Evan's armor clanked throughout the pitch-black night. Many hours after his escape the rain rolled in. It pounded against his helmet and visor even, so he was grateful as it washed away many of his tracks. His visor blinked red warning him of the vial's depletion. He ignored it for something else had caught his attention. It was a cloaked silhouette not too different from someone using a stealth boy, but he could tell this was no human. The creature took notice and tried to flee but Evan caught it by its long tail. Its cloak gave out revealing a Venomian uniform. The enemy pleaded for his life, but Evan was having none of it. Without a word he snapped its neck like a twig before stripping off anything of value including a heavy blaster, several energy packs rations and medicine.

He pondered. "I need to find some place either a cave or an old outpost now that I think about it a cave would be best."

The Rookie made his way to one of Corneria's mountain ranges. The paths were surprisingly wide, no doubt carved using their advanced tech. He kept marching for hours on end. What he didn't know is Bill and Husky Squad were sent to find him. In his sickly state it wouldn't take long for them to find him. To pass the time and distract himself from the pain he started to sing an old Revolutionary tune.

"Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
He stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni

Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
and with the girls be handy!

Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.

And there was Captain Washington
And gentle folks about him
They say he's grown so tarnal proud
He will not ride without them."

Bill ran up panting, he followed the dissolving tracks when something caught his ear, it was singing. He couldn't understand it but couldn't help it and started whistling. Bit by bit as he and Husky Squad caught up, they heard ragged breathing it was painful forced.

Evan stopped to rest, taking off his helmet.

The stench of sweat, chemo and cancer slammed into Bill's nose, he knew it was Evan. He was right around the corner. Instead of jumping him he was cautious, not wanting to set Evan off. He turned on his translator.

"Evan please come back Farah's terrified for you she sent me and my squad mates to find you."

Evan put his helmet back on carefully raising his minigun as a warning but not spinning it up or firing he did not want to spill Cornerian blood let alone a friend of one of his friends.

He growled in pain. "So, Pepper and Farah send their literal tracking dogs to find me I wish to be left alone the Venomians are coming just like the Gunners at Quincy. I don't want to hurt you. Nor any other Cornerian or friend."

Bill turned to Husky squad. "Look we'll talk drop your weapons please I don't want to hurt you either Evan please."

Evan mumbled to himself before answering. "You first."

Bill gave the order. "Alright guys drop them."

"WHAT?" Shouted one of the squad members.

"YOU HEARD ME NOW!" Barked back Bill.

One by one their blasters hit the ground. Evan kept his end of the bargain unhooking the ammo backpack and dropping his minigun and heavy blaster to the floor. He leaned on the mountain. "So, what do you want?"

Bill answered. "Evan, we know your sick thats apparent but fighting on your own will get you killed."

Evan retorted. "Better me than your children when the Gunners breached Quincy those who could not escape were butchered like cattle even the kids were cut down. Your pathetic leaders fail to see the threat. I've watched holo recordings of several past invasions, yet you refuse to take measures."

Then he laughed like Bill told a good joke. "However, they spend time and resources trying to find a Minuteman who himself is trying to protect them. I know I'm to die I have accepted that but please let me go out on my own terms saving men women and children going down like a true Minuteman should."

Bill and his squad were appalled by this response.

Bill shook his head. "You're telling me you want to protect us but how can you do that if you all the way out here not to mention the armies upon armies Venom has at its disposal you are one man."

"Correction a Minuteman clad in T-45 Power Armor. I will do my best to help anywhere I can one plan I have is to bait them up this mountain turning the winding paths into kills zones and minefields. Andrew's armies will reach me sooner or later, but they will pay dearly with every inch they take. You see its not always about winning merely making sure the enemy loses more and that those you cherish are safe."

The squad were silent, they swore they could see the madness in his eyes through his tinted visor. Thunder roared and lit up the cloudy night sky. A bolt of lightning struck Evan. The squad scattered. Bill slid in the mud, finding himself on a ledge.

Evan's ears rang his body inside and out burned. He heard screams of terror and saw Bill. He slid on his chest plate.

Bill couldn't see if anyone was coming until a smoldering armored hand pulled him to safety. The heat burned some of his fur off, but his skin was mostly untouched.

Evan fell back quietly whimpering in pain. He tried to pull his helmet off, but it wouldn't give. He could still move it from side to side. The servos were smoking his visor flashing and beeping. He gasped for breath. He crawled back up standing with Husky Squad staring with horror and pity.

Bill walked behind Evan and noticed the valve was welded shut by the strike.

Evan already picked up all his weapons hooking back on the ammo backpack. He knew what Bill saw, he laughed.

"I was once clad now entombed in it. Well metal and thunderstorms don't mix."

Bill struggled, he wanted to help Evan hide knowing there was no way to take him back without a fight. "In this mountain my dad told me of an abandoned Cornerian Starfighter base now one has been in it for half a millennium. Scout around the walls, you may find hidden hatches. Good luck and happy hunting."

