[center][h3]T H E   E N C L A V E[/h3]Yellowstone Base, Enclave Headquarters

[img]http://i.imgur.com/7wjN6g6.jpg[/img][/center][hr][hr]

[b]N[/b]estled in the valleys and ridges of Yellowstone National Park lay the Enclave Headquarters, which had an unusual sense of urgency about it on this particular day. Within the deepest vaults of the base lay the briefing room - with walls of cold steel, lit by dim-blue lights and several chairs scattered around. Maps and reconnaissance reports were plastered across the large table, which itself functioned as a large map of the known wasteland at the front of the room. Standing around the table were the four leaders of the Enclave, having made the rare decision to gather for but a day. 

[color=7ea7d8][b]"I[/b]t's settled then,"[/color] remarked President Gethen with his usual air of confidence and authority, [color=7ea7d8]"Mallory. You will go alone to this meeting. Make your presence known, let those present gaze upon the Enclave, and let them be reminded of the true power across these wastes."[/color] The President gave a nod to those gathered, picking a brown, paper folder from the table before flicking through its contents. [color=7ea7d8]"Sawyer - return to Langley as soon as you are able. Keep us updated on the progress you are making,"[/color] snapping shut the folder and raising it in gesture towards the Cheif Scientist, he continued [color=7ea7d8]"Judging from the developments you have made so far, I expect our best days do indeed await us."[/color] With the other leaders nodding in agreement, the President finished, [color=7ea7d8]"You all have your orders. I will not accept failure from any of you, the best this accursed land has to offer. God Bless America. God Bless the Enclave."[/color] With that, the President re-opened the folder and examined its contents once more whilst exiting the room, followed not long after by the other leadership.[hr][b]O[/b]nly a few hours later, Mallory was ready for departure. Standing before a mighty vertibird of the enclave, he felt a firm pat on his shoulder. "Ah - sir. Here to wave me off?"

[color=7ea7d8][b]"O[/b]nly to remind you of your duty - Mallory. No deals - no pacts. Remember that. The Enclave does not, and will not, enter into any form of negotiation with these mutants. They are [i]all[/i] pretenders, and that must not be forgotten."[/color]

[b]T[/b]he cold of the mountains whipped through the air as the vertibird began to power up its propellers, generating an almighty wind. Raising their voices to be heard, the two men spoke briefly about the exact arrangements for Mallory's arrival and stay, before the President returned to the base. Alone, Mallory passed the guarding Enclave sentries to board the vertibird, prepared for the long flight ahead.


[hr][hr][center]The Free Economic Zone of the Mojave, New Vegas[/center]
[i][b]"A[/b]pproaching the McCarran Strip, sir."[/i] 

[b]A[/b] grainy voice spoke through Mallory's headset as he awaited landing. It still felt odd to him, attending this meeting in the first place. The Enclave [i]was[/i] the government, and attending such an event seemed to him almost a recognition that they no longer held the power they once did before the bombs fell. Still - he had his orders, and if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was to follow orders. Especially those from Gethen. He had never before seen such drive, such pure ambition in a man. He held faith in that fact, for if Gethen had sent him here, it was surely with purpose. Fishing around in his pocket, Mallory withdrew a small pill-bottle, swallowing one before landing. The Enclave doctors had prescribed him an altered form of Rad-Away for the duration of his stay, and instructed him to take one every four hours to avoid the effects of the radiation. He had decided to take one every two hours. 

[b]L[/b]anding softly, Mallory removed his headset and stepped out of the Vertibird, shielding his eyes momentarily from the sun. The airfield brimmed with activity. With wastelanders, and mutants. Without barely a moment to examine his surroundings properly, a securitron approached him. "Vice President Mallory of the United States." Cocking his head at the machine, he understood this must have been one of House's tricks, to calm and ease the participants of the upcoming convention. Responding with a simple nod to the machine, it continued, "Please, accompany me, sir. I shall escort you to the convention." Taking a final look at his surroundings, it wasn't as if he had much choice. The Enclave had taken the decision not to send troops with him, for one very simple reason. Should a wastelander ever lay eyes upon a soldier of the Enclave - it is to be the last thing they lay such eyes upon. Still, he couldn't help but feel particularly vulnerable.[hr]
[b]A[/b]pproaching the city of New Vegas himself, Mallory couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. He didn't know whether to be disgusted, or slightly impressed by the state of the city resembling something almost that of one pre-war. At the very least, he found himself disappointed it was inhabited by those unfit for such pleasures.

[b]W[/b]alking the steps of the Ultra-Luxe Casino, Mallory scanned the room. He recognized the various factions presented - though some names were lost to him. [i]The Legion, NCR, Brotherhood...[/i] Many of the current players in the post-war America had gathered, as well as some undesirables. Standing for but a moment to scan the room, he found a seat surrounded by no-one as of yet, and sat himself there. Not a few moments went by before he heard the leader of the NCR address him directly,
[indent][color=f9ad81][i]"Ah the enclave... You know what? How about you save us lives and time and just surrender now... seriously an fucking tribal kicked you ass and we flattened what was left.. you know we are gonna do it again or maybe the old guys Tins cans will if they can catch up to you with the crap they have for an air force"[/i][/color] James chuckled [color=f9ad81][i]"You may have helped the legion at Hoover but I'm willing to make you a deal...  if you surrender now and give up plans to "purge" the mutants, I'll have you become a "northern" state of the NCR. You will remain free, alive and allowed to continue the non-purging stuff you have going but you will follow our rules and work with us to make Amercia great for everyone again....well almost everyone."[/i][/color][/indent]
[b]T[/b]he blind ignorance of the man was infuriating. Mallory locked eyes with the man across the room with a dark intensity for only a few seconds, before breaking into laughter with a wave of his hand. "The might of the New California Republic tempered by a city of drunkards, and brainless machines. Do not speak to me again - [i]James.[/i]" Mallory wagered it would be this undeserved confidence that would be the undoing of the most vile entity in the wasteland - the New California Republic. He despised it, more than the rest, because it pretended to stand for the pre-war America. Mallory knew better. 

[b]C[/b]ontent with James turning his attention to the Legion, Mallory sat quietly, observing the conference as the remaining leaders funneled in, seemingly uninterested.