The Freeside NCR Squatters Incident is the name given to a period of heightened cultural and military tensions around 2281 in the slums district of New Vegas in the Mojave Wasteland known as Freeside, occurring primarily between the local inhabitants including the Kings gang led by the King who are considered the de facto regime in the area, and citizens of the New California Republic who immigrated and reside there as well, being considered "squatters" by the locals. Occurring within the scope of the Mojave Campaign, the event appears as a story element in the NCR faction quest arc and has a minor presence in other faction quest arcs of Fallout: New Vegas, with its outcome determined by the Courier's intervention.
Background[]
Life in the slums[]
For decades following the Great War, the ruins of Las Vegas, Nevada were left to be swallowed by overgrowth and occasionally picked over by scavengers and roaming groups of tribals. This lasted until around 2274, when Robert House re-emerged into the world, sending an army of Securitron robots under his remote control out of the Lucky 38. With offers of food, water, and shelter in exchange for loyalty and service, he formed the Three Families from the three most negotiable tribes and together, they forced out the rest to establish the Free Economic Zone of New Vegas and resurrect the New Vegas Strip.[Non-game 1][Non-game 2]
Among those evicted from House's domain was a tribe of scavengers that made it as far as the blocks surrounding Fremont Street to the northeast of the Strip, faced with a day-to-day struggle just to survive. When they discovered an old institution, the King's School of Impersonation, they believed it was once a house of worship for a man only known as "the King" (because most of the material with those details had become unintelligible with time).[1] Regardless of what it was, at that time it served as a change of course as the tribe adopted the style and spirit of "the King," their leader himself taking on the moniker, and re-creating themselves as the Kings.[2] They then went on to become the dominant force in the slums that became known as Freeside, abiding by the guiding creed to live every day according to the mantra of "every man is a king in his own right:" every individual is to be treated with respect and their autonomy to make their own decisions should not be infringed.[3][Non-game 2] This reputation has persisted by-and-large, with organized groups like the Van Graffs and the Followers of the Apocalypse showing them a great deal of respect for being a deterring force,[4][5] while their detractors have mostly come from older, more cynical residents choosing to stay apart from power struggles, and the slums' more chaotic elements being handled directly by them.[6]
Newcomers from the West[]
Unbeknownst to the locals of Freeside initially, their eviction from the Strip into the slums was the harbinger of further trouble, as House had started the whole project in anticipation of the arrival of prospectors and eventually military forces coming west to the Mojave from the territories of the New California Republic in the course of the Mojave Campaign, formally known as the "Pacification of the Mojave." Gone were the days of peaceful cooperation and coexistence as championed by its second president Tandi; according to many in the frontier areas like the Mojave, the Republic of the late 23rd century was a tyrannical, expansionist beast that forced its way and laws onto territory it coveted without regard to those who already lived there.[7][8][9] In Freeside, this dim view of the NCR was no different as locals observed the gradual encroachment of similarly destitute refugees from the Core Regions, forcing people with deep roots in the area out of their homes and onto the streets, left to be prey for violent thugs and crazed drug addicts common in the slums, and leading to this new demographic being derogatively considered squatters by the locals.[10][11]
Failure of diplomacy[]
Contrary to the perception of them as grand-standing bullies stepping over everybody in their way, in the initial phase of NCR settlement in Freeside, there was an attempt to cooperate with the local population. Major Elizabeth Kieran of the NCR Army's supply corps was sent to establish a relief mission and soup kitchen from which food and supplies would be shared equally to both NCR citizens and Freesiders.[12]
She also embraced the idea of setting up a partnership with the King and his men to facilitate this mutual benefit and dispatched an envoy to the School of Impersonation to start proceedings. However, before the man was even able to make eye contact with the King, he was intercepted and brutally beaten by Pacer, a senior member and co-founder of the Kings, and one of its most outspoken against NCR in Freeside. Unaware of Pacer's maverick actions, the supply corps' commanders assumed that the King himself had ordered the attack as a refusal of their aid, nearly leading to the relief effort being scrapped until Kieran was able to argue for a continuance. However, she was left with half the resources she originally had and firm orders not to offer handouts to Freesiders, a sentiment which she partially shared due to Pacer's actions.[13][14]
The Courier's involvement[]
- The following is based on player-dependent gameplay events with no known canon outcome.
