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They clinked their glasses together. While drink from his glass, Sico feel relieve that he has many friends that he can count to. Because he sure that with the help of his friends, he can do more for the Minutemen and the Commonwealth.
The next day, while sun had barely started its climb over the Commonwealth when Sico stepped out of the main hall, stretching his arms as the cool morning air bit at his skin.
There was always something that needed doing, always another crisis just waiting to unfold. And with the looming threat of war against the Institute, there was no time to waste.
He made his way to the Minutemen training grounds, where Preston and Sarah were already up and moving, overseeing the morning drills. The rhythmic sound of boots against dirt, the clang of metal on metal, and the occasional sound of command filled the air as soldiers sparred, reloaded weapons, and prepared for whatever hell the Commonwealth would throw at them next.
Preston noticed him first, stepping away from a group of soldiers who were practicing their shooting. He wiped sweat from his brow and gave Sico a nod. "You're up early."
Sico smirked. "Says the guy who's been out here since sunrise."
Preston chuckled. "Fair enough. So, what brings you out here?"
Sarah, who had been adjusting a soldier's stance during a hand-to-hand combat session, glanced over at them. She gave a small wave before turning back to her trainee, correcting his grip and motioning for him to continue.
Sico didn't waste time. "I wanted to check in with both of you. We've been keeping up with patrols and settlement protection, but with everything going on… we need to talk about recruitment."
Preston's face grew serious. "Yeah. I've been thinking the same thing."
They walked toward the edge of the training ground, away from the noise. Sarah joined them a moment later, her face already carrying the same knowing look.
Sico crossed his arms. "We've done a good job keeping the Minutemen growing, but the way I see it, we need more. More soldiers, more scouts, more people who can handle supply lines and logistics. Especially now that we know what's coming."
Sarah sighed. "The Institute."
Sico nodded. "Nora's intel all but confirms that we're heading toward a war. And not just any war—one against an enemy we can't see, one that can replace people without us even knowing. If we're going to stand a chance, we need to be ready."
Preston glanced back at the training field, watching as their soldiers ran drills. "We've got good people. But you're right. If the Institute comes for us, this won't be like fighting raiders or even the Brotherhood. We'll need more numbers, better-trained fighters, and a network of settlements that can support them."
Sarah rubbed her chin in thought. "We've already got a recruitment system in place, but we can push harder. If we offer better incentives—food, security, a real future—we might be able to draw in more people."
Sico nodded. "That's what I was thinking. We can't just pull from settlements anymore. We need to reach out further, maybe even to some of the independent merc groups that haven't picked a side yet. If we can convince them to fight for the Minutemen, we'll be in a much better position."
Preston frowned slightly. "That could be tricky. Some of those groups are only loyal to caps."
Sico smirked. "Then we make sure they understand that fighting with us isn't just about caps. It's about survival. If the Institute wins, it won't matter how much money they have. They'll be replaced just like everyone else."
Sarah crossed her arms, thinking for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll start working on new recruitment strategies. Maybe even set up dedicated teams to go out and find potential fighters."
Preston cracked a small smile. "I'll start ramping up training. We'll need every soldier to be at their best."
Sico clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. Because when the time comes, we're not just fighting to win. We're fighting to make sure the Commonwealth has a future."
Sico let the conversation settle for a moment, letting Preston and Sarah absorb the weight of the discussion. Then, he took a slow breath and got straight to the point.
"I want 1,500 new recruits," he said.
Preston blinked. "You want how many?"
"Fifteen hundred," Sico repeated, locking eyes with him. "We need numbers. If we want to hold the line against the Institute, we have to be able to match them in both manpower and training. No half-measures."
Sarah let out a low whistle, crossing her arms. "That's a hell of a number, Sico. Finding that many people isn't going to be easy, and training them to be more than just bodies with guns? Even harder."
Sico nodded. "I know. I don't just want warm bodies—we need real soldiers. That means discipline, tactics, and combat experience. I want them trained like veterans."
