[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/zekoWNK.jpg[/img][/center]

[center][i][h3]-The Situation; The Torn City-[/h3][/i][/center]

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Melissa Hammon had found herself buried in nothing short of an actual mountain of paperwork ever since the news had hit the Confederacy's borders...and spread like a raging wildfire. Their old nemesis, the Integrated Republic of Detroit, was falling to another old enemy of theirs: The Cult. More so, the battling was getting ever close to their borders, if not already bordering them by this point. Even more, between radar and scout reports The Dominion had been found moving into the war-torn area of the IRD to the southwest of the Confederacy. They'd already begun to see refugees, what brave ones that dared make the desperate trip to the north of the IRD at least, congregating around the front gate of the Confederacy's highly-fortified wall where the IRD and Confederacy shared a border. Rumors had already begun to circulate among the people, which hadn't made things better, and some letters or messages of concern had been sent in droves to the government and its representatives.... 

...including herself as well. That didn't even count the various other things commanders and their ilk had been sending to her to ask about what to do. She wasn't the only general, at least, so she knew the load had been divided up. But if MacArthur tried to push his shit onto her again, she swore she'd hang him from the flagpole by his balls for it. 

"General Hammon, mam!" 

Melissa looked up, eyes steeled but also visibly weary from the stress, as a soldier walked into her office and saluted her with the usual rigid posture. Melissa gestured for him to relax in turn, a common gesture she used when she'd been jawing on all day or was tired, before the man finally moved to speak further. 

"The President has sent word that we are to take in and process the IRD refuges, and desires we deploy a security and processing crew!"

Melissa let out a long, yet almost silent, sigh before she responded. 

[color=tomato]"...Tell the President that i will be sending a security and processing unit down to The Wall. Then relay that order to Colonel Tucket so his unit can go down there, and remind them that we need to make it a rigorous screening. If anyone there seems any bit cultist, put a bullet in em' and burn the corpse. If they are clean, they continue through processing, but make sure everyone gets screened. Even the women and children. 

Anyone who might be a soldier who is fleeing, confiscate their armaments before processing them. If they refuse to hand em' over, either turn them away or subdue them. Then he needs to get a count of just how many of those came with the refugees, and isolate them afterwards for interrogation. 

I want a report in my hands as soon as they are done. Dismissed."[/color]

"Mam, yes mam!" the soldier said, saluting once more before promptly leaving the room in nothing less than a hurry. 

Of course the man would try to take in the people of their enemy to look good, but that was just how it seemed to roll. Reports of the Cultist movements all around the areas just beyond their borders was terrifying to say the least. Or at least they were notably aggravating, in her case. Naval, land, and air forces were already readied for battle deployment, whether all out or even just in smaller contingents to make use of in strategic places. The already secured border had been ratcheted down even harder then usual to boot, on all fronts and sides for that matter. 

The general pressed a button her desk, and soon an aide ran into her office and gave her a silent salute. Not a word was needed, after all, since her aide had been working for her for a good few years by now. 

[color=tomato]"Get the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel ambassador over to me, so we can begin the process of sharing the most up to date information on the ongoing situations in the area. We know what they are trying to do in the area, that much they announced loud and clear, but with The Cult being involved i want to see if they can share any info with us.

Also, i need someone to ask the CoA representative here to offer material and monetary assistance to the main body of the CoA on our behalf. Limited assistance, of course, as we cannot drain ourselves too much. But we can offer some older/captured weapons or basic materials at least."[/color]

"Yes mam...though i must tell you that the Scout Division has sent a messenger here as well. Something about the 'Massachusetts Rumors'?"

[color=tomato]"...That is fine. Send him in then."[/color]

Melissa suddenly paused, her body tensed up and frozen for a few moments before giving an affirming nod to the aide. She did her best to relax her body, but as the aide left she wondered what information would be coming next. Soon enough, however, a Scout would enter the room and salute her. His uniform was dirty and worn, and he hadn't even taken off his armor at that. It was like he had just run here from-

"Mam. I was told to first report that the IRD warlord next to our border has sent a messenger. He went to the President first, and is now being told to come to you to report and give their message as well. 

But as for the main matter at hand, as per your request into the rumors of the production of synthetic robots near or in Boston, we have finally received confirming reports from the Commonwealth of their presence. Further, it seems the organization making them is called 'The Institute' and is attempting to reach out to the Commonwealth citizens as of our most current report. There is also report that some form of...teleportation...might have been used as well. Though this last thing we cannot confirm save for a batch of consistent and cohesive eyewitness accounts.  

What would you like us to do about this, mam?"

She been hearing rumors from their scouts about "synthetic humanoids" and a scare over them going on in Boston. That much she could gather. However, she had only told the Scout Division to contact her if confirmation or debunking of those rumors had been achieved. Such technology was not just pre-War-like in nature, it surpassed anything they had heard of from the pre-War era in their dealing and discoveries. It was groundbreaking, very much so, and such an organization could pose both a danger or a potential boon to the Confederacy due to their proximity. Regardless, the matter of The Cult was of more importance, and yet...hmm....

Perhaps some potential peaceful dealings could ensure better safety along the Confederacy's border at least. Potentially. These were becoming tumultuous times already, after all. 

[color=tomato]"Hmm....i want you to get Ambassador Cole, and i want the Scout Division to send an explorative and diplomatic squad down to the Commonwealth. I want them to seek contact with this 'Institute' if they are willing to talk, and ascertain their stance and nature. If possible, we want to pursue trade or further diplomacy.

If they are a threat, i still want the best report they can get me. I mean i want them sending our best out there to Boston for this.

After it all, i want a report on my desk as soon as they are done. Further, get the President's approval for the diplomatic mission....and soldier, please go take a shower as you can. You seemed to have earned it.

I also want the messenger from the IRD warlord sent here ASAP. I have a lot of people coming through my office today, it seems, so the sooner we handle this matter the better."[/color]

"Mam, yes mam!" the Scout said, a small yet tired smile coming to his face as he tried to remain formal, before leaving the room once more in haste as the last soldier had done. 

Well...this would soon be interesting. Most interesting indeed. But for now, they had to play their cards right. Communicate with Brotherhood allies, getting this message from the "friendly" (as they had ascertained prior) warlord from the IRD, and now sending a group out to the Commonwealth into the depths of Boston for a diplomatic mission.