Ekreture
Scrawl Banditta
Cerera
Sep
Joshua TamashiiThe Commonwealth Provisional Government
Flag (picture or description):
(Top: Unofficial flag of The CPG designed in Diamond City by Becky Fallon circa 2289. Combining elements of pre-war symbolism with that of The Minutemen.)
Territory (picture or description) and Geography: The CPG is nominally in control of most of the region known as “The Commonwealth”. Including the Boston area. However, the level of control it is able to actually enforce varies from settlement to settlement. Some of the more rural settlements outside of the immediate area of Boston simply refuse to recognize the CPG at all. Closer to Boston and “The Great Green Jewel” the CPG is more universally recognized as the legitimate authority, and its primary seat of power is located in Diamond City itself, the unofficial capital of the fledgling government. The notable exceptions to this are Goodneighbor, which refuses to recognize the CPG in any form and Vault 81 which despite overtures has so far refused outright annexation and instead maintains its own independence.
The Castle is also maintained as the headquarters of The Minutemen and is nominally under CPG control as a result.
History (if using a pre-existing faction, recent history will due. The RP start date is 2290):
After the man once named ‘Nathaniel’ known only now as the ‘Sole Survivor’ emerged from Vault 111 in search of his son, he found the world he had once known was gone forever. Using his military experience and with the help of those he met along the way, the Sole Survivor managed to infiltrate The Institute and finally found his son. What followed between them is known only to a select few within The Institute...
What is known to the wider Commonwealth however, is that The Institute made its presence known to Diamond City in early 2288 when Gen-1 Synths began to appear one day to distribute medical supplies and rations. Soon enough Institute Synths began to train their weapons on raiders and mutants infesting The Commonwealth with extreme prejudice. Despite their enormous distrust of the ‘boogeymen’ who’d haunted them for so long, the people of Diamond City and The Commonwealth at large could not deny the much needed help they received, or turn it away so readily. A positive article written by Piper Wright where she famously wrote ‘...perhaps now The Institute can be a part of our future.’ Was distributed widely in Diamond City and beyond. Many would still never fully trust The Institute or its secretive cadre of scientists, but at a minimum they would accept their help and resources.
That same year, Madison Li stepped forward as the new leader of The Institute, the fate of The Sole Survivor unknown, and extended an offer of cooperation to the people of The Commonwealth via The Diamond City radio broadcast. She hearkened back to earlier days when The Commonwealth had tried to band together for the greater protection and unity of all. The Commonwealth Provisional Government was soon formed with the cooperation of Diamond City’s newly elected Mayor, Becky Fallon. Some still remembered Madison Li from when she had first arrived in The Commonwealth many years ago from The Capital Wasteland and this won her enough trust to have a leading role in the formation of the new government. Those of a more cynical mind however, might simply say that no one dared to oppose her, knowing full well she represented The Institute itself and thus the terrifying power it wielded over them.
Support for the CPG greatly increased when it was learned that the recently reformed Commonwealth Minutemen were throwing in their lot behind this new state. The new General, Ronnie Shaw, had personally traveled to Diamond City and given her word to back the CPG with whatever meager forces she had currently available to her. Recruits to The Minutemen flooded in shortly afterwards. Around this same time an agreement was also finally reached with settlement of Bunker Hill and, more importantly, the caravans. It became clear to all then that The CPG was going to be more than just a failed attempt this time around.
Since that time the numbers of CPG citizens has been steadily growing, with new settlers flooding into Diamond City and many other settlements in The Commonwealth beyond. Sanctuary Hills has become a thriving town, and Diamond City has started to become overcrowded and overflow its previously well-kept boundary. With new prospective residents coming in everyday, they are being forced to settle just beyond the hallowed boundary of ‘The Wall’ into the ruins of Boston that surround The Great Green Jewel. Even with this being the case though, Diamond City remains one of the safest cities in the region.
The future of the CPG is yet unclear and there are many, many threats to its continued existence, both within and abroad. Madison Li finds herself in a tenuous position, and while she is herself no true politician, she’s kept The Institute contained and The CPG from collapsing into itself thus far. Perhaps there is a chance that the CPG will form into a strong unified nation wirh Boston at its center, or perhaps it is doomed to eventual failure. Only time will tell.
Population: Approximately 10,000 within the immediate area of Boston itself. With an unknown number in smaller outlying settlements. The ‘actual’ number of CPG citizens is essentially unknown however since no census has yet been taken and loyalties vary from person to person and even day to day.
Government/Domestic Politics: The Commonwealth Provisional Government is, as the name implies, a Provisional Government: meant to serve as a transitional authority while The Commonwealth unifies and begins to form a proper nation. The CPG Council (made up of representatives from various major settlements or groups) serves as the executive and legislative body, enacting laws, establishing law and order, and organizing The Commonwealth Government as best as they are able.
Notable People:
The Council for the CPG Includes:
Dr. Madison Li - current Director of The Institute, and for all intents and purposes acting President of the CPG. Although she does not officially hold that title nor would she outwardly claim to. Madison is a cold leader but one who has both sympathy and compassion for the plight of the wasteland. Li was left embittered and cynical following her experiences in The Capital Wasteland, she sees The Commonwealth and The CPG as her chance to do things the right way this time - her way.
(Director Madison Li - CPG Propaganda Photo taken in Diamond City)
Becky Fallon - newly elected Mayor of Diamond City. Becky is a no-nonsense leader, and not one to shirk either responsibility or confrontation.
Ronnie Shaw - General of The Minutemen. Gruff and grizzled, Ronnie is a veteran Minutemen officer who's seen more than her fair share of battle. She’s more than a little distrustful of The Institute and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion on the matter.
Kessler - Mayor of Bunker Hill/Representative of the Bunker Hill Caravans. Kessler is both a shrewd politician and a sound businesswoman. She’s looking out primarily for her stakeholders in Bunker Hill and their bottom line.
Wiseman - Leader of The Slog and a representative for the more rural settlements outside of Diamond City. Kind and forgiving, but most of all an incredibly skilled farmer. Wiseman was a natural choice to elect to The CPG Council both as a sign of solidarity with the disenfranchised ghoul population and the farming settlements of The Commonwealth.
Nick Valentine - No official position, but nominally an advisor. A condition for the people of Diamond City agreeing to work with The Institute was that he be given a position on the CPG Council.
Military: While not ‘officially’ designated as such, The Minutemen are effectively the de facto military wing of the CPG. CPG leadership can reliably expect to receive support when they call on them and the General of The Minutemen sits regularly on the CPG council in Diamond City to discuss affairs in The Commonwealth.
However as a standing army they lack proper organization and discipline, as The Minutemen by design are a militia force: citizen soldiers who take up the call to arms when needed. A force of 200 minutemen are permanently located at The Castle, but the rest (some 300-400 approximately) are split between various settlements in The Commonwealth. Many of whom are not considered active until the call goes out for help. They are armed and armored with a wide range of equipment ranging from virtually nothing but pipe rifles, to a standard uniform and laser musket. They also have access to large mortar artillery pieces but these are limited to The Castle and Quincy Outpost.
Commanders: General Ronnie Shaw commands The Minutemen from The Castle, their headquarters and primary base of operation. Shaw is generally well respected and well liked amongst her soldiers for her fearlessness and grit, and her appointment to become the next General was widely supported. Colonel Preston Garvey commands the second largest organized group of Minutemen located at Quincy (approx. 70+), where after retaking the town from The Gunners, they set up a permanent defensive outpost to keep an eye on Gunner movements and other threats from the south.
Other forces: Aside from The Minutemen, the officers of Diamond City Security protect the immediate area in and surrounding Diamond City, and if needed, have been known to work with The Minutemen in operations beyond their normal jurisdiction. They are moderately equipped, but their limited experience fighting outside of the limits of Diamond City itself means they are obviously better suited to police and security work than military operations. However, they are still tenacious fighters and have gained significant combat experience defending against the various threats to their beloved Great Green Jewel, mutants and raiders included.
A final, and perhaps a bit unusual, potential source of military support comes in the form of ‘The Mechanist’. Initially, the rogue robots of The Mechanist were seen as a menace, attacking caravans and settlers alike when they first appeared not long after the CPG formed. However shortly after appearing the robots quite suddenly ceased their attacks. Little thought was given to it by the wider Commonwealth, but in secret a holotape appeared at the Diamond City Mayor's Office some time afterwards. Recorded on it was a profuse apology and explanation for the robot’s actions laid forth by a woman named Isabel Cruz, who claimed to be The Mechanist. She asked that her identity be kept secret, but she offered to help The CPG in any way she could as recompense for her unintended slaughter of the people of The Commonwealth, claiming that a programming error had been responsible and that she had never intended the deaths to occur. She closed with an offer for The CPG Council to meet her in person. The CPG Council has yet to respond...
