A/N: Once again, we have a chapter that will be acting as a flashback into Aleksander's past. Enjoy and, please, by all means, review and tell me what you think of the story so far; I would love to hear what you guys think! Thanks for reading!

Fort Freedom, Stallions' Headquarters, Aleksander Lebedev's Office

March 21, 2268

Aleksander pushed aside a pile of paper work on his desk and buried his face in his hands. His head pounded with a thundering headache; a headache he received from looking over hundreds of guard requisition forms from caravans wanting guards. The question is why these caravans wanted so many guards? The answer was simple: the NCR.

President Tandi was one of the greatest NCR presidents and someone Aleksander respected very much. She built her presidential platform on slow expansion and protection of the country's citizens, borders, and values. For that, Tandi earned Aleksander's respect and he gladly helped the NCR anyway he could. Aleksander was so eager to help, that he sacrificed many of his men to the NCR's cause of ridding the California Wasteland of the tyrannical Enclave. Eventually, with Aleksander and the Stallions' help, Tandi and the NCR managed to exterminate the Enclave. With the destruction of the Enclave, Aleksander thought he was finally free of the Old World… but, he was wrong.

After President Tandi's death in 2248, the two succeeding NCR presidents were focused on mass expansion and grabbing up as many resources as they could and, in the process, neglected their citizens and forgot their values… something Aleksander deeply opposed and something Tandi promised the NCR would never do. Aleksander was frustrated at the NCR. He thought they would derail the train of history and forge their own track into the future… but, they didn't. They just kept on rolling with the same shit as the countries before them; forgetting their values and citizens and only focused on grabbing up land and resources. Aleksander grew sick of it. He has tried to speak with the government but they wouldn't listen, even though their citizens fully supported Aleksander, and they continued to gather resources at the cost of their citizens and values. The citizens were too frightened to do anything about their government… so, Aleksander decided he would do something for them. That's why he called this emergency meeting with the rest of the leaders of his gang.

The door opened and in strode three other ghouls; Nikolai, Vladimir, and Mikhail. Mikhail, the muscle of the four and commander of the gang's militaristic actions, closed the door behind them while Vladimir, in charge of the gang's finances and supplies, and Nikolai, who was in charge of diplomacy, sat in the leather chairs in front of their leader Aleksander. Mikhail took up position in between Nikolai and Vladimir.

"What, no drinks, Aleksander?" Nikolai asked with a smile.

"Net, Nikolai," the leader of the group answered with a degree of importance, 'This meeting is very serious and we need to have clear minds when we make our decision."

"So, Aleksander, why did you call this meeting?" Vladimir asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Because, Vladimir, like I said, we have to make an enormous decision. A decision that will affect us all," Aleksander answered as he leaned in on his desk, overlapping his hands, "This decision will decided the fate of our gang, the California Wasteland, and… the NCR."

"The NCR?" Nikolai repeated, shifting his position nervously, "What do they have to do with anything?"

"Because, the NCR… they're all traitors."

"Traitors?" Nikolai repeated again, almost laughing at the accusation, "How are they traitors? They have not done anything to us, Aleksander. They have been fair with all of our agreements."

"No, they have not been fair, Nikolai. The NCR has broken their promise. Do you remember my promise with Tandi?"

"Yes, I remember."

"They've broken it, Nikolai. They're molding their country into the countries of old."

"What? 'They're molding their countries into the countries of old'? What the hell are you going on about, Aleksander?"

"They're becoming like the countries before the War, Nikolai," Aleksander explained, becoming even more irritated, "The NCR, they don't give a damn about their citizens or their values anymore. All they care about is territory and resources."

"Aleksander, that is crazy. Who cares if they turn into the old countries? As long as we are protected and are being supplied, we will be fine."

Aleksander couldn't help it, Nikolai's ignorance had become too much for him to just sit aside and let him spout his drivel. Aleksander stood and slammed his fist on his desk in rage, knocking over his family portrait.

