Chapter 59: A bitter defeat
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After the great battle at the crossing of Gloria, the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande, the frontlines remained static. The RRG attempted some minor offensives along the river, but it seemed they were finally coming to grips with the fact that the Texan Arms Association had a significant number of power armor units. As the enemy pulled back and adjusted their tactics, skirmishes became the norm, but none resulted in any meaningful breakthroughs.
This period of relative calm on the front allowed me to take advantage of the conflict as an opportunity to keep training the legionaries that arrived each week from the north. Caesar, aware of the constant flow of slaves that Lanius and I sent from our campaigns, began to increase the shipment of reinforcements. Flagstaff was overflowing, not only with slaves but also with resources flowing southward. This allowed me to steadily expand my forces.
While the fighting on the front followed a pattern of attrition and training, I received an encouraging report from McKinley, who finally sent me a full report on power armor production and agriculture in my settlement, right at the end of the year 2277. My efforts to turn the valley into the granary of the Legion were bearing fruit, quite literally. The harvests of wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, and beets were successful. Now, we had enough food to feed over a million people, and this was only from the first serious crop. As the following seasons arrived, the harvests would continue to grow, solidifying the valley's importance as one of the Legion's key economic and strategic pillars.
What was most crucial was that McKinley had fully restored the Vault-Tec machinery. As long as we had the resources, skilled labor, and blueprints, there was nothing the factories in my settlement couldn't produce. Power armor production had increased from seven units a month to nearly forty. We were using the most advanced models, with fusion generators and additional protection—a production that demanded more resources but gave us an incalculable advantage. We now had an increasing number of power armor units, ready to equip centurions and the most seasoned legionaries.
Meanwhile, at the front, my numbers had grown from three thousand legionaries to nearly five thousand. With the constant influx of reinforcements and the production of new power armor, I now had over a hundred units of the most modern designs. I distributed them wisely among my most loyal and capable officers and soldiers, ensuring that the best weapons and armor of the Legion went to the most skilled centurions.
As for Todd, he had been busy working deals without rest. With the RRG's restrictions lifted and his access to an unrestricted market, he was quickly re-establishing himself as a key arms dealer. His ambition pushed him to attempt to consolidate his position within the Legion once again, seeking to sell large quantities of arms to Caesar, taking advantage of the conflict to continue growing his influence and wealth.
Todd let out a short chuckle as he moved a piece on the chessboard, his expression smug. "Ah'm tellin' ya, Gaius, I got Guerra by the balls. That fella's knee-deep in political shit right now. The whole damn parliament's blamin' him for this mess."
I watched him for a few seconds before responding. "Are you sure you've got him by the balls? 'Cause that mechanized assault Guerra sent a few months ago would've crushed your forces if it wasn't for the Legion." I moved my piece, taking the initiative in the game.
Todd snickered, not losing his good mood. "Ha, ha… yeah, maybe. But I wouldn't have gone into rebellion if I didn't think I had everything to gain. Havin' them fanatical Legion boys with assault rifles and power armor in our ranks is what pretty much guaranteed we'd win. Now, I just gotta get back to bein' Caesar's main weapons supplier… though Caesar's runnin' short on caps and ain't buyin' much gear. He's got everything lined up for some big campaign with his main forces."
"You'll have a tough time, Todd," I replied, moving his king into check. "Your rival tribe's weapons are Legate Lanius' favorite, and for now, I have no reason to switch suppliers."
Todd stared at the board with a thoughtful look, realizing he was cornered. "Ain't worried," he said confidently. "My family's been makin' guns since long before the bombs dropped. We got the know-how to make new, more effective, more lethal weapons. It's just a matter of time."
I watched him, analyzing his next move. "I'd be more interested in that anti-tank cannon you had stored. You got any more of those, or maybe the blueprints? If we could mount that on a vehicle or a tank chassis, we'd have a perfect tank destroyer. Even some artillery pieces could be useful."
I moved the final piece, and with a smile, declared checkmate.
Todd let out a frustrated grunt as he looked at the board. "Ah, hell… well, we got some old artillery pieces, but they're all rusted to shit. If they weren't, we'd already be usin' 'em against the Republic. I'll have my boys dig through the archives. If we find the plans, I'll make you a few in exchange for buyin' rifles… hope it's in the thousands."
I leaned back in my chair, observing him. "Not a lot of customers lately?"
Todd grimaced. "There's a few, but I gotta transport the stuff myself. And up north, there's that damn jungle that rogue GECK made, plus Attis' super mutants. The Texas Brotherhood's in a civil war, and I can't get weapons to 'em. It's like a gold mine waitin' to be tapped, but I can't get to it."
I nodded, watching his hands tighten in frustration. "Well, when all this is over, and Guerra's out of power, we could test my men against those super mutants. I don't have the strength yet to take on the RRG head-on, but a fight against the mutants would be good training."
Todd grinned, relaxing a little. "God willing, Gaius. My capitalist utopia seems further away every day, but with Guerra takin' all the heat politically, it's closer than ever." He took a bite of the cheeseburger his secretary had brought him, savoring the moment.
"Is that from one of the cows I gave you?" I asked with a smile.
"Sure as shootin', Gaius," Todd replied, returning the smile with his mouth full. "The best damn beef around."
"We've been at this game with President Guerra for almost six months now," I said, stretching in my chair, feeling the weight of the waiting game. "How much longer do you think he'll keep dragging this out?"
