19/11/80

I have been travelling. I went down to Primm to speak with Nash about supposed Jackal raids. Rumours are circulating once again that they are resurgent. Nash said he hadn't seen any. He doesn't go out much though so this is subjective.

The locals there hardly spoke about the NCR-Legion Conflict. The fact that people will sooner complain about the NCR than say bad things about the Legion is interesting. I believe it is mainly because the Legion doesn't show themselves much. When they do, they leave a mark and don't fuck around with image issues. They care about frightening and coercing "Profligates" and nothing more. I find the NCR idiotic but not evil. Speaking with some women in the bison, they said that they disliked how "Insincere" the NCR were.

They try to act fair and deferential. The Legion is at least honest. But this is comparing apples to what are basically fascist oranges. If it comes to it, I may well support NCR, but only because I oppose things like slavery and misogyny. I, and people in Primm, the Nash's especially, don't want the NCR to lose, they just don't want the fight to happen at all. But it's coming. They all know it; they just don't wish to consider it. Because conflict means change and things are "good" just now, unless you are destitute or a Courier.

In the end, this fight will happen and people better start making choices. Or leave the Mojave.

Stayed in Primm for 3 days. Little occurred. The NCR camp across the bridge is mined. Almost lost my foot trying to get across while having a Battle rifle aimed at my head. This Jackal crap must have some weight to it. Either that or they are capitalising on excuses. Either way, the Trooper wasn't in the mood to chat. I want to talk to one of them, one to one.

After some bartering, managed to sell some potatoes and water to some off-duty Quarry Workers just before the turn into Goodsprings. But they paid me with that NCR paper crap. I met a gambler just a few hours later the Saloon who very kindly offered to trade my paper money for caps, as he would be getting casino chips either way.

Turns out they were fake caps. Decent ones, but I won't use them. Don't think that's fair. The man was out the door by the time I noticed. Well, Trudy did. Bastard. Hope he finds his way to the Sierra Madre and chokes.

Finding myself missing Primm now that I'm back home. Primm was more alive. People walked around, guns were kept hidden, no open carry, and people chatted, there were regular visitors. I like the quiet of Goodsprings but it gets boring and I'm cursed with a wish to be informed. My pen pals in outer Vegas are having a tough time with Squatters. I dislike the way they refer to such people. But it must be a genuine problem as they are writing to me less. They say I should visit.

Mitchell finally gave me the stims. But they were less than I hoped and he gave me them at a discount for the delay. Thank god. I've been without for a day. This afternoon the heat got too much and I nearly suffocated on the floor. Panicked but otherwise I'm now fine. Mitchell said I should let him know if it happens again.

Chet said high level repair kits for handguns could not be attained. He claimed the NCR have been putting tough restrictions on the higher grade of militarised equipment civvies can buy. It's disappointing and points once more to their complete discontent with small businesses. In Legion territory, if it's available and you can pay, you get what you pay for. No junk, no falsehoods. In California, they will do everything they can to keep things cheap. "Added value" is utter crap. That's why the repair kits are so easily damaged. The guns too. You can actually see some of those rifles and the wear and tear of their use. The NCR don't want a populace that can be armed consistently. I'm not pro-gun for all people at all times, but I think basics like hand guns and shotguns should be fair game. There are enough things out there to kill you that a gun is needed. The NCR don't want to sound like the politicians of the old world, so instead of restricting guns, they are selling them pre-used or half broken. Only the Gun Runners stuff is any good but the NCR have them charging extortionate amounts for things like double barrels.

The Legion is no better. Unless you are a master swordsman they have little worth having. But they emphasise individual training over mass production and marketisation. Soldier to soldier, if I see an NCR trooper, I'm ducking down and waiting till he finishes his magazine. If I see a legionnaire, I'm running for my life.

I go on and on about the politics, but it matters and I don't see others thinking about it. Back East, politics was a large idea. You had to live in a large place of for it to be taken seriously. The Mojave is large and, importantly, contested territory. The big fight isn't happening yet, but it will by the end of next year.

My big unknown is Mr House. Ha. An old Holotape I saw years back had a guy called "Doc House". From what I've read up on Both Houses, they were quite similar.

Note that i'll need to interview a pre-war ghoul. They aren't big on talking to smoothskins. Don't blame them. But I haven't spoken to a lot of them in the past. Still glad I shot that fuck back in "Two-Sun" (An old book I read had the name "Tucson" being pronounced "Too-sone" Not sure if they are the same place) who fired abuse at that ghoul woman at the deli place, whatever it was. Saw him walking with a limp before I took off. It looked sore. He was old-ish. He'll be dead by now, I think.

The door is damaged on its hinches so it isn't shutting all the way. Boy, it is annoying. Thank Christ all the flies died out with the nukes.

Well, the ones that didn't survive and mutate to kill unfortunate white people coming out of vaults.

Or was that Vault 3?