The legion's bread basket II

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"Ave, true to Caesar, Administrator," I responded respectfully, bowing my head. "How can this centurion of Lord Caesar's legion assist you?"

The administrator, with a friendly yet firm smile, replied, "Ave, true to Caesar, centurion. No need for formalities; remember, you outrank me in the military hierarchy. Marcus Licinius Crassus, Consul of the Officiorum ab Famulatus, has sent me to establish an office in this settlement. From what I understand, this region is under your control due to the large number of slaves you've acquired for the Legion."

I nodded as I listened.

"The high concentration of slaves could lead to unrest, even with the control collars. Therefore, my presence is required to manage and report on the situation, preventing any potential rebellions or behavioral issues."

I pondered for a few seconds before replying. "I appreciate the precaution. It's true that we've acquired a considerable number of slaves, and maintaining control is essential for everything to run smoothly. It will be a relief to have an official dedicated to that purpose. How will you proceed with setting up your office, Administrator?"

The administrator smiled slightly. "It will be a simple structure at first, something that can expand as needed. The key is having a centralized place to oversee and address any eventualities. I'll keep you regularly informed about the state of the workforce and any potential issues."

"Perfect," I responded. "I want everything in this settlement to function like a well-oiled machine. I won't tolerate disturbances or failures. We'll do whatever is necessary to ensure this place thrives under Lord Caesar's protection."

"Correct. Here are the building plans. The Legion will pay once it's completed. Perhaps you could assist me by telling me how many slaves are currently in your tribe's lands, Centurion?" the administrator said, pulling out a graphite pencil and a notebook, ready to take notes.

I thought for a moment, recalling the latest reports I had in mind. "We currently have about twenty thousand slaves in this area, and another fifteen thousand are working down south on construction projects."

The administrator raised an eyebrow, showing some concern. "That's… an enormous number of slaves. And how large is your tribe?" he asked, almost incredulously.

"It's just me and around a thousand slaves I've freed," I replied calmly.

"Centurion... the ratio between slaves and free people is staggering," said the administrator, with a more serious tone. "Especially freedmen without their collars—they can be problematic."

"In reality, they've behaved very well," I shrugged. "They work hard and don't complain too much. There are occasional fights, but that's understandable."

The administrator nodded, though he still showed some doubt. "And how do you treat your slaves? I mean, what are the conditions under which they work?"

"It depends on the type of work," I answered serenely. "If they have skills, they work eight hours in the factories, allowing me to run three shifts a day. The unskilled ones work twelve hours, either moving earth or in the fields with machinery. They get three hot meals and have access to some entertainment facilities, including holotapes."

The administrator sighed, visibly more relaxed. "I see… a very generous master, it seems."

"For the moment, I'll stop buying more slaves," I told the administrator, keeping my tone firm but calm. "We're reaching the limit that my financial and production capacity can support for now. But when the fields are ready and food production begins to flow, I'll need thousands more slaves to expand the farms."

The administrator nodded, noting what I said. "I'll inform the consul so we can be prepared for a massive slave purchase when the time comes. However, by order of Legate Lanius and Lord Caesar, I cannot sell you slaves from the Twin Mothers tribe. Currently, they are the largest group of slaves, but they cannot be transferred to your control."

"Understood," I responded, absorbing the restriction. "Is there anything else we need to discuss?"

The administrator finished writing in his notebook and looked up. "Nothing more, Centurion. Continue with your work."

With a final nod, the administrator took his leave.

Everything related to food production was already underway. The hydroponic farms in my vault and the facilities at The Nursery were operating at full capacity, producing enough food to feed thousands. However, I still had to rely on purchasing local food to sustain the growing demand while the sale of weapons continued to rise. Caesar was preparing for a large campaign to the south, and this meant the demand for ammunition and weaponry remained constant.

With the free time I had, I decided to dedicate myself to something I had long wanted to explore: reverse-engineering the Brotherhood of Steel's T-50 power armor. The first thing I discovered was the lack of complete manufacturing blueprints among the captured remnants; the Brotherhood we fought didn't know how to make more armor—they only repaired and assembled existing frames. That was both a surprise and an advantage, as it allowed me to improve and increase production of Vault-Tec armors.

The T-40 armors, which were mostly just steel plates, proved nearly useless against laser fire, something demonstrated in every battle. However, the T-50s were a significant improvement. They used a poly-laminate composite that made them much more durable, covered with a thin layer of steel and an almost imperceptible layer of silver ablative coating, making them more effective against energy weapons.

With that information, I delved into creating my own power armor designs, also using what I'd learned about Sentry Bots. I began creating prototypes that not only offered protection but could fulfill specific roles on the battlefield. I was doing something the Brotherhood of Steel hadn't managed: advancing the technology. My designs would not only be useful in war, but they could also revolutionize how combat was approached in the Legion.

