บท 350: 319. Getting the Materials for the Irrigation System
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Sico nodded, then turned back toward the recruits still working on the fence. The sun was high in the sky now, casting long shadows across the courtyard. They had a long road ahead, but with each step, they were getting closer to securing a future for the Commonwealth.
As the sun began its slow descent, casting a warm, amber glow over the Commonwealth, the recruits continued their work with grim determination. It had been a long, arduous day, and while the fence was finally nearing completion, there was still much to be done to secure the farm's future. The rhythmic sound of hammers and saws had become a constant backdrop to the day, punctuated only by the occasional murmur of conversation or instructions from Sico and the other leaders.
Sico wiped the sweat from his brow as he checked the progress on the fence. They were making good time, and he could see the recruits growing more confident with each task. He took a moment to glance toward the nearby fields, imagining how they would look in a few months, rows of crops standing tall and providing much-needed food for the Commonwealth. But first, they needed water.
Just as Sico was about to return to helping reinforce one of the corner posts, he saw Robert and his team approaching from the direction of the stream. They were tired and covered in dirt, but there was a sense of accomplishment in the way they moved. They had been out there for hours, working through the afternoon heat to clear the land needed for the irrigation system. It was time to hear what they had managed to achieve.
Sico put down his tools and walked over to meet them. "How did it go?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with anticipation. The irrigation system was critical, and he needed to know they were on track.
Robert wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and gave a small, satisfied nod. "We got it done, Commander. It took a bit longer than we expected—there was more debris than we thought—but the path is clear now. We can start building the irrigation system tomorrow."
Sico felt a wave of relief wash over him. Clearing the land had been the first major hurdle, and now they could move on to the next phase. "Good work, Robert. I know it wasn't easy, but this will make all the difference. How's the terrain looking? Are we going to run into any problems when we start laying the pipes?"
Robert shook his head. "The ground's a bit rocky in some places, but nothing we can't handle. We'll need to dig a bit deeper in certain spots to make sure the water flows smoothly, but overall, it's doable. We also managed to mark out where we'll need to set up the main channels for the water to reach the different sections of the farm."
Sico nodded, already thinking through the logistics for the next day. "That's good to hear. We'll get started at first light. We're going to need more materials, though. I was thinking of sending a team to that old pump station east of here tomorrow to scavenge for pipes and machinery. We'll need those if we want this system to work properly."
Robert gave a short nod. "I'll be ready to go. I'll take a few of the recruits who've got experience with scavenging. We should be able to find what we need."
Sico glanced toward the recruits who were still working on the fence. Their movements were slower now, the long hours of labor clearly taking their toll, but there was a sense of determination in their eyes. "Alright, but let's not push them too hard tonight. We need them rested for tomorrow. Have your team get some food and water—they've earned it."
Robert smiled faintly. "Will do, Commander."
As Robert and his team headed off toward the mess area, Sico stood for a moment, taking in the progress they had made. The fence, though not completely finished, was sturdy and would provide at least some protection for the farm. The recruits had worked hard, and their efforts were beginning to pay off. But tomorrow would be just as challenging, if not more so.
Jenny approached from where she had been working with a few of the settlers, her face a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "Sounds like they got the land cleared," she said, her voice tired but hopeful.
Sico nodded. "Yeah, they did. We'll start building the irrigation system tomorrow, but we'll need to scavenge for more supplies. It's coming together, but we're still a long way from being done."
Jenny smiled softly, wiping her hands on her apron. "It always feels like there's more to do, doesn't it? But we're making progress. Every step we take brings us closer to a future where we're not just surviving—we're thriving."
Sico gave her a small smile in return. "Yeah, it does. But we'll get there. One step at a time."
The two of them stood in silence for a moment, watching as the recruits began to finish up for the day, packing away their tools and heading toward the mess area for some much-needed rest. The sun was almost fully set now, casting long shadows across the courtyard and painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
As the last of the recruits left the worksite, Sico turned to Jenny. "We'll need to keep a guard posted tonight, just in case. The fence isn't finished, and I don't want to take any chances. If the raiders know we're building something out here, they might try to hit us before we're ready."
Jenny nodded, her expression serious. "I'll talk to the settlers. We can take shifts patrolling the area until the fence is fully reinforced."
"Thanks," Sico said, appreciating her dedication. "I'll get some of the recruits on it too."
With that, Jenny headed off to organize the night's patrols, leaving Sico to stand alone for a moment longer. The farm, the irrigation system, the recruits—they were all pieces of something bigger, something that could change the future of the Commonwealth. But they couldn't afford to let their guard down. Not yet.
As the stars began to emerge in the darkening sky, Sico finally turned and made his way toward the mess area, his body aching from the day's work but his mind already planning for tomorrow. They would build the irrigation system, finish the fence, and secure the farm. And then, maybe, just maybe, they could start thinking about what came next.
The next morning arrived with the sun breaking through the horizon, casting a golden light over Minutemen Plaza. The air was still cool from the night before, but there was a sense of purpose as the recruits began stirring from their tents, gathering their tools, and preparing for another day of hard labor. Today was a big day—the day they would begin building the irrigation system that would transform the farm into a self-sustaining source of food and hope.
Sico rose early, his body still sore from the previous day's work but his mind sharp and focused. He knew what was at stake. The farm, while still in its infancy, had already become a symbol of the Commonwealth's future, and without a reliable water source, all their efforts would be in vain. The fence had been mostly completed, but it wasn't enough. They needed to ensure the crops would grow, and for that, they needed to scavenge pipes and machinery from the old water purifier building a few miles east.
