Fueling the Inferno
Late 2274
Centurion Aleron stood facing the highway where another long column of legionaries marched silently along beneath a dark gray sky. Aleron tuned out the noise from the tent behind him, instead focusing on the sound of marching footsteps that echoed for miles through the scorched trees and over the hills of Colorado. The officer watched the thick line of soldiers march on by and could only identify where the next century began by the identifying plume of a different centurion marching close behind the passing century, immediately followed by his vexillarius and staff, then by the rest of his mass of covered faces. One after another, the scene did not change, indistinct orders were barked over the sound of march and each block of soldiers remained silent, eyes forward, and only to be replaced by another horizontal plume at the head of another formation with orders to some different far off battle. The site was inspiring and stirred another wave of nationalist pride in him before his thoughts about the future were interrupted by the Elite calling him over.
Aleron turned back to the open-air tent where the Interfector was holding something of a feast off the highway. Aleron received the message he was sent to fetch and the duelist had ensured that the 600+ soldiers of the Interfector's battlegroup had gotten situated and all the heavy machinery was ready for departure in the morning. It was nearing nightfall and Aleron stepped up to the long fold-out table where the slaves had prepared a large meal for the battlegroup officers. Though the food wasn't extravagant, the meal across the table was made of the field rations of each officer, but instead of having the officers eat with their units, the Interfector decided he wanted to take the evening with his staff. Though small talk wasn't too common for most legionaries or even Centurions, the evening could still be considered a "Party" by Legion standards if anything. This is of course, if you can consider 20 Legion officers softly talking amongst themselves at a long table to be a "Party." Aleron walked back over to the table and took his seat beside the Elite while some soldiers of the Prime watch lit the torches around them to combat the darkness and Colorado cold. Aleron briefly noted that the cold in these lands was truly unlike anything he'd ever experienced, which created a necessity for the long-sleeved tunic and layers beneath his armor. The sound of the soldiers marching continued to echo in Aleron's brain before he noticed the Elite looking at him, whose face was only partially visible by the soft torch flames around him;
"Everything alright, Aleron?" asked the Elite.
Aleron immediately recalled the reason he was diverted from the table in the first place and replied, "Yes, Lord Interfector. The runner simply had a message from Caesar..." The Elite made a gesture for the letter but Aleron responded, "No letter this time, Primus. The message was only verbal. Caesar requests you to meet him up the line at the 285/9 Rest Billet near Fairplay in the morning."
The Elite looked puzzled, "That's a good three days up the line?-"
Aleron corrected himself, "Sorry Primus, I meant he said to leave in the morning. He'll expect you in the time it takes to get there."
The Interfector again looked puzzled before giving a short sigh and saying, "I guess that means I'll head up on my own..." Aleron nodded in agreement, "I'll leave you in charge of continuing the march while I set off at a quicker pace. I'll be taking half of my staff and leave you the rest to help keep this herd moving. Think you can handle that, Aleron?"
"Of course, Primus. We should be no more than a day behind you," said Aleron.
The Elite grinned, "You're the best, Aleron. Let me know if any of those machines break down or something. Let's hope to Mars they keep chugging along and don't be shy to use those engineers if needed. They've been trained by the best eggheads to ever fall into Caesar's chains."
Again, Aleron said, "Of course-"
But the Interfector interrupted again with another reminder of their bolstering cohort's objective, "Also, if any centuries along the highway need replenishment, offer them some replacements from the rear. The 71st has boys to spare and even this far from Circle Junction, we're still in a gap-filling role... just don't be too liberal about it."
Aleron was going to assure his Primus that everything would go smoothly, but the Interfector's grin and a pat on Aleron's shoulder seemed to tell him that no reply was necessary. The Killer had all the faith in the world in his right hand.
After that, Aleron finished what was left on his plate before taking the runner's message and looking across the table at all the centurions chatting lively with one another (Lively by Legion standards). As Aleron took more interest in the flame illuminated ash particles floating down to the forest floor, he felt the Interfector's hand leave his shoulder as the man turned back to the centurion on his right;
"Anyway, as you were saying, Taurus?"
Centurion Taurus said to the Elite, "I merely inquired about your family, Lord Interfector?"
The Elite leaned back in his chair and pushed his plate to the center for the slaves to take away before saying, "Amethyst is doing alright... I think. Gabriella has done wonders teaching her how to add and subtract. Those two have been quite wonderful in handling some of the menial shit like armory inventories and shipments to the front while I focus on more important things like those fucking rangers..."
Aleron thought about the situation with those rangers in the westernmost territory of the Interfector's jurisdiction. He was honestly somewhat agitated to hear how he and the Elite were called up to personally deliver the bolstering battlegroup and equipment to Denver. Then he heard that the order was from Caesar himself and instantly felt honored to join the Meat Grinder. Still, the presence of both men was something that couldn't impair their abilities to measure and calculate future action in their regular positions during the monotony of this march.
Centurion Taurus said to the Elite, "That's excellent, My Lord. However, I was mostly speaking about the new member of your family. Back in Circle Junction, I couldn't help but notice Amethyst was about to burst. A prestigious Elite such as yourself must be proud to expect an heir?"
The Elite gave something of a sigh before saying rather nonchalantly, "So I knocked up a slave? Big deal?..." He paused before collecting himself at the personal situation he didn't much enjoy talking about, "... I got a letter from Cassius the other day saying that she'd given birth sometime last week. I wish she would've pushed the kid out three weeks earlier or something before I got the order of march. Was gonna have the kid taken out the other way, but idiot me felt 'worried' about what a cesarean would do to the child... I couldn't trust any slave healer for something like that, and it was too late for me to request a non-charlatan doctor from a regional township..."
The Interfector let his concerns hang there before Centurion Taurus said, "Still, the news is even more cause for celebration. Is it a boy or a girl?"
Lord Interfector gave a small chuckle at the question before saying, "Couldn't tell you... You think that'd be one of the first things Cassius would've said after his status reports, but no. I know I have a kid now, but couldn't tell you what it is. Although I'm certain it's a girl..."
The Elite let the statement hang again before Centurion Taurus said, "I'm sorry to hear that, Lord Interfector. A boy would've grown up to be a wonderful servant of Caesar, especially with the blood of such a noble father."
The Elite chuckled again, "I honestly always wanted a girl, so that is what I expect..." Centurion Taurus began to croak an apology for possibly offending the Elite before he was waved off as the Killer continued, "... I sent a response to Cassius after hearing the news with orders to relay my demand for naming the child "Abilene", so all's well with that situation."
"Excellent choice of name for a girl," said Taurus in an attempt to rectify his prior assumption.
The Killer simply said, "I've always loved that name..."
Aleron was thinking about the Interfector's child and wondered if the Elite was correct in predicting the gender. Then he got to thinking about his own servant, Gabriella, and considered whether or not he should attempt to have her spawn a child of his own. He'd had Gabriella for over a decade at this point and though he wasn't unfamiliar with her body, he hadn't considered himself in a worthy position to produce a child. Gabriella would've been a fine vessel for his child, and though time in the Legion meant many visits to breeding camps, he still didn't feel himself to be in an adequate place to produce a child whose development he could personally oversee.
At that moment, Aleron briefly considered how many of his children he'd personally sired for use in the Legion. Back in his days before placement at the Interfector's side, he'd been ordered to fulfill his pre-respite duties many times before Arizona fell, and Aleron thought for the first time ever about how many of his sons grew up in a Circle Junction soldier camp, or how many of his daughters were currently working the forges back in that slave city. Then he wondered if he had personally killed any of his children over the years without even knowing it. Aleron shrugged the thought out of his mind by assuring himself that those boys served adequately in the Meat Grinder or his daughters were well behaved in their duties.
Aleron tuned back into the Interfector's discussion with Taurus when their conversation had reached a completely different topic. Aleron only heard when Taurus said;
"... I'm sure he's well. Legate Graham has led me in many battles throughout New Mexico, and I can assure My Primus that his reputation was not simply handed to him for nothing."
The Elite said, "I know. I just find it odd that his petitions for aid and replenishments are so few. I don't hear too much from him anymore, which is honestly a real shame since I knew the man before even coming to the Legion."
Centurion Taurus returned, "If it's intel My Primus requests, I can tell you that I have a number of speculatores attached to my century that frequently relay messages between myself and the Explorers out west. My orders have me assisting you in the Denver encirclement with further directives attached stating my movement to Grand Junction in the west. Because of that, I requested regular intel from out there and can tell you that Legate Graham is currently playing defense in order to break the resolve of a number of enemies further north... I suppose you can say the Legate's status in the west is seemingly a difference of tactics."
The Killer nodded to the centurion's words as he was locked in thought. After a moment, the Elite said, "... Pretty sure I heard that too. Although I can't say I know what to make of those scouting ops into Utah. Even I have received no real news about what's coming from that way."
Taurus asked, "Does My Primus believe Lord Caesar will shift his focus on Utah next?"
The Interfector replied after a moment of thought, "I honestly doubt it. Lord Caesar is currently up the line and seems pretty bent on shifting further east, even after Denver falls... Last I heard, he's agreed to make contact with some chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel out here..." Glancing at Aleron, the Elite added, "I assume handling that situation is part of why he's calling me up the line."
Taurus too thought for a moment before saying, "I suppose I'll be sitting out on any new eastern fronts then, given my placement under Legate Graham in the west post-Denver. Still, any new campaign requires a certain level of real preparation, and I believe something like that can explain Legate Graham's other current tactics."
"Like what?" asked the Elite.
Taurus stated, "I just mean that my speculatores report Legate Graham's involvement with several tribes of Utah. I get the odd intel saying that the Legate is visiting a number of tribes out there to introduce them to Caesar. There honestly isn't anyone better for a job like that, especially since his reputation for what he did to the tribes of New Mexico reached far beyond Legion borders-"
The Killer interrupted, "That's right. I believe I saw mention of him working with a tribe called 'Dead Horse' or some shit a couple months back in one of his ever so rare status reports, ha. Still, you make a great point: Having Graham make introductions to tribes out there could certainly be useful in paving the way for later focus... Something that Centurion Carnifex should have done here in Colorado before immediately becoming a literal 'Spearhead' at the start of the campaign."
Taurus added, "If Legate Graham can bring new auxiliaries into the fold out in Utah, we'll at least have tribes out there covering our borders even if Lord Caesar ends up shifting us further east. Legate Graham and his reputation could easily win over any noteworthy tribes in Utah since the overwhelmingly feared tend to have better chances of ensuring cooperation if reputation speaks for the alternative..."
All that talk of the Legion's Legatus Imperialis got Aleron thinking about the notorious Legate Graham. As Caesar was leading the march into Colorado at the start, Legate Graham was still bringing up troops from lower Arizona. Before joining Caesar's push into Colorado and before dividing the front between east and west, the Legate himself ended up staying in Circle Junction for a few weeks. Though the man's reputation from Arizona and New Mexico was something that made slaves cower, legionaries tremble, and tribals flee, the man Aleron got to meet was not what he expected. Aleron would have described the vice conqueror of both territories as "Tired" if he didn't know that Legates of the Legion were incapable of experiencing that feeling of weakness. Still, Aleron thought about the man he met and remembered feeling somewhat anxious whenever he was near him, even just following behind the Elite as a formal duty in his staff role. Aleron distinctly remembered joining the Elite after the welcoming formation in the Interior Fortress Plaza and how the Elite offered his private chamber overlooking the plaza to the Legate. Aleron recalled how the highest Legate in the Legion army declined the offer to privately occupy the lavish domicile but instead decided to share the quarters with the Elite and sleep on the couch by the great window.
The duelist was rarely left alone with the Legate, but could recall a few moments where he offered to fetch finer accommodations for the esteemed general, only to again be declined cordially, and usually followed by a phrase like, "Thank you for offering, Centurion Aleron." Humility was not something Aleron knew existed, especially in a man with such a terrible reputation amongst those who weren't Legion. Aleron accompanied the Elite and Legate Graham numerous times on walks throughout the slave quarters and recalled the display of numerous shift rotations. Slaves would pour out of their work stations, see the Elite and the Legate, and whether the people were of the slave masses or the legionary patrols, all would bow. Slaves who didn't notice or perhaps refused to bow were immediately beaten by any nearby legionaries and Aleron noticed the Legate himself lift a hand to prevent his view of the justice being done as they continued to walk.
