Much later that night you and Catherine follow the marker on your Pip-boys to Peter and Naomi's trailer hand in hand you arrive. Their home was situated on the north eastern side of the town placed just before the land dropped out sharply to a fairly large pond surrounded by trees, the moon could be seen reflecting off the shimmering mirror of the water's surface. Peter notices you arriving up and rises announcing "Dear our guests have arrived, Welcome them with me!" he walks up and embraces you like a longtime friend, Naomi exchanges pleasantries with Catherine and they usher you over to a table with some basic chairs surrounding it, cigarettes burning in an ashtray, you also note several bottles filled with clear liquid. "So what exactly did you brew up with the distillery?" you ask, "What do you think? We Polish make better Vodka than the Russians ever could. My wife's grandfather worked in a distillery and thought it would be fun to teach his grandchildren how to make some first rate poison. So here we have some of the old man's finest, vault style." he offers you each a glass of the chilled liquid. Neither you or Catherine are about to turn down getting trashed with a couple of good Poles. "I certainly can welcome this." Catherine says. You can see the bottom of your glass before you know it Catherine following not far behind you, you're impressed to say the least. You all look around at everyone else at the table, a silent vote commences and the second round of drinks are poured around. A deck of cards is slammed on the table and so a drinking game begins. 
	About an hour later you and Catherine are puking out your guts over the hillside, Naomi looks a bit worse for wear and Peter is wondering why you would throw up perfectly good vodka. On that note Naomi proposes "Anyone else want to drink something NOT vodka for the moment?" you and Catherine nod sheepishly and Naomi goes inside to make some coffee. She reemerges a few minutes later cups on a platter alongside a small container of cream, graciously you all start stirring and sipping on the drink. With the moon and each other as company you sit in silence contemplating if it was worth drinking that much and enjoying the stillness of the night. It's always worth drinking that much with friends you decide, realizing that there would be many more nights like this you smile, happy you can have a bit of fun after fighting for so long. Catherine looks exhausted after a full day of events and you decided it was probably time to call it a night "Peter, Naomi, thank you for inviting us over for a great evening, but I think it's about time we head off for some sleep." Peter stands up for a parting handshake and smiles "We couldn't of asked for better company on a night like this, we'll be seeing you two again soon enough." At that you and a still stumbling Catherine start walking back to your trailer. Halfway through she nearly falls but you're there to catch her just before and opt to carry her the rest of the way. She wraps her hands around your neck and you lock your hands under her, stuck to your chest you let her off at the door. You both enter, head immediately to the bedroom, shed all cloths that could possibly be seen as uncomfortable, crawl into bed and pass out in what felt like seconds.
	The next morning was met with headaches, pain, and a vampire-like aversion to light. The radio started its routine and began playing more Arctic Monkeys. (youtube.com/watch?v=d09GTcacnUY) You turn the volume down to a comfortable low, only to be shocked by the loudspeakers stationed around the town starting an announcement, "There will be a declassified dossier detailing you mission here waiting on your doorstep, please take today to read over the contained documents." satisfied they got their point across with the phrase 'declassified dossier' the loudspeakers went silent. Knowing fully well neither you or Catherine could decipher the dossier with present headaches, you jumped on the grenade and rolled to your feet to retrieve the envelope, toss it on the table and return to the warm soft that was sleep for a little while longer. At a much more reasonable 1100 when the headache dulled to a distant thumping you rose once again, shook Catherine out of her slumber and told her "Time to see what the black lines were hiding." You move to the kitchen, sit down and pull the fairly thick stack of papers out of the envelope. Forgetting to make coffee you stand again to start the first pot of many. Catherine can he heard moving to the shower in the background, reminding you of last night's clothes you were still wearing. Cracking on with the papers you finally begin reading. 
	'Details regarding vault operation: RECLAIMER proposed and spearheaded by Gen. Mitchell, project is a re-population initiative in the event of MAD to reclaim and secure US assets following MAD event. 1000 single or married persons between ages of 25-35 to be selected from military personnel based on merit and genetic diversity to ensure strong emerging populace without defects. Initial partners for single persons decided based on military available psych assessments to match compatible individuals. Military doctrine will be taught and learned by occupants and occupants descendants in preparation for reclamation of surface. Any and all documented military events will be stored in a vault database to be learned from both mistakes and victories, even classified events will be available when vault is sealed. Children are required to learn year-round during weekdays both in classroom and outside in the form of drills and training in small squad tactics for impending reclamation.' Catherine emerges dressed in loosely fitting clothes, pours herself a cup of coffee and instructs you to get cleaned, she picks up where you left off 
	'All positions within vault are decided based on merit and ability to preform in relevant position, a governing body will be in place should decisions need to be made, serving members of the decision council will be enrolled for life as a secondary task to normal position within vault. Council will be 11 members, decided by vote of competency with supplementing department devoted to assessing merit for positions within the vault. Majority vote will decide things of utmost importance, otherwise all other functions in vault are expected to be carried out successfully for the good of the populace. Vault is designed to provide for up to 2000 occupants for 400 years without breaking containment seal. Contained within to aide with reclaiming process are as follows: 800 million assorted rounds of ammunition for wide range of weapons alongside 100,000 rifles, pistols and small arms. Combat dress provided and means for production of any assets in place should additional stock be necessary. Host of defense and construction robots contained in garages within airlock section of vault to aide in establishment of defensive positions post unsealing of vault.' Ian reemerges clean, content and in search of coffee, which he finds and pours a cup adding a healthy amount of cream. "So what exactly are you gathering from reading this?" Ian asks, stoic Catherine responds "We'll be living in an entirely self sufficient vault until the surface is safe, up to 400 years from now when we'll be long dead, where our great grandchildren who have been trained to be efficient killers from the ripe age of 6, in a merit based society designed to breed competition will be expected to reclaim the surface, secure important assets radiating out from this fortress of a vault, eventually re-establishing the United States as we know it and fighting whoever dares oppose their manifest destiny of a mission they were trained from birth for." surprised but not shocked at the plan drafted by the General for winning in a MAD event Ian expressed his findings "My great grandchildren get to be hyper efficient killers with the hope and blessings of a nation to succeed in their task to reclaim the world? Fuckin' neato."
