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Kimball, Caesar, House... you'd think their whole world was that wall, cutting the Colorado. If I'd never laid eyes on it, never spoke of it...Ulysses, Lonesome Road

The Second Battle of Hoover Dam is the conjectural name applied to the second offensive mounted by Caesar's Legion against the New California Republic forces entrenched on Hoover Dam in 2282, as well as on the surrounding Mojave Wasteland.[1]

Prelude[]

After the First Battle of Hoover Dam, Mr. House knew that as soon as either the NCR or the Legion became victorious at the dam, they would turn their attention to New Vegas. In an attempt to stop this and allow the city to remain under his control, he had Victor hire a courier to retrieve his platinum chip, a data storage device capable of upgrading the city's defense systems and activating a massive army of securitrons.[2] This would give House the ability to single-handedly crush the Legion and intimidate the NCR into a retreat.[3] However, the leader of the Chairmen, Benny, learned of this plan and ambushed House's courier outside of Goodsprings, shooting them in the head and leaving them for dead in a shallow grave, taking the platinum chip and throwing House's plans into disarray.

The Courier survived, however, and began a journey to the New Vegas Strip to find Benny and get revenge, in the process of learning the true purpose of the platinum chip and its power. The Courier was faced with the choice of either giving the chip to House or destroying the securitron army or even using it to create an army of their own. The Courier's journey attracted the attention of the NCR and the Legion, both wanting such an influential individual on their side. Also in preparation, the Courier traveled the land looking for other tribes and factions to ally with.

Battle[]

Hoover Dam[]

The Courier's role in the battle depended greatly on which faction they sided with. If the Courier sided with House or Yes Man, the battle played out in a similar fashion, both involving the activation of the securitron army. From there, the Courier was forced to fight their way across the dam and into the Legion camp. The NCR questline had the Courier perform the same basic task: fighting through enemy forces to get to the Legion camp on the other side of the dam.

While traversing the dam, any aid the Courier had enlisted would have been acted upon by the corresponding faction. Once the Courier reached the other side of the dam and entered the Legate's camp, they would face off against Legate Lanius. The resulting confrontation would either have had the Courier fight and kill the Legate, or solve the confrontation diplomatically. After dealing with the Legate, the Courier returned to the main gate, at which point General Lee Oliver and his men destroyed it. If siding with the NCR, Oliver would have congratulated the Courier; however, if siding with Yes Man or Mr. House, the Courier would have been forced to confront General Oliver, either fighting and killing Oliver and his men or solving the issue through diplomacy.

If the Courier sided with the polar opposite, the Legion, the battle played out in a similar fashion to the battle involving the Courier siding with the NCR, only it would play out in reverse; the Courier started at the Legate's camp, and then fought their way across the dam to reach the NCR's position, confronting General Oliver. Once again, the Courier was forced to choose between killing the General or convincing him to leave through diplomacy.

Elsewhere[]

The details of the battle at Hoover Dam are unclear, however, the fighting was not just limited to that relatively small location; violence engulfed the entire Mojave Wasteland as Caesar's Legion and its allies attacked NCR targets and locations across the region, with varying levels of success:

