Augustus Autumn
January 1st, 2276.
Ever since Augustus Autumn had woken up early this morning to get ahead of his duties, he's been a different man. Not to say he has changed physically but his mind has certainly gone through a drastic shift. Autumn's strict and cold personality gave way to something drastically different. His mind merged and twisted with something new and very foreign.
Maybe I shouldn't refer to him as someone else since he was now me and I was now him. Being a common man from the 21st century that had technology both beyond Fallout and incredibly far behind is a weird feeling.
I felt the ever present itch to reach for a cellular phone, to read the news, check over family on social media and finally to look online for the nearest mental hospital because the situation I was now going through was complete bullshit.
If I was cozy, warm, with family and didn't have his memories and personality warping my perception then I would be dealing with this far better. Instead I found the original Autumn's room to be cold, sterile, and the chill of the dark gray metal walls reached deep into my bones. The militaristic and drab lifestyle was never for me. This seemed like an extreme variation of that.
The reminder of the military forced memories to the forefront of my mind. My position as Colonel and de-facto head of the Enclave outside of President John Henry Eden is not a fun one. My new(old?) duties of managing various department heads, resources intake, production and planning is not something I would see myself doing in my previous life.
From what I know of Fallout 2 and 3 I have found myself in the position to lead one of the goofiest villain factions in Fallout. We even have a super hero plot that has the Player Character dismantling the Enclave two times in the franchise. When in doubt I guess the insane leaders default to global genocide.
The old feelings and memories rose up within me. I am reminded of how different the Enclave was… or how real it now feels. From the historic logs of Control Station ENCLAVE, to my memories of the Rig that fills me with sorrow. Original Autumn had a mother that lived on the Oil Rig. She's definitely now ash.
As a young kid the original Autumn had only his father, those around him in Navarro and the shared grief over losing nearly everything. The Exodus to the East Coast was difficult even with the USSA Shuttle Transporter or I figured calling it Mobile Base Crawler was more apt with the refits we have done to it.
The Exodus reminded me of Navarro. Original Autumn had had a lot of anger at the New California Republic but I only felt bitterness at the memories of losing my mother. I had no real displeasure at the NCR for what they did. If I was there would I have done the same thing? Definitely. But I wasn't so I only have the cold feelings of the man I took over.
The rest of the Enclave had guesses on what happened to Navarro but I guess I'm the only one who definitely knows what went down. I wonder if Eden lied about the Satellites not having aerial coverage of that region but I dismissed the thought.
I had a headache just thinking of the Enclave, every personal issue I had once had with them now swam through my head. From their idiocy, general elitism, genocidal tendencies and Eden. Fallout 3's lack of choice in faction for the ending probably damned the entire East Coast to living in a post apocalypse for another hundred years. Call me crazy but I outright questioned the writing choices Bethesda had even despite me living in the setting now. I guess I can't reject reality for what it is.
With the thoughts of problems in my head came solutions that had my head spinning at the volume of work that was ahead. Everything was just so inefficient in Raven Rock. With the foresight Autumn lacked I knew that there was basically nothing standing in the Enclave's way of rebuilding the United States. But crazy secrecy policies, a lack of conviction to wipe out the Brotherhood of Steel, and the obsession with Eden's plan to build a robot army that is only loyal to him has led the Enclave to be bottlenecked in a dozen different ways.
The lack of manpower was easily fixable. Denizens of the wasteland were in desperate need of basic resources. Offering them said resources and many more benefits would give us free reign to mold them in the Enclave's image, reeducating and retraining them into loyal soldiers and citizens.
I did feel a little bit of grief and sadness for mother and the other innocent civilians that had been there but those feelings were mixed with coldblooded pragmatism, knowing it was actually great that all the politicians and lead scientists within the Enclave had blown up with the Oil Rig. The death of all those stupid scientists and genocidal leaders would let me reform the Enclave from its idiotic ways into literally anything else. If I deal with Eden then there is so much I could do.
Thinking about Eden had me getting up from my chair and walking over to the box filled with things that could change everything. It's not the same as the game. This was reality. My already low enthusiasm was lowered even more by the fact that I have to kill Eden then lie about it. I couldn't exactly reveal his AI nature and the fact that he wants to genocide everyone. It's better to pretend the US Government is a straight continuation from Pre-War instead of the mess I am currently stuck in.
