485. The Institute Intention

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As the guards kept watch, Sico felt the weight of his decisions settling on his shoulders. The Commonwealth was changing, and Diamond City had to be ready.

Sico kept his eyes locked on the approaching group, his mind already working through the possibilities. Refugees weren't uncommon in the Commonwealth, especially with raiders, mutants, and God knows what else tearing settlements apart. But that didn't mean he could just let them in without a second thought.

A few minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps signaled the arrival of Geneva and Danny. Geneva, as sharp as ever, was already scanning the group with a critical eye, while Danny adjusted his cap, his rifle slung over his back.

Danny reached Sico's side first, his expression serious. "What's the situation?"

Sico didn't take his eyes off the settlers as he answered. "From the looks of them? Settlers. They're not raiders—too disorganized for that, and they're not armed well enough to be a threat. Judging by their clothes, I'd say they've been on the move for a while. They're here looking for shelter."

Geneva crossed her arms, frowning. "That doesn't mean they can just walk in. Diamond City isn't a charity, Sico."

Before Sico could respond, the leader of the group stepped forward. He was a lean man in his late thirties, with short, dark hair and a face that carried the weight of exhaustion. Despite that, there was strength in his posture, like a man who'd been forced to keep going even when the world had given him every reason to give up.

"My name's Calvin," he said, raising his hands slightly in a non-threatening gesture. "We're just looking for a safe place to stay. Our town—Summit Hill, north of here—was hit by super mutants two weeks ago. There's nothing left."

Sico glanced at Geneva before looking back at Calvin. "How many of you made it out?"

Calvin's jaw tightened. "We had about fifty people when the attack started. We fought back as best we could, but we weren't prepared. They overran us in hours. The ones who survived scattered in different directions. This is all that's left of my group."

Sico's gaze swept over the settlers—men, women, a couple of teenagers. They weren't fighters. At best, a few of them had makeshift weapons, likely scavenged along the way.

He nodded slowly. "You ran into any trouble on the way here?"

Calvin sighed. "Raiders. We managed to avoid most of 'em, but we lost a few people to some trigger-happy bastards near Lexington. Food's running low, and we don't have much ammo left. We heard Diamond City was still standing… figured we'd take our chances."

Sico exhaled through his nose, thinking. He could feel Geneva's stare on him, waiting for his decision.

Danny shifted uncomfortably. "We've taken in refugees before," he muttered. "But that doesn't mean we can take in everyone who shows up."

Geneva nodded in agreement. "We have rules for a reason, Sico. We barely have enough supplies for the people we already have."

Sico turned to Geneva. "We also have a city that's better defended than most places in the Commonwealth. And we just finished strengthening those defenses, so we can afford to bring in more people—especially ones who are willing to work."

Calvin caught onto that last part quickly. "We don't expect a free handout," he said firmly. "We'll earn our keep. Some of us are farmers, builders… hell, I worked as a mechanic. Just give us a chance."

Sico studied the group again. They weren't just looking for a place to rest—they were looking for a home. And he wasn't about to turn away survivors who had already lost everything.

"Alright," he finally said. "You'll get a chance. But there are conditions."

Calvin nodded quickly. "Name 'em."

"First, no trouble. If you cause problems, you're out. Second, everyone works. If you've got skills, you use them. If you don't, we'll find something for you to do. Third, you'll be checked for diseases and injuries before entering the city. We can't risk an outbreak."

Calvin glanced at his people, then back at Sico. "Fair enough."

Sico turned to Geneva. "Get the medical team ready. We'll process them at the front gate." Then to Danny, "Get a few guards to keep an eye on them while we get things set up. Just as a precaution."

Danny nodded and motioned for a few of his men to stand by.

Geneva sighed but nodded. "Fine. But if we run into problems because of this, it's on you."

"I'll take responsibility," Sico said simply.

Geneva muttered something under her breath before walking off to make the necessary arrangements. Calvin exhaled in relief and turned back to his people.

"You heard him," he said. "No trouble. Do what they ask, and we'll be alright."

The settlers murmured in agreement, a few even looking hopeful for the first time in a while.

Sico glanced up at the sky. The sun was starting to dip lower, casting long shadows across the Commonwealth. Another day in Diamond City, another challenge faced.

Sico let out a breath, watching as Geneva and Danny began organizing the process for the new settlers. He had no illusions about this being easy—more people meant more mouths to feed, more potential for trouble. But it also meant more hands to help, and if they were willing to pull their weight, they'd be an asset to Diamond City.

