Renewing a Nation
A Fallout 3 Fanfiction
Quest Added: Rebuild the Nation
Disclaimer: I don't own any aspect of Fallout or its affiliates.
Summary: With his conquests of the Capital Wasteland coming to an end, the Lone Wanderer (Daniel) had decided to settle down in any way he can in his 'luxury' apartment in Megaton. He is quickly called out of retirement by the Brotherhood of Steel to aid in the mass reconstruction effort for the Wasteland. Follows a very high karma Lone Wanderer. Romance: Lone Wanderer/Sarah Lyons.
Description of the Lone Wanderer (Daniel): Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Tan complexion. Small wave hair style.
Note from the Author: Greetings once again, loyal readers and reviewers! I sincerely apologize for my tardiness in posting. Not enough hours in a day! Anyway, thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you enjoy this next one.
Chapter 5: The Next Four Months in a Nutshell
Countless things happened in the following four months that followed the ground breaking of Ft. Washington. In an effort to be clear and concise, I will leave out much of the hardcore logistics that entail rebuilding the capital city.
Within weeks, word was getting out that Washington D.C. was now one of the safest places to live on the east coast, thanks in part to Three Dog now that more electrical lines were being set up, allowing more areas of the D.C. hinterland to be enlightened by GNR. Within these few weeks, hundreds of refugees were making a mass migration to the city, hoping to find work and a safe place to live. For a majority of these migrants, Ft. Washington was their ticket to ride. With Sarah Lyons well again, she was doing miracles in making the project excel. The influx of labor was another problem. How are we going to pay all of these people? Quite simply, they couldn't; the coffers of the Brotherhood had reached a critical level.
Daniel decided to be honest with the people. By now, the Fort Washington Project had nearly 3000 workers on board. In a mass gathering, Daniel made the announcement that the Brotherhood would no longer be able to pay workers in bottle caps. This achieved a large ruckus from the crowd, but Daniel, with his surprisingly great oratory skills, calmed them down so that he could make his appeal. What Daniel and the Brotherhood COULD promise was a roof over the workers heads, safety from outside harm, three hot meals a day, and a cot. For the migrant, it couldn't be any better! For the Ghouls, however, it was met with skepticism. They were just fine living within the Underworld. Why shouldn't they just take up and leave? Under great pressure from his people, Winthrop honestly admitted that what Daniel and the Brotherhood were offering was more than what the Underworld could offer. Supplies to the Underworld were running scarcely slow, since many traders were changing their routes from stopping downtown, to stopping at the Ft. Washington site, trading and bartering with the workers. In an effort to keep the Ghouls in good relations with Daniel, he said that any Ghoul wishing to leave the project need only report to their main foreman officer. Surprisingly, only a handful of Ghouls packed up and left.
By the second month of construction, the fort was way ahead of schedule. Walls were finished, stretching as far as the eye could see. The first of twelve dormitories was already completed. With an influx in skilled laborers from Detroit that made the long trip, piping and electricity were installed quickly and skillfully. Brotherhood Knights were beginning to patrol the tops of the walls and guard houses as they protected the workers inside. Even though the first dormitory was completed, it was not allowed to be occupied. All of the workers were content with pitching tents at night behind the safety of the Fort's walls. Sanitation improved as well. Temporary outhouses with actual plumbing were adored by the workers. By the first four months, with constant influxes of migrant Wastelanders, the worker count went from over 3,000 to over 10,000. Sarah made it clear that not enough room existed to accommodate all the workers and that when the final project was finished, they would have to build residences outside of the Fort's walls. This fact, however, did not deter many.
An interesting situation occurred on the second month of construction. So interesting that Daniel and Elder Lyons were called directly to the sight. Daniel arrived to be greeted by over 500 armed men in green uniforms and slacks. Their commander, Colonel Arthur Hayes, came to offer his services to what he referred to as 'The Republic.' Upon further analysis, he had marched his 1st Regiment of United States Volunteers from Kentucky to Washington D.C. upon hearing that the capital was to be rebuilt. Colonel Hayes, as Daniel would say in his later years of life, was "one of the most ardent American patriots I've ever met in my life." Their sharp green uniforms with shiny brass buttons, green slacks, grey helmets, and assorted rifles were, as Colonel Hayes put it, "complements of the Fort Knox arsenal in the great state of Kentucky." Apparently more than one regiment of soldiers was always on guard at the Fort to ensure the gold deposits were left 'untouched by the communist Chinese.'
The arrival of Colonel Hayes's regiment was greatly chastised in private by the Brotherhood. Not only did the arrival of this armed mob create somewhat of a threat to the Brotherhood, it also caused dissention in the ranks. Daniel, however, was able to quell harsh feelings. Colonel Hayes with his sharp moustache and plump figure promised to cooperate alongside the Brotherhood. Whilst the Brotherhood took immediate charge over Ft. Washington, Colonel Hayes and his 1st Regiment would be charged with securing a strong, well cleared, and guarded foothold near the National Mint as a small band of Brotherhood scribes and robots were attempting to dig through the meters of rubble that would lead them to the, as rumors speculated, intact basement that held everything needed to print and manufacture currency. Colonel Hayes also allied himself with Reilly's Rangers from time to time, if patrols were needed to secure more areas deeper downtown. Every morning, Colonel Hayes would send a runner to the Citadel to give Daniel or Elder Lyons his report of what all went on the day before. All in all, the 1st proved to be a great asset to reconstruction.
