Fallout: 1910-Introduction:

[Crimetopolis B]

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 resulted in the Council of Amsterdam. All the nations of Europe came together as one to resist Islam. Result: Crash scientific development program, By 1500, interchangeable parts, the steam engine and lithography spawned an Industrial Revolution.

Things appeared much earlier than our time. Motor Cars appeared in the 1700s, and the first robots in the 1760s. The future for America looked so bright.... Until 1861. Ordered to end slavery, the Confederate States of America faced multiple armies in addition to Northern Sea Blockade, In a panic, the South scrambled its nuclear deterrent, H-bombs ravaged both sides.

Europe and Asia avoided it, but have profited by allowing merchants to sell stuff to the America people in the aftermath of the nuclear war. But science had gone berserk in the decades before the war. Mutants, genetically engineered monstrosities, raiders, slavers, robots and the like run berserk in a war ravaged land, Furthermore, many have gone back to living Greek mythology, the knightly days and so forth. What will YOU do here?

[Kostane]

OOC: What is the story for American independence -- considering an industrial Britain could have probably maintained a much better hold on its colonies.

[Crimetopolis B]

This is just a story. But if there's enough interest showed, we can do it as an game on International incidents, Glad for your response. Chapter 1 will soon be up.

[Crimetopolis B]

The boy cleaned his laser rifle. Like many homemade laser weapons, it was a single shot breech loader, He'd preferred a Lee-Enfield, Mauser pistol, or submachinegun, but at least the solar plant could recharge the fuel cells, But the rate of fire by both cartridge guns and proper energy weapons both trumped homemade stuffs.

A robotic worker helped in the fields below. The painfully slow return of pre-war technology was yet a godsend, Clip Clop. Several horseback riders came up. They were armed with a motley assortment of regular energy weapons, modern guns and homemade laser weapons.

"Time to go on patrol, Melvin." Melvin obeyed. The raiders, mutants, deadly wildlife, and genetic beasts all had to be driven off.

They patrolled around their settlement's perimeter. Nothing. Then they checked the abandoned house amidst the trees across the road.

They dismounted their horses and checked the house. "Pre-War, completely. intact." Bill Morgan said. A Mister Helper robot activated. "How may I help you?" It asked.

Bill holstered his Tesla P90X Lightning Pistol and Beverly lowered her .44-40 Marlin 1693 lever action rifle. This Bot was no potential threat, unlike a Dixie Bot or a Yankee bot. 'Thank God we haven't run into Tommy bots, or worse, yet Storm-bots.'

The former looked like WW1 British soldiers and were deadly fighters. with pistols, Webley revolvers, and Lee-Enfield rifles. They could man artillery and Vickers 1712 machineguns, too.

Storm-bots were worse. These Stahlhelm-wearing robots used a
MP-1735 submachinegun and a Mauser 1696 pistol as a sidearm, both in 7.63x25mm Mauser. Its high velocity jacketed soft point[JSP]bullet made all but armored car armor worthless, too,

Ten shots, loaded from a stripper clip. Most powerful cartridge handgun made. Bill was thankful his lightning pistol held thirty shots and that Mauser 1696 were not common, too.

"Robot, show us the house." The Mister Helper obeyed.

[Crimetopolis B]

The robot showed them the house. "Nice, one story, four bathrooms, three bedrooms. Electric lights, running water, air conditioning, Atomic Annie Food cooker, tradio, Electric ice box." smiled Beverly. "Cool, they even got a Cylinder-X home movie watcher." observed Melvin

The metal cylinder replaced film by 1700 as the dominant movie medium. As a result, filmed archives were complete despite atomic warfare. A Cylinder-X player was in the workshop back home, but it was assigned to technological duties like gunsmithing, electronics, and medicine.

But Amazonian scribes were now copying them and crude printing presses were mass producing their knowledge and sharing with other settlements. The Amazons.

Female Classical hoplites who had occupied the Old Stone Fort. When truck pirates attacked, the settlers came running with crude lasers, proper guns, and proper energy weapons. They helped defend the fort. After six pick up trucks were wrecked, and over a hundred pirates killed; the truck pirates withdrew.

The Amazons immediately made alliance with the settlers and several marriages had occurred between the two groups. A Nordenfelt rapid-fire gun and six homemade multiple rocket launchers bolstered the fort's defenses.

Yet they patrolled with javelins and bastard-length gladius swords. Their armor and shields worked just fine against arrows, buck shot, and lasers; also all melee weapons, too.

The robot now lead them to the basement. It clicked on a Group Atomics home nuclear reactor. Light now flooded the building. "I am also a certified home nuclear power technician. By running at no more than 75% capacity, our reactor can this place indefinitely without refueling. There is no danger of radiation leakage." "Good, then kept it only on 75%." Bill Morgan ordered. "Yes, sir."

There was a flush toilet and bedroom downstairs, too. "And fully operational workshop." observed Beverly. Her eyes then widened. "Tesla Corp Home Lightning Pistol factory, 1857 edition'. Manual, Cylinder X, tools, solar, and AC chargers. And it's unopened." She opened a desk drawer. Hundreds of charged power cells faced her. "I think we should search the house for weapons."

"Agreed. They began checking the house. While nothing was openly visible. A search of a closed door revealed an arsenal of weapons. "They are the Confederacy's best." Underneath a bed, a crate of M1711A1 .45 acp automatic pistols. another crate revealed magazines, ammo, and cleaning kits. "All brand new." said Bill Morgan.

"What's in the closet." Beverly opened it. "Woodsman semiautomatic rifle, model of 1844." It looked exactly like a stock SKS. "Caliber 7x57 Mauser ten shot, loads from a stripper clip. And there's ten of them at least. along with ammo stripper clips and tactical gear."

The dresser drawers revealed more. "Daniels M-1735 submachinegun." It was an MP-35 in .45 ACP. "Thirty round box magazine, muzzle compensator, nice." smiled Melvin. "I remember listening to a radio history show about the Great American. The South began developing a semiautomatic rifle in 1831. They committed to all out production in 1844. By 1850, even civilian production was full tilt. The old 1726 Enfield bolt actions were sold to civilians."
"Beginning in 1830, all out production of the M-1735 began. By 1840, 50% of Confederate troops all had this same submachinegun. They had to go nuts on the firepower, because the Yankees vowed to throw three million men at the South. They also built lots of Dixie bots, armored cars, Mech suits, and Air ships, too."

"When war came, the Yankees showed up with .30-40 Krag-Jorgenson bolt action carbines, and double action .44 revolvers. The South simply dug. At the battle of Appomattox, the Yankees lost 800,000 men in mass human wave attacks against Confederate dug in reinforced by 1,000 Vickers machineguns, 100 armored cars, 3,000 Dixie bots, fifty mech suits and twenty airships."

"Abraham Lincoln was the first to threaten to use nukes on The South. The South struck first, on July 1st 1861. New York Baltimore, D.C. Philadelphia, and all the major Yankee Cities got leveled. The Yankees leveled the South back and here we are."

"Melvin, I need you ride back to Trader's Cove and tell the Gate Master what we have found. Return with a wagon to haul these weapons back home." He paused. "Can you handle a pistol?" "I shot a friend's Webley revolver once and liked it."

