Tamia, Veronica, and Anja all walk through the doors of the Lucky 38 and approach the elevator. Getting onto the strip had been slightly more annoying than it usually is, mainly due to the NCR soldiers doing their best to 'harrass' them.
Obviously, they couldn't do anything overtly hostile as it'd become a political incident between the NCR and Mr House, which would definitely be a big deal, but that didn't stop a few *outliers* from causing trouble. Afterall, the NCR could just play it off as if it were just some bad apples.
Tamia still wasn't feeling all that great due to recent events, so when she pulled out her new Ultra Chainsword and threatened to castrate a few NCR soldiers, she meant business.
Regardless, once they reached the New Vegas gates, the rather different-looking Securitrons let them inside without a hassle.
The group ride up on the elevator and Tamia leaves Veronica and Anja in the presidential suite as she speaks to House. Once she arrives at the Penthouse she's greeted and lead by Jane, House's 'sex-bot', if you could call it that...
She steps out before the giant screen with House's face plastered across it and crosses her arms, "I'm here House, so stop giving me the silent treatment." she says, semi-sarcastically after a momentary silence.
"Hmm? Oh? My apologies, I must've blanked out for a moment... You see, I seem to recall asking you to return to me, and yet... I hope you have a proper explanation for your absence, perhaps you were abducted by aliens? Or were you in a coma for some inexplicable reason?" he pointedly asks.
"For your information, I was taking some time off. I'd only recently found out that I had, and lost my family, so I felt I was justified." she states.
"You may very well have been, but that doesn't change the fact that you disobeyed me. You are lucky your absence wasn't too disruptive to my plans, otherwise I'd have actually planned some punishment for you."
Tamia scowls, "You say that like I'm not integral to your plans, House. You can bitch and threaten all you like, but if you try anything, I'm gone. I don't need to put up with your shit." she threatens.
...
"Hmm, it's good that you have a backbone. Too many of my previous associates would bend the knee and licks my boots at any mention of punishment. This isn't to say that I'm happy about your absence, but I suppose a vacation was well in your purview, especially with the rather exemplary work you've done thus far. I admit, I had not expected you to be able to gain access to the bunker and live..."
Tamia shrugs, "I expected as much... That's the main reason why we were so heavy-handed."
House allows himself a light chuckle, "I would not call capturing Caesar, a tyrant ruling a large empire, from within his own base of operations just 'heavy-handed'."
"It wasn't intentional... What's up with your Securitrons, by the way?" she asks, curious.
"I had been meaning to show you to fruits of your labour. The platinum chip is a data storage device, and it contained the upgrades I had intended to be made before the war... That did not happen for obvious reasons. Now is a good time I think, to show you. Jane, please lead our guest to the 'showroom' would you."
"As you wish, dear." the robot says before departing with Tamia in tow.
She's lead to the elevator and taken to some part of the basement. She's walked into a pitch-black room, but once inside the light abruptly turn on and blare from the roof, revealing the area.
She was standing on some kind of observation panel overlooking some kind of shooting range with two Securitrons. A large blue forcefield separates her from them, and she wonders if House had been in contact with the Think Tank before the war...
"Approach the demonstration area for me, if you would." Houses voice asks over the intercom. She does as he asks and he continues, "I expect you're more than familiar with my Securitrons by now, you've seen the factory under the fort, and the limit change to my robots... However, the changes do not simply extend to the picture displayed on their screens." he states.
The two Securitrons begin firing at one another as he speaks, "Titanium alloy housing, 9mm Submachine gun, and Gatling laser are among what you have already likely seen. This makes them useful for small to medium level combat situations, however, this is not all they are capable of... At least, not anymore.
What you have seen are only their secondary weapons, as their software was only the MK1 version. Again, I had intended to get all of this finished before the bombs dropped, but my calculations were slightly off on the time I had... Regardless, now that you've completed your task, all of my Securitrons now have access to their complete capabilities."
The shoulder panels of the Securitrons open up as they begin firing at the wall, but what Tamia didn't expect was for them to be firing missiles...
*BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!!*
A volley of missiles fires from each Securitron far faster than any regular rocket launcher was capable of. Their rate of fire reminded her far more of what she'd heard the NCR's few rocket artillery vehicles could do. Needless to say, she doubted that even someone in full Brotherhood Power armour could handle such an attack.
"The M-235 Missile Launchers gives my Securitrons the ability to effectively fight medium to long-range ground and air targets. That isn't all, however." he says as the Securitrons raise their manipulators and points them at a nearby wall.
*DukDukDukDuk!*
*BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!*
Tamia's eyes almost bulge from their sockets as she watches the utter destruction these robots were now capable of. They didn't JUST have incredibly powerful Missile Launchers, but Grenade Launchers as well!?
"The Rapid-Fire G-28 Grenade Launching System ensures the Securitrons effectiveness at even close ranges. The shrapnel caused would only cause glancing blows on themselves, allowing them to utterly annihilate anyone, or anything stupid enough to approach.
Of course, all potential risks are negated as the software allows my Securitrons to fully utilise their onboard auto-repair systems. All in all, every Securitron had seen a 400% increase in individual combat capabilities... This does not include their onboard tactic, teamwork, and log systems, which I imagine could turn the tide of any war."