Of all the great tasks being built, the greatest task that proved to be the quickest in building was the relationship between Daniel and Sarah. Their relationship blossomed. By the second month of construction, rumors were spreading like wildfire amongst the ranks of Knights that Paladin Lyons and Paladin Daniel were actually dating. Truthfully, none of the men minded it. Both Daniel and Sarah were adored by the Knights of the Brotherhood. To actually see them together increased good feelings between Daniel and the other Knights.
By the fourth month, the media, specifically the radio, went from local broadcasting, to nationwide broadcasting with a little help from Daniel's captured Mothership Zeta. From old documents, Brotherhood Scribes and Scholars were able to deduce how to broadcast radio frequencies nationwide. In centuries prior, satellites in space were used as a relay to broadcast radio frequencies. With a little help from the residents that Daniel served with who decided to make the ship their home, Daniel was able to use the ship's communications relay to boost GNR's frequency. Now, much to Three Dog's wonder and excitement, GNR could now be heard nationwide. Another benefit from Mothership Zeta was the fact that now open communication could be received and transmitted to cities like Chicago, Detroit, New Vegas, Santa Monica, and all other Brotherhood Outposts.
With all the technical major logistics underway, Daniel and Sarah found time to relax! Over the previous two months, Elder Lyons was hounding Daniel to propose to his daughter. This really caught Daniel off guard. Elder Lyons was really going out of his character. So, since Daniel took every Friday off to have time to himself and/or Sarah, he visited the Fort building sight to talk to an old friend he met out in the wasteland. His name was Carl, and his father, and his father's father were jewelers by trade. Daniel confided in Carl as to possibly getting a ring made for Sarah. Carl was very enthusiastic, but admitted he hadn't seen so much as an ounce of gold in fifty years. He had, however, come across diamonds. Carl had, in his travels, come across an old diamond mine. He marked the point on Daniel's Pip Boy and told him to get a chunk of diamond, and he would be able to shape it and make a ring, pending Daniel found some gold. On one of his Fridays, Daniel made the two hour trip to the mine. I was surprisingly, only inhabited by a few feral ghouls. Daniel went deep into the mine and came up with a glistening stone. As for the gold, Daniel got a wonderful idea. He went and had Carl shave a small portion of the golden butt plate of his repeater that belonged to Abraham Lincoln. With Carl's skills, one couldn't even notice that a portion of the plate was removed. Carl told Daniel to give him a day to make the ring. When Daniel came back, he was presented with a beautiful gold ring, encrusted with eight little diamonds, four on each side of a larger, more beautiful diamond. As a token of Daniel's appreciation, he secretly gave Carl one hundred dollars in new, circulated currency; a bill that gave the picture of Benjamin Franklin. Carl was very pleased.
Daniel made his way back to the Rec. Room of the Citadel and relaxed as he listened to the radio. "Hellllooooooo America! This is Three-Dog! Awooooo! Coming to you live at 5 from our capital city, Washington D.C. Listen up, Americans. I've been getting thousands of letters and radio messages calling for our very own Lone Wanderer, Daniel to be commissioned as President of the United States. Since that John Henry Eden guy went on the fritz, America needs a new leader. Now I pulled some strings in Chicago, Pittsburg, New Vegas, and San Diego. And next week, ol' Three Dog is gonna hold a grand ol' election to see if these great States really want a President. Now if my math and history is right, Daniel needs three-fourths majority. So in order to be crowned President, Daniel needs *adding machine clicks* at least five hundred thousand votes according to the population numbers I was able to uncover. Lead us and we will follow, Daniel! You've got at least four hundred letters here from New Vegas asking for you to come and visit. Voting booths are arranged for the following places…" Three Dog went on. Daniel was in shock. President? Him? Not long after, Sarah came into their office. "Haha! Daniel? Did you hear Three Dog?" Sarah came in giving Daniel a quick peck on the lips. "Bit enthusiastic. President? Do you think I could do it?" Daniel asked as Sarah sat down. "Damn right you could. Think about it, sweetheart. The only form of government exists in tribes, or the NCR. Speaking of the NCR…you got a message from the President of the NCR." Sarah said passing Daniel a note.
To the Man they call The Lone Wanderer,
I hope this message find you in good health. I send this message to inform you of the situation in the Western United States. The New California Republic takes great pride in keeping the Mojave Wasteland safe and secure from any forms of intrusion. The NCR takes pride in declaring itself independent of any other form of rule, including your now revived American democracy. I cannot and will not submit to conforming to centralized rule that you encourage. As I said before, the NCR takes pride in its independence. Please do not take this personally, it's just good business. Please do patronize New Vegas when you are able.
Your Humble Servant,
Aaron Kimball
President, New California Republic
"God, I'm already regarded as the President!" Daniel said tossing the note aside. Sarah laughed. "Well Mr. President, you're still good in my book.