A/N: Goooooood Saturday morning my pretties, here we are with another episode of How Much Can I Screw With Fallout 4's Terrible Story? TM. I know today isn't Friday, but I ended up racing gokarts then going to a bar and I was so tired by the time I got back I passed out. That being said. Yes, I left you all on a cliffhanger (sorta) last time. I have my reasons but worry not, there's some fun to be had in this chapter. Anyway, leave a review if you're so inclined and, as always, enjoy!
Chapter 69: Hearts and Minds
Maybe 15 Brotherhood soldiers, two Vertibirds, an unknown number of Raiders. With one of their Sentinels here, the Brotherhood will be sending reinforcements. If they came from either Cambridge or the airport it would be 10 minutes. If they sent forces already in the air, less.
I slipped to the corner of a house and peered to the north. The suburb started thinning back into a mixture of forest and rocky hills. The fighting had migrated closer. The Brotherhood was losing ground. With another street between me and the shooting, I didn't know if that meant they'd lost people too. Either way, the Raiders weren't in the surrounding wilderness anymore. If I didn't step in, the settlement would probably suffer for the Brotherhood's incompetence.
Okay 'incompetence' is probably a little far. That they wouldn't be prepared for a potential attack when the Raiders have been so active in the area though…
The VTOLs were standing off to the east now. One of them had damage to its canopy, the other was missing a door gunner. So their air support was hampered too. The Raiders had brought weapons big enough to damage the aircraft and take out one of the gunners. I hadn't heard anything heavy. Doesn't mean it isn't there.
Before crossing toward the fighting, I checked the minigun I was cradling one more time. It was old, like most weapons in this place, but in good condition. It was too large and unwieldy for my taste. Against soft targets, it was a monster.
Raiders are soft targets.
As I slipped across the street, I allowed myself an instant to wonder how they didn't know I was there. Or did they think they could deal with me at their leisure? Whatever the answer, if I hadn't been there, their plan to isolate the Brotherhood forces would have been a good one.
I stopped again and looked down the next street. As expected, laser fire and conventional gunfire were exchanged between the groups. The Brotherhood soldiers in their bulky power armor were in the road slowly being pushed south. All of them had damage on their armor, several severe enough they needed help to move.
The Raiders… they were concealed in the buildings northeast of me.
That's where I needed to be.
No reason to get in the middle of this fight though.
Turning east, I ran toward the next intersection, hugging what shadows I could along the way. Unfortunately, I was on the clock. That meant I couldn't do this slow and methodical. If there were any Raiders on rear guard, I'll have to deal with them when they make themselves known.
If they do.
Whoever was in command was decent. They might not attack until they had an opening.
My countermeasure was to move too quickly to give them one.
A few seconds later, I was rounding onto the next street and headed north.
Nothing.
Keeping my boots quiet on the broken pavement was difficult. The gunfire was loud enough to mask most of the noise I made though.
I turned west again and ran toward the fighting.
The clock was ticking in my head. Time wasn't on my side, but I couldn't leave the fight to chance.
This settlement would not turn out like the other one. Not on my watch.
My first glimpse of the attackers was two Raiders moving into a house a hundred meters west of me. Once inside, another pair moved to the house next to them.
Ducking into a building's entryway, I watched a third pair.
Yeah… whoever organized this knows what they're doing.
The best, and my normal move would be to eliminate them. There wasn't time to hunt the commander down. No, I need to cause the most damage I can and get out. That will give the Raiders something to think about too. Hopefully, it provides an opening for the Brotherhood to establish themselves instead of standing in the street like target practice.
Getting closer at this point probably wasn't an option. The attackers didn't have a rear guard, but with someone competent running the show, they'd at least have someone watching for a close flank.
A fourth pair moved into the house two down from me.
Maybe a flank isn't necessary. The strategy might be good… these are still Raiders though.
The building I was using for cover was a duplex. It seemed like the Raiders were mirroring the Brotherhood soldiers' movements, saturating the area with volume, not high-powered weapons.
I cracked the door open and crept inside the western unit.
That meant limited supply of heavy weapons or the ammo to feed them. They were saving whatever they used to drive off the Vertibirds for anti-air.
Pounding boots on pavement reached me just beneath the roaring gunfire.
One more house.
The interior was pretty much bare. Another door to the south led into the unit's kitchen. Another one just to the left of it looked like a bedroom. Both faced the street the Raiders were targeting. There weren't many places that would hide an armored SPARTAN carrying a minigun and its pack…
But I don't necessarily need the thing right now. I could open up as soon as they entered.
No. Even if the clock was against me, sometimes it pays to be patient.
A few seconds after the boots on pavement turned into boots on wood, gunfire started pouring from the next house.
This could work.
Ducking into the adjoining room, I slipped the pack off and stowed it and the heavy weapon in the far corner. It had been a while since I used the 10 mm on my hip. Hopefully that would continue to be the case.
If I did have to, its report would be a lot less distinctive than my other two weapons.
The handgun and knife in hand, I settled in beside the doorway to wait. It was only another handful of seconds before the pounding boots reached the duplex.
A heartbeat later and someone crashed through the door.
Another and they were sprinting across the living room and into the kitchen.
Another and one Raider ran past me into the room. She did bother clearing the corner behind the door.
The short, petite woman was carrying a hunting rifle very similar to the ones I've seen plenty of settlers use. 7.62X51. No way that was getting through T-60's plating.
So they're playing the pressure game. Does that mean-
This wasn't the right time. I know what their strategy is. That's enough.
Before she could take position at the window, I sprung from my 'hiding spot' and buried my knife in the base of her skull. She never knew anyone was in that room with her.
Still Raiders.
Gunfire exploded from the kitchen as I snuck out of the bedroom and toward my next target. The living room was still clear-
I ducked back into the other room as another pair of Raiders ran past the door. I heard them break into the other unit of the duplex.
The Brotherhood soldiers were leading them to the east side of the suburb. It would give their Vertibirds safer targets.
Once they were gone, I slipped into the kitchen.
Like his partner, the similarly small man never knew I was in the house with them.
