349. EMP Device

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With one last nod to his team, Sico turned, knowing they were ready. The Commonwealth's future depended on this mission, and they wouldn't let it slip through their fingers.

The following day, Preston entered Sico's office with a quiet nod, his face reflecting a mix of resolve and concern. Sico was seated at his desk, sifting through maps and reports on various Commonwealth hotspots. As soon as Preston stepped in, Sico looked up, his gaze sharp yet welcoming.

"Morning, Preston," Sico greeted, gesturing for his old friend to take a seat across from him. "What's the status on the Mass Fusion building?"

Preston sat down, placing his hands on his knees as he began to report. "All set, General. We've got a team in place, patrolling in shifts, just as we discussed. It's a small presence—barely noticeable—but enough to keep an eye on things without raising suspicion."

Sico nodded approvingly. "Good work. We don't want to draw attention, especially now. The Institute and the Brotherhood are both on edge, and one wrong move could bring them down on us."

Preston's lips pressed into a thin line, and he shifted in his chair, clearly holding something back. Sico noticed, his keen instincts picking up on the unease in his friend's eyes. "Something on your mind, Preston?"

Preston hesitated, glancing down briefly before looking back up with a determined, yet troubled expression. "It's… this war between the Institute and the Brotherhood, General. The Commonwealth is caught in the middle, and I'm worried. I've seen what war like this can do, not just to the people but to us, the Minutemen."

Sico leaned back, folding his arms as he listened intently. "Go on."

Preston took a deep breath, his tone growing more serious. "We've worked hard to rebuild the Minutemen, to make sure we're strong enough to protect the Commonwealth. But this kind of conflict? It could undo everything we've accomplished. We're talking about two massive powers, both with advanced technology, going head-to-head in our backyard. The people are scared, and rightfully so."

Sico tapped his fingers against the desk thoughtfully. "You're worried that we'll get dragged into their war?"

Preston nodded, his voice filled with conviction. "Exactly. We've always been here to protect the people, not get caught up in faction wars. But it feels like we're being forced into a corner. If we stay out of it, the Institute and Brotherhood could tear the Commonwealth apart. If we step in, we risk becoming their enemy, and the Minutemen could be destroyed… again."

Sico frowned, fully understanding the weight of Preston's concerns. The Minutemen had indeed come a long way from the fractured, scattered group they once were, but they were still vulnerable compared to the sheer firepower and resources wielded by the Brotherhood and the Institute.

"Preston," Sico began, his voice calm yet thoughtful, "I understand your concerns. This is a delicate situation. But we need to think carefully about our next steps. The Commonwealth depends on us, and whatever we choose, we have to keep the people in mind."

Preston's gaze grew more intense. "So… what do we do, General? How do we navigate this war without putting ourselves—and the Commonwealth—in danger?"

Sico leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk and looking Preston square in the eyes. "We'll approach this conflict with caution and strategy. The last thing we need is to make enemies of both sides, but we also can't let them destroy everything we've built. Our best course of action is to stay neutral but vigilant."

Preston's brow furrowed as he considered this. "Neutrality… it's risky. What if one side sees us as a threat because we won't support them?"

"That's a possibility," Sico admitted. "But right now, both the Institute and the Brotherhood are too focused on each other to worry about us. We're not a direct threat to them—not yet, at least. If we play this right, we can avoid confrontation with either side."

Preston seemed to relax slightly but still appeared unconvinced. "And what if they start targeting innocent settlements? What if they drag the Commonwealth into their fight?"

Sico's expression hardened. "That's where we draw the line. If they threaten the people we swore to protect, we'll intervene. But until then, we'll remain on high alert, watching from a distance. We're not taking sides in this war, but we're also not going to let them terrorize the Commonwealth."

Preston nodded slowly, beginning to see the wisdom in Sico's approach. "So… we watch, we wait, and we only step in if absolutely necessary?"

"Exactly," Sico confirmed. "And in the meantime, we continue strengthening our forces, building alliances, and preparing for the worst. If it ever comes down to it, we need to be ready to defend the Commonwealth against any threat."

Preston seemed to take solace in this plan, though the worry didn't fully leave his eyes. "I agree, General. We need to stay strong, for the people. But I have to ask… what if it does come to a point where we have to pick a side? What if neutrality isn't an option anymore?"

