1 Year, 8 Months After Broken Steel

TLW had not left the house for two days, except for a walk with Dogmeat. Though not fatigued, he felt a weariness that lingered. Two lives had been lost needlessly, sacrificed to his fanatical belief that he could change everything. On the third day, he felt no urge to rise from bed at all. Dogmeat slept beside him as Mr. Handsworth entered the room.

"Are you not going to stand up today, Mr.?"

BAAM! TLW shot a bullet from a BB gun toward the robot, then dropped the gun on the floor.

"Very well then," the robot said, turning to continue its cleaning duties.

At midday, someone knocked on the door. TLW pretended not to hear it, at least the first time. The second knock was so forceful that the door would be barged in if he didn't respond. He dragged himself downstairs and opened the door, dressed only in boxer shorts and a t-shirt, the remnants of a Salisbury steak still clinging to him. Dogmeat immediately darted out, seizing the opportunity to relieve himself.

In the doorway stood a female soldier and a male scribe, doing their best not to be distracted by the sight of him.

"My apologies, Commander," the soldier said, "but we have orders to bring you to the Capitol for the weekly Committee meeting. Please get dressed and follow us. A Vertibird is waiting."

TLW grunted and closed the door. For several minutes, the two messengers waited nervously. Finally, he emerged, now dressed, with Dogmeat on a leash. After handing the dog over to Sims, he followed them to the waiting Vertibird. It quickly lifted off and headed toward the Capitol area. As they flew, TLW gazed out the window. The Washington Monument loomed in the distance, and he noticed scaffolding still surrounding the Capitol Dome. Workers were busy attempting to refurbish it. While the enemies that once occupied the area had long since been dealt with, the structural integrity of the building remained a problem, and it would take time to fully restore it.

Below, the streets bustled with daily life. Some restaurants had reopened, and several stands and shops were set up.

The Vertibird banked and descended, aiming for the open space outside the gate.

"Not the Citadel today?" TLW asked.

"No, sir," the scribe replied. "The meeting is at the Statesman Hotel."

The Vertibird landed within minutes, and the group made their way to the hotel. Once a place for refugees, the Statesman Hotel had been refurbished into a proper establishment. Over time, the families had moved to permanent apartments, and the hotel now served visitors or those who needed a room for a short stay. It was undergoing a second round of renovations—fixing the smaller details after the major repairs had been completed. A chandelier hung in the lobby, refurbished and gleaming. Behind a reception desk, a young woman in a neat uniform sat, reminiscent of Tenpenny Towers when TLW had visited over two years ago. He pushed the memory aside, resolving to return at the next opportunity, knowing that merchants often paid in caps for luxury goods at that location.

TLW entered the elevator, which stopped at the rooftop. As the doors slid open and a breath of fresh air hit his face, he realised it had been almost two years since he was last here. That time, he had been surrounded by a pile of dead Super Mutants, escorting the remains of Reilly's Rangers away from an ambush. Now, the scene was very different. The rooftop was filled with tables and plants, and the warm weather gave the meeting a refreshing atmosphere.

Elder Lyons sat at a table brought up for the occasion, along with several other people. Reilly was there, as was a new representative from the Third Link: a man dressed in a military uniform that had previously belonged to a Talon Mercenary. Also present was a woman from the Followers, who had become the informal chief of health for the Capitol Wasteland. TLW sat down, and the group began discussing formal matters.

Everything was on schedule. Stimpaks, beer, food, and other medical supplies were to be produced within four months. Within a year, it was hoped that there would no longer be a need to ration basic goods. Another pressing issue was the need for timber. The Wasteland was expanding, and the biodome of the earlier northern world was taking shape, but it would take time. The spires had started to grow, and within five to ten years, there would be large forests. However, until then, timber was in short supply, and within the next year, they would run out.

After an hour of discussion, the group agreed to establish the Guild of Merchants and Explorers. Its main aim would be to promote trade with settlements and find new trade routes. In the unlikely event they encountered a nation, diplomatic relations could be pursued. The Third Link would take on the responsibility of establishing the guild. A secretary wrote the order as it was dictated, and within ten minutes, it was signed by Lyons and Reilly.

The next topic on the agenda was the power crisis. Reilly read a report indicating that the power capacity was at 85% and would reach critical levels within a year if the current expansion rate continued. A motion was made to coordinate with the different bunkers around the Capitol Wasteland to examine their power capacity. With the expertise of the engineer corps, it would be possible to connect their power sources to the main grid. A pre-war document suggested that a fully functional nuclear reactor, like those used in Vaults, would increase the main power capacity by over 600%, providing enough energy to also connect areas that still relied on private power sources. TLW knew that he would soon be asked to go to Vault 101, but he chose not to think about it unless asked directly.

The third point was healthcare in the Capitol Wasteland. The situation looked promising. According to statistics, the average life expectancy had nearly doubled, from 29 to 55, largely due to the elimination of threats from raiders and Deathclaws, combined with access to clean drinking water and basic healthcare. The birth rate had tripled, with only 5% of pregnancies at risk of stillbirth. The doctor announced that they had fully established a system for basic healthcare. It was now time to move to Phase 2, which would require the use of Lady of Hope Hospital.

