I don't own Fallout or any of its characters. The Fallout series belongs to Bethesda Softworks. I am not making any profit from this story.
Northwestern Nevada,
June, 2291.
Deep in the Nevada desert, in the early evening, a woman wearing light polymer combat-armour zipped across the sand on her mountain bike. Her name was Lexi Black, and she had come a long way to see the New California Republic for herself.
Almost there.
Lexi pedalled faster and faster. She was both relieved at finally nearing NCR territory, and rather weary of her long journey so far. Her black hair billowed out beneath her polymer combat-helmet. Her brown eyes scanned the barren landscape for any sign of civilisation. And her Pip-Boy 3,000 Mark IV's map showed that she was in the correct region.
Far in the distance, Lexi saw a small range of hills that touched the bright-blue sky. And somewhere before them, well-protected from the wasteland, Lexi saw it at last ...
Vault City.
It took roughly half an hour to pick out some of the finer details. The walls of the high-tech town were reinforced by barbed wire at the top, and numerous turrets mounted on their pillars. They overlooked the layer of sandbags, pillboxes, and guard posts which served as the outermost defences. NCR flags fluttered in the wind, raised high upon their flagpoles.
Ten minutes later, Lexi came to a stop on the gravel road outside town (whose population was roughly six thousand). She dismounted her bicycle and walked it to one of the large adobe buildings at the outpost entrance. This was a checkpoint which had a long window and counter. It was staffed by six NCR troopers who were processing visitors, with the leftmost trooper being available.
"Welcome to Vault City," said the hard-faced woman. "The easternmost town of the New California Republic."
She wore the standard uniform of the NCR, a khaki set with metal breastplate. The golden-oak-leaf insignia pinned on her uniform showed that she was a major, and her surname was Haggerty.
"If you're staying a while," said Major Haggerty, "Vault City has a variety of accommodation and stores available. We even have a gentleman selling lectures on the NCR and other topics of interest around here. But before you can enter, I'll need you to declare any illicit substances you might have."
With nothing to hide, Lexi removed her large desert-camo rucksack and placed it on the counter. She unclipped the sleeping bag and opened it, then closed and reattached it to the rucksack. Then she opened up the rucksack itself, revealing a plethora of items, including:
A large pack of trail mix.
A box of Fancy Lads Snack Cakes.
Three bottles of purified water.
A box containing 300 caps and 600 NCR Dollars (worth only 120 caps).
Several stimpaks, Rad-X, and RadAway.
Two boxes containing fifty .44 semi-wadcutters and forty-two .45-70 Governments.
Spare clothing.
At the bottom of the rucksack, Lexi's old uniform folded up.
A locked container atop the uniform.
"What's in there?" Haggerty grabbed the container. "Chems?"
Lexi shook her head and unlocked the container with a nearby key. She opened it to reveal a disassembled energy weapon.
"Laser weapon I've had for years now. Don't plan on using it anytime soon, though."
Haggerty permitted Lexi to keep her weapons. Then she gestured to Lexi's waistbelt. "Holsters, please."
Lexi withdrew her hunting revolver from her right holster. She ejected its five-shot cylinder to show that there were only cartridges within (and nothing illicit). Then, from her left holster, Lexi withdrew her scoped .44 magnum and did the same with its six-shot cylinder. She even removed her combat helmet to show that there was nothing hidden within.
"Er ..." Lexi felt somewhat awkward. "You're not going to do an internal search as well, are you?"
Major Haggerty snorted. "No, we don't take it that far. Just be warned that we aren't as accommodating here as in New Reno. Anyone caught trying to turn this place into a junkie den will be dealt with accordingly."
Lexi equipped her helmet again. It covered most of her sweaty, neck-length black hair. "Thanks for the heads-up, Major."
"You can leave your bike there." Haggerty pointed out one of the first buildings past the main entrance. "Free of charge."
"Will do." Lexi pocketed some cash and passed through the main entrance. She then left her mountain bike at the storage units, took a few gulps of purified water, and carried on into the massive courtyard.
Wow. Where to start?
There were so many adobe buildings (and even some metal shacks) that Lexi stood dumbfounded at the first intersection. Eventually, she approached one of the largest buildings nearby. It had a rectangular sign above its doorway, depicting the two-headed NCR bear beside a notebook and pen. Below it, captioned in gold-coloured letters, the sign read:
LUCKY JOE'S INFO
Intrigued, Lexi entered through the double doors and was now in a large foyer. There were three doors on the left (two of which were bathrooms), a large door to the right, and the receptionist ahead.
"Welcome to Lucky Joe's Info," said the receptionist. She was a black woman wearing a clean blue dress and a bonnet. Her desk contained a terminal, a caravan lunch, an electric fan, and a working telephone. "Our next session will be starting in fifteen minutes, and we have five seats still available. Forty caps each, or $200."
Lexi withdrew a $200 bill (which commemorated Shady Sands on one side, and San Francisco on the other) and handed it over.
"Just one, please."
The receptionist smiled and gestured to the large door on Lexi's right. "I hope you enjoy your visit."
"Thanks." Lexi strode through the large door on the right and entered what appeared to be a well-ventilated, spacious lecture room. There were five rows of eight desks looking down at the speaker area. Thirty-five of the seats were already taken, with some people ready to take notes, and others just looking to enjoy storytime.
"Welcome!" said Lucky Joe in front. He was a Hispanic gentleman dressed in a clean grey suit and matching hat. He stood at a podium on the left side of the speaker area, while the area to the right was for the projector. "Make yourself comfortable."
Looking around, Lexi spotted the five available seats here and there. They each had a small bottle of purified water on them. Lexi chose the rightmost seat of the third row.
"Just a bit longer, folks," said Lucky Joe at his podium. "As a reminder, if you need the loo, it's straight across the foyer."
They waited ten more minutes. Then, once the clock hit seven, Lucky Joe began his speech and used a remote control to operate the projector. The NCR flag appeared on the wall.
"Right-o. The idea of the New California Republic was first proposed in 2186 by the leader of Shady Sands, Aradesh, and his daughter, Tandi."
The projector changed to show a picture of Aradesh and Tandi. Most people already recognised them from the $5 and $100 bills, respectively.
"Soon after, Aradesh formed a trial council government to draft a constitution. Four more settlements signed on, and in 2189, the NCR was finally established. It consisted of five states: Shady Sands, Los Angeles, Hub, Dayglow, and Maxson. Aradesh did a great job running things and was elected for a second term, although he never completed it ..."
Joe explained how Aradesh and Seth, the First Ranger of the NCR (and whose face was on the $20 bill), went missing during their search for Vault 13. They were presumed dead, and Tandi took over as president in 2196.
"And so we come to the NCR's most famous and longest-serving president. Tandi oversaw many of the NCR's successes after taking over, including the declaration of Shady Sands as the first capital in 2198."
The image changed to show a thriving town.
"For decades, the town was renamed 'NCR' or 'New California Republic', although the original name was still occasionally used. It eventually regained its popularity and was formally reinstated."
The next image was a collage. It consisted of several towns, NCR soldiers on duty, and the insignia of various enemies – especially the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave. Lexi had barely clashed with the latter, but the former sent a jolt of fury through her.
Wretched Ad Victoriam cunts.
Lucky Joe continued while standing at his podium.
"For many years, the NCR remained the largest and most successful nation in California, if not beyond. Our triumphs include crushing raiders – most notably the Vipers, Jackals, and Khans – and doing most of the work against the Enclave at Navarro outpost.
"You may be wondering about the Enclave. Well, they're a remnant of America's pre-war government. And unlike the NCR, which aims to move the wasteland forward, the Enclave seeks to wipe the world 'clean'. They're hellbent on forcing the old world back as it was."
One of the travellers raised her hand. "But doesn't the NCR have a whole lotta issues too, like bringing back taxes?"
Joe smiled. "Yep, but our main goal is to help the new world. The Enclave would rather kill us all and force the old America back as it was. They have no plans for the wasteland other than death."
The crowd shook their heads in disgust. Joe carried on with his lecture.
"Note that I'm using present tense as it's more likely that they're still around. But wherever they are, they're well-hidden by now, and we don't have the luxury of hunting them like we used to.
