{Vincent Wells}
We have been at this for hours.
"The legion may have taken the Ranches but they are not going to bother with us. We are much to insignificant in the grand scheme of things."
I agree the legion wouldn't be interested in us. Finally we break for lunch. I exit the town hall with Jacky.
"I mean why would they care we have no resources they could wa-"
Their is a whistling noise and a thud and Jacky is no longer stood next to me. I turn and he is crumpled against the steps a spear imbedded in his chest. He reaches out to me blood dribbling from his lips, he mouths wordlessly as I hear a horn blow. I leap to my feet as another spear slams into a building. I run but as I near my house a man bursts into the main road. A legionary. He stalks towards me his machete raised. I turn and run. I'm sorry Bess I can't fight for you. As I run more legionaries burst from alleyways where they must have been hiding. I get one more step before something burns across my scalp and I fall. Everything goes fuzzy, I try to look up but blink, as my eyes open I see two leather boots with shin and knee pads as I look higher my eyes slide over a metal segmented chestplate and on to a helmeted head with the lower face covered by chainmail. He pauses and looks down his brown and black feathered helmet obscuring my vision. He points to a legionary who walks over and grabs my shirt hauling me up onto my feet, he releases me but I crumble immediately so he grabs my collar and begins dragging me, everything goes fuzzy again and when I open my eyes I have been positioning on my knees in a long line of people. I look to the left and see houses engulfed in fire and piles of furniture and items in the street. I try to look to the right but I can't see anything properly on that side. As I look forward the legionary's are standing to attention along the street. From the smoke clouding the street steps a man.
"El Diablo."
Mr Harves is silenced by a blow to the jaw. I never thought I would see him, the devil of the legion. He reads something handed to him by a feathered legionary then nods the huge horn like plumes shaking. He pulls out the huge sword and begins to walk along the line he pauses next to someone then steps back, he points at them and the legionary next to them raises his machete. He continues walking as the legionary's machete falls and a large dark object falls into the street. He stops again and again and each time a head is taken. Finally he reaches me, he grabs by chin his fingers hooking the inside of my mouth painfully on the right side as turns my head to face him. Everything fades into his blue eyes the fire dancing in them as he stares at me from inside a bone white mask the strips of metal shifting with his breath.
"Crippled."
He stands and steps back and seconds later their is a sharp pain and the cobbled street rushes towards me an the sound of foot steps as the world goes fuzzy and then dark.
{Caesar}
I am sat in silence across from Lucius.
"You wish to improve the praetorians?" "Yes my Kaiser. With the reform of our military we invite the attention of those who may challenge us. The Republic of Rio has always resented our slow expansion sour and if it comes to war Talco will side with them. The west holds the NCR who will not like your plans to expand west. There may be factions out their capable of infiltrating us and getting to you. Your safety is my greatest concern. I will not stand by and allow you to be at risk." "I understand your worries Lucius but I do not believe the Cult of Vulcan can facilitate a new production line. The servant of Vulcan almost started crying when I asked them to make 4 custom armour sets for my Legates. However I appreciate your concern and agree you can begin the process of reforming the Praetorian guard. My suggestion would be that the Martian Guard are my personal guard and the praetorians guard the legates. I will talk with The servant about designing the new armour sets for the praetorians and the Martians." "Thank you my Kaiser."
There is a knocking on the door.
"Enter."
A legionary enters.
"Mighty Kaiser a Veteran Legionary has completed his pilgrimage to Flagstaff he claims to bear a letter from Legate Augusta that he has been ordered to only deliver to your hands." "Let him in."
The legionary bows and hurry's out. A minute later he returns with a Veteran Legionary in toe who strides directly up to me, out of the corner of my eye I can see Lucius tense. The veteran hands me a letter bows and walks out. I examine my letter and then hold my hand out to Lucius who slides his knife along the table to me, I take it and cut along the top of the letter. Inside is a clearly hastily written note more than a letter it says in Augusta's large blocky handwriting.
