Brotherhood of Steel (Mojave chapter)

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The Mojave chapter^[2][3] of the Brotherhood of Steel is a minor faction encountered in the Mojave Wasteland in Fallout: New Vegas. Reduced down to the size of a single bunker after a devastating offensive by the New California Republic, the chapter under the leadership of Elder Nolan McNamara bides their time, careful to keep themselves hidden even as they fracture from the inside.

Background[]

Taking HELIOS[]

While officially sent out from Lost Hills to secure Hoover Dam in the former state of Nevada,^[4][5] the formation of the Mojave chapter was mainly a result of disagreements within the council of elders. Elijah, a former scribe who had achieved elder status, pushed for the development of new technologies as opposed to the Brotherhood's typical recovering of pre-War technology, which put him at odds with the more conservative members of the council. As Elijah proposed developing new ethically questionable weapons somewhere around the early 2260s,^[6] the elders decided to send him away on a mission of uncertain success, ostensibly to expand Brotherhood interests further into the east, but secretly to get his radical ideas out of earshot.^[7]

Once they had reached the Mojave Wasteland, the new chapter discovered an intact military bunker in Hidden Valley, repurposing it as one of their forward operating bases. From there, the Brotherhood's scouting turned up the intact solar power plant at HELIOS One. Elijah, already considered unorthodox by some within his own chapter for his focus on improving technology rather than simply preserving it, immediately ordered for the plant to be garrisoned and converted into the Brotherhood's headquarters despite objections from almost every paladin in the chapter.^[1]

The Mojave chapter experienced several years of freely operating in the wastes, carrying out many reclamation missions without serious opposition from their neighbors. However, the balance of power shifted in 2273, when a large contingent of NCR Army troops entered the region from New California and occupied Hoover Dam before the Brotherhood could fulfill their original mission.^{[Non-game 1]}

As a result of Elijah's obsession with HELIOS One, coupled with their failure to occupy Hoover Dam themselves and the subsequent need to secure their base against the NCR's encroachment, the Brotherhood ignored the entry of the Van Graffs into the Mojave despite their reputation as highly successful energy weapon distributors. Against objections from his subordinates, Elijah's order was clear: leave the Van Graffs alone.^[8]

Conflict with the NCR[]

By 2274, the NCR had officially set up a headquarters of their own at the former McCarran International Airport. From there, Army forces began spreading out into the rest of the Mojave themselves, ultimately leading to the discovery of the Brotherhood installation at HELIOS One. Elijah, still believing that the plant contained an unprecedented military advantage, refused to abandon the Brotherhood's position in spite of the NCR's approach, and forced the Paladins to continue defending it. For two years, the Brotherhood waged a guerilla war against the NCR while Elijah continued to occupy himself with unlocking the alleged secrets within HELIOS.^{[Non-game 1]}

In 2276, the NCR moved to put an end to the Brotherhood's resistance and launched Operation Sunburst as a final offensive to capture HELIOS One. Despite the Brotherhood's technological advantage with energy weapons and power armor, they lacked the numerical advantage of the NCR and were gradually worn down by repeat attacks. By the time the retreat signal was given by Paladin McNamara, more than half the chapter had been wiped out. In the midst of the Brotherhood's exodus, Elijah disappeared without a trace. Guided by McNamara, the Brotherhood survivors retreated to the Hidden Valley bunker, while the NCR regrouped at the newly occupied HELIOS One. By the conclusion of Operation Sunburst, the Brotherhood's position in the Mojave was crippled, but not defeated.^{[Non-game 1][9]}

With their leader vanished to the winds, Head Paladin McNamara stepped up and took the reigns. Out of fear of Hidden Valley being discovered and destroyed, the new Elder McNamara heavily restricted surface activity, locking down the bunker and limiting outside assignments to occasional reconnaissance missions and high-value raids, as well as necessary supply runs by dedicated couriers. All operations were to take place at night, and combat engagement of NCR forces is strictly forbidden. Though the Brotherhood's ascetic lifestyle prepared its member for living in the bunker's confined spaces at length, the stress of their position began to chip away at the chapter's cohesion.^{[Non-game 1]}

Internal conflict[]

