The answer as to who finances Talon Company is obvious, it's Todd Howard. He employs them to deal with anyone who questions his wise and all-correct judgment.

Getting on the wrong side of Talon Company early game basically provides a renewable resource of weapons and armor. Which is nice, especially after you get the Ranger Battle Armor.

"It is uncertain why Tenpenny is tagged as very evil" Yeah, I can't imagine why a guy who wants to nuke a town for the sole reason of it being a bit of an eyesore would be considered evil.

Who are they? Free combat armor!

I dont belive that the enclave and talon fighting contradicts my theory that the enclave is secretly hiring them, because eden hired them on purpose (via shell company like you said) to keep the wasteland lawless so the enclave can sweep in and "save" the wasteland, this fits perfectly with what we see in the game, enclave specifically targetting talon company after they go public shows that they are trying to show that they are better and saving the wasteland from the dangers in that irradiated hellscape.

I wonder if their group was ever intended to be joinable, or at least have quests directly attached for evil characters. It seems like they have tons of story potential, but instead of explanations all we get is speculation. Between the scientist and the uniquely named base commander, I think there was 'meant to be more to' this faction

I find the President Eden theory kinda scary accurate as if you think about it the major symbol of the United States was the Eagle. And what does a eagle need too do "work" his talons... is this just me just over thinking things but then again they also are colored black like enclave soldiers just a more cheap expandable version but loyal too the probably massive funds Eden has at his disposal.

I think the implication is that Talon Company is actually backed by multiple people/organizations on a per-contract basis. Littlehorn and associates might be behind the good karma contract, Burke has his own hit if we disarm the Megaton bomb, And The Enclave could be paying not in caps, but in firepower in the form of laser rifles, for removing the mutants from DC. Who's to say that Abraham Washington hasn't taken out a contract to secure the mall as well, given that he's interested in some of the documents inside the National Archives.

it's possible that Eden did contract the Talon company in a way similar to operation Northwood. for those unfamiliar essentially it was an idea during the Cold war the CIA proposed the president, false flag attacks would be conducted on American citizens and be blamed on Cuban radicalist thus ensuring support for an invasion of Cuba. Eden could have had the similar idea of wanting The enclave to look like the good guys by simply mopping them and thus showing their strength as they were able to do what no one else could. also in operation Anchorage some of the outcasts mentioned wanting to join Talon company because the pay is better.

I think it's the enclave. What gives it away is the whole "The strong shall rule." Since it falls in line with their doctrine. Also Notice that when edin brings up his list of wasteland malcontents he never mentions the talon co mercs.

I'm a firm believer it's Daniel Littlehorn. The way the Fallout 3 guide treats him, I assume he knows everyone from the Talon Company commander to Eulogy Jones to Tenpenny and Mr. Burke is just another guy with the Contract Killer perk.

Tennpenney. He's the only one in the area with the funds and power but after he gets his tower he lets them loose.

speculation lore is absolutely fantastic. Not much to do now but give our own view from our experiences from playing.

I keep telling everyone, Moira Brown is THE criminal mastermind of the Capitol Wasteland. Moira is the most persistent NPC in game when it comes to trying to kill the Lone Wanderer. She is the one financing Talon Company. Hell, she has even hacked the game files to make her look like she has good karma (she drops an ear, not a finger), thus throwing everyone off her scent.

I honestly always figured perhaps Vault-Tec was behind these other somewhat lesser merc factions. Everyone always tells me that VT is dead, but considering how much rogue artificial intelligence we have running around and the fact Enclave leadership seems to pop up from time to time, I don't it's outside the realm of possibility. The reason I have for VT having all these mercs running around? No clue. I think I just want VT to be an actual enemy to fight one day in a Fallout game.

I wonder if Talon Company and even Gunner may be funded, in part, by a variety of people, rather than one person, or small group. May have started by being funded by one person. But by the time the Lone Wanderer is around, it could be anyone with caps, or what have you. And thus not one person, or small group, finances them, anymore.

“What about Tenpenny gives him very evil karma?” I mean could it be the fact he wanted to explode a town with a nuclear bomb because it looked ugly on the horizon of the blown out wasteland he shoots living creatures from absolute safety in?

Glad to see this channel still going. The algorithm is basking in your glow.

I like to imagine some higher ups at the Enclave pay off Talon Co to destabilize the Wasteland and weaken the Brotherhood.

The satellite array can actually summon a orbital bombardment via terminal, what the ghoul scientist wanted, the problem is the connection was blocked. What's blocking it? Bottles left within the dish wich when physically removed allow the connection to be made.

