Franklin stopped when he got halfway to Primm at the police station where he fought the cannibals the other day. He did this because the road north was eating away at his car. The suspension system was gaining fractures every time he hit a pothole. Worse, when he stopped to look at his vehicle, giant scorpions from the eastern salt flats popped out of the ground and attacked him.
The police station didn’t have much, but his nanites could make use of a variety of materials. He could make rudimentary matter replicators, but those used a great deal of power. He had a near-unlimited supply thanks to fusion power. The problem was that he couldn’t make much at once. Most of his energy was reserved for maintaining vital systems.
There was a shortcut to the replicators, though. If he fed them raw materials, they could be used to make the parts he needed for a reduced energy cost. It would be a helpful shortcut in the coming days. It might mean he devours whole towns left to rot if only to build a single water pump. It might also mean he consumes the very air around him to create rocket fuel. Remains to be seen.
Seeing the terrain's unevenness, Franklin opted to outfit his van with tracks instead of tires. A walker setup was also possible, as was the fun idea of a hover van, but he decided against those. Tracks made the most sense.
Dr. Limon had a little free time as the D.O.S. spent a few hours making the modifications. He needed to figure out how to deal with the Powder Gangers. Supposedly, their base was the old prison that they were once kept in. Designed to keep people in, it was also good at keeping people out. Anyone else attacking them would have a hard time; luckily, Franklin was an amorphous being made of metal that could act like a liquid or solid. He was not restricted by iron bars.
Attacking the prison shouldn't be hard. The only danger he knew they possessed was explosives. The question was whether that was the correct decision. Franklin was considering the diplomatic options as well. Negotiating was probably the better option.
Caesar's Legion has made it very clear they do not like the Powder Gangers any more than the NCR. If the legion makes it past the NCR outpost, then the gangers will be the next target. The gangers can not beat the legion, nor will they accept being slaves. This left the gang with a few options. So, the good doctor could exploit this by extending an olive branch. Just need to find the string of words that worked best.
Coming up with some ideas, Franklin made a few more additions to his mail van.
__________
Mid-Afternoon Outside of the NCR Correctional Facility
The Western Watchtower
“You hear that?” Said Convict One.
“Nope,” replied Convict Two.
“You sure?” asked Convict One.
“Positive?” said Convict Two.
Hardly spoke to folks around him.
“Okay, I am sure I am hearing something,” Convict One said, grabbing his rifle. He didn’t have bullets for it, but the scope still worked.
“Calm down. No is coming around here to fuck with us,” convict two said and put his hat over his face, and tried to take a nap.
No one dared to make a slip.
“Okay, now I know I am hearing something,” Convict one looked all around for whatever was making this noise.
Big Iron on his hip.
Now, the entire facility has started to hear this music. It was a familiar song to those who listen to the ever-repeating same eleven songs of the Mojave Music Station. The song told the story of a ranger who arrived in a small western town looking for a man named Texas Red—a killer of twenty men whom the ranger came to collect on. The outlaw had killed other bounty hunters, but this ranger was the one who drew faster.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
It was a simple song that had a different meaning to these convicts. The symbolism was lost on most of them, but not those in charge. Some had come to deal with the Powder Gangers.
___________
The mail van windows had been blackened and reinforced. Armor plating was placed over the tracks, bumpers, and other supports. Franklin’s favorite addition was the loudspeaker system. Perfect for announcing your presence, drawing attention, or just enjoying music. He used the speakers now to make sure every Powder Ganger knew he was arriving. It would make negotiating with them easy.
Franklin parked the van on the northern side of the prison. There were no entrances on this side. It was the west side that had the main gate. He did this to give them a false sense of security. It would not make a difference because of the other upgrade he had created. That one was a secret surprise for anyone who got too jumpy.
When meeting new people you need something from, you must know who your audience is. Franklin had practiced this skill a lot over his life. He was dealing with a large, protected group of criminals in their home. They will feel safe and overconfident. This means any options he gives them will be met with resistance simply because it will break their status quo. So, Franklin needed to make them feel on edge and unsafe.
“Attention former convicts of the NCR. I come bearing a message and an opportunity.” The loudspeakers made Franklin's voice spread through the prison and probably in the surrounding mountains.
The gangers either murmured amongst themselves or threw insults at the car. Franklin didn’t care either way as he played the recording from Nipton.
