If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
And tomorrow, after everyone had received the rest Sico insisted upon, Captain Brooks and his people would begin the next phase of their mission with searching every corridor, basement, office, and forgotten storage room for the hidden nuclear launch codes while completing the final assessment that would determine whether the Harbor Grand Hotel would become the Republic's newest permanent base.
The following morning dawned beneath a pale blue sky, the Atlantic calm enough that the water around Rayburn Point reflected the first rays of sunlight like polished steel. A cool breeze swept across the harbor, carrying the scent of pine forests and saltwater through the settlement.
For the men stationed there, the day no longer felt like the aftermath of a battle.
It felt like the beginning of the mission they had come to Far Harbor to accomplish.
The Republic flag stirred gently above the former Trapper headquarters as soldiers emerged from their sleeping quarters, stretching tired muscles before gathering for a quick breakfast.
Hot coffee passed from hand to hand.
Tin cups clinked together.
Someone joked that the coffee tasted stronger than the previous day's.
Another replied that it probably needed to be if they were planning to row across the Atlantic.
The comment earned a round of quiet laughter.
Captain Walker stepped outside just as Lieutenant Carter approached carrying a rolled-up blueprint beneath one arm.
"The pitch hardened perfectly overnight," Carter reported.
Walker looked toward the waterfront.
"And the hull?"
"Ready for the final assembly."
Walker smiled.
"Then let's finish her."
The shoreline quickly filled with activity.
The skeleton of the wooden boat that had taken shape the previous day now waited beneath the fishing shed.
Fresh planks were lifted into place one by one.
Carpenters worked with practiced hands, driving wooden pegs into carefully measured joints while others brushed heated pitch into every seam.
The rhythmic tapping of wooden mallets echoed across the harbor.
Nearby, another team prepared the oars.
Each shaft was sanded smooth before being tested for balance.
One young private turned an oar over in his hands.
"I've never actually rowed anything."
The older carpenter beside him chuckled.
"You'll learn."
"I hope before we're halfway across."
"You won't be rowing today."
The private blinked.
"I'm not?"
The carpenter pointed toward another squad.
"Walker's already picked the crossing team."
The young soldier looked relieved.
"In that case…"
"…I suddenly have complete confidence in the boat."
While the engineers concentrated on the vessel, security remained just as important.
Walker gathered another squad beside the settlement entrance.
"We've been lucky."
He looked toward the dense forest surrounding Rayburn Point.
"I'd like to keep it that way."
He pointed toward three different routes on a map.
"North trail."
"Cliff road."
"Coastal approach."
"Check every one."
"No unnecessary risks."
Sergeant Ellis nodded.
"We're looking for anything unusual?"
"Everything."
"Fog Crawlers."
"Gulpers."
"Trappers that somehow escaped."
"Anything moving toward Rayburn Point."
The patrol leaders acknowledged immediately.
Within minutes, several squads disappeared into the surrounding wilderness.
The northern patrol moved quietly beneath towering pine trees.
Morning mist still clung to the forest floor as boots crunched softly across fallen needles.
Private Collins scanned the undergrowth with his rifle raised.
"So peaceful."
His partner smiled.
"Which usually makes me nervous."
They checked abandoned campsites.
Old game trails.
Rocky overlooks.
Nothing.
Farther west another patrol followed the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.
One soldier paused to study several strange footprints pressed into damp earth.
"Gulper?"
The squad leader crouched beside them.
He examined the marks carefully before shaking his head.
"Too old."
"They've been here for days."
The patrol continued.
Hours passed.
Each team reported the same conclusion.
"No enemy contact."
"Forest clear."
"Coastline clear."
"Approaches secure."
Walker listened to each report with quiet satisfaction.
Exactly what he had hoped to hear.
Back at the shoreline, the boat slowly became a complete vessel.
Its broad hull rested securely upon timber supports while the final side planks were fastened into place.
Lieutenant Carter walked around it several times, checking every joint.
One carpenter wiped sawdust from his hands.
