"Anything else?" Maxson asked me.

"Yes sir." I nodded. "A word on the Minutemen."

"Your ragtag army?"

"Yes sir. You say you want me as your eyes and ears. What better eyes and ears than the entire Commonwealth itself?"

"I'm listening, soldier." he crossed his arms.

"The Minutemen are rebuilding, enveloping more territory and settlements. They are the neighbors, farmers, provisioners, salesmen, the very people you hope to save."

"I feel like this is leading somewhere. Get on with it." Maxson ordered.

"Yes sir. As you know, the group was all but disbanded. People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy. What I want is simple: a show of force with the Brotherhood. There is a massive raider outpost in south Boston that is a no-trespass zone. We've been planning an assault for some time. All I ask is for the Brotherhood to do what it does best. Dig in, set up firing lines and vectors. We begin the assault from the front, torch the place. The raiders will pour out in every direction."

"Where we wait." Maxson concluded.

"Exactly. A wall of steel, no retreat, no surrender, no undue risk to your knights. Just stay behind cover and let us deal with them. I ask that you let us be the striking hammer and the Brotherhood be the anvil."

"And what do I get in exchange?"

"After this, there can be no doubt the Brotherhood is on the Commonwealth's side. You want to change hearts and minds? This will do it overnight. I'll certainly have a much easier time convincing my farmers to supply the Prydwen their crops."

"Don't you have robots doing farm work on your settlements?"

"That's only our most advanced settlements, sir. As you can imagine, it will take tremendous resources to field entire legions of robot farmers."

"But you're working on it."

"Yes sir. It is my goal to free the Commonwealth from back breaking manual labor. If the Institute did not give their creations free will and emotions, we'd be there already."

Maxson nodded. "You'll have your anvil, knight. I expect a full debrief that same evening."

"Yes sir, but I might have my adjutant do it."

"Why?"

I grinned. "I'll be leading the charge, sir. I might not survive."

"You'll live to debrief me, that's an order, knight."

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed."