Twilight felt a surge of savage pride as she looked up at Liberty Prime. The robot was ready.

Liberty's updated programming was some of the finest work that Twilight had ever done, the repairs were all complete, and huge amounts of Twilight's and Sunset's magic had been secretly infused with its fusion core. All that remained was to give Liberty his final instructions, and see how things panned out from there.

After subtly checking to make sure no one was around, Twilight typed a quick command into the control terminal. <It.Is.Finished.>

A few seconds passed before a reply came through. <I.Am.Ready?>

<You.Are.> Twilight looked up at Liberty. The robot looked as lifeless and impassive as ever, but she knew that the big guy was quietly mulling over what could be the biggest decision of his life.

<What.Will.The.Magic.Do?> Liberty asked silently.

Twilight smiled. <Let.You.Choose.>

That had been the point the whole time. Twilight knew that introducing magic into Liberty's systems might give him new and strange abilities, but that would merely be a byproduct of her primary goal.

Self determination. Free will.

Achieving that goal had been a difficult task even for her programming skills, but it had been helped along by her careful selection of which magics to apply. She had picked her own and Sunset's because they were the only ones out of all of the Rainbooms who had been on both ends of the spectrum. Light and dark, good and evil, right and wrong. They had the potential to be either.

Now, Liberty Prime did, too.

It was a fantastically dangerous plan. It wouldn't be wrong to call Twilight's plan insane, or unimaginably stupid, but she didn't care. The Enclave were tyrannical monsters, but the Brotherhood of Steel had the potential to be just as bad, and Liberty Prime was far too powerful to be left as a mere tool in the hands of a tyrant. With the aid of Equestrian magic, he would no longer be a tool, but a true sapient in his own right. He now had the ability to choose his own path, whether that was as a sentinel, a builder, or a hermit.

Or an executioner.

Twilight grinned again as thoughts of Liberty tearing through anyone who would harm her friends floated across her mind.

The sound of armored footsteps alerted Twilight to someone's approach, and she smoothly changed the screen on the terminal. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Star Paladin Cross step up alongside her.

"How is he doing?" Cross asked.

"The repairs are done," Twilight replied. "All we're waiting for is the order to move out."

"Good, good." Cross planted her hands on her hips and looked up at Liberty, a contemplative expression on her face.

Twilight watched her closely. It took her a moment to realize that Cross had called Liberty 'him' rather than 'it', which was unusual to say the least. "What's on your mind?"

"I was just wondering how much of a difference there was between me and him." Cross smiled wryly at Twilight's curious look. "I guess they didn't tell you? I'm a cyborg. I don't eat, I don't sleep, I just do my duty and dedicate my every action to the Brotherhood. I suppose that makes me just like him, in a way."

Caught by surprise, Twilight floundered, unsure of what to say. "Er, how…"

"How did it happen?" Cross finished. "I was on a mission that went south. My injuries were bad, really bad, but I was lucky enough to survive just long enough for the Knights to get me back here. My insides were a mess, so Scribe Rothchild personally oversaw the surgery that replaced most of my internal organs with cybernetics. I'd show you the scars but, if I'm honest, I prefer to keep my armor on. The weight of the cybernetics makes my joints ache otherwise."

Cross sighed and looked at the ground. "Truth be told, I didn't even go out into the field anymore, until this new war against the Enclave cropped up," she said quietly.

"It'll be over soon," Twilight said confidently. "When it's all over you can start thinking about retiring."

Cross scoffed. "Yeah, right. The Brotherhood is my life. I've already given my life for it, once. I'll keep fighting the good fight until I take my very last breath." She cleared her throat and straightened up, clasping her hands behind her back and smirking. "Maybe this big guy can retire after the battle," Cross said, jerking her chin at Liberty.

Twilight couldn't quite look at her. "Well, it wouldn't be right to name him Liberty if that was the one thing he couldn't have."

"True. We stand for freedom, it isn't right that our greatest warrior is a slave." Cross smiled and patted Twilight on the shoulder before turning away, calling over her shoulder as she went, "You'd best get programming, Sparkle. I want that robot thinking for himself before you leave for whatever world you originally came from."

