Capital Wasteland (My Fallout 3 Sequel)

R

Ryanbeolve

First time out of the vault
(This story goes under the pretense that the Lone Wanderer deactivates the atomic bomb in Megaton, retrieves Ian West and convinces the Family to protect Arefu, saves Brian Wilks and Grayditch, fixes the GNR radio signal, helps Moira Brown complete the Wasteland Survival Guide [Positive edition], help move the slaves from the Temple of the Union into the Lincoln Memorial, save Reilly's Rangers, finds Dogmeat, saves Fawkes, save Big Town by teaching them how to shoot, returns to Vault 101 and makes Amata Overseer, and purifiers the Project Purity without the FEV. Also, the Lone Wanderer dies in the activation of Project Purity.)


The Lone Wanderer had walked out of the spotlight in the Capital Wasteland. Shortly after the launch of Project Purity, the Brotherhood took on an offensive role against the Enclave, leading to the battle of Adams Air Force Base, resulting in the loss of Liberty Prime, Lyon's pride, and 75% of the Brotherhood's fighting force. However, the Enclave remain largely in control of the Air Base, despite the loss of the mobile base crawler. The Brotherhood's loss led to the suicide of Elder Lyon's, and the ascension of Scribe Rothchild as the new Elder. In early 2278, Elder Rothchild changed Brotherhood Policy support isolation of the Citadel. Brotherhood outposts and missions all across DC and the rest of the Capital Wasteland were recalled.
Scribe Bigsley, head of Project Purity, left the Brotherhood in favor of leading Project Purity. An unexpected move, considering his obvious hatred of his job. The Brotherhood was happy to exile him.

Without the Brotherhood's leadership in free distribution of water, Rivet City took over the operation and was forced to sell the water at a discount price. Megaton, Underworld, and the Temple of the Union all offered assistance in maintaining the water trade.
Another result of the Brotherhood's withdrawal, was increased fighting throughout downtown DC. Three Dog was forced to hire the Regulators to conduct security. This was largely funded by Rivet City.
Caravan routes through the national mall became major targets for raiders and super mutant attacks. Large convoys of volunteers from all over the wastes would lead expeditions through the DC ruins. This led to an all-out assault on the Capitol Building, with Sonora Cruz of the Regulators, and Harkness of the Rivet City Security, claiming victory.
Free and secure routes through the national mall prompted scavengers, traders, pilgrims, and tourists from all around. The Canterbury Commons Caravans began to add routes through the mall.
The increased presence in DC led to a convention at the Capitol Building, to be attended by Representatives from the factions around DC. Bannon, Harkness, Danvers, Bigsley and Rhinehurst of Rivet City, Hannibal Hamlin and Simone Cameron of the Lincoln Memorial, Three Dog from GNR, Sonora Cruz of the Regulators, Uncle Roe from Canterbury Commons, and Winthrop and Fawkes from the Underworld. This convention would later be called "The First Capitol Congress". This convention addressed the many needs, and influences of the factions now invested in the National Mall. By the end, Uncle Roe agreed to relocate the Caravan headquarters into the National Mall. Sonora Cruz agreed to take up security throughout DC, which led to the hiring of Reilly's Rangers.
Rivet City agreed to provide shelter and conduct the security for the outgoing caravans. All members of the Congress recognized the Underworld and Temple of the Union as the legitimate proprietors of the National Mall. Three Dog managed to include his compound as a part of the National Mall agreement.

In the wake of these mutual agreements, raiders from across the wastes increased their activities; harassing trade routes and attacking several positions through the various metro stations. This tested the stability of the newly established security forces, and called for Second Capitol Congress that gave the OK for a counter-offensive that would ensure their security. Harkness, Danvers, Cruz, and Reilly led coalition forces in 4 directions, securing every metro station, and every building from L'enfant to Anacostia.
This victory called the Second Congress back into session for the formation of a Federation.
In late 2278, the Congress announced the formation of the District of Columbia Republic (DCR). It first established the Capitol Congress: Harkness, Reilly, Hannibal Hamlin, Bannon, Seagrave Holmes, Winthrop, Uncle Roe, Ryan Brigg, Doctor Lesko, Doctor Bigsley, Doctor Rhinehurst.
Army of the DCR, led by Colonel Harkness, Captain Lana Danvers, and Captain Sonora Cruz, with 2 Battalions at that time.
Capitol Caravan, a Government Corporation comprised of the merging of Uncle Roe’s caravan and the water caravans from Project Purity.
Capitol Preservation Society, an expanded version of Abraham Washington’s in Rivet City that could supervise the preservation of pre-war artifacts all over DC now. Directed by Abraham Washington.
Capitol Science Foundation, the merging of the Museum of Technology, Rivet City Science lab, and Project Purity. Directed by Doctor Rhinehurst.
Lucky Harith’s caravan and Flak and Shrapnel merge to become Harith Ordnance, operating out of Alexandria Arms. Crows and Doc Hoff’s caravan’s merge with Cindy Cantelli, Bannon, and the Capitol Caravan.
The DCR's first policy was to institute a currency. Pre-war Money. Of course, the project would take time, but a new trading post was established in Megaton to trade caps for pre-war money. By 2280, the DCR Trade Committee reports that there are $67,477 pre-war money circulating in downtown DC.
 
