Down in Mexico Capter 2 (IC)

[Gonzalez]

OC: This is the start of chapter 2. Rules are basically the same than in chapter one. Have fun!

IC:

Sergeant Jack was in his tent shaving using a broken piece of glass covered with black duct tape in one of the sides and edges as a mirror and a sharpened combat knife as a blade. The fighting had been rough and now it was the time for a few hours of rest and refreshment. But that wouldn't last long, right after he finished shaving Major Max entered the tent.

"I see you managed to get a little time to clean up. You have done a good work out there last night, that has not gone unnoticed."

"And now you need me to do what exactly?"

Major Max half smiled. "Yes, there is more work to be made. Come with me to the briefing room."

"Looks like we are in a hurry, uh?" Jack said that in a joke tone.

"Yes, we are" Major max answered in a very serious tone.

The two man entered a dusty tent. In it was a table with a map on it, in this map were makes several brotherhood troop positions in the area, as well as suspected mutant troops movement and encampments. Jack noticed a red X in the middle of the dessert that called his attention by being in that desolated and forgotten place, the X was marked a few miles South and East not too far from the Hub.

A squad of one of the best BOS soldiers and mercenarys under Max command was gathering near the tent were the briefing was being carried.

"Anyone knows why are we here" One of the troopers aid. "No idea" Was the answer he got. No one knew why they were there, but everyone knew that something rather important was going to happen.

Inside the tent were Jack, Major Max and other three man that Jack barely knew but he was sure they were all paladins from the BOS. Major Max begun the briefing.

"This is a mission of a vital importance. We know that the pre war military built several military weapons depots across the area, this depots served to storage all high tech weapons that were produced at the time, and their locations been keep secret to avoid the technology from being stolen.

"Two weeks ago, we found some old maps that indicate the location of one of this pre war weapons depot. The location of this depot has been keep a secret until the last moment because we cannot afford to let this information filtrate, if the Mutants gets their hands on that depot this wold mean a huge setback for the entire campaign.

"The depot has been found to be in a non particulary important part of the dessert South of here, just before the mountains begin (Major Max points to the red X marked in the map, the one Jack spotted earlier). Now, if we can salvage whatever equipment was left there we could gather the resources we need to take the fight to the mutants down South.

"We belive that the depot is not large, but even the few equipment that can be found there is of capital importance and will bring us a much better firepower than what we currently have. This means we will find more Laser and Plasma rifles, Gatling Laser, and other heavy high tech weapons, and even maybe a very important item: Power Armor.

"The truth is that we do not have enough firepower nor man power to conduct a successful campaign against the mutants, but this found could finally turn the tides in our favor"

The information Jack gathered in this briefing stunned him, and made him realize the importance of this particular mission. There was light at the end of the tunnel, there was still a chance, a very important one.

Max turned to Jack. "Jack, I need you to lead the squad that will make the first approach to this new discovery. A squad of some of the best brotherhood troopers and mercenarys I have were gathered outside the tent. You must brief them and leave immediately. You are now being promoted to First Sergeant. Some of our scouts have reported mutant activity in the area were the depot is, we suspect that they might be searching for that depot as well, so time is of the essence."

After a while of waiting outside, the men gathered watched, Major Max and four other man walked out of the tent, Jack was between those men. As Jack walked towards them all eyes focused on him, now it was time for Jack to brief his men.

 

[welsh]

Max was ready for the questions when they came.

"Sir. Should we hold the depot or merely recover the supplies?" Asked Kell.

"You will take what brahma carts you need to help move supplies and carry your own. Key here is speed. You will also take these radios. Jack has the discretion as to whether to hold the depot or to move the supplies back."

"What can we expect from the mutants?" Asked another.

That was more difficult. The mutants were in retreat, but did they know what Max knew?

"Uncertain. We think the Mutie fuckers are going south. We don't believe they know about the depot. That said, we have no idea what kind of resistance, organized or not, you might face."

"Sir, what do you mean about unorganized?" Asked Kell. As a scout this was an important question as to the types of opposition he should be on the lookout for.

"We know that the mutant forces are largely still organized, but some of their units have come unglued. In addition the Mutants have..." Max searched for the word for the abhorrent creatures they had accounted, "... monsters that might beon their own. Finally there are others out there, raiders or bandits who might cause you problems."

