A messenger arrives in the Curia. Allowed entrance, he walked to the floor and read his message.

Senators, I have here a letter addressed to the Senate from Epirus, written in the hand of the honourable Quaestor Caivs Avrelivs Cotta himself. It follows:

Honourable members of the Senate and People of Roma, greetings.

I have included with this letter a report of the front in Epirus and Illyria, to read at your pleasure. This is not what I have written for however. I write to plea my case to the Senate regarding the position of the Legio III Campania.

I must begin my argument stating the simple fact that I am furious by their constant presence in the province trusted to me and the Legio II. Everyday I am visited by disgruntled, furious and outraged shopkeepers, farmers and brothel owners as to the unspeakable behaviour of the men of the Legio III. They continue to press the local populace for every scrap they own, despite these people suposedly being under the protection of Roma. I am powerless to discipline them myself, as I am not their commander. Dux Longvs remains fidgety and will not commit himself to any action. I see no reason why the Legion remains here in Greece. They are inactive, and even if they weren't, we have no theatre of war here that the Legio II is incapable of dealing with alone. The Legio III are abusing Roma's province, the people under Roma's protection, and their own jobs. Where are the Legio III's marching orders? Are we not at war with Carthage? Yet I see no combat. We have a free legion here, with nothing to do, and an empty theatre of war. I ask the Senate to do something about this. This province will not take this kind of abuse much longer, and neither will my scribes or officials who are at the constant sharp end of the tongues of these people. I require action from my government. Will you allow this, gentlemen?