The Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations IV

[TinCow]

I also stand with Senator Aureolus. Our many wars have begun for numerous different reasons, but our objectives have always been the same: benefits for the Roman people, be they in security, wealth, slaves, or other things. There is little to be gained from Iberia. The barbarians are of little threat to our trained Legions, especially with the strong border that Consul Servius Aemilius has so masterfully constructed.

Yet in the East, Seleucia and Ptolemy control vast and prosperous territories. With Italy, Greece, Macedon and Carthage already under our control, the Eastern territories are the only rich lands in the known world not subject to Republican rule. Wars must be fought for the benefit of the Roman people. There is no benefit to be had in Iberian territories. Let us continue to push eastwards.

[econ21]

[NUMERIUS AUREOLUS]: I am grateful for the support from some of my esteemed colleagues in the Senate.

Marcellus, you do realise that a warmonger is someone who starts wars? And not someone who finishes them? Here, we have another name for a man, like myself, who wants to defeat his enemies and works relentlessly to achieve that. We call him a Roman.

If you propose merely to wait for war to break out with Iberia, I have no quarrel with you and apologise for ascribing to you a position you do not hold. But if you seek to start that war, then you do indeed deserve the name of a warmonger.

Tell us, Senator, suppose you were not the de facto ruler of Afrika, but of Rome herself, what would you have us do?

[Braden]

Numerius, if the very thought of Marcellus as a de-facto ruler of anywhere wasn’t so abhorrent to me I’d be rolling down the Senate steps in fits of uncontrolled laughter!

I would only entrust any Roman state to the hands of only one member of that esteemed family and he is already Consul. *laughs heartily*

Senators,

I believe we have many choices to make here. Firstly, to our West we have a “potential” enemy….Iberia, a barbarian horde who have shown thus far that they are naught but hot air and bluster. Let me assure the Senate that I have absolutely NO delusions in this matter and that should the Iberians be so foolish and suicidal as to start a war with the Republic, then our forces already on the border will be more than capable of taking that war to them and enslaving every smelly one of them!

To our West lies a “potential” war only, and only, poor lands…cold and heartless lands that no true Roman citizen would enjoy trying to claw a living from.

To our East however…..to our East lies the Successor states, states that HAVE started a war with us, a war that continues even now. Do my men bleed un-noticed by the Senate!?! Whilst I feel that Numerius is perhaps rather bold in what he proposes, there certainly is merit in an extended campaign to finally destroy the Successor states of Alexander of Macedonia.

For once and for all we can crush the very image of his cruel conquests, and elevate Rome onto a new level….the true Successor State of Alexander perhaps, perhaps not, but certainly the new mantel, the new leaders of this world.

We are the new light bringing hope and prosperity to the world, and ever since our armies ventured forth against the Greeks all those years hence, we have ever been the bringers of prosperity, enlightenment, organised government and peace through just rule and law.

Not only are the Successor states at the end of their ebb as a power in this world of ours, but they also control great wealth. A wealth that has done nothing but corrupt their Rulers and Kings, a wealth that still eludes the greater mass of their people.

We, Senators, our beloved Republic is one of the very few states that can say it is still firmly governed by its people and in their best interests. Those other states that may hold claim to such lofty goals are minor compared to our power in both arms and economics.

I say it falls upon us! To continue our good work, to extend our Republic as far as we may and extend our knowledge and benevolent government to those oppressed peoples in the East.

[Lucjan]

It seems decided then. Our work in fortifying the frontiers has been completed almost in its entirety. Finishing Carthage's last coastal lands in the west is all that truly remains, and then our focus can be extended solely to the east. I will leave the next consul with a Rome that has never before been so secure in her own borders, is growing ever more secure and happy in her own lands, and is ready to take on the task of putting the remaining successor states in their place, beneath the foot of Roman might!

[Braden]

*Manius claps and cheers!*

Hear! hear! well said!

[Tamur]

Do I indeed hear no dissenting voice besides our esteemed but misguided colleage, Marcellus Aemilius? It is indeed a strange day in the Senate, what odd events await us?

