[u][b]Lucius, Caesar of The Legion[/b][/u] Lucius stared at Kimball Jr. following the President's response and then nodded slowly, before he stood up out of his chair and reached for his helmet that was lying on the table. Vulpes followed suit. “Very well, Mr. President,” Lucius said calmly, “Then our business here is concluded, and I now go to fight the war that you’ve started. I cannot eat and drink whilst my men are out fighting and dying even as we sit here. I was never a good politician anyway, war at least, I know.” “In my place,” He continued, “I am appointing Quaestor Titus Crassus to serve as representative in my stead before you all.” At these words, one of the praetorians stepped forward and removed his helmet. He was quite obviously not a Praetorian however, and bore the looks of someone who was more at home in a library than serving in an honor guard, with rimmed glasses and a bookish physique, “He will speak with my authority and my blessing.” “I will do my best Caesar,” Titus said, with a bow. “I know you will Titus,” Lucius said clapping him on the back. Lucius then pointed to one of his other Praetorians, a man who was distinctly the opposite of Titus, with large muscled arms and a broad chest, “Attius, guard him with your life...” Attius saluted Caesar, and took his place behind Titus. “With that I thank House for his invitation, his hospitality and his offer of refreshment,” Lucius said, now addressing the rest of the delegates, and indicating the lone half-empty cup of water he’d ordered that still sat on the table, “And I bid vale to the rest of you. It's a pity we could not speak more. Praetorians! On me!” Lucius strapped on his helmet and began walking out of the gourmand, followed swiftly by the Praetorians and Vulpes, leaving Titus to take his seat along with the now lone Attius. As they were leaving, Vulpes leaned in and half-whispered to Caesar, “You were right. I’m glad I didn’t order anything.” “I told you we wouldn’t stay long,” Lucius replied with a sly grin. Swiftly, Caesar and his retinue left the Ultra Luxe and the strip behind and mounted their horses. With a determined vigor, they began galloping at full stride down the main street of Freeside, and one of the Praetorians blew a fierce war horn that sent squatters, bums, and gamblers ducking for cover in fright. All of them wondering what the hell had just happened. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sometime Later, East Bank of the Colorado Once Lucius and his men had crossed the Colorado secretly, they met up with a waiting force of several hundred horsemen, who’d been standing watch on the eastern bank near an overlooking cliff. The horsemen were heavily armored head to toe and each of them carried a carbine slung over their backs and a heavy knife-spear crafted by the Ghost People of the Sierra Madre was clasped in their hands. “Well the NCR won’t surrender…” Lucius joked loudly as he and Vulpes rode up to them. A series of deep laughs emanated from the horsemen. Trotting up and down the line of horsemen, Lucius spoke to them personally as he’d done a hundred times before, “The NCR has declared open war on The Legion and begun their invasion. The moment we’ve waited for, feared, and planned for all these years has arrived. I won’t lie to any of you. This will be a hard fought campaign. It will be bloody, brutal, terrible in all the ways a war can be and countless will likely die. On both sides. Perhaps even myself.” “But,” Lucius continued, “I will promise you this. That I will be fighting right alongside each and every one of you as I always have. Whatever the outcome. I will share your hardships, your losses, and your glories. I will bleed with you, and I will die with you if it comes to it.” “After all, was I not with you in Denver? When the Dog tribes rose against us?” “Caesar!” The men yelled in response. “Was I not with you in Utah as we battled the fierce raider tribes of the Colorado plateau?” “Caesar!” The cry came again. “Was I not with you in New Mexico? As the NCR tore through our lands and we made them pay for every inch they took?” “Caesar!” “And so I will be with you again. Legio invicta!” Lucius yelled, holding his gladius aloft. “Legio invicta!” The horsemen cheered, returning the cry. “Legio invicta!” “Legio invicta!” “We ride hard and fast. The Legatus awaits!” Lucius shouted finally, he then turned his horse and rode up to Vulpes, “You know what to do Vulpes. Mars be with you.” “In hoc signo taurus vinces. ,” Vulpes replied with a nod, and he began riding away alone. While Lucius and his horsemen wheeled east at full speed, leaving the lights of Vegas behind them. OOC: [Wild Wasteland] “[i]Ride now, ride now, ride for ruin. And the world's ending![/i]”