Chapitre 41: Under caesar's sights
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Pov of Caesar
Ten tribes had fallen to Lanius, and thousands of slaves had been captured to fuel the war machine I had set in motion. Whether as laborers or future legionaries, they would all serve my cause. My vision of a civilization dominating the wasteland progressed with each conquest. Lanius, with his brutality and efficiency, seemed to be executing everything flawlessly. His campaign advanced at an incredible pace, and what was most surprising was that he increasingly relied less on the logistical lines from Flagstaff. Yet, he still required trained legionaries from our bases, vital to sustain his conquests.
Every step Lanius took brought him closer to Dog City. According to the frumentarii reports, when that city fell, tens of thousands of slaves would be captured and brought to our lands. These slaves would not only fuel our forges and fields, but also boost our future campaign in California. The fall of Dog City would be the decisive blow that consolidated our expansion westward.
The gears of war continued to turn, and with each victory, my vision of civilizing the wasteland became more tangible. But I knew none of this would be possible without the constant flow of trained legionaries. Despite Lanius' growing autonomy, he depended on me to keep his forces strong and disciplined. Conquest wasn't merely a matter of brute force, but of maintaining a steady supply of human and material resources.
Lanius had proven himself the sharpest tool of the Legion, relentless and brutal. However, despite his victories, one of the few challenges the Legion faced under his command was the lack of new subjects willing to surrender. Lanius' infamous cruelty preceded him, and few tribes or towns tried to surrender, preferring to fight to the death rather than fall under his yoke. While Lanius, in his pragmatism, had no issue with this, the number of lives lost in his campaigns was significant, and potential recruits for the Legion were scarce.
Nevertheless, Lanius had managed to establish a stable system that provided him with food and weapons. But what was most intriguing was that a large part of those supplies came from a single tribe, led by a peculiar individual. This man, a Vault-Tec survivor, had been found by Lanius after he had wiped out the other Vault dwellers who had betrayed and tried to kill him. Despite the initial distrust, Lanius saw the value in him and made him a tributary of the Legion. This man possessed valuable knowledge, not just about technology, but also about Rome.
Although the Legion publicly believes that the principles of Rome were delivered to me by Mars himself, those closest to me know the truth. I had used fragments of ancient Roman history to shape my vision of a new world. But with the information this man possessed, I was able to see the full history of the empire in greater detail. As a gesture of gratitude for such a generous gift, I ensured that Lanius kept a close eye on him. Should he ever speak openly about Rome's true history, he would need to be eliminated. For now, however, his loyalty was not in question. His sole focus had been to serve the Legion the only way he knew how: by killing my enemies and building an industry based on his vast technological knowledge.
This man, with access to technology that the Legion could not yet reuse due to lack of means, had transformed remnants of weapons and equipment into vital resources. I knew that his mind and skills were a resource almost as valuable as Lanius' conquests. I couldn't allow such a tool to spiral out of control, but at the same time, his usefulness to the Legion was undeniable.
Lanius, always methodical in his reports, had kept me updated not only on his victories but also on his favorite centurion, a man who had proven invaluable to the Legion. From his early days as a legionary, this centurion stood out as the finest marksman we had ever seen, capable of executing targets with deadly precision in any battle. His cunning set him apart from the rest, but what truly made him exceptional was his ability to understand and use Old World technology.
At first, I was informed of his ability to crack the security of ancient computers and systems. Later, as he rose through the ranks, he was promoted to decanus, where his leadership proved lethal. His contubernium became known as the most efficient and deadly in all of Lanius' cohort, with dozens of enemy kills credited to his legionaries. It was clear that he not only understood the art of war, but also the value of knowledge and technology.
Over time, his ambition and skills led him to master a secret that the Brotherhood of Steel had guarded so jealously: the use of power armor. He not only used it but repaired and improved it. Thanks to his ingenuity, now more than a hundred of my men wear power armor, something that would have seemed impossible for the Legion before.
This centurion, along with other centurion primus pilus, led thousands of legionaries in a campaign that humiliated the Brotherhood of Steel in their own territory. The Brotherhood, with their superior equipment, fell as if the technological gap didn't exist. They were nearly massacred, and with them, the Legion acquired a technological power once beyond our reach.
It's ironic to think that those who considered themselves the guardians of the Old World and its secrets were defeated by a man who not only understood their weapons but surpassed them, using Legion tactics with great coordination.
And now he had dedicated himself to producing weapons.
I watched Malpais as he did what he enjoyed most: constantly disassembling and inspecting weapons before a battle. It was a routine he repeated endlessly, ensuring nothing would fail at the critical moment. This time, however, he wasn't just handling traditional Legion arms. Before him were piles of assault rifles, bolt-action rifles, pistols, sniper rifles, and Legion armor, all modified with upgrades to make them more bullet-resistant.
