https://ausmith.artstation.com/projects/6DDgN

Deep in thought as you stared out the window, you noticed the train dip low into the Earth, and enter a large underground cavern, its stalagmites breaking apart, and dropping down into liquid pools of magma that bubbled and burned, your mind ringing with Red’s words. The feeling that you were caught in between a rock and a hard place, weighing you down, and yet at the same time you could not forget Isabella’s face, and the people they had left behind. Never before had you ever supported Caesar's legion, deeming them too barbaric, cruel, and medieval. But a world at constant war, was that truly any better? All you knew was that freedom was worth fighting for. It was why so many wars had been fought, and what had made the world a better place.

Silent as you contemplated this all, Loraq sat down beside you, your new friend and companion, seemingly understanding your worries, and fears as they stared out together. The train, making its slow progress across a bridge that spanned the entire great lake of fire, before they chugged into view of an enormous cavern with cracks of light seeping in through the surface. It wouldn’t be long now, before you would have to face your ultimate challenge.

Head rested against side of the train, you let the whole world slip away, feeling each bump on the path you had chosen, and let your mind fill with images of men and women hanging from crucifixes in Nipton, brave NCR troopers fighting to retake Nelson from the legion, and everyday wastelanders trying to make it to the next day…Freedom was worth fighting for. (Resting moment.)

...Waking up the next day feeling more invigorated, you half-smiled at the sight of Loraq curled up in the bunk bed beside yours, before you moved off to help Jernald. The square-faced paladin with eyes of cold winter, nodding his head in thanks as they helped position ammo crates by the windows. Weapons, ammunition, and supplies, stationed at intervals around the train as well as miniguns that would be set up on tripods. It was an arsenal for a small army, and in it all, you found two mini nukes, some stimpaks, rations, and pocketed a little extra ammo.

Inventory Items Added.

x2 Stimpaks.

x2 Mini nukes.

x4 Rations.

x10 bullets.

That day and much of next, they prepared for the coming battle, attached rope ladders that would take them up to the missile launchers near the hatches, took apart bunk beds and chairs to reinforce the sides, and create barricades that would segment the train into sections, and most importantly, they created an escape carriage that could detach itself, if things went bad.

But even after all of that, you felt nowhere near ready, it was like a dawning realization in your mind, that now the game was nearing its end, that it was possible for you to die here. It had never really occurred to you before that you could die here at any moment, but now that you were staring death in the face, you couldn’t help seeing the many ways their plan could go wrong. Then lamented, if only Jernald had been able to keep hold of his power armor, maybe then they would have a chance.

The hardy paladin you half noticed, sitting comfortably on the ground as he cleaned his rifle again, and double-checked each magazine, when you asked, “what happened to your suit?”

Blue eyes filled with sudden amusement, Jernald shook his head, and looked over towards Cassidy, their fierce auburn haired leader busy packing up supplies into backpacks for their fallback plan, when he replied, “after we left the train, we kept heading north towards Broken Dream, we didn’t know how to work the pipboy as yet, so we figured we would find someone there to help us, when we were ambushed by raiders. We managed to fight them off, but the noise from our gunfight attracted the ferals, and with me being too slow, we had to ditch the suit.”

Sighing heavily as he looked up towards the ceiling, he continued, “I’ve had that power armor for close to twenty eight years, she’s kept my hide safe a hundred times, and kept me going at times, even when I wanted to die. Hopefully, whoever finds her next, will treat her well.”

Eyes narrowed at that, you were curious to learn why he hadn’t scuttled the power armor like the squad from Fallout 4, when the train began to shake violently from side to side, the blurring blackness that enveloped them, revealing hundreds of huge bats that banged against the windows and doors.

With reinforced plating, steel bars, and bunk beds in between them, you had no doubts that the Big Bastard could handle anything these creatures threw at them, but from one worried glance at Jernald, he muttered, “she’s testing our defenses.” His words were like a dark premonition of doom, when it came, a radroach the size of a football field, with dozens of men her back surging out of the darkness as they fired weapons, and howled like wolves. The angle of its antenned head, bumping up hard against the train. The first few seconds of shock, shattered apart by Cassidy’s roar, “get into position!”

