The atmosphere back in Novac had taken a substantially different tone... Most of the people there had thought the only threat was from the Legion, but when they'd picked up the NCR already coordinating themselves to attack the town, passively training the militia had become actively training an army.
A few people blamed their current situation on their saviour for formerly being affiliated with the Brotherhood of Steel and as a result, antagonising the NCR, but most already hated them enough to not mind...
It wasn't like the NCR gave a shit about them before, but now since they had someone who 'grew up in the wrong place' they were all now a target. Still, it wasn't as if they were helpless. As soon as the mercenary group returned from wherever they had went, they came back with lots and lots of supplies.
Fruits and vegetables that'd only been recorded before the Great war, crates of purified water, reliable weaponry only the Legion and NCR seemed to be able to get... Their saviours were more prepared then they'd expected.
Right now the town was bustling with movement, a large group of people were training in combat in a clearing as the rest carried boxes of supplies here and there, however, the biggest man-power sink had to be the rather large scrap metal wall that was being erected around the town. The previous wall used to fend off the Legion simply wasn't enough anymore, so it was being improved.
It didn't look all that visually appealing, being made from a pile of scrap metal, but with some makeshift wielding and metal plating, it looked the part... The wall was around 8ft tall and surrounded the town, blocking off the road and forcing people to go around it should the town refuse access through.
It was made high enough to prevent people from climbing over, the most likely candidate for this would be the Legion, but it would also help against NCR spies who might try to sneak inside... Usually building a wall like this would be a death sentence as it'd block off supplies, but seeing as Afton's mercenary group was able to seemingly pull supplies outta their asses, it wasn't that big a problem.
The townsfolk numbered around 400 people, with around 250 able combatants. That might not seem like much, but in a defensive position with thick walls placed between them and the enemy, it would likely be enough.
Daisy, the new mayor, was being overworked. But with a few people's help she was barely holding onto the situation... Manny had taken up the position of training the townsfolk as there were enough people to watch the town while he was elsewhere now. Plus, he was still somewhat injured from the Legion attack.
He was a bit wary of fighting against the country he used to serve, but if the NCR attacked Novac for simply having a criminal in their midst, that was their prerogative. He intended to protect the town from any threat, even former friends. It was really all he had left...
Currently Karl, Boone, Anja, Josie, Tamia, and Veronica were sat at a table with two other men... Jonas and Hestus, the former Legion spies tasked with assassinating Afton, something that'd failed spectacularly...
They were 'asked' for information about the Legion, and whether or not they actually intended to be loyal and not betray the town later on. Fortunately, with the amount of information the duo had given, their loyalties don't seem to be misplaced.
Apparently the Legion intended to invade Novac after dealing with the Brotherhood of Steel, using the forces that survive destroying the bunker to create a two-pronged attack. This obviously didn't happen as even if Afton hadn't gone to help, the Brotherhood would have been killed regardless.
Even Vulpes Inculta seemed to think the attack was fool-proof. Unfortunately for him, he'd severely underestimated the Brotherhood's military prowess, especially inside such confined spaces.
Still, the Legion didn't seem to be swayed by their many failures... Recently they'd heard over the radio that Camp Searchlight, and the town itself had been taken over by the Legion... Astor had been crucified for any passerbys to see, and the Legion raid camp further west had become significantly more aggressive.
The NCR couldn't even do anything about it since the Legion kept increasing the pressure on the east of Hoover Dam... Still, the NCR had made some gains. They'd recaptured Nelson, invaded Red Rock Canyon and killed whatever Great Khans were left after they attacked the Brotherhood, and finally got the Long 15 trade route properly protected and running.
The recent events were bad news for Novac however, since Camp Searchlight and Cottonwood Cove were the only remaining Legion outposts west of the Colorado, Novac was smack-dab in the middle of the conflict.
If either side captured Novac they'd have a distinct advantage over the other, especially with how Novac had recently been converted into a fortress city...
"So we're fucked?" Josie states more than asks.
Karl shrugs, "Preeetty much."
"Oh, cheer up guys. I'm feeling pretty good about situation." Veronica says from the side.
"Pretty good?" Karl asks with a snort, "We got hostile NCR positions North, East, and West of our position and Legion outposts straight South... In what world is this 'Pretty good?'"
"Er... My world?" Veronica mutters, feeling as if she'd been scolding for saying something stupid.
...
Tamia sighs and slumps in her seat, "Guys, we are still planning on infiltrating the Fort right?" she asks, drawing everyone's attention.
"No way." "Yes." Josie and Karl look at each other after hearing the other's words.
"We're pretty fucked as it is, we can't just march into the Legion's base and expect to come out alive." Josie states.
Karl shakes his head, "We'll do what we said we would. You don't need to come with if you're scared, but we're doing this." he growls back before getting up and leaving, presumably to grab a strong drink.
Boone looks to Josie and shakes his head, "If you aren't ready for the Fort just say so, you won't be forced to participate. From most points of view it seems like a suicide mission." he says as he gets up and follows Karl.
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Afton strolls into the Forbidden Zone laboratory to go check on the progress of the Power armour. Mobius and Klein were apparently running tests on the servos, so Afton thought he'd take a look and potentially add his own two cents.
