Demosthenes the General - 425 BCE

[Marshal Murat]

The "Demosthenes the General" is going to be a single-character, multiple choice alternate history (SCMCAH) based the Kraxis model. I hope you enjoy...

Athens, Attica, Spring 425
Demosthenes clenched the scroll in his hand, pacing back and forth in his courtyard. The orders weren't clear, but this wasn't Sparta, was it? The Assembly, they trusted their commanders to use their initiative. Then again, they trusted anything the demacrats said, if trust was the word. Trust wasn't something that was in great supply, stripped away by the ravages of the Plague. There were still some cases of the plague, nothing like the Great Plague five years before. It had appeared two years before, in the winter months. Then he'd had his commission, sent off into the mountains of Aetolia. The thoughts of those massacres still came to him, his hoplites butchered in the ravines, at the mercy of those Illyrian tribesmen. They never stood a chance, floundering in their armor through the bush and trees. The Aetolians were too fast. He'd redeemed himself later, in Ambracia. Blood for blood, his allies massacring almost the whole population of Ambracia, running them down like beasts in a hunt.

Now, he was going to join two other commanders, Eurymedon and Sophocles, and lead a fleet of warships to fix what Eurymedon had screwed up in Sicily. Demosthenes army had opened the way to Sicily. His efforts had secured bases from Piraeus to Corcyra, and from there the Athenian navy had sailed to Sicily, hoping to assist the city of Leontini against Syracuse. After some 'discussions', Eurymedon had dropped the conflict and sailed home. Demosthenes then listened as Cleon led the attacks on Eurymedon, charging bribery and corruption, leading the demos to cry for his head. Instead they got a pretty penny. The punishment fit the crime. Maybe it was a crime, but Demosthenes didn't care. Now his fleet was to sail from Piraeus to Sicily, raiding the Peloponnese on the way west.

His deliberations were interrupted by a knock on the door. With a finger snap, one of the slaves appeared and drew the door open. Demosthenes turned to appraise the visitor. A tall man, his body tanned, scarred by battle.
"Commander, I'm the Chief Naval Supply officer, down from the Admiralty in Piraeus. We have the expedition supplies in order, but we need your approval. If you have any changes, I'll run it by the other two commanders, and see if they approve it." With that he pulled a scroll from his cloak, and gave it to Demosthenes. Nodding quickly, the officer retreated back to his office in the port. Demosthenes also retreated into his study, reviewing the supply list. It was mostly in order, save for the amount of light troops. It seemed too few for this voyage, especially since they would be raiding, at least some. Experience in Aetolia told him he would need light troops, not hoplites and cavalry. No that would have to change...his forces wouldn't be facing Spartans, they would be marching through Attica.
That brought up another topic, one Demosthenes had been pondering. Where exactly would they raid? The naval powers of Athens enabled her forces to strike wherever, whenever. The navy, however, needed supply bases. They would be supplied from Aegina for the southern trip, and then Zacythus on the way north. However, the southern end of the Peloponnese would be trouble. Another valid point.
The warships, too, they would require commanders. While it was possible for the three generals to command the 40 warships, it was troublesome. The fleet of warships was composed of about 20 warships, light corvettes, double-banker cruisers, and triple-banker battleships. 5 supply ships, and 15 troop transports. Who would command what?
Demosthenes knew that Sophocles end Eurymedon would like to discuss this as well, along with Cleon. Tomorrow, for dinner. Until then, he would debate his choices.

Troop Roster

• 1 Company of Hoplites (300)
• 1 Company of Marines (300)
• 3 Platoons of Archers (75)
• 1 Platoon of Slingers (25)

1. 300 hoplites out of 800 soldiers, it seems to many heavy troops for this operation.
A. Argue for more archers (50) and Marines (150), reducing the heavy troops to 100.
B. Argue for more peltasts (100), archers (50), and slingers (50), reducing the heavy troops to 200.
C. Eliminate the hoplites entirely, replacing them with 150 Marines and 150 Peltasts.