Bill handed his own Tesla P90x Lightning pistol to him. "Just aim and squeeze if you need to shoot." "Yes, sir." Melvin obeyed. Outside things didn't seem right

He headed right home. He spurred the horse and they arrived in a lather. A stable man took her. He reported immediately to the Gate Master's. It was inside a solid stone building, He noticed steel shutters being locked over the windows from inside.

"Bad storm's coming. You've done your duty, now go home and help your family get ready, lad." The Gate Master said. Wordlessly, he obeyed.

[Crimetopolis B]

Melvin hurried home. Overhead, the clouds the raced by. There was a constant breeze, People hurried about. Workers and robots returned from various duties, whiles shops and stores were closed up.

Melvin made it to the Paxton home. His dad greeted him. "What's going on?" "Cyclone weather." He had already leashed Donut, Melvin's small dog. "They sent the kids home from school early, just before noon." Alvin Paxton said.

Candy and Brianna, Melvins Mom and sister, were there. "Got the mother cat and her kittens in a carrier. in the storm cellar." Candy had a double action .44-40 revolver and Briana had a Mauser 1696 pistol. Briana bought it off a weapons dealer, too. Her Dad had a single shot laser rifle.

Everybody had boxes of valuables and prized possessions. He took Donut to allow Dad to get more stuff, He doubled the tiny dog's leash to keep him from running off. He grabbed his money box, Bible, and radio. By now the tree trunks were waving outside.

Breast-shaped clouds covered the skies, and all the animals were still. A stiff breeze, but they made it to the cellar and locked the door. "At least the horses are in a stone stable." Martin Paxton said. They said a prayer for the animals and people caught in the storm.

At the Old Fort, Hektora walked the last horse into the stone barn inside the fort's walls. "Hoplitia[HOPLISHA]! Is the Nordenfelt secured?" "Yes, my sister." "Diana?! Where is she?"

"Here." said the smallest of the three Amazon hoplites present. she held a box of rocket ammo. "I've been helping move the rocket ammo to the magazine." "Finish and report back. "Yes, Hektora." The sky had gone greenish.

Another Amazon Hoplite lead a chain leashed rottweiler guard dog to safety. Diana obeyed. 'The girl was sweet on Melvin Paxton' she thought. 'Melvin was a good boy.' When Melvin got free time, he went to Old Fort and helped out. 'He'll make a good husband for Diana', Hektora thought. The boy helped repel two attacks by truck pirates and helped an Amazon patrol fight off a giant bear attack.

Diana reported back, and they took cover in the keep. The massive steel doors were locked shut. The cyclone skipped a stone wall and twisted its funnel shape through the courtyard. It was louder than anything they had ever heard. The Amazons simply waited.

Diana began cleaning her sword and armor, Buskins[open-toed boot/sandal hybrid]good. Studded, Pleated kilt. Good, She polished her large, circular shield, helmet, muscle cuirass, and vambraces. Her tunic, however, was worn. She'd have to get a new one at supply. Her frayed tunic would be boiled and recycled as cleaning rags.

By the she was done, the storm was gone. Some wooden furniture and a work bench was wrecked. Beyond that, no damages or injuries. Diana went to supply and got a new tunic. Her old tunic was recycled.

Carpentry had the damaged stuff repaired in two hours. Diana helped redeploy both the rocket launcher and the Nordenfelt. When she'd finished, Hektora told her and Hoplitia to check on Trader's Cove, were Melvin Paxton and his family lived.

THey saddled up and rode there. Already, both official agencies and private citizens were repairing the damage. Like the Old Fort, it was mainly built of stone.
The cyclone just went past the abandoned house and roared away, without any damage or injury.

Melvin's home was undamaged. He returned to the Gate Master. "Radio reports say that more cyclones are forming to the west. But it's clear for now." "I should check on that patrol." "Very well, but proceed with caution." He saddled up and rode.

It was sunny, warm and breezy. Overhead, the clouds raced by, but the animals acted normally. He made it there without incident. He checked the upstairs. Nobody was upstairs. He took a Woodsmaster 1841 rifle and a bandoleer of loaded 7mm Mauser stripper clips. 1 1711A1 and an M1735 submachinegun. Along with accessories on his horse.

He belted a M1711A1s holster with six extra magazines around his waist. He made sure the pistol was loaded. He then put it on safety and holstered it. He went downstairs... There was Beverly and Bill they were worked on Assembling the lightning pistol home production kit.
He handed Bill back his Lightning pistol in its holster. "Thank you." "Bill, there's been a cyclone. Trader's Cove is safe, but more may be coming. I'd best go home."

"O.K, do that." Bill said. He retrieved his single shot laser rifle and returned home. He turned in his laser rifle to the armory after stabling his horse. A stable man attended its needs. He donated a .45 automatic and six extra loaded magazines to the Gate Boss, who was glad for it.

He went to his house. "Dad's here's a new rifle. You can ditch that old laser thing,"
"Thank you, son!" Dad was finally glad to get a multi-shot weapon. They both went to the library and watched a cylinder on the usage of all three new weapons. Dad turned in his old laser rifle to the armory, where it would be repaired if needed and reassigned, traded, or sent to the lab, where they were working on a repeating laser rifle. But progress was slow.

[Crimetopolis B]

Diana saw Melvin and looked at Hoplitia. "We're not expected back until dark to report." she. The girl walked over to him. Diana put her arms around him and kissed him. "My love, I am back!" They went inside his house. She removed her open visor, orange-dyed horse hair-crested helmet.

In Amazonian tradition, Diana wore a short, layered haircut. Her reddish hair and electric green eyes warmed his heart. "You may continue being an Amazon. I want our sons and daughters to know of your ways."

They kissed again. Melvin was 5.5 feet tall, and weighed 115. He had a shaved head and was clean shaven. Diana was his size but was all muscular from her lifestyle. "Someday. you will be my husband, and I will bear your children." Again, they kissed.

Hoplitia meanwhile was by meant by several boys and girls. They were teenagers. "We wish to be trained as hoplites." a tall girl. "That is possible for the girls but not for the boys.' One boy shook his head in disqust. "I'm toast." Hoplitia sat him down.

"Why is that." "My Mom wants me to be a knight. I think I could be a hoplite, or patrol member. But I'm so small, your kind of a sword is the only one think I i can use. I hate lances because they're a totally committed weapon. Hoplites are far more combat effective."

"But there's no Hoplite school for boys locally." Hoplitia told him. "I've been looking to join the Zero Men. But I don't have a proper gun." Hoplitia knew the Zero Men were a militia that helped people and animals. They had helped the Amazons end an attack by Giant Cobras, and they were both composed of men, women, older young people and Chihuahua-Men.

About 20 pounds, they had large, adult size-style hands but otherwise looked like a smooth coated chihuahua. Genetically engineered by Georgia Tech scientists, they both a super genius I.Q. and like motor skills. They escaped when the bombs fell and were now all over the place. They had limited proper gun and energy weapons production.

They built mech suits and armored cars. They first encountered Torpedo Boat City, which treated them fairly. They immediately began helping out. Locally, their base was a fortified state police base. Paradoxically, they talked like three-year-old human toddlers. They were very friendly and nice. Some in the community watched them to avoid exploitation issues.

[Untecna]

This should be in P2TM

[Crimetopolis B]

This should be in P2TM

Story, not a game. Arts and Fiction go here. And given the Luck I've had starting RPGs on International Incidents, I'm done with RPGs for now.

