Chapter 68: Urban Legio
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I will not upload more chapters until Sunday.
I have Sunday's chapter ready and I consider it extra if we reach the twelve comments on the story or you would like to see in this chapter I will upload it when the goal is reached, since the following days I am busy with studies and presence in courts of justice (I trust in the good faith that nobody alone will put the twelve comments).
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As I had anticipated, Caesar had no objections to my proposal. What I didn't expect was how quickly he approved the idea. I had barely started outlining my argument when the mighty Caesar authorized me to create an urban legion under the governor's command. Since I held that position at the moment, it meant that these new forces would be under my direct control. The only condition he imposed was that the young recruits from the subjects would be considered a tribute to the Legion, so that it wouldn't be seen as an unjust increase in taxes or labor.
It all happened so easily that it left me wondering. Perhaps this had already been in Caesar's plans, or maybe he liked my proposal so much that he decided to adopt it immediately. Whatever the reason, I was now allowed to recruit forces from the subjects, something unprecedented in the Legion, except in my case.
I managed to recruit five hundred Texans, five hundred from Pecos Colony, and two thousand Mexicans. The key to the training would be to break their individual ties and forge them into the mold of the Legion to form a solid unit. The priestesses of the Cult of Mars would be responsible for instilling Legion values in them, stripping them of their old loyalties and customs.
The idea was clear: train them together, erase any trace of personal or tribal identity, and then disperse them across the various territories under Legion control. Each urban legion group would be assigned to watch over a community different from their own origins, thus preventing corruption or favoritism. The Pecos Colony and Texan legionaries would monitor the Mexicans, while the Mexicans would do the same in the Texan and Pecos Colony territories.
This method would avoid many trust and loyalty issues. The urban legion would not only maintain order but, in the long run, strengthen Caesar's control in regions farther from the Legion's core, further consolidating his power in Mexicanorum and beyond.
The most notable difference in these new recruits was their origin. In Pecos Colony, young people were drawn to the offer of pay, food, and land after their service. This attracted many sons of brahmin ranchers who saw the Legion as an opportunity to secure a better future. In Mexico, the recruits mainly came from orphanages, children without a clear path, whom the local churches could no longer support. These youths saw the Legion as a way out of misery and a way to find purpose.
What truly surprised me was what happened in Texas. The vast majority of the recruits were the sons of Todd's donors, the wealthiest elite in the area. I wasn't sure if they were offering their sons as a show of loyalty to the Legion or if it was a calculated move to gain favor within Caesar's power structure. It was a mystery that would likely resolve itself in time, but their motivations undoubtedly had a mix of politics and survival.
The recruit group was extremely diverse, not only geographically but also linguistically. Both English and Spanish were spoken in the barracks. It was imperative that these differences disappear as soon as possible to avoid tensions. So, I quickly made sure to eliminate any signs of economic or class inequality. The new urban legionaries immediately received their uniforms, identical for everyone: the traditional reinforced football armor, now equipped with kevlar and ceramic plates for better protection, a ballistic helmet with the distinctive Legion crest, and sunglasses.
This uniform not only gave them protection but also a shared identity,strip them of any differences so they could see themselves as brothers-in-arms, fighting for the same goal and for the glory of the Legion. Over time, any distinctions of origin, language, or economic status would fade away, leaving only loyal and committed legionaries.
I ensured the urban legionaries received the appropriate training to handle civil issues, without the need to turn them into frontline warriors. Their training mainly consisted of using ballistic shields and batons to disarm protests and control crowds. Additionally, shooting drills and urban combat tactics would allow them to defend themselves in case of an enemy attack. It made no sense to provide them with the rigorous traditional Legion training, like sword or bow use, as that would take months. Instead, with modern, efficient training, they could be ready to patrol the streets and fulfill their duties in just two weeks.
And so I prepared them. They still needed to improve physically, but they were ready for their first day of patrol in Caesarea Mexicanorum, the city renamed after the fall of the Republic of Rio Grande.
The city still bore the scars of war. Without the immediate need to rebuild every corner, many buildings remained vacant due to the mass enslavement of those who supported President Guerra to the end. However, little by little, those empty spaces began to fill with new inhabitants arriving from the south, fleeing from the control of the robots and the "Mexican God," who was clearly losing influence as his power crumbled.
The local population had taken it upon themselves to repair the buildings according to their own resources and priorities. There was no central structure directing the reconstruction. The Legion, for its part, had focused only on repairing the administrative areas where the government apparatus was controlled. Meanwhile, the rest of the city was slowly being restored, as life reactivated under this new order.
I accompanied the urban legionaries during their first day of patrol. It was clear the city wasn't completely at peace yet, but their presence helped ease tensions. After all, people were starting to see how the new order brought stability, even if it was under the strict conditions of the Legion.
The first day of patrol for these young legionaries was a crucial test, not only for them but also for Caesarea Mexicanorum, a city still adapting to the new laws and restrictions of the Legion. I led them to the area with the highest concentration of bars and taverns, knowing we'd find the most offenders there. Although alcohol consumption was now permitted up to a low limit, many tried to bypass the law or simply ignored it. Our task was to ensure that the law was ''strictly followed''.