Unfortunately, progress didn't seem to be as far along as he'd hoped... As soon as he stepped into the lab he was greeted by the shrieking of what sounded like a torture session with a rabid animal. Technically he wasn't wrong, just not in the way he'd first thought.
Mobius and Klein were both floating next a barebones suit of Power armour as a ghoul that's presumably from Little Yangtze attempts to move. Of course, the suit of armour was restricted by chains to prevent the ghoul from going on a rampage, but that didn't seem necessary with what Afton was looking at.
The ghoul had attempt to move it's arm, but the suit had overextended 'slightly'... The ghouls arm as bent backwards at a 180 degree angle, it's wrist becoming parallel with it's bicep... Yeah, pretty disgusting.
The ghoul, despite Afton's previous assumption that they don't feel pain, was roaring in agony and doing it's best to try and escape the suit.
"Ah, too strong on the servos again Klein? Perhaps I should edit it this time..." Mobius says to his colleague, seemingly unperturbed by the sight before him.
"I WILL DO IT PROPERLY THIS TIME, MOBIUS... THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY RIGHT? THIRD TIME'S A CHARM!" Klein states and Afton only now realises that the Ghoul's other arm was in a similar situation... Plus, he could see blood leaking from one of it's legs too.
Afton walks up with his arms crossed, "You guys alright? This doesn't even seem close to being completed... I expected this to be done a couple days ago, and yet you guys are still on it..."
"Ah, we found the correct strength a while ago, we were just seeing who could get closest to it with our sensors off... What? It gets pretty boring working constantly!" Mobius complains and a vein appears on Afton's forehead.
"So you're telling me you've been playing around for days...?" he asks dangerously.
"OF COURSE NOT! WE WERE JUST TAKING A BREAK! WE ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNING THE HELMET AND DISCUSSING WHAT WE SHOULD PUT INSIDE IT!" Klein exclaims, though Afton wasn't sure whether he intended it or if it was due to his broken voice modulator... Yeah, Afton found it funny to leave it broken.
Afton raises a brow, "Ok... Can you show me that instead of... This." he states, pointing a thumb at the still screaming ghoul.
The scientists nod with their robotic bodies and lead Afton through a couple rooms to to their destination. Once there he spots a helmet that's half constructed. It looks nothing like the Brotherhood of Steel T-51b helmet.
The T-51b helmet is large, unwieldy, and covered in exploitable area's... For example, the tubes that'd provide oxygen in a hostile environment aren't reinforced with anything, making it incredibly vulnerable to damage.
The visors, while being made with reinforced glass are still weak compared to the rest of it... This fact was burned into Afton's mind after what'd happened to his mother... A single .50Mg round and boom, the armour is useless. Despite it's weakness though, the visor still limited the users vision to a drastic degree, making combat much harder than it usually is.
Yeah, Afton really didn't like the Brotherhood of Steel's helmets... The one the scientists had created however was substantially different. Despite it only being half complete he could imagine how it'd look in future.
Instead of the 'bucket-like' shape of the T-51b helmet, it was more angular, the sides of the helmet was extended outwards slightly so the oxygen supply tube was so exposed... Even then, the scientists had obviously reinforced the tubing with Saturnite alloy, making it incredibly durable.
The brow of the helmet was more plated, and came down slightly, forming a tringle between eyes at the bridge of the nose. The eye's of the helmet were round, and provided a smaller target for those seeking to aim them.
Below that seemed to be grill-like air vents, allowing the wearer to breath should the oxygen supply be damage somehow. They were quite small and seemed well armoured, but despite that Afton still dislike them for disrupting the protection of the helm.
Before the scientists are able to say anything, he gestures at the grills, "Can we add further protection to this somehow? It wouldn't do for a bullet to breach through mid combat." he says.
Mobius and Klein look at one another for a moment, "That would be difficult, if we removed them then the wearer could suffocate if some components were damaged..." the former says.
Afton tabs his foot while contemplative, "Would it be possible to add forcefields in-between them then? We could do the same for the eyes as well." he asks.
"Hmm, that doesn't seem like a bad idea..."
"BUT THE FORCE FIELD EMITTERS ARE NOT SMALL ENOUGH FOR THIS YET! THE HELMET WOULD HAVE TO BE TWICE THE SIZE!" Klein says.
Afton shakes his head, "But if we can downsize the Force Field devices then it would be possible, yes?"
...
"I SUPPOSE..."
Afton nods, "Then focus on it. We won't replace the visors reinforced glass though, one lucky EMP and you'd have no eye protection after all. Also, while you're at it, see if you can't add some Force Field emitters into the wrists and hands of the suit..."
Mobius nods his body, "We will try to do that... But, before that, we may need your help with this, we've been arguing about this for hours now..."
Afton raises a brow, "About what?"
"ABOUT WHAT FEATURES THE HELMET SHOULD HAVE!"
"Features?"
"Yes! Features! Like those colourful buttons they used to have on TV remotes!" Mobius chirps.
"You want to put colourful buttons on the armour?" Afton asks with a blank expression.
"Ye-No! I mean useful features, like combat assisted targeting, or enemy indicators... Things of that nature...
Link to picture of what the helmet vaguely looks like here here : https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/ceiagk/primaris_space_marine_helmet/
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
Joseph Suh
Chris Lindsey
Kingsprovince
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