"Moment of truth?"
Carter nodded.
"Moment of truth."
Several soldiers gathered around.
Heavy ropes were secured beneath the hull.
"Lift."
The boat rose together.
"Easy…"
"Keep her level."
Step by careful step, they carried it toward the water.
The Atlantic lapped gently against the shoreline.
When the hull finally touched the water…
It floated.
Perfectly.
Not a single leak appeared.
The boat rocked gently before settling.
For several long seconds everyone simply watched.
Then Carter smiled.
"I'll take that."
Walker stepped aboard carefully while two engineers steadied the sides.
The boat remained stable.
He shifted his weight.
Still stable.
One by one several engineers climbed inside until eight men occupied the vessel.
It barely dipped.
Carter folded his arms proudly.
"Capacity confirmed."
Walker nodded.
"Eight people."
"Exactly as planned."
The soldiers along the shore exchanged satisfied smiles.
Their hard work had paid off.
Walker gathered the expedition shortly afterward.
A rough map of the coastline rested across the hood of the supply truck.
He pointed toward the small island northwest of Rayburn Point.
"Our destination."
Everyone followed his finger.
"The crossing isn't long."
"But once we're there, we're on our own."
He looked around the group.
"I only want experienced personnel."
Nobody argued.
Walker had already made his decision.
Including himself, eight men would make the crossing.
Seven soldiers.
One captain.
Sergeant Ellis.
Corporal Hayes.
Private Collins.
Engineer Dawson.
Scout Murphy.
Rifleman Grant.
Medic Evans.
Each had been chosen for a reason.
Combat experience.
Navigation.
Engineering.
Medical support.
If something went wrong, they needed every skill available.
Walker looked toward those remaining behind.
"The rest of you maintain Rayburn Point."
"If we're delayed…"
"…you hold this settlement."
Lieutenant Carter nodded.
"You'll have it exactly as you left it."
Walker smiled.
"I know."
The boat was pushed gently away from shore.
The oars dipped into the calm Atlantic almost together.
Splash.
Pull.
Splash.
Pull.
The little vessel glided steadily across the water.
Behind them, Rayburn Point gradually grew smaller.
The Republic flag remained visible above the settlement.
Both Humvees could still be seen guarding the entrances.
On the shoreline, dozens of soldiers watched until the boat became little more than a dark silhouette against the sea.
The crossing proved calmer than expected.
Only small waves rolled beneath the hull.
Engineer Dawson looked over the side.
"I expected worse."
Walker smiled.
"So did I."
Murphy kept his binoculars trained ahead.
"The island's coming into view."
Slowly the rocky shoreline emerged from the morning haze.
Tall pines covered much of the island.
Jagged rocks lined the coast.
No buildings appeared.
Only wilderness.
"Looks abandoned," Grant observed.
Walker nodded.
"Stay alert."
The boat scraped gently onto a narrow strip of rocky beach.
"Secure her."
Two soldiers pulled the boat higher onto the shore before tying it to a weathered tree.
Weapons were checked.
Radios tested.
Walker looked inland.
"Move."
The team advanced carefully beneath dense evergreen trees.
Birdsong echoed overhead.
The forest seemed almost untouched.
Too untouched.
Murphy suddenly stopped.
He raised one hand.
Everyone froze.
"What?"
Murphy pointed toward a shallow pool.
"The water."
Ripples.
Tiny at first.
Then larger.
Walker quietly raised his rifle.
"Contacts."
Without warning the peaceful silence exploded.
Three Anglers burst from the undergrowth almost simultaneously.
Their glowing lures flashed brightly as they lunged forward with terrifying speed.
"Contact front!"
Rifles barked.
The first Angler twisted unnaturally before collapsing only a few meters away.
The second leapt over a fallen log straight toward Corporal Hayes.
Hayes fired twice.
The creature kept coming.
Sergeant Ellis stepped sideways and fired a controlled burst.
The Angler tumbled into the ferns.
"Left!"
Another shout echoed through the trees.
