It has been a year since you, Courier Six, drove Caesar’s mighty Legions back across the Colorado River and sent the Bear black west with its tail between its legs. You harnessed House’s robotic army to secure the Mojave. Since then, you’ve brought peace and prosperity to the newly minted “New Vegas Directorate” with the help of a growing bureaucracy headed by your closest companions.The road has not been easy and you have recently “cleansed” Zion from the Boomer Blight, an engineered plague that had the potential to end the wasteland. With the immediate disasters handled, you now look forward. You have begun the rehabilitation of Big Mountain and welcomed waves of Enclave immigrants to New Vegas. Now, you are celebrating independence day with the rest of the Mojave. With so much already behind you and an even longer road ahead, what awaits Courier Six, now The Director?
Back by literally no demand! QM curse aside, the last few months have been insane but now seem to be on the up and up. While it may be a tad slow for a few weeks, I've been itching to resume. I just hope y'all are as excited as I am. Thread 1: Genesis The Courier talks Lanius down, and General Oliver is thrown off the Dam. A ceasefire is negotiated with the NCR and the chaos in Freeside is swiftly put down. In the chaos of the battle, the Brotherhood took over Helios.Boone got talked into staying around, the Courier absolutely dogwalked the NCR ambassador two separate times for a very favorable treaty with the Mojave in return for much of the dam’s power and water. The Crimson Caravan is banned from the Mojave and the beginning of the Follower-Mojave relationship is formed over bath houses. The Courier encounters boomer blight for the first time after asking the Boomers for food, though not understanding the severity at the time. Doing what the NCR couldn’t, the Courier completely eradicated the Fiends as a force in the Mojave, demolishing Vault 3 in the process. A massive deal is made with the Brahmin Baron Heck Gunderson to supply much needed food to Freeside in return for vast freedom over his businesses and for his son to serve as AG Secretary. Senator Armstrong of the NCR is introduced.
Thread 2: Ain’t like chowing down on Fancy Lad Snack Cakes…The Courier discovers a large group of raiders operating from the town of Nipton, targeting NCR visitors from the border. The Courier also officially creates his council, the nexus of the Mojave Government. The Courier finally explores Lucky 38, finding wealth and secrets that he quickly uses, most notably the Mojave Rehabilitation Plan. But much of the information pulled is heavily corrupted and will take time and effort to make use of. The Courier refuses to let House die and instead rushes him off to Big Mountain to extract his brain from the rotting body, resulting in House in a coma. The Brotherhood makes another move and seizes Black Mountain.Boone runs into a stranded NCR special forces group who agrees to stick around for the time being and they prove instrumental in the dramatic victory over the Nipton raiders after they launched a terror attack on the NCR border crossing. Senator Armstrong climbs the ladder of power and is invited into NCR President Kimball’s Council. The New Vegas Police Department is created to alleviate pressure on the Securitron Force and begin the process of civilian control over the region. A military is officially created with the former Enclave captain as its head, with an infantry core being the focus and the M1 Garand selected as the standard rifle of the armed forces and a production deal made with the gun runners. The beginnings of industry is created as a nascent leather industry grows around the production of leather armor for the armed forces. The Mojave Rose Caravan Company was created with Cass as its president, cutting construction costs and alleviating the issue of transportation.The Courier activates the Emergency Beacon in the Remnants Bunker and is offered a deal to heal Caesar in return for a mighty boon.
Thread 3: Render Unto Caesar The Courier travels deep into Legion lands to heal Caesar of his tumor, learning much about the empire in the process. In return for healing Edward Sallow, the Courier receives a set of master codes that should override any government facility in the country. In the aftermath of the surgery, Caesar now believes that the Courier is the heir of his empire though much needs to be done for the Mojave walker to earn that position. Before heading back West, the Courier also planted the seeds of a major conspiracy forming against Caesar with the goal of destabilizing and weakening the Legion. The Boomer Blight, which is an altered strain of the Vault 22 and Big Mountain strains, begins to become a much larger issue with it being manmade, particularly hard to treat and multiple strains existing in the wasteland. But it’s not just confined to the Mojave, with rumors of it having infected the lush lands of Zion. While focusing on this apocalyptic issue, the Courier also continues to strengthen the position of the Mojave. He negotiated a massive investment deal with a cabal of NCR businesses and a minor agreement made with the Brotherhood to provide technical support throughout the desert. Yes-Man finishes his upgrades and turns into an even bigger big brother than he was before and a very generous trade agreement is signed with the Legion. A New Reno crime family shows up in Freeside, causing endless headaches for the Courier and his government. Perhaps the most impactful episode happens when the Courier explores Hawthorne Depot, finding a large NCR garrison and roping in the Brotherhood and Legion for a raid.After insertion with Vertibirds, the initial assault goes nearly perfectly but disaster strikes when an explosion kicks up a nerve agent and nuclear material in the middle of a dust storm, killing the entire town, garrison and the raiding force while also nearly killing the Courier in the process. After waking up back in Hidden Valley, the Courier is without the Platinum Chip and the master override codes with no idea on the status of either. Arcade Gannon and his research team sent to Zion have gone silent and the status of the Platinum Chip unknown. The only saving grace is the Courier officially decides on a direction for the Mojave, creating the New Vegas Directorate and giving the nascent government an air of legitimacy. Quintilius Publicis is introduced.
Thread 4: An Evil Awakens The Courier wastes no time in finding the Platinum Chip, but also comes away with no answers on what exactly happened in Hawthorne. He discovers a treasure trove of pre-war military equipment stored in a locked bunker. The Courier journeys deep into Zion to uncover what happened to his research team and stumbles upon horrors beyond his imagination. He fights his way through the entire valley, pushed nearly to his limit. He finds a handful of survivors and evacuates them, though Joshua Graham stayed behind as a distraction. The survivors of Zion are settled at Cottonwood Cove, now renamed Genesis. Domestically, valuable resources are found throughout the Mojave and construction on the first gold mine is underway. The dual investment finishes up and the region is rapidly industrializing. A series of states are drawn up dividing the Mojave into governorships, and those governors are approved by the Courier. Funding is decided on a “per-head” basis. An intelligence apparatus is created and the Armed Forces is rapidly expanded, with additional manpower given by the Freeside Republic after agreeing to join the NVD. The Courier takes a trip to The Divide to ask Ulysses to join his government and look for a weapon to destroy the Boomer Blight in Zion. Ulysses joins after a few months of consideration, while The Courier finds a nuclear weapon to use.The Courier travels to Big Mountain to talk to House’s brain fresh out of his coma, gleaning some perspective on the Mojave’s situation. He returns again to bring Doctor Henry and Arcade to the scientific wonderland only to find out that House is now missing. Henry and Arcade begin to settle into Big Mountain but have different wishes for its use. The national currency is decided to be casino chips, with the specifics still being worked out. The NCR attempts to shut down all traffic and trade, but is quickly overruled by NCR business interests. The Courier visits Creech AFB with Bear Team One and a platoon of troopers but encounters nothing but misery. He finds out that the Boomer Blight has begun to spread from Zion.The Courier makes his way to Fortification Hill, discovering that it needs repairs and needs raw material, but can repair and build new Securitrons. The water shortage was also investigated but no cause was found. The Salvatore Crime Family was quarantined and raided in a joint operation that rounded up every member. In talking to their leader, Courier realized Cyrus Long is Enclave-affiliated and agreed to accept his people in the NVD.
Thread 5: RebirthZion is destroyed by the Courier’s hand, hopefully ending the Plague once and for all though exacting a high cost. The discussion over crime careens off the cliff and is put on hold while Courier Six goes on a mission to kill Vulpes, the Wolf of the Wastes. Kimball narrowly loses his re-election to Allgood Murphy and begins to plot his revenge and The Courier spends some much-deserved R&R with his companions. A meeting with the representative of the Enclave Immigrants goes…well and they begin to settle at Novac, Goodsprings and Genesis. Courier Six really explores Big Mountain and begins putting down the building blocks to reclaim it for the Directorate with the help of a newly-rebooted Dr. Möbius. The Courier finished up his tour of the Mojave (narrowly avoiding being crushed by a boulder) while visiting Jacobstown, Genesis, Boulder City, Novac, Freeside and Westside. The courier is now in New Vegas, celebrating the climax of the anniversary.Wow that was a lot! I'll leave the thread up tonight with links to the previous threads for everyone to jog their memory.
Link to previous threads (upvote them!!!)https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=No+Gods%2C+No+Masters
I'm hype, give me a prompt to vote on you goober
The morning of the anniversary has finally come and surprisingly, you’re on schedule for once. Having spent the evening with The Kings, you stop over to the Old Mormon Fort for breakfast with some of the Followers before heading to Westside. The Old Mormon Fort has always been full of patients, ranging from the serious injuries to the superficial. But now the fort is overflowing with the injured and sick. Unsurprisingly, Julie Farkas is right there next to the other followers as they attempt to stem the flow. So you kiss the breakfast goodbye and jump in to help. You don’t have your usual medical supplies but you’re still the best doctor in the wasteland. Most of the injuries are light, be those cuts or the occasional broken bone. The more dire are triaged and put in tents that ring the courtyard. You don’t stop working until mid-afternoon, but your presence helped greatly. You sit in the shade and wash yourself off with a canteen when Julie joins you. Farkas: This may not be the best way to celebrate.[I’ve had worse. It’s the least I can do, these are my citizens I suppose.]Farkas: I heard about how you defused the riot last night, we probably would have had a lot more dead if it wasn’t for you. You take a look at the injured spread over the ground and stuffed to the gills in the tents. [Hard to believe it could be worse.]Farkas: This wasn’t too unusual before you came here, by the way. Sure House would roll his robots in when it got bad enough, but that’s only because it was impacting his cash flow.That’s not too surprising, you saw only a little bit of how ignored Freeside was, and still so to an extent. You check the time on your pip-boy, you need to head to Westside now. Farkas: Work never ends, huh? For once, you actually think someone else can sympathize. She runs The Followers, but she’s also on the frontlines of just about any issue. If anyone can understand the pressure and workload, it’s probably her. [See you around, Julie. Thanks for your hard work.]It seems like an understatement, but she probably gets it.
It takes only an hour to hoof it around the outskirts of Vegas and into Westside. It’s a stark difference as it always is but Westside is rapidly turning into an efficient and productive settlement. The main streets are cleared of any remaining rubble with the potholes patched. Some of the bigger buildings are being renovated and turned to apartments, while others are being renovated to support new businesses. What you don’t see are the casinos or brothels that are endemic in Freeside and New Vegas - not to mention just about everywhere else in the Mojave. You idly wonder why people aren’t breaking down the gates to a place just as safe and orderly as The Strip, but Westside certainly is not as flashy. The celebrations for Westside also seem a lot more “civilized” than in other places. The crux of the event here is at a large open field near the center of Westside where a fair is being held. Among the many vendors and craftsmen, the Westside Militia is hosting a recruiting fair and a few of the local businesses are showcasing some products being produced domestically. This is what’s explained to you by Ettienne and his entourage as you’re escorted through Westside. The settlement is impressive and remarkably self-sufficient but there’s something off about the whole thing you just can’t put your finger on. Sure they have incredibly strict laws of settlement, are somewhat isolationist and have firm social "giuidlines", but they aren’t exactly breaking any of your non-existent laws. Yet.And you assume each place in the Mojave will have its own cultural flair, just as it is in the NCR. Ettienne makes a detour and takes you down a few blocks to a workshop built into the ruins of an old warehouse. This is a cast-iron workshop that cuts up heavy wreckage and salvage with power tools before melting them down and reforming them into products ranging from pots and pans to crude hand tools. They’re heavy and unwieldy but it’s a new product being domestically produced and you can’t find much harm in that. After the humble brag, the entourage is finally taken to the Westside Fair which is held in what was once an old city park. While the grass and foliage is far gone, cracked sidewalks criss-cross the open field where tents and temporary structures have been set up. There are plenty of merchants selling everything from clothing to weaponry, as well as a healthy number of food vendors. But what really catches your eye is a ring of platforms built around an old fountain at the center of the park. Ettienne: I was told by Tom about these world fairs that old world countries used to host. Every nation would showcase their greatest inventions. Some of this was for personal prestige, but it was also an opportunity to share ideas and build a sense of global community. You see where he’s going with this and kick yourself for not thinking of it first.
[We should do this for the entire Mojave, have every town or region showcase their culture and industry. Maybe we could even invite outsiders, I’d love to see what the Shi or Vault City are up to.]Ettienne nods like he was waiting for that realization before ushering you to the first of the platforms. On these platforms, some of them have a tent providing invaluable shade while others are out in the hot Mojave sun. Children run buckets of water to different hydration stations around the park, keeping the residents from suffering heat stroke. You’re introduced to a series of local inventors, entrepreneurs and traders who showcase exotic and unbelievable relics. One of the showcases is the owner and creator of a greenhouse in the fringes of Westside that has a greenhouse growing priceless produce such as limes, lemons and oranges. You’re familiar with fruit, but only through artificial flavoring or in books. Ettienne walks up to the purveyor/inventor and whispers a few things to him. The man’s eyes go wide and he grabs a handful of the fruit before coming over. Vernon: I am Dr. Adam Vernon, at your service. It is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance and I implore you to please try my product, free of charge!You’re no stranger to gifts but you’ve never actually had a citrus fruit….[I humbly accept this gift, Dr. Vernon. As you’re the expert, do you have any suggestions?]Vernon: AH! Of course! This is an orange, specifically what was once called a Navel Orange which was once grown in California. Please take it and roll it around between your palms. You grab the orange and inspect it first. It’s smaller than you imagined but what do you know? You comply and begin to roll it around between your palms. Vernon: Yes, this way you will make it easier to peel and get the juices flowing, yes. To peel, gently press a finger into the peel and find purchase under, gradually scraping along the meat of the fruit. Yes.You press a finger into the orange, causing a burst of juice to shoot out over your duster. Unlike a festering wound or a spurt of blood, this sticky mess smells like heaven. You’re careful to taste the juice, being met with true ecstasy. The juice is sweet and refreshing and immediately invigorates you to rip the rest of the peel off. The actual “meat” of the orange is even better. It’s tender but literally bursting with flavor. You’re speechless and Dr. Vernon seems content to let you finish before speaking. Vernon: One of man’s simple pleasures taken away by the fire of atomic war. It’s a shame I can’t grow these in any number, but maybe it’s a good thing the populace doesn’t know this please. You’re careful to wipe your mouth of juice before handing the peel back to the doctor. [You grow these right here in Westside?]Vernon: Yes, Director! It’s a meticulous process and it’s taken me two years to renovate and build the necessary facility.
[So why come out here for it? Surely it would have been easier to do it wherever you came from, which I’m assuming is the NCR.]The doctor’s face sags. It seems you have hit on a sensitive topic. Vernon: I’m from the East, what is now Caesar’s land. He didn’t look too kindly on the knowledge my people possessed, so I fled. [That still doesn’t answer my question, why not build this in the NCR?]He now gives you a sheepish look.Vernon: Admittedly, there’s a greater supply of this fruit in the NCR. That, and I am hoping to corner the market out here in New Vegas. The prices that someone will pay for fresh citrus is…dizzying. The funds will hopefully pay for future experimentation and an expansion of my operations. You thank him for his time before offering the lemon and lime back to him, but he firmly refuses. Vernon: Consider it my thanks for keeping the barbaric Legion out of New Vegas. You bid farewell and visit the remaining exhibits, enjoying the tart but tasty lemon and lime. One of the other exhibits is a showcase for a variety of vehicles, ranging from a sort of desert dune buggy to a type of motorbike similar to those taken from the 80’s. Most of these are brought in from the NCR, where vehicles are still rare but much more common. Another exhibit is selling rebuilt and refurbished robots, ranging from Protectrons rated for domestic service to a few Mister Gutsys for personal defense. They are cobbled together from different parts and pieces, but a quick glance doesn’t reveal any potential programming issues. You are enjoying the festivities when Ettienne gives you a gentle nudge. Ettienne: I have one more surprise for you, please follow me.He leads you past the old fountain and to a relatively open part of the old park. Sitting there looks to be a single-seater…flying machine? The chair looks to be from a cockpit of a Vertibird or other craft sat on top of an engine with two flimsy landing skis holding the small contraption together. On top are two sets of long, bending blades stacked almost on top of each other. The tail is a long, rectangular box of crisscrossing metal that seems to provide structural support.Truthfully, the thing looks like a death machine - and not the ones you partake in.Ettienne: This was built by one of the most gifted men I’ve ever met. Let me introduce the two of you. He guides you to a young man wearing grimy overalls and working his way through a check list. He sees the two of you approach and gives a polite nod. Ettienne: Verner Braun, this is Courier Six, our Director. Verner goes to shake your hand but hesitates. Verner: I apologize, Director. My hands are dirty. [So are mine.]
He smiles and gives you a firm handshake. You take a minute to examine the man. He’s young and unconventionally attractive with his strong brow, sandy hair and stormy grey eyes. Verner: Well then, let me introduce you to the Heliopath, a flying machine much unlike anything else in the world. You doubt that but don’t reveal your thoughts, examining the machine a little more. [It’s far from the only flying machine I’ve seen in the wastes, but maybe the first that seems to have been built…]Verner: Entirely in the Mojave! There is plenty of salvage around here, but it sure took some time to put everything together. Without notice, he drops the clipboard and begins climbing into the seat. He tightens the straps across his chest and places goggles and a leather cap on his head.Verner: I’d stand back, fellas!You, Ettienne and his small entourage take a few paces backwards as Verner flips some switches and turns his beast on.The blades begin spinning faster and faster, just as a Vertibird does. In less than a minute, Verner is rising above the earth as a swirl of dust brings visibility down to just yards. While the growing crowd may not be able to see much, you do. And your mind begins to race with possibilities…Verner takes his time getting back to Earth and once the blades stop spinning, he is immediately swamped with the onlookers either asking questions or cheering for the spectacle. You decide not to swing your authority around and instead ask Ettienne to connect the two of you in the future. You also thank him for the hospitality and heap the praise for how successful Westside seems to be. As you leave the settlement and head to New Vegas for the final celebration, you begin to think about how they manage to do it. Maybe there’s a way to apply that elsewhere?You put those thoughts of long-term planning to the side as you walk through The Strip gates in the late afternoon. Immediately, you know this is the nexus for all of the NVD. Vendors, merchants and showmen line the streets selling everything from the banal to the unique.
The food vendors follow the same theme, with everyday molerat stew available in large, burbling pots and random cuts of meat sizzling on large, grid irons. Some of the nicer booths and tents have more exotic foodstuff with a richer clientele lining up. The only reason these people aren’t in the casinos is because there are waiting lines for most of them with show promoters and other salesmen schmoozing up and down the lines.That’s something you’ve never seen before, a line into a Strip Casino. A few of the smaller hotels and gambling lodges are open to customers but who wants to go to Slots of Fun? The street performers range from prostitutes selling the most basic service to magicians and men painted like robots making mechanical sounds. It’s all absurd to you, but to see The Strip alive like this swells the pride inside. But you can’t spend the time to mingle with the upper-crust, you have a very busy day. Cass, Garret and Sarah are waiting for you. Most of your other cabinet are out celebrating or with their own entourage, with The King and Farkas spending their day back in Freeside. The group is outside of the Lucky 38, lounging in the shade sipping on ice-cold drinks.Cass: There’s the man of the hour, we were wondering if you’d ever manage to find your way back! [Believe it or not, being the head-of-state doesn’t exactly give me a free schedule anymore. Alright Cass, what’s on the agenda today?]Cass hands her drink to Garret and pulls out a small notebook. Cass: We have a dinner planned with some NCR business leaders at The Tops. Miss Chen will be there, but you’ll behave, won’t you? She’s not her usual playful self with that comment. It’s not unusual for Cass to be jealous but does she feel…threatened by Chen? Cass: After that, you’ll give a speech to a gathered crowd down by the Ultra Luxe on an empty lot across from the casino. Weintraub: We have a speaker system set up and everything! Cass: A few guests will give some opening remarks, but you’ll be the one everyone’s coming to see. After your speech, the fireworks will go off and that will be the end of the official celebrations, but the party will probably continue. Garret: There’s a cocktail party on the roof of the Ultra Luxe. I wanted to do it at the Lucky 38 but…You could never convince yourself to allow strangers into the Lucky 38. There’s just too much at stake, too many people wanting your crown. [Alright, that sounds like a plan. Let’s begin.] The four of you brave the crowds, making a snail's pace towards The Tops. You bypass the line and are ushered in by the Chairmen with a brisk nod. When entering The Tops, you see why there’s a line. Almost every slot is taken, the table games are overflowing with players and there are pop-up bars throughout the casino floor to satiate the thirst of gamblers. Garret: I CAN’T IMAGINE THE TAKE THESE CASINOS ARE PULLING IN TODAY!
She has to yell over the crowd, but you’re thinking the same thing. You’ll have Yes-Man triple-check his tribute calculations for this month. You use your bulk to push through the crowds and to the elevators. The four of you are sent up to the Texas room, a private dining space for high rollers or special events. A string band is in the corner playing some country tune you’ve never heard while waiters and waitresses pass out small bites of some sort. Okay Courier, time to go play politics. The next hour is spent rubbing shoulders and greeting the rich of the rich from the NCR. You’re still amazed so many make the trip out here, but if New Reno is the closest thing to Vegas the NCR has, maybe it’s not too shocking. Ms. Chen is there but Cass doesn’t let you give her more than a polite hello before you’re shoved to a different group. The only meaningful conversations you have before dinner is with a group of Vault City professors who drag you into a discussion over the value of accessible education . In Vault City, every citizen is literate and given at least 8 years of schooling. The “indentured servants” may be given minimal lessons if their role requires, but mostly they’re left ignorant. Your personal distaste for the practice aside, they were shocked to see the lack of any real educational institution in New Vegas. Their tone dripped with condescension, but they had a point. It’s not cheap and it’s certainly a long-term investment, but it should be the foundation of your hyper-technological society. Any further discussions of trade and investment are noted by Garret, but no one seems to be in the mood to talk business when there’s drinking and eating to be done. It’s a small miracle as even a man of your endurance can only take so much politicking.The only notable moment of dinner was when Miss Chen stood up on her chair and clinked her glass with a metal cocktail pick, helping her short, slender figure stand out.
Chen: I’d like to just say a few words before we begin our meal. No matter the actual reason we’re here, we are celebrating the first year of New Vegas’s true independence. Most of us are from the NCR or one of her client states and so it may be strange that we’re celebrating such a loss to the Republic…She lets that hang in the air for a moment, as it’s true this room is almost all NCR or their affiliates. Chen: We should instead be celebrating the strength of a staunch ally. This was a wild and untamed land teeming with raiders, misled robots and the villainous Legion. Under the virile leadership of Courier Six, the Mojave has been completely transformed in just a year all while he has shown grace, wisdom and strength in his dealings. A subdued murmur of agreement rolls through the room. While most of these men and women really only care about the bottom line, they are still sympathetic to their homeland. Chen: I’ll finish with this. I have gotten to know the Director very well and he’s proven to be a firm partner in our dealings. I urge my friends here to consider that going forward. Cheers. She’s quickly joined by the rest of the table, a mixture of your confidants and foreign guests. Everyone but Cass, who is visibly shaking with anger. That’s something you really, really need to figure out. Or maybe not, how much damage could two jealous women really do? Dinner passes without much fanfare and you revert to an automaton as you chew, laugh, converse, drink, and drink more. Your VIP dinner comes to a close and the guests begin to break into smaller groups. You suspect you may have time for discussions with one before you must head to the strip for your speech. >The Industrialists: It’s never a bad idea to get in with these men (and a handful of women.) >The Academics: As snotty as they were, their points are valid and perhaps there’s more to glean or connections to make. >The Technocrats: Miss Chen is never a bad conversationalist but you’re curious to see who else falls in her circle. >The Bankers and Barons: An eclectic group that holds the wealth in the West, whether that be water, food or hard currency. >Cass: There's something going on with her, and it’s more than just jealousy at previous flings. >Solitude: You’re overwhelmed and frankly sick and tired of the toasts and parties. You need to step outside and get some fresh air. Alone.
>>6413355>Cass: There's something going on with her, and it’s more than just jealousy at previous flings.This will be our year
>>6413257>Back by literally no demand!yee-haw!
>>6413338>Verner Braunsurely this is his real namesurely>>6413355>Cass: There's something going on with her, and it’s more than just jealousy at previous flings.as weird as it may sound I don't think it's a day for wheeling and dealingalso picking a group might annoy the others
>>6413355>The Academics: As snotty as they were, their points are valid and perhaps there’s more to glean or connections to make. >The Technocrats: Miss Chen is never a bad conversationalist but you’re curious to see who else falls in her circle. >>6413447>>6413373Cass is def preggo
>>6413355>Cass: There's something going on with her, and it’s more than just jealousy at previous flings.Let's see what's up with her.Newbie here (also the guy that asked for the big summary in the general, props for your great work writing that up). What's the courier's deal with Cass? Did the anons pick her as the romance option?
>>64136386 has the Lady Killer perk. So women are for the breeding mines... also I think they voted to push for her abit more in depth then just normal companion stuff.
>>6413638Yeah, disregard comments about breeding mines kek, Cass is our romance option. The first year of the campaign, basically, Six was autistic Ally hyper focused on administrating and making moves for the Directorate, and it became clear towards the end that he had not just been neglecting his core group of companions, but Cass in particular. Some of the last few rounds of voting we have collectively made a point to spend more intentional time with her and actually enjoy the perks of being the boss, and having won the war. Anon's suggestion that she's pregante actually seems pretty likely to me.
>>6413645The breeding mines are correct. Which female have we NOT slept with besides Grandma?
>>6413663Veronica, Farkas, that tradcore Enclave lady Afaik it's just been Chen and Cass, and maybe Red? Speaking of women we haven't slept with, what's Christine up to these days? Did we ever bother to reunite her and Veronica??? I honestly don't remember if it ever came up, was always an obvious missed opportunity in the game.
>>6413670Veronica is a carpet muncher, so shes out.Farkas fair enough I always thought that was a guy from looks.I thought we DID sleep with the Enclave lady? That the one who wants the white picket fence/yada yada right?
damn welcome back!
Man, we have so much to do. I remember a long list of things to be done...>>6413355>Cass: There's something going on with her, and it’s more than just jealousy at previous flings.Let's start with Cass :)
>>6413680>I thought we DID sleep with the Enclave lady? That the one who wants the white picket fence/yada yada right?She was very friendly after answering all our questions (especially the one about the future), but we did nothing with her lol. It was mostly Cass when we had time. Chen was just here a few times, so a few flings. That's about it from what I remember of Six Adventures with ladies.>>6413638When there was free time, Six spent it a bit with Cass, and we slowly started a romance with her. It's pretty sweet. We also had a fling with Chen. Cass is becoming more affectionate with Six, and Six likes her too.In the first threads, we mostly did work because it was badly needed, and even now, we are still building the state and working a lot. Now things are a bit better, and we are delegating a bit more, so we have some free time and spend it with different people we know. Have a good read of previous threads, they are very nice if chaotic.
The pull to just leave and get a minute to yourself is tempting, real tempting. But you care for Cass greatly and you’re usually not one to push problems off. Cass is drifting towards a quiet corner of the room, seemingly eager to get away from the crowd and noise. You weave through the crowd with the grace of a man half your size. [Hey Cass. You don’t look like you’re enjoying yourself.]She tries to sneer, but the look collapses and is replaced by one of exhaustion. Cass: It’s just…a lot. I know we’ve talked about it before and I’m not trying to be ungrateful but…She’s right. It is a lot and you ask a lot of your closest friends. Instead of responding, you grasp her hand and gently lead her out to the balcony overlooking The Strip. [I know. I’ve been asking maybe too much of everyone, especially you.]You guide her along the balcony to a quiet corner. The lights and noise of The Strip keeps the other attendees off you two.You guide her down onto a chair while you lean on the wall next to her. Cass: I hate you, Six. I hate the way you make me feel.Ouch?Cass: I don’t know what we are, I don’t know what I want and I sure as hell don’t know what YOU want. Oh, okay. So it’s not really a work thing at all. Cass is just in love. [Wow. I didn’t know you felt that way. I had a hunch maybe, but you’re not exactly the most open about your feelings.]She scoffs and turns away. The awkwardness is palpable. Cass: Yeah well, I didn’t exactly think I’d ever be dumb enough to start l-liking someone. Liking someone. [Uhhh, sure. Liking someone. Well I really like you, Cass. I don’t want you to keep feeling this way and I certainly don’t want you to think I’m trying to get in every woman’s pants from here to Sac-City.]She can’t stop herself from laughing at this. Cass: That’s rich coming from you! There’s no one with more sexual prowess in the entire Wasteland than you, Six! I can be friendly with the opposite sex but you…wow!She has a point. A real good point. Time to pivot. [Would you like to be my girlfriend, Cass? My only girlfriend?] She looks away again but you can see the blush of her pale skin in the neon lights of New Vegas. Cass: That’s such a weird way to ask it, dork. I honestly don’t know, Six. You’re a hard person to be around sometimes. And this Director title you’ve taken…I don’t know. I leave for Shady Sands in a few weeks to attend Allgood’s inauguration and speech to Congress. After that, I’ll have an answer for you. You need one, too. She shoots her drink back and heads back into the dying dinner party. You have another deadline, Courier.
>>6413788Checked double 8's and okay Cass. well until then.OH CHINA LADY~
>>6413788I really hope she says yes, so we can grow old together :]
>>6413808ANON NO!
You and your entourage are escorted back out to the strip where the celebration is coming to a head. The casinos starting to empty out and a large crowd gathering around the stage set up for you. NVAF soldiers hold a healthy perimeter around the platform while Securitrons stand watch over the crowd. The stage is set up at the tail-end of The Strip, near the Ultra Luxe. The crowd then weaves itself down blocks and blocks towards The Strip gates and the off-limits Lucky 38. It’s by far the most amount of people you’ve seen, maybe in one spot. And they’re all here to hear your words. No pressure, Courier. Ulysses spots you and your entourage through the crowd. He pushes and nudges his way through the drunk and oblivious revelers. Ulysses: It’s quite a crowd you’ve attracted, almost too many.Garret: Nonsense, the caps this place is bringing in will make up for the last few months and then some! Ulysses: A lot of unknowns in the crowd, too many potential targets in the crowd. In the capitol, with the Director a prime target. You interject and end the conversation before it turns into an argument. [We have plenty of security, and I’m not an easy target to take down. Let’s not ruin an opportunity such as this. Cass, what’s the schedule for tonight?]The abnormally quiet redhead steps forward and takes a notebook out of her jacket. Cass: Billy Knight is heading up to the stage in a few minutes to warm the crowd up. Seems strange to me but that’s what the Tourism Sec wanted. After that, Swank will talk about New Vegas and all the good work done blah blah blah before introducing you. Not sure what you have prepared but once you’re done, that’ll be the signal to activate the fireworks and the celebration will be over. Officially at least. This place will be a madhouse until dawn.That’s a fine ending to this-admittedly-headache the anniversary has become. You give permission to begin and take your seats off to the side of the stage while Billy Knight, the hottest comedian in New Vegas, takes the stage. Those in the crowd either know of him or are too drunk to really care as the long line of bodies erupt in applause, screaming and whistling. Knight grabs the microphone and begins pacing up and down the stage.
Knight: The last time I’ve seen so many ugly mugs in one place was my wife’s family reunion!The crown erupts in laughter. Knight: I tell you, I get no respect in the wasteland. My caravan got attacked by Caesar’s Legion the other day. They took my one-legged grandmother as a slave instead of me!Again, a healthy wave of laughter rolls through the crowd. You remember when you found him his first show. Knight: Not even my own wife respects me. When I introduced her to Courier Six, she asked me where she could find the other five!That really got the crowd hooting and hollering. Knight: You’ve been a great crowd but if I stay up here any longer, I’ll have to start making the big decisions. Thank you all!He jogs off the stage as Swank takes his spot. You don’t focus on what Swank is saying, because you’re looking out over the crowd. There’s an itch in the back of your head and you know it all too well. There’s someone in the crowd who shouldn’t be there. You lean over to Ulysses. [I think there’s a threat, or threats, in the crowd. Don’t cause a panic.]Ulysses gives a slight nod and heads off to a group of your leather-clad soldiers. You continue to focus on the crowd, scanning the smiling and laughing faces of citizens and tourists alike. You catch a snippet of Swank’s speech, talking about bringing in new shows from around the Wasteland. You place your hand on the outside of your jacket, feeling the familiar shape of Graham’s gifted .45. Ulysses and his squad of soldiers walk through the crowd with their weapons down but ready. The soldiers catch a few glances but the attention is still on Swank who’s now finishing. Swank: But enough from me, you’ve all been waiting to hear from the man, the myth and the legend. Our Director, Courier Six!The rowdy crowd now goes insane, beer and liquor goes flying in wide arcs while screams, cheers and just about every other noise is made. You lose track of the soldiers combing the crowd as you approach the microphone. Maybe you should have actually practiced a speech. >1D100, BO3 (bonus for any suggestions on what The Courier will talk about)
Rolled 45 (1d100)>>6413879HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAWATCH THIS YOU SLACK-JAWED PACK OF MUTIES
Rolled 73 (1d100)>>6413879
Rolled 9 (1d100)
Hmmmm I figure it's too late for ideas about what to say to do any heavy lifting, but I really don't have a clue what to bring up... I feel we are on the edge of real money moves but haven't rounded the corner in a way that we could flex about. It's more of a 'hold up guys, just let me cook' type situation, yaknow?
>>6413670>what's Christine up to these days?Rotting in the Sierra Madre. We let Elijah get away in exchange for the gold and all our companions died.
>>6413879We will talk of the NVD future at large, of the progress made so far and the many challenges that await us yet. The following under is what they should expect us to resolve in the near future- Settlements that have little or are ruins will return to be inhabited and productive places.- Law and order will spread properly across all the Mojave- Security will increase across our states, the army growing stronger and more equipped. Bandits, problematic wildlife and raiders becoming a thing of the past- Sanitation and medical conditions will be from now looked upon more across all the Mojave, and solution will be provided for them in due time. With the collaboration of our friends in the Followers this and more will be accomplished- The water issues will be resolved with attention given to the old and decaying plumbing infrastructure - New investments in both the private and public economic sectors will be made- Transportation will receive more attention both for ease of travel of people and goods- An of course we will seek to improve Freeside further than what it is now. Real buildings, no rubble, no stench and diseases and more jobs.- Last but not least, we will make sure the Mojave trade and tourism grows further
The general idea is to be a mix of realistic (the challenges, what I took us to arrive here) and hopeful (what we accomplished and what we surpassed, what we can surpass and reach), while looking forward for a brighter future and a Mojave worth living and fight for.
