477. Choosing a Mayor for Diamond City PT.1

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Together, they left the radio room, stepping back into the heart of Diamond City. The work never stopped, and neither could they. The Commonwealth was changing—and Sico intended to be the one shaping its future.

Sico adjusted the strap on his shoulder as he made his way through the streets of Diamond City, the usual hustle and bustle of the marketplace surrounding him. Even after all this time, the place still had that feeling of barely controlled chaos—merchants shouting over each other, scavvers haggling for parts, and kids darting between stalls. But beneath all that noise was a fragile order, one that could be shattered in an instant if the wrong kind of trouble came knocking.

And trouble was exactly what was on Sico's mind.

He passed by a group of Minutemen patrolling near the stadium walls, giving them a quick nod before heading toward the main gate. The checkpoint was busy as usual, a long line of settlers and traders waiting to get inside. The Minutemen had set up a proper inspection process, checking carts and packs for contraband—mostly chems, weapons, or anything that could pose a threat.

At the center of it all was Preston Garvey. He stood near the gate, hands on his hips, overseeing the inspections with that familiar no-nonsense look. He spotted Sico approaching and gave him a nod before turning back to a trader who was arguing with one of the soldiers.

"Look, I told you—these rations are clean," the trader was saying, clearly frustrated. "Ain't got nothin' but some canned beans, water, and a little Brahmin jerky."

The Minuteman checking the crate frowned and lifted one of the cans. "Then explain this," he said, shaking it. There was a faint rattle inside.

The trader's face fell. "Oh, come on, man, that's just a couple caps I stashed for emergencies. You know how it is out there."

Preston crossed his arms. "Next time, don't hide things in your supplies. We've had too many people trying to smuggle in things they shouldn't. You're clear to go, but keep it honest next time."

The trader muttered under his breath but grabbed his stuff and moved along.

Sico waited until Preston was done before stepping up beside him. "Busy morning?" he asked, glancing at the line.

Preston let out a sigh. "Same as always. Most folks just trying to get by, but every now and then, we get someone who thinks they can outsmart us." He looked Sico up and down. "You look like you got something on your mind. What's up?"

Sico exhaled and leaned against a nearby crate. "Just got word from Gage. Nuka-World's coming together—settlers are building, trade's picking up. It's turning into something real."

Preston raised an eyebrow. "That's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Sico admitted. "But it also means we're drawing attention. Gage spotted Brotherhood vertibirds scouting the area. They didn't attack, but they were definitely watching."

Preston's face hardened. "Damn. That's not a good sign."

"No, it isn't," Sico agreed. "We both know how the Brotherhood operates. If they're watching, they're planning. Maybe they just want to know what we're up to, or maybe they're looking for an excuse to move in."

Preston sighed, rubbing his chin. "If Maxson's still leading them, we know how he thinks. He won't ignore a settlement like Nuka-World, especially if he thinks there's tech or resources worth taking."

Sico nodded. "That's what I'm worried about. But that's not all—we haven't seen any signs of the Institute, but that doesn't mean they're not there. They could have infiltrated already, and we wouldn't even know it."

Preston muttered a curse under his breath. "You're right. We know how they work—synths could already be inside, waiting for the right moment."

"That's why I had Gage tighten security," Sico said. "They're doing random checks, keeping an eye on new arrivals. But if the Institute wants to make a move, we might not see it coming until it's too late."

Preston was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. Then he shook his head. "So what's the plan?"

Sico straightened up. "First, we keep watch here. If the Brotherhood is scouting Nuka-World, they might start poking around other places too. I want Minutemen patrols to keep an eye on the skies—any vertibirds flying too close, I want to know about it."

"Done," Preston said. "I'll have the patrols report any sightings immediately."

"Second," Sico continued, "we need to be ready for the Institute. I want to set up more security at key settlements—places they might target if they decide to make a move. We can't just wait for them to act."

Preston frowned but nodded. "It's a good call. We'll have to be careful, though. People are already paranoid about synths. The last thing we need is a panic."

"I know," Sico said. "We'll keep it quiet. But we can't afford to be caught off guard."

Preston sighed. "Alright. We'll start reinforcing defenses, keeping an eye out for both the Brotherhood and the Institute. But I have to ask—what's your endgame here, Sico? Nuka-World's growing, but if it keeps expanding, it's gonna turn into a real power. And when that happens, someone's gonna try to take it."

Sico smirked. "Then we make sure they can't."

Preston chuckled. "You make it sound so simple."

Sico shrugged. "It's not. But we've come too far to let someone else decide our future. The Minutemen are stronger than ever, Nuka-World is turning into a major hub, and if we play this right, we won't just be surviving—we'll be leading."

Preston looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's make it happen."

Sico crossed his arms, watching as another trader passed through the checkpoint, his Brahmin lazily trudging behind him. The flow of people into Diamond City never really stopped, a constant stream of travelers, settlers, and merchants looking for shelter, supplies, or opportunity. It was the lifeblood of the Commonwealth, and for better or worse, it made the city a target.

Turning back to Preston, Sico ran a hand through his hair, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "There's something else I need to talk to you about."

Preston raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Sico leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "I want you to start looking for someone to lead here. A solid, dependable person who can keep Diamond City stable after we finish up here and head back to Sanctuary."

Preston frowned slightly, glancing around at the walls, the guards, and the people moving about their business. "You think the place can't hold itself together?"

Sico shook his head. "It's not that. Diamond City's always been able to run itself in one way or another, but with everything going on—the Brotherhood watching, the Institute lurking, and Nuka-World growing into a real power—this city needs leadership it can trust. Not just a mayor who hides behind walls but someone who can actually protect it."

