The King waited for the arbitrary mumbling in the room to cease. Just as he was about to speak again, the sparse chatter in the room picked back up. It was no longer fixed on him; the table's eyes shot behind The King, where he spotted a group of newcomers his vision couldn't even begin to make sense of. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Huh. All right. He cleared his throat and continued anyway.
"With formalities out of the way, I would like to open the floor to any urgent discussion our honored guests might have, before I speak on the behalf of Robert House." He arbitrarily gazed at each member currently at the table. "Are there any important matters that anyone wishes to bring to the forefront before we move forward?" The King was desperately looking for some member of the group to help the convention take off, so that he could throw away the damned prepared condescending remarks that House had lined up for him. The King was at his best when he could improvise.
The King knew well why the boss had drilled him on exactly what to say and not to say. The reality of the matter was that House was pinned in the middle of a very uncomfortable situation. The King (and every reasonably-intelligent person who worked for Robert) knew this very well. This entire meeting had been mapped out and carefully calculated by the mysterious president of the FZM, but in reality, even the slightest variation would ruin the script. This was bound to happen. The King wanted it to happen. The summit had thrown arithmetic out the window as soon as several fanatic cults and strange tribesmen had started to enter the room. This was a factor House had not properly analyzed.
Still, there were factors that could easily be deduced. The King could tell already that the Legion held a calmer poise at the table than he had been led to believe they possessed. It didn't take a scientific genius like Robert House to predict that the NCR would make a heap of noise. If these 'big-picture' groups dominated the direction of the meeting, The King would find use in House's cards.
The King had taken a seat at the end of the table, acting as the representative of the meeting's host, Mr. House. He sat up straight, took off his hat, and set it on the table in front of him. The other representatives looked restless, to say the least, having disintegrated their concentration and manners in favor of whispering and occasionally bickering among themselves. He had been eagerly awaiting to see the sort of entrances that the big personalities were going to make, and he had not been disappointed.
After a few moments of staring down each and every representative -- particularly the young woman from The Cult, whose enigmatic features and mannerisms perplexed him from the moment she walked in -- The King cleared his throat and motioned toward one of the guarding securitrons.
"PLEASE BE SILENT." each securitron belted out simultaneously. The room quickly fell silent, and The King cleared his throat a second time.
"Welcome to the 'New Vegas Convention'," said The King as loud as he could without seeming brusque. His deep husky voice distinctly cut through the awkward air in the room and his eyes narrowed in focus. He then adopted a fake, warm smile and clapped his hands together. "Robert House, President and C.E.O of the FZM, is pleased to be hosting you tonight, so that we may discuss the future of our homeland."
The King turned and winked at one of the securitrons. He knew for a fact that House was remote-controlling at least one of them, in order to hear every word uttered at the meeting. "Before we get down to business, let us discuss etiquette, as many of you have traveled a long way from faraway lands that might not have the same sort of gatherings..." He paused. "Firstly, rules -- any act of aggression will be suppressed by one of these fine gentlemen in the room." He pointed at the various securitrons stationed next to the doors. "The Free Economic Zone of the Mojave is a place where any man or woman from any place...any background...can enjoy the sanctuary of Mr. House. In addition, any vulgar or completely unnecessary behavior will be documented and may result in a revoked invitation, in which you will no longer be welcome in this room."
After speaking for what had seemed like years, The King paused. The room stayed silent. "Mr. House sees a future where we can work past our differences and rebuild -- back to the way things were before the bombs. We can only accomplish this if you--our guests--promise to behave and be respectful. I enjoy a good debate, but if you become a nuisance in this hall, I will eagerly rescind your invitation."
The King sat back down in his seat and allowed the room to digest the wall of speech he had given them. He hated to be that guy. He had rehearsed those lines a dozen times before the meeting and they had caused him to cringe on each read-through. Why House couldn't have just addressed the group himself was beyond him. It had to have been ego -- Robert always wanted there to be a haze of mystery around him. It is hard to predict a man if you never have a chance to confront him directly. Either way, The King had been appointed judge, jury, and executioner of the etiquette at the convention. He knew very well in this new age to do exactly as was told.
You know what to do. Robert House’s words reverberated through the corridors of the King’s mind as he straightened his tie and gazed into his own hypnotic blue eyes in the mirror. He looked different. House had torn the ‘greaser’ gene out of him. Donning a sharp grey suit and a fedora, he now looked the part of a gentleman. The image unsettled him and simultaneously filled him with a distinct sort of confidence. The Kings had metamorphized under Robert’s watch, and so had he.
The King took a deep breath and fixed himself a glass of ice before filling it with brandy for the road – the extremely taxing, two-or-so minute walk that it took to get to the Ultra Luxe. Whether he liked it or not, this was his home now. He wasn’t going to bring an entourage. Just himself. He took the elevator down to the Lucky 38 lobby.
“I know it’ll be a good’n!” hollered a familiar robotic voice, bellowing from the dark expanse of the Lucky 38’s lounge. The King turned around and locked eyes with the always-unsettling digital image of ‘Victor’, a jolly cowboy personality that Mr. House had crafted.
“I…I hope so,” muttered the King under his breath. He couldn’t continue to look at the screen. The concept of Robert’s creepy array of handcrafted robotic personalities made him shiver. He had learned early on that ‘Jane’, House’s personal ‘assistant’, was fashioned after a woman whom had enthralled his affections before the war. He wondered who Victor was based off…A long-dead movie star, perhaps, who now lived on through Robert’s unsettling perpetuation of his image. The King wondered, when the right day came and he took his leave from the world, if House would fashion one for him too – an exaggerated, embellished image of his face. A lost ghost for House to add to his collection. Enough. He had a meeting to attend.
“I’m sure it will. Nothin’ beats the charm of good ol’ Mr. House, eh?!” Victor clapped his steel claws against his own hull and chuckled.
“Uh huh…” hollered the King unconvincingly as he swung open the massive door to the Lucky 38 and became one with the splendor-ridden street of the Strip.
Ultra-Luxe Resort & Casino
Upon arriving at the Ultra Luxe, the King was nodded at by the various white glove employees. He was calm. Even in this creepy-ass casino he was dwelling in his own stomping grounds. He made a beeline for the Gourmand and calmly walked inside. He reached into his pocket and retrieved his pocket-watch. He was early – very early. In addition, the table had already been colonized by a few early-birds. The Legion, NCR, and Brotherhood of Steel had all already shown up. Typical.
As The King made his way to his assigned seat at the table, a securitron began to bellow. “Please welcome…the representative of the F.Z.M…The…King!” The King covered his face with his palm and deeply sighed as he sat down at the table. Back at the Elvis School of Impersonation, he lived for this sort of shit. But now he had become a different animal, one that dressed, talked, and perceived a lot more like Robert House.
That was a scary thought – The King himself becoming the physical manifestation of Mr. House. He wouldn’t let it happen. Never. His mind raced and attempted to distract itself from the sheer amount of power that already rested at this table. He straightened his hat, took off his coat, set it on the chair, and slowly slipped onto its cushion. He was as ready as he could be.
History: After the Second Battle for Hoover Dam, Robert House wasted no time in cementing his empire and his legacy. He knew that he would have to prepare for the NCR and Legion (and perhaps others) to return, stronger than before. House was forced to do this alone – The Courier disappeared suddenly, and has not been seen for almost a decade. He has been assumed dead, and has been largely forgotten by the province which he helped save. As a first act of his rule, House dispatched securitrons to virtually every sector of the Mojave to keep surveillance and protection circulating through the region. With the NCR and Legion gone, and raider activity being pummeled by the sheer killing power of the securitrons, the settlements of the Mojave enjoyed their new era, despite the mysterious mastermind behind the sudden change.
Once the security of the Mojave had been achieved, House extended his borders. He unified the settlements of the Mojave as a new nation – the “Free Economic Zone of the Mojave”, an economic empire which is completed by its crown jewel, New Vegas. House then turned to relations with his populace. While he dreaded having to work with the lowly locals, he had to garner support if he was going to survive another Legion invasion. He offered The King a deal he couldn’t refuse – The King would become House’s protégé and instrument in carrying out his future endeavors, and in exchange, The Kings would become a well-equipped police force that would enjoy the benefits that come with having House as a patron. They accepted, and the region started to slowly piece together.
North and South Vegas were rebuilt. As Freeside and Westside offer virtually no residential space and are strictly businesses, the outer reaches of Vegas became needed slices of residence. The farmland north of New Vegas has been restored to provide crops and livestock to the FZM. In addition, Sloan was put back to use by paid laborers to work in the quarry, which was instrumental to the rebuilding of New Vegas. Eventually, the entire city became a bright, shining light—not just the strip—and its residents began to enjoy pre-war living conditions. Those who wanted to escape the shadow of Robert House lived out in the countryside, where many settlements such as Nelson, Goodsprings, Novac, and Nipton enjoy their independence.
