(Let's make it so that Arcade either kills himself prior so that he doesn't perform the operation, sabotage the entire operation or if Caesar simply can't be saved.") The battle was over in the blink of an eye. Cato had utterly destroyed the Courier, who remained on the floor at the brink of life. Boone was dead while ED-E was disabled, and the two females had two broken backs and would be made slaves. Cato took the Courier by the back of the neck and presented it to Caesar and Vulpes. "What shall we do with this man, My lord?"
Nathan walked into Camp Forlorn Hope and could feel the desperation among the troops there, but his arrival quickly drew up small conversations amongst the men as if a ranger had arrived, but then again, SAP units, 1st SAP especially, were essentially assault rangers. Nathan made his way into the tent and introduced himself to the Major of the camp, who soon came to realize Nathan was an actual former SAP member and instantly sent him to work to go help out around the camp.
The Courier was ultimately executed by Cato, placing him onto his knees and performing a one-hit death punch in his forehead with his bare hands. Being crucified would seem like a mercy death, so Caesar ordered Cato to perform the deed. He made Arcade watch, sending a message to the doctor about anybody that would take up arms against the Legion. However, Caesar suddenly held his head and cried out in pain. Nobody knew what was happening, other than the dictator suffering a serious pain in his head before ultimately suffering a seizure.
Arcade suddenly saw an opportunity to succeed where his old friends failed, "It's a brain tumor." he blurted, "He needs surgery to get it removed!" he honestly didn't know at that point, but it would give him reason to scoop out a chunk of Caesar's brain and kill him, or at least severely mentally handicap him.
"Then we need you to perform the surgery then, Doctor." Vulpes told Arcade, making sure that the doctor wouldn't attempt to kill him in the process. Lucius was concerned about Caesar's condition, but ultimately had to remain strong. While Arcade was shown inside of the tent while Caesar was lifted to his bed, Cato ultimately went inside to ensure that the doctor didn't kill the man he considered a father. If he did, then he would beat Arcade to death slowly and painfully. Cato stood in the far right corner in the room, the darkest part of the room. He crossed his arms while Arcade was preparing himself, watching for any signs of sabotage.
Arcade swallowed as he took the closest thing he had to a scapel(mainly manually using the instruments on the Autodock) and carefully determining where the tumor was and cutting carefully into Caesar's head, removing a section of skull and scalp and looked in to be amazed by what he saw, it was a lump on Caedar's brain about half the size of a peach, absolutely massively for a brain tumor. "It's a miracle he is still alive." He noted dorely before suddenly pushing a claw meant for lump removal deep into Caesar's brain, killing the great dictator instantly, and before Cato couldreach him, Arcade plunged an empty syringe into his arm and injecting straight air into his vein, collapsing almost instantly and managing to get out in Latin, "Heh...maybe something is new under the sun after all..." before the air bubble reached his heart and sent him into cardiac arrest and swift death.
"NO!" Cato responded, taking his Ballistic Fist and slammed his fist directly into Arcade's head. He then kept punching Arcade in the torso over and over until he was restrained by two praetorians. Cato couldn't believe it, this Follower had just killed the closest thing he ever had to a father. He wasn't crying or emotionally sad, just pure unadulterated and ruthless rage. He then stormed out of the Tent, furious over what had happened. Cursing at himself over what happened.
Janius looked at Cato in surprise as he came storming out of the tent, "Ave, what happened Centurion?" Janius asked him, "Did something happen?" ******* Nathan observed Nelson from a rocky outcropping to the northwest of the Legion occupied camp with a small contigent (and by small, he meant small, only a few of the Troopers had been assigned to go with him as they couldn't spare much else.), "We got three troopers in prisoner crucifixes, 3 Legion, look like Recruits, guarding said prisoners..." He muttered. "Prisoner crucifix?" One of the Troopers asked in a low tone. "Self explanatory, basically, if the Legion is wanting to simply punish you but not kill you, or in this case use prisoners to discourage any attacks, they will put you on a modified crucifix and tie your hands to the beams instead of using nails if they wanted you to die on it. They keep you alive, but it isn't a particularly nice existence. It's sort of the Legion's versions of the public stocks." Nathan replied as he continued to scan, "I see lots of movements within the barracks, meaning most of the Legion must be in there." Then, looking east, he noticed a sentry tower at the top of the little mountain they were on, "You two, go secure that tower, make as little noise as possible. Rodgers and I will hold here and I'll see what I can do about pinning the Legionaires down." The Troopers simply nodded and did as told, knowing Nathan had far more experience with combat than all of them combined. Laying flat on his stomach, he handed his binoculars to the Trooper that stayed, Private Rodgers, "You know how to spot targets? If not, all you have to do is tell me the general area of a Legionaire, like what building they are next to." "Yes sir, got it." Rodgers replied as Nathan brace his rifle on a rock to steady his aim. "Lets get this show on the road..." he muttered before slowly letting off a breath and sending a laser beam flying straight into the head of a Legionaire that was the closest to the captured Troopers.
Cato turned around, clearly frustrated as he brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. "The Follower killed Caesar by using the machine to claw Caesar's brain, killing him. Before I could act to end him, he injected himself and went into cardiac arrest. Coward....he couldn't even die like a man." Cato responded, a voice of sadness but the determination and anger of watching a doctor kill the dictator. "This leaves Legate Lanius to take the throne, but the Legate is more suited to militaristic tasks. I personally don't see him as the right choice for the Legion, but I guess that Lord Caesar knew this. Where does this leave us now against the profligates on the other side of the river, and the Legion?"
"We do what Caesar wanted, our course is unchanged." Janius said, "Though no doubt the Profligates will think we will be weakened by this. So, I would say we prove otherwise. Make things even harder on the Profligates to maintain their posituons while we wait for the Legate to arrive with the last reinforcements. In the meantime, we shall stick with the current succession plan."
Cato nodded in response before turning around towards the Colorado and the Dam. "So...where does this lead us now?" (Sorry for the short post, need to go somewhere)
Janius shrugged, "Well, for now, just as we were. Profligates think that power struggles will tear us apart now, so we must show them otherwise."
"I would wait to perform this idea until reinforcements arrived with Lanius, however...." Cato started, running down an imaginary check-list for all variables in his mind. "If we are to truly scare the profligates, perhaps into submission, then I suspect that a stealth mission involving our finest Legionaries to Camp Golf and eliminate the Rangers while they sleep could be organized. The NCR views their Rangers as heroes, powerful and talented combatants who are seemingly invincible. The NCR has sent their very best against us, all of them are stationed there. If we find a way to eliminate everyone there, this would be an enormous blow to their morale and offensive capability. I volunteer myself for this mission, but I cannot do this alone. We need our best stealth operatives at our disposal to be placed into a contubernium. While Lord Caesar remarked that my capabilities in stealth are seemingly legendary, I'm only one man. Vulpes mentioned that he has one of his Frumentarii stationed in Camp Golf as well, perhaps that could be of some use to us." Cato then looked towards the Colorado and Lake Mead, seeing the military camp in the distance. "This might seem radical and almost unnecessary, but I believe that this is possible. I don't want to only avenge Caesar's death, but to avenge the lives of everyone of our brothers who have died for our Legion."
Janius nodded in response, "True. Vulpes has stated that that Chief Hanlon himself is in that camp because the NCR sees it as a "safe forward operating base". Killing him will avenge every Legionary that died in the First Battle. How about you take your pick of my Fumentarii Legionaries for this mission? Excellent stealth fighters, each and every one. In the meantime, Vulpes, Lucas, and I will be making sure Caesar gets his honorable burial that he deserves a thousand times over and making sure order within the camp is maintained." ******* Nathan lowered his pistol as the body of Dead Sea slumped to the ground. After freeing the NCR troopers, Nathan had followed them to a small field containment outpost, where Ranger Milo and Ranger Andy (who decided to join in to give the youngsters lessons as Novac vacated.) and a handful of troopers were stationed. After resupplying the former prisoners, Nathan then lead a charge directly into the camp, using a well placed grenade in both barracks to at least daze those inside before going in guns blazing. Picking up Dead Sea's machete, he decided to keep it as a trophy. "You know, that was some mighty fine commanding skills you have." Milo said, looking around the room of about 8 dead Legionaires. "Eh, it was nothing. We did that sort of thing all the time in SAP." Nathan replied, "Well, you guys best head back to Forlorn Hope, I have some other things I need to do.
(Long Post Incoming!) Cato nodded as some of Janius’s Frumentarii Legionaries helped in tending the dead that had been left behind after the battle. He had seen two of them heading past the slave pen behind the arena with a fallen recruit Legionary dead in their arms. They both looked well suited for the task as Cato whistled to them, their attention instantly falling upon their two superiors. They dropped the body of the fallen Legionary slowly then saluted. “You two, come here." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By nightfall, Cato and his hand-picked contubernia made it to the other side of Lake Mead, all of them wearing rebreathers to swim underneath Lake Mead. Heading on a raft would have been too dangerous; the NCR could have blown them out of the water and the mission could have been abandoned. From what they had heard with the force in Nelson being wiped out, they weren’t heading that way either. Cato and his seven other men headed onto the shore, three of them being in Janius’s personal Frumentarii while the remainder were from Cato’s personal group of Legionaries, the most inexperienced being a Veteran Legionary on the verge of promotion to a standard Decanus. All of these men were considered some of the best stealth operatives in the Legion, and they already had a hell of an advantage over the NCR. They moved to the south-west towards Camp Golf, the soldiers of the two headed bear having absolutely no idea that they were coming. It was already late into the night, and the patrols were at their weakest. Every single factor was taken into the planning of this mission, from the patrol times to their weaponry to the number of Rangers inside. Each Legionary spread out to deal with each particular guard before forming back together, Cato quietly eliminating the two guards at the door after appearing right behind them and using his machete to slit the throat of a Ranger with one hand before stabbing the Ranger next to him, his hand on his mouth to prevent noise. As they dropped to the ground, their bodies were hidden. Any Ranger on the roof was taken down by a silenced sniper, who operated further away before he rejoined the group. Each Legionary met each other at the front door and once they entered, they immediately set to work. The three most skilled Legionaries headed to the sleeping quarters where the highest amount of Rangers was located while four headed upstairs to kill the more elite Rangers. Cato himself went to deal with Hanlon, and upon finding him in his bed, completely immobilized him by breaking his kneecaps after silencing him with several layers of duct tape. Cato wanted the Chief to see exactly what has happened to his Rangers, to witness the total devastation. Cato dragged the Chief down the hallway, making him face the opposite way and watch what was happening, as a Legionary appeared alongside him every three minutes as they made their way out. Each of the Legionaries appeared one by one until all eight found themselves back at Cato’s side. The Ranger spy that Vulpes had stationed at the resort soon came with him, making the total number of Legionaries to nine. The blades of each Legionary are dripped of blood, including the wolf in Ranger’s clothing. Camp Golf did indeed hold a significant strategic position for the NCR, and it would have been another powerful location for the Legion. Unfortunately, it was too much of a risk for the profligates to retake and fortify the position. Cato watched as each Legionary walked out of the building as Cato took a lighter from a dead Ranger and dropped it behind him onto a trail of petrol, where the entire pre-war resort went up in flames behind the Centurion. Hanlon watched as the entire resort and his fallen comrades went up in flames, powerless to do anything to stop it. The NCR Rangers had been wiped out to the last man, the organization was now officially destroyed by nine Legionaries, each sleeping Ranger had their throats slit or were dealt with in another manner entirely. Hanlon thought that whatever actions he performed, it would be pointless in the long run. Although any alternative plan other then the Legion taking the dam needed to be taken, the NCR’s imperialistic ways would ultimately get the better of them. He had even considered suicide a couple days prior to this event, seeing the entire Mojave Campaign as a lost cause. Hanlon was powerless to do anything now. Cato didn’t want Hanlon dead just yet, not as long as he is still useful. He had plans to send a message to the NCR, and he knew exactly how to send it. The Radio Tower at The Fort was perfect for what he had in store. Cato was going to hijack every radio signal in the Mojave while ensuring that the message he wished to send was not only going to hit the NCR, hard. If he believed in miracles, he wanted the signal to hijack all the known stations across California. Of course, he didn’t believe that anything like this was possible anymore. He was going to record the entire ordeal as well while Hanlon was being tied to a chair. Hanlon looked almost dead, but he was still defiantly alive, still silenced from the duct tape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meanwhile in New Vegas Mr. New Vegas was reporting the news, as usual. It would of been of little significance had it not been the very same day that Caesar was killed. People across the Mojave were celebrating the occasion, especially on The Strip. It was a massive sigh of relief. Of course, the high majority people of the Mojave, especially NCR citizens or soldiers, had no idea of the nightmare that was about to happen. Mr. New Vegas soon spoke the next sentence. “Tensions are brewing in Freeside between the ruling gang known as the Kings and the large number of NCR squatters seeking refuge there. The leader of the Kings, who would only identify himself as The King, voiced his displea-“ Mr. New Vegas was cut short to the sound of static, only for the static to die out and fall into silence until a voice came out on the other end. Cato was ready to silence the doubts of the Mojave forever and replace them in his own image. (Going to introduce another character soon. Let's just say that Nathan will soon have a companion)
Nathan saw the smoke drifting up from over Camp Golf from miles away, horridfied about what this might mean, he rushed north towards the camp to see the troopers stationed there staring hopelessly up at the resort house as it burned. Looking around, he noticed not a single Ranger was among the troopers, walking almost as if in a trance into the crowd, there was not a doubt in his mind that this wasn't an accident. It was clear to see that this was a masterfully crafted and executed Legion attack, luckily no one in the Camp was listening to the radio, they had something for more important. Thoughts raced through Nathan's head before he growled lowly and ran up onto the steps leading up to the platform and looked down at the Troopers whose spirits looked like they had just been crushed, "Everyone! Listen up! There is not a doubt this is a Legion deed, this is them trying to destroy your resolve, to break your spirits. Don't let them win. Think, if the Legion takes the Mojave, guess what's next? The NCR itself. Today, it's Primm, Mojave Outpost, Nelson, and here, tomorrow, your home, your farm, your hometown, burned to the ground and everyone you know and love killed brutally or enslaved. Let this be a reminder why we cannot let the Legion take the Mojave, or hell will be unleashed upon the innocents and civilians of not only the Mojave, but the NCR. This. This is why we're fighting them, because if we don't, guess what? We'll be fighting them anyways! On the streets of the Hub, the Boneyard, hell, maybe even Sandy Sands itself! There will be no such thing as a peaceful withdrawal from the Legion, for they will only keep attacking us until we're their whipping boys. Are you going to let that happen?" Silence responded, "I didn't think so. So turn this disaster into a rallying call. Remember Primm! Remember Mojave Outpost! Remember Nelson! Remember Camp Golf!" (I was thinking of this being the final straw, like Camp Golf becomes sort of the "Alamo" of the NCR.) ********* Janius sat down in his tent late that night, holding two letters and a book that they had found while cleaning Caesar's quarters. Looking at the book under candlelight, he quickly saw it was a Pre-War book, "The Gallic Wars... By....Julius Caesar? Was that Caesar's first name? That doesn't make sense...This book is Pre-War..." he muttered before looking at the letter addressed to him and opening it to read, "Janius. You know I'm not much one for words so I'm going to be to the point here, even if I'm dead. You weren't born into the Legion, you were re-educated. We found you about 20 years again in San-Fe, you proved yourself against our Legionaires, even I was impressed by your ability to hold a clocktower from constant assault for 2 days. I still haven't learned much about your past, but the mystery came to intrigue me, a sort of...past time, if you will. I don't look deeply into my Legionaires past very much, so feel proud. All I will say from what I found is that you have crossed the entire United States, from ocean to ocean, almost twice. I hope under the Legion you can get to see the Pacific once more. But, I do know you were born in Enclave. That is all I can say. Now, into business. I have realized that Legate Lanius is a military commander, not a leader. But I appointed him as my successor as I know that he will keep the Legion together for at least the Mojave campaign, maybe even into California. But know he likely won't live long. He is a man who has a mutation somewhere that lead to his immense size, it also significantly reduced his lifespan. I'm leaving determining the next Caesar after Lanius to Cato, Lucas, Vulpes, Mark, and you. Good luck, and may Mars be with you."
“This is Cato Octavius, son of the Legion.” Cato began his radio speech, picturing the thousands of inhabitants of the Mojave listening to their radios after the sudden signal change. “Many of the Republic’s figures in positions of power would surely know who I’m. This wouldn’t be the first time that I have fought for the Legion. Mojave Outpost, Primm and Camp Golf were fallen architects of my design, a reminder to the profligates that you are simply not invincible, your ignorance into your leadership promising you order and peace is backed by nothing more than greed and misery upon the common folk. Your leaders speak to you about this mirage and vision of peace, and therefore you are led to believe that these people can speak. So...I’m going to allow somebody to speak to you, and he shall speak words that will signal what will occur to your republic in the near-future. Now, we are all going to do something. Speak.” Cato was recording the entire thing in video as well, visible evidence for the NCR leadership. Cato ripped off the duct-tape blocking the mouth of Hanlon, not in a condition to fight back. “Tell the people of the Mojave your name...” “Hanlon” “Your full name....” Hanlon hesitated for a moment before replying. “Andrew Hanlon....chief of the NCR Rangers.” Cato then looked towards the camera and gave it a smile as if he was a pre-war game show host. “Ladies and gentlemen, the sole survivor of the NCR Rangers! Last night, the NCR Rangers were wiped out in Camp Golf by proud and honest men of the Legion such as myself. Each Ranger station as well has already been attacked, all of your rangers killed. Profligates view these ‘Rangers’ as heroes, and I do agree that their skills in combat are commendable. However, the Rangers are now nothing but ghosts and martyrs. Chief Hanlon is the last Ranger, and today, the people of the Mojave will listen to history being made.” Cato then looked at the Chief who’s head was facing downwards. “Look at me Hanlon” Cato asked before deeply roaring at the old man. ”LOOK AT ME!” Hanlon looked at the camera as Cato politely took the microphone and spoke into it some more. “I’m going to make a demand to the profligates of the Republic and all of the dissolute souls wandering across the wasteland; I hope they are listening to me now.” Cato spoke. “The Rangers are gone, they don’t exist anymore. If anybody happens to serve under the banner of the bear and fight for her, you should know exactly what this means. There will be no mistakes, no surrender and no failure this time. When the battle for the Dam happens, you will not be fighting the same Legion as you did four years ago. This Legion is more powerful, more numerous and vastly more superior than anything you would have ever seen. We are going to come down onto you like a hammer.” Cato then took the Chief’s Sequoia and loaded a bullet into it. “Chief Hanlon, do you have anything to say about this?” Hanlon then looked upwards towards the Camera and the microphone. “To my fallen rangers and to the Republic, this is the Chief. I know I can ramble on sometimes, but I need you to listen close for the next minute or so. I got some bad news. I messed up, made a mistake. I thought I could help us get out of here, but it didn't work out. Rangers get injured all the time, it's part of the job. But if you lose a few fingers, get a bad break, that's it. You step down. We rely on each other too much to let our infirmities become a liability. A ranger knows when it's time. Only I didn't. Somewhere along the way, something broke inside me. I couldn't find us a way out of this desert. I wrestled with it, and it took me down a dark road. I wish I could explain it to you. The old chief's finally at a loss for words.” Hanlon then looked the camera dead in the eyes. “The Mojave will be the death of us all. Run. Pack up everything and run, it doesn’t matter where anymore. I’m sorry.” Cato then took the Sequoia and shot Hanlon in the temple, killing him instantly as the Centurion looked at the camera. The sound alone drowned out the entire room, and it would have been loud enough to make even the loudest saloon or the quietest one simply jump out of fear. Once Hanlon was dead, Cato bent down to the camera and microphone until he was face to face with it. “We are the Legion. Expect us.” Like that, the signal and video was ended and the radio returned to normal. -------------------------------------- A young lady took her seat in the Atomic Wrangler at the barstool, being one of many inside the casino who were listening to the horrific message of terror that was being played on every radio across the entire Mojave, and listening to the hauntingly cold yet beautiful of Cato as he executed Hanlon. She had short blonde hair and blue eyes, and was only 5ft 2. The youth of 22 watched as everybody jumped in terror as the noise of a gunshot echoed across the entire ground floor, even managing to scare some of the supposedly fearless guards. The women didn't even flinch when the noise came. Instead, it solidified her beliefs. She was dressed in light clothing, nothing more than jeans and shoes protecting the lower half of her body while her upper half was protected with nothing more than a single black collared shirt with a ballistic vest on her chest (Think Joshua Graham’s armour with the shirt being black.) She got up from the barstool, her trusty pistol at her side after years of service and left the chaos that was now occurring between NCR citizens and the locals of Freeside, heading towards the south to help in any way possible.
After helping solidify morale as best as he could, even forcing a swuad into shape before heading off, Nathan headed North towards Vegas, he had one more stop to make before heading to the Dam to ask how he could assist directly. Bitter Springs, truly the weak link in the river guard, and the most potential for being the most critical.
The women, who's name was Jessica, headed down south along Highway 95 right next to the El Dorado Dry Lake and a vast expanse of sand and cracked earth along the desert highway. She was alone as she headed down at around Dawn, which she thought was the safest time to travel along the Highway, especially when any potential threats such as Raiders or some animal life were busy resting. This didn't affect the Legion, who had recently began making more attacks across Lake Mead, especially since the Rangers were removed from the picture entirely only last night. Bitter Springs was now the critical location for the entire Mojave Campaign for the NCR. If they lost Bitter Springs, then the Legion would completely dominate the area around Lake Mead while the NCR found themselves in a significantly terrible position when the battle for the Dam came, with the NCR potentially suffering an attack from the rear. Meanwhile, Cato, who was already one of the most powerful figures in the Legion, had seen an extreme jump of power since Caesar's death. Especially since he was the third successor to the Throne after Lanius while being one of Caesar's first Legionaries from the Blackfoot tribe and the adopted "Son" of the late dictator. While still serving as a Centurion for the Legion, he effectively was promoted to a further rank of superiority inside the Legion. Centurion Octavius, underneath Legate Lanius himself, was now the most powerful general and officer in the Legion. He was coordinating the attack on the Dam with Lanius when he arrived with his vast force from the East.
(Well, the rangers wouldnt be totally wiped out, after all, remember there's the Ranger Outposts) Janius had been stuck as Vulpes' second in command even after to massive power shift, but he didn't care much about that at the moment, he was stuck thinking about what Caesar's letter told him, before he decided to read the "Gallic Wars" book, and came to be shocked by a revelation. Caesar...wasn't told by Mars how to achieve victory, nor did Mars want human sacrifices. Caesar...was a copy. He...This Colorado was his Rubicon. But one small sentence caught his eye at the end of the book, "And so I said, "The Die is cast, you may come with me or not, but to bow out now after all we've been through would be to make our years of campaign together meaningless."