"Anyway, the NCR isn't without fault. Even during President Tandi's reign, there were corrupt elements like Vice President Frank Carlson, though they were kept in check by the Founding Mother. It wasn't until 2269, twenty-one years after Tandi's death, that some of her laws were weakened. Most notably were Tandi's laws on the number of acreage and cattle per person, which were eroded by President Wendell Peterson during his third term in office."
The image changed to show Wendell Peterson, followed by Aaron Kimball.
"His successor, Aaron Kimball, scrapped those laws entirely after ousting Peterson in '73. So the brahmin barons and agricultural barons tightened their hold on the Republic. The stage was set for a steady decline, though that would not come until four years later."
The next image was another collage, this time with locations in the Mojave Wasteland. The ones which stood out the most were Hoover Dam and The Strip.
"The road to '77 was full of ups and downs," said Lucky Joe at his podium. "In '74, President Kimball ordered the occupation of Hoover Dam, resulting in the Treaty of New Vegas. Under the treaty, we received 95% free electricity from Hoover Dam, with the rest going to The Strip. It was a deal that bolstered Kimball's support in spite of the rampant corruption."
The image changed to show the insignia of the Great Khans raiders.
"We didn't have it easy in our pacification campaign, though. From the moment Mr House booted the Great Khans from New Vegas, the tribe settled into Bitter Springs and carried on their ancestors' traditions. They were a menace to society and spared neither women nor children. Worst of all, our military's reprisals were often inconsistent, given their lack of a foothold in the region."
Camp McCarran was the next image.
"The following year, in '75, General Lee Oliver established Camp McCarran as our Mojave headquarters. The NCR was all set to focus on the Fiends and Khans, but were soon attacked by
a more advanced set of raiders – the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel."
Lexi frowned as the Brotherhood's insignia was projected onto the wall again.
"Ambushes popped up wherever they could, with the Brotherhood's superior technology giving them the edge. For a while, they inflicted significant casualties on our military.
"In the meantime, the Fiends and Khans continued to hunt innocents with mixed reprisals. They were clever in their raids, taking full advantage of our army's preoccupation with an old, advanced enemy. It also helped that the NCR were unable to mount an assault on either Vault 3 or Bitter Springs."
The next image was of the HELIOS One solar power-plant.
"Then, in '76, what started as another year of skirmishes eventually led to Operation: Sunburst. The attack on HELIOS One crippled the Mojave chapter and forced them into hiding. They were effectively neutralised.
"We celebrated. Our victory against the Brotherhood raised morale and kept the campaign in good graces back west. It also allowed our expedition to focus its efforts against the Fiends and Khans, although we lacked the resources to destroy either."
The next image was of Caesar's Legion's flag, and a large camp atop a hill.
"Then came 2277 and its host of problems," said Lucky Joe at his podium. "The NCR's biggest enemy of the campaign soon moved into Fortification Hill. It was clear to all that Caesar's Legion would attack Hoover Dam, but before that would happen, we suffered a most-unexpected blow closer to home."
The image showed the ruins of a town, and the distant shot of a large crack in the earth.
"The Divide exploded. The once-promising community was shattered by the detonation of several underground nukes, killing entire companies of NCR personnel. In addition, we lost several key routes including California State Route 127. This worked in favour of the Legion as although Caesar lost the first battle of Hoover Dam, we failed to amass enough resources to finish the job."
Shady Sands was again projected onto the wall, although this time the city was much larger, and there were protests in the streets.
"Back west, the losses of The Divide and the increased requirements of the Mojave campaign had already taken their toll. This mess of a year became the catalyst for a growing number of issues, particularly in our first capital. It would later be known as the fall of Shady Sands."
The next image was of a tribal settlement in a rocky area, called Bitter Springs.
"We continued to fight the Legion and even struck a blow to the Khans, in '78. Unfortunately, the Bitter Springs attack became a massacre of noncombatants, due to miscommunication. This caused the Khans to ally with the Legion, and the NCR to face even more hostilities in our bloody campaign. Over a thousand soldiers were dying each year."
Hoover Dam was shown once more.
"It wasn't until 2282, however, that the Mojave campaign would reach its climax." Joe paused. "By the way, it's worth noting that at that point, our currency was twice as strong as it is now. You could get forty caps from a hundred Dollars, and that was after the Brotherhood had already damaged our gold reserves."
