[b][color=fdc68a]Leland Chapman, Oldest and Longest Serving Texas Ranger
The Ultra-Luxe, New Vegas[/color][/b]

It didn't really come as a surprise to Leland, nor likely to anyone else gathered here, that another War was not far off.  He hadn't expected it to start today however.  He'd disembarked from the ship and quickly come fully awake.  New Vegas was a wonder for a man who had spent most of his life in El Paso.  It was beautiful but garish.  Hopeful but also reproaching.  Now, sitting to the left of Angela, he realized that was likely to be a recurring theme.

He'd been careful where he sat.  Though few would notice it, as she kept it hidden, her left ear had been damaged...removed in fact so it only made sense to sit on that side.  She'd still be able to hear his whispers though not much else and she'd likely not need them.  She'd grown into quite a woman, surpassing his expectations and her own, and now here they were meeting with the heads of the powers of North America.

Precisely the predicament they found themselves in was quickly made clear.  The NCR had sent not their President but a body double, as was made clear when a man near exactly matching the man that stood before them appeared on the television and said as much.  He promised a swift and brutal campaign against the Legion and justified it with claims of inevitability.  Perhaps Kimball was right, perhaps it was inevitable but it was he that threw the first stone in the new war and the wastelands would remember that.

Leland looked slowly around the table.  The King, of New Vegas, a Legionnaire, a body double of Kimball, Renault of the Angels of War, Hemingway and Suttbray of the Serene Key Republic, Joshua Graham, the Van Graffs, representatives of both the Western and Mid-Western Brotherhoods, and the Enclave were all easily recognizable, but there were new faces as well.  Many pieces in play.

He leaned over toward Angela and whispered to her, nothing particularly shocking, but he was curious what was going on in her mind,

"Kimball will want us to serve as the hard place against his rock no doubt, to trap the Legion."

A moment later a mercenary looking sort passed behind them and approached the Mid-Western Brotherhood of Steel delegation, which gave him pause.  Shortly afterward more foreign looking strangers arrived and received a welcoming from the unsettling young woman from the Pitt, Marie.  He turned to the Ranger to his left, the young man who had been so full of questions on the flight over.

"Anders," he said getting the man's attention, "Step outside for a moment and radio to Fort Bliss.  I want to know if anything is happening on the Frontier.  Tell them to broadcast to me directly if they sight any forces, Legion or otherwise, approaching the Fort."

As Anders slowly rose and pushed his chair in Leland placed his hand on the man's arm and added,

"This is history being made son, pay attention."

Texas hadn't seen much violence from the Legion lately, but the NCR would likely call on them and expect them to answer.  It would not be his decision to make, and for that he was grateful.  Whatever was decided, whoever he may fight against, he would fight for Texas, he was a Ranger.

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*edit to acknowledge Calypso's arrival and el_gappas post*
"Shortly afterward more foreign looking strangers arrived and received a welcoming from the unsettling young woman from the Pitt, Marie."
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