Some locations, such as Searchlight and the REPCONN test site, were specifically occupied by Mr. House with purpose of discovery. House has created hundreds of jobs in both facilities, as he hopes to see Searchlight’s mining efforts and REPCONN’s space-travel research find footing under his regime. The development of the high technology sectors comes with establishing testing sites, and these facilities are among House’s first steps in that direction. In addition, a clause in the FZM’s agreement with the Van Graffs involves being given any robotic research found in Big MT, a formality that has greatly assisted Mr. House in bettering his securitrons.
Jacobstown’s mutants relocated to Black Mountain, where they still reside quietly and independently without Tabitha. Dismantling dozens of super mutants from a high-ground base proved to be too tall of a task, so Mr. House simply begrudgingly allowed them to be independent, so long as they did not meddle with House’s affairs. It has now become a known space for unethical dealings (much to the dismay of Marcus, who wants only for it to be a safe haven), as it is the one spot in the Mojave that is completely independent of House’s rule. Mt. Charleston has since been put back to its old use as a high-end ski resort, a favorite of upper-class NCR tourists.
Now, in 2290, the Mojave Desert has been unified (with the town of Caliente marking the top-most point of its territory) with a formidable military and cunning economy. Due to House’s major groundwork, the FZM has become a major contender in the days to come, but sits in an awkward position – the Legion waits anxiously on one side of the Colorado and the NCR’s leadership has been painfully quiet. The Mojave Outpost—now used as a border station—has documented NCR tourist flow, yet Robert House is well aware that the status quo is just the calm before the storm…Alongside this paranoia, the FZM still chugs along, constantly working to improve itself from the inside.
150,000
Robert Edwin House is the president, C.E.O, and sole proprietor of the Free Economic Zone of the Mojave. He physically owns all lands under his banner and if he were invasive enough to police the private lives of his denizens, he would. He is advised by the leaders of each of the three families as well as his personal protégé, The King.
Individual settlements are run by their own respective independent governments, but are kept safe and monitored by the securitrons to ensure lawful rule. Facility-based settlements such as Searchlight, REPCONN, and the New Vegas Farmland are directly overseen by Mr. House.
Black-and-white matters are generally dispatched by the securitrons, but House’s personal police force—The Kings—have been instrumental in the dealings of more complicated conflicts.
Robert Edwin House: Sole leader and visionary of the Free Economic Zone. His unparalleled vision for the future is what has created this economic empire, and he has no intention of resting on his laurels until he has reached the mountaintop. He resides atop the Lucky 38 and only the faithful chosen have had the opportunity to meet him face-to-face.
The King: Now at 45 years of age, The King feels as if he is at risk of failing to leave a true legacy. After Mr. House annexed the Mojave, there was no longer a need for the Kings’ scrappy militia presence. They became irrelevant and confined to their school of impersonation. However, the youthful glow of the ‘greaser culture’ the Kings coveted attracted House’s attention, who armed them, gave them immense amounts of cash, and repurposed to be his personal police force. The King now enjoys his own section of the Lucky 38, where he faithfully (albeit begrudgingly) plans a future with Mr. House.
General Ivor Owen: The General of the FZM; an NCR deserter who became seduced by the old world nostalgia put forth by Robert House. He is determined, experienced, but a skeptic on what really occurs above him in the ivory tower of the Lucky 38. He spends his days in the Divide, tirelessly working to assemble House's human military.
Dean Domino: A notorious, sleazy pre-war celebrity. After hearing of The Courier's disappearance, he emerged, fresh off of staging the heist of the century, and ventured to New Vegas, a shining jewel -- ripe for the taking. He staged a coup of the Tops using only a pistol and a gallon of oil, and now runs the Chairmen. Dean and House co-exist remarkably well; despite being inherently difficult to deal with, he embodies the resourcefulness and pre-war charm that House has coveted in his new world.
Kate Rowsell: She has become known as New Vegas' first true starlet -- a gorgeous, glamorous, and resourceful woman from California with an intoxicating set of lungs and a private life that is often the interest of public scrutiny.
The bulk of the FEZM’s military comes from its secutitron forces. House can keep close surveillance on the entire wasteland due to his wandering patrols, and each securitron is so formidable that it would take a distinct cunning to be able to decisively best a squadron of House’s creations. In addition, the FEZM’s military forces are supplemented by the Boomers, who provide artillery fire and occasional air support. The former NCR ranger stations have been repurposed as securitron repair stations, each outfitted with a mechanic and a few soldiers.
Inside of the FZM’s infrastructure there are small militia forces, namely the armed men and women of the settlements and The Kings, but House has attempted in the recent past to create a formal military, without much success. Save for a support-damaging draft, there has not yet been a clear way to get men and women to enlist.
