Rivera looked at John and leaned backwards from his chair. "Well then...that project is something that I have not heard about for nearly forty years. Glad to see that your still alive, John." Rivera then leaned towards him again. "Alright. With the Chosen One taking down the Oil Rig and the NCR being particularly nasty to what remained of the Enclave, Autumn Sr wanted to make sure that another individual such as the Chosen One never appeared as a threat again, while destroying the NCR in the process. And...he liked you because you were young, easily manipulated, and had potential. But, just before we were about to release you onto your first target, NCR were advancing to Navarro. Fast." "All of the officials in the Enclave that did not believe in vengeance against the NCR or continuing such an idiotic vision of "pure" humanity were concerned about you. If the NCR were to have you, you would have likely been killed as a threat. So...one night, you were knocked unconscious and from there, your memory was wiped. This was so that the NCR could not use you as leverage against us, and that you would have appeared as a harmless child. I'm surprised that you still remember your training and such specific details, but I was not apart of the Science team that performed the Mind-wipe. That was under the authority of Dr. Joseph and his team. He might still be alive, but he would well be into his 80's by now." "As for me, I was simply doing my job. I evacuated to the East-Coast like many of the Enclave survivors, and the rest is history. I came to believe that you had died in Navaro, but fate has proven otherwise." Rivera replied. "That is all I know, I'm thrilled to see that your alive."
(John went with the Enclave to the Capitol Wasteland after Navarro until he was 18, then he wa set loose...)
John simply nodded, "Thanks for the information." He said to Rivera, "Though it seems my mission remains incomplete, the NCR is still alive, but my nation has reduced them to irrelevance." Suddenly ol' Three-Dog's voice blared to life on the room's radio. "Yeeeee-Haaaawwww! What's up Capitol Wasteland? It's me, Three Dog, coming to you loud and proud from my fortified bunker in the not-as-hellhole DC ruins. Now, some news. Now, you've all heard of that cat from Vault 101, Saviour of the Wastes and Bringer of the Water, well, she just visited me, and get this, apparently there's this new guy in the Capitol Wastes, John's his name. Apparently, he's some sort of leader in a massive nation called Nova Roma, if you haven't heard about it, you will soon, and apparently, this guy is some former super-assassin of the Enclave! Or, at least, he was. And apparently, he's setting up shop in Fort Constantine! What's he planning? Take over? Bringing back the Enclave? Sight seeing? Your guess is as good as mine kiddies, but a word of advice, don't go knockin on this guys door hoping to kill him, apparently he's surrounded by some uber-elite guards and killing him would likely draw the armies of his nation here. So if you happen to see a guy in a crimson red cowboy duster surrounded by guys who look like they're from the Roman Empire and seem to be wearing football pads, only approach under friendly terms. now, some music!"
"Well...that just happened. Good thing that women from before alerted the wasteland." Andrew thought. "But, now the Brotherhood is aware that he is here. I hope they tread lightly." Andrew looked at John and the Commander nearby him. "The Brotherhood knows that Nova Roma is in the wastes, and they always seem agitated about something. Damn leadership there always is. Commander, how many available men and women do you have at your current disposal?" "300. Why?" "Just incase Commander...Just incase"
"If the Brotherhood attacked, it would be suicide on their part." John simply said. Noticing the confused looks, he chuckled, "I'm not an idiot, I wouldn't go to a strange new land with only 10 men to back me up. I currently have an army about a half days march from here, and I'ld expect them to be about halfway here if that messenger made it, which he should have. And it isn't just any legio on its way here, it's my personal legio. 5,000 of the deadliest, most loyal men in my entire army. They could probably conquer this entire land if I said so."
"That aspect alone should keep the Brotherhood quiet." Andrew replied. "We have a job to perform Commander. It would be heavily appreciated if you help cooperate with us." The Commander remained quiet for a moment before simply nodding. "I've always hated Colonel Autumn anyway. Let's reel him in then..." (Time-skip?)
