บท 243: 220. The Gauntlet

If you want to read 15 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

Sico continued coordinating efforts, ensuring their base was fortified and their wounded were cared for before they leave. The Minutemen prepared themselves for the challenges ahead, determined to bring justice and order to the chaotic world of Nuka-World.

With their plan set, Sico, Hancock, MacCready, and Robert made their way to the transit center control room. The dimly lit interior was filled with old machinery and control panels covered in dust and grime.

"Alright, let's get this place powered up," Sico said, his voice echoing slightly in the large room.

Hancock moved to the main power switch, carefully examining it. "Looks like everything's still intact. Just a matter of flipping the right switches."

MacCready kept an eye on their surroundings, his rifle at the ready. "Let's do it quickly. The longer we stay here, the more likely we are to attract unwanted attention."

Sico nodded. "Robert, check the breakers and make sure nothing's going to short out when we power up."

Robert moved to the breaker panel and began inspecting it. After a few moments, he gave a thumbs-up. "Everything looks good. Ready when you are."

With a deep breath, Hancock flipped the main power switch. The control room hummed to life, lights flickering on and the monitors displaying their boot sequences. A map of the transit system appeared on the main screen, indicating the route to Nuka-World.

"Alright, power's on," Hancock confirmed. "Let's get to the monorail."

They quickly made their way to the monorail platform, where the Nuka-Express train stood waiting. The ancient train, still in surprisingly good condition, emitted a low hum as it powered up.

Sico led the way, gesturing for the team to board. "Remember, we're just scouting for now. Get in, gather intel, and get out. Stay focused."

As the doors slid closed behind them, Sico approached the control panel inside the train. He pressed a few buttons, and with a lurch, the train began to move. The dim light from the tunnel walls flickered past as they accelerated towards Nuka-World.

The ride was silent except for the steady rhythm of the train on the tracks. Each member of the team was lost in their thoughts, preparing for what lay ahead. The unknown dangers of the Gauntlet loomed large in their minds, but their determination to uncover the truth and protect the Commonwealth kept them resolute.

After a tense journey, the tunnel began to open up, and the monorail windows revealed the sprawling Nuka-World amusement park. Despite the years of decay, the remnants of its former glory were still evident.

As they took in the sight, a pre-recorded tour guide's voice crackled over the intercom. "Welcome to Nuka-World, America's favorite vacation destination! Step into a world of fun and adventure, where the past meets the future!"

Suddenly, the cheerful voice was interrupted by a sinister one. "Well, well, what do we have here? Fresh meat for the Gauntlet? I hope you're ready for what's coming, because if you survive, we might just have a little chat. Let's see if you can make it through in one piece."

The transmission cut out, leaving the team in tense silence.

"Great, just what we needed," MacCready muttered, his grip tightening on his rifle.

Sico looked around at his team, his expression resolute. "Stay sharp, everyone. This just confirms that the Gauntlet is as deadly as Harvey said. We need to be ready for anything."

As the monorail approached the Nuka-World station, the team readied themselves for the challenges ahead. The station was dimly lit, with an eerie silence hanging in the air. The entrance to the Gauntlet loomed ahead, a twisted archway adorned with faded carnival decorations and menacing graffiti.

"Here we go," Hancock said, his voice low. "Stay close and watch each other's backs."

Sico took the lead, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. As they stepped through the archway, the reality of the Gauntlet hit them. The path ahead was lined with makeshift barricades, traps, and the eerie glow of flickering lights. The sound of distant machinery and the occasional shout of raiders echoed through the corridors.

"Remember the plan," Sico whispered. "We're here to gather intel and find any signs of Sergeant Lanier's team. Let's move."

With weapons at the ready and senses heightened, the team advanced into the Gauntlet, prepared to face whatever horrors awaited them in the heart of Nuka-World.

As Sico and his team advanced deeper into the Gauntlet, they were suddenly startled by the blaring of the intercom system. A man's voice, dripping with malice, echoed through the halls.

"Attention, attention! We have fresh meat running the Gauntlet! Let's see how long they last, shall we?"

MacCready muttered under his breath, "This guy's really enjoying himself, isn't he?"

Sico tightened his grip on his weapon. "Stay focused. We know it's going to be tough. Let's keep moving."

The team cautiously approached the first room, which was dimly lit and filled with the low hum of machinery. As they stepped inside, the sound of whirring motors greeted them, and they quickly realized the room was lined with machinegun turrets and laser turrets.

"Turrets! Take cover!" Sico yelled, diving behind a barricade.

Hancock took position behind a pillar, firing at the turrets while MacCready picked off targets with precise shots. Robert worked quickly to disable the nearest laser turret with his hacking skills.

"Focus on one turret at a time!" Sico commanded. "We need to neutralize them before they tear us apart!"

The team coordinated their attacks, systematically taking down the turrets one by one. The room was filled with the sounds of gunfire and the sizzling of lasers. After a tense few minutes, the last turret was destroyed, leaving the room silent once more.

"Nice work, everyone," Sico said, catching his breath. "Let's keep moving."

They proceeded to the next room, which was filled with an intricate network of tripwire traps. Sico scanned the area, noticing a door to the left that seemed to offer a safer route.

"There's a door here," he pointed out. "It looks like we can avoid most of the traps if we pick the lock."

MacCready examined the lock. "It's a Master lock. I can get it open, but it'll take a bit of time."

"Do it," Sico instructed. "Hancock and Robert, help me keep an eye out for any surprises."

MacCready worked quickly, his hands steady as he manipulated the lock. After a few tense moments, there was a satisfying click, and the door swung open.

"Got it," MacCready said with a grin.

They slipped through the door, avoiding the majority of the traps. The team continued up a flight of stairs, which led them to a corridor with three doors.

"Three doors," Hancock mused. "Classic trap setup. Be careful."

Sico approached the doors cautiously. "Alright, let's check them one at a time. MacCready, you take the right. Hancock, the middle. I'll take the left."

MacCready opened the rightmost door, and a grenade bouquet dropped down. "Grenade!" he shouted, diving out of the way as the explosives detonated harmlessly.

Hancock opened the middle door, revealing a macabre display with a Jangles the Moon Monkey cymbal toy sitting on top. "Just a creepy toy and some guts," he commented, closing the door again.

Sico opened the left door, which revealed a clear path forward. "This way," he said, leading the team through.

The corridor beyond was narrow and winding, the walls covered in faded carnival posters. The air was thick with tension as they moved deeper into the Gauntlet, each step bringing them closer to the heart of Nuka-World.

"Stay alert," Sico reminded them. "We're not out of this yet."

As they pressed on, the team remained vigilant, ready to face whatever deadly challenges awaited them in the twisted amusement park.

As Sico and his team continued deeper into the Gauntlet, they approached the next room, immediately noticing the sickly green glow. The room was filled with radiation barrels, their toxic contents leaking and creating a dangerous environment.

"Radiation," Sico warned, pulling out a Rad-X and passing it around. "We need to move quickly and find a way out before the rads get too high."

Hancock scanned the room, his eyes catching a small alcove in the southwestern corner. "Over there," he pointed. "There's something on the shelf."

MacCready moved cautiously, keeping an eye on the barrels as he approached the alcove. "Found a key," he said, picking up the rusty key from the shelf. "This might be our ticket out of here."

Sico nodded. "Let's find the door it opens."

They moved swiftly, searching the room until they found an Expert-locked door. MacCready tried the key, and the lock clicked open. The door led to a set of stairs descending into the Nuka-World access tunnels.

"Stay sharp," Sico reminded them. "We don't know what's waiting for us down there."

The team descended into the tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the damp walls. The next room they entered was lined with deactivated turrets, and in the center stood a Jangles the Moon Monkey cymbal toy.

"Another creepy toy," Hancock remarked, eyeing the turrets warily.

Robert frowned. "I don't trust it. That toy could be a trigger for these turrets."

Sico nodded. "Good call. Let's disable it."

As Robert moved to disable the toy, the moment he touched it, the turrets whirred to life, aiming at the team.

"Turrets activated!" Robert shouted, diving for cover.

Sico and MacCready opened fire, targeting the turrets while Hancock provided covering fire. The room was filled with the sound of gunfire and ricocheting bullets as the team systematically destroyed the turrets.

"Everyone okay?" Sico asked once the last turret was down.

"All good," Hancock replied, reloading his weapon. "Let's keep moving."

