Chapter 580 - Light Show

Afton appears a good distance from Novac and immediately activates his Stealth boy. It was still the middle of the night, which would've made the bolt of lightning very, very obvious for anyone nearby, thus, a quick retreat was needed.

He activates his helmets night vision while he sneaks towards Camp Forlorn Hope, the Range Finder already sitting in his hand, waiting for use. Eventually, he managed to reach the large hill overlooking the camp, quietly setting up his Anti-Material rifle once there...​​

Obviously, this wouldn't be his main mode of attack, the sniper would only be used to pick off any soldiers who are unlucky enough to survive the orbital strike.

Camp Forlorn hope itself looked much better than what he'd heard from Boone. In the past, this place had been the prime target of Legion raids, plus the fact the Legion controlled a good portion of the roads leading to it, meant that it had always been low on supplies and men.

This had recently changed though, since the Legion had retreated back over the river, the place had become one of the most fortified positions in the wasteland, aside from Hoover Dam of course. Now that the NCR had time to properly set up defences, the Legion would be unable to travel across the river without incurring staggering losses... Not that this would matter in its last moments, the biggest threat to the camp came from Novac, Bulwark, and Afton after all... Not that they were aware of this.

The camp looked to be in preparation to reinforce its western fronts, their assassination on Daisy would obviously draw Bulwarks ire, so they were anticipating an attack soon... The only problem with that, is that they weren't aware of how quickly Bulwark could mobilise a response.

The assassination on Daisy had only happened a couple hours ago... If Afton had wanted to bright an army or mobilise Novac, it'd only be ready in the morning. This is probably why the NCR was taking their time setting up defences, no point working through the night if you weren't expecting an attack. Still, even if they had, nothing would prepare them against Afton's assault.

Afton looks through the scope of his rifle and examines the camp, there were many patrols still awake and standing guard over the place. There were also many new recruits judging by their fresh-looking uniforms... Their young, hopeful faces might've made Afton feel guilty for what he was about to do... If the NCR hadn't assassinated one of his close friends.

"Well, you guys asked for this." he mutters as he points the Range Finder at the center of the camp... Most didn't even notice the small laser, a few did but ignored it, thinking that someone was playing a prank or something.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

Almost the entire Mojave is momentarily illuminated as the huge laser descends from the sky, striking the centre of Camp Forlorn Hope and glassing most of it. There isn't even enough time for the soldiers to scream in terror as their skin, flesh, organs and bones and melted and rendered nothing but ash.

All the tents, equipment, and fortifications of the camp are quickly destroyed as well, leaving almost nothing behind aside from a huge smouldering crater. As quickly as the light came, it left, leaving a considerable portion of the Mojave reeling from the sudden light show.

*Ping!*

[Second Apocalypse] rewards one random stat for ending one thousand lives... Luck has increased by 1!

Huh, he'd almost forgotten that this Perk existed... He wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth though.

Afton looks down at the newly created crater and crooks a brow at the many bones decorating the outskirts of where the laser had hit. The attack was less intense the farther you were from the centre, which is why some bones survived it.

He didn't have time to waste admiring the destruction he'd caused though, quickly kneeling beside his Anti-Material Rifle and aiming towards the few patrolling soldiers who'd been away at the time of the attack.

*Pew! Pew! Pew!*

Soldiers began dropping dead left and right, each of them panicking to a ridiculous degree due to what'd just occurred. They weren't even able to identify where the shots were coming from due to the silencer on Afton's rifle.

Soon enough, every people stationed at Camp Forlorn Hope was annihilated. Afton could have spared a few to tell the NCR what'd happened, but he thought it would be more terrifying to have no idea how this feat was accomplished.

Sure, they'd recognise that the same weapon used against the Legion was used here, but they'd not have anything concrete on the matter.

Nodding to himself, he checks the radio via his Pipboy to see what people had thought of the abrupt light show...

"*Bzztch!* Reports are coming in from all over the Mojave about a heavenly beam of light coming from the sky, I myself have no idea where it came from but a good portion of folks are saying it's aliens..." Mr Newvegas' voice trails off, "I assure you all that aliens are not responsible for this phenomenon. Maybe some wealthy individuals decided to set off the most extravagant fireworks display the wasteland has seen... If so, just be thankful you were lucky enough to witness it, it probably won't happen again for at least a couple hundred years." the radio host explains, completely playing off everyone's worries.

It'd probably work to alleviate the average person's worries, but for House, the NCR, the Legion, and other factions operation in the Mojave? Afton was sure they were shitting themselves, all scrambling to find what'd caused this.

Afton takes one last look at the crater before picking up his gear and leaving, deciding that he deserved to sleep at some point tonight.