"Can we expect help or supplies from the BOS?" Asked Jack.

Max responded with a twinge or bitterness."No, we're on our own boys. The BOS does not have the men or supplies to spare. Besides, we know how sticky the BOS clings to its technology. They will not look kindly on dispersing high tech gear to non-BOS."

The other BOS men seemed a bit uncomfortable with that. They would follow Max and swear to him their blood and loyalty, but going against the BOS leadership was another matter. Max understood this, a soldier serves and conflicting protocol could only cause problems.

"Yes, I know some of you are uncomfortable about this." Said Max, who understood he needed his men's loyalty. "We're taking the battle to the enemy whereas the rest of the BOS is digging in for a defensive war. We are striking a blow that will prevent a future war, and in that saving lives that might otherwise get 'Dipped'. To do that we need to bend some rules."

"But sir, the BOS protocols on this say that only those of us indoctrinated in the brotherhood..." Spoke one of the men.

"I know. But you were here and you saw how our irregulars shed blood alongside with you. You were raised in a brotherhood of steel, but we these men we share a brotherhood of blood. We will go with these men into the teeth of the enemy, to take the war to them. To do so without the weapons they need will waste their lives and perhaps doom our own. " Said Max, appealing to each man's sense of dignity and courage. "We are forging a new brotherhood, one that does not hide behind its walls while a threat manifests. We know the threat, we will deal with it. These men may well replace our brothers who have fallen- but we need to replace not just the men, but the hardware. That is our mission."

The others nodded.

"In the meantime we need to care for our wounded and reorganize here before we pursue our enemy. Jack, you choose your men carefully."

 

[Dapper Dan Man]

Kell had been resting back in his chair, getting a nod from Major Max to light up a smoke during the briefing.

"Sir, I would request that perhaps we notify the mercenaries with us that they may be in for the long haul. Some of them might be in a bit of shock now that combat fatigue has set in. It...may be good for morale for the men if perhaps we had some sort of speech or at least a few murmured words for the dead? Otherwise, I am prepared to move out by myself, or with a small team if necessary should Sergeant Jack or yourself wish it. Where do we rendevous?"

 

[uziel]

Uziel awoke with a jolt. His head hurt liek hell and he had no idea where he was. He looked around and saw four huge men with really big guns.

"Man awake!"
"Have fun hear him scream?"
"Ugh!"
"Har-har!"
They approached him and he fainted again.

 

[Tempistfury]

Ralik hit what was left of a concrete wall with his back and slumped down. Looking into the sky he breathed a heavy sign of relief. He was alive. After all the fighting he was alive. The BOS had given him more shotgun shells and a microfusion cell for the laser rifle he had found. Too bad no one seemed to have the time to tell him how to use and re-load it.

From the command tents one of the Brotherhood brass that had led the fighters just a short while ago. He was trailed by... by someone else who's name Ralik couldn't recall. He quickly climbed on to a pile of rubble, and whistled for everyone's attention....

 

[Gonzalez]

Jack stood in front of his men and begun his briefing.

“You are probably wandering why you are gathered here. You have shown courage, bravery, professionalism and discipline in the face of the enemy, every one of you, BOS or not, have shown to be worthy and capable. Major Max, our commanding officer is very proud of you, in fact he is so proud that he wants you to go out in another mission, a very important one.”

All the warriors listening looked a bit disappointed, they were not going to have their well deserved rest. But that is what they had chosen when they decided to join this adventure, and they knew it.

“Our job is to find a remote weapons depot hidden in the middle of the dessert, secure the depot and any equipment found inside and bring that equipment back to main base. Other courses of action will be defined as the mission events develop.

“To transport the equipment we will use carts, we will transport this carts across the dessert, but the carts will make us slow and more visible, so I will dispatch two groups. One group will get to the objective and secure it, and the other will arrive after with the carts. Once we get to the depot we will decide what we do next.

“You will use your own weapons and ammo, no extra equipment will be diverted for this mission. The equipment found in the weapons depot must be logged and dispatched to main base, once the equipment has reached the base the quartermaster will decide how the equipment will be distributed. But rest assured, those of you that will take part in this mission will surely be rewarded with generous amounts of equipment upgrades. Every item you salvage and bring back will mean more gear you will be able to use against the mutants, gear that you will find necessary. Any questions?”