Yeah, House's Securitrons are pretty fucking overpowered, like, it's not even funny how strong they now are compared to anything else in the Wasteland... Give a Securitron enough distance, and a single one could take on a Deathclaw or two...
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Tamia nervously swallows and rubs her hands together, "This... Wasn't what I was expecting." she admits.
House's light laughter echoes over the intercom, "You see, that's the best part... No one expects this. Neither the NCR or Legion are aware that I currently have thousands of Securitrons hidden under the Fort, a throwing distance away from the Hoover Dam.
I could probably take it with only the Securitron currently active in New Vegas... But as you know, I am a cautious man. Come, meet me back in the Penthouse so we can properly discuss our future actions." House says as he cuts off the intercom, leaving Tamia sheepishly standing there.
She almost jumps out of her skin when Jane's voice asks behind her, "Are you coming, dear?"
"Y-yes. I am." she stiffly says before following.
Tamia quickly finds herself standing back before the screen depicting House, though, her attitude had had a remarkable change from usual... She'd always assumed that she, with her allies like Afton and Veronica would be able to handle anything House might try to do... But with the man's recent display of sheer power, she wasn't so confident anymore.
The only thing that put her at ease was the fact House still needed her... Though, for what she assumed she was about to find out. "So, what's the plan? I know you want New Vegas to be independent, so are you going to wipe out the other factions or...?"
House scoffs, "Not right now, no. NCR citizens provide almost all of the income New Vegas makes, if I declared war on them, that would stop immediately, afterwards they'd stop us from receiving any power from Hoover Dam, halting everything until I either managed to capture the Dam, or until my Securitrons ran out of charge.
No, this needs to be done smartly, and methodically. I haven't been planning this for centuries just to falter here... The first thing we need to do is to secure allies. You have already done a remarkable job by allying yourself with Afton Parker, though, the fact I am not entirely aware of the extent of his capabilities and influence makes me wary of relying on him."
Tamia shakes her head, "As long as you treat Afton fairly he's a reliable guy, I'm not able to tell you what I know of him as it'd be a breach of trust, but he is definitely someone you want on your side." she states, her confidence more than surprising House.
The fact she was still this confident in his capabilities after he'd displayed his new Securitrons meant that there was more to Parker than met the eye. Add that House couldn't find out how Afton and his group had escaped the Fort with Caesar in hand made him wary of deciding how to deal with him.
"We'll speak on the topic of Afton Parker at a later date, for now we should discuss other potential allies."
Tamia thinks for a moment before pulling up her Pipboy, Afton had helpfully uploaded most known locations in the Mojave to it while giving her a brief overview of the place... Though, the talk had essentially been 'That place is fucked, fucked, that place is full of Deathclaws, Ghouls, fucked, cannibals, radioactive, fucked-' etc.
Despite this, she had still learned a couple interesting facts. She looks to House, "Well, I'm not sure on what your exactly looking for, but I know there are two communities of Supermutants that may jump at the chance of legitimization." she explains.
"I am aware of the mutants atop Black mountain, they are savages that are barely being kept at bay, formerly by the NCR and now the new Brotherhood of Steel outpost. What is this other group you speak of?"
"It's called Jacobtown, I haven't personally visited it but apparently it's a peaceful town made almost entirely of Super mutants."
House goes silent momentarily in contemplation, "That is interesting, I do not hold any prejudicial views against mutants, but I must think of the consequences of bringing them into the fold... What do you think the Brotherhood of Steel's reaction would be when hearing about a 'Nation of Mutants'. I am not sure New Vegas could defend against the entire might of their forces." he explains.
Tamia nods, knowing that even the small Chapter Afton and Veronica had belonged to were incredibly effective combatants. She couldn't imagine what an entire army of them would look like. "If not Jacobstown, who do you have in mind?"
"Currently I have a number of groups listed as potential allies. Isolationist explosive experts, savage yet somewhat civil tribes, independent towns... Let's start at the top of the list first, shall we? There is a group known as the Boomers, a group of former-Vault dwellers who'd left the confines of their home and stumbled upon an airbase.
I have not managed to find a lot of information about them, but they have many powerful weapons, among them are included artillery, missile launchers, grenade launchers, and perhaps more. All the spies I sent weren't even able to get inside, as they bombard any unfortunate travel who wanders into their line of sight."
Tamia raises a brow, "Wait, they shoot at everyone they see? Isn't that a massive waste of ammunition?"
"Indeed, you would think that... But after the first couple groups found themselves decorating the landscape, no one else dared enter into the Boomer's territory. I suspect they have preserved more ammunition this way than if they'd had been forced to protect themselves from attack.
Their isolationist attitude has served them well, but such a group can not exist in the Mojave I wish to create. They will either have to become allies, or enemies."
"Why do they have to choose though? Wouldn't it be best to just leave them alone, rather than making enemies?" Tamia asks.
"Tamia, the Boomers are almost capable of bombarding the New Vegas strip from their territory... All it would take is for them to elect a more combative leader and to upgrade their weapon slightly to put everyone at risk... Even I would not be completely safe, as you well know, the Lucky 38 would make an incredibly easy target."
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