[Lucjan]

Indeed, even I seem to be left uncontested in my thoughts. Truly this must mean the end of the world. *Servius laughs cynically.*

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conscript fathers, it seems as if I am this body's new whipping boy for my dissent of further eastward expansion. If this be the case, very well, but I will not take it lying down.

It is clear that we Romans are now a conquering people. Do not argue with me on this. In the last 30 years we have exponentially grown. Anyone who believes otherwise is either lying to himself or a fool. Look at the current situation. Now that our campaign in North Afrika is wrapping up, the talk of where to expand next starts.

Since we have established the fact that we love to expand, should we not have a moral reason for doing so? Think about it. In his push to expand eastwards, my esteemed colleague Numerius Aureolus wishes to smash through the Levant, all on the basis of "avenging our honor."

Really, hasn't that excuse gone far enough?

Of course he would say such a thing. Senator Aureolus, after all, is a military man far and above anything else. If you can remember, he snuck to Greece at the age of 12, not only choosing not to spend the optional four years after the age of 16 at the Scriptorium in Roma, but dropping out four years early! Of course he wants to conquer and get as much glory as he can. It's all the good Senator knows.

The man's fire for glory and military recognition will consume everything in its path. And I mean everything. Never mind the intellectual and educational facilities that Alexander, his supposed "ancestor," brought to the area 75 years ago. Aureolus' desire to get to the Nile is probably fueled by his wish to burn down the great Library at Alexandria! Is this the man whose example we want to be following?

No, Senators. Instead of destroying education and knowledge, I submit that we should instead aim to bring it to those without it. I am, of course, speaking of the Iberians.

These people are still stuck behind the old tribal system, hopelessly behind militarily. Obviously we would easily crush them. But it may shock some people that conquest should not be our objective in the area. We should bring these people into the fold of the good side.

A bastion of education and light lies a mountain pass away for these people and you insist on conquering far away civilizations. Why not, instead, civilize the Iberian tribes? We would bring education, learning, and hope to the people of that empire. Surely, Conscript fathers, that is the more noble goal, helping a people instead of simply conquering and destroying them.

[flyd]

What a most excellent idea you have there, Senator Aemilius. We shall exert ourselves to bring education and knowledge to barbarians. I say we get started right away! We ought to disband our legions and replace them with mobile brigades of Greek tutors, who will charge at Iberian settlements and armies, and teach geometry and philosophy at them until they turn into Romans! Yes, that's sure to work.

All sarcasm aside, let me make something perfectly clear. I look out for the Roman people. I look out for no other people, not Iberians, not Greeks. I don't care to give them anything, I don't care to educate them. The best they can hope from me is to be ignored, and sometimes even that's not possible given Roman interests. Anybody who wishes to kill Romans must die. There can be no peace until our enemies are destroyed. This is how I feel. This is how every good Roman Senator feels. If you aim to represent the interests of any people other than the Romans, then you do not belong in this Senate, and you are certainly not to be allowed to run the Roman state!

No Roman has ever died at the hands of the Iberians. Although they are stupid and reckless, so long as this holds, they have earned a possibility of being ignored. This cannot be said of those in the east.

You, Senator Aemilius, think you discredit Senator Aureolus by saying that he is a military man with little formal education, but I think you discredit yourself. I think you have spent too much time at the academy and not enough time in the field. A military man is exactly the sort of man needed to lead Rome. It is obvious that in your short time in the field in Afica, that you have not learned what the price of conquest is. It's blood, you know. I will see no Roman son die to bring knowledge and education to a foreign people who don't want it anyway. Not even if they did want it, not even if they were begging for it.

Senator Aureolus proposes to destroy our enemies and take their gold, which we can use for the benefit of the Roman people. That is an appropriate reason for war. If you want to call for a new war, you may, but you damn well better make the argument for it in terms of how it will help Romans, more than it will cost.

