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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
Toward the first day of his new duty as Naval Commander of the Freemasons Republic.
Albert descended the steps of the headquarters porch with the rolled map tucked beneath his arm, the paper pressing lightly against his ribs as he walked.
Behind him, the wooden door closed with a soft thud.
For a moment he just stood there.
Sanctuary spread out before him in its familiar morning rhythm—so ordinary it almost felt strange considering the conversation that had just happened inside.
Caravans were being loaded near the trading yard.
Two Brahmin snorted impatiently while a trader struggled to tie down a crate that clearly weighed more than it should.
Children were running along the dirt road between houses, chasing each other with sticks that they had clearly decided were laser rifles.
A group of guards rotated off the western wall, helmets tucked beneath their arms as they headed for breakfast.
Normal life.
The Republic breathing.
Albert watched it for a few seconds.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"Well," he muttered quietly to himself.
"I guess I'm doing this."
The words felt strange.
Not wrong.
Just… strange.
Because twenty minutes ago he had been worrying about caravan scheduling and water shipments.
Now he was responsible for building a navy.
He shook his head once and started walking.
Sanctuary's engineering area sat along the far side of the settlement where the old cul-de-sac had once been.
The place had changed dramatically over the past year.
Where there had once been broken houses and rusted wreckage, there were now workshops, fabrication tables, salvaged generators, and stacks of construction material.
The air always smelled like oil, welding sparks, and freshly cut lumber.
Albert could hear the noise before he even reached the street.
Metal clanging.
Power tools whining.
Someone shouting measurements across a yard.
When he rounded the corner, he saw them immediately.
Sturges' crew.
About a dozen people were scattered across the site.
Two were reinforcing the frame of a half-collapsed house.
Another group was dismantling an old car to salvage usable metal.
And right in the center of it all was Sturges himself.
The man was halfway up a ladder leaning against a skeletal wooden wall, hammer in one hand and a pencil tucked behind his ear.
He was arguing with someone below him.
"No, no, no," Sturges said loudly.
"If you reinforce the beam like that, the roof's gonna sag again in six months."
A younger builder below him crossed his arms.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Sturges pointed with his hammer.
"Rotate the support ninety degrees and anchor it into the concrete foundation."
The builder frowned.
"That'll take longer."
"Yeah," Sturges replied calmly.
"But it won't collapse."
The builder sighed.
"Fair point."
Albert approached just as Sturges hammered the final nail into the frame and climbed down the ladder.
The builder noticed Albert first.
"Hey, Albert."
Albert nodded politely.
"Morning."
Sturges turned at the sound of the voice.
"Oh hey, Albert."
He wiped his hands on a rag hanging from his belt.
"What brings you out here?"
Albert held up the rolled map slightly.
"I need to talk to you."
Sturges raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds serious."
Albert gave a faint smile.
"It kind of is."
Sturges glanced at his crew.
"Take five, everyone."
The workers stepped away from their tasks with varying degrees of curiosity.
A few of them wandered toward the nearby workbench.
Others sat down on scrap lumber to drink water.
Sturges walked over to Albert.
"What's up?"
Albert unrolled the map across the hood of an old rusted truck.
The paper flattened under his hands.
Sturges leaned over it immediately.
"Boston Harbor?"
Albert nodded.
Sturges squinted at the markings.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
"…Are those patrol routes?"
Albert nodded again.
"Yep."
Sturges looked up slowly.
"…Wait."
He pointed at the map.
"You're not telling me—"
Albert folded his arms.
"We're building a navy."
Sturges blinked twice.
Then he broke into a huge grin.
"Oh man."
He slapped the hood of the truck.
"I knew this day was coming."
Albert chuckled.
"You did?"
"Of course."
Sturges tapped the map excitedly.
"You don't build shipyards unless you're planning to use them."
Albert pointed at the southern edge of the harbor.
"That's actually why I'm here."
Sturges leaned closer.
Albert tapped a specific location.
"The headquarters."
Sturges followed his finger.
Between two points on the map.
The shipyard.
And the Castle.
Sturges whistled softly.
"That's a good spot."
Albert nodded.
"Sico wants the Navy HQ built between the shipyard and the Castle."
Sturges leaned back slightly and crossed his arms.