"War, war never changes...

Four years have passed since the Enclave had been uprooted from the Capital Wasteland, and the Lone Wanderer and his father sacrificed themselves on the alter of Project Purity to deliver pure water to the people of the wastes.
Since then, the factions of Washington DC have banded together under the flag of a new union; the District of Columbia Republic. Under this flag, freedom and prosperity was restored in the old nation's capital. However, this freedom came at the expense of many others.
The raiders and slavers who inhabit the outskirts of the Capital wasteland, unable to breach the walls of DC, turned to the rest of the wasteland. Pillars of smoke, and the screams of men, women, and children could be heard in the distance as far out as Girdershade.

You, are a stranger, who wandered into the Capital Wasteland from a land no longer recognized here in the wastes. You came in search of the freedom and prosperity promised by Three Dog's broadcasts. But what you found, was a cage and a collar in a ruined church in the northwest."

Two men are in the room with me, one leaning against the wall poking at his teeth with a switch blade, and the other speaking nonsense into a ham radio. My instincts told me to grab the bars, but I could feel my hands bound behind my back. Where am I? What is that smell? Who are these people?
The man poking at his teeth noticed I was awake by the rattling of the cage, closed his switch blade and put it away.
"Hey, sleeping beauty's makin' a buncha ruckus ova' here." He said, directing it to the man at the radio, who just ignored him. The grammar genius before me shrugged and walked over to my cage.
"Where am I?" I asked, wincing as I choked out the words through the tight collar around my neck. I finally realized, these are slavers.
The man grinned, and ignored me, feeling that the cozy collar more than answered my question; I'm in hell. As he walked off into the light by the ham radio, I noticed that he was wearing black armor. Maybe they weren't slavers, they looked like mercenaries I'd encountered up north.
"... Thank you commander, we'll return to base after the delivery. Tabernacle out." I overheard the man on the radio, who was now finished talking. The other man with the switch blade was now speaking to him in a hushed tone and the radio man nodded.
"Get up," The radio man started, sounding much more threatening. He yanked open the cage, and grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me onto the ground. "We're leaving."
 
"Threeeeeee Dogggg, How's it hanging Post Apocalyptia. I got some news for you today, take a look at this."

My captors and I set off into the dark, with the land just barely lit by the sun as dawn was encroaching. I was slung over the back of a brahmin, and so I couldn't figure out where that energetic voice was coming from, but for the remainder of the trek, it was all that I heard.

"Last night, our GNR reporters witnessed the swearing in of our very first President of the D.C.R. Isn't that exciting, kiddies? Beats the hell outta Eden and the Enclave. Abraham Washington and his gang of robot founding fathers over saw the event, and made sure it followed historical procedure. So put your hands together kiddies, and lets say congrats to President--...."

All of a sudden, the voice was gone; no static either. The brahmin stopped too, so I tried to look ahead of us. All I saw were a few sets of boots and faded black pants,
"Is this him?" A new voice asked, I didn't recognize it at all.
"Yep, caught him wanderin' around the campgrounds south a here." Said another voice I recognized as the man with the switchblade.
"We'll take him to the commander." Said the new voice.
Just then, I felt a hand wrap around my ankle, my instinct was to start kicking.
"What the hell's wrong with' ya?" The switchblade man exclaimed, then he reached both his hands out to grab both my ankles and yank me off of the brahmin onto the ground. I got a clear look at him now. He and eye exchanged what felt like the first eye-to-eye contact he'd ever made, just before he reached down and punched me in the face.
The hit didn't seem to phase me for some reason, and before I knew it the dumb ass who couldn't talk right was already being pulled off of me.
"Woah, Danny, hey!" The ham radio one had pulled him at least 15 feet away. "What do you think the commanders gonna do when he finds out you're attackin' the property like that?"
I stopped paying attention to the two from the chapel, and looked up at the men who were taking me now. There were 5 of them, all in the same black armor as the rest. The one in the middle was different though, and it wasn't just the shades. He struck a new kind of terror in me.
"Hey, somebody pick up the merchandise and let's get going." The one in the shades said, as the two men to his right picked me up and started walking me to the other three. When I was brought before what looked to be their leader, he leaned down on one knee and got to my level.
"You have a name?" He asked, even though it felt more like a demand.
I said nothing. But that seemed to be just fine to him.

I was being carried again, but this time it was much more rough than the docile brahmin. We followed a paved road north, and I could see large towers with concave platforms at the tip.
"Fort Constantine...." I muttered. The words felt painful to say, and I felt thirsty.
"What did he say?" The man in shades called back.
"He's talking about the base, sir." Said the one to my left.
The one in the shades chuckled, but didn't bother to look back. "Looks like the knows somethin' at least."

