Failure is not an option.

Things are not as simple as we said to ourselves, certainly not for me. When I was younger, I thought, even though the journey here was arduous and even though it was sobering to see how the Brotherhood out here were barely hanging on, we would be able to arrive at swift victory. By the time I was sixteen, I finally understood why it wasn't possible for things to go as smoothly as I'd imagined. I haven't had many friends, partially by choice and partially by circumstance but when Amelia, my best friend and closest confidant after my father and brother, died in the line of duty I had to come to accept things are not so easy. Yet it also led me to push onwards, with renewed certainty in the importance of our mission and why failure is never an option. It is not only the Codex which details why failure is an unacceptable outcome for Brotherhood operations but knowing what the consequences would be should our enemies persist and achieve victory. Here, should we fold and allow the Enclave to win, everyone in the region will die except those the Enclave chooses to spare for their own gain.

No, it would be unacceptable and dishonourable to fail, and, thus, we will not.

My morning routine already complete, I sit down before my computer terminal and log in. Beside me is my herbal tea, which I primly begin to sip, every so often eating a wafer or two. A light start to the day before a hearty, protein heavy meal and then a light snack in the evening is what keeps my body in perfect balance alongside my exercise regime and working my usual routine. Much to my surprise, I've received a lengthy email update on operations from Proctor Teagan on which the rest of our leadership is attached. I can't help but be proud to see what we have accomplished as I read, the update itself another candid and strong reminder of the importance of our work.

7. October. 2277, 06:17

Military Action Update 230796

Early this morning we received word from Combat Team Theta Nine, led by Paladin Gregory Kodiak (Registration KD-128P), Knight Captain Ingrid Durga (Registration DR-787KC), and Knight Seargent Derek Branson (BR-109KS). The news was exceptionally positive. Though not the primary objective of Theta Nine, I am pleased to report the 'town' of Paradise Falls has been completely and utterly levelled. As you are all well aware, Paradise Falls was a trap by human traffickers to lure, kidnap, and keep slaves. The 'proprietors' of the 'town' and those responsible for its existence have, officially and with documentation, been killed. All of those kept enslaved have been liberated and their binds safely removed. Theta Nine escorted them to safer, nearby settlements, and then, once the 'town' was clear and the formerly enslaved safe and free, collected anything of use or note before destroying the 'town' in order to prevent it from being revived by others with the same ill intent as its previous operators. The bodies of the slavers were disposed of by fire so as to not attract or draw more attention to the site.

As many of the enslaved were children, the Brotherhood is attempting to reunite them with their families or find good, loving homes for them. Another team of Scribes with the protection from a squadron of Knights will take on the operation as soon as possible to allow Theta Nine to return to their primary objective of establishing sustained interference technologies against the Enclave and their operations. So far, Theta Nine has successfully established radio interference, making it more difficult for the Enclave to communicate. They have done so with the aid of a local 'Disc Jockey' who goes by the moniker of 'Three Dog.' The next step from there ought to be to find a way to covertly connect to and spy on the internal communications of the Enclave. There is a chance the radio transmission capabilities of the former Washington Dulles International Airport could prove useful in this endeavour, however, the logistics remain to be seen and tested. Theta Nine will also be attempting to uncover and confiscate information which we could use to resolve the power consumption issues with Liberty Prime.

Ad Victoriam,

Proctor Keith Skyler Teagan (Registration TG-477PR)

Paradise Falls is finally eliminated. Though I try to be emotionally neutral and restrained, I can't help but smile at the news of that awful and degenerate place being no more and those made victim there free.

The news of the radio work is just as exciting, although much more anticipated as it was one of Theta Nine's orders. Once again, we have made another step forward in our fight against the Enclave, chipping further and further away at their tyranny. I once read about the history of what had, before the War, been the United States, and the country's values of freedom, opportunity, and fighting against tyranny. It's terrible to know what remains of the United States has become such a tyrannical and evil force. The former Commonwealth Of Virginia had the motto 'Sic Semper Tyrannis' on their seal, and that motto is one I take to heart just as much as the motto of the Brotherhood. Ad Victoriam – to victory. Sic Semper Tyrannis – thus always to tyrants. In my heart and mind, Sic Semper Tyrannis is the Brotherhood's secondary motto; we fight against tyrants to ensure the safety and freedom of the civilians of the region. I have dedicated myself to carrying out that cause and will continue with it until the day my heart gives out and stops beating, until my brain no longer is active, until I am dead. As we continue our work, too, I hope the 'Outcasts' as they refer to themselves will see reason and return to the Brotherhood and redeem themselves from their dishonour. I recall the last meeting we had with those who would go on to abandon our cause all too well. The only thing I could say was – "can't they just stop fighting and bickering?" To this day, I stand by those words.

I do not say that which I do not mean or believe. To do so would be a disservice to myself and a dishonour and disrespect to those around me.

