[b][color=ed1c24]Legatus Aurelius and Vulpes Inculta - SAC HQ Bunker Operations Room[/color][/b]

The Legate listened intently as Barnaky laid out the strategic situation and explained in detail each of the fronts that The Cult was being engaged on. As Barnaky spoke, Aurelius couldn't help but admire his tactical knowledge, and appreciated the fact that here was a leader whom he could compare to Caesar as a warrior-king, not merely an elected official playing at one like President Kimball Jr. had been. He understood quite well why Lucius had chosen to work with him as an ally. 

[i]"That's the situation in a nutshell", Barnaky said, "If you have questions I'd be pleased to answer them." [/i]

Aurelius paused for a few moments, studying the large map projected on the wall and mulling over each of their strategic options. Vulpes remained silent, understanding that his place as Primus Frumentarius was second to the Legate's command over the eastern legions, he was there in an advisory capacity only. 

"Overall strategic command of this operation falls to your command Lord," Aurelius began, "You're people have been fighting the cult for longer than we've even known they existed, and you best know their strengths and weaknesses. I will defer to your judgement for the duration of this operation, this Caesar has willed as well. That being said, were I given the preference, I would choose to advance my legions along the central front and push to Indianapolis. With our forces joining yours already there, we should be able to turn the tide of the siege and capture the city in short order. From there we can push onward like a spear through to Columbus. That should allow you to redeploy some of your Knights to Detroit then, where I suspect they will be badly needed. Thanks to your railway, all four of my Legions can be deployed quickly and we can use surprise to our advantage, as I doubt they will be expecting The Legion's forces to be arrayed against them so soon after the NCR war."

"Wisely," Aurelius explained, "Caesar ordered more than half of The Legion's total strength to be held in reserve while the NCR invaded. Each of the legions I've brought with me, the Fifth, Second, Twelfth, and Seventh, are at full fighting strength and did not engage with Kimball. In addition to the six legions that fought off the NCR invasion, we have another three full stength Legions waiting in reserve. Of those three, we can bring the Eleventh Legion up if the situation becomes dire here, but I don't expect we shall need them."

Walking up to the map, the Legate pointed towards the northern front and Detroit, 

"I don't wish to leave your men in the North without our support however, to that end I would suggest that a detachment of the Legio II Victrix serve as an auxiliary force to your forces pushing into the Republic. Caesar has requisitioned the support of Great Khan mercenaries who are riding east as we speak, a small force of a few hundred riders but they're well armed and good fighters. We can attach them to the Legion detachment and send them north as well."

"Do you have any objections to this plan Lord?" Aurelius asked, "And you Vulpes? What is your opinion?"

"If Lord Barnaky approves, then I have no objections. My only concern is that as the Legion advances east, we have adequate knowledge regarding the terrain but more importantly the enemy we are facing. With that in mind Lord Barnaky, I would ask that my Frumentarii be briefed by your Inquisitors on the nature of the cult and effective ways to counter them. A psychological war may be improbable to fight against madmen, but not impossible. All men fear something: perhaps we can supply it to them."

"On that note as well," Aurelius interjected, turning to Barnaky, "I would inform you that Caesar has ordered me to show no mercy to these cultists. Civilians will not be harmed, but those tainted by the Cult, and any who serve it...we will be crucified.  They can howl to their abomination of a god when they're up on a cross...we'll see if it answers them then."

(OOC: I mentioned the Khans mostly just as a reminder that they're still around. If anyone has objections I can do away with it.)

[b][color=6ecff6]Director Thomas Milburn, Sanctuary Hills(?) - Inside The Institute[/color][/b]

 Thomas heard the distinctive crunch of broken glass beneath his feet as he approached the scene. Like a pre-war detective walking up on a homicide, he approached the figure of the young girl splayed out on the pavement with both cold indifference and investigative deduction in mind. 

“Oh my God!” Mr. Able yelled as he exited his car, “Oh God I didn’t know she was there Tom. Is she alright? Oh Jesus...”

Someone else from the neighborhood screamed, and a crowd started to gather as Thomas knelt down next to Catherine,

“I...where am I?” The young girl wondered aloud in a haze, “I’m...I’m sorry Mr. Milburn I guess...I guess I just didn’t see the car coming out.”

“It’s alright Catherine. I can take the pain away easily. You’ll be good as new soon, I promise.” Thomas smiled kindly as he gently caressed her forehead. 

“U4-88, recall code Cinderella.”

Catherine’s eyes suddenly deadend and she went limp on the pavement. 

“Tom what happened, what’s going on?” He could hear Nora yelling, “Shaun go back inside! Now!”

Without looking away from Catherine, Thomas simply said, 

“Override current environmental response. Return to starting points. Authorization code: Omega 4 3 Ark.”

The expressions on all the neighbors and his wife immediately went blank, and they walked back to their homes without another word uttered between them. Thomas meanwhile continued studying Catherine’s now lifeless form. He pushed his glasses up and noted the injuries to her head and the oddly self-inflicted scratches along her neck. 

“What got into you?” He whispered with a mixture of confusion and pure scientific curiosity. 

The sounds of approaching metallic footfalls came from further down the road, and soon a trio of Gen-1 Synths was lined up in front of Thomas,

“Hello Father. Do you require our assistance?”

“Yes. Take Catherine here down to Robotics and have Dr. Loken, personally, run a full diagnostic on the unit. Let him know that it's a Class C Abnormal Autonomic Behavior and ask him to log it. Once that’s done, send a team up here to gather all the event log data from each of the units and send it off to Advanced Systems as well. I want them to go line by line and figure out what just happened here and why. Understood?” 

“Certainly Father.”

“Go then,” Thomas waved his hand dismissively, and the Gen-1’s immediately began putting Catherine’s body onto a stretcher and carrying it out of the Sanctuary Hills experiment area. 

“Odd..but not entirely unusual..,” He muttered to himself as he tried to think through every possible faulty programming scenario in his head, each one seeming more far fetched than the last. He let out a sigh and looked upwards, letting the artificial sun beat down on his face. A sardonic chuckle escaped him, “Even here, in my sanctuary I still can’t escape from work.”