[hr] [center] [i][b][url=https://i.imgur.com/hQpT6dQ.jpg] [b]The Warmaster[/b][/url] Highway 75 - Somewhere between Waters and Grayling - The Warmasters Camp[/b][/i] [/center] [hr] Nobody dared to interrupt the hulking beast in human flesh in his prayer. Naked, only coated in ash and blood, the Warmaster was calmly kneeling in front of the black fragment of the Monolith, who filled the tent with a lilac mist, the blessed Miasma of the Monolith itself. Rows of minor Chiefs and Head-Warriors stood behind him, waiting for him to rise. Even his two mutated beasts, who he called his dogs, were calmly chewing on the remains of a scarifice, snarrling at each other, when ever one of them tried to steal his brethren´s meat. Beside that, and the silent whisper of the Warleader, there was nothing heard in the tent for an eternity... Finally, the Beast in human form rose from the ground. He had been tall back when he had been Cranz, yet he had grown even more, in the radiactive wilderness of Canada. His flesh had withered and died at some parts of his body, giving way to raw muscles, and at some places, steel had to be hammered in place. His armor had been adjusted by enslaved junkers, locked into the wailing mass of useful captives, who followed his army, like a swarm of crippled rats. Their abilities kept them alive and protected...unlike the ones who where found wanting. Their corpses littered the path of the army, like bloody footprints, some just left behind to die, others serving the weakest and desperate as an additional source of nutrition. This was no army, it was a horde of thousand little gangs, tribes and bands, held together by this naked titan, the embodiment of a dreaming gods wrath. He was the warleader, brought onto this world to bring in a bloody harvest. His hunt in Canada had been bloody, yet granted him a worthy army for his own ambitions. [hr] [b]"Dosh-Novan and his horde have taken Detroit, and sacked the city! They say that the Flames licked the stars itself, so high they have burned! He will raise a mighty monolith indeed.."[/b] The Ghoul was wearing a rusty mask, in a grim parody of the helmet the warmaster wore. Zer´g Rilth grunted, as he pointed on the map, before he moved a figure with his massive fingers. [b]"Dosh-Novan is a fool! He could have spread his army out, and razed the rich lands of the Republic, when they were disorganized and weak! This would have been a killing wound, causing a slow, yet secure death...yet this fool went for the heart!"[/b] The meaty hand, covered in veins in all colors moved futher, until it moved onto the big spot of Detroit. [b]"Yet now he lacks the strenght to confirm the kill...trapped in a city with long lines of supply..this arrogant fool!"[/b] A frail slave quickly followed the pointing of the warleaders hand, and placed a figure on Windsor. [b]"Either Dosh-Novan will cross that river, and rip the heart out...or he will perish in this trap..."[/b] Snorting, The Warmaster leaned back in his massive chair, before he reached for the bowl next to it and picked out bloodied chunk of meat, to toss at his hounds. [b]"Tell me about this legion, that fight with the Brotherhood..."[/b] It was the eyeless missonary who spoke up, holding onto his iron staff, the lipless smile unerving for all who still could feel fear. [b]"They once were lead by a man called ceaser...named after a figure of ancient times! Millions of ye...[/b] Zer´g Rilth growled, as one of his dogs was looking up to him, begging for a new chunk of meat. [b]"Gaius Julius Caesar! They had books about him, which i read! Some portrait him as a brilliant hero, others as a villian..some where written from the perspective of some tribal warriors, turning him into the butt of vile jokes! Say, missionary! Which of these describe this Caesar the most?"