[color=f7941d][u][b]Ambassador Benjamin “Benny” Watts - Strip Eastside Gate - Sunset, October 16th [/b][/u][/color]

Benny couldn’t help but grin as the gates swung open and the full splendor of the Strip was revealed. The crimson haze of the sunset seemed to only enhance the vibrant display of flashing neon lights and extravagant signage that enveloped the entire street. After having trod through the miserable slums of Freeside for close to an hour he had begun to worry that there would be nothing but further poverty and filth to await him. Instead there was fanfare, an audience that had gathered to welcome his arrival with a dozen or so well dressed individuals waiting to greet him. 

Benny hadn’t been impressed by what he’d seen of New Vegas thus far; corpses left to rot in the street, armed gangs openly operating their illicit businesses and an utter lack of public infrastructure. The only gem he had found in Freeside was a small ghetto filled with NCR refugees. It was little more than a walled-off street near a casino called the Atomic Wrangler but it hosted a few minor businesses and a small clinic. Benny had wanted to show some face and so his escort had briefly stopped there and they were given a warm welcome. It was difficult to avoid questions about when the annexation would be formalized and what that would mean for them but Benny had tactfully given a politician's answer. He spoke a lot about nothing but it sounded good and the people smiled even if they didn’t understand him. 

The well dressed people who now greeted him at the entrance to the Strip would be a more critical crowd. Benny wouldn’t be able to sway them with empty platitudes and patriotic phrases. No, he had heard about the ‘Families’ of the Strip and though he didn’t know much about them he knew they were dangerous. Of the ten men in front of him out stepped a woman. As sharply dressed as the rest and carrying a holstered firearm. It told Benny that the dangers of the Mojave were present even in this neon paradise. Around the men were a few heavily armed mercenaries, equipped nearly identically in armor and weapons to the CSF agents who escorted him. Though these mercs lacked the distinctive black paint job that branded Benny’s security detail as Van-Graff associates they were a grim visage nonetheless. 

“Lucrezia,” the woman said simply, offering a wry smile to Benny. He returned the smile with his own wide, white grin.  “Or Lucy for short.”. She stretched out her hand “Consilegere to the Omerta Family and a personal representative of Don Dominic Omerta. Welcome to the Strip. Our boss offers his sincere greetings, and hopes you will join him for a chat at the Zoara Club at Gomorrah at your earliest convenience.”

Benny had heard of the Omertas before as the president had offered him an intelligence file about them before he left Shady Sands. From what he read they were gangsters masquerading as business people. Benny knew their kind well, he had history with similar folks in New Reno. They were like knives and no matter how elegant a knife appeared, it was always capable of killing you. 

He stooped in the saddle to accept her hand and shook it gingerly. “An absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Benjamin Watts, or Benny for short.” He gave her a quick wink as he tipped his hat. “I do so appreciate the extravagant entrance you all have afforded us this evening. Please do give my sincerest thank you to Mr. Don Dominic.” Benny offered a light bow. “I must see about settling in for the evening, however I would like to speak with Mr. Dominic soon.” 

The woman was graceful but Benny could tell there was an edge about her. She was alluring and he could see himself even becoming interested in her but she would need a better hat. Something large and black and felt like Benny’s own hat would do her well. She had real potential for personal presentation with her silvery hair and that was not something Benny considered lightly. She offered the CSF agents and NCR soldiers in his escort vouchers to either gamble or spend at two of the premiere casinos on the Strip. 

Benny thought it odd that the Omertas would offer a voucher to a rival family’s casino but it told him there was more politicking on the Strip that the NCR was ignorant to. Not too surprising considering the lack of influence the Republic had here. The soldiers with him broke rank readily at the offer of these vouchers. Their sergeants had to work to get them back into formation but eventually reneged and told the squad they would be allowed to go out after they checked their weapons and gear at the embassy.