The Raiders would find it odd if no gunfire was coming from the house. I picked up the man's hunting rifle and fired through the window. I didn't take the time to aim. No reason to. I just needed a few more seconds…
Another group ran past.
That accounts for three, including the pair of dead Raiders. One more should be sufficient.
After two more shots, I discarded the rifle and returned to the bedroom to collect my confiscated minigun.
Another pounded down the street.
The room I was in shared a wall with the other unit.
Where the other pair of Raiders were.
The walls were so thin, I could almost pinpoint where the gunfire was coming from. Not that I needed to.
It's a minigun.
I leveled its six rotating barrels at the eastern wall, aimed it roughly where the reports were pounding through the wall from.
And pulled the trigger.
While I may not like cumbersome weapons like these, there's something to be said for how destructive they can be. Walls don't generally come bulletproof, especially ones as thin as these. The handgun would make it through.
This thing will do more than that. There are some times destruction can be fun.
And it may not be my most virtuous thought, 'fun' at the expense of these Raiders' lives but…
They're Raiders. Maybe even the same ones that hit the other settlement.
So yeah. This is where the fun begins.
The rotating assembly reached full speed and small caliber rounds exploded from the minigun. It fired so fast, the reports were crashing into each other as they bounced around the room. It sounded more like a saw than a gun.
As far as the wall, and the Raider on the other side, was concerned, it was a saw.
The torrent of bullets shredded the cheap, eroded sheetrock like a blowtorch hitting plastic. I pulled the barrel along the wall horizontally, cutting a meter-wide section of it in half.
With what was probably close to two hundred rounds spent in a matter of seconds, I surged forward and crashed through it into the next unit.
What was left of the Raider was on the ground, vacant eyes staring up at me. Most of his torso was splattered across the far wall. That wall was, likewise, shredded and I couldn't hear any shooting from the other room. There was still shooting ahead of me, as well as at least one more group to my west.
I started forward to confirm-
Running outside.
Twisting, I pulled the trigger again and, an instant later, the rotating barrels spat another stream of rounds at the unit's front door.
It caught one Raider as he entered. The thick iron plate he wore over his chest lasted less than a heartbeat. The volume of fire turned his chest into mist, illuminated vibrant red by the moonlight in my HUD.
There was no way to hear the reaction of anyone else in the street over the minigun's cascade of reports.
It didn't matter. They know I'm here, it's time to move.
As I let the weapon spin back down, I lunged to my right, toward the damaged interior wall of the unit. Even before the minigun, 200 years of neglect robbed the cheap construction of most of its strength. I barely slowed as I crashed through, sending more sheetrock and pieces of 2X4s scattering.
Sure enough, the other Raider was likewise dead. He must have been crouching because his head and left shoulder were gone.
500 kilos of SPARTAN and Mjolnir slammed into the exterior wall. This one provided more resistance. When I broke through into the narrow alley between houses, the force of the impact knocked me off balance and sent me stumbling.
I struggled to keep my footing.
Speed.
This isn't just against the Brotherhood's clock now. The Raiders are going to be shifting their focus toward the threat that appeared in the middle of their attack.
Gunfire was still pouring from the house in front of me.
Once I regained my balance, I leveled the minigun at the wall and let loose with another wave of small-caliber rounds.
This burst lasted longer, giving the bullets time to chew through more walls.
When I released the trigger, I could almost see through the gaping hole it left.
No sooner had the rapid-fire reports faded than I heard more boots pounding across the broken pavement.
Turning again, I steadied the minigun on the corner-
Just in time to see something careen into the alley. It was too large to be a grenade.
My legs drove into the ground and sent me hurtling backward, away from the approaching Raiders. I just-
BOOOOM!
The charge they threw went off in mid-air right before I could make it out of the enclosed space. Its concussion wave slammed into me and sent me into a tumble. My head was spinning almost as fast as my body, but I didn't miss my shield energy bar drop precipitously as the barrier flared into existence.
Fragmentation. They made improv fragmentation charges.
I rolled to a stop and, before I could command it to, my body was scrambling to get to my feet. My shields were under half. The alley was filled with a dense cloud of smoke, pieces of house raining down around me.
It wasn't just a frag charge. There was a lot of power. If I took another one, my shields would be down and that might lead to problems… But, at close range, it would shred the Brotherhood's power armor.
Move.
No doubt they had more.
As soon as I was steady again, I lunged from the alley and turned left, heading east.
The minigun seemed to be in working order and I hadn't landed on the munition pack.
Gunfire was still making it through the ringing in my ears. A round cracked over my head and brilliant red lasers speared into the wall in response. Apparently, not all the Raiders got the memo.
The gunfight raged on while I sprinted down the street. Even if the Raiders hadn't all reacted to my presence, their line of fire was broken. No longer was there a smooth ripple of weapon's fire hammering the Brotherhood on the south side of the street. I only took out two of their fire teams, but they weren't able to continue shadowing the power-armored soldiers.
It was a start, but they'd probably be able to regroup soon. Five dead Raiders wouldn't tip the scales. Maybe they're paranoid enough about my appearance they change tact.
No. Leaving this up to chance was out of the question.
Once I was a half-dozen houses away from the duplex, I ducked into another alley. It was choked with debris from the collapsed wall of the house to my right. There wasn't enough room for me to get by.
Instead, I hopped into the house through the gaping hole and slipped to its north side. I found myself in the backyard, separated from the next house by what used to be a fence. It had long since rotted into a pile of splinters in roughly a straight line in the dirt.
A few seconds later, I was back out on the Raiders' street.
This time I didn't stop.
Twisting so the minigun was aimed toward their positions, I burst into the open, running across the pockmarked pavement.
Eight of the bastards were around the alley they tried to blow me up in. Two were behind them, scanning the street.
So they were competent enough to watch their backs.
But not enough to know they had provided a great target.
I aimed the unwieldy weapon and pulled the trigger.
One of the two Raiders on watch had just enough time to shout a warning before the rotating barrels reached full speed. It began spewing rounds an instant later.
Another torrent of reports tore into the night. Keeping the weapon steady as I ran was difficult but, with the thing's incredible rate of fire, it almost didn't matter.
