Robert House

"*Nothing to impede progress. If you want to see the fate of democracies, look out the windows.*"
―Mr. House

**Robert Edwin House**is the mysterious overseer of New Vegas in 2281. Prior to war, House was the founder and CEO of RobCo Industries, which produced the vast majority of computers and robotics in the United States. Having survived the war and two centuries after through unknown means, House now rules as the self-styled President, CEO, and sole proprietor of the Strip.

## History

### The Old World

House was born in 2020 to a wealthy Nevada tool magnate. He and his older brother Anthony were orphaned when their parents died in a freak industrial accident. Anthony cheated Robert out of his rightful share of their father's tool company. Nevertheless, he continued to work hard and eventually attended the Commonwealth Institute of Technology, becoming one of its premier engineering graduates. Top of his class, he became quite an insufferable genius, eventually resulting in a rivalry with his lab partner, Think Tank scientist Doctor 0.

After graduation, at age 22, House founded RobCo Industries, which quickly overtook the market as the top corporation in the computer, robotics, and tech industries. With his intellect, business acumen, and ruthlessness, House became one of the richest businessmen in the United States. He used his vast wealth to acquire properties in other fields, such as REPCONN Aerospace, the Lucky 38 Casino, and even his father's old tool company, leaving his brother to waste away, running a small unimportant factory.

House possessed an uncanny ability to predict the future. Whether it was luck or careful planning after running hundreds of simulations, House was very good at predicting what was coming. In 2065, he predicted a nuclear war within the next 15 years. To ensure he survived the war and afterwards, House began extensive preparations. From his headquarters at the Lucky 38, a satellite array was installed above Vegas which could target and beam computer coordinations at incoming missiles to disarm them in flight. A laser array was installed on the top of the Lucky 38 to destroy any missiles that go through. As for himself, he constructed a "hibernation chamber" which could take care of his body through the world's most advanced life support system. Inside, his brain was connected to a massive supercomputer. Using an army of securitrons, House could interact with the outside world.

Key to all of this was a Platinum Chip, inside of which carried an overhauling upgrade for his securitrons and the laser array. The Chip was set to be delivered in the afternoon of October 23, 2077. The bombs fell that morning. The incomplete software had to take on 77 incoming Chinese warheads. The satellites disabled 59, the lasers shot down 9, while the remaining missiles hit areas that were outside of Vegas. While Vegas was spared, it carried a serious toll on Mr. House. The inferior software continued to crash and sent House into near death. The system and House finally rebooted by using an older version of the operation system. It would take a coma for several decades before House finally awoke, ready to rebuild humanity as he saw fit.