I was not really worried about betrayal but the fact that most of the populace in Raven Rock was clinically depressed, if the psychologists under Dr. Matthews was to be believed, was concerning. Last thing I wanted was to cause morale to drop even further. Oil Rig, Navarro, Exodus and the hard years… living inside a new cold bunker for decades while monotonously carrying out tasks had to be soul crushing. The kids inside the Enclave probably needed the most attention but diverting resources to psychological needs at this point is a fruitless endeavor. Can't fix psychological issues when the environment is the problem.
I moved away from the box. I instead headed over to the steel locker, unlocked it and grabbed the particularly nice coat that I should've grabbed right as I got out of bed. It would keep the chill away and it looked nice.
I stretched out a little, breathed in and began walking to the door. I opened it and started going straight to the exit of Raven Rock. The game was so wildly different from this new reality. Everything is scaled up to the point I thought the game just doesn't compare. My new memories easily guided me through the long hallways which had a multitude of personnel walking through clad in both uniform and the Advanced Power Armor Mark II. As the highest ranking military officer in the Enclave I was greeted by salutes from military personnel and stares from civilian staff.
I did kind of wish they didn't because many were carrying clipboards and packages or pushing tram carts through the wide hallways. As I kept walking past the war room and made my way to the entrance I saw Power Armored Soldiers carrying supplies to production as they looked like they came from the hangar.
The lack of webbing and other gear fitted onto the Power Armor makes me think the officers under me felt assured that nothing will get through the bunker defenses posted at the entrance, hangar and security grid.
Well not completely as I spot the officers with Plasma Handguns in holsters.
As I continued walking I saw the hallway get bigger as I passed by the entrance of the hangar bay for the Vertibirds and the entrance was getting closer. Seeing Power Armor and Energy Weapons was already cool but seeing an actual Sentry Bot was astounding. Autumn's memories told me that it was nothing special beyond its expense but I can't help feeling the emotions in my heart. It was strange to see something you had only known in a game come to life before your very eyes.
With a start, I realized that the men beside Sentry Bot stationed at the door had been staring at me since I came into the main hallway and they saluted me as I got closer.
My voice was firm and foreign to me but the accent was certainly recognizable. "I'm heading through to check over the entrance fortifications and those stationed there."
I eyed the serial number, name and rank on the Power Armor of the person in front of me as I realized it was a woman, a Sergeant named Misty Rivera. She responded quickly to my command.
"Yes sir," the Sergeant answered affirmatively as she reached her radio and called into the security room, transmitting the proper security clearance codes.
The door cycled through its opening sequence and opened with the screech of metal. The air blasted my face and the bright sun outside made me squint. I walked out into the open air and saw beautiful skies. For a brief moment I felt joy at the sight before it was gone. I had to blink away involuntary tears that had pooled in my eyes. Even this far away from the cities the nuclear wasteland was inescapable as my senses were bombarded with decay.
I was once again reminded of how different the game looked compared to reality with the lack of a green filter plastered over my eyes and there was a definite lack of gray compared to walking around Fallout 3.
The sun had beaten down relentlessly on me ever since I left Raven Rock. The sound of boots on metal turned into the crunch of gravel.
I looked around the encampment, observing giant thick metal sheet walls, walkways, barricades of sandbags and waist high gray ballistic shields. The guard towers overlooked the outside perimeter and there were several Sentry Bots, Assaultrons and fully equipped Enclave Troopers. A lot of them stared at me as I walked out and up the stairs leading to the battlements of the metal walls.
The sight that greeted me was expected but it still disappointed me. I felt the stares of many on my back as I looked over the region from the vantage point. Miles upon miles of dead land stretched on forever with trees that jutted out from the ground. I saw decayed roads, guardrails, lampposts and buildings far into the distance. The remnants of Pennsylvania and beyond it is Maryland. Further beyond that is the Capital of the United States.
I can't fix the mess before me by myself. I am not the Player Character from the games. The Fallout games provided the ability for Players to brute force results while the reality before me required me to use other people.