Around late October 2281, the Courier reaches New Vegas during their hunt for the Chairmen leader Benny, where they are offered the chance to assist the major powers of the Mojave Wasteland in vying for control. If the Courier decides to cast their allegiance with the NCR, they are eventually sent by Dennis Crocker, the incumbent ambassador to the Free Economic Zone of New Vegas, to investigate reports of increased violence against NCR citizens in Freeside, propagated by the members of the Kings gang and one member in particular, Pacer.[15][16] Alternatively, they may inadvertently involve themselves in the incident by directly approaching the King to get hired work for any of a number of reasons,[17] eventually leading him to send them to look into the matter of several of his friends being brutalized by NCR squatters.[18]
Peace in Freeside[]
- Working with the King
If the Courier talks about other options to resolving the Freeside conflict besides assassinating Pacer, Crocker will jump at the chance and suggest instead going above him to the King himself, counting on his more peaceable values and general charisma to be the deterring factor to further violence. Despite this, the King will outright refuse to obey a demand from the NCR but gives the Courier the chance to prove their merit by doing work for him, leading to the same path of eventually investigating the attacks on his friends.[19]
From the accounts of the injured men Wayne and Roy, the Courier finds out that they were attacked by NCR soldiers and the King then sends them to find out the scope of the military's presence in Freeside by asking around the squatter areas. Through either convincing a missionary that they are a republic citizen, paying caps for a tip from the ghoul vagrant Rotface, or following the King's advice to speak with Followers leader Julie Farkas, the Courier learns the location of the relief mission in a ruined store in the blocks being run by Major Kieran, requiring a password, "Hope" to gain entrance. Inside, they speak with Mjr. Kieran where she reveals the failed attempt to open talks with the King due to the envoy's assault.[19]
Upon returning to the School of Impersonation, the Courier is intercepted by Pacer who tries to intimidate and/or bribe them into keeping quiet about the attack on the envoy, revealing himself as the perpetrator and his anti-NCR agenda. Regardless of Pacer's interference, the Courier reveals the operations at the relief mission to the King as well as the previous attempt to make peace, causing him to realize the mess that has been made. Before a plan can come together, a Kings member enters to reveal that Pacer went off to stage an attack on the mission staff and is caught in a firefight. The Courier reaches the battleground at the train station and manages to approach Mjr. Kieran peacefully to convince her that the King truly wants a peaceful outcome, getting her group to stand down. The King applauds the Courier's efforts to bring some semblance of peace to Freeside and offers them a one-time favor for anything the King can offer.[19] If the Courier already helped make peace between the Kings and NCR prior to accepting Crocker's request and still kept the use of the favor, they may ask the King directly to fully put an end to the violence against NCR citizens in Freeside as their one favor, which he accepts.[19]
- Getting military support
Alternatively, if the Courier already completed their tasks for the King by killing Kieran's group and neglecting a peaceful outcome, or heard his initial refusal to accept the demand for peace, or used up his one favor on a different request, they return to Crocker who laments another failure of diplomacy. He then directs them to seek military aid in forcing the Kings to back down, though tries to nudge the Courier in the direction of avoiding speaking with Colonel Cassandara Moore (his official recommendation) and instead speak with Colonel James Hsu (his moral recommendation). Taking the advice of the latter has the Courier confer with Colonel Hsu at Camp McCarran who sends a peacekeeping force to the School of Impersonation. While the sight of NCR guns unnerves the King, he is receptive to the Courier's requests for a peaceful resolution with the NCR and Kings cooperating. However, Pacer tries to intervene and rebels against the King, leading to his and his men's deaths to a combined NCR-Kings volley of bullets, after which the King fully embraces the promise of republic aid, an outcome that delights Crocker.[16]
Death in Freeside[]
- Removing a snake in the garden
