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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
The constant rhythm of a place that never stopped moving forward. Behind him, inside the office, Sico sat back down at his desk.
Sico sat back down in his chair slowly after Mel left the office.
For a few seconds, the room returned to the quiet rhythm it had before the engineer walked in with his blueprint and restless excitement.
The desk still held the faint impression of the papers Mel had spread across it. A few smudges of graphite remained on the wood surface where Mel's sleeve had brushed the desk while he leaned over the design.
Sico noticed it.
And for some reason, it made him smile faintly.
Not because of the mess.
Because it meant something had just started.
Something real.
He leaned back in the chair slightly and looked toward the window again.
Outside, Sanctuary moved through the slow golden light of the afternoon. Farmers were still working near the fields. A pair of guards walked along the inner wall while talking quietly. A few settlers carried supplies between the workshop buildings.
Life continuing.
The Commonwealth rebuilding itself piece by piece.
And now, maybe.
Something new would begin on the water.
Sico reached for the radio sitting on the corner of his desk.
The device was scratched, worn, and patched together more than once over the years, but it still worked perfectly. Most of the Commonwealth's coordination ran through radios like this now.
Convoys.
Patrols.
Trade routes.
Settlement security.
And today.
A boat.
He pressed the transmit button.
"Preston."
There was a moment of static.
Then the familiar voice came through clearly.
"Sico, this is Preston. Go ahead."
Sico leaned forward slightly in the chair.
"I need you to prepare a convoy."
There was a brief pause on the other side.
Preston didn't question the request immediately. He had learned long ago that when Sico called for something like that, there was always a reason.
"What kind of convoy?" Preston asked calmly.
Sico glanced down briefly at the small notebook beside his desk where he had scribbled a few quick numbers while Mel was still in the room.
"Three Humvees."
He paused.
"And two trucks."
Another moment of silence as Preston processed that.
"That's a decent-sized movement," Preston said.
"It is," Sico replied.
Preston's tone shifted slightly toward planning mode.
"Cargo or personnel?"
"Both."
Sico leaned back again as he spoke.
"I want fifty soldiers assigned as escort."
That definitely got Preston's attention.
There was a short pause before he answered.
"Fifty?"
Sico nodded instinctively even though Preston couldn't see him.
"Yes."
"Destination?" Preston asked.
"The Castle."
Now the pause was longer.
Because that combination of things told Preston immediately that this wasn't just a supply run.
Three Humvees.
Two trucks.
Fifty soldiers.
And a destination like the Castle.
Something big was happening.
"What's the objective?" Preston finally asked.
Sico rested his elbow lightly on the desk.
"Mel is heading there with some of his engineering team."
"Mel?" Preston repeated.
"Yes."
"To do what?"
Sico smiled faintly.
"Build something."
Preston let out a quiet breath that carried a hint of amusement.
"Of course he is."
Sico chuckled softly.
"New project."
He paused for a moment before adding the key part.
"It needs to be near the coast."
That was enough information for Preston to start putting pieces together in his mind.
"Boat?" he guessed.
Sico didn't answer directly.
But the slight pause before his next sentence was enough.
"They're leaving tomorrow morning."
Preston gave a short nod on the other end of the radio.
"Copy that."
His voice shifted into the tone of a man already organizing things mentally.
"I'll prepare the convoy."
Sico added one more instruction.
"I want the Humvees armed."
"Already assumed that," Preston replied.
Sico continued.
"And make sure the trucks have enough space for equipment."
"Understood."
There was a small pause again.
Then Preston added something else.
"Road security?"
Sico considered that for a second.
"The main highway route should be fine," he said. "But have a scout vehicle move ahead just in case."
Preston didn't hesitate.
"Will do."
Then he asked the final practical question.
"What time do they roll out?"
Sico glanced at the clock on the wall.
"0800."
Preston replied immediately.
"Copy that. Convoy of three Humvees and two trucks. Fifty soldiers escorting Mel and his team to the Castle. Departure tomorrow at 0800."
Sico nodded.
"Exactly."
