The Commonwealth had changed with the Institute gone . Since the General took command , the minutemen were no longer a scattered, desperate militia. The minutemen became more organized and disciplined, protecting the people with trained patrols that secured trade routes between settlements, protecting caravans and are ready to help any settlement in need . The castle has been fully repaired, and became the main Base of operations for the minutemen , while the Sanctuary Hills after was rebuilt and fortified has become the capital of the commonwealth.
Commonwealth - Sanctuary - Year 2288
Sergeant Carter adjusted the straps on his combat rifle as he led his squad out of Sanctuary. Three lightly armored troopers walked in a staggered formation behind him, their laser muskets and combat rifles held at the ready. Private Ellis, the newest recruit, kept shifting uncomfortably under the weight of his gear. Bringing up the rear, clad in a battered suit of T-45 power armor, was Corporal Reyes, their heavy hitter.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the cracked wooden planks of the bridge leading out of Sanctuary. It has been a quiet morning so far .
" So what's the assignment for today ?" Corporal Nora asked , while checking her laser musket.
" Well be escorting a caravan to Diamond City. Ensure it's safety , then return back to Sanctuary." responded Sergeant Carter.
" Huh, quite the long walk" said private Ellis.
"Yeah, i heard that the feral ghouls have become restless in the city , a patrol got attacked by around fifteen of them, luckily none of the patrol members died but they got some nasty injuries " Private Hollis chimed in .
" Huh... well , let's hope that we won't encounter any ghoul and get the caravan to it's destination without a problem " said Corporal Nora .
"Huh..... Even if we were to be attacked, i will deal with them, no problem" said Corporal Reyes in a boastful manner.
"Let's hear you say that, without wearing power armor" Corporal Nora replied .
" HEY, i could..... Corporal Rays feeling indignant, wanted to respond, but was cut off by Sergeant Carter
"Enough with the chatting, we have an assignment to complete and the caravan is waiting for us at the red rocket. So , let's move"
Sergeant Carter said with a commanding tone .
To this, all members of the squad replied in unison to their CO , " Yes , sir ".
The Red Rocket was once before the war a refiling station. Now, has become a checkpoint , lightly fortified and with few turrets on the rooftop
Walking on , they eventually arrived at the Red Rocket , the caravan was there ready to depart .
When they got close to the caravan, an older woman walked towards Sergeant Carter and his squad and introduced herself " Hello, i'm Cassidy Monroe , i'm the one in charge of this caravan . We are grateful that you are escorting us to Diamond City.
" It's our duty to ensure the safety of the commonwealth's people, mam " Said Sergeant Carter.
Monroe nodded then said" we should get moving, we have a lot of walking to do ".
Carter nodded and turned to his squad " alright, Reyes you are in the front, if we are attacked you should be able to tank most of the hits with your power armor . Nora and Hollis you will take the left side of the caravan, me and Ellis will take the right side." The squad responded affirmatively then proceeded to get in position. "Alright, we are ready" said Carter. Monroe nodded and nudged the Brahmin to move forward .
And with that the caravan slowly started moving, heading towards Diamond City.
Moscow - Metro - Year 2034
The stale air of Orekhovo Station carried the familiar scent of damp concrete and burning oil. It was home, but for Nikolai Petrov, it was also a cage. The young man, no older than twenty, had spent his life in the dim glow of the Metro, listening to the old men whisper about the horrors lurking beyond the tunnels. But he wasn't a child anymore—he was ready to see the world beyond the station's barricades.
His companion, Sergei Mikhailov, was less eager. A man in his mid-forties, Sergei had seen too much, and lost too much. The tunnels weren't just dark—they were hungry. He had warned Nikolai a dozen times, but the boy's excitement was relentless, gnawing at his resolve. Against his better judgment, Sergei finally agreed.
