Fall of the New California Republic (Fall of the Bear)

The fall of the New California Republic was the process of the disintegration of the New California Republic, resulting in the collapse and the balkanization of the country. 
== Background ==
=== 2281 — Legion triumphant at the Dam ===
Following the First Battle of Hoover Dam, the New California Republic emerged victorious, but in the process grew complacent in their military strategies. Under the leadership of General Lee Oliver, the NCR fortified the Dam and the Colorado River banks, continuing their previous tactics. The NCR’s control within the Mojave territories expanded, facilitating troop movements to the frontlines. Supply routes through Long 15, 127, and the newly-opened SR 178 improved access to and from New Vegas. However, internal discord, particularly between Oliver and Ranger Chief Hanlon, undermined the NCR’s military effectiveness.
In contrast, Caesar and the Legion took a different approach and overhauled their military strategy against the NCR. Reluctantly adopting old-world technology like artillery, the Legion modernized its arsenal with small firearms and rifles. The Legion’s diplomatic efforts included aiding the Boomers in restoring a B-29 bomber, which would later support Legion operations. Legate Lanius, known as the Butcher of the East, was recalled to lead Caesar’s forces, while the frumentarii, led by Vulpes Inculta, intensified their espionage, with agents like Picus securing critical NCR intelligence.
By 2282, the Legion was fully prepared for conflict. On March 15, 2282, they initiated a large-scale offensive against NCR defenses. Legion conscripts charged entrenched positions, while seasoned soldiers infiltrated the Dam’s intake tunnels, compromising NCR strongholds from within. The Boomer’s B42 Superfortress additionally conducted bombing raids on NCR fortifications at the Dam, which, along with artillery fire, eventually succumbed to a massive human wave assault by the Legion. Concurrently, a flanking maneuver targeted Camp Golf and Camp Forlorn Hope, where Hanlon and the NCR Rangers mounted a desperate defense.
The Second Battle of Hoover Dam was a catastrophic event that inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. General Lee Oliver organized a valiant last stand at the Dam, but the Legion’s relentless human wave assaults eventually breached the NCR’s fortifications. At the last second, Oliver issued the order to retreat, marking the defeat of NCR forces at the Dam.
Without the strategic fallback position of Boulder City, which had played a pivotal role in the first battle, the NCR resorted to a desperate measure: sabotaging the Dam’s power turbines. This act of sabotage deprived the Legion of the Dam’s utilities, necessitating extensive repairs before it could be operational again. The Legion’s offensive resulted in the capture of Camp Forlorn Hope, further solidifying their position in the region. Conversely, the NCR managed to secure a pyrrhic victory at Camp Golf, a bittersweet outcome that came at a great cost.
The fall of the Old World Wall signified a profound shift in the NCR, undermining the stability of the Mojave administration. This failure introduced an era of uncertainty regarding the Republic’s future, challenging the NCR’s ability to maintain its influence and governance over the Mojave Territories.
=== 2283 — Electoral deadlock ===
In 2283, the New California Republic experienced a year marked by fear and uncertainty following the Republic’s disastrous defeat at the Dam. The subsequent general elections, aimed at determining the Republic’s direction for the ensuing five years, were marred by violence and civil unrest unprecedented in the NCR’s history. This period signified a regression in democratic norms, characterized by the expansion of the Department of Internal Security’s Directorate on Unpatriotic Activities, which was tasked with suppressing dissenting media and press.
Despite the turmoil, a segment of the populace remained hopeful in the resilience of the Republic’s institutions and the founding principles laid down by Presidents [[Aradesh and Tandi, the NCR’s forebears. However, as the election neared, a pervasive sense of anxiety engulfed New Californian society. The Senate, plagued by incessant disputes, failed to secure a majority vote, even as votes shifted from one candidate to another. The worst fears of the people had come to fruition: for the first time in NCR history, it faced absolute electoral The legislative body, lacking historical precedent and constitutional guidance for such an impasse, found itself crippled and unable to make any action.
As a result, President Kimball seized the opportunity to assert his leadership and prolong his presidency amidst the crisis. Addressing the NCR Senate in February 2283, he underscored the need for stable governance during these challenging times and proclaimed that he would retain the presidency until new elections were organized. This declaration sparked the beginning of true chaos within the Republic. 
