Leaving the Vault

Billings Farmstead

Reverend Tug

The Grafton Monster

Reverend No More

The Mothmans Blessing

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After stumbling across the Gorge Junkyard I've decided to settle in the area. I've learned my way around the yard hunting the many Liberator bots that litter the area...

Chinese think that they'll rebuild America...Please...They're going to have to bring more than these Spiderbots.

Down south in the mining factories I stumbled across the plans for the "Marvel of Mining" Excavator power suit, and turns out that the gorge has one of the deepest Titanium veins in the area...Titanium being needed for reinforcing the suit. After clearing a pack of Chinese spider-bots and some larger than life bugs, I set up shop at the bench.

I drop my pack in the nearby shed, roll out my plans and get to work. After Initial surveys of the area, I find the vein of Titanium and begin construction on the extractor. I assigned some Protectrons to start building some power generators as I work on the extractor. The sun passes from one end of the sky to the other and dusk begins to set in as I put the final screws into the extractor. The Protectrons finished their work on the generator hours ago and have begun setting up security around the yard. I pointed out a few key places to set turrets in order to defend our hard work. Last thing to do is hook up the power...

"...Here goes nothing..."

The Protectrons take a step back as I prepare to fire up the generators...

"Ya'll helped build this too ya know.." I say in their direction.

...I grab the rip cord on the generator and give a firm pull...nothing. Another pull...a bit of a grunt and groan from the metal monster as it attempts to come to life. I grab a nearby oil can, squirt a few joints and give the cord another pull, This time success. The generator's motor begins to roar to life, smoke billows out of its exhaust and I can begin to feel the electrical field form as my hair stands on end. The Extractor gets a shot of life, as the electricity pours into the machine. A quick diagnostics shows all functions running at capacity. I turn to my Protectron friends...

"Welp, all we can do now is wait."

The night sky dominates the landscape, littered with thousands of stars...Since the literal destruction of civilization, somethings have gotten better. You know...before the vault, I wouldn't have taken the time to enjoy the night sky. I would have been busy working, or just wasting away in front of the TV. Nowadays...I regret not taking the time.

Exhaustion sweeps over me and I decide to settle in the farm house at the North end of the Yard. I lock the doors, place the necessary traps and make my way upstairs to find a bed in...somewhat decent shape. I nestle in for the night and place babe next to the bed. Sleep comes eventually....

^{....Riiiiiiinnnnnngggggg}

I don't dream much anymore...but tonight I'm in the vault and I hear that familiar ringing of the contamination alarm. I make my way towards the sound and it seems no one else can hear it. I push through everyone only to see the alarm bell flying directly at me....

Riiiiiiinnnnnngggggg...

I startle awake and fall out of bed. It takes a second to get my bearings and grab babe....I still hear the ringing, though it's not the Vault alarm, it's the one on my extractor. I shoot to the window to see Mole rats ripping panels and circuits off my Extractor. I dive out the window, roll off the roof and hit the ground running babe clenched firmly in hand. A powerful uppercut connects with the giant Rat crushing its ribs as it lets out a final howl. Another swing takes the jaw off of another, It takes a second hit to put that one down.

I can hear another Rat tunneling and I wait, surveying the ground for traces of it...when I take a hit to the chest. With a loud Thump I can hear my armor fold from the immense pressure as the round stops before it penetrates my skin. I fall back, wind knocked out of me, and lay there stunned. Only then do I hear the gunshot ring out. Instincts and survival prevail, as I manage to take cover behind a pile of junk, and regain my breath. Adrenaline fills my veins and I look down to find a slug buried in my chest piece....

"Holy smokes....Guess the Lord is still watching over me."

I use my knowledge of the terrain to maneuver through the yard towards where the shots came from, and Lie in wait. I hear voices questioning if I'm dead, and continuous shots ring out as I watch my Protrectrons and turrets fall. Patiently I wait for the Raiders to show themselves, and soon enough they come down from the trees. I count three of them as they cautiously make their way into the yard. Under the cover of night I wait on their path till the right moment then spring my attack. Dashing across the path behind the guy in back, I slash the back of his legs with my combat knife bringing him to his knees. With a howl of pain one of his buddies comes to his aid. I then loose the pin on a grenade and toss it at their feet. They don't see it until it's too late, with a loud explosion the 3 are now 1. The lead raider begins shouting profanities into the night, and firing wildly at every dancing shadow he sees. I dash between piles of junk and approach the raider from behind. They say you can sense...or even smell fear on someone...and today I learned this to be true. Stepping out behind the raider I ready Babe. He swings around with his rifle drawn and I bring babe down connecting with the barrel, bending it right in half. I drop the bat and with Brass Knuckles outfitted with crude spikes, I swing and connect with his face. There is something crudely satisfying about breaking another mans bones, especially when you know they shot you. He falls to the ground, blood pouring out of his mouth but still breathing. I can't bring myself to just kill a man, so I rig a deadmans hand on a grenade, and tuck it in his hand...

"Death Fits the crime..."

As I go back to see if I can repair any of my work. Bullets begin peppering the ground around me. Startled I take cover and look to the hills. Dozens of Lights are making their way this direction, and a dozen more muzzle flashes light up forest as Gunshots echo across the valley...

"No way I can take this many on....Damn Raiders.."

I Clear the Extractor and rig the place to blow. Doors trapped with nades, Land mines scattered about, and rig a Mini Nuke in the resource extractor catch basin. I run for the hills in the opposite direction. It's only a matter of time til the lights swarm the Junkyard and trip the traps. From a safe ledge overlooking the Yard I watch the mushroom cloud level the whole place....

"I guess If I can't have it...no one can..."

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-Tug