[u][b]Brother Joseph - Allied Technologies[/b][/u]


"Welcome, Brother Joseph", Furman said, "Have a seat, if it pleases you."

"Don't mind if I do", Joseph replied as he took a seat in one of the chairs before Furman's desk. "We were intrigued with your holotape...your wish to speak with us was fortuitous, we have a proposal of our own for Arctic Haven. But that can wait for the moment."  

Furman pulled up a big jug of water and poured a glass for himself and for Joseph, which he gratefully accepted. 

"I'm not one for theatrics", Furman began, "So I'll skip right to the chase. We need the Brotherhood's aid, one that will be clear in a moment." He closed the metal shutters, then took his seat behind the desk once more. "Much like the Brotherhood, our outfit has its origins tied in the Pre-War US Army. A key to our history is our residency on a chain of islands used as a small sector of Alaska's missile silos. Recently, our excavation crew clearing out collapsed tunnels found a long lost secondary command silo, overrun with weeds, vines and dust. But one thing they did find before I ordered them out until further notice was an ICBM. Now, according to our top technicians, all it'd take to repair this missile is to repair the rocket's boosters and recalibrate some....I don't know. Some kind of circuit board gizmo the eggheads were trying to explain. But the point remains, this missile poses a threat to the world. We have no desire to ever use nuclear arms, but we always prepare for the 'if' of should our home islands fall into enemy hands." He paused, scratching rubbing his beard in contemplation before he continued.

"A ICBM with a functional payload", Joseph replied grimly, studying Fulman's face for signs of what he planned to do with a weapon that should never have been forged in the first place, much less wielded. "A serious matter indeed. I would be [i]very[/i] interested to know why you are bringing this to our attention."

Serious was an understatement. The remnants of the Old World's nuclear 'deterrent' was a positive menace. The seizure of the SAC Headquarters bunker had put the Order in control of thirty-six ICBMs, while some had failed to launch, and a few had payloads of communications and reconnaissance satellites to aid in followup strikes, twenty four of them had been launch capable....enough for the Calculator to have ended any hope of human civilization rising from the ashes. There was discussion on what to do with them, but in the end there was really only one decision that could be made. The Midwestern Order had deviated far from the Codex by that point, but they were still at one with their Brethern to the West when it came to the weapons their ancestors had used to destroy the world. By the Lord Paladin's command, the warheads of each missile had been removed and dismantled, their plutonium cores reprocessed into reactor fuel, well before Joseph was born.      

"I get why you might wonder why I am bringing this up", Furman answered, "'Are you bragging?' you may be wondering, but it's quite the opposite. The only people I could ever trust to lock this weapon away....is the Brotherhood. If need be, we'll cover the costs of removal if need be, but one this is clear: That weapon of our ancestor's sins must be hidden from the world for good. Especially given factions like Kimball and those freakshow cultists running around. The beefs we've had with the Brotherhood have all been business, but on a personal level, we have a degree of respect for the Brotherhood, so we're looking to your people to take it away and keep it secure in your hands."

Joseph nodded, inwardly relieved that his hopes had been proven correct. Fulman wanted help destroying it....help the Order would cheerfully provide. There was no need to consult with the Lord-Paladin before making a decision, His Will on this matter was crystal clear. 

"It's a harsh world, Commander, and we all do what we must to survive.", Joseph said. "It is true that there is a checkered past between Arctic Haven and the Brotherhood, both our Brethren to the West, and our Order. But we recognize that you and your men are professionals, bearing grudges over past conflicts helps no-one." He paused then continued. "I can speak for the Lord-Paladin on this matter with authority...we shall aid you in making sure this weapon is never, [i]ever[/i] used. For that matter, we will dismantle the device or devices on-board, and destroy them, as we have many others before." Joseph pulled a notebook and pen from his satchel. "If you could kindly give me the coordinates of the silo the weapon is housed in, and the designation of the control center you found, we will research military records in our possession to learn precisely what we are dealing with. We will assemble a team that can, with your permission, evaluate the weapon and determine the best way to neutralize it before transportation. Does your command have access to a crane that can hoist a weight of forty tons?"