[Tamur]

(letter from Appius Barbatus)

I write hearing of yet another brilliant victory for Manius Coruncanius. Truly his leadership is inspiring for us here in the East, and inspiring for those at home. It is a rare thing indeed for battles to be so one-sided in their outcome, and all to the glory of Rome.

Well done, Manius!

[Braden]

Senator Appius Barbatus,

You do me great honour in your words. Truth is that perhaps these victories are becoming too easy for my men now, truth is they crave challenges that I cannot give them.

Senators,

It does beg one question that occurs to me, that perhaps the Senate can advise me upon.

At what point is it deemed that an army can be disbanded?

We promise our citizen soldiers much, and certainly those in my army have earned much and gained much in booty over these few years……..is it three years now?.......but they remain in service to the Republic as soldiers still and cannot enjoy that wealth and status they have secured.

We continue to take casualties, excepting the last engagement, and I have three Cohorts below half strength. Do I continue to order them to fight until the Cohort is utterly destroyed or do the survivors deserve release back to be private citizens in our Republic? At what level is this acceptable for the Senate, when half are left, when a quarter….when a tenth?

I am young and still have much I can give the Republic both as warrior and statesman, what I wish is a resolution for my men.

They wish for nothing more than land to till and farm, women to marry, to start good solid Roman families….to perhaps live the remainder of their lives as honest, good Romans, paying taxes and remembering what glory they have brought to our Republic.

I do not believe I could deign them any less.

Now, I must leave as I have news of yet another battle I am to fight defending this border.

[Braden]

OOC: Ok, Edit not working for some reason – just to let you know that I’ve noticed my appalling grammar as well “Truth is that perhaps these victories are becoming too easy for my men now, truth is they crave challenges that I cannot give them” – eekk!!

Obviously what I should have put was “Truth is that perhaps, these victories are becoming too easy for my men now, and they crave challenges that I cannot grant them”….

……there, that’s better.

[Braden]

Senators,

I bring you another victory and another 19 brave corpses.....456 enemy lay dead for their lives and...

...I ask again that you consider my previous request for my men.

Manius

(OOC Battle report tomorrow)

[econ21]

[NUMERIUS AUREOLUS]: I would like to congratulate Manius Coruncanius on yet another fine addition to his collection of victories. Your honorific, "the Victor", is indeed well earned.

On your request, I applaud your concern for your men. You show it with your careful deployments on the battlefield and again now on the Senate floor. And I agree that a unit of 20 infantry is too small to be functional in battle.

However, I would be reluctant for us to disband our veterans. It would seem better to send replacements to bring the cohorts back to strength, rather than disband them wholesale.

Senator, we are, I believe, agreed that there is a lot of fighting in the east still to be done. You can be assured that the successor states will not react to their defeats at your hands by disbanding their formations.

You say your veterans are finding their battles too easy and seek greater challenges. For such men, I doubt that a life back on the farm is their natural calling. I would rather we lead them, together, towards the Nile and beyond into the Seleucid heartland. In such a venture, they would find the challenges they seek.

I know our soldiers are Roman citizens who expect in due course to be released back to civilian life. However, given how far the Republic has come, and the demands of maintaining our new territories, I wonder whether this system is efficient or indeed can continue much longer?

You may have heard of a young Senator, Gaius Marius, who is now touting his ideas of creating a grand army of the Republic - a professional standing force. I am suspicious of the motives of the Senator and do not feel the time is yet right for such reforms. But I do believe that the time for such change is fast approaching and we must look forward, and not be beholden to the old ways of the past.

[Braden]

Hmmm...personally, Senator, I would be cautious of this man Marius.

It would indeed to have a perminantly standing army but isn't it giving too much perminant power to one individual be they Tribune or Consul?

I would like to review his proposals in detail however, I will never dismiss forward thinkers without study.

On your point of my men....I would consider a replacement unit but I strongly feel that these 20 men have done their duty fully, and with honour.

They deserve retirement.

However, I will await what the Senate majority holds on this matter.