Two more Anglers emerged from behind enormous boulders.
One spat glowing bioluminescent fluid that splashed harmlessly against a pine tree.
Walker calmly shouldered his rifle.
"Steady!"
The Republic soldiers spread naturally, each covering a different angle.
Nobody panicked.
Nobody fired wildly.
Engineer Dawson ducked behind a rock while Evans covered him.
Grant dropped to one knee.
His shot caught another Angler squarely in the chest.
The creature screeched before collapsing.
The final Angler attempted to retreat into thick brush.
Murphy tracked it through the foliage.
One carefully aimed shot.
Silence.
Only the distant sound of waves returned.
Walker waited another thirty seconds.
"No movement?"
Each soldier scanned carefully.
Ellis finally nodded.
"Area secure."
Walker lowered his rifle.
"Good work."
The team resumed their search.
According to DiMA's information, the cache had been buried somewhere on the island years earlier.
Finding it would not be easy.
The island wasn't large.
But it offered countless places to hide something.
Walker unfolded a weathered copy of DiMA's notes.
"We're looking for disturbed ground."
"Anything that doesn't belong."
The soldiers spread into pairs.
No one wandered far from the others.
They examined old tree roots.
Rock formations.
Abandoned campsites.
Nothing.
Nearly an hour passed.
Grant called out from near a cluster of windswept pines.
"Captain."
Walker walked over.
"What have you got?"
Grant knelt beside an oddly shaped patch of earth.
Unlike the surrounding forest floor, this section lacked thick moss.
The soil looked slightly darker.
As though someone had once dug there.
Murphy crouched beside it.
"This wasn't made by animals."
Walker looked closely.
"No."
"It wasn't."
He smiled faintly.
"I think we found it."
Engineer Dawson retrieved a shovel from his pack.
The soldiers formed a loose security perimeter while he began digging carefully.
Each shovelful revealed darker earth beneath.
Ten minutes passed.
Then…
Thunk.
Metal.
Dawson stopped immediately.
"I've hit something."
Everyone moved closer.
Using their hands now, they brushed away the remaining dirt.
A weathered metal tool case slowly emerged from the ground.
Rust covered much of its surface, but the latches remained intact.
Walker knelt beside it.
"This is it."
He carefully released both catches.
The lid creaked open.
Inside lay several waterproof packets, preserved remarkably well despite the passing years.
One carried a handwritten label.
Wind Farm Kill Switch Code.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
After everything…
The firefights.
The march across Far Harbor.
The battles for Rayburn Point.
The crossing.
The Anglers.
It had all led to this simple case buried beneath a quiet patch of forest.
Walker carefully lifted the sealed packet into his hands.
A smile slowly crossed his face.
"We found it."
Sergeant Ellis let out a long breath.
"I was beginning to wonder if we'd be digging up this whole island."
A few soldiers laughed quietly.
Walker slipped the packet carefully into a waterproof satchel.
"This never leaves our sight."
He looked around at the team.
"Our mission here is complete."
He glanced once more toward the peaceful forest surrounding them.
"Let's head home."
Then the little expedition wasted no time.
Captain Walker gave the island one final sweep with his eyes before motioning toward the shoreline.
"Let's move."
The eight-man team immediately fell back into formation.
Nobody relaxed simply because they had found the objective.
If anything, they became even more alert.
The sealed waterproof packet containing the Wind Farm Kill Switch Code had become the most valuable item any of them carried.
Sergeant Ellis naturally took point.
Scout Murphy drifted several meters ahead, moving silently between the trees while checking every approach.
Captain Walker walked near the center of the formation with the satchel secured tightly across his shoulder.
Medic Evans stayed close behind him.
Engineer Dawson carried the now-empty tool case.
Grant and Collins watched both flanks while Hayes brought up the rear, pausing every few moments to look behind them.
The forest seemed almost peaceful again.
Only the wind whispered through the pine branches.
The distant crash of waves echoed against the rocky shoreline.