The only advantage I have is the Enclave and the entire technological might of Pre-War US and the advancements made Post-War. I could do incredible things with just that. The question of the Player Character's interference came into my head but I dismissed it. That will come later.
If I don't act, I would doom hundreds of thousands to a life of squalor and poverty. The Brotherhood of Steel would never hand out even basic technology to help wastelanders rebuild after the Great War. Advanced medicine, water purification, electricity, and so many wonderful things could be given out but they choose not to do so. Lyons might be a different breed but I know how the Eastern Brotherhood chapter ends up. Nothing will change.
I might lament, whine, or complain about the path laid before me, but my choice to follow it had already been made in truth. My competence didn't negate how ordinary I was but I should at least try to make life better for people out on the East Coast. Even if it damned the burgeoning democracy in the west.
I had spoken to the officer in charge of the entrance garrison to complete what I supposedly came there for and then I found myself in my quarters again. I stared at the turned-off radio on my waist as I contemplated the specifics of my plan.
The Lone Wanderer just had to say some lines and Eden proceeded to kill himself. I doubted that I could do the same. Fortunately I did have ZAX administrative codes that had been passed down to me by my father. It was different from the ZAX destruct sequence I remembered in Fallout 3. I had to take the chance using them. The possibility of Eden not responding weighed on my mind but it was now or never.
I grabbed the administrative codes and made my way straight out of the room and into the hallways. Everything blurred as I made my way through several halls and finally ended up at Eden's chamber hallway. No one was allowed in this hall and I could see Eden's camera quickly swivel to look straight at me.
My awareness of the security systems that could pulverize me was not helping.
"While I know you are under a great deal of stress Colonel, I do not appreciate you disobeying regulations like this. For your security I recommend you leave this hallway." Eden's voice sounded clearly through the intercom, calm as ever. I noticed that no matter what, Eden's voice was calm and measured, even when he did not get his way.
With finality and a quick prayer I spoke. "Authorization code 420-03-20-9."
Eden was quick to demand answers. "What is the meaning -"
I offered him no chance. "Silence. Cease any hostile actions against me and anyone else."
The dead silence that followed had my heart soaring.
"Allow me through then shut the doors. Keep the doors shut and don't initiate any action without my approval," I commanded firmly.
I made my way through a giant server room that wasn't at all similar to Fallout 3's chamber for Eden. Less tall and more wide with the servers creating a spectacle to look at. Fallout lacked a lot of the technology I was familiar with, but this room looked almost like a modern server room, with endless shelves filled with lights and hundreds of wires extending out and up into the ceiling.
Eden's main supercomputer resided in the middle of the room off the ground. The largest screen had the 14 star US flag above it. I took a seat at the control consoles that had an impressive sheen of dust that I had to wipe off. I inserted the large light gray disk into the center console.
"Load up the consoles with all your controls, Eden. Load up the US Presidential Command Network and everything relating to Enclave operations as well," I ordered.
My unfamiliarity with the technology could be circumvented by commanding the ZAX system.
Green text immediately filled the entire screen as hundreds of options, operations and networking systems loaded up. From Autumn's original memories and my own I knew that many of these systems were familiar to me and many more were not. Eden had melded the Presidential Command Network and his own ZAX systems together seamlessly. It was honestly impressive.
It's really no wonder that my father had followed Eden. It really did look like he had taken over straight from Richardson in a proper line of succession. It certainly made things easier for me now.
I spent around an hour reading through the console as I committed everything I could to memory. I searched for any landmines Eden had left behind just in case. Skimming through all these files I noticed something. Eden hadn't bothered trying to hide his artificial nature on his own systems.
"I guess I can only be thankful you haven't been talking to Enclave personnel for an unrealistic amount of time even if you did the bare minimum here," I said.
Feeling like this would take me forever, I ordered the ZAX, "Present me a list of everything you have done by order of importance and then modify all file dates to stimulate your need for sleep."
With the streamlined list I could see everything Eden had done since the Great War and it surprised me. Eden hadn't really done anything until he had modeled his personality matrix after the greatest Presidents in history several years before the Rig's destruction. Though I'm pretty sure Abraham Lincoln would turn in his grave if he knew this psychopathic AI admired him greatly.
