The Brotherhood-Gammorin War originated from the Unity crisis which occurred in New California earlier in the 22nd century. The foundational Lost Hills Brotherhood chapter first became aware of the Unity's super mutants in late 2161.[Non-game 1] Eventually, with the help of the Vault Dweller, the Brotherhood aided human settlements with driving the super mutant forces away from the region, and the Brotherhood itself began growing into a research and development powerhouse.[5]
At some point after the Unity crisis, the Brotherhood suffered an ideological schism; some members supported the sharing of technology and letting in outsiders, whereas others were opposed. The opposition was the majority, and so the minority were sent out on an expedition to the east to chase down the super mutants which had previously been driven off. The expedition was sent off in several airships, though many of them were destroyed in a storm, with many of the expedition leaders losing their lives in the process. Most of those who survived managed to limp to Chicago, where they established their base of operations.[6]
One airship crashed near Osceolla, carrying Paladin Latham. Latham and his fellow Brotherhood survivors were captured by super mutants led by Gammorin, who wished to have them executed for his entertainment. Realizing that many of the other mutants were unsatisfied by this, Latham saw his chance, and challenged Gammorin to a duel to the death.[7] Latham won, and the super mutants soon hailed him as their new leader.[8] Latham, coming to respect the super mutants for their loyalty and simplicity, accepted his new role and used his few surviving Brotherhood compatriots to organize the super mutant forces.[9]
Events[]
The conflict started when a Brotherhood patrol attacked a super mutant scouting party. Paladin Latham saw this happen firsthand; viewing the Brotherhood patrol as bloodthirsty and tribalistic, he took out his weapon to eliminate the patrol. With their deaths, Latham saw his new purpose - to become Gammorin, the "sworn enemy of the Menace from the West."[4] He commanded his forces to besiege the Brotherhood, using his knowledge of Brotherhood tactics to train his mutant forces and counter the Brotherhood's operations.[10] The Brotherhood would also send out their forces in turn. One particular squad, led by the Warrior, proved decisive in the course of the conflict.
Super mutants of the newly-christened Gammorin's Army attacked a Brotherhood patrol, who were only able to call in a distress call just in time before they were destroyed. The Brotherhood sent out reinforcements led by General Simon Barnaky to assist them. Despite initial success, they suffered great casualties and thus the Brotherhood concluded they had to retreat, sending in the Warrior's squad to help evacuate Barnaky's forces.[11] Upon the conclusion of the battle, the Brotherhood counted a loss of a total of six full squads. General Barnaky was captured by the mutants,[12] though the Brotherhood used its intelligence agents to try and pin down where he had been taken.[1]
Following a mutant ambush which killed most of the Brotherhood's intelligence operatives, the Brotherhood sent out forces including the Warrior's squad against the town of Jefferson on the belief that the site was used to fuel a weapons manufacturing plant. Their goal was twofold - destroying the generators in the town to render the plant inoperable, and forcing the mutants to a rout in order to chase them down to either their headquarters or to wherever General Barnaky was heild.[13] It would turn out, however, that the plant was not a weapons manufacturing site, but a research site where the super mutants were trying to counter super mutant sterility.[14] It would also be learned at the site that the super mutants were convinced that only they could stop a threat approaching from the west.[15]
Even though the site did not produce weapons, the Brotherhood still achieved their secondary objective when the super mutants split up into four groups in a rout. Two of these used erratic routes, causing the Brotherhood to dismiss them. The other two split up with one traveling deeper into the wastes and another heading towards a town. The Brotherhood chased down both.[16]
They would also salvage what they could of the super mutant research from Jefferson, with the results either being worthless if the site was destroyed,[17] or a potential bargaining chip if they remained intact.[18]
