(Alexander Pov)
I am at the Boston Headquarters in fort Adams doing paperwork, I been gone for like... Couple of months and the system is working fine as intended.
What issues that is important will be handed to me to verify and I personally went there to observe the situation...
I received reports of the assimilation of the country, and I had to say... It was impressive that they managed to stabilize the situation without my appearance.
I am glad that the efforts of the people had not been gone to waste...
I took a breath, walk outside and smiled at the blue skies similar to the days when Revelation and I started the wars of unification...
I met a strange, but somewhat annoying fellow.
At the fortress gates, I simply followed the noise and found a man wearing a cowboy hat. Along with some escorts.
"Who are you?"
"Preston Garvey, my name and I am part of the minutemen...you must be the Leader of the imperium that we saw in the Holo tv in Boston common?"
I gesture them to my office.
"Let us talk like civilized people."
After letting them in my room Preston saw down as I made some Recaff for the guessts from some colony from space.
"Yes that's me, what can I do for you Preston?"
"We were wondering what are you doing for the commonwealth? What are your plans for us?"
I ponder about what he said and remember the destruction of the institute, I also understand in his point of view such a overpowered faction simply came out of nowhere and started to bring order to the orderless wasteland.
"Your purpose is fulfilled, but I know that your organization is delegated into Town watch, and Militia categories."
"Meaning?"
"You are part of the National Guard, and be the first to reorganize to be a actual minuteman. There are some part of the commonwealth that still not trust us and I want your organization to bridge that gap between us and the locals." I spoke with honestly.
Sure I can conquer the world with my summoned army, the endless tide of the faithful subject of the emperor and those that are loyal to me.
But in a sense they are beings of sentience, they have dreams, they have ambition, they have a path they could walk.
I create weapons out of scraps of metal and terraform this world as good as new from the start, I can call for a exterminatus and end this farce of a cultist that hide in Russia, but I didn't, I want to see the potential of humanity to learn from its mistakes, I given them tools, ideals and weapons to protect their way of life.
Their culture and history is preserve as a reminder of what was their history and what lead them to embrace the imperium ideals, If I truly that evil, I would have demolished Statue of liberty and all the monuments that survived the nuclear hellstorm. But I refuse... Perhaps some sentimentality left in me for my first life? When I was a citizen of US before the bombs dropped and ended my life? Time is a fickle thing...
Easy as pie, but consolidation and assimilation to bring the conquered to accept us... That is another issue. The world is very cruel. And all it takes is a ember to bring it all down.
The minuteman is one such many organization I hoped they would agree, they do protect the people, though their last effort to make a provisional government is kinda why I didn't like democracy.
when everyone thinks that they are right and have differing solution with limited resources to handle the issues. Before the threat arrives is why the institute gave up on them in the first place before they become a Boogeyman in Boston.
After a while Preston talked it out with his associates and agreed.
"Alright, since you are the power that hold power that controls over us, I hoped you do not abused it." Preston sighed.
"Glad to have you aboard Preston, and I assure you, the settlements are forever guarded by the soldiers of the imperium and we would request your assistance to allayed the fears of the locals that we are not the bad guys." My words calmed them... For now.
After several treaties and contracts that I made for Garvey Preston to bring back to his peers to reevaluate the situation.
What is funny to me is that Nate have become a general of the minuteman division?
"History changes but things remain the same." I laughed at the motion.
The Boston harbor, I watched in the distance as a Ship is preparing to set sail towards Europe. A Aircraft carrier that is called Liberty...
The first ship in the east coast that is made by the locals.
I would have taken a orbital ship to simply made a what seemed to be a week long sailing to the Atlantic to a 30 minute flyby... It is a vacation for me...
After consolidation of paperwork, the Iron warriors fixed my pipboy so that as long as there is a satellite or a communication node, paperwork is always available, leaving me no chance to escape the paperwork behind...
A eyebot arrived next to me.
"Let's go Eddie" I spoke out to the Eyebot.
The mechanical construct happily beeped as it bobbed up and down as we made our way to the harbor.
I began to think about this world...
The original companions have their own business to handle and there are some that are saved...
Veronica is now a eldar In Las Vegas as a representative for the brotherhood of steel interest.
My men met Virgil and upon finding his experimental Drug that reverts Super mutants back to humans is possible, I gained the research to mass produced it and spread it across the lands. By choice, of course.
Strong? Well... He refused to revert back to humanity and enjoy fighting in the arena in las Vegas... Strong indeed as he is this year champion in the arena.
Curie, a Robot turned synth is now working for the mechanicus, well thankfully the conservative faction is somewhat having another Schism on whether if she is part of the Omnissiah plans...
I enjoyed the chaos that ensued. As ideals clashed it would made more progress. To see the deficiency of their point of view.
Piper wanted to stay behind and stay with her sister, I made a contract that she can stay with me for a year, after that we go our separate ways... She should be waiting for the harbor now. After I assure her sister would be taken care of.
McCready, I found the mercenary interesting... He supposed to worked for the gunners, but somehow he manages to escape from the elimination teams and ended up in the National guard. And he keeps sending money to little lamplight... And to a farm with a woman and a child... Well, if he got the skills to avoid a astartes termination teams. He is decent material.
By my estimation, I will leave this world in a couple of years... Hopefully.
The gods that escape from Warhammer to this place is the main concerns... Why did they left us? Something in me is telling me to meet Odin instead of the Greek pantheon, I know that Zeus is a playboy and bangs anything that have a hole and a wife stealer... If I met him personally... And he tell me that my wives are his? I will personally burn down Olympus and kill all their gods... And odin is a crafty individual but at least I could... Reason with him... Before he sent his executioner Thor as his representative.
So a wive stealer or a meticulous planner that will stab me in my back when opportunity arises.... Both sucks but at last they lived in the same continent...
I remember the fight with thor...
He is not like marvel that made him a fool or a Fat lard in God of war... He is thunder god and reminds me of Leman Russ... I miss his feasting halls...
The ship captain and his crew stood on the deck on the ship upon my arrival.
"You not thinking of leaving me behind do you Alex?" A feminine voice is heard behind me.
I turned and saw the reporter came to me with a luggage bag.
"Piper? Shouldn't you be with your sister?" I wonder why she returned.
"Seriously, that was just a jest, now that you kept the place clean from raiders and have children enrolled in a decent school, I only came to check up on my sister. Thanks..."
"Glad to have you as my company, let's have a trip to Europe shall we?" I smiled having someone that is a local tagging me along.
"Attention! Officer on deck!" The captain smiled and saluted.
I smiled as I waved at the men at ease.
"Escort my guest to the my quarters. And prepare to sail out."
The ship lumbered forth to the open seas.
I went around to survey the ship compartments. Looking at the practicality of the designs.
I edeyd up in the crew barracks and asked if their life in the navy is okay. And they made jokes around the situation at hand.
"Sir, we are probably the first ship that is not dropping from orbit and we kinda loved to be in the free seas."
"So, no barracks bunny's?"
I deadpan at the one that requested the barrack bunny.
"Hell, the ship is your wife and in the navy is your home."
"Uh, we do have some physical needs, we saw a techpriest with a lubricant, engine oil and a Imperial vehicles magazine somewhere in the engine deck and made strange noises there..."
"Noted, don't mind the noise." I smiled wryly.
The ship felt tremors as the intercom rumble throughout the hallways.
[Attention: We are under attack by sea creatures! We are now in combat, Men get to your battle station!]
I rushed out with the men and watched as the bulkheads are being closed behind me as I followed several soldiers went out in the deck.
We saw several giant tentacles that wrapped around the ship and trying to drag us to the ocean depth. I peer below the surface. And saw a giant pupil eyes. A Giant kraken took hold of the ship
I frown, did the radiation already affected the sea life to a extent? Or is it from chaos that managed to by bypass the blockade?
And several aquatic monsters managed to hopped on the flat deck as each time the ship was dragged into the ocean, I shall call them fish heads as I only saw a tuna head strapped on a humanoid body, the only thing that bothers me is the Harpoons and Anchors they brought along, some form of sentience below the sea. Mutation that the sister of battle would loved purging... Sadly I only brought the regular guardsmen for transit.
Many of the crew tried to pried it off the keel of the ship, some even used the ciws as a deterrent.
For one, I saw a frog that is pretending to be a gentleman wearing a dredged up formal wear as he drank from a broken teacup at the end of the deck. I ignored it as I had more pressing matters such as the Kraken that will sank us all.
I saw some of my men dragging a Seismic charge from the hangar.
