Fallout 3
The Walker Files 29Q

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From An Interview With Boris Feldon, Former Colonel, Enclave Armed Forces

The voice I knew well.  But what Augustus Autumn said was so at odds with reality that it literally took my breath away.

"... Repeat.  Leanne Walker, the gang leader here under truce, is in fact plotting to assassinate our President.  She is to be shot on sight. I repeat, shot on sight.  This is an order! ... "

Leanne Walker gave me a look that could only be called accusing.  But I was as shocked as she was and it must have shown, because she didn't follow up on that, just turned to the door.

"Wait!"  I pushed straight past her, and into the corridor outside.  A squad of troops were approaching at the double.  They met the best 'Command Voice' I'd ever managed in my entire career.  "You men!  What are you waiting for?  Walker went THAT way less than five minutes ago ... " I indicated the corridor behind me.  "If you move right now, you might catch her before she does any damage! ... "

The corporal in charge dithered just a little.  "Uh, sir?  My understanding is that you are confined pending disciplinary action?  If-?"

I managed a roar that would have done my old parade ground instructor proud.  "Ghodamnit, soldier!  I'll be ####ed if I'll sit on my @$$ in an emergency!  So quit delaying and get your men moving OR, so help me, I SWEAR your next post will be testing lead underwear in the Glowing Sea!!!!"

The corporal kind of shrivelled under that blast, and got his squad moving.  I tried both to think and not to think about the situation as I stepped back into my room.

Walker shimmered out of Stealth.  Interesting.  By the transition effects, her Ghostarmour worked on different principles to Stealth Boys or Crimson Dragoon suits, a detail not in any reports so far.  "Thanks," she said, sounding a little surprised.

"Autumn's pulling a fast one.  Again.  I'm not letting him get away with it.  So I'll help you as best I can."  I think my decision surprised both of us, but what else could I do?  " ... The President wants to meet you - and my vow is to obey him, not that S.O.B. Autumn!"

She nodded, "I don't understand this.  Why isn't your President telling everyone to lock up or shoot Autumn?"

I didn't understand either.  Not really.  "Autumn's duties include overseeing all communications with the President.  He must have cut some links, isolated Eden in the Presidential Centre ... "

More feet running past outside.  " ... So why doesn't the President just step outside his office and start organizing his troops face-to-face?  It shouldn't be hard, everyone will know who he is  .... "  Her voice tailed off when she saw my face.  "What?"

I tried explaining, I really did.  But there and then, years of Standard Operating Procedure were making less sense even to me.  " ..... Uh, the President doesn't leave the Presidential Centre.  Usually, only a few people speak directly to him, and almost no one meets him in person ..."

" .... And he's been President for HOW long?  Over twenty years?"  Walker had trouble taking this in, but looked to be thinking hard.  "Ah, well, I still need to see him ..."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Years ago, when reading a Pre-War book about security, I learned about what was informally called 'The Clipboard Gambit'.  It worked like this - in any large complex organization, no matter how secretive and paranoid, members usually left even total strangers alone if they (a) acted like they had every right to be there, and (b) carried a clipboard.  Sounds strange, but it proved an extremely effective ruse on numerous occasions.

Walker and I used a variant of that principle.  It was quickly clear that technical problems, contradictory orders and subsequent failures to locate Walker had left the entire Raven's Rock complex in severe disorder.  The personnel were confused and arguing, internal comms and the computer network both sporadic at best, and the automated security systems completely offline.  Through this chaos I stomped, no clipboard but full dress uniform and full command attitude, clearly intent on important duties elsewhere.  I was challenged hardly at all, never stopped for more than a couple of seconds.  Walker stuck at my heels in full Stealth mode.

It got us most of the way without incident.  It was at the entrance to the Presidential Centre that we hit an obstacle.  The automated defenses were still down, but the troops there were very alert and VERY conscientious.

"Sorry, sir, " the Captain in charge told me.  "it is Colonel Autumn's direct order and, in fact, we also have to hold absolutely anyone who even attempts entry."  His squad's readied weapons swung to cover me.

I started saying something, I forget what.  Under this much scrutiny, spotting Walker's stealth field would only take a minute or two.  Then I heard a couple of soft electronic BLEEPs that made the Captain turn and look over his shoulder.

Walker abruptly grabbed me, slung me behind a support column, and dove for cover beside me as the entire world lit up.  For maybe a half-minute at most, there were plasma bursts and laser shots in all directions, screams, several "small" explosions and so on.  I stayed in cover, readied my Plasma Pistol against the worst that was surely about to happen, and waited.

It got quiet again.  We both stood slowly, discovering the entire squad had been wiped out - by the previously 'inactive" Sentrybots and Turrets that covered the Presidential Centre entrance.  They watched us, but made no moves as we shakily approached.

"The President?"  Walker's voice was soft.

A nod from me.  "Can't think who else .... "  Made sense that the President had secret overrides for his own security, but I was appalled by what had just happened.  Six loyal soldiers of the Enclave killed only because they were obeying the wrong orders.  I felt ill.

The armoured doors slid open to reveal Briefing Room Alpha, used only by the highest ranks of the Enclave.  I'd been here a few times in the line of duty, presenting data to the top brass - the OAG knows no bounds, after all.  Walker was interested by the large holotable dominating the area.

President Eden spoke to us, "Welcome to Raven Rock's Presidential Centre, Miss Walker.  Once again, I am very sorry about the inconvenience."

She visibly jumped at his voice.  "I-I'm here.  Shall we talk now?"

******************

There is much about Raven Rock that has always seemed weird to me - Autumn's actions especially.  I have tried (and will try) to make it all a little more logical.

'Presidential Centre' because I envisage this as being a completely separate place to wherever they run the Base from (presumably the 'Command Centre').

'The Glowing Sea' is an area in Fallout 4 (SW corner of map - and beyond!).  I don't have the game (or suitable system) as yet, but have done a great deal of You-Tubing, and this area comes under the heading of 'Absolutely-Not-A-Very-Nice-Place-At-All'.  The Enclave may not have any real presence in the Boston area, but they surely have mapped things out to some extent.  Given the size and nastiness of the Glowing Sea, it seems very reasonable to me that they know of it, if only as a place to avoid. 

4 comments

  1. aramdol
    aramdol
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    Haha gotta love the clipboard gambit. Like some stuff I used to see in old movies and tv shows. The whole Raven Rock business does seem a little silly now that you mention it. It bugs me a little that the President would blindly trust the enemy(?) of Enclave, even if he is impervious to most things, only to be destroyed by the player or destroyed off screen by Liberty Prime. Very very short screen time for the President.

    I also don't have a suitable machine to run Fallout 4. It doesn't even pass the minimum GPU requirement, so I need to wait til I upgrade it. Until then I don't want to spoil the fun for myself
    1. 7thsealord
      7thsealord
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      One of the best all-time examples of 'TCG' is in the old Bond flick ' Diamonds Are Forever'. I've used the trick once or twice myself. Long long ago, mind you, and not in a major security setting, but ...

      Yeah, it is pretty clear that the President aint exactly firing on all cylinders, especially considering the "offer" he makes to the LW. It also kind of puts Colonel Autumn in a different light - not just an evil SOB, but someone frantically trying to stop "his" system from getting completely out of hand.
    2. aramdol
      aramdol
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      My D& group has tried the TCG approach on a number of occasions, usually with hilarious results
    3. 7thsealord
      7thsealord
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      For RPing, the best possible result.