Members of the Senate,

I will address what has been discussed in as much order as I can.

Firstly, I will NOT, cannot, support the wholesale slaughter of innocents! I never have and never will…..Senator Amulius Coruncanius, your blood-lust should be tempered lest you succumb to the very base and barbaric notions that you, yourself uphold as proof of the evil of the Gauls.

We are the light Senators! Not, the bringers of darkness and death….liberators and oracles of enlightenment and organised government and not oppressors of the plebeians.

However, I have seriously err’d. I have not taken into account the tactical position of the Gallic territories and I apologise for this. I have already proposed a Motion to retain control of these territories and whilst some of that motion is acceptable I believe it should be voted against and Motion #9.18 voted FOR in its place.

Motion #9.18 is a more tactically valid option and whilst we must take back that which is ours we must also consider the ultimate defence of the Republic. If Motion #9.18 has not been seconded again I will do so now.

The Gallic question hangs heavy on me though, and very reluctantly I now find myself agreeing that the population of Gergovia need to be made an example of. IF it was viable to hold and completely free the peoples of Gaul I would prefer that but as this is not sound I will have to agree to the utter destruction of Gergovia.

Do as you will with the town, murder its citizens, burn its crops, tear down its buildings…….we are left with little else as an option.

I know this will leave a deadness within my heart when it happens but my duty is to the Republic and not my own sensibilities.

Now, the issue of the First Consul elections worries me deeply. Whilst it is not ideal that candidates so young should be given such responsibility it appears that the other members of the lower house leave us little choice in the matter. I, like the current First Consul, also say that our laws must be upheld and that no Consul should have power for two consecutive terms.

The Republic is our dream, if forced, I will give it to the hands of someone half my age if I believed it to be the only option for its continued survival. Besides, let us not forget that whomever we elect as First Consul will have the guidance of our experienced heads in the upper house.