Todd, chewing his food slowly, took a moment to think before responding. "That Guerra fella, he's an idealist. Wanted to reform the RRG 'cause the republic's always been unstable. Hell, if you remember, Paullus almost brought it to its knees. If it weren't for Mora breakin' Paullus' right flank and pushin' 'em back, I wouldn't be surprised if Gloria had been sacked by the Legion years ago. And truth be told, we had a hand in it too. Every damn president of the Texan Arms Association's been doin' the same thing—donations to senators to keep the status quo, line our pockets with gun sales. But Guerra? He had too much control over the military, and that's why he was able to pull off those unconstitutional reforms. If we'd played our cards like we always do, we'd have toppled him like the rest."
I nodded, understanding the political dynamics that had kept him in power for so long. I knew that internal instability would be our final advantage, but it would require patience.
"By the way, how's that thing I asked for going?" I inquired, referring to the destruction of the distilleries in the controlled zones.
Todd exhaled sharply, his expression turning sour. "Slow and damn difficult. You're takin' away the only thing folks got to forget their miseries. Booze is 'bout all that's keepin' 'em sane in these conditions. I need that power line you're buildin' done sooner rather than later so I can get 'em that cheap electricity you promised."
"Soon," I said calmly. "I'll have everything ready. Your people will get their power, and you can keep 'em happy with television, radio, or cinema. Cheap, mass distraction. It'll work better than any liquor."
Todd nodded, satisfied with my answer, but I could tell he was still concerned about how difficult the process was.
Todd gave me that usual sly smile of his as he spoke again. "You've been real busy, but the donors want to meet you personally, Gaius. I've told 'em what you're like, but your personality doesn't exactly match your reputation. They're real curious about you."
I shrugged, not putting much weight on it. "Bah, for what? The terms stay the same. They've got their near-complete independence. What more do your donors want?"
Todd's grin widened. "To meet ya. The Legion's got one hell of a nasty reputation, and then you show up with a disciplined, well-trained army of legionaries that follow your every command to the letter. Comparin' you to Paullus, who left a trail of chaos, it's no wonder they're worried. They're scared that when this is all over, you'll betray 'em, enslave 'em, and do what the Legion usually does." He paused, his tone halfway between a joke and something more serious.
I thought for a moment, knowing their concern wasn't unfounded. The Legion's reputation for conquest and subjugation preceded it.
"Having doubts is natural," I replied, crossing my arms. "It makes sense for them to distrust me. But as long as they keep up their end of the bargain, they have nothing to fear. If they think this is temporary, it's better they hold on to that doubt. Absolute trust weakens people. Besides, if Caesar decides on something different in the end, my word won't mean much to them."
Todd chuckled, that familiar mix of cynicism and camaraderie shining through. "That's what I've told 'em, but you know how they are. Paranoid. They want to meet you face-to-face, decide for themselves if they should fear you or trust you. After all, you're the legate of an army that's sown chaos all across this region. Guess they figure meetin' ya might help 'em prepare for whatever comes next."
I nodded slowly, thinking about the advantage of keeping that uncertainty alive. "Tell them I'll meet them if necessary. But nothing's going to change. Their independence and the security I promised aren't in jeopardy, as long as they hold up their end."
Todd leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased. "Knew you'd say that. Alright, I'll set it up."
I stood up, heading toward the frontlines to check on how things had progressed. Everything seemed in order—soldiers were training, snipers fine-tuning their skills. As I watched one of the exercises, a frumentarii approached with a message.
"Legate Gaius… I bring a report. Legate Malpais has failed in his attack. He fell into an ambush in Boulder City. Hundreds of veterans died in the trap, and hundreds more legionaries perished attempting to take the profligate camps. The losses at Hoover Dam were staggering. Though Legate Malpais managed to hold the dam, the western offensive has failed."
I stood silently for a moment, letting the news sink in. Malpais' defeat was shocking, especially given his skill and experience. It was a significant setback for the Legion and a sign that we had underestimated their capacity to organize and strike back.
"What are Lord Caesar's orders?" I asked, my tone reflecting both surprise and readiness to act.
The frumentarii, maintaining his neutral demeanor, replied, "For now, there are no new specific orders for you, legate. Lord Caesar is reassessing the situation in the west. It is expected that directives will be issued soon. His primary concern is stabilizing the situation at Hoover Dam and preventing the NCR from capitalizing on the defeat at Boulder City."
As the frumentarii left, I was left deep in thought, a slight sense of unease creeping in. How strong was the NCR, really, to have so decisively defeated Malpais? He had thousands of the Legion's most seasoned veterans, some with decades of combat experience, and his strategic skill was undeniable. Furthermore, a portion of his forces had been equipped with the weaponry I had produced myself, which should have given them a significant edge. Yet they had still fallen into a trap.
The weight of the defeat felt heavier knowing the considerable resources invested in the offensive. Malpais was a formidable leader, and the Legion rarely suffered a failure of this magnitude. The NCR… they had managed to organize a far more lethal response than anticipated. We had always viewed them as a large but disorganized force, with soldiers lacking the discipline and fervor that defined the Legion.
The fact that Malpais, with some of the Legion's finest men, including advanced equipment, had been unable to maintain the offensive forced me to reassess our tactics and strategies. It was clear that the NCR was not an enemy to be underestimated. Perhaps they had strengthened their defenses around Hoover Dam and Boulder City, perhaps they had been waiting patiently to spring this trap. Whatever the case, they had learned how to contend with the Legion's brutality.
I forced myself to think calmly. This defeat didn't just mean a blow to the morale of our forces, but it also implied that the NCR might try to take advantage of the situation on the western front. If Malpais appeared weakened, they could launch a full-scale offensive. And if they succeeded, we would face a significant setback in our expansion.
Would they accept collaborators? Or am I already marked for death, just for being Legion?
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