With Madison Li in control of The Institute, The CPG can also count on some support from the more than formidable forces at its disposal. However, many Minutemen, Diamond City Security, and others refuse to cooperate directly with The Institute’s Gen-2 Synthetic Soldiers. This combined with pushback from within The Institute about deploying Synth assets above ground in such capacity has led Madison Li attempting to dial back the usage of Institute forces and instead rely on human CPG soldiers wherever possible. This has, frustratingly, also led to further accusations that The Institute is “holding out” and that it has some ulterior motive to keeping its military in hiding.
Economy: The economy of the CPG is, much like the government itself, only now starting to form. Rural CPG settlements tend to be agrarian and mostly trade food crops, medicinal plants, and scavenged items from the waste both to each other and to the various caravaneers which connect the settlements. Diamond City itself is a hub of trade and a constant stream of potential business flows into its market from travelers, citizens, merchants, and others from even outside The Commonwealth.
Aside from agriculture, the city of Boston is a lucrative source of scavenged items and scrap as are a number of other locations in The Commonwealth such as the various Old World factories. Many scavengers brave these ruins to bring back some choice items for use in trade for things they need or for use as raw materials to create something else.
The single most important aspect to the CPG’s growing economy however, is the Caravaneers of Bunker Hill. Represented by Kessler on The CPG Council, the caravaneers keep the various settlements in The Commonwealth connected, and also help to facilitate trade to areas outside of its borders. Knowing how vital these routes are in expanding The CPG’s influence and power, the council has invested a lot of money and manpower in keeping these caravans safe and secured, and has worked closely with Bunker Hill to expand already existing routes as well.
Culture and Technology (include any views towards slavery and mutants etc.):
Technology in the CPG varies significantly. Most of the CPG, and The Commonwealth at large, is just now beginning to implement some manufacturing and standardized production. In particular The Minutemen have begun experimenting with producing their own weapons, uniforms, and equipment at The Castle. While settlements across The Commonwealth are starting to utilize larger scale food production and machinery to aid in their agriculture. However while these are promising starts, the overall current technology level is quite low compared to other more established nations. With scavenging and only rudimentary food and material production being by and large the norm.
The obvious exception to this overall rule is The Institute itself, which in contrast has access to some of the most advanced technology in the world. Dr. Madison Li has done her best to introduce some of The Institute’s science to the wasteland, but faces many challenges in doing so. The first and perhaps most pressing is pushback from within The Institute itself as scientists and personnel within the underground haven do not wish to see their technology “wasted” on the surface or stolen by those whom they see as little better than savages. Likewise, many CPG citizens are skeptical and distrustful of utilizing Institute resources or supplies. Madison knows that The Institute’s technology is the key to The Commonwealth’s long-term advancement, but faced with these issues she has been forced to settle for very gradual incorporation, lest she face outright rebellion from both sides.
As a result the only significant Institute technology Li has managed to apply to above ground uses so far is The Institute’s genetically engineered crops, created as a result of Bioscience's experiments at Warwick Homestead. CPG farmers are largely unaware that the seeds they were provided were given by The Institute, instead being told they were created in Diamond City’s own Science Center. The introduction of the GMO crops however has been a huge success, with crop yields across the CPG being more than tripled since their introduction.
In terms of culture, The Commonwealth Provisional Government models itself on some semblance of pre-war values. The rule of law and representative government being amongst these. Human slavery has been unequivacolly outlawed in The CPG. Knowing (mostly) no other super-mutant other than the violent type, mutants are afforded no rights and the majority of CPG citizens will shoot mutants on sight. Ghouls however, have gained some guaranteed protections, although given the wide-spread prejudice against them, they mostly keep to themselves in settlements such as The Slog. Wiseman was brought on to the CPG Council partly to represent rural settlements, and partly to also help heal the wounds that places like Diamond City have caused with non-feral ghouls in recent years.
Religion: The religion of the CPG varies widely from person to person, and no official state religion has been established. For example The All Faiths Chapel in Diamond City is still maintained as a place of spirituality for anyone to attend. Aside from that, provided your religion does not involve actions which violate CPG laws you are welcome to practice it. The notable exception is the Children of Atom, who are usually considered unwelcome in most CPG settlements. Not only because many of their members are zealous and hostile, but because the nature of their religious practice tends to lead to any area they occupy becoming contaminated with radiation. Missionaries from The Glowing Sea continue to request to meet with the CPG Council in Diamond City, but thus far they have been denied.
Other Important Info:
Nuka World - The raiders located here have been eyeing the situation in The Commonwealth closely. While not overly fearful of the infant CPG Government, The Institute's apparent involvement means they are keeping their distance. Disagreement flares between the gangs as to what their next steps should be, and for the time being they are biding their time: raiding the outskirts of CPG controlled territory and only picking apart the odd caravan when they get the chance. They do not wish to invite unwanted attention….
The Railroad - The Railroad has all but dispersed in The Commonwealth. After fighting nearly to the last to protect what Gen-3 Synths remained in The Commonwealth, remaining members of The Railroad realized their fight was futile and given The Institute’s current reversal on the Gen-3 program...also by and large made moot. The rest of The Railroad’s operatives either faded back into the general populace, or trekked north to chase rumours of a hidden Synth sanctuary somewhere. Hoping they might be of some use there...
Vault 81 - Vault 81 has been approached by the newly formed CPG many times in the last couple years to try and warm them up to joining the CPG as a very valuable settlement. However, despite an offer of their Overseer gaining a position on the council and other prestigious benefits, the Vault has stubbornly refused to be annexed. Relations between the CPG and the Vault are cordial enough to warrant regular trade between the two, but it is by no means a firm alliance. The citizens of Vault 81 are so far content to remain secluded in their Vault and distrustful of the wider world.
Covenant - The small town of Covenant is another holdout against The CPG, largely because they suspect The Institute is and will remain the “true power” behind it and no amount of platitudes or assurances will convince them otherwise (although they do not directly state this to any visitors). The town deals only with the caravaneers of Bunker Hill and even that is quite limited. Secretly The Compound, the true reason for Covenant’s existence, remains dedicated to fighting against the Synth menace. Down in their secret lair, members of The Compound entertain conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory about how The Institute now rules The Commonwealth as a shadow government. They see the Gen-3 program recall as only another trick that The Institute has played and are now more than ever committed to rooting out the Synths from amongst the population...regardless of whether or not they actually exist...
Goodneighbor - Goodneighbor, as expected, has not joined The CPG. And only one attempt was ever made to extend an offer: Mayor Hancock stripped the diplomat naked and forced them to walk back to Diamond City with nothing but a sign around their neck reading “By the people...for the people. ALWAYS.” Since then, relations have been cold at best and outright hostile at worst. Some particularly rowdy members of The Triggermen have been known to take potshots at Diamond City guards and even Minutemen on occasion, resulting in small skirmishes. The CPG Council in Diamond City recognizes that Goodneighbor is a problem that will have to be dealt with eventually if their nation is to be more than just a dream, but it's one that they’ve yet to think of a good solution to. For now they are content to ban any trade with Goodneighbor (which tends to be illicit chems anyway) and stop all traffic to the town. This has left the merchants in Goodneighbor in a bind, and Mayor Hancock is starting to feel the pressure of staying outside of The CPG. Neither he nor anyone else in his town of outcasts is as yet willing to come crawling to Diamond City (and even worse, The Institute) though.
Sanctuary Hills - Sanctuary Hills has become a thriving settlement in the North, following its resettlement by the survivors from Quincy and The Minutemen’s stalwart protection. A makeshift wall surrounds the town with the only access being across the wooden bridge from the south. Trashcan Carla and other caravaneers regularly stop in at Sanctuary to rest and resupply for their northern routes and of course trade goods with the locals. The town thrives on selling purified water, locally grown food, and trading valuable scrap and technology salvaged from the nearby empty Vault 111. It proudly displays the CPG flag and a small garrison of Minutemen are stationed here (30+) so as to quickly respond to threats in the north. The route between Sanctuary Hills and Diamond City is considered key and The Minutemen regularly patrol it to safeguard travellers.
Diamond City: Since the formation of the CPG the population has exploded and the city has become overcrowded. The buildings in the lower districts have built upwards to compensate with ramshackle apartment buildings and miniature junk 'skyscrapers'. The 'upper stands' now surrounds the wall with scaffolding connecting houses and individual buildings all around. Outside of The Wall settlers are starting to squat in nearby ruined pre war buildings and structures. Diamond City security does its best to protect these new areas, but beyond the safety of The Wall nothing is certain. Because of the massive population increase, the parts of Diamond City that had once been able to grow crops within The Wall itself are now long gone, and the city is almost entirely dependent on shipments from The Commonwealth’s farmers.
(Diamond City, 2290)
(Seal of The Institute)
Territory and Geography:
The Institute itself. A hermetically sealed, underground facility complete with research labs, manufacturing capabilities, spacious living quarters, and a pleasing aesthetic environment for its denizens to enjoy which includes a simulated night and day environment. The Institute is located directly under the old ruins of The Commonwealth Institute of Technology in Boston.
History:
After the “Sole Survivor of Vault 111” emerged in later 2287, no-one expected him to survive, let alone thrive, in the hellish wasteland that was once his former home. Least of all his own son.
When Shaun, who had become known as “Father” to the scientists in The Institute, released Nathaniel from cryostasis, he wasn’t sure what to expect. He was surprised, and intrigued, when it became clear that not only was Nathaniel going to live, but he seemed hell-bent on finding his son and avenging his wife. Eventually with the help of some resourceful friends in The Commonwealth, he did both.
Nathaniel killed the mercenary Kellog and after utilizing the dead cyborg’s memories, he infiltrated The Institute and discovered that not only was his son still alive, but he had become The Institute’s leader. Now an old man, Shaun greeted his father warmly and offered Nathaniel a place with him at The Institute. Nathaniel was reluctant, but not wishing to lose his son for a second time, stood with him. He even aided his son in completing a personal dream: the completion of the Phase 3 Project which would enable The Institute to have sustainable power for generations to come. But secretly Nathaniel also began to work for his own interests. He framed Dr. Justin Ayo, head of the SRB, for facilitating Synth escapes and got him banished to the surface: a veritable death sentence. Some thought it improbable that Dr. Ayo could have had anything to do with the escapes, but as he was an unpopular man, those that questioned the investigation simply shrugged and believed it to be for the best...
It was then in a shocking move, that Shaun announced that Nathaniel would take his place as Director of The Institute when he passed, which given the advanced stage of cancer which was ravaging his body, would likely be soon. Despite their reservations, the scientists of The Institute trusted Father, and believed his choice of heir to be a sound one and that the legacy of the son would be continued by his own parent.
They were wrong.
When his son died, Nathaniel began a personal campaign to ensure The Institute would never again inflict the damage it had done to his own family. He forced it to open itself to the surface by sending synths to Diamond City laden with food, water rations, and with medical supplies. He also ordered an immediate halt to further operations on the surface including any and all kidnapping, experimentation, or replacement by Gen-3 operatives.
These actions, while divisive, were largely borne by the scientists in The Institute with only minor grumblings. Many of them did feel some sort of guilt for the things they’d done, or at least some notion that it might be adversely affecting those above. Others however, lamented the restrictions to their scientific efforts and resources. This calm response would not last with Nathaniel’s next act however.
Nathaniel then ordered an immediate halt to the Gen-3 program and charged Robotics with destroying its Gen-3 production facility and immolating any notes related to the project. He then tasked The Institute’s Coursers with rounding up any and all remaining synths to bring them to The Institute for decommissioning: wipe their minds, and disintegrate their bodies. The Courser’s complied with usual absolute obedience. Several scientists in The Institute believed this had now gone too far. Whatever faith Father had in this outsider was obviously widely misplaced, and his appointment was a sham. The scientists, led by doctors Max Loken and Lawrence Higgs, stormed the Bioscience labs. Lawrence, as a leading member in Facilities charged with security, had access to the security systems in the area and quickly took control of both the Synths tasked to guard the location as well as the doors and automated turrets. They declared their intent to hold out here until The Director resigned and left his position, leaving The Institute to return to the surface. With them in control of The Institute’s food supply, it was not an idle threat.
What they did not count on was how Nathaniel had been waiting for just such an opportunity to present itself. Utilizing a secret Director’s override to the Bioscience labs, Nathaniel could have simply shut down the security and apprehended the group. Instead, he utilized the override to power down the Synth gorilla habitat in Bioscience. Dr. Holdren’s aggressive personal “pets” were unleashed on the protesting scientists, tearing many limb from limb in a horrific display of brutality. Courser squads then burst into the Bioscience and rounded up any who survived. Nathaniel, a pre-war soldier who’d seen the worst that the Alaskan Front had to offer, wanted to make it clear that there was going to be no debate: no questions or doubts. He was in charge now. The surviving ‘rebels’ were teleported to the surface, lined up against a wall in Cambridge, and executed by firing squad. Nathaniel made sure that anyone in The Institute who might need to personally see this act: did. There was no resistance within The Institute after that, and Nathaniel finished the work of recalling The Gen-3 program. The Railroad did attempt to stop the recall of those Gen-3’s already in The Commonwealth and still under Institute control, but despite a heroic guerrilla action they were ultimately unable to prevent it.