As my computer terminal indicates it is 09:56, I log off and stand up, doing one last stretch before setting my light breakfast aside and departing from my quarters. Though this week's war council meeting is not until 11:00, my father requested William and I arrive early to speak with him alone. Locking my quarters with my fingerprints, I begin a light jog towards the war room, my pristine ponytail swishing behind me. I greet my Brothers and Sisters as I pass them, and, much to my luck, I arrive outside the doors to the war room at precisely 10:00. Composing myself but not wanting to become late, I scan into the war room and formally acknowledge my father when he acknowledges me. As is proper, I take my place at his immediate right, William already, temporarily, sat at his immediate left. I nod when he formally acknowledges me and, then, we turn to our father and wait to be spoken to. He smiles when he puts us at ease, and I faintly smile, too. Sometimes it's hard to remember he's my father and not simply my direct superior. I know Will feels the same, although he doesn't like to think much on it. He was always closer with mom, anyways, and her death and the way our father has grieved it has become a painful lynch pin in their relationship.

Time heals, or, at least, it should and, sooner or later, they'll go back to normal with each other again. Not like it's the first time they've been at odds emotionally.

"I should ought to reiterate, in light of the results of your recent field operations and, in Sarah's case, the training of Squire Maxson, the truth I could not be more proud of the both of you," My father begins. "I hope the results of all of our recent operations across the board will turn out in the Brotherhood's favour, but I would be a liar if I were not to say I hope they will turn out in the favour of our family."

"Once again, father, thank you," I say, briefly but properly bowing my head towards him. "As always, your words mean a great deal."

"Yes, they do," Will agrees. "Please know we're as dedicated as ever to fulfilling the Brotherhood's objectives, and will do all we can with the power vested in us to ensure that."

"I expect nothing less," Our father replies. "You know your orders. Carry them out with the dignity and honour necessary for those in your position."

Will flinches. "Yes, of course, father."

Our father sighs. "You never used to fear me, yet I get the sense you've been beginning to," He says remorsefully. "Would it shock you to know I really did care? To know I really do care? It does weigh on me, the burden I've placed on you and your sister, but I haven't a choice. You understand, don't you?"

"I do, but it doesn't make it easier," Will quietly replies in defiance. "I don't fear you, father. I simply find it more and more difficult each day to see you as my father rather than, solely, my primary commanding officer and one of my few, direct superiors in the hierarchy of the Brotherhood."

"Father, myself, Cross, and Rothchild," I pause, turning to Will in surprise. "I never considered that or, at least, never thought of it that way."

"It's alright," Will says with a hint of a smile and quirking his eyebrows. "At the end of the day, whatever happens, you're still going to be my little sister."

"And both of you will always be my wonderful, resilient, and dutiful children," Our father momentarily goes silent, and the same face he makes when he's critically considering a strategic, military action takes hm over. "I quite miss your mother, and I suspect I will never truly come to terms with her passing, but I am certain she would be proud of your accomplishments. I have been trying to take on what was once…her role, checking in on the two of you, praising you were praise is due and correcting you if correction is necessary. I don't mean to smother the two of you but this time of year…it's difficult."

"Seven years," I note. "Seven years without mother."

"Seven years since the Brotherhood lost one of its best Scribes, too," Will says, solemnly bowing his head. "I know, of course, one day we all will meet that fate, and, thankfully, hers was peaceful and during sleep, but, I agree, father, I don't think I'll be able to truly come to terms with her death either."

"She may not have always showed it well, but she did love the two of you a great deal," Our father says, sadly smiling. "William," He begins, looking at him again. "Where the memory of your mother is concerned, all I ask is you love like it's your own blood, love like you've been loved. She always spoke of you having a good heart."

"I…of course, father," Will says, taking in and methodically releasing a deep breath. "Marcus has, when we've discussed mother, said something…something similar. I think I'll…do my best to take that to heart."

"I suspect I have been too harsh on you over the years, William," Our father says and it's startling to hear the same sound of guilt in his voice he gets when discussing our Brothers and Sisters killed in combat or unable to be recovered. "Especially as my first child and son."

"Are you alright, father?" I hesitantly offer. "Not to be ungrateful for the affection you have for us, but you aren't typically…like this," I have to stop myself to choose my words carefully. "You aren't…ill or dying, are you?"

"I'm not, you needn't worry, either of you," Our father laughs, and I breathe a sigh of relief. "It is simply a side effect of old age you two will, one day, experience. With old age, you'll find yourself with regrets, questions about what has been and what could have been. And, with the worry I have for Arthur as he is raised in such a difficult environment, I suppose I have been ruminating."

"Hard not to," I confess. "We are being confronted with so much. It's only natural we might tend towards dwelling on the past."

"And I have much past to dwell on," Our father says, turning on the war room table's display and checking the time. "It's hard to believe, when we arrived here in 2255, the Brotherhood had been barely holding onto the Citadel and the former airport. I truly could not be prouder to have brought our Order together and made so much progress in the war against the Enclave. Having spoken with the other Elders on the West Coast and in the Midwest, it appears this is the last fragment of the Enclave left. I ask you keep that information to yourselves, as I'm not quite ready to give the rest of our leadership the hope of a swift conclusion, but I do believe we will see victory against the Enclave in no more than a year or two."