TLW remembered the place: a hellhole once occupied by Super Mutants, which had been essential to accessing the Statesman Hotel. Since then, it had been abandoned, with the collapsed makeshift bridge long since removed. The third floor had a hole that needed repairing. Still, the doctor's idea had merit. As a former hospital, it had a layout optimized for surgery, laboratories, and other medical functions. There was still equipment that could be repaired and used. Phase 2 of the healthcare plan included non-vital surgeries, which had previously been impossible in the Wasteland. They could provide Stimpaks and first aid, but more complicated issues like prostate problems or surgeries were beyond their capacity. While some civilians and scribes had started training in medicine, they still needed years of experience. Currently, only two people and a surgery bot could perform complicated procedures, especially for bullet wounds. The doctor estimated that around 40 lives had been saved thanks to emergency procedures, but about 20 people had died due to the lack of such services.

Lyons signed the decree, and some of the attendees left the roof. With only a few items left on the agenda, the meeting concluded within thirty minutes. TLW made his way to the elevators when he heard Reilly's voice.

"Hey, wait up!" she called.

TLW stopped.

"I haven't seen you in a while. How's everything?" she asked as they stepped into the elevator.

"Like always, one day at a time," TLW replied.

"I see. Are you up for some new work?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

"What do you have in mind?"

Reilly handed him a folder. TLW opened it and found two pages, transcribed from a radio communication intercepted by the Third Link.

Voice 1: "So, did they get it?"

Voice 2: "Yes, it got a little messy, but they have the holotape."

Voice 1: "Great. Have them drop it off at the designated spot. Payment will be as usual."

Voice 2: "There's an issue. They demand more money since they got identified and killed two Capitol guards."

Voice 1: "I see. So, I have to pay more because of their incompetence?"

Voice 2: "They can't return to the Capitol Wasteland. They need money to get north to the Commonwealth."

Voice 1: "Fine. I'll add some travel money. Meet at the usual place in two days at midnight. Tell them to bring the holotape."

End of transcript.

"So, it was a paid job?" TLW asked.

"Looks like it. We couldn't trace the transmission's origin, but we found that it was picked up by two different radio towers. We've located a radio bunker overlapping their radius," Reilly explained. "A Vertibird with a strike team is already on its way."

The Vertibird flew calmly toward the bunker. Inside, eight soldiers from the Steel were preparing for a mission they had received just hours earlier. They had dropped their Power Armor and were instead dressed in black jumpsuits, helmets, and body armour. Reilly had considered sending the Diablo Reapers but deemed it outside their skillset and had instead sent a squad of Steels. The bunker was a large room connected to one of the radio masts, and there would be no prolonged close-quarters combat. The mission was simple: secure the area, gather intel, and leave.

"Thirty seconds," the pilot announced. The Steels readied their weapons. The Vertibird turned and landed swiftly. As the ramp opened, the Steels dashed toward the bunker, weapons drawn, moving in two lines. The first team took position by the wall while the other secured the perimeter. Nothing was in sight. The door was breached with two shots near the hinges to avoid destroying intel. The first team rushed inside, and within seconds, it was declared safe. The room was empty, but it was clear that someone had been there recently. The radio was still on, and the scent of smoke and leftovers lingered. The Steels quickly collected all the intel they could, taking photos of every inch of the area. Within minutes, they were back on the Vertibird, heading back to the Citadel.

The scribes from the Third Link reviewed the collected intel. Most of it was old, but one item stood out. In one of the photos, they spotted some footprints.

"Tenpenny Towers?" TLW asked.

"It makes sense," the Third Link scribe replied. "It's a day's walk southwest from the bunker. Look at the footprints—there's mud, and it's relatively fresh. The only place where water meets the dry earth in this part of the Capitol is Moreen Lake, southeast. The only settlement nearby is Tenpenny Towers."

TLW turned to Reilly. "Fucking Tenpenny Towers. That place is nothing but trouble."

It was Tenpenny himself who had offered a fortune to set off the nuclear bomb inside Megaton, which TLW had disarmed. Later, Crowley had put a bounty on TLW's head, and the Talon Mercenaries had tried to claim it. After many losses, they had disappeared from the Wasteland, along with several Brotherhood outcasts.

"What do we know about them?" TLW asked.

"We've tried communicating with them several times," Reilly replied. "We made an agreement with their chief of security, Gustavo. They accept the authority of the Capitol Wasteland, keep open communications, and open their gates for citizens in need. In exchange, only their security guards enforce the peace, and they pay us a small tribute."

"Seems like a good deal for them. They get to take all the profits from the trade route south," TLW observed.

"Exactly," Reilly agreed. "The deal was made almost a year ago when we were still struggling to pacify the ruins. We couldn't afford to be difficult. Now, though, it's different. If we isolate them, they'll feel it quickly."

TLW turned to the Third Link operative. "What's their strength?"

"About 45 men, all moderately armed. Around 200 people live in the towers. The area's also become popular among our citizens who can afford a little luxury. They're currently building a sauna and swimming pool on the ground floor. I also know that Tenpenny's paid for scavengers and traders to search for equipment for casino machines. We think he wants to open a casino there."

"A resort for the upper class, starting to take shape," TLW muttered.

"So they can hoard all the bottle caps and get richer, without asking us for anything," Reilly added.

"It's not just about that," TLW said. "Tenpenny Towers is also a strategic location. A well-developed radio dish there would give us clear communication all the way to the coastline, and south to Fredericksburg. That would allow us to establish a checkpoint near the Occoquan River, protecting our southern border."

"Exactly. Protecting the southern border, while focusing on the north," Reilly finished.

"Fucking Tennpenny." TLW muttered as he knew it will again be needed to cross the damn Ivory tower.