"Smart."
Albert raised an eyebrow.
"You think so?"
"Oh yeah," Sturges said.
"You've got dock access from the shipyard."
He tapped one location.
"And artillery coverage from the Castle."
He tapped the other.
"That's basically the safest stretch of coast in the entire harbor."
Albert nodded.
"That's what we figured."
Sturges studied the map again.
"So what exactly do you need from me?"
Albert didn't hesitate.
"I need to know when you can move a construction team down there."
Sturges scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Well…"
He glanced across the yard at his crew.
"Depends how big this headquarters is supposed to be."
Albert took a breath.
"Large."
Sturges grinned.
"I like large."
Albert began listing things from memory.
"Command center."
"Harbor control."
"Barracks for naval personnel."
"Dock administration."
"Supply warehouses."
"Training facilities."
"Communications tower."
Sturges let out a low whistle.
"Yeah."
"That's definitely large."
Albert added one more thing.
"And it needs to support nine patrol boats."
Sturges blinked.
"Nine?"
Albert nodded.
"For now."
Sturges laughed.
"Oh man."
He rubbed his hands together.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
Sturges leaned over the map again.
His expression had changed.
The playful grin was still there.
But now there was focus behind it.
The look of an engineer already imagining structures that didn't exist yet.
He traced the coastline with one finger.
"You'll want the command building here."
He tapped a slightly elevated stretch of ground.
"Higher elevation."
"Better visibility."
Albert nodded.
"Good."
Sturges continued.
"Barracks can go inland a bit."
He tapped another spot.
"Less exposure to coastal storms."
Albert nodded again.
"What about dock control?"
Sturges pointed toward the shipyard.
"Connected directly to the harbor."
"Makes coordination easier."
Albert watched him for a moment.
"You've already planned this, haven't you?"
Sturges chuckled.
"Not exactly."
"But I've thought about it."
Albert wasn't surprised.
Sturges had always been like that.
Give him a problem and he'd mentally build half the solution before anyone even finished explaining it.
Sturges straightened again.
"So."
"When do we start?"
Albert answered immediately.
"As soon as you're ready."
Sturges looked across the yard again.
Several members of his crew were watching the conversation now.
Clearly curious.
He turned back to Albert.
"How soon do you need the headquarters operational?"
Albert thought about that.
Then he said,
"Yesterday."
Sturges laughed.
"Yeah, that tracks."
Albert shrugged.
"We're recruiting two hundred and fifty naval personnel."
Sturges' eyebrows shot up.
"That many?"
"And one hundred logistics staff."
Sturges whistled again.
"Okay."
"That's not a dock."
"That's a naval base."
Albert nodded.
"Exactly."
Sturges rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully.
"Well…"
He glanced toward the half-repaired buildings around them.
"Couple of these projects still need finishing."
Albert followed his gaze.
"How long?"
Sturges considered it carefully.
"If my crew pushes hard…"
He looked back at Albert.
"Two days."
Albert nodded slowly.
"Two days?"
"Yeah."
"We wrap up the structural work here, pack the equipment, and head for the coast."
Albert smiled.
"That works."
Sturges grinned.
"Man."
He shook his head in amazement.
"A navy."
Albert rolled the map slightly but didn't close it completely.
"Wait until you see the patrol boats."
Sturges' eyes lit up.
"They're finished?"
"First one completed sea trials yesterday."
"Oh I have to see that."
Albert smirked.
"You will."
Sturges crossed his arms again.
"So let me get this straight."
"We're building a naval headquarters."
"Next to the Castle."
"For a fleet of nine patrol boats."
Albert nodded.
"And a submarine."
Sturges froze.
"…A what?"
Albert chuckled.
"Submarine."
Sturges stared at him.
"You're messing with me."
"I'm not."
"You're serious?"
"Completely."
Sturges ran a hand through his hair.
"Where the hell did you get a submarine?"
Albert shrugged.
"Captain Zao."
Sturges blinked again.
"That Chinese submarine captain?"
"The one from the Yangtze?"
"Yep."
Sturges laughed in disbelief.
"Well I'll be damned."
Albert nodded toward the map again.
"Actually, that brings up another point."
Sturges leaned closer again.