It was originally meant to deter wildlife but considering how fucked are we, who gives what happens to the environment. It will shred any organic matter or some poor unlucky starfighter.
Having enough of this farce and I tossed a seismic charge into the water with such a force that it pierced the Kraken eyeball. It should be feasible right?
The kraken wailed and trashed about releasing the ship from its grasp, the carrier managed to made way till a explosion erupted.
The iconic boom blown up the ocean around us, sending the ocean and gore up into the air and start raining down.
"Well... Should we have sashimi tonight?" One of them joked.
I smiled as the man tried to ease tensions.
"By the order of the High lord, I will order a celebration to be held, barbeque and mead is on the menu! For those on sonar and engine deck, yours will begin tomorrow after we done sobering up!" I smiled and gave a order that made them cheer.
They just had a dangerous encounter with a hostile marine life and a feast is enough to ease their nerves.
And I wonder how many code of conducts were violated that day... Seeing some of them tried to make moonshine in the motor pool... I just ignore it for now.
I began one of my regular hobbies when I not in a combat zone or near it. Carving the Emperor and the newest addition to my hobby, Macaldor... As I watched the crew is having a open barbeque and scent of meat flowed over the once blood soaked deck. Piper came up to me. She managed to assist the gunners from being overrun in the starboard side of the ship, she have balls, I give her that.
"Alex, I noticed when I was in Las Vegas and I seen plenty of motiffs and stained glass of this fellow, who is he?" She pointed at my unfinished carving of Revelation.
I reminiscing the times we did spent together
"A friend, a Father, a man that hold the burden of humanity... honestly our relationship is... Complicated... Especially with my 20 brothers."
"Woah, that guy managed to get a woman knocked up 20 times?"
"21... To be exact... But one was killed... leaving 20 to remain...and they were born in a tube..."
"Something like comes from the science fiction within vault tech?" Piper pointed out the vault tech, can't blame her since that is what she knows about forbidden tech.
"Something like that, but more advanced." I sighed.
"What's that other figure?" She pointed out the block of wood that I made...
"Macaldor... Honestly... Most of the things I learn had come from him... A uncle? A asshole that'd drags me to handle paperwork or Person that kept secrets like the Emperor... But to me... He died protecting my friend in his final moments... I sure you read the Heresy my brother have committed yes?"
"Alex, when I looked at your accounts in that particular world... It seemed like a dystopian fairy tale... Are you from a different universe altogether? Seeing that some of these technology doesn't even exist in the 1900s. Are you a god?"
"I am never a god... I am just a poor fool that had his time frozen until my duty will suffice."
I am impressed that she managed to find out...
"I noticed that your men called you high lord instead of the emperor ... Any thoughts about that?"
"I am not the emperor, I don't wished to wield this throne, but someone that is a herald for the more grander thing...he would probably arrived in a golden armor wielding a flaming sword that is depicted in the motifs and arts...
Reason why I loved wearing armor that is more down to earth and relatable to people around me... Him... He's like a flaming sun that demands attention." I patted my ranger armor.
"I see... What are your plans with this planet? I heard some critics want to know what a dictator would do? Would you bring back democracy?"
"Piper, that is... Disappointing... I never wanted to be in this role, I would be perfectly contented being in the shadows amassing fortunes, getting new planets under humanity rule... But ever since the past, from the several wars... I witness, the weakness of Weimar, I saw the stock market crash of 2008, the migrant crisis of 2025, the resource wars, the nuclear of 2077, I seen it all... People only vote of what they wanted to hear and not the reality, piper, let me tell you this... Do you know how much was the debt in old America?"
"I dunno... 70 trillion?"
"No... It was 1.2 quintillion dollars that was inflated by 2000%, beyond control a year before the bombs dropped. The politician that voted by the people have spend our taxpayers dollars to fund their social experiments and our pension funds run dry within a month after it was announced. They made many ious to me that I already got 2/3 of the debt, in exchange that they don't nationalized my companies.. seeing the old government is defunct making my government bonds worthless... I simply take it over..."
"You didn't asked the question..."
I looked at the men that is having a celebration...
"Did you ever seen hordes poor people wanted to find cheap goods? Parents finding baby milk, children trying to find a snack that is not 90% filled with air. hospitals that jacked up the prices? Or even gas prices that shot through the roof that people from other states went to Texas for gasoline? I seen how democracy's ended up. Germany liberals gave birth to nazis, Middle eastern conflict gave birth to extremists that hide behind the concept of democracy. The term democracy...
