It's been about four months. Soon after we got back to Hidden Valley a few months ago, Max and I went back to deliver the agreement to Mr.House. While we were there, we did a little celebration. Nothing big, just a few drinks on Max in the casino of the Lucky 38. It was fun. It felt good to relax for once in a long long time. Max and I had a great time playing small card games, including one named caravan. I still haven't gotten the hang of that, but I'm learning.
Anyways, after a tour of the Strip, a very drunk one at that, the next thing I remember is waking up on the floor of the dining room in Max's apartment in the Lucky 38. Rex looking down at me drooling on my face. I groan as I stand up and check on Max. He's perfectly fine in the kitchen making breakfast.
"How are you just okay?" I ask holding my pounding head.
"Years of practice my friend." He says.
He lays some toasted bread on a plate down at the table for me and I almost puke.
"Eat it. It'll be good to have something for the alcohol sitting in your stomach to soak into." He tells me.
I groan and reluctantly eat it.
"Remember anything from last night?" He asks.
"Not after the tour." I say.
"Well," he starts sitting across from me eating some sort of meat, slicing a piece for Rex and giving him some, "you aren't really missing much. We went back here not long after that. Only got in a fight right before, had to drag you away." He says.
"What?" I say confused.
He nods, "yea, some guy was hitting on you. He wouldn't take no for an answer, and neither were you. You uppercut him so hard I'm sure he was seeing stars. After that, it was game on. We both took on about four guys. Got separated by the casino guards and kicked out. Luckily for us we aren't banned. They obviously know me and I explained the situation. The other guys aren't allowed to come back. But don't worry, they look a lot worse for wear." He says.
I shake my head, "I'm sorry, I don't know why that must have gotten to me. I usually just ignore guys like that."
"Not entirely sure. I don't mind kicking ass every now and again. Honestly though it's all a little fuzzy for me, but I remember you saying something about someone back home you're waiting to see." He says.
"What? I mean, I don't think I do. Maybe I'm just oblivious." I say.
He nods, "that's probably it. You got a lot going on. But maybe your heart knows something your brain doesn't yet."
I shrug, "guess we'll see."
We eat breakfast and head back to Hidden Valley over the next few days, passing Novac this time instead of through the tunnlers nests. Max brought Rex along with us this time saying his exams with the Followers of the Apocalypse were done for this half of the year. When we get back, he introduces me to an old friend of his. Her name is Veronica. She just got back from a recon mission of the Legion the Elder sent out not long ago.
She's a very experienced Paladin specializing in close quarters combat and stealth. She helps us train the recruits in these tactics and with her help, they improve a lot. Her and I become very close in our time together. It's nice to have a girl friend again. I miss Piper. We can almost read each others thoughts. Veronica gives me the same vibe. We end up being room mates not long after meeting her.
"Get up!" She says one morning about a month or so ago, slapping me with a pillow.
I jolt awake, startled by it, "what, what, what's happening?" I ask her.
"Hello? You dork I told you that you'd over sleep. Now you'll be late to training." She says already dressed.
"Shit!" I say leaping out of bed and throwing my blackout Brotherhood uniform on. I put my boots on and quick tie both. I run to the bathroom but hear laughing behind me.
I turn around and look at Veronica around the corner, "What?" I say, adrenaline still rushing through me.
"I was kidding nerd, my alarm just went off a minute ago. You slept through it for only a minute or two. Figured I'd wake you up the hard way. By the way, you owe me twenty caps." She says.
"What? How?" I say.
"Remember the bet from last night? I told you staying up to play Red Menace was a bad idea, and you bet me twenty caps you'd still wake up on time? Well, who was right?" She asks standing and walking to me putting a hand to her ear.
"C'mon Ell, I wanna hear you say it. 'Ronnie I was wrong and you were right'." She says teasingly.
I groan, "fine. Ronnie, you were right. I shouldn't have stayed up to play Red Menace. There, happy now?" I ask reluctantly.
She smiles and nods, "yup Ell, that'll do."
"And here," I say generating the caps from my pip-boy and handing them to her, "your caps."
"Thank ya ma'am." She says smiling and turning away.
I cross my arms and stick my tongue out at her while her back's turned.
"Now get dressed, we really do have training with the recruits and I'm betting you don't wanna do that in your pajamas." She says slipping her boots on.
I yawn and then sigh, "no, I'd prefer not to."
The recruits have gotten stronger, faster, and smarter with the help from us. We've taught them ground fighting techniques and how to shoot various weapons accurately, increasing their versatility. We've made them crawl and drag each other through the sand in the heat and dead of night, simulating if someone were to go down to get them used to the possibility of carrying someone. It also teaches them to care for each other and brings them closer together. We do these often, running surprise practice drills for everyone on base.
The first ones we started with were just basic stuff. We taught them field medial knowledge, how to stop or slow a bleeding wound with tourniquets and packing the area. How and when to administer basic drugs properly. How to clear a weapon jam or malfunctioning weapon, along with how to field strip them and clean them.
