500. Preparing to Count How Many People Live at Minutemen Territory

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As Albert left, Sico leaned back in his chair, staring at the pile of unfinished work. He sighed, picked up his pen, and got back to it.

The next day at Central Bureau, Sico sat in a sturdy, if slightly worn, chair inside Magnolia's office, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as she sorted through a thick folder of financial reports. The room smelled of old parchment and ink, with ledgers stacked neatly on her desk. The Central Bureau can still be called relatively new, but it had quickly become the beating heart of the Minutemen's administration, handling everything from supply logistics to people census. Today, however, the topic was money.

And money was something they never seemed to have enough of.

Magnolia finally looked up from the papers, her expression serious. "Alright, General, here's the situation." She placed a report in front of him, tapping a figure at the top. "The Minutemen's treasury currently holds 234,567 caps."

Sico leaned forward, scanning the document. It detailed the revenue from selling surplus armor, weapons, and crops across the Commonwealth. Their growing influence had allowed them to maintain a steady cash flow, but Sico could already tell it wasn't enough.

"That number looks decent," he said. "But I'm guessing there's a 'but' coming."

Magnolia sighed, crossing her arms. "There's a big 'but.'" She grabbed another paper and slid it over to him. "We have too many expenses. The Minutemen are growing, and we're paying more people than ever—soldiers, engineers, medics, farmers, messengers. Not to mention maintenance for our transportation, weapons, armors, and the power armors, construction for new settlements, and resupplying the ones already under our protection."

Sico exhaled through his nose. "Yeah, I figured. So what's the shortfall?"

"At the current rate of spending, we'll be out of money in less than two year," Magnolia said bluntly.

Sico let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's worse than I thought."

Magnolia nodded. "It's unsustainable, General. If we don't find a stable income source, we won't just run out of caps—we'll lose credibility. Soldiers don't fight for free, and settlements won't follow a faction that can't protect them."

Sico tapped his fingers against the wooden desk, thinking. He already had a suspicion about where this conversation was headed.

"You're about to tell me we need taxes, aren't you?"

Magnolia gave him a pointed look. "You already started it in Diamond City. It's time we expanded it."

Sico leaned back, considering her words.

A tax. The word alone felt heavy.

Taxes weren't popular. Even if it was a small amount, people would grumble. They were used to the old ways—bartering, scavenging, and surviving. The idea of giving up a portion of their caps for protection might not sit well with everyone.

But Magnolia was right. The Minutemen weren't just a militia anymore. They were the government in all but name, and governments needed revenue.

"What's your proposal?" Sico asked.

Magnolia pulled out another document. "A simple tax system. Five caps per person per month for those living outside Sanctuary, and ten caps per person for those inside Sanctuary."

Sico raised an eyebrow. "Why the difference?"

"Sanctuary gets more direct protection, infrastructure, and resources," Magnolia explained. "It's our capital. We keep it secure, we maintain its roads, and it has more amenities than other settlements. A slightly higher tax makes sense."

Sico nodded slowly. "Five caps a month isn't much, but with our numbers…" He did some quick math in his head. The Minutemen's influence stretched over dozens of settlements, with thousands of people under their protection. Even at a modest estimate, this tax could generate tens of thousands of caps a month—enough to cover wages, supplies, and future expansion.

"It's reasonable," he admitted. "But people won't like it."

Magnolia smirked. "People never like taxes. But they'll tolerate it if they understand what they're paying for."

Sico sighed. "Alright. How do we implement it?"

Magnolia flipped to another page. "We start with a census. We need accurate numbers on how many people live in each settlement. Then, we assign collectors—trusted individuals, preferably locals, so there's less resistance. We also need a secure system for handling the caps to prevent corruption."

Sico frowned. "What if people refuse to pay?"

Magnolia shrugged. "Then they don't get Minutemen protection. If a settlement doesn't contribute, they can't expect us to defend them for free."

Sico sighed again, rubbing his face. He hated this part of leadership.

He didn't want to strong-arm people into paying, but he also knew the harsh reality of the world they lived in. Protection cost money. Supplies cost money. And without a steady income, the Minutemen would collapse.

"Alright," he finally said. "We'll do it. But we introduce it carefully. I'll make a speech explaining why we need it—transparency is key. If people understand where their caps are going, they'll be more willing to pay."

Magnolia smiled. "That's why you're the General."

Sico chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Now, let's figure out how to roll this out."

They spent the next few hours finalizing the details. A team would be assembled to conduct the census, and tax collectors would be trained to handle the process fairly. Sico would personally visit major settlements to explain the tax, ensuring people understood its purpose.