"What?"
Albert tapped the coastline further north.
"The old harbor."
Sturges' smile faded slightly.
"Oh."
Albert nodded.
"You heard?"
"Yeah."
Sturges sighed.
"Mirelurks."
"Two queens," Albert said.
Sturges winced.
"Yeah."
"That'll do it."
Albert traced the ruined area on the map.
"The harbor and boat factory are destroyed."
Sturges nodded slowly.
"My crew checked it out a few weeks ago."
"Nothing left worth salvaging."
Albert sighed quietly.
"That's unfortunate."
Sturges shrugged.
"Welcome to the Commonwealth."
Albert looked back down at the map again.
"The submarine was stationed near there."
Sturges nodded.
"Hidden berth."
"Exactly."
Albert folded his arms.
"We're relocating it."
Sturges raised an eyebrow.
"Where?"
Albert tapped the same ruined coastline.
"Near the old boat factory site."
Sturges tilted his head.
"Even though it's wrecked?"
"Actually that helps."
"How?"
Albert explained calmly.
"The seabed is deep."
"The terrain provides natural concealment."
"And it's still within range of the shipyard and Castle."
Sturges thought about it for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
"That makes sense."
Albert continued.
"I'll be contacting Captain Zao later today."
"To request he move the submarine."
Sturges smirked.
"Man."
"Your job got complicated real fast."
Albert laughed quietly.
"You're telling me."
Sturges clapped him on the shoulder.
"You'll figure it out."
Albert nodded.
"I plan to."
Sturges looked back at the map one more time.
Then he rolled it closed and handed it back.
"Two days."
Albert tucked it under his arm again.
"Two days."
Sturges extended his hand.
Albert shook it firmly.
"Let's build your navy, Commander."
Albert chuckled.
"Still getting used to that title."
Sturges grinned.
"You'll grow into it."
Albert stepped back and looked across the construction yard.
Workers were already whispering among themselves.
Albert stood there for another moment after shaking Sturges' hand.
The sounds of the engineering yard slowly returned to normal around them.
Hammers resumed striking metal.
Someone restarted a generator.
A cutting torch hissed back to life as a worker began slicing apart the rusted chassis of an old pickup truck.
But there was a difference now.
Albert could feel it.
Word traveled fast in Sanctuary. Faster than radios sometimes. Faster than written orders.
And judging by the way several of Sturges' crew were glancing in his direction now, that whispering quietly to each other as it had already started.
A navy.
The Republic was building a navy.
Albert tucked the rolled map under his arm again and let out a slow breath.
His mind was already running through numbers.
Two hundred and fifty sailors.
One hundred logistics personnel.
Nine patrol boats.
A naval headquarters under construction.
Dock operations.
Command rotations.
Training schedules.
Maintenance teams.
Supply chains.
He felt the weight of it settling in.
Not crushing.
Just… real.
Sturges noticed the distant look in his eyes and smirked.
"You're already building spreadsheets in your head, aren't you?"
Albert blinked.
"…Maybe."
Sturges laughed.
"Yeah. That's exactly what you're doing."
Albert rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well someone has to organize this mess."
Sturges pointed his thumb toward the harbor on the map Albert had rolled up.
"Don't worry."
"We'll build you something solid down there."
Albert nodded.
"I know you will."
Then he glanced toward the workers again.
Several of them were openly staring now.
One of them, a woman named Carla who had been salvaging wiring from an old generator raised her voice.
"So is it true?"
Albert looked at her.
"Is what true?"
Carla wiped grease off her hands.
"That we're building a navy?"
Sturges snorted.
"See? Told you the news would spread."
Albert chuckled quietly.
"Well…"
He shrugged slightly.
"…yeah."
A ripple of excitement moved through the yard.
One of the younger mechanics nearly dropped a wrench.
"You serious?!"
Albert nodded.
"Very."
Someone else whistled.
"Damn."
Sturges clapped his hands loudly.
"Alright, alright."
"Break's over."
The workers groaned playfully but returned to their tasks.
Before Albert could turn away, Sturges leaned slightly closer and said quietly:
"Word's gonna spread through Sanctuary in about ten minutes."
Albert sighed.
"I figured."
Sturges grinned.
