Desert Rangers

"We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better."

- Tycho

The Desert Rangers were a faction living east of California, in the Nevada area but also have been known to be found in Zion Valley and Arizona.

Background
The Desert Rangers have survived ever since the end of the Great War until their unification with the NCR Rangers in 2271. This small community had a strong survivalist contingent, likely retaining some small arms and books. In the early 22nd century, they clashed with a tribal gang leader in the ruins of Las Vegas. They were known to protect people from cities and towns from enemies such as the White Legs, Tribals, and Super Mutants.

Later, the Rangers came into contact with Caesar's Legion in Arizona and a war ensued. The war was going poorly for the Rangers when, in 2271, NCR Rangers reached the Mojave. The Desert Rangers signed the "Ranger Unification Treaty" with the NCR to be absorbed into the NCR Rangers in exchange for NCR's protection of the Hoover Dam and Nevada from the Legion (A monument at the Mojave Outpost depicts this historic moment). Certain individuals say that some Desert Rangers still roam the wastes in search for those who prey on the weak.

Appearances
The first mention of the Desert Rangers is in Wasteland (game). Wasteland is not considered part of the Fallout universe, but it served as a major inspiration in Fallout's creation and numerous references can be found, the Desert Rangers being among them.

In the first Fallout, Tycho mentions that his grandfather was a Desert Ranger, and that his grandfather taught him and his father those survival skills.

In Fallout: New Vegas there is a monument at the entrance of the "Mojave Outpost" that depicts a Desert Ranger and NCR Ranger shaking hands, representing the pact between the two groups. Veteran Rangers bear a nearly identical appearance to Desert Rangers, suggesting that many of those in their ranks could be former Desert Rangers.

In Honest Hearts, a suit of Desert Ranger combat armor can be found in Stone Bones Cave.

Behind the scenes
Tycho's grandfather was a Desert Ranger, a reference to Wasteland, the 1980s game which is considered to be Fallout's predecessor. That game also featured Desert Rangers facing challenges in a post-apocalyptic setting (specifically, the American Southwest).