>>6413879As we're addressing the upper crust of the NV state, focus on big-economy benefits:-Raw material primary industries and manufacturing secondary industries development-Better nation-wide transport to move goods and people-Trade, that will bring more business and tourism to the Strip-Expansion of the Strip, as more people with more money come about-Better infrastructure in water, health and education as the longterm future brightens - let the good times continue!-segue back to Swank
>>6414161Still a very big crowd and the speech is probably heard on radio though. This is the one for conclude the anniversity festivities afterall.
Practice or not, there’s very few in the world that have your perspective and your gift of gab. The crowd quickly quiets down, eager to hear what the elusive Courier Six has to say to them all. You know speakers are wired all through The Strip and you’re not oblivious to the possibility of this speech being broadcast across the wasteland. You gaze out across the assembled crowd. Many are tourists, others are the elite or the Mojave. But you are now speaking to everyone, citizen or not. You take just one more second to collect yourself before giving the silence a sound. [I want you to ask yourself, “are you better off now than you were a year ago?”]The question ripples across those assembled and quiet murmurs begin to break out. [If you’re Caesar or President Kimball, that answer may be a, “Hell no.”]That gets a mixture of laughter and cheers, even among some of the NCR.[But I think everyone here would say yes. The roads are safer than they’ve ever been and there’s never been more opportunity for those wanting to contribute. New Vegas itself is flooded with those seeking to make their fortune- or enlarge it by harnessing the raw potential of the Mojave.]You take a second to monitor the crowd. Thousands of pairs of eyes are on you, and tens of thousands are listening in. [We’re here to celebrate the independence of not only New Vegas but all of the Mojave. Independence from the backwards slavers of the Legion. Independence from the corrupt bureaucrats in Shady Sands and independence from the techno-tyranny of Mr. House!]Again, you allow cheers to rise up and die out before continuing. Brevity is the key here.[But we must not forget that here, the crown jewel of the Mojave, is but one part of the body. We must not forget Novac which fuels the industry of New Vegas. We must not forget Goodsprings and Bonnie Springs who provide us with the food on our tables. We must not forget the citizens of Freeside who are clamoring for work or those in Boulder City still living in ruins. I promise you that in ten years, the Mojave will be unrecognizable. Nipton will be rebuilt, new roads and buildings will be constructed and the New Vegas Directorate will take its place among the great powers of the Wastes! Schools for the children, factories for the men and an opportunity for everyone here who wants life, security and the pursuit of prosperity!]That gets the crowd going and instead of calming them, you use the rising energy to finish out. [I have a message to everyone listening. Give me your poor, your tired, those yearning to breathe free. The Mojave welcomes you with open arms. The people of the Mojave, I will not rest until your tears are dried and your troubles swept away. Or let me die trying.]
You step away from the microphone as the crowd falls into hysterics. The soldiers stationed to protect the stage are jostled and shoved as Wastelanders clamor to embrace you. This is as good a signal as any for the grand finale. Stationed on low rooftops and empty lots of The Strip are the pyrotechnics Sarah Weintraub focused such of her energy on. Almost immediately, explosions of red, green, yellow and so many other colors fight with the neon lights of New Vegas for control of the sky. The rush of the crowd is immediately stopped and replaced by awe at the lightshow. The sound of the fireworks drown out any other noise, and you’re sure the light show can be seen for miles around. You take this time to slip away before the crowd shakes off their stupor. A team of Securitrons lead you down an alleyway and towards the Lucky 38. As you head up the elevator to the Penthouse, the firework show is reaching its crescendo. You take a seat out on the balcony, alone, as you soak it all in. You are the sole authority on if so many people live or die. If this experiment of yours will fail and you’ll be a footnote of history or instead, a lasting path towards recovery from the Great War. You sit in silent contemplation as the brilliant explosions of gold finally fade out to be replaced by cheers and applause. While even now you are grappling with the next step, the acclaim helps you drift off to a restless sleep.And that concluded the anniversary celebration that has spanned months of real life time and potentially killed this quest off kek.
Ahead of the upcoming turn, here's a refresher on the rules and how a turn proposal works. QUICK RUNDOWN OF THE RULES Whether you’re new or returning, this will serve as a short overview of this quest and its mechanics. At its core, it is a civ quest but run very thematically to give actions weight and characters texture. The turn system is as follows: At the start of the turn, I will post updated information on the settlements, population, income and an overview on basic necessities. A map of the region with major points of interest and patrolled supply lines is included in the first post, as well as two pastebin links. The first pastebin link is mine, with information ranging from a breakdown of expenses, military units, who’s on the Courier Council and the details of the Revised Mojave Restoration Plan. To put it plainly, it consists of just about anything and everything too long or not important enough to post in the thread. The other pastebin link is a list of suggestions of what to do in a turn made from a very helpful anon. While there’s always something to do every month, things can fall to the wayside and this is a good way to stop that from happening. The second post for every turn is an additional map that focuses on resources, points of interest, transportation and population. I also include a list of alerts, situations that have arisen previously which Yes Man thinks deserves your attention. After digesting all of this information, players will suggest a turn that follows this format. Courier Action 1 (Anything within reason, he is just one man at the end of the day.)Courier Action 2Courier Diplomacy 1 ( This is a meeting with anyone, but no actual action unless approved by me. Example: Meeting with the NCR Ambassador on the Strip.)Courier Diplomacy 2Military Action (Anything to be done with the military, such as conducting raids or assisting with policing.)Research Action (Non-passive or passive research on any project. The more labs and personnel you have, the more/better research you can conduct.)Industry (More specific action targeted to anything to do with production/construction)Other Action (Wild Card, can be anything and everything though cannot be a direct Courier action though he can assist)What I don’t count as an action: Deployment/transfer of forcesPurchasing of any items/construction of any buildings Issuing directives or orders to the government Asking questions of characters This is a constantly changing game and rule set so please ask questions if confused!
>>6414347yay! now ducksomeone's gonna take a potshot using the fucking fireworks as cover
>>6414382Sending securitrons near Zion crater, but not in it because holy fuck, should be a priority to check if there's anything left of the Boomer Blight.>Find House at Big MTMore steel production at NV Steel, for everything including new water pipes, rail tracks, tools, infrastructure>Sawmill at Jacobstown, so they can push for integration of their society through trade.Replace technicians at Hoover Dam with loyal ones and increase science/repair knowhow via Raul's trade school and Michael Angelo's workshop.>Make friends with the new Brotherhood of Steel management, or make an ultimatum to kick them out of Helios and/or Black MountainEnclave settlers to be dealt with by the Ulysses and the town representatives>Find House at Big MT!Many irons in many fires
>>6414615The turn has not yet started, Survivalist has still to put all his usual posts before turn starts. You will likely have to reply to its end post when it arrives.Also last we checked i dont think House was there.
>>6414630Correct. Got caught in a storm so didn’t get back until late and didn’t want to release then at 11pm.Will have it up this evening. >>6414615But good you’re thinking about it already! And the other anon is correct again, House has escaped with Muggy and beyond a few clues, no idea where he’s gone.
>>6414636>>6414630my bad, jumping the gun
Mojave RegionMonth 13-------------------------Population (Rough Estimate): 90,000Freeside/New Vegas/North Vegas: 70,000Novac: 850Westside:6,000Goodsprings: 1250Jacobstown: 900Primm: 2,250Nellis: 1,100Genesis: 350New Vegas Outskirts: 6,000Sloan: 400Boulder City: 150Bonnie Springs: 650Nipton: 50Nelson: 25Remaining population dispersed throughout regionNew Vegas: Rebuilt Pre-War buildings, defensive wall, electricity, plumbing.Freeside: Sparse electricity. Pre-war ruins, pre-war buildings, shacks. Defensive wall. Basic sanitation.Westside: Many buildings electrified, pre-war ruins, pre-war buildings, shacks. Defensive wall. Acceptable sanitation.Boulder City: Pre-War RuinsPrimm: Electricity. Intact pre-war buildings, pre-war ruinsNipton: No plumbing, no electricity, damaged buildings and rubbleGenesis: Intact pre-war buildings, tents Goodsprings: Electricity, intact pre-war housesNovac: Electricity, intact pre-war houses, tents/shacks, defensive wall.Nelson: Ruined pre-war housingCamp McCarran: Intact pre-war building, military tents, electricity, plumbing, defensive wall, watch towersCamp Rex: Intact pre-war building, military tents, electricity, plumbing, expansive training groundsEconomyTariffs: Low 5%(+110,000 caps/turn)Casino Tribute: Intermediate (+125,000 caps/turn)Pharmaceutical Industry: (+10,000 caps/turn)Additional Dam Income: (+50,000 caps/turn)Gold Mine: (+10,000/month)Upkeep: -158,000 caps/turnTreasury: 270,000 caps (99 Gold Bars)FoodBelow-average (Stable)Dynamic Diet consisting of above-average meat consumption and desert staplesWaterLow (Stable)Caesar has promised to resume water flow to Lake Mead, but increased population, no water control and increased industry/agriculture is straining the plumbing system of the Mojave.MedicinePoor (Stable)Scavenged industrial medicine, sparse home remedies. The Followers have begun manufacturing medicine on a small scale. The cholera outbreak has been contained and minimized but the Mojave balanced on a knife’s edge.https://pastebin.com/WUaGdbQcAnon’s Suggestionshttps://pastebin.com/z8vZKF5i
ALERTS------------------WARNING: NIPTONA small group of immigrants have moved into the ruins of Nipton and began to rebuild the large abandoned farm and ranch just south of the town. Their population is roughly 75 and they consist of former NCR citizens. These are not enclave immigrants, but regular settlers. The town is isolated without much in the way of commerce.WARNING: ENCLAVE IMMIGRANTSThe first groups of Enclave refugees have arrived and have been sent to Novac, Nelson and Genesiis. They will begin ingratiating themselves with the locals and await further orders. Their military forces are still in the process of heading over.WARNING: STRETCHED FORCESThere are now four infantry companies available for deployment and Kreger is urging you to deploy them to protect supply lines, remote settlements and provide extra security in Freeside to alleviate pressure on the Securitrons. They had a successful deployment in protecting travelers during the independence celebration.WARNING: ZIONZion’s infestation seems to be eliminated, but the region still has isolated cases and could turn into another crisis if not fully cleared. The Brotherhood has ended their checkpoints and pulled their forces back to Hidden Valley.WARNING: BROTHERHOOD ACTIVITYThe Mojave Chapter of the Brotherhood of steel has increased their military presence in the last half year, but has increased their presence of heavy infantry and specialists over the last two months. Their posture is not overtly hostile but the buildup has been noticed by Kreger and he is urging a diplomatic intervention.WARNING: VERTIBIRDYou are still waiting to hear the status of incoming enclave military forces, but your sole vertibird is down due to a maintenance issue Daisy seems unable to figure out. It will be inoperable until fixed.WARNING: CRIMEThere has been a small uptick in crime across the entirety of the region due to the reinvestment and increased migration from the NCR and elsewhere. Especially in urban areas, punishments range from corporal punishment, indentured servitude, banishment and often, death. This becomes an issue when NCR tourists are the subject of punishment. Members of the council are pushing for not only a comprehensive legal system but also for jails and prisons for worse offenders. WARNING: IMMIGRATION INFLUXAs a result of repeated invitations and the potential for a new life, the Mojave has seen an uptick in immigrants from all over flooding into the population centers. Not only has there already been a housing shortage, there is rising tension with the new immigrants and the “locals.” Your council members urge immediate intervention to provide jobs and housing.
>>6414859>WARNING: VERTIBIRDYou are still waiting to hear the status of incoming enclave military forces, but your sole vertibird is down due to a maintenance issue Daisy seems unable to figure out. It will be inoperable until fixed.>6 RL months>Its still down.Can't have SHIT in this sandy zone.
>>6414636Happens to the best!>>6414849No problem, thinking ahead is hardly a crime. Beside you got already some stuff to copy and paste now.One more thing. For ease of organization past turn posts made by anons where usually made like Survivalist posted in rules.Here is an Example with some additional explanations at the end :>Courier Action 1 - Talk with Moreno and Knox, about making a war game between troops>Courier Action 2- Talk with Farkas for see if the initial building proposal made by her and Arcade could be revised or thought more upon. Could more materials be used locally cutting some of the costs for example ? (this is about freeside large apartments)>Courier Diplomacy 1- Visit the Mojave BoS, touch the ground and see whats up with new management. Walk there on guard...>Courier Diplomacy 2- Friendly visit with the BoomersMilitary Action×××Research Action×××Industry×××Other Action×××>Deployment/transfer of forcesThis one can range from changing a patrol, making a new patrol, reinforce a garrison, taking forces and placing them somewhere etc ... you get the idea. >Purchasing of any items/construction of any buildingsThis can vary and it can be multiple things. It all depends on how much cash we are spending in other actions and if we want to spend more here. It can be build a farm or x thing, invest x money in dog breeding in Novac or in this shop, expand a place, or even buy some equipment of x amount from Gun Runners or Van Graff..etc>Issuing directives or orders to the governmentThis can be an order to one of our departments or more than one, or an order to one of our states or more than one, to something specific they now need to do from now on. Could be "repair this place" or "i task you to create a transportation system between NV and the NVD Government building. Start now and send me a message if you need more" or "lets drop that task i gave you how about an arena ?". Departments tend to have a budget so they can do things, states so and so.>Asking questions of charactersSimple enough. Intended for anyone we can easily reach out under us and chat with (Mojave). Say Boone or Rex. Or one of our NVD departments heads.
>>6414866Ah and diplomacy can be used also internally. So say we want to go and talk with the new settlers in Nipton? Can be done that way. Or with a specific settlement. Or with the Casino families. Or with an important man, say Gunderson for example.Asking questions to characters is not a social call or internal diplomacy. Is what it says, ask some questions and you get answers thats it.In regard to Courier free time, its up to us to create it. If we don't want Six to do always work, we can have him do something social with friends or companions etc.... or even something on his own
>>6414866>>6414876Pretty good summary Anon! There's always a degree of flexibility in the turns and I am pretty lenient on what can be done. Especially now that the administration/government has been slowly built up.
>>6414878Thanks>>6414859>Courier Action 1- Partecipate in the Cleansing of Zion (well armed)>Courier Action 2- Talk with Farkas for see if the initial freeside apartments proposal made by her and Arcade could be revised or thought more upon. Could more materials be used locally cutting some of the costs for example ? What can we improve ?>Courier Diplomacy 1- Visit the Mojave BoS, touch the ground with them and see whats up with new management. Walk there on guard...>Courier Diplomacy 2- Invite Hsu, the NCR colonel turned mercenary, in seeing your police and military. Convince him in joining us. He bled here why not be part of something new ?Military Action- Plan and strategize the Cleansing of Zion with Knox, Boone, Ulysses and Moreno. It will be based on our combat experience against the Blight and current reports being received of isolated cases. A temporary combat force will be sent consisting of Courier Six, Ulysses, Boone, Bear Team One, 1 Infantry Company and 50 Securitrons. Once the cleansing is complete all forces will return to previous duties. >Research Action- Research efficient water saving methods for the Mojave agriculture and industry>Industry- Begin to assess, understand and resolve the water problem. The old plumbing of the Mojave must be dealt with. We will start by finding the most defective and inefficient tubes, the ones that make us lose the larger amounts of water. And try to repair them.>Other ActionInvest up to 25k caps for begin to refurbish and restart production at the NV Steel Production Facility>Deployment/transfer of forces- Send the First Westside Company (200 Soldiers) to patrol the southern trade route- Send the Second Westside Company (200 Soldiers) to patrol between Novac and Genesis>Purchase - Expand the NVPD of 150 policemen (once their training is done deploy 50 at the Mojave Directorate Government Building, and 100 in Freeside)>Directives and Orders>Characters questions
Hmmm maybe i should put Ulysses on checking the incoming enclave people
Are there special stats for the Courier or should we assume he's got 100 in everything.
>>6415242100s across the board, and all unique gear collected.
>>6415242Courier is 10 in SPECIAL and 100 for skills. He has about every piece of equipment assuming it goes along with the wildcard backstory and has just about every augment and perk. Classic case of a max-level perfectionist courier character During rolling for actions, he provided the best bonus and he routinely gives outcomes not possible for other characters
>>6414857>>6414859>Courier Action 1 Take Ulysses and Veronica to go hunting for Robert House>Courier Action 2 Take Boone out for some skeet shooting and talk about the Cass situation, he's traveled and lived with her and he got married in the apocalypse. Plus we need to spend time with our friends. >Courier Diplomacy 1Meet with the BoS to see what the fuck is going on>Courier Diplomacy 2 Convince Hsu to give up being a merc and make him a police commissioner or an officer at one of our military bases>Research option Now that we have essentially fixed Mobius, and wrangled the Think Tank, *EE SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF DR. HENRY AND HAVE ALL OF THEM RESEARCH THE WEATHER MACHINE!* >Department of Tourism I still think we should launch a professional league for boxers in New Vegas to stimulate the economy, develop our culture, and bring in more settlers. I don't think it would be unreasonable to spend an entire gold bar on this, or to simply approach our business buddies to get investments in order to subsidize the operation. Whatever works. I am withholding my other votes for now because I am unsure what I want, but I would be open to backing up others in return for support on the weather machine. It would be really nice to have a big fat shiny piece of tech that can address multiple problems at multiple scales. Dropping a trip in case my ID shifts.
>>6415242He is highly spec'd. This said, he is what he is (an exceptional man with many experiences, an incredible mind and knowledge, but still one man). Still, he can become even better at what he knows and learn new things. For example, he wasn't exactly experienced with ruling the Mojave at first. But now he is getting better at it.
>>6414860It’s a shock what happens when a decades-old piece of equipment that was experimental even before the war goes years without an overhaul. It’s a miracle it didn’t crash with you in it
>>6415101>>6415277Little slower for this first turn, not too surprised so we can go with a fusion of these two. Seem similar enough >>6415270Courier 1>Get with team to discuss options to finish Zion cleanup, potentially heading up there if plan is good enough (and roll is as well). Take Boone for some bonding time Courier 2Meet with Farkas and Arcade about sustainable and long-term housing for Freeside. Hammer out a plan and clear deliverablesCourier Diplomacy 1>BOS Mojave meeting, what’s up with the military buildup? Courier Diplomacy 2>Get Hsu onboard, primarily by showing the good you’re doing and how there’s room in the new government for him Research>All about water. Begin preliminary investigations into the weather machine and talk to team about water-saving measures>IndustryFurther effort on alleviating the water issue with a bigger focus on the physical infrastructure of the current water system Military Send A temporary combat force will be sent consisting of Courier Six, Ulysses, Boone, Bear Team One, 1 Infantry Company and 50 Securitrons. The infantry company equipped and trained with NCB gear will go. Other>Expand the NVPD by 150, deploying 100 in Freeside and the rest in the Government building that was formally REPCONN Headquarters.How does this look? First turn back is suppose to ease everyone back in so there’s nothing too crazy on here
>>6415836As the second voter, I'd like it if we at least flipped a coin for the research action, as I'm willing to compromise on most of the rest without issue, but genuinely want us to make progress on a significant scientific achievement after we successfully put together a VERY strong research team.
>>6415849Oh sorry I stopped reading at 'all about water' bc I have a kneejerk impulse at this point with how many things have been kicked down the road by voters, my apologies!!!!
>>6415836Not sure about the goofy ass Boone bonding time but it doesn't seem too bad.
>>6415849I am open to compromize on anything really. But we do need Hsu and also making sure the Blight is dead dead.I wasn't able to respond until now sorry
>>6415836Its more than acceptable. Though I dont mind compromizes if anyone wants to do them
>>6415860Asking Boone about how he met and married his now-dead wife (who hated living in Novac) is gonna make for great conversation lmao
>>6415861Nah don't sweat, I wasn't reading clearly, I am satisfied with how our ideas have been folded together, I think you made good suggestions>>6415860Honestly seems like the QM is throwing us a bone and letting that be a free extra action since it's so low-key, and I think Boone deserves some shine and some chatting. Low stakes character development/interfacing is necessary to drawn down tension, and reinforces the suspense of high stakes action by contrast.
>>6415865When you put it like that, Asking him for tips on how to ensure our possible? Maybe? Future wife doesn't end up dead or sold because we went to bed is a smart idea.>>6415866QM swayed me. I just don't want more Boon Crashing out cause "Your making us work with the legion! Or Enclave or.. Any enemy of the NCR even though I've grown to be fond and live here and do whats required for our people! type shit.
>>6415869Fair enough, but idunno, if the Courier can't successfully argue for why he cooperates with Caesar, maybe it's worth meditating on how we can finally 86 the bull for good...
>>6415869To be fair, Boone hasn’t found out the full extent of your work with the Legion OR any of your interactions with the Enclave. Or if he knows, he’s not saying anything yet.
>>6415101I like this, mostlyHave colonel Hsu pick the 50 and turn them into the beginnings of a civilian security service, something like a nix of prewar FBI, Secret Service and ATF. Secure persons and objects of great importance to the state, fight counterfeiting, do some counterintelligence work, maintain a small SWAT team specialized in hostage rescue and counter-intrusion workalso have Commerce help young Vernier Brown find investors and clientsI bet Heck would love a couple flying machines to watch over his herds
>>6415882Great idea actually and seems pretty similar to Hsu’s skill set. You guys have a growing external security apparatus but no specialized internal security. While a domestic Intelligence agency is *slowly* being crafted, there’s still a need for more specialization.
>>6415875Yeah thats my biggest worry. He ends up being the leak.>>6415872One can only hope brother. A White Picket fence for every true blooded American one day.
>>6415953And a big pointy stick for all the LARPers in hockey pads
>>6413808>>6413839NEW QUEST ADDEDTWO'S COMPANY, THREE'S A CROWD
>>6415866If you are sure about it then okay.>>6415869We have not fully explained to anyone our plan with the Legion. Is very up in the air with some solid things done. Like Caesar approaching madness, Vulpes being dead, the Legion leaving us alone and some problems we have left behind for put them against eachother.>>6415882I can go behind this easily. We will need to see whats Hsu wants to do, but I doubt he wants to be a mercenary. Just keep in mind it those 50 might cost us more than standard policemen (this is very obvious of course. Though they are 50 so not too many to recruit/train/upkeep either).If anyone else wants to think about this and say their thoughts.And of course yes on that directive to Commerce
>>6416126Kek, great to see you back Anon
Just out of curiosity QM, do you know the Old World Blues mod for Hearts of Iron 4? It's got all kinds of fanfic stuff for Fallout with a clear preference for the New Vegas politics heavy writing style.IDK if they have a wiki or some such that you can browse with the lore, but it might be worth checking out if you do have HOI4 sitting in your steam library.
>>6416154Funny you mention that. I have far too many hours in OWB and it’s actually part of the reason I’m running this. It’s influenced more than a few story cues and a lot of the civs you will encounter in this are based off some in the game. >>6415836Reminder for the rolling: Rolls of 100, nat 100 being a crit success and nat 1 being a crit failBonuses to rolls depending on certain influences, courier adds +8 to any action he partakes in directly. Depending on the follower (now mostly switched over to departments), they can add bonuses as well with a maximum of 5. These bonuses can be found on the pastebin and are subject to change with investment, changes in priority and most importantly, changes in the departmental leadership. Thresholds for certain actions decided by the QM on how difficult or unobtainable.As always, I could be incorrect about the proper dice bonuses to apply so just flag for me. Courier 11d100+8(DT45)Courier 21d100+8(DT70)Courier Diplo 1 (No roll, chance of roll during actual meeting)Courier Diplo 21d100+8(DT45)Research >1d100+4 for using Möbius to help (DT90)Industry1d100(DT60)Military 1d100+3(DT45)OtherNo roll needed, will also include Garrett talking to the flying machine man about production of his invention Please give every anon the chance to roll once. Will call for more rolls if it’s too slow!
Rolled 25 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6416172I will place>Courier 1 Face down in attack positionAnd end my turn
Rolled 36 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6416172let's hope the dice don't make me wish for a nuclear winter
>>6416205this was supposed to be Courier 2 but maybe someone less retarded should roll
Rolled 25 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6416172>Courier Diplo 2>1d100+8(DT45)
>>6416212>>6416205>>6416194Grim guys, real grim.
Rolled 63 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6416172I see we're back to the across-the-board failures again>research
>>6416216idk why I do this to myself
Rolled 18 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>Military
>>6416229
Rolled 96 (1d100)>industryoh god
>Courier has a 10 in Luck >Mojave has a 100 in Get Fucked Courier
>>6416229>>6416233Why can't you faggots link your posts. Rip my wasted roll.
>>6416205You guys get a lucky break. As per my rules in previous threads, you have to call what you’re rolling or the roll is null. So let’s do one more 1d100+8 for the courier’s 2nd action
>>6416252So I'm good to delete my roll then or is it the one being kept cause its proper?
>>6416255Nah the other military roll was good. I don’t mind that it’s not linked to the post, the anon just has to call what he’s rolling in the same post. So you could roll for courier 2 if you want
Ah, the usual. Bad rolls, yeah, we are really back lolMaybe we need to do some battle cries when rolling or something.
Rolled 37 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6416257>>6416172Courier 2 roll, Hoping for a nat one here cause fuck you unlinked cucks.
The celebrations are over and it’s time to get back to work. After too long of a break, you’re eager to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately, the Mojave has no interest in cooperating. Your first real task this month was supposed to be a simple one; to finally put in a plan for housing in Freeside. The recent influx of an already-overburdened housing supply is threatening the health and prosperity of the NVD. You organize a meeting with Farkas and her team, forgetting that Arcade is still at Big Mountain exploring and doing some independent research of his own. You’ll miss his expertise, but what’s done for now is done for now. You like Julie, you do, but she hasn’t been great at long-term strategic planning. It’s not for a lack of trying, but her focus on the immediate in taking care of people is noble but not always efficient. This isn’t the first time this issue has come up and you’ve met with other local leaders, including The King. But previously, these meetings never amounted to much and just further highlighted the multitude of issues facing the urban areas of the Mojave.This time, you’re hoping for something different. Unfortunately they’re the same old problems. Farkas has a lot more research done on the issues, taking into consideration the material and manpower available. She’s even mapped out some of the better places to put these larger apartment-like housing units. They need to be close to clean water and the bath houses (which Farkas urges you to build more of) but also need to be close to commerce and industry else people would rather live in tents than walk an hour to work every day.Geographically, this real estate is already inhabited by people living in the same shanties and ruins that Farkas and others are trying to replace. Even if the people are removed, the buildings need to be demolished as they’re far too gone to be renovated. If this wasn’t enough, there’s also the shortage of trained carpenters/craftsmen. While these don’t need to be pre-war quality, Farkas is having trouble finding it worthwhile building housing that will fall apart within a decade. The silver lining is that Farkas does actually have a few different designs of communal living facilities that will maximize space and resources. You look over the plans and while you certainly wouldn’t want to live in one, it probably beats the alternative. There would be very little privacy with shared dining and leisure areas but it’s an inexpensive and easy build.
The issue over materials is the other sticking point. While there is a healthy supply of brick and concrete for the region, it takes more than that to construct a multi-story building. While wood has been more or less phased out of these proposals, iron rebar is the bare minimum, though steel would be preferable. Currently, New Vegas has neither. You’re always the smartest man in the room but you can’t know what you don’t know and you don’t know any solutions to the lingering resource shortage. Big Mountain has plenty of experiments over “alternative materials” including their hexcrete but the inner workings are still a mystery to you and you sign exactly trust their research yet. So you instead thank Farkas for clearing up where the root cause of the issue is, building materials. You’ll have to cross that hurdle (or implement different plans and designs) to mow any serious headway. Leaving the meeting with Farkas, you run into Tiffany Hoover - the cute and enthusiastic envoy of the Enclave Immigrants. Hoover: Director, what a sublime coincidence running into you! She’s carrying a bundle of papers pressed up against her impressive-Get a hold of yourself, Courier. You can’t let every blonde bimbo distract you. [Miss Hoover, it’s good to see you again. What’s coincidental about this?]She gives that same sheepish look she gave you when you first met, though you assume it’s not all organic. Hoover: Well…I heard through the grapevine you’ve been having some issues with housing all the new citizens of the Directorate! And since these things aren’t fixed overnight, I thought I’d throw my own proposal in the ring!She hands you one of the skinnier envelopes from her stack. You open it and begin flipping through. Hoover: Some of the ideas I’ve heard are, frankly, unamerican! Communal living spaces? We might as well start building commieblocks! So a few of us got together and created an AMERICAN solution to the problem!Instead of the communal structure of Farkas’ plan, Hoover and her ilk seemingly want to bring back the glory of suburbia. On the surface, it seems like a net negative compared to the larger building projects but the design details are intriguing. The houses are cookie-cutter, meaning there’s a possibility of modular construction or building them with an “assembly line” mode of production. They’re also much cheaper per-unit and don’t require the iron/steel of the larger apartments. While the “square footage” of a suburb may not be as efficient, it’s probably a lot more appealing. Tiffany reads the look on your face and rushes to defend her plan.Hoover: Don’t forget, a lot of this so-called empty land can easily be repurposed to victory gardens and other uses that benefit the state!
Hmm, there’s something missing from that you can’t put your-oh wait [How will people get around, Tiffany? These houses take up a lot of space and I assume you don’t want to level half of New Vegas.]This time, her blushing is completely accidental. She either didn’t want to bring up or forgot about the issue of dispersal. Hoover: Well-well that’s just the perfect reason to reintroduce the automobile! Or maybe a tram system, helping foster a sense of community while on the way to work!Well that’s a better idea, but there are still some glaring issues with both plans. You stop yourself from scowling. [Thank you, Ms. Hoover. I’ll review these plans and consult with some of my advisors. I appreciate the work you’ve put into this.]You hurry away before she tries to swoon over you any more. Well, at least you have two semi-complete housing plans. Even if they’re both riddled with problems.
>Preemptively supporting suburbia Manufactured/factory homes can be really cheap to produce even in the modern day and with skilled work crews can be thrown up extremely quickly. I say at least in the interim while we work on sorting out our material shortages let's plan and build a few neighborhoods. Show the people we're taking immediate steps to address the issue and alleviate some of the housing pressure while we work on something better.
>>6416152It's good to have you back too Survivalist
>>6416229>>6416212>>6416216>>6416194lol this is the quest I know and love
>>6416444I think, though some might be opposed to this, putting in a tiered system might work. We do commieblocks for immediate housing needs, but for permanent immigrants from the NCR flush with cash they can buy into suburbia and lessen our burden. Probably going to cause class problems later on down the line, but it might do as a stopgap solution.
>>6416483you can have literal tiering, where the commieblock has, like, six floors of small apartments, then two floors of duplexes, then a mcMansion with a garden on the terrace roofa bit like Tenpenny tower
>>6416364>>6416365Could we import construction materials from the NCR?Apartments are our best bet. Having to buy/manufacture enough cars for the entire population or build a tram system from the ground up would be far more expensive than just importing what we need for the commie blocks, unamerican as they may be. If we need some marketing, we can just sell it as living the city life the old way or something like that.Fuck the Enclave btw
>>6416546>Could we import construction materials from the NCR?we have claycrete, we will have steel soon(tm) so it is not neededthat's exactly what she wants
>>6416365This will need more work. No implementation yet. Next turn definetly another roll for this. We can take in consideration if demolishing the southern NV ruins can give us some materials, they are near us at least. Then skilled workforce i don't know. Most of of our people are ready for work or do anything really, but they dont have skills of their own. Neither are educated.And the proposal of Hoover is kinda eh, beside the low price, doesn't really fit with current NV situation. Especially Freeside where the majority of our pop and manpower is. Like we don't have any industry for make vehicles yet. Ain't gonna work out perfectly lady. Still 1 positive point for being collaborative. Perhaps if its thought more upon it could go somewhere.
>>6416365>Well-well that’s just the perfect reason to reintroduce the automobile!More evidence the Enclave is evil. They want to recreate the car dependent city. This will start out fine but eventually we will need to accommodate parking anywhere we want to develop a business district or trading hub, or denser housing. The Strip is already designed entirely with foot traffic in mind. I don't think we have to dismiss them out of hand, though. We should modify them, since they are so modular, to be duplexes and triplexes. Then we follow the principles of Earl Weaver, a Southern landscape architect that had serious sauce - you create a rectangular or ovular public commons with small traffic lanes on either side and periodically crossing through. On either side of the commons you have tight rows of these duplexes and triplexes. Small yards/lawns are less work, it's more space efficient while providing more privacy, the commons in the middle allows for nice land to spend time on, your kids can play out there and you can see them easily from the porch, the commons can accommodate playgrounds or food vendor carts. If you stick a handful of businesses on either end of these strips - general store, grocer, clinic, restaurant or two - suddenly you have a walkable neighborhood. Periodically drop stations for an expanded rail system and suddenly you have a suburb that does NOT REQUIRE CARS. We could get this done by the end of the year if we knuckle down on it.
>>6416603>end of the yearIn real life ? Yeah probably. Jokes aside (not really with this rolls and DCs...) I like the modification but there is the issue of being able to give right now services to those kind of quarters. Which is a real problem if anyone wants them. Our on foot NVPD patrol cant reach you easily, same for the Followers medics, or a trader, or you can't go easily at your job, or buy some food, or go at one of the NV public bathrooms for a quick clean up and fresh water.The apartments while more difficult and costly to make, would be all near the services and work we have already in NV. I do agree that we shouldnt dismiss at all the idea of duplex/triplex quarters though and in fact maybe we should use them in the future, but I see it hard for us to give services to this kind of quarters in this moment. Maybe when some of these other issues arent plaguing us.
>>6416615Yeah I definitely am leaning towards commieblocks due to the practicality. But, the layout I am describing is a kind of industrial suburb that I think WOULD be accessible for foot patrols and public services, and traversable by foot for residents, and capable of employing them nearby. Have the public commons be, say, four of five acres. Ten triplexes on either side, longways, that's 60 residential units, if it's all families that's roughly 90-150 workers? On either end, you stick a bar or two, a general store, a restaurant, at least one clinic per commons/'neighborhood', services like a tailor, gunsmith/ammo press, and a gymnasium... If some folks take up contracting jobs as carpenters or landscapers and community safety stuff, you could get pretty close to one hundred percent employment while providing everyone with their basic needs walking distance, and the total footprint is around 20 acres if my scribbling is right. Then you just do that over and over, with a tram station per every two or three of these housing sections for folks that want to get into the city center or an industrial district.