[Crimetopolis B]

Larry Tuckerson went home. His Mom was lost to all but the glory of mounted knights of the order of the White Rose. Dad was a trader with the Purple Truck Lords, Delmar was faithful to Maria, his wife, but only came home once a month.

Larry worked as a Tack Man in the stables. He was much in demand for his saddle repair abilities. It was very good pay, much more so than a Squire of White Rose. He gave his Mom 20%, after taxes.

One of the reasons Trade Cove thrived it did something called paycheck only taxation. No refunds or forms to fill out, just you cashed your paycheck and that was it.
Result: Larry kept 70% of his pay. He saved at least 25% of his pay. He donated a combined total of 10% to the Freewill Methodist Church, the medical center, and the animal hospital.

Larry worked a 3.5 work week. The 3.5 day work meant full employment for the community. Because he had taken leather working as a school elective[all non-farming electives were filled]but he fully dedicated himself to his art.

He was hired as a master leatherworker. His saddle repairs were legendary. Being that motor vehicles were a returning thing, horse were still the main mode of transportation.
Larry returned home after talking to Hoplitia. Good, Mom was still at in the Archives. She was the medieval expert of the history department.

He went in his room and locked the door. He opened the padlock of his fireproof money box. He counted the money. He was off until Monday. The weapons traders came from Fridays and weekends. He'd visit them. He secured his money box. Mom would be home soon. He began fixing supper.

Corn beef hash. Eggs. Pork and Beans. Wheat bread slices. Sugar free orange drink. His Mom came home. "Hi Mom." They sat at the table after grace. "When you joining the Knights of the White Rose." Maria blurted out.

"No." "But you're related to Lord John Summerlee." "Mom, I don't like them. Their weapons control laws got an innocent family killed by The Children." He paused. "As a matter of fact, I think the Knights of the White Rose are taking bribes from that same bicycle gang."
"COWARD!" She yelled, her face turning purple. The storm on her face was evidence. Immediately, she retaliated by throwing the meal in the trash. "Fine, I'm going out." Larry's belly growled, but he figured not facing the judge was the wiser course.

He left. He went to the restaurant district. Seafood King? Didn't feel like fish and chips. Burger Hut? Not tonight. Pizza Lord? Weekend food. 'Magic Panda Chinese Buffet." He went and had a buffet. Brown rice and creamy golden peanut chicken, with two XL-size Orange sugar free drinks.

He loaded up, because he didn't know if his mother had calmed down yet. He enjoyed his meal and went potty afterwards. There were no outhouses in Trader's Cove. Flush and chemical toilets were mandatory. The Old Fort, Torpedo Boat City, and many others did likewise. They burned the sewage at night and pumped its smoke into a daily changed water tank. This both prevented disease and foul odors.

Afterwards, Larry walked until he chilled down. He returned home. Mom was gone. He cleaned the house. The wind again picked up. He turned on the radio to FM 100. And listened to the "Adventures of Bobby Danger." on X radio network. It was followed by 'Mech Force'.

Larry then showered, shaved, and brushed his teeth. He went to bed after reading his Bible. Mom came home, and slept, too. It had been a hard day.

[Crimetopolis B]

The next day, radio X announced in their weather report the threat of cyclones were ended. Larry went to the weapons traders. Guns, lightning, and Plasma weaponry were all sold. One booth was selling revolvers, Marlin 1693s, and Enfield M-1726 rifles.

Their prices were just fine, but Larry wanted more firepower. He went to the next both. A row of Mauser 1696 automatic pistols faced him on the table. "MOST CAPACITY AND KNOCKDOWN OF ANY CARTRIDGE HANDGUN AND ONLY $75.00 BRAND NEW." The robotic barker said. A submachinegun-armed man dissuaded theft as a guard.

The next booth sold British Arms. Lee-Enfield .303 rifles and Webley .455 revolvers. "$95.00 for a revolver?!' A cockney lass wearing a bowler hat snarled. "Take it or leave it, governor."

"Bye." He left. But some Battleship Town dwellers bought out her whole stock of weaponry and ammunition. So she was happy.

'Battleship Town'. thought Larry Tuckerson. A dreadnought the British sent to help evacuate its nationals aboard 'The HMS King Arthur'. But most of its crew were sent ashore to help with the evacuation and were lost when the bombs fell. Overtime, a community grew up on and around this vessel, hence Battleship Town.

Next up was Tradeco. While its submachineguns were nice, they a bit pricy at $125.00. the Woodsmaster 1841 rifles weren't bad at $60.00. And their 1711A1s were only $45,00.

Still, Larry thought it wisest to check further. Tesla, Westinghouse, General Electric, Telefunken, and Edison were also there selling laser, lightning, and plasma weapons. They were much better quality than the homemade lasers. More firepower, longer range, and hit harder, too.

He checked his copy of 'Better Guns and Energy Weapons'. Telefunken, cheapest but same quality as Tesla and Edison. Also used universal, solar rechargeable, power cells that single shot laser weapons used.

A robot wearing a circular sailor hat faced him. "Good day. We have a sale on plasma weapons." He said in a German Accent. The basic plasma pistol was at thirty dollars. The refined model was $40.00. but for $65.00 was the Kaiser Model. He checked his money.

"Tell me about the Kaiser." "Our best model. Normally $500,00, we have a surplus that needs moved." It looked like a Mauser 1696 and had coils around the barrel. "Fiber optic sight fixed front sight. Fixed ghost ring rear. Forty shots, it can melt an adult-sized brown bear into a puddle of green, glowing goo with one shot. Safe action, it's pull the trigger and shoot."

A screen popped down. A tutor bot appeared on it. "It showed how to load, fire, secure, and clean it. A German man toting a submachinegun stood in the background to dissuade theft. Larry bought two, holsters, cleaning kits, a solar recharger and Twenty fully charged power cells. Total: $250.00.

He belted on a holster containing a Kaiser and four extra power cells. He began walking home. The other Kaiser was for Dad.

[Crimetopolis B]

Diana and Hoplitia trained well. They had returned to the Old Fort. Both actually preferred a shield and bastard length gladius sword. 28 inches of straight, bevel double edged cold steel backed by shield and armor offered overall combat protection than a throw away javelin.

The training gong sounded. They sheathed their swords and drank water. Javelin practice was next. Though both did well, they preferred the sword. Maintenance was next, followed by lunch and various duties.

Suddenly, a lathered horse rode up to the gate of the Old Fort. A little boy dismounted. He wore a shaved head, a 'Prussia Tech' white chin padded strap kepi, overalls, and sandals. A crude laser rifle was slung over his shoulder. He told the gate guards. "The Children are coming!"

The boy was immediately allowed inside. His horse was allowed inside and he was given water. "I am from a farm ten miles east of here. We saw a large force of the Children headed this way."

The Gate master sounded the alarm bell All the Amazons closed steel shutters on windows and all doors were all locked and guard. The single barrel Nordenfelt set up to cover the massive gate in case of a breath.

Rocket launchers were loaded and manned. From the east wall came the messenger came to Hektora. "Hektora! At least fifty bicycles are coming. Binoculars show it's The Children." The messenger. "They all have melee weapons.'

One of the most murderous gangs here, The Children defeated the Comanche confederation in a battle west of Torpedo Boat City.

On the east wall, Axella commended her rocket team. The crude rocket launcher used multiple tubes in which iron-sheeted rockets were affixed to arrows. "EAST LAUNCHER SWORD, are you ready?"

