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4.09% Steel Waste / Chapter 29: New horizons

Chapter 29: New horizons

It'd been a year since Afton had become an Initiate, a few things had happened since then, Melissa and Miles had managed to pass their tests and become fellow Initiates. His fame had also increased within the Chapter due to the talent he commonly displayed.

His education was coming along handily, unfortunately, it didn't look like he'd have a lot of time to prepare himself for whatever conflict was coming. The Brotherhood scouts had been reporting that the NCR's presence around Hoover dam had been rapidly increasing, their trademark rangers had actually managed to pick off two or three of their members, enraging those who personally knew them in the Chapter.

Afton knew that the initial mission had been to obtain Hoover dam for Brotherhood in California, but apparently Elder Elijah had left it too long to comfortably do... As of now, if they tried to take it they'd be fighting against a strong defensive perimeter. The NCR as much as they disliked to admit, were quite strong, they may not have the technological strength of the Brotherhood, but they had numbers and good tacticians.

The news caused everyone to look to Elder Elijah for questions on what they were supposed to do, which spurred the man into action. He immediately ordered a relocation, he looked reluctant as he wished to stay and uncover more buried pre-war tech in the area, but time was shortening and they had no idea when this whole region would be claimed by the NCR.

As Afton was now an Initiate, he was given a laser rifle and tasked with assisting the Knights and Paladins at protecting the perimeter of the convoy, some were not happy with forcing an eleven-year-old into a combat role, that was especially so with his mother... His father managed to placate her with the fact he'd be keeping a close eye on him.

Sandra Torres was also positioned with him, however, the rest of the Initiates in his class were told to help carry things as Doran didn't think they were even close to being ready for combat.

Afton didn't know where their destination was, but hopefully, Elder Elijah wasn't leading them to their doom. He waited on the surface in his typical Initiate scout armour, his height was now 5.2ft and he was wielding a laser rifle that looked relatively large in his hands. Was he accurate with it? Sometimes... The thing was heavy and had a good deal of kick if you continuously fired, if you got shot at short to medium range in a vital you'd probably die instantly though.

Sandra stood at his side, also wielding a laser rifle... She was slightly shorter than he was at 5.1, but her thinner build made her look almost comically unsuited for the weapon.

"Any idea as to where we're headed?" he asks her, hefting the rifle onto his shoulder to rest his arms a little.

She shakes her head, "None... I haven't been hearing good rumours either. Has your dad said anything about what's happening?"

Afton shrugs, "Things aren't looking good is all I'll say..." he leans in to whisper in her ear, "Don't tell anyone I said this, but... I think if Elijah remains the Elder, the Chapter will eventually be destroyed." he says to her grimly.

She slowly nods in agreement, her face going slightly pale at the thought of it... She's about to ask something else when the sound of heavy footsteps walks up behind them.

"Son, Initiate Torres... I hope you aren't planning a rendezvous when we're just about to begin relocating." his father says, his voice distorted by his T-51b Power armour helmet. Though, Afton could tell by the man's posture that he had a huge grin under it.

Sandra straightens her back and places her right arm over her chest in a typical Brotherhood salute, "Paladin Parker, Initiate Torres at your service sir!"

The two teens could hear Zachary snort under his helmet at the formal greeting, he shifts the weight of the Gatling laser he was currently holding into one arm before resting a hand on Sandra's shoulder. "Relax Initiate, I may be a Paladin but I don't mind if you're informal with me... Unless the situation calls for it obviously."

"But sir-"

"Son, what have you been telling your girlfriend here? She seems to think I'm some sort of boogeyman!"

Sandra blushes at the insinuation, Afton can only sigh and shrug at his father, "I'd appreciate if you stopped teasing my partner dad, she's nervous enough as it is."

"Partner now, is it?" he chuckles slows when he notices Afton's glare, "Fine. You two will stick with me as per my agreement with your mother, if anything happens use me as cover. You're not wearing Power armour so its standard procedure. Last but not least, do not fire your weapons until I say so, we don't know who we could stumble into so erring on the side of caution is needed. Got me?"

They nod and he gives a thumbs up, "Good, just follow my orders and we'll get where we need to be safely." he says before turning and stomping towards the rest of the group wearing Power armour.

Afton and Sandra feel a little out of place within their ranks, but they do eventually notice some of the older Initiates who're not yet tall enough to wear Power armour standing around.

Elder Elijah gives a brief speech that does nothing to raise the morale of the convoy, eventually getting replaced by Head Paladin Mcnamara who speaks of the Codex, their foundations, mission, and everything else they're tasked with. He goes onto explain that every single member here is integral to the survival of the Chapter, and that everyone's best efforts will be needed if they're going to succeed in this wasteland.

The Head Paladin's speech achieved what the Elder's had not, that's the thing about cults... It didn't take much for encouragement, just spouting a few lines from the Codex would invigorate any "loyal" Brotherhood member no-matter what the situation.

