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[center] [i][b][url=https://78.media.tumblr.com/5eccb17208b9ab82fcf1e850a826a54a/tumblr_o2hynqKTG11ta0earo2_500.png] [b]The Lioness of Steel[/b][/url] Raven Rock [/b][/i] [/center]
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[center] [b]"Raven Rock, this is Grand Zealot Richter with the Children of Atom.  Do you copy?"

"Raven Rock, on behalf of the Children of Atom, I must speak to a representative of the Brotherhood of Steel regarding your order's return to the Capital Wasteland and your proximity to Fort Constantine.  Will you comply?"[/b] [/center] 

[b]"Tell him to go to hell.."[/b] The Lioness crossed her arms, as she glared at the holo-table, watching the dots approaching. Her fingers tapped on the surface, while in the background the knight picked up the vox. [b]"This is Knight Wong of the Brotherhood of Steel! You are entering a restricted airspace! Remove yourself from the area or we will open fire on you!"[/b] Cutting off the contact, the knight turned, as he looked at the Lioness, who picked up her own headset. 

[b]"Lance One, fire a warning shot! If the cultist keep coming, blow them up!"[/b] Her voice was cold, as her other hand kept tapping on the table below. [b]"It will be done, Madame!"[/b] Taking a deep breath, the Lioness turned to face the monitor, waiting for the sound of the AA-Gun to fire. Deep in the bunker, it was just a muffled mumble, a the four barrels would turn from the hidden emplacement, giving way for a hail of fire onto the approaching aircraft. The fire was close, yet far enough to cause no damage, yet to underline the clarity of this warning. Knight Wong once more picked up his headset, dialing in the contact. [b]"This is Knight Wong, this is your last warning, Grand Zealot Richter! Correct your course now, or we will blow you to kingdom come! Over and out!" [/b] 
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[center] [i][b][url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fa/64/19/fa641934449a753e8362089e3901e0cd.jpg] [b]Vagari the Slave[/b][/url] Interstate 80 -one mile east from Salt Lake City - The Sacred High-Way [/b][/i] [/center]
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The charcoal was brittle, yet still would easily move over the asphalt, as the slave was drawing the lines, muttering once more to himself, as the outline of the mid-west slowly appeared on the asphalt. [b]"You really do it just out of your mind?"[/b] The slave did not answer for a while, before getting back on his knees and turning his rotting face to Thunderfoot. [b]"Yes, my boy! But then again, i spend the entire first half of my life looking at books and maps. Discit in animum, etsi non anima!" [/b] Bending forward again, the slave drew the bull onto the land, before filling out the lines, marking the border of the territory of the legion. [b]"Yo have been there! Seen coat to coast! How was it?"[/b] The slave turned, before taking a break as he got up, leaving the charcoal on the ground. [b]"Impressive, i may say! The pacific is far larger then the Atlantic, yet you do not know that, when you look at the latter!"[/b] Thunderfoot walked past the slave, onto the map, careful not to step on the lines. [b]"I have seen the ocean you call the pacific! It goes from horizon to horizon, yet it is a mere fraction of the size of the eternal highway in the sky! The highway my ancestors and my father roam right now, their eyes focused on me! I am scared, Vagari! I am so fucking scared of failing them..."[/b] It was not the voice Thunderfoot had, when he had rallied the 80s after his duel! It was not the voice he had when he had sat on the white-steel throne, commanding the subjugated and conquered. It was the voice of the boy he was! 

[b]"You are scared...this good!"[/b] Vagari picked up his charcoal, as he walked next to Thunderfoot, before giving him a pat on the shoulder. [b]"How is it good to be afraid, Vagari? My father was never afraid! How can i be like him when i am scared?"[/b] For just a moment, Vagari looked at the young warchiefs face, his hand resting on his shoulder. He had his fathers hair, broad shoulders and nose, yet her eyes. [b]"Your father, Thunderbird, was never afraid! Yet he also never cared for his men, like you do! You are the greater man, Thunderfoot, for you were afraid when you mounted your bike to the one-mile duel, yet did master you fear! There is no shame in being afraid...just in surrendering to you fear!"[/b] For a moment, Thunderfoot, did looked nothing like the moster that had his father been, but like the man Vagari had hoped, he would become! Then, the War-chief scrowled and stepped away, breaking one of the coal pieces below his boot. [b]"No sense in talking about bravery with a slave anyway...get the damn map finished!"[/b] Walking back to his bike, Vagari looked after the boy, even as he vanished back to the smoking city, the roaring bike fading. [b]"There is so much of you in him! I swore to you, that i would not let him become like his father...please, i am trying my best! Give me time.."[/b]