Many in the crowd looked disappointed and shook their heads.
"Anyway, coming back to Hoover Dam, the second battle had a huge impact on morale back then. We got a lot of help from Courier Six as well, but these days, people hardly care. All that matters is that we stopped the rapists from marching on California; as had the Legion won, the following year would've been much, much worse than it already was."
Before Lucky Joe could continue, one of the travellers asked who had won the second battle for Hoover Dam. Joe answered and then carried on.
"Less than a year after Hoover, this went down."
The next image showed Shady Sands in ruins. It had a large crater, as if from a nuke.
"2283," said Joe at his podium. "The year of the nuke."
He stood in silence for a few seconds.
"To this day, nobody knows who was behind the destruction of our first capital. Opinions are divided on whether it was the Brotherhood, mercs, the Enclave, or even the Legion somehow – given how they'd irradiated Camp Searchlight in the Mojave. There are even those who think it was aliens, but, er ... let's just say that that's not a popular opinion."
A traveller raised his hand. "But couldn't you question some Brotherhood?"
Joe shook his head. "Never got the chance. Things were insane all over. People were panicking over the possibility of another nuke, and chem-usage shot through the roof. Then came the raiders and riots, as well as those needing their fix. It was just chaos in our territories.
"Another big issue was that many higher-ups were at the Hall of Congress when Shady Sands got nuked. So we lost over thirty-thousand people – including many soldiers – plus a chunk of our government in one go. And don't forget that at this point, we'd already lost well over five-thousand soldiers in the Mojave. Not to mention how The Divide had claimed hundreds more."
The image changed to show a memorial within a city. It had numerous pictures on it, including Kimball and Oliver. There were many lit candles nearby.
"So you can imagine," said Lucky Joe at his podium, "that our nation was at its lowest point, and losing more people by the day."
The next image was of the ruins of Los Angeles – better known as The Boneyard.
"One of the first big-places the NCR lost control of was LA. Even back in the day, when our military was in better shape, we never really stabilised The Boneyard. We mostly secured the areas where the Followers of the Apocalypse operated, and certain districts where we could afford to consolidate. But many areas remained gang-ridden cesspits."
The next image showed Griffith Observatory. The photographer had captured the ancient site coming under heavy attack, including mortar-shells hitting the domes.
"Our enemies didn't rest on their laurels," said Joe at his podium. "Old foes like the Jackals and Vipers linked up with the gangs of LA, and together they launched numerous assaults on our forces. They saw it as their lucky day to commit all sorts of atrocities against the wounded Bear.
"We lost a lot of people in those attacks, especially civilians at first. Our outposts were understaffed and stressed beyond breaking-point. And given the state of our army, the brass issued emergency promotions to try and iron things out across the board. Some officers went up in rank, others kept their ranks but had to take up more responsibilities, and most were redeployed all over the place."
The next image showed similar action at Griffith, except that the NCR were firing mortars of their own. There were also rangers and power-armoured units assisting the regular troopers.
"The brass quickly moved Brigadier General Moore, a former ranger, to Griffith Observatory. She was given rangers and several heavy troopers to defend the hills. Moore arrived with a company and weapons to relieve the overwhelmed major on-site. It wasn't an easy battle, but the B.G. had the advantage of years of experience against raiders."
A traveller raised her hand. "Could you tell us more about her?"
"Sure can."
Joe changed the image from Griffith Observatory to a stern-faced woman in her thirties to forties. She had short blonde hair and wore an olive officer-uniform, with two stars on each epaulette. She was observing a small brigade parading through a town. The image was dated a few months back.
"Cassandra Moore grew up in California and enlisted at sixteen. She excelled and made officer at seventeen, despite getting some odd looks. After that, she went on to killing all sorts of raiders for years, leading her squad to many victories. She was invited to the rangers and enjoyed further years of success, until being severely injured against the Brotherhood in '79. At this point, she'd already survived four tours against them."
The crowd, including Lexi, were impressed. Joe continued.
"Moore recovered but wasn't cleared for ranger duty, instead being made colonel at the tender age of 25. She bore many grudges, as you'd expect, and soon became one of our most notorious – but effective – officers. She played a big part in holding Hoover Dam in the last few years of the campaign."
