357. Goodneighbor Civil War PT.4

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

They regrouped with Robert's team, checking over their men to ensure no one was injured. Though they'd taken down several pockets of resistance, Sico knew this was just the beginning. The Iron Wolves had too strong a hold on Goodneighbor, and their numbers seemed almost endless.

The battle for Goodneighbor had only intensified as Sico and the Minutemen pushed deeper into Iron Wolves' territory. Smoke billowed from nearby buildings, and the sharp crackle of gunfire echoed down the narrow streets, each shot a reminder of the cost of this fight. Sico knew they couldn't back down now—not when they were this close to reclaiming the heart of the city from the Iron Wolves and the Broker pulling their strings.

Preston Garvey, seasoned and steady under fire, fought alongside Sico, coordinating the Minutemen soldiers with calm precision. He approached Sico, his gaze unwavering, even amidst the chaos. "General, we've got reports of another group of Iron Wolves entrenched near the Old State House. They've set up barricades and traps along the route. If we can capture or break through them, it'll clear the way toward their leader."

Sico nodded. "Good. Let's take that position and move in swiftly. We can't let them dig in deeper or regroup."

Robert moved forward, his expression hardened. "Our men are ready, General. Just say the word."

"Alright," Sico began, casting his gaze over his soldiers. "Preston, take the left flank with twenty men. Keep the Wolves' attention and pressure on their barricades. Robert, lead the main assault with me down the center. We'll hit them hard and fast, keep them off-balance."

They advanced, the Minutemen moving like a well-oiled machine, each soldier knowing their role. The Iron Wolves' resistance grew fierce as they approached the Old State House, with gunfire blazing from the makeshift barricades and rooftop positions. Sico ducked behind cover, bullets whizzing past him and kicking up dust. "Stay down!" he shouted. "Keep your heads low and watch for their snipers."

Robert leaned over, his voice low. "General, they've got the high ground. We're going to need a distraction if we want to break through without too many losses."

Sico's gaze swept the battlefield. "We can use the old fire escape to get a squad up onto the roofs. Preston, can you lead a group up there and take out their snipers?"

Preston nodded, already moving with a group of sharpshooters. They climbed the rusted fire escape, making their way to the rooftop. As they reached the top, Preston's team spread out, taking aim. His voice crackled over the radio. "Ready, General. Just give the signal."

"Now!" Sico ordered, as Preston's team opened fire, catching the Iron Wolves' snipers by surprise. The Wolves tried to adjust, but the Minutemen's precision strikes were relentless, clearing the rooftops within moments. With the snipers down, Sico signaled to Robert. "Advance!"

They charged forward, firing into the Iron Wolves' defensive line. The Wolves retaliated, but the coordinated Minutemen assault broke their formation. One by one, the Wolves fell back, retreating from their positions as they realized they were outgunned and outmaneuvered.

After a brutal firefight, the Minutemen managed to break through the barricades, clearing the path to the main Iron Wolves' hideout—a fortified structure near the heart of Goodneighbor. Sico motioned for his men to spread out, encircling the building. This was their chance to capture the leader and get answers.

Sico, Preston, Hancock, and Robert approached the hideout's entrance, taking cover behind an overturned vehicle. "This is it," Sico said, his tone grim. "Inside that building is the Iron Wolves' leader. If we capture him, we can interrogate him for the Broker's location. But expect them to make a last stand."

Robert nodded, readying his rifle. "We'll follow your lead, General."

Sico took a deep breath, then signaled his men. "On my mark. Preston, toss a couple of grenades through the windows to keep them occupied. Then we go in."

Preston pulled the pins and lobbed two grenades through the shattered windows. The explosions rocked the building, shattering what was left of the glass and sending the Wolves inside into a frenzy. "Now!" Sico shouted, and the Minutemen charged in.

The Iron Wolves fought savagely, cornered and desperate, but the Minutemen pressed forward, clearing room after room. The sounds of close-quarters combat echoed throughout the building—gunshots, shouted commands, and the clash of metal as weapons and fists collided. Sico moved with a focused intensity, taking down Wolves with precise shots and quick, fluid movements.