Legate Graham was a person that Aleron was simply unable to understand, much like the Elite he served. There was something about the two of them that puzzled so many Legion soldiers who approached. Aleron managed to understand some of the Elite's behaviors after spending so long at his side, but there were many times after Graham finally departed that made him wonder how men like the Legate and Elite could acquire such terrifying reputations. Neither man were the kinds of commanders that drink blood and slaughter servants either slave or soldier in the name of the Bull... Because Aleron had met and served under plenty of those commanders before ending up at the Interfector's side. So, Aleron, even in this time, didn't quite know what to think of men like them who served the Legion with all their being but seemed so outside the norm of what service like that tends to create. Men like the Elite, Legate Graham, and even ones like Centurion Taurus who entertained less duty-oriented talk, were becoming even rarer in these times. Aleron would eventually understand why that was but didn't think about the idea much further when he tuned back into the conversation.
"Some of the soldiers out here are referring to him as 'Lanius' now." said Centurion Taurus.
Apparently referring to some earlier part of the conversation, the Interfector said, "... I never quite know if we're talking about the same centurion because I'm pretty sure this 'Lanius' the soldiers of the Meat Grinder refer to is that commander from the Hidebark campaign. Plus, 'Centurion Lanius' doesn't have the same ring to it as Centurion Carnifex."
Taurus said, "Every great commander has to start somewhere. It's also said Centurion Carnifex was granted Elite status some time ago. If we aren't talking about two different commanders, it could be the case that Carnifex was granted a new name to accompany his raise to Elite?"
"Possibly," said the Interfector before adding, "Either way, Caesar called me up to Denver to deliver the heavy equipment and subsequently aid 'Centurion Carnifex' in the siege of Dog Town. Whether Centurion Carnifex is now 'Elite Centurion Carnifex', now called 'Lanius', or if his official rank and name is 'Elite Centurion Lord Monster of the East' I know we'll be serving right beside the character responsible for the tremendous losses on the eastern front."
Centurion Taurus said to the Elite, "My Lord, you seem rather irritated by talk of Denver's besieger?"
The Interfector paused in thought for a moment before giving a small sigh and saying, "I'm not irritated with the commander... Not Really irritated anyway..." He paused again and both Taurus and Aleron waited patiently for the Interfector to resume. "... I just don't believe commanders like that are the best for Caesar or the Legion. I've read all the reports from eastern Colorado since the start and know how excellent a leader Carnifex is. But I don't believe they understand what all these losses do to the places we already own. I could show you the amount of casualties sustained since the fall of the Twin Mothers and the number is astronomical, and though a number of them can be chalked up to attrition, guerrilla raids, and environment, the task of keeping up with the demand for troops in the east is something that creates an unfavorable position back in Arizona and even New Mexico."
During a pause, Taurus asked, "In what way, Lord Interfector?"
Aleron remained quiet, already knowing the answer from his position beside the Elite. "To make up for the losses in the east, I've had to ask Caesar to relocate soldiers from the reserve pools across all territories. My Legion babies from the breeding camps helped to make up for the manpower shortage of assimilation conquests, but even that can only go so far. I've essentially had to half our reserve pools, and though it's still enough to keep raiders at bay, I'm having to use auxiliaries for nearly all of the regional patrols just for territorial pacification operations."
Aleron finally spoke, "The auxiliaries are currently doing an excellent job keeping watch over lands where previous reserves stood."
The Interfector nodded in approval of what Aleron said before turning back to Taurus who remained ignorant about most of the status in the Interfector's regional control. The Elite went on;
"That's correct, they're doing the job well enough for now, but unless the Meat Grinder winds to a halt soon, the Legion itself will essentially be forced into becoming a nomadic army. Sure, the amount of soldiers at our disposal is beyond the number of people I thought were even alive in the wastes, but still. Last thing we want is to have to march everywhere a conflict arises within our borders. This isn't even to mention what that would mean for our auxiliaries. The Auxilia has largely been spared from service in the Meat Grinder, but what would happen when tribes like our allies start thinking the lack of crimson in their area means they can avoid a Twin Mothers' type end? I'll tell you, what that means is that Auxiliaries will seal their 'Twin Mothers' type end by betraying us first..."
