"We're surrounded by...swimming in tragedy.", the General began. "The only silver lining we have in those radiation clouds is that we were attacked by a lunatic and not a tactician. This was meant to be a spirit breaking spectacle. We're supposed to cower before the almighty Brotherhood of Steel out of irrational fear."

"But is it irrational?", Mayor Geneva asked. "We weren't able to take in upper stands residents. If it weren't for the Silver Shroud/"

"I'm not going to have this table turn to figments of myth like the Silver Shroud.", the General stated. "So-called superheroes aren't going to mail home the heads of the enemy literally raining poison on us. And while there are going to be social and economic upheavals in Diamond City due to this, if I can ask Faranheit to keep Goodneighbor together then I can certainly ask you to do the same in Diamond City.

"I understand the need Diamond City has for stability because it's the same every where. And that stability comes from two things: ensuring supply and providing security. On the one hand, with the Glowing Sea's cloud cover gone it's going to be quite some time before another such attack is viable. Which leaves only the destruction of the Brotherhood of Steel to ensure security. However to survive long enough to do that, we need to ensure supply. And if Shaw's and Hargrave's counts are right, we might just be able to."

Kessler was shocked. "Really? I mean, we're the trading hub. We nearly know where every cap in the Commonwealth is."

"And what are we, chopped rad roach?", Trish objected.

Kessler rolled her eyes. "What I mean is that even Bunker Hill was still figuring out how to put the trading routes back together. Even caravans coming back from the Capital Wastes had to camp out on the way back instead of come in because of the rains."

"And I'll leave that for Bunker Hill.", the General replied. "What I need is enough food for everyone in the right spot. We have water purifiers everywhere, so I'm not worried about that. But actual calories to bellies is every kind of important, from morally to politically."

"Because of the Pitt?", Roxxy rasped out.

"So we have to come up with a surplus?" Preston shook his head and whistled.

The General glared until he quieted. "First, Vault 81."

McNamara reported. "Well, you see. It turns out that Vault-tec was performing experiments on our vault pre-war."

Nearly everyone nodded. "Well, duh.", escaped Avery.

The Overseer glanced around the room. "How...how did you know? Is this common knowledge?"

The General nodded meekly. "It turns out that nearly nine out of ten vaults were just some experiment. My cryogenic stasis. Even the Gunners' emergence from the military society of Vault 75."

"Wow.", the woman absorbed. "I mean, well...

"Anyway. The General discovered that...the particular experiment of our vault included an entire new vault connected to ours and built for spying on us. But by the time it was discovered, it was empty except for Curie."

Colonel Brandis pointed out. "I thought Sheriff Curie was a synth? How could a synth be inside a vault?"

"She was a Miss Nanny then.", the General explained.

"That doesn't exactly...", and then he caught the expression, "okay okay. Fine."

"McNamara - continue."

"Thank you, General. As I was saying, the General solved a problem that was plaguing us and we didn't know we had. And in doing so, we've expanded the size of our vault by 165%. In reclaiming it, we've had to re oxygenate it. And the best way to do that is with plants."

"You mean to tell us that you have an extra vault's worth of food.", Kessler asked, nearly appaled at the good fortune.

"Um, well - more like an extra 2 and a 1/3rds."

The General took up the story from there. "Given the previous months' efforts, we're producing an exceptional surplus from Point Lookout. The settlements up in Far Harbor are still producing an excess."

Colonel Shaw spoke up. "Long story short, every body eats. We might have to rely on Nuka World returning to production a bit faster than we expected and Vault 81 stepping their game up is a needed as well as welcome surprise. A meal might mean a NUKA COLA and MUTFRUIT stew. And Vault 88 not expanding in exact the way we were planning. But everyone eats - even the Pitt."

The General turned on Trish. "I take it Vault 114's ability to produce needed chems has been unaffected."

Trish looked over to the General and allowed teeth to show through her charred lips. "Produce? Oh - produce, sure. We can still get you all the chems you need...in the future."

"And what is that supposed to mean?", the General demanded.

The ghoul slightly squirmed. "Lassez-faire capitalism?"

"She means price gouging on Rad-X and Rad Away.", Geneva accused.

Trish spun on her. "Your precious upperstands residents have enough caps to pay for the sense of security that a new stockpile of rather necessary chems provides."

Kessler was about to speak but Trish managed to roll her eyes so hard that even their inky red blackness was noticed. "Don't tell me you're objecting to your delivery commission." Kessler stayed quiet.

'I. Don't. Care.", the General stated. "What I want to know is whether you can provide a war's worth of medical supplies or do I have to deal with the reason why."

Trish nodded. "We can supply. um, General."

"At our agreed upon rates. That if my settlements can do it cheaper, you get nothing."

"Yes, General. Understood."

The General nodded. "Now as to straight battlefield manpower."