Just as he was about to turn away, a familiar voice cut through the evening air.

"There you are, Blue. I've been looking all over for you."

Sico turned to see Piper Wright striding towards him, her ever-present brown trench coat flapping behind her. The reporter was out of breath, a rare sight considering she practically lived for chasing down a story.

"What's going on, Piper?" he asked, brow furrowing at her urgency.

"You need to come with me. Now." She barely gave him time to react before she grabbed his wrist and started pulling him toward the city.

Sico held his ground. "Hold on. What's this about?"

Piper glanced around, lowering her voice. "It's about the Institute."

That was all she needed to say.

Sico exchanged a glance with Danny, who had overheard. Danny gave a subtle nod, signaling he'd handle things here. With that reassurance, Sico let Piper lead him away, weaving through the streets of Diamond City.

The market was still alive with activity despite the approaching dusk. Merchants called out their final offers of the day, while guards patrolled the upper levels of the stadium-turned-settlement. But something felt… off. There was a tension in the air, like a storm was about to break.

Piper pulled him into the alley that led to her home and practically shoved him through the door.

Inside, the small space was already occupied. Sitting at the table, looking like she hadn't rested in days, was Nora.

She looked up as he entered, her blue eyes dark with worry. "Sico. Thank God."

His stomach clenched at her expression. "What happened?"

Sico's stomach tightened at the urgency in Nora's voice. He had seen her battle-worn before, had fought beside her against raiders, super mutants, and all the horrors of the Commonwealth, but this was different. There was something in her eyes—something deeper than exhaustion. Fear.

Nora took a shaky breath, rubbing her temple as if trying to collect her thoughts. Piper, standing beside her, had crossed her arms, her usual sharp-witted attitude replaced by quiet concern.

"I just came back from the Institute," Nora finally said, her voice low but steady. "I managed to get inside and listen in on one of their high-level meetings."

Sico leaned forward. "Shaun was there?"

Nora nodded grimly. "Yeah. He led the meeting himself."

That was enough to make Sico's pulse quicken. Shaun—the son Nora had been searching for, only to find him grown and leading the very organization responsible for so much pain in the Commonwealth. It was a cruel twist of fate, one that still weighed heavily on her, no matter how much she tried to hide it.

"They were talking about the Minutemen," she continued. "And not in a good way."

Sico's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"The higher-ups came to an agreement. They see the Minutemen as a threat to their cause. A big one."

Sico swore under his breath. The Minutemen had been growing in strength ever since their agreement with Brotherhood of Steel to split the region. They weren't just scattered farmers with pipe rifles anymore—they had settlements, artillery, and trained fighters. And more importantly, they had Nora. She had rallied them from near extinction, making them something the Commonwealth could believe in again.

But that also meant they had drawn the Institute's attention.

"The SRB wants to go to war," Nora said, her voice bitter. "Justin Ayo—the head of the Synth Retention Bureau—was the most vocal about it. He practically demanded it."

Sico let out a slow breath, processing what that meant. The SRB was already the most ruthless branch of the Institute, responsible for hunting down escaped Synths, assassinating 'problems,' and ensuring absolute control over their creations. If Ayo wanted war, then things were going to get ugly. Fast.

"What did Shaun say?" he asked carefully.

Nora's jaw clenched. "He didn't shut it down."

Sico frowned. "But he didn't approve it either?"

"No, but that doesn't mean much. He told them he wanted to 'assess all possible outcomes' before making a final decision. But knowing him, that's just stalling for time while they prepare."

Piper, who had been silent up until now, scoffed. "So what? They're gonna send their Synth goons to start wiping out Minutemen settlements? That's what they do, right? Snatch people in the night and replace them?"

"It could be worse than that," Sico muttered. "If the Institute goes all in, we're not just looking at infiltration and kidnappings. We're talking about full-scale extermination."

Silence fell over the room, the weight of his words settling in.

Nora ran a hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. "We need to be ready. If Shaun gives the order, the Minutemen could be facing an army of Synths, coursers, and God knows what else."

Sico stood up and began pacing, his mind already working through the possibilities. They couldn't just wait for the Institute to make their move. If they did, they'd be caught off guard, and that would mean death for a lot of good people.

"We need to warn Preston," Sico said finally. "And we need to start preparing for war."

Nora nodded. "Agreed. We have the Castle fortified, but we need more than that. We need weapons, armor, supplies… hell, we need every settlement on high alert."

Sico stopped pacing and turned to Piper. "I need you to call Preston, Sarah, Robert, and MacCready. Get them here now."

