As the wastelander walked towards them and made a comment to Ryan, Chase lowered his gun and turned to Backster.

"You know, I figured the locals around here would be more the cowering-in-fear type, rather than the mouthing-off-while-I-still-have-a-head type."

"Takes all kinds to make up the world, I guess."

"Hmph." Chase pulled his pistol out in a flash, aimed straight at the wastelander's eye. "In the future, local, don't be so rude to your betters. You might just get a bullet to the head for your troubles."

Chase put the gun back in it's holster, then turned around. "Now can we leave the local here and be on our way? The distractions are really starting to get annoying."

Richard said, "Don't mind them, a lot of Brotherhood members are prejudiced against Wastelanders and recruits picked up here, I had to suffer that myself when I first became an Initiate. So what brings you into the ruins anyway?"

OOC: Rules, rules, rules. Remember, I move the story along. It's ok that you had a Super Mutant, but try not to do it so fast after a battle like what was before

IC

Frank and the two squad's moved along through the "safe area", and finally spotted the Mall which was huge. Almost hundreds of trenches covered the ground from the Washington Monument, all the way down to the US Congressional building. Hundreds of curved, winding trenches made it like a maze for rats. The squad's made their way down into the trench, it was like a little home. All along the walls, bunkers were built into them, giving shelter to those stationed there. Frank had noticed the wastelander, but had not spoken to him at all yet. Frank turned around to his squad, and started giving orders.

"O.K. men, grab some chow and ammo. I'll go and find the communication bunker, and get our orders. Stay in this area so I can find you easy." Frank looked at Initiate Layne, "Once you get some chow and ammo, stay with the others. You don't need to stay by me all the time-" Frank looked at the Wastelander. He had not caught his name, he was busy speaking with Paladin Vice, who's squad had already left on their own with him.

"Wastelander, come with me. I've got some things to ask you and such." Frank walked off, letting all the others do what they needed, and had the Wastelander follow him to the Communication bunker. "What's your name wastelander?" Frank asked walking towards the bunker.

OOC: Wait, are there others in the trenches?

Ryan flinched back as the pistol muzzle was stuffed in his face.
"...right. I'll a...I'll remember that... So, where you boys headin."

Another Brotherhood of steel soldier came up to Ryan. "Don't mind them, a lot of brotherhood members are prejudiced against wastelander and recruits picked up here, I had to suffer that myself when I first became an Initiate. So what brings you into the ruins anyway?"

"Me, I just happened to be in the area. I didn't catch your name there." Ryan pauses to reach into his medical bag and pull out more mentats, which he popps in his mouth with joy.
"Im Ryan...as you probably already know."


Ryan quickly fell in step with the Soldier that called him over, leaving his knew "friend" if thats what you could call it.

"Uhh. Ryan sir. Ryan Samuels." Ryan said

Richard said, "The name's Richard, Richard Caleb, pleased to meet you Ryan." He then shook Ryan's hand. He continued, "Well, you'd better go speak to Paladin Webster, he'll put you up to speed."

Kyle fell out as he reached the mall, splitting from the squad to grab some parts for his Power Armor. After grabbing a fabricated side plate he went to the mess hall to grab some food. As he was eating some Pork & Beans, scavenged from an ancient can, he heard a Knight come up behind him. It was Burnett, one of the Knights who had found him, semi-conscious in a burned out apartment complex.

"Well look who it is, our old Kansas farmboy" he said with a grin "It's good to finally see you back in the Mall, instead of taking [censored] details in the Citadel"

After talking to Burnett for awhile, Kyle left the brightly lit mess hall and began to walk through the maze of the hastily dug trenches on his way to meet up with a few squadmates. Kyle thought to himself that he had been too quiet, and his squad probaly wouldn't be able to identify his body.....

Chase dropped down into the trenches, but before he went to the mess, he stopped by the armory. He picked up some replacement ammo and grenades, and also handed off his power armor for a short while so all the grenade shards could be removed. Now he was wearing a black jumpsuit, which looked practically brand new, considering what he had just gone through. He removed a set of glasses from one of his pockets, and put them on now that he wasn't wearing his helmet and it's vision repairing sights.

