Caivs Avrelivs Aqvila, having arrived earlier from Epirus itself, rose, and took the floor.

I would like to support Edict 7.1, but I must stress it may not be so simple as to simply draw a peace solution and evacuate roman forces from Epirus and Illyria in order to fight Carthage.

Having taken the heart of the enemy kingdom, and defeating and killing their legendary king in battle, it is unlikely we can simply bring these people to peace with us. They still have large enough forces to threaten us. If Roman forces are to be evacuated, it would be all to easy for them to sweep through Epirus and reclaim it.

We have plenty enough legions to wage this war with Carthage, and despite the disatrous defeat of the Legio III, Sicilia is now firmly in Roman hands, thanks to the skill and leadership of Consul Manivs Clavdivs Cicero Aqvila. Legio III should be reformed according to our new legion reforms, and should be able to return to the field soon enough. We do not need to employ every one of our legions in this war, when we still have new lands over seas. The Legio II should remain in Epirus until a Provincial Legion is created, and then return to Italia for a deserved period of rest, before reformation. Its future will be discussed later.

Further on this point, I would like to emphasise the need for an Epirite Provincial Legion to be created, starting as soon as I return to Epirus. We must begin to actively protect our holdings with Provincial Legions, allowing our standard legions to return home. I am not proposing this as an edict, since it should not need one to be created.

Moving on to what I would like to propose; the recent catastrophe concerning the humiliating defeat of the Legio III must be addressed. It is propostrous that a Roman commander can allow this to happen with men of Italia, trusted to his care and command by the Senate and People of Roma. A Legion is not just a tool of war; it is made of Roman citizens, a highly valued resource. To command a Legion of Roma is a privalage, and with such high power comes great responsibility.

Caivs Avrelivs Aqvila began to pace the circumference of the Curia floor, inches from each Senator, his voice rising to fill the hall, his arm gestures matching the tenor of his voice.

Legatvs' Servivs Sempronivs Longvs and Deciumus Cornelius Scipio, the commanding officers of the Legio III, are responsible for it's humiliating defeat by the forces of Carthage. Had it not been for the Consul Manivs Clavdivs Aqvila, the Punics would surely have swept back our remaining forces on Sicilia and reclaimed the island. Such a set back would have been disastrous for Roma and the war. Servivs Sempronivs Longvs and Deciumus Cornelius Scipio must pay for their incompetence. Had it not been for Consul Manivs Clavdivs Aqvila, Roma would have been in a very dangerous situation because of these two men.

Caivs Avrelivs Aqvila unrolled a scroll that he clutched in his hand.

I have here a report of our losses suffered in Sicilia. Our total losses stand at a staggering almost six thousand men, including over six hundred Roman knights and over three thousand heavy infantry. Such losses are inexcusable. Someone must take responsibility. It must be the Legio commanders. Who else can it be?

Therefore, gentlemen of the Senate, I propose Edict 7.2: Servivs Sempronivs Longvs and Deciumus Cornelius Scipio must be removed of command concerning the Legio III. They may not recover any command for a period of six years (2 Congressional Sessions) after which they may return to only small or simple commands of which they house little overall command power concerning foreign campaigns or active defensive actions. Our legion commanders are the faces of Roma; they are the men that portray how Roma is to the world, to the enemies we fight. If we produce such incompetent men as our ambassadors to the world, we are truely a shameless and weak nation. These men blacken not just themselves, but all of Roma and all Romans, including each and every one of you, Senators. You can redeem yourselves only by supporting this edict.

Now, onto a lighter note, I would like to return to my praise for Consul Manivs Clavdivs Cicero Aqivla. Our consul is a true and proper Roman, and a superb military commander, possibly our best since the great Cnaevs Cornelivs Scipio Asina. Not only did he singlely lead our forces to victory in a foreign land, southern Gaul, but also caputured large areas of this area, creating a new Roman Province. This would be reason enough, but no. Our Consul then return to Italia to take up command of the Consular legion, and immediately headed into Sicilia, capturing the cities of Messana and Lilybraem, and securing a lasting alliance with the great city state of Syracusai. This, once again, is not all. For he has also defeat great odds on Sicilia, and capturing the Carthaginian commander on Sicilia, Hamalcar. Such victories are indeed rare and incredible, and deserved to be highly celebrated.

Therefore, Senators, I propose Edict 7.3: Consul Manivs Clavdivs Cicero Aqvila be granted a Triumphvs in Roma, upon which he will parade the captured Carthaginian commander Hamalcar, before the latter be executed for crimes against the Republic of Roma.

I thank you for your patience and your ears, Senators. And I beg you to consider deeply the connotations of not voting for these two edicts. Thank you.

Caivs Avrelivs Cotta Aqvila sat to a considerable amount of applause from many Senators for his invigorating and charismatic speech.