"Given the state of their forces and their being confined to a single base, it should be feasible," Will says, with a shit eating grin I never thought he'd dare show in front of our father. "I'm looking forward to getting to fly one of the vertibirds, now we've got them reversed engineered. I've flown helicopters before, but they were nowhere near as advanced as these. Proctor Ingram and Scribe Bowditch weren't kidding. They gave me a first briefing on the in-flight systems on them, and I was speechless."

"Having read the report on them from Ingram, Bowditch, and Kells, I have to agree," Our father remarks. "I had been concerned about the research into them taking resources away from work on the construction of the Prydwen, but it has ended up being one of the most successful of our projects in the last few years. If only Liberty Prime could progress as quickly as the Helios Project."

"The sooner we can get Liberty Prime online, the sooner we'll be able to launch a direct attack on the Adams Air Force Base," I note. "I'm sure Kells will be relieved once the Enclave is defeated and we are able to take control of the base. It could be a slightly better location to finish construction of the Prydwen at than the former Washington Dulles International Airport, considering how many other projects we currently have under construction at the airport. We're close to running out of space on the tarmac with how large the Prydwen is."

"The space issue should be solved once we are able to get the Prydwen airborne," Our father muses. "At the same time, I concur with Lancer Captain Kells' decision not to attempt to get the Prydwen in the air until after we have gotten a firmer control on the situation with the Enclave. Preventing them from being able to take down our most ambitious project before it is even completed is the priority there."

"Once they're named and assigned, most of the vertibirds are going to be stationed at the Citadel," Will says with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Space on the tarmac will be opened up substantially."

"Good to know," I reply with a faint smirk when I'm sure our father isn't looking. "The Pride is hoping to start doing training drills out there."

"It will certainly be a good location for establishing lengthy drill routes," Our father says, standing up suddenly. Will and I quickly turn and stand up as well upon seeing the door opened by two Paladins. "Ah, just as I requested. Thank you for being on time, Squire Maxson."

"Thank you for inviting me to an audience with yourself, Sentinel Lyons, and Paladin Lyons," Arthur says, giving us the necessary and proper recognition and observing closely as William grants it to me and we both grant the recognition to our father. "I hope I'm not causing any trouble or need to be reprimanded."

"Quite the opposite, Squire," Our father says, taking his seat again and waiting for me and Will to do the same before continuing. "Please, take your seat beside Sentinel Lyons."

"Understood," Arthur says, politely nodding at me once he, too, has sat down. "Elder, might I ask what the purpose of this meeting is?"

"You may," Our father says, glancing up to ensure the doors have been shut by the Paladins. "I suspect you have been hearing quite a bit around the Citadel of late. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Elder," Arthur dutifully responds. "All I wish to know is why I've been summoned to a meeting with such esteemed members of our Order."

"I called for you to come to this meeting so we might discuss your progress," Our father smiles. "I've heard quite a bit from all of our Brothers and Sisters, but Sentinel Lyons' reports have been stellar. As such, I felt it important to discuss with you how you have been doing both in your training and in your overall wellbeing. Please, Squire, speak."

"I have improved my short range aim with handguns, revolvers, and pistols. My long range aim with those weapons is improving, too," Arthur says and I faintly smile, never more proud of him. "I have also become more adept at hand to hand combat with a variety of knives, and am improving in my bare handed combat as well. I have begun work with rifles, but my ability to keep one aimed steady is subpar. I recently scored well on a memorisation examination regarding the Codex, and I have also been performing well in my…school classes here at the Citadel with the other children of members of the Brotherhood."

"No one has been giving you trouble, have they?" I ask, looking at him with a bit more worry than I meant to show. That Knight Seargent's girl beating on him was completely unacceptable, not the least of which being because she's two years older than Arthur. I'm glad she and her siblings now attend school in Rivet City. I release my tension when he shakes his head. "I'm glad to hear it. We reviewed your latest report card late last week, Squire, and our only concerns are with your marks in science and maths."

"I've found those subjects the most difficult, yes, Sentinel," Arthur says, bowing his head. "I am sorry for performing below expectations."

"You are, actually, performing normally for your age," Will says, much to Arthur's surprise. "We have put you on a more rigorous training regime for a reason, and that includes on your academics."

"Your being well rounded is important," I add. "We can arrange for you to have tutors to pull you back up to the same level you are performing at for your other studies."

"Quite right," My father says, smiling when he looks between me and Will. "You are under our direct care for a reason, Squire, and as such we are dedicated to keeping you steady on your path. Soon enough, you may be ready to be granted the rank of Knight."

"You are doing well, Arthur," I proudly inform him. "You'll be there sooner than you think. I didn't become a Sentinel overnight, nor did William become a Paladin overnight, nor did father become Elder overnight."

I cannot say so aloud, as it would be improper and insubordinate, but don't forget you're only ten, Arthur. You're growing up exponentially faster than any child ought to. Just like Will and I did.