Astor is a non-commissioned officer who was stationed at Camp Searchlight and was lucky enough to be out on patrol when the Frumentarii infiltrated the Camp and wiped it out using the nuclear fuel stored at the fire station. He assumed command over what troops he could gather and created a perimeter around the ruins of Searchlight to steer travelers away from the town, towards Novac.[1][2] Apart from radiation, he's particularly concerned by the feral ghouls and the odd radscorpion or gecko that was attracted by the radiation.[3] He also tries to contain Legion activity that spilled all over the southern El Dorado Valley after the fall of Searchlight, but he lost too many men to skirmishes and radiation poisoning - including superiors - to be able to stem the tide or attack Aurelius' stronghold.[4] Although he tries to keep morale up by adhering to a strict schedule, he's worried that it's only a matter of time until he runs out of steam.[5]
What Astor really needs is two things.The first is taking pity on the soldiers turned into feral ghouls and putting them out of their misery. Astor knows they were good men and don't deserve to suffer as mindless beasts slowly withering away in the irradiated ruins. He cannot bring himself to fire on his friends, however, and needs someone else to pull the trigger.[6] Since all of the turned troopers he saw are feral, he assumes that they're all gone - and if anyone isn't, he's bound to turn sooner or later.[7] That would help him sleep better.[8]
The second thing that would put his fears to rest is dealing with the Legion at Cottonwood Cove. The Legion's camp is their beachhead in NCR territory on the western bank of the Colorado, responsible for launching raids on caravans supplying the NCR in the Mojave. It can be an excellent source of intel, allowing Astor to help the war effort by communicating his findings to command.[9][10][11] However, what he really wants to see is the entire outpost put out of commission permanently. Killing the centurion and his staff would only delay Caesar, while a permanent solution,[12][13][14] especially one that would include some poetic justice, would go a long way towards mending the borders torn open by the fall of Searchlight.[15]
We Will All Go Together: Astor will request the player to put the ghoulified troopers out of their misery, as he cannot bring himself to fire on former friends still wearing NCR colors.
Eye for an Eye: Astor would also like to enlist the player's aid in retaliating against the Legion camp at Cottonwood Cove, set up after the fall of Searchlight.
Arachnophobia: Astor can be asked to take Private Kyle Edwards in his group or for a good place for him.
↑The Courier: "Where should I go instead?" Astor: "Head north toward Novac. Look for a big dinosaur, can't miss it." The Courier: "Why Novac?" Astor: "Because it's a far safer place to be than here." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "If the area is filled with radiation, why are you still here?" Astor: "I was stationed at Camp Searchlight before the incident. I've since taken it upon myself to keep travelers away from the area." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What's so dangerous about this place?" Astor: "The whole area is irradiated and filled with mutated creatures." The Courier: "What kind of creatures?" Astor: "Mostly ghouls, and a handful of radscorps. I think some geckos moved in not too long ago. They seem to stick mostly to the south end of the camp." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "How did you survive?" Astor: "I was out on patrol at the time so I wasn't in the camp when it happened. There were a few others with me after it happened, including some of my superiors. Between radiation poisoning and attacks by the Legion they all died out." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Are there any other survivors?" Astor: "None that aren't feral ghouls. Those poor bastards - I can't imagine how they must be suffering. I'd like to put them out of their misery but I don't have the heart to do it. Can you do me a favor?" The Courier: "What kind of favor?" Astor: "I want you to put down the troopers that... changed. Turned into ghouls. We don't get many supplies out here, but I can offer you some caps and maybe some old gear." The Courier: "Why do you want to kill them?" Astor: "Those boys aren't themselves anymore. They're in pain, and you don't let good men suffer like that. Those troopers deserve a clean death." The Courier: "Sure I'll do it." Astor: "Thank you. Could you bring me their dog tags? Some of the troopers should still be wearing them. I'll give you some caps for each one you bring back to me. There's an old rifle in it for you if you can bring me at least 10. Oh and take these radiation supplies. You'll need them." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "He is a ghoul in Camp Searchlight." Astor: "If he's a ghoul he should be put down. I can't let a rabid dog suffer." Astor: "But he isn't feral." Astor: "Doesn't mean he isn't suffering, or that he won't go feral eventually." Astor: "Is there somewhere else he can go?" Astor: "There's a ranger station north of here that has a few ghouls running it. Maybe they'll take him in." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "This is the last of the dog tags." Astor: "Thank you for the help. I can rest easier knowing those poor soldiers no longer have to suffer." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "[Give intel] I planted the bug in Cottonwood Cove's radio and found some intel." Astor: "This is more than I could have hoped for! It almost seems too good to be true, but the details are all here. Looks like they're planning to strike some of the southern caravans. I'll notify the rangers and patrols in that area immediately. Here are some caps for your trouble. You've done us a great service." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "[Give Aurelius' old intel] I planted the bug and found some paperwork." Astor: "This is more than I could have hoped for! It almost seems too good to be true, but the details are all here. Looks like they're planning to shift their raids north of Vegas. I'll shift some of the rangers and NCR patrols in that direction when they're free. Here are some caps for your trouble. You've done us a great service." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Is there anything you need done?" Astor: "If you can scout out the camp, bring back any intel on troop movement or plans for future raids. The rangers could put that information to good use. Also, if you're any good at covert ops, I would love to get a bug planted on their radio. So far, we've been unable to crack their encryption." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Is there anything else you need done?" Astor: "Well, unless you want to go in there and clean out that camp for me, I guess this should be more than enough for now." The Courier: "Consider it done." Astor: "What?.. Really?! You're mad, but I like it! According to the notes you gave me, all of the southern raiding parties come from that camp. Caesar regularly sends fresh squads to relieve patrols. Killing their Centurion and leadership would be a start, but finding a way to permanently shut down that dock is what we really need." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "I just killed everyone the old-fashioned way." Astor: "A single man slaughters an entire camp of legionaries?! I'm amazed. It took everything we had in the last battle at the dam to stand against those brutes. You're a beast, son. You've done a fine job, friend. Here is a little something for your work." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "I just killed everyone the old-fashioned way." Astor: "A single woman slaughters an entire camp of legionaries?! Oh, that's priceless! Considering the way Caesar treats women, that should really put some doubts into his troops' minds. Wait til the rangers hear about this! You've done a fine job, friend. Here's a little something for your work." (Astor's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "I released some barrels of radioactive waste." Astor: "That's exactly what we needed to put a cork in that camp. The Legion won't be moving through there anytime soon. It's a fitting revenge for Searchlight. Thanks for taking care of those bastards for us." The Courier: "I released some barrels of radioactive waste." Astor: "That's exactly what we needed to put a cork in that camp. The Legion won't be moving through there anytime soon. Fitting that the camp was taken care of in a way similar to Searchlight. Thank you for taking care of that place for us." (Astor's dialogue)