Brotherhood scouts tracked the mutant forces to Kansas City, where they held a base. The city, however, was also home to a ghoul town by the name of Gravestone, which formed from a large nuclear launching site. With the super mutants in the area and intending to attack to claim the weapon,[19] the ghouls reached out to the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood agreed to help, fearing that Gravestone might hold a nuclear weapon which the super mutants wanted to use. An initial squad was sent out by the Brotherhood to aid the settlement until two reinforcing squads could arrive.[20]
The super mutants would begin their assault by trying to break through the defenses and taking out the ghouls, sending out waves of assault forces - mainly targeting the south and west gates. After the waves were defeated, the Brotherhood used its forces to deal with the local commanders and their forces in Kansas City.[21] After their victory, the reinforcing squads arrived and kept watch over Gravestone. The ghouls, grateful for the help, gave their nuclear weapon to the Brotherhood. Using Beastlord and raider captives, the Brotherhood moved the nuke to an underground bunker lined with lead to keep the radiation contained. Unfortunately, this protection would not aid the captives, as the lack of Rad-X and Rad-Away meant the prisoners had to move the weapon without protection.[2]
If the Brotherhood did a good job in defending the ghouls, this would result in their gratitude. The ghoul leader freely shared all knowledge and documentation on their nuclear weapon with the Brotherhood in gratitude.[22] However, if the Brotherhood failed to defend the ghouls well, their bishop Defcon would refuse to share any knowledge on the weapon, forcing the Brotherhood's scribes to focus their time on the weapon instead of other research.[23]
The second mutant army which was routed from Jefferson made its way to Osceolla, where Gammorin was confirmed to be located. At this point, the Brotherhood had also discovered that "Gammorin" was actually Paladin Latham. With this knowledge, and the belief that General Barnaky was kept here, the Brotherhood sent out a squad to both eliminate Gammorin and rescue the captured general.[10]
The base was well-defended, with a minefield and several positions guarded by the mutants. However, the Brotherhood forces, spearheaded by the Warrior's squad, managed to enter. During this process, they encountered and killed Toccamatta, the super mutant who had captured General Barnaky; before his death, he told them that the general had been taken by another foe.[24] They also discovered Latham, who praised the Brotherhood for its willingness to let in outsiders, but condemned the Elders for not knowing of the Calculator or its army. He refused to stand down,[25] and was slain by the Warrior's squad as a result.
Outcome[]
The beginning of Brotherhood-Mutant cooperation
After the Brotherhood victory at Osceolla, Gammorin's Army imploded into multiple factions. Some began to fight for dominance, while others were willing to sign on with the Brotherhood. While severely weakened, many mutants still posed a threat and so the Brotherhood sent out patrols to hunt down the stragglers.[3] At least five super mutants are known to have joined the ranks.[26] With new knowledge of a threat further west, the Brotherhood would enter into another war soon thereafter.
Notes[]
The Fallout 3 Official Game Guide alludes to remnants of the Unity who fled east from New California and were ultimately destroyed or assimilated into the Brotherhood in the Chicago area,[Non-game 2] though this does not fully canonize the war as it is shown in Fallout Tactics.
↑ 1.01.1Debrief of St. Louis: "Welcome back, warrior. The Elders have assigned me to be your commanding officer until we have further news of General Barnaky's whereabouts. Your former superior was a fine general, one of the best that I had the honour to serve with. Losing him has been a heavy blow to us all. The Super-Mutant army destroyed a total of six full squads of our Brothers. This is a large setback for the Brotherhood, since those squads contained some of our finest veteran soldiers. We shall not forget our Brothers who fell in the line of duty, nor shall we let these feelings get in the way of our duty. Rest assured that Intelligence searches for the General, even as we speak. Until we have a lead on where the enemy is keeping him, you will be receiving all mission briefings from me. Go rest, warrior. You deserve it. After you are done recovering and grieving for our comrades, report back for your next mission. You are dismissed."