By 2281, the Mojave chapter operates on a policy of strict isolationism: no outsiders are allowed anywhere near the bunker, and anyone found near it is killed. The only people cleared for surface access are nightly patrols by heavily armed paladins, lightly-armed scouts, and procurement specialists securing food, water, and other necessities. All remaining members of the chapter are direct descendants of the original Brotherhood from the west, with no outside recruitment from the neighboring wasteland populations unlike other chapters.^[10] Combined with the culling of their numbers by the NCR and failure to recover its strength at the same time as the Republic's hold on the Mojave has only increased (with the number of troops alone increasing five times),^[11] as well as extended isolation under the elder's orders taking its toll, the chapter's future situation is precarious. While virtual reality simulators and firing range exercises keep the Knights and Paladins (many of whom have only virtual combat experience) sharp, the chapter has been left cut off from the rest of the Brotherhood.^[12]

Without any avenues of reinforcements or long-term solutions apart from remaining in hiding underground, the chapter's prospects are doomed. The persistence of the lockdown has led some among the chapter, chief among them Head Paladin Edgar Hardin to seek out steps to ousting the Elder. Though Hardin has sympathizers who support his goal of ending the lockdown, he has not made any overt moves against the Elder out of respect for McNamara's actions in safeguarding the Brotherhood following the loss of HELIOS One.

Beyond the walls of the bunker, the major factions vying for control of the Mojave have their own reservations about the Brotherhood's presence. While Mr. House and Caesar want the Brotherhood dead, the NCR is a bit more flexible, even if some in their ranks would rather also see them wiped out.

Society[]

The Brotherhood of Steel is a militant organization devoted to the preservation of pre-War technology and human knowledge. Their professed mission is to preserve pre-War technology and human knowledge for the benefit of future generations. In practice, its definition of technology is selective to its own needs, ignoring basic but potentially useful technologies (genetic modification of crops and civil engineering, for example) in favor of combat technology such as energy weapons and power armor; and even now, nearly two centuries after the Great War, the Brotherhood zealously restrict the use and knowledge of such technologies to its own membership.^{[Non-game 1]}

Foreign relations[]

Since their heavy losses to the NCR during the NCR-Brotherhood War, the Mojave chapter has kept its contact with the outside world to a minimum, due to heavy casualties. Other than a few scout patrols and supply scavengers, such as Veronica Santangelo, that come in and go back out at night, no members are allowed to leave the secure bunker and people outside of the Brotherhood entering or leaving the Hidden Valley base is unheard of.

Interactions with the player character[]

Because of the Hidden Valley lockdown, only a select few are able to leave the bunker. Because the player character is not an official member of the Brotherhood, they become a natural choice to find lost Brotherhood patrols without jeopardizing other members of the organization. Depending on the Elder leading the Brotherhood, one can aid the Brotherhood further by tapping into the radar systems of Black Mountain or eliminating the Van Graffs, who hold a large cache of energy weapons.

Technology[]

The Mojave Wasteland chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel utilizes a mixture of both the T-45d and T-51b model of power armor, with the T-51b used predominantly. Their weapons are energy-based, with tri-beam laser rifles being almost standard issue to the guards and patrols in and around the Hidden Valley bunker, while Gauss rifles are also widely used. Scribes use the Laser RCW (including Elder McNamara) or zap glove. Patrols sometimes include heavier weapons such as the Gatling laser. Their scouts continue to find weapons in the Mojave, resulting in many unused weapons being stored in the Brotherhood armory. It seems that the Brotherhood scribes are researching night vision optics and unique project initiatives such as automatic doors.

Endings[]

Narrated by Nolan McNamara, even if he is no longer elder.

