Merchant of death I

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The journey aboard the vertibird was as swift as I expected, with the constant hum of the engines resonating as we flew over the conquered lands, now under Legion control. From the air, the scars of war were evident: the villages of the Sundogs reduced to rubble and the dusty roads where legionaries had marched relentlessly. Reports indicated that Legate Lanius had established a camp in Sundog territory, securing the region while his men, alongside the frumentarii, eliminated remnants of bandits and other, more disturbing threats—radioactive creatures.

One of the greatest dangers in these lands was undoubtedly the mutated beasts that infested the wasteland, creatures mutated by radiation and surviving as relentless predators. What was most surprising was that the tribals, in their ignorance or perhaps resignation, not only tolerated their presence but seemed to coexist with them as if they were a natural part of the environment.

The Legion, in its relentless advance, had taken up the task of systematically exterminating all radioactive beasts that plagued the territory. It wasn't an easy job, but it was necessary. Ensuring the safety of the roads and guaranteeing that both trade and military routes were free of dangers was an essential part of the campaign.

With Lanius' camp in sight, the vertibird began its descent. From my position, I could see the rows of organized tents, surrounded by the banners of the bull, proudly fluttering in the wind. Legionaries were training, preparing their weapons, and maintaining a vigilant watch. The camp was fully operational, ensuring control of the territory while scouring every corner for resistance or threats.

With the armor prototype loaded, I prepared for my meeting with Lanius.

"Centurion Gaius, the Legate is not present at the moment. You will have to wait," said the decanus who greeted me upon arrival.

"Ah… well, I'll wait then. Will he be long?" I asked, hoping the matter wouldn't take too much time.

"He is assisting some men in dealing with beasts," the decanus replied without surprise.

I nodded, resigned. There wasn't much to do but wait. I settled into Lanius' tent, observing the maps and campaign items that adorned his space. The hours passed slowly, and the air was thick with the anticipation of his return.

Finally, the roar of motorized chariots echoed through the camp. I rose immediately, watching the returning legionaries. Then, I saw him: Lanius, towering above the rest of the men, advancing with his characteristic firm and confident stride. In one hand, he held the decapitated head of a deathclaw, its massive horns and bloodstained claws still dripping with gore. His Mars mask was splattered with remnants of the beast, but as always, his gaze was cold and impenetrable.

Lanius entered his tent with an overwhelming presence, and I stood still, waiting for him to address me.

"Centurion Gaius," he said, his voice as severe as the Mars image he bore. "I hope your presence here has a clear purpose. What do you bring?"

I knew better than to waste time with unnecessary explanations. I walked over to the central table and laid out the equipment I had brought with me. "Legate Lanius," I began, respectfully but directly, "after our battles with the Brotherhood of Steel, I've been working on a significant improvement to our legionaries' equipment. This armor is designed to give them a tactical advantage. I've integrated Kevlar and ceramic plates, providing effective defense against firearms and, to some degree, laser weapons."

Lanius looked at the equipment, his face betraying no emotion. However, his eyes seemed to assess every detail, as though measuring the effectiveness of what he saw.

"And you believe this will change how our legionaries fight?" he asked in his characteristic, unyielding tone.

"Yes, Legate. This gear will allow them to survive the initial ranged engagements better, allowing them to close in for hand-to-hand combat, where their true skills shine. If we can produce this armor in mass, we could increase survival rates and, in turn, the effectiveness of our forces in any battle."

Lanius dropped the deathclaw's head onto the table with a thud, never taking his eyes off the armor. "An interesting proposal, Gaius. But the cost... is this something we can afford?"

"Well, between labor and resources, the cost for a full set would be around fifteen aureus. I could lower the price by securing contracts with Phoenix's chemical plants for Kevlar," I explained to Lanius, hoping for his approval.

Lanius regarded me with that hard, calculating gaze he always used when evaluating important decisions. "It's too expensive, Centurion," he replied firmly. "The Legion cannot afford that cost. You know the Legion pays about two aureus for standard legionary armor. What you're proposing is excessive, no matter how much it increases their survival rate."

I knew this would be one of the main obstacles to approval. Lanius was relentless when it came to the economy of war. If something couldn't be mass-produced efficiently, it simply wasn't an option. I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I understand, Legate, but there are ways to reduce the cost without compromising the quality of the equipment. We can make long-term deals with raw material producers. If we turn this into a constant supply, we could significantly reduce costs. Additionally, the initial investment will pay off with the lives we save. Fewer casualties mean fewer replacements, and those veteran legionaries will be more effective on the battlefield."

Lanius was silent, contemplating my words. I knew he was weighing not only the cost but also the long-term benefit for future campaigns. Finally, he broke the silence.

"The cost is still too high… I don't have the resources to purchase it for the Legion, so I'm afraid it's not feasible, Gaius," Lanius responded, with a tone that shut down any further negotiation.