Armed with an old Kalashnikov and a handful of rounds, they slipped past the watchmen and into the tunnels. At first, it was just empty corridors—broken tracks, rusted support beams, and the distant echoes of dripping water. Then came the sound. A low, wet chittering.
Sergei's grip tightened around his rifle. " Lurkers," he muttered.
A dozen red eyes blinked in the darkness ahead. Then, they attacked.
The creatures swarmed, their sharp teeth flashing in the dim light. Nikolai fired first, his bastard gun cracking through the tunnel, but for every rat that fell, more came. Sergei pulled him by the arm. "Run!"
They sprinted through the labyrinth of the Metro, kicking up dust and debris. The path narrowed, the walls closing in until they reached what seemed a collapsed corridor but getting closer they realized that was a tunnel , and from the light Sergei saw , he knew that was leading to the surface . With no way back they had to move forward. Sergei told Nikolai to put his gas mask on , while he fired and killed more of the lurkers that were pursuing them. They started running again, Sergei putting his own gas mask on.
Reaching the surface, both Nikolai and Sergei were stunned, they were expecting to see the ruins of Moscow , frozen in nuclear winter, but what they saw was something else entirely.
The land before them was a forest that was stretching out , it's trees skeletal, their trunks blackened .Some still bore patches of sickly green moss, while others had collapsed into tangled heaps, forming natural barricades of rot and decay. The ground was uneven , irradiated soil, where tufts of grass and thorny underbrush pushed through. With the sun breaking through the clouds.
Sergei and Nikolai were broken from their trance by screeching coming from behind them . Remembering the danger that was chasing them, they turned around and raised their weapons, at the same time as the lurkers were starting to come out of the cave.
Commonwealth - Near Red Rocket Checkpoint
Sergeant Carter and his squad were returning from their assignment of escorting the caravan.
During the mission when traversing through the city , they got attacked by a large group of ghouls, with the help of the caravan members , they were able to eliminate the ghouls without any casualties and with just minimal demage to their gear.
Exhausted and with their gear more battered than when they left, they walked back towards the Sanctuary .
" That could've gone worse. No casualties, minimal damage and we got the caravan to it's destination… I'll take that as a win." Sergeant Carter said while stretching his shoulder .
"Could've been worse if those caravan folks hadn't held their ground. They surprised me."Said Corporal Nora , adjusting her laser musket
"Yeah, they did alright. But next time, let's avoid getting boxed in like that. I don't want to spend another hour covered in ghoul guts." Private Hollis added
"Speak for yourself! Have you seen me out there?—one shot, one kill, smooth as ever." Corporal Reyes said grinning and hitting with the left fist his power armor chest plate.
" Here we go again. Reyes, I swear, if I hear one more story about your "flawless aim," I'm gonna—" Said Private Ellis rolling his eyes.
" You wound me, Ellis. I'm just stating facts! You all saw it." Said Corporal Reyes mocking offense
" I saw you almost trip over a ghoul corpse mid-shot. Not exactly what I'd call flawless." Said Sergeant Carter, smirking.
" Details, details." Replied Corporal Reyes, grumbling.
"Well, trip or not, we got out of that mess together. And I say we deserve a break when we get back." Corporal Nora said
"Agreed. The first thing I'm doing is getting out of this armor and finding something that doesn't taste like old rations." Said Private Hollis.
"Seconded. A hot meal and maybe even some sleep without the sound of ferals screeching? Sounds like paradise." Said Private Ellis , holding his combat rifle in a relaxed manner.
"We'll report in first, but after that? Yeah, I think we earned it. Let's pick up the pace—Sanctuary's waiting." Said Sergeant Carter nudging everyone forward.
As they continue walking back toward Sanctuary, the sudden crack of gunfire can be heard from nearby, forcing everyone to tens up.
"Gunshots, sir," Private Ellis whispered, gripping his rifle tighter.
"I hear it," Sargent Carter replied. "We have to investigate. Let's Move."
The squad groaned due to the exhaustion, but followed the order.
