(Righto) Jacob gazed at his Brahmin ranch from his ranch house. Pack Brahin, meat Brahin, even a couple non-radioactive dairy Brahmin were all raised here. He knew the coming war would be hell on the NCR, even if the Novans didn't attack; the NCR economy had become so reliant on trade with them that the end of trade was already negatively affecting the economy. Just two weeks ago, he would have been overrun with traders and travelers on their way to the Strip, seeking either rest at his little motel complex he built by hand, or needing a new Brahmin, or wanting some meat and water for the trip up the stretch of the Long 15 to Long 15 Outpost, the border of NCR control and the start of the mile long "no-man's land" between the NCR and Nova Roma. He sighed as he turned inside and grabbed his sniper rifle, a strange rifle with the symbol of the Enclave, worn as it was, on the butt. Ma always told him it was his pa's, and he told her to give it to him. Only thing Ma ever explained was that Pa had found it and it had gotten him in trouble so he had to leave. He walked up into the attic, luckily no wife and family to look after, was always too busy taking care of the ranch. Setting himself up a little sniper position that would allow him to see anyone coming from the Long 15 Outpost direction and not be seen, he waited, just as every day for the week before, waiting to see an army of red swarm over the horizon, and he wasn't going down without a fight
Being one of the very few travelers heading between the NCR and Nova Roma's coming storm, Taylor was the one selected to ensure the safety of her VIP for Imperator Nero. Coming from the far east, she would not be a registered citizen of Nova Roma nor the NCR, and this would be one of her biggest advantages when she was stopped between checkpoints. Being a stranger in a new land, and also having the combat ability of a high ranking Centurion, Taylor was an invaluable asset to Damien. The LW was dressed in a dark blue jacket and jeans, her only visible weaponry being a revolver. Heading downwards from the Long 15, she would have to find someone named "Jacob". She knew who he was, but he did not know where he is. She was heading down the long strip of seemingly empty road that once connected California to Nevada, the old destroyed vehicles that scattered the highway like trash being moved out of the way by the NCR for easier travel for caravans. She would find him, she had to.
Jacob watched as a lady walked down the Long 15 towards his ranch from the land of Caesars, tracking her intently through his rifle scope(which had a wonderful variable zoom), then, as soon as she would be in earshot, he fired a single shot into the ground at her feet, sending a small shower of concrete up, "Y'all can just stop right there! Ah ain't letting one person through past mah ranch without showing they ain't Novan!" He yelled at her, "Ah got one of the best rifles in Tha Wasteland, and Ah ain't afraid to use it to end ya! Are y'all a Courier? Caravenner? Traveler? Soldier?
"Traveler" Taylor lied simply. "I did come from Nova Roma, and I do appreciate the quality of your rifle. Just...who do I happen to be speaking to?" Taylor had a strange vibe run through the hairs on her neck. If this man she was speaking to was the one she was looking for, she would have had to be forced to perform anything within her power to ensure he gets to safety. Non-lethal measures would obviously needed to be ensured, but Damien was kind enough to have several frumentarii to assist her at the first sign of trouble. Hopefully, it would not come to that.
"You're speaking to Jacob Truthmen, or was it Trueman? Either way, y'all best mosey on along before them Romans attack! And no, Ah will not reveal myself, Ah ain't keen on losing mah advantage should Ah need to start firin'! Them Romans have spies everywhere ya know!"
“Alright. Thank-you for your time.” Taylor replied before heading south across the Long 15. Many hours later, once she was well out of Jacob’s sight and distance, she stopped in front of a church and held her fingers to her ear to an earpiece that was expertly disguised as a hearing aid. “I have found him.” Taylor replied. “Matches the description exactly. Armed with Enclave level Sniper Rifle, should be troublesome..” Taylor stood there in silence until she received a simple answer. "Frumentarii will be at your position soon. We convince him again, or we take him by force."
Jacob watched the road tirelessly for hours, seeing only military caravans heading towards and coming back from Long 15. As night fell, Jacob flicked on the scope's night vision and made sure his ranch was completely dark. But slowly, exhaustion got the best of him, and he fell asleep, cheek resting on his rifle
Taylor found the body of the man she needed, sleeping on his rifle and appeared to be out cold. Around her were four Frumentarii that gently grabbed the arms and legs of Jacob. Taylor pulled out a small dark purple capsule, designed by pre-war soldiers and recreated in the NCR that was used to knock a prisoner or a solider unconscious out without the use of physical contact. Once she was ready, she quickly took the rifle away from him as Jacob’s head, causing his head to fall slightly. It was enough for him to wake up, but it was already far too late. By the time he realized what was happening, the pill had been swallowed after Taylor opened his mouth. Within seconds, it was lights out. Pleased with her success, she looked at the other Frumentarii around her. “That was the easy part. The hard part will be getting him back to Nova Roma. If the local maps are correct, we can take a derelict mountain path that leads us back. Imperator Nero will be very pleased with our success. Now...let’s get a move on, the pill will work for the next two hours. Also, take his rifle, he might miss it when he wakes up, and it will help when he is explained how deep the rabbit hole really goes...” (Time-skip to next day?)