The enactment of the Provisional Security Act centralized authority in Shady Sands, effectively stripping state-level powers and further estranging the citizenry. The Directorate’s intensified crackdowns infringed upon civil liberties, leading to widespread disapproval of Kimball’s administration. The interim government’s tenure was brief, however, ending by the downing of the Bear Force One fleet, which carried Kimball, his vice president, and cabinet officials, en route to the Hub. To this day, it is not known who orchestrated the assassination, but many speculate that it was an inside job, seeing as the perpetrators had access to the fleet's flight plans.
The demise of President Kimball and his cabinet left the NCR in a difficult position. The NCR Army, which had maintained a stance of neutrality, stepped in to assert control and declared martial law. A coalition of military officers and politicians, who were supportive of the military, established the National Administrative Committee of California.
Amidst soaring levels of civil unrest, the Committee undertook drastic measures to stabilize the NCR. In an urgent bid to reinforce the Republic’s defenses against rebels and protesters, they ordered the withdrawal of all military personnel from the Mojave Territories in order to bolster the overextended garrisons within California. However, this strategic repositioning effectively abandoned the Mojave Territories, leaving them vulnerable to annexation by the Legion. Despite the Committee’s efforts to avert the crisis, the situation in California deteriorated rapidly, signaling the onset of what would be known as the Californian meltdown.
=== 2284 — The Californian meltdown ===
The year 2284 was a turning point for the New California Republic, marking its annus horribilis, and ultimately leading to its dissolution. Despite the efforts of experienced Mojave soldiers aiding local garrisons to quell the unrest, the Republic’s control began to unravel. The state of Los Angeles were the first to separate, under the leadership of Desmond Guthrie and his Regulators, declared independence, forming the Union of Southern California. Similarly, the Free State of Redding emerged, led by a consortium of brahmin barons. The cities of New Reno and Vault City, havens of relative tranquility, seceded from the NCR. Additionally, mercenaries directed by the Hub’s city council seized control of the surrounding territories, establishing the Free City of the Hub.
The National Administrative Committee, paralyzed by these secessions and the desertion of their garrisons, found itself unable to respond effectively. It was not until General Lee Oliver assumed leadership of the Committee that a reorganization effort began. Oliver’s strategy involved diminishing the influence of the civilian government, enhancing the Committee’s authority, and orchestrating a strategic withdrawal of loyal NCR forces to Navarro and Shady Sands, forming the State of New California.
As the NCR fragmented, external entities closely observed the unfolding chaos, poised to claim parts of the disintegrating Republic. The state of Maxson, traditionally aligned with the Brotherhood of Steel, seceded and joined forces with them, establishing an interim military government under Head Paladin Thorsson. Meanwhile, Caesar commanded Legate Lanius to secure the rest of the Colorado's western banks, and the Mojave Brotherhood seized the opportunity to extend its dominion, capturing Helios One. These events sealed the fate of the New California Republic, and ushered in a new era entirely for the region.
=== 2285–2292 — Contemporary period ===
As the dust settles on the fractured landscape of New California, the rump states stand on the precipice of a new era. The once-mighty New California Republic, now divided into several independent territories, braces for a conflict that could reshape the wasteland forever. The State of New California, with its burgeoning military industry, Redding and the Hub with their trade dominance, the Maxson Rectorate with its renewed Brotherhood of Steel forces, and other smaller territories each powerful in their own right — all poised for a showdown that echoes the old world’s history.
The Calafian Warband, a force of chaos funded by the Legion to sow instability and permanently dismantle New California, has dwindled, as Caesar's fall and the Legion's own turmoil leaves them fighting their battle alone. Now, the stage is set for a Great War, not just of arms and armies, but of ideals and the vision for the future of New California. 
Will it be a land of pacifism and democracy, following the principles of Aradesh and Tandi? Will it be a land of conquest, just as Kimball transformed the NCR into? Or will it be a land with ideals and principles entirely new? The wasteland watches with bated breath as the soldiers march, the factories roar, and the leaders plot. The choices made today will forever ripple through the annals of post-apocalyptic history. The die is cast, and in this world, where war… war never changes, the hope for peace remains a fragile dream.