Once a basic agreement was hammered out, Joseph retrieved a folder from his satchel and offered it to Fulman. 

"For your perusal, Commander", Joseph said, "A contract offer I have been authorized and directed to make by the Lord-Paladin."


(OOC- That last part I would like to discuss off board.)  

[u][b]
Lord-Paladin Simon Barnaky - Ultra-Luxe[/b][/u]


"Simon.", replied a cold and educated voice the moment Joseph had left. After a short pause, it continued as Barnaky began to pace again, listening raptly to what House was saying. "Kimball is an imbecile. It is only fitting that this pathetic excuse of a representative they have sent us was a very convincing double. 'Pickle' is not a word I would use, Mr. Barnaky. None of what transpired today is at all a surprise -- I predicted the NCR's course of action long before this summit. My representative, on the other hand, has succeeded in creating a cloud of subterfuge without my even planning of it. His extreme lack of poise and impulsive reactions have given the others an inaccurate picture. When I join the fray, tomorrow, things will be very different."

"Hmph", Barnaky replied. "I knew Kimball was preparing for war, Robert, a 'Democracy' like the NCR cannot hide troop movements of the size we were seeing. The NCR's economic figures are appalling as well, and they have a history of papering over their fiscal mismanagement at their neighbor's expense...not that I have to tell you, of all people, that. I expected the attack to come after the conference ended...if only to gain some support from his allies from the last go-around....I must admit that moving now was a surprise to me. But it seems I gave him too much credit."

"You are not known for being a fan of 'fluff' and insincere small-talk", House said, "so I will make simple the reason I have opened communication with you. I believe that our technological empires were made for each other. You have the power to curate some of the most dangerous and wildly spectacular technology left in this world. I have the power to cultivate and build an entire civilization around it. This summit has only confirmed my speculation -- the days ahead will be far too turbulent for me to accurately predict them. But we can help each other. My vision for the west is grand, and the NCR will not stand in its way."

"Please excuse me, Simon. Just a moment." his next words appeared to be directed at someone else, his voice also displayed slight irritation. "What [i]is[/i] it?"

"First day is over, boss-man. Not sure what to think of it," muttered The King.

"I know what to think. You were a fish-out-of-water. You could not keep your own personal nomenclature off the table and made a fool of yourself. You made us look frail in front of the NCR and accomplished the direct opposite of everything I had hoped you would."

"Oh."

"You will be running errands for me tomorrow. I will be attending the meeting. Have a lovely evening."

"O-oh... All right. Good night, Mr. House."

Barnaky sadly shook his head as he listened. 

"[i]You can't talk to the kids like that[/i]", he thought, "[i]It only discourages them.[/i]" Barnaky counted himself fortunate that he had able and reliable lieutenants, but then he had spent decades developing talent that would serve his Cause, something that House had neglected until very recently. Personally, he thought the King had done as well as he could, given what little he probably knew of his Boss's thinking. That was a mistake he had not made, Martin and Joseph knew exactly what he hoped to get from this conference, and he trusted them to do their utmost to carry out his will.   

"My apologies", House said as his attention shifted back to Barnaky. "As I was explaining -- your people are part of my vision. The landscape of western America is ripe, and only we know what exactly to do with it."

"I understand", Barnaky replied. "That is quite the compliment coming from you, knowing your opinion of the Brotherhood, or at least my late Brethren of the Mojave Order....not that I want to dredge up past tragedies. I grieve for them, but they chose their path and I see no point bearing a grudge over where that path led them to."

"I only know the outlines of your vision", Barnaky continued, "I know that the much of the money you are extracting from the NCR is being poured into industrialization and a space program....long term investments to be sure. I am very interested in what your long term goals are, though I suspect that at the moment, you wish to discuss a short-term goal....namely putting the NCR back in the jar they were placed in by you and I five years ago."