 Benny knew that Colonel Abernathy had done his best to avoid dealing with the families of the Strip but they had come to agreement upon at least one well understood code of conduct. No NCR troops were to be armed when on the Strip. This gave the families peace of mind that armed soldiers would not be wandering into their businesses. However, it also ensured that Denver had absolute justification to bring his wrath upon the Strip if any of his soldiers were harmed while on leave there. There could be no argument that they were a threat while they were disarmed. It was a tenuous peace but one that ensured not a single NCR soldier had been assaulted or killed on the Strip since Denver’s governorship took effect. 

Peter took all the vouchers for the dozen CSf agents under him and stuffed them under his armor. He barked back at his men that they would be allowed leave only when given permission by the Van-Graffs. They were stoic but the disappointment was visible on some of them. 

Having made their acquaintance with the Omertas, Benny and his escort made their way down the Strip to the NCR embassy. The street was awash with colors and alive with music, dance and the smell of street vendors and fragrant perfumes. Gone was the unwashed press of bodies they pushed through in Freeside and instead high-rolling gamblers and fashionable socialites swaggered their way in and out of casinos, hotels and bars. Benny didn’t even try to hide his ever widening smile. He had almost started to hate his assignment but this was truly something to be excited about. They glided down the street until they arrived at a squat gray concrete building that looked more like a bunker than an embassy. It was a far cry from the glimmering towers that surrounded it and Benny let out a sigh as he dismounted and entered the gate. 

The embassy staff were a nervous looking bunch of civilians with a gaggle of troops for guards. The compound had clearly been neglected by the past ambassadors and Benny would need to do much to bring it back into shape but any hope of making it fashionable was gone. A shame considering how well he was dressed, it was almost an embarrassment for him to be spending the night here. He greeted a few of his new subordinates while SSG Keyes and SG McKinny had their soldiers check-in and disarm before cutting them loose for a night on the Strip. Benny thanked the NCOs for their hard work on the escort and though he could tell neither men had much respect for him they conducted themselves professionally. 

Before he could begin to settle in and unpack Peter approached Benny. 

“We got a guy here asking for you Mr. Ambassador.”

“Well does he look important?”

Peter shrugged, “Calls himself regional commander of the pinocchio expedition.” 

“Pinocchio expedition? What the hell is that?” Benny had hoped it would be another casino head offering him free vouchers. 

“Fucking I don’t know Benny you go talk him.” 

Benny sighed and lit his last cigarette as he approached the man waiting at the gate to the embassy flanked by CSF agents. He was short, heavier than Benny with a blond beard that lacked a mustache. The biggest offense of the man however were his large brown galoshes. Criminally out of style and unsuited for an environment like the Strip. Benny took a long drag as he looked the man up and down before smiling. The man introduced himself. 

"Daniel Floyd, regional commander and envoy of the Pinochle Expedition. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Benny shook the man’s hand, he wore black gloves like a worker and not like the smooth suede ones Benny had stuffed in the pocket of his coat. 

“Ambassador Benjamin Watts of the NCR.” Benny chuckled a little, Pinochle not Pinocchio. Peter really was a dumb brute. “With a name like that I would assume you a casino man but, well.” Benny motioned to the man’s attire. “You’re not really dressed for the part. So please, why don’t you join me inside and let me know how I can help you.” The CSF agents disarmed the man and Benny led the way as they headed into the embassy.

The interior of the embassy needed just about as much work as the exterior. Clearly the place had become little more than gambling den in the past few years and the staff did little to hide their games from Benny. The two men headed back to the ambassador’s office. It was a moderately sized room dominated by a large wooden desk and deep leather chair. Paintings and pictures of past NCR presidents decorated one wall and other patriotic memorabilia was haphazardly placed around the room. The rug was an ugly army green and overall Benny was repulsed by the space.

“Please Mr. Floyd, do not judge me based on the decor. I assure you my tastes are far more refined than my predecessor.” Benny sat in the large chair and motioned to one of the plush red seats across the desk from it. “Or should I call you commander Floyd?” He extinguished his cigarette into an overflowing ashtray and shuffled about the desk drawers until he found a bottle of brown liquor and two glasses. He poured one for him and his guest and sent one of the CSF agents to find something to smoke. 

“How can I help you?”