"Good thing you're heading to the training yard."
Albert raised an eyebrow.
"You already knew where I was going?"
"Come on," Sturges said.
"You think you're getting two hundred and fifty sailors without talking to Sarah?"
Albert chuckled.
"Fair point."
Sturges stepped back toward the ladder he'd been using earlier.
"Go get your recruits, Commander."
Albert shook his head with a quiet laugh.
Then he turned and began walking.
The training yard sat near the edge of Sanctuary.
Once it had been nothing more than a cracked basketball court and a few empty houses.
Now it was one of the most active parts of the settlement.
As Albert approached, the sound of training carried through the air.
Boots pounding against packed dirt.
Voices shouting cadence.
Metal clashing.
He rounded the corner of the last row of houses and the entire yard came into view.
Nearly a hundred soldiers were spread across the training grounds.
Some were practicing formation drills.
Others were running obstacle courses constructed from salvaged wood and scrap metal.
Near the far end, a group was firing at a line of steel targets set against an old concrete wall.
And near the center of it all, Sarah.
She stood with her arms folded, watching two squads run a tactical maneuver exercise through a mock village built from old wooden frames.
Her expression was focused.
Sharp.
The look of a commander studying every movement of her troops.
Albert slowed slightly as he approached.
He'd always admired the way Sarah commanded.
She didn't shout constantly.
Didn't posture.
Didn't need to.
When she gave an order, soldiers listened.
When she watched them train, they pushed harder.
Next to her stood another familiar figure.
Preston.
He had a rifle slung casually over one shoulder and was watching the exercise with an amused expression.
Albert walked up beside them.
Preston noticed him first.
"Well look who it is."
Sarah turned her head.
A small smile appeared when she saw him.
"Commander."
Albert groaned quietly.
"Please don't start."
Preston laughed.
"Oh we're absolutely starting."
Sarah smirked slightly.
"How's the navy?"
Albert sighed.
"It doesn't exist yet."
Preston shrugged.
"Details."
Sarah studied his face for a moment.
"Did you talk to Sturges?"
Albert nodded.
"Two days."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"That fast?"
"His crew's finishing current projects first."
Preston whistled.
"Guy works quick."
Albert nodded.
"He's excited."
Sarah chuckled.
"I'm not surprised."
Then she glanced back at the training field.
One of the squads had just completed their maneuver drill.
"Alright!" she called out.
"Reset positions!"
The soldiers moved quickly.
Albert watched them for a moment.
Then he cleared his throat.
"So."
Sarah turned back toward him.
"So."
Albert gestured lightly toward the training yard.
"I'm here to recruit."
Preston's grin widened immediately.
"Oh this should be good."
Sarah tilted her head.
"How many?"
Albert didn't hesitate.
"Two hundred and fifty."
Sarah blinked once.
"Just two hundred and fifty?"
Preston burst out laughing.
"Well that's what Sico told him to do, Sarah."
Albert nod his head.
"Yup."
Sarah looked across the yard again.
Her soldiers.
Men and women she had trained personally.
She turned back to Albert.
"That's a quarter of our standing force."
Albert nodded.
"I know."
Sarah studied him carefully.
Then she asked the real question.
"How many do you want from the trained units?"
Albert crossed his arms.
"All of them."
Preston nearly choked.
"All?!"
Albert held up a hand.
"Not immediately."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"Explain."
Albert took a breath.
"The navy will eventually need two hundred and fifty personnel."
"But we won't recruit all of them today."
Sarah nodded slowly.
"That makes more sense."
Albert continued.
"I want experienced soldiers as the foundation."
"People who already understand discipline."
"Chain of command."
"Combat readiness."
Preston scratched his chin.
"Yeah… sailors with combat training isn't a bad idea."
Albert nodded.
"Exactly."
Sarah folded her arms again.
"How many are you asking for right now?"
Albert answered calmly.
"One hundred."
Sarah thought about that.
Then nodded.
"That's manageable."
Preston whistled softly.
"That's still a lot of troops."
Albert shrugged slightly.
"The navy needs a backbone."
Sarah looked across the field again.
Then she said,
"You'll need volunteers."
Albert nodded.
"I expect that."
Then he added something else.
"And there's one more request."
Preston smirked.