Perhaps it will be a proposal for the next Consular elections?

Manius

[Dutch_guy]

This young man, Marius, is a new man. One who I have been following intently over the last few months. His progressive military thoughts are interesting to say the least, and I think we should discuss them further.

He's already proven himself to be a worthy politician, and his ideas - especially concerning the troops - are very interesting to say the least. Standing, and State paid armies could be the thing of the future for all we know.

We should at least discuss this, or maybe even vote on the matter as my esteemed colleague Manius already mentioned.

- Flavius.

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

I wish to compliment my son Marcellus on his noble views to bring Roman Civilization to the barbarian Iberians. I agree with Tiberius however, that we should not fight the Iberians unprovoked. Don't we have enough enemies to satisfy us ? As an aside, I wish to compliment our commanders on their string of victories.
I find this premature quabbling for the consul seat on the senate floor distasteful. Are there not other channels to discuss this matter more privately ? Nevertheless, I feel I must enter the debate now it is in the open. Numerius Aureolus is a capable general and a very ambitious man, but I feel he has taken up too much of the characteristics of our current consul to be a good choice. In our Republic a true leader should lead by moral example as well. I want a man as consul who gets the support of the senate because he can persuade them his goals are justified, not one who will browbeat the senators into submission. We might as well elect a King and be done with it otherwise.
For now, Marcellus has my full backing instead.

[Lucjan]

Interesting, grandfather, how when once you accused me of taking on too many of the traits of Numerious Aureolus, you now accuse him of taking on too many of my traits.

Please do make up your mind.

[flyd]

I hereby request that the Senate Speaker immediately calls an emergency session of the Senate on the grounds that the current Consul has apparently gone insane, and has indicated the desire to exceed his own authority.

[Tamur]

(letter from Appius Barbatus)

Can we not simply let the matter lie for a bit? I've been pulled from my baths and oil treatment just now with this news of an emergency session of the Senate, and I do not like it! Besides, my wife has finally decided on how to arrange the furniture in the bedroom -- hardly a time to leave and return to Rome.

But, I will do as I am called upon to do, despite the sacrifices.

[Mount Suribachi]

I hereby request that the Senate Speaker immediately calls an emergency session of the Senate on the grounds that the current Consul has apparently gone insane, and has indicated the desire to exceed his own authority.

Senator Coruncanius, I see no need for an emergency session, the Consulshop of Servius Aemilius will end very soon, and I'm sure whatever is bothering you can wait till then. Otherwise we will have an emergency session, and as soon as it is closed we will have to have another session!

I know Tiberius that when a man gets to your age time is short, but history flows ever onward and the sands of time flow with no regard for the age of mortal men.

[econ21]

[NUMERIUS AUREOLUS]: Praetor Coruncanius's calls for an emergency session of Senate to impeach the Consul.

Before we rush to judgement, let us first review the achievements of our Consul. His recovery of our position in the east at the start of his term in office was masterful. As was his conquest of Afrika, with seemingly only a single Praetorian army. His withdrawal from Viberi was a bold manouvre, but pulled off with assurance.

Senators, in all honesty, I say this: the record of the current Consul is as great as, and in my opinion outshines, that of any of his illustrious predecessors. And in this, I do not exclude my esteemed friend, the venerable fighter, Praetor Coruncanius.

Therefore, in the emergency session of Senate, I will propose the following motion:

Emergency motion 1: This House awards Servius Aemilius a triumph for his campaigns in Afrika and the east.

However, we must also consider the accusations that Praetor Coruncanius has made. He says that the Consul has started a war without authority. Senators, it is true, we are at war with Iberia. And it is also true that, under the constitution, only the Senate can authorise a declaration of war. Senators, I know I have been away a while, but I do not recall the Consul even informing the Senate about his intention to start a war with Iberia, let alone seeking out authorisation for it.