In the central room, they found the Iron Wolves' leader, a towering, scarred man with a brutal look in his eyes. He was flanked by two of his lieutenants, both armed and ready. The leader sneered, raising his weapon as Sico stepped forward.

"You're making a big mistake," he spat. "The Broker will have your heads for this."

Sico leveled his gaze at the leader, unphased. "I don't think so. Drop your weapon, and maybe we'll make this easy."

The leader scoffed. "Not a chance," he said, aiming his rifle at Sico. But before he could pull the trigger, Preston fired, hitting the leader's hand and forcing him to drop the weapon with a pained snarl.

In the ensuing chaos, the remaining Iron Wolves surrendered, realizing they were outmatched. The leader, clutching his wounded hand, glared at Sico with defiant hatred. "You think you've won? The Broker will come for you. All of you."

Sico's gaze hardened. "We'll see about that." He motioned to two Minutemen. "Take him into custody. We're going to have a little chat."

The leader was restrained and led out of the building. Sico ordered the Minutemen to secure the area and gather the remaining Wolves. As the dust settled, Sico and Preston led the captured leader into a secluded room, where Robert stood guard at the door. Sico leaned in, his expression cold.

"You're going to tell us everything about the Broker," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Where he's hiding, his plans, his contacts—everything."

The leader sneered, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "And why would I tell you anything?"

Sico smiled faintly, but it was a smile without warmth. "Because if you don't, you'll be left to rot here in Goodneighbor, and trust me, there won't be anyone left to come for you."

The leader hesitated, the fight fading from his eyes as he seemed to weigh his options. "Fine," he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. "The Broker… he's based in a bunker outside the city. He's been using us to control the supply routes and weaken the Minutemen's hold on the Commonwealth."

"Where is this bunker?" Sico demanded, pressing for details.

"North of here," the leader replied reluctantly. "Near the old abandoned factory. He's got guards, defenses… he'll know you're coming."

Sico glanced at Preston and Robert, a determined glint in his eyes. "We'll be ready."

Leaving the Iron Wolves' leader under guard, Sico and his men regrouped outside the building. Hancock joined them, looking over the aftermath of the battle with a grim smile. "Hell of a fight, but we did it."

Sico nodded, his gaze hard but satisfied. "Goodneighbor's safe for now. But this isn't over. The Broker's still out there, and he's not going to stop until he's stopped for good."

Preston stepped forward, his voice steady. "Then we move on the bunker. Take the fight to him before he has a chance to regroup."

Sico looked around at the Minutemen, each one battle-worn but resolute. They'd fought hard for Goodneighbor, and he knew they'd fight just as fiercely to bring down the Broker. "Rest up, everyone," he said. "We head out at dawn. This time, we're finishing this."

As dawn approached, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the ruined buildings, casting a muted glow over the war-torn streets of Goodneighbor. Sico surveyed the aftermath of the battle, taking a moment to steady himself after the relentless conflict. The Iron Wolves had been defeated, but there was still work to be done. Goodneighbor needed to be secured, and the people reassured that their city was, once again, under their control.

Turning to Hancock, who was wiping soot and blood from his face, Sico gestured toward the direction of the Third Rail. "We need to head back there, let Fahrenheit and your people know the fight is over. They'll need to help keep the peace while we regroup."

Hancock gave a weary nod, the weight of the night's battle evident in his eyes. "You're right. Goodneighbor's been through hell, but they'll bounce back. It's what we do." He cracked a grin, though there was a weariness beneath it. "Still, they'll want to hear it's over—from us."

With Preston, Robert, and a handful of Minutemen at their side, Sico and Hancock started back toward the Third Rail. The streets were quiet now, the echoes of gunfire replaced by the distant hum of activity as residents cautiously emerged from hiding, surveying the damage and beginning to rebuild. The sight was both sobering and hopeful, a reminder that the people of Goodneighbor would stand resilient in the face of any threat.

When they reached the Third Rail, they found Fahrenheit and Hancock's loyalists holding their position. Her face was set in a hard expression, but relief flickered across her features when she saw them approaching. Fahrenheit nodded to Hancock and then to Sico, her respect clear. "Looks like you did it, boss," she said. "Iron Wolves are finished?"

