Bitter Springs

Bitter Springs is a NCR refugee camp in the far north-eastern side of the Mojave Wasteland.

Background
The NCR seized this settlement from the Great Khans during the Bitter Springs Massacre. The Great Khans suffered heavy losses and lost many noncombatants and is one of the main reasons for their resentment of the NCR. Great Khan iconography and graffiti can still be found about the camp illustrating their previous ownership.

The Bitter Springs Massacre is an event mentioned in the graphic novel All Roads which is included with the Collector's Edition of Fallout: New Vegas. The events at Bitter Springs are also described during gameplay by several characters including Craig Boone, Manny Vargas, Papa Khan, Major Dhatri and Bitter-Root. Through these conversations the Courier learns that during their bid to secure the Mojave Wasteland, New California Republic soldiers massacred members of the Great Khans tribe, including many women, children, sick, and elderly fleeing the battle.

Craig Boone's account
A number of Khans were tracked to the area by the NCR many years ago. The NCR believed it to be their base of operations, and sent a large detachment of troops to retake the area. The 1st Recon Sniper Squad, Boone included, were sent to cut off escape at Bitter Springs' only exit. Little did the NCR realize that Bitter Springs was primarily the home of Khan families, and not (as NCR command believed) a bastion of resistance. As the Khans were pushed out, 1st Recon was ordered to fire on those retreating. Radio contact with the NCR was "sketchy." Not understanding that the situation involved unarmed civilians, superiors ordered them to "fire until you're out of ammunition." 1st Recon obeyed, and what happened at Bitter Springs has had a large psychological impact on Boone, motivating him to leave the NCR.

Chance's account
The history through the eyes of Chance differs from that of Boone, in that the NCR are portrayed as being just as brutal as Caesar's Legion when it comes to pursuing their political agenda for a given area. There was no miscommunication with command, and the NCR soldiers simply rode into the town and opened fire. 1st Recon is not seen at all during Chance's flashback, and none of the survivors had any difficulty in retreating. It had a significant psychological impact on Chance, driving him to the use of drugs and leaving him mute.

Papa Khan's account
Papa Khan states that the Great Khans had been flaunting the NCR's demands, carrying out raids under the assumption that NCR vows to retaliate were simply bluffs. Tensions rose higher, and eventually the NCR tracked what they believed was a large raiding party back to Bitter Springs. Having been harassed continuously by the Khans, the NCR troops did not expect Bitter Springs to be anything but a war camp. Fueled by anger and frustration, goaded by the Great Khan's audacity, and lacking appropriate orders, the NCR's 1st Recon opened fire on what they were told were retreating Khan troops.

Layout
The camp consists of NCR tents to the north and refugee tents at the south end of the camp. The doctor's tent is amongst the NCR tents facing the refugees and Captain Gilles can usually be found sitting by the campfire at the center. As you approach the area from West by Southwest are 12 graves, six on each side of the path, containing misc. loot.

Notable Loot

 * Salesman Weekly on a cot with a refugee
 * Fixin' Things on the desk in the northmost NCR tent (needs to be stolen)
 * Salesman Weekly on the desk in Capt. Gilles tent
 * Great Khan Spike Helmet on top of Northwest most grave approaching the area from the Southwest.

Related Quests

 * No, Not Much: After this quest there will be several more troops at Bitter Springs.
 * Climb Ev'ry Mountain
 * Bitter Springs Infirmary Blues
 * I Forgot to Remember to Forget

Appearances
Bitter Springs appears in Fallout: New Vegas and the graphic novel ''All Roads.

Bugs

 * Walking up the stairs at Bitter Springs will often crash the game, requiring a hard reset. Recommend saving before going near this location.
 * The Refugees in the Medical tent If talked to they'll stand up and say what a nonimportant character would say lay down and then the game will Freeze.
 * You can get infinite experience by doing Mr.Sandman kills on a sleeping child (since they do not die) in one of the tents. Maybe on any sleeping child. Sometimes after an X amount of kills you might be teleported inside of a rock near Hidden Valley.

Gallery
Биттер-Спрингс