The trio looks at one another with furrowed brows before quickly jogging over towards where the sound had originated. Which wasn't all that difficult considering it was literally just ahead on the path they were on.
The group ran between the trees and eventually reach a clearing that held an NCR waypoint, small chain fences restricted a good part of the area, but not by much... It looked more to stop caravans trying to avoid the waypoint, Tamia couldn't blame them either considering the sight before them...
A caravan pulled by a Brahmin had been stopped in front of the NCR encampment and a ranger wearing shades was pointing his revolver at the trader's head... The bodyguards looks conflicted and didn't seem willing to act either with the other NCR troopers pointing their rifles at them.
"S-sir, I need to take my goods or-" the trader stutters out but the NCR Ranger just presses his revolver into his forehead. "OR WHAT? I tell you that you can't, and I got my gun pointed at your head. You think you can weasel your way outta this motha-fucker?"
"B-but my livelihood!" the trader continues, clearly unwilling to be threatened into compliance.
The ranger scowls and pulls the hammer of the revolver back, *Click!*, "Your livelihood!? Bitch, I'll take your life! Don't fuckin' play with me!"
"Y-you can't do this! THE NCR CAN'T DO THIS!"
*Smack!*
The trader gets pistol-whipped and falls to the floor and the ranger crouches over him, "Well, I ain't the NCR, and I do what I mutha-fuckin' want." he glances to the other troopers, "Get his bitch-ass off the ground, I need'ta hit'em again." he states, turning around and lighting a cigarette as his men get to work.
Josie looks horrified at this while Tami and Boone just scowl, all of them had seen corruption before but this kind of blatant abuse of power had them reeling. The trader had finally been pulled to his feet, but before he could be hit again Tamia had finally had enough. "Boone, Josie, cover me. Dogmeat, with me." she states and walks out of the treeline towards the group, Dogmeat following by her side.
The NCR soldiers quickly notice her and the ranger puffs some smoke with an intrigued look, "Well, what do we have here? You lost little lady?" he chuckles.
Tamia's stern face relaxes and she slowly nods, "Y-yes... I've followed this path for hours but I have no idea where I am..."
The ranger grins, "Well, maybe I can keep you company and show you the map. Good thing you found us, you'd either freeze or starve up here alone." he says and begins to walk towards her before being stopped by a trooper. He looks down at them with a scowl, "You gotta problem, soldier?"
The soldier gulps and nods, pointing at Tamia anxiously, "Look at her coat... Didn't command describe something like that?"
The ranger raises a brow and focuses on Tamia's coat, eventually spotting the Bulwark insignia on her chest. "Huh, a shame, you were cute, but Commies only get one end." he states while pointing his revolver at her.
*BAARK!*
Before Tamia's even able to move, Dogmeat barks, sending a sonic blast at the group, flipping over the caravan and flinging all the soldiers into the air, some losing their rifles while others manage to keep hold of them. The Ranger is hit the hardest due to being at the front, losing his revolver and being flung so hard at the wooden cabin behind him that *Cracks!* ring out.
*Bang!BangBangBang!*
Shots begin to be fired from the treeline, some hitting, some not. But the sudden firefight causes chaos in the NCR's ranks regardless. The caravan guards who'd been held at gunpoint had start moving as well, using the upturned caravan as cover while shooting the troopers.
*BAANG!*
A loud shot rings out as a .50 cal bullet shoots directly at the ranger embedded in the wall, it hits and blows the man apart, punching a large hole in the cabin behind him as well. The ranger looks down at his wound before raises his head, "Mutha-fucka..."
*Thud*
Seeing their commanding officer instantly killed like that certainly had an effect on the remaining troopers, causing a few to flee while others surrendered... The caravan guards weren't willing to be merciful however and simply mowed them down with a barrage of bullets.
Once the dust was settled, Tamia, Josie, Boone and Dogmeat walks towards the caravan, the former giving a small wave towards the trembling trader, "Hey, you alright?" she asks.
The man sheepishly nods, "Y-yeah... I-I just didn't expect to make enemies with the NCR today... It's... It's very, very unlucky." he mutters.
Tamia scoffs and looks towards the pile of dead troopers, "What're you even doing up here that you'd risk your life for?"
The man shrugs, "I... I may have made a bad business decision... Are you aware of the supermutants that live up here?"
Tamia nods, "Yeah, Jacobstown." he states.
The man gives a dim smile, "Well... I thought this was my opportunity, there was a merchant selling irradiated food for almost no caps at all, so I bought the lot to sell to the Supermutants... They are the only people aside from Ghouls who can actually eat them... I never expected the NCR to threaten me like this..."
"What did they want anyway? Didn't seem like they stole anything?" Josie questions from the side.
The man shakes his head, "They didn't steal anything, but they seem to be stopping any caravans heading for Jacobstown... If I didn't know any better, I'd say they were trying to starve the town out."
