Day 19 - 0900 Hours / 9:00 AM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) – Command Center
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On Day Nineteen, Operation Clear Market. Commenced it was to clear Super Duper Mart, From Feral Ghouls…
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Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 147/300'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/110'
'Summoned Vehicles: 58/120'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 33/65'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 80/95'
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Jake Maxis stood before the main tactical table in the command center. He wasn't in the field today. A true Commander knew when to lead from the front and when to step back & assess the capabilities of his subordinates.
On the large holographic monitors, A live feed played. It was grainy, transmitted from the helmet cams of a specialized squad dispatched to Lexington.
"Neo…" Jake said, Crossing his arms. "Status on Operation: Clear Market."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Feed is green, Boss. The 'New Girls' are on site. They are accompanied by Squad Leader 'Delta'—a Combat Robot model - M-PU05 - Shielded Light Unit—for supervision & kill-confirmation. Target: Super Duper Mart. Threat: Feral Ghoul infestation. Let's see if they earn their keep."
Jake watched the screen. This was the test. Natasha, Kitty, Anna, and Laura had been cleared for field duty, but clearing a room theoretically & surviving a feral ghoul swarm were two different things.
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Location: Super Duper Mart – Lexington
Squad: Task Force X-Ray (Provisional)
Objective: Secure the Perimeter, Eliminate Hostiles, and Retrieve Salvageable Goods.
The Super Duper Mart loomed like a rotting carcass of the old world. The parking lot was scattered with rusted sedans and shopping carts.
Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) took point. She moved low, Her Modified M4A1 carbine with FSS COVERT V SUPPRESSOR - Muzzle, 11.5" T-H4 BARREL, FTAC SP-10 ANGLED GRIP - Underbarrel, DR582 HYBRID SIGHT - Optic, SAKIN ZX GRIP - Rear Grip, And lastly TORRENT SPAN-9 - Stock & it was raised ready for use. She signaled for a halt near the sliding glass doors.
"Entry point located…" Natasha whispered over the comms. "Interior is dark. Smell of decay is high. We have movement in the shadows."
"We go in hard?" Laura Kinney (X-23) asked, her voice devoid of fear. She wasn't carrying a gun; Her knuckles were white as she clenched her fists.
"Negative…" Natasha commanded. "We control the environment first. Kitty, Sweep the vestibule. Stay phased."
Kitty Pryde nodded, Taking a deep breath. She stepped forward & simply walked through the jammed automatic doors. A moment later, She poked her head back out through the glass. "Clear. There's a terminal here. And... something big in a charging pod."
The squad moved in.
[The Staff Area & Protectron]
Immediately to the right of the entrance lay a small staff security booth. Inside, a dust-covered terminal flickered with green light.
Natasha holstered her weapon & cracked her knuckles. "Cover me."
She began typing. Her fingers moved with the speed of a master hacker. The interface was clunky compared to SHIELD tech, but the logic was primitive.
> TERMINAL HACKED
> > SYSTEM: PROTECTRON CONTROL
> > STATUS: DORMANT
> > COMMAND: ACTIVATE - LAW ENFORCEMENT PROTOCOL
A mechanical whirring sound echoed through the front of the store. The yellow charging pod hissed open.
"PROTECT AND SERVE!" The Protectron announced in a metallic monotone, stepping out on heavy hydraulic legs. "LOITERING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED."
"Asset active," Natasha said, backing away. "Let it draw the fire."
The robot clanked into the main store area.
[The Store Floor]
The main hall was a labyrinth of empty metal shelves. They blocked long sightlines, creating a claustrophobic maze. As the Protectron marched down the center aisle, the store woke up.
SCREEEEEEE!
The shrieks were deafening. From the shadows, the ceiling tiles, and the empty freezer aisles, Feral Ghouls poured out like water. They were fast, rotting, and hungry.
They swarmed the Protectron. The robot's internal lasers fired, vaporizing limbs, but there were too many.
"Engage." Natasha ordered.
Laura didn't need to be told twice. SNIKT. Her adamantium claws extended. She launched herself into the fray, a blur of violence. She didn't fight like a soldier; She fought like a living weapon, Severing heads & limbs with surgical precision.
Anna Marie (Rogue) stepped up. A Charred Feral Ghoul lunged at her. She didn't dodge. She caught it by the throat.
"Sorry, sugah…" She drawled. "You ain't gettin' a kiss."
With a grunt of exertion, She slammed the ghoul into a shelving unit with enough force to collapse the entire metal structure, burying three other ghouls under falling cans of pork and beans.
[The Drug Store - Kitty's Find]
While the chaos raged in the center, Kitty Pryde moved to the left wall. A locked security gate barred the way to the in-store pharmacy.