"Yes, Axella." "FIRE." A crank generator was turned. WHOOOOOSSSSH! Screaming like Antifa rioters, Twenty rockets beelined towards the onrushing mob of bicyclists. Multiple explosions with fire and smoke sounded. Heads, torsos, limbs and bits of bicycles flew through the air.

Expertly, the crew sponged the barrels to cool them As East Launcher SHIELD now engaged the menace. Again, the fire of doom hailed upon The Children. Meanwhile, SWORD was reloaded. There were at least a couple of hundred.

Several of the Children laid scaling ladders had them up the walls. "LOOSE THE DOGS!" From corner rooms, doors opened and massive rottweilers attacked the Children who set foot upon the walls. Like fur missiles, they savaged the Children. Arms and legs were literally torn from the bodies of the attackers, as their anguished screams filled the air.

Others simply jumped over the chaos into the courtyard. "RRRRR-RRRR-RRRR! The single barrel Nordenfelt mowed many of them like a Gatling gun. Other Amazon Hoplites hurled javelins to pierce enemy torsos.

A Child rushed several Amazons, hatchet upraised PEW! The boy fired his laser rifle from the kneeling position. The man went down, a baseball-sized hole burned in his chest. he boy expertly flipped open the breech to reload his weapon and the moved around the courtyard and continued firing from cover,

Wielding a cutlass, A female Child attacked Diana. But the barbarian raider faced an armored warrior. Diana drew her sword. 'Let your foe come to you. donot waste your strength chasing him.'

CLANG! The swing of the Diana's large, round steel shield blocked the cutlass's blade. The woman pulled back, and Diana swung her bastard-length gladius sword. The raider howled as the blade cut into her free arm.

Again, Diana retreated behind her shield. The woman responded with a flurry of blows. But she was getting weak from blood less. Diana sidestepped her and ran her through. The Child sank into a pool of her own blood and death.

Hoplitia faced three foes, all armed with primitive bowie knives. Attacker one got bashed with the boss edge of her sword. She throat-stabbed him with her sword and pulled back.
Attacker two rushed her and took a leg slash. He fell and bled out.

Attacker three tried an overhead, two handed swing. THOK! Hoplitia's sword literally took off both his hands.

"ADVANCE TO THE REAR!" The attack of the Children was over on the order of their King. They fled on bicycles as they had come. Fresh Amazon Hoplites now filled the courtyard and walls.

Several hundred bodies of The Children filled the area around the fort. The little boy slung his rifle and helped the Amazon wounded get to the keep. where the healers were. Happily, there were only lightly wounded. But two of the attack dogs needed taken for emergency surgery at Trader's cove. They would live but would be laid up for a month.

The boy helped move the bodies outside to a filth burning pit. Mixed lamp oil soon had a massive funeral pyre going. What was was left thrown into a neighboring creek to avoid attracting deadly wildlife.

The boy cleaned his laser rifle. He helped police up the battlefield. The Amazons melted down the knives, hatchets, axes, scimitars, cutlasses, and spears. Three bicycles captured intact. They, along with the wrecked parts of bicycles were prepared for transport for their allies.

It was getting dark. The boy looked hesitant. "You should stay the night." Hoplitia said. "Yes, because mutants and deadly wildlife are out at night." From giant Cobras to coyotes, death often prowled the night."

The little boy looked to be five feet tall. "I'm Jordy Farmer, and I'm nine." "Let's get something to eat." smiled Diana. "Yes." smiled Jordy. Hektora smiled from a distance. She'd assign Diana and Hoplitia to ride home with Jordy, and thank his family.

The boy just went to sleep. He was shot from the day's work.

[Crimetopolis B]

Jordy enjoyed the traditional Amazonian breakfast of wheat chunks, sausage gravy, peas, sweet potatoes, and corn mixed together. All washed down with clean water. He did his sanitary duties.

He checked on his horse. It had been tended for the night before. His frayed saddle had been repaired. The Amazons helped those who helped them, too. Hoplitia and Diana joined him.

Happily, the trip to Jordy's house was uneventful. Jamie and Karen Farmer were glad to get their son back. They approved of their son's conduct path. "Killin' raiders, slavers, and Truck pirate's ain't a sin." said Jamie. "You did right, son."

The boy meanwhile had gone to inspecting the crude fortifications around their farm. "Daddy, we need to plug this gap." "RIght, son." The boy got a wheelbarrow shovel, and went to nearby creek. A while later, he returned with rock and dumped it in place.

"We adopted him as a baby when he family got massacred by truck pirates. He's our son and we've tried to raise him right." Karen said. "He was brave in battle and helped clean up afterwards." Diana smiled.

"But he needs friends." said Jaimie. "If it's allowed by you, I'll let him hang around the Old Fort. And Torpedo Boat City is far off."
"Let's ask Jordy." smiled Hoplitia.

She approved that they both had Edison Lightning Pistols holstered around their waists. "Got both these and their solar recharger by checking an abandoned grocery store near here."

Dixie Bots. Robotic soldiers first deployed by the Confederacy in the 1740s. The Yankees didn't follow suit until the 1810s, proving the indolence of Yankee Culture.

Diana and Hoplitia looked at each other. They saw the complete fortress nearby. "There must be a way for you to get its resources." smiled Hoplitia.

Because Jordy Farmer only had a single shot weapon, Jaimie would stay with him. Karen, Diana, and Hoplitia saddled up and rode over there. They arrived. The gates were manned by Two Dixie Bots.

One was armed with a Woodsmaster 1841 rifle. The other had an M-1735 submachinegun. Hoplitia from her history studies knew neither side deployed energy weapons because they thought the cost was too great.

Diana walked right to the rifle-armed Dixie Bot. "May we meet with your commanding officer?" "Yes, citizen." They were allowed to enter. Unlike the Prussia-Tech Tropical Uniforms worn by Confederate soldiers in the Great War,

The Dixie Bots were skeletal androids that wore a grey chin strap Kepi with a square leather bill and crossed swords on. They played 'Dixie' when in battle. Yankee bots were likewise, but with a blue kepi and played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." in battle.

Due to the backwards policies of the North, Yankees didn't adopt smokeless powder until 1788, which meant all-out committing to the Krag-Jorgenson carbine and .44-40 breaktop double action S&W revolvers. It wasn't until 1840 that last reserve units were reequipped from Springfield 1688 breechloading .45-70 carbines.

Diana, Hoplitia, and Karen entered the command building. Robots worked all around them. Diana knocked on the door of the commander's office. The Dixie-Bot wore a white CSA cavalry drover style hat."

"Greetings. Am I relieved of my command?" asked the Dixie bot.
"You have new orders." Diana said. "Karen and her family are your new commanding officers." "I, General Maxim Gun, obey."
He clicked on an intercom. "Attention, the Karen Farmer family are our commanding officers."

To say that the Farmer Family had a windfall was the understatement of the year. They kept the farm but moved into the fort. Jordy definitely got an upgrade.

He found the Junior Federal Guard Barracks and found a child's size Protection Force uniform. It consisted of pull-on walking/riding boots, white, knee length cargo shorts, short sleeve white multi-pocket shirt. A white pith helmet with a padded chin strap and neck guard.

Next to were a package of unopened. "Lanes Comfy Stretch Boy Kids Male undergarments and socks. Breathable, smell absorbing, heat ventilating."