The stream of rounds started on the left side of the Raider formation and walked its way across. Two of the attackers folded in half before any of them responded. Their two rear guards began firing as the rest split their reaction. Half dropped to the ground, the other half turned to join the gunfight.
Twisting to adjust my aim, I directed the-
Something big cracked through the air I'd just vacated. A deep, muffled report followed just beneath the sound of my minigun. It had the characteristic, flattened sound profile of a suppressed shot.
So they have at least one high-caliber rifle. I didn't recognize it before because it was suppressed. That would make it more difficult to track their heavy weaponry. Combine that with the threat posed by the explosives…
Smart bastards. No wonder the Brotherhood has its Vertibirds standing off.
I let off the trigger and sprinted for the north side of the street. They didn't take a second shot.
Again. Clever. I didn't like that. The last thing we need now is for these strung out combat-addicts to grow a brain.
As I skidded to a stop behind the remains of a corner store, I shook the minigun's munitions pack. It felt about ⅔ full.
Now seemed like a good time to make an exit. The Brotherhood have breathing room, the Raiders won't be as aggressive now they know I'm running around in their back lines, and this hopefully stalled them enough for the Brotherhood's backup to get close. I want to do more, but I'm already pushing my luck.
It will be impossible for the Raiders to maintain their plan of attack. Not only will they have to worry about a flank now, they've lost almost 10 people.
Time to go.
The volume of fire had dropped to almost nothing. When I started east, vaulting the mostly-destroyed fence of a house that was likewise crumbling, that didn't change. The Raiders needed to regroup and re-evaluate their strategy.
Exactly what I wanted.
"You are pretty scary."
Well Cass, sometimes it pays to inspire a little fear in people.
Despite the satisfaction with my efforts, there was a tinge of uncertainty. Unlike previous engagements with the Raiders, they are taking the time to adjust. It wasn't perfect, any good fighting force would either have alternate tactics they can implement in the field or be able to adjust on the fly.
But they were showing improvement.
Things are going to get harder.
Dammit I wish I had time to find their commander.
It occurred to me, as I crossed the settlement's now abandoned first line of defense, that might not matter. I seriously doubt they'd send an HVT to deal with a target like this. Which means this isn't their A-team.
I stopped before I could emerge into the street at their fallback position. The settlers would be jumpy.
Slowly, I emerged from the shadows of the low-lying apartment. I could feel eyes and gun barrels on me. It was as uncomfortable as ever, but it was necessary. I need to talk with Clare before I leave.
"What's going on!?" someone shouted from ahead of me. "Is it over?"
"No", I called back as I came to a stop on the near side of the street. "I need to talk with Clare."
With the now silenced fighting to the north, I could hear more rotors to the south. The Brotherhood reinforcements. With how quickly they arrived, that has to be Vertibirds that were already in flight.
The man Clare sent out when I asked them to pull back, Brice, wearing body armor that looked like it might actually stop a bullet, stepped out between the houses ahead of me. "Okay, follow me."
His steps were hurried and heavy as he led me back to the convenience store where she was still waiting with a few others. Clare was sitting on a cabinet set against the far wall now, rifle across her lap. The older woman was staring at the door with a cigarette smoldering between her still-trembling fingers. The rest of them were likewise staring at the door as I ducked through. The same tension was in the air as last time.
"The shooting stopped", Clare said before I had the chance to approach her and her compatriots. "You're back here when you said you needed to go. Does that mean things went well, or you're here to tell us we need to run too?" Her voice was shaking too. But there was something else, almost like she was resigned to whatever my answer was.
These people are used to fighting for their lives. They aren't used to fighting a war.
"Everything will be fine", I replied. "The Raiders are withdrawing for now. They might reaggress but Brotherhood reinforcements will be here soon."
Clare let out a deep breath and flicked the cigarette away. "It's been a long time since I've had one of those." She looked at one of the men to her left. He was young, maybe a little older than me, with a shaved head and thick beard. "You tell Paul, I'll feed you to a Yao Gui."
The man in question held his hands up. "I won't say anything."
"Good", she said, turning back to me. "And you- you have to leave?"
I nodded. "It's too dangerous for everyone here if I stay. This isn't permanent. We'll be back."
There was a brief moment of silence, only interrupted by the Brotherhood Vertibirds still hovering to the east of the settlement. Every eye in the room was on me.
"Alright." Clare set her rifle to the side and pushed herself away from the cabinet. "Any idea how long that will be?"
"No", I said as she started toward me. "Not too long though. You're too close-"
This isn't about strategy and logistics you moron. These people are afraid.
"I… don't like the idea of anyone having to be subjected to the Brotherhood."
Clare stopped in front of me, staring at me through my visor. "I don't like that idea either. Andrew said your name is 'Damon'?" I nodded. "Well then", she held her hand out. "Thank you, Damon. Hope I see you again soon."
I blinked. She… wants to shake my hand?
And she's thanking me? But I'm leaving. They're going to be under the Brotherhood's control for the foreseeable future.
But she might be dead if I wasn't here.
"You're welcome", I replied, as I shifted the minigun to my left. I grasped her hand and shook it, careful not to squeeze.
A hint of a smile flashed across her face.
"Let's get ready folks", Clare said after a few more seconds of silence and pulled her arm back. "We don't have much time to figure out how we're gonna get ready for our new guests. They'll be with us a while. That doesn't mean they're here for good."
It was hard to tell if she was putting on a show or if she really was this in control now.
Let them figure that out. I need to figure out how to get back here.
"We'll be seeing you Damon", The settlement's leader said.
"You will." I nodded and turned to leave.
That's my job. To make sure these people see me again.
I left the convenience store and ran toward the southeast side of the settlement. We needed to get moving.
Something felt different. I felt… satisfied? Why? I'm leaving. Running.
But I saved these people. Or at least helped save them. And, unlike with Sanctuary the first time, or with the Railroad, I didn't do it because I felt like I was supposed to. I helped save these people because I wanted to.
Because it felt like the right thing to do, despite it putting me at more risk.
A smile tugged at my mouth.