"Novice lock," Kitty muttered. "Why pick it?"
She phased, her body becoming intangible as she walked through the steel bars. Inside, the air was stale. Slumped against the counter was a desiccated corpse wearing the tattered remains of a colonial duster—a Minuteman.
"Command..." Kitty said, Her voice trembling slightly. "I found one of yours. He's... been here a long time."
Lying next to his cold hand was a Laser Musket, the crank handle rusted but functional.
"Tag it for recovery," Natasha's voice came over the comm. "Check the med-bay."
[The Cafeteria & The Warehouse]
The squad pushed forward. The Protectron was now sparking, missing an arm, but still fighting. "HAVE A NICE DAY," it intoned while crushing a ghoul's skull.
They cleared the dormant ghouls in the corner cafeteria, bagging a stash of Stimpaks and RadAway found in a first-aid wall unit.
"Moving to the warehouse section," Anna announced. She kicked open the double doors.
Six Feral Ghouls dropped from the high rafters of the warehouse.
"Contact high!" Natasha shouted, spinning and firing. Her aim was impeccable, putting rounds into skulls before the ghouls hit the ground.
Laura intercepted two that landed near Anna, shredding them before they could scratch the bomber jacket the Southerner wore.
In the corner of the warehouse, amidst the blood and carnage, they found another body. A young man, curled up behind a crate. Josh.
Natasha knelt, checking for intel. She found a holotape in his pocket. She slotted it into her Pip-Boy equivalent.
Voice of Josh (Recording): "If anyone finds this... tell Emma I tried. I tried to get the meds. But there's too many of them. I'm bleeding out. I just wanted to fix her leg... just wanted..."
The recording ended in static and a wet cough.
The women stood silent for a moment.
"We find Emma…" Anna said, Her voice hard. "We finish the job."
[The Backrooms & The Generator]
They breached the Delicatessen doors, entering the backrooms. The air here was thicker, heavy with mold.
Halfway down the corridor, a heavy hum vibrated through the floor. A generator sat behind a chain-link fence, glowing with the soft blue light of a Fusion Core.
"I got it," Kitty said. She phased through the fence, bypassing the high-voltage warning. She grabbed the core, phased it with her, and walked back out. The lights in the back hallway dimmed, but the core was secure.
[The Admin Office & The Loading Dock]
The final push led them to the employee mess hall and administrative offices. The fighting here was close-quarters.
Natasha cleared the admin office with a flashbang and her Glock, executing the ghouls stunned by the blast. She found a wall safe—locked tight.
"Standard tumblers," She noted. She pulled a bobby pin from her hair. Click. Click. Thunk. The safe swung open, revealing pre-war money and a silver locket.
They moved to the final door: The Eastern Loading Dock.
The Protectron, now smoking and dragging one leg, followed them. "CLEANUP... ON AISLE... FOUR..." it garbled before finally collapsing, its power drained.
They opened the loading dock doors.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating a tragic scene. A makeshift bed made of pallets. A medical brace. And the body of a young woman, clutching a pipe pistol with an empty magazine.
Emma.
She hadn't died from the infection. She had died waiting.
Laura walked over, sniffing the air. "She waited a long time. She smelled like hope, then fear, then... nothing."
Anna Marie gently picked up the body of Josh they had carried from the warehouse & laid it next to Emma.
"Mission complete! All clear." Natasha said, Her voice professional, though her eyes were soft. "Perimeter secure. Hostiles neutralized. Assets recovered."
—————————————————————
Command Center - Fort Hope
Jake watched the feed cut to black as the squad boarded the extraction AH-53E (SBS).
Neo projected a mission summary screen.
Mission Report: Operation Clear Market
Status: Success
Casualties: None
Hostiles Eliminated: 42 Feral Ghouls
Assets Recovered:
1x Laser Musket
1x Fusion Core
15x Stimpaks / RadAway
Josh's Holotape
Performance Review:
Natasha: Tactical leadership confirmed. High aptitude for existing tech.
Anna: High combat efficiency. Tank role viable. No accidental absorption incidents.
Laura: Lethality extreme. Obedience stable.
Kitty: Infiltration capabilities S-Tier. Emotional fortitude improving.
Jake leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips. "They did good, Neo. Send a retrieval team for the bodies of the civilians. We'll give them a proper burial here. No one stays in a supermarket forever."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"You're a softie, Boss. But a softie with a tank battalion. I'll arrange the funeral detail."
"And Neo?" Jake added. "Have a hot meal waiting for Task Force X-Ray. I think they earned it."
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Current Status:
Location: Fort Hope - (Sanctuary Hills)
Time: Day 19 - 1300 Hours (1:00 PM)
Jake's Status: Proud.
