Institute Strike on Minuteman Settlements

Military action

Under the influence of Dr. Justin Ayo in the SRB, Father authorizes a massive and simultaneous strike against all Minuteman settlements in The Commonwealth Wasteland.

Dr. Justin Ayo, head of the Synth Retention Bureau and unofficial military adviser, convinces Shaun West to attack any and all settlements flying the Minuteman flag during late winter.   Approximately 2 days before the attack was scheduled, the Courser designated X6-88 was recalled from his posting as Aubrey Wilson's personal servant. He warned her to put her men on alert before he was transported back to the Institute. Aubrey Wilson was confused by this sudden and cryptic warning, and alerted The Castle, but without any further details, there was little that could be done.   The Strike was planned so that the Minuteman defenses and settlers would be at their weakest from the fairly harsh winter, as well as accounting for the fact that General Aubrey Wilson was snowed in at Diamond City. Undercover Gen 3 synths at each of the settlements attempted to disable radio communications and automated defense turrets while Gen 2 synths and Coursers started the main assault at approximately 0600 in the morning. The attack was sustained until approximately 1300 in the afternoon.   Aubrey Wilson, along with Nick Valentine and Piper Wright, was able to mobilize and render assistance only to Hangman's Alley. All of the other settlements, save Bunker Hill, were under attack. Bunker Hill was not attacked due to there being no flag of the Minutemen flying. Diamond City and Goodneighbor were also left unaffected for the same reason, although Hancock sent a few extra Neighborhood Watch guards to Bunker Hill as a show of good faith.   Overall, The Strike was a success for the Institute, as many settlements suffered structural damage to warehouses, water pumps, shelters, power generators, and defense turrets and lighting on top of a bloody loss of life.   This particular event devastated Aubrey Wilson, as she didn't want to believe that Shaun West had authorized such a brutal and ruthless attack upon innocents. But as radio casualty and damage reports flooded in, she realized that, to the Institute, she was no longer an asset, but a threat.   No longer able to wait until the snow safely cleared, Aubrey and Valentine set out to The Castle on horseback to start putting together a proper defense plan with Colonels Preston Garvey and Ronnie Shaw.   With this attack, the Institute had officially declared war on the Minutemen.