The sun was beginning to fall as Jack left the Lucky 38 he nodded at the securitrons at the north gate and went through into freeside. He casually walked through freeside and received cheers from a small group of Kings that he passed. Jack returned the favor but checked both his gun and the bag of caps in his coat pocket. He had an alliance with the King but that didn't mean he trusted rest of his gang, espically Pacer. He made it thorough freeside without any issues and got on the highway to Goodsprings. He walked in silence and enjoyed the first moment he had to himself all day. He listened to the wind and observed as the dust blew around. He coughed as he inhaled some of the fore mentioned dust and drew the attention of a dark figure which he had just now noticed. Nervousness set in as Jack drew his magnum and readied himself for battle. To his surprise a wounded trooper crawled out from behind the rock coughing up blood as he did. He holstered his weapon feeling sorry for the man. He approached the dying man and reached for his dog tag.

"Private George Mason 3rd company 12th division infantry."

The soldier finished coughing and spoke in a raspy tone, "With all of the fighting today, can you believe I actually was attacked by a gecko and fell off a ledge which put in the position you see me in now." He paused to cough more blood up, "You know it makes you think, even if we had won. What would have changed, people would still die right? We didn't solve anything. We just killed more people for no reason." The bitterness was clear in his words as he took his last breath then with one more sputter of blood from his mouth he died.

Jack leaned down and looked down at the soldier. He was young in his mid 20's with a slight beard and a blonde buzz cut. He appeared to be married judging by the wedding ring on his finger. Jack looked around and then shut the soldier's eyes and moved him off the road. Then he took a bottle of vodka out of his coat and poured two glasses. He downed his then threw the other on the dead body. He then took a small lighter from his pocket and lit it marveling at the way light could be created from nothing. Then with one flick of his wrist he flicked the open lighter on the body setting it aflame instantly. He stood for a moment watching the body catch flame and all noticeable features become burnt to a crisp.

Jack then found himself captivated at the soldier's demise. Out of all the combat of the day he was not even killed on a battlefield. He was killed on a ledge alone without any other soldiers backing him up. It occurred to him that the soldier must have either deserted or been left behind by his squad to die. Jack looked around and noticed that the sun was starting to set and he needed to get going to Goodsprings soon.

He continued his walk without much more incident except for a scattered powder ganger or gecko. He walked until he finally reached his destination, the Goodsprings cemetery. He walked over to the still dug up grave site where he had been dumped two months earlier. He looked down and saw that the grave had not been tampered with at all since he had last seen it. He took a cigar out of his coat pocket and looked out at his city as the sun set to the west.

He smoked the cigar in peace and enjoyed the scenery and cool late afternoon autumn air. He had read in Mr. House's library that trees used to change colors at this time. He realized that it would soon be Christmas eve and winter although another book for the old world informed him that Vegas didn't get very cold. Christmas was an old war holiday which celebrated the birth of a former religious figure. Jack wasn't religious and wasn't planning on making the city an image of any particular religion. He had studied religion a small bit in the library but it wasn't a topic that peaked his interest. He had devoted a lot of his time to studying the history of the pre-war world while holed up in the lucky 38 for a few days before the battle.

He had spent a lot of time reading up on the American revolution and in many ways looked at it with a degree of both pity and understanding. During the planning for the battles of the day he had used his knowledge of military engagements over the years from the more recent mutant and Enclave struggle of the past 150 years to the Trojan horse techniques of ancient Greece. He had also read excerpts of the art of war in preparation and downloaded the data into the securitrons with a program developed with Arcade and the rest of the Remnants. The results were clear; complete, and utter defeat of all his enemies.

He looked out on his city and once, just once wondered if he would have chose a different outcome. What would have an NCR state of New Vegas been like? Would Caesar have lived up to his promises of daily executions and beheadings if he ruled New Vegas? These were just small thoughts but the main one that bugged the new king was if he had talked Mr. House into not destroying the brotherhood of steel chapter in Hidden valley and helped him secure New Vegas. Would life be better? Would it be worse? He could only wonder though because he had not chosen any of these options. He had picked the option of the people. An independent Vegas under his quiet, but commanding rule. With his Vegas the different factions of the Mojave could still keep their independence and get protection and government built cooperatively by all different factions. However Jack couldn't get cocky. Because as he as he had read in many texts leading up to the day the bombs fell this new world was war... and war never changes.

Shady Sands (capital of the New California Republic)

Colonel Thomas Moore looked down at the incident reports from Hoover dam in pure disbelief. While he had not been involved in this battle or any of the planning for it he had been sure this non-legion third party was nothing but a rag tag force with sub par equipment. At least that was what he had been told by not only his sister through their frequent phone calls and letters but almost every other military officer that had been in the Mojave. He wondered what had changed that made this third party so strong. His personal thoughts were interrupted when his office door opened. He jumped up and snapped a quick salute,

"Mr. President! Colonel Thomas Moore reporting!"

"At ease soldier! Please sit down and have a drink with me."

Moore nodded and went for his liquor cabinet, however he was stopped en route, "No no Tom I've got the good stuff tonight." He produced two fairly well sized glasses from his suit pocket and also a large bottle of Scotch.

Moore sat back down and took a glass which Kimball filled to the brim with the expensive alcohol. The two men sat in silence enjoying the numbing drink and soaking in the magnitude of the biggest military defeat in the history of the NCR

.Kimball finally broke the silence, "You know before your sister went to the Mojave her and I sat here in this very office sharing a drink. and talking over how she was going to have Lee's job once we won this war." He paused and took another long drink followed by a longer silence. "Perhaps that's what we should have done."

He looked at Thomas with a look of pure pity, "Tom I'm sorry."

Thomas looked down at his glass and then knocked back the last quarter of the glass, "I know Mr. President."

Kimball responded, "No... not anymore. I sent my resignation in to Congress before I came here. I'm done Tom. I believe Congressman Jonas Thompson from New Arroyo will be taking my place soon."

Thomas looked at his president with pure shock, "But sir..."

He was interrupted by Kimball, "For what it's worth I am recommending you for promotion to take Oliver's spot. It'll be up to Thompson of course but I believe he will at least take my recommendation into account. You have done well at your job of defending our home while everyone else was focused on fighting a war we had no business in being in. You managed to increase safety of Shady Sands while massive budget cuts set in. You're a smart soldier and as General I believe you have the mind to not only restore our once great armed forces, but also work with our new president in securing our great nation."

Moore was taken off guard when Kimball said this, "But sir... are you sure I am the most qualified I mean to tell the truth I thought I only had my job because of my family."

Kimball sighed, "Honestly you're not far from the truth. You did get to officers school because of your connections in the armed forces. You know your grandfather was a legendary soldier and your father, well I knew your father personally and I do not doubt that if he were still alive he would have been elected president instead of me. However you are still a damn good officer and I think you're ready for this move. Just remember, don't let your personal grudges get in the way of your new job. However I'm putting a fast attack ranger squad in your command for the next week. Do with it what you will."

With that Kimball took a file out of his pocket and slid it across to the desk to the new general. "Good luck sir." With that Kimball made a move that would make George Washington turn in his grave. He raised his right hand and snapped a sharp, meaningful salute to the colonel. Moore nodded and with that he turned his attention to the file. He read the title aloud,

"Operation Unthinkable."

OK, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Two quick things to explain. Colonel Thomas Moore is a character I created and is not in the game. Also I don't want to spoil the surprise but those of you familiar with very early cold war black ops will know about Operation Unthinkable. If you don't know then look it up on Wikipedia for some background information. Anyways enjoy and remember to review.