He walked out of the armory and through the trenches, stopping in the mess to get something to eat. He sat with Backster and a couple of other men from his squad, and even saw a few guys from the West that he recognized. He also saw twice the amount of locals, and a surprising number of initiates. Fools are just lining themselves up to get shot.

He ate what one of the locals might have been able to pass off as ramen, then excused himself and went to go pick up his armor, his stomach feeling slightly upset. Damned stuff was probably poisonous.

He entered and left the armory in the span of a few minutes, his armor still filled with holes. However, all of the shrapnel was gone, so that was something at least. He walked back through the trenches back towards where Paladin Webster had left them, though this time he had his helmet under his arm. He got up onto one of the ledges of the trenches, watching the soldiers in the mall scurry with activity. Trenches were still being dug, sentries were watching for possible mutie charges, and everyone's nerves appeared to be frayed.

Chase sighed in annoyance. "What is this, World War I? I never thought I'd see the return of trench warfare, but here it is. How did I get myself stuck in this hell-hole?"

Frank took his helmet off, and rubbed his chin, looking at Ryan the wastelander. He thought for a moment, not knowing what to do with him, should he kill him, leave him, send him out as food. Frank thought, "Maybe he's a wastelander murderer like others?" Frank quickly threw away that thought, and looked at the man.

"Ryan, huh. Well Ryan let me tell you something. I'm not sure what my superiors would think of me slapping on some Power Armor on you right away, so for now, you keep what you have: Weapons, clothing, ammo, food. That's all you get to have. You may eat what we eat, sleep where we sleep, but under no curcumstance, will you take our ammunition or armor." Frank looked at the young wastelander, "If you are caught or try to take our ammunition or armor. I will have you killed, you have not gained my trust or respect yet. You can, but not soon." Frank dismissed the wastelander, not giving him a chance to speak and walked into the communication bunker. There sat a young man, fair skin, black hair, brown eyes, and typical gruff face.

"PALADIN ON DECK!" The man shouted as he and two others stood at attention.

"At ease gentlemen. Any news for Paladin Webster from the Citadel?" Frank asked with his helmet under his arm.

"Yes sir, it came a couple of hours ago. From Scribe Thomas." The young man handed the telegram to Frank, and sat back down going back to his work. Frank read the telegram quick. And walked out with the telegram in his hand, and went to grab some food and ammunition as well. He would call the men together later. Now was a time to rest.

Ryan listened closely to what...His superior had to say. All of it seemed fine. He didnt even like the idea of wearing power armor, so that wasn't a big deal. He had questions for the man, but before he could ask them he was dismissed. Ryan was left to do with what he had. He looked around for Richard, but couldn't find him. So, he just started following BoS soldiers around until he found the Mess hall. Ryan didn't like the setting. Every where he went it felt like some one was begging for him to screw up so they could put a nice little cauterized hole in him. Ahh well. He'd show em.
Ryan got his food and walked back outside, not even daring to try and sit with some of his "squad members." Instead, he proped himself up on the trench wall and enjoyed his pork and beans. At least it was food. He told himself. After his meal he slid into the trench and then back up so his back was to the washington monument. From there he popped more mentats into his mouth, savoring the little pills.

Ryan removed his helmet and went to grab some food with his fellow squad mates in the mess hall, "Aw god this stuff tastes like [censored]." Not like they had anything better at the citadel back back out West al least the har reall food.

"Who le you into this hell hole Point?" It was one of Ryan's old squad mates from back when the initial assault of the wasteland was started.

"Well sure as hell wasn't you, I'm with Webster, the pansey from out west remeber?" Ryan had hoped the paladin was in earshot.

"Well I see your still holding onto to the [censored] minigun."

"Yep, who else is going to keep our squad from getting overrun? Definetly not you."

"Well whatever, I will see you around, Steel be with you."

"Same to you brother." Ryan said as he lost track of Webster who he found a little later on wandering through the trenches.

"Hey, what exactly are we to be doing? I want to know the goal of our mission and where it is we are going so i can prepare."

