Chương 58: Chaos in Gloria

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My men crossed the border with discipline, immediately moving toward the river crossings we were tasked with defending. At the same time, the forces of the Texan Arms Association mobilized thousands of their citizens to fight for their secession from the Republic of the Rio Grande. However, the reception we encountered among the ranks of the Association was far from warm.

The local population, upon seeing us, reacted with panic. The people of the city we were meant to protect practically fled in a stampede, running toward their local militias as if we were a threat rather than their allies. The looks of shock and disbelief were evident when they saw us coordinating with Todd's men to establish solid defenses at the bridges and river fords.

Without wasting time, my men began deploying all of our equipment. The half-ruined skyscrapers, once the pride of the city, became strategic positions for our snipers. Though they were not yet masters of shooting from a kilometer away, they could cause enough chaos among the enemy ranks.

Machine gun nests were placed in the buildings closest to the bridge, where they could cover any RRG advance. We also positioned an old anti-tank cannon that the Association had managed to preserve, directly on the bridge, in case they attempted to use armored vehicles. In addition, several missile launchers were distributed among my men, ready to respond to any heavy threats approaching.

In the ruins of what had once been a hospital, we set up multiple mortars on the rooftop. Although we could have bombarded the city of Gloria at any moment, we chose to wait. We knew that if we defeated the RRG army in a decisive battle, out in the open, the population of Gloria might turn against President Guerra. His aggressive policies, which had led to the secession of such a key state from the Republic, were already causing unrest. A humiliating defeat could be the final blow to his presidency.

While we fortified the heart of the city, the forces of the Association spread out, covering flanks and smaller crossings. However, I noticed they tried to minimize contact with my legionaries. There were many women among the ranks of the Association, and they were well aware that the men of the Legion, indoctrinated in the cult of Mars, did not view women on the battlefield in the same way. Avoiding unnecessary conflicts in the midst of an impending battle was a priority for both Todd and me.

The preparations were in full swing, and with every step we took, I could feel the battle drawing nearer. Now, all that remained was to await the inevitable retaliation from the RRG and show them that facing the might of the Legion would be their downfall.

Cato had made a smart recommendation: blow up the bridge. It was the only structure large enough to allow the passage of a massive contingent of RRG troops, and if we destroyed it, the battle would break down into smaller skirmishes along the river. However, the goal wasn't just to stop them but to cause as many casualties as possible. The bridge could be blown up later, after the enemy troops had attempted to cross.

As we waited, we spotted a sizable contingent of soldiers from the Republic of the Rio Grande approaching. They were using armored vehicles as cover as they advanced toward the bridge, confident that their technology would give them an edge.

"What are these idiots doing…? They're sacrificing so many, so quickly," I muttered under my breath, watching the situation unfold through my binoculars. "Better for us."

I turned to Drusus, who had the radio nearby. "Drusus, radio in that they only fire on my command. Let them cross the bridge."

"Yes, Legate," Drusus replied, relaying the orders to my men's positions.

We waited as the vehicles began crossing the bridge, RRG infantry moving cautiously, scanning the windows of the nearby buildings but unaware of the trap we had set.

Suddenly, an officer from the Texan Arms Association approached me, visibly upset. "Hey, legionnaire! What the hell is going on? Why are you letting them in?" he shouted, clearly frustrated.

"Lower your voice," I responded without taking my eyes off the binoculars.

"Todd said we could trust you, and you're just letting them march right through!" the officer insisted, growing more agitated.

I wasn't interested in his complaints. Resisting the temptation to grab him by his clothes and throw him out the window, I made sure to stay calm. I couldn't afford to kill an allied officer in the middle of a crucial operation.

"Get back to your post," I said, slowly drawing my machete, "raise your voice at me again, and I'll cut off your head. Understood?"

The officer, pale and frightened, nodded quickly and returned to his post without another word.

Finally, when a large group of RRG soldiers had already entered the city, moving through the narrow streets and confident that their advance was safe, I gave the order.

"Attack!"

The anti-tank cannon was the first to fire, piercing the lead armored vehicle, which stopped almost immediately, engulfed in smoke. From all the windows, dozens of my men emerged from their hiding spots, opening fire on the enemy infantry. Rocket launchers were deployed against the remaining vehicles, causing explosions that lit up the streets with flashes of destruction.

The machine guns positioned near the bridge began firing into the columns of soldiers attempting to cross. Bullets tore through the enemy ranks, while the vehicles that had managed to cross exploded one by one, hit by missiles and grenades launched from the rooftops.

Chaos was total. The RRG soldiers were trapped between crossfire, unable to retreat as their vehicles were destroyed one by one.

Hundreds of RRG soldiers fell within seconds as a storm of bullets rained down on them from all directions. Chaos erupted in the enemy ranks, and panic spread like wildfire as they watched their comrades fall and their vehicles go up in flames. To make matters worse, some of my legionaries, despite not receiving explicit orders, charged out of the buildings in their power armor, engaging in brutal close combat. Their machetes and fists were lethal, and the enemy soldiers, caught between the savagery of the armored warriors and the relentless fire from our weapons, were utterly overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, other groups of my men approached the wrecked vehicles, capturing the few surviving members of the enemy crews. Those who hadn't perished in the initial onslaught were quickly taken to the rear as prisoners. We knew they could be valuable for future exchanges, securing bounties on their heads, or, in the worst case, being turned into slaves. Every captured soldier represented an advantage for the Legion.

