Demosthenes the General - 425 BCE

[Marshal Murat]

Final Decision is gonna be July 22nd.

[AggonyDuck]

1C, 2B, 3A.

[Motep]

1: C ... same rationale as with Demon

2: A
I would say B, since there are a small number of transports, an attack by an enemy fleet could prove disastorous. At the very least, the extra speed could help you outrun enemy vessels for a safe retreat. But, Ill go with A, for if there is unfavourable wind, the transports can hope to capture enemy ships, and stave them off with a concerted effort.

3: A. Reconcile, there is no time to get new commanders, you must strike fast and hard!

[King Kurt]

I'm with Motep - C,A,A

[Marshal Murat]

New Chapter will be posted Tomorrow (July 24th).

It's going to be a big one as well, gonna give you guys some time to mull your decisions since I will be gone for a week. Just a heads up.

[Marshal Murat]

Straits of Salamis, Attica, 425 BCE

The oars crashed again into the sea, the crew working out the kinks in the timing. They were all very well trained, very experienced crews. That didn't mean there weren't errors. A couple close runs between transports and the battleships of the fleet, they weren't making Demosthenes feel any better about his situation. The boat rocked again, the oars crashing into the sea. The Straits was roiling as warships and transports turned in formation, working out kinks.
"Signal Sophocles to draw his battlewagons back. I want to see how well we can beach these mules." Demosthenes ordered the lieutenant, who used two flags to communicate with the admiral on the Medea. The reply was quickly translated.
"He's drawing back to give you operating room."

Ever since the dinner, Demosthenes had tried to patch things together with Sophocles and Eurymedon. The former was willing to see past differences. The latter was more stubborn, more antagonistic. He even seemed to hope for failure so he could claim some glory. Demosthenes hoped they weren't ever put in such a position.

The helmsman jerked the tiller, angling the transport back onto course. The transports were all heading for the shore, pebbled like the shores of much of Greece. The armed troops were standing on the deck, armed with ladders and gangplanks. The shore grew and grew as his transports raced in. They were in a line, the warships far behind, watching the converted ships drive for shore. With a crash the oars continued to thrash the sea, and then they were raised. Then they struck down again, slowing the transport, another crash and they had slowed the transport again. The entire ship braced as the ship ground into the beach.

Clattering and clanking, the gangplanks were lowered and ladders thrown over. Hustling over and out, the peltasts and slingers took the shore, followed by the Marines, and then the final group of hoplites. Demosthenes watched the organized chaos, the troops forming into contingents and marching onto the beach. Nodding at the success, Demosthenes ordered the men back aboard. Pulling off the beach, he drilled them several more times, each one as good as the last. They were well-trained. After he was satisfied the orders were drilled into them, Demosthenes ordered the transports back to the warships. They would work on formations.
"Signal to Sophocles that we will work on formations." The flags flew around.

Demosthenes watched the wreck in slow motion. They had run the drill twice before. The battleships would turn and pass through the line of transports to engage an imaginary foe behind them. This time, however, one of the battleships hadn't turned fast enough. The tiller had broken in mid-turn, the battleship trying to maneuver on oar-power alone. The transport helmsman had tried to avoid the battleship, but the drill was so close, he could only barely avoid striking the battleship amid-ships. With a crash and clatter, the transport broke tens of oars. The two ships then sheared, the oars splintering into little slivers. Chaos as marines and hoplites tried to swim in their armor. The two ships began to slowly sink, the crewmen dropping over the side as quickly as possible.
"Signal stop to all ships! Pull close to get the sailors!" Demosthenes yelled, stripping off his armor. Sophocles signaled the harbor to send out fishing craft to pick up anyone missed.

Piraeus, Attica, Spring 425 BCE

The warships, transports, and supply ships were all resting on the beach, waiting to be launched in the morning. Thousands of slaves, crewmen, shipwrights, Marines, and traders all worked to ready the ships. Demosthenes, Sophocles, and Eurymedon were all prowling amongst the fleet, checking on their crews. Demosthenes heard the rumbles from the crews, many discussing him. 'Demosthenes lost a thousand men in Illyria, trying to find glory!' 'Demosthenes was responsible for that accident. He wants the command of the warships. That was a warning to Sophocles!'. Demosthenes silenced rumors as quickly as possible, but what to do in the long term? He worried as the sun slowly rose, but he knew worrying wouldn't help. He'd just have to figure something out, soon.
The next few hours went quickly, the fleet readying and launching into the straits. Turning slowly, the fleet launched out to sea, driving southeasterly. The Aegina fleet was subdued by the Athenians, so there wasn't any current threat. They were scheduled to lay in at Aegina that night, and meet up with local Athenian guides.
"Let's go men! Sacrifices are completed, the auspices are good." Sophocles cried out from the small shore altar. With a shout the fleet shoved off into the sea.

Aegina, Aegean Sea, Spring 425 BCE
The shore was crammed with the warships and transports, the crews ashore drinking. Demosthenes was already preparing the route southward to Messenia, then to Corcyra. The Athenian guides were all experienced, but that wasn't the problem. The real problem was that once his men got to Messenia, what could they really do? They would be marching in, burning, inciting helots, then marching out. The Spartans did the same in Attica, and what good did that do? It wasn't helping the war against the Spartans. If the helots thought they could incite war against the Spartans, they would have done so. He just had to decide how to incite the war with the helots.
If he were to incite rebellion, how would he supply the helots? What guidance would they have?

1. What to do with the rumors about Demosthenes?
A. Get a priest to sacrifice a goat or two to get a good omen.
B. Announce to the men that you don't seek glory, just a victory over the Spartans. Give up command of the transports and tag along with Sophocles.
C. Have several of the gossipers executed for treason against the state.

2. What is the Messenia plan?
A. Raid, pillage, plunder. Don't worry about inciting them to revolt until return from Sicily
B. March in-land, incite rebellion. Assault Spartan garrisons, take the gear and give them over to the helots. Lead a guerrilla conflict against the Spartan forces
C. Land in Messenia, find a defendable naval base, and set up shop
D. Raid Gythium, port of Sparta, and take several ships, sail them to Messenia, and organize the ablest helots into companies and get them aboard. Sail thence to Corcyra, arm them, and lead them back on raids against Sparta.

3. Supplies for Messenia
A. If the guerrilla war, get supplies from Athenian convoys on scheduled days at locations.
B. If fort, retain several warships for supply and raid purposes
C. Don't worry about supplies. Take from the Spartan farms, and get the helots with you.

OOC: I'm gonna be gone for a week, so don't worry if you think this has gone dead. It's not you, it's me

[Sarathos]

1.C.) To keep the men loyal those who speak against must be punished. This will keep the men fearful and controlled, it will also stop further incidents occuring the in future.

2.B.) Attacking Spartan garrisons will give the men good experience in battle and in guerrilla tactics as well as showing the helots how it is done. Arming the helots with Spartan weaponing familirizes them with the enemy as this equipment is freely available.

3.A.) Though this plan is rather dangerous, you can't fight a war without supplies.