[color=f7941d][u][b]Colonel Denver Abernethy - Fort Gulf - Afternoon, October 17th [/b][/u][/color]

Denver looked over the Crimson Caravan manifest with careful eyes. The weekly re-supply orders were nearly always the same but years in command had trained him to be ever vigilant for any discrepancies in requisition. Such inconsistencies could be evidence that the quartermaster should be reprimanded for negligence or even investigated for theft. It had happened at Camp McCarran and at Forlorn Hope during the war with the Legion. Swift and brutal punishments ensured that such illicit activities were rarely conducted under Denver’s command.

 Satisfied with the manifest, he signed his approval and handed it back to the energetic caravan master, Matt Levi, who had been pacing in front of the desk. Matt had been a sergeant in the NCR and even served under Denver during the Mojave campaign. But when Matt’s enlistment papers were up the man took his leave and joined up with the Crimson Caravan. 
 
“Well Colonel that takes care of that. We should be finished unloading within the next hour or so.” Matt smiled and rolled the manifest up and stuck into his trousers. He had to fight the instinct to salute his old commanding officer. Even five years later it was a habit.   

“I appreciate it, Sergeant.” Denver rose to his feet and shook Matt’s hand, slipping him some carefully folded NCR bills while doing so.With a practiced smoothness Matt put the money into his chest pocket and started to leave. Once at the door he paused, looked about the hallway outside then turned around and shut the door. 

“I got news from the east.” 

Denver raised an eyebrow. “How far east?”

“Close to Two-Sun. One of my contacts has a scout in the area. They radioed in last week and I met with them two days ago in Freeside. The Legion is on the move.”

“We’ve heard similar tales as well over the last few years. All of them have turned out to be hearsay and rumor. Lucius and Lanius have maintained their hold upon the Legion ever since Caesar's death. They’ve been content with subjugating their own people and ruling unopposed. What makes you think this is any different?” 

“Because of their oracle.” 

“Oracle?”

“A soothsayer. A mystic. Advisors to the Legate.”

“The Legion has had its share of priests and death speakers since the loss of their founder. How does this one change it?”  

Matt shrunk slightly from Denver and fiddled about in his pocket like a child returning stolen property. “This is what I was given.” 

Denver looked into Matt’s hand. It was a coin, simply made but immediately identifiable as a Legion Denari. Pressed upon its surface was the image of a large eye, arrows crossed behind it and small lines like rays of a sun framed the eye like lashes. Denver didn’t recognize it. He took the coin and flipped it over, the reverse side held a profile of Caesar. That was a familiar and known face.

“This looks freshly minted,” said Denver. Matt nodded in agreement. “How long has this been in circulation?” 

Matt shrugged, “Six months, maybe a year? I’m not certain but every trader East of Flagstaff is using them.” 

Denver grunted in response. He turned the coin over in his hand and looked out the window of his office down to the front gate. There was some commotion as a convoy arrived and was being searched by the security detail. The Followers of the Apocalypse had answered his call for assistance. He had already been nervous about meeting the doctor sent by the Followers but the news of the Legion unsettled him even more. He looked down at the coin and into the eye and rubbed his thumb over the surface. An oracle powerful enough to be connected with Caesar on their own currency? Now that was news worth considering. 

“The scout. Did they give an idea of the mobilization?” 

“Nothing specific sir, but they did say it looked like they were preparing for war.”

Denver turned back to face Matt “How so?”

“They said the furnaces glow hot day and night. Slaves toil to bring in the autumn harvests regardless of the weather. All men of fighting age have been rounded up and set into companies for training and armament.” Matt paused for a moment “They’re coming back sir.” 

“And so we must be ready for them.” Denver smiled briefly at Matt “I’ll send a scouting party out to confirm and keep an eye on the borderlands. In the meantime I suggest you make your own preparations.” 

Matt walked back out of the room and left Denver alone. The colonel sunk into the seat at his desk and stared at the coin in front of him. He knew better than to hope for a different outcome but he couldn;t help but feel as though Matt had spoken true. If the Legion were to return now they would find a Mojave bursting with people and profits but weak and divided in strength. It would be a slaughter unless Denver requisitioned reinforcements. But still, doubtful that the president would believe him, even more doubtful was the Van-Graffs allowing Denver to become the defender of the Mojave. They would use the chaos to replace him, put in their own yes-man. Or worse, strike a deal with the Legion, sacrifice Vegas to save California. Denver chuckled, he knew the Legion well enough to know that bartering with them was like bartering with a coyote. They may take what was given, but they will always return for more.

There was a knock at the door, Denver called them in. It was a young private. She saluted him and stood at attention. 

“Doctor Chez Nathan from the Followers has arrived and requested an audience sir.” 

Denver stood and slid the coin under some papers on his desk. He straightened his uniform and combed his hair then sat down.

“Send him in please.” 

As the doctor entered the room Denver stood again from behind his desk, hands behind his back. 

“Welcome to Fort Golf, Dr. Nathan.” He held out his hand for a shake. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. I want to begin our conversation with an acknowledgement of the resources and time your organization has spent in getting you here. Given our sorted histories with one another I am deeply appreciative that you all have answered our call for aid. I hope that today can be the start of a new relationship between the 3rd Infantry and the Followers.”