A short burst of static passed through the radio as Preston adjusted his channel.
"I'll start preparing the vehicles and assigning personnel now," Preston said.
Then, after a second, he added with a hint of curiosity:
"Should I ask what Mel is building?"
Sico leaned back in his chair again.
"You'll see eventually."
Preston chuckled quietly.
"That usually means it's interesting."
Sico smiled.
"Very."
"Alright," Preston said. "Convoy will be ready."
"Good."
Sico released the transmit button.
The radio returned to quiet static.
One part of the plan was already in motion.
Outside the office window, the afternoon light had shifted slightly lower across Sanctuary's rooftops.
Sico picked up the radio again.
Because the convoy was only the first step.
Mel's design required materials.
And materials in the Commonwealth didn't appear magically.
They had to be found.
Traded.
Or dug out of ruins.
He switched the radio channel.
"Magnolia."
There was a faint burst of static before a calm, composed voice answered.
"This is Magnolia."
Her voice always carried that same quiet precision.
Professional.
Collected.
"Go ahead."
Sico spoke clearly.
"I need you to prepare a procurement list."
Magnolia didn't hesitate.
"For what project?"
"A patrol vessel."
There was a brief pause.
Then Magnolia responded calmly.
"I assume this involves Mel."
Sico smiled slightly.
"Correct."
"I thought so," Magnolia replied.
Her voice shifted slightly into the tone she used when organizing trade logistics.
"What kind of materials are we looking for?"
Sico reached for Mel's notes on the desk.
The engineer had left behind a quick reference sheet with some of the key items listed.
"Steel plates," Sico began.
Magnolia immediately started writing on her end.
"Size?"
"Medium industrial sheets. Salvage grade is acceptable."
"Noted."
Sico continued reading.
"Marine engine components if available."
Magnolia asked, "Complete engines or parts?"
"Either."
She wrote that down as well.
"What else?"
Sico scanned the page.
"Propeller shafts."
"Transmission couplings."
"Fuel line systems."
"Mechanical bearings."
Magnolia spoke again.
"Marine-grade bearings?"
"Yes."
Another note written down.
Sico added a few more things.
"Control cables."
"Hydraulic components."
"Industrial welding supplies."
Magnolia paused briefly.
"Anything else?"
Sico looked at the final part of Mel's list.
"Minigun mount hardware."
Magnolia stopped writing for a moment.
"Weapon mount?"
"Yes."
Another quiet pause.
Then Magnolia resumed writing.
"Understood."
She closed the notebook after a moment.
"I'll contact the caravan networks tonight."
Sico nodded.
"Good."
Magnolia continued.
"Diamond City traders should have some of the mechanical components."
"Bunker Hill caravans might be able to locate the rest."
Sico trusted her judgment.
Magnolia knew the Commonwealth's trade web better than anyone.
"I'll allocate caps from the industrial development fund," she added.
"Approved," Sico replied.
Magnolia spoke one more time before ending the call.
"When do you need the materials delivered?"
"As soon as possible."
"Understood."
There was a soft click as Magnolia ended the transmission.
Sico set the radio down again.
Two parts of the plan were now moving.
Convoy.
Trade procurement.
But there was still one more piece.
Because not everything could be bought.
Some things had to be found.
He switched channels again.
"Hancock."
For a few seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then the radio crackled to life with a rough, slightly amused voice.
"Well well… if it isn't the boss himself."
Hancock sounded like he had been walking somewhere when he answered. There was wind noise behind his voice.
"Didn't expect to hear from you today."
Sico leaned back in the chair again.
"I need your scavenger teams."
Hancock laughed lightly.
"That's usually the case."
Then he asked more seriously.
"What are we looking for?"
Sico glanced down at Mel's list again.
"Boat parts."
There was a brief silence.
Then Hancock said:
"…Boat parts?"
"Yes."
"Now that's a new one."
Sico smiled slightly.
"Mel is building a patrol boat."
Hancock whistled softly through the radio.
"Well I'll be damned."
Then he laughed again.
"You're starting a navy now?"
