Kapitel 360: 329. Minutemen Sudden Action

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But for now, they had done their duty. They had rescued the civilians, gathered the intel, and survived the battlefield. As long as the Minutemen stood together, they would continue to fight for the people of the Commonwealth. No matter the cost.

Sico stepped into the war room inside Minutemen Plaza, the smell of burnt circuitry and the faint scent of blood still lingering from the skirmish they had barely escaped. His mind was already focused on the next step as he stood at the head of the table. Around him sat Preston, Robert, Jenny, Cait, and MacCready, each wearing the signs of battle—dirty armor, grim expressions, and the weary look of fighters who had just danced with death. Yet there was a sense of resolve in the air, an unspoken understanding that despite the weight of war, they had a job to do.

"Everyone here?" Sico asked, his voice cutting through the low murmur of the room.

Preston, still wiping grime from his face, gave a firm nod. "We're ready."

MacCready, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "If by 'ready,' you mean 'surviving by a hair's breadth,' then yeah. We're good."

Sico offered a brief smirk. MacCready's dark humor always came through after a tough fight. He glanced over at Jenny, who was busy pulling up data on her holoterminal. Cait was leaning against the wall, her shotgun propped next to her. Even though the adrenaline of battle had worn off, her eyes still blazed with intensity. Robert sat next to Preston, looking tired but determined, his rifle resting against his chair.

"Alright," Sico began, looking at Preston and Robert. "You were out there, gathering intel while we covered the civilians. What did you find?"

Preston leaned forward, rubbing his temples as if trying to organize his thoughts. "It's worse than we thought. The Brotherhood of Steel is heavily engaged with the Institute, but the Institute seems to have the upper hand right now. Their synth forces are increasing in number. We saw at least two additional teleportations happen while we were watching. They're dropping in synth reinforcements faster than the Brotherhood can respond."

Robert chimed in. "Yeah, and the Brotherhood, for all their firepower, is stretched thin. Vertibirds are circling, but they've lost a lot of ground. If this keeps up, we could be looking at a full-scale collapse of their forward operating base near the Cambridge ruins."

"That's big," Jenny muttered, her eyes still glued to the holoterminal. "If the Brotherhood loses Cambridge, they lose one of their key positions in the Commonwealth."

Sico folded his arms, his mind racing. "What about their leadership? Did you see any indication of who's commanding the operation?"

Preston nodded. "We spotted a few high-ranking Brotherhood officers, but the Institute is using their usual tactics—keeping their leaders out of sight. They're playing this smart, and their synths are doing most of the heavy lifting. It's a war of attrition, and the Brotherhood is bleeding resources every minute this drags on."

"That's not surprising," MacCready interjected. "The Brotherhood's tech is impressive, but they're not built for a long, drawn-out fight like this. They hit hard and fast, but if you bog them down, they lose their advantage."

Sico's brow furrowed as he processed the information. "So the Institute is playing the long game. They're content to chip away at the Brotherhood until they crumble. What about the surrounding areas? Are there any signs that either side is targeting civilian populations?"

Robert shook his head. "Not yet. Both sides are too focused on each other to bother with the civilians, at least for now. But it's only a matter of time before the collateral damage starts piling up. The longer this fight goes on, the more likely it is that innocent people will get caught in the crossfire."

"That's why we need to act," Cait said, her voice firm. "We can't just sit around and wait for things to get worse. The Minutemen are about protecting the people, right? So let's do something."

Sico nodded in agreement. "You're right. We can't let the Commonwealth become a battlefield for the Brotherhood and the Institute while innocent people get killed. But we need a strategy. Charging into the middle of this war without a plan will only get us killed."

Jenny finally spoke up, her holoterminal flashing with data as she projected a map of the Commonwealth onto the wall. Red and blue markers indicated the positions of Brotherhood and Institute forces. "From what we've gathered, the Institute is concentrated in the southern region, particularly around the C.I.T. ruins. They're using teleportation to rapidly move troops between key locations. The Brotherhood is stretched along the north and west, but their forces are divided between reinforcing Cambridge and protecting their airship, the Prydwen."

"The Prydwen," MacCready muttered, shaking his head. "That thing's a flying target if I ever saw one."

Sico tapped his fingers on the table as he studied the map. "The Brotherhood's air superiority is one of their biggest assets. If the Institute finds a way to take out the Prydwen, the Brotherhood is going to lose its biggest advantage. We can't let that happen."

Preston nodded, his face grim. "We're in agreement. But how do we stop them? We don't have the manpower to go toe-to-toe with the Institute, and the Brotherhood doesn't trust us enough to work with us directly. Not after everything that's happened."