The next ones we did were a bit more rough. For these, the Spartans and I would act as intruders for the bunkers. Only the higher ups, the higher guards, and weapons dealers knew about it so it wouldn't end in disaster and someone getting shot. We wanted to test their reaction to a raid of the bunkers. We timed them and noted their weaknesses. I have to admit, that one was rough. People were running around panicking and had that been a real raid, lots of people would have been dead. We trained everyone in a few classes on scenarios like fire drills, EMP blasts and what to do, bombs going off and routes to important areas. After a few more random drills, they have it down.
Our final drills, along with still conducting the others to remain trained and consistent, was a battle type scenario with blanks. The newer kids were like deer in headlights. They froze up or panicked, and didn't know what to do. With some encouragement and reminding that they've had the training, they became more confident in themselves and handled them well. The older guys were pretty good already, but just needed some dust brushed off in their heads and they were good to go.
Now, the older more seasoned guys are worthy and confident in leading again and the newer ones have more confidence in their leadership, therefore instilling more confidence in themselves. They help new guys just joining, and share tips and tricks they picked up the weeks before. They all study and talk tactics at night in bed before the lights go out, eager to get the first notch on their helmets. Some are still scared, but the trust they have in their brothers and sisters is strong. The brotherhood here has truly become a brotherhood again.
In between training sessions, the Spartans have taken turns going out in teams of two to conduct recon on the area. Their main focus is north west of here, and of course it's located in Area 51, or where it used to be. I guess I should have expected that. From everything I'm told, the Enclave usually sets up shop in and around old military bases. Kinda funny how finally someone will be breaking in there and looking at the secrets the government kept for us. Or there may be nothing. It doesn't really matter. As long as I get Shaun back, that's all I care about.
Luckily, on that front, we've made some progress. We were able to wire tap their communications array. The Enclave doesn't really pay attention to exactly who is in their power armor. Where we have log books and someone always watching the supplies, the Enclave is a little more oblivious to this. So, theoretically if someone were to steal a set from a trooper, then they wouldn't ever notice. So that's what we did. We walked right in the front doors. Well, I didn't. But Cade and Masters did. They were able to get a layout of the base, where the main and biggest targets would be. Those being the labs, air filtration systems, water supply and pumps, weapons bays, vertibird hangars, and the higher up offices.
In that mission, they were able to observe and locate where exactly Shaun was. They said they're using his knowledge of the institute and studying him for 'some reason' according to them. But I know exactly why. They want to replicate synths, probably to create mindless soldiers or something. That's all I can guess. But I never say this. They don't need to know anything about him. But, they say he's safe and is being cared for at least for now. Just a little longer, and he'll be in my arms, safe with me.
As far as our plan, it's going well. We have a damn good plan on how to attack and take down the Enclave and with the info we've been able to gather from legionnaire soldiers we've captured or observed, we know how to take the legion too. It's a matter of taking both down at the same time or at least holding the Legion at bay while we focus on taking the Enclave.
The Legion is going to be the tricky one. They aren't as careless with their personnel. They notice who comes in and out. They aren't stupid either. Their shield wall formations can prove to be deadly. When coupled with Demarcus tungsten and steel swords and shields, they'll be hard to beat. It'll be enough to hold off bullets and energy ammunition. If they can do that and push us into a corner, they could easily get the upper hand. That's why we've decided to split Mr.Houses Securitrons in half. Half will go to the south to fight the Legion and and half will travel north to Area 51.
But we won't be alone. We were able to scrounge up about 5,000 troops from the NCR. It wasn't easy to get them to the bargaining table. We had to let them keep Helios One in a treaty signed by the Elder. I'm not going to lie, the Brotherhood has given up a lot of assets to win this war, but it will guarantee peace between the remaining factions afterwards. It will also allow the Brotherhood to move into Area 51 and take all that will be left by the Enclave making the chapter stronger. This was also negotiated in the treaty. We let the NCR take control of this region completely if we can have the base after the war, and the NCR agreed.
So the Elder signed the treaty, and just like that, we had more troops. It was only 5,000 but that's all they were able to spare. But every little bit helps.
We decided to do the same with the NCR troops, but congregate half at the Brotherhood bunker and the other half will be sent to the north. They also donated 150 Vertibirds to aid us. Only about 50 will go north, the rest will be hidden in the mountains surrounding Hidden Valley ready for a bunker assault just in case. They're all equipped with mini guns and rockets the Brotherhood stacked away.
Over the past few months, we gained a lot of new brothers and sisters. About 2,000 to be exact, adding to the 500 already here. Most are ground troops, some are shadowing NCR Vertibird pilots to learn how to fly when the time comes. A select few were sent to the weapons dealers to become gunsmiths and reload ammo. Another dozen were hand selected to become field medics and Spartans. The best recruit from each class is looked at to become a Spartan. It doesn't mean they'll get the spot, but they'll be looked at. Our Spartan brigade is up to twenty now. Each one of them is resourceful and smart enough to be extremely deadly on their own. These guys will be leading the attack, infiltrating the Enclave's base and planting bombs in the right spots. When the time comes, a group will head to Shauns quarters and secure him before detonating the explosives, signaling the attack. We aren't going to completely destroy everything, and especially not the most important items. But we'd like a layout of where not to place bombs so we don't destroy anything useful for later.
We won't end the war with this many, and hopefully, the number we'll have to bury won't be high, but that's war. And war, war never changes.