Richard was walking around after eating and found Ryan S. taking Mentats. He said, "Careful, Mentat addition kills intelligence and deadens awareness, and you're going to need both to survive here." He then leaned up against the trench wall and waited for Ryan's response.

"Aint that the truth." Ryan said as he swallowed the last pill.
"So, " Ryan said as he stretched out on the ground,
"whats your story out here Richard?"

Richard said, "Me? I was a wastelander like yourself who was among the first of the Brotherhood to originate from the Capital Wasteland. I started out as an Initiate, and was bullied by the westerners who thought I was only good for cannon fodder. I got promoted to Knight after I saved the squad I was assigned to from a Super Mutant ambush. And the rest, as they say, is history."

Ryans head jumped up a little when he fould out about Richards experience as a waistelander.
"Damn..." He started to lay back down
"I guess that old saying is true....If you put ur mind to it anything is possible."
Ryan paused, as the Mentats effect to ahold of him. he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a smile comming across his face.
"So, wheres that Paladin guy. He never gave his name. What are we supposed to do now? just sit around?"

Kyle had stop wandering the bombed out Mall and found Richard and Ryan, resting on a trench.

Kyle, almost materializing out of the night startled the two squad members as he hopped down into the trench.

"Eh, we are on Lyon's personal mission of saving the Wastelanders" "So we just sit here and hunt freaks all day, instead of gathering Tech like we are suspsed too"

"Names Kyle by the way" he said as he extended his hand to Ryan.

Ryan took his hand and gave it a firm shake.
"Names Ryan. Ryan Samuels. So whats your story Kyle?"

"Got all the way here from Kansas, didn't do it alone but those people are gone now, never been able to find em"

"I was hoping I could get to West Virginia at first, but all the scum kicked out of the Pitt stopped that"

"So I made my way east, encountered the brotherhood for the second time, and ended up getting my ass shot at in a trench here with you"

Ryan didn't know what to make of kyle yet. He wasnt quite sure he fully trusted him, or any of these guys...he only met em several hours ago.
"Ahh the pitt. I knew a guy who was foolish enough to travel that way... O course, thats the last we ever heard from him."

(alright boys, im off to bed. I'll post ASAP, Max has got my char if the need arises....Try not to let him get [censored] by a super mutant.)

"I got lucky enough to dodge any major problems, well nothing my Rifle couldn't handle" He said pulling out his ancient Mosin Nagant rifle, its stock had partial shattered so he would have to go scavenge some wood. Knowing there were no good trees left in the Wastes.

"So you got anything personal against these Mutants?"

Leroy span as he heard the sound of rocks falling, seeing a dirty, dishevelled waste-rat Leroy lowered his shotgun and smirked. Filthy waste-rats always think they are better than us, until we were forced to abandon our real mission and satart saving their arses, I hope to whatever God wasn't nuked that Dad pulls off his plan.

As the Paladin called for them to move out Leroy tried to get the wastelander off his mind. I mean what the hell was Webster thinking? I mean, sure this guy looks as though a stiff wind'd knock him over, but he might well be a spy for some pissant raider group. Considering Dubrowski had gotten called off to meet his Paladin, Beckett thought he'd do the same. Removing his helmet Leroy passed several Knights and Paladins. Including two Knights from his own squad hearing something about The Pitt as he walked past caused Beckett to stop rather suddenly.

"Hah!, The Pitt. We wiped that scum hole clean on our way here, we lost some good men in those days though. Gained a few waste-rats along the way, though unlike Layne and Richards there, they'll actually be brought up respecting our beliefs."

Seeing the waste-rat recoil slightly from the sight of his face. Leroy added "That's right boy, a Muties machine-gun tore me up real nice. But like a Brother I fought back. Agaisnt a whole squad of Mutie-scum." Whilst still staring at the waste-rat it was obvious that Beckett was talking to Knight Richards.

"Leroy Beckett by the way." Added Leroy with a smirk.

Feeling as though he had accomplished his duty of scaring the crap out of the waste-rat, Leroy strode through the trenches towards the communications bunker where Paladin Webster was said to be.

"Hell, The only thing i got against the mutties is that they enjoy eating humans...They stink too."

