NCR-Legion War

The NCR-Legion War is an ongoing military conflict in 2281 between the New California Republic and Caesar's Legion.

Background
In 2274, President Aaron Kimball rose to prominence as the "Hero of the Mojave" by mitigating tribal threats to NCR citizens in the region. The president sent the NCR army into the Mojave with the objective of occupying and repairing Hoover Dam. Meanwhile, an army of conquered slaves, Caesar's Legion, established a presence on Fortification Hill in 2277, overlooking the Hoover Dam from the east.

The war, described as belonging to Kimball, and the NCR's occupation of the Mojave is inextricably bound to his political career. With the conflict between the Legion and NCR looming, during a time of political unrest, Kimball serves more so than ever as a symbol of the NCR occupation of the Mojave. Caesar himself notes that his troops will capitalize on the moment of Kimball's death, watching the NCR subsequently recoil from the Mojave, providing the opportunity for the Legion to strike.

First Battle of Hoover Dam
Shortly after arriving in the Mojave, Caesar ordered the Malpais Legate to attack NCR forces at Hoover Dam, known as the First Battle of Hoover Dam. The NCR fended off the attack, managing to both successfully prevent Hoover Dam from getting overrun by Legion troops and trap the Legion in the middle of the dam, at the same time. Taking advantage of the situation, NCR sharpshooters targeted the officers and battle-hardened veterans from afar. In an attempt to salvage the deteriorating situation, the Legion's elite forces were ordered to pursue the sharpshooters. Assuming it was a retreat, the Malpais Legate ordered Legion forces to follow into Boulder City.

When the Legion's elite forces stormed the city, they were unaware that the NCR had rigged explosives and C4 across the entire town, the detonation of which eliminated what remained of the attacking forces, resulting in 107 NCR casualties. Furious at the Malpais Legate's humiliating defeat at the dam, Caesar ordered his men to cover the legate with pitch, set him on fire, and throw him into the Grand Canyon. He then bestowed the rank on Lanius.

Destruction of Hopeville and Ashton
In 2277, Caesar's Legion committed a significant force to capture the independent towns of Ashton and Hopeville near the state line of California and Nevada, recognizing that the area was a major supply line for the NCR's efforts. The NCR contested the Legion's control, in the process of annexing the area and solidifying its position by way of special forces. The result was the Siege of Hopeville and Ashton.

Meanwhile, a courier arrived from Navarro with a package, the contents of which were unknown to both the courier and recipient. This shipment contained a detonator that when in range, remotely linked with the ICBM computers, sending a signal to the dormant nuclear missiles lying in the silos beneath the ground. The weapons began to detonate one after another, splitting the earth, cracking and twisting the landscape, causing massive earthquakes. The disaster created the Divide, comprised of a wind-beaten maze of twisting canyons, skin-flaying dust storms, and abominations.

The detonation had significant effects on the war in the Mojave. Firstly, both the NCR and the Legion suffered casualties, the survivors being transformed into Marked men. Secondly, the Divide was rendered impassable, greatly hindering the NCR's logistics. They were not able to properly capitalize on their victory at Hoover Dam, with the Malpais Legate having survived, crediting this event with the Legion being able to persist after the battle.

Willow Beach and Arizona Spillway
Despite their major setback, the Legion found some success in conducting smaller operations against the NCR in the following years. In 2281, they opened the radioactive waste containers from San Onofre in the firehouse within Camp Searchlight, and established the Cottonwood Cove outpost, and raiding bases such as Ranger Station Charlie, and the towns of Nipton and Nelson. They also sent spies into the New Vegas Strip. They secretly plotted their second assault on the dam at Fortification Hill. As they had finally rebuilt their strength, Caesar ordered his forces to expel the NCR from the east side of the river in what would be known as the Battle of Willow Beach, Battle of Arizona Spillway and the Battle of Nelson. All three of these battles would prove to be victorious for the Legion. Chief Hanlon remarks that the NCR loses over a thousand troopers every year.

Events
The following events took place or ran concurrently with the NCR and the Legion conflict.

Legion
Aside from their main base at Fortification Hill, the Legion currently has control of Cottonwood Cove, Camp Nelson, the Techatticup Mine, and Nipton. The area around Camp Forlorn Hope is also populated heavily by Legion forces.

After the Courier enters the Lucky 38, they are subsequently approached by Vulpes Inculta or Alerio on behalf of Caesar, inviting them to the Fort. Caesar instructs them to enter a nearby underground bunker and destroy it. Caesar also orders the Courier to execute Robert House and asks them to assist in forging alliances with the Boomers and the White Glove Society.

NCR
Although the NCR struggles against various enemies such as the Great Khans and the Powder Gangers, they hold various strongholds including the Mojave Outpost. Ambassador Crocker noted the Courier's entry into the Lucky 38, summoning them to the embassy. Crocker asks them to assist in forging alliances with the Boomers as well as help ease the tension between NCR and the Kings in Freeside.

Colonel Moore asks the Courier to gain the support of the Great Khans or destroy them, then destroy or sign a truce with the Brotherhood of Steel. The Courier is then tasked with protecting President Kimball during his visit to Hoover Dam.

Outcome
The Mojave Campaign ends with the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, and the outcome of the campaign ultimately depends on the decisions made by the Courier. If NCR is supported, it secures Hoover Dam, all major Mojave territories (including the Strip and Freeside), and Fortification Hill. If Caesar's Legion is supported, it conquers Hoover Dam and the entire Mojave region up to the Mojave Outpost. Legate Lanius will express a desire to go on to conquer California.

Alternatively, the war is brought to an abrupt halt if the Courier either supports Mr. House or works with Yes Man to take over the Mojave for themself. The NCR initially defeats Caesar's Legion at Hoover Dam while Mr. House's Securitron army destroys Fortification Hill. After this, the Securitron army ejects all NCR military presence from the region, the violence of this forced withdrawal depending on the Courier's negotiation with General Oliver.

Ending slides
Caesar's Legion  Narrated by Ron Perlman

New California Republic  Narrated by Ron Perlman

Independent  Narrated by Ron Perlman

Mr. House  Narrated by Ron Perlman