If the Courier goes through with the resolution to assassinate Pacer, Crocker is reluctant but accepts the path they have chosen, to which he stresses that eliminating the Kings member requires finding a method that will do the deed without any chance of it being traced back to the NCR. Finding a viable method leads the Courier to interact with the ghoul vagrant Rotface, who accepts a payment of caps in exchange for two important pieces of information related to Pacer: the Kings member has a diagnosed heart condition that is exacerbated by his habitual usage of Jet, as well as a history of bad blood with Gloria Van Graff of the Van Graffs almost to the degree of murder-on-sight. The Courier brings one or both clues back to Crocker, who separately suggests locating Pacer's stash of Jet and spiking it with Psycho to induce a seemingly random fatal overdose, or discreetly using an energy weapon to eliminate Pacer and make it appear that a Van Graff hitman took him out.[16]
Two alternatives of the latter strategy are also possible, with the first having the Courier get Ralph of Mick & Ralph's to forge a note to appear to be from Jean-Baptiste Cutting and leave it in Pacer's Jet stash after stealing the contents; the note tricks Pacer into thinking the Van Graffs stole his Jet and causes him to run off on a mission of revenge at the Silver Rush where he can be killed on Van Graff turf. The second involves the Courier going directly to Gloria Van Graff and asking for work, to which she puts them on guard duty outside the Silver Rush; after a few other patrons show up, Pacer himself comes to make trouble and can be incited to attack, making it appear he dies at the hands of a Van Graff employee.[16]
With the troublemaker eliminated, Crocker laments that diplomacy lost out to bloodshed once more but is thankful that the matter was handled and NCR interests in Freeside will no longer be troubled.
- Killing a King(s)
Alternatively, if the Courier already completed their tasks for the King by killing Kieran's group and neglecting a peaceful outcome, or heard his initial refusal to accept the demand for peace, or used up his one favor on a different request, they return to Crocker who laments another failure of diplomacy. He then directs them to seek military aid in forcing the Kings to back down, though tries to nudge the Courier in the direction of avoiding speaking with Colonel Cassandara Moore (his official recommendation) and instead speak with Colonel James Hsu (his moral recommendation). Going against the advice of the latter has the Courier confer with Colonel Moore at Hoover Dam who sends a hit squad to the School of Impersonation. Realizing that the NCR is no longer playing around, the King rejects any overtures of compliance from the Courier and incites the Kings into a firefight of which in all likelihood ends with them being gunned down to a man. Crocker is furious at the Courier for squandering any goodwill the NCR could have built up in Freeside with the brazen slaughter and blithely sends them away to continue aiding Colonel Moore with consolidating NCR control in the Mojave.[16]
Aftermath[]
The outcome of the Freeside NCR Squatters Incident is heavily dependent on the choices made by the Courier's involvement, with an additional influencing factor in the outcome of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. All potential outcomes are listed below, separated by scenarios for each major faction's victory.
- If the Courier kills the King inside the King's School of Impersonation at any point, the Kings gang dissolves and abandons Freeside regardless of the outcome of Hoover Dam.[20]
NCR wins Hoover Dam[]
- If the Courier convinces the King to stop the violence, and the NCR achieves victory at Hoover Dam, their initial truce evolves into a full-scale relief effort for all residents of Freeside. The Kings themselves remain an independent but welcoming ally of the republic.[21]
- If Major Kieran is dead, the Courier assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and the NCR achieves victory at Hoover Dam, some Kings members take advantage of the chaos to stage their own attack on Republic citizens in Freeside. However, following the defeat of the Legion, Army forces retaliate and sweep through Freeside, purging most of the gang and driving the survivors out entirely.[22]
- If Major Kieran is alive, the Courier assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and the NCR achieves victory at Hoover Dam, attempts to consolidate republic control of New Vegas encounter difficulty in Freeside with heightened tensions over numerous incidents, though the Kings remain in nominal control of the area.[23]
House wins Hoover Dam[]
- If the Courier convinces the King to stop the violence, and Mr. House achieves victory at Hoover Dam, he later accuses the Kings of betraying New Vegas to ally with the Republic and sends Securitrons to forcibly remove them; when the Kings fight back, he has them exterminated.[24]
- If Major Kieran is dead, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Mr. House achieves victory at Hoover Dam, the actions of the Kings in attacking NCR citizens in Freeside during the chaos of the battle earns them the respect of House, who decides to leave them alone.[25]
