A dusty messenger, walked into the council chamber
"My lord! Your brother has engaged and crushed the rebels that were threatening the roads outside of Damaskos with minimal casualties, he asks what you command of him"
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A dusty messenger, walked into the council chamber
"My lord! Your brother has engaged and crushed the rebels that were threatening the roads outside of Damaskos with minimal casualties, he asks what you command of him"
Antiochos says to the messenger..
I send my congratulations to Achaios.
Antiochos addresses the chamber...
Now..
There will be open war between us and Pontos soon. So I think it is the best time to give orders to all of the Armies.
My Royal Army, Commanded by my brother Achaios Syriakos, should make a camp between Sidon and Antiocheia. This way they can help Sidon if Ptolemaioi besiege it. There are no other orders. Except retraining the units that lost men. I know Achaios would want more battles but until we are not at peace with the Ptolemaioi my Royal Army can not leave Syria. However, if some brigands would spawn near Sidon, Antiocheia, Damaskos, Edessa or Tarsos then you can use the army to crush them.
Syrian Army, Commanded by Aratos Arethousas Syriakes, knows their orders already but I'll say them here as well. They have to take Amaseia, Pontic town north of Mazaka. Once taken they should defend the town from any Pontic attack. Whether you attack them out in the open or wait til they besiege the town will be yours to decide. Also the fate of the people in that town once captured is yours to decide. Personally I would enslave those people...
Lydian Army, Commanded by Theodotas Termessou Pisidikes, should first destroy those annoying brigands west of Tarsos. Once that done they should head north and engage all Pontic armies that are still in our lands. Of course, no need to be suicidal and if the enemy forces out match you then retreat. Arche needs it's Strategoi alive, not dead!
Parthian Army, Commanded by Theodoros Syriakos, should get rid of the rebels east of Babylon. Once that done the Army needs to be retrained. If the units are retrained the Parthian Army should move north towards Phraaspa. Those rulers have defied our rule and insulted us for too long. It's time to teach them a lesson! That town must be taken!
I think this is more than enough for the next couple of years!
Antiochos takes his seat again...
"By your leave sire i shall return to the army and convey your orders to yourbrother"
The messenger bows his head and leaves the council chamber
Lykikos stands
"If I may offer a view on your orders my Lord, the taking of Phraaspa will be seen as encroaching in the Hai sphere of influence and may provoke them into foolhardy actions. Perhaps it may be best to deal decisively with the Pontic threat before getting overly involved in other areas? A spy could keep an eye on the area, and even if the Hai do take the city while we are occupied in the west we would be better dealing with them when all the might of the Empire could be focused on them."
The Babylonian retires to his seat
Theodoros, who stepped in, right before the Basileus issued his orders, steps forward.
"Mylord, the rebels have been crushed already. I am sorry for any confusion the arrival of the infantry regiments without me here in Seleukeia may have caused. After we have refilled our ranks I will move the army to Phraaspa without hesitation, if this is your wish. The people of Ekbatana fear that threat already and I would be glad to free them from it. This is why I asked the chancellor to move a spy into that area and I am pleased to hear he agreed to ma advice. I would request to move that spy to see what will await our besiegers in Phraaspa."
Theodors steps back, awaiting what his father has to say about Lykikos' advice.
Antiochos responds to Lykikos...
Good points, Lykikos. But so far the Hai haven't been interested of that city. Also, I think that if they take Phraaspa then we will have bigger problems in our hands since Ekbatana would be their next target! If we hold Phraaspa then we can keep them away from our main provinces.
Turning towards Theodoros..
Good to see you here finally! Spies are under Chancellors jurisdiction. So you must ask him, perhaps he can send one of them there.
Theodoros smiled and answered.
It is good to be here. I will promtply start the preparations.
The young man turned around and left the chambers, marching off to the army quarters of the city to review the new recruits on the Phalangitai and to start making plans for the march to Phraaspa.
"Phanias, as you've heard my esteemed father say, we'll soon go to war against Pontos, yet have little to know intelligence about them, so we don't know for sure what to expect. Would it not be a good idea to send some spies to their lands to check out their situation, so we'll know if there are some places we should avoid, or some weak spots we can exploit?"
The sound of heavy army boots filled the air as Achaios Syriakos marches into the council chamber
"My brother! Not that I doubt your judgement, but wouldn't your Royal Army be better suited defeding the new province of Ioudia if it should fall into our possession, I mean if Ptolemy is going to attack any region in retaliation it would surely be the one he has most recently lost!"
With that Achaios sits down and awaits the response of the Basileus
Theodoros, finished with what had to be prepared joins the chamber once more to take a seat and to stay informed as long as the Parthian Army was still being prepared for the march north.
