Battle of the Divide The Battle of the Divide ( also known as the Battle of the Two Couriers ) was the conflict between the Courier and Ulysses in the year 2281 . A long trail of discovery , philosophy , and history , it took place in the Divide in New California , and decided the very fate of the east and west for decades , and possibly centuries to come . Prelude . When the Courier had unsuspectingly destroyed the towns of Hopeville and Ashton with Enclave technology from Navarro , a Caesar ' s Legion agent named Ulysses survived the explosions after medical eyebots revived him due to his American flag duster . The entire event changed Ulysses , and brought him to many revolutionary realizations . This disaster nearly killed Ulysses , but he was saved by several medical eyebots , who had also been activated by the copy of ED - E . They recognized the flag of America on his back and saved him . Ulysses ' life was changed that day , showing him how a single individual could change history , or erase it . As a survivor of the Divide , he held the Courier responsible for the destruction of the place that could have been his true home ; of something " larger than the Bear , greater than the Bull . " At the same time , it inspired him , showing just how great of an impact a single person can have on history . In 2277 , he returned to Caesar , learning that the First Battle of Hoover Dam ended in the defeat of Caesar ' s Legion . There , he was assigned a new duty . Ulysses was determined to take revenge and sought to reshape the post - apocalyptic world single handedly , much like the Courier reshaped the newly named Divide by unleashing nuclear fire upon it . At some point before the Second Battle of Hoover Dam , Ulysses contacted the Courier via a single message : the coordinates for the canyon wreckage west of Primm , and the words " Courier Six - Ulysses " , wanting to destroy their new home in his reshaping process of America before their eyes , as the Courier did for him with the Divide . The Courier answered the call and confronted Ulysses at the Divide . There , under the Old World flag and the torn skies , the two decided the fate of America . Battle . Once the Courier arrived at the Divide , they met a clone of a robot named ED - E , who was cloned by the Divide ' s computers when he passed through the area . The robot assisted the Courier in traversing the missile base . Ulysses then contacted the Courier through ED - E and discussed the situation . Afterwards , the Courier retrieved a laser detonator and the Red Glare . Using the laser detonator to destroy warheads blocking their path , the Courier continued on and passed the High Road , slaughtering packs of and tunneler s . Along the way , the Courier accidentally launched a nuclear warhead that entirely destroyed an area of the Divide over again , creating the Courier ' s Mile . Once the Courier had finally reached Ashton , Ulysses confiscated ED - E , and brought him back to his temple . The Courier had to reach the temple alone . Once the Courier entered the temple , they were reunited with ED - E , who was either freed from the bot pods , or left alone . The Courier ( and ED - E , if freed ) entered the missile silo where Ulysses awaited . Ulysses revealed to the Courier that he had set the Divide ' s nuclear missiles to launch within minutes and destroy the entirety of the Long 15 , cutting off the NCR in the Mojave Wasteland and dooming the Republic as well as the denizens of the Mojave . There was no way to deactivate the launch , except with ED - E . They could however be redirected elsewhere . The Courier and Ulysses then discussed the matter extensively . What became of this is unknown to history . Appearances . The Battle of the Divide is foretold in the " " " Dead Money " and " Old World Blues " , and appears in " Lonesome Road " .