The Battle for Rome

[econ21]

Day 2, dawn (turn 8)

Note: there were no significant night time orders (turn 8).

Servius’s Orders for turn 8

As ordered, the formations rose in early morning, and Servius was pleased to see that no treachery in the night had befallen the formation. But the day was young, and maneouvers had to begin now. Rousing Appius and Quintus from their sleep he gave them a few minutes to get themselves ready and situated before he detailed the days tactics.

"I thought in depth about this last night." He began. "We're going to surround ourselves." And as he smiled, Quintus and Appius looked confused.

"Let me explain." He said, pointing off towards the woods in the north. "Somewhere in those woods is a group of Marcellus's soldiers. They have one of two logical targets, me, or the center of our semi-circular formation. So we're going to break both of those chances in one swift movement. We're going to collapse the semi-circle in on itself, westward." Slowly, they started to form images in their heads, and draw up the beginning of this plan's blueprints.

"Firstly, Appius." Servius continued. "Head to the center of our formation immediately, order to the gallic cavalry to me, order the skirmishers to stay close to the Principes rear, engage anything that comes in range, and be ready to pull to the west and expect a tight squeeze. While you're there, order the hastati to pull west, watch the northern woods for enemies, if enemies leave the woods, engage and holds them as long as they can, if no enemy appears, the first hastati unit is to engage Luca's Principes on the flank, the other two continue to watch the woods and guard our north flank. Order the Principes to pull west and keep an eye on Decius's formation, keep close together, guard formation, if the enemy attacks, engage. If not engaged, all units except the hastati are to move in unison with our Italian alae, guarding their backs. Then return to me immediately here."

"Quintus, head down the other side of our formation, order the triarii to pull west, guard our south and engage any attacking enemies, stick with our Italians if not engaged and guard their flank. Order our Italians to pull west, two spear units and our less experienced swords are to engage the enemy velites, decimate them, when they do, push right on through and engage Luca's main line, specifically the hastati and samnites on his left, they should be able to wrap around the hastati on the left. Our more experienced swordsman unit is to reinforce our Italians currently pinned with the enemy Principes."

"I'll keep an eye on our movements and go wherever there is confusion to clear things up immediately, these orders shouldn't take long. As soon as you have done these things return here immediately. Quintus, Appius, you two, our gallic cavalry and myself are going to charge Luca's principes on their rear after our hastati engage their flank, drive this charge home hard into their principes and they'll flee like cowards. If Luca charges us, engage him immediately, stick tight to your allies, and take his head if you get the oppertunity. Luca's death will break his army's morale and this battle will be won. If the Principes break and nothing else comes our way, charge home into their velites but disengage swiftly, avoid coming into range of their hastati's pila if you can. If our Italians have already engaged their hastati by that time, then break their hastati in the same manner. But don't forget, if Luca engages us, his death is paramount to all else. However, if he flees, do not give chase, the men can't mistake us for fleeing the field in chase of that coward."

The two of them nod, but Quintus, after looking about to make sure there was nobody else in earshot, whispered quietly to the consul. "And if we are engaged on all fronts?"

Servius nodded, but it was a solemn one, as if he'd expected the question. "Then we fight. The only way to see a man fight harder than he has ever faught in his life is to give him no means of escape. We are putting our backs to the wall, and the wall is our backs. Support the men beside you, and they will be your rock to lean upon. We may win this day out of sheer desperation. Not the way I'd like to see it done, but if it wins us this day, then these men will be the heroes of the Republic for all time"


[/QUOTE]

Marcellus’s Orders

All infantry melee units (except triarii, see below) are to swing around and come crashing out of the woods directly into Servius' left flank. Forget about any pila, just charge! Bring down Servius, but leave him alive if possible. Keep pushing no matter what.

Triarii, shadow and if possible the Gallic cavalry. If they run anywhere except to Servius' aid, let them be and join the rest of the men in the flank attack.

Peltasts, stay back in the woods. You're in reserve.

Velites, skirmish with your missile counterparts guarding the north. You outnumber them so it shouldn't be a problem. If the funditores move out of range, then just charge them and kill them by hand.

Marcellus is to stay back and commit to the main push shortly after it has begun, unless something's going wrong for the trarii, in which case he is to charge in and solve that problem.

Luca’s Orders

Spearmen and principes should be set on guard mode. And all units should attempt to use missiles before engaging in h2h combat.

Skirmishers are to engage in missile combat as soon as possible, and then retreat towards my left flank. the Spearmen should engage the enemy spearmen, while my principes should engage the italian swords (pila first) and then flank the enemy spearmen that would still be engaged with my own.

