[color=ed1c24][b][u]The Legion - I-70 Eastern March, Near Burlington[/u][/b][/color] After passing the border outpost, the marching legions of Legate Aurelius continued onward down the old I-70 interstate towards Burlington. They kept a steady, disciplined pace, and the vanguard of the legion expedition was already approaching the outskirts of the town. At the head of the column, Aurelius and a disguised Vulpes Inculta observed as they past farmland and wasteland homesteads, which were sparse at first, but became more frequent as they came closer to Burlington. As they past by, curious Midwesterners approached the marching column to catch a glimpse of the line of crimson legionaries and brightly colored horsemen. Some remained quiet and merely watched with curiosity, others cheered their arrival, but none appeared overtly hostile. "An odd change of pace isn't it?" Aurelius said as he turned to Vulpes, "To be welcomed into a region with open arms, rather than being shunned as conquerors." "And they never seem to understand when they're conquered," Vulpes replied, "Marching with one eye on the road and another on the hills around you leaves one feeling remarkable less hospitable to the populace." "Well this time we're guests, not invaders. Lucius charged me with the war in the east and to represent the standard of Caesar to the Midwest. I will show Barnaky that the Legion is not just a buffer to the NCR or a band of untrained tribals. They'll be no troubles with the local populace, and any of my legionaries that starts it will be up on a cross before nightfall." Aurelius's fist clenched around the reigns of his horse as he uttered the threat. "None would dare shame Caesar in the lands of our allies. Of that you can be sure. And once we reach the front lines...." "We'll show this 'Cult' no mercy. They'll be eradicated. Each and every one of them. Lanius was called the Monster of the East. I will show them that I am the Monster of the West." "Machetes, spikes, and crosses then," Vulpes chuckled, "Like the old days. Between you and me...I missed it." The galloping hooves of a horse coming down the road from Burlington broke the two men's conversation as one of the Legion's outriders rode up to Aurelius and offered a sharp salute, "Ave Legatus." "Ave Legionnaire. What is your report?" "The Midwestern commander of the Burlington garrison offers his greetings. He bids me to inform you that they're expecting our arrival and their engineers have prepared an area for encampment with adequate water sources and sanitation. The depot is also being readied and trains can soon begin transporting men and supplies eastward." "Excellent. We'll make our way there at once and I will order the men to construct a camp. It will take several hours for the full compliment of the column to arrive, but once the men have rested and resupplied we can begin boarding." "I would like my Frumentarii to travel east with the first group," Vulpes offered, "Once there, we can begin properly assessing the situation." "Agreed. See that its done Vulpes. Legionary, inform the commander that I would be glad to receive him in my tent if he would like to discuss the logistics. Otherwise, thank him for his assistance." "At once Legatus!" ---- [color=00aeef][u][b]Lancer-Sergeant "Robert Kyle" - Markle, Indiana[/b][/u] [/color] [i]Captured, by raider savages. [/i] Robert lambasted himself for his failure. The Elder had charged him with making contact with the Midwestern chapter, and he'd been captured by raiders. Shortly after he'd touched down outside of town, he'd been rushed by large group of the psychopaths. Apparently they'd seen his vertibird and prepared an ambush. Knowing he could never fend off such a force on his own, he'd activated the vertibird's self-destruct mechanism to prevent such technology from falling into their hands. He'd been prepared to do the same to himself, but had been captured before he could carry that out. Now he'd been thrown into some godforsaken rusted prison in the middle of some backwater raider town. The ignominy of it was not lost on him. [i]Caw! Caw! [/i] Robert looked up with surprise to find a fat black crow sitting comfortably on the upper rafters of the prison. [i]Caw![/i] "Now how'd you get in here?" Robert muttered to himself as he looked up at the strange bird. The crow unnerved him for a reason that he couldn't really explain. It was just sitting there...almost like it was staring at him...judging him even. And he couldn't help but notice the usually red eyes the creature seemed to have... [i]Caw![/i] The crow quickly flew away and out a small hole in the metal roof of the building as one of the raiders came into the room. [i] "Like your new home, Brotherhood bitch?", the raider sneered, "Well don't get used to it....we'll be taking you to Ft Wayne soon enough, the Big Boss will no doubt have some questions for you. By the time he gets down with you, you'll wish I'd let the boys finish you."