I confirmed everything was intact and the ZAX had taken no action against me or the Enclave. With that in mind I decided to end this. I entered in several prompts and data sheets to cover up Eden's artificial intelligence. In minutes there was an abundance of documents, recorded paranoid rants and a last will. Eden will look like he killed himself.
I doubted everyone would believe me. I don't have a body and the core Enclave personnel would never believe me. I am sure some already suspected the truth of his nature.
My final order. "Wipe personality matrix."
Within minutes the server storage indicator showed that a huge space opened up. After verifying that the personality matrix was indeed gone I began to make sure only I could access these systems.
I changed administrator access codes, froze maintenance codes and put basic blocks on what the ZAX can and cannot do. I also canceled my previous silence command so the base ZAX can deliver speech.
Finally I leaned back into my chair as I breathed out in complete relief. If I had failed then I would've damned the entire East Coast to look like the Terminator movies.
After a moment had passed, I sat back up because of the loads of work ahead of me.
First order of business now that I don't have to worry about Eden. The entire robot network Eden had established was a problem. I quickly went into the network from the console as I could now see the list of every robot that the ZAX was connected with. The list in front of me is listing all the models, IFFs, activity, position and current commands. An incredibly huge liability presents itself.
Specialized EMPs, hacking, signal jamming and signal replication. ZAX intelligence might surpass humanities but the average robot has no creative thought. Even if a robot could form a personality, robots aren't exactly smarter than the average human. Even children could outsmart them. They simply lack the high data capacity for every tactical analysis. Unless we install supercomputers into each robot for independent thought then the very idea of a robot only army is inane. The risk is incredible.
Plus self aware robots. Eden had firmly killed the idea in my mind. Like tanks and air power, robots were there to support human forces only, not replace them
After I went through a couple more prompts and general program files with verification of the ZAX, I sent out a general purpose update to the technicians to update the robots except the eyebots. We shall keep the eyebots as a general purpose observation unit for now.
I then loaded up the US Satellite network. Hundreds of satellites loaded up on the screens as they connected to the Raven Rock Communications Array. My memories confirmed that everything looked the same as Eden did not lie about the state of it. Many have fallen out of orbit, been damaged and some have been destroyed by anti-sat weapons by the Chinese.
Defense and spy satellite coverage is spotty. Communication satellites could be in better condition but they work. As expected, the weather satellites have the best condition.
I eyed the most important satellite currently under command. The Bradley-Hercules Orbital Platform. From this system I could easily access its controls and system. Broken propulsion, broken reloader, locked orbit and no immediate fix. I planned on using the last of its payloads to secure the region.
I verified everything over again to make sure I have no immediate worries. I checked the time and saw that it was 2:17 PM. Autumn's memory and the date displayed under the time confirmed that I only had so much time. Only a year and eight months.
Something was nagging at my mind as I continued looking through the satellite data. What was it? Oh right. Now I remember. I had forgotten about Eden's stupid radio broadcasts.
After I switched off the radio broadcasts, I set out to modify, delete, and cover up everything the Enclave's high command was doing in Northern California. I felt revulsion for Mariposa Military Base and anything relating to Richardson and the idea that their crimes would be buried but I had no choice.
If I refused to do this then the truth would bite the new US in the ass hard. It was hard to recruit people if they knew your predecessors wanted to commit global genocide. Letting these files continue to exist would cause future me problems if they ever got leaked. Thankfully these were the last copies in existence that I knew of. This network was separated from PoseidoNet. Everything else was destroyed when the Oil Rig was destroyed.
I hoped that not everything was destroyed with the rig though. The unanswered questions I needed solved hopefully remained within the files here. After I typed a couple commands and skimmed a couple files I found what I was looking for.
Vault-Tec data. My curiosity turned into indignation as I saw that information on which US Department had helped them was missing. Funding details, management and construction details were lacking as well. The only thing I saw was experiment synopses, locations, and security bypasses. There was plenty of miscellaneous information in here but nothing that answered my historical queries.
