Chapter 1 Prologue:
The smoke from the fires had died out on the ruins of what once was the capital of the greatest human empire. The war between to different collective remains had been fulfilled with the Brotherhood standing. The Conclave was no more. Driven into the annal of history in the same category as Hitler and Stalin. All thanks to one man.
He was called the Lone Wanderer, the savior of The capital wasteland. From the steps of The Jefferson Memorial, he looked out on the tranquility that had set on the capital basin.
The year and a half since he escaped from the Vault have changed the Wasteland. The wind of change was in the air. The gigantic turbines that pumped out fresh, non-radioactive water into the Basin made a weeping sound at it filtrated the mistakes from the old world. It would take some time before the non-radioactive water was gone, but no at least fresh water was not a luxury for the few, but a right for everyone. But that was not all. For the first time could innocent bystanders scavenge the ruins without a big risk of meeting mutants or other things that wanted to kill them.
A lot had changed. The raiders were afraid of entering the monolithic ruins of the Capital, the tales of the Lone Survivor had given the area an almost religious presence, a presence of fear, a presence of judgment on those who corrupt humanity. They had slowly withdrawn back the desert.
The Super Mutants had also been quiet for the period, and why shouldn't they? In the big picture, they realized they were playing the part of the small time grunts. It did not require much intellectual capacity to understand that brute force was no match to the technological superiority of man. Seeing a gigantic robot walking around the streets shooting laser beams out of its eyes was also demoralizing. They had not withdrawn from the area, but for the first time, they must have realized that they were not the predators they thought they were. Their raids became less frequent and their barricades stronger in the small stronghold they had established.
From the oasis, seeds blow up in the wastelands and for the first time, you could see grass blooming some places. In a season or two people for the first time would see flowers, this was truly the age of a new era. But it does not mean that there were no problems. Still, the slavers of Paradise falls kidnapped random people and sold them. Even though the Pitt had been closed they always found a route to skip them too. Rumors had it that they were co-operating with the slavers, effectively splitting the wasteland into two.
But with the enclave in ruins, the super mutant threat almost over and a strong Brotherhood, for the first time there was a chance to create a civilization here. And it had already started.
The Brotherhood of Steel had been the De-facto rulers of the former Capital, and they could appreciate the benefits of peace and having a society. Therefore they started patrolling the areas around the Mall. In the wasteland, there was no place more secure. In all fairness, it was not that difficult to claim the title. Unfortunately, they were stretched thin. Not at least due to the flow of refugees arriving in the area, looking for sanctuary from the threat of the world. Often some raiders tried to blend in with them and a few cases attacking head on the Brotherhood patrols. It was called suicide by stupidity.
The Lone Wanderer took another sip of the beer. One of the few luxury items he had allowed himself to join the last months. His white skin recently being free from the dirt of the wasteland he took the opportunity to relax for a moment.
"Elder Lyons is ready," said a voice behind him as soon as the last drop of the beer was finished.
War, War never changes, but with Peace, anything could happen. What power was the strongest? He stepped down and went into the Memorial, the sun slowly rising from the mountains.