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Todd's eyes bore into mine, filled with frustration. "And just how the hell are you gonna do that?" he spat. "I've got the damn Republic of the Río Grande knockin' on my door, insistin' we walk away from the biggest damn business we've got. They're tearing apart the Yellow Rose of Texas dream with their unconstitutional regulations." His tone made it clear that he was on the verge of collapsing, desperate for a solution.
"Ah, Mr. Todd," I responded calmly, keeping my tone steady and firm. "The Legion offers more than just promises. We can give you tangible support, create a much more favorable ground for your business. Lord Caesar can send his legionaries to back your cause."
Todd's brow furrowed, his frustration turning into skepticism as he rose from his chair. "And just how many of these legionaries are comin'? I'm gonna need thousands, maybe tens of thousands, if we're gonna hold off the Republic of the Río Grande. I ain't interested in empty words or pie-in-the-sky dreams."
"This proposal comes straight from Lord Caesar himself, Mr. Todd. It's no empty promise," I replied firmly. "The Legion is prepared to send you three thousand legionaries to support your cause. Now, I doubt the Republic of the Río Grande would dare strike directly at the bull, but you can bet your boots all their fury will be aimed squarely at you."
Todd looked at me with skepticism, his face hardened by frustration. "Three thousand?" he scoffed, visibly irritated. "What're they gonna do, be cannon fodder? I've done deals with the Legion before, and I know y'all got no problem sacrificin' thousands of men just to bury the enemy under a pile of bodies."
I remained calm and replied in an even tone, "Don't get it twisted, Mr. Todd. We're not talking about just foot soldiers here. I'm offering you three hundred suits of power armor, forty-eight armored vehicles—thirteen of 'em equipped with 25mm machine guns. On top of that, five hundred snipers, and the rest of the legionaries will be fitted with ceramic and Kevlar plates, plus helmets that can take a 5.56 round straight to the dome."
Todd's face changed instantly. The skepticism melted away, replaced by a mix of surprise and fascination. "Well, hell… what in tarnation… How the hell did the Legion get all that?" he muttered to himself, his business instincts clearly firing on all cylinders now. He looked at me sharply, his eyes gleaming with a newfound intensity. "Somebody's sellin' y'all this hardware, ain't they? Who's doin' it? Where are they? Because I damn well wanna know who we're talkin' about here."
I met his gaze evenly, knowing I had caught his interest, but choosing my next words carefully. "That's not something I'm at liberty to discuss, Mr. Todd. But rest assured, the Legion's suppliers are well-established and… capable of meeting our needs. What you need to know is that this kind of support could be yours. Your association could be in a position of power like never before."
Todd leaned back in his chair, tapping the desk thoughtfully. "Well, shit, you ain't lyin'… that's a hell of an offer," he said, his Texas drawl thick with contemplation. "I'll tell ya, partner, you're makin' this mighty temptin'. I like a man who brings me somethin' real, not just a sack of empty promises."
Todd narrowed his eyes, clearly mulling over the implications of what I had just said. Finally, he spoke, his tone calculated. "But tell me, I reckon Caesar ain't gonna come helpin' outta the goodness of his heart. What's he askin' for in return? Gold, guns… slaves?"
I met his gaze, keeping my calm. "Caesar doesn't seek mere material wealth, Mr. Todd. What he demands is the submission of the Texan Arms Association to the Bull. Texas will become a tributary of the Legion, supporting Caesar's mission to civilize the wasteland. You'd follow the orders and laws of Lord Caesar, ensuring that this alliance benefits not just you, but the Legion as well."
Todd scratched his chin, still skeptical. "And what's the difference between the Legion and the RRG? At the end of the day, ain't I just tradin' one president for another Caesar?"
I took his question as an opportunity to highlight the main advantage. "The RRG taxes you at 32%, Mr. Todd. The tribute to the Legion? 10%. Plus, you won't have to deal with the same suffocating regulations on who you can sell your guns to. The Legion always needs more gear for its endless ranks. Though… you'll have some competition, so you'll need to keep up, but things will change."
I paused, letting my gaze linger on the collection of liquor bottles decorating his office. "For instance, Lord Caesar doesn't tolerate those indulgences," I said, gesturing discreetly at the bottles. "And certainly not robots running your factories. So, you'd need to dismantle those machines once you join the Legion."
Todd frowned at that, but I pressed on before he could protest.
"But after that, you'll have total freedom to run things as you see fit. As long as you don't endanger the Legion, you'll control your business, your men, and your weapons. No more answering to a corrupt government strangling you with taxes and regulations. Under Caesar, your fate is in your hands."
