Chapter 37: Scouting Trip

Chapter 37: Scouting Trip

We got back on the road and started heading in the general direction of the nearest taken settlement. It was still almost unbearably slow going for me, but I was also glad to be moving again in general. Being boxed in like that put me on edge. It was one of the reasons I left Potts, and why being a Postman had appealed to me so much. That, and the obvious utility of the job of course.

We walked most of the day in a straight line, but as the sun began to set Leah turned us off the main road.

Were getting close. Lets find a place to set up a base of operations. I havent traveled here often, but I think I remember some intact buildings over this way.

We all nodded and fell in line behind her. By the time the sun was down, some buildings came into view. We made our way for the one that seemed to be the most put together, an old gas station and garage.

The door to the place was just barely hanging on by its hinges so we made our way inside. I cleared each of the rooms first. Made the most sense as I could see clearly in the dark. All I found was broken glass and a few rats the size of dogs. I kicked their heads in and gave the all clear.

Leah took out a small lantern from her pack and lit it up so that everyone else could see. This should do nicely. Off the main roads. Isolated, but close enough to our objective.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

Mercy and Graves produced light sources of their own and started setting up. Leah laid out some building layouts and maps, Mercy began unloading various devices I was sure would vaporize me if they went off, and Graves just started out on a silent patrol of the surrounding buildings.

I just sighed and started looking over the materials Leah had taken out. I didnt really have much prep of my own to do. I was always as ready as I could be for any situation. Came with being a Postman. Came with being a Marshall. Now that didnt mean a castle in the middle of woods filled with mutant bears wouldnt faze me, but hey, the wastes are wild.

The maps Leah had out were pre-war, but shed marked relevant locations. I quickly memorized what she had. The three settlements were clustered relatively close together. My guess was that since they were all at the fringes of STAR territory, they developed close to other settlements for safety. That was just conjecture though.

I pointed to one of the markers, a fourth one to the north and west of the settlements. Is this the factory?

Leah nodded.

I pulled out my rifle, froze the first one who was lining up a shot at Graves, and fired at the next one. I hit him on my second shot and started repeating that process. Freezing one, dropping another, trying to keep any fire from being concentrated on Graves.

By the time I had to change magazines, hed reached the moat. I watched him leap the full distance of it, smashing the turret to bits with a swing of his hammer. He then pulled something off his back and threw it into the corner of the settlement. He turned around, leapt back, and started running back toward me. There were a few more shots on him, one of which was a red beam, but even that seemed to dissipate just before it reached him.

There was an explosion, and suddenly the entire corner of the settlement was on fire. After that the shots in Graves' direction stopped coming. He reached my position and just kept running past me, back toward our camp. I cursed under my breath, stood up, and started following him. I wasnt worried about being followed. Between the explosion and the heavy winds, I didnt think wed be easy to track. Besides that, the mercs knew that STAR forces were incoming. Spreading themselves thinner in order to follow us would weaken their position.

I fell in line with Graves. He ran fast and with no signs of slowing. I didnt do much running. Used too much energy and my highest rank was in walking, but I managed to keep up with him easily enough. I wanted to chew him out, but part of me had enjoyed the action so I decided to wait until we were further from trouble. As we ran I checked my notifications.

Congratulations Citizen! You have earned ranks in Long guns! Good job exercising your 2nd amendment rights!

Excellent work Marshall! Youve successfully performed a secondary goal of your job Combat! Youve earned 60 Patriot Points!

After about a half hour of running, we finally slowed back to a walk. I caught up to Graves, and noticed that the grey poncho hed been wearing had disintegrated. What was left looked a lot like a suit of armor. That explained his bulk. I also noticed that in spite of the hail of fire hed received, there wasnt a single mark on it, or him. It was some kind of bunker tech. Had to be. Though why the system saw fit to force me to destroy what I found, but allow Graves and Leah to keep theirs was beyond me, and also suspicious given the recent timing of everything. I finished looking him over.

That what you consider scouting where youre from? I asked him.

He nodded.

Was that what Leah had in mind to begin with? I asked.

He nodded again.

I think were all going to have to have a chat about proper communication.