Running a hand through his hair as he sat down. Six skimmed over the details of the report.
With their negotiations finally done, it now stood to reason that they hold their ends of the deal.
He sent Raul and several New Cananites to head a Cattle Drive out to California. Brahmin and Big Horners being driven to an area the NCR had set up for the horse exchange. He could already imagine Raul riding back into Vegas with a small herd of them, looking every bit the gunslinger of myth he had been in the past.
Other than the cattle drive the rest of their affairs were rather straightforward. Prepare supplies for each outpost the Followers would be setting up in Remnant. Prepare for potential visitors from Remnant taking part in the many Vices of New Vegas. Have labs set up at the Big MT to start experimenting with Dust.
See if he could...
Six paused as he felt a searing pain run through his head. A short curse slipped out as the report slid to the floor. He clutched his head as another series of flashes and images ran through his head.
Then it stopped.
Slowly, Six looked back up, blinking the tears out of his eyes. He retrieved the report and cleaned the dust off the paper.
'I need to find the reason for these?' Six thought as he placed the report on the nearest desk. He looked over the desk, then he remembered something.
'Looks like I'll owe Nate a favor.' Six's eyes narrowed as he opened a drawer. His hand rummaged through the faint mess of paper before it found his target. He pulled out a small pamphlet.
"The Memory Den." Six murmured as he looked through the small pamphlet.
Letting the tension ease from his shoulders Ghira strode into his home.
The last week and a half had been a rather eye opening one. Between the news of his daughter being alive and well, the sheer cultural whiplash of the Wasteland when compared too Remnant, or...
The White Fang.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, seeing the organization he helped create turn to such hateful actions under the lead of someone he considered a trusted friend.
He would have to talk with Sienna. The White Fang has clearly been doing more harm than good for Faunus Kind.
It was a shame that it took a collections of Wasteland nations with Mutants far more extreme than even the most animalistic of Faunus for him too see it.
Shaking any remaining tension off Ghira could hear Kali approaching. He could see the relief wash over her as he opened his arms and accepted her embrace.
"Glad to see it went well." Kali said as she slackened her hold.
"I've learned a lot from it... Some interesting and others..." Ghira trailed off, not wanting for Kali to be consumed by the tension gnawing away at him.
"You found out what happened to Blake." Kali said softly.
Ghira paused, his mouth gaping like a fish out of water.
"You left eye twitches when things related to our daughter come up... you never notice." Kali said in a resigned manner.
Ghira took a deep breath, then gave her a soft smile. "She alive, she's part of a team of Huntresses at Beacon, Ozpin told me." Ghira said.
"Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Ozpin?" Kali inquired.
"The very same, he even showed me a few pictures." Ghira said before he pulled out his scroll and handed it to Kali. Her eyes glanced over the screen as her fingers swiped across it.
"She's with a Schnee." Kali stated.
"I know." Ghira replied.
"Do you think they know?" Kali asked, worry in her eyes.
"Not yet, the Bellahdonna family has members across the whole of Remnant, the most they'd suspect is that she's a distant relative." Ghira explained.
"Do you think Weiss Schnee would threaten her?" Kali asked.
"I doubt it, if she was as bad as her father then I doubt the team would have lasted the first semester." Ghira said calmly.
"Its just nerve wracking, the last time we talked... she was only fourteen." Kali lamented. "The house wasn't even finished when she just left with Adam." She continued.
"I know, but she's taking a different route for her life... I just don't know when she'll come back to us." Ghira said sadly.
"What else happened?" Kali asked, her intentions rather clear too Ghira.
"Trade talks mainly, but the good news is that the Wasteland doesn't have any issues with Faunus... Just the White Fang..." Ghira trailed off, the last part passing his lips like a sour lemon.
"They have issues with the White Fang?" Kali inquired.
"And a thorough collection of their crimes, even an estimated body count." Ghira said. Kali's eyes seemed to widen as she considered what Ghira said. "Sienna... She vowed to follow our goal of true equality..." He let the hurt in his voice through, knowing only his wife could hear.
"She went too far." Kali whispered.
