"You want me to what?", Mayor Kessler of Bunker Hill asked incredulously.

The General started to repeat herself but was interrupted. A caravan hand jogged up to Kessler between the General and Preston and leaned in to her. "Headed out on the road with Lucas."

"When are you thinkin' on being back?", Kessler nodded.

"Well, thanks to the General making the roads safer, we were thinking of passing by the Slog on this run. So maybe a few days longer than usual.", she said.

"Be careful coming at the Slog from the east.", the Minutemen leader advised. "We haven't gotten our attention over to the Forged like we're going to."

"Couldn't happen to a better bunch of maniacs.", the caravan hand encouraged before jogging off.

Kessler looked back at the General. She just tilted her head.

With a shrug of her shoulder and in a wholly different tone of voice, "What do you want me to do?"

"I need a representative from Bunker Hill to sit on a Commonwealth government council.", the woman explained. "It's the only way I can ensure that the rights of the people are going to be respected."

"And that's not going to happen otherwise?", Kessler tested.

The General sighed. "Look. You can count on me not to decide to do what I've done to the Brotherhood of Steel, the Institute, or the raiders that were extorting you to you from the comfort of my office in the Castle. Or you can be in on the ground floor of a government that's going to guard the rights of not only your people but everyone in the Commonwealth."

Kessler glared at her. "You know, your power is infuriating.

"But I can't really take time away from here. The place will fall apart without me."

"I don't want to have a council where I tell the Institute that their vote is that much more powerful because Bunker Hill isn't getting one. But I'm sure all the communities that do sign up and you barter with will understand, like Vault 81 & Goodneighbor. Or at least I hope they do, considering the twenty or so settlements that are flying the Minutemen flag exclusively.", the General 'pleaded'.

Kessler's glare nearly matched Preston's dropped jaw.

"Can I send someone else to be this 'representative'?", Kessler bargained.

"I'd like every mayor to actually be there for generating the constitution of this new government. But after that, sure. I understand that mayors need to actually run their towns. I'm expecting nearly every town to end up with a representative instead of their mayor attending every council sit."

The mayor nodded. "Good. I'll get all the caravans on the road then. That'll allow me to bring Old Man Stockton with me."

Preston began to extend his hand to shake the Mayor's with, to thank her for her decision. But he was stopped by the General. Her slightly extended tongue was lightly bit between her teeth. Behind her WRAPAROUND GOGGLES, her eyes danced in complex thought. As if she just remembered something and it meant a world of difference.

But only for a fraction of a moment. Preston considered her. The General nodded, encouraging him to move to shake the Mayor's hand again.

"Thank you for working with us.", the colonel said.

"Yes, thank you.", the General stated carefully. "Now that our patrols are becoming vehicular, the Minutemen will pick you and Old Man Stockton up for the opening ceremony."

"Ceremony?", Kessler asked.

The General nodded. "Before the day we get started in negotiations, I want people in the right mood. After all, we are putting a government that I'm leading the Institute into. That's not something to take likely. So while it might make the Castle a bit crowded, I think something to take the edge off first would be a good idea. You know, mingling among some people you don't know the faces of. Being open with everything is something we can all work on."

"Well, shoot.", the mayor exclaimed. "If you're sending something mechanized to do the hoofing, then I might actually be able to not fall behind schedule."

"We aim to please.", the General said.

She turned quickly towards the exit. "Come on Preston. We've got places to be, and more mayors to see. If we double time, we can get back to Diamond City and actually get a bed at Home Base."

The woman snapped her fingers. "Which reminds me. Is there a spot the Minutemen can set up in Bunker Hill?"

Seeing the look in Kessler's eye, she continued. "It's so we can respond to your needs faster. Just one man, listening to what you need."

"Space is tight inside Bunker Hill's walls.", the mayor countered. "It's not like we're going to turn down the caps that the beds in the in pull in. So the only place no one's set up is actually inside the monument."

"The obelisk?", the General confirmed. "Sure, we can get a desk and a Minuteman in there."

"See you at the opening ceremony, Your Honor."

A caravan hand watched the General and Preston leave from a long way away. He re-seated his SUNGLASSES before running his hand over his bald head. Taking a most don't-notice-me pace, he made his way into the main market place of the community. Certainly not to pass a signal Old Man Stockton that he was ready to meet.