The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Mount Suribachi]

Winter 258 BC

A quiet winter to start the official co-consulship of Publius Pansa. In accordance with the wishes of the Senate, Publius Laeviunius is stripped of his ancillaries and I give him one of the Chirugeons from the students in Rome to transport in accordane with the will of the Senate. Publius also carries the newly created Roman II Field Army banner. He sets off north with some reinforcements for senior Consul [B]Lucius Aemilius[/] whilst Manius the Mad is recalled from Cisalpine Gaul - he too will act as a ferryman for chirugeons and reinforcements.

I start upgrading the road network as requested by the Senate - rather than try to upgrade the roads everywhere, I decide to focus on building paved roads where they will be of the most use for transporting our armies across the Republic - starting with the long coastal province of Dalmatia.

I also begin recruiting more troops in Italia. Rather than piecemeal recruitment, I decide to concentrate on trying to recruit 4 or 5 legions worth of men - one in each city in central Italia - so that when our 4 young bucks studying at the scriptorium in Rome graduate and begin their military career, they have a ready made Legion to command or transport. Elsewhere I continue the process of getting reinforcements to the front started by my co-consul.

Oh, did I say there were FOUR young studs in Rome, not three? Yes, you did not miss-hear me Conscript Fathers, for Oppius Aemilius, youngest son of our esteemed Lucius Aemilius has come of age and begun his studies.

Meanwhile Ptolomy and Bactria announce an alliance, no doubt so they can torture their chief Rival Seleucia from one end to the other.

Finally my congratulations to Manius Coruncanius on his marriage to Urgunalla