Brotherhood of Steel

The Brotherhood of Steel, abbreviated to BoS or BOS, is a paramilitary organization devoted to the preservation of technology and knowledge, the chapters of which operate across the post-War United States.

Background
Several chapters of the group exist, utilizing similar logos to mark their equipment and territory. The logo is comprised of gears, representing their engineering knowledge, a sword representing their will to defend themselves, and wings representing uplifting hope. Groups vary in their choice of greetings, some using "brother" while others use "brother" and "sister."

While the goals of the Brotherhood vary from chapter to chapter, they share a core mission centered on seizing and regulating pre-War technology throughout the wasteland. Technology is collected from pre-War sites to prevent its abuse, described by Paladin Danse as "keeping it out of reach of those who seek to exploit it" therefore "ensuring the survival of the human race."

A portion of their efforts is dedicated to cataloging and preservation of history, including that of their own organization. The Brotherhood is also dedicated to the advancement of humanity, with goals of eradicating mutants. Their motto is "Ad Victoriam."

Founding
The founder of the Brotherhood of Steel was Captain Roger Maxson of the United States Army. Maxson was a member of a military team commanded by Colonel Robert Spindel, sent to the West-Tek research facility in 2076 by the U.S. Army to monitor the experiments being conducted there. On January 7, 2077, military research and the security team were moved to the newly-constructed Mariposa Military Base.

Captain Maxson and his men subsequently discovered that the West-Tek scientists at Mariposa were using military prisoners as involuntary test subjects in their experiments with the Forced Evolutionary Virus, and as a result, executed them. Colonel Spindel suffered a mental breakdown, and Maxson took command, declaring himself to be in full desertion from the U.S Army via radio on October 20, 2077. They received no response, and the Great War took place days later.

Maxson ordered the remains of the scientists to be buried outside the base, and on October 27, service members and their families left the base. The group split into two, with one heading southwest and the other towards the Lost Hills government bunker to the south, where the Brotherhood was subsequently founded.

Expansion
The Brotherhood expanded eastward from their founding location at Lost Hills, sending out an expedition to the former Washington, D.C. area to recover technology under the leadership of Owyn Lyons. The group in Lost Hills sent expeditions to the Mojave Wasteland, gathering intelligence and new recruits.

Roger Maxson made contact with Lieutenant Elizabeth Taggerdy of the US Army Rangers in Appalachia, who agreed to join his cause. The group accepting a former National Guard unit into its ranks, led by Leila Rahmani.

The group established under Taggerty faced the threat of scorchbeasts, which eventually led to the destruction of communication relays between the two Brotherhood groups. Before being cut off, Maxson ordered Taggerdy to hold the tide and authorized the use of nuclear weapons. The First Expeditionary Force was sent to determine their fate, and set up camp at the Fort Atlas.

A contingent under the leadership of Father Elijah moved into the Mojave, with their sights set on the Hoover Dam and HELIOS One solar plant. The state of Maxson, in the New California Republic, was built in close proximity to the Lost Hills Bunker, protected by the Brotherhood.

Leadership
Roger Maxson was the first High Elder and formed the Orders of Paladins, Knights and Scribes. When Roger Maxson died of cancer in 2135, his son Maxson II took command of the Brotherhood. Maxson II led the group until his death in 2155, due to a wound caused by a poisoned Viper arrow. John Maxson became High Elder after his father's death. After the death of Lady Jessica Maxson, her only son Arthur Maxson became the last of the Maxson bloodline.

Codex
The Brotherhood follows the Codex, a core dictating constitution of laws and orders. Members of the Brotherhood who take the required Oath of Fraternity swear to adhere to its commandments and conduct themselves with honor. Should a member break the Oath, the Council of Elders would be the ones to decide their fate as a Brotherhood member. The Scrolls are part of the Codex, utilized to record the lives, achievements, and other details of the members of the order. These records include the circumstances of each member's entry into the Brotherhood, a description of their personality and standing, deeds such as battles, tech recoveries, and promotions, and end with a description of their death or reassignment.

Ranks
Each Brotherhood rank is part of a hierarchy that follows the Chain that Binds. The ranks were devised by Roger Maxson, serving as a way to help transition the former members of the United States Armed Forces into the Brotherhood.

Conflicts
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Property and trade
The Brotherhood utilizes scrip for internal trades. Necessary operations, supplies, and other amenities are provided free of charge to working members of the Brotherhood at Lost Hills (though in case of new initiates coming from the outside, they must serve for ten years before the Brotherhood will provide its most advanced services without charge). Every member receives an allotment of rations to maintain their health and they may be traded between members. All equipment beyond personal items is issued by the Brotherhood and issued items, especially weapons, are carefully tracked by serial number.

