The Curia

[Il_Duce]

Cotta stands to reply to Asina

Consul, we should not be afraid to possibly fall back should our initial attacks fail. If we fail to defeat the Celts in one battle, we can inflict heavy casualties on them before falling back and attacking again

A philosopher once said if you outnumber the enemy army 2:1, split your army into two. If you are equal in size, you may fight them. However I am not sure if this would be the case. And what of the possibility of an ambush that would cripple our efforts? I know I am no military strategist, but I would have both legions travel to the first province, capture it, retrain, and then send off one of them to capture the other province.

[/Bean\]

Personally, i would suggest using one arm to capture Bononia, and use the remaining full units from that attack, and merge them with the second legion to attack Segesta

[everyone]

Legatus Cotta, it is sure that you do not analyse the situation, one legion of ours is far weaker than the garrison of either Bononia or Segesta; however two legions combined would be greater than the garrison of either of the cities. Tribunus Appivs' suggestion sounds more feasible, if two legions work together to take out two disunited foes, it would be much easier and would reduce the total number of casualties

(OOC: the armies of Bononia and Segesta individually are too large for one legion to take on, save attack a settlement (you know how siege battles are like, 10% of our troops die because of lousy maneuvering even in a clear victory); we concentrate two legions to dispatch one city first, then take out the other after retraining the two legions

[Potocello]

Tribvnvs Servivs Longvs stands to voice his opinion, addressing Legatvs Cotta he says

"Senator, as the Consul stated, it is not worth it to attack one city with one legion and have it be destroyed when we could just as well send two legions to destroy it and take minimal casualties. There is no point in risking the defeat of one of these legions. You said, "If we fail to defeat the Celts in one battle, we can inflict heavy casualties on them before falling back and attacking again." But why wouldn't we just send the two legions after one city and not risk the massive casualties which would result in more spending and more time to rebuild these legions. With all due respect to Legatvs Cotta and the Dictator, i think it would be just foolish to send one army to fight these brutes alone."

Servivs glances at the Consul and sits, waiting for the replies of his fellow senators.

[YouHaveRecieved]

Why should we wait to attack?

Why not starve them out?

I'm sure our supply lines would hold for a year or so, and you know what would happen to Celts if they get hungry. They will rush out the gates in an unorganized manner and Roman tactics will win the day. Unless we prefer the other options.

[SwissBarbar]

I say we crush them by superior force, no risk. You speak of soldiers and retrainig as if they were chessmen. But these soldiers are Romans! Though they are not of high rank, they still are our brothers. Do not lead them into massacre and say "we have enough of them, we'll attack again if we lose in the first place". We don't lose! Roman discipline is great, but its founded on intelligent strategical desicions, and not on leading men into battle and hope they kill enough enemies until they get slaughtered, so the next army may win! One single dead roman is already too much to give to those filthy, smelly naked barbarian in the north, though I know, that a very hard fight is about to happen! If we lose, this will be an invitation to all Barbarians to invade our territories because they see, that we can be beaten. The Carthagians will laugh at us, the Greeks may invade too and many other nations could come to the conclusion, that roman power is to be challenged. Let us make an example once and for all.

[YouHaveRecieved]

As I said, why need superior numbers when we can easily crush them if we wait for them to sally out of their strongholds. They will be hungry and angry. They will heed no orders and flanking will be easy and at a whim. I give them a year, two at most before they come, less if they are confident. We then just use manoeverabilty to outwit the fools. I differ from you greatly Noble Mamercus. I think the loss of two whole legions is satisfactory for the greater good of the Republic. Would you die watching the Republic fall or watching it flourish?

[/Bean\]

Cotta rises from his seat where he has sat listening to the arguments in rising agitation, a slight look of relief visible on his features

Good Senators, the Heres has spoken. Let this go no further. I beseech Consul Asina to agree with me that we will follow the Heres overall strategy, sending both legions to the north, and tackling each tribe one at a time. Let us make this final, gentlemen.

Consul?

[navarro951]

Senators, the Congressional Council will be closing at 20:00 Pacific Time today if there is no new legislation being proposed at that time. Anything new anyone would like to discuss or add do so now.