With no further questions, Joe returned to the battle for Griffith in 2283.
"So, yeah, B.G. Moore held the line and gradually regained control of the area. She wanted to stay longer and secure more of The Boneyard, but we just didn't have the numbers to hold. Moore's defence, as well as those of others – including B.G. Hsu in San Diego – gave us room to secure our assets and people."
A traveller raised his hand. "What about the Followers of the Apocalypse?"
Lucky Joe sighed. "Hard split. Some joined us in our evacuation; others remained steadfast in their duties for LA. Can't really blame them, seeing as the Followers had a lot of assets there, especially their university. The ones that stayed were left to fend for themselves as the NCR steadily pulled out of the region."
Another traveller raised his hand. "And The Hub? Wasn't that your economic powerhouse?"
"Yep." Joe gave a sad nod at his podium. "We clung to it for a while, but paranoia quickly set in. The mindset was: if a nuke could fall on Shady Sands, then who's to say The Hub wouldn't be next? It was difficult to uproot so many people, especially as many had lived in their homes for generations, but nukes are no joke. And neither are their rads.
"We had no choice but to cut loose and move north. So in late '83, President Chief Hanlon was elected. He may be retired from the rangers, but he'll always be the Chief."
The image changed to show the legend himself. Hanlon remained in his civilian-ranger gear even as president.
"He took us through Maxson state without incident," said Joe, "as the Brotherhood couldn't hope to ambush us. Meanwhile, LA went further downhill, as you'd expect."
He shook his head sadly.
"Griffith lay abandoned for quite some time after Moore's group pulled out, until some raiders moved in. But then some cult-leader seized the observatory and made it her base. Apparently, she's a former Shady Sands resident named Lee Moldaver, who was one of the more vocal anti-war people during the Mojave campaign.
"Last I heard, Moldaver's got some ragtag 'NCR' group set up there. They've quelled some of the gangs, but keep to themselves and aren't in contact with us up north. And we don't have the luxury of sending expeditions or caravans to LA. Way too risky these days, never mind our ongoing issues."
The image changed to show a huge city on the coast. But unlike The Boneyard, this one appeared to be in better shape.
"In '84, we consolidated in our northern territories, especially San Francisco. Yeah, we've had lands in north-Cali for a long time, but this was different. President Hanlon, as well as Brigadier General Hsu, were among those responsible for negotiating with The Shi. They agreed to give us more of the city, despite their own issues, and used much of their tech for anti-nuke systems.
"Some higher-ups wanted to annex The Shi and seize their tech, but President Hanlon and others shut them up. We continue to respect The Shi's independence despite using San Francisco as our current capital, and even honour their city on the same $200 bill you'd find Shady Sands on."
The next image was of two $200 bills, showing either side.
"It's mutually beneficial, you see – we can further safeguard their borders in these crazy times, and their new tech can save us from nukes. But we've got other issues to worry about as well ..."
The image changed to show poor harvests and malnourished cattle. Joe sighed.
"Since '88, we've had even more issues with resources, and are very close to droughts and famine. We've tried to maintain our trade routes to The Hub especially for water, but that's a bit of a rollercoaster. They're hard on their prices as payback, especially since The Hub's spending more on security these days."
The next image showed large, crude machinery being built on a beach. Some Shi members and NCR personnel in labcoats could be seen.
"Elsewhere, Dr Angela Williams and other members of the OSI are working hard with The Shi. We've got a bit of desalination tech going, which takes the salt out of the water, but they've got a lot of issues. It's better than nothing, though, but we're trying not to put all our eggs in one basket."
The next image was of a huge gang and their mercenaries. They were all wearing black combat-armour, mostly sturdy to heavy sets. Joe groaned.
"One of our worst issues at the moment is the Van Graff syndicate. They're an old enemy of the NCR, who fought us on and off for years. Used to be they'd pay us off and lay low for a while, but they've only grown stronger since Shady Sands died."
The image changed to show heavy fighting in a sleazy city.
"In '89, right on the NCR's 100th anniversary, the Van Graffs made their boldest move yet. They killed most of the Wrights and did a number on the Bishops as well, seizing New Reno with their merc army. We lost two companies in that attack."
The next image was of northern California. Several towns were highlighted.