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	That night was spent contemplating what you both read in the mission details, mostly about how crazy it was that they funded a project this expensive, a project that would only bear fruit if the worst occurred. Catherine's stomach rumbles audibly prompting you to lock eyes with the realization that dinner was yet to be had. Almost triggered by the stomach harmonics your Pip-boy flashes to life with an offer of dinner with Peter, Naomi and some other Poles living in the town. You send back a quick reply telling them two very hungry Americans would be over soon. Upon approaching the Polish trailer the smell was the first thing you noticed, something definitely frying in a pan. The closer you got the stronger the scent grew, it was soon accompanied by the pops and sizzles associated with anything pan fried. Around the final turn to their trailer you see a couple tables pushed together outside with two couples and Peter speaking in their native tongue, the door was open to the trailer the steam from the stove top wafting out. Peter, upon hearing your footsteps, turns around delighted that you came to break bread with him "Ian, Catherine, we have a treat for you tonight! Something straight from the homeland I'm sure you'll enjoy. Naomi loves to spout off about her cooking if you're willing to listen, she is just inside if you're curious." With interest piqued you and Catherine venture on to the source of tonight's meal. As you enter Naomi is pulling out what looks like ravioli from a boiling pot while onions can be seen caramelizing in a covered pan. Catherine speaks up over the noise of the stove top snapping Naomi out of her focus "I thought we were having something from Poland not ravioli." Obviously amused by this Naomi smiles back "This is something similar but not what you're used to, tell me what you think." as she says this one of the pasta pockets is already on its way to Catherine's mouth. Not protesting in the slightest she opens up allowing Naomi to deliver her treat. "Is that potato?" Catherine asks after swallowing and considering the flavors experienced. "Absolutely, it's a pierogi, I'm going to crisp those up in a pan and plate it with the caramelized onions and some kielbasa. Now go and relax while I finish this up." Heeding her advice you leave for your seat wondering where your taste test went. A few minutes later Naomi emerges with a platter full of her creation, sets it on the table and takes her seat. Peter stands and begins a toast with everyone seated.
	"We come here together as friends from different nations starting new lives in a new place for the sake of all people. To our children's children, the tools that will shape the Earth in their image long after we are gone. To strengthening the bonds that bind us all together. Na zdrowie." On the last note everyone clinks together glasses of vodka that came from seemingly nowhere and drinks every drop in one go. Moving on to the main event, plates are loaded up, passed around and the feast begins. One forkful later Catherine blurts out "I had no idea three ingredients could taste so good." much to the poles' amusement. She was very right, savory and salty with sweet onions didn't get any better than this. Not even 30 minutes pass before the platter is empty and plates are being finished off. Dinner soon devolves with more vodka and stories of retardation from basic being passed around. Without a doubt these would be the people you would grow old with once the vault closed, though morbid knowing the vault would be your grave you were pretty okay with it.
	Many hours and stories later, 4 bottles are empty and its unanimous that it was time to stumble home. With extreme difficulty even when leaning into each other for support you arrive about four flat-out falls later in front of your trailer. "Thank god there aren't any locks here, no way in hell I could get a key in the door" Catherine vomits next to the door in response. Nice. With the last bit of effort you both plop onto the bed and drift into dreams of what kind of world would be waiting for your great grandchildren.

(youtube.com/watch?v=tI-5uv4wryI)
	That was all three months ago, fond times bonding with your Poles and putting the finishing touches on the vault that would be your home. Catherine finishes her trip over to the table with both the cups of coffee in hand. "Thank you Cat." The next few minutes are spent watching the sun begin its crest over the trees in the distance while absorbing the morning and your coffee. Something catches your eye on the horizon. Its bright, not so different from the sun off to its right. Knowing exactly what it was you sit the coffee down as the mushroom cloud begins to form, marking the complete annihilation of hundreds of thousands of people and a good bit of southern Atlanta. A second later the sirens begin to wail signaling everyone to get in the vault or become a victim of a nuclear war. With all of your possessions of importance already moved into your home within the vault, all you and Catherine need to bring was yourselves. Still in silence, save the wail of the siren, you both stand and take each other's hand as you begin the short jog to the vault. Reaching the platform that would take you down to the secondary door, there is a moment to take one last look at the sky. The scene painted before you is something unreal. Multiple flashes on the horizon mark where more warheads have touched down while countless vapor trails belonging to the missile defense systems etch the sky with their hopeful streaks. The massive door rolls closer and closer as more mushroom clouds form, sealing the fate of the world you used to know as well as your own.

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