- If Major Kieran is alive, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Mr. House achieves victory at Hoover Dam, when Securitrons are deployed to Freeside to secure House's control of the area, the Kings resist and fight back but are ultimately wiped out.[26]
Courier wins Hoover Dam[]
- If the Courier convinces the King to stop the violence, and Yes Man helps the Courier achieve victory at Hoover Dam, Freeside goes on to become one of the safer areas of the independent New Vegas, even to NCR citizens who face worse treatment in other places.[27]
- If Major Kieran is dead, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Yes Man helps the Courier achieve victory at Hoover Dam, the Kings seize the opportunity to violently evict all NCR citizens from Freeside, with the slums becoming known as a place to avoid for newcomers from the West.[28]
- If Major Kieran is alive, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Yes Man helps the Courier achieve victory at Hoover Dam, the Kings retain control of Freeside and while primarily continue to favor the locals, they show tolerance to the refugees left behind by the defeated Republic.[29]
Legion wins Hoover Dam[]
- If the Courier convinces the King to stop the violence, and Caesar's Legion achieves victory at Hoover Dam, their campaign against the Republic's allies in the Mojave leads to discovering the truce with the Kings, and the gang's subsequent eradication.[30]
- If Major Kieran is dead, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Caesar's Legion achieves victory at Hoover Dam, the Kings' series of assaults on NCR citizens in Freeside impress the Legion enough that they extend an invitation into their ranks; when it is refused, the gang is conquered, briefly enslaved, and exterminated when they tried to escape.[31]
- If Major Kieran is alive, the Courier never helps Crocker/assassinates Pacer for Crocker, and Caesar's Legion achieves victory at Hoover Dam, the Kings fight to the bitter end when legionnaires sweep through Freeside, ultimately meeting their end.[32]
Appearances[]
The Freeside NCR Squatters Incident appears in Fallout: New Vegas.
References[]
- ↑ The Courier: "This building is... interesting. What do you know about it?"
The King: "Near as I can tell, it was some sort of religious institution. Oh, I know it says "school" out front, but everything in here seems to be related to the worship of some guy from back in the day. People used to come here to learn about him, to dress like him, move like him. To be him. If that's not worship, I don't know what is."
The Courier: "If this was a school, what was taught here?"
The King: "As far as we can tell, the guy that built this place was considered the coolest of the cool, and taught other people how to be more like him. People would come from all around to learn how to sing, dance, dress, and even speak the way he did."
The Courier: "Tell me more about him."
The King: "Not a whole lot to tell. There were only a few books left in here when we found it, and those were rotted away. There were some posters left that were pretty well preserved, which is how we know all this stuff was based on the same guy. The thing of it is, we don't even know what his name was. All the posters just referred to him as "The King"."
The Courier: "And that's where you got the name from."
The King: "Well, that and the giant sign outside. This place could have been "The King's House of Dog Chow" and I still would have taken the name. But I like to think I keep the memory alive."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "What can you tell me about Freeside?"
The King: "To understand Freeside, you have to look back a few years. Originally, we were all just tribes making a living in this area. That all changed when Mr. House came around. He made an offer to the three biggest tribes that were willing to listen to him. Today, everyone calls those tribes the Three Families, and they live in luxury and run their own casinos in the Strip. The rest of us were left to fight over the crumbs, living in the shadow of those more fortunate. Things got pretty nasty for a while. But we wanted more. A place of our own. A place where no one could tell us what to do. And we didn't want to go elsewhere to find it. So we took control of this place, and made it our own. And that's really all Freeside is, the best of a bad situation."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Tell me about the Kings."
The King: "We're different than other gangs, and not just because we dress better. We're not just a group of thugs looking for our next fight. The Kings are about an idea, you see? Where every man is free to follow his own path, do his own thing. Where every man is a king in his own right."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Tell me about the Kings."
