Yes, and they have been for decades now. The hired hands know what they're signing up for - we don't hide anything with fancy talk.
”
Alice McLafferty is the current manager of the New Vegas branch of the Crimson Caravan2281. McLafferty is a severe woman who runs all her day-to-day activities with utmost efficiency and a degree of ruthlessness.
Prior to 2281, McLafferty was in charge of the Crimson Caravan's operations in the Hub, but as the New Vegas branch had been under-performing lately, she relocated to "clean it up."
The following is based on Van Buren and has not been confirmed by canon sources.
She saw the order to accompany Governor Joseph Dodge to Hoover Dam as an opportunity to expand her caravan empire. She puts on a great show of support for Dodge and his efforts, but secretly wants him to fail. If he does, she will seize the opportunity to take over Hoover and shape it into a town that would be the envy of the wasteland.
Part of her master plan is to work both sides of the BoS/NCR war. She is currently supplying weapons and ammunition to both the Brotherhood at Maxson's Bunker and the NCR at Hoover Dam. It is her hope that the war of attrition will eventually take its toll on Dodge and he will step down. Once this happens, she plans to make a supply run to Maxson's Bunker, assassinate Devon Hill, blow up the entrance to Maxson's, therefore trapping any survivors inside, and come back to Hoover Dam as the hero who ended the war. Lofty plans, to be sure, but she has full confidence in herself to pull it off. Corporate espionage seems to be her favorite past-time.[1]
Additionally, the Courier can eventually discover that Alice has been secretly working with the Van Graffs to ambush the other caravans and force them out of business. The Courier, at the behest of Sharon Cassidy, may then murder McLafferty, eventually resulting in serious trouble with the NCR's supply lines.
The Courier may instead give evidence of McLafferty's crimes to the NCR, allowing them to "tighten their grip" on trade throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
If the Courier steals the Gun Runners manufacturing schematics and finishes Heartache by the Number peacefully, then Alice and Gloria will get ambushed and killed by Gun Runners seeking revenge. This occurs even if the Courier wasn't caught stealing the schematics.
Murdering McLafferty or opening her office safe in front of Crimson Caravan employees will turn them hostile.
Despite her reputation as a harsh, no-nonsense woman, she is strangely polite to the courier, even allowing him/her to turn down certain jobs if it is too difficult.
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