New Units: Combat Tested.
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Earlier On Day Nineteen, Operation Double Out. Commenced it was to clear Rocky Narrows Park, From mutant bears & six aggressive mutant deers… And clear Jalbert Brothers Disposal, From cultists of the Children of Atom & a den of mole rats
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Day 19 - 1000 Hours / 10:00 AM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) – Command Center
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While the "New Girls" were prepping for their excursion into the Super Duper Mart, the main army of the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force was already grinding gears. Jake stood before the tactical map, watching two distinct feeds on the auxiliary monitors.
"Neo." Jake said, His eyes scanning the blue tactical icons moving across the digital map. "Initialize Operation: Double Out. Give me a sit-rep on the armored columns."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Affirmative, Boss. We have a split-ticket event today. Two locations, standard clear-and-secure protocols. No capes, no claws, just good old-fashioned American firepower."
Neo brought up the specs on the main screen.
Target Alpha: Rocky Narrows Park.
Target Bravo: Jalbert Brothers Disposal.
Force Disposition:
Fireteam Alpha: 10 Infantry (Standard M4A1/Combat Armor) supported by M3A3-M Bradley "Iron Tusk".
Fireteam Bravo: 10 Infantry (CBRN/Hazard Gear) supported by M3A3-M Bradley "Rad-Eater".
"Execute…" Jake ordered.
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Phase 1: Rocky Narrows Park
Unit: Fireteam Alpha & Bradley "Iron Tusk"
Threat Level: Moderate (Fauna)
The feed from "Iron Tusk" showed the vehicle crushing over rotting logs and rusted chain-link fences as it rolled into the valley of Rocky Narrows. The park was a relic of leisure, now overgrown with mutated flora.
"Contact front!" The Bradley commander's voice crackled over the net. "We have biologicals. Large scale."
Two Yao Guai—mutated black bears, hairless and rippling with tumors and muscle—roared from the tree line near the dilapidated houses on the north ridge. They were fast, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
"Gunner, Traverse left! 25mm, HE rounds. Light'em up!"
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.
The M3A3-M's Bushmaster chain gun roared. The first Yao Guai was mid-charge when three high-explosive rounds struck its chest cavity. The beast didn't just stop; it evaporated in a mist of red gore and bone shards.
The second bear swerved, Trying to flank the tank, but the Infantry Fireteam had dismounted.
"Squad, Open fire!" The Corporal yelled.
Ten M4A1 carbines barked in unison. The concentrated fire shredded the second bear before it could get within striking distance of the infantry.
"Clear on the heavies." The Bradley commander reported. "Scanning for secondary threats."
Movement flickered near the rusted playground equipment. Six Mutant Radstags—two-headed deer with razor-sharp antlers—spooked by the cannon fire, charged aggressively rather than fleeing.
"Infantry, Handle the livestock. Iron Tusk, secure the trailer at the hill's foot."
The fireteam moved with practiced efficiency. They formed a firing line. The lead Radstag, a glowing alpha buck, took a shot to the head and crumpled. The remaining five were downed in seconds.
The Bradley rolled up to the trailer at the bottom of the hill.
"Rad levels spiking near the barrels," the driver noted. "Reading 10 Rads/sec external. Keeping buttoned up."
The infantry secured the cooking station and popped the trunk of the trailer.
"Jackpot!" The Corporal radioed. "Ammo cache & raw meat for the mess hall. Park is secure."
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Phase 2: Jalbert Brothers Disposal
Unit: Fireteam Bravo & Bradley "Rad-Eater"
Threat Level: High (Radiation & Fanatics)
The scene on the second monitor was greener—literally. The air around Jalbert Brothers Disposal hung heavy with a radioactive haze.
"Approaching the perimeter," the commander of 'Rad-Eater' reported. "I see movement. Humanoids. They're... chanting."
Inside the fenced containment area, a group of Children of Atom zealots were kneeling before a containment shed filled with leaking yellow barrels. They held Gamma Guns, weapons that utilized radiation as a projectile.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the cultists erupted.
SKREEEE!
A den of Mole Rats—some glowing with internal radiation—burst from the earth. The cultists scrambled, firing green gamma waves that did nothing to the mole rats, who bit and clawed at the zealots' robes.
"Looks like they're busy," Jake muttered, watching the feed. "Bravo Team, intervene. Clear the board."
The M3A3-M crashed through the front gate, Flattening the sentry station.
"Attention!" The Bradley's external loudspeaker boomed. "This is the MCDF. Lay down your weapons!"
A Child of Atom Zealot turned, Eyes wild. "Behold! The metal beast comes to divide us!" He raised his Gamma Gun & fired a wave of radiation at the tank.