The FZM’s life cycle is fueled by tourism. While it has an internal, self-sustaining structure, it has become rich and bloated off the money that the NCR’s citizens have poured into it. The population thus fluctuates depending on NCR-recognized holidays. New Vegas is the heart and soul of the province’s economy; a majority of the wealth is flowing in and out of it and to the different settlements of the province.
The FZM would survive if an embargo were to occur. Goodsprings, the Sharecropper Farms, and the New Vegas Farmland all provide a great deal of crops and livestock. Sloan’s efforts provide building materials. New Vegas itself now has a great deal of housing, and House has created enough jobs to give a steady lifestyle to most of the FZM’s population. In addition, Mr. House has the ability to raise a sleeping beast should he call upon the neighboring Van Graffs for aid.
The FZM, like pre-war America, is very diverse in lifestyle. Those who gravitate toward the pull of New Vegas’ sprawling urban landscape enjoy a high quality of life, filled with consumerism and leisure. Those who were unable to drastically change lifestyles stick to what they know, and live out in the countryside in the FZM’s various settlements.
House is in the process of creating his own equivalent to the OSI. The Followers of the Apocalypse who did not flee the territory following Hoover Dam II were recruited by Robert House to begin various types of biological research, including medicinal advances and discovery of various nuances to radiation. Technological research is specifically conducted by Robert House, who has put forth an everlasting effort to perfecting his securitrons (a.k.a. turning them into deadlier, more indestructible killing machines than they already are).
The FZM abhors slavery and does not condone its use under any circumstances, but surprisingly has not declared open war on the Legion in an attempt to remain strictly neutral in the coming conflicts. Ghouls are openly allowed to live and participate in the FZM’s dealings and enjoy the same quality of life as any other human. Mutants, on the other hand, have to run through a great many tests to be considered a safe resident of the city of New Vegas. They may freely live throughout the settlements of the wasteland.
Robert House has no intention of policing the private lives of his subjects. The citizens of the FZM are allowed to practice whatever they please in private, so long as their dealings are law-abiding. Christianity has resurfaced in various parts of the province, and is practiced by occasional families, but church gatherings remain a thing of the old world.
Name: The Free Economic Zone of the Mojave (F.Z.M)
Flag: The red-white-and-blue.
Territory and Geography: Southern Nevada
History: After the Second Battle for Hoover Dam, Robert House wasted no time in cementing his empire and his legacy. He knew that he would have to prepare for the NCR and Legion (and perhaps others) to return, stronger than before. House was forced to do this alone – The Courier disappeared suddenly, and has not been seen for almost a decade. He has been assumed dead, and has been largely forgotten by the province which he helped save. As a first act of his rule, House dispatched securitrons to virtually every sector of the Mojave to keep surveillance and protection circulating through the region. With the NCR and Legion gone, and raider activity being pummeled by the sheer killing power of the securitrons, the settlements of the Mojave enjoyed their new era, despite the mysterious mastermind behind the sudden change.
Once the security of the Mojave had been achieved, House extended his borders. He unified the settlements of the Mojave as a new nation – the “Free Economic Zone of the Mojave”, an economic empire which is completed by its crown jewel, New Vegas. House then turned to relations with his populace. While he dreaded having to work with the lowly locals, he had to garner support if he was going to survive another Legion invasion. He offered The King a deal he couldn’t refuse – The King would become House’s protégé and instrument in carrying out his future endeavors, and in exchange, The Kings would become a well-equipped police force that would enjoy the benefits that come with having House as a patron. They accepted, and the region started to slowly piece together.
North and South Vegas were rebuilt. As Freeside and Westside offer virtually no residential space and are strictly businesses, the outer reaches of Vegas became needed slices of residence. The farmland north of New Vegas has been restored to provide crops and livestock to the FZM. In addition, Sloan was put back to use by paid laborers to work in the quarry, which was instrumental to the rebuilding of New Vegas. Eventually, the entire city became a bright, shining light—not just the strip—and its residents began to enjoy pre-war living conditions. Those who wanted to escape the shadow of Robert House lived out in the countryside, where many settlements such as Nelson, Goodsprings, Novac, and Nipton enjoy their independence.
Some locations, such as Searchlight and the REPCONN test site, were specifically occupied by Mr. House with purpose of discovery. House has created hundreds of jobs in both facilities, as he hopes to see Searchlight’s mining efforts and REPCONN’s space-travel research find footing under his regime. The development of the high technology sectors comes with establishing testing sites, and these facilities are among House’s first steps in that direction. In addition, a clause in the FZM’s agreement with the Van Graffs involves being given any robotic research found in Big MT, a formality that has greatly assisted Mr. House in bettering his securitrons.
