Meathead tracked the source of Thunderstruck's emotion to the General Atomics factory, and while having Paladin Danse along in his armor right after the confrontation was risky, Meathead operated on the assumption that all robots were set to kill, and that to approach without it was a much less risky option.

She approached from the Customer Service entrance, exiting the building and meeting them outside. While her emotions were reserved, there was a genuine moment that she was pleased to see Meathead, but quickly shrouded herself with a serious neutral expression as she looked on to Paladin Danse,

"Since you're both here, I'm guessing that the 'guises ran it's course, and it was time to break away from things down South? Follow me, there's a chance snipers are about." Waving them into the factory, Meathead and Danse both eyed the recent additions to security that seemed to have doubled overnight since they last passed by. Wall mounted turrets, more eyebots, servo-mechs welding on pieces to the building, vents now guarded with laser tripwires. Thundestruck asked the improvements to be made to make sure no one else could make it in the same way she could. While the roof was still under renovation, within days any aerial assault against the General Atomics factory would become even more difficult.

Most warfare or fighting was always thought of lateral, but with Pegasus, Thunderstruck was always thinking upwards, the over-route.

In the lobby of the General Atomics factory, Danse was first to being asking questions.

"What I want to know is why you attacked the Brotherhood."

"Your Elder Maxson called me an abomination and mockery of nature, he then finished our conversation by ordering his men to shoot at me. I happened to have a party of warbots and cannons aimed at them before we started because I felt things were more than likely to take a turn for the worse by asking them to leave. It's called being prepared for eventualities," Thunderstruck reasoned.

"So you provoked them," Danse insinuated.

"I did no such thing. I told them what to expect if the Brotherhood of Steel stayed in the Commonwealth, and because he and the entire Brotherhood were unprepared, and built shoddy defenses, mirelurks and robots were quickly able to breach their perimeter." Thunderstruck replied.

"But if you hadn't come to talk to them, then the fight wouldn't have occurred," Danse argued.

"Enough with the hypotheticals, Danse! This factory is already on the Brotherhood's list, too dangerous to be in the hands of the people, as they've said before and will say again. But here's a hypothetical if you're so fond of them. Had they fought their way in, anyone wearing power armor would've been electrocuted. This whole building and the outside ground are wired to detect power-armor suits and vaporize any threats not responding to General Atomics command codes. The robots would've instantly declared them as hostile, and then kill them regardless. Instead of robots being produced for the Commonwealth, they would all be uploaded with Brotherhood programming."

"I think you're making a mistake provoking the Brotherhood," Danse said,

"And I care extremely little about what you think, Synthetic Danse. The moment you walked into this factory, both of you passed through a detection system designed to determine if they were synthetic humans or not. As we speak, highly-advanced computers are running diagnostic algorithms to hack the Synthetic chip in your brain, Danse. Within the next minute, a code could be read out over the loudspeakers which will ultimately give control of all your actions, all your thoughts, everything you know and believe in control to me. You will no longer exist as Paladin Danse, but a synthetic shell, told to go back with a bomb stuffed inside your chest, and then give Elder Maxson a big hug the moment you see him! How's that for a What-If? Have I made myself clear?! Danse! Or! Or we dispense with the unpleasant hypotheticals and stop repeating history much like the CPG or the Broken Mask, while you retain what little humanity you're still clinging to by you listening to me. I already told the Brotherhood to leave once today, but since you're not Paladin Danse, there's no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to remain here in the Commonwealth."

"What changed?" Danse said, he knew he was backed into a corner, but defeated in tone of his voice. Still angry and unnerved that she would be willing to do something like that. "More than just the new horn on your head and a new sense of purpose? Why did you go to the Brotherhood?"

"This isn't the first time the Brotherhood of Steel has expanded. This isn't the first time the Brotherhood of Steel took over territory, this is the first time, however, they will meet with resistance from the local population every step of the way who despise their beliefs and way of operating, and I warned them that this would happen if they decided to stay. I was warning them if they didn't leave, that their own ignorance would be their undoing, same as when you tried to warn them about Athena and what she did to you and your team yesterday. You knew, and I knew from Paladin Brandis that someone was making the Brotherhood's lives and way of operating extremely difficult and that all the locations they've tried to scout over the last three years downright treacherous. I expected a trap at Fort Strong, and was going to warn them of an anti-Brotherhood sentiment here within the Commonwealth, but...once your Elder started throwing names around like a toddler who learned to swear for the first time, I decided to let him and the rest of the Brotherhood learn for themselves that you shouldn't insult people who are only trying to help."

