Camp Liberty communists

Camp Liberty communists (referred to in files as summer camp Communists) are a revolutionary group of communists borne out of a pre-War DIA psychological operation to create communist sleeper agents and demonstrate the need for increased funding from the government. The plan backfired, as the conditioning remained after the Great War, leading to the emergence of a radical faction in Appalachia's Skyline Valley.

Background

The communists were originally innocent American children, chosen by the DIA to demonstrate the plausibility of China creating sleeper agents out of underage Americans. Codenamed Operation Sleeping Giant, the program included hiring communist-leaning political majors at Vault-Tec University, then brainwashing Pioneer Scouts at the remote Camp Liberty using a combination of subliminal footage and other means. The Scouts were conditioned to present a cover story before leaving the Camp, to keep their parents and general population unaware of what the DIA was doing. The phrase "The Sleeping Giant Awakes to find an unhappy world" accompanied by two bleeps^[1] could be used to reactivate the Scouts, turning them into hardline communists.^[2]

This was used after the Great War erupted, stranding a camping trip of Pioneer Scouts at the camp on October 23. The survival skills training course was likely a cover-up presented to parents, as both DIA agents and camp counselors were present on location.^[3] The Scouts witnessed the nuclear exchange on the way in, occurring in the distance. The DIA agents and camp staff met them at the gates, with the former promptly leaving after they lost radio contact. The counselors were left in charge and followed standard procedure: They played the subliminal messaging tape to the new arrivals, who joined the ranks of other campers who were at the camp for several weeks.^[4]

The situation quickly spiraled out of the counselors' control, as the Scouts realized learned from the DIA agents' notes and other leftover materials that they were victims of a DIA psy-op.^[2] Learning the activation phrase proved to be the key to their survival, as they set up a radio tower and broadcast it across the region, in a bid to reactivate Scouts and bring them into Camp Liberty as comrades, to rejoin the Cause.^[5] To further bolster their numbers, the council of Camp Liberty has decided to start capturing "capitalist Americans" and subject them to the same procedure the DIA exposed them to. Any receptive ones would join the ranks as brothers and sisters, others would be terminated.^[6]

Camp Liberty remained intact for the next quarter of a century, though the communists have remained largely confined to the Skyline Valley area. Anyone approaching the perimeter was informed in advance of what to expect. The Scorched Plague seemed to have passed Skyline Valley over, with the communists of Camp Liberty safe from its ravages. The influx of humans into the region after the Plague was contained by Vault 76 dwellers yielded new opportunities,^[7] though these have been wiped out by the storm unleashed by Hugo Stolz. It wrought havoc on the camp, destroying much of its fortifications and severely damaging its bunkhouse and other buildings. As a result, the council decided to establish a temporary housing area in the wild camping zone, while suspending other operations while they rebuilt the camp, improved its resilience, and monitored the storm's developments.^[8]

Organization

Camp Liberty communists operate under the principles of communism, led by a council, which makes collective decisions as to the operations undertaken by the group or strategic objectives.^[6] Soldiers are organized into Patrol Group units, which may be provided with collective goals to achieve, such as "recruitment drives": Capturing and bringing three to five recruits back to camp per week.^[9] They may also be assigned to assault operations, though the council also leaves room for additional volunteers to bolster their fighting ability and increase chances of success. Volunteers are not coerced, simply asked to come to the mess hall converted into a command center.^[10]

Outside of expansions, Camp Liberty communists participate in writing essays to gain Proletariat badges (replacing the Pioneer Scout badges),^[11] and have regular pamphlet reading sessions after guard duty.^[12]

Ideology

After over a quarter of a century, all of the original Scouts are grown adults, who follow the communist Cause with a single-minded dedication, believing in an imminent popular revolution.^[13][14] Their original upbringing is seen as full of lies,^[15] supposed to turn them into obedient slaves deproved of free will.^[16] Capitalists - anyone outside their ranks - are seen as an ever-present threat,^[17] demanding constant vigilance.^[18][19][20]

The original DIA programming instilling a hatred of capitalism^[21] has been bolstered by their own painful experiences: The disenfranchisement wrought by automation, which culminated in the automation riots, the greed and jingoism of the US government that led to the Sino-American War and eventually the Great War that consumed their families, all for the enrichment of a capitalist elite that rode out the destruction in the safety and comfort of Vaults. The promise of building a communist utopia out of the ashes of the devastation drove them on, enduring 12-hour shifts^[7] ready to die for the Cause.^[22]

As such, the communists are willing to imprison, torture, and kill anyone who could threaten this project.^[7] Anyone showing particular resistance could expect a transfer to "the Island" and "the Range" for target practice.^[23] The Island in particular is considered an unpleasant destination.^[24][25][26]

Outside relations

Due to their programming and years of experience, the communists are generally hostile to other factions. This also makes them equal opportunity predators of the south-eastern Skyline Valley, as they capture raiders, settlers, Blue Ridge caravaneers, and generic wastelanders without regard for their origin.^[27] Their original plans of expansion first assumed taking Skyline Valley,^[28][29] with further goals set across West Virginia: Lewisburg as a priority, followed by The Whitespring Resort and the National Isolated Radio Array. Targets of opportunity included the Rockhound, Kanawha Nuka-Cola plant, Poseidon Energy Plant WV-06, Camp Adams, Camp McClintock, and Foundation, with tentative plans to explore Morgantown.^[30]

Interactions with the player character

Although a substantial amount of backstory exists, Camp Liberty communists remain purely combat encounters centralized in the southeastern Skyline Valley.

Appearances

Camp Liberty communists appear in Fallout 76.

References