On my left flank, however, the principes should exhaust their pila on the enemy cavalry while Luca and the italian swords mover around the flank to engage Servius. One of the principes cohorts should join them.

the Velites should come in Luca's aid as soon as the missile combat is over, and the other cohort of principes should do the same as soon as the nearby italians are defeated.

All being well, the line should then reform to face the consul's roman forces holding the other flank with a formation that would alternate principes-italians-principes-italians going N to S, with Luca at the northernmost position with the velites that would be used to flank.

This line should enage as soon as it is formed provided that the western army is engaged already.
Otherwise it will hold its position to the best of its ability.

Decius’s Orders

To the Praetorian Cavalry:

"Publius, your task is to prevent Servius from fleeing. Move up through the trees to the point directly north of where he has camped". Decius shows Publius the last map he has. "Fan out under the cover of the trees and watch. Capture all fleeing Consular cavalry, but kill any of their infantry. We must put the chains on Servius this day, not put him on the pyre."

To the Italian Alae and 5th Legion:

"Today is the day, men! Our brothers in arms know that we face the most difficult task of them all, and they will accord us the greater honour when victory comes.

Velites, take up positions in front of our line. Use your missiles well -- we want none wasted.

After the Velites have fired three volleys, I want the Legion and the Alae to charge simultaneously.

Velites, after the charge, stay behind the line, drop your javelins, and be ready to join the fight. I will personally direct you to strengthen our line where it is needed.

Let no man hold back today!"

Decius himself plans to range back and forth behind the line, encouraging the men and directing the four Velite units to weak spots in the line. If the Consular forces break through the line and there are no more Velites, he will first send a pair of messenger horse from his own unit to warn Luca of the situation, then trot away and aim a proper run-up charge at the back of any Consular forces he can.

Umpire notes

Orders tests - Senate Praetorian cavalry fails orders test again.

Combat breaks down into four distinct areas. Three of these combats are heavy infantry duels that will only be resolved by mid-morning, but the western combat involves a lot of cavalry and will be resolved more quickly.

The Consular Praetorian cavalry attempts to break Luca’s principes, with the aid of two Italian cohorts. The principes are reinforced by one Italian cohort, backed by Luca, and later by three velites after firing. Combat resolution is tricky, as either side wins if controlled by the player. However, the Senate average 60% losses whereas the Consul suffers 70%. Resolve as a draw, taking average casualties. Senate are left with 60 principes, 120 velites and Luca without his escort. The Consul is left with Servius, Appius and Quintus without his escort.

Feedback to Servius

Your men collapse your front as ordered, as the noose around your army’s neck tightens: all around you, the Senate forces are moving in for the kill. After giving orders, you muster your cavalry for your do or die attempt to break through the north western flank. The hastati you had tasked to accompany you are unable to do so, as Senate forces burst out of the woods to the north. You are left with only two Italian allied cohorts to accompany your cavalry. Already, you can see Luca has brought up an Italian allied cohort of his own to reinforce his principes. Still, there is no point hesitating now - you must go in, with or without your hastati.

The fighting is brutal and your cavalry break first the Italian cohort and then one principes. But your infantry do not match cavalry in skill, while Luca himself breaks your Gallic nobles. Your Praetorians round on him, killing his escort. But the enemy general flees to join the principes in a last stand. Just as you are moving in for the kill, three cohorts of Senate velites appear, rushing to Luca’s aid. You ride at them, but it is not enough. Although you run down half their number, your cavalry are forced back. As mid-morning approaches, you are left only with your own escort and that of Appius. Your Italian infantry are gone. Quintus’s escort has been destroyed, although the general himself is unhurt. Facing you are a somewhat depleted unit of Senate principes and one and a half cohorts of velites, out of ammunition.

You look around you. Everywhere is chaos and confusion. Every formation you command is locked in battle; you may try to rearrange things, but you know that to withdraw committed troops from combat without a reserve is next to impossible. You have no reserve. All that you command are two troops of Praetorians. You face a choice - run through the hole you have punched in the northwest; or join one of the three combats, in the north, east or south. You have an awful feeling you are choosing the manner of your own death.



Feedback to Marcellus

You marshal your men through the forests and burst out of the northern Senate position. But Servius has anticipated your move. He and his cavalry have ridden west and lacking significant cavalry of your own (Publius has refused to obey orders again!), you cannot catch them. Instead, he has position three strong, fresh cohorts of hastate to oppose you. You believe your legion, backed by Decius’s Gauls, can take them. But it will be a slow, hard fight. You order your men in, leaving only your own escort and a hidden unit of peltasts as your reserve.

By mid-morning, there still is no decision in the north. It will only be clear by late morning. You may try to rearrange things, but you know that to withdraw committed troops from combat without a reserve is next to impossible. You have observed Quintus’s army has taken up a circular defensive position and is being pressed on all sides. Only the combat in the western quadrant appears to have been resolved. Servius and a second unit of Praetorians stands alone there, faced only by some depleted Senate infantry.

