I do not own Fallout at all. As for the characters, they can die at any moment in this story. So don't be mad if a character you love dies. If you want to know what happened before, I recommend you read Fallout: South Carolina. This story is the sequel story to that one.
As John worked on the T-45 Power Armor, Harold Moore came in with men carrying supplies. John thanked Harold for the supplies to make Stealth Boys. Harold knelt as John looked over the plans and asked, "How will you make it work? Also isn't there a mod for stealth anyway?" John told Harold that the mod would only work if a person was crouching. He was going to modify the armor to make it possible to be standing for about a minute and it still worked. Harold asked John if he needed any help, but John told him, "No I'm good Harold, I appreciate the offer though. Plus I plan on making the Power armor be as quiet as possible with my idea."
"That… seems like it may noy be possible Mr. President," Harold told him, but John told Harold that he had worked on Power Armor suits when he was a part of the Brotherhood so he was able to find a way to make them quieter. John then looked at him and said, "How else did you think I made my X0-1 as quiet as it is." Harold thought about it, John's Power Armor was in fact quiet so it might work. That was when a soldier came in, saluted them, and said, "Mr. President, General Moore. A Group of survivors have made contact with us at the East entry point of the city." John and Harold looked at each other before John stood up and said, "Looks like my personal project has been put on hold.
Outside the East Entry Point, John and Harold walked out and saw the group waiting in front of the checkpoint. John walked to the small group of ten people and he told them that he apologized for the hold-up, mentioning that they had had issues with infiltrators from a hostile group to the republic. One man stood up, dressed in a Pre War Policeman's uniform and cap but it was a blue shirt with red pocket flaps, epaulets, a black tie, a police badge, black pants with red stripes, and a black leather belt with metal buckle. The shirt also sported an unfamiliar logo on the right shoulder and a U.S. flag on the left.
"Are you the Main man in charge here?" the Man in the police uniform asked. John nodded his head and said, "I am. President John Bertrand of the Carolina Republic, pleased to meet you." The policeman stood at attention and saluted him before apologizing for his blatant disrespect. John put his hand up and said, "It's ok, you didn't know. What's your name?" The Policeman, still at attention introduced himself as Senior Responder Preston Montgomery. John saluted the man back and said, "The Responders, who are they?"
"The Responders is a volunteer disaster relief organization that originated in Appalachia. Formed shortly after the Great War by local first responder units, we're dedicated to helping local communities survive. To this end, we instituted a variety of programs that range from basic outdoor survival training to a specialized combat division called the Fire Breathers." Responder Montgomery started with before he introduced the other members of his party. There was a woman named Beatrice Pickett, a descendant of Civil War general George Pickett. Beatrice was the group's Medic, she wore a Responder Paramedic Jumpsuit; a navy blue jumpsuit with the Responders logo above the left pocket. It has a band of red and white stripes on both arms near the elbow, as well as the symbol of the "Star of Life" on both upper arms. On the back is the word "paramedic" with a large Responders logo.
Then there was Matt Sully, the firefighter of the group. He wore a black coat with white and blue bands on the sleeves and bottom, held closed by three belts across the waist. There's also a Responders emblem on the right coat sleeve, a white firefighter's helmet with a full-face gas mask hanging off his neck. Next to be introduced was Shane Varguson, the other Paramedic as he also wore a Responder Paramedic Jumpsuit. Next up was Timothy Dinozzo, he was wearing a normal Police uniform. Then there were some Civilians where one of them was called McDonough. John leaned in to get a closer look at McDonough and said, "Aren't you the Synth that was once Diamond City's mayor?" McDonough panicked and was worried he would be killed, but John calmed him down.
"Relax, relax, we're friendly to synths here." John assured him. John then said, "We have many citizens here who are in fact Synths. Synths are a main part of our population." Harold nodded his head as McDonough looked at him before he said, "Yeah, the Mayor before John took charge and made it friendly to Synths. In fact, most recently we allowed some Super Mutants to settle across a bridge." McDonough was shocked as John confirmed what Harold told him. McDonough sighed a sigh of relief as the rest of the group, a woman and her young son, a Ex-Gunner corporal armed with a Laser rifle modified with a Overcharged capacitor, Improved sniper barrel, a Recoil compensating stock, a Short recon scope, and a Fine-tuned beam focuser.
After the group was welcomed in, John had the Responders assigned to the city's main emergency response units. McDonough was given a temporary house until he found a job. John even had a newly rebuilt and Refurbished apartment room made for the mother and son to sleep in. All that was left was the Ex-Gunner Corporal. John looked at him and asked the former Gunner, "Where did you come from?" The gunner told John, "the Wasteland north of the Most Northern outpost you have." John nodded his head and said, "Ok, why did you leave the gunners?" The Ex-Gunner told him, "Well… we were ordered to raze a settlement that did nothing wrong to us. I was one of few who didn't want to do it. Those who were more vocal… were shot."
John was horrified at what the Ex-gunner was saying. The Ex-Gunner then told John, "My Brother was with me in the disagreement. The night he and I left, a sergeant saw us and when he opened fire with his laser rifle that was modified to be a sniper laser rifle, he hit my brother… turned him to ashes after he tossed me this rifle." John could tell that seeing his brother get turned to ashes was the first time. John put a hand on the man's shoulder and told him, "I'll tell you this, it won't get any easier, but you learn to dull the pain." The Ex-Gunner looked at him and asked, "How many?"