"Oh boy."
Sarah narrowed her eyes slightly.
"What?"
Albert hesitated for half a second.
Then he said it.
"Power Armor."
Preston burst out laughing again.
"Oh you're really going for it."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"How many?"
Albert answered calmly.
"Twenty-five."
This time even Preston stopped laughing.
"…Twenty-five?"
Albert nodded.
"For naval boarding teams."
Sarah studied him carefully.
Her mind clearly working through the idea.
Power Armor soldiers aboard naval vessels.
Boarding hostile ships.
Defending docks.
Heavy assault units during coastal engagements.
It actually made sense.
She looked back at the field again.
Several soldiers in training were currently wearing partial armor rigs.
Others wore standard combat gear.
Then her eyes drifted toward the far side of the yard.
Where the Power Armor racks stood.
A row of towering metal suits standing like silent giants beneath a metal canopy.
Preston followed her gaze.
"Those guys?"
Albert nodded.
"Those guys."
Preston rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's… a big ask."
Albert didn't argue.
"I know."
Sarah stayed quiet for several seconds.
Watching her troops train.
Watching them run drills.
Watching them push themselves harder under the Republic banner.
Finally she said,
"You'll need the right people."
Albert nodded.
"I know."
Preston glanced between them.
"So…"
"You're actually considering this?"
Sarah didn't answer immediately.
Instead she stepped forward a few paces and raised her voice.
"Training halt!"
The yard slowly quieted.
Soldiers turned toward her.
Sweat-streaked faces.
Curious expressions.
A few of them noticed Albert standing nearby and exchanged confused glances.
Sarah waited until everyone was watching.
Then she spoke.
"At ease!"
Boots shifted.
Weapons lowered.
She gestured toward Albert.
"You all know Albert."
A few soldiers nodded.
Some waved casually.
One voice shouted jokingly:
"Morning, supply boss!"
A ripple of laughter moved through the ranks.
Albert sighed.
Preston whispered beside him,
"Your reputation precedes you."
Sarah smirked slightly before continuing.
"Albert has an announcement."
Now the soldiers looked more curious.
Albert stepped forward.
For a moment he just looked at them.
The Republic's soldiers.
People who had fought raiders, super mutants, feral ghouls.
People who had defended settlements across the Commonwealth.
People who trusted the Republic to build something better than the chaos outside its walls.
He cleared his throat.
"Morning."
A scattered chorus of greetings came back.
Albert held up the rolled map.
"This morning the Republic made a decision."
The soldiers listened carefully now.
"We're establishing a navy."
For a split second there was silence.
Then.
"What?!"
"A navy?!"
"No way!"
The yard erupted in surprised voices.
Preston laughed quietly beside Sarah.
Albert raised a hand.
"Hold on."
The noise settled again.
Albert continued.
"We're building a naval headquarters near the Castle."
"Sturges' team begins construction in two days."
"Shipyards are already operational."
Murmurs spread through the soldiers.
One of them shouted,
"Does that mean ships?!"
Albert smiled.
"Nine patrol boats."
That got another wave of reactions.
"Holy hell."
"That's awesome."
"About time."
Albert let them talk for a moment.
Then he raised his voice again.
"The navy will need personnel."
Now the mood shifted slightly.
People started understanding where this was going.
Albert continued calmly.
"I'm recruiting two hundred and fifty sailors."
Now several soldiers exchanged looks.
Some intrigued.
Some uncertain.
Albert spoke clearly.
"The first hundred will come from trained military units."
Sarah watched the reactions carefully.
Some soldiers straightened slightly.
Others leaned toward their squadmates whispering.
Then Albert added the last part.
"And I'm looking for twenty-five Power Armor personnel."
Now even the armored soldiers near the racks looked surprised.
One of them, which a towering figure named Briggs are lifted his helmet slightly.
"For what?"
Albert answered without hesitation.
"Naval assault teams."
"Boarding operations."
"Coastal heavy defense."
Briggs looked impressed.
"Huh."
Another armored trooper chuckled.
"Boarding pirates in Power Armor."
"That sounds fun."
Laughter rippled through the group.
Albert folded his arms.
"I'm asking for volunteers."
Silence fell again.
But it wasn't uncomfortable.
