Legio III Campania sets out

It had taken months of drilling these men, fresh from the fields and cities - many of whom were too young to have even married yet - to turn them into the basic soldiers they were today. These were not men who were grisled and hardened to what ghastly horrors the field of battle had to offer. For that matter, neither were Tiberius or Scipio. These two men, who had been selected by the Legate of the Legion, Legatus Longus, to be his lieutenants had not seen one battle themselves; and yet here they were, appointed to lead these green troops against the enemy - whomever that might be. It rather frightened Tiberius somewhat. At least Servius had fought in two battles prior. He knew what to expect. All that said, these soldiers were not rabble. They were properly trained in the arts of war: they were in top physical condition, they were disciplined, they followed orders, they kept their tents in neat rows and properly displayed their equipment for inspection. The entire Legion even was even praised for the perfect cover and alignment of its troops when it conducted its innaugural parade after training was completed in Capua. Yes, each one of these soldiers had passed a battery of physical tests and had proven themselves worthy of being trusted with the defense of the Res Publica.

Tiberius admonished himself for being nervous. He had been through more intense training than these troops had been. He was, afterall, an officer. He had a personal bodyguard of battle-tested men to protect him with their lives. He also had Marcus, his aide de camp, who had fought for over twenty years in the Epirote army garrisoned in Taras. Marcus would not allow Tiberius to falter. And additionally, the Legion's first assignment was to quell a civil uprising in the hills of Kalabria. No one expected this to be a difficult task, really. Afterall, they were simply untrained farmers with hand tools upset over taxes or a bad harvest. They wouldn't prove much of a fight, he expected. And besides, there were thousands of men that were going to be in front of Tiberius doing the actual fighting. He planned to stay well behind and issue orders, and yell, and posture on his horse so that it appeared he was doing more than he actually was. Yes, Tiberius thought, that was the safest way to get accustomed to battle. Perhaps when he had seen men die and became less confused about the bigger picture would he consider venturing into the fray himself. Until then, this would be a learning exercise.

Tiberius rocked side to side in his saddle. They had been on the march for over half a day without a stop in order to close the distance with the rebellious louts all the quicker. The latest intelligence gathered from the surrounding farms was that the men had taken to the country south east of Tarentum and were not the rabble of pig farmers they were believed to be. By all accounts this was nothing short of a Samnite uprising and the people were terrified. The Legion's scouts reported at least three units of infantry, believed to consist of Samniciti Milites and Samniciti Hastati, as well as some mercenary Greek cavalry. Tiberius noted that perhaps he had underestimated their capabilities. Afterall, an education in a Megale Schole was not the only way a man became wise, and these rebels had obtained plenty of weapons and armor. Perhaps they were remnants of the defending force of Taras?

Tiberius trotted his mount up towards Legatus Longus and asked,

"Sir, when we have dealt with these interlopers, what next for the Legion?"

Servius replied,

"Tribunus, your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Eat what is on your plate before you ask for seconds, lest you become bloated and unable to raise your sword."

Tiberius gave a quick bow of his head,

"Of course, sir. I have been focusing my mind on the scout reports and wished to divert my thoughts elsewhere for a time. I shall redouble my efforts."

Tiberius began to slow his mount to fall back to his position in the column when Servius turned in his saddle and called to him. He regained his lost ground and waited for his Commander to speak. The men spoke of the upcoming battle and of the Legatus' plans. They were sound to the core. The Legio III Campania far outnumbered these rebels, even if they were well armed. When they finished talking it was well into the late afternoon, the sun beginning to cast hues of orange and red ever-so-slightly, and the Legatus signalled to his trumpeter to give the call to halt and set up camp for the night. Tiberius thanked his commander for the lessons of the day and broke away to see to the troops under his command who would be responsible for fashioning and constructing the fort's defenses.

Within the season, the men of the Third Legion would spill blood. Tiberius would see to it that it no one dared raise arms against the Res Publica again.