The radiation washed harmlessly over the Bradleys' heavy composite armor.
"Hostile intent confirmed," The Commander sighed. "Main gun, free fire."
The Bradley's coaxial machine gun & the 25mm cannon opened up. It was a massacre. The rounds tore through the cultists & the mole rats indiscriminately. The trailer the cultists used as a barracks was shredded, splinters of wood flying everywhere.
The Fireteam, dressed in protective masks, moved in behind the armor support to sweep the area. They approached the armor workbench situated between the shed and the trailer.
"Watch the barrels!" the Squad Leader warned. "Geiger counter is screaming. 30 Rads a second near the shed. Do not linger."
They cleared the remaining mole rats that were trying to burrow away.
"Area sanitized!" Bravo Leader reported. "No survivors. Cultists refused surrender. Securing the safe & the workbench."
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Command Center - Fort Hope
Jake watched as the green "All Clear" lights illuminated for both sectors.
"Operation Double Out is a success," Neo stated, pulling up the resource tally. "Not as flashy as the superhero squad, but effective."
Mission Report: Operation Double Out
Status: Success
Casualties: None (Minor radiation exposure to Bravo Team, treated with RadAway).
Hostiles Eliminated:
2 Yao Guai
6 Mutant Radstags
8 Children of Atom Cultists
12 Mole Rats
Assets Recovered:
Various Yao Guai/Radstag Meat & Hides.
1x Armor Workbench (Salvageable).
Gamma Rounds (confiscated).
Scrap metal from the disposal site.
"Good work!" Jake nodded. "Tell the crews to wash down the vehicles before they re-enter the main motor pool. I don't want radioactive dust in the maintenance bays."
Jake looked at the map. The Commonwealth was slowly turning blue, sector by sector.
"Two missions down before lunch!" Jake said, stretching his arms. "The Minutemen are getting efficient."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Efficiency is my middle name, Boss. Well, actually, it's Politan. But you get the point."
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Current Status:
Location: Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills)
Time: Day 19 - 1315 Hours (1:15 PM)
Jake's Status: Satisfied with the standard army's performance.
MCDF Status: Two new sectors secured; resources incoming.
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Day 19 - 1400 Hours / 2:00 PM – Outside of Graygarden
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Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 147/300'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/110'
'Summoned Vehicles: 58/120'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 32/65'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 80/95'
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The convoy of two M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) came to a halt at the base of the massive hillside. Above them, The Pre-War highway overpass loomed like a concrete ribcage, and nestled beneath it was a sight that seemed almost too serene for the wasteland: rows upon rows of vibrant, healthy crops enclosed in a massive greenhouse.
Jake Maxis stepped out of the lead Stryker, The hydraulic hiss of the ramp subsiding as his boots hit the dirt. He wasn't alone. Standing to his left was Laura Kinney, her emerald eyes scanning the perimeter with the intensity of a predator. Behind them, Ten Operators from MTF Alpha-1—the "Red Right Hand"—and Ten Delta Force Operators disembowed, their motions synchronized & silent.
"Neo, Give me a scan of the hillside." Jake commanded, adjusting the collar of his tactical vest.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Scanning... I'm picking up multiple robotic signatures. All Mr. Handy models. They seem... busy? No hostile targeting locks yet, Boss. It looks like they're literally just gardening."
As the group ascended the hill, A Mr. Handy with a clean white chassis floated forward, its three eyes rotating to focus on the small army approaching its home.
"Greetings! And welcome to Graygarden!" The robot chirped in a polite, Synthesized British accent. "I am Supervisor White. Are you here for the tour, Or perhaps to purchase some of our lovely mutfruit?"
Jake stepped forward, Raising a hand to signal his men to keep their weapons lowered. "I'm Commander Jake Maxis of the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force. We're not here to cause trouble, Supervisor. We're looking to establish a partnership."
Two more robots floated over: Supervisor Greene, sporting a slightly dented frame, and Supervisor Brown.
"Partnership? How marvelous!" Greene said. "But I'm afraid our 'partnership' with the soil is currently... strained. Our water pressure has dropped to abysmal levels, and the sediment is becoming quite toxic. My mutfruits are beginning to look more like 'mut-mutated-fruits,' and not in the delicious way."
"It's the Weston Water Treatment Plant," Brown added gloomily. "Just to the south. It's been failing for years, but lately, the pumps have gone completely silent."
Jake looked toward the south. He knew that plant. It was a vital piece of infrastructure, but according to Intel, it was a nightmare of flooding and radiation.
"If we fix the plant and get your water running clean, would Graygarden be willing to join the MCDF?" Jake asked. "We can provide protection and logistics in exchange for your surplus crops."
