Author's Note: I will be responding to reviews in "Intermission" which will follow "Investigation". I'll discuss my reasoning for choices I made in the course of this story then. And maybe some things about where I see this going in the future. You have some time to get those reviews in considering how long "Investigation" will be and the rate at which I post. But fair notice.

1

The council, for once, sat somberly around the table in the General's office. The more unsavory characters like Trish and Hancock could read the aura of the General. She was not to be trifled with today. The more sheltered ones like Calvin, Faraday, and Geneva seemed like they had been cowed by the atmosphere alone. This was not a debate waiting to be started. Even the world weathered Old Man Stockton appeared to understand. Avery and G9-81 kept quiet.

"Uh, what's with the dead air?", Roxxy asked.

"A mushroom cloud of it just came off Gunner Plaza.", the General snapped back. "The whole place went up in nuclear fire."

"Well, if that's the case then the Gunners are seriously weakened. You need to/"

"No. You need to, Stockton.", the General cut off. "I know exactly what I'm doing. And I'm going to tell you what you're going to be doing."

The woman took a steadying breath.

"After, of course, I explain the Minutemen's intended actions in response to this crisis. Issue.

"I am going to find out who set off a nuclear weapon in the Commonwealth. In all honesty, I would personally like to be able to hold responsible anything that sets off one of these things in Earth's ecosystem. But I certainly can hold accountable anyone that uses one of these bombs in the Commonwealth.

"Internal to the Minutemen itself, I've started a few different things. I'm having our Colonel of Supplies reaccount for every MINI-NUKE we've taken into custody. I'm having the Yangtze, our Admiral's submarine, and her armaments accounted for. And I'll be having Fort Hagen Hangar go through the same process. While I'm talking about it: I should probably have Saugus Ironworks and Irish Pride undergo the same reaccounting the Castle's going through.

"To keep the process transparent, I have granted Ms. Wright of Publick Occurrences access to every and all investigations. She's aboard the Yangtze now.

"Now what this means for you. After she's through with our internal investigations, I expect her to publish a report on her findings. If it turns out that this wasn't a betrayal by some of my personnel/"

Hancock interrupted. "Rubbing out a bunch of those Gunner bastards isn't really a capital B betrayal, now is it? In fact, some could say that it's a Minuteman's duty to help win the war."

The General slapped the table. "I expressly ordered that there was never to be a detonation like the ones that destroyed the world. Am I understood, John?"

"Yes, ma'am.", the ghoul slid back in his chair.

"Now, as I was saying.", the General continued. "Either Ms. Wright will publish which of our stores were used to commit this crime and who was responsible at which point I will decide the perpetrators fate. Or she will publish a complete accountability clearing the Minutemen. If the latter happens, then I'll be depending on you."

"To do what?", Geneva asked.

"To use your local security forces to accommodate Ms. Wright as they conduct their own internal investigations. If Ms. Wright publicly clears a local security force, then the investigation should continue - locally - into the civilian populace. I will have these war criminals found."

"You can't expect to have a community's protectors turned on their residents.", Stockton objected.

"I expect a community's protectors to protect their communities.", the General countered. "If you have someone capable of committing such an act in your midst, I expect you to want to eliminate the threat. And handing them over to me...the Minutemen will do so.

"Otherwise, I would think that Bunker Hill has reason to be adverse to such an investigation. And the Commonwealth wouldn't be able to abide that. So the Minutemen itself would conduct a thorough if intrusive and destructive search of the entire community from the tip of the monument to the lowest cellar. Am I clear?"

"Crystal.", Stockton replied.

"Just in case, I think Ms. Wright will start with Bunker Hill. Fortunately due to the caravan trade, I'm certain you have detailed records on what has moved in and out of Bunker Hill. Having that in order will help your people show her that everything is above board.", the General warned.

"You shouldn't be coming down on us anyway.", Stockton protested. "The people with the most criminal reputation are the Triggermen."

"It wasn't us.", Trish dismissed.

Then she saw how everyone was looking at her. "Well, it wasn't!", she rasped.

"What possible caps could it put in our pocket? We were making good with the chems while the war was going on. Now we got the feds poking their nose in our business.

"On top of that, if you're going to treat us by our reputations then you need to keep the part that says we're about business. Letting off a nuke isn't our business, let alone good for business. We push chems and entertainment. Not weapons. Way too many people interested in the hard sell in weapons. We'll make our caps slow but steady instead.

"Besides, the only arms dealers I know are in Diamond City and Goodneighbor, not Vault 114."

Geneva immediately screeched out, "Arturo would never/"

Hancock raised his hands. "If anyone has been dumb enough to break into my warehouse - again - and for this, I'll throw them to Fahrenheit alright?"

The General rubbed her eyes. "Stop it. We're not going to be at each other's throats about this. That's why Ms. Wright's going to publicize each of the investigations after observing them herself. Independent journalist does investigative reporting equals we can trust the results, okay?"

"Ms. Wright isn't authorized entrance to the Institute.", G9-81 stated. "Therefore, she will not be observing any investigation we execute."

"Then I will.", the General told her. "Every community will be held to the same standards as any other. And no one is escaping accountability on this."

The CLEAN ROOM SUIT clad synth swayed in her chair. "Very well. The Institute will accept your personal oversight of our investigation. We do hope this meets your demands."

"Fine."

Avery raised her hand. "Captain. I've been told that there was a plume of smoke from the sky just before the mushroom clouds. You know who did this."

The council turned to the General.

"Really?", Geneva let slip.

Faraday slapped his face. "Those/"

"Hold that thought.", the General commanded. "We do not know that for certain. And instead of starting another shooting match, I would rather have our investigations complete before accusing them."

"Who?", Hancock asked, genuinely curious.

"Never you mind.", the General stated. "And if anyone here thinks there's some one to pin their own actions on, put it out of your mind. That's another reason I've granted Ms. Wright so much access. Access that will include working out of Minutemen offices in your communities if need be.

"So in short, let the Minutemen deal with outside entities just like we should. You worry about organizing your own people to prepare your own reports. That is all. Dismissed."