Gloria Van Graff: "Ah, the 'rulers' of Freeside. The Kings are a bunch of boys who refuse to grow up, and this is their playground. Their leader seems different, though. The few times I've dealt with him I've been impressed despite myself. Unfortunately, he rarely acts. The Kings believe that everyone in Freeside can do whatever they want, provided they can back it up with force. Which suits us just fine. When we first arrived in Freeside, the Kings protested when we kicked out the original occupant of this establishment. When we reduced several of their members to glowing puddles of goo, their objections vanished. Since then, we've left each other alone."
(Gloria Van Graff's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Who are The Kings?"
Julie Farkas: "They've been Freeside's gang for the past five years or so, ever since Mr. House and his Three Families pushed everyone else out of Vegas. They've done a lot of good for the community - but that seems to be changing. The flood of NCR squatters has been an affront to them. I guess that explains the situation with the water pump. Usually The King wouldn't let his crew bully folks around like that."
(Julie Farkas' dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "So why isn't every man in Freeside in your gang?"
The King: "We've tried to pass our philosophy on to the people of Freeside, but not everyone is ready to be a King. The kids love us, but the old-timers tend to shy away and keep to themselves. They probably couldn't pull off the look, anyway. As for the others, some people just plain don't respect others, and that's a no-no. If there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's lack of respect."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Tell me about the NCR."
Samuel Cooke: "Their 'republic' is a joke. They're a bunch of tyrants led by an even greater tyrant, that idiot Kimball. They think they have the right to annex every inch of dirt in the West and force their system on every man, woman, and child."
(Samuel Cooke's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Doesn't the NCR keep order around here?"
Crandon: "NCR... did you just crawl out from under a rock? Those folks only care about their business, their people and their pockets. NCR's order? Don't make me laugh, stranger. We work this land, we own these streets, and we yank up the bad weeds ourselves, got it?"
(Crandon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Tell me about North Vegas."
Jules: "We're independent folks here. Merchants, gamblers, NCR whores, all of them trade with us and we offer protection against critters and the Fiends."
The Courier: "NCR whores?"
Jules: ""You heard me. We don't like those stiff-back, clean-hand, little pussies. New Vegas belongs to the people. The NCR's just a corrupt and bloated monster, no better than any other Wasteland crawler. We make this land wealthy, and we ain't giving it up.
(Jules' dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Do you know anything about Bill or Jacob?"
Dixon: "Yeah, man. Those cats are out of their domes addicted to my shit. They can't get enough. Pretty hilarious to watch."
The Courier: "Are you trying to kill your customers?"
Dixon: "Those fools are from NCR. I love seeing those squatters in agony. We were doing just fine before those shits came here and made a mess of things. We don't need NCR eggheads wandering around confusing things."
(Dixon's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "What can you tell me about Pacer?"
The King: "Pace? He and I grew up together around here. We've been through a lot together, and there's no man I'd rather have at my side in a pinch. Don't judge him too harshly for trying to get some caps out of you. He probably took you for a squatter, looking for a place to settle down. There've been a lot of people moving into the area lately, and it's got some people riled. Can't blame 'em myself. There's only so much to go around."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Are you with the NCR military?"
Elizabeth Kieran: "Yes, I'm a major in the supply corps, which is where this food and water comes from."
(Elizabeth Kieran's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Julie Farkas told me to ask. She said it was important."
Elizabeth Kieran: "You know Julie? Not everyone in the NCR sees eye-to-eye with the Followers, but they're okay in my book, mostly because of her. If you really want to know, we sent an envoy to the King offering to coordinate the relief effort."
The Courier: "And the King refused?"
Elizabeth Kieran: "In a manner of speaking. Our envoy was brutally beaten, and only barely survived. My superiors ordered the relief mission scrapped. I managed to get clearance to carry out the mission anyway, but with greatly reduced support. Now there's not enough supplies to go around even if I wanted to serve the rest of Freeside, which I don't. But that's all in the past now. I should get back to work. Say hi to Julie for me."
(Elizabeth Kieran's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Do you serve food to Locals as well?"