It felt good.
X
"How are you so sure they'll be alright?" Andrew asked as we continued north, skirting a large break in the foliage. The last two hours were as dull and monotonous as the minute of combat was exciting. Trudging through the rolling hills with the Synth pestering me every 10 minutes. I think I preferred traveling with him when I had him gagged.
Andrew had been asking variations on that question since we watched the flight of four Vertibirds buzz the forest to the settlement's east. The echoes of gunfire drifted across the small suburb and up the hill we'd climbed northwest. Bright flashes of red lasers followed an instant later. Two Vertibirds descended toward the settlement, no doubt to drop off more ground forces.
The Brotherhood came to play.
After watching the re-engagement for a minute or so, I led the three of them away. We needed distance. No telling when they'd come looking for me.
"I'm not explaining again", I muttered.
"I just don't understand how you came to your conclusion", the Synth pressed. "You're making a lot of assumptions based on your experience. And I understand experience is important when making a qualitative analysis in many situations but-"
"There's nothing else I can say that will make it clearer." I turned to look down at him. "And I'm here to keep you safe, not convince you I'm right. If you want to survive the next few days, you'll follow me."
To that end, we needed to find a place to rest for the night. What's left of it, anyway.
"Andy", Cass said before he could respond. She sounded tired. And irritated. "I get your concerned about them but he has told you why he thinks that." She stumbled before catching herself on a tree.
"To be honest I'm surprised he's been as patient as he has", the teenager added quietly. "You can trust he knows what he's talking about. It's fighting. That's what he does."
Well… hopefully it doesn't turn into a fight, but yes, the concept is the same.
We picked through a thicket of underbrush. I picked a large group of tracks up in the dirt beneath them. Their edges were sharp and impressions clear. Fresh. They were dog tracks. Not the first set I've seen since we left the settlement but definitely the most recent.
"I know-"
"Quiet", I whispered, scanning the darkened forest around us. "Fresh animal tracks."
The two of them froze while Dogmeat crept toward me. He crouched down to sniff at them. A soft growl made its way up the large German Shepherd's throat. It didn't last long, only enough to draw my attention.
He backed away. The dog was agitated. He hadn't given me a reason to distrust him yet.
I followed suit and backed out of the underbrush. A pack of dogs was hardly an issue. But what if they got at Cass or Andrew? Firing a gun this close to where the Brotherhood was no doubt searching for us would be no better than sending up a flare. Carrying three guns, one of which being a minigun and its munitions pack, would make the fight awkward too.
No, better to avoid it altogether.
A soft rustle in the bushes to my left.
The crunch of dirt under the others' boots.
Dogmeat's sniffing.
Take a deep breath. I did and let my arms uncoil
The other two crept over to me as I backed away from the thicket. Cass had her rifle up and was searching the forest. Without night vision, she'd have a hard time picking anything out in detail. Andrew was clutching the laser rifle. He looked completely unready to use it. Not that I'd want him to. He's clearly never handled a rifle and jumpy novices are just as likely to shoot a friendly.
We continued backing away-
Motion caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I turned-
A large dog- maybe a better description would be a wolf emerged from the underbrush. The animal looked nothing like the packs of dogs I've seen around the Commonwealth. It was larger than Dogmeat by several kilos. At least. Its hair was dark gray, thick, and sleek. The wolf's ears were up and forward, but it wasn't baring its fangs. Instead of the wild, desperate eyes I've seen on the gaunt-looking wild dogs, it looked like it was studying us.
Andrew sucked in a sharp breath as the wolf emerged from the shadows, almost as if it had just been a part of them.
Dogmeat stood and I glanced at him before my eyes returned to the larger canine.
Then he stepped in front of me.
The German Shepherd stood stock-still, watching the wolf as it watched us. He held his head high, despite being smaller than his counterpart, ears forward just like the wolf.
I stopped. I didn't know what was happening, but this wolf didn't seem hostile. 'Curious' is the word I'd use.
We stood there like that for 10 seconds.
Then 20.
30.
A minute. The only movement from either canine was the occasional gentle swish of a tail. I started looking around the forest to see if this thing was just distracting us, letting its companions get a flank. There was nothing.
What the hell is happening?
Just before 90 seconds ticked by, the wolf lifted its nose and sniffed at the air. With no warning, it silently turned and slipped back into the cover of the thicket.
"What just happened", Cass whispered as if she had purposely echoed my own thoughts. "I've never seen a dog like that before."
"I don't think that was a dog", Andrew muttered. "Pretty sure that was a wolf."
"Pretty sure", I agreed, nodding.
Dogmeat's tail was still gently swishing back and forth. He turned his head to look up at me. Whatever happened… he seemed satisfied.
"Come on." I pointed to the right, away from the bushes. "Let's go."
"Are you sure it's safe", Andrew asked, incredulous.
"Wolves don't generally attack people unless they're threatened. Let's not threaten them."
Besides. That one didn't seem interested in fighting.
"That was amazing…" Cass mused as she turned and began walking. She kept casting glances back at the spot in the brush where the wolf disappeared.
We headed east, giving the area a wide berth. We still had to be careful about exposing ourselves.
It was an… oddly normal animal to see in this hellhole. Ever since coming here, all I've seen of wildlife is mutated facsimiles of it. That was… remarkable. I'm not sure saying the wolf was beautiful would be an overstatement. Something about its calm, confident stance combined with clear intelligence and a healthy, sleek coat of fur… it was majestic.
Yeah. That was a good word for it.
Leaving that area behind, we continued north. Another hour or so would be sufficient. There was only so far the Brotherhood could expand their dragnet.
I almost smiled at the thought of Marsaul getting his ass chewed for my escape. Not only that, but the settlement wasn't going to submit to them. Sure, it'll be under their control for the time being. That doesn't mean it won't be with the Minutemen in the long run.
And I will be back there.
Eventually, I signaled a stop. It was late, or early, and the sun would be coming up in a few hours. Cass and Andrew were both spent. We found a house with a small barn out behind it set near the base of another rolling hill. Once I cleared the interior, the others entered and damn near dropped to the floor.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't feeling it too. The last few weeks, since Quincy to now, have been a lot. I still had a ways to go before I was in trouble, but rest would be a good idea.