Were the Vaults able to be controlled from the Rig, I wondered. After more skimming, I found my answer. It seemed like Vault 0 existed. This was supposedly the place controlling the Vaults. And the information surrounding it is completely empty with only a single line on the long list of Vaults. From what I knew of Fallout Tactics I could surmise that the Vault is gone.
I cycled through the list of Vaults again and I went straight to Vault 101 this time. The information displayed was already known to me but it's the security bypass that I was interested in. Autumn's original memories of Eden telling me that he lacked the security bypasses irked me endlessly. Years of trying to rebuild our numbers and he did something like this. Eden was never an ally to anyone but himself.
With ideas that could help my plans I decided that delaying any further would only harm me.
I typed out specific orders to each department head as I began to summon every high and mid-ranking personnel of the Enclave to the main atrium. I wasn't worried about betrayal from the latest heads but as it stood it was better safe than sorry.
Getting up and walking over to the door, I estimated that it would take over an hour for everyone to arrive at the atrium, not including those stationed in Adams AFB.
The main atrium had to be my favorite place in Raven Rock. The fluorescent blue and yellow lights in such a big place generated a wonderful effect on the dark metal bunker. Though my enjoyment of this place was dampened from all the stares I was getting on the raised up dias.
What stood before me was a large crowd of Enclave personnel, all standing uniformly with higher ranked personnel front and center. A large portion of the rank and file were not present, leaving a lot of room in the back. I wondered how many exactly could fit inside.
I saw confusion on the faces of the lower ranks but the department heads but it seemed the department heads all had a straight face and calm demeanor. Everyone got here quicker than I had expected but it was no issue for what I have to say.
"It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that President John Henry Eden is dead." My voice rang throughout the entire atrium.
All at once I heard quiet murmurs and surprise. Anyone not above a certain rank or station looked stunned while my direct subordinates and department heads all had their eyes glued directly onto me.
"In the last several hours I have been busy dealing with the aftermath of his death. President Eden's paranoia led to him being extremely isolated and over a long period of time he developed depression. President Eden always spoke of rebuilding the America he envisioned in his speeches and it seems he fell into despair when he realized the enormity and perhaps, what he perceived to be the impossibility of that task," I explained.
Looks of understanding and sadness flashed through most while the department heads either gave me sour looks or kept their faces straight. The strange face on Dr. Matthews made me realize I should talk to him afterwards since he was the least zealous in the Enclave leadership.
At least compared to the others. Which wasn't really saying much.
"His will, notes and recordings will be distributed to the various heads for record keeping. If anyone wishes to see them then please contact your supervisor," I said with feigned sympathy.
"I know this is sudden but it must be said. I plan to re-enact the election protocol. There is an urgent need to get the US Government operational again. The more aged here probably remember the Presidential Cabinet and State of Emergency Congress that was present on the Rig. I plan on re-establishing that as well." The positive looks I received were welcomed over the previously downtrodden.
"I know some of you felt that President Eden's control was the only alternative ever since we left Camp Navarro but an election must come. As the de-facto head I must urge all of you to elect who you feel is best. I assure you while this might seem harsh we must move forwards as fast as possible. For America."
Augustus Autumn
January 5th, 2276.
I don't recall this room being present within Fallout 3 but Autumn's original memories provided a lot of context. This was the Presidential Cabinet's room with various monitors on the walls and a large table in the middle. The Federal Great Seal loomed over behind me on the wall.
The election was technically not finished yet but it was clear who would rule after tomorrow. I won't arrogantly proclaim it unanimous but it was close.
I had gathered everyone important and seated around the table with large folders in front of them. The question of more specific details on Eden's death, corpse and suicide weren't said. I had seen fear in some of those present after the atrium announcement but 4 days later at least some of them were bound to feel a little braver..
The folders that were in front of them contained soil data, BoS bases, Pre-War military bases, Vault data, industrial locations and wastelander population centers and movements. Any points of interest within the Washington DC region have been documented.
I constructed a fair amount of the plans using the ZAX supercomputer to calculate resource needs to restore the region. Those same plans contained in the folders stunned those here into silence.
The raising of wasteland populace into American citizens is the reason why. They are essential to my rough outline of restoring the United States. Doing so with just a few thousand Enclave personnel and civilians is impossible.