After your unsatisfying housing meeting, the next big item on your schedule this month is a planning session with Boone, Kreger and other members of your military staff to plan cleanup of the areas surrounding Zion. As you head over to Camp McCarran (where Kreger has established his HQ) you run through ideas on how you want to handle the operation. You also curse yourself for not somehow stopping the bombing of the tram from the strip to McCarran. Oh well. You have your CRBN-trained infantry company, “The Toxic Avengers", that will be doing most of the heavy lifting. You will also be assisting with the clearing and you assume Boone will have Bear Team One - the platoon of former NCR special forces who defected after being abandoned by their commanders.You’ll also have a squad of Securitrons, because it’s never a bad idea to have some heavy firepower for a mission. The terrain may be difficult for them to traverse, but you’ll really only need their missile artillery. This seems to be the topic of discussion as you enter Kreger’s office. Inside is Kreger himself, Boone, Ulysses and a handful of Kreger’s staff officers huddled around a table with a series of maps scattered about. Boone: We’re sending understrength units into unknown territory to look for needles in a haystack. How the hell does that make any sense? Kreger looks up as you approach and backs away from the table.Kreger: The Director is here, he’ll have the final say. Weimer, please brief Courier Six. One of Kreger’s staff assistants comes over with a folder of information and begins painting the situation for you. Operation: Fulcrum. The Toxic Avengers will be split into two, 100 infantry into each group. Group A will be augmented by half of BTO, Ulysses and no Securitrons due to the terrain. Group A will take Highway 93 up north and head East along a stretch of an old country road that is a popular route for travelers coming through the region towards New Vegas and onwards. Group B will head straight up I15, the much more popular route for travelers and traders. This team will have the other half of BTO, a squad of 5 Securitrons, you and Boone. Both groups will converge just outside of St. George, taking care to monitor radiation levels as they get closer to Zion. Each group will then take alternate paths back to New Vegas which should clear out the southern approach. It doesn’t completely eliminate the Scourge threat but it’s a big first step in finishing what you started. [I agree with Boone, the lack of any real reconnaissance isn’t great but that’s why we have Bear Team One deployed ahead of each team. We’ll also have to go slower than we’d like to ensure we don’t miss any growths. Kreger, do the soldiers know what to look for?]Kreger: I’ve shared with them everything I deemed appropriate. Above all, I urged caution. Aside from the occasional raider and hostile wildlife, there should be no real opposition.
Boone: That's a dangerous assumption. We would know for sure with some proper recon. A voice in the back of your head wants you to practice caution, but every minute that goes on is a greater chance for this plague to spread. [Ulysses, any input?]The other courier looks up from a topographical map centuries old. Ulysses: The northern route is tough ground to cover, a lot of crevices and cracks. The bigger concern is weaponry. The soldiers may have protection, but they’re still just using guns. Kreger: The budget doesn’t allow us to retain specialized gear. I’d love to give flamers to half the soldiers coming but that’s just not possible. I’ll see what I can scrounge up but this will be hard going. You think about scrubbing the entire operation but the same fears keep creeping in. [We go slowly and carefully. It may take longer, but I don’t want to lose anyone or worse, risk infection. Kreger, we’ll leave in a week. Get everyone on the same page with this.]That may leave people unhappy but you’ve made your decision. Kreger and the rest of the attendees salute you as you leave McCarran. You have a week to get everything done this month before you’re whisked away on another mission. So much to do, Courier. So little time.
You leave McCarran and seem to get a little sand stuck in your boot. You think about the reports of the Mojave Brotherhood continuing to fly in military personnel and equipment into the region, even though you’re CERTAIN you came to an agreement with their new leadership. So instead of heading back up to New Vegas, you start to head down to Hidden Valley. You’re not exactly sure what to expect, but you need to put some clear limits on their power in the region. A cap on military power in general. You have no real interest in squashing their chapter and starting a war with the Brotherhood and at the same time, they’ve begun engaging with the region in a way they never had before.Trading and performing services for common currency which they use to purchase food and supplies from the locals. That’s not even mentioning all of the scribes and engineers they have over at Hoover keeping it running. While they’re not the friendliest bunch, you *thought* there was an understanding. The lingering question is what you will do to the Brotherhood if they become aggressive. They’re dug in like a tick now, and you’d probably have to destroy Helios One rather than trying to dig them out. You heard about the cost to the NCR of taking the facility and that’s not something you’re keen to repeat. Hidden Valley is a different beast. You shudder at the thought of clearing out the bunker. That’s not to mention the brotherhood soldiers that would fade into the wasteland and become partisans…No, a peaceful solution is the ideal solution. Let’s just hope Star Paladin Vance and Senior Scribe Galen agree. You meet the outer Brotherhood picket just south of Sloan who have no issue escorting you to Hidden Valley. That’s a good sign, at least. As you head through the mountain pass toward the bunker complex, you can tell the Brotherhood has been busy shoring up their presence even further. Hardened pillboxes have been built into the mountains while fields of mines and killzones are set up making any approach very hazardous for your health. As you enter Hidden Valley proper, you’re shocked by the sheer presence of the Brotherhood. Vertibird landing spots have been built and their pads surrounded by boxes of supplies while soldiers in and out of power armor train on the grounds. If you didn’t know better, the Brotherhood seem to be preparing for an invasion. If that wasn’t bad enough, they seem to be making good progress in excavating the other abandoned bunkers. You’ve seen the demolished entrances, but never knew if they were fully destroyed or just blocked off. Now you seem to know the answer. But that begs the question, why would they let you walk around and see this presence if their goal was some sneak attack on the Mojave? As you’re let into the main bunker complex, you hope to have your answer soon.
>>6417095they've smelled an Enclave rat, I bet
i think its the theory of past threads. The elders of Lost Hills fearing the charisma and presence of Courier Six with the Mojave Chapter/Hardin, and the influence the NVD had with the Mojave Chapter so far. There is peace, talks, trade, collaboration, defense together. Nothing was breached from our side either in terms of agreement. Things actually work and time passes, and for the first time the Mojave Chapter doesn't need to fear their destruction. In fact they have retrived all previous lost territory, and raiders/bandits are becoming less and less of a problem.Its too perfect for the Elders of Lost Hills (and they dont trust wastelanders anyway), so they are replacing the Mojave Chapter BoS and increasing their own presence. Hardin was probably put in check politically since they called him to go to Lost Hills. Mojave Chapter BoS situation is bleak at the moment, i assume Lost Hills want to grow here while getting stronger and stronger in terms of defenses and military force placed. The current work they are doing points out to that kind of thinking.Anyway lets hope Operation Fulcrum doesn't go to shit, with some other decisions we should avoid losses. The Blight is a real bitch to deal with.
No text formatting this weekend guys.As you’re led deeper into the bunker towards the Elder’s chambers, you notice more and more unfamiliar faces and fewer original Mojave Brotherhood members. You enter the lowest level of the bunker where Senior Scribe Galen is gathered with a handful of Brotherhood you don’t recognize. As you enter, he dismisses the men and beckons you forward. Galen: Courier-er Director, what a pleasant surprise. I send my compliments for your recent celebration, it’s not often that one man can wrestle power away from those like the NCR and Legion. Roger Maxson was cut of a similar cloth.High praise, but you don’t believe it in the slightest. Galen is a bad liar. [That’s high praise. I’m flattered, Head Scribe. While it’s only been a year, we’ve made great strides in becoming a respected power. As has our relationship with the Brotherhood at large.]Galen: Of course, we hold a lot of gratitude for your assistance with the chapter here. I know you and Elder Hardin were close. [Were?]Galen’s eternally smug smile drops for a second. Galen: My mistake, Director. I only say “were” due to him being out of the theater and back west. And it’s not just him you have a relationship with. For being an outsider, you have been widely accepted within the Chapter. Not very common, you can understand. [That’s partly why I’m here. I have no authority over the Mojave Brotherhood but it’s hard to ignore the last few months of personnel transfers and the clear buildup of military force in a Mojave that has never really been safer.]Galen takes a minute to compose himself and adjusts his glasses. Galen: I understand why that may seem worrying due to our bunker complex being in the central Mojave, but you really have nothing to fear. While I wouldn’t normally explain the reasoning behind our strategy, I will indulge you. We have transferred personnel back West because those that had been here originally suffered from what we consider “bunker blues” and a change of scenery is the best treatment. Regarding the building of equipment, we have turned the Mojave Chapter into a sort of waypoint for other chapters out East. Because of our cooperation, we are able to better transport personnel and materials to other chapters all across the Southwest and central United States.
It’s a plausible explanation for just about every concern raised by your armed forces. It may not exactly explain the expanded defenses but you would probably do the exact same. And outwardly, this new Mojave Chapter hasn’t exactly done anything to scorn you. They’re still working on the Dam, running communications up at Black Mountain and interacting with - though reserved - with the rest of the NVD. Galen: Is there anything else that troubles you, Director? I’m glad we had this little talk and I hope it’ll assuage any concerns of yours. The Brotherhood and the NVD have a rare and productive relationship we want to continue to foster. It’s hard to fault him for anything he said, but it’s still hard to believe him on face value. >Anything else to discuss with/ask Galen? It doesn’t even have to relate to this meeting, just in general to justify your time at Hidden Valley.
>>6417475>Anything else to discuss with/ask Galen? It doesn’t even have to relate to this meeting, just in general to justify your time at Hidden Valley."If that's the case, I'd like to arrange for a longer discussion between Brotherhood representatives and the NVD administration about the appropriate limits to militarization and transport within the Mojave. If the changes around here are just a matter of melancholy knights and efficient distribution, I can't help but be surprised they weren't mentioned sooner. I value our working relationship. It was built on transparency and clear communication, which I established personally with Hardin and the others. So, let's take the opportunity now to re-establish that open dialogue, between your leadership and mine."Don't trust him AT ALL. We should impose inspections. Veronica and Yes Man could take on that task? Friends or not, they are ideologically opposed to what we are doing, and building up a strong presence. We should assume they know about our Enclave deal at a minimum. They have spies and are already involved in many of our tech projects.
>“bunker blues”Yeah, goodbye Hardin and everyone else from the Mojave Chapter that liked us. We can safely write all of them out and are not likely to be seen again. I guess the theory was true in the end, full replacement.I am thinking of what to ask, but it seems kind of pointless to ask anything. This is very fake behavior, but if Lost Hills elders want to play rough, I guess they will get steel for their teeth from us sooner or later. Even if we can't really fight well at the moment. Another "more problems that pile up, nothing is resolved" turn. >>6417475>Anything else to discuss with/ask Galen? It doesn’t even have to relate to this meeting, just in general to justify your time at Hidden Valley."Besides this other discussion that needs to be done and organized, Galen, I hope you don't mind doing one other small thing." "Send a message of good farewell and godspeed from me to Hardin and the other old members of the Mojave Chapter. It's saddening for me to have not even talked one last time with them before they left. We were making something different here in the Mojave.""But as the saying goes, 'when one door closes, another opens. " I am sure, Galen, you will lead something new here for the Mojave Chapter and work with the Directorate. To a rare and productive relationship!"
>>6417512Kreger, Yes Man and Patton all agree that the Brotherhood, at estimated current strength in a traditional war, would not be able to win. It would inflict severe causalities on the NVD, particularly to the Securitrons.Their concern is a sneak attack or being forced to siege Hidden Valley. With the Brotherhood, there’s always the fear of some bullshit tech they pull out. The good news is that unlike Todd, I don’t idolize the brotherhood and they’re not the main characters Ulysses had previously suggested infiltrating the facility with a handful of operatives to destroy the bunker from the inside coupled with a surprise attack of your own.
>>6417534>Ulysses had previously suggested infiltrating the facility with a handful of operatives to destroy the bunker from the inside coupled with a surprise attack of your own.House was right again. These people are impossible to live with. The 'good' Veronica ending is the one where she finally accepts that.
>>6417534Still too grim frankly, we can't afford it. I'll think of something. The Elders leave us very little choice. We will keep things going until it suits us (since we have no way to replace technicians at the moment [I mean in the real way an established state can do not what we have at the moment]), then we can probably talk with Boomers and prep more bombs from the Divide. I expect the BoS to sneak attack us first: Hoover Dam, Nipton, Boulder City, NVD Government Building, Sloan, and Primm. Like my fellow anon pointed out, they probably spy us and monitor our progress, so they will make 1+1 and strike when they see we are getting the NVD up from the shithole it finds itself. It will be difficult for us to defend our settlements from BoS attack forces, but ultimately, we will just bomb their homes and fight like hell for our own homes. >>6417550I had some hope we could see reason. Maybe we should have been more diplomatically aggressive with Hardin and the Mojave Chapter, since they liked us quite a bit.
>>6417555>we have no way to replace technicians at the momentwe have our little Project Paperclip
>>6417555>Still too grim frankly, we can't afford it. I'll think of somethingI am vindicated in my support of letting Enclave immigration in every day and the expansion of other stuff people seemed crazy about because "You can trust the Techno-barbarians!"Shame we didn't get to say goodbye to our friends though.
>>6417563Need time to be implemented. So we will not make moves on this new problem until we are in a better position, at least. I really don't feel like fighting them or much else in this moment. I would prefer to resolve our problems and grow.Maybe the Elders will be satisfied by what Galen will tell them through comms, and we can wait a bit more time to get some things done. Or even, some of our problems resolved (<--- wishful thinking)>>6417567The Enclave people still need to be kept in check a bit. We need to be sure, I don't want them to try something just because we put down our guard. If there are no problems with them and they don't want to pull something against us, then we are good and can use them. I have a tiny hope that Cyrus, Tiffany, and the rest of their ilk got the message and want to actually integrate. If nothing else, they are bloodthirsty to kill BoS at the first excuse, which is both bad and good. But I worry they might still be happy to do it to everyone else, too, our people included.I think most of us trusted Hardin and the people that where here before. Lost Hills never really showed any warmth, though it would have made sense for them to try to align with us. They got scared of what the NVD is, though (a growing power trying to rise, and with a remarkable young leader at its head). And our friends are now replaced, so it's whatever. The Hidden Valley State dream is gone. We will make something else there.A shame. Inevitable probably.
Going to write a few other prompts while this one sits for today probably. While you wait and ruminate, please enjoy these pictures taken by yours truly.
>>6417615After seeing the lake in person, I may have been a little overzealous about water shortages lmao
>>6417617Formatting is fucked but it’s the thought that counts
>>6417617Of course we're gonna be short on water, it's on its side and all the water is pouring out!
>>6417617>He thought Lakes were small
>>6417567>I am vindicated in my support of letting Enclave immigration in every day and the expansion of other stuff people seemed crazy about because "You can trust the Techno-barbarians!">"I was right about us not trusting the techno-barbarians! So much smarter for us to trust the techno-fascists!" Holy kek
>>6417636Your god damn right, I'd take a Techno-Fascist, Over a Techno-Barbarian any day. The first one can atleast tell me where a Techno-Communist is.
>>6417615
>>6417639Sloucho I wasn’t familiar with your game…In a different vein, I want to implement more casinos now, maybe none as big as the three families, but the strip feels a little too empty.
>>6417682If I had more money, I would build some new ones (once we resolve a few problems)
>>6417682Please tilt the camera the proper way when your taking photos.
>>6417723No
>>6417095>You shudder at the thought of clearing out the bunker.Sierra Madre cloud. I'm sure the Think Tank would only be too happy building us a production line.>>6417563I feel like we should accelerate the schedule for that. No more dicking around with spreading them out, concentrate them in one place and get them to work building us power armour and superweapons. I can't remember if the vault discussions from previous threads came up with anything, but we need a central location for them to work out of.>>6417636They may be techno-fascists, but they're OUR techno-fascists. Just got to point them at the right targets.>>6417475I wonder if it wouldn't be feasible for us to talk to Lost Hills directly? Justify it as an invitation for further cooperation. Maybe stage a little prison break while we're there. Or hell, make up a lie about the NCR looking for a new group to bully, and since they're sick of us they're going to be after the Brotherhood.
>>6417746my views on the "ex"-Enclave folks haven't changedBoS going hostile on us would be bad, them going rogue on us, possibly at the same time, would be terribleThey are very much needed, and they will be used, we've established as much. Why do you have to keep whining about that stupid bunker? Do you have any idea how annoying that is? We've already decided to integrate them into our society and spent precious actions doing so. Stop being such a faggot about this you won't
>>6417781I believe that when we first got them onboard they said that they would be best working out of a central location so we could actually pool all their talent instead of spreading them out. I'd have to check the past threads for the exact details. I'm not advocating for a vault, just putting them all in one place so we can actually put them to work instead of nebulous education benefits that will pay off in decades at best. And anon, while I'm not interested in a skub fight what do you think is going to happen if the Brotherhood pulls Plan: Full Retardation and tries stabbing us in the back? We can beat them but it'll just end up with the Enclave folks replacing them anyway because they're the only ones around with the tech know-how to operate anything more complex than a steam engine. One faction is obviously gearing up for a major fight, one that can do real damage to us, while the other is just happy to be here just don't mention the ghouls. We can't twiddle our thumbs and wait for the Brotherhood to make the first move.
>>6417830I can't believe we're having this debate againI am not interested in growing a new Enclave in our territorywe are not doing that>what do you think is going to happen if the Brotherhood pulls Plan: Full Retardation and tries stabbing us in the back?we collapse the entrances to their bunkers with our howitzers and drop chlorine gas down their vents is what happens>nebulousnothing nebulous about Vernier Brownwe need that kind of shit and we need it spread out so we don't lose all our capable men and production capacity when shtf (again)it will be good for the bunker-dwellers too>We can't twiddle our thumbs and wait for the Brotherhood to make the first move.they already made their first move and if they see a new Enclave forming in our territory, they damn well will attackour current plans need to be pushed forward, this is no time to switch gears and wait six months for some place to be cleared out and all the mad scientists to drag their gear over there and us to find out that there's not enough phlebotinium etcI want use out of our Paperclip guys, NOW
>>6417873I agree with this anon, the Enclave should stay as dead as possible. Ex-Enclave people should be made to join already existing factions under the directorate's thumb, like Arcade did with the Followers. Heck, any activity to reestablish some sort of Enclave type faction should be banned.
>>6417830>We can't twiddle our thumbs and wait for the Brotherhood to make the first move.Basic precaution because Mr Cyrus and his fellows where put on their place after what they where doing in Freeside was taken care of is hardly "twiddling our thumbs". Is common sense. Hell this happened a thread ago.We might change things and use them more, beyond what we currently assigned. It was hardly dumb to not check them though, and having them spread a bit is not too bad either if we want them to start integrate. Which is something we want. We want them to be part of the NVD.We can also plan military speaking. If we expect a betrayal, we prepare ourselves. Both defense and offense. Its not like the BoS can read our mind, they have only spies in certain places not all plus their own scribes/technicians informing them of what happens in the places where they work.
I hope my American friends had a great, long weekend. To everyone else, hope you had a great, regular weekend. You don’t trust Galen, naturally. You don’t trust anyone really and it seems obvious to you that the bunker blues was just an excuse to replace anyone sympathetic to you. The only reason Veronica is still here is due to her incredibly close relationship to you. But what can you really do about it right now? You should probably hammer out a few contingency plans with your military leadership, but the Brotherhood is powerful and until you can get the Enclave immigrants ingrained and working, you need their cooperation. So it’s time to be diplomatic. [I hope you understand my relative apprehension of having a foreign power, though a friendly one, in the center of my nation. That being said, I have two asks of you. The first, please give my regards to Elder Hardin, Taggert, Ramos and everyone else sent back West. I fought and lived with them and they accepted me like their own.]The subtle jab as its intended effect and Galen gives a brief look of disgust.[Secondly, I think it’ll be necessary to have some level of observation and limiting of the forces deployed. We can define what transit personally consists of and I think we agree that there’s a difference in supplies being transported and those being actively deployed.]Galen: That’s not an easy ask, Director. As friendly as our two states are, we would be revealing very sensitive information about our forces being deployed elsewhere.You hold up a hand, you’re not letting him slither out of this. [I don’t want shipping manifests and I don’t want to know where the supplies or manpower is going. I just want to know that they’re not sticking around too long. It’s an unusual ask but it’s also an unusual situation we’re both in.]Galen tries to find another excuse but sighs and relents. Galen: I will fulfill both of those wishes, Director. Give me a month to communicate these requests back to Lost Hills but your feelings are clear and understood. Is there anything else?You’re not too happy about the month's excuse but it’s better than the alternative. In the meantime, you may have to take the Brotherhood threat more serious than before. [I think we’re done, for now. I appreciate the understanding and look forward to the response.]
>>6418414>I think we’re donemaybe we should remind the retard about the blight and how there's much bigger threats than the NVD lurking?or do we just sneak into his bunker and sprinkle some spores around one moonless night?I doubt it would wipe them out but it might restore their sense of prioritiesand if not it will be a good pretext to, ahem, quarantine them
You leave Hidden Valley after a relatively unsatisfying meeting with the current Brotherhood leadership. There’s still a handful of things you need to accomplish before Operation Fulcrum kicks off however and while you’re no stranger to walking through the night, you decide to stay in Goodsprings. You can be a little sentimental sometimes. You get into town as the sun sets and immediately head for the saloon. Easy Pete is just leaving and tips his hat to you as you approach.Easy Pete: Howdy partner, long time no see. In town for business?[I sure hope not! I’m on my way back up to New Vegas and I thought I’d stop here for the night. Trudy inside?]Easy Pete: Where else would she be? Between that and being that governor of yours, not sure how she sleeps. Speaking of…He bids you a good night and heads home while you enter your old stomping grounds. You immediately notice how busier the saloon is than a year ago, with nearly half the bar full. Trudy has actually hired another bar hand to deal with the recent influx. You saunter over and take a seat between two other patrons. Trudy: Well holy hell, great to see you again Six. Director, I mean. [You can call me whatever you want, Trudy. How’s business?]Trudy: Look around, I’ve never been busier. I wouldn’t have complained a few months ago but with my new responsibilities, I’ve had to bring on some help. The man next to you begins to laugh. Not having heard a joke, you lean forward to take a better look at him. And to your surprise, it’s former NCR Colonel James Hsu. Hsu: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re following me. But I do know better. [Hsu, I’m surprised you didn’t throw yourself off Hoover. That’s a long way down.]That gets a laugh out of the man who takes a draw of his beer. Hsu: I thought about it, but I’m too much of a pussy. I’m going to head back West. Probably get killed by some two-bit punk trying to make a name for himself. It’s a damn shame that a man of Hsu’s skill - whose only weakness was his inability to play politics - is being cast aside. The answer is obvious and it’s one you had when you ran into him a month ago. [Mr. Hsu, would you like the opportunity to serve again? This time for a different flag.]James doesn’t respond immediately. Instead he takes another drink of his beer and stares at the whiskey stacked up on the bar. Hsu: I was wondering how long it would take for you to make the offer.
[That’s not a “no”.]Hsu: You want me to swear allegiance to a different nation, a different flag. To abandon the NCR. *Survivalist Note: I am currently finishing a design of a seal/flag for the NVD. Will then begin TRYING to create it on some graphics app.*[The NCR abandoned you, Hsu. And it’s a damn shame they did. You’re a hell of a soldier and it would be a waste for you to do anything else.]Hsu: I could try to reenlist. With Allgood elected…[He hasn’t even been sworn in. And the rot in the NCR military runs deep. It’ll be years before he straightens it out, if he ever does.]Hsu: I’d rather be dead than a traitor. Jesus. You applaud the patriotism but James is too smart for this. [If it’s up to me, I will never order a shot fired in anger against the NCR. Over half of my government are former citizens! Hell, I have a former NCR special forces team working for me now because they were abandoned, just like you.]Trudy brings back two cold beers, one for you and one for Hsu.Trudy: It’s none of my business but Six has a point. I’m from a small town outside of Redding, most of his Governors are from the NCR. It’s strange, because it’s always just really been the Republic and the savages but this is different. Just my two cents. She leaves you two alone and goes down the bar to help a few other patrons. Hsu: So what do you want from me then? [I haven’t thought it out too much but what about this? You will be sworn in as a Colonel, with matching pay and benefits. Instead of leading men on the field, I’d like you to instead begin a specialization program. Personal security for government officials and an actual trained force for internal security.]Hsu: Internal security? Not sure I like the sound of that. [That’s why I want you. You have many admirers and the little I’ve worked with you, I’m impressed and that’s hard to do. New Vegas is the place to begin again.]James grimaces like he has an ulcer eating away at him. Maybe he does. [Look, just think about it before you head-]Hsu: I’m done thinking about things. Any more thinking and I’d probably go back to Hoover and end it after all. Okay Director, why not. This is all with the understanding that I can leave whenever I want. You can’t help but laugh at that. [Hell Colonel, the only one who can’t leave is me.]
The two of you have a few celebratory beers before departing the next morning back to McCarran. Along the way, you learn more about the man that is James Hsu. He was actually born in the “Shi State” but was orphaned as a child. While he was being raised by a dojo, an NCR diplomatic mission came through that taught him about the Republic. After that, he knew where he truly belonged and left his dojo at 14, being shunned and exiled by the Shi forever. He did odd jobs in Sac Town until he was 16, where he joined the NCR army. The NCR army was his life so it’s even more tragic how it all ended up. By the time James walks through McCarran’s gates, this time for a completely different reason, you have much more respect for that man. As you head back to New Vegas, you thank your luck that you managed to land a man like Hsu. You landed another powerful piece in your growing government, but will this juggling act ever come crashing down?
>>6418508>will this juggling act ever come crashing down?Hsu will need to get read into project Enclave Paperclip pretty soonish
>>6418509>Hsu will need to get read into project Enclave Paperclip pretty soonishI think his first big job should be helping to design a de-radicalization program. We need to treat them like they are former Scientologists or Branch Davidians that need to be eased out of la la land and into being normal, rational, functioning members of a pluralistic society.
>>6418511his first job will be to secure that damn building out in the middle of nowhere where y'all chose to put all of our governmentso second or third job maybe
>>6418511>De-radicalization programSo wanna point out where these members are Hardliners and have been proven to be just like those that fled east to keep up the good fight instead of just making up stuff?>>6418509Give him abit to atleast get some underlings before that. God knows he will need it for the first wave of arrivals.
>>6418514>Give him abit to atleast get some underlings before thatthis knowledge might inform his choice of personnel
>>6418516If his Internal security personal training/picking isn't gonna have a standard level of "taking in outsiders who have special skill sets" I... don't really think his the right guy for the job.Don't get me wrong, Its smart to have him be informed about the whole thing but uh the settle in part should be abit more important. + His also gonna have to find out about the Legion assets are have aren't we? Rather see how he reacts to "current" NCR enemies vs "old state" enemies.
>>6418514>instead of just making up stuff?I didn't say they were 'hardliners', did I? But they are former members of an extremely radical fascist paramilitary organization that has tried multiple times, in multiple places, to eradicate any and all sentient life that is not 99.99% pure pre-war human. Even if they actually do intend to play nice and assimilate to our ideology - which I still have doubts about for now, since we are going on their word alone - it seems naive to assume that they will be able to do so easily.
>>6418518>Former membersKey word, That alone by them instead of staying and doing there normal stunts still within the NCR. One of the biggest enemies they have/had. They are actively moving out here, not just that but there entire or from what we understand a major civilian base. You don't just 'do that' if your long con is to overthrow a place unless its to do a slow burn like a jew.Nativity has been the name of the game for like 90% of the deals made, the only one thats constantly treated 'poorly' is the Enclave one. Also fuck the Mutant, the FEV and its surface dwellers ruined the nation.
>>6418519>J-just trust them, ok! They have honest eyes! >Hail Enclave, Total Mutie Death, Long Live President Eden btwOpinion... Discarded
>>6418524>Pretending like it was ever actually acknowledged by you BoS FagsDon't act like your actually any better.
>>6418526Wanna point out where I voted to get in bed with the Brotherhood 'instead of just making up stuff?' KEK >>6417550Is me, btw. I've got similar feelings about both groups of reclusive fanatical authoritarian power-armor wearing crusaders. Just try to relax, have a smoke, and let's wait for the next update. Sorry I offended you by suggesting the Enclave will need help adjusting to a normal society.
>>6418517he needs to know, is all I'm sayingwhat he does with the knowledge, if anything, remains to be seenI understand you've a hardon for the Enclave and want this splinter group to take over the NVD as soon as possible, but it just ain't happeningthey'll fit in somehow, just like the muties and the tribals and everyone elselife in the NVD will change them, and they will change the NVDmelting pot society
>>6418530Never>>6418531Oh yeah no he needs to know, But my point isn't to just throw everything at the guy who just got hired on about every state secret. start'em small, build the core and then you throw'em into the deep state.
>>6418536bullshit. it's part of what we hired him for, he gets it in his day 1 briefing packet
Isn't policing the enclave transplants one of the main jobs we would need an internal security chief for? Keeping him blind to a potential threat of that magnitude seems counterintuitive at best, and setting him up for failure at worst.
>>6418417Unfortunately, this retard was probably the same guy who delivered the recent order from the elders for all Mojave BoS units to stop their coordinated efforts with us. This is the checkpoints against the Blight (recent alert development on WARNING ZION).Galen and the elders of Lost Hills see us as a new threat. Even with Hardin and the others probably telling them that we aren't and shouldn't be considered an enemy. I reckon our friends tried to make a case to the elders about us/NVD and the alliance, and were dismissed. They likely lost some ranks and were assigned to the ass end of nowhere. Their traditions and dogmas will be their undoing, honestly.Perhaps I have talked too soon about not seeing our friends from the Bos, and we might see Hardin again if he and the others decide enough is enough and cut themselves away from Lost Hills. Lots of internal conflicts among major state factions lately.>>6418566We should absolutely inform him. And Ulysses. To be honest, we might want to have a meeting with some of our department heads/and our companions for an important talk in general. There is some stuff we have been sitting upon.This makes me think about wanting a bigger budget so I can finally see the Department of Intelligence and the Department of Justice made. The Education would be wonderful to have, but only when we are flush with cash. Having a budget for Governorships would also be nice, but they need the basics in those settlements and some economic activities first.>>6418507>*Survivalist Note: I am currently finishing a design of a seal/flag for the NVD. Will then begin TRYING to create it on some graphics app.*Wonderful to hear ! I also have something that will be done sooner or later.
>>6418566Yes, absolutely, a big part of why many of us voted to onboard Hsu for this is that it's taking too long to develop an intelligence apparatus and we think he'll be able to do it faster. We have been trying to press developing an intelligence apparatus largely to make sure the Enclave don't outmaneuver us and try to execute some kind of coup, or initiate a splintering from the Directorate with likemindedly xenophobic wastelanders. Frankly, if we don't brief Hsu on our political and economic entanglements with the Enclave, Legion, and Brotherhood (God just reading that makes me lament whatever part of Six's brain got shredded by Benny jfc) right off of the bat, he'd be justified in quitting the job from the sheer disrespect. Hopefully he doesn't quit when he realizes what an uphill climb he has getting a thumb on all of these fringe lunatic genocidaires in our midst.
>>6418566People seem to either be willfully ignoring my point or I've not explained it clearly. But yes once his settled in his job is in fact to be that.
>>6418568I still want my yellow brick road, I'll vote for adding Intelligence to the budget if you support the road proposal>>6418570part of "settling" is to familiarize him with the issues at handthis is one of the biggest issues at handyou are not getting your hostile takeoverdeal with it
>>6418568There are already budgets for each governorship but it’s a real raw system. Just a lump sum for the basic staff and that’s it, whether it’s for the state of Novac or Freeside
>>6418577>I still want my yellow brick road, I'll vote for adding Intelligence to the budget if you support the road proposalA, yeah, the road network. That would be wonderful. Or at least starting one road. Though for transportation, I would be satisfied with a bare minimum, even. Like having an efficient transport between our NVD government building and NV itself. Though I can go behind even making a road or more than one. We need those too, and they might cut some costs even.And regarding Intelligence.... it was just me musing again on making another official department. It would be really cool to have it, but it's hard at the moment. Like many other things, I want it might not be the right time yet. And we lack the cash/other things to do them properly.We will probably be heavily occupied by resolving the water plumbing problem and working on a better housing plan.>>6418579Oh, I know, but it's just me wishfully thinking of giving each of them a stable budget. Better than what we currently give them, I want something proper. It's not happening any time soon, so no danger of things changing.
>>6418585well, if we do get a road all the way from where the claycrete is to New Vegas, it will pass by the gov't building AND be an easy way to bring claycrete into NV so we can build houses
>>6418417I'd support this. We need to begin plausibly deniable operations against the Brotherhood and we need to start NOW. It's obvious that they're not going to come to the negotiating table unless they feel like they need something from us, otherwise they'll continue to act like the sanctimonious dicks they are. Should be one of our courier actions next turn.>>6418566Keeping the Enclave hidden from our new head of internal security is actively retarded. However treating the Enclave as a group in active need of re-education is equally stupid because it'll hamstring our integration efforts, and is hypocritical when we have legion slavers and assassins already active in the intel department too. We shouldn't start a reverse red-scare witch-hunt out of paranoia.
>>6418577Who the fuck wants a hostile take over you retard? My point is the fucking retard can still easily snitch back to the NCR about it and blindly trusting is retarded. For all my shitposts about the Enclave, they even need to be questioned.I want the fucker to prove his loyalty before blindly fully trusting him with all the state secrets. Run him via the Legion ones first, less impactful on us.>>6418585I thought we were starting on Roman-esk roads last before the quest died for abit?
>>6418613>quest diedI resent that
>>6418616God the ending with Homelander was far worse then ever expected. Even the Comic ending was better.
In a rare but welcome surprise, you have phenomenal news to greet you as you enter New Vegas on the heels of Hsu’s recruitment. The Department of the Interior, Agriculture and HHS has been working for months on the issue of water infrastructure in all aspects. The following summary is about the extent that the nascent government is capable of pursuing for now but the findings are both impressive and very promising. 1. The water situation is not nearly as dire as reported. While the report was not privy to your dealings with Caesar, they have noted the lake is slowly returning to comfortable levels. While it’s impossible to give a useful prediction, there’s no real worry about water shortages for years even with liberal predictions of water usage by the region. 2. The old Bullhead dam - while in ruin - can be replaced by a relatively simple earthen dam to slow the flow of water south. There may be political ramifications for this, there’s no treaty with the NCR forbidding construction of a controlled waterway for the NVD. 3. The water infrastructure of the Mojave is in remarkably good shape with many of the rural water stations in semi-operation. While the proper expertise is needed to get them fully operational, the cost is expected to be well within acceptable margins. This would increase irrigation to farms nearly tenfold. The benefits here are obvious. 4. The urban water stations are in much worse repair though with proper repair and maintenance, water access can be expanded all throughout New Vegas and the immediate surroundings resulting in cleaner, more accessible water. The goal of running water in most households is still a pipe dream, this would put the urban areas of the NVD on par with many areas of the NCR. 5. To accompany these efforts, a member of the Department of the Interior stumbled across a *complete* map of the water system of Clark County where much of the NVD resides. This makes repairing and even expanding these systems a matter of time and expertise, instead of blindly spot-fixing the most obvious leaks and damage. 6. Secretary Gunderson has connections back to a utility company in the NCR who does just this, refurbishing large-scale water systems. This is by far the best source of the very expertise needed to make the NVD’s water supply the best in the wasteland (due to the ready access of water and the small size of the nation). The catch is that this company will do work with the NVD but it won’t come cheap due to transporting machinery and personnel all the way out to the Mojave. 7. Finally, a pre-war map of the Vegas sewer system was also found and while modern mapping will need to be done to identify major damage, this is the final piece of the puzzle to create a modern sanitation system as just fixing water usage and consumption doesn’t help the underlying issue of disposal.