And I'm not talking about a good night's sleep. I mean a few days of R&R. Something I haven't had in months now. I'm thoroughly familiar with where my limits are, something Mendez and Katrina made damn sure of. While I'm not there yet, I could feel the encroaching exhaustion.
"I'll wake you up in a few hours", I said as I checked the blowout windows for signs of a tail. "We need to re-evaluate our next move."
With the acceleration of the Brotherhood and Raider action up here, and now with Andrew in tow, things got complicated.
Neither of them protested and, after unloading the minigun, I slipped back out of the house.
As I walked my pattern outward to clear a perimeter, the… questionable decisions I've been making started bothering me.
Maybe 'started' is the wrong word. This was the first chance I both recognized my own fatigue and had the time to consider it.
Two, in particular, came to mind.
The first, attempting an assassination on Maxson. Marsaul's response to finding me was a pretty clear indication the Elder was still alive. If he wasn't, they would have been a lot more aggressive.
Second, the entire sequence of events at the settlement; being spotted by Brotherhood scouts, executing a strategy that, while it ended up working in my favor, played into the Raiders' plans.
I settled into a small rock outcropping about 50 meters up the hill from the barn. The 'outcropping' was more like several small boulders scattered across the hillside. Laying down in them, it would be almost impossible for someone to spot me, the position offered me a good view of the area around the house, and it would provide decent cover to maneuver.
Were those mistakes born from being… in less than peak physical and mental condition. For as hard as ONI pressed me at times, they always made sure I had recovery periods. If only to make sure I was effective on the next mission.
That's an opportunity I haven't had. Yes, most of what I've done since coming to the Commonwealth has been low-intensity. That low intensity over the course of several months adds up.
My competence wasn't the only thing being affected.
Brenda… I know why she was upset and, on an intellectual level, I can understand it. But I do what I need to keep everyone alive. Everyone with the Minutemen, anyway. Most of the people I've killed since coming here have been Raiders or Gunners. Not much difference between them. And most of those had been threats to the Minutemen or were between me and my objective. Yes, attacking Goodneighbor was dumb.
… No, that went well past 'dumb'.
But whatever happened during the escape from the Brotherhood changed her. When she stopped talking to me-
While it wasn't the same as what I felt after Nate blew up after I brought Nora's body back, it was close. I could understand her discomfort. I couldn't understand the extent of her reaction.
Maybe I should ask Cass? I don't know. She was talking with Brenda and whatever she heard had her on edge.
And then Nate… I don't even know where to start with the ex-soldier. I did decide to trust him again. On this one thing. That isn't something I thought I'd do.
I don't know if that's a reflection of his character or mine. Or both.
Or what it actually says about either of us.
"Dammit Damon", I muttered to myself, "what are you doing?" People I care about. Friends. I don't know how to deal with them, or their peculiarities. I still want to protect them though. Does that have anything to do with my fatigue? Or is that just… how I'm supposed to feel.
I don't know that either.
After another two hours, the sky to the east began brightening. It went from black to an incredibly deep blue. I'd give them until the sun rose.
That left me to ponder another question as I scanned the low, relatively flat and slowly brightening wasteland south of the house. Dropping Andrew off somewhere safe is priority. He doesn't provide any benefit in the field, he's a hindrance in the field, and he's an invaluable resource for the Minutemen.
Then what?
The Raider base. I need to determine their force concentration. It's going to be larger than it was the last time I was there.
I looked at the house. Maybe I should leave Cass too. Bringing her would be risky. I don't have any intel on their security measures. That means a lot of scouting, a lot of movement. It also means there's a greater risk of discovery. I'm confident in my ability to outrun the Raiders. Adding Cass would complicate things. And all that is without considering the scouts the Brotherhood undoubtedly has posted.
"All I'm asking is to come along. I'll do anything you need me to, even if that's just carrying extra supplies."
How she said that, when we were back in the Railroad's bunker, Cass was both determined and pleading.
But should that matter?
While I'm starting to… accept there are times taking other things into account besides combat readiness is important, I'm not sure this is one of those situations.
My objective is to scout the base and determine the Raiders' force strength. I don't need anyone else to do that. The farms are well-protected and, with the events of the last few days, the Raiders and Brotherhood will keep each other in check. She'll be safe there.
Cass wouldn't like it. She could be upset with me all she wants after I get back.
Maybe they can help the farm with their construction…
Yeah, Cass would love that. I huffed and crawled forward until I was behind an outcropping large enough to stand behind before pushing myself to my feet.
As I started down the hill to the house, I had to wonder… how do people put up with this sort of complication constantly? Fighting is simple and straightforward. There may be an infinite number of ways to accomplish a goal, but they're all based around a few fundamental principles. Adding in the complexity of other people's feelings is… annoying.
And yet here I am, doing it.
I reached the back of the barn and exhaled slowly. Yes, I'm doing it. Maybe that and caring about people are a packaged deal. If I'm going to keep operating with others, I'll have to figure out how to do it.
At this point, I don't see any way forward where I don't work with other people.
Inside the house, I found Cass and Andrew still fast asleep. I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't jealous. Dogmeat was sleeping beside the teenager, curl up with his back resting against her side. The two of them seem to have hit it off well.
My long-term fatigue is something I'm going to have to deal with. Over the last few months, I've averaged maybe four hours of sleep a day. With the upcoming fight, I don't know when I'm going to be able to fix that. I'll have to at some point or I'll make a mistake I can't improvise my way out of.
"Wake up", I said. Cass told me not to stand over her earlier. I might enjoy a little schadenfreude but it had a time and place.
Dogmeat was the first to react, his head shooting up, ears forward, and alert in an instant. My two charges were slower. They began stirring and, after a quiet moment, Andrew groaned.
Cass followed suit and pushed herself off the wooden floor. She'd been using her satchel as a pillow. Her shoulder-length brown hair was a mess.
"What time is it?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"0830."
"What?!" The teenager bolted upright. "We- we have to go. The Raiders-"
"Are my problem", I interrupted. "I'm taking you back to the farm."