Jordy changed clothes and changed into them. "Oh, they feel so good." Unlike overalls on hot days, much better feeling." He noticed a box on a nearby desk. "RAY-STORM BALLISTIC TINTED, PADDED VENTILATED GOGGLES. NOW WITH AUTOMATIC NIGHT VISION."

Because there were only two eye hospitals, one at Battleship Town and the other at Jack's Auto Park and Garage; He definitely donned the purple lens device. His eyes felt less strained, too.

Jordy went to the base medical center. An Ophthalmologist Bot examined his eyes fully. "The goggles you have also feature ADJUST-X Universal eye prescription lenses, too. Wear them from now on, except when sleeping or bathing."

All other clinics were other fully operational. Upon Jordy's reporting to his mom, Karen immediately ruled in his favor.
'Safety is job A'. prevented much friction in the Farmer Home.

Jamie Farmer joined them. He, too, was impressed, and especially at the armory. Vast rows of small arms and even heavy weapons greeted them. There were even sections labelled. 'Police', 'Energy weapons', and 'Civilian', too.

[Crimetopolis B]

Diana and Hoplitia returned to the Old Fort. They reported to Hektora, whom immediately set them to organizing a trip for four Amazonian scribes.

A wagon was hitched and writing supplies and a printing press were loaded aboard it. Twenty Amazonian Hoplites on foot marched with it.
They arrived without incident and set up shop inside the Confederate Federal Guard Building.

Elena was not surprised at how impressive the fortifications were. "Both the Confederate States of America and the United States of America were highly organized societies." She told Jordy and his parents.

"About the units stationed here. The Federal Guard was protecting the homeland, including disaster response. It was founded in 1692 and was an all volunteer male and female force, aged 16-75."

"The Junior Federal Guard was also volunteer only and both genders. It was for 12 to 16 years old. It was also founded in 1692." Elena paused to drink some water.

"The Protection Force was established in 1800 an attempt to teach younger children how to defend themselves on the frontier areas from Indian Attacks and Bandit raids, Because their primary duty was self and family defense, But they were trained only to use energy weapons, submachineguns, and .45 automatic pistols."

"It was voluntary and both genders. It was for kids 8 to 12. It significantly reduced both Indian and bandit attacks." "That would make sense." replied Jaimie Farmer. His baby sister had been speared dead by a horse bandit when he was four years old. His father had carried him to the cellar where they hid.

The horse bandit had latter been splattered by an armored car driven by Chihuahua Men, so justice was messy but indeed done, also.

"Evidently, this place was also a civil defense and police fall back and training area, too." Another scribe said. "Evidently the bombs fell before the humans made it here. The robots have done an outstanding job of maintaining both this base and themselves."

Jordy asked. 'Mommy, I need a better gun than this single shot laser rifle." "That's true." Single shot lasers needed backed up by energy weapons, repeating, or autoloading firearms, or else get overrun.

They went to the armory. "Energy weapons." smiled Jordy. "But they're largely gone." said Jamie Farmer. An Armorer-Bot walked to him.' "That's because the Chihuahua Men took most of them. They bring us raw materials and in they take half the lightning and plasma weaponry and power fuel cells we produce."

"He looked at the inventory list. "Only have one combat grade laser. It's a General Electric Red Lightning." He paused. "It's a laser automatic carbine, But we're currently out of customization kits to put improved sights and like useful mods on it."

"We have more than enough firearms. You may take your pick." Jordy gave his crude laser rifle and fuel cells. "Please strip this for spare parts. It's only fair." "Thank you." Jordy went straight to the military handguns section.

"Wise choice." said Elena. "There only revolvers of various makes in the civilian handgun section." She went to the police section. "The Police has some semiautomatics, though." As an Amazon, she loved sword and shield combat. But she felt it wisest to learn of non-melee fighting styles.

Jordy walked past the rows of revolvers. The `1711A1 .45 automatics picked his interest. 'But did something better exist?' He thought.
His face brightened as rows of Mauser 1696s faced him. "Better, but what is best?'"

He saw a rack of different pistols, and ran to them. He checked.
At the very end a rack of unique pistols. One looked like a Gonz. "Bergmann Cyclone pistol. Caliber 7.63x25mm Mauser. Thirty shots, semiautomatic, holster, magazine pouch, hooded front ramp sight with fiber optic front sight post, fixed rear sight variant. And it has a muzzle compensator, too."

He liked how its sights lined up instantly. He carefully holstered it after loading multiple magazines with JSP rounds. "Mom, I got a gun!"
His parents sat down with him and watched A CYLINDER-X Presentation by Armsco. "NEW FOR 1848, Bergmann Cyclone pistol." They watch the whole presentation.

Jordy then went to the indoor firing range. At the direction of the Range-Bot, he put on pair of hearing protectors. "Your eye wear is acceptable. Jordy carefully squeezed the trigger. BANG. "Hit." the Range-Bot announced.

Twenty nine more careful shots landed him an Expert rating. He cleaned it and reloaded his pistol's magazine. It felt good to have more firepower.

[Crimetopolis B]

The Amazonian scribes' research bore much fruit. They unlocked the secrets of the base and had all it's factories and facilities fully operational. Because disease and injury menaced both and animals, medical, dental, veterinary and other healing robots were constructed and sent to the various settlements.

"It was set up to be all done robotically." said Elena. "An amazing feat of pre-war technology." Jordy had found a Tutor X and was learning to read, do basic math and print. "I'm glad for that." smiled Karen. The Children bicycle gang had massacred the only school within walking distance.

Battleship Town, Torpedo Boat City, Trader's Cove, The Old Stone Fort, and Jack's Auto Park and Garage definitely got upgraded But other events soon transpired.

Hoplitia stood Gate Guard alongside the two Dixie Bots. Clump, Clump. Clump. A Mech suit arrived. Three Chihuahua Men dismounted. A black and tan Chihuahua-Man ran up to her. "Help, him sick bad." Hoplitia followed him to the mech suit's bed. A Chihuahua-Man lie moaning and sweating.

The Amazon Hoplite scooped him up in her arms. "I will take him to the medical center." They parked their vehicle and followed her. The medical bot examined the Chihuahua-Man. "Medical tests indicate it's a severe gallbladder infection. He'll need surgery."

Immediately, preparations were done. A veterinarian and general surgeon both gassed him asleep. They then surgically removed the gall bladder and cleaned the insides with colloidal silver spray before stapling it shut.

"He will need antibiotics and painkillers for two weeks. Soft foods for 14 days, then he can go home." "What's his name asked Hoplitia." "Patches." replied a Chihuahua man. "You have no healers or doctors?" asked Hoplitia.

"Doctor stolen Truck Pirates." "Then, we will help you." Three more bots followed their mech suit home. Later that day, an armored car parked itself in the courtyard. Clad in their Afrika Korps-Pattern desert uniforms, The Chihuahua-Men helped other humans and bots in their various chores.
A convoy of 4wheelers, wagons, trucks, and horses arrived. The Zero Men were there and they had a proposition. Their leader was a tall man. "I am General Hank Carlson. We are the Zero Men and we will help you fight our mutual enemies."

Diana said. "I must confer with my leaders." "Agreed." A horse messenger was sent to the Old Fort. It was followed by three trucks and four 4wheelers. "Our horses must rest."

Jamie and Karen looked at each other. Jordy deserved a viable future. "We will help you." They lead them to the armory. All the Zero Men present got a revolver or semiautomatic pistol, along with full accessories.