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[b]"There is a clear path for our mighty host!"[/b] The map was lightened by a fire, as twenty men glared at Thunderfoot, as he stood in the middle of the map. [b]"By sacking Salt-Lake-City, we have truly woken the wrath of the Khan! One day, we will face him, and crush his armies..."[/b] A loud cheer rose from the men, with Shinji even letting out a long war-cry in excitement. The victory in Salt-Lake-City had woken an idea of invincibility in them, yet Thunderfoot knew better! [b]"But this day is not today! Our host needs to grow, and like a the cunning coyote, we need to wait for the right moment to strike!"[/b] It felt like a hiss, going through the men watching him, yet Vagari could tell, that only a quarter of them really were eager for the fight, as the rest simply had to keep up the show of the warriors, not to lose face in front of their fellows. [b]"The Khan can mobilize 15.000 men before the month reaches its end! I do not doubt your abilities as warriors...yet we will run out of ammunition before they run out of men!"[/b] A grim laughter went through the 80s, as Thunderfoot pointed at the map. [b]"Utah and Colorado! Land of the sister of the holy I80, the I70! There, my brothers, i want to lead our horde! Into the land of the legion!"[/b]

An 80 displayed his fear differently then a normal man did. Vagari had learned how to easily read it, by watching the eyes and the hands. For it was clear to tell, that even the most veracious 80 feared the legions cross. Too bitter were the defeats of Shatter-Road who had challenged the Bull and payed the bloody price for it. [b]"Warchief! You do not want us to fight both the Khans AND the Legion?"[/b] Thunderfoot shakes his head at the Road-Captain, as he knelt down. [b]"The Bull is at war, and the 80s chapters at his border sniff the wind, when the bull has turned his gaze from them! We will not come as an enemy, but offer our hand in friendship...and pay tribute!"[/b] Now it was really a hiss that followed, as Shinji stepped up. [b]"Pay tribute to the bull? Brother, do you wish us to walk down and kneel as well?"[/b] The man easily towered over the war-chief, yet Thunderfoot held firm, as he stood back up. [b]"Sit down and let me speak, Shinji! Or have you forgotten about the hostages i have taken? For i will not kneel before the Bull, but offer him a deal of honor! Tribute in slaves and caps...for us to pass through his land, and deal with the problem of the 80s that will soon rise for them! If they accept, we will release our hostages one by one...if not, we will nail them to crosses for all of the legion to see!"[/b] 

There was a silence among the 80s, staring at Thunderfoot in the light of the fire. [b]"Pack up what you can find in the city, then burn the rest! I want that the Khans will have nothing to re-supply on, when they come past here! We will leave before the week ends! You..."[/b] His eyes moved towards Vagari. [b]"You and ten of my best warriors will ride towards the border! The Legion has a chief at Redmond, who was born as one of us, yet became legion when he was taken! You speak their tongue and i trust you more with your skills in rhetoric then anyone else in the world!"[/b]

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[center] [i][b][url=https://i.imgur.com/acek0BG.jpg] [b]Kapitän Klaus Stern von Becker[/b][/url]Bermuda[/b][/i] [/center]
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The ghoulish crew of the Eisernes Grab, earned little more then a glare, as they marched through the crowded streets of the harbor city of Bermuda, nor did their good Kapitän. Roaring men and women, chanting, drinking and cursing, pushes past them, from and to the countless ships at the water. It was a mixed and rowdy bunch, a wild spectrum of the scum of the sea, the pirates of the post-apocalypse, the children of the new golden age of piracy, with nations spread all over the map, rich trade and lacking navies! 
Dark skinned Caribbean Cosairs, pushed shoulder to shoulder, with grim slavers of the monolith, who crossed paths with Freebooters of the Key republic. Island Hoppers, mixed with Scrappers and Scavangers, pilgrims and whores...all who traveled the sea up to no good, ended washing up in Bermuda.

Yet the Kaptain was not looking for what every other pirate would come to Bermuda. And while his men tickled away behind him, his pace steady, as the imposing figure, in the ancient attire had little trouble making himself a way. [b]"If Herr Kaptiän does not mind the question..."[/b] The first mate, Johann Wagners rough voice, had trouble reaching the Kaptiäns ear, who did not slow his pace. [b]"...it does look like a trap to me! Besides it has been more then 200 years."[/b] The Kapitän did not bother to respond, as the two remained, the rest of the crew having left them, to enjoy their rewards and spoils on shore leave! For it was not their revenge, for only the two had been there, down in the depth, cursing the name of the traitor who had sold them so long ago. [b]"It could have been two thousand years, Johann! I have made my peace with the British, i have my peace with the Hansa...Gott, i even made my peace with the bloody Frogs! But there will be a cold day in hell, Herr Kaleun, that i will forgive a traitor!"[/b]

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The damp room was small, so that the Kapitän had to bow his head, even while sitting, as the bend over figure in front of him, dreamy turned the spoon in his tea. [b]"You have returned sooner then i have expected, Captain! I take it you, you have what i desired to trade the information for?"[/b] The broker looked up, his eyes hidden behind the thick glasses, milky from the steam of the tea. Picking the mug up, he took a short sip, before letting out a long sigh. [b]"A high price i asked for, yes, but this information is pre-war you see! Hard to come by, even for a man of my reach and abilities!"[/b] The frown on the Kapitäns face did not vanish, as he reached for the pocket of his coat, pulling out the papers, packed away in a envelope of leather. [b]"You are a man of class, for you didnt even try to insult me, by offering money! So many make this mistake and wake my ire!"[/b] The small hands of the impish broker snatched the envelope from the Pirates hand. The eyes, most likely rushed over the papers, a wicked grin moving onto the impish brokers face. [b]"Mhhh...moves in the great games of the old world! Answers to secrets yet to be asked...and truths that are to be denied for the good of all! Very well! But are you really sure, that you wish to follow this path? For it will lead you to a continent ripe with war and death!"[/b] 
The Kapitän grunted, as he leaned closer to the impish broker. [b]"I have send the last three years, hunting down your price! I do not fear death, nor war. The sole thing i fear, is that this man will have died, yet not by my hand! So...has be perished in the nuclear flames? Or is he still out there, a wretched figure of a century long gone? Tell me where Stanislav is, Broker and do it now! I have hold my part of the bargin!"[/b]

The smile faded from the brokers lips, as he placed the papers back on the table, then finished his tea. [b]"He is alive. Like you, he has endured the centuries, like you, he was locked away in a coffin and like you, he has been liberated from it! The man you seek, is in the land that once was the USA! A wanderer, on the look for someone himself, has unleashed him back onto this world, yet where he is now...[/b]

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[b]"...gib mir deine ne Hand! Deine fleischige Hand! Leb wohl, mein Schatz, lebe wohl... [/b] The men of the Eisernes Grab were chanting loudly in the Tavern, roaring out in the rush of life that came into them, when ever they made it into Port, with their pockets full of cash and the ship filled with bounty! Few cared about their strange tongue, and outlandish attire, when they were so lavish in their spending and so eager to share a drink. [b]...den wir fahren...den wir fahren...gegen Engeland!"[/b] Glasses were raised and a loud cheer went through the mass of ghoul pirates, as the door suddenly was pushed open, and a huge silhouette appeared in the door. Then, the booming voice of the first mate broke the rejoice. [b]"STAND AT ATTENTION YOU DOGS! SHORE LEAVE HAS BEEN CANCELLED! REPORT ALL TO THE SHIP....WE ARE SETTING COURSE FOR AMERICA!"[/b]