She froze mid-sentence, mouth open. Even I could see the mixture of emotion play across her face rapid fire. From confusion to realization, disappointment, anger. And hurt. I figured that would be there but that doesn't mean I enjoyed seeing it.
"Why?" Cassandra asked, voice low.
"I don't-" I stopped myself. Saying 'I don't need you to do that' probably wasn't the right thing to say. How can I get out of this without an argument?
What about what she asked when we got to the farm yesterday? About why I decided to scout it before approaching.
Turn this into a 'learning experience'? How is that going to help?
Better than telling her she'd be dead weight.
"Why do you think?" That isn't a very good way of asking. "Why would I make that decision given the circumstances?"
"...Because you don't want me slowing you down." Her tone was neutral, but I couldn't help but feel like she said that out of irritation.
No point in lying to her about this.
"That's part of it", I said, nodding. "What else?"
Andrew was watching us silently, wearing a confused frown. Cass could explain it to him later.
"You don't want us in danger." There was some frustration that time. I don't think it was with me.
"Also part of it"
"You aren't going there to talk with anyone."
"Keep going."
Cass exhaled explosively and threw her hands into the air. "I know I said I wanted to learn why you do some of the things you do but you suck at teaching. I feel like you think you're dealing with a five-year-old."
Really? "That isn't what I'm trying to do. You-"
"Well that's what it feels like."
"You want to figure things out on your own." So much for avoiding an argument. "If either of us got spotted by Raiders or the Brotherhood scouts that will be up there, it could lead to more fighting in the settlements. I would leave Brenda and Nate or anyone else behind too." Except for, maybe, Deacon. "I need to do this quickly and quietly. The only way I do that is alone."
"Aren't I supposed to be learning how to do this sort of stuff?" she demanded.
I grunted. "There's a lot you need to learn before you move to reconning heavily patrolled, well-defended bases of operation."
"Then teach me."
"You know I can't do that right now." I blinked. That's right. She does know that. "Why are you pushing so hard?"
"Because I can't-" Cass stopped to take a deep breath. "I can't keep letting other people do everything. Even during the last week, you and Nate and Brenda did most of the work while I tagged along or waited in Goodneighbor."
She'd helped… a lot. Hell, Nate and Brenda were so caught up playing negotiator during their conversation with Hancock they missed the point he was trying to make. Cass hadn't.
"You also know that's not true."
The teenager nodded slowly. "Maybe, but that's what it feels like."
Cass wanted to help. I can't hold that against her. Years of painful, grueling, sometimes near-fatal training, and some biomechanical engineering, got me to where I am.
"It takes time", I said slowly. "We don't have that right now. We have to work with what we've got."
"That's easy for you to say", she retorted, turning away to look at Dogmeat. "Are you sure you want to take the time for us to go back to the farms? We're closer to the base."
"I can be there well before nightfall."
She didn't respond immediately, instead leaning down to pet the German Shepherd. He leaned into Cass's hand, licking the hem of her sleeve.
"Alright", Cassandra replied eventually. "It doesn't sound like you're giving me a choice."
"That's usually how orders work."
She looked back up at me. "Orders?"
"It was a joke." Sort of.
"Uh-huh."
Clairvoyance wasn't necessary to tell she wouldn't react well. Cass is stubborn. She's smart too so… I'd think she would have some perspective here. She knows all of this already.
"Look", Andrew said. The word was quiet, but the new addition of his voice was almost as jolting as if he shouted. "I know you guys have been through a lot together and I probably don't get a say, but-" the Synth's eyes fell on me, "you don't strike me as someone who does anything without a good reason."
… He doesn't know me well enough. I don't usually do things without a good reason.
I nodded.
"And you aren't leaving us somewhere safe because it would make it easier for you."
Well… "It does make this easier."
Andrew blinked slowly. "It isn't just to make it easier."
"Correct", I nodded again.
He turned to Cass. "You aren't happy about it, which is fine, but sometimes we have to trust each other to do the right thing."
It was an echo of what she told him earlier this morning.
"I know", the teenager growled. "I know he's doing the right thing. I don't like that it's the right thing."
"Oh." Andrew blinked again. "I- sorry."
Cass turned away from both of us and stared at the wall beside her in silence. Yeah, she was just being stubborn.
"You don't need to be sorry about anything", she said through a deep exhale. "I know myself well enough to know when I'm being dumb." Cass met my gaze. "As soon as you're done with that, you're coming back to get me."
"That depends on what I find", I replied.
She grunted. "You can't just give me a straight answer?"
"That's a 'straight answer'." I shrugged. "I can't tell the future."
After another moment's hesitation, she relented. "Fine. It isn't the end of the world if I don't come with you this time." She wasn't convincing…
X
I tapped my index finger gently against the McMillan's trigger guard as I peered through its scope. Even at maximum magnification, I couldn't make out much detail at this range.
It didn't matter. The activity at the base had increased by an order of magnitude. The small segment the Raiders had inhabited before was a fraction of their occupancy now. Almost the entire residential area of the base was bustling. The concrete admin buildings were, likewise, surrounded by activity.
Those had been heavily modified on top of that. Large perimeters had been built around them, blocking three or four together. The ones that were together had extensions built between them to create several large complexes.
'A few thousand' Raiders was probably low. This amount of activity… this had to be 4 or 5 thousand. I was here less than a month ago. If the Brotherhood wasn't in the area, these guys would be a massive problem. The Minutemen aren't equipped to deal with a threat like this. If the Raiders attacked…
No. Against a force like this, we would have to be the aggressors if we wanted to win.
From my position, peering through a small valley between two hills on the north side of the base, I knew I didn't need to get closer. Not that I wanted to.
Pulling my eye away from the scope, I studied my immediate surroundings for the umpteenth time. Between the Raiders' much more thorough patrols and newly established watchtowers and the Brotherhood scouts I knew were lurking around, getting closer was too risky. While getting more detail on what we were against would be good, that's a luxury I don't need.