#	Slide	Voice-over narration	In-game condition
1		Buried beneath tons of rubble, the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel was no more. Those few who were outside the Hidden Valley bunker when it was destroyed settled into new lives, or headed west to find a new chapter to join. Play sound FNVending BoS 7 1.ogg	Destroy the Hidden Valley Bunker. This ending will override the others even if Eyesight to the Blind or Tend to Your Business was completed.
2		During the fight for Hoover Dam, the Brotherhood took HELIOS One, inflicting heavy damage on retreating NCR forces, but it was a pyrrhic victory. Once The Strip was secured, Caesar's forces overwhelmed and eventually routed the Brotherhood from HELIOS One and Hidden Valley. Play sound FNVending BoS 7 2.ogg	During Render Unto Caesar, do not destroy the Hidden Valley Bunker. Instead, kill all members of the Brotherhood inside. Complete the endgame quest Veni, Vidi, Vici for Caesar's Legion.
3		The Brotherhood used the battle of Hoover Dam as an opportunity to retake HELIOS One, and came to control the area between it and Hidden Valley. With no organized opposition, their patrols began monitoring trade along Interstate 15 and 95, seizing any items of technology they deemed inappropriate. Play sound FNVending BoS 7 3.ogg	Do not complete Still in the Dark, or complete it by installing Hardin as Elder. Complete No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas without activating the Securitron army.
4		The Brotherhood and the NCR in the Mojave Wasteland declared an official truce, despite continued hostilities between the two in the west. As per their agreement, the NCR handed over all suits of salvaged power armor and in return the Brotherhood helped patrol Interstate 15 and Highway 95. Play sound FNVending BoS 7 4.ogg	Sign truce in For the Republic, Part 2, complete the endgame quest Eureka! for the NCR.
5		Due to their temporary truce, the Brotherhood allowed the NCR to retreat from the Mojave Wasteland without incident. In the relative peace that followed, Brotherhood patrols appeared along major roads, harassing travelers over any bits of technology they had. Play sound FNVending BoS 7 5.ogg	Sign truce in For the Republic, Part 2, complete the endgame quest No Gods, No Masters for an Independent New Vegas without activating the Securitron army.

Notes[]

• A three- to four-person patrol composed of paladins leaves the Brotherhood bunker in Hidden Valley at around 1:30 - 3:00 AM under cover of the manufactured dust cloud defense, although most, if not all, patrols return to the bunker at sunrise.
• Over Radio New Vegas, Mr. New Vegas comments on reports of "hulking individuals" that have been spotted around Hidden Valley after dark.^[13]
• Brotherhood paladins inside the bunker wear mismatched power armor. Although none wear the Brotherhood T-45d power armor, T-45 helmets are worn with Brotherhood T-51b power armor.

Appearances[]

The Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel appears only in Fallout: New Vegas and is mentioned in the add-ons Dead Money and Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes[]

On Bethesda Softworks Forums, Joshua Sawyer stated, "Many years have passed since the events of Fallout 1 and in the time between F2 and F:NV, the western Brotherhood has suffered very heavy losses. Because they are, by nature, insular, replacing their fallen veterans is difficult. Most of the Mojave chapter's paladins are relatively inexperienced. There isn't an army of Rhombuses down there." He also explained that "the Veteran Rangers in the Mojave Wasteland are also the best of a victorious army that are moved in late in the game. The Mojave Paladins are by no means the concentrated elite of the western BoS."

Bugs[]

PC Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Most members of the Brotherhood of Steel become weaker once Old World Blues is installed, reducing their Strength and Endurance stats by 3 and 2 points respectively, and removing Explosives as a tagged skill. This affects both unnamed members, particularly those found patrolling the area around Hidden Valley, as well as some named members including Linda Schuler, Senior Knight Lorenzo, and even Nolan McNamara and Edgar Hardin. ^[verified]

Gallery[]

Flag/banner render

References[]

Non-game

v · d · e Factions in Fallout: New Vegas Major factions Caesar's Legion · New California Republic (New California Republic Army (Bravo Company · First Recon · Military Police · The Misfits) · New California Republic Rangers (Alpha Squad) · Office of Science and Industry) · Free Economic Zone of New Vegas (Mr. House · Yes Man) Prospective factions Boomers · Enclave remnants · Followers of the Apocalypse · Great Khans · Mojave Brotherhood of Steel · Three Families (Chairmen  · Omertas · White Glove Society) Secondary factions Aliens · Bright Brotherhood · Cassidy Caravans · Crimson Caravan · Davison's nightkin · Fiends · Greasers · Gun Runners · Jackals · The Kings · Maud's Muggers  · Mojave Express · Powder Gangers · Rad Pack Revue · Scorpions · State of Utobitha · Van Graffs · Vipers · Westside Cooperative (Westside Militia) Add-on factions Dead Horses  · Happy Trails Caravan Company  · Mormons  · Sorrows  · White Legs  · Think Tank