[/i] Robert was about to reply, when he saw something behind the raider. Something that caused him to grin ever so widely. An Assaultron had appeared out of a stealth field, and quickly blasted him into oblivion. It freed the other prisoners first, before turning to him. "You do not appear in our Codex, Brother", the Assaultron said, "Who are you?" it then added, "The short version, please...we have maybe fifteen minutes before the shit hits the fan here." "Lancer-Sergeat Robert Kyle," Robert replied, as he stood up, "I'm with the eastern chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel. I was sent east to reconnect with our former Brothers...I'm the last survivor of a group of holdouts in The Commonwealth. Can you take me to your commanding officer?" [color=00aeef][u][b]A Strange Visitor, 'Publick Occurrences', Diamond City - The Commonwealth[/b][/u][/color] Piper looked up from her upstairs desk where she was working diligently on her next article as she heard the door swing open and close. Confused, she called out, "Nat, is that you? I thought you wouldn't be home until later?" There was no response, and the hairs on the back of her head began to stand up, "Nat?" As quietly as she could, she reached for the 10mm pistol on her desk and grabbed it. She then began to head over to the stairs and carefully walked down step by step, keeping the pistol at the ready, "Hello? Who's there?" To her surprise, a croaky and coarse voice replied. One that sounded much like a ghoul but somehow...different, "No need to roll out the red carpet on my account, but is a cup of tea and a fucking cigarette too much to ask for?" As she continued down the stairs, she found a strange looking figure at the door. Dressed head to toe in an overcoat and wearing some kind of gas-mask apparatus which hid most of his face. "Not like I expect any different. Apparently this dump of a town doesn't allow ghouls in. Hmmph. Morons. Do I look like one of those half-crazed ferals?" "Who are you! Start talking!" Piper yelled, as she pointed her pistol at the stranger. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lower it, now," The stranger replied, and before Piper could even react, he had a silenced 9mm pistol drawn and pointed at her, "Drop it, or I'll drop you. I don't like killing Dames, but I'll do it without a fucking second thought." "Take off the mask...and then maybe." "Fine. Have it your way." The stranger pulled at the breathing mask and took it off, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter, "I was getting tired of wearing that piece of crap anyway." Piper wasn't surprised to see a ghoul staring at her, but she was surprised to find a ghoul with a full head of hair...and glasses, underneath that mask. If he was a ghoul...at least she could be reasonably sure he wasn't working for the Mayor...or The Institute. She lowered her pistol, and the ghoul replied in-kind, "Alright....so what do you want." "Information. That's all. And I've been led to believe you're just bird I need to see to get it." Piper raised her eyebrows, "What sort of information?" "I'm looking for someone...and old friend you might say...well alright not a friend. A rival. I believe you met him. He came in here himself a couple years ago...looking for someone as well. He's next on my list. Next in [url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcF4C6Dt2E]The Great Game[/url]. Wasn't sure he'd made it through...but now that I know he did...." "Oh...you mean HIM," Piper replied, hardly holding back her distaste. "Ah, so you have met. Good. Now lets just sit down and have a nice little chat. Hmm?" "You're wasting your time. If you want to get to him. You'll never find it." "It?" "The Institute," Piper sneered, "That's where he is...after he abandoned us. Abandoned The Commonwealth." "Can you blame him? The place is a hell-hole. Almost makes me wish I was back in Maryland....but don't worry, I know all about 'The Institute'. Was quite familiar with it before the war as well. I'll find it. Just tell me everything you know." "Who...who are you?" "The name's Desmond sweetheart. Desmond Lockheart."