Still nobody mistook silence for safety.
After the Angler attack, every puddle, every patch of brush, and every oddly shaped rock demanded a second look.
Murphy raised a hand.
The entire column stopped instantly.
Everyone waited.
The scout slowly crouched beside a patch of soft earth.
Walker stepped beside him.
"What is it?"
Murphy pointed toward several fresh tracks.
"Those weren't here when we came in."
Walker studied them.
Long, webbed impressions.
Likely another Angler.
Fortunately, they headed away from the team instead of toward them.
Murphy stood.
"Looks like it wandered off after the shooting."
Walker nodded.
"Good."
"Let's not give it another reason to come back."
The patrol resumed.
No one spoke much during the return march.
Not because morale was low.
Quite the opposite.
There was simply a quiet satisfaction among the men.
Their mission had succeeded.
Without losing a single soldier.
After nearly twenty minutes, sunlight began filtering through the trees ahead.
"The beach," Ellis said.
Moments later the forest opened.
Their wooden boat rested exactly where they had secured it earlier that morning.
The ropes remained tight around the weathered pine.
The tide had risen slightly, allowing gentle waves to rock the hull against the shoreline.
Lieutenant Dawson walked around the vessel first, inspecting every plank.
"No damage."
He smiled with quiet pride.
"She survived her first deployment."
Walker chuckled.
"And now she gets to bring us home."
The soldiers untied the mooring rope together.
Grant and Collins pushed the bow toward deeper water while the others steadied the boat.
Once the hull floated freely, Walker climbed aboard first.
The others followed one after another.
Again, eight men occupied the vessel comfortably.
The sealed satchel containing the kill switch code rested securely beneath Walker's feet.
He looked around the boat.
"Everyone ready?"
Seven voices answered almost together.
"Ready."
The captain nodded.
"Push off."
The oars slipped into the Atlantic.
Splash.
Pull.
Splash.
Pull.
The boat slowly turned away from the lonely island.
Behind them, the untouched forest gradually disappeared beneath the morning haze.
No one knew how many years DiMA's cache had remained hidden beneath that patch of disturbed earth.
Perhaps decades.
Perhaps since before many of the Republic soldiers had even been born.
Now the dangerous code was finally in responsible hands.
Ellis looked back one last time.
"Hard to believe something that important was buried on an island nobody cared about."
Walker smiled faintly.
"Sometimes the safest hiding place is the one everyone ignores."
The crossing home felt even calmer than the journey out.
Perhaps because the mission's greatest uncertainty had already passed.
Murphy lowered his binoculars.
"I can see Rayburn Point."
Everyone looked ahead.
The Republic flag soon appeared above the settlement.
Then the old warehouse.
Then the two Humvees standing guard over both entrances exactly where Walker had left them.
Even from offshore, they could see soldiers moving along the defensive positions.
Patrols continued walking the perimeter.
Carpenters still worked around the waterfront repairing smaller details on the workshop.
Nothing suggested panic.
Nothing suggested an attack.
Exactly as ordered.
A lookout standing atop the repaired watchtower spotted the returning boat first.
He lifted his binoculars.
Then smiled broadly.
"Boat returning!"
His voice echoed across the harbor.
Several soldiers immediately turned toward the water.
One mechanic climbed onto the hood of a Humvee for a better view.
"I count eight."
Another soldier grinned.
"Looks like everybody's coming home."
Lieutenant Carter stepped out from the engineering shed, wiping sawdust from his hands.
He watched the approaching boat before nodding with visible relief.
"I'd say our craftsmanship passed another test."
Doctor Simmons laughed.
"The boat isn't what I was worried about."
As the vessel reached shallow water, Collins jumped over the side first.
Cold seawater splashed around his boots as he steadied the hull.
Grant followed.
Together they guided the boat safely onto the beach.
Walker stepped ashore carrying the satchel himself.
The waiting soldiers gathered around.
Nobody asked the question aloud.
Their faces already did.
