Chapter 31: Chapter 30 – Just Call Saul

"And how do you propose to get rid of the Wraiths?"

Saul asked with a look of incredulity.

"I know where their base is, and I also have a way to get in from the outside that is not monitored. Catching on yet?"

Say what you want about Saul. He was overly cautious, headstrong, and a poor communicator, but he was not stupid.

"Strike 'em and fast. We'll need to do scouting beforehand to ensure we will kill as many of the Wraiths as possible when we decide to attack. Also, I need intel on the leadership structure. There's no way in hell they sorted out their differences by themselves. Someone has to be ruling with an iron fist. Chop the head off, and the body dies with it. You seem to have a lot of knowledge on the Wraiths, Basil. Happen to know who their leader is?"

Saul makes a good point, but sadly I don't remember anything about the top dog for the Wraiths. I only knew about the hidden entrance and the location of the Wraith base because of the rescue mission to save Saul.

"Sorry, no intel on that front. Just going to have to do things the old fashion way and send some folks on RECCE."

Saul nodded, accepting that sometimes there is uncertainty in life. He then said something that caught both Panam and me entirely off guard.

"Panam, you're taking the lead on this. Toss together a scouting team and figure out as much as you can. I want the layout of the Shiv base, patrol routes, headcount, and who the leaders are. I'll give you a week to do that. Then I want you to assemble a team to do the hit, twenty men minimum. Layout an assault plan and run it by me when you're done. Think you can handle it?"

From what Panam told me, I thought Saul was still angry with her, so giving her this responsibility surprised me. From the wide eyes on Panam's face, I could tell she wasn't expecting it as well. She recovered well, only slightly stammering out her response.

"Uh- Wha- I mean yes. Yes, I can handle that. Basil, brief us on what you know about the Wraiths base and your secret entrance into it."

I spent the next hour or so laying out everything I knew about the Wraith base. The Shivs had holed up in an old cement factory that used to be owned by Corp-Bud in Sierra Sonara. In the game, the Wraiths captured Saul while on patrol and brought him to this camp to be tortured and interrogated. The player has to sneak into the compound and release Saul, then try to make a stealthy getaway. You can either sneak in by going over certain parts of the walls, pass through the entrances, or use an unguarded drainage tunnel connected to the basement.

After I spilled what I knew, Saul dismissed us, and I followed Panam out of the command center. I looked up while shading my eyes slightly with my head, noticing the sun was now roughly midway through its daily journey. I should probably get on with the next step of my plan and arrange a meeting with Michiko. I took out my phone to call Grant, but Panam grabbed my arm and dragged me toward one of the restaurant-bar hybrids in a trailer before I could do so. 

She sat me down at the bar counter and called over the young girl who was bartending.

"Ellie! Could you bring me a Broseph? Oh, and a cheeseburger."

The short brunette drying a beer glass nodded and grabbed a brown bottle from a cooler to bring over to Panam. After she dropped off the drink, she put two patties on a grill to make Panam's burger. Since it was already noon, I asked Ellie also to make me a burger. While we were waiting, Panam finally couldn't stand whatever was bothering her anymore and let loose what she had holed up.

"Why do you think Saul asked me to do the recon AND plan the assault on the Shivs? Do you think he wants me to fail, so I get disgraced? Uhhhhhhh! Why did he do this?!"

There's no way Saul is purposely trying to embarrass or oust Panam. She's too valuable a resource to waste when the clan is in trouble. She's also been gaining popularity ever since her return.

"You have to stop thinking everyone is out to get you. Maybe Saul sees potential in you. Someone who can serve as the foundation for the next generation of Nomads to prosper but still needs to gain the proper temperament. He knows this could make or break the clan, so possibly he's trying to use this situation as a pressure cooker to see how you mature."

Ellie walked over with Panam's burger and plopped the plate in front of her. Panam stared at her food but didn't touch it.

"Why do you always take his side?"

