Chapter 620 - Ticking Time Bomb

"Hmm? So you wouldn't be willing to destroy a fledgling nation for say, the lives of your tribesman?" he asks, as if she were blatantly lying to him.

"I..." she starts, to try and deny the accusation... But when she thinks about it further, she couldn't say that she wouldn't be willing to do so... The fact that she was questioning herself when she barely even remembered her family and tribe said a lot... How must it have been when they were enslaved?

"I already know your answer, even if you don't state it... We are more alike than you think. I did not join the Legion willingly. They enslaved my tribe, the Twisted Hairs, so I fought for leniency on their behalf. Was the best scout and soldier the Legion had in the region... Yet, Caesar had them enslaved." Ulysses says while looking down solemnly at the ground.

Tamia frowns, feeling an ache in her chest for the loss they'd both suffered at the Legion's hands, "Why are you telling me this? And what are you planning to do here?"

"I am telling you this, so you can understand what you took from me. With my tribe enslaved and scattered, I ventured into the wastes... For years I struggled to find my place, my home. And finally. I found it... In the Divide." he growls, seeming on the urge of rage, but quickly calms himself.

"As I said before, I never intended to destroy it. From what you say, it seems like I loved this place as much as you did. Whatever happened was an accident, would you still blame me if a meteor fell from the sky and accidentally activated the nukes as well?"

Ulysses just shakes his head, "Quoting hypotheticals may make you feel better, but it does not change what happened. Who, happened. As for what I am planning?... The Divide giants have been awakened, and they will rain down, dealing death to your new home, as they had mine."

"You are going to nuke New Vegas!?" she exclaims in shock.

The man shakes his head again, "No. Launching missiles at Vegas would be like throwing pebbles. I have learned why the old Vegas survived, and a direct attack would do nothing... No. I intend to destroy the West. the Bear... Without supplies lines and those hapless citizens paying those families to ruin their lives, Vegas will wither and wilt, turning to sand and joining the rest of the desert."

"Weren't you just talking about how the Legion ruined your life!? Why wouldn't you attack them instead? If anyone is deserving of it then it'd be them!" she shouts, not understanding why he'd do this if revenge was what he sought.

Ulysses nods, "I wish destruction on them both, but I do not have enough armaments to secure both their ends... The destruction of the West, will lead to the death of Vegas, which, without its jewel, will become just another barren desert." the man states.

Tamia shakes her head and looks closer at the nukes, "Even with all these weapons, they won't be enough to destroy the West! Your plan is doomed to fail."

Ulysses chuckles, "No need to kill the Bear, just cut its throat. You taught me that at the Divide. Only need to cut off the supply line, the road, to watch something greater die. I'll turn the long 15 into miles of fire, cut off the Mojave. NCR will fall back, lose Hoover Dam... And leave their throats exposed to the Legion."

Tamia shakes her head, "Even if you did that, the Legion still wouldn't claim the Mojave! Actually! Even if you destroyed the supply lines, New Vegas would live. Bulwark would ensure it!" she states with conviction, knowing that supply lines would be things of the past as soon as Afton decides to integrate teleportation technology... She knew it would happen eventually, it wasn't like anyone else could use them either, due to the fact that satellites were required for their use, as well as Afton's permission to use them.

"I admit, I do not know much of this new player. But even if you manage to change my mind, the missile's targets have already been set." Ulysses explains.

She shakes her head, wondering if she could contact Afton or Glados somehow... The sandstorm was still blowing overhead, so even the large open missile door above her wouldn't allow any communication. There didn't seem to be anything she could do! She wasn't well versed with technology, engineering, or anything like that... All she was good for was surviving the waste and fighting... But... Maybe the key would be convincing Ulysses to help her somehow, while she didn't care about the NCR, innocent civilians didn't deserve to die like that... If he knew how to activate them, then he might know how to change their target?

"I understand you want revenge for what happened, but I wouldn't be able to set it right even if I killed myself here and now. I know you aren't evil, so you know that sacrificing thousands of innocent people just in an attempt to harm me is wrong... But there might be another way to end this! We don't have to destroy each other!"

Ulysses clenches his hands, but they quickly lose strength and go limp. "Death. Is not something I'm fond of. And you are right, I know there is folly in my plans... But, I do not see another way, this would be a symbol, that those gluttonous children, strong they may be, could still fall...

You were someone who believed in nothing, served nothing. For someone like you to stumble into conviction, perhaps you have the answer... Tell me. Tell me why New Vegas, the Mojave. Bulwark... Deserves the chance that the Divide didn't."