1

"Sierra, what are you doing here?", the General asked.

The Nuka-Cola connoisseur was actually in the Castle proper. "I'm going to be representing Nuka-World, if we're accepted that is." The General nodded. "But I did want to talk to you about him, Overboss."

"Oh?"

The blonde nodded. "I...I'm not entertaining him anymore. And I don't want you to find out after the fact - I'm not hiding anything. But I'm still not letting Bradberton die."

The General frowned. "And shutting down the machines keeping him alive also shuts down the protection on whatever new nuclear weapons we has hidden."

Petrovita acknowledged with a shrug. "And I'm not stupid enough to stand between you and an out and about nuclear weapon."

The General raised a finger. "Let me think." Then after a moment, "Okay. I got an idea. It'll have to wait after the senate...summit...whatever we end up calling these get togethers. But thanks for telling me.

"Other than that?"

Sierra smiled. "Well, since Canterbury became legally Commonwealth, I've managed to move the stuff I've collected in my museum up to Nukaworld."

"We've made it to the other side of the Capitol Wastes?", the General marveled.

"No."

The red head cocked her head. "But we've gone south/"

"No."

"North and then around from the Republic of Rosie?"

"No."

"Then how did you get back to your home and bring back that type of cargo?"

Sierra brightened. "Through the power of NUKA COLA. It's refreshing and energizing."

The General stared at her, considering her options.

2

"Roxxy. I've been told you've been on quite an adventure."

The ghoul started when she noticed the General. "Oh. Um...what's buzzin', cuzzin? Rowdy's still banging out plates for any that come in."

The General held up her hand. "No reprimand on power armor repair. The Atom Cats garage has been extremely honorable in its contributions to the war efforts. Now that the other communities have passed the hat, I want you to see Colonel Shaw about a reimbursement.

"I'm asking more after Tenpenny Towers."

Roxxy sheepishly turned away and reached for her hair but stopped herself from scratching her head. At the General's concerned look, "Oh! um, I don't want it falling out. Trish's doesn't seem to, and neither does Holly - but I've only slapped hands today."

"Holly's here?", the General asked.

"The Slog's bidding on a bite.", Roxxy switched the subject.

The General nodded. "But Tenpenny?"

"Those bros are falling apart.", Roxxy admitted with fear in her eyes. "Up here: worn leather, greaser glasses...even the cartilige loss. But you can see their insides down in the Capitol Wastes. Muscle. Skull. A dice roll of pedigree eyes, like they're still a person trapped inside..."

"I'm sorry."

The Atom Cat rubbed at her face. "I've forgotten my groceries still doing this. My tears don't even roll down anymore." She pulled herself together.

"But you need your x-ray specs." The ghoul took a breath. "Tenpenny's run by a strongman that used to be a cop pre-war."

"Like Nick Valentine?", the General asked.

"The gumshoe? Yes.", Roxxy agreed. "He really, really wants to be part of the Commonwealth. Even after I rapped to him, mostly through his doll and compadre, that we aren't a ghoul nation - just integrated. He's already calling himself 'sheriff' and found a Minuteman flag to represent, even though it got him surrounded by Brotherhood my escort had to brush off."

The General smiled. "Sounds promising."

"On paper.", Roxxy warned. "Those three are the only non-ferals in the entire place. It's not just lip service for the constitution to give congregation to communities. And I know what I might be looking at in the long run. Plus, Acadia's a primo stamp on how far we can stretch. But a gen-pop of ferals?"

The General stopped smiling. "You aren't exaggerating are you.", she stated.

Roxxy shook her head. "Little Miss Bad Ass, as Bridget named, apparently got them a deal to integrate with non-ferals. Roy Phillips threw it on the ground and his 'citizens' ate the humans. Bessie and Gustavo aren't as proud of it as he is, but they're not exactly excommunicating anyone."

"uh...huh.", the General accepted.

3

"Yes, Mr. Pacion, right?", the General greeted.

The young man nodded. "You can call me Derek, ma'am. I was just wondering - as general, do you know the Silver Shroud?"

"I'm...sorry?"

The man continued. "I've heard from the caravans that the Commonwealth is protected by the actual Silver Shroud. Like he crawled out of the comic books and into the shadows."

The General wistfully shook her head. "The Silver Shroud isn't real. We just have a pre-war ghoul who runs a private radio station. He puts on episodes of the Silver Shroud from Goodneighbor. Maybe you could ask the Goodneighbor representative to allow you in so that you can hear a broadcast?"

4

There was no table in the General's quarters now. It was too full. The General thought that in the future, they might hold this in the courtyard or even by radio if the now Major Radio Freedom came through.

As of now, there were of course the founding communities' representation: Roxxy for the Atom Cats, Kessler for Bunker Hill as long as Old Man Stockton was raking in a fortune in Canterbury, Farenheit for Goodneighbor, Calvin Whitaker for Vault 81, Trish for Vault 114, and Darcy Pembroke for Diamond City along with the ever nameless female thing in the surfacing suit of the Institute. There was also their counterpoints from Far Harbour: Avery still representing the town of Far Harbour herself rather than sending a representative, Faraday serving as Acadias, and Zealout Thiel for the Nucleus. And after the Gunner Civil War, the General had added: Rolanda Hooper for the Hubologist's camp, Jimson for the Ark & Dove Cathedral, Derek Pacion for Canterbury Commons, Rachael from the Republic of Rosie, Alejandra Torres of the Lincoln Memorial, Quinn for Underworld, and Milly from the Pitt.

"Now that we're all here, we can start.", the General proclaimed.

Immediately she was interrupted. Torres stood up and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Lincoln Memorial moves for the Constitution to be added to with the sixth right! "Any person held against their will will be freed from their captors and their captors will be executed by the Minutemen."

Before the General could even collect herself and while Faraday was just starting to laugh and clap his hands, the second part of this attack was implemented. Milly stood up and yelled at the top of her lungs. "The Pitt seconds the motion!"