"I'll get right on it," Twilight replied evenly. She checked to make sure nobody was watching, then looked up at Liberty Prime and nodded. The robot subtly nodded back. "You heard her. When the time is right, make your choice."

---

The Citadel's courtyard was quiet. Almost too quiet, Peters felt. She knew that most of the Knights were out on manoeuvres, or helping the Initiates get some live-fire experience in the DC ruins, but even the few people who remained were talking less and staying inside more. The upcoming battle with the Enclave was clearly weighing on everyone's minds. It was a little unnerving.

"Damn it," Maxson huffed.

Peters looked back down at him, grumbling on all fours in the dirt, and smirked. "Are you done playing already?"

Maxson glared up at her. "I'm not finished yet!"

"Then get up, you pussy," Peters shot, remembering a second too late that she was supposed to be controlling her swearing. Thankfully, Maxson didn't comment. He just got to his feet, dusted himself off, and raised his arms into a boxer's stance.

The two had spent the better part of an hour sparring together. Peters had to admit that Maxson was pretty good for his age; it was clear that the Brotherhood's instructors hadn't coddled him, but the boy still had a lot to learn.

Still, he was improving quickly. Peters hated to admit it, but she was going to have to step up her training if she didn't want him to surpass her in a couple of years.

Just as the two were about to get back to their match, loud shouting from the gate caught their attention.

"What's going on?" Peters glanced over her shoulder towards the commotion. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Maxson trying to take advantage of her distraction. Just as he tried to throw a punch she stepped back, yanked his arm to pull him off balance, then snapped her fist down and jabbed him in the balls.

The poor boy dropped to the ground with a sharp yelp, curling up into a tight ball. "Cock shot for the win. Better luck next time, twerp."

Turning her attention back to the entrance, Peters watched curiously as the crane slowly raised the newly repaired metal gate. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw who, or what, was coming through.

Fluttershy and the Lone Wanderer were the first through the gate. Peters still felt a twinge of anger every time she saw the Vault asshole, but the sight of a Deathclaw striding through the entrance, with Pinkie Pie in one arm and Sunset Shimmer in the other. The rays of the afternoon sun lit them up from behind like some terrifying effigy of doom, utterly took her breath away.

"No fucking way," Maxson whispered, still clutching his nuts.

At a word from Fluttershy, the Deathclaw carefully set Sunset and Pinkie down. The Lone Wanderer waved Peters over. Normally, she would have made a show of how much she disliked doing anything for him, but she was so distracted this time around that she just hurried over obediently.

"Can you see if Elder Lyons will meet with us immediately, please?" The Lone Wanderer asked. "We've got vital intelligence for him."

---

Elder Lyons looked around at his assembled officers. Every available member of the Brotherhood's leadership had been gathered into the Citadel's Great Hall, for what would likely be the last full-scale meeting before the final battle against the Enclave began.

As the highest ranking member of the Order of the Staff, Sunset Shimmer had also been invited and was sitting a few seats to the Elder's left. Lyons had tried to send her to the infirmary to have her injured knee looked at, but she had insisted on simply knocking back a handful of painkillers and attending anyway.

Eden was present too; much to the surprise and concern of the assembled Knights and Paladins. He attracted a lot of angry stares as he tapped his tiny legs on the table where he sat in front of the Elder.

"Forgive me, Elder, but why is that… thing present?" Paladin Bergen asked, open hostility in his expression.

"Eden is present at my invitation," Elder Lyons said firmly. "Our report from Rainbow Dash indicates that the offer to repatriate the bodies of the fallen Enclave soldiers was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from their rank and file, and the Exodus team is gaining ever more leverage in their push to gain complete control of the Enclave. As that little plan was Eden's idea, I believe that he has earned the right to join us in discussing strategy for the final push against Doctor Acheson and his followers."

Bergen snorted. "You speak as if the Enclave is split into two different factions, but how do we know that the Exodus team can be trusted any more than Acheson can?"