"Hundreds... all dead by the Fang's actions, human and Faunus alike." Ghira said as anger intertwined with his sorrow. "Soon, I will have a talk with Sienna, and I will see just how far she has gone." Ghira said with stern purpose.
"Just... stay safe." Kali asked as her arms wrapped around his midsection.
"I will." Ghira promised, embracing Kali.
Neither moved, remaining still as their emotions simmered.
Redhawk puffed his cigarette as he leaned back in his chair. A proud smile on his face as he reread his script. With the end of negotiations, it was now time to address the citizens of the NCR.
Footsteps gave away the approaching film crew. "Sir, the announcement will begin soon, are you prepared?" one of the crew inquired.
Not giving a verbal answer, Redhawk simply crushed his cigarette in the nearby ashtray and straightened his papers. The crew man turned to the approaching camera guy and gave him a thumbs up.
Redhawk let one of the crew straighten his collar as he adjusted his posture. The crew rushed to begin, shouts and commands overpowering one another as Redhawk just looked to the camera.
He watched as the camera guy held up three fingers.
Then dropped it to two.
Then one.
Redhawk straightened his back as he let out a short cough.
"We're live!" One of the crew shouted.
"Greetings citizens of the NCR, it is I president Redhawk." he began.
"Now I understand that many of you are concerned, scared even. The sudden flash that took over the sky almost a month ago shocked many of us.
I must say, we are no longer on Earth, but rather a planet known as Remnant. This world is quite different when compared to Earth. It's home to both humans and a beings known as Faunus, essentially humans with some variety of animal feature such as extra ears or a tail.
This world while far cleaner than the Wasteland that we call home, is home to a dangerous menace. Creatures known as Grimm, a form of ceaseless destruction that seeks to kill any in its path.
Despite such a threat, the world of Remnant is home to many successful nations, known as the Four Kingdoms.
Myself and the representatives of Four great Nations across the Wasteland have concluded a five day long discussion with the representatives of said Kingdoms.
All parties involved have agreed to trade deals and legislation has been written to protect the sovereignty of our people and the security of our borders.
To those living along the coast, please do not be alarmed as merchant craft shall be arriving in time for trade and travel.
Travel between the Wasteland and the Four Kingdoms is fully allowed. I understand that many would wish to move to a place with no radiation, I do not blame you if you choose too.
You all know how hard we have been working, all of us. Not only our brothers and sisters across the West Coast, but also our friends on the East Coast and our Neighbors. We have all been in this together, working to restore the prosperity of the Old World.
Please, know that we shall always stand united, no matter where we live."
Jacques Schnee huffed as he watched this address play out.
He had read the reports his representative sent back as negotiations were wrapping up.
He could already see it.
The falling stocks, the price of Dust plummeting as new weapons and new sources of energy took precedent.
His grip tightened, forcing his knuckles to turn a pale white.
Fusion Reactors, Solar Power Plants, Hydro Electric Dams, even ones called Nuclear Reactors.
Structures far larger than Dust Fueled Power Plants, yet far more efficient.
Remnant had tried Solar Plants and Dams before, yet they were never as useful as Dust based Power Plants.
These ones, ones created and perfected by a world without Dust, far outpaced the production of both Dust Fueled plants and native designs.
Then there was the Weapons.
Sure, the Gun Powder based firearms presented by the likes of those Gun Runners were noticable. What they may lack in the variety of Dust Based ammunition, they made up for in fire power and reliability.
No, it was those confoundant energy weapons. Fusion power once again rearing it's ugly head to spite him and his company. Laser and Plasma weapons, tools restrained by the limitations of Dust Chemistry, now at Atlas' finger tips thanks to a bunch of unknown foreigners. The laser based Dust Weapons only serving as the lesser when held against the standards of Fusion based Laser Weapons.
The less said of Plasma Weapons and their inability to replicate such things with Dust, the better.
If he doesn't act fast, the Schnee Dust Company could be facing a loss of profits not seen since the end of the Faunus War over a century ago.
"He has quite a way with words huh?" One of Mary's guards joked as they watched Redhawk's address.
Mary didn't respond, only watching as Redhawk gave his closing statements. She watched as he crossed his arm over his heart and vowed to continue serving the interest of the NCR in this trying time.
