Omertas

The Omertas are one of the Three Families of New Vegas. Before the formation of the Three Families, the Omertas were known as the Slither Kin, however, their employment under Mr. House required the shedding of their old tribal skin for the stylings of old-world mafiosos.
In 2281, they operate the Gomorrah club and casino on the New Vegas Strip in the Mojave Wasteland.
==Background==
A highly organized and deadly gang of mobsters, the Omertas control the Gomorrah casino, a sleazy vice den that embodies the ruthless exploitation beneath the glitz and glamour of the Strip's neon signs.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide, p. 41: "The Omertas"Base of operations: Gomorrah [2D.01]A highly organized and deadly tribe of Raiders, the Omertas murdered and looted all they encountered, sometimes holing up in a stronghold for years, other times leading a nomadic existence in restless pursuit of their next big score. The Omertas have just one rule: never betray the family. Everything else is permitted. Their casino, Gomorrah, is a sleazy vice den on a grand scale, and as such embodies the ruthless exploitation beneath the glitz and glamour of the Strip’s neon signs. While by outside appearances the Omertas seem content with their lot, the family’s penchant for treachery and murder is alive and well, and the tribe’s leadership is collaborating with Caesar’s Legion to bring about the Strip’s downfall."'' They use the casino as a center to run dirty scams and extortions. They also control all prostitution that goes on around the casino.The Courier: "What's the Omertas' role in Gomorrah?"Joana: "They run the place as a center for all their dirty scams and extortions. Gambling, sex, drugs, they'll use whatever works to exploit your weaknesses. Hooker, customer, it doesn't matter. Everyone here's a pawn to the Omertas, playing and dying by their rules."(Joana's dialogue)
Prior to being recruited by Mr. House, the Omertas were a wasteland tribe known as the Slither Kin. The tribe was known for the practice of luring unsuspecting travelers into their camps before drugging them, then murdering or enslaving them. They led a nomadic existence, and took great pride in their craft. The viciousness of the Slither Kin appealed to Mr. House by reminding him of certain criminal elements that once operated in pre-War Las Vegas.The Courier: "You recruited the Omertas as one of the Three Families?"Robert House: "Yes, though at the time they called themselves the "Slither Kin." A vicious clan, not that that's changed, exactly. They were nomads, capable fighters, but their specialty was betrayal. They'd invite travelers into their yurts, drug them, murder or enslave them. They took pride in their craft. I don't think Omertas saw other people as people at all. Everyone else was just... prey. They reminded me of a certain criminal element Vegas used to attract. I told them some stories, gave them some clothes - and they ran with it."(Robert House's dialogue)
==Organization==
The Omertas and the Gomorrah casino are run by Nero and his righthand man, Big Sal. Cachino is a small-time "underboss" within the family and is put in charge of menial tasks, as well as anything that the head of the family needs taken care of that they do not have time to see to themselves.The Courier: "What was Cachino's role in the plan?"Nero: "Cachino was my Man Friday. He took care of what needed to be taken care of. Had no idea what a dumb son of a bitch he was."(Nero's dialogue)
As the Omerta name suggests, they do not readily give out information, or go into detail about the family's dealings with anyone not of the family. The Omertas have just one rule: never betray the family. Everything else is permitted. Breaking this code of silence is dealt with, swiftly and severely. For muscle, they employ a variety of thugs and button men.
