บท 612: Time for speeches

Legate Lanius stands atop the wall that overlooks Hoover Dam, his Legion standing the ready behind him. His formerly gold armour was no longer, instead replaced by the silver-blue metal that they salvaged from Bulwark's strange vehicle. His blade had received a similar treatment, being remade with the metal and becoming one of, if not the best weapons the Legion had ever created.

While he held in pride in using the enemies technology to create it, the fact he used the corpse of his enemy's vehicle would make it all the sweeter when he cut them down, one at a time.

While his armour had undergone a colour change, it was basically identical to his last suit aside from the material. A large helmet that resembles a bearded face, to strike fear into his enemies when he charges them.

Large spiked pauldrons to give another method of attack.

Thick breastplate to block the enemy's gunfire, regardless of what it may be.

With arm and leg armour to protect his limbs should he require it.

Lanius was supremely confident in a Legion victory, Caesar has been the same. Their leader thought the NCR idiotic fools with an equally idiotic general, though, Lanius still had some worries about their greatest enemy thus far... Bulwark.

Caesar had address this issue many times, saying they had expended all their effort attacking the Fort, and wouldn't be able to muster up any significant defence. He explained he'd spied on their operations while he was captured, and was one hundred percent sure on what he saw...

Despite that, Lanius still felt something was off... His instincts were screaming it, yet, he couldn't put a finger on it. The only thing of significance he'd noticed was the fact that Caesar was quickly getting weaker and trailer as time went on... But Lanius just chalked that up to his age finally catching up with him.

The large man shakes his head, he needed to forget these worries and concentrate on securing this land for Caesar and the Bull. He turns and looks at the tens of thousands of Legionaries all awaiting his speech, all eagerly awaiting the moment they could drown the NCR in fire and steel.

He raises his arms out to his sides and a huge crowd begins to cheer, roaring in response while Lanius waits for them to quiet.

...

And keeps waiting...

...

Waaaiting....

...

"QUIEEET!" he shouts after two straight minutes of cheering, causing the whole place to go silent. No one dared speak when Lanius was as a swift death was the best punishment they could hope for.

"LEGIONARIES! TODAY IS THE DAY WE FINALLY STRIKE! THE BEAR HAS LANGUISHED IN OUR DAM FOR FAR TOO LONG! I THINK IT IS TIME WE GORED THEM ON OUR HORNS, AND SHOW THEM WHO TRULY NEEDS TO BE FEARED!"

"WE WILL BREACH THEIR RANKS, BREAK THEIR MEN, TAKE THEIR WOMEN, AND BUTCHER THEIR CHILDREN! THE DAM WILL RUN RED WITH THEIR BLOOD, AND WE WILL BE THE ONES TO DRAW IT!"

"ONCE THE DAM IS TAKEN, NEW VEGAS IS NEXT! THAT VILE CITY WILL BURN, AND WE WILL FEAST FROM THE PYRE! FOR CAESAR!"

"""FOR CAESAR!"""

"""AVE CAESAR!"""

"""IN HOC SIGNO TAURUS VINCES!"""

"WE WILL SOON ATTACK THE NCR HIDING BEHIND THEIR PUNY WEAPONS, AND I WILL LEAD THE CHARGE FOR CAESAR! FOR THE LEGION!" Lanius roars

Elsewhere :

Colonel Moore was beginning to panic... General Oliver, the man responsible for holding the Dam(not to mention responsible for almost losing it the last time the Legion attacked), wasn't even present for the defence... Instead, he was taking command from an encampment in Boulder City, safely away from where combat was.

She knew that he'd only approach the Dam once victory was assured, and if it looked like they were losing? He'd be long gone, on the road to New California with a cigar in his mouth and a patrol of bodyguards at his sides.

Of course, this wasn't the reason she was panicking... No, that would be because the orders the General gave to defend the place essentially amounted to; Sit tight and shoot anything that moves... No tactics, no plans... And even the reinforcements that were supposed to come via convoy had seemingly disappeared, along with the Artillery machines that would be the backbone of their defence.

They only had just under nine thousand troopers in and around the Dam... Yet she'd heard of how many had massed behind that big'ole wall of theirs. Apparently, they'd brought almost everything they had available, leaving almost nothing in the east to manage the territory... Compare that to what the NCR had positioned here, and one would easily understand her feelings.

She couldn't even blame the corruption in the government either, the NCR's territory was simply too large, which made it an easy target for raiders and other factions that wanted a piece of the pie.

She releases a sigh and looks around at the troopers wearing salvaged power armour. they had around six squads equipped in the armour, and they were going to put half at the front lines and keep half in the Dam to protect from Legion incursions.

The only thing the NCR really beat the Legion in were their guns and tech. The many old artillery cannons on the West side of the Dam would kill many Legionaries, but she still wasn't sure if it would be enough... She was even tempted to try and request Bulwark for assistance, but quickly forgot that idea due to how it would be received by her superiors if they heard it.

General Oliver was currently giving a speech on the radio, but it was obviously bland and scripted, with no passion or confidence, which was easily sensed by the troopers who seemed sure they'd all die here.

Once it was over she stands from her chair and reports to her radio, "Prepare for combat, all units proceed according to the Generals orders.*Bzztch!*" she says before dropping the radio and heading outside to observe the battle with her own eyes.