Ronald Curtis

Captain Ronald Curtis is an officer of the New California Republic Army, heading Bravo Company at Camp McCarran in Fallout: New Vegas.

His real identity is that of a Frumentarius (codename Picus) planted by Caesar's Legion to spy and sabotage the NCR Army.

Background
Officially an upstanding officer of the NCR Army, Ronald Curtis has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks, reaching the rank of captain and position of Bravo Company commander in three and a half years (six months faster than usual). Of course, it wasn't by accident: Curtis is actually a frumentarius sent into the NCR by Caesar years before the Legion arrived on the banks of the Colorado River to challenge the Republic. Frumentarius Picus is one of the most prized operatives the Legion has at its disposal, a deep-cover agent whose false identity is years in the making. The former Bravo commander was snuffed out by Picus to place him in command of McCarran's Bravo company. As commanding officer, Curtis became known as a hardliner. Missing roll call, for example, became desertion and reason for flogging troopers, regardless of the actual reason for the absence.

While normally he would be commanding Bravo Company in the field, General Lee Oliver placed his company at Camp McCarran to shore up its defenses. While his men man the walls, Curtis helps Colonel James Hsu with logistics. This is more than advantageous for Picus who uses his new position to very discretely provide information on NCR plans to Caesar's Legion, sabotage NCR assets and keep one step ahead of any efforts to apprehend him. Although he provides intel on patrols and other NCR plans to the Fiends every day, his main goal has been to build up trust with Colonel Hsu to pull off a major sabotage plan without losing his cover. Picus currently has Martina Groesbeck as an informant on the Strip, feeding him information on New Vegas, particularly the casinos; although she would never wittingly help slavers, Picus has concealed his true allegiance from her and is aided by her intelligence gathering.

The Legion's Frumentarii have been planning this operation for years as a part of the greater Operation Racket, first requiring Picus to infiltrate the NCRA. The NCR bolsters its presence on the New Vegas Strip from Camp McCarran; using the connecting monorail lets them occupy two positions for the price of one. In his years at McCarran, Picus has learned all he can about this monorail and intends to sabotage it. However, Picus believes that Colonel James Hsu is beginning to suspect him; therefore, Picus is looking for the right scapegoat on which to pin the sabotage. He left some bomb making supplies alongside a bomb, which are to be placed in Private Davey Crenshaw's personal footlocker to incriminate the practical joker. Although, for this plan to work, Private Crenshaw cannot be allowed to blab and deny his involvement, meaning he must be dead before the sabotage is reported to Colonel Hsu. The Courier: "I know who you are. I'm working for the Legion, too." Ronald Curtis: "Christ, keep it down! You want to blow the whole thing? We've worked years for this. But maybe it's good you're here. Hsu knows about the leaks, and I'm supposed to find the spy for him. At first I couldn't believe my luck. But since I haven't produced results - for obvious reasons - I feel him looking at me differently now. Maybe he's just thinking about putting someone else in charge, maybe he's starting to suspect. Either way it's bad for me. Especially once this next part goes down." The Courier: "What next part?" Ronald Curtis: "If you haven't noticed, the NCR bolsters its presence on the Strip from here. Sends troopers on the monorail in shifts. The monorail lets them occupy two positions for the price of one. It's a supply line that's immune to raiders and other hindrances on the ground. If someone were to cut that line, both positions would be much weaker. Fragile. They know this, and they watch it like hawks. But I've been here a long time, and I've learned everything there is to know about it. And I'm going to blow up that train." The Courier: "And you have something in mind for me?" Ronald Curtis: "I told you I think they're starting to suspect me. You're going to help me cast away those suspicions. You're going to put the bomb on that train. I'll be sure to be in the presence of several reliable eyewitnesses when it happens. Then we're going to pin this on a scapegoat. I'd planned on disappearing after this operation. It'd be a matter of time before they traced it to me. Figured out I was a frumentarius. But with your help, maybe I can stay on after all. Make plans for something... grander." The Courier: "Tell me what I need to do." Ronald Curtis: "I have the explosives stashed in a trash can next to the ticketing counter along with some incriminating documents. You'll pick them up and make your way upstairs to the monorail terminal. They change the guard there at 0900 and 1800 hours. There'll be a small window where there's no one guarding the train." The Courier: "What do I do when I'm at the train?" Ronald Curtis: "Put the bomb in one of the vents inside the train on the back wall, towards the joint that connects the cars. Arm it, and get out of there. I've also left some bomb ingredients in with the explosives. You are to take those to the footlocker of a Private Crenshaw. Crenshaw's a problem child. Lots of run-ins with his superiors. It'll be easy for them to believe he's working for the Legion." The Courier: "Is that everything?" Ronald Curtis: "Report him to Colonel Hsu. Do all that and we should be free and clear. Oh, and Crenshaw should be dead before you report him. Don't leave any chance for him to deny the bombings. Let's say he pulled a gun on you. I've got him on guard duty patrolling the tarmac just inside the south gate. And I reassigned the other guard, so he should be alone." The Courier: "Understood. I'll go and pick up the explosives." Ronald Curtis: "Good. Try to plant the explosives quietly if you can - you'll make both our lives easier. But first things first. Go offer your services to Colonel Hsu. Tell him you'll work independently to find the leak. He's running out of options. He'll accept as long as you don't give him a reason not to. If he doesn't, then don't be surprised if you're the new scapegoat. So don't fuck this up." (Ronald Curtis' dialogue) Picus currently is only steps away from pulling off his major plan, but bides his time for the right pieces to fall into place and to find the extra conspirator to ensure his alibi is established.

Silus, the captured Legion centurion, recognized Curtis upon being brought into McCarran, having met him years earlier during the latter's frumentarii training. He did not know his alias, however. Curtis is also well known to Vulpes Inculta, the frumentarii leader, for his resounding work at infiltrating the NCR and has been keeping close tabs on his progress.

Quests

 * I Put a Spell on You: Tracking down the Legion mole at McCarran leads all the way to Curtis and culminates in attempted sabotage of the monorail that connects the Strip with Camp McCarran. Note that while story-wise Curtis is a Legion spy, he's programmed as an NCR officer and "sniffer" who will see through disguises and attack.

Behind the scenes

 * "You're getting too close, shamus!" is a reference to the classic computer game and television series Carmen Sandiego.
 * Picus draws his Legion name from the mythological Picus, while his handler's callsign, Lupa (Latin for she-wolf), is a direct reference to the myths surrounding the founding of Rome.

Appearances
Ronald Curtis appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.