James stroked his chin as the officers filed into the Rivet City briefing room. James watched them gather and mingle as he imagined the military officers and generals of the Old World did the same in the historic carrier that James had helped rebuild. He watched them sit as Arcade finally made his way into the room.
"You wanted to see me, James?" Arcade asked adjusting his glasses.
"Yes, I want an update on Commonwealth politics and anything of strategic value. I'm intend on setting the Five Year Plan of the Enclave now." James replied quickly. Arcade frowned as he flipped through a few pages on his clipboard.
"Out of curiosity, any specific reason for such a goal?" Arcade inquired. "Do you plan on leaving us anytime soon?"
"Just a feeling i have." James replied as Arcade took the stage.
"The tensions of the Commonwealth have reached a boiling point. Diamond City has essentially drawn a line against the Vault Tec Federation against the Federation's incursions on other faction territory. There have been numerous border indicidents between the Federation and many factions and it seems like Diamond City plans a preemptive strike with the Gunners against the Federation. Some factions have already jumped and taken sides whereas as others stayed neutral."
A slide change with a click as the a new image of the Commonwealth replaced the old image of Diamond City.
"Though the Council doesn't have much say into territorial disputes between settlements, many are attempting to rally in support of Diamond City. These are mostly made up of settlements who have attritioned countless settlers and citizens to the Vaults of the Federation. As a result, Diamond City has a sizable force ready to invade Vault 81. They hope to hold Vault 81 hostage and negotiate a deal with the Federation. However, intel from the DIA suggests that the Federation has something else up its sleeve. While intel is limited what is known is that Midas House has recently decided to ally itself with the Federation while Quincy is leaning towards Diamond City due to its own issues with Midas House. However, Deacon has suggested in various reports that Midas House has strong connections with the tribes of the Glowing Sea. While we have no idea what is going on there, it seems that the Giants face quite a few issues of their own as the new mutants from the West are apparently clashing with the local tribes in the area."
"Mutants fighting each other?" James asked.
"I know, it's another Black Mountain situation." Arcade replied before moving on. Another click signified the changing of the slide.
"Meanwhile, most of the factions remain hostile towards the Enclave. The arrival of Rivet City has seemed to comfirm old beliefs that the Enclave are here to invade and enslave the people of the Commonwealth. It appears that the Brotherhood's propaganda is still around even after Maxson left with his Outcasts."
Another slide. This time, true to Arcade's lead-in, Arthur Maxson himself graced the projection.
"Maxson. Not much is known after the Battle of Boston Airport but intel from KAtherine and local traders suggest that Maxson moved his band to Fort Hagen before suddenly dissapearing from the Commonwealth. Deacon has been trying to track him down but there simply isn't much on him anymore. If we are to believe what Katherine has told us, the Outcasts have moved to Chicago for the time being and are rebuilding their forces. We must stand ready to defend from such an invasion."
"Didn't the Enclave have an outpost in Chicago?" James wondered aloud.
"We did, but we lost contact." Arcade replied flipping over a page on his clipboard as a new slide projected a new image on the wall.
"P-91 construction and development have been a huge success. We've finally managed to develop a Post-War fighter that improves on the old design while cutting costs. We've also begun work on upgrading the arsenal of our troops as well." Arcade sighed and James realized that the man was finally done.
"Hearing that I've decided that we are to deploy into the Commonwealth. This time, ignore bordeers. Continue armed patrols along the entire fence around the Commonwealth but not I expect incursions into faction territory. Make it clear that we will enforce borders and prevent bloodshed from an interfaction war. At the same time, try to gather intel from the locals regarding the tensions from the various factions. Out goal is peace, but if a war starts the Enclave will have to get involved." James concluded. He looked out and studied the reactions of his officers. He realized this was the first graduating class of officers since Autumn was deposed. "Dismissed." James ordered and the officers shuffled out of the room.
"How inspiring." Arcade murmured before turning to James. "Now was there a specific reason for having to establish this order as a precedence? What do you intend to do?" he asked. James thought for a moment before looking at the back of the room where he saw Katherine and Marie stand in the back.
"I need to teach Marie how to survive." he replied softly.
"What?"