Walker looked around at every familiar face before slowly opening the satchel just enough for Sergeant Ellis to remove the waterproof packet.
The handwritten label remained perfectly legible.
Wind Farm Kill Switch Code.
A broad smile spread across Carter's face.
"We actually found it."
Walker nodded.
"We did."
Quiet cheers spread through the gathering.
Several soldiers shook hands.
Others patted the returning team on the shoulders.
Not one of them celebrated wildly.
They all understood there was still work ahead.
But this victory mattered.
One dangerous objective had been completed exactly as Sico had planned.
Walker carefully handed the packet to Lieutenant Carter.
"Radio Vim."
"Tell Commander Sico we've secured the wind farm kill switch code."
Carter nodded immediately.
"I'll send the report."
Walker looked back toward the little wooden boat resting on the shore.
"Not bad for something we built yesterday."
The carpenter responsible for most of the hull scratched the back of his neck.
"I suppose she'll be staying in service."
Walker smiled.
"I certainly hope so."
Several miles away, beneath the towering walls of the Harbor Grand Hotel, another Republic detachment had already begun its own mission.
The atmosphere there differed completely from Rayburn Point.
No boats.
No forests.
Only the enormous hotel standing against the Atlantic cliffs like a forgotten fortress.
Captain Brooks stood behind the reception desk that now served as the expedition's command post.
Maps covered nearly every available surface.
Engineers moved in and out carrying notebooks.
Radio operators monitored several frequencies.
Outside, the Republic flag now flew proudly from a temporary pole overlooking the parking lot.
The previous day's smoke from burning the Super Mutant and Mutant Hound remains had long since disappeared into the sky.
Today belonged to careful investigation.
Brooks looked around the lobby.
"Let's begin."
His officers gathered nearby.
"Our priorities haven't changed."
He tapped the map.
"Find the nuclear launch code."
He tapped another page.
"Continue assessing this building."
"No shortcuts."
"If we miss something…"
"…we search again."
Every squad acknowledged immediately.
Within minutes, organized search teams disappeared into different sections of the enormous hotel.
One squad began with the western guest rooms.
Another headed toward the conference halls.
A third disappeared into the lower maintenance corridors.
Engineers followed close behind.
Every room was inspected for two reasons.
Could it hide the launch codes?
Could it eventually house Republic personnel?
Lieutenant Parker carried a clipboard while moving down one long hallway.
He paused outside Room 214.
"Ready?"
A soldier nodded.
The door opened.
Empty.
Dust covered everything.
Old furniture remained surprisingly intact.
Parker walked slowly around the room.
"Windows need replacing."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
"No major water damage."
Another engineer measured the walls.
"Enough space for four beds."
"Possibly six."
Parker wrote another note.
"Potential barracks."
Across the corridor, another team entered what had once been a luxury suite.
One soldier whistled softly.
"People used to vacation here?"
His partner smiled.
"Hard to imagine now."
Broken chandeliers still hung from the ceiling.
The balcony overlooked the Atlantic.
Despite years of neglect, the view remained breathtaking.
An engineer studied the room.
"Command office."
The lieutenant looked around.
"I was thinking exactly the same thing."
Elsewhere, soldiers carefully searched closets, drawers, broken desks, ventilation panels and hidden compartments.
Every filing cabinet was opened.
Every safe they encountered was documented.
Some contained nothing but ruined paperwork.
Others held pre-war valuables long since rendered meaningless.
One private held up a stack of old hotel coupons.
"I don't think these are still valid."
His squad laughed.
"I wouldn't count on free breakfast."
Hours passed.
Floor after floor was cleared.
Yet no sign of the nuclear launch code appeared.
Brooks remained patient.
"Keep searching."
"We knew this wouldn't be easy."
Shortly after midday, First Squad reached an isolated administrative hallway on the hotel's third floor.
Unlike the guest corridors, this section had almost no decoration.
Heavy reinforced doors replaced ordinary wooden ones.
Corporal Hayes stopped outside one particularly unusual entrance.
"Lieutenant."
