501. Making a Plan For The Census

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

Then they head to the Central Bureau and when they arrive, Sico and Nick made their way through the bustling halls of the Central Bureau, the heart of the Minutemen's growing government. The wooden floor creaked under their boots as they passed clerks and officers buried in reports, their hands stained with ink and their eyes weary from long hours.

Nick took it all in with a quiet nod. "Y'know, for a bunch of folks rebuilding from the ground up, you're doing a damn good job."

Sico smirked. "We're trying. It's a hell of a lot harder than just shooting raiders, I'll tell you that."

Nick let out a dry chuckle. "Paperwork's the real enemy, huh?"

They stopped in front of a large reinforced door, Sico knocked once before pushing it open.

Inside, Magnolia was already seated at her desk, papers neatly stacked in front of her. A fresh pot of coffee sat steaming nearby, the strong aroma filling the room. Her piercing green eyes flicked up as they entered, lips curling into a knowing smile.

"Took you long enough," she said, leaning back in her chair. "I assume Nick's in?"

Sico nodded. "He is."

Nick let out a sigh, crossing his arms. "Yeah, yeah, I'm in. Let's just get this over with."

Magnolia smirked but didn't waste time with pleasantries. She motioned to the seats in front of her desk. "Alright, sit. We've got a lot to cover."

Sico and Nick took their seats, and Magnolia flipped open a thick ledger filled with handwritten notes and calculations. She tapped a page with her pen.

"First thing's first—we need a full headcount of everyone living under Minutemen protection. Settlements, outposts, independent towns that benefit from our patrols. That's a rough estimate of at least fifty locations, give or take."

Nick let out a low whistle. "That's a hell of a lot of ground to cover."

Magnolia nodded. "Which is why we're dividing the census teams into regions. Each region will have its own lead, but you're overseeing the whole thing, Nick. That means training them, standardizing how we collect data, and making sure no one is cooking the numbers."

Nick rubbed his chin. "And what exactly are we asking people?"

Sico leaned forward. "We need the basics—names, ages, family members, occupation, and any special skills. But we also need more than just a headcount. We need to know how much food each settlement produces, their water supply, medical capabilities, defenses. If we're going to start taxing people, we need to know what they can actually afford to give without starving."

Nick gave him a pointed look. "You do realize this is going to piss a lot of people off, right? First, you ask folks to fight for their own protection. Now, you're asking them to hand over their caps."

Sico sighed. "I know. But we're not just some militia anymore, Nick. The Minutemen are the government now, whether people like it or not. And a government doesn't run on goodwill alone."

Magnolia nodded. "He's right. We've been running off barter, favors, and scavenged supplies for too long. If we want stability, we need a real economy. That starts with taxes."

Nick exhaled through his nose. "Alright, I get it. So, how are we handling the actual census teams? Who's running this show on the ground?"

Magnolia slid another sheet of paper across the desk. "Here's the list of team leaders we've picked out. Each one is either a trusted Minuteman officer or a well-respected civilian. They'll have local guides to help navigate and avoid trouble. And we're assigning Minutemen Commandos to each team for protection."

Nick skimmed the list, nodding in approval. "Not bad. These are solid people."

Sico leaned back. "Now comes the tricky part—actually getting people to cooperate."

Nick chuckled. "Oh yeah, that's the real fun."

Magnolia tapped her pen against the desk. "Which is why we're doing this the smart way. We're starting with settlements that already have strong ties to the Minutemen—Sanctuary, Starlight Drive-In, Quincy, Abernathy Farm. Places that trust us. Once they're on board, we use them as proof that this is safe, that it works."

Nick smirked. "Using peer pressure to convince the rest?"

Sico shrugged. "Call it what you want. But people trust their neighbors more than they trust us. If they see their friends buying in, they'll be more likely to follow."

Magnolia nodded. "And for those who don't?"