  • The Omertas potentially stage a coup on the New Vegas Strip, successfully doing so by reeking havoc with lethal gas bombs if the Courier aided them in finalising their plans. If the Courier did not finish aiding them, yet failed to stop them instead, the coup still occurred, but was stopped by the coalition of the Chairman, White Gloves, securitrons and NCR MPs. If the Courier thwarted the Omertas, the coup never happened and the NCR Embassy was bombed in turn, likely by the Legion's frumentarii, in an attempt to cause at least some disruption after their initial plan failed. (NCR Emergency Radio)
  • If the Courier did not complete I Put a Spell on You, the Legion spy at Camp McCarran executes their plan to bomb and destroy the base's monorail connecting to the Strip. If the Omertas were able to stage their coup, this prevented the NCR from sending more reinforcements to help stop them and more casualties likely occurred as a result. (NCR Emergency Radio)
  • The Fiends, in the event at least one of their four leaders remained alive, launch an attack on the NCR at Camp McCarran. If Cook-Cook, Motor-Runner, Violet and Driver Nephi all died beforehand, the gang were unable to coordinate themselves properly and the attack never occurred. If Motor-Runner is killed, but at least one of the other Three-Card Bounty leaders remains alive, they stage a disorganised assault. If the Courier sided with the NCR or Mr. House, the Fiend attack is repulsed with only minor NCR casualties. Even if only Motor-Runner remained alive, his leadership allows the Fiends to lead a brutal attack on Camp McCarran. If the Courier sided with Mr. House, the gang will overrun McCarran and deal devastating losses to the NCR. If the Courier sided with the NCR, they are repelled, albeit at the cost of heavy casualties for the NCR. If the Courier sided with Yes Man and the Fiends launched their attack, no matter the strength, they successfully defeat the NCR. If the Courier sided with Caesar's Legion and the Fiends launched their attack, no matter the strength, they are repelled by the NCR. (ending slides)
  • Riots broke across New Vegas outside of the Strip. In Freeside in particular, the Kings worsened the damage by launching targeted attacks on the NCR in and around the area, if the Courier dealt with previous hostilities between them and the NCR by escalating tensions into an all-out war. On the other hand, if a formal truce was formed or tensions were eased without a formal truce, the gang likely assisted the NCR in calming the riots in Freeside or simply did not contribute to the rioting respectively. The state of the Fiends plays the most significant part in the outcome of these riots. If all four leaders died prior to the battle, preventing their potential assault on McCarran, the NCR there were able to divert far more troops to successfully quell the rioting. (ending slides)
  • Camp Forlorn Hope was attacked by the Legion. If the Courier did nothing for either side, the Legion was able to take it with some difficulty, with some NCR troops managing to retreat. If Alpha Squad of First Recon was present or the Courier managed to solve the camp's many problems, the NCR soldiers were able to defeat the attack with very few casualties. If the Courier aided the Legion, the camp was totally overrun. If the Courier solved the camp's problems and Alpha Squad of First Recon was present, then the engagement was such a crushingly one-sided NCR victory that an officer says it will "surely be the most decisive victory in this entire battle." (NCR Emergency Radio)
  • Camp Golf was attacked by the Legion. If the Courier did nothing for either side, the NCR Rangers defeated the Legion, throwing back their attack with moderate casualties. If the Courier trained the Misfits, the Legion was defeated more easily, with the Misfits distinguishing themselves. If the Courier aided the Legion, then the camp fell and Chief Hanlon and the other rangers stationed there were killed, many by crucifixion. (NCR Emergency Radio and ending slides)
  • Novac was attacked by the Legion. If the Courier did nothing, the townspeople fended off the Legion, but many of Novac's citizens died in its defense, leaving it vulnerable in the following days when it was ravaged by feral ghouls. If instead, the Courier aided the Bright Brotherhood in starting their pilgrimage, they returned to help the citizens restore the town following the attack, allowing Novac to survive. If the Courier aided the Legion, the civilian population was eventually massacred following persistent Legion attacks. (NCR Emergency Radio and ending slides)
  • HELIOS One is attacked by the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel if the Courier sided with Yes Man, destroyed or chose not to power the securitron army and Still in the Dark was not completed or done so by siding with Hardin, where they claimed victory over the NCR or Legion forces there. (ending slides)

Aftermath[]

This section is transcluded from Fallout: New Vegas endings. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

Independent[]

Narrated by Ron Perlman

# Slide Voice-over narration In-game condition
1
House end slide 01
The Courier, with the aid of Yes Man, drove both the Legion and the NCR from Hoover Dam, securing New Vegas' independence from both factions. With Mr. House out of the picture, the remaining Securitrons on The Strip were hard-pressed to keep order. Anarchy ruled the streets. When the fires died, New Vegas remained, assuming its position as an independent power in the Mojave. Complete Wild Card: You and What Army? for an independent New Vegas without upgrading the Securitron army.
2
House end slide 01
The Courier, with the aid of Yes Man, drove both the Legion and the NCR from Hoover Dam, securing New Vegas' independence from both factions. With Mr. House out of the picture, part of the Securitron army was diverted to The Strip to keep order. Any chaos on the streets was ended, quickly. Chaos became uncertainty, then acceptance, with minimal loss of life. New Vegas assumed its position as an independent power in the Mojave. Complete Wild Card: You and What Army? for an independent New Vegas with the Securitron army.

Mr. House[]

Narrated by Ron Perlman

# Slide Voice-over narration In-game condition
1
House end slide 01
Mr. House's Securitron army took control of Hoover Dam and the Strip, pushing both the Legion and the exhausted NCR out of New Vegas. Mr. House continued to run New Vegas his way, a despotic vision of pre-War glory. The streets were orderly, efficient, cold. New Vegas continued to be the sole place in the wasteland where fortunes were won and lost in the blink of an eye. Complete The House Always Wins for Mr. House.

