[u][color=a36209][b]Grand Zealot Richter- Megaton, Cathedral of Atom[/b][/color][/u]

"Evasive maneuvers, pilot!" Richter commanded as the Brotherhood fired their warning shot.  The Vertibird banked hard and dove, intend on getting out of the AA gun's range of fire.  Richter struggled to maintain his balance in the Vertibird as it maneuvered away.

The Grand Zealot was livid.  It may have been just a warning, but the Brotherhood showed blatant disregard for the Church of Atom's de facto sovereignty over the Capital Wasteland.  The cowards fled from the Cult and left Atom's faithful to set things right, and now they sought to assert their long forfeit dominance over the wasteland.

[i]If only we had a mounted minigun, I might have been able to disable that gun,[/i] Richter bitterly thought to himself.  [i]On the other hand, doing so may have been unnecessarily risky and brash,[/i] he concluded as his fury slightly subsided.  Once they were out of range, he approached the cockpit, intent on giving his response on the radio.

"This is Grand Zealot Richter to the Brotherhood of Steel.  Be warned that you will no longer be welcome in Atom's lands.  If you trespass on our holy sites or encroach upon our holdings, you will be divided.  We will never allow the Capital Wasteland to be ruled by cowards who fled the Cult."

"Pilot, switch us to Fort Constantine's frequency."  The pilot complied, turning a knob on the cockpit dash.  "This is Grand Zealot Richter to Fort Constantine.  Do you read, over."

"Grand Zealot, this is Fort Constantine.  We read you, over."

"Fort Constantine, the Brotherhood has refused to parlay with us and has fired warning shots on us.  Repeat, the Brotherhood of Steel has fired a warning shot upon my Vertibird.  Place the fort on alert, and fire on on any Brotherhood knights that approach, over."

"Which Brotherhood, Grand Zealot?  Lyons' Brotherhood, or the Midwesterners whom we have allowed passage, over."

"My apologies, Fort Constantine," Richter answered, having realized his mistake.  "I am referring to Lyons' Brotherhood, who now occupy Raven Rock.  The Midwestern Brotherhood remain our guest, but my orders remain the same, do not let any Brotherhood knights from any Brotherhood in Fort Constantine without orders from myself, Tektus, or the Pontiff himself."  The Midwestern Brotherhood may not have caused any trouble, but their mission to destroy pre-war nuclear weaponry was an affront to Atom and would not be allowed in the region.

"I read you, Grand Zealot.  We will be on alert until further notice."

"Go with Atom's blessing, Fort Constantine.  Over and out."  There was much to do.  Tektus and Cromwell would need to know of this insolence.

---

[u][color=a36209][b]Zealot Thiel- Near Fort Independence[/b][/color][/u]

"Atom's blessing to you, Colonel Samuels.  I am Zealot Thiel of the Children of Atom, acting on behalf of the Grand Zealot."

"What business do our allies in the Commonwealth have here in the Capital Wasteland, so close to our holy city? 
 Please understand, we do not wish for trouble, but we must remain appraised of all goings on so close to Holy Megaton.  If your intentions are noble, we intend to follow through on our side of our alliance by providing communication and coordination while you remain in the Capital Wasteland."

Thiel hoped that they weren't looking for trouble.  It'd be a great blow to lose the Free Commonwealth as an ally.

[@2sky11][@Elgappa]