(Sure) Jacob woke in a dark room, a place he didn't reconize, on a bed far too soft to be his, he instantly let up in rage, "God dammit! Y'all cowardly bastards! Come on out to where Ah can see y'all!" He yelled out, stumbling around as he recover from the effects of the pill, "What is the God damned mean in' of this?! What do y'all want from me?! Ah'm just a Brahmin stop rancher!"
“Calm down, Jacob.” An unknown baritone voice announced across the dark room through a speaker positioned high in a corner on the other side of the room. “Your movement will not help you recover from the effects of the pill we originally gave you. In fact, it would make it worse. Before you ask about how we know your name, there is no need. I know exactly who you are, Jacob. You are a Brahman rancher from the New California Republic, owning a property several miles from the Long 15. You have precisely 32 Brahman in your collection, 4 of them being unirradiaded dairy. I know your favourite meal, book, and seemingly anything else you enjoyed as a child. I can even tell you about the symbol on the butt of your rifle is about. I know who you are; you are guessing who I could possibly be?” Just as the statement had finished, the lights flickered to life as Damien had entered through the door surrounded by two praetorian guards. The armor that Damien wore would have reminded Jacob of the Veteran Rangers back home, as it was Damien's own Riot Gear from nearly 20 years ago, except that it was much more fortified and fearsome. The duster that the armor came with was dyed dark red, and the plating on the Elite Riot Gear was deep silver, the the symbol of the bull on the back of the duster. Despite being helmet less at the moment, it was clear that the Imperator was not dressed in full armor without a reason. “I’m Imperator Nero Octavius Caesar of Nova Roma, although you can just call me by my birth name, Damien.” Damien simply added. “Before you even consider attacking me, it would only end in pain. I do not want to put you through any mental or physical pain. I came to have a simple chat with you, Jacob. You are not in any trouble; it’s under my personal interest to speak with you.” He said before pulling out a seat and gesturing Jacob to sit down. “I’m going to answer you some questions, and then I’ll reveal exactly why I answered them, simple as that. First question, how well did you know your father?”
Jacob glared at Damien got a few moments before sighing, knowing that it would be futile to resist, "Ah didn't know 'im. 'E was gone by the time Ah was about 1 or 2." He told Damien, "'e taught Ma how to read an' right though, she tried to teach me too. She always told me Pa was a good man before 'e left. She always said 'e was hoping to settle down, escape from some problem. The problem then came to 'im and 'e had to leave."
Damien remained silent for a brief second before replying back. Within a short time, the two of them went through several questions and answers. Some of these responses surprised Damien but was hiding it from view of Jacob. After about fifteen minutes, Damien stood up from his chair and announced his reason behind the questions. "The reason I have answered you these questions was because I had worked very closely with your father for a very long time. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of his passing, there would be no reunion with him. However, allow me to simply state this. John Truemen was the Imperator of Nova Roma before me, and it's founder, it's father, and my friend. He was Caesar, Jacob." Damien replied. "Your father passed away several days ago, and his dying wish was for me to unite all of North America before my own passing. But also, he wanted me to keep you safe."
Jacob sat there blinking for a few seconds, "Honestly? From what Ma always told me about Pa, the fact that 'e went an' made a whole nation ain't a big shock. Ma always said "That man had been destined for great things since the day 'e was born". An' Ah can't really say Ah'm all that sad at 'is passin', never knew 'im though Ma always said that 'e always found ways ta take care of us even from as far away as 'e was. Now, Ah'ld just like to get back to mah ranch; it's all Ah've 'ad since Ma died 10 years back. An' don't worry about keepin' me safe mister Caesar; Ain't no reason why Ah 'adn't been forced off mah ranch by raiders yet ya know. Ah got mah Brahmin ya take care of too. Ain't like unirradiated dairy Brahmin are an everyday thing."