The officer walked over.
"What is it?"
Hayes pointed.
"This door."
Unlike every other room they had entered, this one featured a heavy steel frame.
Beside it sat an electronic keypad remarkably untouched by time.
Several soldiers exchanged curious glances.
Parker stepped closer.
"That's interesting."
Another engineer brushed years of dust away from the keypad.
"It still has power."
A tiny green indicator remained illuminated.
Hayes raised an eyebrow.
"After two hundred years?"
"Backup power."
The engineer looked thoughtful.
"Some secure facilities were built that way."
Brooks arrived a few moments later after hearing the radio call.
"What have we got?"
Parker pointed.
"I think we've found something important."
Brooks studied the reinforced entrance.
"This definitely wasn't a guest room."
He turned toward one of the expedition's communications technicians.
"You think you can open it?"
The technician smiled slightly.
"I can try."
He knelt beside the keypad.
Removing a compact toolkit from his pack, he carefully exposed the maintenance panel beneath the electronic lock.
Several wires remained surprisingly intact.
The hallway fell almost completely silent.
Only the faint clicking of tools broke the quiet.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
The technician frowned in concentration.
Finally a sharp electronic beep echoed through the corridor.
The indicator changed from red to green.
The heavy locking mechanism disengaged with a deep metallic clunk.
The technician slowly looked up.
"We're in."
No one rushed.
Brooks raised one hand.
"Standard entry."
Two riflemen positioned themselves on either side of the doorway.
One slowly turned the handle.
The thick steel door swung inward.
Flashlights illuminated the darkness beyond.
No movement.
No sounds.
Only stale air escaping from a room that had remained sealed for decades.
The squad entered cautiously.
Their lights revealed shelves filled with emergency supplies.
Water containers.
Medical kits.
Blankets.
Old ration boxes.
"This was a safe room," Parker said quietly.
Near the back wall sat a single chair.
Resting against it…
A human skeleton.
Still wearing faded business attire.
Silence settled over the room.
Doctor Hayes knelt beside the remains.
"No signs of violence."
She looked around.
"He probably sealed himself inside…"
"…and never made it back out."
Nobody said anything for several moments.
The quiet felt appropriate.
Then one of the soldiers noticed an old cassette resting on a nearby desk beside a small tape player.
"Captain."
Brooks turned.
"What is it?"
The soldier carefully lifted the label.
The faded handwriting remained barely readable.
Safe Room Security Recording.
Brooks looked toward the technician.
"Can it still play?"
The technician inspected the recorder.
"Only one way to find out."
Fresh batteries from the Republic's supplies were connected.
The room waited.
He pressed the button.
Static crackled through the speaker.
For a moment, everyone wondered if time had finally claimed the recording.
Then a weary human voice filled the silent safe room.
"If… if anyone is hearing this…"
"This is Chief Security Officer Daniel Mercer…"
His breathing sounded strained.
"The launch authorization material… isn't here."
Everyone in the room exchanged immediate glances.
The recording continued.
"We moved everything before the evacuation…"
"…to Fringe Cove Docks."
"It was the last secure transfer point…"
"If anyone is trying to recover the nuclear launch code…"
"…that's where you'll find it."
More static interrupted the recording.
Then the final exhausted words emerged.
"God help whoever has to finish this."
The tape clicked to an end.
Silence returned.
Brooks slowly looked around the room before allowing himself a small smile.
"So."
He folded his arms.
"We've got our next destination."
Lieutenant Parker closed his notebook.
"And another lead."
Brooks nodded.
"Radio Commander Sico, and tell him we've located information pointing to the nuclear launch code."
He paused before finishing.
"Our next objective is Fringe Cove Docks."
As he looked once more at the forgotten safe room and the skeleton that had guarded its final secret for centuries.
______________________________________________
• Name: Sico
• Stats :
S: 8,44
P: 7,44
E: 8,44
C: 8,44
I: 9,44
A: 7,45
L: 7
• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills
• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.
• Active Quest:-