The report goes on to note the ease of expansion of many of the farms in the Mojave, particularly around Goodsprings and Novac. The issues, aside those mentioned with cost and the need for specialists, is the lack of domestic plumbing equipment. Copper piping has been suggested for local irrigation, though due to the cost and relative scarcity, lead-lined piping was also another suggestion. Still, the report paints literally the best case scenario for efforts to fix the lagging water supply in the Mojave. And while not the goal of the report, every member of the committee strongly urged the creation of trade schools in the NVD to not only raise up a skilled construction industry but to train tradesmen that can specialize in commercial, residential and industrial settings. To renovate rural and urban water stations and fix a majority of the large-scale plumbing infrastructure will range anywhere from 100,000 caps to 250,000 based on availability of supplies and the potential of delays while taking years to finish.
>>6418622Bullhead Dam? I assume you mean the Davis Dam. How much is actually left, is the powerhouse and spillway edifice still there and the huge earthen dam wall has just washed out or has the entire thing collapsed?There's also the topic of Parker and Headgate Rock a bit further downstream but I don't suppose we've surveyed that far yet.
>>6418613Hate to be that guy, but when you said nativity you meant naivety, and when you say Roman-esk you mean Romanesque. The latter is what's really making me feel compelled to say anything.
>>6418636No no, thank you.
>>6418613>Who the fuck wants a hostile take overyou do. it's pretty blatant.>>6418611a formal reeducation program would be impractical, plus they don't work all that well. better to have them exposed to reality (as opposed to them sniffing each other's farts in a bunker somewhere), that should open up their minds quite efficiently, for better or worse>>6418622nice!>>6418624>anywhere from 100,000 caps to 250,000 based on availability of supplies and the potential of delays while taking years to finishouch. still, we should start with irrigation since that's the lowest hanging fruit, then go on to addressing sanitation in New Vegas (Freeside especially), where we need to consider communal baths and shitters.I would aim for expending about 10k per month>irrigation pipescan't we try claycrete? that would further decrease costs>trade schoolsvery good idea, plus we can probably scrounge up some tradesmen to do the teaching
>>6418695prefab stuff, you just need a guy to apply the hydraulic mortar as he sets them in place
>>6418697like so
>>6418568>I reckon our friends tried to make a case to the elders about us/NVD and the alliance, and were dismissed. They likely lost some ranks and were assigned to the ass end of nowhere.If they're not dead they're probably rotting in a Brotherhood prison somewhere. Best case scenario is that everyone has been assigned to different posts so they no longer interact and we might meet them again if we go travelling, but I wouldn't hold out hope for it.
>>6418635Locals call it Bullhead but yes Davis is what it was before the war. It’s mostly the earthen wall that has washed out from preliminary scouting, though the concrete and steel spillway also shows signs of pretty severe damage. The powerhouse looks somewhat intact but unsure of the damage to the inner workings. >>6418695Yes claycrete is an option! You have the raw material but would need to create/find the industrial machinery to create them. Come to think of it, that NCR company “Republic Utilities Corp” does make the same types of piping so they’re very familiar with laying the claycrete, though their machinery is all back in the NCR.
>>6418800...machinery?we have a shitload of unemployed tribals right where the claycrete isat the very most we need to get them molds they can use to cast these things
>>6418810My understanding of claycrete piping is that to get the strength necessary for municipal plumbing, it needs to be vitrified which couldn’t be done with simple clay-firing measures. To be fair to you guys, I think simple claycrete pipes could be made for agricultural purposes but supplying water to large populations will need that specialized process (if you want it done correctly)That reminds me, I bet the legion uses claycrete as well in addition to their aqueducts
>>6418815I would be okay with only using this type of piping for agriculture and sanitationfired claycrete piping for municipal would be very energy-intensive but niceyou think we could buy some claycrete-pouring slaves from the legion, free and hire them?
>>6418818Un-vitrified clay piping will allow gravity-fed plumbing but cannot handle pressure well so you may get some use in rural and endpoint locations but it probably won’t work as the main material. Not with how the water system is currently set up.
>>6418821gravity-fed is quite enough for sanitation and irrigationI'm fine with having to do real plumbing for New Vegas water
Did we ever make plans or discuss the reclamation of camp searchlight?
>>6418845can't say I remember anywhat for?
>>6418588could be an idea>>6418613I am not sure we did. Maybe we did it, give it as a task to our transportation department.
>>6418624Even with that cost, this sounds like some progress.>>6418706It's very likely they were dealt with.
While the news on Mojave water infrastructure was phenomenal news if expensive, your mind kept wandering to the whole idea of water in the first place. Water, the most valuable and sought after resource in the wasteland. You kept asking yourself, what if there was a way to bring water where there wasn’t none through “natural” means?And a darker thought crossed your mind. What if you could cause devastating storms and use weather to help conceal movement and locations? The X-17 Meteorological Station. You have visited it many times before and you’ve even done some preliminary research into it due to Dr. Henry’s interest but you’re ready to give it actual time and energy now. On top of that, you left Big Mountain in a much better place after continued effort to rehabilitate the small but mighty research arm based out there. The Think Tank had their personalities “fixed” or at least scrubbed from the damage Möbius had done and Mobius himself was shaken out of his drug-induced stupor. You’re not exactly sure how long they will physically last but between that and the leadership of Arcade and Dr. Henry, your potential has increased almost too much to put into words. So you hop outside and teleport over to Big Mountain to give them their first joint research project. When you arrive at The Sink, you’re then surprised to see it empty for the first time. You check each room up on the balcony and find them all devoid of the Think Tank. How curious. You then walk over to Higgs Village where Arcade and Henry have made their temporary homes. While both of their houses show signs of recent activity, they are also nowhere to be found. Dr. Henry’s garden is in full bloom and looks decently attended to, but yet you’re a little worried. You begin the long walk to Dr. Mobius’ “lair” but then notice a foreboding cloud floating right above the X-17 Meteorological Research Station. What an odd coincidence. You take a detour and head to the facility. Outside is a squad of roboscorpions on standby guarding against any real threats. Inside, you find where all of your scientists went. Dala: Yes, get in there with those dexterous digits of yours, Arcade…Gross. Dala and Arcade are near the entrance working on an electrical box bolted to the wall of the facility, oblivious to your arrival. Taking just a quick glance around reveals Henry, Klein and Borous facing one of the massive generators inside the lab. O and 8 are closer to the many Tesla coils chattering to themselves. You’re shocked to see everyone working together outside of The Sink, even if you don’t see Möbius. [I wasn’t invited to the party?]You make sure to have your voice heard over the hum and thrum of the facility. Without skipping a beat, Klein floats around. Klein: COURIER, WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. Henry: Actually, that would be helpful. Please come here, Director.
The two scientists go back to their work. In fact, everyone around seems incredibly invested into the meteorological station today. You walk over to Henry who’s fiddling with one of the hanging Tesla coils. Henry: I can’t seem to get this specific to consolidate energy. Neither can Klein or Borous. Klein: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IS BELOW ME.Borous: And me! Likely story. Henry steps aside while you take a look. You don’t know exactly what you’re looking at but you know energy and you know how to fix just about anything. After a minute of tinkering, you trace it back to a faulty conduit at the bottom of the coil pillar. [Done. Now, what the hell is everyone doing here?]Klein: THE BENEFACTOR IS NOW COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR HELP. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE. Henry: I lobbied everyone to assist with my research into the weather machine while we were waiting for direction from you. Now that you’re back…[Actually, that’s why I’m here. I want to make this weather machine the priority right now. Lucky you, Henry.]Dr. Henry can’t stop himself from laughing and slapping his leg. Henry: Arcade and Borous, you both owe me 50 bottle caps! Arcade: Damn, I was hoping for time to study the genesis of the Boomer Blight. Especially since the BGS is still down for “maintenance”.[That’s important, but water is the key to everything in the Wasteland. Doubly so in the Mojave. But since everyone is already here, how are we looking?]Klein: UNDER BUDGET AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.Borous: But we don’t have a budget, or schedule yet. Klein: IRREGARDLESS. THE BENEFACTOR IS FACED WITH A CHOICE. Arcade: Yeah, one that should be exceedingly easy to make. 0: The brainiacs behind the weather machine didn’t build it to last and never wrote anything down. You have a binary choice to make. Henry: The limitations of the station allows us to do one of two things. One, we can create storms of all kinds, including tornadoes that rip buildings from foundations and earthquakes that open up the earth! 8: Or tsunamis that could flood entire cities in the sweet embrace of science. Arcade: A horrifying use of this technology. The other option is to just produce rain. Not a torrential flood but actual rain which could save literally tens of thousands of deaths a year in the NCR alone. [So I have an either-or decision, huh?]Möbius: For now, yes. Ah, there he is. Mobius floats up the stairs while humming some tune. Klein: I THOUGHT I GAVE YOU THE TASK OF ORGANIZING ROCKS.Mobius: Dr. Klein, you will have to realize we are working together now. Courier, it is not impossible that *eventually* we may be able to run both programs but the capacity right now can only handle one. Ah, a classic Courier decision.>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain Project >Ride the Lightning. Approve the “Disruptive Weather Project(This choice kinda came out of nowhere so feel free to ask questions about the nature of each project.)
>>6418956>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain ProjectLet's get stable FIRST, and then we can lean into the doomsday weapon shit later.
>>6418956>>Let the Desert Bloomhow much rain are we talking about, exactly?and whose territory is going to be turned into a desert in exchange, if anyone's?
>>6418956Let's ask a few questions. Of course, we badly need the rain, so we are going to vote for it, but ask the questions while we are here. The Mojave people, agriculture, and industry could all use it. It would also help with our water problem (we still need to do the plumbing, but this would be a nice plus)>Questions"About the Rain Project.... how much land would it cover in the Mojave? How much can the Mojave seasons affect this Project? For how long can we have it? Arcade, you said it wouldn't be torrential, so what can I expect instead? What will be the effects across the Mojave in a few months or a year ?""About the Disruptive Weather Project.... what's the maximum range for materializing it? How much time would we need to create an overwhelming effect? Can it affect more than one region at a time ?">Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain ProjectThere are several arid parts in the Mojave. The arrival of water would allow farmers and ranchers to be able to sustain themselves better and provide more food for the small local markets. Settlements that didn't have these economic activities might also now see them. Next turn, we should use one of our diplomatic actions to go to Nipton and talk with the new settlers there. Might be a good idea to start a Governorship there while we are at it. After that, the only other two governorships to make would be Nelson and Boulder City. Once the Governorships are all set, besides an increase in their budget, I think it might do us some good if we built for them some town halls (or repurpose some buildings for that). A better administration in each settlement could do wonders.
>>6418956>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain Project What's the projected range on the Rain Project? Are there any known indications (from the outside) that it is in use?I'm thinking later on once we've fine-tuned it we might be able to literally sell rain to outside settlements suffering from droughts. Also, the BoS's DERVISH unit relies on being able to circulate the special chaff-dust they filled the area with, so filling it with water would render them entirely visible until the dust dried. And if they tried to run it with wet dust then it would instantly clog whatever engines they're using to circulate it.
>>6418981>Once the Governorships are all set, besides an increase in their budget, I think it might do us some good if we built for them some town halls (or repurpose some buildings for that). A better administration in each settlement could do wonders.God, if we could just GIVE them rain, we could factor the water collected with rain barrels and used to produce crops as a big fat subsidy for their budgets. Since the Mojave is uniquely low in ambient radiation Thanks again, House, we stand to benefit more from regular precipitation than a lot of the U.S. with comparable infrastructure ruins to build off of.
>>6418987That would be excellent.
>>6418956>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain ProjectQuestions remain about its possible range and intensity and I wonder if we could even contract it out to shake rain out for our neighbours if we wanted.We would need to be careful with its use though since the Mojave does not have the vegetation or natural drainage network to deal with significant rainfall. Excessive rainfall could cause a great deal of soil erosion and silting, wash out roads and infrastructure and there's a number of enclosed basins around here that will fill with water and make lakes where we don't want there to be lakes, particularly of concern with Ivanpah reverting to a real lake and flooding I-15 and Primm as well as El Dorado threatening Rt. 95. I might recommend using this more on the southeastern fringe of Vegas and areas northwest up towards Creech for this reason since they connect to a proper drainage system.
>>6418845I don't believe we did. I think the current attitude is to write it off as a lost cause where cleanup would be a huge resource sink that is not worth it for a place without much to offer and just divert Rt. 95 around it when we get round to it.I hope it's not too much of an issue for people going to and from Genesis, I guess they must be skirting the place offroad.
>>6418956>Ride the Lightning. Approve the “Disruptive Weather ProjectI'm gonna be the Devil's advocate here. We already have the BoS on our ass, and suddenly being able to summon rain from a magic jar is going to send them into a frenzy. Additionally, more water is very good and all, especially for crops, but we NEED to understand what this is going to do to the blight. I can't remember if we burned Vault 22 or not. Inclement weather weapon is also immediately useful, and most importantly, deniable. I'm particularly thinking about using it as a way to flood of crack the BoS bunkers, give us some cover to finally raid that stash in Hawthorne, give us some Shock and Awe when we take over the Legion claiming we are a God, specific uses like that. It's not an either/or decision, so I don't mind going with the obvious water benefits.Anyway, my questions for the Think Tank are:>How is the rain station going to interact with the Blight if there are any traces left?>What's the range and theoretical maximum intensity of the Disruptive Weather project?>Roughly how long would it take to get both up and running, and would that conflict with other research programs we give them?>How much more efficient could they get if we sent over a bunch of the Enclave scientists we have coming in?
>>6418940>>6419015Just wanting to know if there is anything worth a Huge reclamation project, or if not, set up markers and barricades around it warning people.
>>6419067Not really, it's just a small pre-War town without much to write home about. It does have some value as the only existing settlement of note in that part of the map so it could potentially be worth decontaminating someday just for its location but, for the time being, we're better off merely clearing it of ghouls, diverting the roads and marking out an exclusion zone.
>>6418695>you do. it's pretty blatant.Because I pointed out that they do hostile takes over out the gate and don't do long term stuff. What? >>6418845Pretty sure there was one for the nuclear material and stuff but it was only talked about in the past and thats it?>>6418956>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain Project Nobody deserves to die from thirst. Its fucked even if it leads to the blight getting worse/ect.
>>6419079no, because you just keep doing it, just as you have in past threadsanyway, their shtick is actually long-term infiltrationthis is one of the things I can recognize you by - you just blatantly lie in whatever way seems convenient
>>6419163>anyway, their shtick is actually long-term infiltrationSince when? The Enclave have always loudly styled themselves as the rightful government of the entire United States, they never operated in the shadows until they got forced underground. The Reno and Salvatore thing is an invention of this quest (well, the Salvatores being Enclave that is).
>>6419211since they were larping as a crime syndicate but actually trying to subvert the NVD after previously having subverted a crime syndicatemaybe you think you're trolling? I am finding it harder and harder to understand/excuse your behavior
>>6419224Anon, I'm not trolling, the Enclave's modus operandi in all the Fallout games has been to turn up, yell at everyone "We are the rightful government of the United States", and then shoot everyone who disagrees because they're obviously commies.
Henry: The initial range of the rain clouds will be 150 miles in any direction, which will include the entirety of the Mojave. Arcade: And a lot of the breadbasket of the NCR. Henry: Yes, I suppose that’s true as well. The coverage…Klein: INDETERMINATE.Mobius: That’s unfortunately true. It could range from 50 square miles to 150. Or it could be 5. [Are we working on that?]Arcade: We're trying to get the best thing working first but yes, that’ll be the next task. We also don’t want to flood an area either so slower is better. [How much actual rain are we talking about here? How will the seasons impact the rain?]Henry: A few inches at most in an area over a few days, and that would be it for the Mojave. Example; Goodsprings gets the rain machine and has 1.5 inches over two days and the machine can run two times in a month. Give or take. Mobius: Presumed, of course. Some months may be moister than others. Dala: The naturally drier seasons will be drier, of course. But you could see more rain in the Mojave in one week than all winter without this facility. [What’s the chance of us flooding the Mojave and washing away half of Novac?]Klein: GREATER THAN ZERO.Arcade: We’re not sure yet. Truthfully, we’re still trying to get this place running. Then we’ll test in isolated areas for the variance. If it’s too unpredictable then we’ll shelf it. Well maybe there’s still a use even if it’s unpredictable. Just have it rain over Lake Mead or even better, rain over Hidden Valley and see how their sand machine handles the moister. Dala: The real concern should be the ecological shock of exponential rainfall in a desert. Think about the little creatures of the Mojave….8: We don’t have a hydrological expert, he got turned into a lobotomite a century ago, but Dala is probably correct. Arcade: Not to mention, most of the food grown in the Mojave is used to minimal water. A sudden deluge could kill harvests. You put your hands up to stop the rattle of information from the assembled scientists. [I get it, no free lunch. I should have asked before but how does the damn thing work?]Mobius: We redirect regional weather patterns towards the targeted area. 8: It wouldn’t normally result in rainfall but we electrically stimulate the weather front and seed it to produce rain in the desired area. [Since we redirect weather fronts…]Arcade: It’ll basically strip a different area of their weather. No free lunch.
[Okay, I think I have my decision but let me ask about the Disruptive Weather project. Simply put, what can we do to get both going?]The robot brains say nothing while Arcade and Henry look at each other. Their eyes reveal a previous argument now brought back to light. Henry: It will take just about everything we have currently to get even this up and running and that’s with the assumption of more resources and personnel. Much of the hardware and systems for the rain machine are different from Disruptive Weather. Once we get steady rain patterns down, they can be taken to the extreme for water-based disasters. Arcade: Which won’t happen, right? I’m not going to work on a weapon of mass destruction.[Probably not, Arcade. You’ll be the first one to hear it if I change my mind. It sounds like it’ll be hard enough to get this going anyway.]Klein: TELL HIM ABOUT THE ROCKET.Henry: Dr. Klein that isn’t necessary right now! You raise your eyebrows in questioning. Klein: WE NEED A LOW-EARTH SATELLITE LAUNCHED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. A PERFECT JOB FOR THE BENEFACTOR. Henry: It doesn’t need to be done immediately, but it will need to be done. [Okay, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we will go with the rain machine. Continue working and I’ll be back in a month to get an update. Radio Yes Man for any requests in the meantime.]You hurry out of X-17 before you’re pelted with more concerns, questions or comments from the scientists. You considered offering the enclave scientists to help but you still haven’t exactly told many people about their presence. You’re sure they’ll be a boon but how much longer can you keep them a secret? You’ll soon find out - a lot less than you had hoped.
>>6419261except this is a splinter of the Enclave we're dealing with, and they have been pretty constant about acting in a different way
>>6419267a very dangerous toywe might not even need hurricanes to completely wreck an uncooperative neighbor - just steal their rain and with that in mind>>6418956>Let the Desert Bloom. Approve the Rain Project
Soon after your return to New Vegas, you’re headed back to McCarran where Operation Fulcrum is ready to launch. But not before you visit your private armory. While you may be more powerful than you ever have before, your private stock is suffering. Your medical supplies have never recovered since using them to help Freeside and a lot of your heavy weaponry was given to Moreno to train the next generation of shock troopers (which you need an update about). Not to mention the gear and ammo you’ve used through your travels in the last year. Grim, Courier. But you still have just about anything and everything you’d need for time in the field. For a long-range patrol like this you’d wear a lighter gear like a durable duster, but the thought of fighting more Zion abominations quickly makes you don a suit of reinforced Sierra Madre armor. To its credit, it’s incredibly light for how strong it is. While not as breathable as your duster or reinforced leather, it’ll put up with damage. You switch out the helmet for your trusty desert ranger combat helmet for the CBRN protection. Due to being deployed with a sizable contingent of soldiers, you scale back your usual firepower. Instead, you grab “Medicine Stick” because of its pure stopping power and relative light weight. You also bring a 10MM SMG for any lead-spewing purposes and fill out the rest of the arsenal with some hand grenades and a mini-nuke. You’d rather have it and not need it than….With your loadout complete, it’s a quick walk to McCarran where you see the Toxic Avengers out on the “parade grounds” in front of the terminal with their gear situated. The squad of Securitrons are hanging out by the gates and BTO is in a different section of the yard engaging in their own strange pre-mission rituals. You walk over to where Ulysses, Boone and Kreger are bent over a map on the lone table on the pavement. Kreger: He’s here, good. Courier, we’ve hammered out the last few details and the men have been briefed. We’re not deviating from the plan but with the forces deployed, we should be able to handle just about anything. The Securitrons will be in range for radio communication but the mountains may break up the signal in some places. Everything seems in order, yet you pick up on…worry?…from Ulysses. [Alright, let’s get going.]
The meeting breaks up as the teams are assembled, but Ulysses pulls you off to the side. [Ulysses, something has you worried. Which is worrying me.]Ulysses: Just before I departed for McCarran, I was informed by one of our agents that Boone knows about the presence of both the Legion Frumentarii under our authority AND the arrival of Enclave immigrants. No, I don’t know how he discovered it, that’s my task when we return. You’re at a loss of words. Not only do you probably have a leaker in the government somewhere, but Boone knows right as you’re about to deploy with him. Ulysses: I’m not sure what he’ll do with this information, but consider this a warning. Ulysses then falls back in line with the train of soldiers passing through McCarran’s gates. You join it seconds later ruminating on what Boone actually is capable of.
>>6419284So then you can believe it might be they are TRUE with there beliefs to change?>>6419163I'd never lie, I spread misinformation. Eitherway I want us to crush the rest of the nations.>>6419432Goddamnit, Who told Boone... Well hopefully we've talked enough with him to not actively start hunting.
>>6419432QM I don't always agree with how consequences play out in this quest, though I still enjoy the story nonetheless, but you're really based for hitting us with a problem like this. We haven't made an effort to maintain closeness or even transparency with Boone for basically a whole year, all while we opened the door for the people he hates the most (rightfully, they enslaved his wife and attempted to kill his entire society, respectively). I hope we can work this out, but it really shouldn't be easy, and it's welcomed to be dealing with some of the consequences of these high risk choices. Makes me feel all the gladder I suggested the two of us hit the range or something to try and reconnect. >>6419436Enclave anon, your bad faith engagement is truly bottomless. Show is canon and shows Enclave being subversive sneaky bastards. In 2 and 3 they may be more overt with their villainy, but those operations are underpinned by spy networks. In NV, the most relevant title, the Enclave remnants have quietly infiltrated society - and while it's true that some of them have changed just enough to be convinced to play nice with the NCR, at least for the sake of Arcade and defending the dam, one of the five will try to kill Six before considering it, and most of the others are only JUST barely neutral. If we extrapolate that to the Salvatore-Enclave, which I think is exceedingly generous, that's still 20% of them harboring ill-intent. It's probably closer to a third at best. >Who told Boone You should be the last person to bemoan us having to reap what you enthusiastically helped sew, buddy.
>>6419449>Quietly infiltrated societyThe majority of the Enclave Remnant besides 1 guy more or less just want to live the rest of there lives out in peace and away from being mostly hunted in NV. The rest are as you said neutral. You know perfect for the type of new starts we are ATTEMPTING to use to bring folks in of all manner.The Show which I haven't even touched on is a bastardization of Todd being a petty little bitch his special games 4 and 76 don't get the golden treatment as NV and earlier games do. I haven't even brought up the show prior to this and I thought QM said we are ignoring that shit anyway in one of the prior threads? Also, you really need to get through your head that while I love the Enclave and support it. The nation comes first, and those are talents/skills/ect that are too important to willingly pass up because of your weird obsession about "Everything Enclave is bad or must be bad"IF and WHEN something with the Enclave remnants that move in here, We will need to do the same as any other traitor faction and that's cull them or if we can use one of those weird projects from big MT to steal there technical knowledge and capabilities while limiting the damage they can do.
>>6419449Yeah, it was a very good idea for you to suggest it, anon. Honestly, we have a lot of things going on, maybe its genuine time to take action for talking about the more secret stuff. Companions and heads of departments, inform them of what we are sitting upon. Make clear our plans and why we did them. A full-on, long hours private talk with just them. Next turn.I think we will make Boone understand why. We explained to him and others before some of our decisions. I don't think it will be easy, but we explained some stuff we did in the recent past, and Boone understood. And our connection didn't break; it grew stronger. Ultimately, it would be best to have a private talk with everyone we count upon to make some stuff fully clear. Also, because I don't want to repeat myself in front of another character that we count upon. So better have our whole acquired family/friends on it. Like explaining that, we put the seeds for the Legion's collapse, and that Caesar is going nuts, and that we are playing him because he thinks we are his Augustus, and whatever other nonsense is going on in his LARP brain.Regarding the leaker idk who could be. I guess we will need to find it. This will take a while for our spies; this leaker can just inform others about this. Meh. And that, well, too difficult to counter, could have already happened. Allgood and the BoS could know of this. It could also be that there is no internal leaker and someone just spied on our government and us, then placed this info near Boone. Our government building is not exactly secure at the moment, and our spies are not really developed. So many problems piling up.
>>6419432oh fuck me sidewaysand us with no long-range option, not that we'd win a sniper duel against Boone but still>>6419436>I spread misinformationthen there is no point in talking to you except saying "no and fuck you" to whatever you sayso please reconsider (you won't)>>6419462>A full-on, long hours private talk with just them. Next turn.THIS turn we're heading into big trouble with him at our side. Shit's fucked.
>>6419468>then there is no point in talking to you except saying "no and fuck you" to whatever you sayso please reconsider >(you won't)huge if true, We should therefore remove all the non-NV assets and start anew. >>6419462Only Boone is problem child at-least prior and we did talk to him about some necessary stuff threads ago. But thats valid at the very least to bring some of them up to speed.The biggest issue as always with things have been, Too many fires and not enough water.
>>6419462>Allgood and the BoS could know of this.Could be why they have shifted to a more hostile posture - if they found out about some of the deals we've made through a leaker, it would be pretty reasonable to assume Six is gearing up for a turn to the worse, or at least is setting himself up to be usurped from within by more dangerous elements in his 'coalition'.
>>6419468>THIS turn we're heading into big trouble with him at our side. Shit's fucked.It is what it is. We can't change that from happening. We will need to deal with it. Planning something should be tried, if we manage to get out of this shit first, of course. In theory, we should, we have a good enough combat force deployed and well supported by skilled characters. Our priority here is to cleanse, but we also want to avoid any losses. So we can retreat if it's needed.>>6419490Boone has his problems, but as we have just seen, he is still coming with us right now. A past Boone could have acted upon that info immediately. So he likely wants to talk about it. Preferably on the road, because we can't really have that conversation when we are fighting Bio-Nightmare v.2.0.I think it's heavily necessary. Might as well inform anyone near us and those we count upon about what we are cooking.>>6419499Would be a real problem. I would really like to be very wrong on this. It can't be so peachy and easy for whoever leaked this; if it is, they can just run circles around us, and we would never catch them.
>>6419514Yeah but Boone is a very capable Former?Ranger. So we will see. I do want to hear his take though. I wonder if the leaker might be Mr. House cause he did 'escape' so to speak and would know the In's and outs of everything we're basically co-oping.
>>6419490I was against this Enclave thingtrying to work with how things shook outwhy can't you?
>>6419531I am working with how things are shaking out? Like what are you actually on about now lmao.
>>6419522He was cut loose before the Enclave deal, so I don't think it's him. If he had that info he would probably move different. Probably putting himself into a lobotomize body and loading up with cybernetic enhancements so he can be the main antag of the second arc.
>>6419538>Mecha-HouseNow does he go with the classic treads or wheels for mobility?And huh, yeah I'm drawing a blank then on who could've unless Yes Man's 'upgrades' weren't 100% as he said they were or some of the legion assets did this for.. reasons?
>>6419542No no, now my spelling (autocorrect) error - LobotomiTe. De-brained human. He can take the Tesla coil out of one's skull and nestle himself in there, and then pass for human. Use an auto-doc to get his face back if he is feeling sentimental. Use his economic savant skills and gambling luck to regain a fortune in a few months, start empire building again like he did the first time.
>>6419545well damn thats genius and I hate that, cause there is more then just NV which would permit him to use his gambling luck which while they may take abit longer wouldn't have an issue.guess one other thing to keep an eye out then for.
>>6419548Yeah I am pretty sure he secretly has 10 in Luck, like officially/canonically, and it doesn't really play out in game because of his condition. But, if Survivalist is using game stats as a reference, that is a kind of hilarious problem to have. He shouldn't, though, because I think House also canonically has a 6 or 7 in Intelligence when it should obviously be 10+. Frankly, his luck kind of blows in practice seeing as Benny nicked the chip at the eleventh hour, and the bombs dropped right before it could be delivered the first time. Since we went No Gods, he also ends up betrayed horribly by the one person he paid to save him. Anyways, I'm just rambling. QM might have more or less devious ideas than me, but I've long been considering that, were I in his shoes, putting myself into a Lobotomite is how I would escape. I am pretty sure the Tesla coil in their head is what keeps them trapped by the barrier, seeing as it's what kept Six from being able to leave when HE was de-brained for a spell.
>>6419432>Not only do you probably have a leaker in the government somewhereYes Man, calling it right here. Means and Motivation.>>6419531Anon, the Enclave thing has not done anything that has ruined us (yet). Most of the argument has been you fearmongering and the other anon wanting them put into more things. I'm personally lenient towards them because they haven't done anything SINCE we've made the deal to deserve greater scrutiny, but I admit that there is risk, but it's the same risk as taking on anyone new into NV, like the frumentarii and our hijinks with Caesar. At some point it needs to be accepted that the die has been cast and live with the consequences, though you will be perfectly entitled to say "told you so" if it ends up being a bad play from us.
>>6419574>fearmongeringLame ting and regretting can get tedious after a while, but urging caution and asserting distrust is a completely rational response to inviting in a group like that. Right now, Boone having learned about this arrangement second-hand from some kind of leak, is itself a 'told you so' moment for anons that felt it unwise to invite them in.
>>6419578Idk if you can classify it as a "told you so" moment when there benefits outweigh one guy when there is not yet 'proof' that they have been a problem.Now if/when they cause problems, Thats def a 'told you so'
>>6419574>say "told you so" not interested
>>6419579you just keep making shit up>when they cause problemsthat time is NOWwe have a big problem with Boone and it's partly because of taking them on
>>6419584The ONLY problem they have 'caused' at the moment is upset an NCR veteran because he has a hatred for enemies of the NCR. What physical or long term damage have they done on the country besides hurt a guys feeling that we have CONFIRMED from the QM?
>>6419585may have gotten us into a war with the BoS?this is pointless anyway, you'll just keep saying whatever
>>6419588Okay so I specifically asked what CONFIRMED proof and now you are just making assumptions. Which I get 'You do it, so I can' but i'm legit asking because all it has been at the MOMENT, key word MOMENT is just upset Boone by existing.as for the BoS - You did play Fallout 3 right? Looked into what happen to Sarah and what not to those of that Chapter who really worked with outsides or didn't follow the.. Codex? or w.e. its called right?They literally cull/remove people for working with outsiders or attempt to change things. Hell they were already REMOVING before the Enclave deal even happened here when we were hunting down the 'Crime gangs' right? I'll admit its been months since I read the last few threads.
>>6419449>you're really based Thanks anon, the only thing I read from that post! (Kidding, ofc)>>6419555In my mind House has 10s in charisma and intelligence, but not luck funny enough. He actually is a pretty unlucky guy all things considered
>>6419590>10 charmMy god, his masquerading as Cass
>>6419579Do their benefits outweigh anything? Have they benefited us yet? They are nebulously working on things but it hasn't materialized as bonuses on rolls or reduced DT's for success yet. Let's just say, for the sake of argument, they are improving things for us. This situation is still a problem that directly results from our choice to bring them on. Boone is one of our best friends, and a member of our senior leadership, and extremely dangerous as an individual - plus he has a bunch of like-minded killers with similar (bot not AS exceptional) skills under his command that I think WOULD take his side if it came to blows. By taking on Enclave refugees without consulting anyone else in our administration, we CHOSE to betray his trust, push the ideological envelope for our closest allies, and risk both the Enclave themselves attempting sabotage or our citizenry finding out about the genocidaires secretly among them and being justifiably super pissed! We are using their tax dollars to help re-settle the remnants of a group that has committed unforgivable atrocities against the families of a large portion of our populace. We CHOSE to take those risks because the majority of us calculated that it would be worth it for the manpower. But we weren't (and still aren't) able to utilize that manpower because we didn't have any internal security or intelligence apparatus, just a securitron army and a bunch of Family goons. We are getting closer to being able to take advantage of their expertise, and now Boone has found out. Others may know as well. Even more could find out soon, it stands to reason that if someone could leak this to Boone, they could to someone else. We don't know who Boone has told. If someone else knows, we don't know who they could have told, or how far the game of telephone could be reaching. This is a problem. The goal was ostensibly for no one to ever know about these refugees. At least one anon at the time even said that it wasn't a secret that would be easy to keep for very long, and that people would be out for blood, maybe riot. We aren't there yet, but we are on the way. Now we need to do serious damage control. You can say too many fires and not enough water, but this is a fire we lit ourselves, and there is no way around that. *ahem*... Told you so!
>>6419614>Asked for if there is any proof beside Boone is upset they caused problem>Only proof is Boone is upset like I said.Okay so besides that then, Your only other point is "They haven't been able to provide anything yet" when they were specifically voted to be isolated from others in the shittier parts of towns.. and what not because "Safety concerns" that players had to begin with.Also the Goal was never to 'ostensibly for no one to know about these refugees' it was to use them to there full extent and juice our nation more because the great powers want to see us brought low. But sure anon, You can take this W in the strangest way of not actually presenting any proof besides what we both already know is confirmed about Sad Boone and us shoestringing us by isolating the knowledge base and keeping them contained which is smart eitherway because at the time and still are 'new'?
