The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Lucjan]

(OOC - Autumn, 255 BC)

Unsure of date, will have to ask astrologers later.
Note to self- Be sure to send this journal entry to the senate. A typical consular report it may not be, but we must make due in the field.
Servius

It's been a whole season since my ascension to the rank of consul. A rapid one I must admit, but nor is it one that I will argue against. Though the many pressures of the consulship are making themselves apparent.

Lepcis Magna fell to our troops last season, and the city has since been garrisoned by a fair number of Libyan spearmen, mostly from Sicily, but maintaining the public order demanded that I recruit some as mercenaries from the locals themselves. Our spy, Decius Curtius, has revealed that our intention of drawing the Carthies south by snatching the town from under their noses was successful. He has noted to me the presence of two generals in the army heading our way, Celeas Abdera and Bomilkar "the mad", apparently both highly skilled veterans of the Numidian war. Undoubtedly they have rushed south with some false bravado of an undeniable victory. To further distract their situation we have split the fleet, and the cities of Thapsus and Hadrumentum have been blockaded. For now, the plan is to take out the smaller contingent south of their main force, and take up a more defensible position on the nearby dunes, where we will await their attack.



In the north, to my great relief, after maneouvering Quintus Naeivus and his legion towards the Iberian army in the Alpine Pass, the Iberians realised just how lost they were and turned around. They're still wandering through Roman lands west of Massillia, and I've had Augustus Verginius and his men march out to the ford, to make sure the Iberians don't backtrack, but I believe they will have left our lands by next season. Furthermore, I have given Quintus Naevius the defensive duties of our nother fort near Comata. Flavius Pacuvius will be taking over command of the mobile legion, and will begin a march to Sicily, where he will meet up with uncle Marcellus Aemilius and newly adopted Julianus Avilius, betrothed of Plotina, daughter of Publius Laevinus. He appears an able man, and I will place him under Marcellu's watch. The legions led by Marcellus and Flavius will be reinforced at Rome, marched to Sicily and then cross over via our fleet to attack Carthage within the next year and a half.





Near Oduba, grandfather Lucius has already put a large contingent of rather stupid Thracians to the sword. He has sent a report of the battle to our tactical libraries. But his services are sorely needed in the east, and I have requested he begin his march in that direction, cutting through Thrace as an example. Vallerius Paullus, coming from Cisalpine Gaul, will be taking his place on the Thracian front. As well, Titus Vatinius has begun part of a pacification campaign in the western Balkans, removing a large contingent of rebellious rabble west of Segestica. As soon as some extra forces can be freed up, he will be made mobile.



Our situation in Viberi has been causing me some dismay. Quintus Libo, after being given the order to march back to Viberi following the failure of the motion to capture Vicus Marcomanii, ran into a stray Iberian unit and could move no further without provoking hostilities...seems those buggers are wandering around everywhere these days. Luckily, with the seasonal transition, Iberia did not make the poor mistake of actually attacking what would, to them, appear to be an abandoned town. And after some investigation, it seemed the only group willing to take Viberi would have been the Iberians anyway...our allies the Germans didn't want it, nor did Thrace. So, I feel compelled to keep the town for now. Quintus Libo however, is far too useful to leave sitting around on the frontier guarding against stray Iberian vagrants. A group of gallic mercenaries will be employed to hold this meager town, and Quintus Libo will continue east to deal with a Thracian force in western Vicus Marcomanii.



The east is where my concern runs deep...I feel compelled to speak in private with Tiberius Coruncanius and Numerious Aureolus before any specific details are made public concerning our situation there. Cornelius Saturninus should be consulted as well. Our operations this season will continue after I hear what they feel of the new situation...although, on a more positive note. We have made good use of the eastern fleet this season. No less than six ports have been blockaded, namely Smyrna, Mytalene, Abydos, Pergamen, Rhodes, and Halicarnassus. It is my hope that this will cause at least a minor drop in Seleucid and Ptolemaic income.

Again, on a positive note, our construction of shrines and temples throughout Greece and some other troubled settlements continues this season. Slowly but surely we will restore some semblance of tranquility and acceptance of Roman rule to these people. Then, we can begin the construction of military infrastructure, and hope that these people will begin to provide at least auxilia for our battle lines.

More will be discussed later, for now, the question of the east must be discussed...
In nomini Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.
Servius Aemilius
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