The Chronicles of Consul Gaius Valerius
War with the German Tribes was imminent. The Barbarians had angered the Senate and People of Rome by butchering the entire Roman merchant colonies in the developed towns of Germania. An open declaration of war. The Romans were confident the Germans were not ready for war and will quickly become poverty stricken with the lack of trade. Gaius Valerius Consul was entrusted with 2 legions to crush the uncivilised upstarts with minimum casualties, to keep out of harm’s way and fight a war of attrition.
Valerius successfully manoeuvred his legions so as to avoid direct confrontation for a full year. The Senate was so pleased they called him back for a standing ovation; he took one and a half legions for protection and departed for Rome leaving Captain Quintus in control. Valerius encountered no resistance on the march back to Rome
***
His army was camped by the Rubicon and his personal entourage made the last miles at a gallop and arrived in the midst of a cloud of dust, his riding gear gleaming in the sunlight, nobility personified. He lingered for a few moments in front of the crowd before ascending the steps to the pulpit.
His fine Roman features looked out upon the sea of faces, his right hand raised, the masses out in force to worship a hero. Cheers and celebrations erupted; this was certainly a man in good favour with the People, but also with the Senate. He came down and was immediately embraced by his fellow Senators;
"Gaius, congratulations my old friend."
"Thank you Tiberius, but in all honesty, how hard is it to out-wit simple minded beasts eh?"
"Yes, I suppose so Gaius but you make it look so easy. And what are your plans?"
"I was going to ride at first light; I am in a war after all"
"Nothing is happening though, why don't you enjoy a few days among old friends? It has been a year after all."
"You have a point, I suppose I could."
Gaius Valerius awoke to the hustle and bustle of the Palatine with a slight hangover; it had been a rough night. Soon he had donned his toga and was preparing to meet his childhood friend Tiberius again. He was an active man and always preferred to walk when possible. He found him outside a snack bar having pastries for his breakfast. He motioned for Valerius to join him.
"Do you want anything? How long has it been since you had a sweet pastry?"
Valerius eyed his sticky, greasy fingers and the oil dripping from his chin.
"I have not touched that repulsive excuse for food for nigh on thirty years Tiberius, surely you knew that. Do you have any plans for us today?"
"The Senate want a quick meeting, apart from that I have no idea. Such is the life of a free Roman."
***
A full Senate meeting was underway; something big was going down, Valerius especially was fearful. The Senate leader stood up.
"Quiet please Senators, an issue has arisen that requires our attention. As you well know Consul Gaius Valerius, with us today, has been campaigning against the Barbaric German tribes of the north." Valerius was transfixed, eager for more information, fear racing through his mind. "It appears that the commander in chief, Captain Quintus, has come under attack. A messenger managed to elude capture and has provided this report:" The story now follows the plight of Captain Quintus.
***
As Quintus watched the dust settle in the distance, he realised the full extent of his task, now there was no Consul Gaius Valerius to use his effortless skill to keep them out of danger. He was briefed to keep them on the move and away from the Germans. He ordered for the horns to sound the signal for them to march, like a great machine the half legion were ready to march. For 6 hours they traversed the dark forests of Germania taking a roundabout way to their Capital, hoping to find it firstly in one piece but more importantly in the early stages of famine and disease, poverty stricken and crumbling. On they marched following a winding trail found by the scouts through the wilderness. The soldiers were uneasy, they had never been this far North and some were believing the savagery and sheer brute numbers of the hordes. They thought themselves vulnerable, cursing Valerius for taking so many comrades in arms for his own protection, what about their own protection? Quintus kept them moving as fast as possible, at this speed they had no time to grumble.