"Not yet," Sico replied.
"But we're starting something."
Hancock sounded genuinely intrigued now.
"Alright. What kind of parts do you want us digging up?"
Sico began listing them.
"Marine propellers."
"Engine blocks."
"Industrial steel plating."
"Mechanical transmission systems."
Hancock interrupted briefly.
"Shipyard stuff."
"Exactly."
Hancock thought for a moment.
"There are still a couple old shipyards along the coast near Boston Harbor."
Sico nodded.
"That's what I was thinking."
Hancock continued.
"And some warehouse docks north of Quincy."
"That could work too."
Hancock spoke again.
"I'll send my teams out tonight."
Sico added another instruction.
"If they find anything usable, transport it to the Castle."
"The Castle?" Hancock asked.
"Yes."
"Ah," Hancock said.
"That's where Mel's building the thing?"
"Correct."
Hancock laughed again.
"Man, I gotta see this."
Sico smirked slightly.
"You will."
Then Hancock's voice shifted into full scavenger-leader mode.
"I'll send three teams to the harbor ruins."
"Another two to the old industrial docks."
"Anything we find that looks useful goes straight to the Castle."
"Good," Sico replied.
Hancock added one more thing.
"And if we find a working engine?"
"Bring it."
Hancock chuckled.
"Alright boss."
There was a brief pause.
Then he added:
"You know this might actually work."
Sico looked toward the window again.
"I know."
Hancock laughed quietly.
"Alright. My teams will start searching tonight."
"Good."
Then the radio went quiet again.
Sico placed it back on the desk slowly.
For a moment, he simply sat there.
Listening to the quiet hum of Sanctuary outside his office.
Three conversations.
Three moving pieces.
Preston preparing the convoy.
Magnolia organizing the trade purchases.
Hancock sending scavenger teams into the ruins.
All of it pointing toward one place.
The Castle.
And toward one project.
A patrol boat.
He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms thoughtfully.
If Mel's design worked.
If the prototype floated
If the engines held together.
Then the Commonwealth might see something it hadn't seen since before the war.
A vessel moving across the water under organized command.
Protecting trade routes.
Transporting supplies.
Watching the coastline.
The idea felt strange.
And exciting at the same time.
Outside the window, the sun dipped a little lower toward the horizon.
Long shadows stretched across the streets of Sanctuary.
People still moved through the settlement, unaware that plans were already unfolding for something that would begin tomorrow morning.
Sico reached for one final piece of paperwork on the desk.
The last piece of paperwork in Sico's hand remained unread for a while.
He had picked it up automatically, the way someone does when work is always waiting. But his eyes never actually moved across the page.
Instead, his thoughts drifted somewhere else.
Toward the coast.
Toward the Castle.
Toward a pile of steel that didn't exist yet.
Outside the window, Sanctuary continued through its evening routines. Lamps were being lit along the main street. Guards rotated shifts along the walls. A caravan had just entered through the main gate, Brahmin snorting softly as the handlers guided them toward the trading area.
Life moved forward.
But tonight, something underneath that normal rhythm had shifted slightly.
Plans had been set in motion.
Convoys were being prepared.
Scavenger teams were already heading into ruins.
Trade networks were starting to move.
And somewhere in the science building, Mel was probably still awake.
Sico smiled faintly at that thought.
Because Mel didn't sleep much when something interesting was happening.
Eventually, Sico set the paperwork down again.
There would be time for it later.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair and looked out the window one last time before night settled fully over Sanctuary.
Tomorrow morning would come quickly.
And when it did.
The project would truly begin.
Morning arrived with the soft pale light that always seemed to drift across Sanctuary slowly, as if the Commonwealth itself woke cautiously every day.
The air was cool.
Not cold.
Just that early morning chill that clung to the ground before the sun fully climbed into the sky.
Sico stepped outside Freemason Headquarters just after sunrise.
The moment the door closed behind him, the sound reached him immediately.
Engines.
Not many.
But enough to break the usual calm rhythm of Sanctuary's morning.
He walked a few steps forward along the main street and turned toward the settlement gate.
And there it was.
The convoy.
Three Humvees sat lined up near the open area beside the gate, their engines idling with a steady mechanical hum. The vehicles had been cleaned and prepared, their mounted weapons already checked and locked into place.
Behind them stood the two trucks.
Large, reinforced cargo trucks that had clearly been packed with supplies during the early morning hours.
Men and women moved around the vehicles in a steady rhythm.
Soldiers checking weapons.
Drivers inspecting engines.
Engineers loading tool crates.
Mel's people.
Sico watched for a moment as the preparation continued.
Fifty soldiers.
That had been the number he gave Preston yesterday.
And from the look of the gathering forces, Preston had delivered exactly that.
Guards stood in groups near the vehicles, rifles slung across their shoulders. Some wore reinforced combat armor. Others had lighter equipment designed for faster movement.
They weren't standing lazily either.
They were alert.
Ready.
A convoy like this meant something important.
And everyone present seemed to understand that.
Sico walked closer.
The sound of boots on gravel mixed with the quiet rumble of the engines.
A few soldiers noticed him approaching and straightened slightly as he passed.
Further ahead, one of the Humvee doors opened.
Mel climbed out halfway before spotting him.
"Sico!" he called.
Sico approached the front vehicle.
Mel looked different than yesterday.
Not dramatically.
But there was something in his posture that told the whole story.
Excitement.
Real excitement.
His hair was messy again, as usual. He wore a work jacket over his clothes, and his hands already had small smudges of grease and graphite across them.
It looked like he had been up early.
Or maybe he never slept at all.
"Morning," Mel said with a grin.
Sico nodded.
"Morning."
Mel glanced behind him toward the trucks.
"My team's already loaded."
Sico followed his gaze.
Several engineers were climbing into the truck cabins while others secured tool crates in the back.
One of them slammed a cargo door shut with a loud metal clang.
"Looks like you're ready," Sico said.
Mel nodded.
"Been ready since sunrise."
Sico wasn't surprised.
Nearby, another figure approached.
Preston.
He walked across the open area toward them with his usual calm stride, a clipboard tucked under one arm.
"Everything's almost set," Preston said as he arrived beside them.
Sico glanced toward the vehicles again.
"I can see that."
Preston nodded.
"We finished loading the last equipment crate about ten minutes ago."
He flipped a page on the clipboard.
"Fuel levels are full. Radios checked. Medical supplies packed."
Mel chuckled.
"You're running this like a military operation."
Preston looked at him.
"That's because it is one."
Mel raised both hands slightly in surrender.
"Fair enough."
Preston lowered the clipboard slightly.
"I've also assigned a convoy commander."
Sico looked at him.
"Who?"
Preston turned slightly and gestured toward a man standing near the front Humvee.
"That would be Rex."
The man Preston pointed to looked like someone who had seen plenty of hard days in the Commonwealth.
Rex stood tall beside the lead vehicle, checking the mounted machine gun with practiced familiarity.
He had broad shoulders and the kind of quiet confidence that came from years of experience.
When he noticed them looking his way, he walked over.
"Sir," Rex said, giving a short respectful nod to Sico.
Sico nodded back.
"Rex."
Preston spoke.
"He'll be leading the security for the convoy."
Rex folded his arms casually.
"My squad will take the lead vehicle and rear guard."
Sico studied him for a moment.
Rex had the calm eyes of someone who didn't panic easily.
Good.
"What's your route?" Sico asked.
Rex answered immediately.
"Highway south from Sanctuary, then cutting east once we pass Lexington."
He pointed slightly toward the horizon.
"Should bring us down toward the coastal roads leading to the Castle."
Sico nodded slowly.
"Any trouble expected?"
Rex shrugged slightly.
"Raiders occasionally along the Lexington stretch."
Then he added calmly:
"But that's why we have fifty soldiers."
Mel grinned.
"I feel safer already."
Rex smirked slightly.
Then he stepped back toward the Humvee.
"Convoy leaves in about ten minutes."
Preston nodded to him.
"Carry on."
Rex returned to checking the vehicle.
Preston turned back to Sico.
"Everything's ready."
Sico nodded once.
Then he looked back at Mel.
"Before you go, there's something you should know."
Mel tilted his head slightly.
"What's that?"
"I contacted Ronnie Shaw."
Mel blinked once.
"At the Castle?"
"Yes."
Mel's expression shifted slightly into curiosity.
"What did she say?"
Sico folded his arms calmly.
"She knows you're coming."
Mel nodded slowly.
"Good."
Sico continued.
"I told her you'd be bringing engineers and equipment."
Mel glanced toward the trucks again.
"That's accurate."
Sico allowed a faint smile.
"She said the Castle workshops are available for your use."
Mel's grin returned immediately.
"Perfect."
But Sico added one more thing.
"She's also preparing space along the coastline for your project."
Mel paused for a second.
Then nodded again.
"That'll help."
Ronnie Shaw wasn't the type to waste time once she understood something mattered.
If she had already started preparing the area near the coast, that meant Mel's team would be able to begin work almost immediately.
Sico continued.
"She'll meet you when you arrive."
Mel leaned casually against the Humvee door.
"Sounds like everything's lined up."
Sico looked around the convoy again.
"Almost."
Mel raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean 'almost'?"
Sico gave a faint smirk.
"Now you just have to build the thing."
Mel laughed.
"Yeah."
He looked toward the trucks again where his engineers were now climbing fully inside the cargo area.
"That's the easy part."
Preston chuckled quietly beside them.
"I doubt that."
Mel shrugged.
"We'll see."
A soldier nearby called out.
"Five minutes!"
The convoy was getting close to departure.
Engines revved slightly as drivers adjusted their positions.
Radios crackled.
Soldiers climbed into vehicles.
Mel opened the Humvee door again and climbed halfway inside.
Then he paused and looked back at Sico.
"You know…"
Sico waited.
"If this actually works…"
Mel glanced toward the distant horizon where the road would eventually lead them toward the ocean.
"…you might have just started the Commonwealth's first navy."
Sico smiled faintly.
"One boat doesn't make a navy."
Mel grinned.
"Yet."
Then he climbed fully into the passenger seat.
The Humvee door slammed shut with a solid metallic sound.
Preston stepped back from the vehicle.
The lead Humvee engine roared slightly louder.
Rex's voice came over the convoy radio.
"Convoy ready."
Preston nodded and lifted one hand.
"Move out."
The lead Humvee rolled forward slowly.
Behind it, the second and third Humvees followed.
Then the trucks.
Soldiers sitting in the back held onto the side rails as the vehicles began moving through the Sanctuary gate.
The convoy stretched across the dirt road outside the settlement.
Engines rumbling.
Dust rising behind the tires.
Mel glanced out the window briefly as they passed the gate.
He spotted Sico standing beside Preston.
Watching them leave.
Mel raised one hand in a quick wave.
Sico returned the gesture with a small nod.
Then the convoy turned onto the main road.
And slowly disappeared down the highway leading south.
For a few moments, the dust lingered in the air outside Sanctuary.
Then the road became quiet again.
Preston folded his arms beside Sico.
"They'll make it," he said calmly.
Sico nodded.
"I know."
But his eyes were still fixed on the distant road.
Sico remained standing near the gate long after the convoy had disappeared beyond the distant curve of the road.
Dust still lingered in the air for a while, drifting slowly across the open ground before finally settling back onto the dirt path. The morning sun had climbed a little higher now, its light spilling across Sanctuary's rooftops and fields.
Beside him, Preston shifted his weight slightly but didn't rush to leave.
They both knew the moment had a quiet kind of significance.
Convoys left Sanctuary often. Patrols moved in and out almost every day.
But this one felt different.
Because it wasn't just carrying supplies.
It was carrying an idea.
Eventually, Preston glanced at Sico.
"You think they'll run into trouble?" he asked.
Sico shook his head slightly.
"Not with fifty soldiers."
Preston nodded.
"Rex knows the roads well too."
Another pause.
Then Preston added quietly, "Mel looked excited."
Sico allowed himself a faint smile.
"That's normal when he gets his hands on a new project."
Preston chuckled once.
"I remember the water purification system he built last year."
Sico nodded.
"So do I."
They both fell quiet again for a moment.
Then Preston tapped the side of his clipboard lightly.
"I'll get back to the command post."
Sico nodded.
"Let me know if you hear anything from the convoy."
"Of course."
Preston turned and walked back toward the inner part of Sanctuary, already returning to the endless responsibilities that came with protecting the settlement.
Sico remained near the gate a moment longer.
Then eventually he turned as well and walked back toward Freemason Headquarters.
The convoy continued its journey.
The road south from Sanctuary wasn't exactly smooth.
Years of neglect, war damage, and the slow reclaiming of nature had left the highways cracked and uneven. Weeds pushed through broken asphalt. Rusted car husks still littered parts of the roadside like silent reminders of the old world.
But the convoy moved steadily.
The three Humvees led the formation, engines humming powerfully as they rolled across the uneven road.
Inside the lead vehicle, Rex sat in the passenger seat while the driver kept both hands firmly on the wheel.
Behind them, Mel sat in the second Humvee, leaning slightly toward the window as the landscape rolled by.
His mind wasn't entirely on the road.
He kept replaying the blueprint in his head.
Hull shape.
Engine mount.
Reinforced ribs.
Weapon platform.
Every small piece of the design moved through his thoughts like a puzzle slowly assembling itself.
Beside him, one of the convoy soldiers glanced over.
"You alright?"
Mel blinked slightly and looked back at him.
"Yeah."
The soldier chuckled.
"You look like you're doing math in your head."
Mel smiled faintly.
"Something like that."
Ahead of them, the road stretched across the Commonwealth landscape.
They passed through the outskirts of old towns.
Broken buildings.
Collapsed storefronts.
Occasional skeletons of old vehicles half-buried in the dirt.
But the convoy didn't stop.
Every so often, Rex's voice came across the radio.
"Lead vehicle clear."
Or:
"Road ahead open."
The convoy pushed onward.
Hours passed slowly but steadily.
They crossed through the areas near Lexington, exactly as Rex had predicted.
A few distant shapes could be seen near ruined buildings once or twice.
Possibly raiders.
But the sight of five armed vehicles and fifty soldiers moving in formation was usually enough to discourage curiosity.
No one attacked.
No one interfered.
The convoy continued south.
As the day stretched closer to afternoon, the air began to change slightly.
There was something different in the breeze.
Something faint.
Something Mel noticed before anyone else.
He rolled the window down slightly and inhaled.
Salt.
The faint smell of the ocean.
His grin returned.
"We're getting close," he muttered.
The soldier beside him glanced out the window.
"Smell that too."
Mel leaned forward slightly in his seat.
The coastline wasn't visible yet.
But the air told the story.
By the time the convoy crested the final hill overlooking the old fortress, the sun had begun drifting toward the western sky.
The Castle stood ahead of them, its massive stone walls rising from the coastline like a stubborn survivor of centuries.
They had rebuilt much of it over the year.
Parts of the walls had been reinforced.
Defensive positions stood along the ramparts.
Watchtowers overlooked the surrounding land and sea.
As the convoy approached, the guards at the gate were already preparing.
Word had clearly reached them.
The large wooden gate began to open slowly.
Rex's voice came through the radio again.
"Convoy entering the Castle."
The Humvees rolled forward through the entrance.
The trucks followed close behind.
Inside the fortress courtyard, soldiers and workers moved around the open space between the buildings.
Several of them paused briefly to watch the convoy arrive.
Five vehicles.
Dozens of soldiers.
Engineers.
Equipment.
It was a noticeable arrival.
And standing near the center of the courtyard, waiting calmly with her arms folded, was Ronnie Shaw.
Mel stepped out of the Humvee as soon as it came to a stop.
He stretched his back slightly after the long ride.
Then his eyes immediately found Ronnie.