The Omertas are obsessed with power and the ability to control people to meet their needs. They are also very adept at finding ways to squeeze a quick cap or two out of any situation. This is evident in the fact that they get their new "employees" hooked on free chems, and then start charging for each additional fix while simultaneously taking a cut of the caps the "employee" has earned. Keeping the prostitutes hooked on chems keeps them dependent on the Omertas, and keeps them under their employ while ensuring they remain docile and manageable.The Courier: "Wouldn't you make more money working on the Strip?"Sweetie: "I got my start at the Gomorrah, good money, but I saw how those Omertas hook girls on free Jet or Med-X - then start charging. Slavery through a needle is what that is. I earn less out here, but I keep more."(Sweetie's dialogue) When a gambler contracts a debt with the Omertas, they give them some time to pay them back, but act ruthlessly if the debt is not paid after that delay.The Courier: "What happened between you and the Omertas?"Comm Officer Lenk: "I talked to the cashier at Gomorrah into forwarding me some chips - I was convinced I was due for a hot streak. It, uh, didn't go so well. The Omertas were nice and said they'd give me some time to pay them back. They also said if they had to talk to me about my debt again, they wouldn't be nice the next time."(Comm Officer Lenk's dialogue)
==Relations with the outside==
The Omertas only care about protecting or improving the power they have at their command. Showing a façade that they appear to be perfectly content running the Gomorrah, the Omertas have entered into an agreement with Caesar's Legion to attack the Strip at the same time the Legion makes their assault on Hoover Dam.The Courier: "So tell me about your plan."Big Sal: "Caesar asked us to provide a distraction on the Strip. So when he gives the word we're going to launch an all out assault on the Strip. First we're going to blow the Embassy, then we're going to use soldiers to kill every last motherfucker on the Strip. Then we'll run this joint. That'll teach Not-At-Home what can go on while he sits in his fucking ivory tower lording down from on high."(Big Sal's dialogue) Putting more stock in Legion propaganda than the management practices of Mr. House, and wanting to use the Legion to springboard their power base, coupled with their confidence that the second Battle of Hoover Dam will draw the attention of Mr. House's Securitrons, the Omertas believe they will have no problem taking over the Strip.
The Omertas make sure to stay away from dealings with the New California Republic, (despite their best customers being troopers and citizens of the NCR), feeling like the institution of NCR laws and taxation will have a severe hindrance on how they conduct business.
The Omertas do not have any other business or exposure to the other tribes and factions of the Mojave Wasteland, it is mentioned by the Gomorrah receptionist, and Papa Khan that the Omertas along with the rest of what was to become the Three Families, had a war with the Great Khans.The Courier: "What can you tell me about what's going on around the Strip?"Gomorrah receptionist: "It's hard to believe that not too long ago most of the families on the Strip were little more than warring tribes. The Omertas even had a big war with the Khans, once upon a time."(Gomorrah receptionist's dialogue) The result was the Khans being driven from the ruins of Las Vegas to the northeast to settle Bitter Springs, thus ensuring that the tribes Mr. House had hired, could begin the renovation of Vegas.The Courier: "Maybe you could give me the short version."Papa Khan: "In a hurry, are you? Very well then: The Great Khans came east out of the NCR 14 years ago. We ruled the Wastes, then, and called no man master. But we underestimated the Families of the Strip, and they drove us back to Bitter Springs, where we remained until the NCR arrived and drove us here."(Papa Khan's dialogue)
==Technology==
The arsenal of the Omertas includes the combat knife, .44 Magnum revolver, 9mm submachine gun, 10mm submachine gun, sawed-off shotgun and riot shotgun.
==Interactions with the player character==
* The way to come across the Omertas is through the main storyline. For various organizations, the Courier is asked to contact the Omertas. The quest starts with the gang approaching the player character, curious as to why they are meddling in their affairs. A member of the family (Cachino) comes up and asks why they have been asking questions about him. To get info out of him, one must enter his room and steal his diary from his desk, or pickpocket him. At this point, there are several ways to proceed in the How Little We Know questline.
* The Omertas are on the receiving end of the two-star (★★) New Vegas challenge added with the Gun Runners' Arsenal add-on Nyah! See?, netting 500 XP for killing 10 of them with any submachine gun, light machine gun, or minigun.
==Appearances==
The Omertas appear only in Fallout: New Vegas.
==Behind the scenes==
* Omerta is the code of silence in Sicilian/Italian crime organizations such as the Mafia, also known as the code of La Cosa Nostra.
* The Omertas favor a style of formal wear that was popular with pre-War Prohibition-era gangsters in the United States.
* When asked why the Omertas did not have Tommy Guns, Joshua Sawyer replied that he "didn't want The Strip to feel like another New Reno. Whether you liked New Reno or hated it, they definitely had the Tommy Gun gangster thing going on."J.E. Sawyer on forums.bethsoft
==Bugs==
 If the Omertas turned hostile because of minor crimes or trespassing, they will not turn peaceful again even after waiting three in-game days. A possible solution for this problem can be achieved by entering and into the console. 
==References==
Non-game
 
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