The Battle for Rome

[econ21]

LATE AFTERNOON ORDERS -TURN 6


Servius and Quintus's Orders

((Quintus has been ordered to withdraw towards Servius, keeping skirmishers and spearmen in the rear to protect against Luca's cavalry which could potentially catch him. His new formation is included in the jpeg here.))

Servius looked about him, legions breaking, alae fleeing. Marcellus had blamed him for treason, yet he knew he had left Luca to die in pulling Luca's Italians to this battle. "Order Quintus's withdrawel, bring him here immediately! Fighting withdrawel to this field!" He barked to the nearest group of messengers. As they began to ride off he pulled one off to the side. "Hold on, I want you to head off to Quintus's cavalry on the way and order them to charge the flank of the Italians engaging our Iberians."

His attention turned immediately then to Appius. "Quickly, we're withdrawing to the treeline, Quintus will arrive shortly, until then we need to keep our distance. Take your alae and withdraw to the treeline, grab the gallic infantry on your way as you pass them. And keep out of Marcellus's infantry's reach!"

Servius himself waved the gallic cavalry to follow him and the group made their way hastily to the treeline, keeping away from combat until Quintus could arrive with reinforcements. Withdrawing here could also allow him to try and rally the Iberians when they eventually broke. Quintus's arrival would raise the whole armies spirits and victory would be well in reach.

As they readied to begin their withdrawel a single rider approached from Marcellus's side, moving quickly and carrying a envoy's flag. It was a request of surrender from Marcellus. He scoffed as he read the contents of the letter.

It is over. You have failed to utterly defeat me and now Decius is up with his fresh army. Your fate has most likely been decided but if you have any love for what remains of your legion then you would do well to surrender.

Marcellus

With a heavy sigh Servius reached into the pouch at his side and produced a letter. He had prewritten it earlier this morning in case such a time had come.

I cannot flee from fate Marcellus, or the ghosts of what could have been would haunt me forever.

Promise me, when this day is over, Eutropia will be well cared for.

Servius

The envoy looked shocked as Servius handed it to him open faced and his eyes glanced down at the page. As he gazed back up to the consul's face, all he could make out was a look of fierce determination, a brazen unwillingness to give up.

"Take it to him, now." Servius said, and the rider was off.

Servius, looking back to his troops, let out a yell. "WE GO! NOW!"

((At the beginning, appius's division and the gallic cavalry are closest to servius, this doesn't change at the end.))

Plan:



Marcellus's Orders

2nd Senate Legion: Turn and face the surviving Italians on the right. Engage and destroy them. You should be receiving help from Decius' Gauls as well as some Praetoria. Should you be fighting Servius, disable him but leave him alive if possible.

2nd Senate Italian Alae: Uhm, keep fighting? If all goes well you'll be receiving some support soon.

Marcellus: Blow the rally horn. Once a unit of Decius' main body is detached and heading north, charge the equites. You will receive infantry support. (please note Marcellus' "In Excellent Health" trait which gives him +2 hit points )

Map:

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...marcellus5.jpg


Decius's Orders

Decius narrows his eyes and tells a messenger to give this message to Publius.

"You are to ride headlong at Servius and bring him down. Only success there can rid you of the stain you've brought on yourself this day by your ignorance and cowardice. And may I add, that if you fail to act at this most dangerous time, the price will be a decimation of what is left of your unit after this battle is over, and a sorry end to your political career. Move!"

To the 2nd Gallic Alae:

"You are to join what is left of Marcellus' legion and charge Servius' position. If any of you get the chance to strike Servius down, wound him only. We want him alive for trial."

To the 5th Legion:

"Those Consular cavalry must be crushed or made to fear for their lives. Line up between them and the 4th Alae, then direct all missile fire at them."

To the 4th Italian Alae:

"We will wheel around the Iberians at a slight distance. Velites, fire two volleys into their backs, then infantry, charge in and crush them like a hammer. Ignore them if they flee, as assuredly they will. When that is done, I want all forces to line up facing west."

Decius himself will charge the Consular cavalry if they are depleted by missile fire to half strength. Otherwise he will line up between the 4th Alae and 5th Legion.

Quintus's orders for turn 5

As Quintus arrives on the west flank of the eastern battle, he scans the horizon to find the destruction terrible for both sides. Yet for all the superior numbers of the senate, their cavalry superiority and the weight brought to bear by Decius's reinforcements, Servius still stands, rallying troops from far flank to regroup near the center of the forest, and his Iberians holding the center against the senate's Italians are making a good account of themselves. Marcellus's actual legion lies decimated, and without the aid of Decius and Luca's italian detachment, Quintus suspects he wouldn't still be standing at all.

"Remarkable." Quintus muses to himself. "Six of the senate's generals oppose him today and he still holds firm." Looking to his own men, he raises the banner of the legion high. "Today, come whatever may, we make history! Fight hard and put your soul into it this day, and that history will be one written by us!"

"Second legion! Form up in a line towards Decius's Division. Hastati on the left, Principes on the right, form one line with the third legion."

Quintus heads off towards the rear guard (which, in a withdrawal, would logically become the advance guard and be closer to Marcellus than Luca.)
and raises the banner again. "Third legion! Form up in cohesion with the second legion, one line! Hastati on the left, principes on the right! Slingers on the hastati's left! Triarii, on the principes right!"
As the legions hastily form up he turns to his alae.
"Italians! Form up towards Luca! Guard formation, stagger spears and swords, I want the swords on the flanks, form up in a wedge. Keep them at bay and we'll carry the day!"

Quintus himself cast one last look at the formation and moved towards the left, lining up near the slingers, running a final thought through his mind before closing his eyes and offering a prayer to the gods. Live or die, today, we make history.

Diagram:



Luca's Orders for Turn 4

Formations are reorganized to the following:

Battle Line: 2 hastati, 2 italian spearmen (?), 1 italian swordsmen

Skirmishers: 3 velites

Slingers: 2 gallic slingers

Flankers: 2 principes, 1 italian cavalry

Luca's HQ: Luca's Bodyguard

Formations closest to Luca: Battle Line and Skirmishers

Diagram: