The legion's bread basket I

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With around two months left before the year ended, I had between fourteen and twenty-six months to build and repair as much industry as possible in the lands of the Twin Mothers. Turning those vast prairies into the breadbasket of the Legion would not only secure me an indispensable position within Caesar's empire but also line my pockets by selling non-irradiated food, an invaluable resource in these times.

Fortunately, the technicians I had left at Diana's facilities had been working tirelessly alongside the robots. Using the artificial wombs and advanced technologies, they accelerated the gestation of animals. Many species that had been mutated by radiation were returning to their pure forms. The results were already visible: hundreds of heads of purebred cattle were multiplying, growing, and reproducing naturally, complementing the induced births in the facilities.

Every day my livestock reserves increased, guaranteeing not only a steady supply of meat for the Legion and its subjects but also bolstering my economic position. As the production of non-irradiated food grew, it became evident that my control over the Twin Mothers' lands not only benefited Caesar but also provided me the advantage of being essential to the Legion's supply.

However, my work could not stop with the livestock. I had to plan the expansion of agricultural fields, ensure the slaves worked the lands efficiently, and guarantee the constant flow of pure water from Diana's facilities for irrigation. The technological resources I had secured would become the key to transforming this territory into the agricultural heart of the empire.

The four months of the campaign had left me with considerable wealth. The profits from selling weapons to the Legion, combined with the final payment for constructing the Legionary city I had completed after months of hard work, placed me in a privileged position. McKinley, ever efficient, had secured a new contract to build two more cities for the Legion, ensuring a steady stream of income, although these payments would arrive month by month. Despite this, my accumulated wealth had already surpassed one hundred thousand aureus, an impressive sum but one I knew would disappear within days.

Immediately, I began spending on what truly mattered. I bought slaves by the handful, securing the necessary labor for my long-term plans. I took advantage of the recent spoils of machinery captured by the Legion, using the expertise gained in construction and engine assembly. The first goal was clear: to build tractors that would accelerate agricultural production. These vehicles would be the foundation upon which I would construct the agricultural system I was designing, transforming the vast lands of the Twin Mothers into a productive engine for the Legion.

At the same time, we began working on the construction of irrigation channels. With the pure water flowing from Diana's facilities, the once barren land was coming to life.

This time, all the power armor McKinley had built was dedicated exclusively to city construction around the river, rather than being employed in combat. I had consciously decided to use the two dozen suits of armor to boost infrastructure rather than waste them in battles. Additionally, I finally chose to use the two G.E.C.K.s I had kept in storage for so long, completely cleansing the area of radiation. The result was impressive: what was once barren and sterile land turned into a vast, green, and fertile field, ideal for planting. The seeds saved from The Nursery's labs now had a proper home where they could thrive.

Every day, hundreds of slaves arrived from the Legion, integrating into our construction efforts. In the fields, some prepared the irrigation channels while others moved tons of earth to lay the foundations of the new cities. These settlements would not be mere outposts; they would become future centers of production, trade, and life for the hundreds of thousands of slaves I planned to bring to populate these lands.

The work advanced at an unstoppable pace. The G.E.C.K.s not only purified the land but also created an environment where life could flourish.

Tons of resources constantly flowed from all regions under Legion influence. Whether it was materials needing processing by our machinery or refined resources we couldn't produce ourselves, everything necessary arrived to sustain the growing infrastructure we were building.

Three weeks of relentless work passed, and finally, the rest of my cohort arrived, bringing with them the captured members of the Brotherhood of Steel. I knew exactly how to use their skills: I sent them straight to the factory foundations, where they began assembling Vault-Tec power armor using the available resources. These suits would become a key component in further increasing the capacity of our builders, allowing them to carry out the arduous construction work at a much more efficient pace.

McKinley, as always, proved to be an invaluable ally. While I supervised the assembly lines and daily operations, she handled securing better contracts, expanding our trade relationships, and ensuring that every new transaction was more profitable than the last. Her negotiation skills became one of the pillars keeping the project moving forward without interruption. While I focused on the factories and infrastructure, McKinley made sure nothing halted the flow of resources or the expansion of our operations.

Finally, after a month of relentless work, we began to see the fruits of our labor. The first tractors rolled off the production lines, the result of a well-trained team and near-unlimited access to energy thanks to the generators and resources we had acquired. I decided that, rather than following traditional models, these tractors would be electric, taking advantage of the plans Diana had once envisioned for this place. Her vision wasn't entirely wrong, and her technology was serving me better than I had imagined.

Each building we erected was a testament to that technological vision. The roofs were lined with solar panels, something that initially seemed unnecessary in Legion culture, but with so much sunlight in this region, it became an inexhaustible source of energy. Thanks to this infrastructure, the operation of tractors and heavy machinery no longer relied on finite fuels; now, we were ready to maintain production almost indefinitely.

With these electric tractors, the agricultural efforts we had planned also came to life. The slaves worked tirelessly, preparing the fertile land, and the machines began to optimize the cultivation of non-irradiated food—something that would soon become an invaluable resource for the Legion and its allies.

Days passed quickly, and the income flowed steadily. Sales of the products I had on hand—tools, food, and especially pure water—came in consistently. At the same time, expenses also increased as I continued to purchase slaves from all the regions where the Legion had established control. However, everything seemed to be going according to plan. The construction of this trading post did not go unnoticed, and over time, word of this new market began to spread.

Rumors of a place offering rare goods, non-irradiated food, and clean water attracted all kinds of merchants. The news traveled along the most frequented routes, and soon caravans began arriving from everywhere, bringing a wide variety of products and, most importantly, wealth. These merchants, reassured by the presence of an entire Legion cohort, quickly saw the advantages of this place. The market began to fill up, and every day new caravans arrived, looking to take advantage of the trading opportunities.

It wasn't just a hub for exchange but also a symbol of stability amid the chaos of conquests. The security guaranteed by my men, combined with the wealth generated by trade, turned this place into a strategic point for economic expansion. The flow of resources and slaves continued, and with each closed deal, my profits soared even higher.

The initial goal of turning these lands into an agricultural production center for the Legion was being fulfilled perfectly, but the new market brought with it unexpected wealth. If things continued like this, not only would I have an endless source of slaves and products to feed the Legion, but I'd also have an established trade network that could extend my influence beyond what I had anticipated.

This is where the first problem emerged. Literally, I was the only truly free person in this territory. The legionaries who accompanied me, despite their apparent status, were slaves to Caesar's army, bound to their military duty. I, on the other hand, had entered their ranks as a volunteer force, which placed me in a unique, but also delicate, position.

As the territory flourished, it began to attract migrants from other tribes—subjects of the Legion—who came seeking work or a place to settle.

My challenge now was to defend what I had created. Every gold coin I managed to gather beyond my expenses, after my profits, was used to buy land from the Legion. However, I knew others could try to do the same. Though I was the one who transformed the area into a fertile, radiation-free zone, there were those who might try to claim it. In the end, what was at stake wasn't just a portion of land but the total control of the region, its wealth, and its future.

This was where my position as the commanding officer of the Legion's forces became a crucial tool. A shrewd merchant had managed to buy several hectares of territory in my absence. However, my men, ever vigilant, intercepted his caravan as it headed to its new "home." Inside the cargo, they discovered a considerable stash of alcoholic beverages—contraband forbidden by Legion law.

This merchant, confident that his status would protect him, and despite swearing the goods weren't his, thought he could enter my territory and take advantage of the lands I had worked so hard to cleanse and make fertile. But he underestimated the iron grip of the law in this valley, and more importantly, my determination to maintain control.

There was no trial or long deliberations. Legion law was clear, and as the centurion in command, I was the law in these lands. I ordered his crucifixion at the entrance of the valley—a visible reminder to anyone who thought they could break the rules or take what wasn't theirs. As they nailed him to the cross, his face shifted from arrogance to indescribable fear.

From that moment on, everyone who entered my territory would see that merchant nailed to the cross, the first fool who made the mistake of challenging me in these lands. A symbol of what awaited anyone who tried to undermine my authority.

During that month, I established absolute control over the territory. I knew merchants were trying to take advantage of my project, but I also knew how to manipulate the situation in my favor. Every time one of them attempted to acquire land without my consent, my men would find "contraband" in their cargo—alcohol, drugs, or any other items forbidden by the Legion. The result was always the same: public crucifixion and the expropriation of their properties in the name of Caesar.

I became judge, jury, and executioner. The merchants, who initially dared to challenge me hoping to take advantage of the valley's wealth, soon realized there was no escape. My authority couldn't be questioned, and the crucifixion of those who broke the rules became a terrifying warning. No one would step foot in these lands without my permission.

With each crucifixion, my control and wealth increased. The expropriated lands were returned to the Legion but always under my administration. The message was clear: if you wanted to trade or live in this fertile valley, you would do so under my terms or face the fate of those already hanging from the crosses.

Eventually, they understood. The unauthorized land purchases ceased, and any attempts to challenge my control disappeared.

With the merchant problem solved, everything returned to normal. However, I had to start establishing a system for non-slaves and their treatment—renting houses, setting wages for each job, and defining rights and duties, as nearly all the work offered in the area was provided by my industry.