Fort Constantine, to my remembering, was a pre-war missile silo. Most people avoided it due to high radiation, so what were these degenerates doing here? Before I could get my questions answered, I heard an odd sound; like someone was throwing a rock at us. Then it hit us, a grenade hit the ground right in front of the man in shades. Everyone froze at first, but just for a fraction of a moment. I fell to the ground as the two to either side of me let go and went in separate directions, as well as the other three.
I managed to roll over with my back facing the grenade which was now 10-12 feet away from me. Mr. Shades and the other two split in every direction, but the unlucky one to his left was caught directly in the explosion. Thankfully, he took the brunt of the force, but for the first time, pain was starting to register all across my back. I found myself writhing in pain, and groaning despite the tight squeeze around my throat. I would have crawled away, were my hands not bound behind me.
All around me, shots were fired from both sides. Another man in black was shot dead in the heart, by what sounded like a bolt action rifle. It was a shock that not a single bullet grazed me.
"We got a live one!" A new voice called, I flipped to my other side to catch a glimpse of a bearded man in wasteland clothing, much like my own, running up to me. Him and another, a girl, stopped to help me.
"Dad, I think he was hit by the frag-" The girl started, "We have to take him back home immediately!"
By then, I felt it was safe to say that my captors had been chased off. I could see two other boys in wasteland clothes looting the dead bodies of the the black armored men. Maybe it was the pain of the shrapnel in my back, and maybe it was the relief of knowing I wasn't going to be sold into slavery today. But, with that, I found myself slipping into unconsciousness.
 
When I woke up, I heard the sounds of music and voices. The first thing I laid my eyes on was a poster that said "Take It Back!" with wastelanders armed with hunting rifles. I quickly remembered the people who had saved me, and the girl who suggested I needed medical help.
"Where am I?" A question that I seemed to keep asking, but never getting an answer.
"You're in the Republic of Dave, friend." Said the voice I recognized the be the girl from before. Just then, I realized my collar was gone.
"The Republic of Dave?" I asked. The name sounded familiar, but it did not match the picture I was getting. I was laying on a cot, in what looked like a small military hospital. A dozen others were in cots like mine, but most looked less fortunate then I.
"We're the closest thing you'll get to order this far north of DC." She frowned now, look at the imprint the collar left on my neck. "If it weren't for us, slaves like you would still be bought and sold all over."
I started to feel my neck as she said this, and I shook my head. "No, I'm not a slave." I replied, but then I started to frown too. "I don't know what I am."
She smiled now, "That's okay, we get a lot of you these days." She stood up and started to walk away, "I'm Lorelei, by the way."
I eased myself up slowly, and then rested on my elbow, taking a better look around. Through the flaps at the entrance, I could see that it was day time now. Lorelei returned now, with a Nuka-Cola in either hand.
"I know you're not a slave, but this calls for a toast to freedom nonetheless." She handed me the other bottle, we both took off the caps, and we clinked glasses. "Cheers!"
 
The people of the Republic of Dave were gracious, and nursed me back to health. They asked nothing in return, but I couldn't neglect my desire to help them. Construction, foraging, tending to the sick and injured.
Lorelei became something of a companion to me. Every day, she would come to me in the medical tent. Most days she just talked to me, telling me the history of their settlement. But after my wounds were healed, we would walk.
In our walks, she told me that this was a place once called Olney. 4 years ago, the city was a nest for Deathclaws, but a wanderer had come by and killed a majority of them. It was around that same time that Rosie had become President.
"Rosie was the best thing that ever happened to us." Lorelei told me. "She opened up the Republic to wastelanders like me and and my parents. Even today, the Republic does a lot. That attack against Talon Company the other day wasn't the first time we rescued a slave."
I met a lot of the men who did the fighting for the small Republic. They looked like your every day wastelander, however most of the militia proudly wore their Deathclaw Gauntlets; symbols of Old Olney, and the tradition they were building there. Lorelei told me that most of their supplies and trading was done with a caravan from the DCR that trades in junk. By selling the junk they find in Old Olney and Vault 92, they have financed their defenses as well as numerous raids against Talon Company and Slavers across the northern wastes.
"It's remarkable what you people do here, Lorelei. But I'm sure the cost is heavy as well."
At first, Lorelei said nothing. The look on her face said 'I want you to know, I just don't want to tell you.' "Over the years, we've lost a lot of good men and women, including my parents. You should have seen this place 6 months ago; after a couple of our first raids in Chaste Acres and Girsly Diner, we were hunted down back to the Republic. We were on the ropes for a long time after that, but we've turned the tables recently." Just then, the spark returned in her eyes. I didn't know the girl so well, but I could feel she was up to something. "You arrived at a great time, stranger. How would you like to support our assault on Fort Constantine?"
 
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