To me is been so watered down that I gave up on it. I only implement the vote for policy not politicians. I seen how people weaponized the concept of liberty and freedom, tell me piper... When you visit in Las Vegas to meet my adopted son... Did you find any slums?"
"I did passed by freeside but I didn't even saw a beggar."
"It's because I gave them a purpose, a meaning than life, why do you think that people willingly joined me instead of forming a democratic institution?"
"Because you have a bigger fist?"
"No, that is one part of the equation.. It's because I fulfill the promises I make Piper.
Politicians will do whatever it takes to get into office then gaslighting the voters for another 4 years to fix problems that is been previously ignored. While I did what I propose of doing.
Did you see divisive parties that drove this beloved nation to extinction? No, they died in the ashes of the old world... The founding fathers mentioned that having two parties was a bad idea but the people ignored it... Democracy was never a way for the people to gain a voice of power, it is a way for tyrants to take over by playing the gullible people to their whims... We were once constitution republic... Our laws was held by the founding father vision of a great america... As years go by, it's become more like a checklist... Freedom of speech? They will censored on one side of the aisle... Instead of listening the reasons why they complain. Gun rights? They took the guns away in 2035 and illegals flooded the country that we fought back.
Every day, when I saw the Senate and the House... All they ever filled up is old dinosaurs that outlived their usefulness and the white house the seat of this nation, is just a Daycare center. I will tell those that like democracy.... Taking a note from my adopted son... "If you want to see the effects of democracy... Look outside the windows." For me? Look what I had to do to keep this world from the brink of collapse. How my government is functioning better than Union infested institutions that protect the monsters, bloated bureaucracy that make hell on paperwork and acquisitions, democratic system. If there's a raider? Instead of arguing whether if we leave it alone for the next political agenda, I send my armies to wipe them out the face of the earth, I don't give a shit what those humanitarian tell me about their human right, they become monsters by killing fellow humans, they are no longer illegible to be even a civilian, if there a natural disasters? Instead of argue on what money should be spend on social healthcare then those that need services like Homeless and Veterans, I will open my stockpile and monetary reserves to aid the victims.
"I don't need to pass a bill that is padded with clauses to benefit the politician and their poticial empires , to make people worship me for reputation points as the next election seasons go by, whether if it's good or bad I will go through with it knowing that it will help in the long run."
Democracy have produced power hungry tyrants that wants to be kings without the responsibility of being one. Corporation lobby puppets of politicians to make nonsensical tax bailouts. Politicians wanted a war to erase their sins...
Piper... If you have lived as long as I have... You will grow cynical about the faith of democracy."
Piper taken aback on how Alexander is saying.
"Take example of the NCR in the west coast, they had a democratic party and they voted to wage war against the imperium... Voted by the same people that wanted peace and prosperity no less. Here Piper, I even had their declaration of war with me, while I dealt with Caesar legion, come see my view on democracy. " I simply handed over the defunct NCR declaration of war.
Piper read the parchment and she took for a long time until she closed it up.
"So how was it like in the NCR?" She asked.
"They called it a bastion of equality and justice... Laughable... I read reports of people living in the slums, oligarchy of Brahmin farmers... Crime gangs.
And there is no social mobility for the people to find work and the only way to cull the population is send the dregs of their society to war...they even want to nuke their own people to give us the middle finger as they escaped into the sea...."
"Did you apprehended them?" Piper asked.
"I ordered their execution... I don't want to spend taxpayers money on a genocidal government to house them in prison." I didn't mention how the ship turned to chaos...
Piper scribble vigorously In her notepad and thanked me as she return to my quarters to sleep for the night.
I spent time with my sailors and listening to their stories and reasons of joining the military, their toilet jokes still passed around till they passed out as dawn arrives.
One of them managed to get a fish thing for food...
I am not planning to eat radiated tuna merman's, perhaps trazyn would love this collection.. Especially the Geiger counter is still beeping like crazy. I went to the communication room and requested several Naval Mechs to be dropped and destroy the wildlife, we could just simply clone the marine wildlife after we cleanse the radiation waters. I wanted to look for that strange frog...
But I got a feeling that we will meet again... Strangely enough, even Theseus didn't even detected the frog...