The three supervisors huddled, their thrusters humming in unison. Finally, White turned back. "If you can make the water flow without the green sludge, Commander, Graygarden is at your service."
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Location: Weston Water Treatment Plant
Objective: Clear the Facility and Reactivate the Emergency Flood Control Pumps.
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The two M1126 Strykers rolled toward the massive concrete structure of the treatment plant. The collection tanks outside were no longer filled with water; they were filled with scrap wood, gore, and Super Mutants.
"Contact!" A Delta Operator shouted over the comms.
From the rusted tanks, three Super Mutants armed with pipe rifles and boards began hooting and firing. Behind them, a massive Suicider started sprinting toward the lead Stryker, a blinking mini-nuke clutched in his hand.
"Laura, Take the Suicider. Alpha-1, clear the tanks!" Jake ordered.
Laura didn't say a word. She blurred into motion. With her enhanced speed, she bypassed the cover and closed the gap in seconds. SNIKT. Her foot claw extended as she leaped, severing the Suicider's arm before he could trigger the bomb. He tumbled into the dirt, and a single precise strike to the skull ended him.
The Red Right Hand opened up with suppressed M4A1s, their aim uncanny. The Super Mutants in the tanks were picked off before they could even finish their war cries.
"Move in!" Jake commanded, drawing his own sidearm.
[The Entry & The Flooded Abyss]
The reception area was dark and smelled of stagnant salt water. Jake approached the terminal behind the desk.
> [OFFICE SUPPLY ORDER]
> ...Redirecting surplus chemicals to Nut Island wastewater treatment plant (Warwick Homestead)...
"Neo, tag Warwick Homestead on the map," Jake noted.
They reached the elevator. The doors groaned open, revealing a shaft that dropped into murky, glowing water. Jake activated his Clairvoyance ability. A 3D map shimmered in his mind, showing red dots moving beneath the water's surface.
"Mirelurks…" Jake whispered. "And the water is hot. Everyone, check your seals."
They descended the stairs to the observation deck. The main floor was completely submerged.
"We need to activate the four pumps." Jake told his squad. "Laura, Stay on the catwalks. Delta, provide overwatch. Red Right Hand, with me."
Jake stepped into the water. His Radiation Sponge ability immediately kicked in. Instead of the water burning him, he felt a strange, tingling warmth as his body absorbed the 5 Rads per second, fueling his stamina.
SPLASH.
A Mirelurk burst from the water, its chitinous shell glistening. Before it could snap its claws at Jake, a burst of fire from the catwalk above shattered its face.
"Got your six, Commander!" A Delta sniper radioed.
[The Pump Sequence]
The team moved through the facility, the water level dropping incrementally as Jake flipped the switches on the Mark-VI Emergency Flood Control Pumps.
Pump One: Located in the northeast corner. A Mirelurk Hunter emerged, spitting acid, but Laura dropped from the rafters, her claws carving through its soft underbelly.
Pump Two: Hidden behind a security gate. Kitty Pryde wasn't here, so Jake used his Breacher Specialist skill to set a small, controlled charge. BOOM. The door buckled, and the pump was primed.
Pump Three: Guarded by automated turrets that had short-circuited into "fire on anything" mode. Jake activated Cybernetic Reflexes, the world slowing down as he picked off the turret sensors with three perfect shots.
Pump Four: The final pump sat at the very bottom of the facility. As the water drained away, a Mirelurk King stood revealed, its throat bulging as it prepared a sonic blast.
"Not today~" Jake muttered. He activated Combat Focus. In the three seconds of dilated time, He emptied a full magazine into the King's head. The creature slumped back into the mud as the final pump roared to life.
The massive turbines hummed, A sound they hadn't made in two hundred years. The stagnant water was sucked out, replaced by the sound of rushing, clean liquid.
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Day 19 - 1800 Hours / 6:00 PM – Graygarden
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Jake stood in the center of the Graygarden greenhouse. The robots were buzzing with excitement.
"The pressure! It's back!" Supervisor Greene shouted, Spraying a row of corn with a high-powered jet of crystal-clear water. "And the Geiger counter is silent! Simply marvelous!"
Supervisor White floated toward Jake. "You kept your word, Commander. Graygarden is now a proud member of the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force. Our crops are yours."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Mission Accomplished, Boss. We just secured the biggest food source in the Northwest. Plus, the robots are surprisingly good conversationalists."
Jake looked out over the hillside. The sun was setting, Casting a golden glow over the highway. Another piece of the puzzle was in place.
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Current Status:
Location: Graygarden (Newly Secured Settlement)
Time: Day 19 - 1900 Hours (7:00 PM)
Jake's Status: Triumphant but tired.