↑ 2.02.1Debriefing of Kansas City: "The initial Super Mutant offensive was crushed and Smear and Shadow Squads are now standing watch over Gravestone. The Bishop proved true to his word and has provided the nuclear bomb, which he kept calling "Plutonius," to the Brotherhood. The mutants' have experienced horrific losses lately and it will take some time for them to mount another attack of such magnitude. The bomb is on its way with captured Beastlords and raiders hauling the radioactive nuke to an underground, lead shielded bunker - under armed supervision of course. Unfortunately, with both Rad-X and Rad-Away supplies used only for high priority missions, the prisoners will have to manage as best they can. This is war, brother, and war is hell. But take heart - while they will die a delerious, vomiting death, they will do so to help restore civilization from the ashes. Not everyone in the Wasteland would be so lucky."
↑ 3.03.1Debrief of Osceolla: "Excellent work, warrior. Today is a day of joy and sorrow for the Brotherhood. Gammorin was a traitor, a murderer, and a deceiver, yet he was a Paladin. His brave deeds once brought much hope to the wasteland. Yet, something happened to him when the Great Storm ripped his airship from the Convoy and crashed it to the ground. From that moment, Gammorin was born, and the Brotherhood lost its favored son. With their leader dead, the mutants have split into factions. Some have turned to internal fighting as they wrestle for control, others have EVEN offered to join the Brotherhood. Though the mutant menace is far from ended, they are severely weakened. It will be some time before they gather their strength. Dagger Squadis out on patrol now hunting any mutant stragglers."
↑ 4.04.1Journal of Sir Latham, entry 2.4.2.: "My scouts engaged an enemy today. The sound of chain guns and explosions hasting my steps. What I observed in that fight changed me to the core of my being. My mutant scouts were engaged by a Brotherhood patrol. For the first time in my life, I was frozen in battle. I watched, curious even, tribal looking Brotherhood soldiers laughing manically as they cut down my new companions. My mutant companions, who dedicated their life to me as their leader. I lifted my weapon then, and fired again and again. When it was over, with Brotherhood corpses littering the ground, my head suddenly cleared. I now know my purpose and, more importantly, I finally know who I am. I am Gammorin - sworn enemy of the Menace from the West."
↑Brotherhood of Steel ending in Fallout: "The Brotherhood of Steel helps the other human outposts drive the mutant armies away with minimal loss of life, on both sides of the conflict. The advanced technology of the Brotherhood is slowly reintroduced into New California, with little disruption or chaos. The Brotherhood wisely remains out of the power structure, and becomes a major research and development house."
↑Fallout Tactics intro: "The Brotherhood found themselves at odds with their need for new blood versus their code of technological secrecy. The debate was lengthy. Finally, the elders ruled against sharing the technology with outsiders, convinced that they would endure as they had before. Further discussion was discouraged and the elders ordered the minority on a mission across the wastes. Super mutants, the foot soldiers of a conquered army, had been forced into retreat across the mountainous barrier to the east. The Brotherhood constructed airships and dispatched the minority to track down and assess the extent of the remaining super mutant threat. But disaster struck while crossing the great mountains. A great storm broke the main airship and flung it far from its course. The mighty ship was badly damaged. The smaller sections were torn from the main craft, never to be seen again. Many of the expedition's leaders were lost to the winds. The fraction of the crew that still survived, struggled to keep their ship aloft before finally crashing on the outskirts of a once thriving metropolis. A city once called "Chicago". Broken, scattered and scarred. They took stock of the situation and once again squared their shoulders to the task ahead. The Brotherhood had much to offer to the surrounding villages. They traded advanced medicines in exchange for food and labor. They traded protection from bandits in exchange for new recruits. In time, their ranks began to swell. Separated by distance and ideology from the main Brotherhood forces. The minority was free to forge a new "Brotherhood of Steel". One that reflected the ideals they had strived for all along. However, one's future in the wasteland is never certain. For an old power has awakened, also bent on making this land its own. Life in the Brotherhood is about to change."