Hancock gave a satisfied nod. "Finished for good. Goodneighbor's ours again, but we're going to need you and the others to keep the peace. There'll be folks thinking they can take advantage of the chaos left behind. I want you and our people out there, patrolling, keeping the order."

Fahrenheit's gaze was steely, her loyalty to Hancock unwavering. "You got it. We'll get Goodneighbor back on its feet." She looked over at her people, already gathering, ready to restore peace. "Anyone still hiding will get the message loud and clear that Goodneighbor is under control."

Hancock turned to Sico, a spark of gratitude in his eyes. "Couldn't have done this without you and the Minutemen, Sico. You kept Goodneighbor from falling into complete ruin."

Sico nodded. "It's what we're here for. We've got bigger battles ahead, though. The Broker's still out there, and now that we know he's pulling strings from that bunker, we can't let him regroup and threaten Goodneighbor—or the Commonwealth—again."

"Agreed," Hancock said, his expression serious. "But first, we need to give the people a chance to breathe. They've earned it."

As they stepped inside the Third Rail, they found the bar quieter than usual, but already the familiar faces of Goodneighbor were beginning to gather, cautiously exchanging glances, wondering if the nightmare of the past few days had truly come to an end. Sico and Hancock took a moment to address the crowd.

Hancock raised his voice, his tone carrying the familiar authority of someone who had fought tooth and nail for his people. "Listen up, folks! I know it's been rough. We've all taken hits. But the Iron Wolves are gone. They thought they could take Goodneighbor from us, but thanks to Sico, the Minutemen, and every one of you who held the line, they failed."

A ripple of applause and murmurs of relief spread through the crowd. Sico stepped forward, adding, "It's not just about the Iron Wolves being gone. We've sent a message today—Goodneighbor belongs to its people. But we're not done yet. The Broker's still out there, and we'll make sure he doesn't get another chance to threaten any of you."

Cheers broke out from the crowd, some raising glasses in a toast to Sico and the Minutemen. Fahrenheit moved forward, giving Sico a nod of respect. "We'll be out there, doing patrols, keeping everyone safe," she said, her tone resolute. "Goodneighbor's been through worse, and we'll make sure anyone thinking of taking advantage gets a swift reminder of who runs this place."

Hancock looked at Fahrenheit with pride. "I knew I could count on you. Spread the word: anyone looking for trouble will find themselves facing the full weight of Goodneighbor's people."

With the crowd reassured and Fahrenheit rallying Hancock's men to organize patrols, Sico felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The battle for Goodneighbor had taken its toll, but their efforts had brought about more than just survival; they'd restored a sense of pride and unity to the neighborhood.

As Sico and Hancock moved back to their small group of Minutemen, Preston approached, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We'll need to rest our troops and resupply if we're going after the Broker's bunker. That fight could be even tougher, especially if he's fortified it and has more mercenaries under his control."

Sico nodded, glancing over at his men, who were checking their weapons and patching up minor injuries. "Agreed. We can't charge in without a plan. We'll give everyone a few hours to rest, gather intelligence on the bunker's defenses, and then move out."

Robert stepped forward, his eyes sharp. "I'll start coordinating with scouts to map out the area. The more we know, the better chance we'll have of breaking through and taking him down."

Hancock placed a hand on Sico's shoulder, his voice low but firm. "I'll be coming with you to that bunker. The Broker tried to tear Goodneighbor apart from the inside. He doesn't get to walk away from that."

Sico looked Hancock in the eye, seeing the raw determination there. "Then we go together. We're taking the fight to him and making sure he can't threaten anyone again."

As the group dispersed to prepare, Sico took a moment to reflect on the journey ahead. This was far from the end—Goodneighbor's victory over the Iron Wolves was just one battle in a larger war against those who sought to control the Commonwealth. With Hancock and his allies by his side, Sico knew they were ready to face whatever lay ahead. The Broker's reign of terror was nearing its end, and Sico would make sure of it.

When dawn came, they would head north, prepared to face the Broker in his lair and end his shadow over Goodneighbor for good. But for now, in the fleeting calm, Sico felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in the people he fought beside, knowing they'd continue to stand strong against whatever threats came their way.

________________________________________________

• 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: -