1

"Diamond City owes its existence to the Minutemen.", Geneva stated from the now reconstructed stage.

The crowd before her stood somber. All of Diamond City had come out, upper stands residents and farmers alike. The Institute flags that had flown over the market place no longer did. The only flag that had any real significance was the one to be displayed on the upper story wall of the Home Base: a white musket sided with lightning bolts on a weathered blue background. And a red hanker chief that signaled that Travis "Lonely" Miles was broadcasting live.

Geneva continued. "But exists she does. In a government that has made her stronger.

"I understand that some cowards want to resent the new government. Resentful of revealing our mayor to be synth, instead of trying to forgive the Institute for the replacement. Hesitant to trust, despite the Minutemen having saved their lives. Demanding of self determination and that determination to be demands on everyone else. Maybe 'coward' is too good a word for those few.

"But I've seen what the General can do. She has saved our city. She has saved our Commonwealth. And instead of being hailed as a hero for saving our world, she's dedicated herself to building it to be something worthwhile.

"And I don't know that anyone else has seen this.

"So, as Acting Mayor, it is my duty to announce and run and determine the election of the next mayor of Diamond City. But I must recuse myself. The head of Diamond City Security will be keeping tally. Because I am running for the position myself.

"I may be the only person besides Piper Wright and Nick Valentine who truly understands what this woman is capable of. And I cannot, in good conscience, allow Diamond City to miss out on the single greatest opportunity to ever come across the Commonwealth in our entire lives. I will not see us cowering from the Institute. I will not have no one to turn to when the next Brotherhood of Steel roars in.

"We have a democracy. There are going to be upper stands residents who are going to assure you of the same promises that convinced you to vote in Mayor McDonough...or the synth that replaced him. Ann Codman's going to tell you that she can bring more caps to your businesses...those of you that own businesses, instead of busting your butts out on the farm or working for someone else. Malcolm Latimer's going to insinuate he might be able to lean on the Triggerman and squeeze some caps out of them...for those you who'll deal in things like that. I am going to tell you that there is something you can get with no amount of caps: a country.

"Maybe not the fabled United Commonwealth. Maybe not even this so-called New California Republic the caravans tell of. But at least one for us.

"Thank you. And bless Diamond City."

The crowd stood in silence.

The General jumped on the opportunity. "Parade column!"

The crowd's attention swung around to the General. Then it dispersed as fast as it could. Everyone who 'owned' a vantage point went to it. Those who didn't clambered up wherever they weren't kicked off.

The Minutemen, for their part, came into a single file line. It wasn't even the full force that had liberated the city. Barely two crews had stayed behind. (The General just new that as word spread of a freed Diamond City, the Commonwealth would just assume that the Minutemen wouldn't be found elsewhere.) The last man in the column was in T-60 power armor and stood next to a Type II synth wearing a MILITIA HAT if still in an INSTITUTE JUMPSUIT. A line in front of him was formed of uniformed Minutemen until they to ended in a power armor and synth configuration.

The General straightened Preston's ever present blue scarf.

"This is silly.", he said.

"Of course this is.", the General agreed. "This isn't even a parade, it's a running of the bases. Then again, I don't know if there are enough people alive in the Commonwealth to hold a proper parade of floats and building sized balloons/"

Preston scoffed. "Building sized balloons?"

She shrugged. "At least for Thanksgiving. But this is what the people want. So we're going to give it to them."

"So you're going to carry this flag around the city?"

"Correction.", she smiled. "You're going to give it to them. I'm going to go up on the stage and tried to hide my laughing at you. Glad I'm the General and not Colonel of Personnel. Bet you regret offering me the post now."

Preston not-smiled at her, rolling his eyes.

"Parade march!", she cried out. The assembled Minutemen took off in lockstep toward Third Base.

2

"Before I begin, I want to thank Diamond City.", the General claimed.

No one in the crowd believed her. She had just saved them from a horde of super mutants. And she wanted to thank them.

"I'd like to thank Diamond City for being something worth saving. Each glimmer of the world I left that shines on in this city gives me hope that it can spread to the entirety of the Commonwealth. Every scrap of industry, every practiced skill, even a functioning media...all are signs that we are still civilized as a species.

"I only want to see this grow.

"The second siege of this city strikes me as more than coincidental. Nearly a hundred years ago exactly, the Minutemen defended this city. Our name became synonymous with the service and protection we provide to all who dwell in the Commonwealth that day. Previous Generals have given their lives in the service: at the Castle, at Quincy. I am proud to dedicate my life to the same service.

"But now is not the time to memorialize. Now is the time to honor.

"I'd like everyone to welcome the Corporal of Crew 3 to the stage.", she paused. Cheers went up as a soldier in the MILITIA HAT and MINUTEMEN OUTFIT uniform was helped up the stage by two others, still wearing their mandated combat armor.

"The corporal piloted his armored personnel carrier to provide armor for his crew. In doing so, repeated missile fire bent the front armor and eventually exploded the treated glass into his chest. Despite exhausting his own supply of STIM PACKs, he continued to protect his crew and did not allow the line to collapse despite his injury at the time. To him, I am awarding the Purple Heart for injury in the line of duty."

The General clapped along with the applause she helped to start.

"Next, a Minutemen of Crew 4. Exhausted her STIM PACKs advancing a line under MINIGUN fire. She still maintained cover fire for her crew to move the line up to her. To her, I am awarding the Purple Heart for injury in the line of duty."

The Minutemen she was referring to seemed to still be having some type of problem with her leg. STIM PACK technology had healed her physical injury. But even so, the Wasteland did end up with a great number of people suffering a great number of conditions. Even the Institute had not discovered how to treat the condition the General's son had died from.

"Finally, Private of Crew 4. Private, I understand that every piece of your power armor suffered a system failure of some sort or another.", the General pointed out.

The Minutemen in normal clothing replied. "The frame was only bent a little, General."

She smiled. "I've also been informed that you were the one that caught up to the Minutemen and the Corporal, saving their lives with your own issued STIM PACKs. For these actions in the face of a ferocious enemy, I am awarding you a Bronze Star of Valor.

"I expect this kind of service from all Minutmen. But more importantly, the Commonwealth should be able to as well."

The cheering drowned out Travis' commentary, even on the radio broadcast.