She was exactly the kind of person you expected to see commanding a place like the Castle.
Straight posture.
Sharp eyes.
The kind of presence that didn't require shouting to command attention.
She walked toward the convoy as the engines shut down.
"Mel," she said.
Mel smiled.
"Ronnie."
They stopped a few feet apart.
Ronnie glanced briefly toward the trucks and the soldiers climbing down from the vehicles.
"You brought half an army."
Mel chuckled.
"That was Sico's idea."
Ronnie smirked slightly.
"Sounds like him."
Then she looked back at Mel.
"He told me you were coming."
Mel nodded.
"Appreciate you making space for us."
Ronnie gestured toward one of the inner buildings.
"I've already had some soldiers clean out a few rooms for you."
Mel's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"That fast?"
Ronnie shrugged.
"When Sico says something is important, I don't waste time."
Mel grinned.
"Fair point."
Behind them, the engineers were already climbing down from the trucks.
Some stretched after the long ride.
Others immediately began checking equipment crates.
Ronnie looked toward them.
"That your team?"
Mel nodded.
"Yep."
Ronnie gave a short nod.
"Good."
Then she turned and began walking toward one of the larger workshop buildings near the interior wall of the Castle.
"Come on."
Mel gestured for his team to follow.
"Alright everyone, grab the gear."
The engineers began unloading crates from the trucks.
Toolboxes.
Welding equipment.
Mechanical parts.
It quickly turned into a steady stream of activity.
Soldiers helped carry the heavier crates as they followed Ronnie across the courtyard.
The workshop building stood along one side of the fortress interior.
The structure had once been a storage building centuries ago.
Now it had been partially converted into a work area for repairs and maintenance.
Ronnie pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room smelled faintly of metal, oil, and dust.
But it was clean.
Clean enough for work.
Several long tables had been cleared.
Work lamps hung from the ceiling.
A corner area had been swept completely open.
Ronnie gestured toward the space.
"This is yours."
Mel stepped inside slowly, looking around.
His eyes lit up almost immediately.
"This is perfect."
Ronnie leaned against one of the tables casually.
"I had the soldiers clear out the junk yesterday after Sico contacted me."
Mel turned toward her.
"You didn't waste time."
Ronnie smirked.
"Like I said."
Behind him, the engineers began carrying equipment inside.
Tool crates hit the floor with dull thuds.
Metal cases opened.
Welding tools were laid out.
Within minutes, the empty workshop began transforming into a functioning engineering space.
Mel walked slowly toward the large open corner Ronnie had pointed out.
He looked down at the floor for a moment.
Then he imagined it.
The steel frame.
The hull ribs.
The engine mounts.
The skeleton of the boat.
Ronnie watched his expression.
"You already see it, don't you?"
Mel chuckled quietly.
"Yeah."
He looked back at her.
"Right there."
He pointed at the empty floor space.
"Prototype frame."
Ronnie crossed her arms.
"You work fast."
Mel shrugged.
"When the idea's clear, the rest follows."
Another engineer walked up beside him carrying a rolled tube of paper.
"Blueprints ready."
Mel took the roll and walked over to one of the large tables.
He unrolled the papers carefully across the surface.
The detailed boat design spread across the table.
Hull measurements.
Structural diagrams.
Engine systems.
Weapon mount points.
Ronnie stepped closer to take a look.
She studied the drawing for a moment.
Then let out a quiet whistle.
"That's a boat."
Mel grinned.
"Hopefully."
Ronnie tapped one of the diagrams.
"And you're building it here."
Mel nodded.
"Prototype first."
He pointed toward the coastline beyond the fortress walls.
"Then we test it in the water."
Ronnie looked toward the door briefly.
Beyond the Castle walls, the ocean stretched out endlessly.
Then she looked back at the blueprint.
"Well," she said.
"You've got the space."
Mel looked around the workshop again.
His engineers were already organizing tools.
Setting up equipment.
Preparing materials.
Everything was moving.
Everything was beginning, as he leaned over the blueprint and rested both hands on the table.
______________________________________________
• 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:-