Go for it! I would love to see a series of speculation videos on fallout lore.

One of them has the only black combat helmet as well! :D I love their armor so I always save mega ton, then go to the unmarked hilltop place with a load of lockpicks (with the unique sniper in) they seem to always spawn outside with free armor for me after going to evergreen mills for that beast of a shotgun!

absolutely would love a video on Caesar’s Legion’s potential succession crisis did Caesar have his own set of possible inheritors? could someone man up and take the legion in a different direction in order to survive? will any changes even be followed by loyalists who solely follow caesar himself?

Perhaps the people behind Talon Company are the same one's who raised Charon. You know, the intense Ghoul mercenary/slave who is loyal only to his contract (a loyalty seemingly beyond any moral restraint) due to the... Interesting and mysterious people who raised hin. That and his love of combat shotguns and grenades. Seems he would be well in line with them at least, even though Charon isnt a bad guy.

I was very impressed by your whole new York/Corp idea. They could be a military corp or a corporation.

I like the implication at 1:30 that Virginia and Maryland are not real.

Oh the wood thing is totally realistic, in the UK loads of old fences and phone booths were scrapped to make ammo and flak during the blitz! theres actually a long wall with no railing that has a little plaque that points this out in my town not far from where I live.

To be fair, Burke speaks to you(the Lone Wanderer) in pretty much the same way that is described in his mercenary contract with the Talon Company.

I've player FO3 a number of ways, and the most hostile, deadly interactions I had with Talon Company occurred when I played as the villain.

I always liked the look of the talons gear

Moria Brown is either a former Talon or current Talon. Happy Hunting is a common saying between the both of them. That can't be a coincidence.

Very interesting video. I hadn't really thought about this before, and you raise some valid points, but ultimately, my conclusion is that there doesn't have to be one single financier behind them. It fits their bloodthirsty, unrelenting and undiscerning nature that they would take any and all jobs that come their way. Burke could be paying them to go after do-gooders that inadvertently interfere with his and Tenpenny's shady business endeavours - and Tenpenny would allow it because the wasteland being chaotic only makes his tower more exclusive and desirable. The Enclave (or Eden in secret) could also be contracting them to keep the wasteland in chaos so that they could swoop in and "save America" and be seen as the heroes of the hour. They would stop paying them at that moment which explains the in-game hostility between them. Littlehorn & Associates most likely pays Talon tons in caps for the ears they bring in. Hell, someone in the Brotherhood could secretly (á la Scribe Bigsley) be paying Talon to throw a few mercs at the Super Mutants in lieu of sending more Brothers of Steel to die in the ruins, and if those mercs die, it would be all the better. Ultimately though, I agree that all these factions are just unwitting peons in control by Dave and his Republic.

Huh. Never considered the Eden connection. Fits best in my eyes due to the regular focus on the DC Mall area. The only reason to be there is to either kill mutants, or "preserve" history; Eden fits both.

I was just thinking of Talon Company yesterday while watching your videos on the pistols of fallout and the 1’st chem vid!! Thanks for another amazing vid!

As a souls fan, I am on board with speculation, especially when the company cares less than the fans about canon

I just wish they had more to them. In a completely lawless and governmentless society, they have almost no real justification for existing really. Unless of course they were explained better like they're trying to gain some kind of power politically or something. In reality tho they're raiders with a different skin

Oh i have an idea for a video! Maybe you can contrast and compare Talon Company to The Gunners from Fallout 4. Or maybe who could win in a fight? Or how some members of Talon Company broke away and became Gunners. Anyways these are just ideas and thanks for your time checking out my comment. Love your videos thanks RadKing!!

I love your concept about the Corps, some of the East Coast factions seemed so localized, even the Brotherhood of Steel being active in only a few limited places. Especially with the West Coast having huge nation-States like the Legion and NCR.

I genuinely believe that the super mutants, while heavily damaged, are mentally there and are just holding up in the most memorable landmarks from the vault mutants’ minds

Hey Radking, I love the video premise and yes, I'd like to see more videos about other topics like the Legion succession crisis. Keep up the Good work man!

Amazing video. Keep up the awesome work RadKing! I love to watch your videos

My theory, talon company and the gunners are both funded by the Ciphers. We know they were ment to be in van buren and nv mentions them. I think they're funding them so they have more breathing room

13:54 literally when you were saying to bring up things you might have missed, you missed looting a finger. Perfect timing.

