Chapter 572 - Disarming Presence

Two days later :

Hardin was absolutely furious, how dare that boy walk in and so brazenly attack them!? It'd taken half a day for his people to dig him out of the rubble, and hours after that to splint up his injured arms... His Power armour had protected him for the most part, but his limbs had been bent and twisted at their joints in horrific ways, leaving him like this... Without his arms and having an assistant spoon food into his mouth.​​

He leans forwards while trying to get a spoonful of the weak-porridge when someone runs into the room, their feet squeaking as their shoes grind to a halt on the concrete floor. "Elder! He's back!"

*PPFFFFTT!*

Hardin spits out his food and receives a hidden glare from the women he'd just covered in it. "WHAT!?"

"Afton Parker! He's back, and he's brought friends!"

Hardin pushes himself out of bed and leaves the room, disregarding his injuries and even his armour as he goes to take a look. He arrives at the wall where many Brotherhood members were quietly whispering to one another about what to do, and eventually part ways like the red sea once Hardin arrived.

Once on the wall, he looks down and spots Afton a good distance away... He was standing there in full Bulwark Power armour with three other people. His friends were setting up strange machines nearby, but no one had any idea what there were...

Hardin was in a similar situation, not having even an inkling over what their purpose was... Were they bombs perhaps? Or maybe turrets?...

He shakes his head, in the end, it doesn't matter. "PARKER! YOU WILL LEAVE MY TERRITORY, OR WE WILL SHOOT YOU DOWN LIKE THE DOG YOU ARE!" he roars, finally drawing Afton's attention.

He was holding his helmet at his side with a smug smirk, "Do you really think you have the capabilities for that? Seems like you got lucky and survived the last time, I'll warn you now though, if you don't surrender... You'll die for sure." he states.

Hardin growls before regaining his composure, his face relaxing as he laughs at Afton's face, "Hah! You may have escaped last time, but you and your friends are no match against the might of the Brotherhood! Surrender now and I might postpone your execution!"

...

Afton looks a bit put out at Hardin's words, and the elder feels as if he'd made a small victory from that alone... Atleast, until Afton begins to speak...

"Er, you were supposed to say, 'You want what army'... And then I'd spread my arms like this-"

*CRACK!*

Hundreds of lightning bolts fire from the sky behind him in between the boundaries of the machines that'd been set up, kicking up dust and almost blinding the Brotherhood members that were watching.

"Summon my army, and you'd surrender." Afton explains, the dust clearing and revealing his 'army'...

What did Afton's army consist of exactly? Well... For starters, there were around fifty Cyberdogs on the outskirts, as well as one-hundred strange-looking Sentry-bots with blue-tinted metal plating... Those in the know would recognise it as Saturnite, and those 'even more in the know' would recognise the Sentry-bots as the Ultimo-Bot that had been guarding the Big Mt artillery sight...

The Ultimo-Bot's were larger, stronger variants of ordinary Sentry-Bots. With considerably higher firepower, durability, and processing power. Not to mention the pre-installed military tactics and strategies each came with.

They aren't what draws the most attention however... That would belong to the two figures standing directly behind Afton... Deathclaws! Two large, black Deathclaws! Each were armoured with that blue-tinted metal again, and looked larger than the average Deathclaw you'd see in the wasteland. Unlike the rest of their kind, they seemed completely tamed as well! Deferring completely to Afton despite their wish to attack immediately.

Veronica, Christine, and Miles who were standing next to him clearly hadn't been expecting this either, and were barely holding back from firing upon the Deathclaws themselves...

Hardin's eyes almost bulge out of their sockets at this display of power... If the act of teleporting large amounts of troops wasn't enough, the troops themselves were enough to cause even the larger factions to pause in fear. He isn't even able to find his voice until Afton starts speaking again.

"Well!? Now that you guys have seen my army, I'll ask again. Surrender. I am not a cruel person, so I won't kill you like Hardin has been threatening to do to me... But the Mojave Chapter of the Brotherhood will end today... Before that though, I'd like to make an offer, to those of you who see the faults in your leadership and can think for yourselves... Join me, and we'll fulfil the duties the Brotherhood purports to serve in their stead."

...

Afton releases a sigh at the lack of reaction... Obviously, he hadn't expected many to jump ship now, as they'd likely be fired upon by their friends for it, but he was hoping at least a few would have the courage... Whatever he'd just have to find those willing after they surrender.

Hardin steps forwards, almost foaming at the mouth as he shouts, "NEVER! I'D RATHER DIE THAN SURRENDER TO YOU, BOY! YOU DESERVE NOTHING! NOT THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE, NOT THE ARMY, AND NOT THE ALLIES! I WILL TAKE THEM ALL AWAY!... BROTHERHOOD! ATTAAAACCCK!"

Thus, the battle starts... And quickly ends as Afton's troops decimate the forces of the Brotherhood... It's fortunate the Brotherhood wore Power armour, otherwise they'd have all been instantly killed when struck by his Deathclaws or Cyberdogs combined sonic attacks... Afton did his best to knock them unconscious as well to prevent them from getting killed in the fight as well...

They certainly hadn't been expecting him to leap onto the wall and start punching people unconscious... Nor had they expected his first punch to completely blow Hardin's head clean off... The man was literally 'armless' and wasn't even able to shout an insult as his head exploded into red mist...

That act alone had a large portion of the Brotherhood surrender, but a few of the more zealous were still unwilling to lose... Unfortunately, this led to a few dying at the hands of his Deathclaws, but the casualties were remarkably low considering the ferocious battle that'd occurred.