The Institute representative spoke up. "The Pitt's production was traded for by the Commonwealth as a whole. As such, the entire supply over the past few months has been held in trust by the Minutemen. The Institute would like to appropriate all of it."

"I'm sorry?", Faraday asked.

The General agreed. "Do you really believe this is the right time to ask that?"

"We are talking about a need for combat troops.", the representative stated. "We are the only organization that can turn tens of tons of materials into Mark II.1 synths, with particular upgrades and minimal turn around time."

"What do you mean upgrades?", Faranheit asked.

"The Institute would prefer not to say. Until conferencing directly with the General."

"No!", Faraday demanded. "You are not manufacturing more people to use as battlefield slaves just/"

"That's fairly adamant for someone who didn't pass the sentience test.", the General commented.

Faraday gaped.

The General continued. "Is Acadia capable of increasing the Commonwealth's combat forces by...what...half?"

"We're projecting a minimum of 112.7% due to the inclusion of existing Institute resources and stated upgrades.", the Intsitute's representative replied.

"Just because you're sill masochistic enough to somehow enjoy being their slave doesn't mean/"

"Shut up.", the General commanded. "The constitution, which Acadia signed by the way, states in its first right that everyone shall have the right to contribute to the Minutemen because the Minutemen defend the Commonwealth as a whole. If the Institute believes that this is an effective contribution that they can make, then I will listen to them.

"I understand the ethical dilemma. But the manufacture of things that are not sentient sent to the battlefield to risk destruction before they are sentient is not something I can prohibit outright considering the threat every sentient citizen of the Commonwealth, and in Acadia's case some non-sentient residents, face. I will gift - not offer, gift as in you should have a very good reason to bring further objections up - this compromise: I will confer with Sheriff Curie who did pass her sentience test, and I will guarantee that every synth manufactured will be tested for sentience before they see service."

"And how will Acadia know that the Institute won't install a chip on the motor control level that prevents a sentient snyth from providing the right answers on their tests like some kind of hyper obsessive control disorder?", Faraday objected.

"You won't.", the General and the Institute councilor stated in unison.

The Acadia representative petitioned the room. "And you all are okay with this?"

"Yep.", Faranheit said immediately. McNamara shrugged. Kessler folded her hands.

Roxxy rasped out. "I feel that as a ghoul...that I should fire the cat's meow." Trixie subtly shook her head. "Because...my people? My people have been bagged on by the Man by the likes of the big Em. How close in design are these machines to the ones that have been proven sentient?"

The Institute representative nodded. "Every sentient synth also has the physical capability of nodal calculations, mimicking a biological nervous system. These will not include such hardware."

"And what's your shake on the skinny?", she rasped.

The Institute member stalled out.

"She means that as a non-sentient synth, do you believe that this is an ethical decision?", the General explained.

"Oh.", the machine understood. "As property of the Institute, I support all of its decisions."

"That's not what she meant.", Faraday stated.

"But that's what I chose to answer.", the Institute representative stated. "If I were sentient, which you are under the malfunctioning behavior of acting like we are, then I would be free to choose whatever answer I felt. Doesn't it show how very irrational your position is if you insist on my freedom and object to every action I freely choose to make?"

Before Faraday could say more, the General interjected. "The matter is tabled. I will visit the Institute myself and make a determination there. That decision will probably favor the war effort over advancing synth's rights. Be accepting of the safety the Minutemen provide you...for now. After the war's over, come see me about drafting some special legislation or seeking reparations once this horror show is over."

Addressing a different person, "Colonel Bridget, look alive."

"Yes, General?", the mercenary replied.

"Empty vaults 75 and 95 of personnel. Not only am I going to be temporarily relocating stationing civilians there during recovery efforts, but I want every single marine in the fight. While I do believe stationing the corps away from civilians is the best solution and I understand the significance of Vault 75, it will have to be returned to you after the war rather than maintained throughout it by your people.", the General tasked.

"God loves marines - we keep Him in fresh souls to judge.", Bridget replied.

"You're not going to be alone out there. I'm tasking Brandis to keep you in air cover."

Brandis nodded. "Not only do we have our existing Stingray Deluxes, but recovered all the aircraft from Rivet City. We have a squadron of jet propelled aircraft that can all be flown out of the Commonwealth against targets in the Capital Wastes. Flying in shifts, we can probably hit a marked target in a matter of minutes."

"Excellent." Bridget noted. "We should be able to cleanse the Capital Wastes/"

"No 'cleansing'.", the General stated. "There are civilians under Brotherhood rule that we are freeing, not evaporating. Keep your targets to battlefield objectives that fly Brotherhood colors."

"And if any of these civilians start shooting at us?", the Colonel asked. "General?"

"If they're shooting then they aren't civilians. Just like everything else that survives to be put in a P.O.W. camp. Record where it came from and then stuff -em in,