We made our way to Ireland... Bloody hell, I remember my visit to old Ireland... This make it the second time to visit, it since the first was in cyberpunk, I went there to see my grand opening of Wondertainment branch in Europe.
We arrived at our naval base and the locals watched as the ship arrived at the dockyard for maintenance.
I wonder... Since the gods are awakening somewhat... Does that means leprechauns are running loose? I wonder do they spill lucky charms if I gut them? I don't bother with the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
The natives... I surprised that they have a tenacity of a cockroach... Dublin is somewhat intact, but the locals.... A heavy drinkers... And a foul mouth that looking for a good fight. Had GW didn't emulate the British rugby teams as Orks... They would be the second contender.
Me and Piper wandered around with some escorts. Interviewing the life of a Irishman.
I smelled something...
A scent of flowers that reeked of death.
Piper notice my expression.
"Alex, what's wrong?"
"Eddie... New parameter, protect Piper Wright. I will be back." I ordered the Eyebot.
It happily bob it's frame as I went to the nearest woods. The Geiger counter is strangely not beeping... Perhaps the effect of the celestial deities in this realm?
But when it come supernatural... A flaming sword might do a trick... I should have brought Magnus along... His son's are powerful but against the unknown, they are like nieces to me...
The fog began to seeped into the Forest... A simple runic spear lunged forth towards my heart. Upon realizing this I deflected the spear and grabbed a hold of it... Upon inspecting the spear I found that it had seven heads with barbs in it...
A woman draped in runic tattoos and what seemed to be out of pace in the modern setting. Wolfskin and animal teeth draped around her neck.
"Interesting... A Mortal... Hold the Gáe Bu... Interesting indeed."
"Who are ye stranger? That attacked without a introduction no less?" I felt something unnerving with the spear in my hand. As if intent of killing me isn't over yet...
"Scáthach...that is my name oh son of the Golden Emperor, I only assess the nature of your...traits..." The woman nodded.
"Well then Scáthach, kindly removed the killing intent from your little spear?"
"I see that you are aware of the concepts... Of killing intent no less..."
'I was trained by Harlequins from Cegorach. And they are more deadlier than a whimsical demigod...' I tossed it towards her. I already know that once it pierce my heart I will be in agony...
"Come, Son of Gold...you have passed the test." She beckons me to follow her.
I followed after her in the foggy forest... And I found a weird cottage in a clearing. As if time just stopped around it. She opened the door and I follow inside.
A simple table with a tea set was in place.
"Welcome... I hope you don't mind the simplicity of what I can offer" Scáthach smiled as she pour a herbal tea.
I took a sniff and simply drank it. Knowing my history... She deemed worthy warriors... And there no way she does poison to spite me. I noticed she went silent.
"I surprise on how fast you drink..."
"What are your reasons for you do to send that scent of death?"
"To meet the supposed son of gold... In the wake of the fallout... Humanity have turned to religion... And their faith is waking the gods that slumber in this realm."
"Are you sure they are not from the empyrean? If so I will start a god slaying quest for my people to partake in." I smiled with the void in my eyes.
A shiver was felt in the godly realms the beings resided. Odin frowned as he turned his gaze towards the emerald isle.
Their life and death now decided on a discussion with a demigod.
__________
(A/N): Author here, last week is hell, I wonder... If I managed to survive this week.
Hopefully November will be a turning point of the World, USA elections ironically is shaping the perception of the world.
I got into a accident in the farm and ended up in the hospital. Again. I got the malaria and I got bitten by so many mosquitoes I wonder if I am still alive?
Back to book time.
The world of the supernatural is waking up in fallout.
So it will be like a three way faction war if the discussion goes through.
The Gods, Imperium and Chaos... One wanted the population to believe in them to harvest their faith to sustain themselves from utter oblivion, the imperium wished to bring order and Chaos that want to infest this virgin like universe for their great game against Emperor of mankind.
Perhaps Alexander might find vampires in London? Werewolves? Or the fable leprechaun?
And they are not the marvel or DC gods that we watched and read. They are the original gods that don't pull punches... Thor is what Odin send out to deal with threats than himself. Thunder also meant punishment to the swiftest degree.
The world is getting more convoluted as more gods are waking up... The European gods and Asian gods is somewhat returning as the rest of the continent that held by the imperium already worship the God Emperor, making the gods go into a eternal slumber.