So what are we to conclude from all this? Senators, I am afraid there can be only one conclusion. The Consul has rode roughshod over our most fundamental laws and started an unconstitutional war of aggression. He has brought upon us that great conflaggration that successive Consuls have skillfully managed to avoid. We have been close neighbours of Iberia since the time of Lucius Aemilius, but incredibly Iberia alone of our neighbours has not turned on us.

Therefore, in the emergency session of Senate, I will therefore also propose the following motion:

Emergency motion 2: This House impeachs Servius Aemilius for unconstitutionally taking the Republic to war with Iberia. It immediately removes him from office.

Senator Oppius Aemilius, you say we should let the matter lie because the Consul's term is nearly at an end. But does that not make the offence even more egregious? The Consul has deliberately provoked a massive war that he cannot hope to bring to closure. He has thus decided the course of the next Consul, knowing full well that it is quite likely a future Consul may wish to turn east rather than assault Iberia. Indeed, it is clear from the First Consul's report that this war was started precisely to act as a spoiling maneouvre for the next Consulship!

Finally, I wish to address Praetor Coruncanius's charge that the Consul is insane. As I have just pointed out to Oppius, there is reason in the Consul's madness. But the man does seem to act without any moral or social restraint, in a way only the most dangerous of people do. There is one further criminal act of the First Consul's that I believe we should address in the emergency session of Senate:

Emergency motion 3: This House impeachs Servius Aemilius for the murder of UPS Maximus on the Senate floor. It immediately removes him from office and orders him kept under permanent house arrest at Palma.

Senators, I am not a doctor - I do not know if Serivus is insane - and I am not a lawyer - I do not know if a Roman can legally kill his servant. But gratuitous slaying of a public servant by the Head of State on the floor of the House, in front of the entire Senate, is an act that shames us all. In that act, he transformed Rome from a place of law and honour into something no better than a cowed barbarian court lowering itself before a murderous tyrant king. We have debased ourselves before this man for long enough - it is time we got rid of him.

Senators, I come here not to praise the Consul, but to bury him! I second the call for an emergency session of Senate!

[econ21]

A Senate clerk seems to push a reluctant portly Senate Speaker to the rostrum...

[SENATE SPEAKER]: (sotto voce)... What?? What is this about? We are at war? What?!? With Iberia? What!?! ... (clears throat)... Senators, where is your pity? I am an old man. I was here when Quintus stood before the onslaught of King Pyrrhus. And I was not young then. Never before have I had to face a serious call for an emergency session of Senate. And to call one to impeach a Consul! And one so frighten..., I mean one so, errr, mercurial, as the current Consul. ...(sotto voce:) alas, poor UPS, I knew him well...

(louder and with resignation)Senators, Praetor Coruncanius charges that the Consul has taken us into an unauthorised war with Iberia. If this were true, I cannot think of a situation in which an emergency session of Senate would be more appropriate.

There is only one case I can think of where a Consul alone could constitutionally start a war. This is the case that Quintus amended the constitution to cover: when an enemy army enters our lands, the Consul is empowered to declare war on their faction.

I am therefore opening an Emergency session of Senate. I will consider Numerius Aureolus's three motions as being tabled. Are there any seconders? Or any other motions?

However, I would also ask the Consul to clarify one factual question:

Did the war begin with our attacking an Iberian army that had entered into our lands or with our attack on Emporiai?

If the answer to this question is that the war began with our attacking an Iberian army that had entered our lands, I will immediately close this emergency session of Senate, declaring it invalid. I will also beg the forgiveness of the Consul (sotto voce:) and order a very hot bath and a very sharp razor...

[Mount Suribachi]

I wish to second Emergency Motion 1

Furthermore, I call on the Speaker to instantly dismiss motions 2 and 3!

Numerius, I know as a teenager you were out on the battlefield killing our enemies when you should have been in the scriptorium studying law, but I know you're not stupid. Even you know that as Consul, Servius cannot be tried as long as he holds his imperium!. To call for his impeachment whilst he is still in office is both unconstitutional and illegal!

I call upon the speaker once again to dismiss these motions! Indeed, I urge him to act upon his promise to close this emergency session immediately.