For nearly a month, I dedicated myself to modifying a T-51B, with a clear focus on transforming the armor into something more lethal and versatile in combat. It was a process of trial and error, initially frustrating, but with each adjustment and correction, the results began to show.

My first major modification was adding two reinforced fuel tanks to the back of the armor. These tanks needed to be durable enough to withstand impacts while also being designed to prevent any leaks that could endanger the wearer. I knew a simple mistake in fuel pressure could turn the user into a walking bomb.

The next step was installing an internal pumping system in the arms, designed to power flamethrowers. The idea was for the soldier to unleash bursts of fire with constant, controlled pressure, turning the T-51B into a true destruction machine in close combat. Achieving the balance between fuel flow and the flamethrower's firing power was tricky, but after several adjustments, I got the system to work with deadly precision.

One of the most challenging modifications, however, was upgrading the armor. I knew that while the T-51B was tough, it needed an enhancement to withstand the extreme heat generated by the flamethrowers. I decided to replace much of the armor with an advanced ceramic layer, known for its heat-dissipating capabilities. This would not only make the armor more fire-resistant but also maintain its ballistic integrity, ensuring it didn't lose protection against enemy gunfire.

The result was an improved version of the T-51B, far more suited for warfare in extreme conditions. My legionaries would now have a clear advantage in close combat situations, especially in environments where fire and extreme heat became dominant factors. However, the success of the modifications brought an unexpected challenge: a significant increase in energy consumption.

By integrating more servos into the armor to enhance the user's speed and agility, energy consumption skyrocketed. While the armor's mobility was now significantly superior, the original power source was no longer sufficient to sustain performance during prolonged combat. All available power would be depleted in just three to four hours of continuous use, putting any legionary at risk if they ventured too far into battle without a backup energy source.

Fortunately, as long as they operated from vertibirds, they could be recharged, so it wasn't an immediate crisis.

Before continuing work on more advanced prototypes, another thought crossed my mind: the armor my legionaries wore. The pieces of leather most of the men in the Legion, including several in my cohort, carried were little more than the illusion of protection. I vividly remembered the battle against the Brotherhood of Steel, where many of my men were killed by the first shot. A single blast from a laser rifle, and their armor crumbled, leaving my men defenseless.

I couldn't afford to keep losing legionaries like that. While creating power armor for everyone was impossible due to the cost and resources, I needed to find an intermediate solution. Something that offered real protection without requiring the enormous resources of power armor.

I decided to redirect my efforts for the time being towards improving the Legion's standard armor. I began working on a design that could combine the materials I had studied from the Brotherhood with what I had available in the warehouses. The armor had to be lightweight, flexible, and resistant to both ballistic projectiles and energy weapon impacts. The result had to be economical to produce and easy to distribute among my forces.

Kevlar was the obvious answer. The lightweight, flexible protection it offered, combined with bullet-resistant ceramic plates, provided much greater resistance to gunfire than the weak armor my legionaries were using. The key was to maintain the appearance that was so revered within the Legion: the football gear, already standard, served as the perfect base to integrate the upgrades without causing uproar among the more conservative officers.

I designed a ballistic helmet that included a fiberglass visor, strong enough to deflect small projectiles and debris. Additionally, it had to maintain the iconic legionary crest, a symbol of respect and authority that intimidated both enemies and comrades alike. The result was a helmet that fused the best of modern defensive technology with the intimidating appearance of the legionaries.

'If I can get Lanius or Caesar to approve this, I'll be rich,' I thought as I looked over the prototypes. If I could get this equipment approved as standard for the Legion, legionaries would stand a much better chance of surviving long enough to use their machetes.

The initial tests showed a massive increase in defensive effectiveness. Shots that previously pierced through standard gear were now absorbed by the ceramic plates, and the fiberglass helmet protected against head impacts. While not invulnerable, the difference was clear. Better-equipped legionaries would survive longer on the front lines, increasing their value and lethality when they finally entered hand-to-hand combat.

Now, it all depended on getting approval from the high command.

If approved, I would need a significant amount of chemicals and resources to produce the new equipment on a large scale. This would undoubtedly become a goldmine. I knew the demand would be enormous, especially if Caesar or Lanius deemed it necessary to re-equip the forces for future campaigns.

After a few weeks of intense work, I completed two sets of prototypes ready for presentation. They were solid, intimidating, and, most importantly, functional. With them in hand, I had to visit my commanding officer, who would have the final say on implementing this new gear.

I made sure everything in the Twin Mothers' lands was in order. I watched as hundreds of slaves worked under the sun, operating seeders while preparing the fields for the next big harvest. I knew this territory would soon become the breadbasket of the Legion.

Satisfied with seeing everything in motion, I prepared for my next move. I took one of the full equipment sets, carefully packaged, and loaded it onto the vertibird. It was time to put my vision to the test. I knew this moment could mark a turning point for both the Legion and myself. If I could get Lanius to see the potential in this new gear, not only would the legionaries be better equipped for future campaigns, but my position within Caesar's military structure would be solidified.

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