Ulysses

"America sleeps. And until it's dead, I carry it. Just like I carried you. More than hope. Belief."

- Ulysses

Ulysses is a courier and a mysterious man seeking to forge a new nation based on Old World America. He was once hired by the Mojave Express in 2281 as one of seven hired by Victor to carry strange packages to the Strip North Gate, Ulysses was originally supposed to deliver the Platinum Chip - a task left to the Courier after Ulysses' mysterious disappearance.

Background
Ulysses was once a successful bighorner rancher at Wolfhorn ranch, but he recently abandoned his Ranch and is now nowhere to be seen. He abandoned his farm in order to find a way to reawaken United States, the old world. During his journey, he became interested in a place called the Divide, believing that the Old World to be "sleeping" in it, and came to the Big MT were to visit the meteorological station, as the Divide is plagued with violent storms; and to learn from the intelligence of the think tanks. During his stay he met Father Elijah, to whom he mentioned the legend of the Sierra Madre, inspiring the old Elder to seek it out.

He also rescued Knight Christine Royce of the Circle of Steel, from the Y-17 medical facility. While he nursed her to health following her traumatizing experiences at the hands of the automated medical facility, he discussed philosophy and the failure of modern civilizations (the NCR and the Caesar's Legion) to create a true future. Ulysses also discusses with Christine his plans to meet with the Courier in the Divide, to let them see what happened, let them "sink their feet in Old World ash". Ulysses believes the Old World to be "sleeping" in the Divide, and this is likely his main interest in the area. In fact, his trip to the Big Empty was largely because of his goals to "awaken" his America. For example, Ulysses visited the meteorological station while he was at the research facility, likely because the Divide is plagued with violent storms. Shortly before Christine regained full health, Ulysses returned to The Think Tank and finally pried answers from Dr. Klein and Dr. Mobius about "what makes a nation", which was, according to them, a dangerous question -- so dangerous for Dr. Klein that he deleted it from his memory.

With this knowledge in hand, he was ready to go to the Divide. While passing through the Mojave, he took on a job as a courier with the Mojave Express at Primm, probably to find the Courier by this means. He was to deliver the Platinum Chip, but when he saw the Courier's name next on the list, he asked Johnson Nash if the Courier's name was for real. Nash informed him that the Courier still worked for them. Ulysses then abandoned the job, walking out of the office remarking only "let Courier Six carry the package".

At some point before the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, Ulysses contacted the Courier via radio transmission, promising to explain the incident in Primm in exchange for one final job, and a sort of battle occurred between the two. The battle is said to take place at the Divide, beneath the torn skies and the old world flag, and between Ulysses and the Courier, each carrying a message for the other.

Allegiance
Joshua Graham comments that when he heard a courier was coming, he had expected it to be someone else, implying it to be Ulysses. He says that he had heard stories of one of the Frumentarii traveling as a courier and stalking the land in search of enemies of Caesar, although he says that he finds it unlikely that he would associate himself with a Caravan. However, Ulysses mentions in his Patient log: Y-17 conversation with Christine Royce that he finds both the Caesar's Legion and the NCR unfit as future leaders for the New World. This could mean that Ulysses has become disillusioned with the Legion or that he could've posed as one or was or still is actually one to learn about the Legion.

In the concept art of Ulysses, which portrayed his outfit and three coats - one with the "Old World" symbol (similar to the United States of America pre-War flag), another with the NCR symbol and the last with the Caesar's Legion symbol with a cross below, suggesting that his allegiance may vary and could mean that it's the opposite of the Courier, meaning if they are with the NCR, Ulysses is with the Caesar's Legion (and vice-versa) and if they are with neither (with Yes Man, Mr. House or neutral reputations with NCR and Caesar's Legion), Ulysses is neutral, aligned with the "Old World" symbol.

Appearances
Ulysses was planned to appear in Fallout: New Vegas as a companion, but was ultimately cut from the final game. He is referenced repeatedly in Dead Money, and in two of the characters' endings, his appearance in a future add-on has been confirmed. Ulysses is also mentioned by Joshua Graham in Honest Hearts, who claims he may work for Caesar. He is mentioned and his voice appears on two holotapes in Old World Blues, and the location Ulysses' Point references his stay there. He is the main focus of Lonesome Road.

Behind the scenes

 * The concept art of Ulysses costume shows him covered in tribal markings. Ulysses believes in America, which isn't really a tribe. However, he refers to the Brotherhood of Steel as a tribe, which is in keeping with the definition of Tribe offered by Joshua Graham, but not the one embraced by 'civilized' wastelanders.
 * Ulysses is derived from Ulixes, the Latin name for Odysseus. Odysseus was a Greek king who was most famous for his epic voyage, as well as being known for his cunning and deceit. Dr. Klein even mentions his name is from a language that is "unpossible' to understand, obviously referring to Greek.
 * Ulysses was originally supposed to be a companion in Fallout: New Vegas, but was cut from the final version of the game and now only appears in the playing cards that came with the Collector's Edition. According to Chris Avellone, "he [...] was a complicated character in terms of some of the hooks into the storyline".