Jacobstown’s mutants relocated to Black Mountain, where they still reside quietly and independently without Tabitha. Dismantling dozens of super mutants from a high-ground base proved to be too tall of a task, so Mr. House simply begrudgingly allowed them to be independent, so long as they did not meddle with House’s affairs. It has now become a known space for unethical dealings (much to the dismay of Marcus, who wants only for it to be a safe haven), as it is the one spot in the Mojave that is completely independent of House’s rule. Mt. Charleston has since been put back to its old use as a high-end ski resort, a favorite of upper-class NCR tourists.
Now, in 2290, the Mojave Desert has been unified (with the town of Caliente marking the top-most point of its territory) with a formidable military and cunning economy. Due to House’s major groundwork, the FZM has become a major contender in the days to come, but sits in an awkward position – the Legion waits anxiously on one side of the Colorado and the NCR’s leadership has been painfully quiet. The Mojave Outpost—now used as a border station—has documented NCR tourist flow, yet Robert House is well aware that the status quo is just the calm before the storm…Alongside this paranoia, the FZM still chugs along, constantly working to improve itself from the inside.
Population: 150,000
Government/Domestic Politics: Robert Edwin House is the president, C.E.O, and sole proprietor of the Free Economic Zone of the Mojave. He physically owns all lands under his banner and if he were invasive enough to police the private lives of his denizens, he would. He is advised by the leaders of each of the three families as well as his personal protégé, The King.
Individual settlements are run by their own respective independent governments, but are kept safe and monitored by the securitrons to ensure lawful rule. Facility-based settlements such as Searchlight, REPCONN, and the New Vegas Farmland are directly overseen by Mr. House.
Black-and-white matters are generally dispatched by the securitrons, but House’s personal police force—The Kings—have been instrumental in the dealings of more complicated conflicts.
Notable People:
Robert Edwin House: Sole leader and visionary of the Free Economic Zone. His unparalleled vision for the future is what has created this economic empire, and he has no intention of resting on his laurels until he has reached the mountaintop. He resides atop the Lucky 38 and only the faithful chosen have had the opportunity to meet him face-to-face.
The King: Now at 45 years of age, The King feels as if he is at risk of failing to leave a true legacy. After Mr. House annexed the Mojave, there was no longer a need for the Kings’ scrappy militia presence. They became irrelevant and confined to their school of impersonation. However, the youthful glow of the ‘greaser culture’ the Kings coveted attracted House’s attention, who armed them, gave them immense amounts of cash, and repurposed to be his personal police force. The King now enjoys his own section of the Lucky 38, where he faithfully (albeit begrudgingly) plans a future with Mr. House.
Cachino/Swank/Marjorie: The leaders of the three families. They have become rich and powerful as New Vegas’ influence spreads and its attractions become larger. The trio have heavy dislike for one another, but all worship the ground Robert House walks on, as doing so showers them in wealth and safety.
Loyal: The current leader of the Boomers, as of Mother Pearl’s death in 2283. The Boomers no longer retain their independent identity, as they have been absorbed by Robert House, but like any human, Loyal is not immune to greed—despite his immensely old age—and enjoys the flow of wealth and quality of life that has sprung from New Vegas and thus abides by House’s orders.
Marcus: The leader of Black Mountain. He has tried desperately to confine his brethren to a small, independent space, but the mutants and nightkin grow restless and Calamity’s attempt to finish her teacher’s work has failed. Marcus can only watch as his men prepare to venture out, which will only end in their people being wiped off the face of the earth by House’s destructive machinations.
Military: The bulk of the FEZM’s military comes from its secutitron forces. House can keep close surveillance on the entire wasteland due to his wandering patrols, and each securitron is so formidable that it would take a distinct cunning to be able to decisively best a squadron of House’s creations. In addition, the FEZM’s military forces are supplemented by the Boomers, who provide artillery fire and occasional air support. The former NCR ranger stations have been repurposed as securitron repair stations, each outfitted with a mechanic and a few soldiers.
Inside of the FZM’s infrastructure there are small militia forces, namely the armed men and women of the settlements and The Kings, but House has attempted in the recent past to create a formal military, without much success. Save for a support-damaging draft, there has not yet been a clear way to get men and women to enlist.