I definitely wasn't expecting that question. I paused for a moment and thought about the best way to respond. I didn't want to play the devil's advocate for Saul constantly, but I know that he values Panam and her input. He eventually makes her co-leader and even agrees to storm Arasaka Tower with the rest of the clan. You only take that risk with someone if you are confident in that person. It's just that these two hardheads are both the kind that thinks compromise shows weakness, so communication can often be tricky.

"Saying I always take his side is unfair, and I think you know it." 

I then put my hands on her shoulder and caressed her. Once she looked at me instead of her dish, I continued.

"I know the type of person Saul is, and it takes just a bit of perspective to follow his logic. Say you were in his shoes. An existential threat wants to get rid of you and your family. You're low on money, running out of resources, and don't have any favors left. When you send people out to work, half of them come back in body bags. Hell, you're losing so many men that you don't make a profit even if the job is successful. What do you do?"

Panam gave me a heated look, quick to snap back with her standard response.

"I wouldn't work for a megacorp, even if it was to buy tim-"

I raised my hand to stop her mid-sentence. She paused but didn't like me interrupting her.

"You get an offer to build some things from a corp. The pay is good, and they offer protection for the length of the contract. Sure, they might fuck you over, but getting fucked isn't any worse than getting shot in the head. So you decide to at least negotiate with the corp, see how sincere they are, and get a feel for how things'll work out. But the second you decide to do so, someone you trusted, someone you see as a successor, comes out and tells everyone you're going to sell their soul to the devil."

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Hearing that, Panam lowered her head and started chewing on her bottom lip, wondering what it would be like to be in place of Saul.

"All you want to do is make sure the kids don't starve and everyone is safe. And in return, one of your own makes it her mission to make you the villain."

Ellie then walked over and gave me my burger. I could smell the familiar grease of fatty foods and the pleasant warmth radiating from it. My stomach growled, protesting the denial of meaty goodness. I removed my hand from Panam's shoulder to lift the burger and took a bite out of it. The meat was synth-meat, so it still tasted off, but the seasoning was good. A touch of pepper flavoring mixed well with the ketchup, giving a savory/spicy/sweet blend.

Confused about why I stopped, Panam looked at me only to find that I was preoccupied with eating my lunch.

"Really? We were talking about something serious, and you got distracted by a burger?"

She's got a point, and I should focus. I regretfully put the burger down and tried to collect my thoughts. When I remembered where I had left off, I continued.

"He's hard-headed, like you, and is used to being the best or getting things his way. If somebody kept tactlessly challenging your authority, even if you were wrong, would you be happy with them?"

Panam thought about it and let out a deep sigh.

"*Sigh* I guess not."

"Exactly. So don't be so quick to judge Saul for something you would have done as well. As for this job with the Wraiths, I think he wants you to learn what it feels like to take accountability for so many lives and feel the pressure of having the financial well-being of the entire family on your shoulders. Just do your best."

I then picked up my burger again and took another bite. Panam also lifted her meal and dug in after seeing me starting to eat again. We continued in comfortable silence, with only the calm chatter of other nomads and the sizzle of the grill to accompany us. Once I finished my last bite, I wiped my mouth clean of grease and swiveled my chair to face Panam. She was still working on her burger, so I waited until she was finished.

"Do you need any help with scouting?"

"Are you any good at scouting?"

"Never tried it, so I doubt I'm any better than one of your clansmen specializing in it."

"Then no."

I shrugged and accepted the situation for what it was. Knowing one's limit is essential, after all.

"When do you plan on starting with the Wraiths?"

"Immediately. The sooner they're out of the picture, the better."

I pushed myself off my stool and walked over to hug and kiss Panam on her cheek.

"I need to start working on my plan with Arasaka. I might not do the scouting, but I expect to be involved when you hit the bastards."

"Wouldn't even think about leaving you out."

"Good. You know how to find me if you ever need anything. I'll see you later."

That seemed to remind Panam of something since she stopped me when I turned to leave.

"Wait! There's this thing I need to upgrade the Surveyor in the city. Think you can get it for me?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"It's specialized components for the new engines we want for the AV. And, uh, we think the Maelstrom has them."

Welp, that complicates things.

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