Cait leaned forward, her voice low. "Then maybe we don't have to fight them head-on. We could use the chaos to our advantage. While they're busy tearing each other apart, we hit key targets—rescue civilians, sabotage synth production, and cut off Brotherhood supply lines. Let them bleed each other dry, and we help the people in the meantime."

Sico considered the idea, nodding slowly. "A guerrilla strategy. We can't take on either of them directly, but we can weaken them bit by bit. Focus on hit-and-run tactics, keep them off-balance, and protect as many civilians as we can."

Jenny zoomed in on the map, highlighting several potential targets. "There are a few key areas we could strike. The Institute has a relay station here, near the edge of the Glowing Sea. It's well-guarded, but if we can disable it, it could cut off their teleportation network in the southern region. Meanwhile, the Brotherhood has a supply depot north of Concord. If we take that out, they'll have a harder time resupplying their forces in Cambridge."

"Sounds like a solid plan," Robert said, leaning back in his chair. "We hit them where it hurts without getting dragged into a full-on war. The Minutemen can handle those kinds of operations."

MacCready, however, seemed a bit skeptical. "It's risky. The Institute isn't going to just let us waltz into their relay station, and the Brotherhood might retaliate if they think we're sabotaging them."

"That's true," Sico acknowledged. "But the alternative is letting them fight it out while the Commonwealth burns. We need to be proactive. We need to send a message that the Minutemen aren't just going to sit back and let the people suffer."

Preston glanced at the others, then back at Sico. "So what's the next step?"

Sico took a deep breath, his mind racing as he formulated the plan. "We'll divide our forces. Cait, you and MacCready will lead a team to take out the Brotherhood's supply depot near Concord. Hit them hard and fast, and make sure they can't recover easily. Preston, you and Robert will take another team to the Institute's relay station in the Glowing Sea. Jenny and I will coordinate the overall operations from here, monitoring enemy movements and ensuring we don't get blindsided."

"Understood," Cait said, her face set in determination.

MacCready sighed, adjusting his rifle. "Guess we're back in the fight. Alright, I'm in."

Preston gave a firm nod, his usual calm resolve clear in his eyes. "We won't let the people down."

As the meeting wrapped up, Sico stood tall, addressing his team with a renewed sense of purpose. "We're the Minutemen. Our mission is to protect the Commonwealth, no matter who's trying to tear it apart. Brotherhood, Institute, it doesn't matter. As long as we stand together, we'll fight for the people."

With that, the room erupted into action, each person preparing for the next phase of their mission. Despite the overwhelming odds, Sico felt a sense of hope. They were fighting for something bigger than just survival—they were fighting for the future of the Commonwealth. And as long as they had each other, they would continue that fight, no matter the cost.

As the meeting adjourned, Sico watched as his team sprang into action. The Minutemen were a well-oiled machine, and despite the looming threat of both the Brotherhood of Steel and the Institute, their resolve was unshaken. This wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about standing for something greater—protecting the people of the Commonwealth. And Sico, as their leader, was determined to remind both warring factions that the Minutemen weren't just bystanders. They had a responsibility, and they would act on it.

Cait and MacCready moved swiftly, rounding up their team for the assault on the Brotherhood's supply depot near Concord. Cait, with her usual fiery energy, barked orders as MacCready double-checked his rifle. Preston and Robert were already gathering their own team, preparing for the dangerous mission into the Glowing Sea to disable the Institute's relay station.

Sico stood at the war room's holomap, reviewing Jenny's projections one last time. The map highlighted key positions of both the Brotherhood and the Institute. Red markers represented Brotherhood patrols, and the blue dots showed the likely locations of synth squads. Jenny was meticulous in her analysis, and with her guidance, Sico felt confident they could pull off the missions.

"Both sides are going to be caught off guard," Jenny said, her fingers flying over the datapad. "They don't expect us to move this fast, especially not after what just happened. The Brotherhood and the Institute are probably assuming we're going to stay neutral."

Sico nodded, his eyes still on the map. "That's exactly why we're moving now. They're too busy fighting each other to notice us, but once we hit their supply lines and relay stations, they'll realize we're serious."

Jenny glanced at him. "Are you sure this is the right move? We're basically declaring ourselves a third faction in this war. That puts a target on our backs."

Sico turned to her, his expression hard but resolute. "We're not picking a side in their war, Jenny. We're sending a message. This is the Commonwealth's home, and we're not going to let them destroy it. If they think they can fight here without consequence, they're dead wrong."

