All four of us participated in the discussion regarding the linkage and what would become of the vault someday. And after covering nearly every facet and potential problem that could or would arise from the linkage, I brought up another thing that would need to be implemented. "So now that it's been established that we'll be turning Vault 101 into a city someday, I believe it would be wise to prepare in advance and begin massively increasing the vault's food production to accommodate the future population that will no doubt rise exponentially as we gain control over the wasteland."
"That would indeed be a smart idea."
"The plentiful food supply could also be used to draw people to the city and increase the population as well."
"Right, so I'm guessing you're going to need more materials than what you are able to currently gather on your own from the mines below?"
"We're alright for the time-being, but yes, you would be correct in your assumption. Hence, we'll be needing assistance from you eventually in terms of resources and manpower to build and further expand the facilities and housing here."
As I was about to respond, my mechanical workforce back at my home away from home just completed the implementation of the upgrades to the automated robot manufacturing machines. Which raised their combined total manufacturing capacity from 60 to 100 robots a day.
"Well, you're in luck because my robots just finished installing the latest iteration of upgrades to the robot production lines at the RobCO Facility, bringing the daily robot production number to 100."
"Impressive. That's nearly double the previous capacity." Dad commented, followed by the overseer.
"I suppose that means the workforce part of the equation will be a non-issue."
Replying with nothing but a simple nod of the head, he continued. "What about resources?"
"We just hit resource veins the other day, so that is currently in the process of being brought up to speed. Having said that, it shouldn't be long before we have more resources than we know what to do with, and that isn't even considering when I repair the rails and get trains running on them again. That one factor will be a huge multiplier for things going forward."
"Wonderful, that's an enormous weight off my shoulders." Father-in-law commented, sounding quite relieved that he wouldn't have to deal with that potential logistical nightmare.
The bunch of us talked for a short while longer before we wrapped the conversation up and headed out to grab some lunch.
...
After a brief but scrumptious meal, Amata and I wished our father's goodbye and met back up with Don, Officer Manning, and the rest of the troops at the vault's entrance. "I hope you guys got some energy because we got a long journey back."
"We're rested well enough, but do you mind toning down the speed a bit on the return journey? Many of us are still not used to this sort of traveling… Including myself."
"We're in no rush, so I can accommodate that request."
The moment my words registered, they broke into a combination of cheers, relieved to not have to run constantly for hours on end, whilst battling the residents and wildlife of the wastes. Letting them have their moment, I strode forward and moved past the vault's huge gear shaped door to the mechanical constructs, who had finished hauling the last of the literal tons of food we would be taking back with us. I checked the situation with the goods for a dozen seconds or so when the rest of the convoy decided to join me.
Done with the initial procedures, I turned and gave the order to begin the return journey. "Alright, let's head it out."
"Roger that-" The many power armor clad combat personnel responded in sync.
Taking up the most frontward position once again, I exited the spacious cave the vault was located in, followed by Amata, Don, Officer Manning, and Marty, who had been delegated to the position just under Don and Manning.
Right on our six came dozens of men donning suits of jet black Black Devil power armor, wielding all manner of weaponry, though mainly of the heavy and high damage variety, and wearing belts slotted with various types of grenades to handle the innumerable situations one can encounter out in the wastes. Following just behind them were even more soldiers, Hauler, and the many robots I brought along.
Admiring the impressive sight of the heavily armed and armored convoy with my perception field, I moved my attention to the surroundings and began my constant scanning of the gray and ruined environment as we proceeded forward at a pace of around 4 miles an hour. My not so small group and I quickly left one of the last safe havens of humanity behind and began retracing the route we took to get here.
…
Slightly over 3 hours of traveling and battling later, we arrived at the 4 way intersection that was a mile and a third away from base.
"We're almost home, just another 1.3 miles to go." I informed my party after briefly glancing at my Pip-Boy's map.
"Good, I can't wait. I've had just about enough exercise and excitement for one day." Officer Manning commented tiredly, eager for this journey to come to an end.
"I'm with you on that, Manning." Don agreed from beside him, only sounding slightly better.