Caesar's Legion[]

Narrated by Ron Perlman

# Slide Voice-over narration In-game condition
1
Legion end slide 01
Caesar entered The Strip as though it was his Triumph. The Legion pushed the NCR out of New Vegas entirely, driving them back to the Mojave Outpost. The Legion occupied all major locations, enslaving much of the population and peacefully lording over the rest. Under the Legion's banner, civilization - unforgiving as it was - finally came to the Mojave Wasteland. Do not allow Caesar to die in Et Tumor, Brute?, complete the endgame quest Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion.
2
Legion end slide 02
The Legate is crowned as the new Caesar. He entered The Strip as though it was a military target, destroying anyone who resisted him. The Legion brutally occupied all major locations, killing and enslaving a large amount of the population. Under the Legion's banner, civilization - savage as it was - finally came to the Mojave Wasteland. Allow Caesar to die in Et Tumor, Brute?, complete the endgame quest Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion.

New California Republic[]

Narrated by Ron Perlman

# Slide Voice-over narration In-game condition
1
NCR end slide 01
The New California Republic celebrated its second victory at Hoover Dam, establishing definitive control over the entire Mojave Wasteland. Soon after, they negotiated terms to annex The Strip, Freeside, and many surrounding communities. The Mojave Wasteland, at long last, had entirely fallen under the NCR's banner. Complete the endgame quest Eureka! for the NCR.

Notes[]

  • Yes Man and Mr. House's participation in this battle are mutually exclusive - if the Courier chose to support an independent Vegas, then they would already have had control of the securitron army and House would have been long-dead (or irrevocably disconnected from the Lucky 38's mainframe computers) by the time the battle started.
  • If the Courier was idolized by the Boomers, they would have supported them in the final battle. If the B-29 bomber was not salvaged for the Boomers, then they would have fired artillery at the dam. If the bomber was salvaged, then the bomber would have flown over the dam, dropping bombs at the Courier's adversaries, but no artillery would have been fired.
  • If the Courier accidentally shot their allies during the battle, no penalty would have been given.

Appearances[]

The Second Battle of Hoover Dam occurs in Fallout: New Vegas.

Gallery[]

Magic The Gathering

References[]

  1. The Courier: "What should I expect at the dam?"
    Robert House: "Imagine two snarling dogs fighting over a curve of bone, perhaps the rib of their master, long-dead. It'll be a pitched battle, that's a certainty. Perhaps the greatest battle the Earth has seen since the human race nearly made itself extinct."
    The Courier: "Any speculation on Legion tactics?"
    Robert House: "The Legion will mount a ferocious and determined frontal assault from the east, that much is certain. Still, Caesar is a capable strategist. I'd be surprised if he hasn't found some way to infiltrate the dam, or the NCR's rear areas."
    The Courier: "Any speculation on Legion tactics?"
    Robert House: "With Caesar dead, it's hard to know what to expect. The Legate, Lanius, is renowned as a brutal man, not a subtle tactician. Frontal assaults, wave attacks - these are the sort of tactics one would expect from such a man."
    The Courier: "How will the NCR defend Hoover Dam?"
    Robert House: "General Oliver's strategy - or 'tunnel vision,' as I like to call it - has been to mass troops at Hoover Dam. He wants to out-fight the Legion in a straight-forward slugging match, and then, when they rout, pursue and destroy them in detail. A crushing, decisive victory of this sort would overshadow the tactical ingenuity of Chief Hanlon's defense four years ago, you see."
    The Courier: "What's your battle plan for the Dam?"
    Robert House: "A good deal should be obvious to you by now. I won't spoil the rest by talking out of turn."
    (Robert House's dialogue)
  2. The Courier: "How do you intend to enforce your claim on the city?"
    Robert House: "To enforce, one must have force - a position of strength. Years ago, when I detected NCR scouts roaming the Mojave, I could tell from their uniforms that these were no mere tribesmen. I knew it was only a matter of time before an army appeared, to take control of the dam. And I knew my Securitrons wouldn't be enough to oppose them. And so I recruited the Three Families. Vegas belongs to me because I mustered enough strength to bring the NCR to the bargaining table."
    (Robert House's dialogue)
  3. The Courier: "What will you do with your Securitrons?"
    Robert House: "My army will do what an army does best - defend territory from invaders... and maintain order."
    (Robert House's dialogue)
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