↑Journal of Sir Latham, entry 10.1.4.: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 10.1.4. We have crash landed north of a camp occupied by Super Mutants. We believe these to be remnants of the Master's army as encountered by the first Vault Dweller. Although the archives mentioned that some of these Super Mutants might actually be friendly, we found little to like about these ones, especially the chief. The leader of this camp went by the name of Gammorin. We were set upon by his patrols soon after we pulled ourselves from the wreckage. Bound and gagged, the mutant guards dragged us back to their camp. Fully half of us had been killed by the crash, and now less than half of that survived the treatment of our mutant captors. We were scheduled to be killed for the amusement of Gammorin. It was not hard to see that several of the Super-Mutants were unhappy with this. In fact, I was amazed to discover that they were not as savage as I had been previously lead to believe. I challenged Gammorin to single unarmed combat. It was to the death. There could be no other outcome in my mind. If I die, it will in combat."
↑Journal of Sir Latham, entry 0.0.1.: "I am awake. To tell the truth, I remember little of the battle. The gash on my head, along with multiple fractures and breaks, paint an adequate picture. However, the mutants are now expecting me to lead them since I laid Gammorin to rest. I will record more later. I fear my brain has been set awry by the fight. I will try to rest until I can think clearly."
↑Journal of Sir Latham, entry 0.5.8.: "The Super Mutants are a simple but good people. While considered stupid by many, they show a loyalty stronger than I have seen in many humans. They live life the only way they know how. I have begun to organize these Mutant forces with the handful of fellow humans who survived the crash. I have recovered physically but I find myself prone to mysterious fits of anger and depression. But much worse are the hallucinations."
↑ 10.010.1Mission briefing of Osceolla: "Be at ease, Warrior. We have a confirmation on the whereabouts of the Super Mutant leader. As you are probably well aware, he calls himself Gammorin. We have recently linked him to the late Paladin Latham, one of the finest warriors present on the Great Air Convoy. He was believed dead, but after all these years, he has resurfaced under a different identity and a much different purpose. This revelation explains how the Super Mutants were able to counter our battle tactics and reconnaissance efforts, as Paladin Latham wrote many of the procedures that we use today. At first, we believed the mutants had successfully interrogated General Barnaky. But records prove that our methods were compromised before the general fell into enemy hands. Even now, many of the Elders are having trouble coming to terms with the fact that he has betrayed us and turned against the Order - but the truth must not be denied. You have two objectives for this mission. Your first objective is to assassinate Gammorin. He is a dangerous man and his knowledge of our inner working could prove our undoing. Without his guidance, the Super-Mutants will lack the leadership and discipline to be a continual threat. Your second objective is to recover General Barnaky. All facts indicate that he will be kept close to Gammorin. Assemble your squad immediately. Dismissed."
↑Mission briefing for St. Louis: "Come in, warrior. Please be seated. My name is General Dekker and I'll be briefing you for this specific mission. At 0900 yesterday, while on patrol, Fang Squad encountered a large contingent of heavily armed Super-Mutants in the region known as St. Louis. They fought bravely against this overwhelming force and managed to radio in a distress call right before they were annihilated. Eight battle-hardened squads led by General Barnaky rushed to the scene and are now in pitched combat with the Super-Mutants. While we were able to push them back initially, our losses have been staggering. As a result, we need to pull our forces out of there immediately. This battle is lost. General Barnaky has requested to have your squad rendezvous with his mobile command center and execute the evacuation of our wounded Brothers. I have read your file and I fully agree with General Barnaky's faith in you and your squad. From your lessons, you should recall that Super-Mutants are genetically engineered soldiers that are strong, tough to kill, and can easily carry weapons that most people would mount on assault vehicles. They are to be handled with extreme caution. You are going into heavy combat unlike any you have experienced before. Remember to follow General Barnaky's direction. He'll get you out safe. Take an APC and facilitate the evacuation of any wounded squad members. You are to get in and get out. No heroics. I want this to be a by-the-book search and rescue operation. Trust in your weapons, warrior, and they will see you home safely. Dismissed!"