Resources Gained: Constant Supply of Vegetables (Mutfruit, Corn, Tato) for Vegetable Starch (Adhesive).
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Day 19 - 2000 Hours / 8:00 PM – South of Graygarden
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Jake's Mission HUD:
'Settlements Secured: 3' (Sanctuary, Red Rocket, Graygarden)
'Current Objective: Secure Oberland Station & Clear Beantown Brewery'
'Status: Night Operations - Green Light'
—————————————————————
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the Commonwealth in a deep, bruised purple. The convoy of two M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) moved slowly down the tracks, their tires crunching over gravel and rusted railroad ties.
Jake sat in the commander's hatch of the lead Stryker, his night-vision optics lowered. The hum of the engine was a comforting vibration beneath his boots.
"Oberland Station coming up on the left," Neo announced, her voice crisp in his earpiece. "Two life signs. Elevated heart rates. They're scared, Boss. They probably think we're Raiders coming from the Brewery."
Jake keyed the mic. "Cut the engines. We approach on foot. I don't want to spook them into taking a potshot."
The ramp lowered. Jake, Laura, and the squad of Alpha-1 operators moved out into the cool night air. The silhouette of a watchtower stood stark against the moonlit sky, flanked by a small shack and a modest garden of tatos.
"Who's there?!" a voice cracked from the top of the tower. A spotlight jerked erratically, sweeping over the tracks. "We're armed! Stay back!"
Jake stepped into the light, raising his hands slowly. "I am General Jake Maxis of the Minutemen! We aren't here to raid you. We're here to help."
A moment of silence passed, filled only by the chirping of crickets and the distant groan of metal from the city.
"Minutemen?" The voice was skeptical. "Minutemen are dead."
"Not anymore," Jake replied, his voice projecting calm authority. "We just secured Graygarden. We're heading to Beantown Brewery to clear out Tower Tom and his gang. But we can't leave good folks out here exposed. Join the MCDF, and you'll have food, water, and protection."
The spotlight lowered. Two figures—sisters, by the look of them—climbed down the rickety ladder. They looked exhausted, dirt-stained, and thin.
"If you're really taking out Tower Tom..." The older sister said, eyeing the heavy weaponry of the Alpha-1 operatives. "Then we're with you. We're barely holding on here."
"Welcome aboard!" Jake smiled. "Lock your doors. By morning, The neighborhood will be a lot quieter."
—————————————————————
Location: Beantown Brewery – South of Oberland Station
Mission: Operation: Talk the Talk (Part 2)
Objective: Eliminate Tower Tom, Neutralize Raider Presence, Secure the Facility.
—————————————————————
The Beantown Brewery sat on the banks of the Charles River, a brick monolith to pre-war alcoholism. The smell of fermented hops and rotting garbage wafted from the building.
"Neo, sit-rep," Jake whispered as they crouched behind the rusted hulk of a delivery truck in the parking lot.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Scanning... I've got heat signatures all over the upper levels. Tower Tom loves the high ground. Main entrance is locked—Advanced mag-lock. But the side entrance to the tasting room is wide open. Apparently, they want customers."
"Delta Force, secure the perimeter. Watch for runners," Jake ordered. "Alpha-1 and Laura, on me. We're going in through the side."
[The Store & Tasting Room]
They breached the side door silently. The tasting room was a mess of overturned tables and smashed bottles. Several display cases stood against the walls, some cracked, others still holding pristine bottles of Gwinnett Stout.
"Clear left," an Alpha-1 operator whispered.
"Clear right."
Jake moved to the stock room off to the side. A cooking station bubbled with something that smelled like radiator fluid and mirelurk meat.
Clank.
A Raider stumbled out of the hallway connecting the store to the main factory floor, a bottle of beer in his hand. He froze, staring at the ten elite soldiers in high-tech combat gear standing in his living room.
"Oh, shi—"
Thwip.
Laura didn't even unsheathe her claws. she simply threw a combat knife with terrifying velocity. It took the raider in the throat, pinning him to the doorframe with a wet thud.
"Quietly," Jake murmured. "Into the hallway."
[The Manufacturing Plant - The Vat Room]
The main floor was a cavernous space dominated by massive brewing vats. A network of rusted catwalks crisscrossed the room high above, suspended over the empty concrete floor and the vats.
Jake activated his Team Link perk. The outlines of his squad glowed soft blue through the machinery. He then triggered Clairvoyance. The layout of the room drew itself in his mind—enemies were patrolling the catwalks above.
"They have the height advantage," Jake noted. "If we start shooting from the floor, they'll rain grenades on us."
"I can go up," Laura offered, her eyes fixed on a vertical pipe running up the side of a vat.
