Katherine strode in past what was left of the wooden junk fence that served as feeble protection. It was left mostly in order to maintain cover as a raider camp. A decision that proved fatal for six operators left to maintain the safehouse. James insisted such locations would be required for intelligence purposes. This would assist in the Pride's secret operations. Operations ordered, sanctioned, and carried out with Katherine's knowledge. The Pride was loyal to only one person: James. Consequently, they never did anything without consulting James first or without having been given instruction by James personally. Luckily, Katherine had her own cabal of loyal followers to rely on.

MacCready stood, weapon drawn by a dead gen 2 synth. Katherine acknowledged it with a nod and moved on. Piper and Nick huddled around a stove and compared notes over a draped body. Dogmeat sniffed the area on Nick's instruction, possibly to investigate a lead. Multipls Enclave troopers in suits of X-02 advanced power armor, patrolled inside the ruins of the safehouse and out.

"Nick, what can you tell me?" Katherine asked pulling up the cloth cover of the body.

"Well, I'd say some sort attack took place here." Nick said as he pointed out various signs and evidence support his claim. "Burns marks in a circular pattern are common with Synth sightings." He said as he pointed out the markings. "Corroborates what you saw in Kellogg's memories."

"Teleportation." Katherine affirmed. Nick led Katherine and Piper to another room.

"Preston tells me this was installed after he and James secured it." Nick pointed a concrete alcove dug into the foundation of a neighboring building. A HAM radio and numerous cardboard boxes of folders and files. Katherine flitted her eyes around the alcove. Nothing in particular set it apart from other radio alcoves that she and James installed.

"What makes this one special?" Katherine asked.

"That's the thing. I have no clue. You friend's a real secretive guy." Nick commented.

"Wow, Nick Valentine, stumped on a case." Piper said sarcastically. Nick ignored the comment and continued.

"If the Institute came here, there's gotta be something of value to them."

"Or maybe, they came here by accident." Katherine responded.

"What makes you say that?" Piper asked.

"At the CPG gala, James and I ran into an Institute Courser." Katherine began.

"And you two lived to tell the tale?" Nick said. "Strange that the Institute would have gone to such direct methods to contact you two."

"Interesting to note that the Institute has taken such an interest in anybody without replacing them." Piper commented.

"You're right." Nick responded. "Most would have been replaced already with the amount of attention you're getting. I wonder why you're receiving the special treatment."

"Maybe it has something to do with the Brotherhood's arrival?" Piper offered.

"No, with the amount of the Institute has and the resrouces they have at their disposal, I'm sure the Brotherhood wouldn't even be on their radar." Nick responded.

"Then why?" Katherine asked.

"Does it matter?" MacCready pitched in, dragging the synth body behind him. "Point is they were here. Point is, they got in. Look at this place." MacCready dropped the synth and picked up a few burnt pieces of wood. "James's guys didn't even put up a fight. Like they weren't expecting it."

"Well, isn't that typical of an Institute attack?" Piper inquired. "fast, overwhelming? I assumed most sites are like this."

"The Enclave's one of the best fighting forces around. Used to be better than the Brotherhood." MacCready responded. "If James really did his research and did a good job. Maybe apply some of the stuff he got from the Brotherhood. They should've been able to put up quite the fight." MacCready looked around and tossed the wood pieces back. "Nothing. Just one dead synth and a bunch dead operators."

"Like someone wanted this to look like an Institute attack." Katherine concluded.

"Makes sense." Valentine commented. "But why?" Valentine knelt by the desk and picked up an earpiece.

"Earpiece?" Piper asked. "What good does that do us?"

"All the bodies have theirs on them." Valentine mused. "There was another person here. Someone we didn't account for."

"If we find them we can ask them exactly who did what."

"Right." Valentine responded. "Only problem, no leads."

"I might be able to help with that." an unfamiliar voice said from behind the group. A bald headed man walked through the junk door, carrying an old, beat up Pip-Boy 3000a. He must have had it tuned to some radio frequency because a voice was talking from it.

"Who're you?" MacCready asked.

"Nathan Hale. Courier from the Mojave Express."