Just as we were cutting through the intersection, I spotted a lumbering Super Mutant Behemoth closing distance on us from the northwest hills.
I didn't expect to encounter one of these monsters on my way home.
"You guys go on ahead. I'll handle the company we got coming from the northwest."
Hearing my words, everyone looked to the northwest and saw the colossal sickly yellow green 3 story tall super mutant rapidly approaching our position.
"Are you sure you can handle that all on your own?" Amata asked, concerned for my safety.
"100%!" I answered, confident in both my own and my gauss minigun's capabilities.
Seeing her needing a few more words of assurance, I gave her what she was seeking. "But if it looks like I won't be able to handle it, I'll just lead it away and beat a hasty retreat."
With Amata finally looking somewhat reassured, I sent the convoy on ahead and turned my attention to the approaching titan, ready to use it as a training dummy for my abilities and weapons. Prepping myself, I firmly gripped my Ravenger and spooled the barrels and waited for it to reach about 500 meters from me. The second it entered that range, I pressed the trigger and spewed a burst of electromagnetically accelerated steel slugs at the ripped out of the ground fire-hydrant it was using as a makeshift club.
My rounds traveled at such insanely fast speeds that I couldn't even register them before they impacted the red cast iron hydrant and shred it to pieces, leaving the behemoth with nothing but a mangled stub of pipe and some minor bleeding from the shrapnel tearing into its right arm and hand. This action of mine did nothing but enrage the creature and cause it to release a guttural roar of anger before it began making a mad dash in my direction.
"Well, that certainly pissed it off royally." I thought aloud as I watched the ugly, sickly yellow green giant come charging over.
Fully aware that I couldn't handle being struck by it physically, even with my absurd stats and armor, I trained my rapidly rotating electromagnetic barrels at its lower right leg and pulled the trigger, dispensing dozens of metal slugs at absurd velocities. The many, many slugs impacted in a fraction of the time it took .50 MG rounds and tore its unarmored shin and calf apart, interrupting its beeline and causing it to stumble to the ground, pathetically.
And there goes your mobility along with any chance you had at taking me out.
Whilst the beast was roaring angrily in pain, I decided to stow away my Ravenger and retrieved my significantly lower damage plasma gatling gun Meltdown to test out its effectiveness against what is supposed to be a top tier wasteland entity. Taking aim at the hulking monstrosity, I lit it up and sent fourth streams of superheated green plasma, making the creature scream out in pain louder than ever before as its skin was incinerated and reduced to ash.
This weapon will kill it eventually, but it would take a decent bit for that to occur… I guess I'll need to upgrade this weapon if my forces are to use it, can't exactly have them using under juiced energy weapons when I can do better. It's not of immediate concern right now, so maybe when I've made further technological advancements in several areas.
The huge mutant screamed and screamed and eventually came to the realization to start crawling toward me to put a stop to the one who was inflicting so much pain upon it. Unfortunately for it, I'd only been using the weapon without any of my bonus damage modifiers active, so once I flipped the switch on for those, my weapon's damage output increased exponentially. Continuing to lay into it, I directed my fire to its head since I learned enough from it and before I knew it; I had burned a hole straight through its dense, hardened skull, putting it out of its misery then and there.
Having wrapped up my business here, I deposited my current weapon in my item box in favor of Ravenger and chased after my group, who had only moved a couple hundred meters away, obviously not completely believing that I could handle that behemoth all on my own.
| Creatures Killed & EXP Gained |
Albino Radscorpions (7) 18,228 Exp - Deathclaws (12) 22,320 Exp - Giant Radscorpions (15) 10,044 Exp - Giant Soldier Ants (29) 10,788 Exp - Giant Worker Ants (79) 14,694 Exp - Radscorpions (34) 6,324 Exp - Super Mutant Behemoth (1) 37,200 Exp - Vicious Dogs (22) 2,046 Exp - Yao Guais (5) 6,510 Exp - Total Exp 128,154
| New Loot |
Aid: Food Stuffs (30,000)