Sico made his way to the courtyard where Robert and a small group of recruits were waiting. They were ready, their faces set with determination. The rest of the recruits would stay behind to continue reinforcing the fence and finishing the guard posts, but the group heading out with Sico had a different mission—to secure the materials they needed to build the irrigation system.
Robert was already giving last-minute instructions to the recruits as Sico approached. He turned and nodded to Sico as he arrived. "Commander, we're ready to move out. We've packed enough supplies for the trip and brought a few extra tools in case we need them."
Sico looked over the group, all armed and ready for whatever they might face. The Commonwealth was a dangerous place, and scavenging missions often attracted the attention of raiders, feral ghouls, or worse. But this mission was too important to delay. "Good. Let's not waste any time. The sooner we get to that water purifier, the sooner we can start laying the pipes. Everyone, stay sharp. We don't know what we'll run into out there."
The recruits nodded, shouldering their weapons and packs, and the group set off from Minutemen Plaza. The path east was relatively clear, but that didn't mean it was safe. Sico led the group with Robert at his side, the recruits spreading out behind them in a loose formation. They moved quickly but cautiously, their eyes scanning the surrounding terrain for any signs of trouble.
The journey took them through the outskirts of what had once been a thriving pre-war settlement. Now, it was nothing more than crumbling buildings and rusted-out cars, a stark reminder of the world they were trying to rebuild. As they passed through the ruins, Sico couldn't help but think about how much the Commonwealth had changed since the war—and how much further they still had to go.
After about an hour of walking, they reached a ridge overlooking the old water purifier building. From this vantage point, Sico could see the structure below, a squat, concrete facility that had once been used to filter and distribute water to the surrounding areas. Now, it was overgrown with weeds and vines, its pipes rusted and crumbling in places. But if they were lucky, there would still be enough usable materials inside to salvage.
Sico crouched down behind a large rock, motioning for the others to do the same. "Alright, here's the plan," he said, keeping his voice low. "We'll approach from the north side. It looks like the entrance is still intact, but we don't know what's inside. Robert, take two recruits and scout ahead. The rest of us will cover you from here. If the coast is clear, we'll move in and start looking for pipes and machinery."
Robert nodded, motioning for two of the recruits to follow him as they made their way down the hill toward the building. Sico watched them go, his hand resting on the grip of his weapon. They couldn't afford any mistakes. If the water purifier had already been picked clean by other scavengers, or if it was occupied by raiders, this whole mission could fall apart.
The minutes dragged on as Sico and the others waited, keeping their eyes trained on the building below. Finally, Robert's voice crackled over the radio. "Commander, the entrance is clear. No signs of hostiles so far, but it looks like the place has been abandoned for a while. We're heading inside to check for supplies."
Sico exhaled, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders. "Copy that. We're moving in. Keep your eyes open."
He gestured for the rest of the group to follow him as they descended the hill and made their way to the building's north entrance. The metal door creaked as Sico pushed it open, the sound echoing through the empty facility. Inside, the air was stale and heavy with the smell of rust and decay. The walls were lined with old machinery, some of it still intact, but much of it broken beyond repair. It was clear that time had not been kind to this place.
Robert and his team were already moving through the facility, checking the various rooms and storage areas for anything useful. "There's still some good stuff in here," Robert said as Sico joined him in one of the side rooms. "A lot of it's too far gone, but we found a few sections of piping that should work, and there's an old pump in the back that looks like it might still function if we can get it cleaned up."
Sico nodded, inspecting the pipes they had gathered. "This is good. It's not everything we need, but it's a start. Let's load up what we can carry and see if we can get that pump working. If we can salvage it, it'll save us a lot of trouble later."
The recruits quickly set to work, gathering up the pipes and any other salvageable materials they could find. Meanwhile, Robert and Sico made their way to the back of the building where the old pump was located. It was a large, rusted piece of machinery, but it looked like it was still mostly intact.
Sico knelt down beside the pump, running his hand over the corroded metal. "Think we can get this thing running?"
Robert shrugged, already examining the inner workings of the machine. "It's going to need some serious cleaning and repairs, but I think it's possible. We'll need to bring it back to the Plaza and have Jenny and the others take a look at it. With the right tools, we might be able to get it up and running again."
Sico stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. "Alright, let's haul it back with the rest of the supplies. We'll figure out the repairs once we're back at the farm."
The group spent the next hour loading up everything they had scavenged, including the pump, into makeshift carts they had brought with them. It was hard, grueling work, but the recruits handled it without complaint. They knew how important this mission was, and they weren't about to let fatigue slow them down.
As they prepared to leave, Sico took one last look around the old water purifier building. It had once been a vital part of the pre-war infrastructure, providing clean water to the people of the Commonwealth. Now, it was just another ruin in a world full of them. But with the materials they had scavenged today, they were one step closer to rebuilding.
With the carts loaded and the team ready, Sico gave the signal to move out. The journey back to Minutemen Plaza would take a few hours, and they needed to make it back before nightfall. As they set off, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the ruined landscape. But for the first time in a long while, Sico felt a sense of hope. They had the materials they needed, and tomorrow, they would begin building the irrigation system. The future of the farm—and the Commonwealth—was looking brighter.
________________________________________________
• 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: -
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