Chapter 26: Beauveria mordicana fungus

Chapter 26 - Beauveria mordicana fungus

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A few weeks later as Six was expanding the vault, his father Viktor, requested for a large number of B1 Battle Droids to construct the subway line, marking the next stage in the transformation of Goodsprings and the surrounding region. The project aimed to link the rest camp near Goodsprings Water Source with New Vegas.

Creating a secure and efficient route that would bring much-needed quick transport resources and people to New Vegas. Using his advanced construction equipment and Six's droids, Viktor supervised the operation, his vision slowly taking shape beneath the barren landscape.

Meanwhile, Ron was beginning a movement of his own. His discovery of Viktor's lineage as a journeyman scribe from the Shady Sands Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Connected him to a rich history—one that had nearly been erased after the Brotherhood's disastrous conflicts with the NCR. Though Viktor held no grudge against the NCR, the knowledge of his family's past resonated with Ron, inspiring him to create a new Brotherhood Chapter.

Unlike the original Brotherhood of Steel, which hoarded technology and viewed it as their sacred duty to preserve it away from the common people, Ron's new Chapter embraced a different philosophy.

With Conners' blessing and the backing of Six's family, Ron trained his recruits from regular wastlanders to use technology for the benefit of the entire wasteland. Their mission was to protect and share advancements with those in need, offering people the tools to build safer, more sustainable lives.

The new Chapter grew quickly, attracting a wide range of people—wanderers, traders, former NCR soldiers, and even settlers from New Vegas. Ron ensured that everyone, regardless of background, was welcome, fostering a sense of unity and purpose that had long been absent from the original Brotherhood's rigid structure.

As the subway line progressed and the new Brotherhood Chapter gained strength, Goodsprings was evolving into a hub of innovation and security. The wasteland, still harsh and unpredictable, now had a beacon of hope where survival was no longer about isolation but about community and cooperation.

Six's journey to the Remnants Bunker was a calculated risk, but one he had prepared for. Leaving an infuriated pregnant Rebecca behind, safe in Goodsprings, he steered his heavily fortified Battle Bus across the wasteland. Armed with his advanced engineering turrets, which provided both offense and defense, the heavenly armored vehicle crawled steadily toward the roads at a consistent 30 mph.

After two days of uneventful travel, the real challenge began as he searched for the entrance to the secret bunker. Hours passed before he finally located the airtight ceiling door. Stepping out of the bus, he approached and recited the password: "Dear old friends, remember Navarro."

The door responded immediately, gears clanking and grinding as the hatch slowly opened to reveal the Remnants' hidden outpost. Inside, a vertibird stood poised for use, alongside a sealed cylindrical exit that led outside the mountain. But it was the armory that caught Six's attention—five fully operational X-01 power armors, as well as an impressive cache of weapons and ammunition.

Wasting no time, Six meticulously gathered all valuable equipment, stripping the bunker down to its essential components. With everything packed and ready, he prepared for the long return trip to Goodsprings, knowing that this haul would be invaluable to securing the town's future. The Remnants' resources, now in his hands, marked the beginning of a new era for his community

With all the valuable equipment and materials from the Remnants Bunker now in his possession, Six meticulously prepared for the journey back to Goodsprings. The dismantled components of the base, including the X-01 power armor and the stockpile of weapons and ammunition, were carefully secured into storage containers in his Battle Bus.

The vertibird, although tempting to use for fast transport, was dismantled due to him not knowing how to pilot it, and not wanting to spend time learning from one of the Virtual reality pods that would educate him. Instead, he stored the pods to be utilized for educational purposes and also served as entertainment back home.

His fortified Battle Bus, a testament to his engineering prowess, roared back to life, its turrets primed and ready for any potential threats on the return trip. As Six navigated through the treacherous wasteland terrain, he couldn't help but think of Rebecca and their future together. With these newfound resources, the security of Goodsprings—and his family—would be further solidified.

The two-day trip back would be just as dangerous as before, but with the Remnants' legacy now in his hands, Six was more determined than ever to protect what he had built.

On his return journey, Six made a stop at the critical and potentially cataclysmic site of Vault 22. The entrance to the Vault remained ajar, surrounded by vibrant yet ominous vegetation and infested by creatures like Giant Mantises sent a chill down his spine. Since he knew what they truly were.

The once-promising ecological haven had devolved into a nightmarish landscape that posed a significant threat to the wasteland due to the risk of the Beauveria mordicana spores escaping.

