You consider the situation and make a quick decision. The equipment here could easily build out your armed forces quicker and cheaper than through any other option, not to mention the value of selling it off to local groups or using it as a valuable trade item.

Already, your mind starts running with the defensive possibilities of the town. You may have just over 50 combat-capable soldiers, but they’re veterans with plenty of munitions and the will to kill.

But first things first.

You pull the flare gun from your pack and a brilliant hue of red streaks up, past the flames and the smoke billowing into the night. Within minutes, the Vertibirds will be landing at the Depot proper and the process of looting will soon begin.

[We’re staying. Moreno and Marius, come take a look at this map…]

Over the next hour, the three of you work out an impressive, multi-layered defense to leverage chemical weapons, mines, IEDs and the terrain to funnel NCR reinforcements into killzones.

Just as the plan is formalized, you see the six Vertibirds lifting up and heading towards Camp Rex to offload ammunition, weaponry and armor. A few of the walking wounded have used the NCR prisoners and some “volunteers” from the civilian population to quickly load the Vertibirds after ensuring the safety of the equipment.

The only hindrance to the plan is a dust storm that begins to blow in, but you’ve seen hundreds of these before. It’ll make setup a pain in the ass, but it should pass before the NCR arrives.

[Alright, let’s get the civilians corralled and get to work.]

Marius leaves to direct his Legionaries and you head to the bunkers with Moreno.

You’re a large man, but feel like a child walking next to a hulking suit of power armor.

[Moreno, I’d like you to-]

An explosion erupts around half a mile away, deeper in the maze of bunkers.

You look up at him before running over, just keeping up with the long strides of the power armor. Within a few minutes, the two of you arrive at the scene of the explosion just as the dust storm arrives, the smoke swirling with the dust to bring visibility close to zero.

Two Legionaries arrive at the other end of the alley between the back of a bunker and the gaping hole where the explosion happened.

[You two, was anyone working on getting this bunker unloaded?]

One of the legionnaires steps forward to make himself heard over the wind.

“No, we’ve been moving the equipment already taken out. I’m not sure who was back here!”

You try to look for any other evidence but the dust storm is really bearing down on you now.

[Moreno, go….go get uhhh…]

That’s strange, you just lost your train of thought. That never happens.

You go back to look at the two Legionnaires, but they’re lying in the sand, writhing around. That’s weird.

Moreno takes a step toward you as your vision blurs and your legs give out.

The last thing you see is Moreno’s PA boots as your vision dims to nothing.