Economy: The FZM’s life cycle is fueled by tourism. While it has an internal, self-sustaining structure, it has become rich and bloated off the money that the NCR’s citizens have poured into it. The population thus fluctuates depending on NCR-recognized holidays. New Vegas is the heart and soul of the province’s economy; a majority of the wealth is flowing in and out of it and to the different settlements of the province.
The FZM would survive if an embargo were to occur. Goodsprings, the Sharecropper Farms, and the New Vegas Farmland all provide a great deal of crops and livestock. Sloan’s efforts provide building materials. New Vegas itself now has a great deal of housing, and House has created enough jobs to give a steady lifestyle to most of the FZM’s population. In addition, Mr. House has the ability to raise a sleeping beast should he call upon the neighboring Van Graffs for aid.
Culture and Technology: The FZM, like pre-war America, is very diverse in lifestyle. Those who gravitate toward the pull of New Vegas’ sprawling urban landscape enjoy a high quality of life, filled with consumerism and leisure. Those who were unable to drastically change lifestyles stick to what they know, and live out in the countryside in the FZM’s various settlements.
House is in the process of creating his own equivalent to the OSI. The Followers of the Apocalypse who did not flee the territory following Hoover Dam II were recruited by Robert House to begin various types of biological research, including medicinal advances and discovery of various nuances to radiation. Technological research is specifically conducted by Robert House, who has put forth an everlasting effort to perfecting his securitrons (a.k.a. turning them into deadlier, more indestructible killing machines than they already are).
The FZM abhors slavery and does not condone its use under any circumstances, but surprisingly has not declared open war on the Legion in an attempt to remain strictly neutral in the coming conflicts. Ghouls are openly allowed to live and participate in the FZM’s dealings and enjoy the same quality of life as any other human. Mutants, on the other hand, have to run through a great many tests to be considered a safe resident of the city of New Vegas. They may freely live throughout the settlements of the wasteland.
Religion: Robert House has no intention of policing the private lives of his subjects. The citizens of the FZM are allowed to practice whatever they please in private, so long as their dealings are law-abiding. Christianity has resurfaced in various parts of the province, and is practiced by occasional families, but church gatherings remain a thing of the old world.
War Never Changes… If it was truly unable to change, then the world it lived in would simply have to adapt. The King took a deep breath before shakily reaching for his martini and smothering his cigarette on an ashtray. From his balcony, mid-way up the impossibly lush architecture of the Lucky 38, he could see all of it – the entire sprawling landscape of New Vegas. Years removed from the Treaty of Goodsprings, the splendor of Robert House’s fingerprint was no longer confined within the Strip. The blinding illuminations had spread throughout New Vegas like an airborne parasite. The entire city had become an amalgamation of powerful neon lights, and The King could never quite get adjusted to seeing it this way.
He could somewhat discern Freeside from this spot, too; almost every time The King took the time to gaze upon his old home, he failed to recognize it. In the years following Mr. House’s brilliant-yet-highly-suspect powerplay, the Mojave unified under a collective lust for a carefree, consumerist existence. With that came House’s stake and signature; everywhere he touched became filled to the brim with power and wealth, Freeside especially. The buildings had been restored, the vagrants had been given dangerous jobs in Quarry Junction or forced out, roads had been re-paved, and above all else, The Kings were drowned in House’s wealth. Everything that had given New Vegas its identity had been lost – everything about the shining jewel of the Mojave was now coated with a meticulous and ornate finish. The King had not yet been able to decide whether this was a welcome or regretful change.
However, despite his newfound power, The King was powerless against the tidal wave of the old world. This was all there was; he could choose to become part of it or be thrown into irrelevance. It was an easy choice to make. Now, nine years removed from the simultaneous defeat of the Legion and NCR, he had become Robert House's right-hand-man. He didn't much care for the digs, but it was, above all things, his vehicle to leave a legacy.
The King watched as the delegates finally started to sift in. They weren’t difficult to spot; a great many of them arrived with gigantic traveling parties. A few had flown the whole way there, landed in McCarran Airfield—restored to its former use—and arrived via monorail. Mr. House had arranged for many securitrons to standby inside the gate and next to McCarran station, each outfitted with a different hand-crafted personality to suit the timbre of each faction.
Finally, The King let his martini breach his lips and cleared his throat. It was time. The delegates would be led by their respective secuitrons to The Gourmand inside the Ultra-Luxe, where a massive table had been set up in the middle, and a dozen masked waiters stood at the ready. Each faction would be granted an exquisite penthouse suite on the top two floors on the hotel and issued a welcome-bag from the front desk, each equipped with a time-schedule, a bottle of scotch, a hundred universal casino chips, and a holotape labeled “The Future”.