Nathaniel looked to utilize The Institute’s remaining military forces to restore order to The Commonwealth. Coursers and Gen-2 units were deployed to eliminate the many raider and super-mutant bands still operating in the wastes with brutal efficiency. Despite their incredible combat skill, many Coursers were lost in battle after battle across The Commonwealth and it soon became clear what The Director’s eventual goal was. Once enough of their number had been cut down, Nathaniel ordered the remaining Courser units to also be ‘decommissioned.’ In his mind, he had just killed two birds with one stone.
His work was far from done though and with so much yet left to do, Nathaniel, the ‘sole survivor’ found that the memories of his family and the world he’d left behind weighed on him heavily. He’d survived the Sino-American War and The Great War that it led to, but the horrors of everything he’d seen and experienced along with the loss of his wife and only child was a burden he could no longer bear. He stopped eating, slept little, and slowly began to recede into seclusion. The Director’s Quarters in The Institute became a secretive hermit’s holdout. The windows and doors sealed shut while Gen-2 Synths stood guard outside. Soon, no one saw or spoke to The Director at all. Finally, a gunshot rang out in The Institute’s concourse one day. Synth security forced their way into the quarters to find a tragic scene: Nathaniel was dead. Lying next to him in a pool of his own blood was a damaged pre-war photo of his wife and son, and a .44 magnum revolver.
Nathaniel was buried with little fanfare at his home in Sanctuary Hills, and following his death Madison Li assumed the directorship. She’d worked closely with Nathaniel ever since he’d taken The Directorship and she’d tried her best to reign in his most hot-headed impulses. She had disagreed with the execution of the rebellious Institute scientists, but could do little to stop it. She had however counseled him closely when relations with the surface were initiated. When she took the position of Director, a collective sigh of relief was felt across The Institute and there was hope that things might become business as usual again. Much to the chagrin of some who simply wanted things to return to that status quo, Madison continued the policies that Nathaniel had implemented: restoring relations with the surface and reigning in The Institute’s lines of experimentation.
Madison also proceeded to banish those scientists she felt had personally wronged her. Dr. Holdren, spared from the sole survivor's wrath by virtue of his work and vehement protestations of innocence, was banished as Madison knew he’d played some part in both the FEV program and her friend, Dr. Brian Virgil’s, disappearance. So too was the recently returned Dr. Zimmerman, who’d come across Madison Li ten years ago when she was still in The Capital Wasteland working as a scientist at Rivet City. Li banished him simply for the insults he levied against her all those years ago. A scientist named Dr. Xavier Morales watched these banishments with interest...knowing that more were likely to follow.
For these three, enough was enough. It was clear that anyone from the surface was incapable of leading The Institute, and so the exiled Dr. Holdren and Dr. Zimmer established a secret laboratory in the abandoned Vault 88. From here they continue the work that Dr. Li has stifled. This includes research into the Gen-3 and FEV programs by utilizing documentation, materials, and research samples that the scientists managed to save before they could be destroyed. All while Xavier continues to feed them information from inside as he plays the obedient member of a nigh defunct and disempowered Directorate. The three of them plot to get rid of Li and return The Institute back to its former ways of isolation and ‘peaceful’ experimentation.
Madison meanwhile, is making her own maneuvers in The Commonwealth. With the establishment of the Commonwealth Provisional Government and herself as its de facto leader, Li is now the most one of the most powerful individuals in the region. She knows and understands that if The Commonwealth Provisional Government is to transform into the great nation she and others want it to be: The Institute is going to be an integral part of that. Now all she has to do is get its scientists to come along one way or the other….
Population: Approx. 1,000 scientists and their families. Along with an unknown number of Gen 1 and Gen 2 Synths.
Government/Domestic Politics:
The Institute is divided administratively into five separate research divisions and each of its scientists fall into one of these divisions. They are:
Robotics - Synth research and production. Since the Gen-3 recall, it is limited to Gen-1, Gen-2 production and tasked with limited enhancements to both of these.
Facilities - Engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, public health and safety, and internal security systems.
Advanced Systems - Energy research, weapons development, and ‘cutting edge’ projects.
Bioscience - Biological and chemical research, medicine, and food production.
