Hey all!

Thanks for the love on my last story! The interactions in the comments were fun, and I really appreciate the kind words! That being said I'd think I'll make it a somewhat regular thing, once or twice a week maybe. I don't get to play every day but when I do I'll try to give a fun recap of an exciting moment that happened. Think of these recaps as journal entries you might find on a terminal. A "found story" of a fellow Vault Dweller.

I'm going to name the posts: The Adventures of Tug Callihan. So keep an eye out if you enjoy them.

This entry is before the last one...so consider it a Prequel

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Leaving the Vault:

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Since leaving the vault it has been pretty quiet. I've roamed around, set up C.A.M.P., and begun to set up roots...just like Vault-Tec training said we should. I've read my survival guide cover to cover more times than I can count right now, seems to be the only intact book around...I haven't found a T.V. that works, and I can only handle so much Radio on repeat.

"Seriously...didn't any more songs survive the blasts?"

Either way, these two things are all I have for now. I do need to find a workbench...or make my own. Survival guide p.104 says "Keep your hands busy and learn new skills! It will help you ignore the harsh reality around you!" After all...this is pretty much my bible now. p.105 "workbenches can be found at bluecollar locations..." There is a junk yard to the East. I'll head that way in the morning and see if there are any plans left behind. I clutch my Vault issued 10mm, and stare up at the beautiful Application sky. *Hard to belive the world has gone to hell when the night sky is still so beautiful...*is the last thought I have before drifting off.

An uneventful night goes by and the warm sun mixed with the cool morning air wake me up. I start a fire and boil my last pack of decent water. ...Big day ahead! p.58 "Start the day with a full belly, and a pep in your step!" I cook the last pristine pack of Blamco-Mac'n'Cheese...from here on out I'll have to refer to the recipe book Martha put together the last week in the vault...I wonder how shes doing out here..Eating well at the very least, that's for sure.

I clean up C.A.M.P. and head east to the Junkyard. I leave markers behind to find my way back, as per p.156, and after about an hours hike I can see the Junkyard below. Scouting is covered in Chapter 6. "...lay low, keep watch, remain diligent, maintain a full mag." After establishing a perimeter, I spot the bench! Centrally located, it's tucked up by an old maintenance shack. I use the cover of the tall piles of scrap and wrecked cars to make my way to the bench..."lay low, keep watch, remain..."

I approach the bench I find a few new plans, I take each and neatly fold them, then tuck them into my Vault 76 standard issue carrying pack. p.10 "Keep everything neat and orderly. One mess leads to your own destruction..." I glance over the desk for any useful mats and notice a switch hidden behind a box. p.48 "Don't be afraid to try new things..." I reach out and flip the switch. The bench comes to life...generators kick on all around, turrets that when previously unnoticed begin to spit smoke and resume their guard, Giant machines in the junk yard bellow smoke - creak and groan to life as the giant engines begin their work day.

Scared half to death I draw my pistol and point it at every new sound only to find my fears are all mechanical and there is nothing to fret.

.."Jesus Help me now...this was not covered in the guide!"

Between the adrenaline spike and fear I lean back on the bench to collect myself. A light on the bench begins to flash. I move some more stuff revealing a radar. Multiple dots heading this way....approaching from the south. I peak around the edge of the building and see a person in ratty clothes sprinting this way.

"People...wow!"

I step out to greet them with a Vault-Boy thumbs up. They don't seem to be returning the favor...huh...they look sick. I maintain the thumbs up and move my other hand to the grip on my pistol, when all of the sudden a turret comes to life and mows the person in half. The one half comes crashing at my feet revealing a horribly disfigured person. My stomach wrenches, I keel over and heave up what is now my second helping of Blamco.

"What in the world is this thing...!?"

A guttural roar rings out from the junkyard behind me and I spin to see another of these freaks running at me. The turrets aren't tracking him for some reason and he is gaining fast. I pull up my pistol and fire. It's the first time I've fired my gun since Training in the Vault... p.320 "There won't always be a Mr. Gutsy to protect you. You will have to get your hands dirty if you want to live" First shot misses wide left BANG the recoil is stronger than what I remembered, and it startles me. Two more shots BANG..BANG one wide one a hit in the leg. The freak stumbles from the impact and falls at my feat. I take a step back and fire the remainder of the magazine into his disgusting back. I keep pulling the trigger until the 7th click snaps me out of it.

I keel over again and dry heave uncontrollably.

More roars ring out. I wipe my mouth and glance at the radar...10 dots...all approaching at speed. I stand up, collect myself and face the hoard. I see what looks like an old tire Iron in one of the junk piles. I holster my pistol, firmly grip the Tire Iron and charge at the hoard...

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The last thing I remember hearing is the turrets targeting sensors beeping and the winding of the the barrels as they kicked into gear...

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p.999 Back cover in fine print. "Survival isn't something that can be taught. You either have the will or you die..."

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- Tug

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