[u][b]Simon Barnaky - At the conference[/b][/u] As Barnaky gave his speech, using the wide angle lenses of the robot's optics, he examined the delegate's faces for clues on how they were taking his speech. Queastor Titus was elated, as he was right to be, he would no doubt waste no time advising Lucius that the Brotherhood had openly declared his support for the Legion in this matter. Young Miss Tenpenny, however, went from glee at his announcement of the Campaign against the Cult to being clearly disgusted and enraged by the revelation of his support for the Legion. "Hmm", Barnaky thought, "It seems the Texans didn't tell her about what happened in Mexico this morning. Interesting." “Oh…poor Legion…poor little victims", she said, using sarcasm to disguise her anger, "I know the representative of Texas wished to have the member nations of the soon to be Co-Prosperity Sphere discuss our response in unison and how we should proceed…however, I’ll like to make our position known.” "Soon to be Co-Prosperity Sphere?", Barnaky asked himself. "Joseph told me that the Texans were up to something involving their neighbors, but what Miss Tenpenny was suggesting is that a full blown alliance existed....the question is, who is it aimed at?" Barnaky decided he would need to reach out to Robert and also have Joseph get in contact with Vulpes to see what the Legion knew about this. It was also clear now that he would need to sound out Vault 99, and keep his options open with them. They were too wedded to the Old World for his liking, but if the Southern and Eastern factions were allying against him.... “IT WILL BE A COLD DARK DAY IN HELL", Tenpenny barked as she pounded the table angrily, "BEFORE WE SIDE WITH THESE HEATHENS AND SLAVERS! TO US YOU’RE NO BETTER THAN THE CULT!” She plopped back down on her chair, and moved strand of her red hair to the side, and coolly replied “I vote no.” "The Legion is two thousand miles from your borders, Governor", Barnaky replied diplomatically. "They will never be a threat to you...but that can't be said for the Cult, can it? They are right on your doorstep, and given that they nearly destroyed the East Coast Chapter of the Brotherhood, and were only stopped from overrunning the whole Atlantic Coast from the Capital Wasteland North by the Children of Atom, who were obliged to resort to the use of [b][i]tactical nuclear weapons[/i][/b] to drive them back....you need all the friends you can get right now. What was the old saying? 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth?'" Titus then took the floor again, and gave a measured speech that pointed out that Caesar Lucius had committed to a program of reform to address the excesses of Sallow's Regime and put his Kingdom on the path towards being a responsible Nation-State, and asking for time to bring the ambitious program to fruition He also mentioned that Caesar was sending a delegation East to see things for themselves. Barnaky knew this to be true, they were currently on a train in Western Kansas, disruptions from the timetable changes dictated by the plans to reinforce the Legion had delayed their progress somewhat. "I can attest to the veracity of Queastor Titus", Barnaky said after Titus had taken his seat, "My state of existence has enabled me to take a long view of things...something Governor Harris and I have in common, I think...and I have observed the Legion almost since Edward Sallow created it, nearly thirty years ago, as well as conduct affairs of State with both him and Caesar Lucius. We have found the accession of Caesar Lucius to be a most welcome development, and Queastor Titus's declarations are fully consistent with both my observations of how the Legion is being governed, as well as my personal experience with Lucius and his senior officials." The delegate from Alaska then took the floor, and while his remarks were critical of the NCR, he made it clear that his people had no intention of taking a side in the current dispute between the Legion and NCR, and cast doubt on whether they could effectively do so even if they wanted to. He then indicated that they knew little of the Cult and would require more information before they could decide on whether action against them was appropriate. "I would be happy to assist you...or any other faction represented here, even the NCR...in your inquiries", Barnaky said. "If any nation wishes to send a delegation for a fact-finding tour, or to observe our operations against the Cult, that can be arranged through diplomatic channels, for those who have formal diplomatic relations with us, or through our Embassy here in New Vegas if you do not." [u][b]Omaha - SAC Command Bunker[/b][/u] [@Kouropalates] The Duty Officer in the Communications Center started as the teletype machine along the wall behind his desk suddenly clattered into life. A teletype machine only used by one individual. It spat out a short message then stopped, and he tore the message off the roll and looked at it. It was short and to the point. [color=39b54a]******MESSAGE BEGINS***** COMMENCE INTRUDE N313. ZERO HOUR TO BE 1700 PDT TOMORROW. PROCEED UNLESS RECALLED. -BARNAKY ******MESSAGE ENDS******[/color] The remainder of the message was delivery instructions...the coordinates for a tight beam broadcast and a frequency to use. The Duty Officer gave the orders for the procedure to instruct the comsat orbiting the West coast to align it's antenna to begin, then placed the message on the desk and retrieved a book from the safe and looked through it until he found the reference for "INTRUDE N313". It corresponded to an Operation called "Shadow Raid", and gave the cipher to use to encrypt it. The order from the Lord Paladin was carried out promptly and the message went out to it's intended receipient. "Shadow Raid", the Duty Officer mused to himself as he dropped the teleprinter sheet into the shredder, "wonder what this one is about?"