Either way, they will ask the Sole Survivor to help build up the settlement's defenses to protect against the coming attack. Alternatively, if the Sole Survivor has been Banished from the Institute the settler may report sightings of Institute crows, indicating an impending synth attack. To proceed with the quest the Sole Survivor must travel to the settlement and talk to their leader, who will give the details: a group of enemies came through earlier and caused a lot of damage, and they're afraid a bigger group is on its way. The quest has an (undisclosed) 14 day time limit, so the Sole Survivor must act quickly. Alternatively, the quest may be obtained directly from a settler at an owned settlement even if the Sole Survivor has not joined the Minutemen (though this occurs very infrequently). The Sole Survivor is informed that an allied settlement is in danger of a raider, super mutant, Gunners, or synth attack, and is asked to help the settlement with their defenses. After joining the Minutemen, this quest can be periodically obtained when talking to Preston Garvey or listening to Radio Freedom.