“I am going to be painfully honest with you all. You have no friends in the Mojave. Nipton is gone, Primm is now under the control of NCR, and soon, the Legion might push past them. Doesn’t matter what your boss says; this gang is living on borrowed time.”
More murmuring could be heard from the convicts. The gang leaders finally arrived and started demanding answers about what was happening. The boss, Eddie, was unhappy about someone showing up and riling up his gang.
“Who the fuck you think you are! Think a mail van is gonna scare us!” Eddie had approached the end of the fence and was now shouting at Franklin. He couldn’t see the doctor, but that didn’t stop the man from being pissed.
A quick scan of the area showed the doctor something interesting. Eddie was carrying some kind of energy-powered weapon. Franklin would need a closer look to see what it was, but that could wait.
“I am the man giving these men a choice. The noose is already around their necks. My offer is the only one that will save them.”
“Don’t listen to this stupid courier. He doesn’t know you like I do. You are stronger than the NCR. You have taken on the Legion. We are free men and will continue to be free men!” Eddie yelled, trying to encourage his gang. A lot of them shouted back and cheered in response.
“Don't worry. I won't lash you to a cross like these degenerates. It is useful you happened by,” He played the entire conversation with Vulpes Inculta for everyone to hear.
“You might be wondering who that was. That was the voice of one of the higher-ranking members of Caesar’s Legion, Vulpes Inculta. He killed your friends in Nipton and burned the entire town down. Emphasis on was his voice. You see, I killed him.”
The crowd gasped in shock. It seemed this particular member of the legion was well known. The internet, social media, and television might be gone, but word still traveled around.
“Every citizen, the NCR, and all of your friends in Nipton were killed. The mayor was fed to wild dogs, and I saw over a dozen gangers tied to crosses. Only four could be saved. They are now in NCR custody receiving medical treatment.”
One of the convicts shouted out, ” You're lying. No way the NCR wouldn't just execute them.”
“They are alive because I said so. I have been given the task of clearing the road north. The Legion is making it too dangerous to travel east, so the NCR is desperate. If I hadn't been given permission to take point, they would have come down in force and taken the prison back.”
“They would have failed. We are tougher than that. We aren't slaves any longer!” Eddie shouted, trying to rally his gang. Before he could continue the doctor spoke again.
“You have no farms, no gunsmiths, and no allies. Everything you have has been stolen from the NCR and other settlements. When the Legion comes, will you steal their weapons, too? The legion uses blades and spears. Are you gonna fight them with sticks and stones when you run out of dynamite.”
“We have each other. If we stick together, the Legion won't stand a chance of taking this base!” Eddie cried.
“You all don't even like each other. I have recorded the whispering of your friends. I know of the splintered factions. The Legion will blockade this place, returning it into a prison. When they do, one of you will crack. They will betray the others in hopes the Legion will spare them. Of course, they won't. You will all be crucified or turned into one of their slaves.”
Eddie tried to rally his gang again, but the crowd drowned out his words. The gang’s morale was dropping fast. He wanted to shut them up, but no one was listening. Some were accusing others of being spies for the Legion.
Franklin guessed on the way over here that the gang wouldn't take his deal easily. From what he had heard, the gang had splintered at least three or four times already, and Eddie wasn't the first leader. If he wanted the gang to surrender, he must first break them apart.
“Many of you will die because of either the NCR or the Legion. The rest will run for the hills to hide, only to be picked off by raiders. This gang's days are numbered, but your lives might be spared!”
“Men. Ignore this idiot. Open fire!” Eddie ordered.
Convicts pulled out their guns and fired. No one had anything bigger than a .357 revolver. Their bullets bounced off the mail van with not even a scratch. A few members lit sticks of dynamite and lobbed them over the fence.
Franklin had prepared for this weapon and outfitted the van with an external fire suppression system. Each stick that flew across the air was doused in a fire-extinguishing substance, rendering the Powder Ganger's prized weapon useless.
After a minute without causing any damage, the gang stared in silence. Eddie screamed for his men to get more ammo and explosives, not learning the lesson of insanity.
“It is fortunate that you lot won't get the chance to face either the NCR or Legion. Today, you will deal with me. As you can see, you can't blow up my vehicle, nor can you shoot out my windows. So, are you ready to hear my offer?”
A man in a cowboy hat yelled out first, “What do you want? If we are going to die either way, what can you even offer?”
“Your lives, freedom, and security. Today, we can come to an agreement that will give you these things. Not everyone will be completely satisfied. That is okay. They will be alive to express their displeasure at least.”