Preston exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright. Let's say we do manage to find 1,500 people willing to fight. We don't have the time for a slow, drawn-out training process. The Institute isn't gonna wait for us to get our shit together."
Sico leaned forward slightly. "Which is why we need to speed up the process. Train them fast, but train them right. Use our veterans—the best we've got—to turn these recruits into actual fighters. And once they're trained, they need to see real action. No simulations, no mock battles. I want them out in the field, taking down raiders, feral ghouls, super mutants—whatever it takes to get them ready for the real fight."
Sarah looked at him carefully. "You're talking about trial by fire."
Sico met her gaze without hesitation. "Yes. We don't have the luxury of time, Sarah. The only way to make real soldiers is to put them through actual combat. They need to know what it's like to have a gun pointed at them. To hear the sound of bullets whizzing past their heads. To face the kind of fear that freezes most people in place and learn to push through it."
Preston crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "It's brutal. But you're right." He glanced toward the training yard, where Minutemen drilled with their rifles. "We need soldiers who won't break under pressure. We can train them all we want, but nothing prepares someone for war like war itself."
Sarah exhaled sharply. "Alright. Then we do it your way." She turned to Preston. "We'll start by expanding recruitment teams. We'll send people to every settlement, every independent holdout, even the damn wreckage of Diamond City if we have to. Anyone who can fight, hold a gun, or be trained—we bring them in."
Preston nodded. "We'll assign our best drill instructors to oversee the new recruits. Break them up into squads and cycle them through intensive combat training—physical conditioning, weapon drills, tactical exercises, everything they'll need."
Sico added, "And after the first phase of training, I want them deployed in small units across the Commonwealth. We'll pair them with experienced Minutemen and put them through real missions. Patrols, settlement defenses, clearing out raider strongholds—anything that gets them used to actual combat."
Preston gave him a wary look. "Some of them won't make it, Sico."
Sico nodded grimly. "I know."
Sarah sighed but didn't argue. "Alright. It's not pretty, but it's necessary. I'll start working on the logistics—supplies, weapons, training schedules. We'll need a lot more equipment to outfit this many people."
"I'll handle that," Sico said. "We've got plenty of resources stockpiled, and I can call in a few favors to get more."
Preston rolled his shoulders, already mentally planning the next steps. "Then I'll handle recruitment and training. Give me a couple of days, and I'll have a full plan ready to go."
Sico smirked slightly. "Make it one day. We don't have time to waste."
Preston let out a short laugh. "Of course you'd say that."
Sarah shook her head. "He's right, though. Every day we wait is a day wasted."
Sico looked between them, satisfied with their determination. "Then I'll trust you guys on this
Sico stood with Preston and Sarah for a little while longer, discussing the finer details of their plan. The weight of responsibility settled heavier on his shoulders, but he had no time to dwell on it. There was too much to do.
After another few minutes of strategizing, Sico clapped Preston on the shoulder. "I'll leave it to you both. We need to move fast. Keep me updated on progress."
Preston nodded. "You got it, General."
Sarah gave a small smirk. "Better get used to the sleepless nights."
Sico chuckled dryly. "That ship sailed a long time ago."
With that, he turned and made his way across the settlement. The morning sun had finally crested over the horizon, casting a golden glow over Sanctuary. The place had grown into something more than just a Minutemen stronghold—it was a home, a thriving community where people could actually live instead of just survive.
But managing that many people was no small task, which is why Sico was now headed to the Central Bureau, the administrative heart of Sanctuary.
The building stood near the center of town, a refurbished pre-war structure that had been reinforced with new materials. As he approached, the sight of people coming and going was constant—new settlers lined up outside, waiting to register, while others moved in and out, handling paperwork, job assignments, and other settlement affairs. The place never seemed to slow down.
Sanctuary had come a long way from being just a handful of settlers looking for shelter. Now, it was a fully functioning society, and the Central Bureau was the backbone that kept it running.