2. Where in the Peloponnese will the armada raid?
A. Sparta and Laconia itself! Strike at the home of the Spartans, violate their sacred soil.
B. Megara, pay them back for allowing the Spartans to march through.
C. Raid Messenia, the home of the Spartan helotry.

Naval Roster

• Warships 20
• Supply Ships 5
• Troop Ships 15

3. Which order would you place the naval forces?
A. Sophocles commands warships, Eurymedon and Demosthenes command either supply or transport
B. Eurymedon commands warships, Sophocles and Demosthenes command either supply or transport
C. Demosthenes commands warships, Eurymedon and Sophocles command either supply or transport

I'll answer any questions, and I plan on pushing this game through the initial stages. I will decide/obey orders by July 18th, and post a new chapter July 20th (GMT)

[seireikhaan]

1) C: replace the hoplites altogether with 150 peltasts and 150 marines. We're here on a raiding mission, not to engage in any kind of large battle. Lets get a lighter, more mobile army, and hit and run, keeping away from any significant army that will be thrown at us. We're on their territory, and so, even if we have a lot of heavy infantry, they will have many more than we could ever hope to field. Lets drop the dead weight.

2) C: Raid Messenia, home of the Spartan helotry. Civilized Greek society cannot function without Helots. We must hit their heart, their hard labor. We must either liberate the Helots, or if they refuse and wish to stay, slay them.

3) C. Demosthenes commands warships, Eurymedon and Sophocles command either supply or transport. Demosthenes seems to comprehend what this mission's really about. Therefore, I would judge it best to leave the warships under his command.

[King Kurt]

I would go for

1) B - this seems a more balanced force and it would be good to have a few hoplites to fall back on if the lights get into trouble. Also, the way I read it, this gives the most troops - 200 hoplites, 300 marines, 100 peltasts, 125 archers and 75 slingers.
2 and 3) - I am in agreement with makaikhaan - seems good choices to me.

[DemonArchangel]

1.) and 2.), what KK said.

3.), I disagree. An army marches on its stomach. Demosthenes should command the supply ships instead. The loss of a few warships means that the troop transports and supply ships could still flee.

[Marshal Murat]

Athens, Attica, Spring 425

Demosthenes licked his fingers, savoring the taste of olive oil and wine. The study-room held the three commanders and Cleon, all working off the dinner. The topic turned swiftly to the expedition, Cleon and Eurymedon squaring off immediately.
"What will you charge the Syracusans for this raid Eurymedon? Plan on buying a couple hundred acres?" Cleon began quickly, glaring at the commander.
"You know those charges were false, you goat-sucking demagogue! I never took any bribes from those Dorics." Eurymedon shot back.
"Of course you didn't, noble commander. The silver and gold appeared, like Poseidon's spring!" Cleon remained unmoved, the pleasure of tormenting Eurymedon too great.
"Shut-up you sheep-loving Spartans! We have serious issues to discuss. Like how much I'll get from the next bribe!" Sophocles patted Eurymedon on the arm, reassuring his fellow commander.
"There won't be any bribes, gentlemen, but there will be fighting," Demosthenes spoke up, calling the small assembly to begin serious discussion.
"Agreed, and as such, I propose that we not waste valuable resources pillaging the Peloponnese. How are we to intimidate the Sicilians if we don't have any capable men?" Eurymedon said.
"We are to carry the battle to the Lacedaemonians, as they have carried war to Attica. What harm is there, raiding? Pericles and his hoplites raided the Peloponnese constantly. We won't be facing crack Spartan Peers, and we can always retreat to our ships." Demosthenes replied.
"What happens if we are trapped like Aetolia? Was that so easy and painless eh Commander?" Eurymedon's statement cut to Demosthenes, fear returning as the infamous expedition was recalled to his mind.
"It was heavily armored hoplites against light peltasts and archers. Slingers and rangers! Hoplites cannot fight out of phalanx and expect to win! That is why I propose that reduce the hoplites by a hundred men adding a couple platoons of peltasts, archers, and slinger. We command speed, and they can always fall back on the hoplites if things get rough." Demosthenes replied, his voice stoic and solid. Tens mangled and broken in the bush, the primeval fear as his men raced back to the ships, shedding armor and shields.
"Eurymedon, you know, the hoplites cannot compete with the light raider. Why do you think we employ Rangers and peltasts, archers, slingers? They soften the hoplites, reducing their cohesion, breaking them." Sophocles added, hoping to add the light troops to the total.
"Pericles often carried hoplites with him to Megara, raiding those traitors!" Eurymedon replied, invoking the statesman who carried Athens through her initial years.
"Pericles is dead, Eurymedon, and so is the battle of the hoplite. We need all the hoplites we have for siege. We can spare the light troops." Cleon retorted, ending the debate. The light troops would be sailing.
"Well, if that's the case, I say that we strike at Messenia. We won't face the Peers there. We'll ravage those Spartan farms, incite the helots to revolt. Bring those oligarchs to justice." Eurymedon said, getting a nod from Cleon. The commanders nodded, the point settled quickly.