"I understand, Legate. Perhaps in the future, when resources are more abundant, we can reconsider. For now, I will continue to optimize the gear with my own resources and test its performance in the field. I am confident we will find a way to make it viable for the Legion."

Lanius gave a slight nod, signaling the end of the discussion. I knew this was not the outcome I had hoped for, but it was far from a failure.

"Gaius… it won't be with the gold of the Legion, but I'll purchase it with what I've earned leading Lord Caesar's forces. I've accumulated quite a sum, and other than buying slaves to sacrifice in the name of Mars for his blessing in battle, I have no better use for it. So, from my own pocket, I will pay for a thousand sets of armor for my veterans. They have served well, and although I have rewarded them according to their skill, it's time to give them a new prize."

Lanius fixed me with a hard stare, his seriousness and loyalty to the Legion reflected in every word. This wasn't just an investment in equipment; it was a symbol of his commitment to the Legion.

"Legate," I responded, bowing my head slightly, "it's an honor to work on equipping the veterans of the Legion. I'll ensure every one of these armors is worthy of Mars and Lord Caesar."

Lanius nodded slowly, satisfied. "May Mars and Vulcanus guide your hands in this effort, Gaius."

I was about to leave Lanius' tent when I heard the unmistakable sound of clashing swords. Instinctively, I reached for my rifle, ready for any threat.

"It's my men," Lanius said calmly, not even turning around. "We've set up a small arena for them to practice... or entertain themselves with the prisoners we've captured."

I relaxed slightly at his words, though I was still surprised. "I see... I didn't expect you'd have a private coliseum here," I commented, now looking at the camp with new eyes.

"They're quite popular," Lanius continued, "but we can't build arenas at front-line camps. Having injured men trying to show off their skills isn't wise, no matter how much the legionaries enjoy seeing blood spill. Only in more permanent places like this can we afford such entertainment."

As he spoke, an idea began forming in my mind. If these fights were so popular and so useful for keeping the men fit and entertained, perhaps there was a bigger opportunity here. Something that could benefit the Legion—and my own ambitions.

"What are you plotting, Gaius?" Lanius interrupted, crossing his arms and eyeing me intently. "Your face shows you have something in mind... something that could be very bold or very foolish."

I smiled, savoring every word. "Legate, nothing foolish, I assure you. But I have an idea: if these fights are so popular and useful, what would you think about building a full-scale coliseum? In the city I'm developing in the fertile valley under my tribe's administration. We could host gladiatorial combat, with slaves, legionaries, and even wild beasts. It would be a spectacle of violence to entertain the people, and we could profit from ticket sales and various services we could offer alongside it."

Lanius remained silent, looking through his mask with his signature impenetrable expression. I knew that the Legate wouldn't be swayed by promises of entertainment alone.

"You're free to do whatever you wish in your lands, as long as you respect Legion law. I don't want any problems arising from your experiments, Gaius," Lanius responded with his deep voice, echoing through his Mars mask.

"Perfect, Legate. One more thing... could I take a sample of the deathclaw's blood?" I asked, trying to maintain seriousness, though my mind was already spinning with what I could do with that sample in Diana's facilities.

Lanius looked at me, his piercing gaze behind the mask. "The blood? What are you planning this time, Gaius?"

"Just a simple analysis, nothing more. These creatures are formidable, and if I can understand something of their biology in the labs, we might discover an advantage. Maybe even replicate or harness some aspect of their strength for our benefit." I tried to keep my tone neutral, but I knew the potential went far beyond a simple analysis.

"This won't end well," the Legate said immediately upon hearing my response.

I smiled, trying to reassure him. "Don't worry, Legate. Everything will be under control. I'll send your armors as soon as possible."

As I left the tent, I could feel Lanius' gaze following me. Though he said nothing more, his presence always felt like a warning. Outside, the air was heavy, and the Legion camp was bustling with activity, legionaries training and going about their daily tasks.

I crouched down and scooped up a bit of earth soaked with the blood of the decapitated deathclaw. The ground was dark and sticky, infused with the power of that formidable beast. This was the first step towards something that could be crucial for my future projects.

"It'll be enough to start the experiments," I thought as I observed the blood-soaked earth in my hands.

After ensuring I had everything I needed, I returned to the vertibird. My mind was already racing, planning the next steps. As soon as I returned to Diana's facilities, I would begin the analysis with my team of technicians. We had the technology and resources; now, it was just a matter of seeing how far we could go.

The return trip was swift, and my mind didn't stop working out the details. Upon landing at my base, I wasted no time. I gathered McKinley and the technicians, giving them clear instructions: the primary focus would be the mass production of the armors. We had the resources, the factories were running at full capacity, and with the slaves working non-stop, there would be no problem fulfilling the Legate's order.

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