SESSION 77: RAILSROADED Report in Forever Fallout, Missouri 2317 | World Anvil
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SESSION 77: RAILSROADED

General Summary

Previous Session: SESSION 76: MY PREMIUMS!
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      Players: The Fellowship of the Doing the Things, Andy, Arminius, Lex Garridan, Linda, Morag
    September 8th, 2317
    (Adventure Day 137)
      The Party awoke in their beds aboard Ms. Man, currently situated within the Airship House of The Rails. They gathered for breakfast (not provided by Lancer Wieck, of course.) They agreed that they would approach Scipio’s contact Tom to try to get a meeting with the woman named Killsplatter. Then Killsplatter could get them a meeting with the Railmaster, hopefully without much wait.
    With cash in their pockets from winning at Indy 666 and the Rails Fighthouse, the team decided to visit Shredguts Guns first. Just as Railyn the smuggler had said, the gun shop was run by a ghoul named Justine. She seemed friendly and open, talking about how in her long life she had seen The Rails change from a brutal hive of raiders to an economic hub. They asked her about weaponry, and Justine recommended that Lex carry a sidearm for close combat. The ghoul showed them a Sonic Emitter, which used intense sound waves to stun and damage enemies at short range. Lex bought one and Scipio was even more impressed, getting two for himself. Linda looked at the collection and found a Gatling Laser. The colossal weapon of war was a great expense to purchase and even more costly to use. But this was a land of riches, even if they were ill-gotten riches.
    Justine gave them their purchases and showed the team how to operate them. And then, as folk often do, asked them if they were looking for mercenary work. They said that they liked to help. Justine told the story of her protégé Nari. Justine had fostered her as a little girl, raising her in the vicious manipulations of The Rails. Over time, Justine and the city in general had calmed and softened, using less violence to further their aims. Nari had gone in the opposite direction. She was now the owner of the Town Junkhouse, brutally exploiting chem addiction. It was said she enjoyed the old tradition of foot-splitting. When someone couldn’t pay their debt, or simply displeased her, Nari would have that person’s feet cut lengthwise. Once mangled in that way, the feet never healed correctly, leaving the victim in pain whenever they walked. Justine felt guilty for creating that monster. She was willing to pay 1000 Rusties to whoever killed Nari, and an extra thousand if they burned the junkhouse to the ground.
    The Party considered the request, but they had an important mission. They traveled to the Temple of the Rails, a pre-war industrial railway hub converted into the bureaucratic centre of the city. There was a row of well-equipped Rails Guards standing by the entrance, in their heavy leather armor and wielding antimatter projectors. Andy approached them and asked if they had scene the musical at the Rucker Trucker Amphitheatre.
    One of the guards responded with a gruff, “Go fuck yourself.”
    Worried that Andy might react to the aggressive language violently, the Party scrambled to calm the SchlockettBot. They reassured Andy that “go fuck yourself” was a neutral thing to say, and indicated no hostile intent. Andy accepted this and they entered the temple.
    It was easy to find Decimus Carnifex, who was working as Tom the bureaucrat in the open agora of the temple. He greeted the Party respectfully, and was shocked to learn that Arminius was now going by his Legion name, Scipio Americanus. Tom was worried about possible enemies from the Legion. Like Scipio’s mentor Gaius Fringus, Decimus Carnifex was closely tied to Caesar Aurelian. After Aurelian’s surprise retirement, his allies were afraid of dying in the interregnum and fled Legion territory. Tom asked Scipio if he had any news of Aurelian’s whereabouts, or why the leader had retired, but Scipio had no answers. That whole situation was mysterious. Scipio relayed news that Ursus had failed to assassinate the new leader, Caesar Altus, and was now collaborating with The Capitol’s Great Leader. The only news Tom had was that Caesar Altus was brining a new law to the senate to ban the slavery of children under eight years old. They talked about the future of the Legion, and Tom urged Scipio to put all that behind him.
    They asked Tom if they could get see Killsplatter and hopefully get a meeting with Railmaster Bloodgrind. The former Legionary revealed that Killsplatter was his immediate superior, and he’d easily be able to get them a few minutes with her, but couldn’t promise a longer meeting. Since what they really wanted was to see the Railmaster, they decided that seeing Killsplatter briefly would be fine. Tom led them down a hallway and up some stairs to see his boss.
    Killsplatter was a slender and well-dressed human woman, accompanied by a Mister Gutsy robot. She and the robot were going over the Railmaster’s itinerary as they approached. Ted made introductions and explained that they were on an important mission from the Midwest. Killsplatter said that The Rails was very happy with their relationship with the Midwest, and that they had had pleasant dealings with Paladin Axion. Tom asked if there was anything else they needed. They assured him that the introduction was enough, and he left.