Those whom only had single shot lasers traded them in for M1841 Woodsman semiautomatic rifles or M1735 submachineguns. The traded in lasers were recycled into three Telefunken pattern lightning pistols.

These were given to the Chihuahua-men, who were best for small weapons that didn't kick when fired. The Chihuahua-Men immediately made alliance with the Zero Men. They expertly helped with vehicle maintenance.

At the Old Fort, Hektora gasped as three Nordenfelt single barrel rapid fire guns were uncrated, along with related supplies. "We are your allies." smiled a Zero Man.

"I'll show you where to set them up." an Amazon said. Two were deployed to the defense of each rocket launcher. The used Nordenfelt was taken to the Federal Guard Base for rebuilding.

While the Maxim 1689, Colt 1695, and Vickers 1712 were true machineguns, the Nordenfelt was a more reliable and simpler Gatling gun alternative. And its .44-40 rounds were readily available, too.

Additionally, communications center was set up by the Zero Men. It consisted of a biodiesel-fueled radio station. The Zero Men trained also the Amazons in its usage.

"Now we can get help when we need it." smiled Hektora. "Rest assured we will send help, too." There was also a truck load of skilled workers that helped the Amazon in their duties around the Old Fort.

The extra blacksmiths, leather workers, carpenters, and ammunition producers were a blessing indeed. The Amazons in turn were training others as armorers, stone masons, cement makers and bricklayers. Trade was good.

Hektora was glad that the workers brought their own Marlin, Enfield 1726, and Woodsmaster 1841 rifles with them. She knew the Enfield 1726 bolt action short rifle was mass produced and exported by Torpedo Boat City.

She was gladder still they had sidearms, too. Lightning pistols, Webley .455 revolvers, .44-40 double action revolvers, M1711A1 .45 automatics, and Mauser 1696 automatic pistols. 'They will be of much help if the fort is attacked.' she thought." The fact the vehicles all had M1735 submachineguns pleased her immensely.

When the Horse raiders attacked Jack's Auto Park and Garage, massed submachinegun fire from the settlers killed 500 raiders. The settlers played it wise by not leaving their fortifications and ignoring the challenges and insults, Finally, King Crazy Horse hurled twenty war parties of them.

The settlers opened the gates. Foolishly, his best lancers and archers rushed-to their death. For the settlers opened up on them with 200 submachineguns in a cross fire pattern. They all were firing the kneeling and prone positions. The counter-ambush instantly became a massacre of Comanche-style Indians.

The sole reason King Crazy Horse remained in power was the fact he bribed a shaman to brand the Tribal Elders as witches whose bad medicine had led to this disaster. Wisely, the Elders decided that discretion was the better part of valor, indeed.

[Crimetopolis B]

The Zero Men began spreading word of enemy attacks using their radio network. Time and again, the attacks of Horse Raiders, Truck Pirates, The Children, and all manner of evil doers were repelled. Confederate money, Union money, Amazonian gold coins, and all manner of currency fueled trade.

Of all things, stagecoach line opened by two enterprising brothers only further fueled trade. Before now, raiders, mutants, and deadly wildlife meant that the safest way to travel was by armored car or torpedo boat. The fact the Stage Coach workers all carried Mauser 1696 pistols and Westinghouse Lightning Rifles dissuaded attacks.

The girl walked alongside her dog-pulled cart. In it were the tools of her trade. She raided abandoned Yankee positions and vehicles and traded their stuff. She wore a White U.S. Cavalry officer's hat, Overall dress, and sandals.

She was armed with a basic plasma pistol. It had been found in an abandoned armored truck in the holster of its skeletal guard along with four extra plasma cells. But she'd paid ten bucks to have it professionally rebuilt and glow-painted sights at a Battleship Town weapons repair store.

Amazingly, the cells were fully charged when tested. 'Edison sure made good stuff.'she thought.
. In her cart were Yankee tools, clothing, and so. It was getting hot. "Roboto." "Yes, commander." The Yankee bot had been found next to a crashed Yankee Airship.

She'd given it both a .30-40 Krag-Jorgenson carbine and a .44-40 S&W 1699 double action revolver, which the skeletal android toted. Not as efficient as proper energy weapons or firearms, but superior to the crude, single shot laser rifles that many used.

She saw a shade tree ahead. There was spring next to it. She drew her plasma pistol. Thirst must not allow an ambush. "Roboto, scout the tree area up ahead." "I obey." The robot, carbine in hand, obeyed.

When he got midway there, "AMBUSH-AMBUSH-AMBUSH!" he dropped to one knee and aimed his carbine at the tree. PEW! PEW! PEW! Three hillbilly outlaws opened fire, barely missing Roboto with their
single shot lasers.

Roboto's carbine barked back. KRAK! Abraham's head exploded. Two shots more meant Johnferney and Zebulon joined their brother in the negative after life.

Roboto reloaded and fully checked the zone. "Zone secure." "Ok, Tiny, let's go." The massive Rottweiler pulled the cart on Mandy's command. When they reached shade, "Tiny, stop." She holstered her pistol and unhitched Tiny.

She poured Tiny a cool bowl of water. Glug Glug Glug. The dog drained it and rested. Mandy checked the spring. No dead wildlife or smells meant it was safe. She refilled her water jugs.

She looked around. "No prying eyes. She looted the dead outlaws' bodies and retrieved thirty gold rings, a box of bejeweled golden pocket watches and $4,000 Union money.

The bearded, long-haired savages were barefoot and wore ragged overalls. "They've been on a crime spree." Noticing a nearby ditch, "Roboto. Guard Tiny and alert me if passerbys come. Donot fire unless attacked." "Yes, commander."

The Yankee Bot guarded while Mandy moved the bodies into the ditch. She rolled a rotted log atop them. She drank water and refilled her canteen from the spring. She put the loot in the cart and they left, Tiny now fully rested.

The sun beat down but they made it to Trader's Cove by three p.m. She rented a sanitary hotel room for the room. She found a charging bay for Roboto and paid for him spend the night. She cared for Tiny, and then went to the market to trade. Her sandals were worn, and a pair of goggles to shade the eyes would be good.

A visit to the shoe store got her sandals traded towards store credit. Her worn sandals would be recycled. "Try these buskins. They're like sandals, but much durable." "Cool, they're pull ons, with padded insides and my size." The foot gauge showed Mandy true. She gladly paid for them.

A walk-in eye clinic got her pair of RAY-STORMS like what Jordy Farmer used. "Amazing how prewar tech is." She told the ophthalmologist. "Actually, these are mass produced in England, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Transvaal, The Orange Free State, KMT China, Russia and Japan." He smiled.

"They are still produced by four factories in America since the war. The nearest one is State Police Detachment 595, is run by the Chihuahua Men. That's where we get ours." Mandy bid him farewell.

She went to the dental clinic and she got a clean health bill. The regular clinic did likewise. Then she took Tiny for a vet check. He needed an abscessed tooth pulled. \

Gas. Antiseptic drench. tooth pulled. Antiseptic clean. A injection of penicillin. "The rest of his teeth are good, X-rays showed. But he will need soft foods and sulfa pills for ten days to guarantee full healing."

Tiny was hospitalized for ten days. Mandy simply went to market to trade. She traded three captured lasers, four cutlasses, eight revolvers, and six Krag-Jorgenson carbines. All of them sold out of rapidly.