[/b] The missionary glared silently into the fire next to him, before finally finding his voice again. [b]"A..a villian! He claimed to be the son of mars! Some of..of my lesser faithful brethren have tired to link this "mars" to glorious Ug-Qualtoth, yet this is vilest heresy! Said Caesar was a fool and he died like on! On a bed..from a tumor in his brain! The command was taken by a great Warrior named Lanius, who himself fell during the battle..Shattered they were, one could say, but reformed, by the current leader, a man named Lucius, whom they say, has slain the President of the mighty NCR in single combat, while he was riding a horse of steel, while Lucius was riding one of flesh.. [/b] [b]"Most intriguing i must say! When we met them in battle, i wish that the captives are presented to me! Some will make for great converts, others i wish to feast on, to gain their strength...and their remains shall be granted to my dogs!"[/b] Waving the missionary away, the Warmaster rose from his Throne. [b]"Mighty Warmaster...How shall we respond to Dosh-Novans plead for aid? Shall we send..[/b] The Warmaster raised a hand, to silence the Warrior, before shaking his mighty head. [b]"We send nothing! Dosh-Novan shall proof his worth, or perish! His greatest deed so far, is to stab an old man in the back...he shall earn his right to lead once and for all! But send word to Cleveland,the beast shall be manned, armed and woken. The Brotherhood shall be thought a lesson that their navy will never forget! Yet we shall continue our march to Grand Rapids. And rejoce...soon i will feast on the brain of this perversion that leads the brotherhood! Now, rather the sacrifices and raise the pyres...He who slumbers shall feast when we break camp tomorrow.." [/b] [hr] [center] [i][b][url=https://78.media.tumblr.com/5eccb17208b9ab82fcf1e850a826a54a/tumblr_o2hynqKTG11ta0earo2_500.png] [b]The Lioness of Steel[/b][/url] The Ruins of a city, somewhere between Salem and Hamilton - Roof of the M̵̹͙̯̟̯̭̬͚ͧ̾ͦ̑̇̉̌̌͝į̷̨̗̩̥͉̩̑̍͗̈̎͗͊̔̈ͧ͋ͯ̈́̅͑ͬ̅s̡ͫ̾̓̆̌҉҉̵̮͈͇̣̦͇̤̹̻̯̘͈̺͕̙̭k̠̰̟̰͎̬̓ͣͭͫͫ̑̋ͭ̋ͮ͑̋ͪͭ͋̕a̸ͧͩ̇ͩ͌̅͏͎̺̜͚̞̀ͅţ̷̧̨̟̪͕̞͎̦̲̥̫͖̥̹̞̍̉͊̆̓̀͒͆̈ͨ̽̓ͧ͂ͣ̊̀͟ͅȍ̧̨͖͖̱͉̺̰̱͍̦͈͓̥͓̰͕̲̲͔̂͗̾̌ͫ͋̒ͪͦͧͨ̍ͥ͝n̶̨̝̪̱̺̘̲̘̦̝̗ͫͯͣ̽ͣͥͥͬ̆ͫ͗̿ï̍ͩͨ̈ͦ͒̌͂́̇̍̐̉͂͌́͠͡҉̵̣͉̬̲̣̙̫͍͇̺͠c̿̆̍̚͏͜҉̥͈̮̻̖̬ ̸̛͉̠̞̲̓̆͒̏ͪ̅͂́͡͡ University[/b][/i] [/center] [hr] The swamp had claimed the city in a way, that one almost could think, that it had an bestial desire to let this place vanish away. The Lioness could not help but feel glad over this development, as this place had a foul stench to it, dank and disgusting. Far behind her, she could hear the sound of rapid laser fire, bullets and the roaring of ghouls. The University had been a nest of their vile kind, with halls so packed, that they had formed a wall of living flesh. Yet she had not send anyone into this hell.. She had send in the Pride... She could hear the Radio-chatter from inside the three Vertibirds, where hectic voices were screaming commands and objections, while the sound of the firing weapons was drenching out an sense of order. Yet, the Lioness knew, that her Pride would get the job done...or die trying! Her leather clad hands formed fists, as she glared into the swampy wasteland in front of her. Maybe she would burn this disgusting place herself into the ground, ridding he world of its stench for all eternity. Some of the ghouls had scales, and were bigger then the common rabble of their kind...their groans had sounded almost like voices! This place was getting to her, reminding her of the great battle, the great defeat and the long march north. So many failures, so many mistakes! Never again, would she be making any foolish decisions, never again would she show weakness. Now, she could hear the voice of a woman praying, leading her to roll her eyes. [b]"Keep quite, Marcella! We need the stay focused! The pride need all the direction they can get."