They continued on, entering a room filled with a mass of deactivated fusion generators. The room was eerily quiet, except for the occasional rustle from cages containing rad-rats and an animatronic alien turret.

"Watch those cages," Sico advised. "We don't want any surprises."

They moved cautiously through the room, avoiding the cages and the alien turret. As they exited the room, they found themselves in a tunnel filled with frag-mine trapped vehicles.

"Great, more traps," MacCready muttered. "Let's be careful."

The team navigated the vehicles, carefully disarming the frag mines as they went. The tunnel led them to a room with a mirelurk nest, the creatures stirring as the team entered.

"Get ready," Sico warned. "We've got company."

The team opened fire as the mirelurks emerged, their tough shells making them formidable opponents. Sico's shotgun blasts and MacCready's precise shots eventually brought the creatures down.

"That was close," Robert said, wiping sweat from his brow. "What's next?"

They spotted an Expert-locked door on the other side of a fragile plank walkway. "We need to get through that door," Sico said.

Dropping down from the walkway, the team navigated a small tunnel that led them up to the door. They fought off more mirelurks, their determination driving them forward.

MacCready worked on the lock, finally getting it open. The door creaked as it swung open, revealing another tunnel leading deeper into the heart of Nuka-World.

"Let's move," Sico urged. "We're getting closer. Stay alert and be ready for anything."

The team pressed on, their resolve unshaken as they ventured further into the deadly Gauntlet, determined to gather the intel they needed and find a way to bring justice and order to Nuka-World.

As Sico and his team ventured further into the Gauntlet, they encountered yet another challenge. The next door opened into a hallway packed with explosive traps. The air was thick with tension as they cautiously advanced, disarming the traps one by one.

"Take it slow," Sico warned. "One wrong step and we're done for."

Hancock nodded, his eyes scanning the floor and walls for any hidden dangers. "Got it. Everyone watch your step."

MacCready moved with practiced ease, his steady hands working quickly to disarm each trap they encountered. Robert kept an eye on their rear, ensuring they weren't ambushed while navigating the hazardous corridor.

After a nerve-wracking journey, they finally made it through the explosive-laden hallway. Exiting into the next room, they were immediately met with a new threat. The maglock door behind them slammed shut, and gas began spraying out from the ceiling.

"Gas! Find cover and look for a way to shut it off!" Sico shouted, covering his mouth with a cloth.

Sections of the room began spawning radroaches, including one particularly large radroach. "Take them down!" Sico ordered, opening fire on the approaching insects.

MacCready's rifle barked, dropping the larger radroach. Upon its demise, a small swarm of smaller radroaches erupted from its body, scattering across the room. Hancock and Robert quickly dispatched the smaller radroaches, their weapons cutting down the swarm.

"The gas is still coming!" Robert yelled, his eyes watering from the fumes.

Sico spotted a terminal on the far side of the room. "That terminal might shut off the gas. We need to get it running!"

Hancock looked around, his eyes landing on a room to the right. "There's a desk in there. Might have something useful."

The team quickly moved to the room on the right, finding a desk with a holotape labeled "utility substation password." Sico grabbed the holotape and turned to the rest of the team. "We need to get this to the terminal."

"There's a caged section over there," MacCready pointed out, west of the desk. "The key for the door containing the terminal might be there."

They hurried to the caged section and found the key hidden in a door handle. MacCready grabbed the key, and they quickly made their way back to the door with the terminal. Sico unlocked the door and rushed to the terminal, inserting the holotape.

"Hang on, I'm almost there," he said, his fingers flying over the keys.

The security gates began to open, and the gas shut off. The team breathed a collective sigh of relief as the room began to clear.

"Good work, Sico," Hancock said, catching his breath. "That was too close."

Sico nodded, looking around the now-clear room. "Let's keep moving. We're getting closer."

The team pressed on, their determination unshaken despite the constant dangers. They knew they had to stay focused and vigilant if they were going to survive the Gauntlet and achieve their mission.

As they moved deeper into the heart of Nuka-World, the challenges grew more intense, but their resolve remained strong. With every step, they inched closer to their goal, ready to face whatever horrors awaited them in the twisted amusement park.

________________________________________________

• Name: Sico

• Stats :

S: 8,44

P: 7,44

E: 8,44

C: 8,44

I: 9,44

A: 7,45

L: 7

• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills

• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint

• Active Quest: -