Arriving at the location of the gunfire , they saw two figures .They were dressed in ragged, dust-covered gear wearing gasmasks . They were fighting a large number of creatures .
" What the hell are those, they look like some oversized, hairy , mole rats" Said Corporal Nora.
"We'll find out later. Now focus on killing those things " ordered Sargent Carte
Reyes fired first. A blast of red energy from his laser rifle seared through the air, dropping one of the creatures instantly. The patrol fell into formation, fanning out as they opened fire. The creatures squealed and scattered, some retreated back into the darkness of the cave , where others continued their attack.
One of the creatures jumped on Corporal Reyes , biting and clawing at his armored head , forcing him to stagger back a few feet.
Lowering his laser rifle , he used his left arm to grab the creature by the head, squeezing, Reyes crushed the creature skull , and threw it to the side. Proceeding to resume it's attack on the remaining creatures.
With the last of the creatures slain, Carter motioned for the squad to lower their weapons, though he kept his grip firm on his rifle. The two masked figures , breathing heavily , now that the fighting ended they were looking at Reyes, even with the gas mask, on you could see their eyes wide in shock, it was like they never seen a power armor. Carter could hear the younger one say something, "Что это такое? Оно только что раздавило голову мутировавшей крысы, как будто это ничего не значило." But Carter couldn't understand it—the language was unknown to him. He wasn't the only one; both Nora and Hollis heard it too and became wary of the two unknown individuals.
-- Sergei and Nikolai POV--
All the mutant rats were killed, and both Sergei and Nikolai were in shock, they couldn't believe what just happened. They were about to be overwhelmed by the mutants , when what seemed to be soldiers appeared out of nowhere saving them, some of them were even using some kind of laser weapons . But the biggest shock of all was the giant in heavy armor. The metal-clad figure towered over the others, its mechanical joints whirring with each step.
A walking tank. Sergei and Nikolai have never seen something like this.
"What is that? It just crushed a lurker's head like it was nothing." Asked Nikolai with awe in his voice.
"I don't know," Sergei muttered, glancing at the soldiers as he noticed them tense up, hands gripping their weapons tighter. He raised his own hands slightly, trying to appear non-threatening. He turned to Nikolai and spoke, his tone firm. "Don't act rashly. We don't know where we are, who they are, or what their intentions are."
Before they could do anything else, the soldier who seemed to be in charge stepped forward. His stance was rigid, authoritative.
"Identify yourselves," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Any hostile action will be met with deadly force."
Sergei froze, his mind racing. English. The man spoke English—and from the accent, he was American. His stomach twisted at the thought. Americans? After all these years? Had the war never ended? No, that didn't make sense. The war should have been over long ago.
Nikolai nudged him. "What did he say? Who are they?"
Sergei hesitated before answering, his voice low. "Americans."
Nikolai's eyes widened, but before he could say anything else, Sergei cut him off. "Let me speak. You stay quiet until I tell you otherwise. Understood?"
Nikolai exhaled sharply but nodded. "Understood."
--Sergeant Carter and Squad POV--
Carter kept his rifle ready, studying the two strangers carefully. He exchanged a glance with Reyes, the power-armored soldier looming beside him . The two were tense, shaken—but not hostile. The older one, bearded and weathered, stepped forward cautiously and raised a hand in what Carter assumed was a peaceful gesture.
"We… we not enemy," the man said, his English rough and accented. "We… survivors." He gestured between himself and the younger man. "Name—Sergei. This—Nikolai."
Carter nodded slowly. "Alright, Sergei. Survivors from where? There are no other settlements nearby .
Sergei hesitated, glancing at Nikolai before turning back to Carter. "We… from Metro. Underground."
Carter frowned. "Metro? There ain't no Metro tunnels around here, pal." He looked over his shoulder at the others. "Closest thing to that is the old subway ruins in Boston, and those don't exactly lead anywhere."
