So I was moving from Nipton to wherever the MQ was sending me next and right passed the (something) Ranch there is this strange little bridge thing. I have 2 roving traders on it. I bought up the ammo they had and set to investigating the area with my binoculars (since it was a high point and my first view of a really large area of the Wastes). While this happened the 2 traders got jumped by 6 Legionnaires. Since I haven't chosen to piss the Legion off yet, I decided to let them all settle it themselves.

I was quite a firefight with 1 Legionnaire living. Long story short, I looted damn near 800 caps and a crap load of guns, including my first SMG (9MM) and a bunch of other glorious crap. I'm not to worried about the potential loss of two traders since all the sellers have so much money anyway.

I'm just mostly curious if I had this happen by total fluke or if others have had the same thing.

I had the same thing in the same area. It actually looked like the Legionnaires were setting an ambush for the traders. The traders and mercs tore them apart. Throwing spears vs SMGs.