{Caesar}
It has been one night since we planned the reform and apparently no one in the Cult Vulcan has slept. The moment I finished breakfast they swarmed in and set up their presentation.
"Hail Kaiser."
I wave my hand, they all look sleep deprived.
"We have spent all night going over your plan with a fine toothed comb, we have a few notes but no major revisions. Now, we understand that you wish to improve the protection that a legionary receives as they ascend the ranks, we have many armour designs sketched up, however the major issue is we do not have the production to make it all." "Tell me, what is my legion made of?" "Men? Kaiser?" "Yes men who form both the greatest military and the largest potential construction crew in existence so if you need factories find a good location and build everything you need." "Yes my Kaiser. Now in terms of guns we do have some what of a stockpile however we do not have enough to equip everyone with one." "Seize the guns from our client city's and begin production of guns." "Yes my Kaiser."
They have me confirm every little thing it's over an hour before we are finished. They are going to construct a new city between Flagstaff and Pheonix where they will build the production facilities for the new equipment. As they scurry away to begin surveying for the new city. I sit with my council, Joshua looks tired.
"I require all my Legates tested."
Joshua stares at me.
"You have passed Joshua. My test was for you to assist me in designing the reform. I require Lanius to kill a death claw unarmed and drag it here."
Lucius splutters for a moment it seems as if he is about to confirm my worst fear that Lanius is a propoganda piece and an actor but.
"My Kaiser, pulling Lanius from the front lines at this point. It will take him a month to travel back and he will be furious." "Are you saying his centurions are so incompetent that they require his personal oversight. And are you implying that Lanius would refuse a direct order from me?" "No my Kaiser." "Good. I require Augusta to bring me all his trophies he will carry them himself and make pilgrimage to here."
Vulpes rises and leaves to send word.
"If we are to reform the legion my Legates and centurions must reform themselves. I think each legate shall be given a set of pre war combat armour that they are permitted personalise, and their centurions will also have combat armour that will be modelled after their legate."
Joshua looks at me
"What of ceremony, we have assigned an ascension ceremony for each rank what do you suggest for the centurion?" "They shall be chosen by their legate from the ranks of the veteran decanus. Take them to a place important to the legate. Make them kneel half naked as two legionnaires and a priestess daub them with blood from a slave sacrifice and then swear an oath before their legate."
I sigh and slump in my chair.
"Please remind me of my legates, my memory is faltering under the assault of these damn headaches."
I can sense the tension between Lucius and Joshua.
"Speak!"
I don't like snapping at them but I really need to know. Caesar only mentions the existence of other legates in the game and the only one other than Joshua and Lanius I can remember is Lanius.
"You have me, I am in charge of our western expansion. Lanius who you tasked with bringing you the wealth of Dog city in preparation for our war with the NCR. Down in Mexico is Augusta who is in charge of assimilation of tribals. You recently promoted Varro. He is currently building his forces and serving under Augusta." "Varro what do you think of him?" "He manages to be annoyingly impulsive. He is a competent commander and leader but he doesn't excel at any one area. Lanius is a better warrior and commander than he is leader, Augusta is only competent in command and leadership but is a master of breaking tribal culture down and rebuilding them as legionaries. But Varo has yet to excel in any one area." "Is there anything unique about him?"
Vulpes who had reentered and muttered something to a praetorian, pipes up.
"Varo is exceedingly brutal to his slaves. He has fathered a number of sons and a few daughters but few survive due to his treatment of their mothers. The slave master for his forces has taken to rotating any slave he impregnates out of his possession as soon as pregnancy is confirmed." "His test will be to walk from his camp to flagstaff."
Vulpes looks blank. Lucius confused and Joshua smiles.
"He is to be accompanied only my slaves. He is not to be told of their origin only that he is not to harm them. Frumentari will watch him the entire way."
They nod in understanding and then Lucius asks.
"My Kaiser what are the purposes of these tests?" "I have explained the reasoning for Lanius's test. Augusta like his trophies despite them not being permitted. He must bring all his trophies here carrying them himself if he doesn't bring every one of them then he has failed. Varo must curb his sadistic tendency's for the trip."
Joshua stares at me.
"Why do their tests test their weaknesses yet mine was to design the reform? That is no test!"
Lucius leaps to his feet his displacer glove whining as he turns the power to full.
"DO NOT SHOUT AT KAISER." "Sit down both of you."
They drop into their chairs.
"You want a proper test. Fine. You are to go to pheonix kill the rich distribute the wealth to the rest. Vulpes give him a list of the rebels you identified. You are not to any rebel or citizen not on the list of those you may kill. Show me you can restrain your righteousness."
Vulpes smiles
"Also Joshua I require you to select a legionary from your forces. I require someone skilled at management. Find me a legionary who excels at management and inform me when they become a recruit decanus." "Yes Kaiser."
{Legate Lanius}
"Kaiser demands WHAT of me?" "You are to remove yourself from the front lines, hunt and kill a deathclaw unarmed and then bring it to flagstaff."
Why would Kaiser request such a task of me. I glare at the Frumentari, by Mars I want to kill him.
He manages to avoid my fist but one of my veterans kicks his knee dropping him. I lift him up and slam him onto my war table.
"You can't." "Who are you to tell a legate what he can and can't do." "You must be careful my legatus, rumour has it mighty Kaiser is enacting a sweeping reform of the legion forces and reforms favour those who appear disciplined my Legate."
I hurl him from the tent. I hate the Frumentari but they are rarely wrong and I can't risk Kaiser's favour if he is reforming the military. Fine I will hunt the death claw and drag its corpse to flagstaff. I will prove my worthiness to him.
{Legate Augusta}
"The Mighty Kaiser, Master of the Legion, Son of Mars has ordered that you Legate Augusta set forth walking to Flagstaff immediately." "Ok wh-" "You are to carry with you every trophy you have taken to commemorate a tribe you have conquered." "I am not aware of such trophies if I-"
The Frumentari stares at me.
"Do not insult Kaiser's knowledge. Or the ability's of the Frumentari. You have such trophies and if you do not carry each and every one of them to Flagstaff you will lose favour with Kaiser."
Fuck. I thought I was careful. Then again Vulpes would not have risen so high so quickly if he wasn't good at his job. If kaiser demands it I shall do so.
{Legate Varo}
"Ah Frumentari what news do you bring?" "Mighty Kaiser has ordered that you walk the road to flagstaff. You have been provided with a cadre of slaves from flagstaff to accompany and assist you on your journey."
What? This is unusual, it is rare to receive a personal recall to flagstaff. In fact I have not been to flagstaff since being elevated to my position. Why would I be given a cadre of slaves. There must be some test. I shall try to stay my hand with them. I nod to the Frumentari and walk outside to the cadre of slaves dressed in white slave rags obviously regularly cleaned but dirty from the journey. I am definitely not touching them.