Sergei shook his head. "Not Boston. Moscow."
Carter blinked. "Moscow? You mean… as in Russia?"
Sergei nodded. "Yes. Russia."
Silence hung in the air. The Minutemen shifted uncomfortably, exchanging wary glances. Ellis puzzled asked. " Russia ? What is — "
Carter cut him off with a raised hand, his eyes still locked on Sergei. "You're telling me… you came here from Russia? How?"
Sergei exhaled , feeling anxious . "I… not know. Tunnel. We think… collapsed. But was not. Was… passage. We go, and now…" He gestured vaguely around him. "Here."
Carter narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "A tunnel from Moscow to the Commonwealth? That's a hell of a story."
Sergei let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Not story. If story… I make better one."
Carter studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. This is above my pay grade. We're taking you to the General."
Sergei looked at Nikolai before nodding.
"We follow ."
While they were speaking, three more Minutemen soldiers arrived from the nearby checkpoint, weapons ready as they scanned the area.
The one in the lead stepped forward and introduced herself. "Corporal Maya, sir. We heard gunfire and came to investigate."
Carter gave her a nod. "Situation's handled, Corporal. We've got two individuals that need to be escorted to the General." He gestured toward the cave entrance. "I need you and your squad to guard this cave. Make sure none of those things get out." He pointed at the twisted bodies of the mutant rats.
"Understood, sir," Maya said, snapping a quick salute before turning to her team.
Carter turned back to his squad and the two Russians. "Alright, let's move."
Walking down the broken road they eventually reach the wooden bridge leading in the Sanctuary Hill.
Sergei and Nikolai were awestruck. Before them, on the other side of the worn wooden bridge, stood a fortress—its walls made of steel and wood , lined with sentries and strange machines mounted along the perimeter. To Sergei, they resembled weapons, though unlike any he had seen before.
Escorted by the soldiers, the two men advanced toward the imposing structure. As they neared the main gate, Sergei's eyes were drawn to a flag fluttering atop it. It was not the American flag he had expected ,but something entirely unfamiliar. The banner bore a deep blue background, with a white emblem depicting a lightning bolt and a rifle crossing each other , framed by three stars .
Beside him, Nikolai remained silent, his wide eyes scanning everything around him. He had barely spoken since they began their march. Sergei couldn't blame him—the boy had been born in the Metro, raised in darkness. He had never seen the world before the bombs fell.
As they reached the main gate, a guard stepped forward, blocking their path with a firm stance. His rifle was held casually but ready, eyes narrowing as he took in Sergei and Nikolai.
"Sergeant Carter, what's going on? We heard gunfire," the guard asked, glancing between the squad and the two strangers.
Carter adjusted his grip on his rifle. "Situation's handled. We ran into these two out near a cave , close by the red rocket , being attacked by mutated creatures. They claim to be survivors—from Moscow, of all places. The general needs to hear this himself."
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Moscow? As in Russia? You serious?"
"Dead serious," Carter replied. "Now, are you gonna let us through, or do you want me to start explaining geopolitics in the middle of the damn road?"
The guard hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Go on in. Just… be careful." He gestured to the other sentries, who stepped aside, allowing them to pass.
As they entered the settlement, Sergei and Nikolai found themselves staring in awe. Sanctuary Hills was nothing like the desolate ruins they had expected. Wooden and metal buildings stood sturdy and intact, people moved about their daily routines, and the crops grew in neat rows behind reinforced fences . Along the clean road, poles with power lines stretched between buildings, ensuring a steady supply of electricity.
Sergei could hardly fathom the sheer amount of resources and effort it must have taken to build all of this.
Sergei glanced at Nikolai, who was wide-eyed. He had spent his entire life in the Metro, never knowing the surface as anything but a poisoned frozen wasteland. Seeing a place like this—thriving, alive—was almost beyond belief.
As they entered the settlement, Carter turned to his squad.
