Chapter Sixteen.

Calen Mohr lifted the last slab of concrete into place, blocking the south-western gate of Vale's wall. The concrete was a less durable substance than rock or ferrocrete, but it would do for the time being. 'Clamp and weld,' he said. Mortal engineers rushed forward, as with the slas before, this one would be clamped into the ground, preventing it from moving, it would also be welded, further reinforcing the overall integrity. Sparks flew as Mohr watched, there were another dozen to place before his section would be deemed 'adequate.'
The south-western gate was small, as such constructs went. A simple gate of stone and iron, marking the boundary between civilisation and the encroaching Grimm. Heavy, flat steps lead down to the gate, between which was a three-laned road. One leading in, two leading out. Soon, the small community behind the gate would be replaced by bulwarks and razor-wire nets, watched by Atlesian snipers and Vale's own limited military forces.
This was the work of the Fists, but the Iron Tenth could just as well play that most skilled of Legions role when pushed to it.
Mohr thought that it was a sight of most admirable work. For what they had been given to work with, the result would be a well-worked one. If the gate was breached, it was estimated that this sub-section of the city could hold out for days, if Mohr and his brothers were present.
Though Mohr thought it admirable, the citizens of the city were less agreeable. Ground-cars honked and shouts of anger filled the air. Traffic, both pedestrian and otherwise, was being diverted to the southern gate, one of the two which would be permitted to remain open for the coming battle.

The local enforcers, police as they called themselves, aided by the military operatives, where keeping the masses subdued. They were kept at a safe distance from the defences and workers, and the Iron Tenth.
Mohr was one of the two stationed at the gate. The rest of the mixed-Legion forces were spread through the city, and other settlements including the capitals of the other kingdoms, overseeing further defensive preparations. When the traitors attacked, and they would attack, they would be recalled to the city for the battle. He vox-clicked his brother to check that the timetable was being adhered to. Jubrin, the younger of the two, answered with his own vox-click. Words were not a necessity, not amongst his legion.
Mohr re-adjusted his augmetic eyes as soft, clean air touched his flesh. Atrex had decreed that they would work bare-headed, better to comfort the mortals. Their helms were impassive, daunting even. In Mohr's case that may be a disadvantage. His eyes were glowering red-lenses, a quarter of his head had been given over to an adamantium cap, with one ear being little more than a burn-mark.
With his helm, he imagined that the mortals would not stare in fear.
'Tough work, ah Mohr?'
The one who spoke was a mortal, and engineer named Saur. Saur was old, he too, like Mohr, was a fusion of man and machine. Both legs were poor native augmetics. One hand was little more than a set of pistons and gear exposed to the elements just to rust. Of all the mortals he had met, Saur was one of the few he cared for.
'No. I do not tire as you do.'
Saur nodded, as if that were just the norm. For some reason, Saur did not experience the same dread that many mortals had around mortals. 'It's a shame, my old man was one of the gatekeepers. Rest his soul.'
A part of Mohr wished to chastine the man for his use of the word soul. But he left the mortal be. Better let him yab on then create a conversation that would reduce labour efficiency.
'Is work progressing as planned,' Mohr said in a change of tactics.
'Aye, though it would be nice to know why we're doing this.'
Mohr nodded, it was a common enough occurrence with the mortals. Their media outlets were often up-in-arms about such things. Mohr struggled to understand why they needed answers, why could they not just act efficiently?
'How goes your work?'
'It is satisfactory.'
'Good, good. Best get back to work then.' Saur said, returning to his labours.

Afterword, no one gave reply to what they wanted so I decided to give you this. Gonna give more set-up chapters along the way before the final part of the story.