>>6419617We don't know Boone is sad. We don't even know if he is angry (which would be REALLY BAD). He might not be either! We know that Boone is aware of something that he will likely be upset about. But we also know that the secret is out. You are, yet again, being obscenely disengenuous here. Boone didn't magically glean this information in a vision. Someone told him. They might tell someone else. They might have already done so. If this becomes public, there will be massive civil unrest. THAT is the bigger, more serious problem. The civil unrest is an IF problem. If it becomes public knowledge. The LEAK that can MAKE THIS PUBLIC is a current, real problem. The leak only exists because we chose to secretly integrate mass murderers. Reread this however many times you need. >Inb4 people won't care Since you're an Enclave simp, I probably don't need to explain to you that people feel extremely sensitive about governments giving tax dollars and shelter to homicidal terrorists from foreign nations kek
>>6419620Nah, Rough guess from how Boone has acted in the past when we have done stuff in even soft passing towards NCR has been him more or less being super pissed off about it. So odds are very high off his prior actions he will be pissed.I can admit its not a good sitution to be in and I'm not sugar coating it is, I'm merely stating that the benefits outweight the 'current' issue. which can of course get worse if its not handled. However the difference is right now, 1 Angry guy vs the long term benefits of what is gonna filter into our economy. As for the >tax dollars and shelter to homicidal terrorists from foreign nationsANOTHER 10 BILLION DOLLARS TO OUR GREATEST ALLY!
>>6419621Well, I don't feel like bickering anymore, man, but you said it yourself. >Long term benefits >Is gonna The problems of a pissed Boone and a leak on this info are both imminently present. They are happening. The benefits of onboarding the Enclave are yet to materialize. Whether you think that's because some of us are being overly cautious or not doesn't matter any more than my feeling it was unwise to bring them into the fold. They are here. It is causing a problem which can easily get worse. They are not significantly improving our operation. We need to make serious moves if we are gonna spin this into a victory, because right now it's a raw deal.
>>6419625I never once said overly cautious, I said its justified. Just that there are more benefits but yes.We need to nip it in the ass, I don't see when that was disagreed on. Also we need to find out whomst the fuck is the leaker.
The operation continues as planned with the task force leaving New Vegas along I-15 and past Nellis. You make a mental reminder to think about what to do about the Boomers but must if your energy is right what to do about Boone. He’s one of your closest friends - or what passes for friends in your life - but you may have gone too far. You’ve become the heir-apparent to the empire that enslaved his wife and killed his friends. You’ve allowed the remnants of a regime that attempted to destroy his society to immigrate in secret and you’ve kept the truth from those who trust you the most. As you walk the cracked asphalt of the old American interstate system, you start questioning your decisions. Obviously you have good reasons for everything you’ve done but still, reflecting on it does not make the situation better. To Boone’s credit, he reveals none of his discovery as he leads the outer pickets screening Team B. Your task force stops at an abandoned electrical substation for the night, setting up patrols and creating camp impressively quick. Their gear may not be the best but Moreno was right, the NVAF are an impressively drilled and disciplined group. The second day also passes without incident for both teams. What limited traffic came from the north paths has ceased with the destruction of Zion and the surrounding fallout. Even now, the Geiger counters are slowly ticking up as the strike force approaches St. George. The second night is spent at a bundle of long-abandoned buildings that seem to have been a gas station and a small repair shop. Team B repeats their same system of camp deployment. You finish the organization of camp before preparing to turn in for the night. Any far-flung hopes of Ulysses being wrong about Boone dissipates when the moody sniper approaches you towards nightfall. [Six, come with me. There’s something you need to see up the road.]He doesn’t let you respond and is read begins walking out of the camp and into the darkening night. You sure as hell make sure you bring your weapons and follow. The two of you ruck for nearly half an hour, monitoring the surrounding desert without a word spoken. You’ve probably done more traveling with Boone than nearly anyone, the two of you having developed a near perfect combat rhythm. He beckons you over to a ruined 18-wheeler and takes a knee while surveying the dark around you two. As you join him with your weapon trained outwards, he speaks. Boone: I needed to get you alone, not sure who to trust back at camp.You tighten your grip on the rifle.
What’s up, Boone?]He doesn't take his eyes off the desert but you can feel the rage. Boone: There’s foxes in the henhouse. Someone’s betrayed us and let those genocidal fucks from the Enclave begin infiltrating the NVD.[Fuck.]You can’t stop yourself. Boone: Yeah. [How do you know? Are you sure, Boone? Very sure?]Boone: Fuck yeah I am. Veronica approached me about a week ago, said she picked up some strange encrypted radio messages while she was up at Black Mountain. I went to Yes Man and asked him to help decode it, which led me down to Novac. Didn’t take long to find them, they stick out like a sore thumb among wastelanders.You wonder why Veronica didn’t come to you. You’ve been busy but if she had her suspicions about you…[That’s not exactly a smoking gun…]Boone: The encryption was the same exact shit they were using a generation ago. But even so, the messages came from New Reno. It’s not exactly a secret that’s where a lot of the remnants escaped to. He knows more than you thought and he certainly did his homework. The good thing is, he doesn’t seem to suspect you Boone: But what really convinced me was Secretary Kreger. I had my suspicions about him and his “old guard” but I was just lying to myself. They’re old school Enclave and they probably killed plenty of people in their day. I didn’t know old lady Daisy knew how to fly a Vertibird, too rare or a skill in the wastes. And that look Moreno gives me every time I visit Camp Rex…Now he turns to you. Boone: And now they’re trying to create a new regime out here. I’m not sure how you didn't see it before, maybe you had the blinders on or maybe you thought some old soldier would have learned his lesson and could be useful. He spits on the ground. Boone: You were wrong. You don’t know what to say. You had always hoped there was enough distance between everything that you could still skirt the truth for now. Boone: There’s also legion spies working in the government. But I can’t blame you for that, those fuckers are sneaky. You weren’t careful and accepted help from too many people, but I know you wouldn’t have let those monsters in willingly. I know you wouldn’t lie to me. The question is, what are we going to do?The bigger question is, what are YOU going to do? >Kill him right now. Boone is quick but you’re quicker and you’re pretty sure he doesn’t suspect you. Then you can go pay a visit to Veronica and see if you can salvage the situation. >Lie, again. Tell him you had no idea, you’ve been too sidetracked. Promise an investigation and swift action to buy you some time.>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot off. >Other (Write-in)
(I wanted to try to get a new turn out before this weekend but that’s not happening so it’ll be a few days before I get a new one out. In the meantime I’ll do some supplemental writing. Also, this is a pretty defining moment for the Courier so maybe it’s good it’ll sit for a few days. As always, ask any questions.)
>>6419760>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot off.Killing him or lying is probably smarter, but this is the right thing to do. We're not doing this for ourselves, but for the people in the Directorate, people like Boone who've been given a second chance after the things they've done. A chance at redemption, to begin again. No matter who they are or what they've done, we will give them a chance to prove they can be different, that's the whole point of this project. Really wish we had Graham around for this, I'm sure he'd have a word or two to say about redemption. Boone doesn't have to like it, and he may be right that they'll cause problems, but that's the gamble of this dream. Either people change or they don't. We choose to believe that they will.>Give me your tired, your poor,>Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,>The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.>Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me! Though keep the heir of Caesar shit under wraps, that's something I think would buy us a one way ticket to the business end of his scope.
Yeah, I don't have it in me to write a decent enough write-in. Shit is fucked, you need more than decent here. It needs to be excellent. I don't think we have a good way to convince him. Or of any hope for the NVD at this point, those secrets can genuinely just go everywhere lol.I am not sure if telling him about our plans would even help at this point. So stupid. Lying is just going to have us dig a bigger hole lol. Killing him, well, everyone else with us will not be impressed. Bear Team One might attack us. Half of them are with us, and they have a relation with Boone.>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot offFor a pointless effort. If a fight start i don't think we are going to live anyway. Half of Bear Team One is with us, and sliming Boone is idk lol....... There is no believable lie for seeing him dead. I also want to try. Ah, I should have remained on the vote for sliming Cyrus right then and there in that building.
>>6419760>>6419770eh link the vote.
>>6419769Nah, the first one is very dumb. The second is even dumber and puts us in an even bigger pile of shit. Unless we are planning to just kill multiple of our companions in one location later on. Because that's what's gonna be lol.I am not sure he will believe we are doing it for the Directorate. We have kept everything about our actual plans secret. Everything was under wraps and never mentioned. Regarding redemption, maybe for some, and I don't know if Boone would agree with it. The teacher spies are legion, so you know they did what they did. Kreger, Moreno, and Daisy are the old guys who have their war crimes, and in theory they are with us on our dream. The Cyrus group isn't doing much so far, besides settling in and holding a promise to us. One, we don't know if they will. And they need to rectify their past mistake in Freeside.At this point, if we are not telling of that shit of the heir of Caesar, then that's just another secret that will soon explode in our face as well. I really don't think we can keep it under wraps lol. Let's just tell the truth and our plans. It's either going to end with Boone and us, dead now or later, anyway, for a 99% chance. Or with him understanding with a 1% chance.>>6419761Survivalist, are you enjoying this?
>>6419760>Other (Write-in)>Tell the truth, but add more, new truth >"Boone... I'm terrified of what comes next. But I'm actually relieved that you've found out about this. I invited the Enclave refugees in as part of a larger plan, which I've been running on my own. But it's getting out of hand and I need help. Remember back in the day when we were working our way to liberating Vegas? Remember how we played House, the Families, the NCR, and the Legion all the way up until the 11th hour so we would come out on top? Well... I tried to bet on red again. Double or nothing. And I haven't known who or how to trust this time. The Enclave had already begun infiltrating us. A few... Moreno's crew, the old guard? They're Arcade's family. They changed in old age. They're the only ones I trust. The rest of them... I don't know, I thought if I opened the door, I'd be able to get a bead on all of them and execute a purge, or a re-education program or something. Get a census that would let me start trials for past war crimes. Some of them are just kids. I wanted the manpower, I wanted to save the ones that were born after the atrocities, or the ones... That were ready to Begin Again." >"But it's out of control. I thought I could play them. I'm too used to taking these risks and coming out on top, Boone. I'm realizing that maybe I'm some kind of a gambling addict. I create these impossible situations, because when I manage to outmaneuver and come out on top, there's no bigger high. Like a royal flush at the Tops or being an adrenaline junkie. I'm sorry I didn't let you in, Boone, I'm so sorry. Maybe I thought trying these plays alone would be more of a challenge on some level, or that it wouldn't work if word got out." >"I need to tell you something else... I haven't stopped playing Caesar. He has something wrong with his brain, he's in serious mental decline. I convinced him I'd be some kind of heir, and I've been squeezing the Legion for resources we need while keeping hostilities cool. I've been setting up the dominoes to make the whole damn thing collapse from the top down... But I've let too many of them in." >"Boone... I can't explain how sorry I am. Looking back I really don't know what I was thinking. I... I need help. I've needed help this whole time. Maybe even before Hoover. Maybe when Benny shot me in the head it changed something, made something wrong. Maybe it was when I got melon-balled at Big Empty. Maybe I've just... Always been like this. But I need to face it, and I need your help." I want to be CLEAR I am not suggesting we LIE to Boone more. For me, this write-in is a character development. It is the Courier looking himself in the face and acknowledging that he has fucked up, and thought he was more on top of this, because he is essentially a kind of gambling addict that pushes his luck beyond it's limit in order to feel soothed and 'in control' when he succeeds despite the odds.
>>6419769Just to be clear, the text after the vote is basically what I want us to say to Boone, if it'll do any good.>>6419770>Regarding redemption, maybe for some, and I don't know if Boone would agree with it.It either works for everyone or works for no-one, there's no point to it otherwise. Boone has his fair share of skeletons in the closet, and if he can't see that we're treating him the same as the rest of the people with troubled pasts then he's never going to see it at all.
>>6419777Sorry this is such a long ass monologue basically! I think this is a narratively interesting move for our character that makes him more complex. I think this is a logical conclusion for him to come to about himself based on his behavior. I think this kind of honesty and vulnerability is the best way to get Boone back on our side and to get a handle on this shitstorm. I am maybe even projecting a bit here and can admit this move is coming from my IRL experiences with group therapy both as a member and facilitator (though I don't have any addictive disorders, just PTSD/paranoia/anxiety). I know we didn't discuss in the past how we could let in the Enclave as a means of getting them to reveal themselves ahead of a purge, but we didn't discuss NEVER doing that either. I don't think it is a retcon for the Courier to look back at this decision and say that it was on his mind. It is also the safest and smartest way to go. There ARE war criminals among them, they DO need to come to justice if they are going to live with their victims - accountability is a huge part of Beginning Again. We really need to bring in our closest circle and handle this like we did the battle for Hoover. Not our government bureaucrats. Our brothers and sisters in blood, the smartest, toughest motherfuckers in the Mojave, the ones that will go to war with us against the entire NVD to make things right if we have to. That's my pitch. The Courier should actually cry when he breaks this all down, IMHO
>>6419778>Boone has his fair share of skeletons in the closetThat is a fair thing for us to bring up (and if he pushes back hard, I think it should be mentioned that he is also a war criminal), but it doesn't fully neutralize his position against these hostile elements, and it doesn't change that we LIED. We have to own the lie and explain it without justifying or we will lose this friendship, and we'd deserve to. We should convince him that the innocents inside these evil groups deserve a new lease on life, and that the guilty should be held accountable but that even some of them deserve a chance to change. I don't think that's impossible! But we are going to have to do some Nuremburg shit, too. Paperclip was a moral atrocity in real life. We shouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. As House says, just look out the window and see how their blunders went for them. We know better. Time to take the plunge and do this all the right way.
>>6419777>>6419781>>6419783Last thing (forgive me for the volume but this is clearly VERY delicate and VERY consequential) If Boone balks at our trusting the Auld Lang Syne crew, point out that they fought and bled with us AGAINST the Legion, and that he saw Arcade in Tesla armor and knows his past.
>>6419760I'll back these 2 guys write ins.>>6419769>>6419777Also nice Trips
>>6419802Triple 7 trips on a post where Courier Six admits to being a gambling addict is a sign!
>>6419769supportingit's not just about Boone, it's about what the NVD is and I don't want it to be nu-Enclave
>>6419760>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot off. "It's a high-stakes bet that this Director can pull it together, fix the unfixable and win the continued liberty and prosperity of the NV Directorate by playing everything to our advantage."Sorry this offends you Boone, but our people's lives are riding on us finding a way to not only survive but thrive. You are needed in this and you're valued as much as Kreger. Even moreso than all them to keep them in check."It's no longer about getting a pound of flesh, or continuing an eye for eye so we all go blind."We cannot afford to forget what has been done, but we must continue on, for everyone that still depends on us.">>6419769>>6419777support, showing vulnerability, redemption.
>>6419760>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot off. I wont even be mad if he does try to kill us.>>6419777+1 to this if QM doesnt count this as lying. we clearly need help.
>>6419760>>Tell the truth. He knows most of your machinations so just reveal the rest to him. If he goes trigger happy, maybe you can get the first shot off.open to breaking the news soft as long as its honest.
>>6419774>are you enjoying thisImmensely
>>6420392It's gonna be fun to write the Courier going "I made extensive deals with the two most evil factions in the entire known world, including the one that forced you to kill your pregnant wife to avoid a horrible fate for both her and your unborn child. I'm sowwy"
>>6420392>>6420407Genuinely generous as hell that the Courier got to do this for an entire year before the QM has challenged us to actually square the circle on all of this. I can only hope my heartfelt apology and admission of genuine mental illness is enough to get Boone to give us a chance if it wins out.
>>6419777+1 to the write-in btw.
>>6420413To be fair it’s more or a slow burn with things. The flood of Enclave immigrants happened pretty recently though the imprint of Enclave culture started with the adoption of the Remnants. And due to the nature of the nascent government, things have been (and still are to an extent) incredibly decentralized until recently. More of a case of “only a matter of time” and not really anything you guys did wrong. Not saying you guys did anything to help though lmao
>>6420531I guess I am mostly referring to the legion with the whole year thing, since we have been in bed with them more or less from the start. We've had a series of clandestine and direct dealings with Caesar. It's probably been like close to half a year since we started actively bringing in Frummies? Enclave I think closer to four or five months tops? That was a lot of time for us to be able to step back and actually think about how to resolve the inevitable conflicts between our evil cohorts and allies like Boone, Veronica, Farkas, Chen, The King, etc. I know canonically Raul and Lily are neutral about the Legion if you choose to go that route, but I'd find it hard to believe they would be understanding of our cozying up with Enclave remnants. Not like Daisy or Moreno who have moved on and need a bit of convincing to put the power armor, but people like Hoover who were actively maintaining a conspiracy to preserve the group until they could re-establish themselves. We were given a lot of rope but we just never made it a priority to fix things. Kinda delusional of Six to try and stretch these lies and walk that tightrope forever.
So anons, just to be clear, we are voting to break down and confess EVERYTHING, including dealing with Caesar, to Boone, the stone-cold killer with anger issues who hates Caesar and anything Legion more than he hates himself? This might work with Veronica or even Cass, but how do you guys think Boone is going to react?
>>6420580..................Yes.............................................................................................................I am just making this spoiler block extra long so you go into it thinking I am responding with something more nuanced........ Reread your post and tell me you are talking about him as if he is one of our best friends that we would and HAVE EVEN taken bullets for, rather than another obstacle to overcome or enemy to dispatch. If we do anything else we are developing Courier Six into an explicitly evil character, and a coward as well. Let's be brave and kind. That's more important than 'winning'.
>>6420633>more important than winningehhhh?
>>6420633I get you anon, but it's a bit different when your best friend is basically a professional assassin with serious mental issues of his own. i.e I don't want to trigger his extreme disgust and hatred of the legion and provoke him into pulling a gun on us. Which he has warned us in the past he will do. And this is the wasteland, the last time someone tried to be brave and kind New Canaan got razed and salted.
>>6420645Vote for your alternative then, my friend.
>>6420647My vote IS the alternative, telling him that second chances work for everyone or no-one, which he of all people should know. >>6419769
>>6420654If we establish it firmly that the Courier never had or has intentions to hold Enclave or Legion members accountable and coming to NVD is a blank slate, no strings attached second chance, I think Boone is much more likely to violently defect. More lying is... Going to get us killed. Not by Boone. By everyone else. So, for those reasons I really disagree. Maybe more anons will show up and see things your way. I have to admit I don't feel strongly at the end of the day, we are going to suffer the consequences of our actions now or later. The story will be interesting either way. It'll be worse later. Maybe more interesting though.
>>6420661I mean, Boone still hasn't answered for Bitter Springs as far as I'm aware. Where do we draw the line on accountability? How do we decide that peoples sins still mar them versus when they no longer matter? We only have people's word to go on, and our own judgement. And sure, we've made mistakes, like with House, but we've had the Remnants who've done so much for us, Ulysses, hell, the Jacobstown mutants are hated by just about everyone else in the wasteland, and rightly so, but we've chosen to take them in and forget everything they did while in the Master's army. Are we to say that supermutants can turn a new leaf while the Enclave and Legion can't? If we begin condemning people for what they've done in the past now we'll be an even bigger hypocrite and liar than simply pretending that there's nothing wrong.
>>6420674I think you are making as strong a case as you are able. But we still can't keep lying to him about Caesar. It's too late for that. As for other arguments: our society has forgiven certain super mutants, and is happy for most of them to live separate. Our society has not been given the opportunity to forgive the Enclave, or Legion, and their crimes are a lot more present, and recent. Also... The Legion is still active. The Enclave was still active until we took them in, however shrunken in influence. They might still be actively conspiring, at least a fifth of them probably are. So it just isn't really comparable to the mutants. Also, we are capable of conducting investigations into past war crimes. The world is not that primitive, New Vegas and NCR are plenty proof enough of that. There are criminal investigations in all of the games, it isn't unprecedented for there to be evidence. Probably a terminal somewhere. Officers willing to collaborate and technology to measure veracity. I think individuals like Boone and Ulysses redeem themselves by constantly risking their lives. I would be satisfied with having all Enclave refugees by drafted to the front lines of all military conflict? That would be a good comparison to how Boone and Ulysses atone. Good debate, anon, you may have counters to these points but I have to bow out, I just don't feel strong enough for another big post but I do feel committed that we need to open up and eat shit on this if we are going to succeed long term.
>>6420684Fair enough. Fun chat.Though I will say I am dead against telling Boone about the Caesar thing more than anything, because that I believe will make us a target for him. Best case he'll demand we kill Caesar or he's gone. And in the worst case scenario he defects and goes tattling to the NCR which we don't want at all. We can't keep the frumentarii secret, but being Caesar's heir is more than possible because we and Caesar are the only ones who know about it.
Telling Boone the WHOLE truth wins
Quest Added: [ALL BETS ARE OFF]
>>6421460We better roll good on the speech check.
Rolled 30 (1d100)>>6421470You know, I was originally not going to have rolls here but that wouldn’t be very fun of me, would it? 1d100+6, BO3
Rolled 54 + 6 (1d100 + 6)>>6421478Watch this
Rolled 94 + 6 (1d100 + 6)>>6421478Hm>>6421470I kind of fucking hate you right now anon!!!
>>6421484Thank fuckening God our dice chose the right time to work.........
>>6421484Dice don't lie yall
>>6421484Unnatural 100, not bad. Won’t make miracles happen but will soften the blow One more roll
Rolled 6 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6421478There's still time for a nat 1
>>6421495You fucking tried it, huh
>>6421484Saving our bacon anon, the NVD is in your debt.
>>6421508I also wrote the big write-in, my ID just changed because it's my day off and I am waiting for this restaurant to open so I can head to the zoo(^: so I am feeling very responsible for whatever happens next.
[QUEST STARTED: THE COURIER ALWAYS WINS?]For the first time in a long while, you’re boxed in. You briefly consider killing Boone but immediately banish that thought for multiple reasons. You then consider lying again but to what end? You may get out of this specific encounter but you’ve run out of road. The only way out is through and the only way through is telling the truth. [Boone, I may be a little bit in over my head here.]He stares at you but doesn’t say anything. You continue.[Do you remember how just over a year ago we walked the Mojave, turning player against player? We tricked House into thinking we activated those Securitrons for him and convinced Caesar into thinking we blew that Securitron vault up. The high I felt playing with those stakes and coming out on top…I literally can’t describe it. ]You certainly don’t mention tricking the NCR or throwing Oliver off the dam. [Well, it worked out so well before so I did it again. Why not let the hot hand run the table? Think about it, the NVD is nestled between the behemoths of the wasteland, the absolute only way we’d come out on top is if we played to win. And the only way to win is by throwing it all on red, every time.]Again, he says nothing but his predatory eyes keep a close watch on any movement you may make. [So here it goes. Daisy, Kreger, Moreno, Dr. Henry and Johnson are all former Enclave. They’re Arcade’s adoptive family and he vouched for them. And after a year, I trust them with my life. I really do.]Boone: Continue. You’re not sure if that’s a good sign but in for a bottlecap…[I met the leader of these Enclave immigrants when I helped conduct raids on organized crime in Freeside. A man named Cyrus Long was here to learn about New Vegas and made contact with me with an offer. That offer was to begin moving his group from New Reno to the NVD to begin again. I know about the Enclave, heard the stories, but these men and women seem a far cry from those raining death from vertibirds. I gave them a strict framework for them to move here, including the vetting and tracking of every member who enters the NVD. Their only goal right now is to integrate, to follow our rules and customs and to realize they’re no longer the Enclave. They’re citizens of the Directorate.]Boone: Jesus Christ. [How many people do you think live in New Vegas that were born there? I’ll tell you, it’s less than you would guess. This entire region is made up of people coming here for something different, ideally a better life. One of these immigrants, Tiffany Hoover, can’t be older than 25 yet she should be executed because her grandfather *may* have committed crimes?]Boone: Crimes against humanity, Six! These fuckers killed, raped and pilled indiscriminately! Children and women!
[And if I find out any of these immigrants were responsible, they will be held responsible! But I cannot damn an entire group of people because of the sins of their fathers. That war is over, the Enclave is done. The NVD is a place to begin again.]Boone says nothing as he stews in contemplation. The cloudy desert night pants his features in dark, shifting shadows. That was the easy part.[But that’s not all. You know how much the NCR wants New Vegas. If they truly decided to take it and didn’t care about the consequences, we could do nothing to stop them. So I made another bet, maybe the most dangerous yet. Caesar was sick during the Mojave Campaign, a brain tumor that was set to kill him in just months. His sudden death would potentially have torn the Legion into pieces and allowed the NCR to bring the full brunt of its power on us.]Fuck, it sounds so much worse coming out of your mouth. Maybe you actually did make the wrong decision, and not just with telling Boone. [So I went all-in when I was invited to visit Caesar in his Capitol. I thought maybe I’d try to assassinate him, but the fear of the NCR kept that decision at bay. Once there, I realized he invited me out to operate on him, to remove the tumor. Again, I thought about letting him die but that happens and the Legion splinters…]The usually stoic sniper replaces his stony facade with one of shock bordering on horror. You quickly hold up your hand before he can interrupt. [Yeah I know. A literal deal with the devil. I fixed the tumor for a very lucrative payment in return but something unusual happened during his recovery. He came out of his rest rambling about me being the heir to his empire and how there was some vast conspiracy to kill him. I took this as a sign and leaned into it, informing him of admittedly real offers to have him die on the operating table by my hand.]Boone can’t help himself now. He stands up and aims his rifle at you. Boone: AND WHY DIDN'T KILL HIM! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH HE’S RESPONSIBLE FOR? You don’t attempt to disasm him, you don’t even raise your hands. Instead, you level your gaze with the fire in his eyes. [Because that doesn’t help the NVD. It would have been the right thing to do, the moral and ethical thing to do. But it would have probably sealed the fate of the NVD. This is the game we’re playing now, Boone! I know you have personal feelings clouding your judgement, I don’t blame you. I’d probably shoot me if I were in your boots but tell me I’m wrong.]He doesn’t say anything but he doesn’t lower his gun either. [So now Caesar thinks I’m his heir, and I’ve been feeding him rumors and lies about the vast conspiracy against him. It started the purging of his empire, including the killing of Vulpes Inculta, the leader of the Frumentarii. That was done with my bare hands, for what it’s worth.]
This does have the effect of cooling Boone’s temper and he stops pointing his rifle at you. Instead, he slams the butt of it into the rusted metal near him. Boone: FUCK! That’s putting it lightly. Boone: What else are you doing with the Legion?[Caesar sent a team of Frumentarii to New Vegas to be killed but we instead are using them to train our own spies. Obviously they’re not that good if they were discovered.]Boone: Courier, do you have any idea how dangerous this is? How delicate a house of cards you built? [If there’s anyone who knows the stakes and the danger, it’s me. But what scares me the most is, I love it. I’ve never felt more alive than when I’m shaking Kimball’s hand with my right and dealing with Caesar with my left. It’s intoxicating.]This explanation doesn’t go over too well with Boone. Boone: Oh you’re a gambling addict? That justifies what you’ve done?For some reason, this really annoys you. What does Boone truly understand about what you’re doing here? You could have taken the money from House, the power from Caesar or the fame from the NCR. Instead, you chose the hard and thankless path and you have, from day one, tried your best. But now is not the time for political philosophy and what’s truly necessary to lead. [No, but maybe it explains my mindset. There’s not a lot of people like me in the Wastes but you’ve spent more time with me than anyone. Can you truly say I’m a bad person?]Once again, Boone doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he begins slowly pacing while mumbling to himself. Boone: I don’t know anymore. Maybe not, but it doesn’t mean they’re the right choices. You’re the smartest man I know, Courier. But maybe this is too much for you. [Maybe. I kept this from everyone because part of me wanted to assume the responsibility, to take the burden. But I’ve gambled too much, all my chips are wrapped up and I think I need help.]Boone: You’re not going to get any sympathy from me. I don’t even know what the fuck to think about this. Jesus Christ, Courier. You don’t have much to say. Instead, you let out a shaky breath. A very unusual reaction from you.
Boone: But I’m not going to be the judge, jury and executioner. Here’s what’s going to happen. We will finish this mission and you will stay far the fuck from me. As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me. [Thank you, Boone. I’m glad you were the one to finally get me to realize how deep I’m in the hole.]He stands up and spins his hand in a circle. Off in the distance in a bluff, you see movement. You assume it’s part of BTO keeping an eye on you two. Boone: Don’t thank me yet, Six. I haven’t decided what I’m doing about it yet. Damnit Six, you were…He doesn’t finish and begins to walk towards camp. You’re smart enough to give him time and distance. In the quiet of the desert at night, you think more on how you got here. All the decisions you made over the last year in power. But no silver bullet hits you, no sudden realization that enlightens you to a new answer you hadn’t thought before. Because as bad as it sounds without context, there is almost NOTHING you would have done differently. You leave the rusted out hulk and begin the walk back to camp. You’re the Director - Courier Six - and you take full responsibility for everything you’ve done. You’ll answer to those under you, it’s their right to know, but they’ll learn what it truly takes to lead.
>>6421646>You quickly hold up your hand before he can interrupt.>[This is the game we’re playing now, Boone! I know you have personal feelings clouding your judgement]>>6421649>Boone: Courier, do you have any idea how dangerous this is? How delicate a house of cards you built?>[If there’s anyone who knows the stakes and the danger, it’s me.]How did we go from earnestly apologizing for our lies and compulsive risky behavior without justifying it, and asking seriously for help now that we know we are in too deep... To justifying everything as being for the good of the NVD, insisting we know better than Boone because our judgment isn't 'clouded by emotions', not even mentioning (much less saying sorry for) the deception, and explaining everything away as soon as we admit it? >For some reason, this really annoys you. What does Boone truly understand about what you’re doing here?You know who the Courier REALLY sounds like here? Walter White. >"No, you clearly don't know who you're talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not IN danger, Skyler. I AM the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!"The scene that the infamous One Who Knocks monologue comes from is one where Walter has the opportunity to admit he has taken all these risks and lied so much ultimately for his own ego, and that things have escalated out of control. It's a chance to be her husband, to be a team and fight their way out of the problem. But he doubles down. He is annoyed by the implication that he was wrong, or that he isn't still in control, and when he insists that he is 'the danger', he is lying to himself as much as he is trying to put Skyler back in her place. I mean...>>6419777>It is the Courier looking himself in the face and acknowledging that he has fucked up>>6421670>Because as bad as it sounds without context, there is almost NOTHING you would have done differently.So... I'm definitely surprised. If this is the kind of tone and posture needed to justify a 100 and passing the check - whereas sticking to the original write-in more by being conciliatory, remorseful, and vulnerable would have ultimately caused Boone to simply shoot - then I will roll with it. Boone isn't Skyler, after all, and so maybe that approach could never have worked. Maybe Six needs to stick to his guns here and break it down for Boone as the boss to get to the other side of this. Real shame though, dude seems to be in such a dark place, mentally. I thought this could be a starting place for Six to reckon with this compulsive behavior and dishonesty. Seems to just be his excuse to continue down a selfish, self-destructive path.That'll still make for an interesting story. It's very, very Western, and very noir, which are definitely the two biggest genre influences when you brush past the scifi set pieces. At least we didn't get brained. For now.
>>6421676I mean, these things are already done, there's no taking them back now. We're not some dude cooking meth, we're the head of a middle-power that's wedged between two great powers that hate each others guts and us for existing. Whoever governs New Vegas must have that iron in him. We've spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as we're in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.
>>6421752There is no taking them back, but we're allowed to feel remorse for lying to our friends or running high-stakes and ethically compromising gambits on the fly. We can have iron in us and still be self-critical, or develop into a more honest, trusting friend. >We've spent a whole lifetime building thisI mean, it's only been a couple of years, buddy, we used to be a mailman. But, I am with you on fighting to the death to keep what we've got!
It did go for now. Now to show where our worth is.Yeah in that meeting we better talk of more.... like the developments with the BoS (goodybe Hardin) House (starting an hunt of the guy?). Maybe a talk of the treasuretrove thats under Hawthorne...
>>6421676>How did we go from earnestly apologizing for our lies and compulsive risky behavior without justifying it, and asking seriously for help now that we know we are in too deep... To justifying everything as being for the good of the NVD, insisting we know better than Boone because our judgment isn't 'clouded by emotions', not even mentioning (much less saying sorry for) the deception, and explaining everything away as soon as we admit it? The development so far makes sense from Six's own self-rationalisation.
>>6421784I think this is as good a time as any to start thinking about adding some checks and balances into our government
>>6421676At risk of this sounding like cope, the Courier’s “voice” is something I’ve struggled with in both iterations. Because while the mechanics are civ-like, this really is an exploration of Courier Six and how he grows into the role of the director. And as a downstream effect, how others and the wasteland react to that. There is also the reality of running it like a quest where different players have different views of the courier and what he should do. Instead of having whatever direction chosen by players (reacting this way instead of that way) play out as the only option that was possible, I let the disagreement the players have bleed over into the struggles that Six has. So that at this point in the quest, and by the end of it, he’ll be a product of your inaction and action while also having the same internal struggles you all have. So this plays out in these deeply personal moments because Six himself is still human and he’s a deeply divided person who is still trying to do his best. From a personal standpoint, my imprint is obviously on this quest and my beliefs and views are imprinted throughout. All that to be said, I know I’ll never make everyone happy here all the time but I still appreciate everyone’s time and effort with this.
>>6422050Sure, and that makes sense to me. I will maintain that the write-in itself is hinged on genuine remorse and accepting serious failure, but even a lot of the voters that supported it with +1's also added flat justifications or arguments that rationalize the decisions Six made - if that is all being considered and folded in, I would definitely agree that sentiment made up a larger part of the discussion than saying sorry or being regretful. And if the majority of us are approaching this from that perspective (whether I think the winning vote itself was or not), and that makes its way into the story this way, that's ultimately not a bad thing. I really do think the Courier here is just like Heisenberg - he is calmly explaining why he is right, how much more he knows about the situation than this mere critic (who happens to be one of his closest loved ones), and the way he is literally irritated by his genius being called into question. Instead of Walter's refrain of 'I do all of this for the family!' we get 'this is what I have to do for the NVD!', which has often been the justification in our votes for morally questionable moves. And yaknow what? Breaking Bad is a great TV show because people really like to watch Walter White spiral into this void of chaos and treachery because of his incessant need to be the smartest (and eventually most powerful) person in the room. I didn't even have him in mind when I pitched a confession to a sort of gambling addiction, but it really mirrors how at the end of BB Walt finally confesses that he was doing it all for himself, because the criminal antics made him feel alive. Six is recognizing as much about himself here, but clearly doesn't:t have any regrets. Maybe he will! More than anything man, you're the QM and I think you oughta just trust your instincts when illustrating the MC, even if they sometimes baffle players a bit, which is something I think I've done sometimes myself - as a writer you gotta keep an extremely firm grip of a character like this in order to keep momentum in the story. Once I lose even a small part of my contact with a character's psyche, it becomes three times as hard to write them, for me, and I think that's generally a big challenge in collaborative storytelling mediums.