"Reyes, take your power armor in for maintenance , make sure any damage gets handled. Ellis, Hollis , you two get your gear cleaned . Once you're done, you're free for the rest of the day. Nora, you're with me , we're escorting our guests to the General."
Escorted by Sergeant Carter and Corporal Nora, Sergei and Nikolai walked deeper into the settlement, passing by various people , some of whom were disfigured, sending a chill down both their spines.
As they approached the Minutemen command center of Sanctuary Hills , guarded by two soldiers, the group passed by what seems to be a market , bustling with activity.
Sergei and Nikolai stopped in their tracks as the market came into full view. Stalls lined the open space, stocked with fresh produce, preserved goods, tools, clothing, pre-war electronics and even weapons . People haggled, traded, and moved freely between vendors under the open sky—a sight neither man could have imagined. In the Metro, life was harsh and survival was a daily struggle. Most stations barely had enough to feed their own, let alone spare anything for trade. Only the markets of Hansa, the wealthiest and most powerful faction in the metro, came close to this level of abundance. But even Hansa's bazaars, with their tightly controlled exchanges and ever-present guards, felt sterile compared to the chaotic, vibrant life of this open-air market in Sanctuary Hills.
Nikolai was drawn by the savory aroma wafting from a nearby stall, where a vendor was grilling Brahmin steak and iguana-on-a-stick. Sergei followed closely behind, equally curious. Nora instinctively moved to stop them, but Carter held up a hand.
"Let them," he said calmly. "There won't be any harm."
Nora hesitated for a moment, then gave a silent nod. She and Carter began walking after the two, keeping a watchful eye.
On a rusted grill, thick cuts of Brahmin steak sizzled beside skewers of what looked like iguana meat, juices dripping and popping over the open flame.
A woman stood behind the counter, tongs in hand and a ragged apron tied over her leather armor. She had sun-browned skin, a mischievous grin, and a voice that carried across the market.
"Well now, don't just stand there droolin'. Come get a plate while it's hot! Munch's Meals don't disappoint—fresh-cooked Brahmin steak and iguana-on-a-stick, grilled to perfection with just a hint of mystery spice," she said, giving the meat a dramatic flip.
Sergei and Nikolai exchanged a glance. Nikolai's stomach growled audibly.
"Sergei," Nikolai muttered, tugging on his sleeve, "can we… can we buy some? I'm starving."
Sergei hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Da… I am hungry too."
He stepped forward, nodding politely to the vendor. "We would like… two of those steaks....please."
"You got it, stranger," the woman replied, already plating the meat onto battered tin dishes. "Four caps each."
Sergei blinked. "Caps?"
"Yeah—bottle caps," she clarified, narrowing her eyes as she watched Sergei reach into his coat and pull out three rusted bullets. "Uh… What are you doin'? We don't take ammo here, friend. Caps only."
Sergei looked down at the bullets in his hand, confused. "This… is money."
The vendor raised an eyebrow. "Not around here it ain't."
Before the moment could get more awkward, Sergeant Carter stepped in, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "They're not from around here."
He turned to Sergei. "Here in the Commonwealth, we use bottle caps. That's our money. Don't worry about it—I'll cover this one."
He dug into a pouch on his belt and handed over eight caps. "Two Brahmin steaks," he said to the vendor. "You owe me eight caps, Sergei."
Sergei nodded slowly, accepting the plate. "Thank you, Sergeant. I… will repay you."
Nikolai was already halfway through his first bite, eyes fluttering shut in bliss. "It's hot. And so good."
Sergei took a bite of his own and couldn't help but agree. After years of rationing , eating mushrooms as stew or simply dried, deep in the tunnels of the metro, this was a feast.
They tore into the stakes with the desperation of men who hadn't had a proper meal in days—because they hadn't. The rich, smoky flavor was unlike anything they had ever tasted in the Metro.