"Did you forget what the old countries did to us?' Aleksander yelled, his rage building, "If you forgot, maybe you should look in a mirror or maybe you should go to your bunk where you will find no wife and child waiting for you! They destroyed our lives, Nikolai, and so will the NCR if we allow them to continue to stand in the shadows of the Old World! I will not allow my life to be destroyed again nor will I allow anyone else's be destroyed!"

"Aleksander," Nikolai interjected, obviously intimidated and worried for his leader, "How do you expect us to handle them?"

"The only way they seem to know," Aleksander sat back down, but fire still burned in his chest, "Brute force."

"Brute force? But, we do not have the manpower or firepower, Aleksander," Mikhail, the military advisor, warned, worried for the sake and safety of his men.

"That's why we introduce them to another Pre-War military tactic called 'Guerilla Warfare'. We will hide in the bushes for them and strike when they're most vulnerable. We will lay ambushes and traps and attack them when they fall for our tricks. We will don their uniforms and make each of our soldiers fearsome Trojan Horses. We will do anything to bring them down and fulfill of our noble cause of ridding this earth of the Old World once and for all."

"Aleksander, doing this will lose any and all civilian support we have," Nikolai warned, "They may not like their government for what they're doing to them, but they will not give anything to people who contest their loyal military. We will lose supplies they give us, weapons they offer us, and any leverage with their government will be thrown away. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Aleksander slowly nodded, "Yes, Nikolai. We will do anything to finally show them the errors of their ways and show them their values and worth more than resources."

"No, you will do anything, Aleksander," Nikolai retorted, crossing his arms, "I believe in the cause but I do not and will not support how you're going about accomplishing it. We can not fight an entire nation... we will be destroyed. Instead, I believe we should campaign harder for change and use our words to fight. If you do not see it that way, Aleksander, then… I'm sorry, but I will not die for you or the cause."

"If that's how you feel, Nikolai," Aleksander replied, heart broken that his closest friend would not support him… no, he wasn't Aleksander's friend, not anymore; not if he would turn his back on his own comrades. "Nikolai," Aleksander said, a tear coming to his eye, "Take off your jacket."

At first, Nikolai sat in silence, not believing what Aleksander said. Then, his eyes widened in disbelief. Aleksander knew… those words cut deeper than any bullet could. Nikolai, reluctantly, took off his jacket and laid it on Aleksander's desk, "Aleksander, I hope you find your way before you become lost, my friend."

Aleksander looked up from his desk, the tear cascading down his cheek, "You're not my friend. Now, leave. You are hereby banned from this fort and discharged from the Stallions. Leave at once or you will be escorted out."

Nikolai continued to watch Aleksander and, then, he broke his gaze and strode to the door at out of the room, leaving the others in silence.

"So," Vladimir said, breaking the tense silence, "You want to attack the NCR?"

"Yes," Aleksander answered, "And show them the errors of their ways before they destroy the lives of countless people in the Wasteland. Are we all agreed on declaring war with the NCR?"

"I agree," Vladimir said.

"I agree," Mikhail said, "I'll begin teaching our men about our new tactics."

"Good. Now, go so that I can focus and coordinate our first strike."

Vladimir and Mikhail nodded as they stood, turned, and left the office. Aleksander let out a shuddering breath and wiped another tear away from his eye. He took up the pile of requisition forms and Nikolai's jacket, looking between them, wondering if he was making the right decision. If he continued on, he would lose his only true friend and family member since before the War. If he stopped this madness and did what Nikolai offered, he could keep his friend, but at the potential and drastic cost to the rest of the Wasteland.

"Sacrifice one to save the thousands," Aleksander said to himself as he threw Nikolai's jacket and the forms in the trash bin next to his desk… sealing the Stallions' fate.

Fort Freedom, Stallions' Headquarters, Aleksander Lebedev's Office

February 9, 2273

Aleksander picked up the 9mm pistol lying on his desk; the sleek black metal shined and glistened in the light given off by the desk lamp. He slid a fresh clip into the pistol and slid back the bolt, feeding a fresh bullet into the chamber with a metallic "click".

Ever since he declared war on the NCR, things have gone downhill. At first, the Stallions did extremely well; they ambushed NCR patrols and military caravans, gaining experience and supplies with each and every conquest. The Stallions basked in the light that was victory... until the NCR planned their own ambush.

Two years after declaring war, Aleksander caught wind of an extremely large military caravan heading towards the Boneyard that would provide large amounts of medical supplies, ammunition, and weapons. So, he set up an ambush point just miles outside of the town and waited. Finally, the caravan came and his men pounced like hungry lions on a gazelle… but, it turned out there was merely sand in the bags on the Brahmin and his own men were ambushed by hidden NCR troopers. Only one of Aleksander's soldiers survived and the NCR only needed one to find the fort.

Ever since then, a front line was drawn two miles in the front of the fort and the NCR continued to pound the line. The only factor that kept the fort from becoming overrun was the fact that Aleksander did not forget his Spetsnaz training and helped train the troops in the ways of the Russian Special Forces. But, even that did not keep the NCR from pushing the lines back and, now, they were right at the gate… waiting to come in.

Muffled pops and bangs seeped into the office from the battled raging outside. Many of his men died every day and they barely even seemed to put a dent in the NCR. Aleksander's "noble cause" was beginning to falter and he was starting to have doubts about whether or not he could help the people and their country change. He began to think Nikolai was right… but he shook all doubt out of his mind, not giving up hope that, one day, the Wasteland would finally be rid of the Old World.

The door burst open and Aleksander stood, weapon pointed at the door. It wasn't the enemy… it was Mikhail and Vladimir, both wielding Assault Carbines. Vladimir approached Aleksander while Mikhail covered the door.

"Aleksander," Vladimir urgently said, "We need to leave, now! The NCR troops are pressing hard on the front gate! We can't hold them!"

Aleksander lowered his weapon, "We can't leave… not while the NCR is defacing their values and citizens for meaningless possessions. We need to show them their errors."

"Aleksander, we need to leave," Vladimir continued, trying to persuade his leader, scared for his life, "The only thing we're showing them is how to lose a battle!"

"No!" Aleksander yelled, slamming his fist on the desk, "The NCR can not be left to torture the poor souls of California!"

"But, Aleksander, no matter what we do for the citizens, they don't care for us! They've lost all hope in us! They've stopped giving us supplies, weapons, and everything else! We've lost their support no matter what they say and now they're jus using us to just piss off their government! Now-"

"No!" Aleksander yelled once more as he pointed his pistol at Vladimir, not listening to a word he was saying, "We will not abandon these people to be forgotten by their government! If you have given up hope, so be it! But, don't drag the rest of us with you!"

"Easy, Aleksander," Vladimir jumped as a grenade exploded outside, "I-I'm just saying, we should fall back and regroup. I have not given up hope; we can still change the people and their government. I'm just saying, we need to leave… regroup, gain our strength, and then come back. Just… please…"

"No, Vladimir, we're no use to the people if we run away!"

"We're no use to the people if we're dead!"

Aleksander thought for a minute and then lowered his gun, "Fine. Blow a hole in the southern wall and we'll go east... to Nevada."

Vladimir nodded, relieved that his leader finally chose the right thing to do, and left with Mikhail to fulfill their leader's orders.

Aleksander, alone his office, collapsed and leaned on his desk, a tear coming to his eye. Maybe Nikolai was right; maybe this cause was a little out of reach, maybe they would be destroyed by the NCR. Maybe Vladimir was right; if the people really supported them, than they would do it instead of saying they do just to piss of their government.

But he couldn't give up hope… not if people were still suffering. That's when it hit him; the people in California would not support his cause and would not join him… but what about every where else? There must be more places out there full of people. He and his gang could possibly recruit these people to their cause.

That's it, Aleksander thought to himself, proud of the idea, A little far fetched, yes, but, maybe there are people in Nevada or else where, people who are untapped by the NCR and would willingly support the cause for glory and freedom.

He turned and picked up his family portrait, smiling, trying to forget all of the doubt and focused on his idea… but there was always that shimmer in the back of his mind,