It was the kind of silence where people were thinking.
Weighing the idea.
A navy.
Ships.
New territory.
New missions.
Albert let the moment breathe.
Then he said calmly:
"If you're interested…"
"…step forward."
For a moment no one moved.
Then.
Boots shifted.
One soldier stepped out of formation.
Then another.
Then three more.
Within seconds a line began forming in front of Albert.
Preston grinned widely.
"Well I'll be damned."
Sarah crossed her arms again, watching proudly.
Boots scuffed against the dirt.
Men and women looked at each other, exchanging grins, raised eyebrows, or thoughtful expressions.
A navy.
Not just patrols along rivers or the occasional boat guarding a caravan crossing.
A real navy.
Ships in the harbor.
Patrol routes across Boston Harbor.
Boarding teams.
Dock defenses.
The kind of thing that made the Republic feel larger.
More permanent.
Albert watched as the first volunteers stepped forward.
Then a few more.
Then several at once.
Within half a minute nearly twenty soldiers had stepped out of formation.
Preston let out a low whistle.
"Well," he muttered quietly, "looks like the water's popular."
Sarah didn't say anything immediately.
But the faint smile on her face spoke volumes.
These were her soldiers.
People she had trained.
Disciplined.
Confident.
Ready to take on something new.
Albert walked a few steps closer to the volunteers.
He studied them carefully.
Some he recognized.
A few he knew well.
A woman from the northern patrol units.
Two riflemen from the Quincy defense operation.
A young scout who had once helped escort a caravan through ghoul territory.
Then movement caught his eye.
A heavy metallic thunk sounded near the far edge of the yard.
Heads turned.
One of the towering Power Armor figures stepped away from the racks.
The massive steel boots crushed slightly into the packed dirt as the armored soldier walked forward.
Each step sounded like a hammer hitting stone.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Preston smirked.
"Well, there's one."
The armored soldier reached the front of the forming line and lifted the helmet from the suit.
It was Briggs.
His short hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat.
He grinned broadly.
"You had me at 'boarding operations.'"
Laughter rolled through the nearby soldiers.
Albert chuckled.
"Good to know."
Another armored trooper stepped forward behind him.
Then another.
The sight of the giant suits moving toward the volunteer line made several unarmored soldiers grin.
One of them elbowed his friend.
"Man, if the Navy gets those guys, pirates are gonna regret ever touching the water."
Preston leaned closer to Albert and murmured quietly,
"You might actually get your twenty-five."
Albert watched the volunteers forming.
The line had grown quickly.
Thirty.
Maybe forty already.
More soldiers were stepping out of their formations.
But Albert raised his hand slightly.
"Alright."
The line stopped growing.
People looked at him again.
Albert took a slow breath.
Then he spoke clearly.
"This isn't final selection."
Several volunteers relaxed slightly.
Some of them had clearly wondered if stepping forward meant immediate reassignment.
Albert continued.
"We'll conduct evaluation and assignment later."
Sarah nodded approvingly beside him.
Good.
Structured.
Not chaotic enthusiasm.
Albert pointed toward the line.
"For now I just need to know who's interested."
He turned slightly toward the rest of the yard.
"If you didn't step forward today, that's fine."
"No one's being forced into naval service."
That earned several nods from the soldiers.
Some people simply preferred land operations.
Others might not know how they felt about sea duty yet.
Albert stepped back again and glanced at Sarah.
She gave him a small approving nod.
Then he turned back to the volunteers.
"Good."
He gestured lightly toward the rest of the training field.
"For now…"
"…you're still soldiers."
A few people chuckled.
Albert continued calmly.
"Until assignments are finalized, everyone continues regular training."
Then he glanced toward Sarah and Preston.
"Under Vice General Sarah and General Preston."
Preston raised both hands dramatically.
"Oh good, I still get to yell at people."
Laughter rolled across the yard again.
Albert allowed himself a small smile.
Then he addressed the volunteers one last time.
"Return to your units."
"Continue training."
"We'll make selections soon."
Boots shifted.
The line dissolved as soldiers returned to their formations.
The armored troopers clanked their way back toward the racks.
Briggs paused beside Albert for a second.
"Seriously though," he said with a grin.