[navarro951]

"This Congressional Session is now closed. All legislation presentation has ended and the floor is now open for routine discussion. 48 hours will be allotted for voting!"

[everyone]

Asina seemed to be in a daze,
his retainer prods him

"Ah yes, Legatus Cotta; both the legions under our command shall co-operate and capture the cities together; I shall be informing you of my strategy soon"

(OOC: in other words, I'm going to play out a test-battle to capture each city with the armies we are about to have)

[SwissBarbar]

Senatores, is there place in any Army for me and my retinue? Aemilivs asked I'd like to fight those barbarians too and prove my quality as a true roman.

[navarro951]

"This Congressional Session is now closed. All legislation presentation has ended and the floor is now open for routine discussion. 48 hours will be allotted for voting!"

[navarro951]

Heres Blasio steps into the chamber with a hardened look on his face...

"Good men, I have just received reports that the very distant Kingdom of Pontos has announced a declaration of war against our own enemy, the vile Epirotes. I believe, it is time to gain a new friend and lose an old enemy.

I propose a diplomat be sent, on what will be a marathon of a travel, to meet the Pontic king and build up some sort of friendship. If an alliance can be made we will have the ability to attack our enemy from both sides.

Sooner or later, we will have to cross the Adriatic and cut our enemies throat in their own homeland. I say the time may not be now...but soon! Very near in time we will have two legions of finely trained Roman legionaries and they will get a true taste of training when they take the independent regions set by our recent edicts.

Let the floor be open for debate on this topic, I hope all true men of this senate are as thirsty for Epirote blood as I!"

Blasio then eyes the room for the first speaker

[everyone]

"Though I may wish to see all of the republic's enemies crushed by our legions, I'm afraid that an alliance with the kingdom of Pontus wouldn't help us currently; the lands under the dominion of their king are little, they only encompass a small section of Asia Minor; there is probably little either of us can do to help each other, except giving financial aid of some sort because as of now, our interests are focused in our immediate surroundings: Cisalpine Gaul and Sicilia.

However for long-term benefit, perhaps I would agree with your proposal; we may require their aid in the near future, as by then the Pontic King may have already grown to a sizable kingdom that could properly challenge the Epirote advance to the east."

[Mooks]

Has anyone considered sending a diplomat to open trading ties to the factions of the east? The far off Egyptians, selecuids, and even the Macedonians dont have trading contracts with our merchants (correct me if im wrong). While the barbarians might not be friendly, their gold might.

Also, I propose a peace be made with the Epirotes if we are not planning to invade the Illyrian coast. Then a trading contract be made. War with the Epirotes serves no purpose to Rome if it merely lessens our coffers and angers our merchants.

[YouHaveRecieved]

Yes but do we want to provoke war with the Carthaginians. They have kept a fickle peace treaty with us for the single reason the Pyrrus survives.

[/Bean\]

Cotta enters the chambers

Forgive me for not attending at an earlier date, Senators. Business of overseeing the Legio II Lativm has kept me occupied.

May I welcome the young Decimvs Cornelivs Scipio to the Senate. I hope you are now familiar with the rules we live by and will abide to them.

However, I must answer the new Senator's last speech with a question. Were you there, Scipio? Did you face the hordes of the Epirites; the Molossian King that invaded our land; the Illyrians, Greeks, Tarentines, Italians, and humangous beasts he called forth with a simple wave of his hand? My father was, Senator. He fought the Molossian at Heraclea, and met his end on the fields of Asculum. He was a brave man and a good soldier. He would never have agreed to sign a peace treaty with an enemy that had invaded, pillaged and killed many good men, women and children under the protection of Roma, to then retreat and abandon those he had come to aid. I plea the Senate to not sign a peace treaty with these scum from Greece; Roma will repay old debts in the future. For now let them huddle behind the protection of the sea and their navy.

As to the Senator's other proposal, I do agree. Maybe we should send out merchants and diplomats to secure trade routes with far off kingdoms. Only good and riches can come out of it. Better relations, sharing of resources and contact with ancient civilisations await, gentlemen. I am open to debate, but would like to remind you that this is for the good of the Republic, and the rich men of Roma as much as the mob.

Cotta takes his seat, awaiting a reply from the Senate