Author's notes: I highly suggest looking up about USS Massachusetts gorgeous battleship with an awesome history. I also named captain Charlie after my papa Jones who served as a chef on a destroyer escort during WW2 and later as a chef on an LST. He always told my dad he wanted to serve on a battleship so I made a character in his honor a way of making his dream come true in a sense. BTW Happy Halloween. I wanted to get this out by October 23rd but I got distracted by the way thank of the real Fort Independence it's a whole lot bigger and impressive.

The next morning rose as Fox and Krystal woke up. They saw Cody still fast asleep so they left him be. Slippy began cooking breakfast. After a few minutes, Cody was up and got dressed all in his blood-stained tattered cloak and uniform upon his head was his rusted m1 helmet. He requested to stay in the hangar since he knew the smell of blood and filth from his clothes would ruin their appetite. He was given permission and walked down to the hangar he eyed the arwings and how beautiful they were he said to himself "If only the Minutemen could fly."

Fox finished breakfast and went to check on him there he saw Cody filled with wonder over the arwings it reminded Fox how far humanity had fallen they can't even touch the sky let alone the stars. What is so common and daily in the lives of Cornerians is adventurous to the Minutemen. Fox walked up and patted Cody on the back.

"You okay kit?" Asked Fox.

Cody snapped out of his trance "I'm fine just startled truth be told my daddy loved the sky and stars. He'd even point out the constellations."

Fox asked, "What was your daddy like?"

The child soldier sighed "Well he was adventurous kind always on the move alongside him. He was there for others taught me the word of God and how to fight to protect people to save souls and how to be a Minuteman. Well, That bald-headed bastard killed him for it."

Cody then lit a cigar.

Fox replied, "I know what it's like to lose loved ones my father James Mccloud was shot down over Venom."

Cody asked, "So who's the son of bitch who killed him?"

Fox sighed "His name is Pigma he was part of the original Star Fox team along with Peppy on a mission he betrayed them shot my dad down and Peppy almost lost his life. When I got the news, I sobbed eventually I formed a new Star Fox team to get revenge. I didn't kill them since I was too busy with Andross but after that, I felt empty. I fell into depression and the Great Fox started to fall into disrepair. It wasn't until I rescued Krystal that she showed me vengeance won't bring you happiness."

Cody smiled while finishing his cigar "My daddy always told me vengeance is God's but this is how I see it there's much evil where you can't reason with all you need to do is put a bullet in its head or a bayonet in its throat after that you call it a day then have a smoke and a drink. To be honest, I'm ready to get back home people need saving and raiders need killing."

Half an hour later the Minutemen were preparing to board a shuttle back to the Great Fox. Liberator ordered that a trio of Minutemen stay behind. The trio is Josh who is now their ambassador he's still learning to use his new cybernetics Evan for his cancer treatments the last being Nathan who was to help both in their recovery also for P.R reasons to show that there are good people on Earth trying to put the pieces back together.

Vera caught up to them. "Please let me join the Minutemen there are plenty of nurses and surgeons on Corneria but you need one."

Liberator smiled well your right about ma'am you're going to need a hazmat suit but I have a feeling I can find a way around that."

Vera asked, "What about my appearance?"

Liberator smiled more I know a guy who makes awesome cloaks if people do see you, we'll just lie to them and say you're a poor soul who was experimented on that we rescued if they get aggressive, I'll just crush their skull, or have Cody slit their throat it ain't that hard If your attackers are further away, I can have Preston get a bead on em he's a crack shot."

Preston reassured her "Vera, we will protect you to the best of our ability welcome to the Minutemen."

Liberator handed his militia hat to Vera and climbed into his armor. The shuttle picked up the Minutemen and they boarded the Great Fox. Once they were in warp Liberator asked Slippy for help.

Slippy smiled "Here let me show you."

Liberator typed a few of the holographic keys and ended up causing the alarm to go off. The old ghoul blushed behind his helmet.

Slippy laughed "It's ok it's just the alarm follow my hands ok." He then guided Liberator's hands showing him how to use the comms. After some time and a little bit of practice he detected a signal, he recognized the frequency it was a U.S Navy signal.

Liberator spoke, "I know it's risky but we need to find that ship."

Fox said No offense Liberator but why would you want to find an abandoned warship sounds risky not to mention it's never a good idea to go after a derelict ship."

Liberator replied "Well there could be potential recruits much of the U.S Military became ghouls like me although many are hiding they're still there and maybe there are weapons onboard, we need all the ammo and guns we can get our supply lines no longer exist if we get into another fight we are done for. Since we lost Fort Independence, we need a headquarters an old warship bristling with firepower sounds like what we need."

Fox retorted "You just said if you get into another fight you're done for what if it's full of ferals or a disease or virus of some sort?"

Liberator said "Listen we are damned if we do damned if we don't, we need ammo and weapons who knows maybe someone needs help I've heard stories of desperate sailors being stuck on ghost ships. Look you can stay behind in fact Cody and I will go first the rest of you can stay in the shuttle."

