Samuel Cooke

Samuel Cooke is an anti-NCR revolutionary and the original leader of the Powder Gangers prisoner uprising, now operating with a small group of escaped convict followers out of Vault 19 in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281.

Background
Samuel Cooke is a unique character among NCR convicts. His hatred of the Republic is motivated by politics, as he sees the NCR as a corrupt, imperialist, tyrannical beast that forces its system on every man, woman, and child in the wasteland. His revolutionary zeal led him to wage a campaign of sabotage in New California, blowing up NCR caravans along I-15. Although genuinely passionate about his cause, he was still only one man and was eventually captured.

Cooke's sentence landed him in the NCR Correctional Facility in the Mojave Wasteland. However, incarceration did nothing to extinguish the fire in his heart. Although he acted like a model prisoner, with only cause being anti-NCR, together with a band of trusted inmates, Samuel secreted away small quantities of explosives used in railroad construction. Easy, considering Cooke was part of the chain gangs that labored away under the sweltering sun, clearing the way for NCR trains.

Eventually, Cooke saw an opportunity. When the Republic redeployed another group of prison guards away to the Colorado, he and his men blasted their way out of the cell block, overwhelmed the guards, and earned their freedom. The rest of the prisoners joined in when they realized what happened. However, Cooke left the prison together with a group of followers, allowing Eddie to form the Powder Gangers.

Cooke took his men to Vault 19, where he plans to take advantage the local areas dangerous wildlife and the sulfur deposits beneath to arm himself with high explosives and kindle the fires of war against the Republic anew. However, Cooke is dealing with insubordination from Philip Lem, a convict who helped with the prison break and tagged along when Cooke left but has begun to rethink his choice and now wants to leave with some others and surrender to the NCR, but Cooke will not let them. causing confusion within the small group's ranks about who is actually in charge.

Quests
Why Can't We Be Friends?: After killing the fire geckos, Samuel will tell you to secure the Powder Gangers alliance with the Great Khans.

Effects of player character's actions

 * Once the Courier kills the fire geckos and talks to Papa Khan, and returns to the vault a few days after completing the quest Why Can't We Be Friends?, they will find the vault deserted, since Cooke and the convicts left to join the Great Khans.
 * If the player character sides with Lem and blows up the caves, Cooke will curse the player character for their actions. With his support dwindling, he eventually leaves the vault so he can continue to wage war on the NCR.

Appearances
Samuel Cooke appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Bugs
The convicts and Cooke may be hostile if you have a vilified reputation with the Powder Gangers, or if you have killed Papa Khan.