That vats clip 😂 Amazing video! I love how deep you dive into everything and present it in a way that's easy to understand! ❤

It’s possible that Tenpenny uses Talon Company to spread chaos in the wastes so that Tenpenny Tower not only remains as the most sophisticated and high society settlement, but also as an important mercantile force in the wastes (along the same lines as Venice), as the other settlements in the region are known to have a vast array of problems that Tenpenny Tower just doesn’t have (Little Lamplight is not a full settlement given that they kick out over 16s, Megaton’s infrastructure is failing, Rivet City is having power and water issues, Arefu is completely undefended, Underworld is completely resource barren in a region surrounded by hostiles, and Bigtown is just Bigtown it would probably be easier to say what is going well for them as opposed to listing problems), with the notable exceptions of the mostly unknown Oasis, Paradise Falls (which is only because it is really just a more sophisticated raider base as opposed to a city or settlement), and the Republic of Dave (which in all seriousness is actually quite successful in terms of Capitol Wasteland settlements). Although a big piece of evidence going against Tenpenny being in charge of Talon Company is that they weren’t used on the raid on Fort Constantine, so it is possible that Talon Company was Mr.Burke’s idea (provided that he showed up AFTER the failed raid).

I always got annoyed that the fact they were always waiting for me in the metros in fallout 3 like it is fun to explore the metros and everything but they were always waiting for you always I just liked it whenever I would have a funny character name and it would show up for the contract in their loot and they always had a almost broken down combat shotgun but I love to see your video up man I've been starting to work and going in for my second day and this is brought me lots of joy May Adam shine brightly on you rad King

I was going to say that talon Co was an offshoot of the gunners but then you speculated that as well

I love the background music or whatever it's called you use in your videos it's very calming

In my 8+ years of playing Fallout 3, I’ve never considered this question. Great video! Definitely made me subscribe.

Always wanted a deep dive into Talon Company because I think they’re under devolved but so prevalent, once I thought of them as my main enemy in a play through. Glad to see lots of good theories I can use in head cannon, Thanks.

I always liked the Talon Company and Regulators in concept, but the execution was kinda sad.

Yes to speculation vids. Would love to hear your take on the Legion surviving after Hoover Dam. I always thought that Ceasar could groom the courier to be his successor or in the case of his death , could very well usurp Lanius and become Caesar

Yooo i just found you channel. I love the fallout universe!! You got my sub from the T51b power armor video. BEST POWER ARMOR EVER

Theory videos are my favorite. I'd love to see more of things like this

Glory to atom! For Raddy Daddy had blessed this day with an upload!

You're definitely rapidly becoming my favorite fallout content creator keep it up, went back and watched pretty much all of your videos and I want more! Lol for real though great job man my opinion don't mean much but still

Bro all of your videos are 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you feel like you have enough info to make a video then go for it. We're going to watch it.

I would love that legion succession video you mentioned!

love this style of video. I think the best part of fallout lore is the speculation entailed.

I gotta say I've been watching your content for roughly a year or so since you talked about the aircraft of fallout and I absolutely love your content keep it up.

Was that a burp at 1:38? Never the less great vid as always!

Love the video hope to see other factions.

Excellent video rad! Would love to see you cover the mysterious stranger!

I always assumed the enclave supplied and financed them and ordered them to cause chaos in the capital wasteland so they were accepted easier, and the talon company doesn’t know that way when the enclave takes over they could quickly take over and get rid of any resistance by the talon company

I like the idea of exploring other factions lore !

Awesome video!!

This is by far my new favorite channel

There's a fair amount of implied lore that Littlehorn is some sort of Demonic or Satanic like entity. I don't remember it all, but it neatly explains his motivations (he literally just wants to spread sin) and his endless amount of wealth. It would also explain Talon Company's wide remit on the contract. Also it could easily be a combination of factors.

I'm always down for some speculation especially when it's based on the scant evidence that can be found. I think the obvious answer for Talon is that Beth needed raiders but stronger, but I would've loved to see a little more thought put into it

My liege, you should absolutely do more speculation videos. I think you've got some great insight to Fallout lore from past videos, including "The (X category of weapons, consumables, etc) of Fallout" series. Covering lore alone is one thing, but I think your educated guesses on unexplained parts are fantastic. I still believe a lot of your "FO3 takes place earlier than it stated in-game" theory. Your speculation could fit a great niche in the Fallout YT community, too. All in all... go for it!