“That is going to become a problem.” Damien replied, sighing heavily. “The NCR has been causing an enormous build-up of their forces across the Long 15; they seek to invade Nova Roma. To protect the best interests of my people and that all peaceful negotiations that we have tried to attempt to the republic have failed, I will not allow this to happen. Your property is close to the beginning of the Long 15. The truth is, we’re moving in and the NCR is going down in its entirety. This, I’m afraid, was always going to happen.” Damien then coughed before looking at Jacob once more. “But what about you, Jacob? Once we have moved inside enough, you are free to live your life as you please, but under the safety of our soldiers. We can rebuild the entirety of the American southwest in under a year, cities and all. We can provide water to quench your first, food for you and your animals, and we promise you peace from any hostilities. If you allow us to use your Brahman ranch for at least twelve hours until we can advance, you will be rewarded with what would typically be associated with 50,000 caps in basic wasteland currency. Of course, allowing us to use your ranch is optional; we will do just fine without it if you decline our offer. The NCR has just set forth a chain of events beyond their own control, and they are going to suffer the ultimate price. A war between them and us in their current state would take roughly between the end of the week or at the end of the month.“
Jacob thought for a bit, "Ah don't care about caps. Ah can earn that. If Ah was ta house your soldiers, I have ta request three favors, one; 'elp me build up mah ranch into a small town, it 'as the potential ta, and it would make it the only settlement between Long 15 an' the 'ub." Jacob then looked Damien dead in the eye, and a familiar light could be seen in them, something Damien would have instantly reconized in John, passed down to son, "Two; mah Brahmin are not to used or mistreated by your soldiers unless they pay tha going rate like anybody else. And three; I request that ya find mah Pa's will so that ya may see what 'e intended ya leave ta me."
“Consider it done.” Damien replied before standing up. “I’ll have to give you his will after the coming storm however, don’t want any damage to come to the document. You are free to leave, you’re currently at the Mojave Outpost, and so there is less distance between you and your humble home. I’m sure my men will follow your rules in terms of food and water, we don’t ask for much anyway.” Damien then motioned his two praetorians to his side. “I bid you farewell, Jacob. I’ll be returning to your home on another day. Until then, stay safe.” The Imperator stood up and headed towards the door and left. Damien went outside of the now overwhelmingly fortified Mojave Outpost and headed back to Vegas on a truck across the I-15 north. God...he’s just like him Damien thought, a small smile across his face.
Jacob sighed as he stepped out into Mojave Outpost, his father's old rifle returned to him as he got ready to leave. He bought some leather armor from a trader that decided to stick it out despite the risk of NCR attack. He declined some bodyguards before making his way through the wall set up and into no mans land, hoofing it back home, always ready to pull out his rifle should an animal decide to attack.
Several hours later Imperator Nero stood on the top of the building that formerly was occupied by the NCR as it’s bar, where a former Ranger looked across the horizon many years ago. The Legion reinforced the outpost to almost beyond recognition; the statue of the rangers that was constructed had been demolished and instead was recreated, with Damien and John shaking hands instead. Many Machine gun turrets were constructed; sandbags were placed and artillery was placed behind the wall. Five thousand well-armed and well-supplied Legionaries who had undergone extreme disciplinary training against what was reported to be an enemy four times their size of what Vulpes described as "Children". If what Damien believed was right, the NCR was still under equipped since their loss at Hoover Dam, and having the hawkish General Oliver as it's president did help either. To make matters worse for their enemy, the first of the constructed tanks from Detroit had just arrived to the Mojave by train, and Vertibird’s were heading on its way for the coming invasion of California. Not to mention that the area around the Mojave Outpost was a cliff-face, acting like a funnel to some extent towards the Long 15. This would keep the NCR in close quarters for almost the entire battle. The NCR was going to suffer what would become their biggest defeat in its entire history. For Nova Roma however, it was only Tuesday. A lone legionary recruit stood on a high cliff, binoculars in hand, looking outwards. He seen a large mass of brown in his vision, confirming what his vision had told him. “Confirmed sighting of NCR, ten minutes out and advancing quickly.” The Legionary turned around as he looked at Damien. Damien then spoke at his army with the assistance of a microphone built into his armour. “Prepare to hold the line. Remember, they wish to destroy everything we have built. They wish to destroy our way of life. They will remember this for all eternity in the afterlife, about the mistakes they have made. We shall give them absolutely nothing for them to gain, but we shall take absolutely everything in return. You shall earn the respect of your comrades, your family, your friends. If you fall, you do it for the ones you love. This is the day that we have been waiting for, revenge for our fallen brethren from the years before. Now, artillery! Fire at my signal” Damien announced through a microphone as he held up a hand into the air, placing his Legion styled Elite Riot Gear helmet on his head, the signature red strip of hair going downwards making the armor appear like a Centurions. The Imperator knew that this was going to be an absolute massacre. The NCR would have seemingly no idea what they were about to deal with. Damien’s arm was in the air as the NCR was roughly a kilometer away. Then, Damien closed his fist as all hell broke loose, watching from afar as
Jacob had wisely gone around the NCR army just as it was leaving Long 15 Outpost before making it home some hours later, hearing faint explosions in the distance, knowing the attack must have begun. He understood that Nova Roma had a great army, but still, it would be fairly hard to hold back an attack of 20,000 soldiers. Knowing the NCR, there likely would be more than just the attack on Mojave Outpost, they'ld try to find other ways in,