With everyone raring to go, the convoy started...


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you guys liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know.

Chapter 30: Gauss what?

As had happened before, the Brotherhood members had "requisitioned" some brahmin to use as pack animals... The previous ones had been slaughtered for meat as soon as they reached their destination, a waste from Afton's estimation, but it had to be done due to them living underground and trying to remain hidden.

The journey had started, but no one aside from Elder Elijah and Head Paladin Mcnamara knew exactly where they were going... Afton often caught glimpses of humanoid figures as they walked, but was told to ignore them by his father, as long as they didn't bother the convoy, the Brotherhood wouldn't vaporize them in-kind.

It was around a month of travelling later that they seemed to reach a more populated region... They'd just walked past some sort of abandoned nuclear test sight that was rife with radiation, as well as an old crashed vertibird, Elder Elijah commanded them to stop the convoy so they could get a better look... The place was guarded by a few sentry bots and mister gutsies, Afton and Sandra were told to sit back and watch as getting them killed by a stray shot from the heavily armed robots was not something they wanted.

Zachary commanded a small unit of Paladins and Knights and made his way down there, first throwing a couple pulse grenades to stun the robots before opening fire on them. Elder Elijah was shouting behind them to "not damage the technology", obviously he was referring to the vertibird but it was probably difficult to concentrate with your superior shouting difficult orders in your ear.

Eventually though the robots were disabled, not being a match for the Brotherhoods firepower. Afton got a chance to look closer at the vertibird. In Fallout 3 these things were all too common, used by the Brotherhood and Enclave alike, they are some of the only still functioning vehicles in the wasteland... For what reason? Afton didn't really know.

Almost immediately he could spot something strange with this vertibird, first of all, the Brotherhood insignia wasn't plastered all other it, making it clear it didn't belong to them... The technology it held was slightly more advanced than what Afton had seen their own vertibird posses from the logs.

If you include the pitch-black colour of it probably trying to make it more stealthy, it was obvious this belonged to the Enclave. A faction that, from what Afton could tell, was completely wiped out... Having been caught in the middle of the NCR and BoS.

The convoy would have to get moving eventually, but Elder Elijah couldn't just let this thing sit here... He had the scribe deconstruct it and carry all the valuable or repairable parts with them... It was a bit difficult to find people who weren't already struggling to carry the things given to them, but they managed but allocating some Knight in Power armour for the job.

After that they continued on their journey, there were a few other notable locations they passed, most containing innocent civilians that they fortunately let be. Finally, they seemed to reach a relatively undamaged highway, trudging through the desert sand was exhausting enough, but with the added weight of all the technology they had on their backs? Afton was surprised no-one had passed out yet.

They walked along the road, and it was during this that Afton got his first glimpse into active combat with other humans... They'd passed by a large rocky hill, the scouts had already marked it as clear but it seemed someone had climbed up after they'd finished observing it...

*Bang!*

A bullet shot from a man dressed in ragged clothing atop the rocks, it hit his father in the shoulder but was deflected by the armour with ease, the only thing indicating he'd actually been hit were the sparks it gave off.

Afton and Sandra crouched behind Zachary as the man charged up his Gatling laser to unleash a barrage of light-based hellfire upon the unlucky cunt who'd provoked them. His father wouldn't get the chance though as the sound of a Gauss rifle discharging was followed by the raiders head exploding into red mist.

Afton felt a little bile rise in his throat at the sight, momentarily feeling as if it was his head that'd been hit... Sandra started vomiting off at the side, they were so close that she could've sworn some blood had gotten on her face.

He looked over to see who'd made the shot, and saw someone in Power armour hefting the Gauss rifle on their shoulder... They glanced at him and noticed his troubles, walking over and crouching down. "You okay Afton?" they ask in a distorted yet familiar voice.

"Huh?" is all he could reply with, still feeling faint at having seen someone die in such a brutal fashion.

The person crouching next to him takes their helmet off, and smiles at him.

"Christine?" he mutters, the contrast with how he usually viewed her hitting him in the face... She didn't seem all the bothered about killing the man, so it must've not been the first.

"Deep breaths Afton, remember your training." she says, resting a hand on his shoulder.

Afton nods and starts slowly breathing, closing his eyes and recalling the pattern he was taught in class. It was disconcerting to see someone die, even if they rightfully deserved it... He went through the various reasons why the man had been killed, and why it was just that it happened...

Had his father not been wearing Power armour, he would have been injured... Not only that, but the attack was completely unjustified, it was a single man aswell, meaning he expected to be killed. Had the man been aiming for him or Sandra, they might very well not be standing... A bullet to the head was all it took to kill you, only now had it hit him that he'd almost died...


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you guys liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know.

If you like my content or want to read ahead please go to https://www.p.atreon.com/Nagross, I'd appreciate it.

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