"Who will command the ships?" Demosthenes asked, earning a moment of silence.
"I think that, while Demosthenes has experience with light warfare, we should give the command of the warships to Eurymedon, the supply ships to me, and the transports to Demosthenes." Sophocles suggested, looking around at the assembled gentlemen.
"Demosthenes seems to understand this war better than you two, and hasn't yet taken a bribe from any Dorics. Why give the warships to a possible traitor?" Cleon stated, locking eyes with Eurymedon.
"You piece of shit, I'm NO TRAITOR!" Eurymedon roared, leaping up to rush at Cleon. Sophocles intercepted him, holding him back from Cleon, smiling as he watched the commander roar in fury.
"I would prefer to command the warships, yes." Demosthenes said, hoping to overwhelm Sophocles wit the threat of both Cleon and himself. Sophocles settled Eurymedon down first, then turned to Demosthenes.
"I don't believe that you have any of the skills necessary for a naval commander. I will command the warships. Since they are your light troops, I suggest you command the transports, and Eurymedon will command the supply ships." Sophocles replied quietly.
"I have just as much command experience as you do Sophocles, maybe more! I deserve the command of the warships."
"Just as true, Demosthenes. However, what use are warships worth on land?" Eurymedon stated in reply.
"I don't think that it's worth it, giving the command of the most important arm of Athens to the infantry commander. You, Cleon, don't trust Eurymedon with the warships, so why not trust him with some safe grain?" Sophocles said.
Demosthenes remained resolute, but eventually Cleon joined with Sophocles and Eurymedon. The vote was decided.

As the guests left, Demosthenes silently fumed about being given command of the transports. All fine, since he had been given the light troops. Hopefully they would make up for losing command of the warships. At least they were attacking Messenia, the least dangerous target. Now, as commander of the transports, he would, obviously, have to transport troops. Maybe some practice will ensure that the men are ready. He would probably exercise the men at Salamis, maybe Aegina. Should he invite Sophocles?
The sailing date was set, two weeks from today. The fleet was almost ready, still taking on additional gear and assembling the crews for the ships. Perhaps he could stop by the fleet depots and get some additional materials for the transports.
The final decision would be what to do about Eurymedon and Sophocles. He knew Cleon was more or less on his side. Was it out of genuine understanding or simply to get at Eurymedon? Demosthenes didn't know, but he did know that he would have to decide how to confront the two other commanders.

1.Training for amphibious operations.
A. Get the men assembled, train for amphibious operations on Salamis.
B. Why risk men and material? The men were trained fairly well, they would know what to do.
C. Train for amphibious operations with Sophocles and the fleet.

2. Transports
A. Purchase grappling hooks and boarding gear
B. Fix the transports up with additional sails
C. Don't worry about the transports

3. Sophocles and Eurymedon
A. Try to reconcile and get on with the mission
B. Don't worry about relations, they're fine the way they are
C. Talk to Cleon, request new commanders.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

If I could say something then ..

1.B 2.C 3.C

I would like to know what happens IF Demosthenes feels himself a bit over confident