Calli had left the Tradewind to have lunch in the bar near the Citadel. She was meeting Hawk after their long winter apart. They were enjoying their lunch and catching up with each other's lives when they got the message from Stiggs.
"Calli and Hawk", the message read. "I know it's been 15 years since you met me so I don't know if you'll remember me. I won't ever forget you, or how you let me go when you were taking on the Enclave at Adam's Air Force. I went north like I told you I would. It seems my expertise with robots is always attracting the military; anyway I got drafted into the Commonwealth to work with the robots there. That's how I got in the position I'm in now and that's why I know what they're planning. If you got this then I managed to sneak it out. The Commonwealth is in trouble. They are plagued with radiation and mutagens. The birth rate is low and the populace unhealthy. They need what you have. That's why they're planning on raiding the Pit and taking over control of it. Word has reached the Commanders about the substance they produce there that completely blocks radiation. Once they control the Pit they will begin raids on the wasteland, since they have heard about the prosperity there. They have a whole fleet of bad ass robots. I feel I owe you this warning for saving my life. I hope you get it. Stiggs"
Calli handed the letter to Hawk. "I think we need to have a chat with Harkness.", she said quietly.
Calli left the Tradewind at River Port as always, but this time she left Jack with his new wife. She knew he wouldn't be alone if she didn't come back, which made her feel better about taking some of her more dangerous assignments. This was probably going to be one of those.
They found Harkness patrolling the merchant's floor. The android had been hiding from the Commonwealth for almost 20 years now. An intelligent, autonomous being, he had become aware his job hunting other androids was wrong. He had escaped, had his memory erased, and become the head security guard of Rivet City with new, implanted memories. Calli had found out his secret and helped him come to terms with who he was .He not only owed her he felt they had become friends.
They went to his office to discuss this latest threat to the wasteland.
"I'll be happy to help you, Calli", Harkness said. "But you've got to remember it's been 20 years since I was in the Commonwealth. I'm not sure how much I can help."
"Any information you can give me will be useful. You know that technology is actually limited. Yes, we can repair and use some items from before, sometimes even improve on them. But we just don't have the capability of manufacturing a lot of key components. Once they're gone we can't make any more. I'm sure whatever you can tell me will still be useful."
Harkness considered this. "Yeah, you're probably right. All right, you've met most of the types of robots that came out of the Commonwealth. The only thing you might need to contend with you haven't already is the androids. Keep in mind that they're autonomous. Some of them will be on your side if you can talk to them, but some of them will just do whatever they're told. Just like humans, ya know. You might have to shut those down."
"Kill them, you mean.", Calli said. She didn't beat around the bush.
Harkness nodded. She frowned. "But first I have to figure out which is which." Harkness nodded again.
"That's the catch, huh?", he agreed.
"Anyway, I don't want to destroy the robots, or the androids either if I can help it. Like I just said, components are getting hard to come by. Do you have any suggestions for just shutting them down?", she asked.
Harkness considered the question. "Sure, that can be done. It's easier to kill them, though. You have to get right on them from behind so they don't spot you. If they know you're there they'll defend their weak spot first. Look on the back, there's a panel. You can spot it easy enough; it's always just below the head, on the androids too. It's not locked you only have to flip it open and hit the switch. It'll shut off the power supply. It's supposed to be a fail-safe for the masters. Great design, right?", he snorted. Calli laughed. She was sure Harkness no longer had an unsecured panel.
"You know, Calli, I'll help you if you want. But I don't think I'm going to be around much longer. People are starting to notice that I don't age. I've been having the doctor do some cosmetic surgery every few years to make me look a little older, but that will go only so far. I think I'll have to leave the wasteland sometime in the next few years. I don't think I could make a good Disciple." Calli reached out and put her hand on his arm.
"I understand, friend.", she said. "Just hang around as long as you think you can, would you? Maybe we can come up with another solution. I've lost too many friends." He smiled, covering her hand with his.
Calli had all the information she could garner. It was time to approach the Brotherhood about the impending invasion. The Elder was willing to help, especially after he was informed Harkness had gone into the Commonwealth on a spying mission.
"Why would you send a guard on a spy mission?", he asked.
"He's well qualified, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. He probably stands the best chance of anyone I know of making it back out of there with any useful information. Or even making it back at that.", she responded.
"I don't suppose you want to share those qualifications with me.", he said dryly.
"No, I don't. But I need your help. Now this is what I need." , Calli said, leaning forward.
xx
Calli skirted along the mountains side, checking on the disposition of her troops. She was in command of this operation. Each soldier was hand-picked by her for his ability to hide and use stealth boys. They were doing that now, hiding in alcoves, behind bushes, around boulders, anywhere along the trail she felt was suitable. On the other side of the trail was the encampment.
The encampment wasn't hiding for a reason. They were the decoys. The Commonwealth was on the move.
The robots were travelling in force, accompanied by several androids and a few human leaders. Harkness was among them. They approached the encampment openly, confident they could easily destroy it. The lead robots opened fire with missiles.
The encampment was empty. Soldiers swarmed from the surrounding area, firing at the robots and androids, purposely not destroying them. The robots trundled off after them scattering in all directions as the soldiers fled, leading them past the hidden soldiers. Several of the androids, led by Harkness, turned on their masters and incapacitated them. Other androids tried to defend the masters and were attacked from behind, shut down by the hidden soldiers.
Soldiers held perfectly still, hidden by their stealth boys, until a robot would pass, chasing the decoy who would shoot at it, then run. The hidden soldier slipped up behind the robot and shut it down. Scattered over the huge valley and mountain face they weren't in close enough contact to defend each other.
Calli slipped into the heart of the battle, where the masters were rallying the remaining androids, instructing them to remain together. She moved like a shadow, from cover to cover, slipping up behind a humanoid. If there was no panel she mezzed the victim. Others moved in to tie up the prostate victim while she moved on. Within short order all humanoids were incapacitated.
Deactivated robots littered the countryside. Now would come the problem of sorting out the friends from the enemies. Calli watched the men preparing the defeated army for transport. There would be big bonuses for all who had taken part.
Most of the robots and all the disabled androids would be transported to River Port and stored in Calli's warehouses there in accordance with her agreement with Harkness and the Brotherhood. Harkness would take full control of the free androids. The Brotherhood would get a small share of the robots, any salvaged weapons, and any transport vehicles the Commonwealth had brought. The rest would belong to Calli, her reward for organizing and financing the operation. Any humans and reactivated androids would be transported back to the Commonwealth under guard, unless they decided to remain in the wasteland and become productive citizens. Harkness and his androids would be in charge of integrating them into the wasteland.
There had been no causalities on either side. Calli decided this constituted a true victory.