Elizabeth Kieran: "No, I'm afraid we don't. Do you have a friend you wanted to bring in?"
The Courier: "Yes, but I was afraid he wouldn't get served."
Elizabeth Kieran: "You were right, but here, take another helping for your friend. It'll be our secret."
(Elizabeth Kieran's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Earlier you mentioned another assignment?"
Ambassador Crocker: "So I did. As you may have noticed, our position here in New Vegas is tenuous. We've made great strides, sure, but the NCR is not welcomed here, merely tolerated. And even then, not by everyone. We've had reports of violence against NCR citizens in a neighborhood just to the northeast called Freeside. Ever been there?"
The Courier: "Yes, what of it?"
Ambassador Crocker: "Violence is something of a way of life there, but there's been a disturbing rise in the number of attacks on our people lately. More worrying is the fact that our sources suggest the violence is being perpetrated by the gang that runs the place, the Kings. I need someone to look into this that won't attract attention. Would you be interested?"
The Courier: "Sure, I'll look into it."
Ambassador Crocker: "Good. Our men have come up with two different plans for seeing an end to the violence. First, our sources have tracked most of the attacks back to a King named Pacer. The consensus is that the violence will stop if he's removed. The problem is that we can't simply kill him. In the current climate, the NCR would likely be blamed for his death. There is an alternative option, but my sources feel that getting rid of this Pacer fellow is our best shot."
(Dennis Crocker's dialogue) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Events of Kings' Gambit in Fallout: New Vegas
- ↑ The Courier: "I was hoping you might have some work for me."
The King: "Maybe so. Maybe so. You look like you might be able to handle yourself. Tell you what. You do me a favor, and I'll have some more work for you when it's done. Sound good?"
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ The King: "You've shown me something, so maybe you can help me with a matter that's a little more important. A lot of folks round these parts who've been here a while resent the sheer number of people that have come into the area since the Strip was built. In turn the newcomers, most of whom come from the NCR, have gotten ornery from being resented. Sometimes things get violent. This is one of those occasions. Recently, a few friends of mine were attacked, and I want you to find out who did it. Word's come that they just woke up over at the Old Mormon Fort just north of here. Head on over and see if they remember anything."
(The King's dialogue) - ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Events of G.I. Blues in Fallout: New Vegas
- ↑ A possible Fallout: New Vegas ending (narration by The King): "With The King dead and most of their gang slain by the Courier, the remaining Kings fled the area, never to be heard from again."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "After the NCR victory at Hoover Dam, the temporary truce between them and the Kings blossomed into a full-scale relief effort for the people. While the NCR made repeated entreaties that Freeside join the Republic, the Kings steadfastly maintained their independence."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): ""
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "As the NCR moved to secure the region, the occupation of Freeside remained especially problematic. Things remained tense due to numerous incidents, though the Kings were still in nominal control of the area."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "Accusing the Kings of lying with a foreign invader for their newfound loyalty to the NCR, Mr. House punished them by ordering their forced removal. The Kings, defiant to the end, were destroyed to the last man by House's Securitrons."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "During the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, some Kings took it upon themselves to launch several attacks on NCR citizens and squatters around Freeside. Mr. House looked on these actions favorably, seeing them as proof of the Kings' loyalty to New Vegas, and decided to leave them alone."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "Flush with his victory, Mr. House sent Securitrons into Freeside, thinking to increase his control over the area. When fighting broke out, the Kings fought valiantly, but were no match for the armored killing machines, and were wiped out to the last man."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "Following the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, Freeside came to be known as one of the more stable areas in the region. Ironically, NCR refugees found Freeside safer than most of the rest of New Vegas, where resentment still lingers."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, the Kings took the opportunity to viciously force all NCR citizens out of Freeside. Travelers from the Republic quickly learned to avoid Freeside if they valued their safety."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "The Kings retained their control of Freeside, and while they continued to favor the needs of locals, they tolerated the citizens of the defeated NCR."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "After their victory at Hoover Dam, the Legion quickly set about destroying all remaining resistance, including any groups with ties to the NCR. Upon discovering the Kings' newfound relationship with the NCR, Legionaries flooded the streets of Freeside, and the Kings were quickly destroyed."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "Impressed with the Kings' continued attacks upon NCR citizens and soldiers, the Legion offered them the option of being assimilated into the Legion. The Kings refused, and briefly became slaves in the Legion, but after a failed escape attempt, they were all put to death."