The King finished his martini, stood from his plush armchair, and ignited another cigarette. This was it. Mr. House would be watching. It was time to change the world.
Name: The Free Economic Zone of the Mojave (F.Z.M)
Flag: The red-white-and-blue.
Territory and Geography: Southern Nevada
History: After the Second Battle for Hoover Dam, Robert House wasted no time in cementing his empire and his legacy. He knew that he would have to prepare for the NCR and Legion (and perhaps others) to return, stronger than before. House was forced to do this alone – The Courier disappeared suddenly, and has not been seen for almost a decade. He has been assumed dead, and has been largely forgotten by the province which he helped save. As a first act of his rule, House dispatched securitrons to virtually every sector of the Mojave to keep surveillance and protection circulating through the region. With the NCR and Legion gone, and raider activity being pummeled by the sheer killing power of the securitrons, the settlements of the Mojave enjoyed their new era, despite the mysterious mastermind behind the sudden change.
Once the security of the Mojave had been achieved, House extended his borders. He unified the settlements of the Mojave as a new nation – the “Free Economic Zone of the Mojave”, an economic empire which is completed by its crown jewel, New Vegas. House then turned to relations with his populace. While he dreaded having to work with the lowly locals, he had to garner support if he was going to survive another Legion invasion. He offered The King a deal he couldn’t refuse – The King would become House’s protégé and instrument in carrying out his future endeavors, and in exchange, The Kings would become a well-equipped police force that would enjoy the benefits that come with having House as a patron. They accepted, and the region started to slowly piece together.
North and South Vegas were rebuilt. As Freeside and Westside offer virtually no residential space and are strictly businesses, the outer reaches of Vegas became needed slices of residence. The farmland north of New Vegas has been restored to provide crops and livestock to the FZM. In addition, Sloan was put back to use by paid laborers to work in the quarry, which was instrumental to the rebuilding of New Vegas. Eventually, the entire city became a bright, shining light—not just the strip—and its residents began to enjoy pre-war living conditions. Those who wanted to escape the shadow of Robert House lived out in the countryside, where many settlements such as Nelson, Goodsprings, Novac, and Nipton enjoy their independence.
Some locations, such as Searchlight and the REPCONN test site, were specifically occupied by Mr. House with purpose of discovery. House has created hundreds of jobs in both facilities, as he hopes to see Searchlight’s mining efforts and REPCONN’s space-travel research find footing under his regime. The development of the high technology sectors comes with establishing testing sites, and these facilities are among House’s first steps in that direction. In addition, a clause in the FZM’s agreement with the Van Graffs involves being given any robotic research found in Big MT, a formality that has greatly assisted Mr. House in bettering his securitrons.
Jacobstown’s mutants relocated to Black Mountain, where they still reside quietly and independently without Tabitha. Dismantling dozens of super mutants from a high-ground base proved to be too tall of a task, so Mr. House simply begrudgingly allowed them to be independent, so long as they did not meddle with House’s affairs. It has now become a known space for unethical dealings (much to the dismay of Marcus, who wants only for it to be a safe haven), as it is the one spot in the Mojave that is completely independent of House’s rule. Mt. Charleston has since been put back to its old use as a high-end ski resort, a favorite of upper-class NCR tourists.
Now, in 2290, the Mojave Desert has been unified (with the town of Caliente marking the top-most point of its territory) with a formidable military and cunning economy. Due to House’s major groundwork, the FZM has become a major contender in the days to come, but sits in an awkward position – the Legion waits anxiously on one side of the Colorado and the NCR’s leadership has been painfully quiet. The Mojave Outpost—now used as a border station—has documented NCR tourist flow, yet Robert House is well aware that the status quo is just the calm before the storm…Alongside this paranoia, the FZM still chugs along, constantly working to improve itself from the inside.
Population: 150,000
Government/Domestic Politics: Robert Edwin House is the president, C.E.O, and sole proprietor of the Free Economic Zone of the Mojave. He physically owns all lands under his banner and if he were invasive enough to police the private lives of his denizens, he would. He is advised by the leaders of each of the three families as well as his personal protégé, The King.
Individual settlements are run by their own respective independent governments, but are kept safe and monitored by the securitrons to ensure lawful rule. Facility-based settlements such as Searchlight, REPCONN, and the New Vegas Farmland are directly overseen by Mr. House.
Black-and-white matters are generally dispatched by the securitrons, but House’s personal police force—The Kings—have been instrumental in the dealings of more complicated conflicts.
