"Now, I would shake your hand, but you're still covered in muck, so let's just make it a verbal agreement." Afton says as he stands.

Terrence can only give a polite, yet restrained smile at this, all the while thinking 'Who do you think is the reason for that!' ​​

A few hours later :

Tamia, Veronica, and Anja had all returned to Big Mt to report the new task the former had received from House. This might be a faux pas in House's eyes, reporting his dealings to an outside party, but what did he expect? Tamia wasn't going to take her chances while trying to run through a literal artillery strike.

They'd been waiting around and resting while waiting for Afton to return, which he does a few hours after they received the task. As soon as Afton teleports in they quickly approach him, "Afton! The big man has decided to send Tamia to her death again!" Veronica greets, her words sounding sarcastic but accurately describing the task regardless.

Afton raises a brow, "Again? Let me guess, he wants you to attack Black Mountain in your underwear with a butter knife?"

Veronica smirks, "Kinky, but wrong. He wants her to run head-on towards Artillery fire without retaliating, and to ally with the group that'd been shooting as if they hadn't just tried to kill her." she quickly explains.

...

Afton crosses his arms, "I think I'd take my chances one Black Mountain..."

Tamia shrugs with a frown, still thinking on how to accomplish House's task, "Sounds like you just wanna see us run up Black Mountain naked. Also hoping to see a Super Mutant bukake while you're at it?"

"Okay, gross, first of all. And I'm pretty sure Super Mutants are impotent, so, whatever dreams you've had are impossible." he retorts getting a laugh from Veronica before continuing, "I'm guessing this has something to do with the Boomers then?"

Tamia nods while ignoring the anger induced flush of her cheeks, "Apparently they're almost able to bombard New Vegas as it is... That's kinda scary when you think about it."

"Huh... I honestly didn't think they had big enough guns for that..." he mutters.

Tamia sighs, "So, you got any advice for us? I'm not really sure how we're going to get through their artillery strikes... Maybe if we took some Power armour, Mmm, but then I'd need to learn how to use it... Maybe we could sneak up before they notice us?"

"Maybe we should hold up a massive white flag while approaching." Veronica adds, which honestly doesn't sound like all that bad an idea... Surely the Boomers wouldn't fire on surrendered targets?

Afton though just has a smug look on his face as the duo + silent ghoul discuss their options. Tamia eventually notices as her eye begins twitching at him in annoyance, "You got something to say?"

He nods, "You guys seem to forget where you are... Just think for a moment, if you had access to most technology, what would easily allow you to bypass the airstrikes?"

...

...

"Err, teleportation?" Veronica guesses.

Afton just shakes his head, "That'd require getting me or Dogmeat close enough to get the coordinates. Guess again."

...

...

"Run fast?" Tamia asks with no confidence to speak of.

"The answer is Stealth Boys, you brainless women!" he says while palming his face, ignoring their pointed glares at the mention of their gender, "They cannot bombard what they can't see... Use Stealth Boys to approach, and become visible when you approach their gates, then the Boomers would either be forced to fight you head-on, which would be stupid considering most of their weapons are highly destructive, or they would allow you to talk."

...

"Oh yeah..." Veronica mutters, wondering if she'd lost brain cells out in the desert. Maybe all that time spent in the sun was finally getting to her?

Afton just shakes his head at his sisters seemingly diminished intelligence and turns around, "Glados, how has the reconstruction of Stealth Boys been going?"

Glados's body pops out of the Think Tank wall as she goes to reply, "We have five operational Stealth Boys, but research on alternative power sources, increased battery capacity, and decreasing the overall size of the device has been nominal. I would suggest diverting attention from other projects if you wish for any meaningful progress." she quickly explains.

Afton scratches his cheek, "Yeah, don't do that. Stealth Boys are cool and effective, but not more important than robot armies, Power armour, and the other things in the works."

"Robot armies?" Tamia and Veronica simultaneously ask.

"Ah, ignore that for now..." Afton waves them off before diverting the conversation, "Could you retrieve the three Stealth Boys please?"

Glados nods her body and disappears, a minute later Spiderbots flood out of the Think Tank with three devices on their backs. Afton picks them up and passes them to the trio, "Remember, they're currently single use."

"Wait, didn't Glados say there were four Stealth Boys? Shouldn't we take another person then?" Veronica asks.

Tamia answers before Afton can, "The Boomers are an isolated group and clearly very trigger happy... Taking too many people could start a fight, something we're hoping to avoid, remember?"

Afton nods, "See, at least someone's thinking in this group... No offence Anja."

The ghouls shakes her head, "None taken, Sir."

Veronica on the other hand pouts, "I'm thinking, but someone's gotta play devil's advocate..."

"Whatever you say, sis... Now, you guys better get prepared, I got a mission myself I need to attend to." Afton says, but feels the need to explain due to the group's inquisitive looks, "The Van Graffs are having a 'vigilante' problem, and are willing to reward whoever solves it with some sexy gear. I'll probably be done by tomorrow, if not sooner." he says, giving a small wave as he goes to see how the repairs on his Power armour are going.