    This Killsplatter was an unknown quantity, so Lex used her Vault 40 DNA to focus on her mind. Delving into the thoughts of the second most powerful person in The Rails, Lex pick out bits of information. The Railmaster had been meeting with a diplomatic detachment from the NCR and the Californians had tried to convince Bloodgrind that The Rustlands should join the war on their side. The temple had also been visited by a group from The Capitol, Task Force Blue. Lex could see in Killsplatter’s thoughts that The Capitol team included Agent Dominica, whom she had a brief dalliance with on the Dixie train. It also included Liz Langley, Lex’s co-worker and fellow student of Professor Gritch. Lex felt through Killsplatter’s thoughts and could tell that the administrator disliked the NCR contingent. In fact, she was excited and eager to get the Party in to see the Railmaster.
    Killsplatter informed them that Bloodgrind was currently in a meeting, but that he would have time to see them immediately after. If they came to the waiting room adjacent to the throne room, they’d be able to talk to him today. The Party agreed that they’d at lease like to see the Railmaster to ask how they could obtain a Capo title. Killsplatter told them that because they were going to the throne room, their ranged weapons would have to be kept in a locker during the meeting. The submitted, but Killsplatter’s Mister Gutsy assistant Hambleton scanned them over. Morag would not give up Beau, and asked if giving up her ammunition would be enough. Killsplatter looked at them suspiciously, but eventually agreed. Hambleton noticed that Andy had a intrinsic hand laser, and offered to mechanically disable the weapon. Andy refused to be disarmed, and they were informed that Andy could not enter the throne room.
    The Railmaster’s assistant also insisted that they keep a record of everyone’s name for their security records. If anyone caused trouble for the Railmaster, it was Rails tradition to track down their loved ones and charge them fines. When Morag gave her name, Killsplatter asked if she was, “Morag from Tennesse.” They hesitantly admitted that she was, and Killsplatter said that they had a package for her. It was apparently from a secret organization and had been sitting in their mailroom for some time. When they were done with their meeting with Bloodgrind, they could go pick it up.
    Killsplatter led them to the waiting room, an open area next to some boardrooms. The Party deciphered that the NCR diplomats had been here all day yesterday, and maybe longer. Extensive negotiations were taking place. There was no sign of Task Force Blue in the area. Killsplatter poked her head into the throne room and returned, telling them that they would have to wait a while. With some time on their hands, she could take Morag to the mailroom to see the mysterious package. Morag agreed to go, though she was suspicious of everything going on. Lex offered to go with them, but Morag silently urged her not to. Killsplatter and Morag left.
    Soon after, a low-level clerk informed the Party at the waiting room that the Railmaster would see them. They were without Morag, but they didn’t have their ranged weapons anyway. They hoped they could ask the Railmaster about a Capo title and get out of there quickly. As they walked down the hall towards the throne, they could hear a meeting going on. Railmaster Bloodgrind was complaining that he had spent the previous day hearing the exact same pitch from the NCR. The Capitol had the exact same argument. They heard Agent Dominica’s voice answering him, insisting that the quick defeat of Dixie would be better for business than a prolonged war.
    The party entered the throne room and came face to face with Great Leader’s Task Force Blue. Agent Dominica and Liz Langley were there. And they were accompanied by an NCR ranger, an older Fynn clone (like Mouse) and a SchlockettBot. And shockingly, they were fully equipped with their weapons. Killsplatter and Hambleton were nowhere to be seen.
    Lex spoke out on behalf of the Midwest, arguing that the whole war was bad for commerce. Scipio and Dominica traded jibes. The Party complained that Task Force Blue had their weapon. The Railmaster explained that weapons were allowed in the throne room, he enjoyed challenges. Arguments continued and the throne room was filled with discord.
    Meanwhile, Killsplatter led Morag through the hallways of the temple to the mailroom. Clerks and Rails Guards noted them dispassionately. They found themselves alone in a room full of shelves. Killsplatter looked around wondering aloud where the package might be. Morag was tense, but took no action. The Railmaster’s assistant picked up a small piece of paper, claiming it was an inventory.