Dogmeat was still a few meters behind me, laying low in the underbrush. Against my better judgment, I allowed the German Shepherd to come. He kept following as I went to leave. Whenever I would turn back, the dog would sit on his haunches and stare up at me. I could have dragged or carried him back to the farm. I doubt he would have appreciated that. And he's shown he's better at staying quiet and attentive than most people.
So I decided to allow him to come along. As expected, he was an effective companion. Dogmeat kept up with my fairly quick pace across most of the 25-klick journey. He started to fall behind at the end, but it would be a lie to say I wasn't starting to feel it too.
Twice he alerted to something during the trek. The first was a group of strange, two-headed deer. The second was when a flight of Vertibirds flew parallel to our path a half dozen kilometers to the east.
He was… useful.
Without being able to see the base's southern exit, I didn't know if they sent any people out. Whoever was in command here would know the Brotherhood was watching. The Brotherhood's superior equipment and mobility, that makes effective troop movements difficult. Do they have different ways of putting combatants in the field? Or is something else going on here?
A lot of unanswered questions. More than just their force deployment. But, from what I could tell, there was no unusual activity. No major preparations, no large personnel movements, it looked like… a military base. An odd thing to see in this hellhole.
At the same time, it was comforting. This is a military installation.
I know how to deal with military installations. Especially when they're staffed by Raiders.
Well. We'll see how effective they've become. Could I instigate an attack by the Brotherhood, somehow? I like that idea. I don't mind stealing that tactic from the Institute. Not like I haven't done the same thing. The question is: how would I do it? Whatever I did, it would have to be dramatic to get Maxson to order an assault on the Raiders' main base of operation.
Whatever I figure out, we need to station people here to watch the base. I peered back through the McMillan's scope. A lot has happened over the last month and I've been too preoccupied to do it myself.
The Railroad has operatives who are good at this sort of thing. They don't need me for it. I'd have to talk with Dez and Preston when we got back to Sanctuary. That isn't something I want to discuss over insecure comms channels.
Pushing myself back, I slipped away from my perch and toward Dogmeat. Nothing was coming from the base's northern exit and I wouldn't learn anything else by staring at the place from two klicks out. Not in a timeframe I have available to me, anyway. We need a long-term recon team here to do real intel gathering.
The German Shepherd never looked at me. He was still watching the terrain behind us, looking for threats. Who trained him? Dogmeat didn't look that old, but we found him alone. Someone went through a lot of work to train this dog. No way anyone would invest that sort of effort then abandon him. Not when he's as effective as he is.
Once I was comfortably out of the base's view, I stood and slipped back down the hill.
There's one more thing I want to do before I head out. With their attack on the settlement failing last night, they may send out more people to… rectify that situation. Or launch an assault somewhere else. I'd rather not allow them to do so. Failing that, I'd like an advanced warning.
Maybe they're smart enough to hide their movements in and out of the base. If they are, I won't know if another town is under attack anyway. This is my best opportunity to get that warning.
I led Dogmeat south again. I couldn't watch from the southern exit, that would be the most heavily patrolled and scouted area. That doesn't mean the areas to the south were off-limits.
A little less than an hour of slipping through the darkened wasteland later, we were near the crest of another hill. This one was to the south of the base. I couldn't see the installation, but I could see anything coming down the hill out of the base.
It wasn't the perfect position. If anyone left from another direction, or didn't take the road south, I might not catch them. I'll take what I can get. With as active as both the Raiders and Brotherhood have been, I wouldn't be surprised if they were still deploying forces regularly.
The wait wasn't as long as I thought it would be.
Whether the attack I disrupted last night was to blame or they had more operations planned, it was around midnight when a group of Raiders started down the road toward my position.
It wasn't a small group either. 22 of the mfers were marching down the hill, 5 about 50 meters in front of the rest of the group. They all maintained good spacing and were alert, watching their surroundings. None of them had low-light optics. That was an error on their part. It's possible that was a risk they had to take to complete whatever mission they're on.
22. Platoon strength. That's a threat I could deal with. Organizing an ambush, while not really necessary, would make it easier.
But I think this is another one of those times patience will be useful. I can't gather much intel on their base, not with the time available. I can get an idea of how they're going to operate by observing these Raiders.
Whatever they're doing, they want to move under the cover of night. That means it's either time sensitive, or they're trying to minimize the risk of being detected. In either case, they might provide valuable information.
So I watched as they continued their march down the hill. Hidden in the treeline that fell just short of my hill's northern slope, I wasn't worried about them spotting me.
It's one of the reasons I went with dark blue armor.
Their march was maddeningly slow. It took them 15 minutes just to reach the base of the hill. When they did, they followed the road to the east. That would lead them to one of several highways crossing the area. Were they going to take the highway? That seemed like a bad idea on their part.
I shadowed them along the crest of the hill, keeping them in sight as they continued east around it.
Sure enough, a few minutes later the Raiders turned south on what looked like an unpaved gravel road.
As soon as they were off the main road, they picked up their pace. The group they had on point started moving forward at almost a jog. The others followed suit and they started climbing the slope toward me.
Following enemy forces through any sort of setting, whether it's an urban environment, forests and rolling hills, or icy tundra, requires several skills. The first, and easily most important, is the ability to anticipate their movements. It's a skill that has to be learned in the field through experience. It was beaten into me, sometimes literally, during my training. Yes, you can track without it, but not having it makes the task far riskier. End up in the wrong spot at the wrong time or lose track of your query and you're in trouble.
So, as the Raiders climbed the slope toward me, I stayed to their west. They were in a hurry to get somewhere. With their numbers, that probably means they're going to keep out of the thicker areas of the forest.
They maintained good spacing the entire time. A rear guard even dropped back as they neared the crest. It was a little close but all the same.
For my part, I kept my distance. Anticipation is important, but it doesn't take a well-versed tracker to guess where a group is going when they stay in more or less a straight line.
Following them as they continued south, I had to wonder what was so urgent. The group was moving fast enough they had to stop every few klicks to catch their breath.