Jack went back to his tent to get his gear. He checked that his assault rifle was clean and fully operational, ten loaded a clip and watched the chamber as he loaded a bullet, the bullet sliced perfectly into the chamber, the weapon was greased and working just fine. He carried some extra 5mm ammo for this mission.

After he divided the group in two sections he gathered the man and prepared to move out. The sections were divided in:

Group one, assault team:
-First Sgt. Jack Shaw. BOS
-Corp. Richter Kell. BOS
-Pvt. First Class, Ralik. Non BOS
-Pvt. First Class, Charles Evans. BOS
-Pvt. First Class, “Guard”. Non BOS
-Pvt. First Class, Mark Thompson. BOS
Especial equipment: Explosives, lockpics.

Group two, transport detail:
-Corp. Andrew Rivers. BOS
-Pvt. First Class, Joseph Garcia. BOS
-Pvt. Michael Torrance. Non BOS
-Pvt. Sal Moore. BOS
Especial equipment: four brahmin hauled carts.

 

[Eighty-Sixer]

Guard had remained silent throughout the briefing. He saw no sign of his little mexican partner Eduardo or the larger man with the Desert Eagle.

Prior to the meeting he had recieved a bandolier with several clips of .223 ammunition from what looked like a Brotherhood Quarter-Master. Apparently their former owner would not be needing them. He had had little luck procuring any 9mm ammunition however and would rely on the final few shells stored within his jacket should the need for his secondary weapon appear.

Guard's interest was peaked following the meeting as the assembled soldiers, peasant and mercenaries were divided into transport and assault groups and offered ranks.

He was not surprised the learn he had been placed within the assault team, he had not expected an easy ride from the Brotherhood upper-echelon.

The meeting over, most of those concerned turn away to prepare for the journey into the desert, Guard included. The former caravan guard fashioned a bandana from a discarded piece of black cloth, it would prove useful should the wind stir the sands into a storm as it had done earlier.

 

[welsh]

There had been solemn words at the funeral, but nothing nearly as somber as the line of recently dug graves already being eroded in by the winds that came from the West.

Those winds who mask the trail of the mutant, thought Max. But they will not find refuge for long.

Heal the wounded, bury the dead, repear the damaged and prepare for the next battle. It was the way of war. He would send a communication back to the BOS to let them know of his plans. They would not respond, of course, but in that give their tacit concent. That was enough.

Jack and Kell were already leading their assault team out towards the depot. Be quick boys. He had told them they and 4 days to secure the objective and communciate back. By day five, Max hoped to move is army in pursuit. With or without weapons, they needed to stay on their retreating adversary, allow him no refuge to heal, no sanctuary in which to hide, no bastion to defend and use to launch their attack.

In the meantime, he would set his BOS men to training the mercenaries and the guards. Make these hardened fighters. Sharpen their edge.

But no matter how sharp his men became, they would be no match against the Mutant army no moving southward into Mexico.

Move stealthy, move quick, move where the enemy does not expect you and rob them of their initiative.

Guerrilla warfare. It was their only chance. To find the enemies weakness and exploit it.

He watched his men move westerward, away from the dieing Sun, until they disappeared into the distance.

Then Max turned to set to work on preparing his men for the long war ahead.

 

[Dapper Dan Man]

Kell forged ahead, his thoughts his own generally as he trudged up the next hill, boots digging into the gritty landscape as he surveyed the landscape, the abysmal expanse of the Southwest. He saw no sign of life, not even through the scavenged field binoculars.

He ran...or rather, hopped, down the hill in short angular motion, halting the descent in measured gaps in order to prevent a nasty fall to the treacherous rocks down the slope. The depot was marked to still be a half-day away, if the tattered remnants of the copy of the map was actually accurate. He wondered what sort of security would be protecting such a well-hidden depot...and to what means he will descend to to crack it and bug out with the goods.

He honestly didn't expect much of the assault team's weaponry in a protracted firefight, as bullets were hardly a match for laser turrets? Maybe he would sneak in to try to deactivate the grid? Variables, variables, too many for his liking.

