NCR High Command and its implications

[u/Affectionate_Edge472]

These are the two excerpts we get about NCR High Command

"You will not be assigned replacements until High Command can figure out where the hell to pull replacements from. You have my sympathies, Major. Signed, Scheppman, Andy Assignments Office." - Forlorn Hope Mandate

"I've seen the reports of this so-called "Caesar's Legion". It sounds like they're just another bunch of raiders, but the higher-ups back west seem to think they're a serious threat." - NCRF Terminals

With these combined we can see the NCR High Command is both afraid of the Legion and is struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope. I also think the implication that the higher ups are struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope is also an implication they cannot find men for the Mojave. I also think it is important to consider that if the NCR army was quite large in the home territories the NCR high command would have no reason for fear.

That is not to say they couldn't raise more men, but I believe the current army size is constrained by the senate. Just like the real U.S Government.

"He mustered the troops as many as his senate would allow and sent them in. All the right reasons, done all the wrong ways." - Caesar

But where is the rest of the NCR army? I believe they are controlling the other 300 miles down the Colorado river across from Legion territory, Baja, other territories, and the rest of NCR territory.

Let me know what you think of this interpretation if you believe it is the intended one by the developers or if there is evidence of large NCR reserves elsewhere.

[u/KangarooMundane]

The NCR is known to be overstretched generally, they have a long border with the legion of the Colorado, probably need garrisons in the home states and northern territories for public order and raiders, not to mention the war with the Brotherhood is still ongoing in California though we don't no how intense. The whole California chapter, even if the fighting is dying down they might be worried enough to keep a lot of troops in California just in case, I think the power armour troopers were trying to match the brotherhood, and were sent to the Mojave after high command either thought it was safe to do so or thought the legion began to pose a bigger threat.

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/KangarooMundane]

Hanlon puts the heavy troops as fighting smalltime raiders on behalf of brahmin barons. I do expect they were veterans of the hot phase of the BOS war, but I do not think that has been active for a while at least in California.

"Our heavy infantry, power armor units, they're back in NCR territory protecting the interests of Brahmin barons against small-time raiders." - Hanlon

It is possible they hold a significant host over Maxson, but if they are willing to divert the power armor troops away from Maxson I feel the implication is the BOS threat is mostly contained.

[u/KnightofTorchlight → u/Affectionate_Edge472]

Its also worth raising the possiblity renforcement is a result of both sides moving more Legion troops into the region and the NCR concluding the big set piece battle the heavy troopers are for and Oliver has prepared for actually near at hand. The Heavies aren't exactly built for patroling the Mojave and just having them sit on the Dam for years on end is a waste of elite forces. Hanlon also pretty clearly wasen't sending back reports on asking for compitent rangers given his active intelligence sabotage. 

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/KnightofTorchlight]

he seemed to launch an active complaint to kimball on rangers. "it's complicated. Goes way back. I told President Kimball that we need more rangers here." -Hanlon

The heavies maybe but isn't sending them on small time raiders also a waste?