Cole clamped his gauntleted fists onto the briefing table as Elder Maxson’s glare cut across the narrow command tent. The rain outside rattled on the canvas, spattering mud onto the battered Brotherhood banners. Paladin Danse, armor humming softly, stood at Cole’s right shoulder, his jaw locked with familiar resolve. Scribe Pell hunched over a holomap, wire-rimmed glasses fogged from rushing in.
Maxson spoke, voice iron.
“Satellite scan shows a pre-war munitions vault beneath the old Ashbury School. Super mutant warband en route. You will intercept, recover all energy weapons, and cleanse the site.”
He leveled his stare at Cole.
“Failure is not an option. The Codex demands discipline, and results.”
A distant explosion rumbled through the earth, muffled but close. On the holomap, the Ashbury ruins flickered, a red blip moving toward them. Danse checked his laser rifle’s charge. Pell looked up, tension in his voice.
“There could be prototype tech down there, Knight. We need it secure.”
Outside, the storm picked up. Cole’s armor servos whined as he straightened, visor reflecting soft green command-lights. The order was clear. The consequences, less so.