Your only clear decision is what to do with your peltasts and your own escort.

Feedback to Decius

You order your 4th Senate Italian Alae and 5th Senate legion into action against the eastern flank of Servius’s position. Against you, he has arraigned his best men - two cohorts of principes and one of triarii. You are confident that your surplus of velites will turn the tide in your favour - Marcellus has detached two velites of his own to aid you - but the quality of your opponents is such that the outcome will not be known until late morning. You may try to rearrange things, but you know that to withdraw committed troops from combat without a reserve is next to impossible.

By mid-morning, you only clear decision is what to do with your own escort and Publius’s Praetorian cavalry, who have yet again disobeyed orders by refusing to move into position.

Feedback to Luca

Servius is out to get you and by the gods, he nearly did. You deployed your army as you ordered, but Servius threw his entire cavalry force against your principes. They shattered one cohort and broke the Italians you had sent to reinforce that flank. Your own escort managed to ride down the Gallic noble cavalry with Servius, but then were all killed by Servius’s Praetorians. Such was the eagerness the enemy showed to get you, you swear they had orders to prioritise killing you. Fortunately, you have a fine mount and managed to get back to the safety of the few surviving principes. It would have been all over, but for the arrival of the velites you had ordered to reinforce this flank after firing. Although Servius’s cavalry played havoc with these light troops, they were too many and ultimately drove off the enemy.

Now it is mid-morning. You can see that the rest of your army to the south is locked in combat with Quintus’s Italians. You suspect your men will prevail, but that will not be known until late morning. You may try to rearrange things, but you know that to withdraw committed troops from combat without a reserve is next to impossible. Now, all you can confidently command are the handful of infantry around you - specifically, 60 principes and 120 velites. Facing you are 30 Senate Praetorians - your men have smashed the few Senate infantry who accompanied Servius’s assault.

[econ21]

Day 2, Mid morning (turn 2)

Feedback to all generals:

Luca is sheltering with his last cohort of Senate principes when he sees a flurry of activity among the Consular Praetorian cavalry opposite. A white flag is raised and Quintus Naevius rides with it to approach Luca. In the distance, Luca can make out two groups of cavalry heading off - one seemingly in pursuit of the other - to the forest in the far northwest. Luca scans his eyes for Publius Laevinus’s Praetorian cavalry who had been ordered to block Servius’s escape. But, true to form, Publius has refused to obey orders yet again and remains half a mile away to the east where his men have rested since the previous day. The peltasts that Marcellus had assigned to block the Consul’s escape are also helpless to catch the swift riding Consular cavalry.

Luca, lacking any cavalry of his own, can only await the enemy general riding towards him under a flag of truce. Quintus states that he has personally slain the Consul and is surrendering his army unconditionally. Luca expresses scepticism the former claim, but is quick to act on the latter. He works with Quintus to end the fratricide on the western side of the battle, while sending word to Marcellus and Decius who also help to end the killing. The casualties in the battle for Rome have been horrific. The surviving Consular formations are disbanded - the prisoners given the choice of parole or incorporation into Senate formations, to make good some of the losses. Marcellus is able to rebuild his Second Senate Legion but the rest of his Army of Afrika is gone. Luca and Decius’s inexperienced armies have fared better and, aside from the loss of much cavalry, are able to make good most of their losses.

Decius and Marcellus ride over to Luca and Quintus to seek news of the Consul. At the place where Quintus claims to have slain Servius, they find the Consul’s helmet lying on the ground. A corpse nearby is not that of the Consul, but Quintus insists that this is the man he has slain, a man who presented himself to them as “Servius”. Just as Servius spoke to the Senate through “UPS”, Quintus claims that even on the battlefield, he worked through a proxy for this own safety. Appius corroborates Quintus’s account - saying he witnesses Quintus’s killing of “Servius” then pursued the Consul’s remaining bodyguard to the forest. The Senate generals order a hunt for the Consul with what cavalry they have remaining, but they have precious little and Italy is a big place.

The Civil War is over. The only significant Consular armies are Quintus’s Libo’s beleaguered expedition in Alesia, an island in a sea of Iberians, and Flavvius Pacuvius’s army in Carthage, facing a resurgent Carthage. With six Senate armies mustering outside of Italy and Servius disappeared, continuation of hostilities is unlikely.

The Senate speaker is found, lost and bewildered, outside Rome. He has been released from captivity by Servius’s agents. After a few stiff drinks, the Speaker sends word to all Senators to summon them to Rome to elect a new First Consul and to rebuild the shattered Republic.

[SwordsMaster]

Victory!