it ends is a mystery only time can reveal as war fastly approaches the wasteland once more. If this tale has taught you anything it's that war, war never changes….

To Be Continued