The Surface Security and Intelligence Bureau (or SSIB) - With the end of the Gen-3 program and the need to retain errant Gen-3’s no longer an issue, the former Synth Retention Bureau was retooled for surface security and intelligence operations. Director Li, despite her overtures to the surface, is not entirely trusting of those above-ground either and she recognizes the importance of the SSIB.
Notable People:
Current Members of The Directorate:
Dr. Madison Li - Director of The Institute. Madison Li stepped up when Nathaniel, the ‘Sole Survivor’ tragically committed suicide. She’d been essentially hand-picked by Nathaniel as a natural next-in-line choice since he viewed her as an ‘outsider’ who had not fully become complicit with The Institute’s more egregious actions. She views her ascension to the Directorship as long-due. As far as she is concerned, The Institute’s work can begin in earnest now that a competent and capable leader is guiding policies.
Dr. Alan Binet - Division Head Head of Robotics, replaced Shaun/Father as Division Head. Binet was a steadfast proponent that the Gen-3 Synths were verging on becoming fully sentient constructs. He did not oppose the elimination of the Gen-3 program, as he thought it best that their production be stopped. Despite his reservations, Binet also did not oppose the decommissioning of existing Gen-3’s. His complacency was secured by granting an exemption for his Synth-wife, Eve, and appointing him to lead Robotics (a position he’d yearned after for years). This act of going along with the destruction of the Gen-3’s however, earned him more than a little resentment from his son.
Dr. Rosalind Orman - Division Head of Advanced Systems, appointed by Dr. Li to replace her so she might have more time to focus on surface affairs. Rosalind is both an energetic and incredibly intelligent woman. She’s less concerned about Institute politics and issues on the surface and more wrapped up in the science of it all.
Dr. Issac Karlin - Division Head of Bioscience, replaced Dr. Holdren following his exile. Dr. Karlin grew fond of The Warwick Family following his work on the Warwick Initiative. Not wishing to see the family without a father figure, Karlin lobbied to have the Gen-3 on assignment at Warwick Homestead wiped of Institute-related memories and allowed to remain. Thus, while he is not aware of it, Mr. Warwick is one of the few Gen-3’s allowed to remain on the surface. Since then Karlin has been an advocate for direct intervention on the surface, and regrets past Institute actions.
Dr. Allie Filmore - Division Head of Facilities - Allie has gone along with the recent shake ups in power and politics in The Institute with little fuss. Naturally as Head of Facilities, she is concerned with the day-to-day maintenance of The Institute and its people and she leaves long-term thinking to others. She continues to serve as a valuable source of advice and information to Madison Li.
Dr. Xavier Morales - Division Head of SSIB, replaced exiled member Justin Ayo and former head Alana Secord. Xavier began his career in the facilities division working with The Institute’s internal security systems. After moving to the SRB, he distinguished himself in the division and became notable for working late in the night. When the sole survivor arrived, Xavier found himself in an uncomfortable position as Justin Ayo was soon accused of aiding and abetting Synth escapes (a crime Xavier knew Ayo did not commit). When Ayo was banished and Alana Secord appointed as Division Head, Xavier saw the way things were heading and towed the line of the new regime. Once Madison Li took charge, and Alana shortly thereafter stepped down voluntarily from the role, Madison appointed Xavier to take Alana’s place as the head of the newly formed SSIB (Surface Security and Intelligence Bureau). Xavier has had to act the part of the dutiful watch-dog to Director Li, in secret however, he wants nothing more than to be rid of her and is in league with the exiled members to see that done. .
Exiled Members:
Dr. Clayton Holdren- Former Division Head of Bioscience, exiled for his participation in the FEV Program. Clayton is an odd fellow, a man who is seemingly always friendly (to an uncomfortable degree) and who delights in his work. Those that truly know him however, understand that beneath this friendly facade is a scientist hell-bent on results and pushing the boundaries of biology. Holdren was an integral part of the FEV Program under former Director Shaun, and Dr. Brian Virgil reported directly to him on project progress. Because of his role in FEV at The Institute, as well as his potential involvement in Virgil’s death, Madison banished him permanently to the surface.
Dr. Victor Zimmer - Former Division Head of the now defunct SRB. Exiled member of The Institute. Dr. Zimmer had been away from The Institute for some time, pursuing his own agenda on the surface. When he returned to find it in chaos and none other than Madison Li in charge, he needed little other reason to agree to his own banishment.