 

[Gonzalez]

The assault group leaded the way, the transport group was fallowing a few hundred meters away. Jack took his radio: “Everything clear over there? Over”

“Yeah, no signs of enemy activity here over”

“All right, we will speed up a bit now, you will probably loose visual contact with us, maintain present course and speed and let us know if you come across anything, over”

“Will do, over and out”

Jack had to hurry, the transport group was slower, but he could not allow this to slow him down. It was better to find the depot first and wait for the carts than moving slower but more protected.

The assault group left main base at the 10:22 hours, now it was the 23:15 hours, it was dark and the group had been walking for almost thirteen hours. There was almost no moon and the sky was cloudy, it was very difficult to see with no night vision equipment available. Yet, Jack was successfully navigating the group trough the dessert towards the estimated location of the weapons depot. Jack was not able to see the transport group but he demanded radio reports from it every hour, as well as he regularly reported his progress to HQ.

Kell, who was scouting ahead of the assault team, came back with a report for Jack: “Sir, I spotted what it seems to be a group of creatures ahead, I lost contact with the because of the low visibility but they can’t be too far.”

“Good work, let’s hope they haven’t seen us. I am going to contact the transport group on the radio to warn them and make sure they are fine.”

Not too far from there down south, the mutants were listening to some scrambled sounds in the same frequency than Jack, they were sure it was BOS, but they couldn’t listen to the transmissions. One of the mutant commanders who were listening said: “They have troops out there and they are surely trying to fallow us. But our pets will stop them, our pet patrols are out there waiting for them” Some mutant laughs fallowed that commentary.

The assault group had been walking all day and would continue several hours during the night before stopping to rest. Everyone was death tired and Jack was probably more tired than everyone else, but he knew how important this mission was and was leading the group, taking point and walking as fast as his strength allowed him to go.

Suddenly Jack stops, he raises his hand and the others stop as well, then he examines the horizon before him, Jack sees what it looks to be shadows in front of him “My god, someone tell me that’s Kell” After one second he hears what it sounds to be someone running towards them. Calmly Guard said: “That’s Kell”.

Kell appears in front of Jack. “Sir, creatures approaching from the front I counted three” In that moment someone could be heard screaming trough the radio. Jack took the radio: “Transport group do you hear me, over… what is your status…” “We need help! We…AGGGHHH!!! (Small weapons fire and screaming brahmin could be heard in the background)” “Does anyone hear me, over! What the hell is happening over there?!” More gunfire and scrams could be herd trough the radio.

Sounds of creatures breathing and crawling could be heard every time closer from were the assault team was, and trough the radio the gunfire and the yells of the transport group continued.

 

[Gonzalez]

-OC: Taking the advice from Welsh, I am going to drive my team towards to the depor, were I intend to collect the weapons and possibly the power armor to continue the offensive down south.

Since I am managing the roleplay, I will decide the fate and actions of every player and non player characters, unless the player owners decide to take over their players.

-IC:
As the creatures sound could be heard louder Jack gave the order “Team, get ready for combat, shoot anything not human, make a line formation facing this way (Jack pointed to the southeast) and begin walking backwards at my order”, after saying this Jack turned off the radio, this made that the creatures could be heard more clearly and prevented them from tracking the radio sounds.

Jack’s idea was to keep the slow but sneaky creatures from surrounding them, changing the squad position from where the creatures were headed and knowing exactly where they were going to appear. The squad formed and started moving backwards, as they did, the sounds from the pets could be now heard to be coming from one single direction, the southeast. Jack plan worked.

Now the squad was formed in a line formation facing a slow moving enemy that was to appear right in front of them. “FIRE!” automatic and rapid semiautomatic fire was spitted to the front as Jack gave the order. Creatures screams could be herd in the middle of the night as the flashes from the weapons illuminated them. Without warning Evans was taken from behind by a floater as he loudly screamed, Thompson and Guard started firing to the floater managing to kill it, but Evans was dead already. Jack could not see Kell, but he could hear fire from his sniper rifle coming from his right.