"Too many." John said to him. John then sat to him and said to the man, "Back before I was President of the Carolina Republic, I was a Paladin in the Brotherhood of Steel. When I first held a Laser rifle and I killed a Raider with it, he turned to ashes like your brother did. When I saw that… I puked. Every time I saw a body turn to ashes I puked, I puked until I just couldn't feel it anymore. It never gets any easier." John then pulled out a canteen that had whiskey in it before handing it to the former gunner as he asked for his name.
"William Jackson." The Gunner said before taking the canteen and taking a swig of it. Then he coughed before John took it back. John asked William if he ever drank alcohol before, and William said, "No sir, that was my first time drinking alcohol." John looked at him and asked, "How old are you?"
"Um…. 17, sir." WIlliam told him. John was shocked. He then asked where his parents were, William told him, "Last I heard… with the gunners still. Guess you can say the gunners ran in the family until I left. So as far as I'm concerned, my parents consider me dead since I left the gunner's life behind." John nodded his head and said, "Well for certain you have a new family here with us in the Carolina Republic." William smiled and thanked John. John patted his back and said, "No worries." John then offered William a spot in the army to help him with getting settled in. William nodded his head and took it.
Later, John was in his office when one of his Secret Service guards walked in and said, "Mr. President, there is a man who wishes to speak to you." John put the papers he had in his hands down and said to him to let the man in. The guard nodded and stepped to the side and a man walked in wearing a pinstripe suit and glasses walked in and said, "Mr. President. My name is Mason Prescott Sr." John stood up and shook his hand as he said, "Welcome to the current Capital Mr. Prescott." Prescott Sr. smiled and when he sat down after John, he said, "I am from one of the outer Settlements in your new Carolina Republic up along the old state border. Which borders a new Government that wants more land. With your Republic in place… it causes problems for them."
"I've been getting reports. The Charlotte imperium." John said as he leaned backwards in his seat. Prescott Sr. nodded his head and said that they have been harassing his settlement dressed as Raiders but there was always one distinct way to tell them apart from normal Raiders, a Branding on their arms that have a C over an I. John nodded his head and called Harold. When he came in, John told him, "Get me in contact with the men near… where did you say your settlement was?"
"Clover, sir." Prescott Sr. answered with. John resumed by telling Harold, "Get me in contact with the men at Old Fort Mill." Harold nodded his head and smiled, old Fort Mill was where a good number of men would be serving a rotation for a few months and it just got up and running. Leaving the room, John looked at Prescott Sr. and told him, "Don't worry Mr. Prescott Sr. we'll make sure that your settlement is protected." Prescott Sr. smiled and thanked John and if there was anything he wanted he was happy to ask for it. John nodded his head and said, "I will remember that." Prescott Sr. stood up after John did, the two shook hands and he left the office.
The next day, John finished working on the prototype left Arm mod for T-45 Power Armor and he needed a volunteer to test the suit. William volunteered, but there were some who were against him going into Power Armor with a new Mod installed. John got their attention and said, "That's enough. He is an Ex-Gunner, EX. He wants to show that we can trust him. I trust him, so you all should too." John looked at William and said, "Get in it, just follow what I say." William nodded his head and got into the armor. John asked William how the Power Armor felt and he said, "Feels fine Mr. President." John told William, "Ok, now push the Red Button on your left arm." William did and when he pushed it, the whole Power Armor suit went invisible.
The crowd was shocked, John then said, "You still there William?" and William said, "Yes Sir Mr. President." John then told Mason to walk to a person in the crowd then turn off the invisibility by pushing the button again." After a while, the Power Armor appeared in front of one of the onlookers. Everyone was shocked at how quiet it moved while cloaked. John then said, "Yes I know there's a cloaking mod for the chest component however that only works if you're crouching. My mod allows the user to be standing while cloaked, though it only lasts a minute."
The crowd was amazed by the mod their president made. William got out of the Power Armor and smiled at John. John patted his back and said, "Good job William, you did good." William smiled and thanked John for the opportunity. John nodded his head and patted William's back. After making sure the mod was off the Power Armor, to make sure no one stole it, John told them, "I'm the only one who knows how to make this mod. So even if the mod was taken, they wouldn't be able to reverse engineer it since I have a specific way to do it." William nodded his head in agreement.
That night, John took Zoey to a Cafe where they had a wonderful time eating Grilled radstag with Nuka-Cola, John smiled at her in the Pre-War Yellow Dress he bought for her. Zoey smiled and asked, "So what's the occasion John darling?" John smiled and took her hand. Since forming the Carolina Republic Zoey has been by John's side and he's been grateful to her. John told her, "I'm grateful that you've been by my side since my last girlfriend died. I don't think I could ever make it this far without you." John then pulled out a ring for Zoey. Zoey was speechless as John said, "Zoey, I want you to be with me for the rest of our lives, will you marry me?"
"Oh my God John… Yes, I will marry you." Zoey said as she held her hand out. John smiled and put the ring onto her hand before kissing her. Claire then popped out and hugged them as she said, "Way to go!" John and Zoey laughed as before John said, "So how long were you following us?" Claire smirked and said, "Since you left the presidential building." John chuckled and patted Claire's head. John held both girls closely and smiled as a guard walked up to him and said, "Sir, we just got reports from the forces from Old Fort Mill, they arrived at Clover before another attack by the Charlotte Imperium and we took prisoners." John nodded his head and said, "That's good. Now we have prisoners, we can talk to the leader of this Charlotte Imperium. Prepare a Vertibird, we're going to the Charlotte Imperium."