[/b] The missonary looked up from her rosary. [b]"And all help they can get, Lady-Elder..[/b] The Lioness spat out, as she turned her head. [b]"Then pick up a gun and storm into this cursed place with them! But otherwise keep your mouth shut, and remain inside the Bird!"[/b] She could see the pain in the womans eyes, yet the Lioness did not care about her illusions. She had led them here, onto the ruins and into the charnel house that were the narrow corridors of the University. The fear of losing her best men and women was pushing deeper and deeper into the Lioness mind, yet her face remained stone, as she kept looking back onto the ruins of the swampy city. [b]"LADY COMMANDER! WE HAVE IT! RETREATING TO THE ROOF NOW! Glade and Conner are KIA! Cutter is MIA, asking for permission for an rescue mission..."[/b] The face of the young knight flashed in the Lioness face. His broad motivating smile and his firm look when he had ventured down below. He was a good man, and a loyal member of the brotherhood. [b]"Permission denied! We leave now...do you have the book?"[/b] A short silence followed, and the Lioness was sure, she could hear curses. [b]"We have the book..[sub] I can hear him scream...he is just there...[/sub]"[/b] The Lioness quickly walked over to the Vertibird, before taking a seat next to Marcella. [b]"Was god taking a break for Conner...or he just hates Gingers?"[/b] She recived no answer, as all on board looked at the hole in the ground, only a hundred meters away from them. Then, the flashing light came closer and closer, until finally, seven figures rose from the pit. Their armor was covered in blood and mutated flesh, that the metal barley could be seen anymore. The Vertibird was already hoovering as they were sprinting towards it, Dusk and Colvin covering the retreat by tossing incindiary granades into the hole, before legging it as fast as they could. The Lioness waited on the door, until Vargas finally had reached her. Gasping, he climbed into the Bird, coughing and cursing. [b]"Star Paladin...you have the book.."[/b] Tearing his helmet off, Vargas was once more coughing, before he held up a sealed box. [b]"We have it..."[/b] [hr] [center] [i][b][url=https://img00.deviantart.net/c4df/i/2012/062/1/f/00_by_fdasuarez-d4rk8m8.jpg] Marie Ashur[/url] The Long road to Boston [/b][/i] [/center] [hr] [center][i][b]T̳͙͎h̲̗͚̪̳̘̞i҉͕͎̱͚͍s̪ ̛̩͉̰b̵̪o̞̰̣͕̞̟d̪͖͉̮̞y͙̼̦ ̵̜͚͙̣̝S͈̗o̟̹̘̜̥͍͍ ͚̦̼͉̦͟ͅͅl͓̺͓̳͠i̮m̦̠i̞̕ṯ̀ḭ̙͎̻n̯̞̫g̛̤̰̘̰ ͏͕T̶̺̲̭̯̫̟h̭̣͖̯͎e̟̮̻͇ ̫̞̟̖̮ͅs̬̥͕͔̮k̴̙̙͓̮̤͍y̗͎̝͎͝ ͟s͓̮ͅo ̭̖̣̦͙̲̞r̙̠̙͠ͅe̤̼̱͖̳̦̜͟d̖̫̼̜̟̦ ̗͍f͎̜̟͖̰͓̗e͍̭̜̫͜a͎͖̖̗̥ś̖t̶ ̻̠̪̜̱͙o̟̼̬̳̗͚͇͞n̼͢ ҉͙͔̝͓b̞̱l̞̯̦u̵͔͉͔̙͎̰e̵̘̹̣ ̼̪̘̺͙̲͟s̴͙̮͓̳cr̫͚̯̱̮͞ḛ̡̻̦a̰̩͈̬ͅm̞̟̯ ̹̺̬͕̼i̫̻̺̼n̝̬͎ ̡̮͓̲͎̖̹l̥̗̯̖i̝̠l̺̰̹̮̱̼ị̶̪̣̺̝a̛͙c͙̦͖̫͕̘̩̼̪̘̺͙̲͟s̴͙̮͓̳cr̫͚̯̱̮͞ḛ̡̻̦a̰̩͈̬ͅm̞̟̯ ̹̺̬͕̼i̫̻̺̼n̝̬͎ ̡̮͓̲͎̖̹l̥̗̯̖i̝̠l̺̰̹̮̱̼ị̶̪̣̺̝a̛͙c͙̦͖̫͕̘̩ ͇̰H̴e͏̝̻̝̜ ̹̭̖̥̜ ̥͞I s̛h̡̫ͅa̖̲͝l̹̲̭̪l̠ ̥͞I ̮w̫͈̟̹͕̮͕a͖̦̪̺͍k̖̪͔̰̻͕e̮̙̯̝͉̺͘.̴̲̻͎͔̣.͖̹̠̥͚. [/b][/i][/center] [hr] [center] [i][b][url=https://farm1.static.flickr.com/793/27501757318_dd48bb8bb6_b.jpg]A3-18[/url] Boston, CIT, The Institute - Personal Chambers of Doctor Wargner [/b][/i] [/center] [hr] [i]She was imprisoned, chained to this body of flesh, who was nothing but a parody of life. A digusting abomination, false and reeking of amoniac. Marie wanted to scream, yet she had no mouth for it. All she could do, was to watch herself cutting the strange paste in front of her. Never in her life had she felt so helpless..never so vulnerable. There was a sound in her head, buzzing and roaring behind her.[/i] [b]"TAK...ZZZZZZZ"[/b] [b]"TAK...ZZZZZZZ"[/b] [b]"TAK...ZZZZZZZ"[/b] [b]"TAK...ZZZZZZZ"[/b] [i]Once more, Marie tried to scream, as she pushed against her bounds. A twich went through the body that she occupied, and a gasp left her, as the knife cut into her hand. Breaking her task for a moment, Marie could feel a spark of hope. This was her doing, it had to be hers. She could break this chain that was holding her, take control of this vessel...and finally find out more about this nightmare, this perversion![/i] [i][b]"HAND OVER YOUR FLESH! I DEMAND IT!"[/b][/i] [b]The Synth moved a hand to her head, as she dropped the knife. Behind her, Marie heard the sound of...water? It faded, as a door was shoved open, and a man was humming. With a clap, behind him, music began to fill the room. Heavy steps calm closer, as Marie could feel the presence of a human. Joy filled her, as she realize that this place HAD humans inside it! And with it, souls that could see the truth! Souls that could be convinced to tear down these false machines... [/b] [b]"Mhhh, what you cooking, sweet bee?"[/b] [i]The hand moved onto the body she was in, in a way, that send a shiver down her spine. The body she was in wanted to say something, something that turned Maries stomach sick, as she layed eyes on the human behind her, fat and old, his chest coated in grey hair. Then she felt his lips on her neck...[/i] [hr] Dr. Wagner was screaming, as he ran out out of his chambers, onto the corridor. Blood was coating his naked chest, as even his boxers by now were drenched in it. Falling down he, crawled away, the knife still resting in his shoulders. [b]"HELP...MURDER...MURDER..."[/b] Then the shadow rose over him twiching and struggling. [b]"SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN...SHUT IT DOWN!"[/b] The buzzing in her head was all Marie could hear, as she lifted the wincing doctor up with both hands, starting at him with an fury that no synth would be capable off... [b]"A3-18 initiate reset. Authorization code Beta 72 Cyclone!"[/b] Deep inside her head, Marie could feel the buzzing turn into a roaring current, loud and everpresence. Everything around her was drowned out, by the sound of it. A long scream left her lips, as she lost it... [hr] It was the heat of a laser, that contacted with her shoulder, that woke Marie from the madness that had overtaken her. The pain gave clarity in the middle of the red fury, as her hands had decended onto what was left of Wagner over and over again. [b]"A3-18 EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN AUTHORIZATION CODE Iota 2 Incus!"[/b] Marie once more heard the sound in the back of her mind, yet this time, the pain allowed her to cope with it. Raising both hands, blood and dripping, she glared onto the thing that had been fired at her, as well as the woman behind it. Both wore white uniforms and head unhandly guns in their hands. [b]"A3-18 EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN AUTHORIZATION CODE Iota 2 Incus! Wh..what is going on...why is that thing not shutting down..."[/b] An uneartlhy shriek left Maries false mouth, as she could feel the fragile neck of the woman in her hand, even through she stood ten meters away from her. Fury overtook her, as she pressed the fingers against the palms. The snapping noise was loudly heard...then her hands felt for the machine at her side. Him she tore limb from limb... [hr] [center] "CODE BLACK IN LIVING SECTOR 8-b! INFORM THE DIRECTOR! EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY...ALL AVAILABLE COURSERS TO THIS LOCATION! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" [/sub]