Jack reloaded a magazine into his assault rifle and continued to fire in automatic mode to the creatures, the small caliber from his 5mm weapon allowed him to do this with devastating accuracy, still many shots were required to take down this creatures, and this consumed a lot of the ammo.

 

[Eighty-Sixer]

Guard was shooting tight groups, unloading regular salvos upon each of the floaters in turn. They were tough little bastards however and many shrugged off the rounds which tore away at their gelatine like flesh.

One of the other recruits, Evans, gave a blood-curdling scream before being silenced permanently by one of the inhuman foe.

Guard spun quickly, taking aim before letting a off a quick series of shots towards the floater which had taken Evans. The creature gave no cry in response, instead merely shuddering before dropping dead upon the desert floor.

There were a great deal more to deal with however and Guard slapped a fresh magazine into the hunting rifle, cocking the action before bringing it again to bear.

 

[Dapper Dan Man]

**Kell was kneeling atop the small hill he had discovered earlier, his rifle propped against his shoulder and his pistol at his side. He was taking in the scenery like it was one big choerography of monsters and men. He spit to the side of him, resting the barrel on a rock as he zoomed in, firing a shot. A quick confirmation,a nd then he flitted to the next target, loud, booming echoes in the night. Occasionally, he stopped, looking around him to ensure the bastards didn't try to get behind him. Woe to them should they meet him up close....


Cra-ack! Another shot is launched as this takes a centaur in one of its twin heads. The centaur stumbles, but contineus going, and Kell's fingers grip the stock of the barrel tighter. No fucking fair, that was a clean shot! Cra-ack! A follow-up, this time in the center of mass, where he hoped the "heart" would be. Bastards didn't know when to just die already.**

 

[Gonzalez]

After several minutes of chaotic fighting in the night, only one creature remained, the centaur didn’t want to give up, but after several shots it finally fell to the ground, even after this a few more shots impacted the creature, maybe someone just wanted to make sure it died. A death silence surrounded the place, interrupted only by the faint sound of semiautomatic fire in the distance “the transport group”, Jack thought.

“Clear up!” That was Kell shouting from the hill. “Clear down!” Jack answered, then he begun to check the causalities. Surprisingly, only Evans died in the attack, maybe there were also survivors among the transport group, those last rounds herd in the distance gave him hope.

Jack took the radio: “Rivers, this is Jack, do you copy, over… (silence), is there anyone out there, over… (more silence)." “S…is…vers…ver?” “Repeat, we cant hear you clearly, over” “Sir, this is Rivers, do you copy, over” “Loud and clear…now, report your status, over” “Sir, we were just ambushed by two creatures, we managed to defeat them but they got Torrance and Moore, they also killed two brahmin and destroyed their carts. We only have two carts remaining, Garcia and I are the only survivors, over.”

Jack evaluated the situation, it was unsafe to wait for Rivers and the carts in the current position. “Rivers, rendezvous with us one click north from our current position, I am transmitting the coordinates to your Pip Boy, over.” “Roger, over and out.”

After joining up with what was left of the transport group, Jack leaded the group of seven men to where the depot was supposed to be. It was early in the morning, and the only thing left was a hole in the earth with stairs leading down, at the end of the stairs was a heavy blast door. The place was all covered in dust, and it seemed that no one had been there in years, many years, who knows what was still in there.

There was no apparent way to open this door, except for a small control panel to the right. Jack removed the dust from the panel and to his surprise it was still active. In the panel screen it could be read: “Lock. Enter security code”. Jack stepped aside “Kell, run a bypass. The rest of you, make a perimeter around this place and scout the horizon.”

OC: It is time for you guys to take some initiative.
Kell: this is your call, are you going to be able to open this? How long is it going to take you? What dangers do you think wait for us down there?
Guard: I am not searching the horizon, I am rather amazed with the discovery downstairs, is there anyone coming? Not that anyone has to, but who knows.
Ralik: You have not posted since May 26, guess who is going to be the first to die if we run into trouble.
Uziel: As far as we know you were taken prisoner, but we are not looking for you, you are still MIA and you may remind like this the whole chapter unless you post otherwise.

 

[Dapper Dan Man]

**Kell grinned slightly, nodding to Jack "Yes, Sergeant". It looked to be fairly complex, but luckily he had some 'unorthodox' training while serving as a scout. Hopefully, the archaic system would bear some similarity to the locks within the BOS hallways themselves.