"A rifle or submachinegun would be good." But the long guns were sold out until Friday, when the weapons traders came." The wagon masters were rebuilding her pull cart. Business meant expenses.

Mandy Simpson was bent on avoiding failure. She went to the blade smith's . All manner of edged weapons faced her. Amazonian bastard-length gladii, cutlasses, bowie knives, hunting knives. There even some Wazakashis and tantos.

She saw a custom gladius and asked to see it. "Steel D-guard knuckle handle with bash studs, pommel included. Straight, bevel double edged. Blade length, 28 inches." smiled the swordsmith. "The best way to see if a sword fits you if fits your hand comfortably but doesn't go below between the ankle when you stand up straight." He sized her." "Not tall enough, but we have smaller models."

Three more swords of like pattern were tried. "The 25 inch blade fits you to a T." "I'll take it." She paid him and left. The sword felt good in its scabbard at her side, alongside her plasma pistol. But she need a rifle, energy rifle, or submachinegun, too.

[Crimetopolis B]

The next day, Mandy went to the weapons traders were set up just outdoors. She got Roboto and he obediently followed her. Before they left. The Robot Ship had maintained him and stamped him as for fit for duty. The chief tech told her. "Yankee Bots, unlike Dixie Bots, are programmed not to use energy weapons." "And why is that?"

"Because of Lincoln's paranoia. Some of the abolitionist movement openly preached robot supremacism. Because we have no psycho-tronics experts, we can't safely reprogram his personality crystal. Doing it else could make him psychotic and unpredictable."

"This is true." Mandy had lost her family when her Mom tried to home reprogram a Yankrr Bot to use farm tools. By time Mandy shot him with her Krag, but he'd gone berserk and wiped out her whole family. She began salvage trading a week later. "But he can safely use all firearm types."

"State Police 595 and Torpedo Boat City both have psycho-tronics experts. There's a stage coach that leaves in twenty minutes for State Police Detachment 595." "Thank you." She made sure she had plenty of money and left.

They left on the stage coach. Roboto in the cab with her and four other people. At 12:30, they arrived at State Police Detachment 595. Mandy took Roboto to the main desk. A chihuahua man wearing an Afrika Korps-style uniform greeted her.

"Me Donut. Why you here?" "To get Roboto's Personality Crystal Changed to use all weapons without psychotic side effects." explained. "Muffy Belle." He called over the intercom. A chihuahua man wearing a surgeon's uniform emerged, followed by a medical robot. "The medical robot talked to Mandy.

"Personality crystal transplant needs to be done under electro-anesthesia to avoid mental and emotional trauma. Once the crystal is implanted, he'll be the same old Roboto but with full weapons usage ability that is safe." He paused. "The procedure with take three hours. You can walk around the facility to amuse yourself."

They took Roboto. Mandy saw some Chihuahua Men on a playground. Evidently on break, they played on slides and swings. Others played tag or in sandboxes. Some played frisbee. A teacher-bot noticed Mandy smiling at them. "Would you like to help baby sit the smaller ones?"

"Show me them." The teacher-bot lead her to a nursery. Infant chihuahua slept in cradles and the newborns were in basinets. Slighty older toddler chihuahua-men played with toys in playpens. "Their parents are working. We run different shifts. This shift ends in three hours."

Nursery-bots and Adult chihuahua-men clad in white over coats tended to the little ones. From its basinet, a blue-clad chihuahua-man infant cried. Mandy picked him up. "You need changed." A safety table was rolled by a Nursery-bot. Mandy expertly changed him. He dozed off to sleep and she laid him back in his basinet.

Mandy really liked the tiny ones. Some need burped, some bottle-fed, and some rocked to sleep. "You are very good at this." smiled the nursery-bot. "We should hire you full time." said a nursery-bot. The shift change clock dinged.

Parents reclaimed children and workers changed. Mandy checked on Roboto. He was totally normal and ready to go. She paid the desk clerk and left. They rode the stagecoach back. Again, it was 90 minutes. She let Roboto recharge. She went to the weapons vendors.

Business was brisk. She went to TRADECO. She got two Bergmann Cyclone pistols and their accessories. She traded Roboto's revolver and and Krag carbine and like towards store credit. The next day, she got a Woodsmaster 1841 for Roboto. The Yankee-Bot obedient watch the Cylinder-X presentation and mastered both pistol and rifle.

"Hey, this is new." Nova Roma arms had a new submachinegun. It looked like a Beretta Model 1. "Folding stock, muzzle compensator, padded sling, and grooved bottom handguard. Thirty shots. Nice."

The sales lady wore gladiator-store armor and had a gladius at her side. "She's a real queen, isn't she?" "This is our Twister submachinegun." "Is it available in 7.63x25mm Mauser?" "Yes, and also in .45 ACP, too."

"How much?" "$95.00. The package deal is $130.00. Includes cleaning kit and six extra magazines in a tactical shoulder bag and five hundred rounds of 7.63x25mm Mauser JSP ammo."

She paid her for a package deal and left. She watched a Cylinder -X presentation on that same manner of submachinegun. 'Short bursts are best.' became Mandy's mantra. Roboto took to his new weapons flawlessly.

[Crimetopolis B]

Diana held Melvin next to her, She gently kissed him. "I put in to marry you today." He kissed back "Promise me you will train our children to fight in your style." "Yes."
They rode out to the Old Fort together.

"If she's married to me, she can still serve as an Amazon Hoplite." Melvin told Hektora. "Excellent. Your marriage is approved." Hektora looked at Diana. "You'll be a getting a month to get pregnant. Be worthy of each other's love and and be wortht as parents."

"But can she fight while pregnant?" "She can still train." Hektora responded to Melvin. "I'm on The Patrol from 7-3. I can stay with the baby at nights." "And I can with the baby in the day time." smiled Diana.

"Excellent. Go and bare more warriors." Melvin's Parents simply accepted it as a done deal. Many in the community liked Hoplitia and Diana, especially the children. Another development that was positive. The Chihuahua-Men aligned themselves with the Zero Men.

The farm family had been sleeping in tents since the cyclone took their house. Preston was considering moving to Jacks Auto Garage, The Confederate Federal Guard Base. or Torpedo Boat City. Joretta, his wife, looked at her sick baby. "He hasn't been able to keep down anything for three days."

Brenda looked up from her tool bench. She was an energy weapons smith. "I'll take him to hospital." Her revolving laser rifles were much in demand, though not to the level of a proper firearm or proper energy. "It's losing indoor plumbing that probably made him sick."

The infant was only three weeks old. The cyclone had take out the house which had its flush toilet. The only place to dig an outhouse had near the well.

Suddenly, an armored car rolled up. Several chihuahua-man dismounted, their Afrika Korps-style uniforms in stark contrast to the mixture of clothes of the Garner farmer. Brenda simply wore a knee length tunic and buskins. Though she had a Marlin 1693 .44-40 lever action rifle and a Nova Roma Arms gladius at her side.

On the days there was no energy weapons work, she hunted, The family always had meat. The crude storm shelter was too damp for a baby however. Hence, the tents.

A tan chihuahua-man with brown eyes walked over to Preston, "Him sick?" "Yes." "Pee-Wee doctor. Him both people doctor and vet." The Black and Tan Chihuahua-Man got a medical bag and washed his paw-like hands in antiseptic solution.