Sico took a deep breath, considering his words carefully. "If that day comes, we'll do what we've always done, Preston. We'll choose the path that best serves the people of the Commonwealth. Our loyalty isn't to the Institute or the Brotherhood. It's to the people who have placed their trust in us. Whatever choice we make, it'll be for them."

Preston sat back, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You're right, General. We'll do what we have to, for the Commonwealth."

A brief silence settled over them as both men reflected on the heavy responsibility they carried. The Commonwealth was a place of constant struggle and hardship, and it often seemed like peace was a distant, unreachable dream. But the Minutemen had become a beacon of hope, and it was their duty to ensure that hope wasn't extinguished by the flames of war.

After a moment, Preston spoke again, his voice filled with newfound determination. "I'll make sure the men know to stay alert, but also to keep their distance. We won't get involved unless absolutely necessary. But we'll be ready if the time comes."

Sico smiled slightly, a rare moment of warmth breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. "Good. Thank you, Preston. I know this isn't easy, but we're doing the right thing. We're protecting the Commonwealth the best way we can."

Preston gave a firm nod, his expression resolute. "Always, General. I'm with you all the way."

They stood together in silence for a moment longer, both feeling the weight of the decisions they had to make. Sico reached across the desk, placing a hand on Preston's shoulder. "We've been through worse, you and I. We'll get through this too. As long as we stick together and remember why we're here, nothing can bring us down."

Preston nodded, his voice filled with conviction. "For the Commonwealth, General. Always for the Commonwealth."

Sico released his friend's shoulder, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. They had survived countless battles, rebuilt from the ground up, and earned the trust of the people. No matter how complex or dangerous the situation became, they would continue fighting for the Commonwealth's future.

"Thank you, Preston," Sico said, his voice quiet but powerful. "Now, let's make sure our people are prepared for whatever comes next."

Preston gave a final nod, his expression resolute, and then turned to leave. As the door closed behind him, Sico sat back in his chair, letting out a slow breath. The path ahead was unclear, filled with potential threats and uncertainties, but he felt a steadfast determination in his heart.

The Institute and the Brotherhood might have their technology and their armies, but the Minutemen had something far stronger—a purpose, and a commitment to the people they had sworn to protect. No matter what the future held, Sico knew that as long as they stayed true to that purpose, they would prevail.

He leaned forward, studying the maps and reports on his desk with a renewed sense of clarity. The war between the Institute and the Brotherhood loomed like a dark cloud over the Commonwealth, but the Minutemen would weather it. They would stand as a shield, protecting the innocent and holding the line against any force that threatened the fragile hope they had worked so hard to build.

Sico made his way across the settlement grounds towards the Science building, his mind filled with thoughts of the delicate balance they had to maintain between the Institute, the Brotherhood, and the Commonwealth's safety. The recent conversation with Preston weighed heavily on him, but he knew there were other things that demanded his attention. Chief among them was the EMP device Mel had been working on—a potentially game-changing tool that could limit the Institute's ability to teleport their synths and cause havoc within the Commonwealth.

As he approached the Science building, Sico could hear the faint hum of machinery and the occasional clink of metal on metal. Entering, he immediately spotted Mel, hunched over his workbench with intense concentration, his fingers moving deftly as he adjusted a cluster of small components on a device. The room was filled with an assortment of gadgets, blueprints, and salvaged Institute parts, all contributing to the chaotic but ingenious environment Mel seemed to thrive in.

Mel didn't look up immediately when Sico entered, too focused on his work to notice. Sico smiled slightly, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe for a moment, watching the dedicated scientist at work. Finally, he cleared his throat.

"Mel," he called, a touch of amusement in his tone.

Startled, Mel looked up, a little dazed as he blinked behind his glasses. "Oh! General, didn't see you come in." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, then motioned for Sico to come closer. "You caught me in the middle of some delicate adjustments."

Sico stepped forward, nodding at the device on the workbench. "That the EMP device you mentioned?"

Mel's face lit up with a hint of excitement, and he turned back to the device, gesturing to various parts as he explained. "Yeah, this is it. I've been working on fine-tuning it. The concept is pretty straightforward, but the execution? Not so much. The goal here is to create a localized electromagnetic pulse strong enough to interfere with the Institute's teleportation signal. If we pull it off, we'll be able to disrupt any synth transport attempts within a specific radius."

