Starved dog walked toward Vulpes inculta's tent. He still carried a slight limp from his fight against ranger Stella. The medical slaves had told him he'd have it for the rest of his life.
Vorenus's centurion armor felt strange and heavy on him. He knew he did not deserve this armor, it was made up of bits of armor from Vorenus's conquests, not his own. Yet he had been chosen to lead the century now that Vorenus was dead.
"You summoned me?", Starved dog asked.
"Yes, come in", Vulpes said. The leader of the frumentarii sat at his table in the center of the large tent. He grinned, "So how does it feel to be a centurion?"
"I do what the legion needs of me."
"Yes, ever the obedient servant I see." Vulpes leaned back in his chair and looked into the face of the man standing before him, "Legate Lanius was against your promotion, you know? He thought that you were too cowardly. Too much of a trickster like myself. Luckily for you, I say your potential and so here we are."
"What do you need, sir?", Starved dog asked cold as ever.
"Legate Lanius can not rule the legion. He is a great warrior but he is incapable of linear thinking or grand strategy. He will lead the legion to it's death. We need another to be the new Caesar and lead the legion to further glory."
"You wish to crown yourself caesar?", Starved dog spoke through grit teeth, "You speak of treason!"
"I speak of saving the bull from the butcher", the frumentarii said calmly, "he killed your centurion for making a rational decision. I would have done no such thing. I gave you the rank you hold now. You owe me and you also know I'm the only hope the legion has. So... Will you join me?"
Starved dog only grunted with a nod.
"We shall strike during the night in four days. Prepare your men for it but keep quiet about this conversation."
Starved dog said nothing as he turned and left.
...
Tonight was the night. Starved dog stood with his men who had all the equipment ready.
They all waited silently. Next to him too five other centurions he had brought into the fold as well as a one legged veteran decanus named Brad. It was a strange name by legion standards which along with his missing leg made him stand out. He was not fit for the front lines and so was put in charge of training new decani in small unit tactics.
With Brad's help Starved dog had manage to gather the other instructors to his side. From the men who trained the young children to the men who helped train new slaves, they stood behind him.
Gunshots soon signaled that Vulpes Inculta's coup was under way.
Starved dog the others officers instructed their men to rush forward, but not towards the fighting as Vulpes Inculta had instructed him. They legionaries guarded all sides of the slaves and brahmin they had taken during the night.
They ran into little resistance as they ran toward the Colorado. They began to cross it in a shallow section that several legionaries had found long ago that was generally under guard but the not tonight. All the guards were either with Starved dog's force or had ran off to see what was going on with all the gunshots and screams of battle.
Many of the young slaves and legionaries in training had to be carried across so that they wouldn't be swept away by the raging river. Some of them were carried on the brahmins' backs or on the backs and shouldlers of slaves and legionaries.
Several men at the rear were shot in the back. A hand full of other legionaries had noticed their crossing.
Starved dog leg his men in the rear guard against the men attacking them. Gun fire was exchanged. The legionaries on dry land had the high ground and didn't have to battle the current as they fought, but Starved dog and his me had the numbers.
They attackers were quickly dealt with but not before a bullet glanced off of Starved dog's jaw. Blood poured form the wound as he made it across to the west shore.
Eventually all of them made it across. They were all soaked and tired but they had done it. No one else had even realized they had left yet as they made their way into the desert.
...
Siri watched Titas as he listened to the radio intently. For the last week since the second battle of Hoover dam he had been like this. He was desperate to get any information on the legion now.
The ancient music stopped playing and was replaced by the usual host.
"This just in! Rangers have reported that the legion has broken into a civil war!"
Siri could see Titas's face fall.
"Details are still fuzzy but from what we can tell the dreaded frumentarii, Vulpes Inculta, had attempted some sort of coup against the legion's current leader, Legate Lanius, under the cover of darkness. It seems that neither managed to kill the other and they are now battling each other for control."
Titas looked to her with pleading eyes. "Do you think he made it?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine, sweety", Siri said as she hugged him.
There moment was broken by the radio announcer again.
"Be warned! There are some reports of several smaller groups braking off from the two main sides. They may resort to reading farms and settlements for food! Remember to stay vigilant!"
"Come on", Siri tugged on Titas's arm. "Let's go see how Chief and Melody are doing. I'm not sure how much we should trust Arcade with those two. I swear, that man is a medical genius but he is about as nurturing as a brick."
Titas got up and followed her away from the radio.