Those of you who suddenly oppose the idea of war with Iberia, a war which was bound to happen sooner or later, a war which comes to the aid of an ally we have long neglected, those who forget how such a war was openly being prepared and planned for not so long ago, those of you may bring your motions to prosecute Servius when he has stepped down from office and no longer holds his imperium.

[Dutch_guy]

I'm in full agreement with my esteemed colleague Senator Oppius Aemilius

However, I have the following to say on the matter at hand...

However, we must also consider the accusations that Praetor Coruncanius has made. He says that the Consul has started a war without authority. Senators, it is true, we are at war with Iberia. And it is also true that, under the constitution, only the Senate can authorise a declaration of war. Senators, I know I have been away a while, but I do not recall the Consul even informing the Senate about his intention to start a war with Iberia, let alone seeking out authorisation for it.

So what are we to conclude from all this? Senators, I am afraid there can be only one conclusion. The Consul has rode roughshod over our most fundamental laws and started an unconstitutional war of aggression. He has brought upon us that great conflaggration that successive Consuls have skillfully managed to avoid. We have been close neighbours of Iberia since the time of Lucius Aemilius, but incredibly Iberia alone of our neighbours has not turned on us.

I deem our consul did what he had to do when he started the war with Iberia, senators, when was the last time you all set foot out of our dear City ? Iberia is the biggest threat we have at the moment, the Egyptians and Seleucids are nothing compared to the might of the Iberians. Who hold their entire Peninsular and now put our allies, the Germans, on the Brink of total destruction. If not to save ourselves, think of our Allies !

Don't, dear senators, be so foolish as to think Iberia would not turn on us in the future. As rightfully said, it is a miracle they stayed neutral for so long...

Emergency motion 2: This House impeachs Servius Aemilius for unconstitutionally taking the Republic to war with Iberia. It immediately removes him from office.

Senator Oppius Aemilius, you say we should let the matter lie because the Consul's term is nearly at an end. But does that not make the offence even more egregious? The Consul has deliberately provoked a massive war that he cannot hope to bring to closure. He has thus decided the course of the next Consul, knowing full well that it is quite likely a future Consul may wish to turn east rather than assault Iberia. Indeed, it is clear from the First Consul's report that this war was started precisely to act as a spoiling maneouvre for the next Consulship!

Finally, I wish to address Praetor Coruncanius's charge that the Consul is insane. As I have just pointed out to Oppius, there is reason in the Consul's madness. But the man does seem to act without any moral or social restraint, in a way only the most dangerous of people do. There is one further criminal act of the First Consul's that I believe we should address in the emergency session of Senate:

You'd actually wish to remove our consul from his office, when it is ending in the very near future ? Well, if our consul's war with Iberia is un-lawful, then such a proposition or emergency motion is also entirely un constitutional.

And have not our other consuls also set the tone for their future collegues ? This is not something new.

Emergency motion 3: This House impeachs Servius Aemilius for the murder of UPS Maximus on the Senate floor. It immediately removes him from office and orders him kept under permanent house arrest at Palma.

Senators, I am not a doctor - I do not know if Serivus is insane - and I am not a lawyer - I do not know if a Roman can legally kill his servant. But gratuitous slaying of a public servant by the Head of State on the floor of the House, in front of the entire Senate, is an act that shames us all. In that act, he transformed Rome from a place of law and honour into something no better than a cowed barbarian court lowering itself before a murderous tyrant king. We have debased ourselves before this man for long enough - it is time we got rid of him.

I do not agree with this murder - which I somehow managed to miss altogether - but I judge the consul will explain himself with regard to this. I daresay he had a valid reason to do so, however, the location was...poorly chosen. As was your choice of words, Numerius. Comparing Rome to a barbarian court is a valid reason to impeach you, as is your blatant call for chaos and panic on this senate floor, when we have such a difficult time ahead of us - even with our current consul in charge...

That said, what our consul does with his slaves is entirely his business...