"Boarding actions in Power Armor?"
Albert nodded.
"That's the plan."
Briggs chuckled.
"Sign me up."
Then he lowered his helmet and walked back toward the armor racks.
The training yard slowly returned to motion.
Sarah clapped her hands once.
"Alright!"
"Back to drills!"
Soldiers scattered back into formation.
Cadence calls resumed.
Boots began pounding against the dirt again.
Within seconds the training yard looked almost exactly like it had twenty minutes earlier.
Except now there was a quiet undercurrent of excitement running through it.
Preston leaned on his rifle and grinned at Albert.
"Well."
"That went better than expected."
Albert nodded.
"I think so."
Sarah turned toward him.
"How many volunteers did you count?"
Albert glanced across the field.
"Roughly fifty."
Preston whistled again.
"That's half your initial hundred."
Albert shrugged.
"More will come once word spreads."
Sarah nodded.
"That's true."
Then she studied him for a moment.
"You're not done recruiting today, are you?"
Albert sighed.
"…Not even close."
Preston chuckled.
"Who's next?"
Albert looked toward the center of Sanctuary.
"Magnolia."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"Administrative building?"
Albert nodded.
"I need logistics staff."
Preston smirked.
"Oh yeah."
"You mentioned that."
Albert nodded slowly.
"One hundred personnel."
Preston burst out laughing again.
"You're just collecting entire departments now."
Albert rubbed his temple slightly.
"That's what happens when someone says 'build a navy.'"
Sarah chuckled quietly.
"Well."
She gestured toward the center of town.
"Magnolia's probably buried under paperwork already."
Albert sighed.
"Which means she's going to love me showing up."
Preston grinned.
"Oh I'd pay caps to watch that conversation."
Albert shook his head.
"I'm sure you would."
Then he looked back across the training yard one more time.
Soldiers running drills.
Armor clanking.
Cadence calls echoing.
For a moment he felt something solid settle in his chest.
The Republic was growing.
Not just settlements.
Not just patrols.
Infrastructure.
Institutions.
Now even a navy.
Albert nodded slightly to Sarah and Preston.
"Good luck with the rest of training."
Preston saluted lazily.
"Good luck with Magnolia."
Sarah gave him a small encouraging smile.
"You'll survive."
Albert hoped so.
He turned and began walking.
Sanctuary's administrative building sat near the center of the settlement.
It had once been a modest two-story suburban house.
Now it had been reinforced, expanded, and partially rebuilt into something that looked more like a small town hall.
Wooden beams supported new walls.
Solar panels covered the roof.
A radio antenna rose from the back corner.
Inside worked the administrative heart of the Republic.
Trade coordination.
Settlement records.
Supply allocation.
Civil planning.
Magnolia ran most of it.
Albert approached the building slowly, his boots crunching against the dirt road.
People passed him along the way.
Caravan workers pushing supply carts.
Two farmers carrying baskets of mutfruit.
A messenger jogging toward the western gate.
And as usual…
Everyone seemed busy.
Sanctuary always felt alive.
When he reached the administrative building, he paused for a moment outside the door.
Through the open window he could already hear Magnolia's voice inside.
"…No, that shipment goes to Abernathy first."
A pause.
Then again.
"Yes, I know they requested more fertilizer."
Another pause.
"Yes, write it down. I'll sign the allocation form."
Albert chuckled quietly.
Sounds like a typical day.
He stepped inside.
The interior smelled faintly of paper, ink, and coffee.
Desks filled the main room.
Stacks of ledgers sat in organized piles.
Maps covered one wall.
Three clerks were working quietly at separate tables.
And at the far end of the room—
Magnolia.
She stood behind a large wooden desk piled with paperwork.
Her dark hair was tied back loosely.
Several rolled maps sat beside her elbow.
She was currently flipping through a ledger while talking to a young assistant standing across from her.
"…and make sure Diamond City receives the updated trade route schedule before sunset."
The assistant nodded nervously.
"Yes ma'am."
Magnolia closed the ledger.
"Good."
The assistant hurried off toward another desk.
That's when Magnolia finally noticed Albert standing near the doorway.
She raised an eyebrow slowly.
"…Oh."
Albert gave a polite wave.
"Hi."