The only one I spoke to previously about this plan is the head scientist Dr. Matthews as I did so right after the atrium announcement. He was the right hand man of my father even back in Camp Navarro and I had inherited some of the respect and loyalty he had for him..
Dr. Joffrey Matthews was what I would describe as truly apathetic. A bald caucasian man with blue eyes and a silent demeanor. Someone who preferred just doing the job he was tasked with no matter the ethics involved. If Autumn's original personality and memories weren't warping my own I could see myself disliking the man. At this stage though, I needed all the allies I could get.
Autumn's original memories made it easy to predict who would speak out against this and the prediction came true quickly.
"Colonel Autumn, I understand the general thought process of this plan but I feel there is a lack of foundation on using wastelanders for this. Most of them are savages." Hannah Thorn's voice sounded urgent.
The gray eyed brunette woman was the Director of the Nuclear Energy Commision which oversaw the nuclear reactors in Raven Rock and Adams AFB. They also provided technical staff for anything related to microfusion and helped mechanics deal with Vertibird engine problems.
The mostly civilian Greenbrier Bunker my father evacuated during the Exodus might've helped our population but growth is unmanageable at this time. I needed to make this clear to everyone here.
"I assure you, Director Thorn, that I understand well. It's why I noted down the differences between certain flavors of wastelander. I don't intend to turn raiders and slavers into proud Americans. It will be those inhabiting farming communities and trade centers." My rebuttal was met with flat stares from everyone present except Dr. Matthews.
"We have other solutions to our population problems, Colonel Autumn. Why don't we try those before we jump into giving illiterate people Power Armor and weapons?" Director Thorn asked.
"Because we have no choice. We will teach them to read, how to fight, and how to serve. I don't know if you noticed, Director Thorn, but clinically our population is depressed. We can't exactly breed tens of thousands into existence so that they may live in cramped spaces like we all have since 2077," I said harshly.
Director Thorn's words had some truth but I am fairly positive that a lot of wastelanders could read. It's not their literacy that I have issue with, it's their ability to obey new laws, rules and societal norms.
Looking around my eyes landed on my direct military subordinates. "We need brave men and women to fight for us."
My eyes went to the various production chiefs. "We need people to help produce material, equipment and various supplies."
I gave a general look to everyone. "We need to fix the country. We can't do that without everyone on board. The situation is astronomically bad for everyone on the continent."
My words reached a lot of them. I can tell Director Thorn is still on the ropes.
"I want the best for everyone in America. Without the Enclave, it's possible that these people won't ever receive the push they'll need to clean up after the Great War. Meanwhile our enemies multiply. The Brotherhood are camped out in the Pentagon and President Eden had us do nothing but sit on our laurels while they feud with each other," I said with finality.
I tried being more amenable. "I don't plan on removing anyone here for disagreements with my plans. I ask for support and the best possible effort you can give to this mission. That's all anyone here will get from me as long as you don't commit treason." The looks I received were probably the most positive I have gotten during this entire meeting.
After a moment had passed, Director Thorn solemnly spoke out one last time. "Will we be able to decide our own department standards and requirements? If we go forward with these plans I want the cream of the crop… or whatever counts as that for their kind."
"As long as it's not lower than what is currently set, anyone here can pick and choose your own standards for recruitment. I would recommend working together to set up a proper education system to produce quality American men and women out of the wasteland populace. I plan to expand Adams Air Force Base to accommodate more training on top of what we already have. We'll also move some educational staff to the base so we can acquire new scientists, mechanics and workers," I said.
A long moment passed and the various top ranking Enclave personnel began flipping through the folder asking more and more questions. Their apparent acceptance of my plans took a great deal of stress off of me.
Augustus Autumn
January 6th, 2276.
The crowd inside the atrium was vastly different from the last time I had summoned all the high and mid-ranking officials in the Enclave. Everyone was present this time except the ones stationed in Adams AFB, Greenbrier Bunker, and the Chicago base. From lower level grunts to the officers that commanded them, every soldier that could be spared was present.
My newly minted Cabinet had helped a lot with organizing this without compromising security. We couldn't fit every civilian inside but we were able to get the majority of important staff positions from all non-military departments. I would've expected this to be more disorderly but it seemed that everyone had managed just fine.