Boone nods, "Wouldn't surprise me, NCR has used similar tactics before..." he muses.
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Tamia sighs, "What a sad state of things..." she glances at the trader and Boone, "You guys know if there are any more encampments in the area? I'd rather not run into any of them if this is how they are operating..." she leans towards Boone and whispers, "Plus... I think we should let Afton know what's happened here."
Boone nods before shrugging, "I don't know if there are anymore encampments, probably are some dotted around Jacobstown to keep watch on the town..."
"A-are you headed to Jacobstown?" the traders hesitantly asks and continues once Tamia nods. "W-would it be okay for us to accompany you? I still need to sell these goods and, quite frankly, I'm scared of running into the NCR again... W-what if they question me about what happened here?!" the man anxiously stutters out.
Tamia shrugs, "I don't mind, as long as you don't get in the way and pull your own weight... I didn't catch your name...?"
"P-Peter... Peter Benet"
With that, Tamia, Josie, Boone, and the caravan guards loot the NCR corpses and encampment before flipping the caravan back onto its wheels and strapping the brahmin to it. The caravan guards had originally been kitted out with revolvers and shotguns, but now they seemed ready for war, with service rifles, grenades, and other provisions.
Tamia let them have most of the loot as she and her companions wouldn't be able to carry it anyway, besides, it wasn't as if they were seriously lacking supplies anyway.
The group began moving, following the road to Jacbostown while being very wary of any possible NCR encampments. Whatever operation they were attempting certainly didn't seem 'above base', NCR laws prevented them from randomly stopping caravans, so the previous soldiers were either corrupt, or their orders breached their own laws. Though, this wouldn't be the first time that'd occurred.
Boone does spot two hidden scout teams hiding amongst the trees as they progress, but the soldiers don't seem to be intending to attack, instead simply watching them... Each team does send a single member off somewhere though, meaning they were reporting the event to their superiors...
Fortunately, the group eventually reaches Jacobs the next day. It couldn't really be called a 'town' per se, as there was only one large building present. There were large log walls surrounding the border of the town, and a large Big horner herd kept safely within its confines.
At the gate of the town stood five large figures all wielding guns too small for their physiques... They were all Supermutants, all with green skin and hard features, they wore scrap-metal armour that seemed to be tied to their bodies without much care... Tamia could spot that the group had a few recently acquired injuries, fresh scars, and wounds that hadn't yet healed.
The super mutants all immediately became hostile when they spotted the group, pointing their weapons at the caravan while the guardsman points their own, the standoff didn't last long however as a super mutant taller than the rest steps forwards with a pacifying gesture."Wait! Wait, everyone stand down! There's no need for bloodshed today!" he commands, his authoritative voice causing the super mutants to lower their weapons.
Seeing this, the caravan guardsman do the same, though, the tension between the groups was still incredibly high... Tamia takes the chance to step forward and be the ambassador for the group, walking over to Marcus with her hand extended in a friendly manner. "Hello, I'm Tamia, nice to meet you."
The supernatant nods with a small smile, "Likewise, I'm Marcus, the leader of this place." he states while looking over appraisingly at the rest of her group, "What business do you have with us? I can't imagine the NCR let you through to here easily..."
Tamia scoffs, "Yeah, I realised that when we started shooting at each other." she says, causing the mutants behind Marcus to relax slightly, seems as if the NCR wasn't well-received around here...
She gestures over at the trader, "That fellow there's called Peter, and wants to trade goods with you... Me and my group though? We have more private matters to discuss, matters that might help with your NCR problem." she quietly states, causing Marcus' brow to furrow.
Marcus slowly nods, "Hmm, alright. We could do with more supplies considering the NCR's attitude towards us, while I get that handled, could you wait in the resort? I can't imagine whatever you have to discuss will be easy or quick. There's another human who lives here, enter the resort and go right, you'll find him... Oh, and, er. Try not to stare at the Nightkin, if you want to keep your head on your shoulders." he states before walking towards Peter and his caravan.
Tamia, Boone, Josie and Dogmeat walk into Jacbostown and towards the resort. They're given the stink eye by a few of the residents, but none seem willing to act out. They enter the resort and go right, walking into some sort of laboratory that had a female ghoul and elderly human discussing something. Both stop though and look towards them with inquiring gazes though.
The older man looks the group over, but his eyes are quickly drawn towards Dogmeat, his eyes widen as he stands and approaches, only for Dogmeat to back away slightly with a growl. "Ah..."
"You got a problem with our dog?" she asks.
"Uh, no... I was just wondering who designed his Cybernetic components... It's some of the most advanced tech I've seen to date... Sorry, my name's Henry, the mutants usually just call me 'Doc' though."
Tamia shakes his hand, "Tamia, that's Boone, Josie, and Dogmeat." she says, gesturing at each person respectively. "Never thought I'd see a human living around here..." she admits.
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
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Chris Lindsey
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