Aye, Sarpedon, you've the right of it there. In fact, the spy I've hired at Pergamon is about to receive orders to head into Pontic lands to "see what there is to see". Are there any particular areas of their "Kingdom" you need intell. on?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Celtic Viking
My lord Basileus, I have returned to speak with you.
OOC:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
After some private talks with Theodotas Antiochos turns to the chamber..
I appoint Panaitolos Ankyrikos as the new commander of the 1rst Lydian Army! May he serve the Arche well!
"That's good to hear, Phanias. Against Cunobelinus' advice, I'm planning to head through Galatia - more specifically Ankyra - so I want all the intel there is to gather about that place. Pathfinding in and of itself should not be a problem - after all, I have many amongst my bodyguards who grew up there, Cadeyrn included - but army strengths, positions and compositions and such are still important to know when planning my route. If at all possible, I'd also like to know how quickly they could send a relieving force there and how big it would be.
When I took Pergamon I did not know what exactly I was up against, and I will not suffer that again if I can help it."
A messenger from Tarsos rides in carrying a message from Panaitolos Ankyrikos.
"Good lords, General Ankyrikos would like to thank the great Basileus for appointing him in command of the Lydian Army. He would like to let all the members of the Council know he will serve the Arche with nothing but the utmost greatness. I bring news as well of General Ankyrikos's first victory as commander. He has wiped out the vile rebels outside Tarsos and after a short retraining in Ipsos, he will march toward any Pontic army in his path.Glory to the Arche!"
Sarpedon sighs.
"Unless you have a very good reason for choosing Ipsos rather than Antiocheia, which is both closer to Tarsos and has a superior blacksmith, I will not allow you to retrain there. The manpower available for military action is simply too low, and it is likely that I will need to draw strength from them myself when I return from my Pontic campaign."
Euripedes with stands up with a concerned look on him."Good Sarpedon, I do hope you plan to just move through Galatian lands, and do not try to engage them. They have respected out shared borders for quite sometime, unlike who we prepare to wage war with now. They do not deserve to feel our spears in a red rage. We do have many Keltoi working within our borders especially in our armies, it would be poor form to backstab a kingdom which shows no more militaristic and expansionist policies. This could come to fruition as a total mutiny of our Kelt soldiers.
I propose if we wish to encorporate the Galatian kingdom won by the proven general Brennus, we use words and money as incentive. As long as our relations with them stay as present, and do not deteriorate. These people have proved themselves as worthy soldiers. It would be a shame, and a damage to history in the future to deny their place in history as great warriors. We are known already for our military prowess, and there would be no glory won in taking their kingdom by force. Victory is much sweeter when one does not even have to fight to achieve it.
The old man coughs and is evidently sick from age.
You also mentioned manpower issues. Not only would you still have these problems inside your own satrapy when you go looking for reinforcements, son. The newly subjugated peoples would also be none that eager to join your campaign against people they have no quarrel with. Instead Galatia's rolling hills and grassland bears many fruits of nature. Perfect for feeding your large army. Use Galatia as a campsite and waypoint to Pontus. Please consider my concern and remember that this addresses more than the interests of my master, and your bodyguards, and the many soldiers under our commanders. This affects the entire population of the Western Arche to the heartland." Euripedes sits and plays with his silver beard.
The messenger replies
Very well whatever is best for the Arche, the General agrees
Antiochos sighs..
I will remind you, Euripides, that Galatia is a part of Pontos! It would be good to attack Ankyra before Sarpedons army goes anywhere else. It is foolish to leave enemy behind your back!
"I don't respond too well to condescending remarks, Euripedes, so drop the "son" crap. I may be younger than you, but that is no reason for you to look down your beard on me.
You should also get your terminology straight. Backstabbing is when you turn on a friend, or in the case of a kingdom an ally, and we are not allied with the Galatians - they are subjugated by Pontos, whom we're going to war against. Even before that they were allies of Pontos, so if anything, they were backstabbed by them, and my expedition should be seen as a liberation of a wronged and oppressed people! This is how my Keltoi soldiers see it, so we can rest assured of their loyalty, and I'm sure this is how the Galatian population will see it as well, so there should be no problems drawing soldiers from their population either.
Does your objection come from your ignorance of these facts? If so, I am surprised that neither you nor your master has kept a better eye on your own homeland, that you seem so proud of. If you knew about this and object to my relieving it anyway, then I am truly baffled. Is your care for these people something you rather profess in mere words, but no actions?"
Theodoros got up right after Sarpedon finished speakin.
