Since I like to tell long stories the word count forced me to redo what I originally wanted to do. Below is what I submitted. 
Senior Paladin Kevin Deshane spit onto the sand as he walked towards his troops. "Damn all the Elders to hell, you can take all they know about warfare and fit it in a fly's belly button and still have room for their brains," not really caring whether or not the Senior Knight or Senior Scribe tagging along with him would report his 'heretical' statement to the Steel Council.
His men were gathered expectantly around their rusting relics of a bygone era as he walked up. They could tell by the look on his face the news wasn't good. No one wanted to be the first to ask but Paladin Deshane knew what the question on their mind was. "We are saddling up boys and girls, The High Elder needs us to pull the Brotherhood's chestnuts out of the fire again."
Paladin Deshane knew the junior paladins wouldn't be too pleased, most had been happy here in Bunker Maxson kicking the snot out of the NCR. Many in his unit had gotten used to the ease in which they could defeat any NCR attack. The very perfection of their teamwork was probably the reason second platoon got tapped for this mission in the first place.
"O.K. troops, first I'm gonna tell you what General Brixley is telling us and then I'll tell you what I found out from a friend of mine in Communications. First: The High Elder and the Steel Council wants us to pack up everything, I mean everything down to the rolls of toilet paper in the latrines because we won't be back anytime in the near future, if ever."
"Second: We are to ready all vehicles for long distance movement and make sure they are completely combat ready."
"Third: All personnel are to make sure all their personal information is up to date before we move out." This last caused a stir among the paladins, since the only time that kind of order came down was when the Steel Council thought a lot of next of kin were going to have to be informed.
"Alright, so much for the Steel Council's load of horse dung, now the straight scoop." Paladin Deshane looked around to make sure no Head paladins or Elders were within earshot and motioned his men to gather tight. "We are not going to be attacking the NCR at the Hoover Dam, so you can put that rumor to bed."
Paladin Deshane let them go on a bit before dropping the big shoe. "Quiet down ladies, quiet down and listen up." He waited until they all tapered off and let them in on the bad news. "We have been at war with the NCR for years now and things could be better for the Brotherhood."
Paladin Deshane did not want to let things get totally out of hand so shouted them down with 'The Voice' that could be heard over the roar of tank guns and engines. "PIPE DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION." The junior paladins shut up so quick that he heard teeth click together. "I know we have had the threat of them hanging over our heads for years, but according to my cousin who is a scribe in Research and Development, the Brotherhood is about to lose this war, and the reason is that we cannot feed ourselves since the NCR has cut all trade routes in or out of Lost Hills."
"According to my friend in Communications the paladins can establish a trade route, but cannot protect the entire length, so the NCR Rangers eventually find the weak spot and destroy any caravans they can catch. So the caravan operators are now unwilling to try... even the Far-Go Traders will not attempt it. So unless the Brotherhood finds another way to feed ourselves we will lose due to starvation."
Junior Paladin Carlson raised his hand in the inevitable question. "Senior Paladin, why don't they just destroy Shady Sands like we did to the Khan's villages." Referring to the raiders the Brotherhood had wiped out.
Paladin Deshane had wondered the same thing himself but had to at least tell them the Steel Council's reasoning behind it. "The reason Carlson is that the High Elder thinks that those scumbags might be hiding certain technologies that could be important to our future so we have to take the city intact. Unfortunately, the siege that would entail is currently beyond our scope, once again, due to our lack of food."
The next question was from an unexpected direction. Normally if Paladin Richards said three words in a day, he seemed to think he was exceeding his quota. "Senior Paladin, any word on what the mission will entail?"
Paladin Deshane knew how bad it was going to be in trying to carry out their mission but did not want his paladins too discouraged when there was work to be done. "I can tell you that we are detailed to escort the Senior Scribe and Senior Knight accompanying me out east. Where exactly I don't know yet, and will not be told our final destination till we are underway." Paladin Richards just nodded his thanks and went on listening.
Once again junior paladin Carlson had to ask another question. "Senior Paladin, why is an entire platoon of paladins needed to escort them out east?"
This was the one question senior paladin Deshane was not looking forward to answering. "All five of the squads that were assigned, at various times, before to this mission were wpied out... so the High Elder decided to send an entire platoon for a mission this important."
Before he could continue Carlson burst out, "You mean General Brixley lost all five squads and didn't complete the misson? Just what in the name of god could do such a thing!?!?" Senior paladin Deshane just nodded and looked at the now very sober faces around him.