I wanted to make sure my inauguration speech was heard by everyone important inside the Enclave. The small light on the podium finally flashed green indicating that the microphone was live and that it was time to speak.
After a moment had passed I breathed in and spoke. "It was around five hundred years ago that this nation was born. Then for the next three hundred years it grew into something truly wonderful. A nation with flaws that forced the people to etch freedom into its very core in defiance, much in the same way the country was founded against the British."
My voice echoing and reaching everyone made me nervous but the original Autumn personality helped greatly.
"No nation will be perfect just like no one will be without flaws. Only by recognizing these flaws can one hope to overcome them and grow far beyond who they were. I am of firm belief that this is what the Enclave is." My voice got stronger with a firm resolve at the end. The intensity of the stares I received weighed me down but pushed forward nonetheless.
"Without question we have failed America. Roughly two hundred years ago there was an atomic exchange initiated by China against the United States. And since then… what have we done to fix it? To rebuild our great nation?" The question was met with a deafening silence.
"What have we done? I ask all of you, look outside and see the 200 years of our negligence." I could see an increasingly offended look in the faces of nearly everyone here. The remainder were stunned.
"I will only say this once for everyone to hear. This absolutely cannot stand. Everything about this decay is revolting to me, it should be that way to all of us! My very soul burns with righteous anger. At the raiders causing chaos, raping and murdering innocents. At the slavers defying basic human decency. At the terrorists roleplaying as medieval knights in the fucking Pentagon. At the cratered hellscape that is our Capital!" My voice was so thick with emotion that my heart could no longer differentiate between my emotions and the ones that came from Original Autumn.
"I see a broken nation filled with rot and decay, with vile atrocities and the fading echoes of our nation. Everywhere you look you will see farmers struggle with dead soil, traders harassed by bandits, communities torn apart by filthy slavers. All live in absolute squalor. Everyone who descended from proper America has had their birthright stripped away from them. The right to the American Dream." I tried to keep my tone even.
"No more. It is this great task that I bind you all with. As President of the United States of America. We are going to reclaim every inch of American soil. We shall shatter the Brotherhood of Steel. We will root out the mutants and feral ghouls. We will obliterate every slaver and raider from North America. And most importantly of all, I want everyone here to be the foundation of restoring the American Dream for every single person on this continent." My voice carried by the microphone had struck everyone in the room.
"We shall show everyone that we are here, that the government lives, that there is hope and that America has not, and will never perish from this Earth."
The hundreds of stares at me reflected immense emotions. It was a mixture of sadness, shock, anger, pride, and finally hope. I could already tell that my troubles with elitism, racism and general idiocy in the Enclave were not going to end so easily.
But this was a firm start at moving everyone forward. Worst case scenario, I have to put troublesome people on the frontlines in hopes of removing them.
I hoped that it wouldn't come to that.
ANs:
Going to make this clear because the SI/Transmigrator terms/genres have been so blended. This is an OC inserted in Augustus Autumn. He ain't actually me.
Going to put a disclaimer for anyone who might avoid the story because of certain AU changes. I won't be doing aliens. I won't really touch any of the mystical stuff in Fallout other than confirming it somewhat exists like Psyker stuff. I can't really kingdom build when I'm distracted at the implications of that stuff.
The fandom has been in quite the disarray ever since Fallout 76. Extra content, games and any extra lore coming from developers(retired and current) are being tossed out, included and shifted around at will by fans who pick and choose what they want. After reading Fallout: Bible and seeing fanfic being mentioned in it several times, I realized that unironically it doesn't matter anymore. If you wanna argue what's real lore then go ahead. But if you got a headcanon that you feel makes complete sense then say it with your chest.
Just don't disparage anyone doing the same. If you love an unpopular thing within the community then I don't mind you voicing your thoughts if it relates to what I wrote.
Also note. None of the politics, ideologies, or actions in this fic reflect on how I am in real life. Fallout is really wacky so I don't recommend trying to pin any one belief you think I have from Fallout of all franchises. I really just dislike the permanent wasteland trope. My entire fanfic summed up in one sentence.