Todd took a deep breath, his thoughts clearly racing. I knew the changes I was proposing wouldn't be easy for him to accept, but the prospect of freeing himself from the grip of the RRG and securing his power was something he couldn't ignore.
"So… more control, fewer regulations… but I gotta leave some things behind," he said finally, his tone reflective. "It's tempting. But tell me, what's to stop Caesar from askin' for more down the line?"
"Caesar is a pragmatic leader, Mr. Todd. As long as you uphold your end of the deal, serve the Legion, and contribute to its cause, you won't have to worry about further demands. The Legion rewards loyalty and respects those who align with it. With your support, Texas won't just survive, it'll become an unbreakable force in the wasteland."
Todd exhaled in frustration, but there was a hint of resignation in his tone. "Ah, hell, this does sound like an improvement... but it's gonna be a damn challenge to take alcohol away from folks. And the only factories that are still running, with all these restrictions, are the ones run by robots."
I watched him, remaining calm. "Mr. Todd, without the Republic's restrictions and with the Legion's market open to you, you won't have a shortage of demand—only a shortage of willing workers."
Todd nodded, taking in my words. Finally, it seemed like he had made up his mind. "Alright… you've got a deal. That bastard President guerra gonna pay for screwin' us over all these years. I need to speak with the military leader Caesar's sent. We need to coordinate the militia and the volunteers from the donors we've been organizing. But it's gotta be quick. That RRG officer you saw was pushin' for immediate changes."
I smiled and responded calmly, "You're looking at him, Mr. Todd. I am Legate Gaius, commander of the Southern Legion, tasked with conquering Mexicanorum in the name of Lord Caesar."
For a moment, Todd was stunned, his mouth slightly open, clearly caught off guard. "You're jokin', right? How old are you? At your age, I was still workin' to get on my father's good side, usin' his wealth to climb my way up the ladder."
My smile widened slightly. "Does age really matter, Mr. Todd? My reputation speaks for itself."
Todd studied me, still surprised, but he was starting to grasp the magnitude of the situation. "I've heard rumors... The RRG officers were worried about… you. At first, they compared you to Paullus... a good client of mine, by the way. But if I'm not mistaken, it was you who put an end to his raids, like you did with most of the northern states." Todd's demeanor shifted, from skepticism to a mixture of respect and caution. He knew the power that now stood before him was an opportunity that could change everything for Texas. And he knew that in me, and in the Legion, he had the military backing he needed to face the Republic of the Rio Grande.
"Well, Gaius," Todd finally said, letting out a grunt as he sat back down. "Looks like we've got a lot to talk about. And it seems like times are about to change, in ways that neither guerra nor the RRG are ready for."
Todd, now wearing a more serious expression, had his secretary cancel all his scheduled meetings. The time for action had arrived, and we sat down to coordinate how to defend against the inevitable retaliation from the Republic of the Rio Grande. As we discussed the situation, Todd assured me that the Texan Arms Association militias were well-armed with infantry weapons. However, he admitted that they lacked the means to deal with heavy vehicles or power armor.
"But don't you worry," he said confidently. "The RRG doesn't have much of that. All their power armor is rusted junk, torn up by the sands of time. What we need to do is secure the crossings, hold off the first wave of attacks, and be ready to fortify our defenses."
I knew we'd have to exploit every advantage we could. Several thousand Texans would take up arms, supported by my legionaries, but the geographic factor was our greatest strength. The very river that gave the Republic of the Rio Grande its name divided their territory from that of the Association. This meant the enemy would be forced to cross at bridges or vulnerable points along the river.
"Three thousand highly trained and equipped legionaries will be critical," I told Todd, and he nodded. "While the militias and volunteers hold the southern crossings, my legionaries will secure the crossing at the city of Gloria, the capital of the RRG. It's likely that one of the fiercest attacks will come from there."
Todd seemed to relax slightly upon hearing this. Defending the bridges and river crossings would be crucial to withstand any assault President Guerra might send against us. While the Texans fiercely defended their positions, the legionaries would take up key spots to keep the Republic's forces at bay.
But before the war could erupt, we had to move in the shadows.
Using our radio communications, I reported the success of the mission. The frumentarii—silent and deadly—began a series of targeted assassinations against RRG officers who regularly patrolled the Association's territory. Over the next few hours, the frumentarii embedded in the region executed their mission with precision. One by one, RRG officers were eliminated without a trace.
With the territory cleared, my legionaries were able to slip in and take strategic positions, lying in wait for the inevitable response from President Guerra to the secession of one of his Republic's most important states. The conflict was about to ignite, but with our defenses in place and the enemy's command structure weakened, the balance was tipping in our favor.
Now all that remained was to await the counterattack… and be ready to crush it.
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