Sico leaned in, examining the intricate device. It looked like a complex mix of repurposed Institute tech, salvaged electronics, and some of Mel's own unique modifications. He could see how much work had gone into it, and he appreciated the careful craftsmanship.

"Sounds promising," Sico said thoughtfully. "What kind of range are we talking about?"

Mel frowned, scratching his chin as he considered the question. "At this stage, it's limited. Maybe a hundred, hundred-fifty feet if we're lucky. The stronger the EMP, the wider the range, but that also increases the risk of it backfiring or damaging any nearby electronics. Right now, I'm focused on making it stable enough to be effective without turning it into a one-time-use device. I'm working on a few improvements that could extend the range without compromising stability."

Sico nodded, considering the potential applications. "So, in practical terms, if we had this at, say, a critical location like a settlement, we could use it as a defensive measure. Make it harder for the Institute to just send synths in whenever they feel like it."

"Exactly," Mel confirmed, a touch of pride in his voice. "It's not a perfect solution—they could still attack using traditional means or from a different angle—but it would force them to rethink their approach. The Institute relies heavily on their teleportation technology; take that away, and they're at a disadvantage."

Sico's gaze turned thoughtful. "And if we could deploy multiple devices across the Commonwealth? Create a network of zones where their teleportation is disrupted?"

Mel's eyes widened at the thought, excitement sparking in them. "That's… that's brilliant, General! It would take time and resources, of course, and we'd need to make sure each device was well-hidden and protected. But if we could pull it off, we'd effectively carve out safe zones for settlements, places where the Institute would be forced to engage on our terms if they wanted to infiltrate."

Sico placed a reassuring hand on Mel's shoulder. "You're doing good work here, Mel. I want you to focus on getting this prototype up and running. Once we have a stable model, we can start thinking about replication and deployment."

Mel nodded enthusiastically, clearly motivated by the support. "I'll do my best, General. But there's… one other thing. A potential complication."

Sico's eyes narrowed. "Go on."

"Well…" Mel hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The Institute's technology is… complicated. They have ways of adapting to certain threats. There's a chance they could figure out how to bypass the EMP if they study it long enough or get their hands on one of these devices."

Sico frowned. "So, you're saying if they knew what we were doing, they could develop a countermeasure?"

"Potentially," Mel admitted. "Which is why we need to be very careful about deploying it and who we trust with the knowledge of its existence. I'd recommend keeping it limited to only those we can rely on completely. And even then, we might want to rotate its use, so they can't pinpoint the locations."

Sico considered this, appreciating the scientist's caution. "Good point. This needs to be an ace up our sleeve, not something they can prepare for. We'll keep it on a need-to-know basis. Only our top people in the Minutemen will be aware of it. And as for deployment, we'll do it sparingly, rotating it as you suggested."

Mel looked visibly relieved. "Thank you, General. That's the safest approach. And if it helps, I'll also work on making each device slightly different. Variations in design and frequency modulation. It'll make it harder for the Institute to counter if they're not dealing with identical units."

Sico's expression softened with approval. "That's why I trust you with this, Mel. You think ahead."

Mel gave a small, grateful smile, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "It means a lot, General. We're all working hard to keep the Commonwealth safe. I just hope this device can give us a fighting chance."

"It already has, Mel. This could be the breakthrough we need to keep our people safe without engaging in open war with the Institute. It's a way to level the playing field, or at least tilt it in our favor."

Mel returned his focus to the device, tinkering with a few components as he spoke. "I'll keep you updated on the progress, General. Shouldn't be too long now before we can give it a field test."

Sico nodded, satisfied with the plan. "Let me know the moment it's ready. We'll organize a trial run in a controlled area. I want to see what this thing can do in a real-world situation."

As Sico turned to leave, he paused, looking back at his friend and ally. "And Mel… thank you. The Commonwealth is lucky to have someone like you."

Mel's face flushed slightly, but he managed a modest smile. "Just doing my part, General. For the Commonwealth."

Sico gave him a final nod of gratitude before leaving the Science building, his mind racing with possibilities. Mel's EMP device could indeed shift the tide, giving the Minutemen a powerful tool to keep the Commonwealth safe from the Institute's insidious reach. And as he walked back towards his office, Sico couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and hope. They had a plan, they had allies, and they had the resolve to protect their home, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

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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: -