Realizing the disaster unfolding before them, the RRG forces stopped sending more troops across the bridge. Instead, they began massing their forces on the opposite side of the river, repositioning themselves and preparing for a new wave of attack. But as they reorganized, our snipers came into play. With fresh experience and the enemy officers' uniforms firmly memorized, they received a clear order: eliminate the leaders.

Within minutes, several enemy officers fell with precise shots to the head, their bodies collapsing amid the chaos. The RRG soldiers, seeing their leaders picked off one by one, desperately scrambled for cover. Buildings, destroyed vehicles—anything that could shield them from the snipers' deadly aim became a temporary refuge, but the panic only grew. They knew that without their officers, any semblance of organization or hope for a counterattack was quickly slipping away.

There were no more visible forces on the other side of the river, only the scattered bodies of the fallen soldiers. I found myself slightly surprised by how ineffective the RRG troops had proven to be. Despite their numerical advantage, they had been practically annihilated. This led me to the inevitable conclusion that I needed to speak with the Texan Arms Association officer to better understand the situation.

As I walked through the corridors of the building we were using as our headquarters, I gave instructions to my men, making my way toward the observation post where the Association forces were stationed. Upon arrival, I saw the officer in charge, his tension evident as he noticed my approach, clearly nervous.

"You there," I called out as I drew closer, scrutinizing him. "Why are the RRG officers so incompetent? Do they not have any knowledge of urban combat?"

The officer, visibly uncomfortable, glanced up at me, trying to maintain his composure. "I don't think… they're incompetent, legate," he replied, his voice hesitant. "It's just… well, for both sides, this is one of the first large-scale urban conflicts. The Republic's generals know how to fight legionaries in open fields or super mutants. And I believe only the presidential guard has some experience fighting the cartels, who usually attack their operations."

I crossed my arms, nodding slightly. "Interesting," I murmured, mostly to myself. After a brief pause, I issued a new order. "Prepare your men; we're crossing the river."

The officer immediately looked alarmed. "But… Todd said…"

I cut him off without turning, my tone cold and decisive. "I've given my order. And you will follow it, or by tomorrow, I'll have you crucified for cowardice."

The officer didn't dare utter another word, his face going pale as the weight of my threat sunk in.

Without wasting time, I organized a select group of my legionaries, mainly those equipped with power armor, to be the first to cross the river. Despite the sporadic fire we received from nearby buildings, we quickly neutralized or forced the snipers into hiding. My men moved with precision, taking strategic positions in the buildings surrounding the bridge, while more legionaries began crossing the river and securing the cleared areas.

Gunfire echoed through the streets, but the experience gained from the battle at Dog City was paying off. My legionaries, with their brutal efficiency, cleared each floor, each street. The Republic of the Rio Grande wasn't prepared for this kind of urban warfare, and we advanced with a ferocity that overwhelmed their initial defenses. However, I quickly realized something critical: the city had not been evacuated. President Guerra expected a swift victory and hadn't considered that such a powerful force would be at the gates of his capital.

As we continued our advance, we began taking the city's residents as prisoners rather than ignoring them. Capturing them not only increased the pressure on the RRG's forces but also created more chaos in their ranks. Taking prisoners in the middle of battle was a risk, but the havoc it would wreak on Guerra was worth it. The city was massive, and each capture would be a bargaining chip for the future.

However, our advance started to slow down. The RRG was reacting, mobilizing more and more soldiers to cut off our progress. With many of my men busy pulling residents from their homes and taking control of key buildings, we began to encounter much heavier resistance. Still, one of my decanus, equipped with power armor, managed to reach the industrial sector of the city, a key objective we sought to secure immediately.

We quickly started capturing as many workers as possible in the industrial sector and inspecting the facilities to discover any valuable technology the city might offer. However, holding these positions to loot everything within reach was becoming increasingly difficult. The pressure from the RRG forces was growing minute by minute, and when some of my men started to fall in combat, I knew it was time to begin a slow withdrawal.

I decided we wouldn't leave the city without leaving a "gift" for our enemies. As we retreated, we planted dynamite at key structural points in the buildings. My goal was simple: cause maximum damage to the enemy as we pulled out. As we recovered the bodies of our dead and wounded, my men began rigging the buildings with explosives, ensuring that the collapses would be devastating.

After several hours of intense fighting, the pressure from the RRG became overwhelming. They threw everything they had at us to force us out: armored vehicles, old T-45 power armor, and even the presidential guard, armed with anti-tank weapons. Staying longer would mean more losses, so I decided it was time to withdraw.

After salvaging all we could from the city, I pressed the detonator. A series of explosions echoed behind us as several buildings collapsed, some even falling directly onto the RRG forces attempting to reclaim the area. I watched as dust and debris filled the air while my men crossed back over the bridge. We had lost ground, but the chaos we had sown in their capital was a significant blow.

Now, it was time to reorganize our forces and wait for the next move from the Republic of the Rio Grande.

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