There was a pinging noise over the intercom,

"Stay mad at me if you want, and try to kill me if you think you can, but that noise you just heard was the security system deciphering the code to your brain, Danse. Now, you can remain a Paladin, and stay allied to your memories, or...I send you back with C-4 inside your chest and you not only lose your status as a human, but be exposed as a synth, destroying your reputation in the worst way possible. Think long and hard, because saying 'no' to me now equals you being the reason the Brotherhood of Steel no longer has an Elder. While I know that sounds evil, downright Institutional, but it's not the future path I want you to chose to take. The other path I'd much rather see you join us on, is the one that leads to Nuka-World. Danse. If you can destroy the General Atomics Mainframe before the security system utters the activation phrase over the multiple intercom systems scattered throughout the whole factory, sending all that is you permanently to the eternal void of nothingness, along with getting past me in the process before the words are spoken... now is the time to see how fast you are and test your Metal... Otherwise, I've got a plan and a whole factory with enough computing power that'll destroy the activation mechanics in your head so that no-one can take control of you...Ever. I'll give you a minute to think about it. In the meantime, Meathead...there's some things I need you to fill me in on... come with me."

\111/

<...And that's what we've dealt with since last seeing you. The mutant hunts, the courser, the relay, the Railroad, and everything else I can think of.>

Thunderstruck lead Meathead into the factory offices, "Meat, I want to kiss and thank you."

Thunderstruck leaned in to kiss him. Meathead was ready to bite the inside of his cheek, not to screw up the moment and make a weird face.

The short, well-meaning kiss where their lips only touched for a moment, not pursed out or foolishly duck-billed, a light peck was enough to make the changeling shudder in his sigh the second it was over. Thunderstruck held a genuine smile, relaxed shoulders, everything that showed she was comfortable being around him. "I'd be still on that rooftop, but you and Nate pulled me up and helped me recover."

The genuine love and emotion pouring directly into Meathead was enough to make his lips twitch, Thunderstruck took the changeling's silent appreciation of the moment for her chance to continue. His eyes felt glassy, ready to water and tear up.

"See you tomorrow?"

The well of emotions blooming out of Thunderstruck was immeasurable to the Changeling. For over a decade, all he ever knew was passive adoration and love from both Nate and Nora. This was true love, Thunderstruck wanted him, to be near him, and was comforted knowing he was near.

"What? Is something not right?"

"<I've never been kissed like that, you seriously have emotions for me and love me.>" He replied, radiating in the warmth that spread up over his skull and down his spine out through his tail.

"You know you've got a goofy smile on your face right now. Better hide it before Paladin Danse sees you again." She leaned in and hugged him, kissing him with light pecks on his lips and cheek and forehead. "The plan is keep it simple, stupid," She said, advising Meathead.

In an instant, the moment passed, Thunderstruck drawing on her resolve to regain a serious tone and Meathead straightened up after supporting her weight for that time.

"<About him, are you serious in your threats against the Brotherhood? What changed so much since we last saw you?>"

"I have to be serious, Meat. I've seen this all play out before and it's happening exactly as it did before Nuka-World was took over by raiders. The Brotherhood is just the first wave in a long series of fights the Commonwealth is going to have to go through before it's over. If I don't make Maxson submit now, the next thing we both know is going to happen is that they'll make their move on the Institute...If I do make him admit defeat and give up his banners...then they'll wait for their opportunity to kill me and then rise up again,"

"<Wait, you said that backwards...shouldn't it be the other way around?>"

"I'm expecting Maxson to make the bold move to not give up no matter what I do or say to him, he's one of many who act exactly the same, no matter the speech given to them, or however much data and info they have laid out in front of them, they're only after conquest through battle and other people's strife."

"<Then why is your goal to make them give up now?>"

"Because they're not engrained in the Commonwealth yet. They can still be uprooted and sent away. There's nothing tying them to the Commonwealth, no one supporting them, making them grow. By grounding their ship, and forcing them to decide between staying and going, they'll be giving it their all. They'll be fighting without remorse... and without remorse or consideration for their actions, as they spread throughout the Commonwealth, they'll act accordingly. The people will see how callous they are, that they're nothing more than well-equipped raiders, and will react and treat them the same way all the same. No special treatment, no deals, no promises of a better future under their banner, just another gang of raiders that needs to be dealt with. I know what their next plan is now too. Logically, they'll need a source of supplies and traders moving towards them and to control the hub of all activity in the Commonwealth. So they'll be moving on Diamond City as soon as possible. It'll be a staging ground for them and their ground troops when they eventually try to move on the Institute."

"<What are you going to do about that then?>"

"I need to know, Meathead. Are you and Nate going to Nuka-World?"

"<Yes. We need more people to fight, to hold territory, and to act as a standing army when the Brotherhood and Institute realizes that the fight is being taken to them.>"

"So you don't trust the Brotherhood either?"