The Elite paused for a long time. Aleron briefly looked down the table to see all the other officers still talking amongst themselves, lost in their own conversations. Turning back to the Elite, Taurus too was thinking to himself. Finally, the silence on their end of the table was ended by Taurus asking, "Perhaps that is Lord Caesar's reason for the costly tactic of Colorado in the first place?"
The Interfector glanced up, and Taurus added, "We have so many allies across Arizona and many in New Mexico... Perhaps Lord Caesar believes it's about time to bring them into the fold proper. Provoking them to strike first through an absence of legionaries throughout the territory could be a unique way of authorizing their destruction?"
At that, the Elite thought again for a long time before leaning back in his chair further and saying, "Even If that is his tactic, keeping up with the logistics and manpower needs in Colorado is still the reason shit like those 'Desert Rangers' in the west hadn't been neutralized by now..."
Taurus finally asked, "So what does all this mean for your role in Denver?"
The Interfector wasn't quite sure what Taurus was getting at with the question, but he still replied honestly with what he'd been thinking since the start of the costly Colorado Campaign. The Elite said to Taurus, "This directive to support the siege of Dog Town only means that I'll have a little more time to plan exactly how I'll handle all the problems on the homefront... It also means I may have to have a short word with my new apparent 'Peer' and how to handle Denver without throwing the Legion's future away. Lanius or Carnifex or whatever seems like the kind of guy to load that future into a catapult just to break down the walls of our current enemies.
Two Days Later
The morning after the night described above, the Interfector set out to meet Caesar up the line and left Aleron in charge of packing up the battlegroup to rejoin the endless column. Within two hours after the Elite departed, Aleron stood at the head of the enormous battlegroup and gave the order of march. A halt was ordered by one of the passing centuries and one by one, each block of men and equipment stepped onto the old highway to file right behind the last century further into the Colorado Meat Grinder. Behind Aleron was the staff members the Interfector left behind, including the Elite's personal signifer that bore the emblem of the bull and sigil of the Circle Junction Praetorship with a large number "V" for the 5th Municipal Cohort. The Praetor's 5th was technically still back in Circle Junction and being temporarily headed by the mentioned Centurion Cassius, but the Interfector's authority meant he carried it with him under orders like his current ones. So, Aleron stepped onto the old highway, followed immediately by the standard-bearer and staff. Following them was the century of Centurion Taurus that served as the vanguard for the Elite's bolstering cohort, and immediately behind them came the heavy equipment. 14 of the Legion's secret weapons had been moving steadily up the line since the Elite was given the order to march on Denver. These secret weapons were the Legion's chariots.
Though the Legion used their motorized chariots relatively infrequently, there were only a few select times in their history that they'd been utilized to great effect. One instant was during the fall of Phoenix back in 2261, and though several more had been made since then, the reason for their limited use could be explained by their tendency to break down. The vehicles lacked the mechanical reliability of prewar vehicles like the Corvega Highwayman, but working vehicles, especially in the southwest, were so infrequent that sometimes the sight of them alone was enough to cause a surrender. This surrender was almost guaranteed if the functioning vehicle had a Legion banner standing above it.