Jenny nodded, her concern replaced by a steely determination. "Understood. I'll make sure we keep them off balance."

With their roles defined, the Minutemen squads moved out.

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**Cait and MacCready's Assault on the Brotherhood Supply Depot**

As Cait and MacCready's team moved toward the Brotherhood supply depot, they kept low, staying hidden in the shadows of ruined buildings and collapsed overpasses. The Brotherhood, though stretched thin, still maintained patrols, and the Minutemen couldn't afford to get caught before they reached their target.

"Stay sharp, MacCready," Cait whispered as they approached the depot. "We hit them hard and fast. No mercy."

MacCready smirked, scanning the horizon with his scope. "Trust me, I've got this. Just don't get too close to the action. I don't want to have to pull you out of the fire again."

"Like you could," Cait shot back with a grin.

The depot loomed ahead, a heavily fortified position with automated turrets and Brotherhood soldiers patrolling the perimeter. Power armor units stood by the gates, their hulking forms glowing faintly in the dim light. It was a formidable stronghold, but Cait had no intention of going in head-on.

"Positions!" she whispered sharply, and the Minutemen team spread out, taking cover behind rocks and rubble.

MacCready took a high position, setting up his sniper rifle and adjusting his scope. "On your signal, Cait."

She didn't hesitate. With a nod, she signaled the team, and MacCready fired the first shot, taking out one of the power armor units with a precise round to the power core.

Chaos erupted as Brotherhood soldiers scrambled to respond, but before they could organize, Cait's team was already moving. Grenades flew over the barricades, and the distinct sound of laser fire and gunfire filled the air. The Minutemen moved swiftly, hitting the Brotherhood soldiers hard and fast.

"Push them back!" Cait shouted, her shotgun roaring as she led the charge.

The Brotherhood, caught off guard by the sudden assault, struggled to regroup. Within minutes, the supply depot was in flames, the remaining Brotherhood soldiers either retreating or lying in the dust. The Minutemen had struck a devastating blow, crippling the Brotherhood's ability to resupply their forces in Cambridge.

Cait wiped the sweat from her brow, a satisfied grin on her face. "That'll teach them not to mess with the Minutemen."

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Preston and Robert's Mission in the Glowing Sea

Meanwhile, Preston and Robert's team made their way toward the edge of the Glowing Sea, their destination: the Institute's relay station. The landscape was barren, twisted by radiation and storms, and the synth patrols were light. Most of the Institute's forces were focused on the battles near the C.I.T. ruins.

As they approached the relay station, Preston raised his hand, signaling the team to halt. "There it is. Everyone knows the plan. We take out the relay, and we do it fast."

Robert nodded. "There's a lot of tech in there. If we can blow the power core, the whole thing will go down."

The team moved into position, creeping through the irradiated wasteland until they were within striking distance. The station was heavily guarded, with synths patrolling the perimeter and drones hovering above. But like Cait's team, Preston had no intention of a direct confrontation.

"On my mark," Preston whispered, watching the patrol patterns carefully.

When the moment was right, the Minutemen struck. Explosives went off, taking out the synth patrols, and the team moved in, firing at the remaining guards. Preston and Robert led the charge, expertly cutting through the synths as they pushed toward the relay station's core.

Robert, working quickly, planted the charges on the power core. "This'll do it. Let's move!"

With the charges set, the team retreated as the relay station exploded behind them, a massive fireball erupting into the sky. The Institute's teleportation network in the region was severed, cutting off their ability to reinforce their southern operations.

Preston looked back at the destruction, a grim smile on his face. "That's one less advantage for the Institute."

The Minutemen's coordinated strikes shocked both the Brotherhood and the Institute. For too long, they had considered the Minutemen neutral—nothing more than a remnant of the old Commonwealth militia, more focused on local defense than engaging in the larger war.

But now, the message was clear. The Minutemen were not passive. They were not going to stand by and watch the Commonwealth burn.

Reports of the Minutemen's actions spread quickly. The Brotherhood was furious at the loss of their supply depot, their commanders scrambling to find a way to secure their foothold in Cambridge without essential supplies. Meanwhile, the Institute was reeling from the loss of their relay station, their ability to teleport troops severely hampered in the southern region.

Both sides knew this wasn't just a random attack. The Minutemen had made a statement: this war would not be fought at the expense of the people.

As the Brotherhood's leaders conferred aboard the Prydwen, and the Institute's shadowy overseers reviewed the damage, one thing was clear: the Minutemen had entered the fray. And with their sudden involvement, the balance of power in the Commonwealth had shifted.

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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: -