"I need to show her what I know." James repeated. "I'm not going to be around forever, Arcade."
"Yeah, well that sounds like a terribly short-sighted plan."
"My plans for the Commonwealth will conflict with my plans for Marie, Arcade. So I need to finish what I started with her first. I have responsibilities." Arcade sighed and let the clipboard fall from his sight.
"I agree, James. It's good that you have the foresight to think about this. But remember that these men and women need you too. You have responsibilities to everyone here. Don't forget that."
"You think I will?" James asked with a smile.
"I think you're going to get bored and abandon us actually."
"Okay," James winced. "I deserve that."
"This is not going to be easy." Arcade sighed. James's expression darkened as he ran scenarios through his head.
"No it isn't. If there is a factional war, the Minutemen are the first to deploy to keep the peace, but they will be overrun. And we will need to get involved."
"Not necessarily." Arcade interjected. "We could stay neutral."
"Not likely. The Enclave has already allied itself with various settlements. Not to mention that the Minutemen, Goodneighbor, the Brotherhood and the DIA already heavily rely on the Enclave. We're going to be forced into this conflict. Unless…"
"Unless?" Arcade cocked an eyebrow.
"Let's not think about that until we're ready." James finished with a fake smile. "I don't want to be the aggressor in any conflict." Arcade suddenly realized what James had meant and he fixed his glasses.
"Yes, of course. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Arcade realized that James had been talking about a plan that he, Eden, Arcade, and Nate had formulated as a worst-case scenario backup plan for the Commonwealth. If democracy, peace and negotiations didn't work. The Enclave would force it to work. By invading every settlement in the Commonwealth. After having three years of unhindered growth and power, the Enclave was more than capable of leveling the ruins of the Commonwealth and rebuilding a new Boston over the old. So this being the worst case scenario, Arcade began to silent pray to whatever god, if any existed, that they would never have to cross that line.
James approached Marie and Katherine and stopped just short of them.
"You ready?" James asked.
"For what? Marie replied.
"To go."
"Ok."
The two began to walk out of the room and as Katherine prepared to follow a man rushed into the room. The commotion had caused James to pause as well as the man frantically whispered to Arcade resulting in snapping and angry gestures.
"What is it, Boone?" James asked, slightly disgruntled by the interruption.
"It's the Outcasts." Boone said, restraining some kind of anger that never seemed to relieve itself. "They've invaded NCR territory."
"You're kidding." James responded, his face, while not exactly becoming pale, demonstrated a degree of horror.
"No, I'm afraid not." a familiar voice echoed across the room. James looked and watched as Nathan Hale stepped into the room. Gone was his white tuxedo and pretentious walking cane. He was dressed to fight. The armor clinked and clanked as he stepped in and began to roll up the sleeves of his duster. The Ranger armor glistened in the room. It had been freshly polished. Axe stepped in behind him, wearing a similar but obviously more advanced version of the armor. "We're being recalled, James. And I don't know when's the next time we're going to see each other."
James nodded and reached into his pocket. He tossed an object across the room. Nathan caught it and inspected it. It was a Vault 101 lighter.
"Happy hunting." James said sternly. Hale nodded as he stuffed the lighter into his coat.
"It's going to be a tough fight. Apparently the entire Brotherhood's been mobilized on the West Coast to assist. The Outcasts are on their own this time." Hale said gruffly, the helmet did not help as it muffled his voice a bit.
"Make sure the NCR doesn't keep expanding with conquests. I know they've been itching to cross the Great Plains." James warned.
"Kimball knows what he's doing." Hale replied. "Well, he knows something. I'll try to talk to him but I promise nothing."
"You know the Enclave's waiting for him if he gets too close."
"You have no idea, Hwang." Hale replied. James was almost certainly grinning under his helmet. "Don't tread on the Bear."
"And don't piss me off." James grunted. Hale laughed as he motioned for Boone to leave. "Take a vertibird. It's on me."
"Huh, well I guess it's better than stealing one."
"Har har, get out of here before I change my mind."
Hale waved and walked out. James nodded before motioning for Katherine and Marie to follow him out the door and into the cool ocean breeze as they stepped onto the deck.