The chariots themselves were rather strange-looking transports that had an open engine section sitting at the front of the vehicle and was carried on two small tires. Although, the engines on the Interfector's chariots were sheltered by vented steel plates and had train "Pilots" outfitted with metal spikes attached to the front to better serve the purpose they were being brought to Denver for. Connecting the engine compartment to the rest of the vehicle were two sets of steel rail lines ten feet long and wrapped in razor wire. Sitting between the two connecting rail lines was a thick steel gas tube that funneled fuel into the engine from a small section beneath the rider control panel where two small fuel tanks sat. Another part of the reason chariots were so infrequently used was because the limited fuel section meant that the vehicle could barely go 60 miles before needing refueling. That isn't even to mention how gasoline from the prewar days had long since become inert even if it was found in rare vehicles across the wasteland. This meant that the fuel had to be synthesized from a number of industrial chemicals and plants that weren't too common in the southwest. However, when the crude fuel was created (Usually by Legion contracted independent chemists), and used, it caused the engines to burn it very poorly. This crude fuel created enormous black clouds around the engine compartment that easily obstructed visibility to the driver and led to even more mechanical problems with extended use. Running from the engine compartment to the control box was a series of wires mounted on the insides of each rail leading straight into the last section of the vehicle. The chariot's driver stood in the final section of these mechanical monstrosities, at the head of the "gun carriage" or "pilot carriage" which was the back half of an old-world automobile that sat upon two tractor tires and had an open rear for up to four gunners to accompany the driver. Knowing the carriages were to be used in "Dog Town", the gun carriages on the Interfector's chariots were mounted with posts that held more razor wire to shield any hounds from getting caught in the wheel wells and protect the gunners from being swarmed during their use in the siege.
More details about chariot use in Denver will be further explained later.
As all fourteen chariots of the Interfector's battlegroup jerked and maneuvered back onto the highway, they kept a slow pace behind Aleron and the vanguard century where thankfully, they were spared from any mechanical malfunctions that morning. Following behind the enormous black cloud those machines carried with them, the Interfector's force was bolstered by an entire "Slave Century" that carried supplies, equipment, arms, spare chariot parts, and provisions to support the forces already at Denver. The slaves would subsequently be attached to the forces encircling Denver and amongst the supplies being carried on long wooden beams were the necessary tools and supplies to construct other siege engines for the efficient end of the human inhabitants of Denver. As the slaves marched behind the gunners on the last rank of chariots, the remainder of the Interfector's battlegroup consisted of 5 other centuries to aid and die in the siege of Dog Town.
Needless to say, the force under the Interfector's banner was one that took a while each time it started moving or stopping. But, the force merged smoothly onto the highway and soon became part of the crimson river flowing into Colorado. With time being somewhat pressing, Aleron only had to stop the formation a couple of times, usually just for a short water break or to refuel the chariots that he knew Could have covered more ground if they weren't moving at marching speed. Aleron briefly considered sending the chariots up the line to have them wait at Denver, but that seemed outside his call, and if any of them broke down, the 30 man engineer maniple would not be there to assist, which could create further delays. So Aleron marched along the highway, giving order for centuries behind them in the line to pass whenever there was a need to refuel or take care of other matters. Aleron still intended to not be more than a day behind the Elite and hoped his meeting with Lord Caesar was going to go well. It was because of this dedication to thoroughly carry out his orders that he even ordered a march through the night.
So, further and further they went up the Colorado Meat Grinder, and Denver was inching closer and closer. However, despite his ambition, Aleron knew that encampment was needed and so on the second late afternoon in charge, he ordered the unit to encamp at an open stretch on the 285 that seemed to be a common site for soldiers marching along the Meat Grinder to rest. Aleron saw what appeared to be three or four other centuries and one terribly depleted one encamped along that stretch of road and ordered the formation to set up wherever was available. So, the bulk of the Interfector's force had set up camp in an open field between two other centuries and the forest. There, he ordered the chariots to park in rows on the small plain opposite the primary encampment, not far from the depleted century that looked more like a couple contubernia than anything. By the time the force was all unpacked, night had fallen, and Aleron took his camp in the midst of the massive force, noticing how soldiers from the other resting centuries occasionally wandered over to inspect and inquire about the foreign vehicles. Though Aleron could not hear their words directly, he could physically see each soldier group walk away from the chariot sentries marveling at the secret weapons they didn't know Caesar had at its disposal.
*A/N: Pretty sure I did an adequate job describing the Legion's chariots from the Van Buren concept art! I threw in a bit of creative liberty in their design, but I hope their mention better paints an image of Legion power!... Their mechanical unreliability is the reason they aren't shown in New Vegas or the Mojave War... That and the New Vegas game engine's mechanical instability... And the deadline of the developers... I'll stop now. Thanks for reading! :D*