The Right Track?

It was something like the third or fourth day of Carter Charles Cheshire's deployment to Camp McCarran; and guard duty, he was quickly learning, wasn't all it was cracked up to be. There was a lot more sitting in a sniper's nest or atop the fortifications and a lot less action than he might have expected, and a lot more boredom. At least the view was decent, Carter supposed. And at least he was finally off duty without anything to immediately attend to, for the time being; he could finally go take a look around Camp McCarran instead of the desert around it.

But, Carter supposed as he strolled aimlessly, he couldn't complain too much; he'd signed up for this, after all, whether or not he'd anticipated frontline combat or ending up somewhere like McCarran. And if nothing else, he got to shoot at things occasionally, eat three meals a day, and sleep in a cot. Maybe a cot he shared with someone else who was on duty at night; but it was a cot, nonetheless.

He was unceremoniously snapped out of his thoughts when he bumped into a guy stepping out of the quartermaster's office. The rookie managed to keep his balance and was about to start falling over himself apologizing when the man he'd bumped into spoke first--if only barely. Henderson, First Recon? Those guys were supposed to be like wizards with a rifle, and the stories of them were more or less the reason Carter had joined the NCR military in the first place.

Cool. He couldn't conceal an almost childlike grin as Henderson introduced himself. "Carter Cheshire, sir. I'm new around here, just fresh outta boot," he replied eagerly. Carter listened as Henderson went on to introduce his coyote--before that struck him a little oddly.

As far as he knew, it wasn't exactly regulation for even First Recon soldiers to go running around with pets. It was always possible the brass had made an exception, but Hero did seem somewhat out of place on a military base. Carter could let that slide, though; after all, what did the new guy know?

"A sarsaparilla sounds great, sir," he said with another smile. Man, he wanted to be one of these First Recon guys. "So what's it like, being in First Recon?" he asked a moment later, before he could restrain himself. He just had to know.

When John and Carter stood togheter he listened to what he had to say.

"Carter Cheshire, sir. I'm new around here, just fresh outta boot.

that was usefull to know, he could use this one in his search for his brother he would try to recruit him on his mission
and when he thought that the recruit also said something else, about his offer to have a drink and a question.

"A sarsaparilla sounds great, sir, So what's it like, being in First Recon?"

John looked at him, and laughed it reminded him of himself when he just got out of boot, eager currious and enthusiastic

Its far harder work and just a little extra money, if you do it do it for the experience and not for the caps. Its a horrible wor-

but he got interupted by some big shoot yelling about his mate being walked over

"Hey! Molestank! Watch where you're walking! You almost knocked down my buddy-"

he turned his head and his expression on his face turn hostile he placed his feet in a triangle shape with the ground to give himself more stability and placed his hand in his hips before raising his voice to the recruit like most supperiors would do to recruit who stepped out of place

Excuse me Private? Is that how you talk to your supperiors. I should put you on Latrine service this week.

He looked at this Soldier and spotted he missed several things in his uniform, John would make him sweat a little to put him into place but only as a joke. he spotted his cap wasn't straight, he missed his body armor and when he looked at this recruits boots he saw that they werren't pollished this day. John started to rub his chin as he shook his head. he did a step forward and tapped on the recruits cap before continuing

I see you respect our Uniform policy, your cap I think you need to wear it a 'diffrent' way, where is your body armor and what was the last time you pollished you shoes?! Name, Private and who is your sarg?

he started to speak louder and louder to really show this recruit he was wrong now. his cigarette was now near the filter so with the last drag he trew it on the ground and waited for the Private to explain himself on this matter

Frank had turned red in the face, teeth clenched together. His lips pulled back in a sorta half-grin, half-snarl as he made his reply to the stranger trying to boss him around. The smaller mans hands curled into fists, and he snorted. "Body armor? In this weather? When we're not on patrol? Did somebody hit you over the head or were you just born stupid?" He snickered, but then his eyes went wide at Carters words.

Frank himself wasn't too impressed with First Recon. He thought they got more credit than they deserved, or perhaps he was merely jealous? When Carters words hit home however, identifying the man as a member of an elite outfit of the NCR, his instincts kicked in. He slid into an at-attention stance,back stiffening with his face forward. A bit of the flush had drained from his face, replaced by a look of pure discomfort with the situation he now found himself in.

"F-first recon h-huh? Had no idea sir. Sorry sir." He muttered out, boots already digging into the dirt, sliding backwards. The spotter looked as if he was about to bolt. He was suited for spotting out targets from a distance, and calling them in so his partner could 'nab them'. In training, he had always prevailed when he had the upperhand in positioning, rather than from brute force. At the moment, he was lacking in both areas, and it was hitting him hard. He just sort of stared at the first recon infront of him- face twisting into a grimace before he looked away.

Henderson's started to smile of the reaction of Frank, he was ashamed a bit and when Frank made his excuse he laughed a bit and placed one hands on his shoulders before speaking

No harms done Frank, only next time I see you, I want you dressed up properly and then I forget all, deal? now I promissed your mate a sarsaparilla, want some too?

but he had merly spoke out those words when he heared another voice and by what it said he could only think of several options, Merc, Legion Spy or something in that area. so he turned around to see that it was a merc. So he rolled up his sleeve's and walked over him. when near him he said

What you want, Merc

the last word spoken out like it was an disease. Henderson wasn't so fond of Mercs, not Loyal to anything except caps, never trust them his old officer's always said. But he had no time to lose and he needed to have a talk with these recruits so to cut off the merc he said

Nevermind it, I have bussines to do, Frank, Carter lets get that sarsaparilla.

he didn't looked back if the merc would follow them. when arrived at the cantina / bar of the camp he pointed at a table for the guys to sit and walked to the bar, luckly the old cook was still working here so he might pull of some free drinks. when arriving near the bar he placed his hands on the counter and whisltled, both the cook and his coyote turned their heads. only the cook reacted, he turned around and ran to the counter right away, but whispered instead of loud talking, otherwise Henderson wouldn't whistled but just called his name.

Henderson, why are you here? and why can't you speak out loud?

Henderson looked around for a bit before whispering back to the old cook.

you see those two recruits? I need to have a chat with them about my brother, you know what happend right? I will explain everything later but please I need three sarsaparilla's, I pay the next time I come back Promised.

the cook lifted himself from the counter and started to laugh out loud, and speak out loud.

Ofcourse Henderson! no problem, here you go and yes at home everything is going well, thanks see you soon.

Henderson then walked back with three sarsaparilla's and placed them on the small table before sitting on one of the ugly chairs. he handed the boys a sarsaparilla and when everybody had one he waved his hands that they needed to get a little closer and started to speak, not whisper but also not loud enough to hear for others

Look boys, im on a secret mission to get an lost soldier back, but not just a regular soldier, well he was an normal NCR soldier but he was send on a secret misson, to deliver some blueprints to Hoover Dam, but he arrived while Legion attacked the second time and he never was found back, and I need to find him. Nobody is allowed to know this, but I cant do it on my own. Thats why I asked you to come here, I need people I can trust and you are recruits so thats a start. You guys don't need to make a decision right now. tommorow night at 12 o'clock will I leave. I will see if you guys are next to the gate. If not I will continue without you, and If you guys come with me then you will make me a happy man, and get allot of adventure, caps and maybe even a medal. well what you guys think?

and with that said he drank his sarsasparilla till the bottom and offered all a ciggarete and himself too before leaving the fresh recruits alone he needed to take a nap. so he left the building and rolled out his sleeping back somewhere at the back of the camp where nobody would find him, behind some containers and slept in immidiatly for a good afternoon nap