This Vault, once home to dedicated scientists striving to combat global famine through innovative agricultural practices, now stood as a reminder of humanity's hubris. Before the conflict, this vault housed scientists dedicated to enhancing crop yields to address global famine. Their projects ranged from developing sophisticated fertilizers to breeding crops resistant to pests, drought, and diseases.

Their work in genetically modifying crops and experimenting with advanced pest control techniques, like the creation of the Beauveria mordicana fungus, aimed to build a sustainable future within the vault's controlled environment.

But after the war, the fungus mutated, spreading throughout the vault, infecting its inhabitants, and turning them into grotesque Spore Carriers. These shambling remains, driven by the need to propagate the deadly spores, became a threat not just to the Vault but to the entire wasteland.

Six's first priority was containment. The vault's once noble mission of addressing global famine had tragically turned into a cataclysmic failure, with the spore-based infection transforming both plant life and humans into dangerous abominations.

Without delay, he deployed his B1 Battle Droids, each equipped with flamethrowers, to neutralize the infected flora and fauna. The exterior was purged with fire, ensuring that none of the hazardous spores could escape into the open air.

Recognizing the potential disaster that awaited him, Six carefully formulated his plan. He couldn't allow the airborne Beauveria mordicana spores to escape and wreak havoc on the wasteland. Using his C.A.M.P. system, he erected a sterilized containment structure over the entrance of the Vault, an airtight barrier that would contain the threat and prevent any spores from seeping into the environment to prevent any future outbreaks.

With the exterior secure, Six commanded his droids to enter the Vault. They moved methodically through the darkened halls, flames illuminating the way as they purged the interior of the Spore Carriers and any remaining infected inhabitants.

Inside, the droids continued their purging operation, meticulously destroying any signs of fungal infestation while collecting valuable items from the vault's previous inhabitants. Most crucially, they secured samples of the Beauveria mordicana spores, which Six stored and later put up for sale in his system store, turning the deadly once-doomed research into a potentially repurposed valuable resource.

The haunting remnants of Vault 22 slowly transformed into ash and smoke, ensuring that its dark legacy would not spread beyond its walls. But to make sure no data that could recreate the horrors of the Vault ever made it out, Six detonated a Mini Nuke at the center and bottom of the Vault.

Eradicating all research data and samples of Beauveria mordicana fungus. He felt a sense of responsibility as he was going to become a father, to protect not only his community and family but the entire wasteland from the catastrophic potential that lay within Vault 22.

Ding!

Mysterious serum:

This serum is derived from the blood of archaeologist Lorenzo Cabot, who discovered a mysterious artifact during an excavation in the Rub' al Khali in 1894. By using it, you stop aging for a certain time making you live for centuries. Effects;

+100% health

+Cures all diseases, infections, and ailments

+5 Strength

+50 Damage Resistance

-36000 Radiation

Ding!

Upon accessing the skill screen, Six was now level 10, he decided to continue enhancing his SCIENCE skill to 76 and then proceeded to Perks. He chose Nerd Rage!: Increasing his Damage Threshold by +15 and increasing Strength by 10 points whenever health is 20% or lower.

With Vault 22 neutralized, he could now continue his journey, confident that the wasteland had been spared from another catastrophe—at least for now. Six set his sights on the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters. Arriving at the dilapidated building, he wasted no time in dismantling it piece by piece. From the bottling machinery inside to the semi-trailer trucks that once transported the famous soft drink across the wasteland, he repurposed every valuable resource.

He meticulously stripped the facility down to its foundation, taking even the concrete driveway and the perimeter fence. His goal was clear: to build a state-of-the-art beverage bottling and distribution center in Goodsprings. With access to the Nuka Cola recipes, he envisioned creating a diversified line of drinks that would provide both refreshment and vital supplies to the wasteland inhabitants.

This new venture would ensure that Goodsprings continued to grow, creating jobs and providing a steady supply of beverages, including both Nuka Cola and Sunset Sarsaparilla, to the surrounding areas.

The move symbolized Six's ambition to transform Goodsprings into a thriving hub of production and trade, expanding beyond weapons and technology into everyday necessities like beverages, ensuring his community's long-term prosperity.

Level: 10

NAME: Six XI

GENDER: MALE

STRENGTH: 10

PERCEPTION: 10

ENDURANCE: 10

CHARISMA: 10

INTELLIGENCE: 10

AGILITY: 10

LUCK: 10

BARTER: 42

ENERGY WEAPONS: 27

EXPLOSIVES: 30

GUNS: 100

LOCKPICK: 27

MEDICINE: 42

MELEE WEAPONS: 27

REPAIR: 100

SCIENCE: 76

SNEAK: 30

SPEECH: 27

SURVIVAL: 27

UNARMED: 30