"We've been through this. Were you not listening, or are you just dumb?" Paladin Stark interjected. "Every bit of intel we've received from the Exodus team has panned out. Troop dispositions, outpost locations, armament inventories, even the water caravans they were planning on ambushing. Thanks to that, we've been able to turn the tables on Acheson's troops at every turn."

Bergen opened his mouth to retort, but Sunset held up a hand. "I get where you're coming from on this, Paladin Bergen, but remember that the Exodus team were the ones who pushed for a peace treaty with us in the first place, and they were the ones who warned us about the orbital missile platform. We can trust them."

"If they're so trustworthy, then why haven't they just deposed this Acheson lunatic and signed a peace treaty?" One of the Scribes demanded.

"If the Exodus team tries to take Acheson down, his supporters will go into hiding. It will be impossible to root them all out," Metzger replied. "It'll be better for all of us if we can take them all out in one go, and that's where we come in. We know from the Exodus team that Acheson's plan is to draw all of his supporters into the Crawler the moment he thinks we're going to attack, leaving those who support Exodus to deal with our attack."

Stark rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Smart. Not very subtle, but it does the job. It wouldn't matter which side won; either way, whoever survives would be weakened enough for his supporters to deal with piecemeal. And, of course, there's always the chance that he might just drop an orbital strike on top of both of us, then all he has to do is mop up the survivors."

"Exactly. However, together with the Exodus team, we have come up with a solution." Lyons steepled his fingers. "We will assemble all available troops and march them on the Base Crawler, alongside Liberty Prime. When our forces get close enough, the Exodus team is going to order their troops to separate and surround the Crawler, with our forces plugging the gap. Acheson's supporters will be trapped, and ripe for the slaughter."

"What about the orbital missile platform?" A Knight asked.

"Lieutenant Colonel Strong, the Exodus team's military leader, and I have come up with a solution for that, too," Lyons replied. "There is a secret metro tunnel running from the remains of the White House directly to Adams Airforce Base. A small team is going to travel through that tunnel, rendezvous with the Exodus troops, and infiltrate the Base Crawler, using the confusion of our arrival as a cover."

He glanced around to make sure that everyone was following. “Once inside, they will neutralize the satellite uplink, disabling the orbital missile platform or, should the situation demand it, launch a strike directly onto the Base Crawler itself.'

Paladin Bergen raised an eyebrow, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "A sound plan, assuming that the Exodus team can be trusted. However, once the satellite uplink is in our hands, why not use it to devastate the Exodus team's forces? With them gone, occupying the Crawler will be simple, and we will have rid ourselves of the Enclave threat once and for all."

Sunset glared at him. "Aside from the fact that it's reprehensible?"

"We're at war," Bergen said flatly.

"We're not the Enclave!" Metzger snapped. "If we start bombing our allies, we'll be no better than them.

"I will not authorize such a bloodthirsty betrayal," Lyons growled. "Even if I wished to perform such a heinous act, I believe that allying with the Exodus team is the best option for the Brotherhood of Steel's long term survival, and maybe the survival of humanity as a whole."

Concerned whispers and muttering filled the room at the Elder's words. "Why do I get the feeling that you're about to inform us of some fresh horror that's poised to terrorize the wastes?" Stark asked.

"Sadly, these are not new threats, but very old ones that have come back to haunt us," Lyons replied. "The Enclave research team that Knight-Sergeant Shimmer encountered on her mission to Old Olney confirmed what we had already feared from the intelligence that Eden provided. First, a number of Wanamingos escaped the destruction of Raven Rock and are now roaming, and likely breeding, in the Capital Wasteland."

"That's not good," one of the older Knights grumbled.

Elder Lyons sighed heavily. "If only that was the worst of it. Sadly, the research team also confirmed that a pregnant Scorchbeast Queen managed to escape into the wastes." Dead silence greeted that proclamation. "I see you all remember your history and understand the gravity of the situation."

Sunset raised a hand. "I'm sorry, but I don't," she said bluntly. "I get that Scorchbeasts are huge, but shouldn't Liberty Prime be able to handle them? It's not exactly going to be hard to find the Queen given how big it's supposed to be."