Another knight by the name of Beckett added a comment on the Pitt as he passed by. Ryan noticed his battle scars on his face, and before his common sense stopped him, he grimmaced...or maybe that was the mentats.


After the knight passed through Ryan said, "...Boy he sure is a bundle of fun."
Ryan then diverted his attention too Kyles weapon. He motioned to it and said, " Now thats quite a Piece of work. Where'd you pick that beauty up?"

Frank sat at a small broken table and ate his Insta-mash with some water. He had a hard time digesting the food since it was so old, but he got it down and continued eating. So far, the Mall had been quiet. Frank took this as a sign that the Super Mutants were either regrouping, and preparing for an attack, or they were taking a break from all their losses.

All around, it seemed that Initiates, Knights, and Paladins alike were wearing down. They're faces were covered in dirt and mud, giving them a tired look as well. They took large sigh's of relief when they came off their shifts, and took another large sigh when they were sent back onto their shift. Frank read the orders over again.

//Scribe Hark- Citadel- Washington D.C.//
//1200hrs- Mon. 24//
//Mission Orders to: Paladin Frank Webster//
//Urgency: Immediatly//

Paladin Webster, when you recieve this, it is of the utmost importance that you follow through with these orders. Elder Lyon's and the rest of the Brotherhood of Steel are counting on this and several other missions to be successful. All other transmissions you recieve here on out are to be ignored, and should be burned.

Order 1: Secure Site Bravo near the hospital in the northern sector of the D.C. Ruins.
Super Mutant threat: High
Ghoul threat: None

Order 2: Once Site Bravo is secured, link up with Charlie squad, and make a sweep down to several Metro stations that Charlie squad (Paladin Vice's squad) will give. They are to sweapt clean of any and all Super Mutant and Ghoul threats.
Super Mutant threat: Minimal
Ghoul threat: Mediocre

Order 3: Return to The Mall, and prepare to move out once again. Rearm and Refit if needed.
Super Mutant threat: None
Ghoul threat: None

Frank sat, looking the orders over again and walked back over to where they had entered. He sat wondering where the others were. Some were still off in the trenches busy with somethings probably. Frank spotted Knight Beckett, and hailed him over, waving his hand. He hadn't spoken personally with any of his squad members. Something he made doing, a priority.

Hearing Beckett's rather backhanded remark toward him and Richard, Layne would finally disregard protocol and step up to the prejudice fool, glaring into his eyes just before Paladin Webster called him over. "You underestimate my dedication to the Brotherhood, to the NEW and IMPROVED Brotherhood again, and I'll end you where you stand.", he'd say loudly enough for anyone in earshot to catch it clearly.

Layne would then approach the wastelander that by some strange turn of events, managed to make it to The Mall with the majority of his body intact. "Names Initiate Layne Deckard. From what I've seen you haven't tried anything that'd make me consider you an enemy combatant. Truth is, a couple guys on this squad are a little too loyal to the old ways of "pure bloods" and hording technology for their own benefit. As long as you keep yourself in line and out of our way, I'll make sure you don't "accidentally" get a laser blast to the back of the head or a shotgun shell to the face."

Chase got down from his spot and walked around the trenches for a little while, keeping an eye out for anyone he might know. Everyone was on edge. Fidgety. Trigger-happy. These guys are just asking for friendly fire.

He was walking past a certain part of the trenches when he heard someone familiar speaking. It was Beckett. He walked over just in time to hear the initiate say something back.

"Hey initiate. Watch your mouth before it gets shot off. You talk to a superior like that again and I'll do it personally. We're Knights and Westerners. We have authority over your idiot ass. You know what that means, right? We can say whatever the hell we want to you, and you can't do a thing. Even try something against one of us, and you'll be disemboweled and headless before you can even make one more pathetic remark. And as far as the Brotherhood being new and improved... Well now that's just a matter of your worthless opinion, isn't it? Now then, care to repeat yourself, or would you prefer to live?"

"And you, local! Follow this guys example and you're going to be on the ground holding your guts in real quick. Stay out of our way, and we'll leave you alone. Just don't screw up."