(I might as well) 1 month later Colonel Autumn and a small Enclave force was sighted outside of what used to be Raven Rock, looking at their former home. It was the last stop they had to make before they were to travel to what appeared to be the reemergence of the Enclave, located in Fort Constantine. Their destination itself appeared in the horizon, many miles away, glowing like a man-made star in the obsidian darkness around them. Raven Rock was their last checkpoint before they traveled what they believe would be their new home. Early in the next morning, Colonel Autumn, dressed in his light brown coat walked into Fort Constantine with heavily armed Enclave soldiers, awaiting the arrival of scientists once he gave the green light that the area was safe. His forces stood just outside of the gate before being led into the courtyard itself. Once he made it in the dead center of the courtyard, he was ordered to stop. Not long later, three old influential men walked out of the door, guarded by soldiers of Nova Roma.
John looked Colonel Autumn dead in the face as his soldiers surrounded the group at a distance, before suddenly breaking into a big smile, "Hey there Augustus, long time no see friend!" He said happily, walking forward and extending his hand, "Glad to see you're still alive!"
Autumn responded to the handshake with a slight smile. "It's good to see you as well, John. It's about time that we have seen another face to face, we have not had the ability to do so for a very long time." He said before looking at the location that John had called shop, noticing the former Brotherhood with a deep grey paint-job on their power armor and wastelander's walking around, but all keeping their distance from Autumn. "The Enclave might have suffered a defeat to the Brotherhood of Steel all those years ago, but we can rebuild from where we have lost. Quite an impressive fortification, but I must admit that I disapprove of the other people of the wasteland doing as they please in this section of the base. " Autumn then looked back at John. "Now, shall we get straight to business?"
John shook his head, "Sorry old friend, first thing first as I'm in charge now around here, tell me everything you know about Project Overthrow. You were second in command, only President Eden was higher than you. You have to know a lot more. Like why was my memory at least attempted to be wiped, the true nature of the mission, and whatever the hell the scientists did to me." (here's some hints; it was called Project OVERTHROW for a reason)
The Colonel looked at John. "I figure that you have already been told about the basic facts from Commander Rivera here. It seems right that you want answers from me. Of course, there are always things that Eden could hide from me about the program, but many of it is trivial, pointless and basically common knowledge to you already." "The mission of Project: Overthrow was to create an individual with the capability to essentially take down entire nations, an assassin of sorts, while also keeping the survival of the Enclave at their best interests. What nation do you ask, it could merely be any sort of the Enclave's enemies, but the NCR and Brotherhood always held a soft spot in our hearts. The team that performed the mind erasing procedure was under strict guidelines to erase your mind, if you were to be taken upon as a tool by an opposing force. And...if you became aware of what you really were to Eden. A person of mass destruction." "Perhaps, losing your memory was the best thing that had every happened to you. Some of the details are better left behind, but I can assure you that I knew more than most about the Program."
John nodded slowly, "Alright. Now, we have gathered up just about as many Enclave as we can find here, combined with my legio, we have the Capitol Wasteland's most powerful force at our command. Now, I'm sure you know what to do and where to move first to assert our new authority and the renewal of our power. However..." John grinned at the Enclave in the area, "This will not be a fight for the Enclave; this is Nova Roma, and the Capitol Wasteland shall be our newest addition. If you don't like it, you're welcome to bring it up with my soldiers. If not, we'll greatly appreciate if you decide to help."
"That sounds like a thre-" Autumn stopped mid sentence as one of his more loyal soldiers fired his rifle at one of the soldiers surrounding John and Andrew, triggering a wildfire of hellish events as all hell seemingly broke loose. Autumn himself was hit directly in the chest and his left kneecap by several rounds of ammunition, sending him directly to the ground. The sniper with the Gauss rifle in the cliff-face launched a blue bolt as it slammed into the head of an Enclave solider, blowing anything above his shoulders into oblivion. Within seconds, Autumn's small force of soldiers were all dead, leaving very few casualties on the other side. Autumn looked upwards at John, Andrew and the Commander nearby, spitting before his was sent into a violent coughing spree. It was clear that Autumn had objected to the idea of Nova Roma, and was now about to be killed because of it. "Tisk Tisk, Autumn. We could have used you, but here you are on the end of your life." Andrew replied as two Centurions came out and pulled Autumn's body to their level. Andrew was going to pull out his pistol, but hesitated before putting it away, looking at John. "You should have the honor..." Andrew said to John. (I was thinking of a twist ending, with Taylor watching the entire ordeal and fight take place, and as Autumn was about to die, she sniped him in the forehead. But...meh, I could do better.)