Notable People:
Robert Edwin House: Sole leader and visionary of the Free Economic Zone. His unparalleled vision for the future is what has created this economic empire, and he has no intention of resting on his laurels until he has reached the mountaintop. He resides atop the Lucky 38 and only the faithful chosen have had the opportunity to meet him face-to-face.
The King: Now at 45 years of age, The King feels as if he is at risk of failing to leave a true legacy. After Mr. House annexed the Mojave, there was no longer a need for the Kings’ scrappy militia presence. They became irrelevant and confined to their school of impersonation. However, the youthful glow of the ‘greaser culture’ the Kings coveted attracted House’s attention, who armed them, gave them immense amounts of cash, and repurposed to be his personal police force. The King now enjoys his own section of the Lucky 38, where he faithfully (albeit begrudgingly) plans a future with Mr. House.
Cachino/Swank/Marjorie: The leaders of the three families. They have become rich and powerful as New Vegas’ influence spreads and its attractions become larger. The trio have heavy dislike for one another, but all worship the ground Robert House walks on, as doing so showers them in wealth and safety.
Loyal: The current leader of the Boomers, as of Mother Pearl’s death in 2283. The Boomers no longer retain their independent identity, as they have been absorbed by Robert House, but like any human, Loyal is not immune to greed—despite his immensely old age—and enjoys the flow of wealth and quality of life that has sprung from New Vegas and thus abides by House’s orders.
Marcus: The leader of Black Mountain. He has tried desperately to confine his brethren to a small, independent space, but the mutants and nightkin grow restless and Calamity’s attempt to finish her teacher’s work has failed. Marcus can only watch as his men prepare to venture out, which will only end in their people being wiped off the face of the earth by House’s destructive machinations.
Military: The bulk of the FEZM’s military comes from its secutitron forces. House can keep close surveillance on the entire wasteland due to his wandering patrols, and each securitron is so formidable that it would take a distinct cunning to be able to decisively best a squadron of House’s creations. In addition, the FEZM’s military forces are supplemented by the Boomers, who provide artillery fire and occasional air support. The former NCR ranger stations have been repurposed as securitron repair stations, each outfitted with a mechanic and a few soldiers.
Inside of the FZM’s infrastructure there are small militia forces, namely the armed men and women of the settlements and The Kings, but House has attempted in the recent past to create a formal military, without much success. Save for a support-damaging draft, there has not yet been a clear way to get men and women to enlist.
Economy: The FZM’s life cycle is fueled by tourism. While it has an internal, self-sustaining structure, it has become rich and bloated off the money that the NCR’s citizens have poured into it. The population thus fluctuates depending on NCR-recognized holidays. New Vegas is the heart and soul of the province’s economy; a majority of the wealth is flowing in and out of it and to the different settlements of the province.
The FZM would survive if an embargo were to occur. Goodsprings, the Sharecropper Farms, and the New Vegas Farmland all provide a great deal of crops and livestock. Sloan’s efforts provide building materials. New Vegas itself now has a great deal of housing, and House has created enough jobs to give a steady lifestyle to most of the FZM’s population. In addition, Mr. House has the ability to raise a sleeping beast should he call upon the neighboring Van Graffs for aid.
Culture and Technology: The FZM, like pre-war America, is very diverse in lifestyle. Those who gravitate toward the pull of New Vegas’ sprawling urban landscape enjoy a high quality of life, filled with consumerism and leisure. Those who were unable to drastically change lifestyles stick to what they know, and live out in the countryside in the FZM’s various settlements.
House is in the process of creating his own equivalent to the OSI. The Followers of the Apocalypse who did not flee the territory following Hoover Dam II were recruited by Robert House to begin various types of biological research, including medicinal advances and discovery of various nuances to radiation. Technological research is specifically conducted by Robert House, who has put forth an everlasting effort to perfecting his securitrons (a.k.a. turning them into deadlier, more indestructible killing machines than they already are).
The FZM abhors slavery and does not condone its use under any circumstances, but surprisingly has not declared open war on the Legion in an attempt to remain strictly neutral in the coming conflicts. Ghouls are openly allowed to live and participate in the FZM’s dealings and enjoy the same quality of life as any other human. Mutants, on the other hand, have to run through a great many tests to be considered a safe resident of the city of New Vegas. They may freely live throughout the settlements of the wasteland.
Religion: Robert House has no intention of policing the private lives of his subjects. The citizens of the FZM are allowed to practice whatever they please in private, so long as their dealings are law-abiding. Christianity has resurfaced in various parts of the province, and is practiced by occasional families, but church gatherings remain a thing of the old world.
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