He withdrew a small pick-like instrument, as well as an electronic guage and an ear piece. He puts the earpiece in, then takes up the pick, inserting it into a receptacle slot in the side. From there, he abandoned himself to numbers and code letters as he starts to work.


"Yeah....that's the stuff..." He murmured, reminding himself of some inane product he once heard of. Even in this post apocalyptic age, they still had Twinkies.

After several minutes, he pulls the pick back, cringing as a spark flies, the data reader scrambled.


"All right......open....." He bashed his gloved fist on the keypad, pushing all the buttons at once and the security door slid open.

"Sesame"

His eyes widened as the door opened. Therein lay several turrets, though fortunately they seemed to be inactive.....for the moment.

"I....er...suggest we bypass those defenses, real quick-like"

**

 

[Gonzalez]

OC: Sorry if I have taken some time to post again, but just when you think you are no longer busy something pulls you back in.

IC:
Jack noticed that only the emergency lights were on, otherwise the base seemed to be inactive. There was no way to deal with the defenses electronically from outside.

“The lights…” Jack said “We are lucky, I bet my bottom bottle cap that the main power is inactive, they were not going to leave the lights on for ever. There should be a control computer around here somewhere.”

Jack slowly and quietly started moving inside, and then he waved Kell to fallow him.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kell said.
Jack waved at a turret to see if this made any kind of movement, but the turret seemed dead, at least for the moment. Jack continued to move in.

The place was rather small, there were some turrets at the entrance, and force field doors were off. More turrets guarded an elevator door. Jack entered a small computer room, and he found himself before a Mark IV computer. Jack had a fair knowledge of computers, he had to since he was trained in the technological world of the Brotherhood, and so he started searching the computer files and found the base status menu.

In the screen menu it could be read:
-Main power generator off line
-Reserve batteries on line at minimal capacity
-Elevators for sublevels 2 and 3 off line
-Automated sentry weapons in level 1 and sublevels 2 and 3 off line

Jack: “Activate elevators for sublevels two and three”
Computer: “Error…error… main power source off line, elevators cannot be activated”
Jack: “Activate main power”
Computer: “Main power activation will bring all systems on line. Are you sure you want to activate the main generator?”
Jack: “No.., check sentry weapons status”
Computer: “Sentry weapons are currently off line due to power failure”

It was obvious that he could not activate the elevators without risking activating the base defenses. Jack looked around “Were the hell is Kell?”

Jack: “What is in this level?”
Computer: “Level 1: Security station and primary base systems. The guard room, computers room and main power generators are located here.
Jack: “What is in sublevels two and three?”
Computer: “Sublevel 2: Main living facility for base personnel and commander quarters. The mess hall, infirmary, living quarters and commander’s office can be located here. Sublevel 3: Storage facility. All weapons and prototype weapons and armor are storage in this area. Warning, commander’s clearance required to access this area.

oca: Kell: the way I see it, we have to gain access to the commander’sa office and then to the third level. All this without risking activating the automated sentry weapons, there is where you come in.
All other characters must make sure that no outside threat risks the operation. This depends of your will to post, remember that there can be raiders, mutants and master’s pets.

 

[Eighty-Sixer]

Guard lay prone just outwith the main entrance to the complex. Guard thumbd the magazine catch of the hunting rifle and checked the number of rounds in the mag before re-inserting it and checking chamber.

He looked good for now. The handful of .223 rounds he had brought along were lasting longer than he could have forseen. His shooting had surprised him back at the Hub, up until now he had managed fine with the Mauser, shooting tight groups.

His prowess with the Hunting Rifle hadn't seemed out of the place, why would it in a place like this. Then again... where had he learned these skills... and who from? These were only some of the questions that wracked Guard's mind as he scanned the horizon, looking for further signs of movement.

There had been scant resistance when they arrived, but it could only be a matter of time before they ran into some real ugly trouble. Perhaps a heavily-armed group of Super-Mutants, a large band of Raiders or even more of those floaters and other desert miscreants they had already had to deal with.

He looked down the iron sights again, sweeping the rifle slowly left and right in a covering arc.