"Do it. Flush them out. Alpha-1, suppress on my mark."
Laura vanished into the shadows. Moments later, a scream echoed from the rafters, followed by the sound of a body hitting the metal grating.
"CONTACT!" a Raider screamed from above. "It's a girl! Just one girl! Kill he—AAAGH!"
"Now!" Jake yelled.
The factory floor erupted. Ten suppressed M4A1s fired in unison, the sound like tearing canvas. Sparks flew from the catwalk railings as the Alpha-1 operatives picked off the Raiders leaning over to shoot at Laura.
Jake moved forward, utilizing cover behind a forklift. He saw movement on the southwest stairwell—reinforcements coming from the upper offices.
"Neo, highlight targets!"
[System Message: Field Scan Active]
A pulse of red energy washed over Jake's HUD, marking four hostile targets rushing down the stairs.
Jake snapped up his rifle. Uncanny Instinct kicked in. The recoil was non-existent.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Four Raiders tumbled down the stairs, neutralized before they could raise their pipe rifles.
[Tower Tom's Office - The Catwalks]
With the ground floor suppressed, Jake and the Alpha-1 team pushed up the stairs to the catwalks. The air here was thick with gunsmoke.
"Come on then!" A gruff voice bellowed from the main office at the end of the walkway. "You want my beer? Come & get it!"
Tower Tom.
He stepped out of his office, clad in heavy raider armor, wielding a combat shotgun. He fired blindly down the catwalk.
Jake ducked as buckshot sparked off the railing next to his head. "Cover fire!"
While Alpha-1 kept Tom pinned behind a metal pillar, Laura dropped from the ceiling pipes directly behind him.
Tom spun around, eyes widening. "What the—"
Laura backhanded him, sending the shotgun skittering over the edge of the catwalk. She grabbed him by the collar of his armor and lifted him off his feet, dangling him over the railing. Below, a large hole in the floor dropped straight down into the store they had just cleared.
"Does he fly?" Laura asked Jake, tilting her head.
"Let's find out," Jake replied.
She let go.
Tower Tom screamed all the way down, crashing through the hole in the floor and landing with a sickening crunch on the display case in the store below.
[The Aftermath]
Silence returned to the brewery, save for the dripping of leaked coolant.
"All Clear," an Alpha-1 operator reported.
Jake walked into Tom's office. It was filthy, but on the desk sat a magazine—Picket Fences—and a recipe holotape for 'Gwinnett Brew'.
"Neo, log the kill," Jake said, picking up the magazine. "And scan the vats. If there's any beer left that isn't irradiated piss, we're taking it back to Sanctuary."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Logging kill: Tower Tom. Status: Deceased via gravity. I'm detecting a functional brewing sub-routine on the terminal here, Boss. We can restart production. Though, I suggest we rebrand. 'Minuteman Stout' has a nice ring to it."
"Make it happen," Jake said, walking out to the catwalk railing to look down at his team. "Pack it up. Oberland is safe."
—————————————————————
Mission Report: Operation Talk the Talk
Status: Success
Locations Secured:
Oberland Station (Settlement acquired)
Beantown Brewery (Raider stronghold neutralized)
Assets Gained:
2 New Settlers (Oberland)
Brewing Equipment & Recipes (Gwinnett Ale/Stout/Lager)
1x Picket Fences Magazine (New High-Tech Fences unlocked)
Tower Tom's stash (Caps, Ammo, Drugs - to be disposed of or repurposed).
Casualties: None.
Expenditure: Moderate ammunition.
—————————————————————
Current Status:
Location: Beantown Brewery (Secure)
Time: Day 19 - 2130 Hours (9:30 PM)
Condition: Tired but morale is high.
—————————————————————
Day 19 - 2200 Hours / 10:00 PM – Leaving Beantown Brewery
—————————————————————
The heavy tread of the boots echoed on the pavement as the Delta Force operators loaded the last of the crates into the back of the M1126 ICVs. They had stripped the brewery of its useful assets: The tech, the caps, and the remaining potable Gwinnett Stout.
Jake stood by the lead vehicle, Wiping a smudge of grease from his cheek. Laura leaned against the hull, Cleaning her claws with a rag she'd found.
"Neo." Jake said, Keying his comms. "Set a course for home. But we're making a pit stop at Oberland Station first."
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Roger that, Boss. Do you want me to flag the settlement for construction protocols?"
"Negative…" Jake replied, Climbing into the commander's hatch. "Cancel the settlement beacon for Oberland. It's too exposed. A shack on a hill surrounded by super mutants & raiders? That's not a settlement; It's a target. We're getting those girls out of there."
