Ulysses’ loyalty to legionaires specifically is so interesting to me, especially in his beta!dialogue. I think our Ulysses is an older, more broken version of his beta game self. I don’t believe he ever expresses particular care or loyalty for Caesar or Graham. His perceived brotherhood to Legion soldiers connects to his tribal identity, in my mind. It’s not unlike residential schools, and American slavery at large, the imperialist eraser of culture and independent identity that the Legion forces upon its slaves. Ulysses pretty obviously still cares about the history of his tribe and other tribes. It’s easy to assume he formed friendships and strong bonds with some of his fellow legionaries, who were in his exact same situation. I like to think a good bit of his hatred for the NCR comes from its treatment of tribals and what Ulysses himself experienced/saw in NCR territory. The Legion, for very long time, was the closest thing Ulysses had to a home and to a family
So to Ulysses, in his worldview, how is he any different than any other Legion soldier? They both had their families and ways of life torn from them, then were forced to fight in Caesar’s name. He just happened to survive it all and live to defect. Ulysses as he is in Lonesome Road is pretty damn disconnected from the Legion itself and (rightfully) believes the faction is doomed. But! I think his sympathy, his sense of connection and brotherhood with legionaries themselves never really goes away
