New Vegas: The Chicago Zone
Credits:
Bethesda, Obsidian and others for the amazing game
The mod authors for some references
Prologue
It's been 18 years since the Second Battle Of Hoover Dam, The Mojave was prospering overall, after The Courier took control of the dam with Yes Man, the NCR was forced out of the Mojave with less than seventy-five percent of its original force, their hurried departure left a gaping hole in security in the area, the fiend population grew like rabbits. They overran most of Westside, killing many of the residents savagely, The Westside militia fought bravely but ultimately failed and the fiends made it into Freeside where the kings, with help from the Van Graffs and Gun Runners fended them off. Novac flourished in the following time, the loss of NCR trade tariffs had made trading a huge portion of the local economy, but that was short lasting, Fiends attacked but were driven back with help from the Brotherhood of Steel, Boone and Manny Vargas were forced to work together again as comrades in the Defense of Novac, During that time Boone and Manny reconciled their friendship under fire, it is said that they personally killed more than anyone else, Ex-Ranger Andy took the couriers words to heart and coordinated the defense from the makeshift HQ at Repconn. Goodsprings did well, out of the way from the fiends reach. With Caesar and the Legate dead, the legion left in a hurry to go back to Colorado, a few remnants remained behind to harass the population, but proved no match for the Brotherhood's firepower. The Prospector Saloon did well with traders drowning their sorrows at the loss of their caravans due to the war. Doc Mitchell spent his days working with the Followers administering aid to the wounded, he died peacefully in his sleep a few years after this story takes place. Primm did well overall, Primm Slim stepped up as sheriff after the NCR retreat, did well at that position until he was destroyed by a group of NCR deserters who then took control. The Great Khans were wiped out by the courier and his securitron army. The Boomers realizing that the outside world was not as "savage" as so previously thought, they opened their gates and allowed for trade, becoming one of the largest gun supplies in the area, rivaling the Gun Runners. Crimson Caravan Co. New Vegas branch was recalled after they began losing caps faster than they could make them. The BoS, un-hindered by the NCR, expanded across the Mojave, working well with the locals to protect them while secretly gathering technology and storing it in Hidden Valley. They expanded and took up most of the abandoned NCR positions', becoming the main protectors of the area, Cass moved away back to the Hub; Veronica was accepted back into the BoS and made a paladin. Raul just disappeared one day from his shack, never to be seen again in those parts.
Gallows "Shade" Smith, son of the courier and Sunny Smiles, was born on December 28th 2285 at the New Vegas Medical clinic, had an interesting childhood, as a young kid he turned out like his father, he had a great knack for firearms, marksmanship, and repair. He was fascinated by pre-war military tactics and spent hours at the BoS archive studying the subject. During the Fiend war he was an officer in the strip army, coordinating defensive positions, Shade took a round to the leg at Vault 3 leading a clearing party. When he was 16, his father gave him his custom .45 auto pistol, extended magazine, a recoil comp, and a selector switch for full-auto or semi-auto. His father called it the Juanita, similar in design to Benny's Maria, but black with silver inlays and a pearl handle. At the age of 25, Cass returned back to the Mojave, spent 4 weeks at the strip, taking in the sights, learning of the past years, she also brought much news about the rest of the U.S. wasteland, particularly news about Chicago, which sparked Shade's interest, Working with Senior Knight Lorenzo and others, he fixed up a Corvega, modified the car with a cargo area, armor plating, a huge fuel tank to supply his journey. On June 21st 2301, he left for Chicago.