Rebuild Capital Wasteland.

Chapter 12: The price of war

The mood in the war-room at the Citadel was bad too say it atleast. For Elder Lyons and his daughter it was depressing. For TLW and Reilly who represented the ordinary army it was worse. They had realised that they had done exactly the same mistake as many of the former empires before the war had did. They had overstreched their territory. When they figured their cencus they realised they had not enough manpower to start a campaign against a 10.000 soldier strong army. If they garrisoned both the Mall and some other settlements to the minimun they could march around 1000 men to the Pit. The problem was not defending the Mall. It was a fortress that could repeal a size of twice the army that were now marching against the Pit. But the Mall was protected by a minimum 4 meter high wall that need tons of well placed dynamite just to make a scratch or dent in it. And the one trying to do it would be shot down by one of the many guards standing at the guard towers with sniper rifles. No, the problem was to actually move and command an army. The Pit was a friendly settlement after the events the TLW had gone trough and made a slave named Wernher in charge. But it was an industry settlement with only enough security to provide a form of stability, and not enough too stop an army of that size. Too march 1000 men into an unknown city with weak defence and a ruthless enemy would be fatal.
So what could they do?

First of all they thought about their advantages. They had air superiority. The Vertibirds could bomb them, but then again the enemy forces could have ground too air missiles at their disposal. It was not unlikely if they controlled the main of the midwest areas. What about the Steels?
Elder Lyons rebuffed that immediately. The trained knights now counted 80 people and they did not have more Power armors left. They were needed and could not be a force of their own. If the little of intelligence that they had picked up was true, this was an army capable of destroying the Brotherhood of Steel easily. It was a tricky situation.
" We need to see the reality here. The Pit is not a part of our influence sphere and even though its industrial capabilites is important, its not lifethreatning. With time we can replace their production capablilites." One of the scribes said.
"So we let the Pit fall, and then what? We have a bastion of the Legion at our doorstep. Just waiting for rest of their army so 30.000 could march against our walls." Sarah Lyons made a vital point in the discussion.
"But how can we be sure that they will even allow our forces to garrison there. You know after the Scourge." It was Reilly that asked the question about the subject no one would talk about.
The scourge was the term for the brotherhood military operation several years ago that almost wiped out the entire population of The Pit. Many of the intiaties was taken from there and trained up in the Citadel.
"Its a different time now. Wehrner is in charge now and he has managed to put up a good production ratio and improved the quality of life there." TLW defended Lyons.
"So i heard. They are not called slaves now but season workers and the cure for the plauge has wiped it out. But still a high ratio of workers die working there and Werhner have problems with maintaing order. And not to mention that the man who established order there, Ishamel was one of your guys." Silence came over the room.
"And what about the guns you sold and the people you trained up here the last year. Was that part of the deal? Making sure that Wernher holds on his city?" The question from Reilly was hard hitting but true.
The Mall had gone trough many compromises to start traiding with The Pit. First of all they needed stability. So while Wehrners personal guards were being trained at the Mall with Reilly, both ordinary soldiers and Steels guarded the area. After what TLW heard they also eridicated some gangs and the mutants. In the future a water pipe between the two cities would be build, but for now they recieved huge amount of water and food i exchange for building materials.
"Listen up Reilly, Wernher is an inteligent man, he knows whats on stake and he would not let his city fall. I suggest we send an envoy there too let him understand the seriousness of the situation." Lyons turned around his head against TLW.
" I need you too go there, and take with you Reilly, some soldiers and an engineer there."
"Why an engineer?"
"Because we need to know the status of their fortifications and see what we could do."
TLW had to agree on this. The key to sucess was to avoid open combat. They needed to fatigue the enemies by making a strong defence. Not more than a hour later the Vertibird took off in direction west. Inside it were Reilly, an engineer named Ferell and three Steels that acted like security. And of course TLW who would again visit the place he promised himself he would never return too. He took a deep breath and leaned back on the seat. It was an hour and a half with top speed so he could afford little bit rest. He sat down gently and feel asleep. Just to discover that Reilly pocked him a second later. They had landed.