The meetings were always the same. The council members would walk into the NCR embassy located on the strip, take the stairs up to the conference room. They got a cup of their drink of choice and then the arguing would start. It would continue for a few hours, they would get nothing done. Then they would leave bettering no one and angering everyone. Today was no different; today's argument was over whether or not the Casa Madrid Apartments should have to pay more taxes to the NCR because of its increased business in the past months but the argument seemed to be more ferocious this time. Arguing on the side of the NCR is the new Ambassador to the strip and the Mojave Wasteland, sent here to negotiate and deal with the native people, Ed Ferguson. He replaced Dennis Crocker after his mysterious disappearance a few weeks after the Second Battle at Hoover Dam. Ed was more hard pressed to bring in New Vegas by any means necessary, starkly contrasted to Dennis who tried to annex New Vegas peacefully. His intense loyalty to the NCR made the others question his effectiveness to help. The NCR had effective ways to conquer and occupy a region, but they never perfected sustainable prolonged occupation. They usually take over a place, impose taxes and leave, giving control of the region to an appointed individual who was loyal to the republic and would do their bidding, a local who had established relationships with the people and who was easily manipulated; but there was something special about the Mojave. They wanted it for themselves; they wanted one of their own officials calling the shots.
Arguing on the behalf of Westside, where the Casa Madrid Apartments are located, the owner, operator of the Westside Co-Op, and New Vegas councilmember representing the people of Westside, Clayton Etienne. Clayton started the Co-Op to help the people provide for themselves and gain their independence. After the NCR won at Hoover Dam and annex most of the region, Westside reluctantly joined as well. Clayton was asked to be in the council after the NCR found out about the Co-Op and his part in creating it. Clayton didn't care much for the responsibility of being in the council but he took the position for the people of Westside.
"I feel that the people don't know what is best for them. They need to be told what to do and let us take care of the rest. They have continuously shown that they can't handle taking care of themselves let alone anyone else."
"And how do we know that the NCR have the peoples interest in mind when they force their democracy on us?"
"Because Democracy was the greatest form of government in the Old World and it still is. Communist brought the Great War upon us and caused us all to turn into animalistic tribals! Do not go against the NCR on this Clayton, we have and will always be around to do what's right. Casa Madrid has enough capital to provide for themselves and pay a little extra in taxes."
"No! That money goes directly to fund the extra security needed at the apartments. If the NCR wasn't so worried about expanding and paid more attention to the people they have sworn to protect, then that extra security would not be needed. The NCR is stretching its self too thin."
"The NCR's goal is to bring Democracy back to this country but it needs to be funded by the communities it holds. Everyone is feeling the pinch of these hard times and everyone has to do their duty and New Vegas is no exception. You either play ball or they will find someone who will."
"Ok, enough with the threats and yelling. This is getting us nowhere." The females voice was soft yet strong. Julie Farkas, leader of the Followers of the Apocalypse in Vegas, was always welcome in the council meetings by everyone except Ed who thought that a woman could easily let her hormones get in the way of effective decision-making. Ed maybe one of the smartest in the group but he was dumb for verbalizing his thoughts. Julie smacked Ed so hard across his face that he fell out of his chair. Ed never made any of his thoughts towards the opposite sex known again.
"The NCR has their tax rates and they will not raise them for individual people or companies. The taxes that were imposed on the people are high enough. It's been almost a year since you took over and we were just getting adjusted to your rule before you started taxing us. Give us a period of no or even lowered taxes so we can have make enough money to survive, then we would gladly pay taxes. You can't collect what we don't have." Julie was very intelligent, leading the Mojave branch of the Followers and being a knowledgeable doctor at the same time is very challenging and occupy's the majority of her time. Yet she stills find time to come to the meetings to lend her expertise to help the rest of the Mojave.
"You knowledge of the components of democracy is laughable. You pay taxes and we protect and provide for you. Just remember who save this God forsaken place." His hatred for the Mojave was only matched by his love for the special beer that he brews and drinks whenever he can. Never did you see him without a bottle in his hand. You can say what you like about him but he somehow could hold his liquor.
"Hey, pally just cause you control the place doesn't mean you can change history, without Darian you'd still be in whatever shit-shack you call'd home, digg. You already tried to pinch every penny out of the Gomorrah because of the heavy traffic I get from your troops. The money I make from prostitution is close to overcome my casino profits, thanks to the NCR. Its not our fault your boys are horny, see" The leader of the Gomorrah called himself Cachino, nobody knows if that was his name given at birth but that is what he has been called since Mr. House took over the strip. Back before NCR ruled the place, Nero and Big Sal ran Gomorrah. They had a plan to take over the strip for Caesar, but with the help of Cachino, Darian foiled their plot, saving the strip and many lives. Once Cachino was put in charge, he attributed it all to Darian, he pledge his allegiance to him and always stands on his side.
"It was only a matter of time before we took the dam, Caesar was going to get what was coming to him and we were going to give it to him sooner or later. Just because he decided to show up and move things along a little quicker doesn't mean we couldn't have done it ourselves. Anyway where is your fearless leader?" His childish sarcasm annoyed the others.
"He had some business to attend to at his casino. And another thing, I find your back ally meetings very shady. You contact us out of the blue and order a meeting and going ahead with the meeting if only a few of us even made it. Why I ask you?" Julie never trusted Ed or anyone who proudly called themselves citizens of the New California Republic.
"Because this is a delicate time, and resolutions, laws and other legal proceedings are needed in order to make sure this place is in proper order." Ed's patience was growing thinner.
"Yea you know that this democracy shit doesn't work well out here. This place has been filed with anarchy and chaos for as long as I can remember. You tryin to bring a entire new way of dealing with people and they ain't going to like it." Swank finally spoke. He was always about business, even when Benny was in control of the Tops swank handled the day-to-day operations. Once Benny left Swank took control of The Tops but it was as if nothing had changed. Swanks trust to the council was questionable, they sometimes thought that he didn't like the new management of the strip and hoped that one day the chairman would run the place, but Swank went along with everything, as long as he could keep control of the Tops casino he was happy.
"Democracy will bring back the ways of the Old World, and these people will have to play ball or leave!" Ed violently stood up as if it would help make his point; his chair flew into the wall behind him, breaking the back of it on impact. Silence fell on the room. For a few seconds everyone just stared at Ed. His voice broke the silence, "This meeting is over, we will continue it another day." Ed quickly grabbed his jacket and briefcase and stormed out of the room slamming doors as his left.
Once Ed was out of earshot the others spoke.
"Something is up and Ed is behind it. I worry for this council and the overall direction of New Vegas." Julie was the first to voice her concerns. "He is set on draining every resource out of the people and not protecting them when they need it. We can not let this happen."
"Agreed" They all spoke at once. No matter their differences of opinion, vision, or goals they all knew that NCR control had to stay at a minimum.
"We need Darian to help us. Ed controls all of the NCR troops left in the Mojave, but Darian has sway. He is the hero of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam." Clayton spoke with reverence towards the courier, without him New Vegas would look a lot different.
"Yes but you know he has a lot on his plate. A lot of people look up to him for help. Even us." Julie always seemed to be the voice of reason. "He has many responsibilities, but you are right we need him, Ed is up to something and he would know what to do."