Supplies from the east were arriving in large quantities, and Malpais wasted no time making sure each of those weapons was in perfect condition for the legionaries who would wield them in battle. His dedication to this process was impressive.
"What do you think of the weapons, Malpais?" I asked the legate, watching him work with his usual precision.
Malpais lifted his gaze from the assault rifle he had just disassembled. His eyes shone with the cold intensity he always displayed when fully focused.
"Good, simple, and reliable," Malpais replied, his tone direct and assured, as he turned his attention back to the weapon in his hands.
I knew that those three words, coming from Malpais, said everything. There was no need to embellish a reality he understood perfectly: if they were simple and effective, they would serve the Legion well in our relentless march toward conquest.
Malpais reassembled the rifle with the precision that only years of experience could provide. Without hesitation, he locked in the magazine with a firm click and raised the weapon. Without a word, he aimed at a target on the other side of the makeshift shooting range. The sharp crack of the shot echoed in the air as the bullet struck dead center on the target.
Lowering the rifle slowly, with his usual calm, he looked back at me. I knew that Malpais didn't need further tests or words. His skill with weapons and his ability to assess them spoke for themselves.
"Should we keep buying them, or do they have some defect, given that whoever sells them does so at such a low price?" I asked cautiously, keeping my eyes on Malpais.
Malpais examined the rifle in his hands once more before setting it back on the table with a calm but firm gesture.
"The weapons are newly made, Caesar. No obvious defects. They're sturdy, simple, and perform well. However, the price is unusually low. That doesn't add up. It's not common for something of this quality to be sold so cheaply without reason."
He paused, thoughtful, then added, "We could continue acquiring them, yes, but we need to remain vigilant. No one offers something like this without expecting something in return. If we keep buying them, we should investigate further into who's behind this offer. We can't afford to trust blindly."
"Lanius uses them widely in his cohort; they're produced by that centurion of his," I explained, watching for his reaction. "In fact, all the equipment you see here comes from the same factory."
Malpais nodded slowly, picking up another rifle, inspecting it with greater attention this time, scrutinizing every detail of its assembly.
"If Lanius trusts these weapons for his cohort, and they come from a source controlled by a centurion he trusts, that changes things," he said quietly but firmly. "The quality is there, and if the equipment is consistent, then they're valuable to the Legion. The fact that all production comes from the same factory ensures we can maintain a standard."
He set the rifle back down and looked directly at me. "But we shouldn't rely completely on a single source. If that centurion or the factory were to disappear or be compromised, we'd be vulnerable. My recommendation is that we keep using this equipment, but we should start diversifying our resources and learning to replicate its manufacture. The Legion must be self-sufficient in all aspects."
"We could certainly buy the blueprints for the rifles to reward his loyalty rather than just copying them. Then, we could distribute them among our local weapons manufacturers, even in Phoenix. Now, your thoughts on the armor… It's expensive, but Lanius says several of his men have been saved by the ceramic plates or the helmets with reinforced visors," I said, gesturing toward the Legion armor modified to withstand bullets.
Without wasting any time, Malpais took an automatic rifle from a nearby table and began testing the armor. He positioned himself in front of one of the modified armors and fired several bursts. The sound of gunfire echoed as the bullets struck the ceramic plates.
Malpais carefully examined the results, inspecting the impact points. The armor had held up; the bullets had barely left significant marks. After a moment of analysis, he turned back to me.
"They're durable. The ceramic plates stop most impacts. They're not invincible, but in a real situation, they could make the difference between life and death. The reinforced visors offer solid protection without sacrificing visibility."
"So, do we make the investment, or should we wait for the mintmasters to send us more silver and gold next year?" I asked, watching Malpais, awaiting his advice.
After a moment of reflection, Malpais looked again at the armor and the rifle he still held.
"Caesar, the protection these armors provide could save lives now. If we wait, we might lose the advantage in critical battles. The lives of our legionaries are worth more than any financial delay. My advice is to invest now, while the opportunity is available. We can replenish our coffers over time, but battles won't wait."
"Very well, I'll place a large order for weapons and armor with that centurion. Let's hope all this expense pays off when you capture the Hoover Dam in my name," I said, fixing my gaze on Malpais.
The legate nodded with his characteristic calm, wasting no time in processing the responsibility I had just entrusted him with. For him, capturing the Hoover Dam was not just a matter of strategy but a symbol of the Legion's power and my will. Every rifle, every piece of armor, every man who stood in that battle would be a reflection of the strength we had amassed.
"It will, Caesar," Malpais responded, his gaze filled with determination. "The Hoover Dam will be yours, and the Legion will not fail."
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I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone