The mojave campaign

-------------------------

If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

-------------------------------

The train journey took us directly north, where we immediately began to prepare all equipment for the Mojave campaign. Time was of the essence. As we organized the tanks, armored vehicles, and weaponry, my men worked tirelessly to ensure everything would be ready for the offensive. The logistics were impeccable, as they always had been under my command, and my legionaries' discipline was evident as they readied themselves for what lay ahead.

The forces led by Lord Caesar had managed to hold off the men of the New California Republic, keeping them at bay, though at a steep cost. The NCR's attacks had been fierce, and many legionary lives had been lost in the defense of Hoover Dam. Yet, the Legion remained relentless, halting every enemy advance. The Mojave lands had not yet fallen, and soon we would be prepared to launch our final assault.

According to the frumentarii, the NCR was desperate. Their attempts to reclaim the Dam were driven by a critical need for water and electricity. Hoover Dam was the lifeline of the NCR's survival in this region, and without it, their ability to feed and supply their population was on the brink of collapse.

As my spies indicated, the president of the NCR was under immense pressure. The water shortages had begun to severely impact his administration, and the need to protect the elites only worsened the situation. The frumentarii reported growing rumors of unrest among ordinary citizens, who were beginning to question why they should suffer while the powerful maintained their water supply for agriculture and industry. This division within the NCR was precisely what we needed to exploit.

I knew time was on our side. While the NCR continued to suffer from scarcity and unrest grew among their population, Hoover Dam would become increasingly vulnerable—not only to direct assaults but because the NCR's internal structure was beginning to unravel under a corrupt leader.

We began unloading the war equipment from the trains. Crates of ammunition, tanks, and power armor units lined the dusty ground, ready to be moved to the front. As my men worked with the precision expected of them, I headed toward the fortifications near Hoover Dam. My intent was to personally assess the situation at the front. It was delicate, and no report could be as reliable as what my own eyes could see.

Upon my arrival, the legionaries defending the positions greeted me with broad smiles and respect. Morale surged whenever high command was present at the front line, and my presence was no exception. However, there was no time for celebrations.

I made my way to the castra, the fortified camp on the opposite shore of the Dam, and began reviewing the field reports. As I scanned the terrain with binoculars, a gunshot cracked through the air. I barely felt it, but the impact was direct—a sniper's shot had struck my power armor helmet. The sound of the projectile bouncing off the metal rang out momentarily, and the remaining centurions, decanus, and legionaries hit the ground immediately, seeking cover.

I, however, remained completely still. Although well-aimed, the shot simply exploded against the power armor I wore. There was no damage to me or the armor. The helmet, reinforced specifically to withstand impacts of that magnitude, performed its function flawlessly.

I raised my rifle and began searching for the fool who dared fire at me. My breathing slowed as I scanned the horizon, my trained eyes moving methodically. It didn't take long.

There he was: the telltale glint of the sniper rifle scope reflecting sunlight—a fatal mistake.

I adjusted my stance, aiming calmly. The sniper had made the gravest of errors: underestimating me. Perhaps he thought he had eliminated me or could hide at a distance.

Wasting no time, I took a deep breath, calmed my heartbeat, and squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out with unerring precision, slicing through the air. My bullet traveled directly toward its target; a flash in the distance marked the sniper's end. His body slumped behind the rock where he'd been hiding.

I holstered the rifle without even a glance back at where the enemy had fallen.

"Ensure there are no more surprises," I ordered as I continued surveying the terrain.

The NCR had heavily fortified the area. I could see fortifications surrounding most of the area, so a direct assault would meet heavy resistance.

As I continued observing the terrain, I noted more details that further complicated the situation: several well-positioned machine gun nests, clearly designed to cover the most obvious approaches, and numerous elevated areas ideal for NCR snipers. Additionally, perfectly aligned trenches, each prepared to withstand a direct assault.

I frowned, studying the defensive layout. "Why are there so many fortifications?" I asked the centurion beside me. "Were they trying to block something?"

The centurion, with a frustrated look, replied in a tired but respectful tone. "The damned cowardly snipers of the Republic, Legate. They've made it nearly impossible to step outside the fort without taking fire. We've been dealing with it for a while now. The only solution we've found is to keep our heads down, wait, and make them attack us instead. That's how we've repelled their advances time and again."

The NCR's tactic was clear: wear down my men with snipers and force us into cover. By keeping the Legion under constant pressure, they hoped to weaken our lines without committing too many resources. However, this approach revealed something else: the NCR was playing defensively, which meant they lacked the resources for a prolonged assault. They were betting everything on those fortifications to buy time, hoping the Legion would make a critical error.

"We can't keep letting them control the field this way," I said, as my mind began formulating solutions. "These snipers are a nuisance we need to eliminate. And those machine guns… there won't be a direct advance until we neutralize those nests."

"Someone know where Vulpes is?" I asked the group of praetorians and centurions surrounding me.

"In the south, Legate. The frumentarii are working on something," a centurion answered.

"Good. Let's get out of here before they get another shot off," I said, heading south in search of the head of the frumentarii.

I traveled south, where I found a legionary encampment in a low area by the Colorado River. The place was full of frumentarii and veterans, many of them equipped with upgraded armor. The steel plating they now wore on their chests, thanks to the steady flow of metal, provided them with considerable protection. They could withstand low-caliber bullets, though I doubted it would stop rifle rounds. Nonetheless, the improvement gave them a tactical edge in the prolonged war that loomed ahead.

I quickly searched for Caesar's eyes and ears and soon found them alongside Malpais, the disgraced Legate. They were clearly planning something, their faces focused on the maps spread before them.

"Centurion Malpais," I greeted the fallen officer with a slight nod of respect. "An honor to see you again."

Malpais looked at me with a mix of contempt and bitterness, his eyes revealing the invisible scars of his fall. "Spare me the platitudes," he growled. "I don't need your pity, Gaius. What brings you here?" he asked, his tone harsh and laden with resentment.

I removed my helmet, keeping my expression neutral, unaffected by his reaction. I knew Malpais's fall had been hard for him, but in the Legion, weakness was not something easily forgiven.

"I've come to coordinate the northern movements," I responded calmly, maintaining formality. "Lord Caesar has given clear orders for the Mojave campaign, and I'm here to ensure everything is in place. It's good to have a veteran officer on board for such matters."

Malpais scoffed, visibly irritated. "'On board.' Is that what they call relegating a man who once commanded entire legions to the shadows?" His voice was filled with frustration. "But I'm not here to discuss my fall. If you've come to give orders or monitor, do it quickly, Gaius. I have no time for your games."

Vulpes observed the exchange in silence, wearing his enigmatic smile as he always did, relishing his role in the shadows.

"I need to know why the NCR is so heavily fortified at Hoover Dam," I inquired, addressing both Vulpes and Malpais, hoping for a clear explanation.

Vulpes was the first to speak, in that calm but meaningful tone. "I suppose information travels slowly south," he said, his smile unwavering. "The NCR attempted a hostile takeover of Hoover Dam a few weeks ago, but they failed. We lost hundreds of legionaries, that's true, but we held the Dam."

"And why are they still fortifying?" I pressed, aware there was more to the story.

"That," Vulpes continued, leaning slightly toward me, "is of little consequence now. The Dam is filled with explosives. If the NCR manages to take it, all they'll get are ruins and rubble. We know they can't afford to lose the resources the Dam provides, but we can't let it fall into their hands either. If they try another takeover, there will be no battle this time… only ashes."

"Did you not use this as an opportunity to counterattack?" I asked, still intrigued by the lack of direct action after the NCR's failed offensive.

"The situation works in our favor," Vulpes replied, his tone calm but laced with satisfaction. "The NCR is clumsy with its logistics, too many security gaps in their supply lines. My frumentarii have been wreaking havoc. The more they fortify their positions near the Dam, the easier it becomes to strike at their weaknesses."

He paused, his smile reappearing. "We're hitting their caravans, eliminating their recruits who barely know where to aim their rifles. Yes, we lost hundreds of our men in the assault, but we also killed many from the NCR. However, in our ambushes, in this war of attrition, we have achieved far more. Their weak logistical presence has cost them thousands of lives in recent months."

I began to see the sense behind Vulpes's strategy. Although the NCR was reinforcing Hoover Dam and the surrounding area, they were neglecting the essentials: their ability to maintain supplies. The more they focused on strengthening defenses at the Dam, the more vulnerable they became on the paths and routes that kept their army sustained.

"There are frumentarii on both paths the NCR uses to supply its army in the Mojave," Malpais said, his tone more composed as he spoke. "Many of our men are infiltrated in their ranks, and we have access to much of their confidential logistics information. This makes our job easier, and we've managed to place the blame for leaks on loyal NCR officers, creating internal mistrust."

I listened carefully as they continued, impressed by the level of detail in the operation. The frumentarii's reach extended farther than I had anticipated.

"If things remain as they are," Malpais went on, his tone more resolute, "when Lanius returns with his vast legion, the NCR's logistics should completely collapse. Their supply lines won't withstand the demand, and we'll easily outnumber them."

I nodded slowly, seeing how the strategy was coming together perfectly. The NCR would not only face the Legion's brute force but also the equally devastating domain of logistics. By cutting off their supplies, wearing down their caravans, and sowing internal discord, they would be weakened long before Lanius launched the final assault.

"It's a brilliant move," I remarked, looking at both Vulpes and Malpais. "When Lanius returns, the NCR will face not only our military might but its own internal collapse. Their troops will be hungry, demoralized, and without the supplies they need to resist us."

"Well, before you interrupted, Legate," Vulpes said, with his calculated tone, "we were planning a new move. Camp Searchlight, one of the NCR's largest bases south of Hoover Dam. They use it to quarter many of their men, and just like in other locations, it has the same security breaches."

He paused, savoring the attention his words had drawn. "Additionally, there's a large amount of radioactive waste stored in the city's fire station. According to my frumentarii, the quantity is enough to be lethal if released. My plan is to send a few of them to release it. If that waste is unleashed, the base will be rendered unusable, and NCR men will die a slow, agonizing death."

Vulpes smiled, his expression Machiavellian, clearly relishing the thought. But before he could continue, I intervened.

"Good plan," I mused, considering what I had just heard, "but it could complicate our own logistics in the future." I knew Vulpes's tactic would be effective, but the area around Camp Searchlight also held strategic value for the Legion. Turning it into a radioactive wasteland would not only destroy NCR forces but also make it difficult for the Legion to use later on. "Perhaps I might suggest an alternative."

Both Vulpes and Malpais looked at me, intrigued to hear my idea.

-------------------------------

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.