Evan saluted before marching on.

Bill told his squad. "Keep quiet about this if Commander Fredendall finds out about Evan, he's going to make things worse the last thing I want to see is our brothers and sisters charge up the mountain only for Evan to cut them down. Besides the only one he killed was a Venomian spy if anything having him on guard would help us greatly."

They covered his tracks both figuratively and literally speeding up the process with help from the rain. Fredendall did the usual when they got back raving and ranting only for Pepper to send him away for a bit.

Pepper composed himself. "I have a new mission for you. Star Fox has sent a distress call their shuttle fell overboard an ancient battleship during a storm."

Bill sighed in annoyance. "Let me guess Slippy forgot to turn the magnets on again?"

They got in their fighters and flew to the Great Fox where R.O.B gave them their coordinates.

Massachusetts was on her first new patrol under the Minutemen. Things were going smoothly: the skies were clear and sunny. That was until the radar picked several bogies. The 5-inch gun turrets on the battleship immediately took aim. He heard plenty of stories from Star Fox about the Venomians and their rivals Star Wolf. He pulled out his binoculars, the fighters were painted in green and white not blue and white like the Arwings. The thing that set him off was their position they we're heading at a sharp angle as if to dive and strafe upon the Massachusetts he bit his lip and gave the order.

"GENERAL QUARTERS GENERAL QUARTERS ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS!"

5-inch shells filled the sky. Husky Squad responded with a strafing run injuring many but no kills. Many of their bolts simply went through the rusted metal. Exploding in the sea. On the starboard side the guns would draw blood. Bill went for another pass until a 5-inch proximity shell exploded on his right wing, almost blowing it off.

In Fort Independence everyone wondered what was going on. Slippy sent a drone up.

"FOX MASSACHUSETTS IS FIRING ON HUSKY SQUAD WE NEED TO STOP THEM!"

Fox got his communicator shouting both to stand down.

Liberator marched out straightening his helmet. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

Fox asked a question of his own. "CARE TO EXPLAIN WHY CHARLIE IS TRYING TO KILL BILL?"

Liberator got his radio. "STAND DOWN CHARLIE YOUR COMMITING A BLUE ON BLUE!"

Only after Liberator gave the order did the 5-inch guns fall silent.

Bill's fighter landed in a clear part of the courtyard. While Husky Squad stayed airborne.

Bill didn't have a hazmat suit causing Vera to sprint handing him water and Rad-x "Unless you want to become a ghoul like my General, I'd suggest you take these."

Bill took the pill and drank the water. He asked, "What do you mean your General?"

Liberator walked out helmet straps dangling in the wind. His voice was deep and ragged. "That would be me if you must know Vera here is my newest Minuteman and she's our combat medic."

Bill looked with shock he heard rumors of Liberator's voice and appearance but deep down he felt dread. When he saw Liberator's darkened eyes, he felt like he was staring into the eyes of death incarnate this creature of war and death if the rumors are true, he has been fighting for over two centuries. He noticed Liberator's massive muscles and saw his frail skin. His whole body had bits of flesh missing exposing the red muscle underneath. Even his face had some cheekbone exposed. He could tell he was in immense agony yet to Liberator it was normalcy.

The Old Ghoul let out a hoarse cackle while adjusting his translator. "What's the matter boy do I scare you?"

Bill gulped. "You do. How are you alive you're a living corpse?"

Liberator smiled. "That the thing dear pup I shouldn't be it's why us ghouls call it an unlife. Now I have a question of my own."

He grabbed Bill by the collar. His voice deepened. "What did you do that caused Charlie to fire?"

Bill answered frantic. "We came in fast wanting to get this over with I though buzzing them would have brightened the mood but before we could get close enough, they fired at us."

Liberator dropped Bill and facepalmed. "Fox it's no wonder Corneria has been having trouble beating Venom when even your planet's most elite pilots don't see the issue with diving on a battleship at high speed while it has no clue of their intentions. It's the aerial equivalent of me flashing a gun at someone while showboating. Alright ace one last question what's your purpose?"

Bill dusted off his voice, getting increasingly annoyed. "My purpose here is two. First to bring Star Fox a new shuttle the second I have news on Evan he jumped out of twenty story window from Katt's apartment then he sprints his armored butt up a mountain still in his suit."

Bills ears lowered he calmed down. "Yet he saved my life and got struck by lightning in the process he's trapped in his armor the strike welded the valve and fusion core shut."

Liberator rubbed his neck. "I'll have Charlie give a formal apology. Please tell me more on Evan he's a dumb rookie but still one of my Minutemen."

Bill handed him a holographic map. "He should be in this abandoned base by now. I didn't tell Pepper or anyone else don't need them getting cut down by his Minigun. He'll listen to you though or anyone else who he knows is a fellow Minuteman."

A Gunshot rang out and Bill was rammed into the ground, yet he was unharmed. He turned to look it was Cody. A bullet went through his chest and out his back. He just let out a guttural growl as if the sniper was no threat but a mere pest. He pointed at the glint and Preston took the sniper out with a powerful beam from his Laser Musket.

Liberator shook his head. "Fox Krystal take Cody with you get his wounds fixed and tell Evan that if he doesn't get his head out of his ass, I'm going to tan it till he can't sit down for a year."

Bill took off and the shuttle landed. Cody found himself scooped up in Fox's arms much to his annoyance.

He thought. "I know the General he won't take no for an answer. I know with Fox and Krystal my nightmares are gone. I don't want to be a parasite at least with chems I'm only destroying myself I wish to not drag Krystal into my own horrors she already has her own to deal with same with Fox."

Krystal listened to every word in his head careful not to let him know. Even so her ears folded scared for the one they had gotten close to. They landed back eager to get out of their sweaty hazmat suits and take a shower. Cody used a stimpack and waited for it to be his turn. The hospital staff were both annoyed and surprised to see him back. Things between them smoothed out Cody chatted with them before going into surgery.

Back on the mountain Evan continued marching, feeling along the walls and paths for hatches. He felt a metal handle behind a bunch of overgrown vines. The rusted hatch opened whining and screeching as it did so. Inside the base was caked in dust and mold. There were no weapons or vehicles left behind but there was a rack of cleaning droids all in various states of disrepair. He flicked a few switches. Row by row the celling lights came on revealing the rafter system where Starfighters would have once been docked at. He flicked the last switch causing one of the drones to activate. The little drone hovered, it was bulky not smooth and sphere like the new models he'd seen. On it's sides we tucked away blasters. It chittered at him before cleaning. Evan thought he'd help and grabbed a broom. The drone scolded him beeping knocking the broom out of his hands then went back to cleaning. Evan shrugged his pauldrons knowing not what to do about a little droid territorial about cleaning.

Back at Independence Liberator started a meeting. "Gather around we need to address some things. Now I have already sorted things out between Bill and Charlie now we need to address our war production or rather the lack of. For too long we have scavenged captured and used makeshift weapons. We are not fighting merely for ourselves but the Commonwealth and in the future the Reunification of the United States. In short, we need to become a proper military. The first steps to that are better training and standardized equipment. To get that equipment it would be best to produce it. Now when I name a skill raise your hand if you have it."

"First is metalsmithing."

Three hands rose. All Settlers from Quincy.

Liberator nodded. "All right y'all make your way to the armory I'll get things organized."

Two Minutemen were sent in a rowboat collecting several weapons donated from Charlie and his crew. They rowed back bringing with them a WW1 M1903 Springfield, a 1905 Bayonet and a Colt New Service Revolver along with a few 30 06 and 45 ACP rounds.

Liberator asked. "Alright y'all ever made ammo before?"

All three shook their heads and one spoke up. "All we ever done was make tools and blades maybe the occasional spring along with some armor."

The Old Ghoul took a 30 06 and 45 ACP apart explaining each part. "Despite the major differences one being a rifle and the other a pistol caliber they are both made of four main parts. Primer casing powder and bullet. The firing pin strikes the primer which ignites the powder which then launches the bullet. Now we also need new boots and uniforms anyone worked with leather."

A few Settlers raised their hands. "Y'all get some hobnails and tanning knives ready we need repairs on boots still good and full replacements for those beyond repair. Preston organize a hunting party and find anything Molerats Radstag any creature you can turn into leather."

"Aye sir." Answered Preston.

Liberator lit a cigar. "Y'all have your orders get to it as for me I have some planning in order."

He sat down in his Quarters with a long roll of parchment paper and a quill. He continued doing so till it was dark, his table lit up by candles and lanterns. Mapping everything out within a twenty-mile radius from known Raider gangs trade routes Super Mutants Ferals. He was interrupted by cheering.

Preston and his troops returned all safe and sound but winded. Carried on a rack was a massive Radstag. Everyone was excited if Liberator could do what he did for Mirelurk eggs they could only imagine what he could do with a Radstag. Sure, enough the Ghoul and his men got to digging a cooking pit in the courtyard. The Radstag was separated into pieces of value needed such as its skin for leather and its meat for the slow roast. The antlers were saved either for mounting on the wall or to make pistol grips. When supper was served, they all dug in savoring every bite.

The Old Ghoul couldn't help but feel hurt not cause of anything they did but rather how malnourished most of them were. He knew what had to be done the Raiders Gunners Insititute Super Mutants Ferals and other threats who preyed on his people had to go no cease to exists. He went back to his Quarters once more laying the groundwork for his vision for rebuilding he Commonwealth and total annihilation of the enemy.