*Some several hundred miles away, Near reformed New Vegas, Nevada.
Aboard the Prydwen, life resumed as normal. Quinlan was stuck reading the crates of Technical Documents that Sentinel Coles had procured for him, Teagan was hitting on the female officers and of course, Ingram was no where to be seen as she was still back in the Commonwealth. While life was normal enough, everyone was on edge as Elder Maxson had risen the (DEFCON) to OMEGA, meaning every soul aboard the ship must be battle ready on a minutes notice. The higher ranking officers were patrolling around, trying to occupy themselves while the Initiates and the knights, where all either in the barracks or just pacing the long halls, their collective trigger fingers all feeling that common addictive itch.
Below, on the command deck, Maxson stood in his usual perch, looking down upon the roaming sands of the Mojave desert. One day he'd like to come to New Vegas and go gambling, meandering through the halls of the ultra bright casinos, leaving a trail of cap less machines and settlers in his wake, but he knew that as long as he was Elder, he couldn't go anywhere off ship unaccompanied as there was a target the size of the Prydwen, permanently stamped on his back. Sighing at his near complete lack of freedom and privacy, he was pulled from his daydreams by the voice of Lancer-Captain Kells. Standing at attention, saluting he addressed the Elder.
"We are approximately 10 miles from Hoover Dam Elder. We are noticeable to the enemy at this distance but far enough away that they can't mount an offensive against us."
"Thank you Richard. Keep this distance and see if the long range scanners can be used to scout the location for any useful tactical advice, like choke points or such. Also try and contact the local chapter. I wish to talk to Elder McNamara." Maxson said, slightly depressingly.
Kells nodded in acknowledgment, pivoting on his heel and walking away for a few seconds before returning.
"Permission to speak freely Elder?" He asked. Maxson nodded his approval. Putting his hand on Maxson's shoulder, he asked.
"What's with the use of my first name, Arthur? Are you ok? Do you wish for me to send for Knight-Captain Cade?"
"It's just that the fight can sometimes get beaten out of you, when all you do is fight. I'd like to come here to Vegas next time, I have shore leave, yet I know that even if I ask my protectors to stay aboard the Prydwen, they have to abide the tenets of the Brotherhood and that means they have to protect me at all times. I just wish that at times, I could stop being Elder Maxson and just be Arthur Maxson, even for just one hour... Anyway, thank you for listening. I'm alright now. I just had to get that off my chest." Maxson said. Immediately his posture straightened and the depressed look on his face was replaced by that of a strict, yet fair Brotherhood Elder. Looking at Kells, he said.
"Now report back to your station Lancer-Captain. I expect contact from McNamara within ten minutes."
"Right away Elder Maxson" he said, again bringing his arm across his chest as a sign of respect to the Elder. Maxson returned the salute and went back to observing the desert through his window. Suddenly he heard a cackling of electricity and he turned around to receive a power fist to the face, knocking him down. He looked up to view the face of his attacker. It was William Turner. Clutching his hand to his now broken nose, he watched as two paladins in T-60 power armour marched up to the attacker, pointing two equally vicious looking mini-guns in his direction. What surprised him though was Turner's speed for his size. In the blink of an eye, he stabbed both soldiers with a small spike. Catching them off guard, they didn't know what to expect and he stood back and watched as both soldiers were consumed in vicious strikes of electricity. They screamed in pain and after a painful few minutes, they crumbled to the floor, the shock having destroyed the servos inside the suit as well as the soldiers main nerve systems. Maxson looked up at him, staring daggers.
"Turner! -What possibly allowed you to assault my ship!"- Maxson shouted at him, white blinding fury building behind his eyes.
Turner turned around and bent down to be eye level with the disgruntled Elder. He pulled a small pistol like object out of his pocket. He pointed it at Maxson.
"Handheld teleportation device. When you save the think tank of Big MT, they become quite generous with their tech. I only had to ask and they willingly gave it up." He said, in a suave and yet sadistic tone. "Now if you fine gentlemen don't mind, I've set up an extravagant pyrotechnic display and I'd love to see it, so I have to leave. I doubt you'd like it though." He added as he stood up.
Turner stood before Maxson and with a mischievous smile, disappeared in a flash of blue light, just as fast as he had arrived. Maxson stood up and walked over to the two paladins. Laying his finger on their necks, he confirmed that they were in fact dead. Swearing silently to himself, he sat down on a couch and within mere seconds, Cade had appeared before him. As Cade was bandaging his nose, Kells came up from the drive deck and just as he was about to speak, klaxons all over the ship began to blare and scream. Maxson stared at Kells looking for an answer, but before he could, a beam of powerful energy tore through the Prydwen. Then suddenly all was consumed in darkness.