As the address ended and the channel returned to its normal programming, Mary leaned back.
Both of her guards gave her a cautious look before her terminal dinged. She looked to them, then back to the terminal, before pressing one of the keys.
The emblem of Atlas flashed on the screen before it was replaced with the face of General Ironwood. She could see faint bags under his eyes and a small heave in his breathing.
"General, too what do I owe the pleasure?" she inquired.
"The location your people took that photo, it was less than two hundred miles from the borders of the Brotherhood of Steel, was it not?" Ironwood seemed to inquired.
"Yes, I recognized those airships when I first saw the pictures myself." Mary said calmly.
"I... I require your assistance in meeting with the Brotherhood of Steel." Ironwood stated.
Mary just calmly nodded as her eyes narrowed. "You believe they want to negotiate?" She asked.
"Yes, analyzing the picture revealed several things. The most glaring of them was the fact that not a single ship had been shot down." Ironwood said.
"So your Fleet was brought down without a shot fired by the Brotherhood..." Mary paused as she considered what she knew. "Considering your lack of knowledge about Radiation before the Negotiations, it's likely they were met with a Rad Storm." She theorized.
"That still leaves meeting with the Brotherhood of Steel." Ironwood said.
"Yes, if you can get a small fleet near the R.O.C. borders we'll act as escorts into B.O.S. territory. I'll be there." Mary said.
"Do you believe the Brotherhood would kill them?" Ironwood asked before Mary could end the call.
"Not Likely, but still possible. They don't take kindly to people who aren't them waving around advanced tech in the Wasteland." Mary said.
"I pray by the Brothers that they're alive." She heard Ironwood mutter.
"If anything, the dead won't be due to the Brotherhood, but the Radiation." Mary said. She saw Ironwood grow tense as she leaned closer.
"Will you be with the fleet meeting with the B.O.S, or will you be elsewhere?" She inquired.
"My duties are tied up at the moment, but a trusted man will be acting on my behalf." Ironwood said.
"Just remember, once they're there, they play by our rules." Mary warned.
"Rules written in blood I assume." Ironwood said. Mary couldn't fathom if it was an insult or an actual question.
"As long as they follow our rules, they'll have a higher chance of survival than your prior Fleet." Mary spoke calmly.
Ironwood said nothing, only looking her in the eyes.
"We'll get them back Ironwood, I can promise you that." Mary said.
Winter awoke with an aching soreness running through her entire body. Weakly running her hands along her body she could feel needles and other medical devices had been hooked up to her body.
Any attempt to recuperate was short lived as a wave of intense nausea washed over her. She held her hand to her mouth, as the feeling pushed through her core.
She let out shaky breaths as memories flashed through her mind.
'The Sickness, the one from the clouds.' She lamented silently.
She could only remember the weakness in her limbs, the burning feeling running across her body. Her lungs aching as though she inhaled a thousand needles.
Being helpless as herself, the Ace Ops, even the crews of the Ships all slowly succumbed to the sickness.
She could hear something outside her room. Footsteps rapidly approaching before a figure dressed in numerous layers of protection opened the door.
Her eyes could only lazily turned to the figure as they approached.
"Still alive, you're the first to wake up." The figure said with a deep electronic voice.
"Where?" Winter croaked out as she was hit by the dryness of her throat.
As she tried to look around, she found a glass of water brought close to her face. "Drink, you've been out for several days from Radiation Poisoning." The figure said. Winter only looked up at him before she took a slow sip. The feeling of cool water rushing down her throat was akin to pleasures she never thought possible. As she finished, the glass was pulled away.
Silence reigned, Winter taking the chance to get a better look around the room.
Then her eyes settled on the emblem on the far side of the room.
A lone blade with two wings around the hilt, a sphere with three gears lied underneath the blade end.
A numb feeling took hold as the world began to blur. She could hear some form of panic from the figure. Dark spots swam in her vision as weakness pulled her body to the bed.
She could hear faint shouts before more people began appearing in the room.
"She's going into Shock, Don't let her Die." Was the last thing she heard before darkness took her.