- ↑ A potential Fallout: New Vegas ending (narrated by The King): "After their victory at Hoover Dam, Legion troops rolled through Freeside. The Kings tried to fight back, but most were killed, and the rest fled into the wasteland."
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 41: "The Strip
Before the Great War started, Mr. House used his considerable genius and wealth to ensure that no missiles would strike the city of Las Vegas. Though a few warheads did get through in the outskirts, most of the city was spared. Despite this, the Strip itself was not re-settled, and after close to two hundred years, Mr. House immediately began searching for a mysterious Platinum chip and rebuilding the glory of Las Vegas. Sending out Securitron scouts, Mr. House started negotiating with local tribes to exchange his considerable resource stockpiles for their help. Some of the tribes resisted, but three tribes eventually gained Mr. House's favor. They became the Omertas, Chairmen, and White Glove Society, running the Gomorrah, Tops, and Ultra-Luxe casinos, respectively. Because Mr. House was dedicated to restoring Las Vegas, he insisted on transforming the tribes into families with cultures that harkened back to Vegas' glory days.
In the process of rebuilding the Strip, Mr. House also effectively 'bought out' the residents of Vault 21. After they evacuated, he had the Vault stripped of useful technology, most of its actual volume filled with concrete, and the entrance turned into a gift shop and small hotel. While the families were rebuilding the casinos, the rest of the locals were hard at work erecting an enormous wall around the Strip. When NCR traders and explorers arrived on the scene, they were amazed at the Strip and returned back to California with tales of opulence and great wealth awaiting travelers.
Eventually, the NCR military itself arrived and were surprised to find the Strip so well-protected and heavily policed. Though they struck a deal with Mr. House to establish a base in the area (along with control of Hoover Dam), the NCR has never had control of The Strip. After the Battle of Hoover Dam, the NCR negotiated an MP (military police) presence on The Strip, but their influence remains small.
Though the tribes that became The Strip's families were once hatefully opposed to each other, the demands of Mr. House have forced the families to play nice. They continue to hold long-standing grudges, but do not act openly against each other for fear of angering Mr. House."
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide faction profiles) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 42: "Freeside"
"Las Vegas wasn't heavily damaged during the Great War, but people didn't immediately "settle" into the remnants of the old city. The various Vault tribes that emerged years later, hunted and fought among the ruins, but it was not until the "return" of Mr. House that they ceased (most) of their hostilities. Mr House directed the tribes to use his sizable quantities of pre-war construction materials to build the crude (but effective) outer walls that separate The Strip and Freeside from the rest of New Vegas. While Mr. House valued the area around Fremont Street, he ultimately viewed it as secondary in importance to the Strip itself and he had a second, inner wall that separated the two areas. When NCR prospectors (and eventually the army) arrived in the region, people typically went straight for The Strip, leaving Freeside (as it had become known by locals) as an informal stopping point. Eventually Mr. House recognized that he could use Freeside as a filter for undesirables, and pulled his favored tribes and all Securitrons into the Strip, leaving Freeside to fend for itself."
"In the two years that followed, Freeside has slowly degenerated into a hostile, lawless den of ne'er-do-wells. For a while, it was completely without order, but two power groups managed to come to an understanding about how the area needed to be maintained. The Kings, formed from the dispossessed remnants of unfortunate tribes, prevent all-out chaos from erupting, but do little to deal with the day-to-day nastiness that Freesiders inflict on each other. The Followers of the Apocalypse, no longer associated with the NCR, settled in the Old Mormon Fort. They receive some protection from the Kings in exchange for help with the community's basic needs (food, water, health services, and some education). Despite the oversight from the Kings and help from the Followers, the people in Freeside live in daily peril... from each other as well as outside forces."
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide faction profiles)