[color=a36209][b][u]Children of Atom FOB, SE of Washington DC[/u][/b][/color]

Southeast of the Capital Wasteland, not far from the Free Commonwealth's forces, stood a hastily constructed outpost of scrap metal, walls engraved with the symbol of atom and lined with charms and fetishes.  Within the base was a plethora of Atom's faithful, ranging from volunteers in ragged robes to power armored Zealots.  Several power armored figures were currently hoisting a small radio tower, while other men and women worked on the walls with welding torches.  A few Brahmin sat in a pen near a few crude wagons formed from automobile chassis, next to a pair of mostly intact military trucks.

When a Vertibird was seen on the horizon, carrying some sort of cargo on a hook underneath, the ranking Zealot barked orders for those within to assemble.  With the exception of those working on the radio tower, and those standing guard outside, all within the base dropped what they were doing and scurried to the center of the outpost.  By the time the Vertibird had landed, most of the outpost's inhabitants were neatly assembled and awaiting the arrival of the aircraft's passenger- the Grand Zealot himself.  It first dropped off its cargo- a wagon covered with a heavy tarp- and then landed next to it.  Somewhere in the base, a geiger counter began ticking, indicating the arrival of something steeped in the Glow.

Richter stepped out of the Vertibird and looked over the base and those standing before him.  These were merely the vanguard of Atom's forces- more Zealots were mobilizing, and he had no doubt that many fanatics and flagellants of Atom would answer the call to arms as well.  The men and women before him were hardly the conquering force needed to liberate the swamps from Ug-Qualtoth's dark influence, but they would form the core of it.  He walked to the front of where they stood and removed the helmet of his Hellfire armor.

"Faithful sons and daughters of Atom!  We have come here for a purpose- to free the swamps of Point Lookout of the foul Cult, to cleanse this place of their corruption in Atom's holy Glow!  I must warn you, however, that this will not be easy, and victory will likely be costly.  These lands were not subjected to the Great Division, and as a result, the corruption here is ancient and deeply rooted.  The inhabitants within are mutated by Atom's light, changed by His disfavor for their evil ways, and utterly steeped in the ways of the Cult.  They are killers and hunters of men, who know these swamps inside and out and will fight to their last breath.  This is not a war of conquest, this is a war of cleansing, where the only victory is when the last of the swamp folk breathes no more!  The Free Commonwealth stands with us against this foe, but we cannot rely on them for victory- we must do what must be done to scour these lands of corruption, at whatever the cost!"

The assembled Children of Atom cheered vigorously, inspired by the Grand Zealot's words.  Richter wasn't much of a speaker, but his words had definitely moved them.  After the cheering died down, Richter spoke up again.

"To instill the resolve to carry out Atom's will, we have assembled a standard, built from the blessed material of the power plant that the Free Commonwealth has graciously given us access to."  Richter gestured at two Zealots, and they pulled the tarp from the wagon, revealing a standard in the image of the symbol of Atom, rising out of a sculpture of Megaton's bomb.

"This was crafted from the remains of a lesser Division preceding the Great Division.  With this standard, you can be assured that we carry out Atom's will and carry His favor with us!"  The crowd broke into another cheer.  Richter feared that this would be an ugly campaign, and Atom's faithful needed all the inspiration that they could get.