Chapter 4
The Citadel Defense Plan
"I thought about both options and considered the advantages and disadvantages, but I feel it's safer to just defend the Citadel. We know how to effectively navigate its interiors and there is so much Data and equipment there, that the logistics of moving it underground would be a nightmare. I say we take our chances and try to hold off any potential threats from the wall."
The Lone Wanderer sighed and gave her the papers back.
"I think we need to make sure this works. Let's concentrate our heavy equipment on the walls facing the river bank, that way we can effectively use artillery. What bothers me is the fact that the purifier will be unguarded. I hope they will not plan an attack there. I doubt we can reacquire it a second time. Not with the losses we took last time."
"Those are good points. I'll make sure our heavy troopers know what to do. The rest of the soldiers will do as planned and try to suppress the enemy with a firing barrage from above. That way we can hope that we kill enough of them without having to rely on the ground units if it comes to that. I'll be honest, I'm not sure how many soldiers the West Chapter will have. But if they are anything like they were back when I was a little girl, it will be a hellish battle."
They both stood in silence for a while before Sarah clapped her hands and said "Alright, time for me to go. It's just a matter of preparing and waiting."
Before she could leave the room though, the Wanderer stopped her.
"Wait, Sarah, don't you want to stay an hour or two. We could grab something to eat in the diner." The Wanderer said hoping against hope that she would agree.
"You want to talk about the tactics some more Paladin?"
Paladin again! damn it, the Wanderer thought and tried one last time, "No, just us as friend, talking…"
Sarah straightened noticeably and put on a tone of professionalism "I'm afraid this is not an option Paladin. As Elder I have many duties to attend to. There is no time for idle chatter."
Without waiting for a response she turned around and left. The Wanderer feeling awful and devastated went back to her room and went to sleep without eating anything. She hoped that at least for a few hours her dreams would take her far away from this place.
xxx
(Recording Start)
"Megaton. What a shithole. I feel like taking a shower just by looking at it. The town sheriff insisted on introducing himself. Thinks he's hot shit. A savage like the rest of them. The town is build around an undetonated atomic bomb. Further investigation proofs that it has been diffused years ago, by someone called "The Lone Wanderer". What a stupid name. This person however seems to be a highly skilled individual from what I gathered around town. Hostile contact should be avoided. It is unclear whether we can convince this woman to join our cause. From the radio broadcasts and the people I talked to it is clear that this person considers herself some kind of hero. Maybe even a guardian angel. This might prove to be a problem in the upcoming battle. No matter. They all end up dead one way or the other.
(Recording End)
xxx
The following days the Brotherhood spent their time reinforcing their defenses and making sure the artillery would properly work on the day of battle. The tension rose noticeably with each day. The new recruits barely trained enough to fire a Laser Rifle were told that a big battle was coming. Sarah sent out Scouts to report any suspicious activity and indeed, two weeks after the Citadel Plan was set in motion, numerous figures in Power armor were approaching from different directions along the river bank. Their numbers were estimated just below 200. Sarah did not take any chance as promised to the Wanderer and instead let one of her trusted Lyon's Pride members take the place at the Podium at the Citadel courtyard. Since everybody looked the same in Power Armor no one could tell that it was Knight Captain Dusk who impersonated Sarah Lyons. Thanks to the audio system that let her voice travel all over the Citadel no one knew except for the Lone Wanderer that she was among the crowd in her own suit of Power Armor.
"Soldier, Paladins, Knights. The time has come for us to defend what is precious to us. The West Chapter abandoned us when my Father Elder Owyn Lyons decided to do more than to gather technology. He decided that humanity was worth saving, that there is hope in this barren land. We will honor his example by doing the same. We will stand together against the very people who deemed this endeavor a failure, who deemed humanity a failure. We will win this battle today and we will show them that together we can overcome every obstacle. I have seen you all grow into fine warriors, but most importantly you have grown to be fine human beings. I am proud to serve and fight among you today. I won't be your Elder today. Today I will be your sister on the battlefield. Make me proud!"
A deafening cheer went throughout the courtyard and the Lone Wanderer could feel her own moral rise significantly.
She would not let Sarah down!
xxx
(Recording Start)
"Scout Report 42. The Citadel is a massive, well-fortified complex. It will be difficult to take it from the outside. Will try to find the person in charge and dispose of her. Morality and Coordination will surely suffer from it. Recommend attacking from different sides as a concentrated assault will only lead to great casualties thanks to the heavy artillery set up on the walls.
(Recording End)
Before Knight Captain Dusk could join the Lyon's Pride a loud shot cracked from one of the walls. An enemy infiltrator shot through her helmet, killing her instantly. At first the Brotherhood warriors were thrown in disarray as they witnessed their Elder die, but the assurance of Sarah through the audio system made them realize that the person who died was not their Elder but another Brotherhood member. The sniper in question disappeared over the walls using a system of ropes and a grappling device to escape. What was left was a searing hot anger among the Brotherhood. To think that the enemy would use such cheap tactics. All the assassination attempt did was fortify their beliefs in Sarah only boosted their confidence and camaraderie.
Soon both sides found themselves being bombarded with artillery fire, casualties on the side of the West Chapter were higher thanks to the elevated position the East Chapter found themselves in. A bloody hour long bombardment went on, but in the end the Citadel had to open their gates so that the ground units could take the fight directly to the enemy. All this time the Lone Wanderer stayed with Sarah and made sure to keep her alive. As the fighting went on she had to save her from a shot to the stomach that penetrated her armor, but she was unable to stop the bleeding and her friend died from blood loss, all the while gripping her hand and apologizing for treating her like shit. In her last moments Sarah Lyons forgave the Lone Wanderer for the death of her father, saying that destiny was against her on that day.
With tears streaming down her face the Wanderer soon found the sniper in question, shooting from a distance between a set of trees. Thanks to her modified legs motor-system she was able to sprint towards the killer before he could get away or hit her with the sniper rifle. With a terrifying roar she smashed into the sniper, knocking them both on the ground. As they got up they circled each other; the sniper dressed in her own set of Power Armor pulled of her helmet to reveal a beautiful young woman with blonde hair that she neatly wore in a bun. Surprised the Wanderer took out her Shock sword and threateningly pointed it at the woman. In return she grinned and pulled out a modified version of the Shishkebab.
"Trust me your toy won't stand a chance against my armor. This weapon right here though", she pointed to her Shishkebab, "Will easily burn through that trash can you are wearing."
"Don't be so sure of that!" the Wanderer spat through gritted teeth.
The two warriors fought with unmatched grace and the Wanderer found having trouble to land a decisive hit on the woman, as if she always knew where the Wanderer would hit next. No Matter how unpredictable she tried to make her attacks, it seemed that the strange woman always knew where to put her sword and deflect the Wanderers attacks.
"I told you, you savages don't stand a chance." the woman mocked and tried to pierce the Wanderers Power Armor.
Million thoughts went through the Wanderer's mind; most of them were about Sarah. In her mad grief she decided that living without Sarah was not worth it and let the other woman's attack pierce her stomach. The blonde woman looked surprised and found herself unable to move as the Wanderer bit trough the unbearable fiery pain and hugged the woman with her Power Armor strength and held a small detonator in her hand, ready to press it.
"See you in hell bitch."
xxx
"Let's see…Are you a boy or a girl?"
The End