John shook his head and pushed the pistol back towards Andrew, "I have a better idea." John looked down to stare his former friend straight in the face, "Quite the mistake you made Autumn, and now, the entire Wasteland shall see what happens when you try to fight Nova Roma. Atticus! Casii! Take Mr Autumn to the medical ward under military arrest, then after he's patched up...Cruify him on top the nearest tall hill." John looked over at Andrew and the commander, "Time to show the Wasteland how we do warfare. First step; provoke the Brotherhood to try to attack us, we'll ambush them and destroy any offensive capability that they have. Then we'll take the Purifier. After all, the Brotherhood attacked first."
"I can think of the luxury's under your rule from stories I have heard back west. Alright, consider me interested." Andrew replied. He did not care who ruled the wasteland, just as long as it cared for the best interests of it's people. Andrew looked towards the southeast towards DC as a lightbulb shined in his head. "I think I know how we can provoke the Brotherhood..." He said with a slight grin on his face. "It wont be particularly the prettiest in presentation, but it will definitely work. I'll be back again tomorrow, prepare yourselves for a fight." Andrew said before walking out of the large steel gate and heading into the wastes. The Commander looked at John. "My forces are yours to command. 300 power-armored elite soldiers and my scientists. I know that my forces will be assimilated into your empire in some way or form eventually, but It's the least I could do."
John nodded to Andrew before looking to the Commander, "Thanks, if it needs a little convincing, tell them that Nova Roma offers full amnesty to those that join us, now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare my legion for the coming attack, we may vastly outnumber the Brotherhood, they still have vastly superior armor that is extremely hard to penetrate." He then walked off, barking orders and the Fort came alive with the organized swarm of Legion troops as they set up sandbags, minefeilds outside, and more.
Just outside of the Arlington Library It was just another day inside of the Arlington Library, a location located relatively close to the Citadel and a location of importance to the Brotherhood, but held an unbelievable amount of importance to particularly the Scribes. An entire library full of old world knowledge. Of course, there were many others across the former United States, but the Arlington Library was special in that many of the books were intact. Since the capture of the Purifier, the Library was particularly a low-level location due to the ominous distance of the Brotherhood’s Citadel nearby. There were fewer guards protecting the library then there were in 2277, but much more scribes filled in the empty spaces, the majority taking the main lobby of the building. Just as one of the Scribes had dropped their book, bending over to pick it up, she looked towards the door to hear heavy footsteps coming closer and closer to the door. The entrance door of the Library was then kicked down from its hinges with incredible force to reveal a man with a heavily modified Plasma Rifle, white Enclave Tesla Armour and a fearful red light shining from his eyes. Not long after the door opened, the Enclave solider aimed his weapon and shot the scribe right in the eyes, killing her instantly as the plasma melted her away. Andrew then shot a plasma grenade from a grenade launcher he installed onto his rifle, detonating nearby a group of Scribes and some damaged books and scattering some book pages. It was a massacre in every sense of the word, book pages flying across the room in an artificial wind. Andrew knew that while this was not attacking the main force directly, the impact this would contain would be more than enough to propel the Brotherhood into war with Nova Roma while also breaking the back of its spirit. Once the deed was done, roughly seventy Scribes and a dozen Brotherhood Knights were scattered on the ground, some of them being nothing but green goo and a naked skeleton. Andrew looked at the mess he had caused, his emotions being hidden by his helmet and simply walked away to head back to Fort Constantine. While traveling back, he encountered an angry Taylor. But once Andrew explained more about Nova Roma, she decided to travel back with him. News of “The Library Massacre” spread across the waste like wildfire.
Courtesy of Three Dog, the news of the attack on the Arlington Library quickly reached John. Chuckling at the news, he made one final inspection of the prepared defenses; machine gun nests abounded, hidden troop ambush points, anti-personel and troop trenches , and all around formidable defenses had quickly come to bolster the existing forticifactions of Fort Constantine, he was certain any attack would be swiftly dealt with, from what the Commander had informed him, the main reasons of the Brotherhood's success during their war with the Enclave was because of Liberty Prime, which was long destroyed, and Taylor. And the Brotherhood was so stretched thin, the largest possible attack would numbers at most a few dozen, and that would leave their current bases vulnerable to any organized attack. However, Taylor made him uneasy, she had to be dealt with, whether by killing her or coaxing her to his side(which was preferable).