"Now lets get these rusting relics checked out and ready for the mission, and no one forget to update your personal data before we move out."
Senior Paladin Kevin Deshane spit onto the sand as he walked towards his troops. "Damn all the Elders to hell, you can take all they know about warfare and fit it in a fly's belly button and still have room for their brains," not really caring whether or not the Senior Knight or Senior Scribe tagging along with him would report his 'heretical' statement to the Steel Council.
His men were gathered expectantly around their rusting relics of a bygone era as he walked up. They could tell by the look on his face the news wasn't good. No one wanted to be the first to ask but Paladin Deshane knew what the question on their mind was. "We are saddling up boys and girls, The High Elder needs us to pull the Brotherhood's chestnuts out of the fire again."
Paladin Deshane knew the junior paladins wouldn't be too pleased, most had been happy here in Bunker Maxson kicking the snot out of the NCR. Many in his unit had gotten used to the ease in which they could defeat any NCR attack. The very perfection of their teamwork was probably the reason second platoon got tapped for this mission in the first place.
"O.K. troops, first I'm gonna tell you what General Brixley is telling us and then I'll tell you what I found out from a friend of mine in Communications. First: The High Elder and the Steel Council wants us to pack up everything, I mean everything down to the rolls of toilet paper in the latrines because we won't be back anytime in the near future, if ever."
"Second: We are to ready all vehicles for long distance movement and make sure they are completely combat ready."
"Third: All personnel are to make sure all their personal information is up to date before we move out." This last caused a stir among the paladins, since the only time that kind of order came down was when the Steel Council thought a lot of next of kin were going to have to be informed.
"Alright, so much for the Steel Council's load of horse dung, now the straight scoop." Paladin Deshane looked around to make sure no Head paladins or Elders were within earshot and motioned his men to gather tight. "We are not going to be attacking the NCR at the Hoover Dam, so you can put that rumor to bed."
Paladin Deshane let them go on a bit before dropping the big shoe. "Quiet down ladies, quiet down and listen up." He waited until they all tapered off and let them in on the bad news. "We have been at war with the NCR for years now and things could be better for the Brotherhood."
Paladin Deshane did not want to let things get totally out of hand so shouted them down with 'The Voice' that could be heard over the roar of tank guns and engines. "PIPE DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION." The junior paladins shut up so quick that he heard teeth click together. "I know we have had the threat of them hanging over our heads for years, but according to my cousin who is a scribe in Research and Development, the Brotherhood is about to lose this war, and the reason is that we cannot feed ourselves since the NCR has cut all trade routes in or out of Lost Hills."
"According to my friend in Communications the paladins can establish a trade route, but cannot protect the entire length, so the NCR Rangers eventually find the weak spot and destroy any caravans they can catch. So the caravan operators are now unwilling to try... even the Far-Go Traders will not attempt it. So unless the Brotherhood finds another way to feed ourselves we will lose due to starvation."
Junior Paladin Carlson raised his hand in the inevitable question. "Senior Paladin, why don't they just destroy Shady Sands like we did to the Khan's villages." Referring to the raiders the Brotherhood had wiped out.
Paladin Deshane had wondered the same thing himself but had to at least tell them the Steel Council's reasoning behind it. "The reason Carlson is that the High Elder thinks that those scumbags might be hiding certain technologies that could be important to our future so we have to take the city intact. Unfortunately, the siege that would entail is currently beyond our scope, once again, due to our lack of food."
The next question was from an unexpected direction. Normally if Paladin Richards said three words in a day, he seemed to think he was exceeding his quota. "Senior Paladin, any word on what the mission will entail?"
Paladin Deshane knew how bad it was going to be in trying to carry out their mission but did not want his paladins too discouraged when there was work to be done. "I can tell you that we are detailed to escort the Senior Scribe and Senior Knight accompanying me out east. Where exactly I don't know yet, and will not be told our final destination till we are underway." Paladin Richards just nodded his thanks and went on listening.
Once again junior paladin Carlson had to ask another question. "Senior Paladin, why is an entire platoon of paladins needed to escort them out east?"
This was the one question senior paladin Deshane was not looking forward to answering. "All five of the squads that were assigned, at various times, before to this mission were wpied out... so the High Elder decided to send an entire platoon for a mission this important."
Before he could continue Carlson burst out, "You mean General Brixley lost all five squads and didn't complete the misson? Just what in the name of god could do such a thing!?!?" Senior paladin Deshane just nodded and looked at the now very sober faces around him.
"Now lets get these rusting relics checked out and ready for the mission, and no one forget to update your personal data before we move out."
