I've conquered the wasteland more or less I think. I worked my way up the railroad track from the legion safe house setting up supply caches along the way anytime I found a non-respawning area. I cleared out the prospectors cave and was surprised to find friendly NPCs respawn there. I used wasteland defense to set up a small town on the tracks right between the eastern brotherhood and the prospectors cave and proceeded to use jip to try and escort any friendlies I found to the town to occupy it. I worked my way up to the 188 and then took the highway to the Vegas area. I just made it off the strip at level 11. Still sane. I managed to get 12 friendly NPCs through the strip and freeside. I found the last 2 pieces of C4 I needed for the tunnel, but then I noticed the hatch on the top of the silver rush and I was astonished that something that crazy was hidden as I've never heard anyone else finding it. Now I'm curious what other areas offer a secrets stash I should hit before I make the journey back home with my posse of cloud victims and survivors.