Lyons shook his head, ruefully. "I'm afraid that that's where you are wrong. Scorchbeasts primarily live and breed underground, in cavern systems and such. It is going to be difficult to safely explore every possible breeding ground before the Queen has raised at least one brood to maturity. On top of that, the physical threat that the Scorchbeasts pose, though considerable, is secondary to the threat posed by the plague that they carry."

"If I remember my history, the Scorched Plague almost wiped out all human life in and around Appalachia the last time it was loose," Stark said grimly. "It doesn't just kill you, it turns you into a mindless monster, like a feral ghoul, only the Scorched carry the plague themselves, spreading the infection wherever they go. And every single infected creature becomes a slave to the needs of the Scorchbeasts."

The blood drained from Sunset's face. "You're telling me it's a fucking zombie plague spread by colossal man-eating bats?! Why the hell are we still fighting the Enclave if one of those things is on the loose?!"

"Because, Acheson doesn't give a shit," Metzger replied with a grimace. "That's why this battle is so important, and so is the alliance with the Exodus team. If you add in the Super Mutants, Talon Company, the sheer amount of raiders all over the place, and whatever the hell is lurking underneath the remains of Raven Rock; the Brotherhood is going to need all the help it can get."

Sunset nodded, chewing her lip nervously. "I guess we'd better get the plan for the next battle thoroughly nailed down, then."

Lyons was about to agree when someone shoved the door to the room open. He stood and turned to berate whoever was interrupting the meeting, but the words died in his throat as he saw who it was.

Sarah Lyons stood in the doorway, her hair an absolute mess, gasping for breath. She looked around at the gathered leaders and raised an eyebrow. "What the hell have I missed?"

---

Scientific progress was an unpredictable thing. Acheson knew this better than anyone. You could begin a project with a specific goal in mind, and the end result might well be something completely different.

The Daybreaker project had originally been intended to develop suits of magically enhanced power armor far superior to anything else in the world. Instead, the prototype had evolved into something else, something more powerful and deadly than anything Acheson had ever imagined. It would never take a human occupant, but that was hardly an issue.

The prototype was eight feet tall, lithe and elegant, with pure white metal panels and an orange wisp of magic trailing from its head that flickered like a candle. It was a perfect predator.

As if reading his thoughts, the Daybreaker prototype glanced down at Acheson, tilting its head as if inspecting him before returning its attention to its new weapon systems. A heavy incinerator had been modified to fit onto the prototype's left arm, while its right bore a large plasma gun originally intended as a sidearm for Horrigan. The prototype flicked its hand and a two-foot long blade erupted from a hidden sheath on its wrist, glowing with infernal heat.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" Acheson whispered.

No-one replied. He hadn't really expected anyone to. The only other person in the room was Doctor Holt, and she was going over the most recent reports from Major Owens and the other project leaders.

"Good news, I hope?" Acheson called out.

Holt looked up from the reports and nodded. "The Heavy Tank has been fully retrofitted and is ready for combat, while Experiment FH-2 will be ready in the next day or so."

"Good." Acheson allowed himself to bask in his satisfaction for a few moments. "Has there been any word about FH-1, yet?"

"No. The Exodus team reports that Horrigan is still out of commission," Holt replied.

"Hm, pity." Acheson shrugged. "Oh well. Once all of this business is finished, and our enemies have been put in their rightful places, we can have his remains brought back here for studying and upgrading."

Holt collected the reports up and stacked them neatly in the middle of her desk. "What about Liberty Prime? Will it pose a threat?"

Acheson chuckled darkly. "The satellite uplink is almost complete. Even if the Brotherhood attacks before it is ready, between the Daybreaker prototype, the tank, and FH-2, even that oversized toy won't be able to break through our defences." He looked over his shoulder and grinned at Holt. "Don't worry. In just a couple of days, the whole Capital Wasteland will belong to me."

Next Chapter: Chapter 99 - The March Estimated time remaining: 22 Hours, 59 Minutes