The next day at dawn they prepared to march again, Quintus was hopeful that they could possibly take a more direct route to Damme as their scouts had reported on rebellion and uprising in their outlying cities, but this was hostile ground, they would be attacked on sight. Strange animal calls haunted them for miles upon miles, every breath of wind sounded like arrows, the dense trees swayed threateningly as they passed. The legions made more attempt to march in formation, they would have preferred safety in numbers by all they had was faith in this young noble appointed by their Great Valerius. Days passed by and the undergrowth grew thicker and the fog rolled in, they must be close to the sea now.
***
Captain Quintus awoke to blaring horns, panic sweeping the camp. He quickly ordered for temporary fortifications to be erected and son they were holed up in a fort. His scouts reported a modest host of their finest warriors. It was unusual for Barbarians to go for quality over quantity, Quintus hoped to find out the name of their leader and live to tell the tale, surely there had been civil war and a powerful war chief with bright ideas had taken the helm. Danger Quintus learned that they had three battering rams with them and were forming so as they rammed the gate of the fort, to the left and to the right. He split in half legion into three groups of three each positioned behind where they were expected to breach their defences, he then joined his cohort of Praetorians and positioned himself behind the cohorts defending the gates.
Quintus eyed the approaching Germans, made up of Chosen Axemen and Night Raiders with a General they were a saddening sight, Quintus was for the first time in his life scared, fearful of a battle. This was going to be a tough fight. Quintus knew that if they breached the fortifications then they were defeated, they must keep them out, they must fight with Roman honour. Quintus and his cohort closed up towards the gates, anticipation of a good scrap made Quintus eager.
Wooden rams shook the walls, defending blows shaking the very earth they stood on. Discouraging chants and war cries greeted the Roman Legionary Cohorts, chants turned to mad roars as the walls gave way. Quintus ordered for pila to be thrown followed by a counter charge, they might have breached the wooden walls but they have not breached walls of steel shields. The fighting was furious, blade on steel, blade on flesh.
Quintus and his cohort joined the fray, toe to toe against Raiders. His martial ability honed on the Campus Martius brought into question here, he knew that a defeat here would be the end of these young men fighting beside him, this spurred him on as he shouted "ROMA!", ducked and slashed within his gladius, hamstringing the lightly clad attackers. But their numbers were prevailing, the Romans were being overwhelmed and pushed by sheer force of men away from the walls, surrounded and desperate they fled, the only place to go was a last stand on the plaza, one by one the cohorts made a break for it, Quintus was appalled, they were cut down as they ran, he attempted to rally them again as they huddled in haphazard formation as they were engulfed with foul smelling carnivorous Barbarians, fighting to the last man,
His life flashed before him, again and again in his mind’s eye he saw the cloud of dust on the horizon, reliving the day Valerius left him in charge, he had failed as a Roman, failed to out-with Barbarians, failed to lead his men in battle. Quintus had his sword in his hand and motionless in the plaza, in slow motion he saw the legionnaires falling beside him and still he did not move, anger and desperation boiled in his blood, in one last show of defiance he marked his man and gave him no right to his head, covered in blood he dropped to his knees and gave up hope of seeing Roma in this life again, total defeat, the Germans were victorious.. Quintus Valerius was no more.
***
Gaius Valerius hung his head in his arms, Tiberius looked on in dismay, if it had not been for Tiberius' selfish pleas for company then this tragic waste of life could have been averted, maybe he could have seen Quintus again, his only son. Valerius blamed himself, overcome with grief he left the forum and just walked, the news was spreading but he never heard the petty condolences offered to him from the People. He thought of his selfish protection, how could he of possibly took so many Roman might to protect himself on his journey back to Rome? In hindsight he had not really needed as many to protect himself from petty bandits and leaderless brigands. Hind-sight is punishment from the Gods. Valerius found himself looking out from the Palatine; from here he had a view of Rome like no other, the greatest city in the known world, and whoever owns Rome rules the world. Well, it was in Roma's hands, there and then he swore an oath to his late wife, the mother of Quintus to avenge his death, amidst floods of tears and uncontrollable shaking he made contact with flesh and bone, his oath was now solidified, he would not rest until it was completed.
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