"Euripides, maybe you do have to remind your master that the Keltoi people are involved in the armies of Pontus; armies that violate and threaten our lands. Do we have to remind him, that he himself wiped out a regiment of Galatians that served Ptolemai in a battle that he won, so heroically; a battle that he is so proud of? Who serves the enemies of the Arche, be it Hellene, Keltoi, Asian or whoever, deserves nothing other than hostility. I agree, that the Keltoi are extraordinary soldiers that is exactly why we have to liberate their province first. Cut them out of Pontic Armies and we have one problem less to worr about when we march into the pontic heartlands."
"I apologize for my ignorance. We do not get instant reports, especially from foreign powers. I hope you go as liberators. Galatians will be worthy allies. Sarpedon I do not look down on you. I called you son as a term of endearment. Please do not kid yourself into thinking I am out to get you. In time it will be you calling a young and up and coming, son."
"Be that as it may, I do not appreciate it. But come! You shouldn't put too much into my words earlier. I had just come from one of my training sessions, and my head was still a little tired from it and that caused me to react stronger than I in retrospect may wish I had.
In any case, you can rest assured that I do set out as a liberator. There will be no unnecessary casualties amongst the civilian population."
General Panaitolos Ankyrikos finally arriving from his camp near Tarsos enters and asks for a word
"Members of the council I have to come to report again that I agree that it is better to march the Lydian Army to Antiocheia as Sarpedon has proposed.
However, I would like to ask for a little more confirmation on our future actions coming up with the Armies of Pontus. The Great Basileus ordered the Army to engage all the Pontic armies still in our lands. I wanted to know how soon he would like me to have my men ready for these engagements. Also, am I only to be used as this "policing" force or, if necessary, is it okay if I support the Syrian army under Aratos Syriakes when he launches his attacks inside Pontus itself?
Whatever is best for the Arche is of course my main concern, but I suppose if I quickly rid out great lands of the Pontic soldiers presence then it would only make sense for me to also capture Pontic cities. But this is just my opinion and I ask for any opposition or support in the idea."
Panaitolos seats himself muttering "I only hope I am aloud to spill Pontic blood on their own ground so theirs does not poison ours with its stench when I am finished with them..."
"It is a firm belief of mine that we should not over commit ourselves to this campaign. We need a mobile force to engage any threats that may pop out of nowhere. Ptolemy may launch a large offencive at anytime, and so may the Armenians. We are surrounded by enemies. Over commitment will be our downfall at this point. Our empire is in a precarious position. I think you should hold just out of reach incase either army needs reinforcements, or we need reinforcement elsewhere in the army. Euripedes looks to the Basileus Milord, what do you say?"
With a nod the young General also looks to acknowledgment from the Basileus
Antiochos nods..
Yes, Lydian Army should stay near the Pontic border but not enter their lands to attack their cities. I have a feeling that Lydian army will have a lot of work keeping the Pontic Armies away from our lands! If one of the armies, Syrian or Sarpedons Royal Army, have lost too many men to continue the fight then Lydian Army will finish the job. But only then.
I also must say that Sarpedon, as a Satrap, have every right to deny any recruitment/retraining in his Satrapy. If things were different then this could be seen as an insult but at the moment I know that Ipsos doesn't have much men left to take to the army. So I understand his decision.
So, from now on Lydian and Syrian Armies should be retrained in Antiocheia!
Strategos Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes from Seleukeia enters. He is not a very tall man and as slender as a withy, but still a man grown. Altough he seems not to be the healthiest man on the disc of earh, his charisma and intelligence are well known among the other Strategoi. Being of makedonian descent, his roots go back to great men who fought side by side with Aléxandros ho Mégas at Issos and Tyros.
This was his first visit to the Royal Council. The eyes of famous and experienced men are focused on him. He greets them all in the most respectfully way, sits at his place and looks around. As the newcomer he is here, he dares not yet to speak among these wise men and waits and listens intently to what they have to say.
Antiochos turns towards the new Strategos..
Welcome to the Council Chambers, Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes! Although you came a bit late to take part of the Council Session it is still good to have you here. Three years between the Sessions are over before we even notice it!
Since all Armies have a Commander at the moment then you, as a new Strategos, don't have much chance to command any of the Armies. You can just hope that some of them will make a mistake that will open the Commander position of an Army.
Antiochos smiles..
Another option is that you'll find some Satrap who needs an Aid. This position might give you the chance to command Satraps Army and a powerful help during the Council Sessions.
Anyway, no matter what you choose, I hope that you serve the Arche well!
Nikarchos smiles back.
"Thank thee, Milord. Tough i can't wait to defeat the enemies of our great empire, i'd never dare to hope that any kind of misfortune may trouble one of our brave commanders.
For now i shall request to be sent to wherever my aid is welcome."