Furthermore, its interest in Pre-War Techonology had caused Brotherhood search teams to warn off, even fire upon, Union scouts. However, as the Union and its needs grew, the fledgeling nation became a significant threat to the Brotherhood. When the Union of Georgia was founded, the Brotherhood looked to guide the fledgling state into acting as an additional protective force throughout the wastes. While its manpower was considered greater than its West-coast counterpart, it was still hard pressed to ensure safety across the entire wasteland. Prior to the founding of the Union, The Atlantic Brotherhood of Steel served as a major protective force in the wastes.