Conscript fathers,

It seems that this senate is as divided as it has ever been, saving ones dignitas and honor seems to be more of an issue than driving the Seleucid, Thracian, Ptolmaic and Carthaginian hordes out of this world. Our enemy's must be mightily pleased, I bet their agents are sitting around enjoying our brothels and foods while we do their work for them, on the senate floor itself !

Good to know it is, that our esteemed senators Numerius and Verginius are willing to have a duel - yes a duel ! - at the time when our eastern front is being over-run, our co consul has died and our enemy's are more powerful than ever !

Good to know that such people wield so much influence at this moment of crisis!

What am I trying to say, one might ask ?. Well it should be clear, I urge the senators Verginius, Numerius and even Aemilius to put aside their petty arguments - for that is what they are in light of the current events - and join forces to humiliate our enemy's as we did Pyrrhus years before !

Is this so much to ask, Senators ?

For the people, the legions, and the Republic I for one hope it is not...