Preston exhaled, rubbing his chin. "Yeah… I see what you're getting at. With everything that's happened, people are still on edge. They need someone they believe in."

Sico nodded. "And personally, I think Danny—the old head of security—could be that guy."

Preston gave him a thoughtful look. "Danny? Hm. Yeah, I remember him. Good man. Honest, fair. Stood his ground even when things were bad under McDonough."

"That's exactly why I think he's the right choice," Sico said. "Danny's been here for years. He knows the city inside and out. He's not power-hungry, and he actually gives a damn about the people here. If we leave Diamond City in the right hands, it'll stay strong, and we'll have an ally in the heart of the Commonwealth."

Preston crossed his arms, considering. "It won't be easy convincing everyone. Some folks still remember him as just another security guy. He never really had authority beyond his badge."

"That's why we make sure he has the support he needs," Sico replied. "We talk to the right people—Merchants, guards, even the folks in the stands. If they see that we trust Danny, they'll trust him too."

Preston smirked. "So, we're playing politics now?"

Sico chuckled. "We've been playing politics since the day we decided to rebuild the Commonwealth. We just didn't call it that."

Preston let out a short laugh before nodding. "Alright. I'll start putting out feelers, see how people react to the idea. If we can get enough support behind Danny, he might just take the job."

Sico clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. We don't need to force anything, but I'd rather have someone we trust watching over this place than waiting until it's too late to fix a problem."

Preston sighed. "Yeah, I hear you. We've got enough to worry about as it is."

They stood in silence for a moment, both watching as the Minutemen continued their work. The Commonwealth was changing, and they were right in the middle of it.

Sico finally let out a breath. "Alright. I think we've done what we can here for now. Let's finish up and head back to Sanctuary."

Preston nodded. "Sounds like a plan. But something tells me this peace we've been holding onto won't last forever."

Sico smirked. "It never does."

Sico adjusted the strap on his shoulder and glanced around the marketplace. The smell of Brahmin meat cooking over an open flame mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies and old metal, a scent unique to Diamond City. He had spent enough time here to know that trust wasn't something freely given—it had to be earned, and it had to be backed up with results. If they wanted Danny to take charge, they needed to know how people really felt about him.

He turned to Preston. "Let's start asking around. We need to know if people actually trust Danny or if we're trying to push something they don't want."

Preston gave a nod, scanning the busy street. "Sounds like a plan. Might take some time, though. People here aren't exactly quick to open up."

Sico smirked. "Good thing we've got time, then."

They made their way through the marketplace, stopping at various stalls and speaking to locals. The first person they approached was Arturo, the weapons merchant. The old gunsmith was cleaning a rifle when Sico and Preston walked up.

"Ah, the General himself," Arturo greeted with a grin. "Come to upgrade your arsenal?"

Sico shook his head. "Not today. We're actually here to ask you about Danny."

Arturo's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Danny? What about him?"

"We're thinking of pushing him as a leader for Diamond City," Preston explained. "Wanted to see what people think of him."

Arturo wiped his hands on a rag, nodding slowly. "Danny's a good man. He ain't flashy, but he does his job. Kept things from falling apart when McDonough was exposed. Can't say I've got a problem with him."

Sico leaned on the counter. "But do you think people would follow him? Trust him to lead?"

Arturo exhaled through his nose. "That's a tough one. People here respect him, but he's never been in charge of the whole place. Might take some convincing."

Sico nodded, taking the response in stride. They needed more opinions.

Moving on, they stopped by Polly and her brother, who ran the Diamond City Surplus stand. Polly, ever the talker, was quick to respond.

"Oh, Danny? Yeah, he's alright. Kind of quiet, but he never gave me trouble. When McDonough went crazy, he made sure we didn't all get shot, so that counts for something."

Her brother, who was stacking a crate of supplies, shrugged. "Better than another idiot in charge."

They continued asking around, getting similar responses. Most people respected Danny, but there was hesitation about whether he could truly lead. That was a hurdle they'd have to clear.

As they were discussing their findings near the main gate, a voice suddenly cut through the air.

"You two really are bad at this, you know that?"

Sico and Preston turned to see Piper Wright standing there, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face.

Preston sighed. "And here we go."

Sico chuckled. "Alright, Piper, what are we bad at this time?"

She gestured between the two of them. "You're asking questions like a pair of detectives, but you're forgetting that people don't always tell you what they really think—not when they don't know what you'll do with that information."

Sico raised an eyebrow. "And let me guess, you have a better way?"

Piper grinned. "Of course I do. This is what I do, after all. If you want to know what people *really* think, you don't just ask them—you listen. You watch. You pick up on what they don't say as much as what they do."

Preston crossed his arms. "Alright, I'll bite. How would you do it?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Easy. I talk to people naturally, casually. People trust me—well, *most* people. They know I don't just ask questions for no reason. If I start asking about Danny, they won't think I'm trying to push some agenda."

Sico glanced at Preston, then back at Piper. "Alright. You help us figure out where Danny stands, and in return, you get the first interview if this all works out."

Piper grinned. "Now *that's* a deal I can get behind."

She adjusted her newsboy cap and motioned for them to follow. "Come on, let's go see what the people *really* think."

As they followed her back into the market, Sico had a feeling that this was going to be an interesting day.

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• Name: Sico

• Stats :

S: 8,44

P: 7,44

E: 8,44

C: 8,44

I: 9,44

A: 7,45

L: 7

• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills

• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.

• Active Quest:-