"<I trust that they'll make things more difficult for the Institute, the Gunners, and eventually the Railroad along with the rest of the Commonwealth by staying. That neither side can coexist with each other. I imagine the Brotherhood is already reaching out to the Railroad for weapons and information...and once they've exhausted the Railroad of all its information, locations, and resources, the Brotherhood will be in a position to take them over. It's an eventuality that Nate and I can see coming. The Railroad won't give up their resources willingly, and the Brotherhood won't feel like paying the Railroad's worth. Ideologically, the Railroad takes the stance of freeing enslaved robots and synths, the Brotherhood wants control over all of them and making more. You're right, the Brotherhood would brand on their sword and gears, and call it patriotic, then deem the Railroad terrorist saboteurs.>"

"And we can't have that, Meathead. I may have never been on the receiving end of the Railroad's help, but I know they want to do good for the Commonwealth. The Brotherhood of Steel only wants to help themselves. Can we agree on that?"

Meathead nodded, "<Let's not keep that Paladin waiting much longer, it's been far more than a few minutes, and I don't want him thinking that we're together, on the same page... Yet.>"

\111/

"So Danse, have you come to a decision?"

"You make it sound like I have a choice." Danse retorted, at the back of his mind, he was still weighted heavily on the lack of options when it came to his present predicament of dealing with his synth-ification. With Thunderstruck's offer to remove the command prompts controlling his brain, or keeping others from using an activation code over-riding his free-will, it was enough to get him to grind his teeth at the prospects.

"I did, and we already went over the -ifs, -ands, or -buts, of what would happen if you chose to go against me and the Commonwealth."

"Then if it will get the Institute programming out of my head, then fine, I'll help you."

"Tell me what you think the Brotherhood will move on next now that their air support's been crippled."

"They'll seek an over-land supply chain to recoup their losses, which means, moving on Diamond City and occupying it. They'll go after you, me, Meathead as soon as they organize a search party. Doesn't matter where we are, they'll track us down to every hidey-hole they can think to flood us out."

"I suspected as much. The moment they take over Diamond City, is the moment their forces are split, and the traders realize how much they'll be losing in the long run when all the supplies are being funneled towards the Brotherhood to rearm and equip themselves. Once they realize that the Brotherhood has excess amount of caps to keep dumping on all the traders, the value of caps will go down, and the prices for everything will skyrocket. Food, water, ammo, guns, scrap, even clothes in the next two weeks it'll all go up in price. The whole town will be looking at the winter wall with no resources to get them through the cold months. That's when the resources become more valuable, and everyone will blame the Brotherhood for hoarding all the resources."

"It was a mistake for the Brotherhood to come at the beginning of winter," Paladin Danse said, "A spring offensive would at least be warm, The Prydwen's got enough food for over a month at least, rationing by the end of December if supplies can't be refilled."

"<There's only one pit-stop we need to make before heading to Nuka-World. Nate mentioning Mass Fusion...not the building so much, but the Byrillium Agitator. I know about Liberty Prime... it's easy to see that it's the next place they'll go once they've had a minute to think. We need to get there now before the Brotherhood moves on it.>"

"I don't like the idea of being manipulated, threatened, and controlled," Paladin Danse said,

"Suck's, doesn't it?" Thunderstruck said, "Kinda feels like being treated like a lower class of existing creature? Right in-between burger-meat and...creatures that make fertilizer. Don't worry, by the time we're done with Mass Fusion, my computer mechs will have figured out how to remove the synth-component programming code and you'll be a free man."

"There's a second pit-stop we'll need to make before leaving for your amusement park." Danse admitted, raising his finger to make a point.

"Where would that be?"

"The place where Athena picked up her M-28. The Sentinel Site, within the Glowing Sea. A place where Liberty Prime would be loaded up with a portable nuclear aresenal to be used against the Institute and the rest of the Commonwealth. Once the Brotherhood gets its act together, they'll be separating into four platoons. One to move on Mass Fusion tower, the other to send a whole plethora of Brotherhood Knights down to the Glowing Sea. Since you kicked the Hornets Nest, the last two groups will stay to guard, repair the Prydwen, and continue assembling Liberty Prime. There is a backup way to activate Liberty Prime, but it would require transferring one of the four active reactors from the Prydwen, and then plugging it into Liberty Prime. This of course would reduce the airships capabilities, a tactic that would leave the Brotherhood severely open and lacking in retreat options, but since you already tipped the Brotherhood's hands towards the latter. There's no going back for them, they'll stay here to fight it out. Regardless of whatever you said to Maxson, they'll think you gave them no choice except to fight to the last man."

"You walked here and made it; Then, they can walk home. It's only 250 miles or so from here to Pittsburg. Thirty miles a day, they could be home in just over a week. What will it take for them to realize that there's the option to not fight?"

"<The loss of Liberty Prime, the Prydwen, Elder Maxson, the Institute, the Railroad not divulging relevant information, farmlands not giving up resources and food supplies, two weeks of food loss, and the removal of Elder Maxson and all top-leading commanders."

"That shouldn't be too hard then, nobody I know around here likes newcomers all that much anyway,"

\111/

Next Chapter: Ch 101 If you Want Blood... November 12th Estimated time remaining: 29 Minutes