'My Kaiser two sons are sending tribute of lesser quality, I require your assistance in mediating this issue.'
"Lucius why would information about Two sons producing a lesser tribute have reached Augusta before myself?" "I do not know my Kaiser he is closer but such information should have come directly to you." "Prepare my escort we make first to Pax Augustae and then two two sons."
In less than a day the chariots have been assembled. 5 of them, each reving their engines as I climb into my central one and take a seat. My praetorians climb onto their motorcycles and shout their readiness. Lucius takes the reins of my chariot and shouts.
"Begin."
He graps the reins and adjusts the dial as we begin rolling forward we quickly pick up speed and are soon thundering down the well maintained roads outside flagstaff. It will take us 6 hours to reach Pax Augustae.
We finally arrive at the huge gates of Pax Augustae. The two veteran Legionaries on guard duty are approaching their rifles chambered and ready. As they approach my chariot they notice me and their eyes go wide.
"State y-your names and b-buisness." "We are the praetorian guard escorting the mighty Kaiser."
They nod and turn waving to the watch towers. There are shouts and the gates are pulled open. We ride through and up the road to the former school. Augusta comes out to meet us as I climb from my chariot.
"My Kaiser it is a pleasure to see you again." "It has been two weeks since the ceremony Augusta you cannot have missed me that much. Shall we."
He leads me inside and we are quickly sat in his office.
"Why did you send a letter to me Augusta?" "I am not the man to negotiate with two sons. My reputation is not sufficient to negotiate with an ally the legion so I saw fit to report to you." "Why did Inculta not report to me?"
He hesitates then swallows,
"He said you were ill and that informing you would only bring you unnecessary stress that could make your condition worse."
Lucius mutters something under his breath. While I appreciate Inculta's concern he should not be violating the line of command for something as insignificant as this, I sit back.
"Lucius have someone tell Vulpes I want him to prepare a presentation on why I shouldn't take his ring fingers."
Lucius chuckles and nods.
"You were right to inform me. I shall assess the tributes they have sent."
I stand and walk out the office. Pax Augustae being our largest south most outpost, receives the tributes from Two sons. I am led to the quarter masters area. The quarter master looks terrified. I look to Augusta.
"He is new the last one died due to Vulpes's carelessness."
A worthy man then. I step past the terrified quarter master.
"Show me the tribute from two sons boy."
He nods and rushes past me he seems calmer with a task to do then again I suppose meeting the man you worship is terrifying. He leads me to where several chariots are parked. I gesture and my praetorians open the boxes next to it examining the grain.
"Get me a farmer."
I can hear someone rushing away. There is a farming garrison to the north that should be adequate. I approach the chariots and run my fingers over the warped paint. Lucius looks over my shoulder.
"They are beautiful my kaiser." "Shhhh."
He falls silent as I drop down and look under the carriage.
"A thing is only beautiful if it is durable."
I turn my gauntlet to its lowest setting and fire. The carriage snaps in half with a crack of poor welding. A small swirl of rust dust billows from the bottom.
"They sent us rusty metal?" "No the rust isn't a true issue. It would not have caused structural harm for a while they true issue is the welding. That welding was poor I believe it would hold for a while then fail when we least expect it. It's not sabotage it's simply being sloppy." "Still they insult us with it?" "Yes. They will not escape judgment."
Soon a farmer shuffles into the courtyard. He stands with his head bowed. His rags are stained with earth and a large sun hat droops from his head a clear sweat stain stops halfway to the brim.
"I want you to assess the grain and tell me if it is useable?"
He bows and shuffles over to the grain and quickly begins shifting through it.
"I'm sorry mighty Kaiser I couldn't say." "Speak freely." "Yes mighty kaiser. It's a mix, probably not worth the effort of sifting through it for what isn't useable but enough isn't that it will not process properly." "Begone." "My kaiser?"
I stride past everyone, I make for my carriage and grab the walkie talkie from it. I stride into the former school and make for the roof. I switch to channel 6 and speak into the receiver.
"1 2 Kaiser speaking, Estra are you receiving."