Over The Edge

by Lordgoth99

Ex-NCR Veteran Desert Ranger Benjamin "Ben" McCall, lives in luxury from his career as a private detective. His ex girlfriend is murdered in front of his eyes. The investigation of her death, uncovers a conspiracy so dark, so heinous, and places the entire Mojave Wasteland in the sights of a madman looking to reclaim glory long since lost.

1. Introduction

Over the Edge

A Fallout Fanfiction

By Joseph R. Conway

Prefix/Background

It's the year 2085, After the Courier's massive victory at Hoover Dam, New Vegas is now an independent republic/state. Under her rule, New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland begins its transition into a thriving republic surrounded by two empires in decline, The NCR and Caesar's Legion. After their embarrassing defeat by the Courier at the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, where most of their forces were crushed, and their top general, Lee Oliver, was thrown off the Hoover Dam by Securitrons under the Courier's personal orders. After such a humiliating defeat, the NCR's economy went into a deep recession, ending many profitable caravan routes, and causing massive unemployment. It's army also is in a tough spot, as its struggling with massive desertions, lacks reliable supplies of ordinance, and the disbanding of many of its Tier One units, such as First Recon. The Legion has also suffered heavy losses, though far greater than the NCR. Caesar himself, Vulpes Inculta, Lucius, and most of the other high commanders were killed shortly after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, by the Courier's Securitron forces. The Legion's leadership hierarchy has been reduced to Lucius of the Praetorian Guard and Legate Lanius, with 500 battle-hardened troops, consisting of Legionaries, Frumentarii, and Centurions.

The Courier and Legate Lanius met in late 2082, to sign the Treaty of Flagstaff, in which the first of 4 demands, forced the Legion to hand over half of their territory in Arizona, including their capitol city of Flagstaff to the Courier, which would be added to the newly Independent State of New Vegas. The territory that wouldn't be claimed by the Courier, would be given back to The Legion's other lands in Arizona, would be handed over to the current residents. Second, all Legion slaves, NCR captives, and others would be released. They could also not enslave anyone outside the state of Colorado, nor pursue any escaped slaves that made it outside Colorado. Third, the remaining Legion forces, would be relegated to their remaining territory in Colorado, and would be prohibited from leaving Colorado, except for diplomats or Legion traders and caravanners. The forth condition, was that the Legion would pay a large amounts of caps, Denarii, and loot, which would be equivalent to 40 percent of their entire treasury) as war reparations. In return, Lanius and his remaining troops would be spared the wrath of the Courier's Securitron army and would be permitted to safely retreat to Colorado. However, if they broke any of the treaty's terms, they would be hunted down and massacred by Securitrons and the best mercenaries that money could buy.

Back in Shady Sands, the NCR capitol, President Aaron Kimball has just been impeached, due to his terrible leadership of the NCR and his decision to annex New Vegas. The NCR's citizenry, angered at their government's constant warring with bordering states and massive debts, elect their new president, Jennifer Haines (35), who wins with a landslide over rival Moderate candidate Colonel James Hsu. President Haines, in her first speech over the radio, promises to lead the NCR out of its economic recession, caused by unchecked spending trying to develop New Vegas into an NCR state. She won the election by saying that she would end the corrupt political and economic system in Shady Sands, claiming that the government should "serve the many, not the few". Another blow from the loss of HELIOS ONE and Hoover Dam, was the end of the NCR's access to cheap solar and hydroelectric electricity. This causes major strain on the already overburdened energy infrastructure across the NCR, which due to corruption and mismanagement, has fallen into disrepair due to lack of maintenance from near-constant use, or has never been built, regardless of the considerable money set aside for its construction.

However, the tides of despair seemingly turned in early 2083, when a mysterious Ghoul businessman named Ashley Craven arrived in Shady Sands, claiming to have a solution to the NCR's energy woes. Craven appears in front of the NCR Senate, explaining to them that his organization, Yucca Energy Solutions (YES), has managed to restore a massive Pre-War power station near San Diego, along with the completion of a Fusion power facility located outside the raider stronghold of Yucca Flats. On April 14th, 2283, the NCR government, after having Senators and military brass visit the site, agree to a landmark deal, giving Craven and YES, a monopoly on energy/electricity production, making Craven one of the richest men in Post-War NCR.

Two years later, the New Vegas chapter of the Followers of the Apocalypse send Dr. Emily "Emma" Valera, and expert in Earth and Environmental Sciences, to track down her ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Macall. Ben is an ex-NCR Desert Veteran Ranger and current private investigator, known for solving every case and being one of the Mojave's best trackers. The Followers want to hire Ben to track down 7 of their scientists, who have haven't returned after being sent to investigate allegations of YES improperly disposing of nuclear wastes among other theories. Emma arrived at the Westin Estates in Lake Las Vegas, to visit Ben at his refurbished Pre-War Mediterranean luxury home, right on the water. She finally reached Ben's door and knocked, little did she realize that the outcome of her visit, would forever change the Mojave Wasteland.

Ben came out, wearing a red flannel with cut-off sleeves and blue jeans, holding a .45 Auto Pistol in his right hand. "Long time no see", Ben replied with a genuine smile on his face. Emma and Ben hugged, then they walked into Ben's living room and sat down on one of the couches. Ben walked up to his refurbished refrigerator, opened it, and grabbed two bottles of Sunset Sarsaparilla. He handed one to Emma and the two sat back down and began to talk.

After about an hour of reminiscing about old times together, the topic changed to Emma's new assignment with the Followers. "Listen, you know that working with the Followers can sometimes be dangerous, but never this dangerous, 7 of our scientists vanished, near the Yucca Flats Mines. "Why would the Followers be interested in abandoned gold mines? "Last time I was out in Yucca Flats, there were only Radscorpions, Viper Gunslingers, and Fiends, along with the most dangerous Raider gangs in the Wastes". "Well, Ben, I…, We, would like to hire you to go back to Yucca Flats, to investigate the disappearances of our scientists and researchers". "Before you object, the Followers promise 25,000 bottle caps, plus any food and ammunition expenses, along with any medical supplies you need". "Damn Emma, 25,000?". "Yucca Flats is a raider stronghold, hell it's a Raider city, and it's filled with some of the most unsavory types the Wastes have to offer, East of the Colorado". "The last time I went out that way, if the Followers are willing to shell out 25 thousand to find 7 people, I assume their VIP's".