Tiberius Claudius stands and applauds deliberately and slowly, raising his voice to reach the back rows of the audience he is addressing,

"Senator Exominus is bold in his declaration, yet he couldn't have stated the situation any more concisely."

Turning to face the legislator he said,

"You are most wise to not only realize this truth about the Quaestor; but to have the courage, the noblest of Roman virtues, to acknowledge it publicly. Legatus Sextus Cornelius Scapula is a lucky man to have such a friend in you. It would be an honor to discuss matters of the law with you at the Villa Claudia with other men of like mind. My aide Quintus Valerius will deliver the invitation to your residence."

Spinning around to once again address the body of learned men, Claudius returned to the topic at hand,

"Peace with the Epirotes is feasible at this time. As part of the terms I suggest that we envelop the province of Epeiros and install a client ruler in Ambrakia who will help Quaestor Caius Aurelius govern more effectively since he will be a local man, with a disposition that is favourable to our plans for the region. With any remaining Epirote provinces serving as a buffer between the Res Publica and the Makedonians and Koinon Hellenon, as well as the barbarous Getai, we will in turn be able to throw the full might of our Legios against the Poeni."