Fallout: Wasteland Doll Commander

The command tent at Starlight Drive-In was dimly lit, buzzing with field radios and flickering lanterns. Outside, stormclouds gathered over Lexington, thunder rumbling low on the horizon.

Sarah stood alone at the transceiver unit, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the glowing interface as ISAC replayed the intercepted signal—an encrypted raider frequency recently cracked by Division software.

Ashbrand (recorded, distorted):

"Bring us a worthy offering. Oil, scrap, and blood. Even The Dollmaster's bones would suffice."

ISAC's voice chimed in with clinical calm.

ISAC:

"Transmission origin: Forged detachment, northern Saugus Ironworks fringe. Signal rebroadcast across three known raider channels. Conclusion: Lexington factions entering coalition phase."

Sarah narrowed her eyes.

Sarah (dryly):

"No surprise. You put a flag up way too fast, and the snakes will always start to hiss across the field."

Behind her, Nate entered the tent, his coat damp from the rain. He gave her a nod as Preston trailed close, carrying a folded map and a fresh weapons requisition form.

Nate:

"Just finished squad drills. Charlie and Delta are shaping up fast—good instincts, especially that kid from Tenpines. They're ready to move on Lexington."

Preston:

"Able and Bravo are gonna stay on settlement defense. Reports of small raider bands drifting from the west. But nothing organized. Not yet."

Sarah flicked off the radio and turned toward the holo-map.

Sarah:

"Not organized yet. Because they're cautionly watching and recon on us. Raiders now know you guys not just another rabble rousing militia anymore. Which that scares them—and scared raiders enough to make dangerous calls."

She tapped the red marker hovering over the Corvega Assembly Plant. Then another mark appeared at Saugus Ironworks, now pulsing.

Sarah:

"They're talking about me now. 'Dollmaster.' Hmph.... how nostagic."

Preston (frowning):

"We could end this early. Why not send your Vertibird in for a strafing run. Flatten their position before they even mobilize."

Sarah (shaking her head):

"Unfortutenatly that option have thrown out of window. With Jared's got an RPG-7—same launcher that brought my bird down over Lexington. Which I took that shot saving you, Preston. I can't take any more risk the asset or my pilot again on a frontal show of force."

Nate crossed his arms, nodding.

Nate:

"Then we hit smart. Charlie and Delta spearhead the approach, strike hard and fast. 404 handles infiltration. Able and Bravo lock down the perimeter and respond to any settlement distress."

Sarah:

"Agreed. Instead Air support, we're bring Striker support. Three Dolls, fully rigged with HOC Mk.47 platforms into the field support. Even tho they are Mobile artillery. They'll stay back and rain down fire on designated coordinates from Starlight drive-in"

Preston blinked in surprise as he glanced at the three heavily-armored Dolls unloading modular weapon platforms from the last vertibird transport still steaming on the Starlight landing pad.

Preston (stunned):

"Wait a minute... You've already got your own mortar crew that fast? which they just came in on that bird?"

Sarah gave a slight nod, arms folded as she watched the trio lock their HOC Mk.47 artillery units into fixed tripod emplacements.

Sarah:

"Last payload drop from Fort Monroe's sublevel stockpile. Took weeks to route them past Brotherhood patrol vectors, but they made it. They're not coming with us into Lexington—they'll hold here at Starlight."

She turned back to the map and pointed toward pre-marked coordinates around the Corvega perimeter.

Sarah (focused):

"Their role is suppression and Precision fire to keep ghoul surges and raider flanks pinned while our teams move."