It was going to be a challenge, but if they pulled it off, the Minutemen would have the stability they needed to truly rebuild the Commonwealth.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Sico leaned back, stretching his sore muscles. "Alright. Let's get started."

Magnolia nodded, gathering the papers. "We'll make this work, General. You'll see."

Sico smiled faintly. "We have to."

Sico leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he glanced at the financial reports once more. He could already feel the pressure of this decision pressing down on him.

"This won't work if we don't have a right people that could led the team to do an accurate census," he said, looking up at Magnolia. "We need someone reliable to lead it—someone who won't be swayed by bribes, intimidation, or personal bias."

Magnolia nodded slowly. "And you've got someone in mind?"

Sico exhaled. "Nick Valentine."

Magnolia's expression didn't change immediately, but after a few seconds, she raised an eyebrow. "Nick? As in, the detective Nick Valentine?"

"The same," Sico confirmed. "He's got experience investigating and navigating the Commonwealth. He's fair, he's sharp, and most importantly, he won't be easy to intimidate. If someone's trying to cheat the system, Nick will sniff it out."

Magnolia crossed her arms, frowning slightly. "I won't argue that he's a good choice in terms of integrity, but are you sure? He's a Gen 2 synth. A lot of people still don't trust him—hell, some are downright afraid of him."

Sico let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. He knew this would be an issue, but he had already thought it through.

"Yeah, I know," he admitted. "But that's exactly why this is the right move. We need to set a precedent. If the Minutemen are truly going to be the governing body of the Commonwealth, then we can't be playing into people's prejudices. Nick is more human than half the damn people I've met. And if we let fear dictate our choices, then we're no better than the Institute."

Magnolia studied him for a moment before leaning back in her chair. "You really believe in him."

"I do," Sico said firmly. "And more importantly, I trust him. This census is too important to leave in the hands of someone who might manipulate the numbers or let their personal biases affect the results. Nick will do the job right."

Magnolia was quiet for a moment, tapping her fingers against the wooden desk as she considered his words. Then, finally, she nodded.

"Alright," she said. "If you're willing to vouch for him, I'll support it. But we need to be smart about this. If Nick's leading the census, we have to make sure he's protected."

Sico nodded. "That's why the census team will be under the protection of the Commandos."

That made Magnolia pause. "The Commandos?"

Sico nodded again. "They're the best we've got—highly trained, disciplined, and effective. If there's any resistance to the census, they'll handle it. And their presence should deter any idiots who think they can take advantage of Nick or the others."

Magnolia's expression remained skeptical, but she didn't argue. "You're putting a lot of resources into this."

Sico smirked. "That's because this isn't just about numbers. It's about legitimacy. If we're going to implement a tax system, we need the census to be airtight. No corruption, no manipulation—just facts. We're not running some raider gang shaking people down for caps. We're building something real."

Magnolia exhaled sharply through her nose, a sign that she was still processing everything. But after a few seconds, she smirked slightly. "You're a stubborn bastard, you know that?"

Sico grinned. "I've been told."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Fine. I'll start organizing the logistics for the census team. But you should go talk to Nick yourself. If he's going to take this job, he needs to hear it straight from you."

Sico nodded. "I was planning on it."

He pushed himself up from the chair, rolling his shoulders to shake off some of the exhaustion that still lingered from the previous night's work. "Thanks, Magnolia. Let's get this rolling."

"Just don't make me regret this, General," she said with a smirk.

Sico chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Sico made his way through the halls of the Central Bureau, boots clunking against the wooden floor as he headed toward the intelligence wing. The Minutemen had carved out this section of the old pre-war building to house their scouts, spies, and codebreakers—essentially, the eyes and ears of their growing government.

The air was thick with the scent of old paper, ink, and the faint aroma of coffee, an efforts that the intelligence staff put in on the long hours. He passed several desks piled high with reports, their occupants hunched over, scribbling down notes from the latest patrols or intercepted radio transmissions. A few nodded in greeting as he walked by, recognizing their General but too busy to exchange pleasantries.

At the far end of the corridor was a door marked "Intelligence Department – Authorized Personnel Only." Sico pushed it open without hesitation.

Inside, Nick Valentine sat at his desk, papers spread out before him in neat stacks. His synthetic fingers clacked against a typewriter, filling out yet another report. Across from him, Ellie Perkins, his ever-loyal secretary, flipped through a ledger, muttering under her breath as she compared figures.

And, as expected, Piper was nowhere to be found.

Sico smirked. "Let me guess—Piper ran off again?"

Ellie looked up first, smiling when she saw him. "You know her, General. She says she's a commander, but she prefers being out in the field. That leaves Nick here to do the real work."