Dogmeat kept pace the entire time, still attentive to our surroundings. Once, just after the Raiders started moving again, I caught a gentle scratching from a tree behind us. It was just on the edge of my hearing. The German Shepherd noticed it immediately. His head snapped in that direction, ears forward. We picked our way around the clearing to our right and gave the noise a wide berth. No telling what that might have been. No reason to find out.
By the time the group had covered 15 kilometers, it was just past midnight. We were following them down into another suburb-
Maybe 'suburb' was a little generous. It was a collection of a dozen houses set against the west side of a two-lane road. They were surrounded by the crumbling wooden remains of fences and a few of them had sheds, some of which used to be sheds, in the backyards. The largest house, on the south side of the neighborhood, had a full-blown detached shop.
The answer to my question was waiting for us.
In the small cluster, there were another 15 or so Raiders standing guard outside. I couldn't tell if there were more in the houses but it was a good bet.
I stopped a quarter of the way down the hill and tucked into a shallow gulch and dropped to my stomach. Dogmeat stayed crouched at the divot's low point while I crept forward in the loose, dry dirt.
It took another minute and a half for the group I'd followed to join with their counterparts. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear the conversation they started from 200 meters or so. Getting closer would have entailed crossing open ground. A lot of it.
Instead of making that stupid decision, I pulled the Mk18's scope up and watched the interaction through it.
A few members of my group were talking with one of the others.
Their armaments were mostly the same poorly maintained-looking weaponry I've come to expect. There were a few rifles that looked like they would reliably fire instead of blowing up in the shooter's face. One Raider, a larger man compared to the people around him, was carrying something new.
Slung across his back was a rifle that looked even longer than my McMillan. And that was before I took the large-bore suppressor on the end of the barrel into account.
Is this the group that attacked the settlement last night?
The Raiders who had been conversing began toward the detached shop at the south end of the cluster. They had to navigate around the various piles of crumbling wood as they walked. I wasn't all that interested in them though. My eye was still fixed on the man carrying the large-caliber rifle. That could definitely have been the rifle that took a shot at me. If it was the same caliber as the McMillan, it would punch through T60. I wanted to ask why they would have someone armed with that standing out on guard instead of concealed in a house but…
They're still Raiders.
If this is the group from the settlement… this may be the one that attacked the first. What had they called it? Vinny's? This could be the group that left that burn pile.
Cass had been so angry about that. About me not deciding to hunt them.
"You can go after the bastards who did it."
"What did you just say about me killing people?"
"Those Raiders deserve it", Cass hissed.
"Then what? There are too many Raiders to pick out one group and eliminate them. I kill them and the base sends more down to wipe out the next settlement."
Yeah, that's what I'd said, it's what I still thought.
Sort of.
I couldn't smell the acrid, burnt flesh. It was too old, we'd been too far away, and my helmet would have filtered it out anyway. But I still know all too well what it would have smelled like. The sickly sweet tinge, the awful charred stench. The smell of blood isn't the only one I remember from the Covenant attack. Plasma is very good at burning skin, fat, and muscle. That blanketed everything. It was-
Enough. I blinked and refocused on the collection of houses.
My right hand was tight around the Mk18's pistol grip. I could feel the polymer flexing dangerously. The last thing I need is to break it.
Relaxing, I took a deep breath.
What happens if I kill these guys? The Raiders lose an assault force? Compared to the number of people up at the base, this wouldn't mean anything. There are, what, maybe 50 here?
Then there's the question of how I would do it. There were almost 40 of them standing guard outside. At least five more were inside and those are just the ones I know about. Chances are there are more. With as much open space as there is, even with the darkness to act as cover, crossing to the houses would be difficult. If there are more of them armed with those large-caliber rifles, they could do some damage.
My gaze switched to the buildings. At this range, and with as deep as the shadows cast inside were, I couldn't make much out, even with NVS.
It would be easier with-
Slow down.
My arm stopped mid-way, reaching for the McMillan.
What am I doing here? I've followed this group, what looks like a QRF, to a meet-up with the group that has probably been responsible for attacking the settlements. This is an opportunity, how can I use it? Killing them would be a waste.
How can I use it? Can I use it to play the Raiders and Brotherhood against each other? How can I do that? How had the Institute done that to me?
They used my aggression.
The Raiders are more aggressive than I am. Their aggression is less controlled. Can I do the same thing?
I put my eye back on the scope. Several of the Raiders were standing in a group in front of the shop.
If I'm going to do this, I want it to be valuable. Instigating a fight between the Raiders and Brotherhood would be good, but can I get anything else out of it? Right now the main thing I'm lacking is information. I need to know what the Raiders' play is. This assault force's leader would be the best person to ask about that.
How can I separate them from the rest of the Raiders? Or at least enough of them I can deal with whoever is standing guard?
If I'm going to steal the Institute's strategy, I might as well do it all the way.
Scanning the relatively large group, I started piecing together how that might work. Where would be the best place to do it? This couldn't be too far, and it had to be a large Brotherhood force. I'll need to control the pace and I need it to be somewhere that won't put anyone else at risk.
A plan formed and I grunted.
This is going to be interesting…
A/N: So there's a lot going on in this chapter. While Damon is the focus of the story, he's sorta taking a back seat to current events. Especially when it comes to his relationships with others. It's hard to properly convey, emotions are complicated, especially when you have such little experience with them. He's trying and the people around him, who know him, know he's trying. That doesn't mean he always (or even usually) says the right thing, that doesn't mean they'll always respond to what hes trying to say, and that doesn't mean he's always understanding when they don't. That being said, he isn't the only one going through these struggles. Cass, Brenda, and Nate are all obviously fighting with their own demons. Same with many of the Minutemen, especially the OG crew from Concord. Change is hard and I hope I'm doing that justice. On a side note, I'd like to take a sec to thank everyone who has been consistently (or even recently) reading A Hero's Story long enough to get here. Over 800k words and 2 and a half years. It doesn't have a large following (not a surprise given the fandom), but I genuinely appreciate every kind word you all say. I love writing the story on its own, but seeing that makes me want to produce the best story I can for you all. I know it isn't perfect. I'm getting better though. Thank you for helping drive me. I'll see you all next time!
Next chapter: 5/12, Doubling Down