>>6166599[3/3]
"Well, well, look who finally came out," the white guy starts off as you're getting out of the truck.
"Nice threads, I dig the style." You can't tell if his partner, who you presume is Hispanic based on his accent, is making fun of the pontifical guard inspired garb or genuinely appreciating the unorthodox style.
Your guards, rifles ready but not pointed, stand tall and match the raiders, one of them pointing out to you that they have another guy in the truck.
"I'm Cardinal Musella of the Sun Belt Crusaders, and we're just looking to move along across the wastes. Not looking to start any trouble, though we will defend ourselves if anyone looks to give us trouble." If these guys are like the criminals you encountered routinely as a DEA agent, then you know better than to come off as too weak.
"Well, Fidelio and I won't give you any trouble if you cough up that Blue the Warden said you agreed to pay on moving through our territory. The Protectorate's an honest faction, and you have our word that you'll be able to travel safely from Sentinel to Mobile, from Gila Bend to Tonopah."
You're not sure what to make of this, but that they were posted here probably means they've at least conquered Gila Bend, which you can just barley make out across the horizon. That they're not actively shooting at you means they're probably at least somewhat reasonable.
As per the "Shotcaller's" message, movement through the Protectorate costs a total of 2 Meth Units. This normally staggering amount of drugs is less than a day's output and barely a dent on the massive stockpiles sitting in Mobile waiting for the day you find a good market for it. You could easily pay off this price and continue on. You could also try to be a bit more cunning and try to get some better deal or get some kind of information or do something else while you're here. Or alternatively just give the order for your guards to shoot these raiders for what they pulled at Mobile, if you for some reason think it's a good idea.
How do you proceed:
>Pay them 2 MU to fuck off>Pay them just 1 MU without saying anything about it>Tell them you won't give them any meth and try to negotiate some kind of alternative payment [What?] [Roll 2d20]>Ask them or tell them something [What?]>Pay them in "plomo" by ordering the guards to shoot them and continue on [Blatant Trap Option]>Think outside the options and be creative [How?] [Write-In]And if you proceed, where to?
>North to the Nuclear Zone where the Electric Union is as per Trkulja's plan>Wander around Gila Bend and see how the town is doing>Go to Lewis Prison and loiter around to collect intel>Go somewhere else [Where?] 