"Fortunately, there were survivors. A few platoons made it back to base, as did the surviving Bishops and Wrights. Most notably is Mr Bishop himself, who knows the wasteland like the back of his hand. Mr Bishop saved many troopers and killed a number of mercs, plus a Van Graff daughter, before pulling out. The survivors are now in Stockton and Sac-Town, while the Van Graffs control Redding, Klamath, and Modoc."
Lexi raised her hand. "So, you took back New Reno?"
Lucky Joe nodded. "Yes, but it was messy. Brigadier General Royez lost at least three troopers for every merc his troops killed, and there was a whole bunch of them in town."
The image changed to show a Hispanic officer in a command tent. He was piloting a modified T-45d which included a taxidermised bear-head as its left pauldron. Other standout features included green lining here and there, a large decorative star near the bear head, and an improved power-unit and air-conditioning system. The suit's helmet was on the desk, and a plasma caster was stored on the weapons-rack nearby. The image was dated a week ago.
"Yep," said Joe. "Royez is preparing for his next attack already, whenever and wherever that'll be."
A traveller raised his hand. "What about Moore? What's she doing?"
"Major General Moore is currently busy at our southern frontier, at Maxson," said Joe. "Gotta keep the Brotherhood in check and watch over our Hub caravans. Happy Trails is one of the NCR's most valuable assets at the moment."
Ad Victoriam trash. Lexi frowned.
Joe carried on with his lecture.
"So, yeah. We've shifted to north-Cali and have consolidated here since '84. It hasn't been easy, as you can tell, but the Bear's still kicking.
"As for current politics, our president remains Chief Hanlon. He's three years into his second term and has Elizabeth Kieran, a retired lieutenant colonel, as his vice president. Vice President Kieran remains popular due to her stance on diplomacy.
"To give just one example, back when Kieran was still a major in the Mojave, she was both a friend of the Followers and pushed for peace with The Kings gang. Both of these helped to uplift the Freeside ghetto for a while, although we eventually had to pull out. Lieutenant Colonel Kieran was also one of the key personnel who helped negotiate with The Shi, back in '83."
A traveller raised her hand. "What about the barons?"
Lucky Joe smiled. "The new government took a hard stance on them. In late '84, President Hanlon brought in a modified version of Tandi's limits on acreage and cattle per person. Then the Chief removed all heavy troopers and veteran rangers from baron control. Many barons didn't take too kindly to that, as you'd expect, and it was one reason our economy went down even further after the nuke.
"Some barons even resisted with violence. At first, President Hanlon initially responded with diplomacy, but things soon got out of hand. When an Oak Creek baron caused the deaths of three negotiators and a ranch family in '85, Hanlon deployed Brigadier General Moore to sort things out. Moore seized all assets for the Republic, and left the baron and co-conspirators face-down in their fields.
"Other barons, like Heck Gunderson, quickly folded and obeyed the new laws. Guess they saw sense and prioritised their safety. Or maybe there's some part of them that wants to do the right thing." Joe shrugged. "Hell if I know."
He continued to speak about politics for a while until bringing their session to an end. The crowd got up, and although several stayed behind to ask further questions (including about Courier Six), Lexi decided to leave. She left the lecture room and thanked the receptionist before stepping out into the cool evening.
Whew. What a history lesson. Well worth 40 caps.
By now, the street lamps were lit and the soldiers were on extra alert for scumbags. Lexi gave a slight yawn and decided to explore the streets. She eventually wandered into the large tavern straight across the main gate.
The tavern was as crowded as one would expect. There were all sorts of folks, including ghouls, sitting at their tables and swapping stories. At the bar counter, Lexi passed a middle-aged, redheaded cowgirl who was tipsy on whisky. The woman was proud to admit that her father had once owned a bar in Vault City ("Back when it was shitty," the redhead added), and also boasted about helping a squad of troopers kill some Van Graff mercs outside New Reno.
But that was just one of the stories being passed around here. In the meantime, Lexi ordered a bottle of lemonade and a wasteland omelette, and found herself a corner table. There was still much to explore in the New California Republic, but for now, the weary traveller decided to kick back and savour the moment.
It never ceased to amaze K6-26 how far she'd come since scrubbing toilets in the Institute.