As Sico stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by the familiar hum of activity. Clerks shuffled through documents, settlers spoke with officials to get their IDs processed, and a few guards stood nearby to keep order. The air smelled of old paper, ink, and the faint scent of coffee—a rare commodity that Magnolia had somehow managed to keep stocked for her department.
Speaking of Magnolia.
Sico navigated through the organized chaos and made his way toward the back of the building, where Magnolia's office was located. As he approached her door, he saw her sitting at her desk, deep in paperwork, her pen moving swiftly across the page.
Sico knocked lightly on the doorframe, getting her attention.
Magnolia looked up, arching an eyebrow before smirking. "Well, well, what do we have here? The General himself finally gracing us with his presence. After creating this department, you've barely set foot in here. So, what pleasure do I have that made the mighty General come all the way down here?"
Sico let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I haven't exactly been around much." He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I actually came to check on something. I need to know the current population of Sanctuary."
Magnolia leaned back in her chair, giving him a knowing look. "Oh? Finally taking an interest in the boring side of leadership?"
Sico smirked. "Hey, I've got enough on my plate. That's why I put people like you in charge of this stuff."
Magnolia rolled her eyes but reached for a stack of reports on her desk. She sifted through them for a few moments before pulling out the one she was looking for.
"Here we go," she said, scanning the document. "As of this morning, Sanctuary's population is at 8,321."
Sico let out a low whistle. "Damn. We were at barely 2,000 just a few months ago."
"Yep," Magnolia confirmed, placing the report back on her desk. "People keep coming in, looking for a safe place to settle. Word gets around that Sanctuary is the best place in the Commonwealth to actually live, second to Diamond City."
Sico nodded, thinking. "And how are we holding up? Food, water, housing?"
Magnolia sighed, rubbing her temples. "We're managing, but we've had to expand housing as fast as possible if we always accepting people, and Jenny with her team already got agricultural projects running at max capacity, which enough for now. Water purification is holding up, thanks to the systems you helped set up, but with the numbers that will constantly growing like these, we'll need to have more solutions. Resources aren't infinite."
Sico crossed his arms, considering the implications. Growth was good, but uncontrolled growth could be a disaster waiting to happen. He'd have to come up with ways to increase food production and secure more clean water sources.
"Alright," he said finally. "I'll talk to Sturges to start looking into ways to expand our infrastructure. Then maybe ask Jenny to send out teams to build more farmland and additional water sources."
Magnolia gave him a tired smile. "That would help. Because if people keep showing up at this rate, we're going to need another Sanctuary just to hold them all."
Sico chuckled. "One problem at a time, Magnolia."
She smirked. "You say that, but problems in the Commonwealth tend to come in waves, not one at a time."
He couldn't argue with that.
Leaning against the desk, he glanced at the reports again. "What about security? I've got Preston and Sarah working on a major recruitment drive, but I need to know if we've had any issues lately."
Magnolia pursed her lips. "Nothing too serious. We've had a few minor disputes, the usual troublemakers, but no major threats. The biggest concern is the potential for spies."
Sico frowned. "Spies?"
Magnolia nodded. "Think about it. With all these people coming in, how do we know the Institute hasn't slipped a few synths in here?"
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Damn it. You're right."
Magnolia leaned forward. "We need a better screening process. We've been doing our best, but we don't have a foolproof way to identify synth infiltrators."
Sico's mind was already racing with possibilities. "I'll talk to Mel, see if he can come up with a system for detecting synths. Maybe some kind of test or biometric scan."
Magnolia nodded. "That would go a long way in keeping Sanctuary safe."
Sico straightened up. "Alright, thanks for the update, Magnolia. I'll start working on solutions for all of this."
Magnolia smirked. "Good. Because if you don't, I'll personally drag you back here to deal with the paperwork yourself."
Sico laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. No need for threats."
With that, he stepped out of the office, his mind already focusing to the next problem. There was never a moment in the Commonwealth to let himself relax. And with war that will come, things were only going to get more complicated.
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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:-