- Flavius.

[Mount Suribachi]

I seem to recall that the killing of UPS Maximus met with the approval of this house. I myself was ambivilent about it, but there is no doubt that our Consuls' arrogant slave was universally loathed.

[econ21]

[SENATE SPEAKER]: Senators, we are entering unknown territory and in such circumstances, I must improvise as best I can.

I rule that impeachment is to be understood here as the involuntary removal of the Consul from office. It is thus an appropriate matter to be considered in an emergency session of Senate and could levelled against a Consul while still in office. Indeed, it would be a rather redundant matter in the context of an ex-Consul at the end of his term.

Impeachment will of course require a supermajority of two-thirds to be passed.

I should have stated at the outset that this emergency session of Senate will close at 12 noon on Tuesday UK time and there will then be a 24 hour period of voting for any emergency motions that have two seconders. However, I believe the scribes have already communicated this to all of you in private.

[Mount Suribachi]

[b][SENATE SPEAKER]I rule that impeachment is to be understood here as the involuntary removal of the Consul from office. It is thus an appropriate matter to be considered in an emergency session of Senate and could levelled against a Consul while still in office. Indeed, it would be a rather redundant matter in the context of an ex-Consul at the end of his term.

Unless of course he does not return to Rome and stands for Consul in absentia, then he will still be sacrosanct due to his imperium.

[StoneCold]

I myself deem the killing of UPS just that, a killing. UPS is the slave of the consul, and as such is his property. I do not think it a crime to destroy, say one's goblet, by the owner.

[flyd]

Senators,

It matters not if you support a war with Iberia. It matters not if the result of the Consul's actions is what you wanted. Iberia is not the issue here. The issue here is that the Consul has purposefully attempted to undermine the authority of the Senate, of our constitution, and has, as a result, attempted to damage the Republic itself. These are the specific things he did:

The Consul has violated the following constitutional provision:

*11) Declarations of war, alliances, ceasefires, grants of settlements to other factions and relocation of the capital require Senate authorisation (i.e. a motion).

At this stage, there is still some room for excuses and attempts at justification, until we look a the Consular report. I'll ignore all the insults to the Senate in the first part of the report, and get to the main point

If the senate contests this, then let them take their contest to the gods. Because the gods have looked upon me at the dusk of battle and smiled, and said aloud. "This is our son." And they have bid me slake Rome's thirst on the world, that Rome herself may be the daughter of the gods, and I, the man who gave her the beginnings of her golden age.

Not only is this extremely blasphemous, it is quite obvious that this man does not respect the institutions of our Republic. He thinks he alone is the future of Rome. Well, this is why I called for this emergency session: it is very dangerous to allow such a man to hold any power for any amount of time. Who's to say what he may do next to undermine our Republic? From what little of his incoherent rant I can interpret, it would appear to me that he wishes to have himself installed as king! Perhaps in his delusion, he already thinks he is one. A Consul's purpose is to execute the will of the Senate, not to make policy of his own. Why is it that we even have a constitution if it will not be followed? Why is it we have a Senate if it will not make policy? What sort of precedent do we set if we allow any fool to do as he pleases!?

The Senate is the highest authority in the Republic, and so it shall remain. I second Emergency Motion 2. Although it doesn't quite encapsulate all the reasons, the action it orders is appropriate. As far as I see it, any Senator who votes against this motion may as well be voting to install Aemilus as king. I also second Emergency Motion 3, they still haven't managed to completely clean up that stain over there. Servius Aemilius has sullied this house, both figuratively and actually.

Finally, since it appears that... certain generals don't mind following unlawful orders from Aemilius, to ensure the continued safe operation of the Republic, I propose the following motion:

Emergency Motion 4: No Roman army is allowed to enter Italy, except: small city garrisons which are to remain in cities; and newly trained troops which must be deployed away from Italy as soon as they are ready to do so. The northern boundary of Italy is defined as the limit of the regions of the cities of Arretium and Ariminum. This is a constitutional amendment.