The convoy roared to life, The headlights cutting through the thick darkness of the Commonwealth night.
—————————————————————
Day 19 - 2215 Hours / 10:15 PM – Oberland Station
—————————————————————
The return trip was short. The two sisters were waiting by the tracks when the Strykers rolled up, their lanterns held high. Tension was evident in their posture until they saw the Minutemen insignia on the armor.
Jake hopped down, Flanked by two Alpha-1 operators. He held up the combat shotgun Laura had knocked out of Tower Tom's hands—a trophy & proof of deed.
"Tower Tom is dead…" Jake announced, his voice carrying clearly over the idling engines. "His gang is scattered. The Brewery is ours."
The older sister, A woman with tired eyes and hair pulled back in a messy bun, let out a breath she seemed to have been holding for years. "I... I can't believe it. We've been living in fear of that maniac for months."
"You don't have to live in fear anymore!" Jake said, Stepping closer. His tone shifted from military commander to something warmer, More paternal. "But let's be real. Tower Tom was just one problem. There are still bears, mutants, and other gangs out there. Two people in a wooden shack can't hold this hill forever."
The younger sister looked at the older one, Then back to Jake. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you don't have to stay here…" Jake offered, Gesturing to the armored vehicles. "We have a main base at Fort Hope—formerly Sanctuary Hills. It has walls, turrets, clean water, hot food, and a damn tank battalion protecting it. Or, If you prefer a town vibe, we've cleared Concord and are rebuilding it as a safe zone." Jake looked them in the eye.
"Pack your bags. Bring your seeds. Come with us. You'll have a warm bed tonight and you won't have to take turns sleeping with a pipe pistol under your pillow. We need farmers, and you need safety."
The sisters exchanged a look. It wasn't a hard decision. The romance of independence had worn off long ago, Replaced by the terror of starvation & violence.
"We... we'd like that." The older sister nodded, tears welling up. "Fort Hope sounds... it sounds like a dream."
"It's not a dream…" Laura said, Speaking up from the shadows of the vehicle. "It's a fortress, A home..."
"All right, Delta!" Jake barked. "Help them pack. Grab the tatos, grab their personal effects. We leave nothing useful behind. Burn the shack when we're done. I don't want raiders using it as a lookout point."
Within twenty minutes, The sisters were seated comfortably in the back of the second Stryker, wrapped in military-grade blankets. Behind them, The Oberland shack was engulfed in flames, a beacon signaling the end of their struggle & the beginning of their new life.
—————————————————————
Day 19 - 2330 Hours / 11:30 PM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills)
—————————————————————
The gates of Fort Hope rolled open, Welcoming the night convoy home. The floodlights washed over the armored vehicles as they taxied to the motor pool.
Jake climbed out, stretching his back. It had been a long day. Three operations, two new settlements secured, one raider gang annihilated, and two refugees saved.
Neo appeared on his HUD, A digital clipboard in hand.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Welcome home, hero. Stats are updated. The sisters are being processed by the medical bay—Dr. Twilight is giving them a once-over just to be safe. We'll bunk them in the civilian quarters for now."
Jake nodded. "Good. Make sure they get a hot meal. Real food, not packaged garbage."
He looked toward the main house. The lights were still on.
"Status on the 'New Girls'?" Jake asked.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Asleep. Or pretending to be. They had a long day too. They synced well, Boss. You built a good team."
Jake smiled, looking up at the stars above the Commonwealth. "We're just getting started, Neo. Tomorrow, we start pushing toward Diamond City. I want to see what the 'Great Green Jewel' has to say about the new management in town."
—————————————————————
Daily Summary: Day 19
Missions Completed:
Operation Clear Market: Super Duper Mart Secured. (Task Force X-Ray).
Operation Double Out: Rocky Narrows & Jalbert Brothers Secured. (Standard Army).
Operation Green Thumb: Graygarden Alliance Secured.
Operation Talk the Talk: Oberland Evacuated & Beantown Brewery Cleared.
Settlement Status:
Sanctuary (Fort Hope): Secure / High Morale.
Red Rocket: Secure / Logistics Hub.
Graygarden: Secure / Food Production (Automated).
Oberland Station: Abandoned/Burned (Tactical Decision) - (Plans for a Possible Future Outpost).
Concord: Secure / Awaiting Population.
New Personnel:
2 Civilians (Oberland Sisters): Assigned to Agriculture Dept.
Current Resources:
Food: High (Graygarden Supply Line Active).
Water: High (Weston Plant Online).
Ammo: Moderate.
Fuel: High.
—————————————————————
Current Status:
Location: Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) - Command Quarters
Time: Day 19 - 2345 Hours (11:45 PM).
Condition: Exhausted but satisfied.