Slippy was excited "I can't wait to see what American warships were like."

Liberator smiled and reached into his old army pack. "Hey Slippy got a gift for you." He then gave Slippy a black and white photograph of the USS Texas. "It's yours Slippy, to be honest, the Texas is my favorite."

Falco spoke up "You just say that 'cause you're a Texan."

Liberator cackled "Of course, I am I have my biases like anyone else would however there is something romantic yet sad about Texas being The Last Dreadnought. Well, let's get into the shuttle and find out about this signal."

They climbed in they found the signal again was fifty miles away from the Commonwealth. They descended and were caught in a heavy storm. They were thirty miles away from the signal themselves. The speed of the shuttle was insane it tore through the sky at Mach two. They slowed down way below subsonic once they got close. The fog was heavy and lightning tore through the clouds while rain pummeled the shuttle. They saw a silhouette up ahead from what they could make out they were facing the bow.

Slippy activated the scanners to their shock the ship still has power the scanners continued their job. The shuttle hovered yet as the ship got closer they realized the ship is still moving at a speed of fifteen knots. The shuttle ascended slightly they could see no smoke from the smokestack yet bubbles from the screws were seen at the aft of the ship. The scans were complete showing the fusion reactors on the battleship were still working and powering her electric turbines.

Liberator made his decision "Alright land on the stern Cody and I will go first we'll let you know if it's safe."

The shuttle touched down and the ramp opened. Cody stepped out first bayonet fixed as always. He moved forward causing the rotten wood deck to creak. When Liberator took an armored step the ship itself seemed to groan. Realizing the danger, he was forced to leave his armor but he did activate the clamps on the feet to make sure it didn't get blown overboard. The two then pushed on. They opened one of the bulkheads leading down into the ship. The lights still worked. Everything seemed deserted the exterior was rusted to hell but to their surprise the interior wasn't too rusted. Liberator looked down at the floor and noticed the paint was very well-worn bare metal in some places. They soon realized the ship was not abandoned. Suddenly a sailor walked out he was a ghoulified child intelligent not feral.

The sailor drew his Colt New Service revolver. Another sailor backed him up this time a ghoul adult he drew a bayoneted 1903 Springfield. Cody and Liberator both put their weapons on their backs and raised their hands and try to explain the situation. The captain's voice was heard on the P.A System. "Bring them to the bridge I wish to parlay with them if what they say is true then they are guests."

They were escorted to the bridge many of the windows were cracked or broken. A sailor said, "Captain will be with you in a moment."

The captain stepped out his uniform warn yet neat and clean. Both Liberator and the Captain recognized each other. The old ghouls wrapped their arms around one another relieved to see one another alive.

The Captain introduced himself "Captain Charlie Jones at your service."

Cody heard stories of Charlie he was Liberator's mentor and father figure.

Liberator grabbed his radio letting everyone else know it was safe. The Minutemen and Star Fox team met on the bridge. Liberator began to introduce them. "This Fox Mccloud, Krystal, Falco, Slippy, Peppy Hare, Fay Spaniel, and Miyu Lynx. They are the Star Fox team that saved us after Quincy. This here is Vera Eclipse our newest Minuteman and medic."

Charlie could tell they were different from humans their ears and tails for one even with the heavy hazmat suits on. Liberator asked, "Do y'all have any rad-x and radaway if we could get that it might help them survive the radiation on our world without those suits."

Vera's ears folded with fear she heard stories of radiation poisoning.

Liberator patted her on the back. "Vera if you're going to be part of the Minutemen you can't keep relying on that suit what if a tear happens or a bullet punctures? If this works your DNA can adapt over time with the help of rad-x and radaway. I must warn you though radaway takes time and has a diuretic effect. Remember Vera your now one of my troops and if you need to go home just ask."

Vera nodded and said nothing. The sailor brought them a bottle of rad-x and radaway. Liberator handed her four rad-x tablets. "Now I want you to take four of these a day for start depending we may lower it or raise it. Then they heard a creak a screech and a splash. One of the Minutemen ran out to investigate. He came back in and shouted, "THE SHUTTLE FELL OFF."

Slippy forgot to turn on the shuttle's magnetic gear. The team scolded Slippy. Falco was enraged he tried to hit on Slippy. Slippy being much weaker didn't stand a chance and was thrown against the wall. Liberator backhanded Falco in retaliation.

Falco was stunned no one had ever hit him like that before. Liberator turned on his translator and spoke "Listen you leave Slippy alone if you want a fight, you and me take this outside." Remembering that Liberator has been fighting and killing for over two centuries Falco realized it was not wise to piss him off so he backed down.

Fox asked, "So how long will it take for us to reach the Commonwealth?" Charlie answered "Three hours by the way welcome aboard the U.S.S Massachusetts I hope you enjoy the cruise."

Liberator asked, "Charlie are your sixteen-inch rifles still working?" Charlie said, "Yes there our main defense we also have plenty of ammo for them why you ask?"