He examined the baby. "Him Hepatitis." He gave the baby paregoric and antibiotics. "He need treatment three weeks." Baby Brian soon rested. Me stay?" "Yes, You may stay." Dr. Pee-Wee said. "You need house. We build you storm-bunker house!"

Another Chihuahua-man radioed State Police Station 595. Soon several mech suits, trucks, and more chihuhahua men. It was literally a civil defense bunker raising. Flush toilets and electricity returned to the Garner family.

Afterwards, the Chihuahua-Man left, but Dr. Pee-Wee stayed to tend to the baby. Three weeks later, the baby was better. Brenda found work in Trader's Cove as an energy weapons technician. Her revolving laser rifles had a rate of fire equivalent to that of a Krag-Jorgenson carbine. But it was still better than a single shot laser rifle.

Meanwhile, Melvin and Diana were passionate togethers. 25 days later, a doctor's check up confirmed it. "You're pregnant, Diana." Diana returned to her duties at the Old Fort. She trained hard but she enjoyed the feel of her unborn child as she practiced sword and combat.

"Don't worry." smiled Ajaxia. "We have armor for pregnant women." "I feel naked without my armor, helmet, sword, greaves, and shield." admitted Diana.

The Zero Men had converted an unused hall in the Old Fort into a medical center. The Amazons still used their herbs and antiseptics, but were grateful for a full surgery. Doctors, Surgeons, veterinarians, paramedics and midwives were always on duty.

Trucks, mech-suits, and horse-drawn wagons delivered supplies. Finally, the day came. At the Old Fort, Diana was practicing sword play when. "MY WATER BROKE!" Hoplitia secured her sword and shield.

She helped Diana to the clinic. The midwife and a paramedic helped Diana onto a birthing cot. Melvin was excused from Patrol Duty and was there.

He removed Diana's horse hair crested, open visor steel helmet and sponged her forehead. Two other Amazons removed the rest of her armor. In the operating room, an Chihuahua-Man obstetrician, a human general surgeon, and human woman doctor were ready in case anything went wrong.

Diana steeled herself as Melvin told her ."I love you, Diana." She focused on the memories of all the battles she'd been in. All The Horse raiders, outlaws, barbarians, deadly wildlife, and mutants she'd fought.

PUSSSSSHHHHHH! "It's crowning!" a midwife said. PUSSSSSSSSSHHHHH! The baby was halfway out. PUUUUUUSSSSS-PLOP! "WAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" the baby yelled as the paramedic's gloved hands caught it.

The midwife took the baby and examined it. "It's a beautiful a baby boy." The female doctor now entered the room. She cleaned and examined him. "Completely normal." "She examined Diana. "Good, no signs of child bed fever."

The paramedic cleaned the place up and the midwife carefully sanitized everything. Diana and the baby were moved into a nearby room. Suddenly, the female doctor's face contorted. "Your water's broke!" The midwife said.

This time, the Chihuahua-Man obstetrician examined and cleaned the baby. "She normal. Little girl." She was moved to the same as Diana. But no one was there for her.

A Zero Man told Melvin. "Her husband and her were just married. Seven months ago, he was killed in a raid by truck pirates. Dr. Martina Johnson joined us immediately afterwards."

Dr. Johnson held her daughter. "Her name is Erika, after her father."
Both Diana and herself were nursing their babies." Melvin walked over to her. He helped her just as lovingly as his own wife and newborn son.

"If you pick the first name, I'll pick the middle name." "Axel." she smiled. Axella would be pleased to have a godson. "Storm for his middle name."

Diana would train him in hoplite-style sword play when he got order. The Amazons had so many female recruits there was literally no room for boys.

It was decided later that Dr. Johnson and her baby would be sent to Jack's Auto Garage, the other settlements filled with doctors. Dr. Johnson had other idea. "I want Erika to be an Amazon, or at least The Patrol or The Zero Men. She will not be cut down like her father was."

"The Confederate Federal Guard Base would actually be better." smiled Diana. "She can start training at five, like I did." "I'll pay her tuition here by working in the clinic."










"

[Crimetopolis B]

Dr. Theresa Johnson concluded her shift. She tended to Erika, her infant daughter. By now, Erika was crawling. A nursery bot helped her. Dr. Johnson had a Mauser 1696 belted around her waist.

This was life at the Confederate Federal Guard base. Dr. Johnson also had a Twister submachinegun. Due to the Demands for such weaponry, both the M-1735 and the Twister were in full production side by side.

When she visited the Amazonian Fort to help out, she went armed and left Erica with the nursery bot. The chihuahua-men had both a human and veterinary pediatrician there.

And Jordy Farmer and his family helped with the baby, too. The baby happily played with them. Diana and Melvin checked on her daily. Both the Amazons and The Patrol did these things.

By the time Erika was three, she was riding horseback, as was Axel. The two became fast friends and it warmed Diana's and Jesse's hearts that Erika called Aunt Diana and Uncle Melvin.

Diana began playing games with Axel and Erika. Like how to hide and what to do if confronted by an attacker armed with a melee weapon. By age four, javelin practice was added. Both thrived at it. By four and a half, they were training in leather armor.

Then five came. Diana taught her son Axel Hoplite-style sword and shield combat. Every day, after supper, they worked out. Erika took her training at the Amazonian old fort. Both thrived. Erika killed her first barbarian at seven, and the Old Fort was an attacked by horse raiders.

In the courtyard, Erika saw a mounted horse archer notching an arrow. She hurled a javelin, killing his horse underneath him. He jumped up and hurled a tomahawk at Erika. CLANG! Her shield blocked it, and she was on him. He shrieked as her short gladius sword's 20-inch blade sank to the hilt in his belly. He puked blood and died.

By nine, she had slain three more. Hektora looked at her. "You need to learn the light bastard sword." She was given and thrived with a gladius with a 26-inch blade. Her mother approved of this fully.

Hoplitia, meanwhile, dating somebody from Trader's cove. It was a young meteorologist, Jack Kurgan, from Torpedo Boat City. Jack carried an M1711A1 .45 automatic and an Enfield 1726 bolt action rifle. "We produce most weapons, but semiautomatics and submachineguns are reserved for front line forces."

"Why not shotguns?" asked Hoplitia. "Because pump actions jam with that external disconnect. We do make a single youth model .20 gauge. Load that booger with #3 buckshot and you're set." Jack paused. "Furthermore, Battleship Town makes a .20 gauge straight pull bolt action repeater. But the main problem is the Marlin 1693 lever action .44-40 rifle. It's cheaper and more reliable."

"Jack Kurgan?" "Yes?" "I love you." "Really?" "Yes." The smaller man embraced the statuesque woman. She gave him a long, lover's kiss." "I shift out at noon tomorrow." They were married at the Amazon Stone Fort. Diana gave away Jack.

That night... They lay together, entwined. Jack simply surrendered himself to his wife. Her lithe muscular body meant their love making was epic.
Diana herself had borne a daughter, Hippolyta, much to Melvin's joy. Two Months later. Diana looked at Hoplitia. "You're pregnant. I can tell by your facial glow."

The chihuahua-man obstetrician confirmed it. "You three months along." The midwife and the doctor began checking her weekly. The Amazons were not cruel to the children borne there.

The sickly were sent to Torpedo Boat City or State Police detachment 696, where pediatric units tended to them. If their health did not improve, they were allowed to be non-warriors with their lives.