Scrambling up the rungs of a nearby ladder, you flung open the hatch, the wind blasting into your eyes, bats clawing at your skin, and looked upon your first beastlords, savage warriors, covered in animal furs, and wild eyes full of madness. The big skittering radroach they sat upon easily matching their speed as they fired round after round, gunshots whizzing past you as your arms latched onto the missile launcher that had been welded to the hull.

-4 HP.

(Big guns skill 60%.)

And pulled the trigger, the loud whooshing sound, followed by an explosion that rocked the insect’s head to the side, and knocked off one of the beastlord’s that fell screaming onto jagged stones below.

(Less than 60% big guns skills.)

And pulled the trigger, the loud whooshing sound as the missile veered off course, blasting into the rock walls, flinging debris that flew into you.

-3 HP.

Ducking your head back down to avoid the stream of bats that tried to claw out your eyes, you knew you had to get to the next missile launcher, and quickly scrambled across the top of the train, bullets raining down all around as the radroach roared, and rammed the train again.

-4 HP.

(Agility 5.)

Managing to keep your feet, you reached the next launcher, and acting on pure instinct fired again, this time the radroach reeling backwards, and slowing down.

(Less than 5 Agility.)

Slipping on the surface of the train, you slashed your thigh open a bit of metal, half screamed at the agony, before scrambling to the next launcher, and firing again, this time the radroach reeling backwards, and slowing down.

-6 HP.

Breathless as you watched the monster retreat, you hoped the attack was over for now, when you heard more gunfire erupt from down below, and realized beastlords had breached the train.

With no time to really think about, you leaped across to the next carriage, and the next hoping to come up behind them, when you saw the radroach gaining on them again. One of it’s legs trailing in the ground behind as dark green blood oozed out onto the rocks.

(If you kept the Fatboy and have 50% Big Guns Skill.)

Having hoped to save these nukes for Red, you pulled the heavy launcher from your back, took aim, and fired, the resulting explosion, and light leaving you temporarily blinded as the creature vanished into gobbets of carapace that fell from the sky.

(If you sold your Fatboy.)

With no Fatboy to take care of the monster, you quickly moved to the next missile launcher, got hit in the shoulder and arm by a bullet, before you took aim, and fired, the errant missile taking out more of the creature’s legs as it collapsed behind them.

-7 HP.

Winded from the run, you quickly dropped down onto the parapet of the rear carriage, hearing more gunfire inside, it’s door busted wide open, and saw eight wild-eyed men in yao guai furs trading fire with Cassidy’s Company, their heads ducked down behind seats for cover. None of them realizing that you had come up behind.

(Roll a grenade into them. Throwing Skill 50%.)

Smiling at that thought, you plucked the grenade out of your pocket, pulled the pin, and rolled it towards them. It’s slow bounce not even catching their attention, until it was too late, bodies shredded to ribbons by shrapnel as Cassidy’s Crew quickly moved in to finish them off.

-1 Grenade.

(Open fire. Small arms Skill 70%.)

Smiling at that thought, you opened fire, killing them in short quick bursts that took them by surprise. Those that tried to turn back and fight, taken down by Cassidy’s Crew.

-2 HP.

-8 Bullets.

(Cull a few of their numbers with a knife. Stealth 50% and Melee 50%.)

Smiling at that thought, you crouched down, ignoring the firefight for now, and made your way to your first target, slashed open his throat, and moved on. Each death, quick and sudden, when one of them happened to look back at you.

Crying out in rage, you had to put him down with two bullets in his chest, and kept firing, the brief firefight, short-lived as the enemy was caught between them.

-3 HP.

-8 Bullets.

(Open fire on them.)

Smiling at that thought, you opened fire, spraying bullets in an uncontrolled arc that caught more than a few by surprise, before you were forced back down by return gunfire.

However, with their attention split between them, Cassidy’s Crew made short work of the bastards as you popped back in to help them.

-5 HP.

-16 Bullets.

Relieved that the raid was finally over, you finally stood up, and stepped over the mutilated corpses in your path, your left arm aching, when Cassidy’s called out to you. “Glad you could make it, rookie, perhaps there is some hope for you yet.”

It was at that moment a voice blared into your mind. “You miserable selfish bastards! You murdered my children! There is nowhere in this world that you can hide from me! And when I find you, you shall all die slowly!”