↑Toccamatta at St. Louis: "Ho ho! This one's a General by his markings! Keep this one alive and bring him to my inner sanctum. I'll wager there's a lot of information in that shriveled, old gray head. Some hot pokers stabbing his manhood will loosen up his tongue I'll wager. It always does."
↑Mission briefing for Jefferson: "We have suffered another setback, Brother. Most of our Intelligence Operatives were killed in the surprise ambush last night. I can scarcely believe it myself, but we now have to accept the possibility that the Super Mutants are familiar with our covert methods. What is left of our intelligence ops, has discovered the location of one of the Super Mutant's staging areas. The mutants have a, semi-permanent military base in the rubble-strewn city of Jefferson (town). Additional reports describe multiple generators are supplying power directly to one large structure. Our scribes believe that this structure is a weapons manufacturing plant. You have two objectives to complete here, warrior. The first is to render all of these power generators permanently inoperative. Without power, their factory is useless. Your second objective is to force the mutants into a rout. If we can get them running, they'll lead us to either their main base or to General Barnaky. Gather your squad and leave immediately. Dismissed!"
↑Erkal: "Um. Who are you and why are you here? Oh dear! You're Brotherhood! Please don't destroy my research! Do you realize what kind of resources and luck it took to make a functioning lab like this? We are so close to a cure, so close. What would the Brotherhood gain by destroying this research? Please, just leave me and my equipment alone. We can't stop now. Do you understand? This is my people's last chance!"
↑Thelma: "You are such a fool! You think you're doing the wasteland a favor by fighting us? We are the wasteland's last chance. The menace from the west doesn't know pity, or remorse, or fear and it will not stop until everything is dead. Only Super-Mutants can stop this threat and we need this lab to solve our sterility problem to build up our numbers. You fight on the side of ignorance. I fight for salvation."
↑Mission Debriefing of Jefferson: "Good work Brother. It seems the scribes were mistaken. The mutants were conducting research on irradiated DNA and not manufacturing weapons at this location. But, you did the right thing by completing your objectives and destroying their power generators. There is an old Brotherhood saying, "Better to err on the side of caution". This is war, and they are the enemy. Further reports indicate that our maneuver was successful. The mutants are pulling out of the area in droves with the main force divided into four separate groups, each heading in a different direction. Two of the smaller groups seem to have an erratic course, quite possibly a decoy tactic. Of the remaining large groups, one is traveling deep into the wasteland, while the other seems to be heading towards a small town. We will have to investigate both."
↑Mission Debriefing of Jefferson if the research is destroyed: "What I do not understand is why you chose to destroy the mutants' laboratory equipment. The research towards the problem of mutant sterility could have proven to be a strong bargaining chip in our dealings with the mutant army. Repo Squad has been analyzing what is left of the wreckage, but preliminary reports have so far been worthless. In the future, you might consider putting the Brotherhood's needs ahead of your destructive impulses. Dismissed!"
↑Mission Debriefing of Jefferson if the research is intact: "I also want to inform you that Repo Squad has recovered the mutant's scientific equipment back to our base where research will be allowed to continue on mutant sterility. If we can find the cure it may prove to be quite the bargaining chip. Well done, Warrior. Well done. Dismissed."
↑Defcon: "Greetings. I am Defcon the second, son of T-minus, welcome to the holy land of Gravestone. Your Elder's want Plutonius, our idol of the supreme nuclear power. The mutants want Plutonius too, but they have no respect for our launch."