>>6421784I think what you said here is a bit circular - the goal, for me at least, wasn't to rationalize everything, Six has already been doing that the whole time. The idea was more that, finally being confronted in this way, he would break down and have the full realization that his behavior (specifically his tendency to lie directly or by omission to the ones closest to him, and repeatedly take huge, morally compromising, high stakes risks) is at this point second nature, compulsive, and may genuinely need to be healed. Rationalizing is a good way to win an argument if you're the better speaker and have the sharper intellect (which Six enjoys both benefits), but going back to my comment above about this being partially informed from my experience with group therapy... It's also a good way to lose everyone you love and destroy your life. Boone may not have shot us, but he doesn't trust or like us anymore because we didn't give him a reason to. That's really compelling stuff, though, it really affected me emotionally to read because I feel like I have experienced this kind of breakdown in friendship a few times in my life. So, again, I don't wanna sound totally like I'm bitching. It's good storytelling.
I do want to point out amidst all this soul searching, that we are a head of state communicating with a military subordinate. Operational security and the prerogatives of leadership allow us to compartmentalize information and withhold things from said subordinates in line with our own judgment and the needs of the state. I hate to sound like an autocratic prick, but this is basically a benevolent dictatorship, and quite honestly I think we had very good reasons for both letting in the Enclave remnants as well as subverting Legion personnel and leadership in the interest of the NVD's long term security. Boone is a soldier, he doesn't need the whole picture and in fact given it to him does nothing but cloud his mind and subvert him from his correct purpose, which is to be the state's instrument of war. Keep in mind he committed war crimes, murdering Khanate women, children, and noncombatants because NCR leadership told him to, so for him to clutch pearls at us accepting Enclave soldiers who followed orders from their own chain of command is both hypocritical and borderline insubordinate. Hate to sound like an autocratic prick about this but it is what it is and we are who we are. All this mopish navel gazing is downright uncourier-like.
As far as the legion stuff goes, if he can't see the upside in our positioning not only to remove the legion as a long-term threat but providing us a potential route to parabolic expansion via inheritance, while simultaneously taking out their head of Intel and gaining experience for our own intelligence apparatus via the frumentarii, then he's not the steely eyed special ops squaddie I understood him to be. To turn the enemy's forces against themselves is the height of the art of war, but to to bring the enemy's strength and landholds within one's own grasp without firing a shot is the absolute apex. Boone needs to take a Calma and get back in line.
>>6422105>Hate to sound like an autocratic prick about this but it is what it is and we are who we are. All this mopish navel gazing is downright uncourier-like.No single one of us gets to define Six, and if your vision of him is as a remorseless autocratic prick, I have to say that is who he has become through gameplay and chosen to be in this moment. But even in the game, there are tons of empathetic, humble, kind, and honest dialogue options that can be chosen. In fact, if the Courier hadn't chosen dialogue options that are empathetic and kind, he would literally not have been able to unlock Arcade's companion quest and rally the Enclave remnants - that's canon in this story. Same for Veronica and Boone, as I recall, you literally have to choose to be a good, moral person as you travel in order for them to open up enough to initiate their companion quests. In THIS quest, there is always an opportunity for Six to change his perspective, or open up emotionally to the people close to him. He has been doing that with Cass, actually, though I am interested to see how she handles this revelation. I suspect she won't take kindly to being told she needs to 'get back in line'.
>>6422105>>6422108This got me curious enough to reread the details and dialogue for some of these companion quests. Seems Cass is the only companion that will abandon you based on Karma, bailing if you go 'very evil', and the rest are affected mainly by faction rep, and occasionally certain specific choices - I remember losing Arcade myself one time when I activated ARCHIMEDES, he was totally incensed, though maybe it was just the huge NCR rep hit. Anyhow, man, you are definitely *not wrong* to look at it this way. >we are a head of state communicating with a military subordinate.>Operational security and the prerogatives of leadership allow us to compartmentalize information and withhold things from said subordinates in line with our own judgment and the needs of the state.>Boone is a soldier, he doesn't need the whole picture and in fact given it to him does nothing but cloud his mind and subvert him from his correct purpose, which is to be the state's instrument of war.These things are all essentially true... But it is a *fact* that Boone is (was, I should say) one of our best friends, too. It is a *fact* that for our Courier to have completed all of the companion quests and rallied the Enclave remnants with Arcade, he would have to have conducted himself with positive karma overall by the time of Hoover, and would have had to choose kind, empathetic, options consistently, on at least a dozen occasions. I think mathematically, since we did not kill Vulpes or Caesar prior to Hoover, Six would have actually HAD to save the crucified soldiers at Nelson instead of mercy kill them, for the extra +1 loyalty point, meaning he took big personal risks to do what was right instead of what was easy or pragmatic, in the past. So it's more complicated than that, or at least inaccurate to say it's 'uncourier-like' to care about his friend's feelings or being honest with them, or even doing what is morally correct at his own expense. But he isn't just The Courier anymore, it's been a year, and through our votes we have made him into The Director, and that's a man that... Well, wants his instrument of war to get back in line while he 'compartmentalizes information'. Far from the first to be hardened by the task of nation-building... Edward Sallow is a topical example of the same arc. Again, sad as it is, good storytelling.
>>6422108>us a potential route to parabolic expansion via inheritanceI really doubt that will happen easily, or if at all. Not only have I never seen most of us interested in changing the NVD or ourselves to fit Caesar's mad mind of us being his "Augustus", but we are in no condition to be a possible target of the looming internal disaster of the Legion. Already, we are heavily occupied in fixing the Mojave and building the NVD. I don't see us wanting to deal with the heavily armed shitshows of warlord generals that will spawn from Edward Legion hordes. Besides, in one way: defense.We have only gone behind Caesar's idea of heir to shield the NVD from any potential predations, and also to create internal disorder in his lands. Actually accept being his true heir ? We are not prepared for that, because we aren't the wet dream heir of all his generals and warriors, even if we showed ourselves to be great soldiers/commanders and kicked around even the NCR, we have little of the Legion in us (culturally and socially). Really, Edward will drop a social bomb on his generals' heads when he publicly picks us. That will likely break the Legion back, if the other internal events going on inside it don't do it first.Which is good since we have no reason to go behind Caesar's madness, beside for keep the lie going with him. We want to shield ourselves as long as possible, but we will likely not be his "Augustus" in truth. We will be what we are now, the Director.
>>6421670Its bad, But honestly not as bad as I was expecting which was gunfire. I hope Boone swings around to see it, and I really do hope the deals with the devils we've made pays off.However we cannot have fucking Veronica at the meeting with our 'companions' the fucking snitch.
>>6422105Yeah... I didn't want to outright say it but all the sudden regret and emotion is unbecoming us as a character and head of state. We're not some guy goofing off with our friends and making mistakes and causing drama, we're the damn head of an entire nation and we have responsibilities to that nation, arguably more than we do to our friends. We don't have time for regrets, not when we're still building it up. If we didn't want those regrets, then we (as a character) shouldn't have embarked on the journey at all and let House run things instead.That isn't to say that we need to be an emotionless autist like House, there's a reason we decided to take over instead of letting him run it, but by the same token we can't be naïve about what we're doing and what we've done. There are going to be moments when we do things that will upset people. There will be moments when we will be a real cold bastard because sometimes talking things through doesn't work. We cannot, and should not try to please everyone, especially if they start questioning decisions that have already been made. Are we going to try and take those decisions back? If not, then what's the point of getting emotional over them? And again, it doesn't mean that we should be emotionless, we should be open to our companions perspectives, get their input, and try to do good for everyone, but ultimately, the buck stops with us because we are the one making the hard decisions, not them. >>6422220>VeronicaWe're going to need to crack some heads on that one lol. Especially given the Brotherhood's recent activities, she may be an actual security liability.
>>6422310>Are we going to try and take those decisions back? If not, then what's the point of getting emotional over them?Because when normal people betray their friends and lie to them about it, they feel remorse, and reconsider their actions, maybe even try to salvage the relationship by showing contrition and seeking to change or reconcile. You guys are both saying Six doesn't need to be an 'emotionless autist' or you 'hate to be an autocratic prick', but in the same breath justify him being an emotionless, sociopathic, autocratic autist prick. Regardless of whether you hate it, or whether he needs to be, Six is one, now. You might as well just own it, since you think the juice is worth the squeeze? I was the one here genuinely trying to swim the other way, but now that we're here, I am not uncomfortable just leaning in. A lot of the best fiction out there revolves around malignant narcissists, and I think it is a reasonable headspace for Six to end up in.
As much as you wish it to be, you can’t just skip time until after the inevitable confession to your closest friends and confidants. Neither can you skip the arduous process of walking north to Zion and back. To add further insult to injury, Operation Fulcrum is more or less a failure. The day after your confrontation with Boone, Team A runs into the first patch of Boomer Blight up in the mountains. A forward deployed squad was walking through a thick patch of brush ahead of the main force when the ground itself opened up and the five soldiers fell in. What was assumed to be a minor sinkhole or old mineshaft revealed itself to the gaping maw of a…creature…that swallowed the squad in one gulp. -5 Soldiers It attempted to sluggishly bury itself back in the sand to relocate but the screams of the consumed soldiers did alert the Ulysses and his force. Unfortunately, the lack of any heavy weaponry made the process of bringing the monster down a lesson in patience. Team A then had to track it down and pepper it with gunfire, trapping it in a rocky canyon as it squirmed just below the surface. The Securitron team from Team B slowly made their way across the desert until the robots could rain rockets down into the valley. Even then, a squad of particularly brave soldiers had to climb down into the rubble-strewn valley to ensure the monster was truly dead. While it was killed, it’s impossible to know the length or size, or what it looks like outside of the gaping mouth ringed with jagged teeth and a green, slimy coating that corroded at the touch. When this was reported to you on your entry to an abandoned town, you cursed the losses but assumed it would be the worst it would get. Unfortunately, Operation Fulcrum still had some surprises. Beaver Dam sits along I15 and is inhabited by a small group of traders who profited greatly when New Canaan was still around. Even just a few months ago, it was inhabited by nearly a hundred people who were nominally under Legion authority but in practice, were an independent group. The small but flowing river made it an important rest stop for travelers. The scouting group was then surprised to find the town completely abandoned. The immediate belief is that the increased radiation from the Zion bombing chased them away as the river held unhealthy levels mostly due to runoff from the nearby hills. There was evidence of violence and conflict but aside from some blood splatters and bullet casings, no bodies were found. That was until a Private Pulwasky from the second platoon wandered down the stairs to the boiler room of an old motel. Inside was a scene almost without belief. In fact, you didn’t believe it until you went yourself.
You walk down the cement stairs into the stuffy, humid darkness. In the far corner, tucked halfway behind an old blown boiler in the was an amalgamation of flesh, bone and sinew that lost all shape and sense. Light shone on the greenish-grey mass makes it recoil, but the lump can’t move as it had no appendages. In fact, it seems stuck to the wall through a sticky residue. Legs, arms, digits and stumps sprout out all over the misshapen body but they have no apparent use other than to squirm in reaction to external stimuli. Worse than this are the faces of the victims plastered along the unnatural curves, twisted in agony. It’s unclear if they were once women or children, legion or bandit. Now they’re joined together in an absolutely abhorrent form. It takes you a few minutes until the horrible realization sets in for you. This is a living organism built from the bodies and biomatter of animal and man. All along the floor are sprouts of the same type of plant matter consistent with Boomer Blight and the spore cloud in the basement is so thick it leaves a dried crust on equipment when exposed to the Mojave sun.As you have no scientific personnel or equipment, there’s nothing more to learn from this ghastly creation. You set your mini-nuke to detonate and evacuate your force from the area. The explosion wipes nearly half the small settlement off the map, while the Securitrons demolish the remainder with their rockets. The destruction of the town had the unfortunate side effect of riling up what spore carriers were hiding out in the town. An unfortunate squad of soldiers were ambushed while clearing an old health clinic and ripped to shreds before the Securitrons could roll in and eliminate the threat. -5 soldiers
>>6422364Oh God. The Blight is evolving into the Flood. I vote next thread we scream at the BoS to get this shit cleaned up ASAP or we're kicking them out of the bunkers. Or maybe get the Enclave folks to start working on some agent orange we can load on the boomers plane.
>>6422418why not bothtalk to the chinese as well, maybe they have stockpiles of ancient plague rat piss or something we can use
>>6422364It was already quite bad the other time. I still remember telling people that i doubt it would be the end of an "arc" and that it would hardly just sit and die because of a nuke. This pretty much confirms it.Unmanageable losses, considering relevant CBRN equipment was lost. Damage done : irrelevant. This is very easy to say, if the Blight is close to a river it would be smart and have more than one connection. Meaning : the death of one monster of this size and a nest quite away from Blight origin point mark that this it has survived and has already earned again a considerable production capacity of units.Just retreat in a ordered way, we specifically have written down to not push in case we had a risk of losses, and to act conservately. We suffered multiple casualties and barely acted that way, get out now.But do order to grab burned evidence. So we can tell ..... heh nah. We are doing this on our own. The BoS will not give a fuck, everyone else cant be trusted. Dont grab anything beside our dead equipment if possible.>>6422418It was already kind of like this, merely adapted more after rads. What should have us scared is not the slightly changed aspect, its the fact that it fully survived and its unit production capacity has been steadily regained. The fact its near a river with 1 auxiliary nest should be also a source of fear.I am not sure I want to trust the BoS with helping us, they have left the previous checkpoints as soon as it was convenient. At this point we might need to swap research and go full on Blight death, while also asking the Boomer to prepare in defense and us supporting them.Nah we need something that kills it in full. No more half measures like a bomb, a chemical agent, a gas. Lets find how to kill it for sure with research, with a 100% efficient result and no adaptations born from it.>>6422493?The Shi are more on a technological mechanical/industrial/computer aspects of science. They are not specialized for this. It would also just be an insult someone for free, especially with something the Blight has no issue in integrating already since it assimilated many wastelanders and wasteland creature which would include rad rats. I am not sure whats the angle.
>>6422512See, the problem with doing all the research ourselves is that it takes up valuable resources with no long term benefit to ourselves. We do all the work for the rest of the wasteland and we get nothing back in return, which is why I want to fob it off to the BoS. Or maybe we get the Think Tank to tell us how to make more of the Sierra Madre's cloud? That is pretty good at killing things, the only worry I'd have is that the Blight evolves from that, so to avoid that we'd need samples for testing, experimentation, etc. Which would be a headache. Maybe we can turn Vault 22 into a biolab? Then again, that's basically asking for this whole situation to turn into Resident Evil.
>>6422527Well I see a long term benefit : this thing dead and dusted, and not having to read more about how much it survives/adapts and how much it wants to infest and expand. I think its a wonderful benefit. >rest of the wasteland and we get nothing back in returnYeah but what you want to do. The Blight either gives up temporarily on infesting us and spreads on another location, or double downs on trying to infest the Mojave, the nearest source of biomass and with large amount of water too. We have a shaky political situation with the NCR, an unclear one with the Legion and Lost Hills think we are their ideological enemy. Of the three only two can provide scientific help and at this point, i am not sure we can afford for even send them samples of this thing. Its too dangerous. I am not sure they would like the idea to work together in a lab owned by us either for example. Times have changed. Would they realize a 2nd time that we need their help for deal with this nightmare ? That they must look the other way and help us again even if they really dont like us ? I am not fully sure.>which is why I want to fob it off to the BoS.After their latest stunts, fully giving them the objective to research a way to kill this thing is not something i want to do. I can accept their help if we can monitor it and if they actually give said help.>Maybe we can turn Vault 22 into a biolab?I am thinking of doing that. We cant have one in NV for obvious reasons (need a proper well-built structure, sanitation situation kept in balance, no proper housing, water problem, sewers not fixed, colonies of very dirty animal pests etc...). Its probably a bad idea since Vaults are all old and broken hyper costly giant turds made by Vault-Tec.... but it beats being a biolab in our capital.
With Beaver Dam demolished, Team B continues towards St. George along I15 while Team A takes the tougher terrain and heads down south. However, the rads continue to only tick higher and halfway between the ruins of Beaver and St. George. While the CBRN suits protect our soldiers, the stuffy outfits make travel slow and tiring. You, Boone and a Securitron creep closer to the town to scout it out before Team B moves in. St. George was a Legion settlement in name only but was settled by Mormons and some surrounding tribals. They took advantage of I15 and Highway 18 that are pretty lucrative trade routes through the region. That’s what you were told by Daniel and Secretary Garret, of course. This is the first time you’re laying eyes on it and what you see fills you with a heavy sadness. It’s obvious there was a healthy population here centered around trade and even some robust agriculture and animal husbandry. But no more. Brahmin and bighorners lay dead in their enclosures while a series of poorly-dug graves sit just outside the town. You and Boone walk through the outskirts checking for life, but the fallout from your bombing has killed just about everything, including the foliage. While some weeds and shrubbage still exist, the crops are dead in the fields and the lack of scavengers is shocking. While most animals in the wasteland have built up a resistance to radiation, the Mojave isn’t one of those areas and the fallout around St. George was hit particularly hard. You and Boone say nothing as you both leave the town and return to your Securitron, radioing back to Team A to begin the trip back to New Vegas. There’s nothing here for you. Operation Fulcrum is a success, even if it doesn’t feel like it. The strike force did clear the area and eliminated multiple booked blight contaminations even if it resulted in the loss of 10 soldiers. The Toxic Avengers also got valuable combat experience and learned much about fighting the monsters of the Boomer Blight. You also learned much more about how the Boomer Blight spreads in the wild. While you have no explanation for the flesh pile, it’s clear the Blight needs bio matter and bio matter tends to need water to thrive and dies very quickly in the arid desert of the Mojave. This goes for their spores as well, with the dry desert quickly killing them if not contained in a moist, darker environment. The Blight system also can’t expand much outside of already existing ground so there’s very little fear of the Blight making the desert into some green hell. This makes it much easier to search for any infestations though you shudder for the potential of a widespread outbreak in New Vegas. You make a mental note to check in on the joint NCR-NVD project to see if they have any new developments. Of course, you have a more pressing and potentially-existential crisis to deal with.
>>6422527We do benefit from it though, thats experience in learning how to deal with wild and fucked biological horrors which is fairly common in well any fallout game. Not just that but by not partaking in it or atleast working with others, that gives THEM power over us which we really don't want to lose out.Also the BoS 'pulled back' once we dropped the nuke and didn't send shit in to verify its all dealt with. So trusting them blindly is the same issue we got into every other mess. ya ya pot calling kettle black.
>>6422611gee, I wonder what would happen if we made it rain somehow
>>6422719We should probably make sure folks now how to swim just on the off chance now that you bring that up or what to do during flooding/flash floods.
>>6422727how about we bury the damn doomsday machine until the Blight has been well and truly dealt with instead?also, maybe it's time to invest more into those antifungal plant creches or whatever they were
>>6422731>doomsday machineWait, I thought Rain won?
>>6422733it didI thought it was a bad idea from the start and now I feel vindicated in the worst way possible
>>6422735and by it I mean the weather machine
>>6422719Do you really think the QM would apply that kind of a huge drawback to using the technology he had one of our main science NPCs tell us to investigate right after we finally start to do so? Like, he kicked us this plot hook, surely he wouldn't punish us with a Blight outbreak wherever we fire it up on the first go? ...right?
>>6422742you don't have to jump at every bad idea, you knowyou could jump at good ideas like antifungalsfive minutes of thinking would have told anyone as they told me that it is a huge waste of scientist time in the first place, and that it can backfire in about six ways, and that it will never live up to the hypebut you have to play the meta don't youmaybe take this as a hint that the meta ain't what you think it is?
>>6422749By your own logic, There is no good choice ever because there will always be a 'possible' negative effect and thus no reason in partaking?
>>6422749What are you talking about?
>>6422749Genuinely don't understand how it's 'meta' for Doctor Henry to be sent by us to Big MT in order to start research projects and tell us where to start, then he tells us one of his top picks is the Weather Machine, then we begin researching the Weather Machine, and are told we will be able to make rain. That's all in character info and choices. The QM would have to be a pretty miserable guy to punish us with a major Blight outbreak as a consequence of using this essential technology he directly put us on the path to utilize, you sound terribly pessimistic to me.
>>6422757I can't argue against points I didn't make, won't even try>>6422758some sort of magic plant greenhouse thing, it's in the previous thread I think?>>6422768>Genuinely don't understandthat much is obviousput simply, not all ideas advanced by NPCs are good ideasanons keep falling for bad ideas, like rebuilding a doomsday machine or hosting genocidal cultistsmeanwhile genuinely useful things like roads, securitrons, sanitation fall by the wayside while the political situation goes to shit
>>6422779Rain is a bad idea? Solving the water shortage and producing CLEAN water that would direly assist the sanitation problem? And jumpstart our economy so we can finally afford the laundry list of bullshit we need to build the Securitrons? And the budget to roll out the roads and other infrastructure? You're a brainless retard, just shut up, Jesus.
Here's an idea: since the weather machine does draw rain from elsewhere to put it where we want, according to Henry and the brains, why don't we just tune it to pull all the rain away from anywhere the Blight might be growing (so it starves and dies) and dump it all on the Bitchachos of Steel so they drown in their faggy little bunkers trying to swim out in power armor?
>>6422782>Rain is a bad idea?yes? not just because of the blight, but because of the widespread ecological and meteorological imbalances it would createwe have SHITLOADS of water, y'all just can't focusbut it's okay, I'm taking the other anon's lead so now in my headcanon Benny's bullet went through the Courier's prefrontal lobe and now he has trouble with impulse control
>>6422783I do want to do this when we get it running. We need a way to kick the Brotherhood out because it's becoming clear they can't be trusted, and direct conflict will be extremely costly. I wonder what House's plans were to get rid of them before we showed up?
>>6422813Pretty sure it was sneak into the bunker and blow it up
>>6422823With who though? If we delivered the chip without getting taken out by Benny he would probably have paid us and let us go on our merry way, it was only when we proved that we were a tough sunnovabitch by climbing out of the grave that got him interested in what we could do.
I’ll throw you guys TWO (2) Survivalist bones 1. The joint research program has established that the blight can’t survive in high-altitude weather systems due to the temperature and pressure. So while it could technically be engineered to resist the is environment, the current strain will not be picked up by rain and spread that way. In terms of making the Mojave a moister and cooler environment…you guys can connect those dots 2. The confrontation with your governmental leaders won’t require an action during next turn since it’s a pretty quick interaction and was thrust on you. I’m not exactly sure how to handle it, going with the same prompt that was voted on before or opening it up again. Regarding House’s plans for the brotherhood, you didn’t finds anything along those lines when you raided the bowels of the lucky 38 but remember, a lot of the information was fragmented or still encoded.
This might be too evil a suggestion, but if we want to kick the Brotherhood's ass we can drop some Blight samples in their bunkers then rain on it for a few days. Would need to be careful it doesn't spread from there, and this would very much be a last resort kind of thing, but it would probably dislodge them from the bunkers, or at least force them to expend the resources they've been moving in on the Blight.
>>6422906>This might be too evil a suggestionCourier is kinda evil these days, so I wouldn't protest on those grounds, but I think it would be insanely stupid and self destructive to seed a Blight infestation in the middle of our territory. We are already going to lose some people in leadership when they find out about our backroom dealing with Genocide Cult Roman Edition and Genocide Cult CIA Edition, but if we weaponized the Blight we would lose the rest, once they found out. I also think the Brotherhood would realize it's us, sooner or later, and it'd probably make the NVD their new number one enemy that must be defeated, seeing as we'd be waving around a whole new kind of WMD... No, no, you've gone too far with this line of thinking. We can just drown them. Or blow them up.
>>6422906That would def be too wrong, honestly we could just sneak in and reprogram all the turrets/ect inside that they would surely have.
While I might be in favor of blockading the BoS bunker entrance and gassing the inhabitants to replenish our power armor stocks, (preferably after jamming their comms) intentionally seeding blight in out own backyard may possibly be the smooth brain take we've heard all thread. Hard pass on that one please.As far as our meeting with the steering committee goes, we need to be super mindful of information leaks, as whatever we discuss could blow up our psyop on Caesar, the frumentarii could find out they're now our patsies and start making trouble, and the Enclave remnants could not integrate so nicely if they discover they are being treated as political lepers.
>>6423082I agree with everything you said except one thingthe Enclave know they're being treated like lepersthey also know they deserve itit was part of the deal
>>6423082>the Enclave remnants could not integrate so nicely if they discover they are being treated as political lepers.do.. you think they don't realize they are that?
>>6423082Yeah, we should be careful with the meeting. We already know we can't trust Veronica (though I don't think she's officially part of the government, so she might not be present?) and while people like Farkas are well meaning, she's still fundamentally a hippie. The King also has a big mouth. And the Caesar thing should be wrapt up tight, keep it only to our closest confidants like Boone and Ulysses.
Are we reaching out to the Chinese or nah
>>6423353>(though I don't think she's officially part of the government, so she might not be present?)My read of what Boone said was that he expected us to come clean to all of our administration officials and all of our companions; the crew that we took over Vegas with, at least, and the crew we run it with now. Boone is ALSO best friends with V, Raul, Arcade, Lily, and Cass, right? They all lived together for a long while.
Still not sure why we're intent on spilling the beans on some of our most closely held state secrets in front of the help just because Boone is in his feelings and says that's how it's gonna be. This is a terrible idea from a state security standpoint. Most of our companions and admin people have absolutely no reason to be read in on ongoing intelligence operations.
>>6423421Yeah, we should just kill Boone and make it look like an accident, at this point, and Veronica too. Maybe we could make some Ricin.
>>6423353>>6423421>>6423444Nah, truth is we're in way over our heads and should drop this weird alliance with Caesar and the Enclave now. Why the fuck do we even want to inherit the Legion territories when we barely even have the Mojave under control? This is megalomaniac type shit. Courier should've killed Caesar, let the Legion collapse and enjoy a peaceful eastern border for years to come while the Legiontards genocide each other over who gets to be the new top dog.Instead we're playing 20d chess, betraying the trust of our most trusted government officials and doing high risk schizo moves for barely any return on investment while problems pile on top of each other because of our shitty rolls and weird ideas.Like, EVERYONE hates the legion. You can play through New Vegas as many times as you want, no one in the Mojave has a good opinion of the Legion except its own members. What is even the POINT of having a senile Caesar as an ally or being his 'heir'?This is our last big gamble to get things back under control. We either go full schizo and get killed for being a shitty dictator, or we let go of our high stakes gambling addiction and start ruling with good karma while listening to the advice of people who actually care about us and about the Mojave as a whole.
>>6422914agreed, whoever thinks we should spread some sentient bioweapon around should be shot.
>>6423570>Nah, truth is we're in way over our heads and should drop this weird alliance with Caesar and the Enclave now.I agree, that's why I wrote a long write-in where the Courier apologized for lying, admitted he was in way over his head, and asked for Boone's help to get a handle on things even if that meant breaking off with the Legion and holding trials for war criminals among the Enclave. But the Courier rationalized everything to Boone and told him it was all for the good of the NVD. Internally, he was irritated that Boone was even questioning his decisions, because Six simply believes he knows better and is the only one capable of seeing the big picture.>>6421784>>6422105>>6422108>>6422310>>6423421More than a few anons seems to agree with that perspective.So... We are on the megalomaniac path, and we might as well lean in. Courier admitted he lied, but he didn't apologize, and he admitted that he is doing some of this for the thrill, but he didn't ask for help getting it under control. Maybe at the meeting more anons will have a change of heart, but as of now, he IS a schizo-dictator, and I am gonna plan around that, as a voter. Killing Boone on the mission would've raised too many suspicions and blown up in his faces, but now that we're home we can eliminate him quietly and frame the Brotherhood or maybe burn one of the Frumentarii.
>>6423583>But the Courier rationalized everything to Boone and told him it was all for the good of the NVD. Internally, he was irritated that Boone was even questioning his decisions, because Six simply believes he knows better and is the only one capable of seeing the big picture.There's still hope to recover. Killing any of our companions will be the point of no return for schizo-dictator path and I'll fight against it. This is the one line I think the "good end" courier wouldn't cross. These are his friends, people he's been very patient and empathetic with, and people who trust him above all else (that and the nice write-in being the only reasons Boone didn't try to put a cap in our head).
>>6423583I don't see the point in killing any of our companions. Who we are gonna replace them with even. Some of them are highly skilled and loyal.
>>6423583Anon, there's being a bit of a Soft-hearted devil and then there's turning into Elijah (though we did sell out our dead money companions and let him escape in exchange for the gold). Keeping secrets and doing bad things doesn't need to lead to us killing everyone close to us and inserting ourselves into House's control chamber. We've realised that we've perhaps bitten off more than we can chew, but we haven't committed to anything beyond that, not keeping the legion and enclave deals, nor throwing them out for what they've done, and definitely not embarking on some crazy assassination of the entire government. Also it is kinda the nature of /qst/ that the mc will be a little schizo as anons push and pull on decisions. >>6423570We're hardly betraying anyone but Boone who has a personal grudge against the Legion. Fact is, the Legion collapsing WILL be a problem for us, with refugees, awol soldiers becoming raiders, and the main bulwark against the NCR disintegrating if it happens. The Legion collapsing will produce anything but a peaceful eastern border. Or they'll sit on their asses feuding over caesars desiccated corpse until somebody picks up the piece of paper and reads out who his heir is but we don't talk about that.As for the Enclave, I am firmly against punishing them for perceived crimes for several reasons, the least of which being we don't have the luxury to waste time on something like that, on top of needing to exonerate several members of our government who have been core to our growth, on top of the fact that we don't even have a legal system or judiciary, on top of the fact that it would ruin the entire point of accepting them in the first place, that being to kickstart our R&D and wean us off NCR and Brotherhood technicians. Also they haven't done anything (to us). As far as we can tell they're completely loyal.
>>6423594>very patient and empathetic withNot for a while :/ >that and the nice write-in being the only reasons Boone didn't try to put a cap in our headOnly parts that made it in were admitting the risks are compulsive/addictive, and suggesting that a lot of the Enclave refugees are essentially innocent (maybe taken in by genocidal ideology, but never having perpetrated any criminal acts). I think the 100 roll is the reason Boone didn't shoot us, not what was written up; anons other arguments that were featured didn't really satisfy Boone, because while logically consistent, they ultimately were only there to justify the way we mistreated and betrayed him. That's why he told us not to talk to him anymore. >>6423598They are highly skilled but>and loyal.Boone isn't, anymore, and I feel pretty sure we will lose Veronica, Arcade for sure, and maybe Cass. Lily, Raul, Rex, and Ed-E are ride or dies and not affected by karma, faction rep, or 'evil' options in-game. Maybe I'm being pessimistic, though? It's like anon said up there, The Director is a benevolent dictator, and eventually the rubber hits the road with that and you gotta do a purge. I'm sure there are NPCs out there just as skilled, if not more so, that we could bring into our inner circle, but that are more aligned with our vision.
>>6423610Enclave-anon, you have always been pretty silly to me, but now that you've openly suggested seeding a Blight infestation in hidden valley to take out the Brotherhood, I just can't really take you seriously anymore. I mean dude, you are admitting outright that our version of the Courier condemned three people that had his back to horrible deaths in return for a fat stack of cash, and let loose one of the most evil characters in the setting. We have chosen to pursue things and align ourselves with entities that are mutually exclusive with maintaining the ties we have to several of our OG companions, and it's clear in character that the Courier stands by those choices and does not regret them. Why do you guys suddenly want it both ways? If Boone is an 'instrument of war' that needs to get back in line, we should just kill him before he forces us to undergo a massive political scandal that literally could inspire settlements to openly rebel. If you stand by integrating the Enclave so firmly, you need to accept that many people in NVD leadership will NEVER be willing to live alongside them, that's just how it is, man. Better off getting rid of them and finding replacements with a stronger sense of loyalty to our program.
We’re going to go straight to the meeting with everyone instead of the normal turn due to the potential impact of it but as I’m reading through the conversations, I don’t want to feel like any potential path has already been blocked off. Yes you can just come and be completely honest but do you justify it logically as a leader of the state or do you lean more into the “I made mistakes and I don’t know how to fix them”Or you could just refuse to tell everyone everything, further leaning into the “I’m the director and the decisions I make don’t need to be passed by and approved by everyone” angle. Basically a “need to know” basis because this is a government and not a bunch of friends walking around the wastes. I think I’m just going to give numerous different options to go down, and will welcome write-ins that cater to the angle of the courier. Perhaps it was a mistake allowing the truth option with Boone be too open-ended. Hope this makes sense. Will hope to have the post out this evening
>>6423626I am not on the bandwagon of making a massacre of our companions alongside as many as possible of our head departments. I will not purge our own.>I'm sure there are NPCs out there just as skilled, if not more so, that we could bring into our inner circle, but that are more aligned with our vision.Not interested in them. I am sure you and the other anons are very interested in that, which is clear at this point since you have talked about using poison or making accidents for multiple of them.
>>6423639I just think it's what The Director would be most likely to do at this juncture, based on how the conversation went and who he has become.
>>6423644I will have to disagree. But judging from what others want to do is whatever at this point. I will vote for not killing our own, if others want to kill them its on them as usual. Like every other choice, they did it because they hated the original choices and wanted chaos and problems. At this point, I will not be surprised when they will likely vote for full dictatorship and slavery.I guess they really love Caesar and Cyrus in the end, which makes me want to see them extra-dead even more now. Same for fucking House.
>>6423645You got my vote too anon. Even in a meta sense, it baffles me that certain anons would rather kill off the og NV characters to continue the schizo dictator path just to have them replaced by nobodies.>>6423638>Perhaps it was a mistake allowing the truth option with Boone be too open-ended.Nah, this was going to happen sooner or later.
>>6423645Yeah, I can empathize, I mean again I was pushing hard for reconciliation - even shedding some tears over the fuck ups. But even if we WANT to keep these companions on our good side, passing the check with a value of 100 got us >Stay the fuck away from me Out of Boone. If nothing else, Survivalist gives these NPC's consistent interior worlds/principles, even if Courier's isn't often lol. With that in mind, unless we nail a nat 100 for a crit, I think we need to accept we are gonna lose people. Based on how Six rationalized it all with Boone, I just think it's the next logical move. I could swing back the other way depending on how the meeting plays out though, maybe some of these dictator anons will get cold feet when they realize it'll turn into a bloodbath.
>>6423648Once again, it seems we are at a juncture. 3 (House, Caesar, Cyrus all alive and helped) at 0, but might as well try to throw a vote in the ring one last time. It will be pointless, and they will massacre most, if not a full clean up of companions/department heads, but it's the thought that counts.>>6423649I don't expect we will manage another 100, but I would very much prefer not to just kill our own, or that wasn't the first thought of everyone else here. It doesn't matter that I think that of course, since it will likely lose as an option just like every other damn time.
>>6423656We will have to hope for the coming of the lurker anons on update day.
>>6423660Even those were notoriously pro the other 3 options, each time. They will jump on killing once they see that option. It's a lost battle, but I am here because I wanted a certain Courier. Not sure if I will keep playing afterward, even if Survivalist makes a good quest.
>>6423638>Or you could just refuse to tell everyone everything, further leaning into the “I’m the director and the decisions I make don’t need to be passed by and approved by everyone” angle. Basically a “need to know” basis because this is a government and not a bunch of friends walking around the wastes.This one please. Chucking multiple threads worth of foreign policy and intel work in the dumpster because the Butcher of Bitter Springs is having a politically motivated attack of conscience is an absolutely wrongheaded idea that prioritizes a few objectors (conscientious or otherwise) over the well being of the thousands of wastelanders who trust us to make the hard decisions.
>>6423667>foreign policy and intel workDamn shame what passes for 'foreign policy' and 'intel work' in the Mojave these days lol
No mention of the town St George that was just wiped by Six, Ulysses and Daisy as collateral damage while wiping out the green hell.. Wow.That's a moment that deserves real soul searching, to greater extent that handwringing over Six trying to minimise death count and warfronts with Brotherhood, Enclave, Legion and NCR while trying to maximise NVD's position.
>>6423667>the hard decisions.The hard decisions of making sure to have more problems, with Caesar, Cyrus, and House alive. Not surprised Caesar chose us has its heir, considering we keep our enemies alive and well, while planning to massacre our own.>>6423669The town we know absolutely nothing about has no connection to us; we had no way to help them, and we barely remember the name. Real soul searching that one, when we have something very close to our character happening right now.
>>6423667Why call him the butcher of bitter springs? He didn't know what he was shooting at, had a crisis of conscience due to it, and decided to make amends later.Now us? We are fully 100% conscious of the evil in the decisions we're making. We're wasting diplomatic and intel actions on 'hard decisions' that bring nothing tangible to our people while sidelining our own cadre of loyal companions for the sake of pleasing our own ego.We're turning into the temu version of House.
Like two survivalist posts ago, some of you were going "we will not be an autocratic prick" or "we will not be an emotionless autist," but right now, you are about to plan out a full-on purge, with not one look back. One of said people might even be pregnant with our kid. If that doesn't mean shit, then I guess we can just kill whenever and whoever we want in the NVD, might as well clean our ass with the rules we have made so far, too.
I'm this anon btw >>6423570 dynamic IP got me fucked up.I would like to say that I'm not arguing in bad faith. I genuinely find it fun to discuss the Courier paths.
>>6423668Subverting a foreign leader, killing his intel chief, and using their assets to train ours doesn't seem like too shabby a day at the office. Bringing in the Enclave remnants was also a huge coup in terms of technical expertise that we sorely lack. Both those decision chains were made on a solid factual basis and I'm just not buying this revisionist "in too deep" malarkey that seems to have popped up since Boone objected
>>6423682He didn't know what he was shooting at? Can't see it's women and kids through a sniper scope? Horseshit. He may well have felt bad about it afterwards, but I bet a lot of the ex Enclave soldiers have regrets as well. What makes him special enough to deserve a redemption arc while denying them a chance at the same thing.
>>6423684Guess what, if we don't tell them things they have no business knowing, there's no security risk and no need to purge anyone. Loose lips sink ships. Not sure what's more mental, that a seasoned operator like Boone would demand we completely abandon opsec in favor of muh transparency, or that we would even for a moment consider entertain going along with it.
>>6423691What's more mental is betraying your entire government's trust in the name of "opsec" and other tacticool buzzwords.>>6423689Not sure if these Enclave soldiers are going through a redemption arc at all... They seem pretty happy offering us options that are basically pro-enclave in terms of ideology, and they're clearly working in the shadows to get more pro-Enclave thought into the Mojave. Ironically, we're helping them out on that front by being a paranoid psycho much like most Enclave leaders.
Veronica is clearly gonna snitch to the BoS, so she cannot know, and Atom knows how many other leaks we have in our cabinet. Feel like we ought to revisit the conversation with Boone, preferably indoors, without rifles, and remind him how chain of command and compartmentalization of information works. Either he sees things our way, or he can cool his heels in a stockade for a few months until Caesar finally kicks the bucket and we get out payoff, at which point he can return to the fold or piss off back to the same NCR that had him commiting the same kind of war crimes he's whining about the Enclave boys doing. No need to purge anyone, we're civilized folk, after all
>>6423695The idea of not letting the runners and soldiers know what the boss is planning is way older than tacticool anything. And if you're not sure if they are being redeemed or not, maybe let's wait for more data to make a better decision rather than blowing the top off the whole thing and letting the mob decide
>>6423695The government trusts us because we keep them far, happy, and most importantly alive, not because we outsource our decision making to our functionaries.
>>6423699Fat not far
>>6423697>>6423698>>6423699>>6423700Well, we've had a three post back and forth and made our points, we'll have to agree to disagree and see where the platinum chip falls.
>>6423682>We're turning into the temu version of House.Or Walter White, or Robot from Invincible, or The Governor from Walking Dead, or Caesar. Manipulate those close at hand, collaborate with evil people to get ahead, and justify it all with the lie that it's for the family/greater good/human race, right up until it all falls apart and you can't hide from the fact that you did it for yourself. It's a well tread archetype, and not an uninteresting one to explore even if ultimately I can agree that I'd hoped for a Courier with more moral clarity. Idunno how to come back from that last chat with Boone though, and am curious to see what the layout is for this big government meeting, since it sounds like QM wants room for a dramatic heel turn to the light - if enough anons can swallow their pride. If they can't though, I really am down to just keep rolling and hit some tragedy where things begin to really unravel on us. >>6423684>One of said people might even be pregnant with our kid.Oh man, forgot about that... Jeez. Really hope she isn't, now, pretty awful of us to knock her up while we lie to her about stuff like this. But I can't see any way to convince her to be cool about the choices we've made, or to trust us again after we lied so much. We can tell her it's 'state secrets', but if I were her that'd just piss me off more, like it did with Boone. >>6423688>Bringing in the Enclave remnants was also a huge coup in terms of technical expertise that we sorely lack.This isn't a valid argument until they actually provide bonuses on our rolls and produce something more useful than *checks notes* an elevator pitch for suburbs. You make a fair enough point about Boone also being a war criminal, but I think there's a case to be made that he was given an opportunity to atone AND took it, while the Enclave and Frumentarii are allowed to circumvent accountability. I think being a place where people get to Begin Again is more complicated than, 'just show up and automatically get a second chance with zero strings attached and even preferential treatment'. I mean, the Enclave are getting a resettlement program and govt jobs, same as the Legion expats. That's a better deal than the citizens of Freeside have gotten. You can argue all day that it's because they have technical and military skills, while the Freesiders and Wastelanders don't. That's true. But that won't make a difference to their governors or to them when they find out, they will rightly tell Six that every dollar spent on make the Enclave refugees comfortable should've gone to handling the cholera outbreak and building roads. >>6423691>>6423697>>6423698Delusional. It's too late. We told Boone everything. Veronica already knows about the Enclave, just not yet why. It's. Too. Late. To. Lie. More. We get out in front of it, or we kill Boone and V (at least). If our promise to Boone becomes a lie and he has to break the news himself, we will lose the entire ball of wax.
>>6423688>assetsOh just one last thing, they're not assets, they're actors. Actors that we're giving power to through important government jobs. If it's not Boone and company we answer to, it's gonna be the people we put in positions of power afterwards.And say what you want, I don't want no Enclave people and former Frumentarii having any sort of power in the directorate. Don't think the people of the Mojave want them either.
It'd be funny if we became the antagonist of a New Vegas 2 scenario, where a new chosen one has to come and kill us to end our tyrannical rule of the Mojave.
>>6423706>Don't think the people of the Mojave want them either.One might even say that the people of the Mojave have repeatedly and emphatically refused to be ruled by either of those two groups....
And one more one more thing:It's easier to train people into being proper government agents that maintain opsec or whatever, than it is to instill loyalty to groups with wild extremist ideologies that conflict with each other.
>>6423708>Have child with the woman you love >Immediately turn to the dark side >Become a powerful cyborg leader of a cruel dystopian empire >Child secretly grows up in the desert because the mother abandoned you due to your embrace of evil >Child grows up and embraces their destiny to overthrow you Where have I heard this one before? KEK Would be very cool to see a deranged 60ish year old quasi-immortal Director Six, and to fight through a Mojave that has CITIES and a space program, bullet trains, and an army of MK XIV Securitrons.
>>6423715And not just that, but that same evil cyborg leader has multiple personalities constantly debating what's right or wrong in his head with long-winded inconclusive debates over every little action taken.
WOAH! Hold up....Why is it just suddenly occurring to me that Elijah is a perfect explanation for why Hidden Valley is suddenly moving so sideways? He could have fled back to Lost Hills with what he learned (or even physically salvaged) from Big MT and the Sierra Madre, and leveraged it to consolidate power (though he was already an Elder, and I am sure plenty of paladins would forgive him for Helios and running off if he served up the right swag). He would have every reason to clean house at Hidden Valley, and the means to do it.
Btw QM, don't feel overwhelmed by our petty discussions. Thanks for the updates!
What if he told Veronica about Christine and that's why she didn't come to us when she found out about the Enclave... She didn't have hard feelings towards him during the events of NV, and was genuinely surprised when you tell her about the events of Dead Money.
>>6423724Yeah ditto, I'm having a super slow day and this story has started to go to some really interesting, narratively rich places imo.
It holds far less importance than nearly anything else that happened this month but the NVPD was expanded by another 150 members, primarily focused on patrolling outer Vegas and the NVD Government headquarters. You’re reminded that the issue there isn't so much the security of the area, rather the transportation of workers to and from the facility. While a sort of “boom town” has opened up around the facility, efficiency is hamstrung by workers having to stay in camps around the office and travel back home to Freeside and elsewhere during the weekend. A solution to this is to just construct housing for the workers but housing construction is facing its own issues lately. There’s also the other unresolved issue of a lack of legal code or system in general meaning the NVPD is a glorified gang with the instructions to stop violence. It’s crude vigilantism rife with corruption but it is safe and most people are left well enough alone. -15,000 caps, 6,000 caps/monthAdditionally, you asked Garret to head out to Westside to contact Verner Braun about the possibility of putting into production his flying machine. While Verner is very enthusiastic about bringing his Heliopath to life, full production has numerous difficulties. Many of these are no stranger to you or your team, including the lack of trained mechanics and engineers, few resources available and no real facilities.To no one’s surprise, Verner says that all of these problems can be overcome by a mixture of government support and healthy funding. But first, Garret suggests introducing the Heliopath to Kreger and his staff down at McCarran. There’s a massive military upside for a cheap, simple helicopter that can provide battlefield support, or at least battlefield recon. Kreger will work with Verner and other Secretaries to hammer out a doesn’t that meets the needs of the military and potential civilian use while taking into consideration the resources and skill of the Mojave.
>>6423724I certainly don’t mind it, I’d be worried if no one cared enough to debate endlessly about it. >>6423715Don’t start giving me (or anyone else) ideas, anon!
But it’s hard to focus on something as exciting as flying machines in the Mojave when you’re about to stand up in front of your governors, secretaries and closest friends and tell them every little detail about the last year of governing. Or that’s what Boone wants you to do. You reflect on how you told Boone everything, a mixture of honesty and defensiveness on your part. As you sit up in the Lucky 38 cocktail lounge smoking a cigar and drinking some of the last remaining whiskey of your personally-curated collection, you have time to reflect. It’s maybe fitting that this reflection is done in solitude, much as the last year has been for you. If you do decide to tell all, are you sorry for everything you’ve done? There’s certainly a web that’s been weaved but you have legitimate reasons for everything that’s been done. Mostly. It doesn’t mean you haven’t made decisions you regret or decisions that have hurt and killed others. The town of St. George was killed in-part because of the bomb you dropped, but wouldn’t it have suffered a worse fate from that Green Hell? Should you have sentenced the enclave immigrants to death for crimes their parents and grandparents committed decades ago? And what about allowing Caesar to die and having his empire fracture? You shudder at the bloodshed from the resulting civil war and how that would flood into the NVD and elsewhere. But are you just coping with the decisions and the reality that you cannot make everyone happy, as powerful and magnificent that your abilities are? It’s these thoughts that have completely paralyzed you, more so than any choice made before. If you admit that it’s a house of cards, does it become a self-fulfilling prophecy and everything you’ve worked for becomes a series of bumbling mistakes? On the other end, you’re the Director of the New Vegas Directorate. No one else is. No one else has had to make the sacrifices or decisions you have and there is not one man in the Mojave who you would trust to do your job, not even Ulysses. You can’t find a time in all your reading of history where there’s been a fully-transparent government that shared anything and everything with their people. It just doesn’t work. Hell, you’ve even had the reoccurring thought that Boone should have never confronted you the way he had. He’s probably your closest friend, yes. But he’s also a soldier who swore loyalty to you and the state. He follows orders, and he probably does it better than anyone else. If you have to explain your plans to a soldier, how many other people do you need to explain yourself to?People, that’s another issue. Let’s say you lay out your case to the assembled leaders and most of them understand, even agree to an extent. What will the citizens of Freeside think when they eventually hear about everything? What will the people of Primm say? Will there be a wild mob that begins stringing up anyone deemed to be Enclave?
But maybe that would be better than building a state of secrets and sacrificing your morals and ethics for the promise of a better tomorrow. Or is it even possible to be the leader of a nation without making hard decisions? Damn it, Courier. You need to make a decision. You can sit here and smoke your cigar and drink your liquor and think about all the different ways this can go wrong, or you can make a decision. You stub the butt of your cigar into the ashtray and shoot back your whiskey. You take slow but confident steps towards the elevator that will take you down to the meeting room. There’s a very good chance this may be the last time you see everyone together in one room. You’re going to choose your words very carefully. >Tell the truth, the whole truth. Admit that you truly have gotten in over your heads and you need the support of your companions and your government to get out of the hole you’re in. >Tell the truth, the whole truth. But defend your actions as both logical and actions done by The Director who everyone has trusted to lead the nation. >Admit that you’re working with the Legion and Enclave (though the former isn’t too surprising) but leave out the details. Need to know basis. >Admit nothing. You’re the Director and there are certain state secrets that need to be held. Boone knows, as does Veronica, but that’s a far cry from admitting it to everyone else. Tell the assembled group that they need to trust you and look at the outcomes, not scrutinize your every decision >Only tell a certain group the truth, such as just your companions or just the secretaries. Or even just Ulysses who is viewed as your Vice-Director. >Go in a different direction (I’m very, VERY open to ideas and suggestions on the direction you want to take with this. It really could go any different way. Hell, send Securitrons to arrest Veronica and Boone and deal with this on your own time)
>>6423784Alright, after all the back and forth arguing from earlier, I'm taking a centrist, fence-sitting stance.Basing my take on this:>Tell the truth, the whole truth.But!>Only tell a certain group the truth.Only our companions should know about our current situation.>Write-inWe have to tell our companions our plans, and the reasons we went for them. We should defend our actions but not in the "I'm the Director and what I say goes" way, but in the "I truly, earnestly believe this is the ticket to an independent, strong Mojave". First off. We don't want Caesar dying and having a collapsed state in our east with tribals going rampant and refugees streaming in all over the place. The Mojave has enough problems as it is. One can argue this is just kicking the can down the road, but as long as that can keeps rolling, we get more time to improve the Mojave and actually turn it into a proper state NCR-style. And in any case, if we ever want to take over the east bank of the Colorado and secure our hold over the one thing keeping our economy afloat (the dam), us being the heir of Caesar provides us with a legitimacy we otherwise wouldn't have. As for the Enclave. We need the technical expertise from them if the Brotherhood isn't gonna help us. We can keep their weird ideology at an arm's length in the meantime. If Veronica is against this, remind her that it's the Brotherhood who's keeping extremely tech hidden in its bunker, and their close-mindedness was a big part of why she left the bunker in the first place. Should she be close-minded with the Enclave people just because they're Enclave? Crazy as their ideology is, these specific people haven't demonstrably committed any crimes and are open to helping us out. If they become a liability, it's as easy as throwing them out of their government positions, they don't have a strong backing either locally or externally.Relying in the NCR was of course an option, but the more we rely on them, the closer we come to becoming a puppet state of theirs. The directorate is about an INDEPENDENT New Vegas, and we have to strive for this goal first and foremost.The reason we didn't tell 'em? Ruling the Mojave is busy work and it requires quick thinking and adapting to circumstances. There just isn't enough time to gather up a companion conclave every single time a decision must be taken, and the one who was trusted with directing New Vegas was us. Still, we should ask for their forgiveness for keeping them in the dark and promise that we'll keep them aware of any and all decisions of such gravity we take in the future, we're still new at this whole 'head of state' thing, just as many of them are new at being part of a nation's government.And if anyone wants to leave because we crossed a line, they're free to do so, we'll only ask them that they don't go around spreading rumors, if only because of our friendship and their trust in us. We're doing this for the good of the Mojave, damn it!
>>6423798To me this Courier is basically saying "I want what's best for the Mojave, so I'll do deals with devils to get to that point." but also "I fucked up by not telling you guys, I didn't mean to keep you in the dark for so long, so I'm coming clean now rather than later."
>>6423784I am hesitant to press in this direction again... But you other two nice guy anons have emboldened me a bit. I'm a sap. Let's try and let down these barriers and grow. >Tell the truth, the whole truth. Admit that you truly have gotten in over your heads and you need the support of your companions and your government to get out of the hole you’re in.>APOLOGIZE FOR LYING TO THE PEOPLE WE LOVE, WHETHER THEY WORK FOR US OR NOT >We should explain what we were thinking, and when we weren't, but not EXCUSE how we risked the entire NVD's stability and betrayed the confidence of our closest friends and highest officials. I am going to assume my best Harry du Bois interior voice to make my case directly to Six (the rest of you) here, and hope it finds purchase: "You were always the wild card. Under all the things that make you special, that's always been at the bottom of the deck, and the ace in your sleeve. But the wilderness is lonely and full of danger. These people have laughed with you, loved you, fought, bled, and taken bullets for you. Those that aren't truly a family to you were still key supporters in your gambit to take the dam and try something new. Everyone in this room was put here by you for a reason, because you trust them the way they trusted you, to grow a garden in the desert. You are realizing now that by leaving them in the dark, and making these decisions on your own, you've set the stage for riots, lynchings, maybe even counter-revolutions from a public that remembers the enmity of the Legion and Enclave, and would be horrified to know they are now living shoulder to shoulder, even supporting these old foes with their tax dollars. You have deceived the people that trusted and loved you the most. The high vantage of the Lucky 38 has changed your perspective for the worse... You were a better leader on the ground. This autocracy was House's dream, and for all his musing about the future, Ulysses was right - his dictatorship was just another old, dead idea. You recall when Robert told you to look out the window to see what remains of yesteryear's democratic ideals. He neglected to acknowledge that below the rubble and sediment were older ruins still, the fossilized corpses of despots and tyrants. It's not too late. The Director could be a Chairman, and the bureaucracy could be a Board. There will always be decisions you'll have to make on your own, on short notice, on the fly. Some entire categories of governing ought to remain squarely in your own palm... But everyone in this room was put here for a reason. For their expertise, their faith in you, and their moral fiber. It's not too late. Collaborate to determine the best means of leveraging your position with the Legion and to administer justice to the Enclave - not genocide, but not blanket amnesty either. It is time for compromise and guidance and remorse and change... Before it's too late."
>>6423806Bah fuck it you get my vote.QM, feel free to use whatever I wrote in here >>6423798 that might fit with this anon's writein.
>>6423798>We have to tell our companions our plans, and the reasons we went for them. We should defend our actions but not in the "I'm the Director and what I say goes" way, but in the "I truly, earnestly believe this is the ticket to an independent, strong Mojave".I think it's very important to stress the difference between EXPLAINING and EXCUSING our actions. We can illustrate WHY we made these calls without justifying and rationalizing them in order to shut down judgment. I DON'T think we can simply assume that doing so, while apologizing, will be enough to get our companions or government to simply shrug and get onboard. The obvious problem here is that there are many people in NVD, and even among our companions and officials, that will refuse blanket amnesty for the Legion or Enclave. They will *never* go for it, and even if we get a nat 100 to convince them, I would assume that would only prevent them from wanting vengeance, and at best lead to exodus. We don't have a law system and the recent post clarified the police are essentially vigilantes. If it gets out that there are secret Enclave in the NVD, there will be mob violence. Some settlements could even try to rebel. We have to be open to compromise. If we come clean and ask for help to get us out of the hole, it will mean getting a consensus of how to proceed that everyone can live with. I do believe we can salvage this if we are willing to make concessions like a more aggressive posture against the Legion in a shorter term than planned, and doing investigations and trials. If we don't, someone else will investigate and kill them on their own, like IRL Nazi hunters. Let's show that we care about justice as much as we care about second chances. Give them an opportunity to pay back society with military service like Boone or Arcade's family, exile them, or execute them if their sins are too countless to name. Speak more broadly to the group: if you DONT vote to tell the truth, I really do pray you vote to kill Boone and V to buy time. Because if we break our promise to Boone he won't just not be our friend anymore, he will be a horrific enemy, he will tell the truth we are afraid of, and if these people hear it from him instead of us, we will never get their trust back. We won't deserve it. The powderkeg will go off.
>>6423806>>6423784Support full steam ahead>>6423810>>6423784I also agree with what this anon just said.
>>6422906Holy shit that is a terrible idea. Granted it would be really funny to see Veronica's reaction once she realizes we turned her extended family into plant-42 abominations but eventually we're going to have to get rid of that hazard.Did we ever find out how the Boomer Blight actually came to fruition? That question still bothers me. Probably more fuel for Survivalist to create storyline.But I'm still waiting for this son of a bitch to show his face. >Liberty Prime and Muggy linked up!>Sneed it or Feed it?
>>6423784>that picTop jejLol >"you are wrong" said the desert mailman
>>6423822I’ve sprinkled some hints but the focus has been less on finding where and why and more how to fix it.
>>6423825But that's proactive and forward thinkingI'm one of the retarded rabble that look for things to blame and get out the pitchforks.
>>6423822>Did we ever find out how the Boomer Blight actually came to fruition?>>6423825>some hintsI am just gonna stick to my Elijah paranoia and blame him for the Blight also.
>>6423798Well, given that it seems there's little appetite for the hardline "Sneering Imperialist" approach, I like this one better than the other, whinier, more supplicative option. The Wasteland rewards pragmatism, but let it not be forgotten that the only reason we are sitting in this penthouse smoking stogie and swilling prewar hooch is because we we toppled the previous resident and gave a hearty ass-booting to the two biggest armies in the region to secure our landhold. Courier Six got to this point thanks to his big iron and bigger balls, and to mewlingly apologize for our decisions rather than rationally explain them then ask "who's with us" seems dreadfully out of character.
TL:DR Doc Mitchell didn't save no bitch, so let's not cower like one.
>>6423684Anon, shut the fuck up about the purge shit, the only one even talking about that is you strawmanning the anons who don't want the sappy "forgive me pwease" schtick. >>6423784>Only tell a certain group the truth, such as just your companions and Ulysses.>Send Boone to bring Veronica in for a hard chat about who she's talking toKeep it to our inner circle. Ulysses, Cass, Boone, Arcade, Kreger, etc. DO NOT bring the rest of the cabinet in on this. Imagine if Ted Gunderson talked to his dad and this got out in the NCR. Fucking nightmare that would not make any of this worth it. We tell them who the ex-Enclave in our government are, tell them about the frumentarii, and tell them to talk to think about it. Arcade and the rest of the Auld Lang Syne have done so, so much for us, and I am not going to vote stab them in the back and throw them out, or "bring them to justice". If anybody has issues with what we're doing, voice them now or forever hold their peace. This is about the future of the Directorate itself, what is allowed and what isn't, and how we use the resources that we're given. I am also against telling anyone but Boone and Ulysses about the Caesar shit, because that is something that CANNOT get out. This isn't about us being in too deep, this is about ensuring that we don't get fucked by someone with a grudge against us. Fucking Kimball would have a field day if he could truthfully claim that we're the designated heir of Caesar, not to mention what it would spark within the Legion itself. And then we interrogate Veronica and how much she's been leaking to the Brotherhood. We should also make it very clear that her family in the bunker are gone, and it is unlikely she will be seeing them again. Actually, I wonder if the Brotherhood is pressuring her on that front, I'd be inclined to be more lenient on her if so. Though if Elijah is behind the recent brotherhood machinations, she either needs to cut all contact with them or she needs to go.
>"My theory on my best friends and most trusted government officials is they're like mushrooms. Feed em' shit and keep em' in the dark." >"And if you apologize to your friends for betraying their trust and manipulating them you're a whiny bitch." >"I am totally not an emotionless autocratic prick." Fucking kek... Never change, FNV:NGNM, never fucking change...
>>6423898I think your vote is abominable, but on the off chance that others also want to commit to being a narcissistic bastard I would be remiss to not point out one thing you REALLY should change so we don't plunge headlong into a worst case scenario: Boone isn't loyal to us right now, he told us to stay away from him, and to not talk to us, and he does not trust us at all. If we give him an order to apprehend Veronica, one of his best friends, that he does trust, after he told us she tipped him off on this whole paperclip fiasco... He will not only not comply, but he will probably take her and flee, and burn our shit to the ground on the way out since we broke our word and the order to apprehend V would obviously be interpreted as a threat. I am maybe wasting my time trying to reason with someone that thought we should instigate a Blight infestation in the very middle of our territory, but seriously, if you are only going to change one part of your vote it really should be that. Otherwise, you are basically guaranteed to get the opposite of what you want, if other anons are foolish enough to lean in on being a tyrant. Consider it, at least.
>>6423903Anon, whose trust, other than Boone who has a deeply personal grudge against the Legion, did we betray? Did anyone EVER express to us that they would not accept us working with the Legion or Enclave? Jesus Christ, Arcade and Kreger are IN our cabinet, how do you think they're to react when we tell them that we're going to be holding warcrimes tribunals for all the Enclave members? Or are we going to conveniently leave them out of it, undermining the entire thing from the start?
>>6423906Okay, I'll give you that, Raul or Ulysses is probably someone better to send. But we NEED to talk to Veronica about her tattling, because that is not on. If she had issues she should have brought them to us instead of telling God knows who.
>>6423907The decision to form a secret alliance with Caesar and the separate decision to secretly resettle and fast truck government employment to the Enclave are two of the most significant choices Six made for a number of reasons. They have extremely vast implications which you have continuously refused to address. 1) Boone has one of the most overt traumas related to the Legion, but anyone in our orbit with significant ties to the NCR (most of them) will have strong, and valid, apprehension about buddying up with either Legion or Enclave. Arcade, Veronica, Boone, and Cass, based on canon, will be the most affected out of our companions and most likely to abandon us. Cass is the least political of the four, but not entirely apolitical, and we have been sleeping with and romancing her, and STILL kept her in the dark. Raul is canonically ambivalent about the Legion, but as a ghoul he could not be about the Enclave. Lily, likewise, doesn't care about the Legion either way, and while she should also be apprehensive about the Enclave, I think it's fair to suggest she is not lucid enough to care. The cabinet is mainly NCR. 2) You keep equivocating Arcade and his 'family' with the Salvatore-Enclave, but they aren't the same. Johnson was the only one still committed to the old Enclave program, and died fighting us over it. The rest were disillusioned and risked their lives at the dam and many times since in their roles with the administration. The new refugees were still committed to Enclave ideology up until we brought them in, and some still are. They risked nothing and have given back nothing (so far), but benefit hugely from our patronage, more so than native citizens. 3) This leads me to the next point, which you refuse to acknowledge: Even if our companions and cabinet all put their feelings/trauma/pasts to the side, and flatly agreed the Legion is a respectable fellow nation, and the Enclave refugees deserve total amnesty for their crimes (let's just pretend), the issue is the public. They'll all recognize what you won't: the citizenry of the NVD are mostly living in poverty and chaos, our capitol suffered a massive cholera outbreak, there is a housing crisis, law-keeping is mostly done by vigilantes. Most of these citizens HATE and FEAR the Legion and the Enclave. Many have been brutalized by one or both groups, and if not, they know or are related to someone that was. If and when they find out that we have spent their tax money to improve the lives of, and provide shelter to, and employ in our government at high levels those very same brutes, they'll be furious. Let's pretend the King will be cool with Legion and Enclave neighbors. His constituents will not. We have created a powderkeg. In politics this is called a scandal. We have risked mass civil unrest. We have endangered the entire project. We created a massive problem for short term gains that actually haven't even fully materialized yet. This is the behavior of a gambling addict.
>>6423784>Only tell a certain group the truth, such as just your companions or just the secretaries. Or even just Ulysses who is viewed as your Vice-Director. Veronica should be excluded from this point going from all important government matters due to his treason.However our Companions should be brought up to speed as should Ulysses, INCLUDING any secretaries whose job it would be to work with them in said field but without telling them just how massive it is.
>People just now finding out governments do shit all the time that the common person don't like, if it has a chance at bettering said government or the guy in charge.lmao
>>6423843>>6423898>>6423923Out of curiosity, can I ask if any of you guys have a plan to deal with Boone since we promised him we would divulge everything to everyone? If he feels we have broken our promise by limiting the meeting to companions only (and in the case of the latter two votes, our companions sans Veronica), do you have a contingency of some kind? Or are you gonna just let him go public or leak the info to the governors/cabinet? Or?
>>6423928My thing for "everyone" is to those like our compaions or those in office that need to know.There is no reason to believe Boone ment to go on like radio and go "So yeah, we're working with the Legion/Enclave/ect" and if he DID assume that from everything. His fucking insane and at that point no. NOt really.
>>6423931Here is a refresher on what we agreed to. >>6421670>Here’s what’s going to happen. We will finish this mission and you will stay far the fuck from me. As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.After that we thanked him for helping us realize how out of hand things had gotten. His response was: >Boone: Don’t thank me yet, Six. I haven’t decided what I’m doing about it yet. So, yes, personally I think it's possible that he will go public in some manner. I wouldn't put it past him to become an actual radical terrorist, though that's a lot less likely.
>>6423933Yeah see, I'm not against the companions outside veronica as I said and those that need to know finally be told.However going public fully OR him being a terrorist or a leak like Veronica to me is sadly grounds to kill him. Which I'd rather we not have to do. There really is no 'good' way to spill all these beans.
>>6423934Yeah man it'd be awesome if we didn't have beans like this to spill. But hey, at least we *checks notes* killed Vulpes Inculta and got designs for the shittiest kind of housing which would only be marginally useful (in the short term) if we had a booming automotive industry. Totally worth it. Couldn't have reaped these massive benefits any other way.
>>6423936 the real enemy of this fucking quest isn't each other, or the Legion/Enclave/NCR. Its the fucking dice at this rate killing us no matter whats done.Reject cars embrace train lines that stop directly at the house then ship the commieblock workers to the CBT yard
>>6423898Thinking man's wastelander, I like the cut of your jib anon.
>>6423919>1)They'll have apprehensions, sure, but at no point did we betray or manipulate anyone other than Boone. And with the Legion, we have not committed to anything other than manipulating Caesar into being retarded. We killed his head of Intel, we stole some of his frumentarii, and we haven't done anything to help him out other than keep him alive. We still hold all the cards in that situation, which will disintegrate as soon as that secret gets out. Which Is Why I Don't Want To Tell People. As for the Enclave, they're already ghosts. I doubt Cass was even alive when they got kicked out of Navarro. And one of the points of accepting them was that we'd get them to stop the racial purity shit. >2)Anon, they're still ex-Enclave. Are we to pre-emptively exonerate them from any war crimes they committed because we like them more than the other Enclave folks? That's fucking hypocritcal. Regular folks won't see it that way, or shall we only keep their existence secret from everyone?>Johnson was the only one still committed to the old Enclave program, and died fighting us over it.This I have no idea what you're talking about, Johnson was the one who was always regretful, and I don't recall killing him or anyone else in Auld Lang over anything. >3)Then why should we tell people who don't need to know?!? Does Ted Gunderson or the King or Sarah Waintraub need to know we have Frumentarii in our intel department? Cass is our Secretary of State, so she does deserve to know something that might affect her, but that doesn't extend to the rest of the secretaries. The information won't get out unless someone like Veronica starts tattling to anyone who'll listen, and that risk increases with everyone we bring into it. How else would the citizens find out, the Enclave starts flying the American flag everywhere and running racial purity tests or something? Anon, there's risk and then there's catastrophising over something that hasn't happened. We can reduce that risk by keeping information compartmentalised, but we if we tell more people who really do not have any need to know about high-level government shit then the risk of something bad happens increases. That's how secrets work.
>>6423919Overt traumas? Equivocating? This is the wasteland, trauma is our day-to-day, and indecision is lethal. If we were this soft we never would have gotten to the point where we are. What's next, complaining about a lack of two-ply toilet paper?
>>6423784>Only tell a certain group the truth, such as just your companions or just the secretaries. Or even just Ulysses who is viewed as your Vice-Director.Removing Veronica from the group of companions.to my point earlier:>6423669Six trying to minimise death count and warfronts with Brotherhood, Enclave, Legion and NCR while trying to maximise NVD's position.There's a method to the madness, even if execution sucks. We need to bring people in, and if they want more info then they can get more so long as they'll contribute to more positive outcomes for NVD. This includes Boone, as an agent of the NVD Directorate.