Sico's expression hardened. "We're not forcing this on anyone. But we are making it clear that settlements under our protection have responsibilities, just like we do. If they refuse to contribute, they don't get priority access to Minutemen resources. That means fewer patrols, no supply shipments, no emergency reinforcements."

Nick sighed, rubbing his temples. "That's a dangerous line you're walking there, General. Sounds a hell of a lot like 'pay up or else.'"

Sico's jaw tightened. "I know how it sounds. But I also know what happens if we don't do this right. The Minutemen have to be better than the Brotherhood, better than the Institute. That means we don't take by force. But we also don't let people freeload while others carry the burden."

Nick studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. You're serious about this, I'll do my part. But don't expect this to be easy."

Magnolia smirked. "Nothing worth doing ever is."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Great. Now you're getting philosophical on me."

Sico chuckled, standing up. "That's your cue to get to work, Nick."

Nick groaned but pushed himself to his feet. "Yeah, yeah. I'll start pulling my team together. But you owe me a drink when this is over, General."

Sico grinned. "Deal."

Magnolia stood as well, shaking Nick's hand. "You're doing something important here, Valentine."

Nick smirked. "Yeah, let's just hope I don't regret it."

Sico crossed his arms and let out a deep breath, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of Nick and Magnolia. The weight of the moment settled between them. They had planned, strategized, and debated, but now it was time to act.

"I want the census teams to depart tomorrow," Sico said firmly. "We don't have the luxury of time. This needs to be finished before the Institute makes their move and drags us into an all-out war."

Nick raised a brow. "That soon, huh?" He scratched his chin, clearly mulling over the implications. "Not that I'm complaining, but you sure we're ready? Rushing this could cause problems. Hell, you know how people are—they'll resist even the simplest requests if they feel like they're being strong-armed."

Sico nodded. "I know. But the longer we wait, the more unpredictable things get. We need numbers, Nick. Not just for logistics, but for war planning. If we don't know exactly how many people we have, how much food, how many weapons, we're walking into a fight blind."

Nick exhaled through his nose, glancing at Magnolia. "And you're on board with this?"

Magnolia leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping against the wooden armrest. "I don't like pushing people, but Sico's right. We can't afford to be caught off guard. If we're going to build a real government, we need structure, and that starts with this census. We need to show people that we're organized, that we're thinking ahead—not just reacting."

Nick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. I get it. But that leads to the bigger question—when's the Institute making their move?"

Sico's expression darkened. "We don't know yet."

Nick's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean, you don't know?"

Sico shook his head. "The only thing we do know is that they want war. That much, Nora confirmed. But she hasn't been able to get any solid intel from Shaun."

Nick let out a dry chuckle. "Right. Because prying information from a mad scientist who thinks he's humanity's savior is such an easy task."

Sico exhaled. "She's doing what she can. But even she admits it's hard to tell how much of what he says is the truth and how much is manipulation. He's her son, but he's also the leader of the Institute. And we both know he's not above playing mind games."

Nick shook his head. "I don't like this. We're on borrowed time, and we don't even know how much we have left."

Magnolia leaned forward. "That's why we have to move fast. The census isn't just about governance—it's about survival. If the Institute strikes, we need to know which settlements can hold their own and which ones will need immediate reinforcement. We can't afford to be scrambling for answers when synths start pouring out of the shadows."

Nick sighed, rubbing his temples. "Damn it, you two make it impossible to argue." He straightened up, rolling his shoulders. "Fine. I'll push the teams out tomorrow. But you better believe I'm gonna be hearing a lot of griping."

Sico smirked. "That's why I put you in charge, Nick. If anyone can handle that, it's you."

Nick scoffed. "Flattery doesn't get you out of buying me that drink, General."

Sico chuckled. "I wouldn't dream of it."