↑Mission briefing of Kansas City: "At ease Brother. Scouts have followed one of the fleeing mutant groups to Kansas City. As we suspected, we have discovered another mutant base. But, an assault on this compound will have to wait, for our scouts have made quite a discovery. One of our scouts stumbled upon the ghoul town of Gravestone. What little is known about the town suggests that it was a major nuclear launch site before the war. The peaceful ghoul population, which resides there, are suspected to be directly descended from the original silo staff. They are seeking our help due to Super Mutant attacks. These attacks mean the Super Mutants are after something the ghouls have. This leads us to believe that "something" might be an intact nuclear bomb. I shudder to think what the Super Mutants would do with such a destructive device. You will go to Gravestone and talk with the ghoul Bishop. Assure him that we will defend him and his town in exchange for the very bomb coveted by the Mutants. An attack is imminent and it will take some time to get enough squads to fully safeguard the town. Your squad must hold off the mutants until Smear and Shadow Squads arrive. Protect the ghouls of Gravestone and don't let the Bishop die. His knowledge of the nuke will be all we have. We will send Repo Squad to collect the Nuke when the Bishop consents. The Quarter-Master will supply you with some Rad-X and Rad-Away. We advise you to monitor your radiation levels at regular intervals. Dismissed."
↑Debriefing of Kansas City with few ghoul casualties: "Only a handful of Gravestone's ghouls died during the Super-Mutant siege. The Bishop thinks his "pagan god" is responsible for this and will now freely give any documentation and knowledge about the nuclear device. This will save our scribes the time to research the bomb and allow them to continue on other high priority projects. You are setting the standard for excellence, Brother. You are dismissed."
↑Debriefing of Kansas City with high ghoul casualties: "Many of Gravestone's ghouls now rest with their pagan god. While we weren't planning on getting any recruits from them, the bitter Bishop refused to give us any information or documentation on the bomb's properties. Our scribes should be able to uncover the device's secrets over time, but now, our other research projects will suffer. Your inability to fully carry out your orders has been documented. Dismissed!"
↑Toccamatta: "Gammorin? *pant pant* Gammorin, is that you? I failed you my lord. AARRRGGGHHH! *cough* We all failed you... Whole platoon wiped out by that one monster... They crushed us... those things... they don't feel pain... *cough* ...I used to... think the same thing once. They took my prisoner, General Barnaky... I didn't have time... get any information from him. He's a tough nut to crack all right... *chuckle, cough, sharp inhale* don't like mutants much, either... You should've seen it, Gammorin... It looks like an angry god... breaths fire and death... *cough* ...my death. I'm going to die. I *sputter* don't hurt any more. Why is it so bright? I hope it's not that damn robot again... Master..."
↑Latham: "Welcome brothers. Welcome. What a fine bunch of soldiers I see before me. If only the West Coast Elders could see you. They would have finally agreed with us about sharing the Brotherhood's wealth of education and technology. But I digress. Do you believe you can stop the Menace from the West? Your eyes give you away "brother." They tell me you don't even understand who or what the Menace is. The Elders have always been blind to what is not in front of them. But it ends here. The General is not here for you to save, I'm afraid. And you cannot save me... or yourself. Now, show me what you've learned!"
↑Fallout Bible 0: "2161 October A Brotherhood of Steel patrol comes across a dead super mutant in the badlands. They take the corpse back to the Scribes, and Head Scribe Vree begins her examinations of the super mutant."
↑Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.71: "Elder Owyn Lyons" "Lyons, 75, was already highly decorated when he set out from the order's West Coast headquarters, leading a party of soldiers on a mission to reestablish contact with the 'Eastern Brotherhood.' He discovered this abandoned Pentagon military complex. The presence of Super Mutants sent a chill up the collective spine of the Brotherhood; these weren't the children of the dreaded Master, nor were they the remnants of the band that fled east and were ultimately destroyed (or assimilated into the Brotherhood of Steel) in the Chicago area. No, this was a new breed of Super Mutant, one with a local origin. But where did they come from? What did they want? How were they reproducing? Elder Lyons was ordered to discover the source of this new Super Mutant infestation and wipe it from the face of the earth. Recent weeks have seen him galvanize his 'Pride' to thwart the remnants of the Enclave forces, and to provide drinking water to all." (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