Piper nodded, already moving. "Got it, Blue. I'll send word." She slipped out the door and into the dimly lit alleyway, leaving Sico and Nora alone.

Nora sat down at the small, rickety table in the middle of the room, rubbing her forehead. The weight of the situation was pressing down on her. She had been through hell before, but this was something else entirely.

Sico pulled out a chair and sat across from her, his fingers tapping against the wooden surface. "You okay?"

Nora let out a dry chuckle. "Not even close." She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with something that made his chest tighten. Fear, yes. But also guilt. "It's Shaun, Sico. He's my son, and I… I don't know if I can do this."

He didn't answer right away. This wasn't just about the Minutemen or the Commonwealth anymore—this was personal. He had seen how hard it was for Nora to accept the truth about Shaun. How she had fought so hard to find him, only to realize he was already lost to her.

"You don't have to decide that right now," he said quietly. "But we do have to be ready for whatever comes next."

She nodded slowly, but he could see the turmoil in her expression. Before he could say anything else, the door creaked open and Piper stepped back in. "They're on their way," she said, closing it behind her. "Preston said he's bringing Sturges, too. Figured we might need his input."

Sico nodded. That was a good call. Sturges was one of the best minds they had when it came to technology and defenses. If they were about to go to war with the Institute, they needed every advantage they could get.

It didn't take long before they heard footsteps outside. The door opened, and Preston Garvey stepped in first, followed closely by Sarah, Robert, MacCready, and Sturges. The room suddenly felt a lot smaller.

Preston's face was serious as he took in Nora's expression. "Alright," he said, crossing his arms. "What's going on?"

Sico leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "The Institute is planning something. Nora just got back from infiltrating one of their meetings. The SRB—Justin Ayo—wants to go to war with the Minutemen."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Preston exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening. "Damn it. I was afraid of this."

"They see us as a threat," Nora added. "And they're right to. We've been growing stronger. We're not just scattered farmers anymore—we have settlements, artillery, trained fighters. If they don't stop us now, they know we'll only keep getting stronger."

Robert swore under his breath. "So what? They're gonna start replacing Minutemen with Synths? Start wiping out settlements?"

"It could be worse than that," MacCready muttered, leaning against the wall. "If the Institute wants a war, they won't just send a few Synths to screw with us. They'll hit us hard. Maybe even hit the Castle itself."

That thought sent a chill down Sico's spine. The Castle was their stronghold, their symbol of resistance. If the Institute wanted to send a message, taking it down would be the fastest way to do it.

Sico took a deep breath, letting the weight of the situation settle before speaking. "We need to be smart about this," he said, his voice low but firm. "We can't just start rallying every settlement and moving people around all at once. If the Institute sees us suddenly fortifying everything, they'll know something's up."

Nora nodded, her expression dark. "And if they figure out I was the one who got that intel… they'll come for me."

That was the last thing any of them wanted. Nora had risked everything by infiltrating the Institute. If they so much as suspected her, she'd disappear—either replaced by a Synth, locked away in some underground lab, or worse.

"So we keep things low profile," Sico continued. "We don't make any obvious moves. We reinforce defenses little by little, move people out of vulnerable settlements under the guise of 'helping out at the Castle' or other settlements that need extra hands. We make it look natural."

Preston sighed, rubbing his chin. "That'll take time."

"I know," Sico said. "But it's better than tipping them off and having Synth squads dropping in on us before we're ready."

MacCready frowned. "Yeah, but what if they're already watching us? The Institute doesn't exactly play fair. For all we know, there's a damn Synth in this room."

The room fell into a heavy silence. It was an ugly truth they all had to acknowledge. The Institute's infiltration tactics were what made them so dangerous—half the time, people didn't even realize they had been replaced until it was too late.

"We take precautions," Sico said after a moment. "We do quiet check-ins with our key people, make sure no one's acting suspicious. And if we find anything off…" He let the words hang in the air. They all knew what that meant.

Robert sighed. "This is turning into a damn nightmare."

"We always knew this was coming," Piper said. "The Minutemen getting strong enough to actually stand against the Institute? Of course they were gonna come after us eventually."

Sico leaned forward, looking at each of them. "We don't let fear control us. We use it. We stay alert, we stay careful, and when the time is right, we hit them before they can hit us."

Nora let out a slow breath. "Then we better get to work."

The room remained tense, but there was a quiet determination in everyone's eyes. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but they had no choice but to walk it.

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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:-