Carter watched them with a faint smirk, arms crossed. "Enjoy your meal," he said, his voice calm. "Once you're finished, we'll be heading towards the command center."
Sergei nodded between bites, eyes still fixed on the food. "Da, Sargent . We finish quickly."
With their hunger finally sated, Nikolai and Sergei handed the now-empty plates back to the vendor, murmuring their thanks in accented English. Carter gave them a brief nod before motioning to Nora. "Alright, let's move."
They left the market behind, weaving through the well-patrolled paths of Sanctuary Hills. Sergei's eyes scanned every building they passed, still trying to process how a place like this could exist. Nikolai walked quietly beside him, occasionally glancing at the smiling people and clean streets like they were hallucinations.
Eventually, they arrived at a large, reinforced structure near the center of the settlement. It stood taller and sturdier than the surrounding buildings, its metal-plated walls and fortified entrance hinting at its importance. A flag bearing the emblem of the Minutemen flew above the doors, and two armed guards flanked the entrance.
One of the guards stepped forward as Carter approached. "Sargent," he said, offering a quick salute. "The General's in a meeting. Just started a few minutes ago."
Carter nodded. "Understood. We'll wait inside. I've got something the General will want to hear."
The guard's gaze shifted to Sergei and Nikolai, their worn clothes and foreign expressions clearly out of place. Still, he gave a brief nod and stepped aside. "Go ahead."
Inside, the command center had a clean, orderly atmosphere. Just past the entrance was a modest waiting area with a few worn sofas and a low coffee table. A large Minutemen flag hung on the wall, flanked by old photographs, medals, and framed documents. Sergei paused for a moment, quietly taking it all in.
To the left, a room filled with humming equipment served as the transmission and communications center—radios, terminals, and consoles manned by Minutemen operators relaying messages across the Commonwealth.
Another door led to the General's personal armory , a sturdy metal door , with a terminal next to it.
"The General's in the briefing room," Carter explained, nodding toward a door at the far end of the hall. "We'll have to wait ."
Sergei whispered something in Russian to Nikolai, who only nodded, eyes wide with curiosity and awe .
Carter, Nora, Sergei, and Nikolai waited patiently in the reception area near the entrance of the command center. They were all seated, the air filled with quiet tension. Sergei sat upright, his expression thoughtful, eyes calmly studying the room—the Minutemen flag on the wall, the rustic furniture, and the hum of nearby radio equipment. Nikolai, on the other hand, leaned forward on the edge of his seat, eyes wide, taking in every detail with childlike curiosity.
Suddenly, the doors to the briefing room opened with a low creak.
Out stepped the General, tall and commanding, wearing a dark officer's coat. His eyes immediately swept across the room, landing on the unfamiliar faces. Behind him followed a man in Brotherhood of Steel power armor, the helmet tucked under his arm. His features were hardened, with a few fresh cuts on his face. In his other hand, he dragged a grotesque corpse of a creature across the floor.
The body thudded against the wood. The creature was hunched, with pallid, rubbery flesh stretched over a monstrous frame. Its elongated limbs ended in jagged claws, and its bestial snout was twisted in a permanent snarl. Carter and Nora both tensed, exchanging uncertain glances.
"What the hell is that?" Nora muttered, hand unconsciously drifting toward her sidearm.
"I've never seen anything like it," Carter added, eyes narrowing.
Sergei, however, leaned forward slightly, his voice calm and measured. "Nosalis…" he said under his breath.
Nikolai shuddered and said in russian " what is one of those things doing here ."
Both Minutemen turned sharply toward the Russians. "You know what that thing is?" Carter asked, wary.
Sergei nodded slowly. "They live in the metro… dangerous creatures. Hunters. We lost many people to them."
The man in brotherhood armor raised a brow and asked. "Metro? You mean subway tunnels?"
Sergei hesitated, then spoke carefully, his accent thick but clear enough. "We… come from Moscow. Russia. Live underground. Since bombs fall."
