493. Leaving Diamond City to Sanctuary

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With that, Danny left, and Sico turned back to his people. There one week left before they head back to Sanctuary. That was all the time they had, but if there that told them today was, they were making progress.

The days blurred into a relentless cycle of training, exhaustion, and incremental progress. Sarah, MacCready, and Robert had pushed the Diamond City guards harder than ever, turning their once-complacent guards into something resembling a real fighting force. The first few days had been rough—there were plenty of complaints, sore muscles, and more than a few bruises—but by the end of the week, there was a visible difference.

The guards stood straighter, moved with more confidence, and most importantly, they had started to trust each other as a unit. MacCready's sharp eye had improved their shooting, Robert's brutal but effective close-combat drills had given them a much-needed edge in hand-to-hand fighting, and Sarah's leadership had instilled the discipline they sorely lacked.

When the week finally came to an end, the recruits were battered, bruised, but undeniably better than when they had started.

Sico had spent most of the week overseeing their progress, but he had also found himself dealing with another kind of battlefield—paperwork.

As much as Sico preferred being out in the field, there were some things even he couldn't avoid. Danny, now fully embracing his role as mayor, had been drowning in paperwork, much of it involving logistics, budget approvals, and supply management for the growing city guard. Geneva, his efficient assistant, had been helping as much as she could, but even she had limits.

That was how Sico found himself sitting in Geneva's office, surrounded by stacks of papers, rubbing his temples as he tried to make sense of the bureaucratic mess before him.

"You know," he muttered, flipping through a particularly long document, "when I signed up to help Diamond City, I didn't think I'd be doing this."

Geneva smirked from behind her own pile of work. "Welcome to governance. It's not all speeches and heroic battles. Someone has to make sure the gears keep turning."

Sico sighed, signing off on yet another report. "Remind me why I'm here again?"

"Because you volunteered," Geneva replied with a hint of amusement.

"Did I?"

Geneva handed him another stack of documents. "You did when you said, 'Hey Danny, I'll help you out however I can.'"

Sico groaned. "I really need to stop saying things like that."

Despite his grumbling, he had to admit that what they were working on was important. A significant part of the paperwork dealt with officially recognizing Diamond City as part of Minutemen territory—not as a settlement under their direct control, but as a special jurisdiction.

That distinction mattered.

By becoming part of Minutemen territory, Diamond City would receive support in times of crisis—reinforcements, supplies, and strategic aid—but it would still retain its independence. This was a critical step in securing the city's long-term safety.

Danny had been wary at first, not wanting to appear as though he was handing over Diamond City to the Minutemen, but after discussing it with Sico and Geneva, he saw the benefits. Having the Minutemen as an official ally meant Diamond City wouldn't be standing alone the next time something like the Super Mutant attack happened.

As Sico scribbled his signature on another document, he glanced up at Geneva. "So, how's Danny handling all this?"

Geneva adjusted her glasses, her expression unreadable. "Better than I expected. He still second-guesses himself sometimes, but he's starting to trust his instincts. And he listens."

Sico smirked. "That's more than most leaders I've met."

Geneva gave him a look. "And what about you? You're leaving soon, aren't you?"

Sico exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah. The Minutemen need me back at Sanctuary. We've got too much going on to stay here any longer."

Geneva nodded, as if she had already expected that answer. "Danny's going to have to handle things on his own after you leave."

"He'll be fine," Sico assured her. "He's got you to keep him in line."

Geneva smiled slightly. "That's true."

On the last day, Sico, Sarah, MacCready, and Robert stood in front of the assembled city guard for one final review.

Danny was there too, arms crossed as he watched his newly trained guards stand at attention. There was a noticeable difference from the first day Sico had seen them—less hesitation, more confidence, and a hardened edge that hadn't been there before.

Sarah stepped forward first, her sharp gaze scanning the recruits. "You're not the same group of guards I met a week ago. Back then, you were soft, unorganized, and unprepared for the Wasteland's worst. Now? You're something else. Stronger. Smarter. More dangerous." She let her words sink in before continuing. "But training doesn't stop here. If you slack off, you'll lose everything you've gained."

MacCready stepped up next, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "And if that happens, I will come back to personally kick your asses."

A few of the recruits chuckled, but the message was clear.

Robert simply nodded in approval, his silent but firm presence enough to make his point.

Finally, Sico took a step forward. "Diamond City's got a chance now," he said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "But a chance isn't a guarantee. What happens next is up to you. You've got the training. You've got the tools. Now, it's time to prove that you can hold this city together when it matters."

Danny stepped forward. "And I'll be here to make sure you do."

Sico nodded, meeting Danny's gaze. "Good."

As the Minutemen prepared to leave, Sico found himself standing at the city gates, watching as Sarah, MacCready, and Robert finished securing their gear.

Danny walked up beside him.

"So," Danny said, "this is it?"

"For now," Sico replied. "But you know where to find us if you need us."

Danny exhaled. "Yeah. I do."

Sico extended a hand. "You're going to do fine, Danny."

Danny looked at the offered hand before shaking it firmly. "I hope you're right."

Geneva approached, arms crossed. "I expect you to keep your promise, Sico. If we call, you better answer."

Sico smirked. "Wouldn't dream of doing anything else."

Sico took one last look at Diamond City before turning his attention back to the task at hand. There was still work to do before they left. He exhaled and turned to Sarah.

"Sarah," he said, his voice firm but calm, "get the soldiers organized. Make sure everyone knows we're leaving tomorrow morning. I don't want anyone scrambling at the last minute."

