[b]Republic of Texas, Houston.[/b]

Houston was a hot and hostile place to live. The large masses of people who made up its inhabitants were by and large used to this fact. The large destroyed skyscrapers in the city, once a source of pride for the city, now were a sign of shame for the elite of the city. Afterall why had they not been replaced, or at least repaired? In the grand scheme of things it did not matter and for the majority of the citizens of Houston it did matter as those buildings did not provide food, shelter or water for them or their families. 

Most people of the city would do as they did every day. Make the long trek to their work station. Whether this meant going to the workshops, farms and  ranches, or setting up their stands in the various markets in the town. Much of the signs of independence were still there from before Houston was absorbed into the Republic. Chief among these were the merchant guilds who ran the area before. They had misgivings about the new way Houston was ran and made it known to the central government. All their protests did however was bring the wrath of the Rangers unto the city.

As happens most days when the rangers came through the town the garrison came out to meet them. The 3,000 strong force stationed there by the Republics high command was only partially recruited from the people of the city, with most troops coming from Austin and San-Antonio. This measure did not go unnoticed by the locals. However despite protests from the elite classes the majority of the city did not mind this as the troops provided a sense of security and order, a thing lacking in the mercenary troops the ruling classes from before had employed.

[b]Republic of Texas, Austin.[/b]

Austin during the winter months, or what passes for winter given that 90 degree weather is as cold as it gets in the area, is a vibrant place as befitting its stature as capital of the republic. Most power both political and military is centered in city and almost all new recruits undergo training in the nearby city of Fort Hood. In addition military high-command makes the city’s former business district their home, concerting many of the old buildings there into more militarized versions of their previous selves.

Signs of the conflicts the republic has taken part in are common around the city in the form of statues. The Ghoul Uprisings, the Brotherhood War, The Raider invasion and many others are immortalized in plaques on the bronze and copper of the figures that stare at the residents. The garrison troops guard the government buildings that the statues are close to and are often a part of. In the city at 0600 hours the city's loudspeakers ring with the national anthem and patriotic messages continue for the rest of the day until curfew at 2200 hours. 

When the time comes the towns people go to work in the various occupations with minimal delay. The factory and workshops in town begin to give off clouds of smoke signalling their continued operation. At the edges of town farmers plow their fields needed to feed the country and to provide for the exports that bring the nation wealth.

[b]Republic of Texas, San-Antonio[/b]

Shots rang out. The town's last ghouls had been found the week before and after their short and just trial had been found guilty of treason. The reason: being ghoul. Afterall any ghoul who resides in the republic must be a terrorist and traitor, it is in their nature of course. The town went on with their day after this as the excitement had run its course. The productivity of the town was lower than that of Houston due to its lower population but the people were eager to reaffirm their loyalty to the republic.

The outskirts of the town had been the target of many raids by the remains of the Brotherhood of Steel due to its relative vulnerability compared to Austin and Houston. But the towns guard and the national army had recently put an end to the raids which brought a smile to many townsfolk. 

However the towns law enforcement had been decimated and would have to be replaced. The years of raids had harmed the town and only the presence of national troops and what remains of the town guard kept order. Many expected the texas rangers to brought in which would bring order, but the martial law that would follow was not something that would be liked by the locals. Regardless of their protests however they would be reminded of the standards the republic expected of major cities in the republic.

[b]Republic of Texas, Beaumont[/b]

In the city there was an unusually large gathering of troops. 3,000 infantry and 500 rangers is far beyond what is expected for this small town. However preparations for invasions rarely are quiet, especially when it’s for a conquest of a nation as large as the Orleans Empire with its 240,000 people and large amounts of territory.

However there was an additional danger to the invasion plans. In the city the troops were gathering in a cult, much like those found in the pre-war period, was found. This while not the main concern of the troops gathering was something to take note of. In addition there was much resistance expected when the invasion actually began and lots of ground to cover before the Marines and Guard units reached Orleans itself as without support from land based forces the amphibious assault will be outnumbered by several times over. 

Yet it was nothing that the troops could not handle with enough courage, weapons and information from local collaborators and recon assets.