Nick didn't look up, just let out a low chuckle. "Guess that makes me the responsible one. Who would've thought?" His synthetic yellow eyes finally flicked up from his report, scanning Sico. "But I doubt you came all the way here just to complain about Piper."

Sico pulled up a chair, resting his arms on the desk. "I need you for a job."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Not every day the General of the Minutemen personally asks me for something. What kind of job?"

Sico took a deep breath. "We're about to implement a tax system."

Nick let out a low whistle. "Now that's a loaded sentence."

"Tell me about it," Sico muttered. "But if we want the Minutemen to last, we need stable funding. No more scraping by with whatever we can sell off or trade. That means knowing exactly how many people live under our protection. We need a census. A real one."

Nick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "And you want me to lead it?"

"I need you to lead it," Sico corrected. "You're the only guy I trust to get this done right. No bribes, no intimidation, no favoritism. Just the facts."

Nick studied him for a long moment, fingers tapping against his desk. Ellie, for once, remained silent, watching their exchange closely.

"Can't say I don't appreciate the vote of confidence," Nick said finally. "But you realize what you're asking, right? I'm not exactly the most popular guy in the Commonwealth. A lot of folks still see me as nothing more than an old Institute machine. You put me in charge of collecting people's information, and some of them are gonna think you're selling them out."

Sico exhaled, already anticipating the pushback. "I know. But if we let fear dictate our decisions, we'll never move forward. This is bigger than just gathering numbers. It's about setting a precedent. If we want to build a Commonwealth where everyone is treated equally, then we have to start proving it. You taking this position sends a message."

Nick was quiet for a moment before he let out a dry chuckle. "You sure know how to put a guy on the spot."

Sico grinned. "It's a talent."

Ellie, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "I think you should do it, Nick."

Both men turned to her in mild surprise.

She adjusted her glasses, looking thoughtful. "Look, you always say you want to help people. This is your chance to do that on a bigger scale. If this census is fair—if it works—then it's proof that the Minutemen really are different from the other groups out there. You could help build something real."

Nick's expression softened slightly, and after another moment, he nodded. "Alright, I'm in."

Sico clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Good. You'll have the full support of the Minutemen. The census team will be under the protection of the Commandos."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "The Commandos? You're really pulling out all the stops for this."

"I don't want anyone trying to intimidate the census takers," Sico said firmly. "This isn't just a bookkeeping exercise—it's the foundation of our future. And I'll be damned if I let some raider or corrupt settler screw it up."

Nick nodded, standing up and stretching. "Alright then, guess I better start putting a team together."

Sico stood as well. "Magnolia's handling the logistics. Talk to her, and she'll get you whatever you need."

Nick smirked. "Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me."

Sico chuckled. "Welcome to leadership."

Nick turned to Ellie, who had already started sorting through another stack of papers, her fingers flipping through pages with practiced efficiency. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Ellie, you're staying here."

She looked up, blinking in surprise. "What? Why?"

Nick gave her a pointed look. "Because if both of us leave, this whole department grinds to a halt. You know as well as I do that Piper isn't going to sit still long enough to handle any of this." He gestured to the growing piles of reports on his desk. "God knows if we both go, there'll be no paperwork getting signed, no reports making it to Minutemen HQ. Preston and Sarah will have my head, then Albert and Sico here won't be far behind her."

Sico chuckled, arms crossed. "He's not wrong."

Ellie groaned, rubbing her temples. "Ugh, you guys are gonna bury me in paperwork."

Nick smirked. "Welcome to my life, kid."

Ellie sighed dramatically but didn't argue. She knew Nick was right. As much as she would've liked to be part of something as important as the first official census, someone had to keep things running.

"Fine, fine," she muttered, grabbing a pen. "But don't come crying to me when you come back and find half these reports covered in coffee stains."

Nick chuckled, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair and slinging it over his shoulders. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Sico watched the exchange with amusement, but there was also a quiet respect in his gaze. He knew how vital Ellie was to keeping things together. She wasn't just a secretary—she was one of the glue holding this whole intelligence network in place.

"You'll get your credit for this, Ellie," Sico assured her. "When history looks back, they'll know it wasn't just the people on the front lines that made this all work."

Ellie rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah, just make sure you don't screw this up."

Nick chuckled. "No promises."

With that, he turned to Sico. "Alright, General. Let's go talk to Magnolia and see what kind of mess we're walking into."

Sico smirked. "That's the spirit."

As the two men stepped out of the office, leaving Ellie behind to wrangle the endless flood of paperwork.

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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:-