Sarah gave a sharp nod. "On it. I'll run final checks and make sure they're ready to move at first light." Without wasting another second, she strode off, already barking orders at the Minutemen soldiers stationed around the city.

Next, Sico turned to Robert. "I need you to handle the vehicles. Make sure the trucks and Humvees are in top shape and loaded with enough supplies to last us until we reach Sanctuary. Fuel, weapons, rations—the works. We roll out with zero delays."

Robert cracked his neck, a satisfied grin on his face. "You got it, boss. I'll have the boys run full diagnostics and get everything packed up. We'll be ready to roll by morning." He gave a small salute before walking off, already calling over a few Minutemen engineers to help him with the preparations.

Sico finally turned to MacCready. "I need you to find Piper. Let her know we're leaving tomorrow and tell her to get her stuff packed."

MacCready raised an eyebrow. "You got it boss, I'll make sure to told her"

"Good," Sico confirmed.

As MacCready left to track Piper down, Sico took a deep breath. Things were finally coming together. The training had gone well, Danny had stepped up as a leader, and now, the Minutemen were ready to move on to the next stage.

That night, the city had an air of quiet anticipation. The Minutemen had gathered their gear, double-checked their supplies, and ensured the vehicles were in working order. The Diamond City guards, despite their exhaustion from training, stood watch with renewed confidence, their posture straighter, their movements sharper.

Sico sat near one of the trucks, sharpening his knife as he listened to the low murmur of voices around him. MacCready had returned earlier, reporting that Piper was indeed ready and had even packed extra supplies for the journey.

As the fire crackled in the night, Sarah sat down beside him, stretching her arms with a tired sigh.

"You think Diamond City's going to be okay?" she asked.

Sico nodded. "Yeah. They're not perfect, but they've come a long way. And Danny… he's got potential. He just needs to trust himself."

Sarah hummed in agreement, gazing into the flames. "Still feels weird leaving, though. We put in all this work, and now we just walk away."

"We're not walking away," Sico corrected. "We're moving forward. There's always going to be another fight, another settlement that needs help. We did our part here. Now it's time to do the same somewhere else."

Sarah smirked. "You almost sound like a real leader when you talk like that."

Sico chuckled. "Don't get used to it, beside I'm your leader."

Morning came faster than expected. The sun had barely started to rise when the Minutemen gathered at the city gates, their vehicles lined up and ready to move. Danny and Geneva stood nearby, watching as the troops prepared for departure.

Piper adjusted the strap of her bag and gave Diamond City one last look before turning to Sico. "So, where to first?"

Sico glanced at the road ahead. "Sanctuary. Then… we'll see where the Wasteland takes us."

With that, he climbed into the lead Humvee, the engine roaring to life. One by one, the vehicles followed, rolling out of Diamond City as its newly trained guards watched them go.

The convoy rumbled down the cracked and weathered roads of the Commonwealth, engines humming steadily as they made their way toward Sanctuary. The early morning sun cast long shadows over the wasteland, painting the ruins in hues of orange and gold.

Inside the lead Humvee, Sico sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The drive had been relatively quiet—aside from the occasional chatter on the radio and the distant echo of gunfire somewhere in the Wasteland, it was an uneventful trip. Which, given the state of the world, was a rare luxury.

After about an hour of driving, the familiar sight of Sanctuary came into view. What had once been a small, vulnerable settlement had transformed into a fortified stronghold. Towering metal walls stretched high into the sky, reinforced with thick steel plating and sharpened spikes to deter unwanted visitors. Watchtowers stood at key vantage points, their turrets scanning the landscape for any potential threats. The massive bridge that led into the settlement had been converted into a heavily defended gate, manned by alert Minutemen soldiers.

As the convoy approached the entrance, the guards on duty snapped to attention. Their uniforms were clean, their weapons well-maintained—a testament to the discipline and training that had turned the Minutemen into a real fighting force.

One of the guards stepped forward and saluted. "Welcome back, General."

Sico gave a small nod as he leaned back in his seat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Home sweet home."

Piper, seated beside him, chuckled as she adjusted her leather jacket. "Never thought I'd hear you say that about any place, but I guess Sanctuary's as close to home as it gets these days." She then stretched her arms before turning to Sico. "Listen, I'm gonna take Nat back home to Vault 111 first. She's been asking about it for a while, and I promised her I'd take her as soon as we got back."

Sico turned to look at her, nodding in understanding. "Take your time. You know where to find us when you're done."

Piper smirked and gave him a light punch on the shoulder before hopping out of the Humvee. "Try not to let the place fall apart while I'm gone, alright?"

Sico rolled his eyes but couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her make her way toward another vehicle, where her younger sister, Nat, was already waiting with an excited grin. The two sisters exchanged a few words before Piper took the driver's seat and sped off toward the Vault.

With that settled, Sico turned his attention to the supplies they had brought back from Diamond City. The trucks and Humvees were loaded with ammunition, rations, medical supplies, and other essentials that would go a long way in keeping Sanctuary well-stocked.

He turned to Sarah, who was already stretching after the long drive. "Sarah, get the supplies unloaded and put them back in the depot. Make sure everything's accounted for, and get a report to me when you're done."

Sarah nodded, already switching into work mode. "Got it. I'll have the teams start unloading now."

Without wasting any time, she strode off to where the Minutemen soldiers were already gathering, barking out orders to get the supplies moving. The men and women of Sanctuary quickly got to work, efficiently unloading the cargo and carrying the crates toward the supply depot.

Sico took a deep breath, letting the familiar sounds of Sanctuary wash over him—the hum of generators, the distant chatter of settlers, the clanking sound of metal as repairs and construction continued. Yeah, it was really good to be home.

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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:-