That gave both the General and the man pause. The General's expression turned sharp, incredulous. "Russia? That's—impossible. You're saying you came from across the ocean?"
The brotherhood member stepped forward, voice wary but focused. "There are no active transport lines, no ships, no aircraft. How did you get here?"
Sergei raised both hands slightly. "Not sure. We explore… tunnels. we got attacked . We ran . Arrived here"
Nikolai, confused, looked between them. "Sergei? What's going on?" he asked in Russian.
The general turned his gaze to Nikolai .
"He does not speak English," Sergei added quickly. "Born in Metro. Has never seen sun before."
The brotherhood member glanced at the General. "If he's telling the truth… this could prove to be a problem."
The General glanced at the corpse on the floor, then at Sergei and Nikolai with renewed interest. "Then I think we should get back into the briefing room , i want to hear from you a better explanation. Danes you can leave the corpse there i will have someone get rid of it , we have other pressing issues " the general said while signaling to some of his man to do exactly that.
All six of them entered the briefing room, the door closing firmly behind them. The atmosphere was tense but focused. A large table dominated the room's center, a large map that shows the entire commonwealth with markings on it .
"Let's start from the beginning," the General said, his voice calm but commanding. "Sergeant Carter, your report."
Carter straightened in his chair. "Sir. Me and my squad were returning from escorting a caravan to Diamond City , we were near the Red Rocket checkpoint, we heard the sound of gunfire. We quickly moved to investigate, and found these two in the middle of a fight with several mutants " Carter gestured to Sergei and Nikolai "ones we hadn't seen before. They were holding their ground, barely. We stepped in, eliminate the creatures , and made contact. Sergei was able to speak English. He claimed that they were from Russia. From the Moscow metro, i decided to bring them to you , sir ."
The General nodded slowly and turned his gaze toward Sergei. "And now I'd like to hear your version."
Sergei leaned forward slightly, hands clasped, trying to find the right words. "We are from station… called Orekhovo " he began. "One of three stations near edge of metro. Life is hard. We live with few resources. Always danger."
Danes folded his arms and listened intently.
Sergei continued, "We went to explore old passages. To search for supplies. We got attacked—creatures we call Lurkers. Fast. Silent. They hunt in dark."
"Like the one you saw earlier?" Danes asked, cutting in.
Sergei nodded. "Similar… yes. Not same, but close. We ran. No choice. We followed tunnel that kept going up… and up. Then, there was light. Air. We came to surface. But it was not Moscow."
Nikolai fidgeted beside him but stayed silent, he would look at Danes , mainly at his power armor in awe .
Sergei glanced briefly at Carter and Nora before turning back to the General. "We thought we be dead . But we lived. And now we are here."
The room was quiet for a moment.
The General tapped a finger on the table. "Thank you, Sergei. That's… quite a story."
Danes stepped forward slightly. " general , this might have something to do with what we were discussing. " Danes turned from the general to the other four" There has been a sudden appearance of unknown creatures across the Commonwealth. That creature in the hallway isn't from any known strain of local wildlife."
The General nodded. "Exactly. That's what Danes and I were meeting about , we got reports of patrols getting attacked by creatures that have not been encountered before . And now we have two individuals who claim to be from an entirely different part of the world ."
He leaned back, folding his arms. " Sergei if you don't mind, i would like to know more about the Metro."
"Da , of course " replied Sergei.
" Alright, Sergeant Carter, Corporal Nora—you're dismissed. You can go and get some rest," the General said.
Carter and Nora straightened up, saluted, and replied in unison, "Yes, sir," before exiting the room.
"I'll be heading out as well," Danse added, picking up his helmet from the table. "I need to return to base and inform the Brotherhood about the current situation. Let me know if anything new develops."
The General gave a nod. "I'll keep you informed."
Danse returned the gesture and left the room.
Turning to Sergei, the General leaned forward slightly. "Now, please—tell me about the Metro."