Koinon Hellenon: Athens X Sparta (.org X TWCenter), a participative AAR - Athenai

[Enyalio]

"Dear friends,

Our plans have been fruitfull. Mytilene has now joined the alliance. Praise to Athena and our young commander Doros. I AGREE with the suggestions to withdraw the alliance army from Mytilene made by Kairos.

It also seems the Spartans did not feel that a build-up of strenght was necessary. We were amiss perhaps. We should have seen that their warlike nature would not allow them to sit back.
However our disagreements over the attacks of Pella an Mytilene might have caused some stir in our relationship. I would request (PROPOSE)a visit from the Spartan ambassador to explain their motives and intentions. We also must explain to them that our actions or decisions are not meant to thwart Spartan influence, but to allow for balance and moderation, lest no vengeful feelings are allowed to build up.

But assesing the state of our dominion, I think we have done well. I would ask the council at this moment to lay not only their immediate proposals before us, but also their ideas about our future endeavours. Should we hold ourselves to our promise to Sinope and go east? Should we try to establish contact with our brothers in the West? Should we focus on trade or upon war?

It is now that we must ask ourselves these questions, now that the war with Macedon, which has dominated our speech and our lives, is drawing to an end. For myself I believe a promise is a promise. We must start thinking about aiding Sinope. On the other hand my cousin arrived yesterday from the city of Kyrene. This polis is hemmed between Carthage and our Ptolemaic friends and they are looking for a protector to stay out of any struggles. Maybe we should send some envoys to see what can be done. I PROPOSE we send a diplomat and a spy to Kyrene.

Either way we should use this period of semi-peace to re-equip our army. New threaths will appear, and they might prove to hard for our levied forces. Let us not forget Epirus. they want macedonian land, and they care not if it is cuurently controled by us or by Macedon.
I PROPOSE once again, as did Leumenes before me, to recall the Athenian army. To gradually disband our levies (only 1 unit of militia hoplites to be maintained) and to replace them with professional hoplites. I also PROPOSE to build up military infrasctructure in Athens and trade infrastructure in the other poleis under our influence.
The same goes for our fleet, the pride of Athens. I therefore AGREE with my collegue who spoke before me (Hephaestus).

Let us not make quick decisions now and speak of all these matters."

Enyalio sat down and let his slave fetch some refreshments.