Chapter 185: Chapter 180

Julian blinked dumbly from his viewing port in the observation bunker on the NCR’s side of the Hoover Dam. A glance to his side showed that President Kimball and other VIPs of the NCR were in the same state of shock. 

 

They had just witnessed the heavens crashing onto the Legion’s territory in a storm of writhing metal. The screams echoing from the legionaries were abruptly cut short, and by the time the living metal tide receded deeper into Caesar’s territory, the other side of the Hoover Dam had been rendered desolate, devoid of any of its fortifications and defenses, as well as any of its garrison.

 

“What in God’s name…” the president breathed out. One of the generals gulped audibly, while a few bureaucrats had gone sheet white. Colonel Cassandra Moore’s jaw had fully dropped open while her superior, General Lee Oliver, had his eyes boggled to such a degree that Julian thought they’d actually pop out.

 

It was reassuring to Senator Toomes that even hardened veterans could be left so stunned.

 

“The Legion’s side of the Hoover Dam is cleared,” came the crisp, amused voice of Kelly Doyle, the Nexus’ blonde ambassador. “Perhaps you should sound the order to secure it?”

 

President Kimball turned to blink at her for a few moments, before regaining his senses with a shake of his head. “Y-Yes. Of course. Of course.” He then turned to General Oliver, and managed to regain some of his authority as he barked out, “General! Give the order!”

 

That snapped everyone out of their stupor, and the bunker immediately became a hive of activity. Colonels and captains left to rouse their troops, while senators and representatives huddled in groups to whisper and mumble. Julian noticed that Kelly stood apart from the chaos, with her stunning features set to a neutral mask that just barely hid her disdain.

 

Considering what the Nexus had just pulled off, the senator could see why a gaggle of disordered generals and politicians clamoring in a bunker might seem highly unimpressive to her.

 

Before Julian could mull over it further, he felt the strong grip of the president pulling him aside. “Toomes,” Aaron Kimball whispered harshly, “This Nexus… They didn’t ask for anything else?”

 

“No, Mr President,” Julian replied as evenly as he could, trying hard not to flinch as he noticed Kelly smirking at them. She most definitely heard the panic in the president’s voice, somehow. “Other than some land across the Colorado that we’ve claimed, the Nexus will annex the rest of Caesar’s lands, along with a lot of hostile territory east of us. They just want the NCR to respect their borders after this.” 

 

“And the trade agreement?”

 

“Still pending, sir. There’s still some concerns about the amount of leverage the Nexus has.”

 

President Kimball went silent for a thoughtful moment. “Hm. Can we reject it?”

 

Julian did his hardest to not glance at the blonde Nexus woman still smirking in the corner of his sight. “We could, but… Part of the agreement includes the Nexus exchanging a significant amount of gold and silver for our scrap metal.” Which allowed the NCR dollar to finally be backed by the precious metals once more, and hopefully return the state currency to prominence. If the president rejected this trade, with the Nexus now setting up shop next door, the NCR might as well just ditch the dollar and return to the bottle cap with how crap the exchange rates were.

 

“I’ll have to remember to review it again, then,” the president conceded. He then paused for a moment. “Say, Toomes. How do you think the Nexus will see New Reno?”

 

Julian frowned. That had been something he and the others had overlooked. “I…can’t say for certain, sir. As long as they’re not slaving I guess…?” Though, considering how most of the prostitutes are often recruited with…questionable methods…

 

“Hm. Do me a favor and raise the idea of reviewing the legalities of prostitution in the next meeting.”

 

“Of course, sir.” It might do well to put some personal and professional distance from such distasteful things from now on. If the Nexus ever gets offended enough by one thing or another, Julian hoped to gain at least some good standing to earn an easy defection.

 

*****

 

Veronica tried not to gawp at the people before her. Their armor was clean and deadly, free of rust or accumulated dirt from long use on the wasteland. There were six of them, each with rifles and pistols of unknown make, and they wore reassuring smiles behind their tinted visors. Most disturbingly though was that they walked out of the sharp-angled aircraft that swooped down from the skies.

 

“Please don’t be alarmed,” one of the soldiers, a young man, offered. “We are from the Nexus-”

 

Oh no.

 

“-and we just wish to ask you some questions about the nearby Brotherhood of Steel outpost.”

 

Veronica had to force herself to keep calm and eased off from activating her powerfist. “B-Brotherhood? What makes you think I know anything about them?” she blurted hastily. 

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The amused smirks she received made her stomach drop. “We’ve been keeping track of your movements, miss, and that underground bunker you always return to has energy readings that are unique to the Brotherhood.”

 

“Oh...shit.”

 

“Please, the Nexus seeks a peaceful conversation with your people. A simple offer is all Sev wishes to deliver, and we will not interfere any further whether your chapter wishes to accept or not.”

 

Despite her unease Veronica found herself nodding a bit. “I… You won’t hurt us?”

 

The spokesman shook his head. “Sev would prefer to aid your people, but if you refuse, we see no reason to continue hostilities.” The casual contempt in his voice was rather annoying. “After all, your bunker is failing, and th-”

 

“What?” the scribe cut in, ignoring the amused looks headed her way. “What do you mean by that?”

 

The soldier shrugged a bit too casually for her liking. “Judging from your bunker’s energy output, the fluctuations show a clear and rapid deterioration. Part of Sev’s offer is to provide materials to reverse that, in exchange for a simple treaty of non-aggression.”

 

Veronica stared hard at the soldiers, and then glanced over her shoulders back to Hidden Valley bunker where her family was. Taking in a calming breath, she returned her gaze to the Nexus soldiers. “What…what do you want to know?”

 

*****

 

“You’re serious?” Cass asked aloud at the squad of admittedly terrifying looking soldiers of the Nexus. The NCR guards and rangers in the Mojave Outpost were doing their level best to pretend that they didn’t see nor hear the little meeting. 

 

The liquid courage Cass had gained lent her a reckless bluntness. “If you’ve bothered to ask around, you’d have figured out that I’ve got no caravans left. Why don’t you go ask the other companies?”

 

One of the Nexus soldiers shrugged. “Sev’s request,” she simply answered. “You’ll be granted new resources to go along with the trading license.”

 

Cass gave a deadpan stare at them. “Am I allowed to say no?”

 

Surprisingly, they nodded. “Of course.” The armored figure walked up and offered a small sack. “For your troubles. All the best to you.” Cass regarded it for a second before accepting it, and then brought the sack over to peer into it.

 

“No offense,” she said to the leaving soldiers after staring at the contents. “But are you all insane?”

 

The squad halted to turn their attention back to her, and they very poorly hid their amusement. “It should be enough for you to restart your business?”

 

“Should be?” Cass half-asked with astonishment. They had just handed her enough rolls of NCR dollars for her to buy over whole towns, poor exchange rates be damned. There were also some of the much desired Nexus credits in the sack, either for Cass to personally use or sell off to the highest bidder.

 

Why did the Nexus want to win her over so badly?

 

Cass stared at the soldiers for a while more before she carefully strung together some words. “If… Let’s say I take up your offer, could you all follow me? I want to pay my respects to my old caravan, check out the site where they died.”

 

The soldiers exchanged looks amongst themselves before the leader replied, “You don’t have to accept. We’ll escort you to where you need to go, whether or not you wish to work with the Nexus.”

 

These Nexus people were too nice. Or was Cass just too cynical about the world?

 

“Thanks.” Downing the last glass, Cass produced a roll of NCR dollars to pay for her tab before leaving the bar. “I’m ready to go whenever you are. So how do we do this?”

 

She could hear the soldier’s smirk even without looking at her. “How are you with heights?”

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