>>6423948>Johnson was the one who was always regretful, and I don't recall killing him or anyone elseGot me on this, I had it twisted - Moreno is the one that snaps if you don't side with the Legion, but I think we wriggled our way out of that for the purpose of the quest. >That's how secrets work.These aren't secrets anymore. They have been found out. They will be found out again. You are delusional if you think we can continue to contain this, especially after Veronica just stumbled upon it, and then shared it with Boone (and maybe more) without telling us first. You are delusional if you think we can contain this if we break our promise to Boone to tell our companions, governors, and secretaries unless we kill Boone and Veronica first. Which is an at least viable option..
If Boone is so worried about whether we're taking the legion threat seriously, why don't we send him on a mission to go kill Lanius? Helps him along on his quest for vengeance, assuages his feelings about how we've been moving, and gets him out of our camp so he'll quit stirring shit.
Veronica is a whole other kettle of fish, her big mouth is probably what got our BOS buddies reassigned, and if left unchecked she's going to continue to keep running said mouth. Her conflicted loyalties are going to come back and bite us in the ass, so It might be time to exercise the Lady Killer perk on this one. It sucks, I know, but it does clear the field for us to end up with Cass, removes an existential security threat, and unless we roll a critical success, just talking to her is unlikely to get her to shut up for more than the time it takes for us to turn our backs.
>>6423784Okay not exactly calling it yet (need to unpack my PC anyway) but here’s what it’s looking like >>6423806>>6423810>>6423821Very apologetic, explaining the reasoning but admitting it was a mistake to withhold everything >>6423843>>6423898>>6423923>>6423947>>6423952Here’s anons supporting compartmentalization, telling only a fewPlease correct me if I’ve counted or interpreted votes incorrectly. Once again, not calling it yet but here’s how the field looks so far
>>6424306Just like the vote to onboard the Enclave, just three anons pushing back. Everybody else insisting that the juice will be worth the squeeze because of potential buffs to tech and industry, that haven't materialized in half a year. Meanwhile some of the stuff the naysayers warned about - BoS and NCR allies potentially flipping shit, companions breaking off, possibility of the deal going public in a bad way and causing upheaval - are beating down the door. How many votes are there to isolate Veronica now? I remember one to have Boone arrest her, at least one to just cut her out, and one to kill her. Also, I can't really tell but how many votes are there to spill all the beans versus votes to withhold certain details, like the Caesar arrangement? Can we vote on what weapon to bring to the meeting if it goes sideways? Because I would say sleepytime is probably the move...
>>6424328>that haven't materialized in half a yearYou really again are harping on that as if those are just magically gonna appear one day when you isolate them away from anything and force them to start from the ground up.Also, I'm the one who voted to cut her out. But I'm game to vote on a weapon to bring, Whatever is that one that lets you put a bomb collar on a person would be useful to bring.
>>6424410>Whatever is that one that lets you put a bomb collar on a person would be useful to bring.The mesmerizer? That's a FO3 weapon, so wouldn't be in our arsenal.
>>6424422Compliance Regulator is though…
>>6424424Oh, I guess that could work the same, couldn't it? Never really used it because I've never been into energy weapons, didn't realized it was an advanced holdout too. It'll be top of mind if you put it up to a vote. I think it's extremely unwise to arrest Veronica, break our promise to Boone, and then invite him to the meeting anyways - and it seems the majority of players simply disagree there - but that could be surpassed in its lack of wisdom by doing so and showing up unarmed. Regulator would at least be non-lethal.
>>6424439How are we breaking our promise to Boone? We're literally telling the people that need to know and our companions BESIDES veronica the one who snitched out on us.
>>6424448Here is a refresher on what we agreed to.>>6421670 #>Here’s what’s going to happen. We will finish this mission and you will stay far the fuck from me. As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.Again>As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.For emphasis>your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.Just to be crystal clear on exactly what he said>Your companions>Governors>And secretaries That is not the same as >Your companions except for Veronica Because Veronica is one of our companions. Also, we have governors, and secretaries, who are not part of our group of companions. That's actually why he specified them separately.
>>6424448>>6424458Oh right, and how could I forget - got so hung up on the glaring and emphatic discrepancy around WHO we are meeting with, that I didn't highlight the other part. Which wouldn't be necessary if you actually read what he said in the update, or the first time I cited it as a reminder. Maybe the third time is the charm?>As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.Focus now>You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.>Exactly That means everything. So, and stay with me here if you can... If we call a meeting of >Just companions except for Veronica And we tell them >Not exactly what we told Boone (i.e. everything about the deals with the Legion and Enclave including our agreement to become Caesar's heir)We are breaking every single part of our promise to Boone.
>>6424461>Which wouldn't be necessary if you actually read what he said in the update, or the first time I cited it as a reminder. Maybe the third time is the charm?Alright disregarded, Good luck.
>>6424464Right, no way to dispute me so just gonna pout because this text needs to be posted three times for you to bother reading it. At least you aren't the only illiterate dope failing the open note exam, it'd be sadder if you were alone. The thing is, I can get behind playing a Courier who is a bastard and who wants complete control with zero accountability or remorse. I can get behind playing a Courier that demands total loyalty of his subordinates. I would rather play a guy with a strong moral compass, but I almost changed my vote before Survivalist took his tally because I am not afraid to play the game with Courier refusing to apologize and rejecting dissent. But you guys are such fucking pussies trying to have it both ways, honestly. If you think Veronica is a 'snitch' and you don't want to say sorry... Just vote to kill her. If you think Boone is an 'instrument of war' that needs to fall in line with our judgment, and simply obey, and you will not comply with his demands we tell >Exactly What we told him to all of our>Companions, governors and secretariesThen just vote to kill him, or at least arrest him. You all think that being the man in charge means Six can automatically justify anything he does, and if his subordinates have issues, we just need to argue with them more firmly and remorselessly until they obey. Our conversation with Boone is PROOF that these are three dimensional, actualized characters capable of coming to their own conclusions and enforcing boundaries around what they'll tolerate (exactly like in the game). Boone made these specific demands, and even when we agreed to meet them, he still capped it with a threat>Don’t thank me yet, Six. I haven’t decided what I’m doing about it yet.So if we are going to do a one eighty and reneg, why not kill him? Why piss him off and give him the opportunity to wreck our shit? Why be such a pussy? You can't have it both ways. You can't shack up with Caesar and keep Boone as a friend or 'instrument of war'. You can't bring in the Enclave and have Veronica or most of our NCR allies be chill with it. If you wanna be a dictator, just be one, this half-ass shit is genuinely more limp-wristed and pitiful than having the inner strength to say sorry or be self-critical. I could at least respect it if you guys would actually commit to being a despot and asserting autocratic authority. Being a tepid dipshit is gonna blow up in our faces just like it has in the past.
>>6424483Tell us how you really feel, anon. If nothing else, I hope this is making you and other players reflect on previous decisions and perhaps even getting you guys to think about your own morals and where your red lines are
>>6424492I think I am running hot on this because my vote is essentially for the Courier to take this opportunity to change trajectory and be the kind of person I would want to get a beer with. But again, that isn't the only kind of character that is worth playing, or interesting to play. I think this whole dilemma is illustrating a really sharp divide in gameplay philosophy, at least from my perspective. I am interested in roleplaying an emotionally complex character that is capable of being humbled by failure, and changing as he moves through that. I seem to have genuinely offended players by suggesting the Courier would have real regrets and say sorry to people he ostensibly loves like family, and the hostile way that was characterized irritates me way more than the mere notion of Six going a different, harsher, more dictatorial/despotic direction. But that's the kind of RP I find interesting, stuff with a nuanced emotional interior, drama, personal tragedy as much as victory.I think several other anons are interested in what is more or less the opposite - a power fantasy where they have total control, and zero accountability. They don't want to play a character that says sorry or reconsiders past decisions because they see that as weakness, or at least as fractures in the image they have of an omnipotent strongman Courier that kicks ass and takes no shit. But I think that misunderstands the story that I have seen you telling, and again, this is merely my own interpretation, but I don't think this is or was ever meant to be a power fantasy. It still feels like survival horror, and it still feels like a Western... And the fastest gun in town does not always ride off into the sunset. Six has massive resources now, but massive responsibilities too. He is no longer vulnerable to dehydration or a single death law swipe... But he is vulnerable to regional droughts for his settlements, or other factions organizing against his interests. I see it as an extension of hard mode survival New Vegas, but we are contending with a whole different array of meters to manage. I really analyzed our past gambits - especially the ones that haven't paid off - when concluding that it all really neatly fit into the profile of a compulsive gambler, and I'm glad that did make it into the game. I am thinking a lot about those past choices now, and how many of them would have gone better if we had just COMMITTED one way or the other. Kill House or befriend him. Instead we just tormented him and let him get free. Align with the Legion of destroy it. Instead we dip some toes in and keep it on the low, creating a vulnerability we are now being confronted with. Integrate the Enclave or wipe them out. Instead we give them a bunch of government bennies but slow walk it since we obviously can't trust them, so no jump on tech and a MASSIVE political liability. I think you are true to the source material when you kick our shit in for not committing to a path.
>>6424492>>6424501So with that said, right NOW it looks like we are going to make that mistake again. This is maybe the biggest decision for Six as a character thus far - why are we doing this fence-sitting bullshit? It's fine if you don't want to do an about face, eat some crowz and repair these relationships - I don't judge that at all, though some of you guys should take the idea less like a personal affront. But if you want the alternative, the autocrat, the Director... We need to fucking clamp down NOW before shit hits the fan. I feel like you guys aren't even paying attention to the story AT ALL when you vote shit like ordering Boone to arrest Veronica, or inviting him to a meeting that does not meet the parameters he laid out before issuing a veiled threat. Some of you are floating killing Veronica, and accusing her of 'treason', but you want Boone at the table after he pointed a gun at us? And he knows the FULL truth? Dictators, 'benevolent' or otherwise, don't tolerate that shit! >TL;DR shit hard or get off the pot
>>6424458He works for us, not the other way around, ffs.
>>6424458We agreed to none of what you just typed:>>6421670>Boone: But I’m not going to be the judge, jury and executioner. Here’s what’s going to happen. We will finish this mission and you will stay far the fuck from me. As soon as we return to New Vegas, you will call a meeting of your companions, governors and secretaries. You’ll tell them exactly what you told me.>[Thank you, Boone. I’m glad you were the one to finally get me to realize how deep I’m in the hole.]Boone was told the truth, Boone got upset, Boone made a demand that we tell everyone else - Companions and Goverment alike - what Six told Boone.Six has not made any commitment or promise on that end. Instead we're meeting with a compromise, which is a start.I think it's fair as a start.>>6424492I would say no to genocide and efforts for harm minimisation. Focusing on decapitation strikes of leadership within enemy forces (see Vulpes and General Oliver).
>>6424543>>6424616I mean, I don't know how saying thank you when hit with that ultimatum doesn't read as acquiescence to you guys, but let's roll with it. Genuinely, truly hope that when Six tells Boone that this is his 'compromise', and Boone starts seething because his demands are not met, the response is to just pat him on the shoulder and say: [You work for me, not the other way around. You don't tell me how I run my government. I tell you what to do.] He will, naturally, slap a hand to his forehead and apologize for having forgotten that little detail when he threatened us and told us what to do. Then he will stop being pissed off, forgive us, keep these secrets to himself, and serve faithfully as our soldier again.
>>6424306 I don't see anyone changing their minds this time. Not that they really changed it any other time really, beside dragging an argument for get the bare minimum consequences with Cyrus. May he die right this instant from a cazador. >>6424483>>6424501>>6424507Well said. >>6424492What there is to reflect, what does it give any of us. There is a stark divide with a majority and minority. We will not see that option agreed upon. After talking with Boone, we arent going to do what he wanted. End of story. If you don't agree ? The vote has gone that way.I stand on the hill of not having wanted to keep alive House so he could develop a massive vendetta for us and the NVD, on not having that mummy crusty inbred fucker of Cyrus in our ranks and not dealing with Caesar this way. I didn't want to deal with this, I didn't want to have more problems to fix, i didn't want to have our friendship with Boone broken, I didn't want for Veronica to do what she did, and to have people that I don't trust in our ranks (for a tiny example : the comments Cyrus did in the past, and the Enclave woman comments are not reasurring to me in the slighest and I don't trust them to follow what we told them). I also didn't want to accumulate dangerous secrets upon dangerous secrets when our intelligence its still in its infancy. Now we are filled by secrets, and if they managed to come out now, they will do so again. I don't like this situation. Can i do something about any of this ? No i can do nothing.As for a red line, we have passed some already. I don't think we should harm our own but has things stand, something or someone will break. So i can clean my ass with this one. I think we should put the NVD people first. Will it matter, i heavily doubt it, i am starting to think some anons don't have my same objectives in mind and not the same NVD. I don't think the Courier should be so rigid, like he is a block of stone. Unlikely to be considered at this point. Besides, have you seen some suggestions lately. Those care of a red line ?
>>6424688> I think we should put the NVD people first. Will it matter, i heavily doubt it, i am starting to think some anons don't have my same objectives in mind and not the same NVD>i am starting to think some anons don't have my same objectives in mind and not the same NVD>Not the same NVDYeah, Everybody here has there own rough way of wanting how the NVD looks at the end of the question. Thats how nation quests work
>>6424688I think some of these anons simply don't understand what an ultimatum is, or how they work. Or maybe they are so caught up in the power fantasy they are incapable of integrating what Boone said to our face and did with his hands: he isn't our friend, and he is willing to kill us, and is only willing to continue as our subordinate if we comply with his demand for total transparency and accountability. We obviously don't have to comply... But I think these anons will be in for a rude awakening when Boone takes matters into his own hands, since we are just refusing the ultimatum and leaving him to his own devices. He wasn't convinced of anything with our first round of justifications on a 100 roll, he isn't going to suddenly see the light of our infallible wisdom and let it go if we double down.
>>6424306I think it’s decided. Telling companions and Garret, Kreger, Farkas and Chomps Lewis (I consider the enclave immigrants and their potential contributions to fall into this area)Veronica will not be arrested but she’ll be left out of the companions group.
>>6424754>Reward enemies >Punish allies >Ignore ultimatums >Always double down on losing bets >???? >Profit
Rolled 92 (1d100)>>6424755Lmao great pic. Consider it stolen Can I get 1d100+8, BO3? Let’s see how the group reacts
Rolled 50 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6424760Of course, QM.
Rolled 20 + 8 (1d100 + 8)>>6424760Time for all that is good to die.
Rolled 88 + 8 (1d100 + 8)This will be spicy, come what may.
>>6424779fukkin got 'im
>inb4 58 is our highest roll and anons blame the shitstorm on bad rolls instead of Six pissing on his friends and being astonishingly ignorant of the possible consequences
...as I roll right merrily along!
>>6424783not today
>>6424782>>6424794Very sincerely I hope you are right and I am wrong. But I am looking right at what rolling a perfect 100 got us with Boone, and thinking of how we've chosen to piss on him more. I have a feeling that a 96 will buy us some time, but this is far from over. Survivalist plays for keeps and he has never let us worm our way out of a problem with dice alone. Still, fingers crossed that I'm just being a miserable pessimist, eh?
>>6424783>inb4 the dice system has been proven to very low constantly through out every thread>But now its just the players not the dice.>>6424805Nah I hope your right, you seem to need it in your life.
>>6424810>But now its just the players not the dice.Our retarded decisions have always been a bigger problem than bad dice imo. None of what we are cleaning up right now was caused by bad rolls, it's just the obvious result of making these 'hard decisions' lol. >you seem to need it in your life. Don't mistake my being invested in a good narrative for being as thin-skinned as you, anon. I don't take it personally that you disagree with me on how to navigate this, though it's definitely exasperating to watch you propose things like letting the Enclave take over, seeding Blight in our own territory on purpose, and sending the guy that threatened to kill us to arrest his best friend that tipped him off on our deception. We really don't have to be a 'nice' courier but we shouldn't constantly pursue new, creative ways to fuck up our own life. Speaking of self sabotage, I wonder which companion will be first to ask us where Veronica is since she'll be a conspicuous exception from the meeting? I'm sure they'll understand when we explain that she's a snitch and can't be trusted while we confess to having lied...
>>6424822>Calls me thin-skin>keeps writing a story to reply as if it'd be read past the first line???
>>6424822>>6424823Don't argue in someone else's quest. This isn't /b/.
>>6424805Wow, look at anon glazing the QM to try and get him onboard with screwing us even though we've passed 2 hard checks in a row to steady the ship and carry on with our agenda. Real subtle there. You were outvoted and we hit our target rolls twice in a row. Accept the inevitable, the NVD will rule the wasteland from here to Texas and build a chain of franchised casino/trading posts at the site of each and every liberated Legion slave pit when the demented exmormon Edward Sallow finally croaks and we roll in like the wrath of Snuffles the Molerat denied his afternoon snack....and we'll make sure they stay in touch with an Ex-Enclave run network of bots and radio transmitters, just to add a bit more salt.
>>6424823>Gets called thin-skinned >Immediately reacts in a sensitive thin-skinned manner Yes.
>>6424829>thin-skinned mannerIs this what the newfags call thin-skinned? the separation harm just keeps being worse and worse.
>>6424825Y'know what, very fair. >>6424827Not really a glaze, his being a hard ass when our rolls already blow is actually something I wish would change in this quest, and I'm not the only one to have complained about it. I admire your confidence in the NVD project considering where we have landed at the end of year one.
Our dice have been shit, but now they are not.
>>6424831Courier 6 does not lack confidence either in himself or the Directorate's long term goals. It can safely be assumed that during the course of play the Courier collected the Pimp-Boy 3 Billion from the Omertas and behaves accordingly. Truly it is said that a lack of baby powder to facilitate the slapping of bitches is the most arduous hardship presented by the Wasteland.
>>6424842Sure man, as I've said I can get onboard with that since it won the vote, but I maintain that we need to be less of a wishy-washy half-ass about it if that's the Six we are committing to. Boone and Veronica have to go, and probably a few others too. Those two at least clearly lack the same confidence you're describing, and Boone is almost certainly going to be out for blood if he wasn't already. Time to fix the vertibird so we can take the dissidents for a Pinochet aerial tour of quarry junction.
>>6424857I still think we should try to channel Boone's rage by sending him against Lanius. Veronica's a tough one, but we do have the Lady Killer perk. Shag her senseless then a quad damage dose of Med-x in her wine, perhaps?
>>6424861She won't sleep with us, we should have shot her or at the very least arrested her. Being pessimistic again but I really won't be surprised if she's off roasting marshmallows with House and Elijah by nightfall; another case of us leaving a loose end untied for no reason. If we have the chance though, it just needs to be quick and definite.
>>6424861Veronica is a lesbian and that never changes. won't really work Anon.
>>6424866Trucker hat, gotcha. Well, we do have frumentarii and ex-enclave organized crime on tap. Maybe we arrange a deniable accident, make it look like some feral ghouls had their way with her. Proper New Reno style.
Just kill her. >>6424857Probably more than a few others.
>>6424857There should definitely be a betting line on whether the deathclaws snag them out of the air or let them bounce first. Nobody likes a dusty lunch.
Quarry Junction is clear of deathclaws, last I remember.
>>6424885it's because we shot them all, isn't it?
>>6424885IDK though, even after I culled the main pack there were more deathclaws spawning there for AMR practice if I remember right
>>6424892>>6424895This is not the game where things spawn forever. We cleared it in full, and now it's used.
>>6424895>>6424901The specific spot doesn't matter, so long as we clean house as of (and probably during) this meeting since we have chosen a path. >>6424760QM are we going into this meeting with the Compliance Regulator and Sleepytime? If Boone or anyone else flips out when we come clean and demand fealty, we need to be able to protect ourselves. Since multiple anons are suddenly deciding they don't just want to sideline Veronica, but are open to detaining or assassinating her, is it too late to fold that in so we don't have yet ANOTHER enemy just hanging out in the wings because we chose to bite and forgot to chew?
>>6424907Yeah, the specific spot is irrelevant. We should probably just kill them at the meeting and be done.I would prefer not to kill them, neither Boone nor Veronica at all, but maybe I can give them a clean death at least, and spare them from whatever other anons have in mind.
>>6424910You and the others have to stop being so lukewarm on this, man, you cannot have it all. If onboarding the Legion and Enclave is more important to you than the Courier's companions I can respect that but the sooner you own it, the sooner we can stop getting hung up with conflicts like this. Now that we have chosen to flaunt the ultimatum, I retroactively wish I had lost the previous vote, and that we'd just killed Boone then and there, and Veronica upon coming home. We have ended up going about this in such a messy, stupid way. If we are killing Boone and Veronica there isn't even a point in gathering the others together to tell them the truth, yaknow? Just more headaches for no reason whatsoever. Now we will probably have to kill Farkas, Garrett, and Arcade. If we kill Arcade we might have to kill Kreger, Moreno, Daisy, and Henry. Mayyyyybe we will have to kill Raul. Probably not for political reasons so much as him wanting to kill us for betraying the rest of our inner circle. I'm being very speculative here, I guess, but am just prognosticating based on everything I know from the games and this quest. Again, rolling a 100 to talk down Boone, paraphrasing the QM, 'wasn't enough to work any miracles', and still has him on the fence about killing us. A 96 is gonna give us an advantage and dull some of the fallout, but we are kidding ourselves if we think we get to keep this up without getting our hands dirty.
>>6424914Quick question, if half the reason we're arguing with these people is to preserve the integration of the Enclave remnants, why in Atom's name would we kill the Enclave remnants?
>>6424914I voted for your vote before. I don't love the Legion or Enclave. I don't even want to do this shit, but the other vote won.Besides, you guys are talking about killing them by the end of the rolls. Do it somewhere else, I guess, I don't care. I just don't want fucking theatrics or cruelty for no reason.
>>6424920I don't want to, but let's be realistic here and plan ahead for once. If Boone goes nuclear because we surprised him with this 'compromise' on his ultimatum, and sidelining Veronica, Arcade might take his side. Arcade might flip on us over Caesar, which would be consistent with the game, or for sidelining Veronica over her leaking the truth. You have to admit that's possible. If Arcade flips on us, are we going to let him walk free while we eliminate Boone and Veronica? He would take his family with him, and a lot of top secret information, like the weather machine, Blight research, etc. So we'll need to kill him if it comes to that, right? If we kill Arcade, it's possible that Moreno, Henry, Daisy, Kreger, and Johnson turn on us, so we will have to kill them too. Again, I don't want to, but we are in for more than a few pennies at this point, anon.
>>6424921Ah, gotcha, then I have nothing but respect for you anon. Regardless of which way we go, we are way, way, way fucking overdue on having ACTUAL CONVICTION in this game.
>>6424923What is this fucking clown-car of worse of the worse events?Arcade wouldn't side with Boone or Veronica over this when we have actively taken steps to improve the lives of folks that have come to lived here. In fact he if anybody would be the one most likely to understand the value of compartmentalizing information.He wouldn't be happy at all and would be very pissed but straight up packing up or telling the Legion OR NCR is out of left field even for him.
>>6424925Arcade has the most delicate morals of any companion in the game, anon, he is by far the easiest to lose and the most difficult to get fully close to. I am frankly dazzled by your optimism.
>>6424926Because his already in this deep, and where does he really have to go at this point besides the uhh I can't remember there name. And even then, We've helped them quite a bit as well.I'm expecting him to see that we've done more good then bad in this case and not flip-ship... plus if it all gets out, his also you know on the shit list as former Enclave.
>>6424938The Followers of The Apocalypse, yes. Canonically in the game if you side with the Legion at the end, Arcade refuses to fight with you and rejoins them to tend the wounded at their camp. Since we have sided with Caesar here, that's what I expect him to try and do. Again, I think you're being obscenely optimistic to assume that he will just automatically agree with us full stop. There are multiple places here for him to feel oppositional - the Salvatore Enclave were (and I think still are) true believers in the old doctrine, which he emphatically rejects. Caesar continues to commit vast atrocities. Arcade is at least to close to being as loyal to Boone and Veronica as he is to us. Not to mention, he has been helping us build a functioning weather machine, and knows that if that tech were to fall into the hands of Enclave believers or Caesar - and he has no way to trust that it won't, now - even with just the rain power it could really wreck shit for the NCR and innocent tribals, let alone if it's weaponized functions are activated - he can bounce on the spot if you weaponized HELIOS. We lied to him, so why would he trust we aren't gonna misuse the weather machine or share that with our low-moral buddies? Surely you can admit that's on the table? Or maybe not, and just stick your fingers in your ears and pretend none of this is happening I guess, I don't care anymore. The sequence of events I outlined is just 'Arcade leaves the Courier for the exact kinds of things that make him leave in the game.' You're forgetting too that we have neglected all these friendships for the past year, and some of them, like Cass, have said as much to our face - we only just started to reconnect a month ago. It's a short leap, man.
>>6424760QM, can we get a formal vote on telling them about the Caesar thing? Because that I feel is something that needs a vote.
>>6424924At this point, if it comes to it and we have to kill... I am not even sure I can get them a clean death after they have been our long-term companions before, and when we founded the NVD. Maybe Survivalist will have a fade to black if anything too savage/cruel wins. If it comes to killing them.
>>6424952We just had that vote, anon, only a couple specified leaving that out, it looks like everyone else agreed to divulge the full truth.
>>6424952I think most anons are leaning towards telling all, it just came down to who to tell. I didn’t get the feel that many voices in the courier’s head still want to try to obfuscate, especially since Boone will be in the room (as he wasn’t killed before the meeting)
>>6424958Are we telling all about Hawthorne too? Invading the NCR for an arms depot with Brotherhood support, only for Brotherhood to drop a nerve agent bomb on us..That and the Brotherhood movements are legit reason to exclude Veronica.
14 months on this quest. I wanted to keep secrets. I compromised. I told everyone about my plots instead. >>6424822>Our retarded decisions have always been a bigger problem than bad dice imo. None of what we are cleaning up right now was caused by bad rolls, it's just the obvious result of making these 'hard decisions' lol.Anon, that's how the quest works. We make a risky decision, the dice say yay or nay, and we roll with it. If we had succeeded on our rolls with House we could conceivably have won him over as an ally, but we failed, so now he's seething and coping (and plotting to overthrow us) about us doing a better job than he ever could have done. We turned a great roll into a Boon roll so we could get Caesar to go insane and give us his empire. If we failed that roll in the first place he probably would have kicked us out of his territory and we wouldn't be having all this stupid handwringing over keeping secrets. Our decisions have certain levels of risk, certain levels of potential failure and success, and it's fine if you don't want to take any risks at all for fear of blowback, but that's simply how the game is played.>>6424861Veronica is gay, so Lady-Killer won't work on her.>>6424914Anon, I've said it before, but shut the fuck up about the catastrophising. Nothing has happened. Nobody has made any threats, NONE of our companions has expressed any opinion on the matter outside of Boone, and we most certainly are not going to kill off our entire government and call up Elijah to gas everyone in the Mojave with Madre Cloud over some hooped up paranoia. YOU are the only anon kicking and screaming about needing to kill people. If we need to crack heads, we will, but nobody knows how anyone will react except Survivalist, so shut up and wait for the update. >>6424938Arcade might have an issue with the Caesar thing, but if we frame it as maintaining the stability of the Legion so it doesn't collapse into civil war and swamp us with refugees he might be okay with it. The heir thing might be a bit more delicate, especially because we, the anons, really don't really know what we're doing on that front, but it's not like we're ever going to adopt Legion practices or support the Legion as a state.
>>6424978>it's fine if you don't want to take any risks at all for fear of blowbackStrawman, I am perfectly fine taking risks and have voted for plenty of risky moves. I wasn't around for the main Legion votes, and my objection to them is both the risk and the immorality of it. I was against the Enclave vote, and you can whinge all you want, but those of us that dissented were right about the risks. We did not get a bunch of juicy tech. We did not get a fleet of vertibirds. We are still relying on the NCR and BoS. We did get a fat fucking set of headaches, we lost Boone, and he hit us with an ultimatum which we have chosen to ignore. Now that we have locked in on this path, despite my desire to shift directions, I am getting with the program and thinking realistically about how we navigate maintaining these alliances that some of our inner circle will never abide by. You continue to be a lukewarm half-ass that wants to roll with the bad boys but buddy up with people like Boone and Arcade. You're the one that's afraid of taking risks here, because you are lukewarm and lack conviction. You didn't vote to arrest Boone or Veronica because you think you can somehow salvage these relationships while telling these people they aren't allowed to question us and we get to lie to them and order them to cooperate with people they hate. Grow a spine. We are a dictator. We have picked a side, we don't have regrets. Time to eliminate the threats and dissidents. >Nobody has made any threatsAgain, it just seems like you goobers don't read, honestly. >Boone: Don’t thank me yet, Six. I haven’t decided what I’m doing about it yet.After he *pointed a loaded gun at us*. That's a threat. That's more threatening than anything Veronica has done. I'm not catastrophizing, here, you are in denial because you think you can have it both ways and that these characters will abandon all of their principles at our mere suggestion. Even rolling a 100 wasn't enough to get that kind of compliance out of Boone. Wake up and smell the autocratic roses, Jesus... We aren't even on opposite sides of what kind of character that the Courier is, anymore, and you still keep pussy-footing around. >YOU are the only anon kicking and screaming about needing to kill people. You can't count or read? >>6424871>>6424873Plus me makes three. Just because you want to pretend we can keep up the charade or that no one in the room is going to turn on us, threaten us (again), or try to leak the info doesn't mean the rest of us aren't allowed to entertain ideas about how to get ahead of it.
>>6424993>arrest Boone AND** VeronicaTypo
>>6424958I agree, full send for our companions, but we need a need to know group for the rest of our government.
>>6424978>If we had succeeded on our rolls with House we could conceivably have won him over as an ally,Survivalist told us he wouldn't buckle just at the first argument and with the first rolls we did on him. This made very much sense since he is a genius, one we betrayed, and not only that one the majority specifically decided to leave half-dead rotting alone on his pod, and naturally that meant he was already very angry and felt very humiliated back then at the start. We would have need to convince him, in multiple visits and rolls. Not with only one set. After making him a brain in a jar we also left him there at MT with the worst jailers possible, that allowed him freedom after not too long. We did 2 visits with 2 set of rolls in total, then upon us checking a 3 time he already escaped by quite sometime.>We turned a great roll into a Boon roll so we could get Caesar to go insane and give us his empireBeing called heir wouldn't give us his empire outright, its : 1 his generals and warriors kneeling and meaning that and 2 us accepting Caesar full demands once the internal purge of the Legion is completed (which is to change the NVD and ourselves for be the Augustus in his mind. Then when he dies, we can be for him the next Caesar). Going along with him and his madness, also doesn't mean we have to follow through with it to the end. We are having a very hard time here on our own, ruling the Legion for us would be far harder. I am not interested in following through for example. At the moment the truth is that no one in the Legion even knows of Caesar plan to make us his heir. And inside the Legion we have : an unstable Caesar doing a internal purge, the death of Vulpes that we decided on purpose to make messy, a Lanius preparing after learning from his defeat and recent events, and a third chaotic element that no one will see coming until the Legion cracks, which is a young successfull commander learning of the truth of the larp state he is part of. This being the real history Edward Sallow used for make the Legion.>but it's not like we're ever going to adopt Legion practices or support the Legion as a state.Once Caesar completes the Purge he is doing for purify the Legion, he has intentions to announce us publically has his heir. Before he makes that announcement, he did not specify when we need to do it, but he also wants us to change and our state for fit being his Augustus. I think its obvious what that means. We are not his Augustus now, but we will be, if we do what he says. And he fully believes we will, since he gave us even his favourite book to read and then report him about it. That full reading homework/gift, was just one step of likely other steps for shape us in being his heir in Caesar mind. Also Caesar wants to create a father/adopted son bond through our letters, which is very one sided so far.
>>6425197 #>Survivalist told us he wouldn't buckle just at the first argument and with the first rolls we did on him.Exactly, he is constantly showing us and even telling us outright that we can't magically solve our problems with die rolls. Some members of this meeting might only need one good roll to get them to opt in on our schemes, but others will need a lot of persuading (with very high rolls, clearly) over a long time (which we don't have), and some will never, ever be convinced to go along with this. Why anons thought, in a game based on FNV, they'd be able to keep all of our companions and allies while bringing in new ones they are diametrically opposed to, I'll never understand. *Taps the Dead Money sign* This is the part where we have to Let Go.
>>6425228Topical Anyway, huge post which I think goes without saying. Should be up tonight followed by the new turn hopefully this evening as well
>>6425255That's actually really reassuring, maybe we will pull out a miracle and get everyone onboard. Would make everything a lot easier.
>>6425255That picture says it all.
You don’t immediately head down to the conference room where the whole of your government is assembled. Instead, you stop on the floor where your arsenal is located. It was originally a backup vault for the casino here but now houses some of the most dangerous and unique weapons in the wasteland. You’re not planning on massacring anyone but you can’t assume this is going to go down peacefully. You know you’ve crossed lines that your companions and confidants would never have and you’re not sure how they will react. If it’s anything like Boone…So you grab the Compliance Regulator, a weapon rarely used by you but capable of rendering an opponent paralyzed for a small amount of time. You also grab a handful of flashbang grenades in case the room goes hot and just for a worst case scenario, you grab Sleepytyme. It’s probably more firepower you need but rather have it and not need it…You tuck the weaponry under but hesitate. Are you really bringing weaponry into a room with the people you love and care about? If they choose to kill you for your transgressions, so be it. You stow your weaponry and head down the elevator, unable to put it off any longer. Boone is outside the conference room, leaning against the doorframe. Boone: Everyone is assembled, Director. Except Ulysses. He went dark a few days ago before a Securitron could get sent to fetch him. Credit where credit is due, you have balls following through.You smile at him as the two of you head into the large conference room - set up more like an auditorium now. [Don’t thank me yet, Boone.]You step up on a small stage built into the back of the room for this exact purpose. You look over everyone here assembled. Some you’re meeting for only the second time, others you’ve fought and bled with.[Thank you all for coming, it’s an effort to assemble so many people from across the Mojave on such a short notice. Unfortunately, there’s a last minute change. The Governors of the different NVD territories, can you please leave and head up to the cocktail bar? I will join you later this evening. Additionally, all Secretaries will join the Governors except Secretary Cass, Garret, Gannon, Kreger, Lewis and Farkas. Veronica, I’d like you to join this group as well. Please enjoy the food and drink up there.]Boone looks prepared to object but decides against it, seemingly interested to see where you’re going with this. The governors also look confused but unwilling to argue with their boss who just gave them a job. The Secretaries give a variety of looks but they likewise don’t object. Veronica is the one who seems the most concerned. She hurriedly approaches you as everyone else filters out. Veronica: Courier, what’s going on here? I thought Boone told you about everything?You’re shocked at her bearing, she doesn’t have the look or attitude of someone who is holding the sword of Damocles over your head. You look into her eyes and hesitate.