    She read aloud, “Tourist. Pasture. Delicate…”
    Hearing her Institute Command Code, the Y-00 program within Morag’s Synth component took control of her body. Morag’s consciousness faded away as she lost control of herself…
    …Morag awoke in the Hatchie Forest. But not the real Hatchie Forest, a memory of it virtually presented within the cache of her Synth Component. The Kay personality was there again, though this time she looked ghostly pale and was covered in blood. Morag asked what was going on. Kay sensed through the Synth component that Y-00 was receiving orders from the Killsplatter woman. Morag asked if there was anything to be done, and Kay was annoyed. If she knew how to take the body, Kay wouldn’t have been stuck in the cache for 28 years. Kay informed Morag that the body was now running down a hallway, and had thrown Beau aside.
    Morag was desperate. She tried to reach with her thoughts and stop Y-00, but it was no use. Kay stated that there was one other option, Morag could give Kay the body. But Kay admitted that she would have a hard time giving the body back. Kay had spent 28 years watching from underneath Morag’s consciousness, and had a demand. Morag’s virtual eyes widened with fear at what the request would be. Kay demanded… to play the accordion sometimes. She used to play a hand accordion for her partner Richard. When the Railroad had pulled the Keziah program out of her, she had lost even the memory of accordion sound. In this virtual world, she couldn’t even approximate the sound. Morag was surprised at the simple request, and remembered that she had felt something while looking at the musical instruments at the Annie Conservatory. Kay admitted that she had been shouting in Morag’s mind.
    Kay explained that Y-00 was only the default program, and only had limited access to processing. If Morag could overburden Y-00 with thoughts, it would be stunned, and Kay could take over the body. Morag needed to think about something constantly and intently, in the greatest detail possible. She knew exactly what to think of right away. Morag focused hard on memories of Beau, tasking the processor in recalling every tiny detail of the RifleBuddy’s physicality.
    Back in the throne room, the argument continued. Task Force Blue promised that Great Leader’s friendship was much better than her ire. The Party asserted that Great Leader was deceptive and could not be trusted for anything.
    Lex called upon her Vault 40 DNA and reached into the mind of Dominica. Taking control of the Capitol agent’s body, Lex made Dominica stand in front of the throne room and loudly announce that Great Leader was a vicious dictator who was planning to conquer them all. Task Force Blue was shocked that their lieutenant was insulting the Railmaster and disparaging Great Leader. An enormous argument erupted.
    Just then, another government clerk rushed into the room. He exclaimed, “Ambassador Chalabi! The NCR diplomat has been murdered!”
    Railmaster Bloodgrind was enraged. He angrily ordered his guards to gather Task Force Blue and send them back to the Airship House. He told the clerk to find the rest of the NCR contingent and keep them occupied and away from Chalabi’s body. And he demanded that the Party come with him to the scene of the crime. Andy rushed to gather the Party’s weapons. He found them right in the safe where Killsplatter left them, but the Railmaster’s assistant was nowhere to be found.
    Bloodgrind and the party found Ambassador Chalabi’s body torn to shreds in a boardroom in the west wing of the temple. They found Morag standing over the body, covered in his blood and holding herself nervously. The Party tried to explain that there must have been some skullduggery from Killsplatter. The Railmaster didn’t seem terribly upset by the scene, only remarking that this would all be very expensive for them. He would have to charge them an assassination tax, a betrayal fee and subterfuge fine.
    When Bloodgrind turned his back on the scene, Morag’s claws came out and she moved to leap at the leader. But just as quickly, her countenance changed, and she relaxed. She explained that she was Kay, and that Morag was holding back Y-00. The Railmaster demanded that they go back to the west wing of the temple. He and his staff would take stock of everything – and tabulate their fines.
    The now re-united party were rushed back across the building and the were put into an empty conference room. Rails Guards waited outside, making sure they did not leave. Tom was in the boardroom waiting for them. He explained that he heard that they had killed the NCR ambassador and came running. They asked what would happen now. Tom explained that the Railmaster probably wasn’t very upset, but would want to hold them until he knew he was safe from reprisals from the NCR, Midwest and The Capitol. He would try to stagger them with a debt scheme, demanding fines he didn’t think they could afford. If they were clever, they could gather enough money to pay their fines in one go, and Bloodgrind would be honour-bound to let them go.
    Meanwhile, Morag’s countenance changed again. Kay took up the task of burdening Y-00 with processes, allowing the Morag personality to come to the fore. But Morag was low and despondent, only muttering about Beau.
    The situation was intense. Acting as agents of the Midwest, they were accused of assassinating the official ambassador of the NCR – an act of war. Great Leader’s hand-picked Task Force Blue were on their way to the Airship House, presumably to leave on their Capitol vertibird. They had been betrayed by this woman Killsplatter, who fled the scene. No one could tell what Railmaster Bloodgrind would ask them. Tom, a former Legion torturer, stood with them, but they had few other friends…
      Next Session:
Report Date
24 Jun 2023

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