Capital Loyalists

Brotherhood of Steel flag used by the Capital Loyalists

The Capital Loyalists were a division of the Brotherhood of Steel in the Capital Wasteland that seceded following the ascension of Arthur Maxson to the eldership. Believing his ideals to be obsolete, radical and similar to those of the Enclave, they attempted to remove him from power, but were eventually defeated.

## **Background**

### **The Lyons Doctrine**

For many years, the Capital Wasteland's Brotherhood of Steel had been the protectors of the people. Elder Lyons implemented a doctrine of assisting the people of the Wasteland wherever and however possible, and allowed the induction of Wastelanders into the order. By 2277, the number of Wastelanders within the Brotherhood numbered over a third of their total manpower, and by 2281 that number was over half. When Elder Maxson ascended to the eldership in early 2283, many of the Brotherhood's members, new and old alike, regarded him as a radical warmonger and refused to accept his leadership. They subsequently left the Citadel and formed their own front; the Capital Loyalists.

### **Civil War**

The Capital Loyalists were guided by many of the veteran, experienced commanders of the Brotherhood. Most of the high command was fervently loyal to Lyons and his ideals, which gave the Capital Loyalists the upper-hand in the beginning stages of the conflict. Most outposts in downtown DC, particularly those in the Capital Mall, sided with the Loyalists. Fighting ensued, and despite the tactical superiority of the Loyalists, the Citadel was still firmly under Maxson's control, and therefore the Loyalists quickly began to run out of munitions. Adams Airforce Base was the site of a stalemate between the Loyalists and Maxson's forces for weeks, but the latter eventually came out on top. To make matters worse, the Outcasts formally reunified with Maxson's Brotherhood, bringing with them tonnes of advanced weaponry, munitions and the addition of Fort Independence and the underground VSS Facility to Maxson's holdings. The tide quickly turned. GNR was recaptured by Maxson, and a final push into the Capital Mall routed the remaining Loyalists.

### **Escape from D.C**

The survivors from Maxson's offensive regrouped, and fled north. From there, they split into two groups; one heading west under the command of Star Paladin Cross, and the other heading north under Paladins Kodiak and Tristan. The northern group settled in Albany, New York, and deferred from electing an Elder, believing that they would one day return to depose Maxson. Meanwhile, the western group crossed the Appallachians, and made contact with the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel. Most joined them, while some settled in the ruins of Kentucky and Ohio.

### **Legacy**

The loss of the skilled personnel who joined the Capital Loyalists was devastating for Elder Maxson. His ranks were thinned out while hardliner and xenophobic soldiers made up the majority of his forces. The public's perception of the Brotherhood shifted from positive to negative and they struggled to maintain order in the Capital Wasteland for years.

By 2287, Maxson's Brotherhood had constructed the Prydwen, an aerial headquarters that was used to deploy the bulk of the Brotherhood's forces to the Commonwealth. They lacked vital manpower, and most scribes who had worked on Liberty Prime had defected, quit or been killed during the war, which delayed their assault on the Institute. The destruction or capture of most of the Brotherhood's captured vertibird fleet resulted in them being forced to use outdated, ineffective models during their war in the Commonwealth.