Chapter 34 - The aftermath

If I knew that fixing the metal pipes would lead to this, I wouldn't have done it. Moreover, while Eddie and his loyal group of addicts didn't have the best accuracy using those homemade mortars they still managed to suppress some of the trenches giving the heavily drugged powder gangers more than enough free rein to reach those said trenches and fight the troopers at close range.

On the other hand, those mortars took more powder gangers than troopers, which worked in our favor I'd say, considering that once the last group of drugged convicts charges out, Eddie and his group would meet their end at our hands. If you are wondering what I mean by that well, let's just say that Mike and I did a rather thorough recruitment drive amongst the convicts and after some rather deep consideration, we recruited seventeen convicts with Mike and his crew counted in that number, as well as a sheriff that was forced to remain in the NCRCF after Eddie took over.

As soon as Eddie's last goons charge out of the NCRCF, I turned towards Mike who nodded before he alongside all of the less guilty convicts aimed their guns at Eddie and his bodyguards before opening fire on them. The poor drug addict didn't even know how he died, but one thing was for sure, the battle for the Correctional Facility ended in a victory for the NCR, one with some losses nonetheless. With Eddie and all of the convicts that choose to side with him now dead, the NCR cautiously advances toward the compound.

While Hayes stood behind with some medics to take care of the wounded, Meyer took the lead, being one of the soldiers that led the troopers. Luckily, for us, he was the one who spotted us, otherwise, everything would have been for nothing if the troopers opened fire upon us, thinking that we were part of Eddie's group of convicts.

"Here I thought that you died Dante. It's damn good to see you alive and well."

"It's good to see you two corporal. How many?"

"Twelve dead and almost twenty-one injured. To be fair those bloody mortars did more damage to them than they did to us. However, those things did help the convicts reach our lines. Anyhow, who are those oddly dressed as convicts gentlemen that look at you like you are some kind of messiah?"

"Ahem, this is the payment I want to ask from Knight and Hayes. These brave gentlemen helped me sabotage the powder gangers by increasing the dosage of drugs, thus making the powder gangers a liability for Eddie."

"Fuck this, I'm not the one that needs to sign papers for this anyways. Where's that crazy son of a biscuit?"

"Where's are the rest of his men."

"That's one truly wonderful piece of information. If you were part of the NCR army, I would have put you up for a promotion young man. I don't know if you realize how big of a deal is this for the Mojave campaign. Besides, you asking for those guys to get sentences forgotten would be a small price the general would pay, I can assure you of that."

I smiled at the ranger, accepting his praise, after all, who in their right mind wouldn't like getting recognized for their deeds? Meyer and I talked for a few more minutes before he left together with his team to do some scouting around the area, just in case some of the convicts escaped or were hiding, hoping that they would get to live another day.

With the siege now finished and with the Powder gangers destroyed, there was not much one could do in this place, especially now that the NCR would turn this place into a military base after they take care of the bodies and after they check the whole facility for anything that could be used by the army. Since the NCR hadn't started stealing the loot, I turned towards Mike.

"Mike, I want you to take half of the guys and move the mortars and some of the ammo away from the NCR. After all, I'd rather not have them take those beauties when we could use them."

"There's a problem with that. Look, I'm grateful for what you have done to us, but I don't think those soldier boys would let us take those game changers away from them. While getting some weapons and ammo for our boys would be easy, getting those mortars would be akin to storming the bloody capital of the NCR naked and with a stick as a weapon."

"So you say that we can do it, but it would be dangerous?"

Mike facepalmed at my question before turning away. He then took half of my new recruits, before walking towards the building where Eddie and his bodyguards lay dead alongside their mortars. While Mike was doing his thing, I had the remaining guys grab anything that might be useful for us, since you might never know when an extra bullet or an extra bottle of water might save your life.

Just as I was about to go and search for Hayes, I heard the sheriff call my name, forcing me to stop and turn toward him.

"Wait for a second Dante. I know that I joined you when you took Eddie out, but I'm not going to follow you and your band of convicts."

"I have never asked you to do that Meyers. We only teamed up to take out Eddie and that's it. If you want to leave you are free to go, but I doubt that the NCR would let you leave just like that, considering your involvement with those addicts."

"Yep, I now know why I hated you. You are just like those pompous scientists, thinking they know everything and just saying the brutal truth to your face. "

"C'mon Meyers, don't act like a kid, especially in front of one."

"Bloody hell kiddo, so what do you want from me?"

"I might have a job for you if you are willing to do it."

The sheriff raises his eyebrow at me, waiting for me to continue. "Well, I take it you know Primm right?"

"Quite a nice town that some bloody fools took over it asking for such a high ransom that the NCR interfered. What about it?"

"The NCR needs a sheriff to oversee the town and maintain the law and order. You will work for the NCR as a bonus and even get a salary from them, as well as becoming a citizen of the bear republic."

"This sounds way too good to be true. What's the catch?"

"Surprisingly enough, there isn't one. The NCR can't afford to keep an officer there to act as the sheriff while they are at war with the legion and because of that I thought that you might want to become the new sheriff of Primm, considering your past experience in the field.

"If you can convince that Lieutenant that made Primm part of the NCR, I would gladly become their sheriff. Besides if I play my cards right I might just get retired in a few years."

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