The Mojave chapter will not sell any equipment to any outsider unless the elder gives permission. Under Elder Lyons' rule, the Brotherhood was known to trade with outsiders, but as of 2277, there were many incidents that dissuaded the Brotherhood from such activities. As of 2287, the Eastern division has resumed trade relations in the Capital Wasteland and established new ones in the Commonwealth. While standard issue gear and weapons are available for free to members, more specialized weapons and equipment must be purchased from the quartermasters.

Destroying technology results in consequences for all members, including elders. Caesar refers to them as hoarders, stating that after 200 years, the group still has the mentality of scavengers. Robert House refers to them as "bulging-eyed fanatics" that believe all pre-War technology belongs to them.

Vehicles
The Brotherhood does not possess working ground vehicles. The Brotherhood did have access to an entire fleet of airships in the mid-22nd century, used for exploration and recon. However, over the years the fleet was either destroyed or dismantled for spare parts. By the 23rd century, none of the airships remained, with one notable vessel crashing in the Midwest on a long-range exploration mission. It was not until the acquisition of Pride One, a captured Enclave Vertibird, at the end of the Brotherhood-Enclave War, that the Brotherhood returned to the skies. Eight years later the Brotherhood built a new, more advanced, airship at Adams Air Force Base which they christened The Prydwen. The Prydwen's construction was carried out alongside a brand new Vertibird fleet. This fleet would be made up of captured and restored Enclave Vertibirds, as well as brand new ones built from scratch. By 2287, the size of this new air force was so significant that the Brotherhood created an entirely new caste, known as lancers, in order to pilot them.

Research and manufacturing
While the overall devotion to research has decayed over the course of centuries, the Brotherhood was once at the forefront of research in the wasteland. In the 22nd century, for example, research topics ranged from redeveloping laser weapons, through physics,   to astronomy  and theories on time travel. In terms of manufacturing capacity, the west coast Brotherhood relies on items hand-made by the knights. Although limited supplies pose a challenge, the real problems come from the actual manufacturing and prototyping process, especially when the reality doesn't seem to match the Knights' expectations.

Foreign relations
By 2281, the Brotherhood fought against the NCR in the Brotherhood War. One of the campaigns of the war played out in the Mojave Wasteland, where during Operation: Sunburst, more than half the chapter perished, forcing Elder McNamara to retreat to a nearby bunker and declare lockdown. All members left outside the bunker are cut loose if this protocol is enacted. If a bunker is invaded, the group will initiate a self-destruct. In four out of six instances of successful invasion by NCR forces, this was carried out. By 2287, the Brotherhood has radicalized its policy towards mutants, with standing orders to exterminate any post-War abominations. In practice, the Brotherhood usually doesn't shoot on sight unless targets are confirmed as hostile - even if they are a synth in a critical location.

Outside recruitment
For most of its existence, the Brotherhood did not recruit outsiders as a general rule. When it did, they required the recruits to be very young, so that the proper relationship with technology could be cultivated. Adults have an approach that the Brotherhood considers perverted. However, exceptional individuals may conditionally join the Brotherhood.

As Elder Arthur Maxson became the leader of the Brotherhood's Eastern branch, he retained Elder Owyn Lyons' practice of recruiting wastelanders sponsored by existing Brotherhood members and expanded it. As it was under Lyons, the sponsor would travel with their charges and teach them the ideals of the Brotherhood and train them in combat. To this end, active members can field promote recruits to Initiate rank, but the rank and subsequent promotions have to be confirmed by the Elder at the earliest possible opportunity. However, while the member can retract their sponsorship, once the rank is confirmed by the Elder, only the Elder can dismiss the sponsored party from the organization. -->

Appearances
The Brotherhood of Steel has appeared in all Fallout games to date.

Behind the scenes

 * The Brotherhood of Steel was originally planned to double as a religious organization centered around the worship of pre-war technology. This ideology was influenced by A Canticle for Leibowiz, which dealt with how a group of Christian monks who task themselves with preserving all scientific and technological knowledge of mankind until the human race is ready for it again.
 * Valve Software's multiplayer FPS Team Fortress 2 pays homage to the Brotherhood with an achievement in the game's 'Mann vs. Machine' game mode.
 * Joshua Sawyer described the impact of the Brotherhood raids on the NCR's gold reserves.
 * The flag with the sword, gears, wings, and stripes was first used in Fallout 3, as an asset flown over the Citadel. Fan art of the flag was posted online and subsequently used in official Bethesda merchandise.
 * The Brotherhood of Steel has its own page on Wikipedia, see Brotherhood of Steel.