The Night Before Departure

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Minutemen headquarters buzzed with movement. Census teams were gathering supplies, coordinating routes, and checking their weapons. Despite the bureaucratic nature of their mission, no one was under the illusion that this would be a simple errand. The Commonwealth was dangerous, and even peaceful settlements could turn hostile under the right—or wrong—circumstances.

Sico stood outside the main hall, watching the teams prepare. Nick stood beside him, hands in his coat pockets, his synthetic eyes scanning the scene with practiced ease.

"Feels like we're prepping for battle," Nick muttered.

"In a way, we are," Sico said. "Knowledge is a weapon, Nick. And right now, it's one we desperately need."

Nick sighed. "I still don't like that we don't know when the hammer's coming down. The Institute could be planning to hit us tomorrow for all we know."

Sico exhaled slowly. "If that were the case, Shaun would've moved already. He's patient, calculated. He's not going to throw the Institute into a war without ensuring victory. That gives us time."

Nick shot him a sidelong glance. "How much time?"

Sico's jaw tightened. "That's the part we don't know."

Nick shook his head. "Great. Love working with unknown variables."

They stood in silence for a moment, watching as Magnolia moved between the teams, handing out last-minute instructions. She caught Sico's gaze and nodded before disappearing into the crowd.

Nick turned back to Sico. "You're betting a lot on Nora getting more out of Shaun."

"I trust her," Sico said simply.

Nick studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's just hope your trust isn't misplaced."

Sico let out a slow breath, watching the last of the census teams finish their preparations. Nick was right—this wasn't just a bureaucratic process, it was a gamble, one that could either solidify the Minutemen's role as a real government or turn half the Commonwealth against them.

He turned to Nick, clapping a hand on the detective's shoulder. "Look, I know this isn't an easy job, and you're already carrying a hell of a lot on your plate. So, to make things a little easier on you, I'm bringing Piper in on this."

Nick arched a synthetic brow. "Oh? And what exactly is our favorite nosy reporter getting roped into this time?"

Sico smirked. "She's going to break the news about the taxes on *Radio Freedom* before your teams even hit the road. That way, people aren't hearing it from a bunch of armed census takers—they're hearing it from a voice they trust."

Nick let out a low whistle. "Smart. You think that'll actually make a difference?"

Sico crossed his arms. "It won't stop the complaints, but it'll soften the blow. Piper's got a way of explaining things that makes people listen. If she frames this right—explains why we need these taxes, how it's not just some power grab but a necessity to keep settlements safe—it'll help. People are less likely to lash out when they understand the why."

Nick rubbed his chin, mulling it over. "And here I thought you just liked her company."

Sico chuckled. "That too. But let's be real—Piper's got the kind of influence we need right now. She's been calling out corruption in the Commonwealth for years. If *she* says this is fair, people are more likely to buy in."

Nick nodded slowly. "Yeah, alright. I can work with that. Still, you know some folks are gonna push back no matter how sweet Piper makes it sound."

"I know," Sico admitted. "But at least this way, you're not walking in blind. You'll have a foundation to build on instead of dealing with pure outrage."

Nick sighed, shaking his head. "Damn it, kid. You really are getting the hang of this whole 'governing' thing."

Sico smirked. "Gotta say, I much prefer shooting raiders."

Nick let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, well, that's the easy part. Keeping folks in line without a gun to their head? That's where things get tricky."

Sico's gaze hardened. "We're not the Brotherhood. We're not the Institute. We're not ruling through fear, Nick. The people trust us because we protect them, not because we control them."

Nick gave him a long look before nodding. "Alright. You're serious about this, I can see that. Just don't be surprised when the first angry settler tries to punch me in the face."

Sico grinned. "That's why you've got Minutemen Commandos backing you up."

Nick groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Lucky me."

Sico chuckled. "Come on, let's find Piper and let her know she's got a broadcast to make."

Then Sico and Nick left the Central Bureau and let Magnolia handle the team first, as they head to find Piper that running around somewhere in Sanctuary.

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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:-