Magnolia leaned back slightly in her chair.
"Whenever you appear like that, it means more work for me."
Albert winced.
"…That obvious?"
Magnolia smirked faintly.
"Extremely."
One of the nearby clerks tried very hard not to laugh.
Albert approached the desk slowly.
Magnolia folded her arms.
"Well?"
"What do you need?"
Albert placed the rolled map gently on the desk.
Magnolia stared at it.
"…Is that a harbor map?"
Albert nodded.
Magnolia closed her eyes briefly.
"Oh no."
Albert chuckled nervously.
"So…"
"…good news."
Magnolia opened one eye.
"I'm listening."
Albert took a breath.
"The Republic is establishing a navy."
Magnolia blinked twice.
Then she leaned forward slowly.
"A navy."
Albert nodded.
"Naval headquarters near the Castle."
Magnolia stared at him.
"You're serious."
"Very."
She leaned back in her chair again.
"Well."
"That explains the harbor map."
Albert nodded.
Magnolia tapped her fingers against the desk thoughtfully.
"How big?"
Albert answered immediately.
"Nine patrol boats."
Magnolia's eyebrows rose.
"…That's not small."
"No."
She exhaled slowly.
"And I assume you're here because this involves logistics."
Albert smiled weakly.
"You know me too well."
Magnolia sighed.
"How many?"
Albert braced himself.
"One hundred."
Magnolia froze.
"…One hundred logistics personnel?"
Albert nodded carefully.
"Yes."
Magnolia stared at him for several seconds.
Then she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.
"You're building an entire military branch."
Albert nodded slowly.
"That's the plan."
Magnolia sighed deeply.
"You realize logistics is already stretched thin."
Albert nodded.
"I know."
She gestured around the room.
"Half these people coordinate supply chains for fifteen settlements."
"I know."
"Trade caravans."
"I know."
"Construction materials."
"I know."
She dropped her hands and looked at him again.
"And you want one hundred more people."
Albert raised his hands defensively.
"Not immediately."
Magnolia narrowed her eyes.
"…Explain."
Albert leaned slightly forward over the desk.
"The navy will require dedicated logistics."
"Dock supply."
"Fuel distribution."
"Maintenance materials."
"Crew provisions."
Magnolia listened carefully.
Albert continued.
"And harbor administration."
"Ship scheduling."
"Repair coordination."
Magnolia sighed again.
"Yeah."
"That's definitely a logistics department."
Albert nodded.
"Exactly."
She tapped the desk thoughtfully.
"Where would these people even come from?"
Albert shrugged slightly.
"Some internal reassignment."
"Some civilian recruitment."
"Some training programs."
Magnolia studied him.
"You've thought about this."
Albert nodded.
"Since this morning."
Magnolia chuckled despite herself.
"Of course you have."
She stood up slowly and walked around the desk.
Albert stepped aside as she moved toward the large map wall.
Magnolia studied the harbor map pinned there.
Her eyes traced the coastline.
The Castle.
The shipyard.
The harbor routes.
Finally she said quietly,
"…A navy."
Albert nodded behind her.
Magnolia folded her arms.
"Well."
She glanced back at him.
"You're going to need a lot more than ships."
Albert smiled slightly.
"That's why I'm here."
Magnolia sighed again.
Then she said the words Albert had been hoping for.
"Alright."
Albert blinked.
"…Alright?"
Magnolia nodded.
"I'll help you recruit them."
Relief washed across Albert's face.
"Thank you."
Magnolia turned back toward the desks.
"But."
Albert groaned.
"There's always a but."
Magnolia pointed a finger at him.
"You're helping with interviews."
Albert blinked.
"…Interviews?"
"Yes."
"You want one hundred logistics personnel?"
"You're helping choose them."
Albert rubbed his face.
"Fair enough."
Magnolia smirked.
"Welcome to administration."
One of the clerks nearby muttered quietly,
"Good luck."
Albert sighed.
Looks like building a navy was going to involve a lot more paperwork than he'd hoped.
______________________________________________
• Name: Sico
• Stats :
S: 8,44
P: 7,44
E: 8,44
C: 8,44
I: 9,44
A: 7,45
L: 7
• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills
• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.
• Active Quest:-