Accompanied by several centurions, we surrounded the main street where the bars were located. We made sure to cover all possible exits, closing off any routes of escape. It was essential that the urban legionaries learned how to conduct an organized, quick, and effective raid.
As I led the young recruits into position, I noticed the faces of the drinkers turning pale as they saw us. They knew what was coming. Some tried to hide their drinks, while others simply threw them on the ground, desperately searching for an exit that didn't exist. It was almost comical to see panic take hold of them, but I allowed no emotion to show. This was the new reality under the Legion, and everyone had to learn to follow the rules or face the consequences.
The young legionaries, though inexperienced, remained calm under my supervision. They carefully inspected the bars, checking on the patrons and ensuring no one was violating the new rules.
As I held the bottle and calmly read the label, the bar's atmosphere was thick with tension. All eyes were on me, but I kept a relaxed, almost indifferent air. I knew fear was doing its job better than any shout or threat could. Caesar's law was clear, and these citizens were playing with fire by defying it, even in secret.
"Well now, it looks like this drink's mighty popular. Everyone here's drinkin' it... but, is it within the limits?" I remarked in Spanish as I examined the bottle I had taken from one of the men, who was trembling with fear.
The man, barely able to speak, stammered, "Uh... y-yes... w-we wouldn't offend the laws of... the mighty Caesar."
"Hmm... 0.4% alcohol," I said neutrally, reading the label, though my power armor's filters prevented me from actually smelling the contents. "But... it smell a lot stronger than it should be..."
The man looked like he was about to collapse. "Well... uh... maybe that's because... you haven't tried it before," he mumbled, nervously glancing around, searching for a way out that didn't exist.
"Yeah... must be it," I responded calmly, still observing him.
As I moved away, I heard his deep sigh of relief, thinking he had narrowly escaped. But I had already set my sights on the next targets—two men barely able to stand, clearly intoxicated.
"Those two," I pointed to the wobbling men, "they must be gettin' illegal drink somewhere... crucify the degenerates."
The legionaries accompanying me didn't hesitate for a second. The men were dragged off without resistance, too drunk to even understand what awaited them. As they were led out, I turned to the bar's owner, who stood behind the counter, pale as a ghost, awaiting my next move.
"Pour me a bottle of this, a jug of that... and one of those bottles," I ordered, pulling out a portable alcohol meter. The owner, his hands shaking, complied immediately, knowing that any mistake could be fatal.
I began testing the alcohol levels in each drink. "5%... 17%... 40%..." I read aloud, watching the owner's face twist with fear.
"You seem to be havin' trouble adjustin' production... or maybe my meter's just off," I said, cleaning the device as I kept my tone calm, almost indifferent.
The owner, desperate, muttered, "Y-yes... must be that..."
I stared at him for a few seconds before responding, "I see. Understandable... fix it," I said in a composed tone, giving him one last chance to adjust his business before it was too late.
Catching a few more offenders was easy. They were too obvious, either because of their drunkenness or because they thought they wouldn't get caught. I decided that the most blatant violators would face the maximum punishment. We brought them to the city's central plaza and, according to Caesar's law, crucified them. Each man had a sign hanging from his chest with a simple, clear description of his crime: "Illegal alcohol consumption." If I had applied the law more strictly, the plaza would have been filled with hundreds of bodies.
I knew that mass crucifixions would only cause unnecessary resentment and panic. The key was maintaining control, not just through fear, but also through a sense of perceived justice. Two or three visible crucifixions were enough to send the message. Sometimes the threat of punishment was more effective than mass executions.
For the rest of the day, our patrols took on a different tone. We helped the locals with whatever problems they had. Urban legionaries moved rubble, helped transport crates, or assisted with any task that needed doing. I knew it was crucial to balance fear with a sense of safety and protection, so the population would see us as more than just executioners. The Legion, even in its urban form, had to be a presence that inspired respect but also offered stability and order.
After that first intervention, I implemented a strict routine for the urban legionaries. Day after day, they began patrolling the city systematically, covering every corner of Caesarea Mexicanorum. Gradually, the presence of the urban legionaries became solidified, and the city, though still in the process of rebuilding, began to show signs of order and stability.
Over time, some recruits began to stand out. Those who showed greater leadership and discipline were promoted. With the promotions made, I started distributing these new leaders across the province. I divided the legionaries into small groups, each with fewer than a hundred men, depending on the areas they were assigned to secure. These small units were tasked with patrolling, securing supply routes, and protecting the most vulnerable settlements, acting as a firm arm of the law in every corner of the territory.
Despite this deployment, I decided to keep a fixed garrison of five hundred legionaries in Caesarea Mexicanorum. As the capital of the province, this city was not only the center of political power but also a potential target for any threat that might arise. Its strategic location made it a key node for the Legion's future expansions, so it needed to be well-protected.
This system of garrisons and patrols ensured that order was consolidated in the region and guaranteed that any internal or external threat could be quickly and effectively dealt with.
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