Would love to see more like this!! Definitely make the legion one lmao

Big yes to the speculative lore segments. As long as their grounded in established lore (which I’m sure they would be) I’d love to see some theorizing about our favorite game world!

thanks I’ve been wondering for almost 16 years

Well gee I'm flattered to be featured in the video. I will concede that I did not think about the MF Cell wich kinda puts a wrench in the gears of my theory. However I still believe that the fact you only find one of them in FO3 (disregarding FNV since it's a model port) AND that you find it next to all the other items relating to the Battle of Anchorage simulation does still leave some room for it to be true. I'd also find it strange for the Americans to make fake Chinese propaganda featuring them using AMERICAN weapons. Then again it makes equally little sense that the simulation would show you as an american being issued a Chinese weapon... but people did use scavenged weapons in pretty much all wars, you can find pictures of Germans using the PPSH or Americans using the STG-44, so round and round it goes. Anyhow, another great video from the best Fallout youtuber.

A very good video keep up the good work

I hope to see a video like this about the gunners from fallout 4 in the future.

“Turn up the rads you made lads” perfect

You should do a video on Madison Lee and her intentions throughout the fallout games. Great video; you really do help explain fallout lore. its very mysterious in a good way.

fun fact about the ear perk guy Daniel Littlehorn: "Little Horn" is one of the names used to refer to the antichrist in the bible, i think danny is meant to be a sort of devilish caricature of evil. maybe this sucks as far as lore speculation goes but it definitely adds flavor to have such cartoony characters in the post apocalypse lol

That new intro is great

I would love to see a New York/ New Jersey fallout game where in the meadowlands you can find MetLife stadium which is like diamond city but a football field. Maybe have two factions in the stadium one wearing green and white jets colors, and the other wearing blue red and white giants colors, or the football field is divided right down the middle with a faction called the offenders on one side and the other faction being called the defenders on the opposite side. Maybe they battle at midfield every Sunday in some misguided memory of football. Also New Jersey has Atlantic City which is a gambling hotspot, maybe the sign is partially destroyed leaving it the city of Atlant. In between these two locations you can put the pine Barron’s and incorporate the Jersey devil as a cryptid or mutated creature. Then with Manhattan the possibilities are limitless between the subways and different burrows, as well as many small islands along the shore. Ellis island and the Statue of Liberty would be great sites to visit. Maybe one of them could be used as a base for the Underground Railroad. Iconic locations like the Empire State Building, Chrysler building, Times Square, Central Park, and Grand Central Station are must haves. I’m so glad you mentioned the topic of New York/New Jersey fallout game, because I’ve been wanting it for years. Hopefully it actually happens.

I'm absolutely subscribing to the theory that the Talon Company got their armor and weapons from undisclosed Enclave personnel. Wreaking havoc and destruction by terrorizing the wasteland until the good ol' USA shows up to annihilate them. Ridding the wasteland of Talon Company overnight would easily paint the Enclave as heroes that anyone would believe in.

Loved that new york faction concept!

Yeees, more vids like this please! I always found it disappointing that we couldn't join these Merc groups. Talon, Gunners, etc. Coulda been great. By the way, you can save the Sheriff.

Fun fact that I’m sure a lot of people know: if you snitch on Burke in Megaton, you can actually kill him before he shoots Lucas Simms as long as you do it as soon as he pulls out his gun. Simms thanks you next time he sees you and you gain karma, and consequently the Talon Company hit squad mentioned here never gets sent. Because I’ve done this on every good character I’ve played I actually didn’t even know that was a thing.

On my first fallout 3 playthrough I had the regulators and talon company hunting me down

I would definitely like more speculative content in the rotation and also maybe do a series highlighting games that fans of fallout may enjoy and a series highlighting the movies, books, games, etc.that inspired fallout

Another great vid

Something not that related to the faction in itself but lag-bolt had a girlfriend, and you can find her remains and last words on the presidential metro. You can find his brother too when doing grady's unmarked quest in the metro of grayditch

I feel Moira put the contract on you. It's how the contract ends, "good hunting" the same thing Moira says to you at the end of every conversation and quest she gives you for the "wasteland survival guide".

Talon Mercs are always hot near Rivet City, so I always figured Dr. Zimmer hired them to find Harkness in that area.

I do like the speculation type videos

Since the different Gauss Rifles was brought up at the end. A pet peeve that always bothered me was that Bethesda set out to redesign the gauss rifle in fallout 4 and some how designed a railgun instead.

Seeing the gunners and talon company going at it could be interesting

I most certainly learned some new things about talon company

There's a mod, for New-Vegas, that is letting you play at New-York. Semi-alpha state,but does playable.

I enjoy this video I think you should do more

That's nice I hope you do the gunners next, because the gunners were very unique in fo4

Talon Company: Early Combat Armor

“Wake-up babe, New RadKing dropped”