Others:
Robert Joseph "RJ" MacCready - MacCready serves as The Institute’s essential replacement for the mercenary Kellogg. Having grown up in Little Lamplight and The Capital Wasteland, MacCready had heard of Madison Li and her work on Project Purity. MacCready was desperately seeking a cure for his son, Duncan, who had fallen mysteriously ill with an unknown malady. When Madison made her appearance as the new Director, MacCready managed to contact her and forged a deal. Intrigued by the mercenary’s apparent skill and reputation in The Commonwealth, and perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic in recognizing his connection to her old home, Madison drew up a contract. MacCready was furnished with treatment for his son, a home in Diamond City, and a comfortable pile of caps in exchange for his services above ground. MacCready reports directly to Director Li, and takes orders from no-one in The Institute but her.
Dr. Brian Virgil - Virgil, despite helping the Sole Survivor reach The Institute, Virgil was an unfortunate victim of The Institute’s current byzantine politics. Virgil stayed hidden for some time in the Glowing Sea after having made Nathaniel swear to not reveal his location or even that he was still alive to anyone. He was unable to recreate his mutant cure and continued to slowly deteriorate. Then when Madison Li took charge of The Institute he’d intended to reach out to her for help as soon as he was able. Before that could happen however, Virgil was killed under unknown circumstances. Madison eventually discovered where he’d gone, but by then it was too late. Madison, with good reason, suspects the killing of Virgil was done under orders from someone in The Institute itself.
Military: The Institute’s military is primarily composed of its Gen-1 and Gen-2 Synths. These older model units are still reliable and still highly advanced combat effective troops, serving as effective light to medium infantry in most situations. They are typically armed with a manufactured Institute energy weapon (pistol or rifle in most cases) and Gen-2 units are equipped with variants of a hardened plastic armor - with armor tending to protect vital points only on the synths body. All in all a fully equipped Gen-2 Synth is a decent match for a human combatant in strength and resilience, if not as intelligent as one.
The numbers of Synths the Institute has at its disposal is considerable, outnumbering its human population considerably as they are able to produce them relatively cheaply, and quickly.
Economy: The Institute’s economy is almost entirely self-sufficient as they are able to produce and manufacture nearly everything needed from within. Bioscience produces The Institute’s food while the Facilities division ensures nearly everything else from clothes to purified water to furniture is available to its residents via advanced manufacturing processes. About the only thing needed from outside is raw material, which the surface has in abundance. Previously The Institute would simply collect whatever it needed from The Commonwealth with little consideration given to who it affected or how. With Madison Li currently in charge that has obviously changed. Now The Institute has been forced both to scavenge sparing from the surface, and to focus more on raw material mining below ground. Acquiring raw materials has thus become a more tedious process, but less impactful on the surface dwellers overall.
Culture and Technology: Essentially a post-scarcity society compared to the rest of the post-apocalyptic world, the people of The Institute want for little and have access to a standard of living that exceeds that of even the pre-war world. Synths perform the day to day menial tasks which frees up the scientists to pursue both their work and other leisurely pursuits as they wish. The scientists are often extremely devoted to their chosen field of work and more often than not spend off-hours studying or pursuing minor projects associated with their research. As a result the work-culture of The Institute is extremely competitive and has evolved into a kind of strict meritocracy, where skill and experience is valued for advancement above all else. This of course is one of the reasons why Father’s (Shaun’s) appointment of Nathaniel to The Directorship was so controversial: they viewed the appointment as sheer nepotism given there were so many other qualified candidates for the role.
In terms of technology, The Institute is one of if not the most advanced groups in the world. With their technology spanning all known sciences from their research into Synths to even teleportation.
For those in the know, super-mutants are considered to be little more than failed experiments: with the Gen-3 Synth the perfected form of the FEV and the apex of research into the Forced Evolutionary Virus. They also condemn human slavery as a barbaric practice which only illustrates how far the surface has fallen (Gen-3’s are not considered human of course). But are highly unlikely to directly chastise anyone on the surface for practicing it.
Religion: There is no official religion in The Institute and by and large the scientists there are mostly atheist, agnostic, or some variant thereof. There are also no places of worship inside its walls. However a religious scientist would also not be unheard of, and there are some members who have at least some sense of spirituality (Alan Binet for example). Those that do largely keep these views to themselves as in The Institute if something cannot be backed up by the burden of scientific proof, it is meaningless to consider as anything more than speculative philosophy: something fun to chat about while enjoying coffee and nutritional supplements in the cafeteria, but irrelevant anywhere else.
