Roman: Scipii

[Pontifex Rex]

*NB* addendum to self imposed handicaps -

v) No city walls. That is, if the locale has some sort of city walls when it is taken they can/will be repaired. However, any village town without walls will not have walls or pallisades constructed. Adds to the fun.

Report to the Senate, 465 BC

Greetings, fellow Romans,

I have both good news to report and a some potentially damaging bad news. The good news is that Salona, Appolonia and Kydonia have fallen and are being developed. A cavalry facility has been complete at Capua and our troops in Sicily are being reinforced with the first units. A 'Practice Range is about to be completed in Messana and will provide a few missile troops for the I Legion. The three Greek colonies are currently getting their economic houses in order and Appolonia is now able to produce a few Town Militia to garrison itself and Salona.

The bad news lays in the arrival two pirate fleets off the coast Sparta (50 ships and 75 ships) and south of Kydonia immediately after its capture. Depite attempts by our squadron of 20 biremes to evade, it was intercepted by both fleets and lost along with two cohorts of Hoplite Mercenaries, one cohort of Hastadi and one cohort of Cretan Archers. Further, General Quintus Scipio and the remnants of II Legion (one cohort of Hastadi and one of Roman Archers) are now marooned on Kydonia. The balance of our fleet (20 Biremes) is off the coast Campania shuttling Cavalry to Sicilia Romanus.

Five Year Plan for the years 465 - 461 BC

More ships are under construction at Capua and the plan is to gather some 80-100 ships and sweep the seas between Athens and Rome of any enemy ships while at the same time reinforcing the army in Greece. With some luck, Salona and Appolonia can continue on the economic track for the next five years while building up their population.

In the meantime, General Gaius Scipio is raising a third legion (III) of mainly mercenaries in Epirus with the intent of marching on Corinth. It is coinsidered wise at this point to join the Brutii there before they break into the city and take possession of the wonder. Syracuse has fallen to the Carthaginians but we feel we are currently strong enough to hold our own on Sicily. Messana will follow its construction of the 'Practice Range' with 'Stables', which should make the city self-sufficient for troop training in the near future. Capua, after finishing its paved roads will construct an 'Archery Range' and will become the factions main supplier of archers for now. Infantry forces will either come hiring mercenaries (Samnite or Hoplite) or the raising of a few Hastadi cohorts.

If events unroll as we hope, the next 5 years should be fairly calm with Corinth falling into our hands. Next report in early Spring 460BC.

Ave Roma!!