[color=tan][b][center][h2]The Great Khanate[/h2][/center] [hr][hr] The Golden City, Great Khanate[/b][/color] Cain's eyes followed the cracks running along the pavement below him as he moved amidst the streets of the Golden City. The capital of the Khanate, the city around him was a collection of the Ger tents for which the Khans were known and the jagged skyline of ruined buildings experiencing slow yet steady reconstruction. The light from various fires, gas lamps and electric lights adorned the city in light as the figure of Cain shuffled along in the gloom of night. He had been given his charge, the charge of journeying to New Vegas as a diplomatic envoy of the Khanate. To represent his people to all of the powers of America. As any Great Khan, he had vowed to act with pride, and this he would do. Shouldering the leather strap of his repeater rifle, the Great Khan stalked his way through the night air as he set off towards the meet. Clutching a sputtering chem lamp which cast a blue light around him, Cain approached his chosen few, those who would be accompanying him on the journey south. Like himself they were clad in the black leathers and jackets of the Great Khans, each augmented in their own way with plates of metal and lamellar armour, each with weapons at their sides. The party's horses grazed nearby, he spotted his own steed Thunderer amongst their number. [color=tan]"Everybody here? Good, it's time we ride."[/color] [hr][hr] [color=tan][b]A mile outside of New Vegas, F.Z.M[/b][/color] Cain watched absently as the smoke before him danced on the mild Mojave breeze, the grey tendrils spiraling upwards towards the blue sky overhead from the glowing end of his cigarette. Taking another drag, Cain laid his eyes upon his surroundings and what a scene the Mojave wasteland offered. Nothing but a wide expanse of cracked ground, sand and dust as far as the eye could see. [i]Might as well be back in Wyoming after a dust bowl.[/i] He thought as he puffed a breath of smoke, his free hand clasping the leather reigns of Thunderer as the chestnut-coated beast lazily grazed upon a dry bushel of green amidst the tan. [color=rosybrown]"I'm just saying Marshall. Be careful. Vegas's families were once tribals."[/color] The heavy voice spoke. Cain looked up to see Karl, a heavyset man and the voice's owner gazing back at him as he stood by his own horse grazing on the Mojave grass. [color=tan]"Vegas? You're telling me they used to be [i][b]tribals?[/b][/i]"[/color] Cain asked, his eyes turning towards to the southern horizon where the great lights of Vegas could be seen at night adorning the sky. [color=rosybrown]"Don't let them fool you with the getup. They might wear fancy suits and ties, but they were once tribals and that doesn't just leave you. Vegas swallowed 'em as tribes whole and spat out families, but the past isn't that easily forgotten."[/color] Karl spoke. [color=tan]"Whatever those fuckers in their high towers have got. I can handle it."[/color] Cain supplied easily, a grin crossing his face. [color=rosybrown]"Mhm."[/color] Karl responded simply with a roll of his shoulders. A moment passed before Cain spoke.[color=tan]"Alright, time to go."[/color] With a twist of his hand his cigarette fell to the ground, his boot followed it swiftly to crunch it into the dust and gravel as the Great Khans once more were on the move. [hr][hr] [b][color=tan]New Vegas[/color][/b] The Great Khans rode through the streets of a rebuilt New Vegas atop horses, the sound of their iron-clad hooves clapping against the roads sounding before them. It was a city of lights, everywhere one looked there lay bright and vibrant lights in a display of power and wealth. [i]This might have once been ours.[/i] Cain thought as he looked upon the city, his grip upon the reigns guiding his horse and party towards it's heart. There at the gates into the city proper they found one of House's Securitrons awaiting them. Across the inbuilt screen was a face, a smug grin permitting it's features and the horned helmet of the Khans atop it's head. [color=steelblue]"You're late."[/color] The robot zapped as they approached. The robot reared on it's wheel in what appeared to be the contraption actually sizing him up. [color=steelblue]"Follow me."[/color] The machine spoke again before wheeling it's way into the den of wolves. Leaving the rest of their number to guard the horses by the main gate, Cain and two Khans were led towards the Ultra-Luxe casino where they were disarmed of their weapons. Before they knew it, two great doors were being opened before them. [color=gainsboro]"Announcing the diplomatic envoy Cain Marshall of the Great Khanate."[/color] The man manning the door announced as he drew them apart. Stepping through the yawning portal into the conference room. Cain took a moment to orientate himself, his gaze flicking across the vast array of those present before briefly lingering on the Confederation delegates, finally his gaze settled on the Suit at the head of the table. With a nod and a grin he stepped forward and reclined into an empty seat with little concern for those he sat next to. It seemed they'd intruded on something.