Liberator answered, "We can kill the Mirelurk Queen and retake Independence."

He jumped with joy grabbed a large roll of parchment paper and got to planning. The storm raged on as the Massachusetts cut through the water. The Star Fox team did their own thing. Fox was chilling in the bunks. Krystal doing her usual meditation. Slippy was scanning the entire ship seeing how everything worked he was excited to see analog and mechanical computers. Falco was sulking and Peppy was chatting with the sailors listening to their stories and tall tales. Miyu was chilling with Cody. Fay however pulled Charlie aside. She requested a pistol a rifle and several ammo types.

Charlie did her better. He gave her a 1903 Springfield an M1917 bayonet and a Colt New Service revolver. For ammo, he gave her a few rounds of 30 06 and 45 ACP. What he didn't know is Fay is planning a surprise for the Minutemen. Fay left with the guns and ammo tail wagging. Liberator shrugged his shoulders and began to chat with Charlie.

Charlie explained what happened to them the day the bombs fell. "On October 23, 2077, we were doing a Halloween cruise some of us dressed like zombies or ghosts it was a cruise where parents left their kids on the ship on land, and they held a Halloween dance for the adults. When the bombs came Massachusetts became our Ark. The thick armor let enough radiation to make us ghouls but not enough to kill us or make us feral. A year later in 2078 we investigated what happened to all the parents they were either dead or feral well we had to put them down, unfortunately, their kids watched. The little ones on board now are called the Powder Monkeys they help us with Maintenace mainly with guns and ammunition. The cruise that was meant to be a few weeks now is over two hundred years."

Charlie smiled "Hey at least they have us besides living on a battleship may get boring but at least we don't have to deal with raiders. The sad thing is the Monkeys see this battleship as the closest thing to a mother they call her Mama Massachusetts. They have us for brothers and me as their grandfather they often call me Papa Jones."

He answered a few questions turns out he's over three hundred years old took, command in his eighties when the resource wars happened. The government didn't care how old the veterans were as long as they were experienced and trained. After my wife passed away from old age, I volunteered for a lifetime of service onboard the Massachusetts the navy life was all I knew."

Liberator finished chatting with him and got back to finishing his plan. Liberator also had a course charted for Castle Island. The storm cleared and they were now ten miles away from Fort Independence. The turrets groaned and creaked as the coordinates were laid in. Liberator rolled out the plans. Slippy deployed his drones one had a small grenade tied to it. The drones spotted the Queen beneath the water. The grenade was dropped and the plan was set in motion.

The Queen roared in anger while the drones opened fire with their blasters. The other Mirelurks including the hatchlings followed their mother. The drones also had their cameras on recording the whole thing. Another group of drones stayed to watch the Massachusetts unleash her fury. It took a while but once the queen reached the ruins the Massachusetts unleashed her broadside. *BOOOM*. The sound was deafening especially to the ears of the Star Fox team. Nine high explosive sixteen-inch rounds crashed onto the Mirelurks. The Mirelurks were flat-out vaporized the Queen was nothing but shell fragments. Liberator hugged Charlie "You got our home back Charlie you got our home back."

The Massachusetts sailed as close as she could to the fort without beaching herself. The good news is the team's hazmat suits are waterproof. Both groups swam to the fort. Liberator opened the doors happy as could be to have his home back. Liberator shouted, "ALRIGHT LET'S GET HER CLEANED-UP MOVE IT!" Liberator didn't stand around just barking orders but started digging a garden in the courtyard and ordered all eggs be brought to him. The digested gunk and dirt the Mirelurks made their nest out of made perfect compost for a garden. He also planted many seeds carrots tatos mutfruit. After that, he got to shoveling the gunk out of the barracks.

Cody meanwhile helped clear the nests on top of the fort. A few hatchlings were left and bit at his ankles less of a threat and more of a nuisance. So, he thought but when Vera saw his bleeding legs, she sat him down and began cleaning and bandaging. Once the barracks were cleaned Liberator began clearing all the dried vines off planning to use them as kindling for the stove. He continued gathering the huge vines until they were all cleared. Everyone brought him the eggs. He got the stove fired up and boiled water sterilizing the pans. He took what was given to him and got cooking. He also pulled out his seasoning stash. With dinner made he helped Vera out of her hazmat suit and gave her water and rad-x.

The first time a Cornerian tasted Commonwealth Cuisine. Vera took a bite out of the Mirelurk omelet at first, she was speechless. Liberator thought he did something wrong or poisoned her. Vera shouted, "THIS IS THE BEST OMELET I'VE EVER HAD!"

Liberator was relieved his cooking was good. Vera asked what's his secret. The ghoul said, "A little bit of Cajun seasoning and cumin with some basil and cilantro if I have it."

He looked at the team "Y'all took us into your home now it's our turn sure Independence isn't luxurious like the Spaniels but she's tough and Tomorrow I'll have us artillery up and running.