Curia Hostilia, Consulate of Scipio/Saturninus

[Sir James the Good]

OoC: Shouldn't we have a seprate forum for Sicilia? It will end up being an individual province seprate from Italia after all.

Ic: It would appear that we are on the right track. I do believe Consul Scipio has the support of everyone in this house in recruiting a small number of mercenary forces if they are necessary in order to ensure the success of your legions. I know that archers and other long-range missile troops can be most useful when assaulting a settlement.

[Winter]

We all wish the Consul well, and will be praying to Mars and Minerva that his assault shall procede well. We may very well be able to strike a crushing blow now, senators, but we must not stop here. Where shall we go next, to finish this Punic beast? I say that we take the last of the Punic Isles of Corsica and Sardina. This will disallow them access to important trade routes and naval bases, securing us from naval invasion of Italy. After that, should the invasions go well, we may even be able to send an expeditionary force into Africa...

Tribune Cotta sits.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

The plan is a good one, and will certainly cripple Carthage's power in this part of Mare Nostrum, but as many have reminded our august body, our Treasury is still tender, even though better than it has been in the past. It would cost to build a fleet and maintain it. What we would have to do in order to minimise the amount spent on the fleet, I believe, is to construct one, and maintain it for the season or two it will take to get an army shipped across to Corsica and Sardinia, then disband it immediately after. I am quite sure that if we keep it for longer than required, our monetary resources will be stretched more than we can cope comfortable with.

[Pontifex Maximus]

OOC: Hell no, mercenaries are such a bad idea. The cheapest ones cost 2,500- half of our treasury.

[We shall fwee...Wode]

I for one request our annual financial support. It has been nearly one full season and we are without vital information from our Censor!

It is still the job of the quaestor. I am there only to have final say and approve budgets. Shout at him!

[Winter]

ooc: I mean Quaestor

Sorry typo haha

[We shall fwee...Wode]

OOC: I'll let you off because you are santa cox!

[Ozy]

Building a fleet will certainly be a great expense, but the only way to actually win this war will be by destroying the naval power of Carthage. As long as Carthage has it's fleet they will remain a menace to our Republic. Even if we take all of Sicily, and even make a quick surprise war to take Corsica and Sardina, what would stop them from simply blocking the ports, and sending armies to retake those lands? To build a permanent fleet will be a necessity. Still the only way to certainly know what we can afford and cannot is by waiting for the Quaestor's report. Has something happened to him?
"If only you had voted for me, it would be done by now...," Though Herrenius.

[Sir James the Good]

OoC: Next year.

@Ponti:
I’m not sure what you have available to you at the moment, but Balearic Slingers and Cretan Archers are excellent in island-hopping siege warfare like we are in right now. The besieged AI just runs in circles when under fire, showing their exposes rear and flanks, so they make great targets. Long range specialists save lives and hence money in the long run.

[Pontifex Maximus]

OOC: We need to focus on economic building for a few solid turns. Most of our new settlements don't even have roads and we are building nothing anywhere.

[Snowball]

*Praetor Marcus stands*

When we get to the point where we have kicked the Carthaginians out of Sicily, i believe we should calm down a little. Our Republic needs attention senators! we must build, we must develop. We must have a break from war, when we have developed our Republic as this Senate deems fitting we can again start to think of the Carthaginians.

Our Republic and its people need to recuperate before we continue.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

I have to agree with Senator Clarus' reasoning. A nation, no matter how strong, cannot war forever. We must take some time to reinforce our gains, make sure with have economic stability, before we move on. For as we should know, if the interior of a structure is of bad quality or unstable, then the exterior cannot survive for long. Hopefully the revenue generated from Sicily will help give our treasury a nice little boost so that economic infrastructure can be built.

[Ahenobarbus]

"Senators, since this is my first speech before you, I will make it count.

We have heard both Appuleius Saturninus and Claudius Clarus speaking of investing the money we make to state infrastructure.

However, fathers, my mind is mostly on saving than spending any moneys me make from Sicily. For I ask you, say that we find ourselves in some year's time in another war; with what are we going to recruit, to train and support the army needed for victory?

Therefore, I agree with Consul Saturninus but only partly. Yes, invest in state infrastructure but also save some of the money - save them in order to have a war chest in times of need.

Thank you, fathers, for your attention."

[Xavier Dragnesi]

A portion of the Treasury should be allocated to war, but for that money to be earnt, we need the infrastructure to built. Economically benefitial buildings are of greater priority at the moment. Money will not multiply itself just by sitting there. We must spend some in order to gain more.

[Selifator]

Aye, the forces led by Consul Scipio are somewhat equal in strength with the garrison of the last Carthaginian city. And it seems that there are no reinforcements coming, though we must of course remain cautious. Therefore, we can reinforce the legion after the whole of Sicily is under our control. And with that being the only forces we need for the coming years, as hostility from the north and east is unlikely, our Quastor can calculate the money we have left for infrastructure.

[Elendil of Númenor]

The bronze doors opened and the messenger strode in to the Curia. And gave the consul a scroll.

Senators! I write this from a small trading port on the shores of the Ionian Sea.
I have safely travelled to Illyria. The North is as peaceful as it can be, thanks to our esteemed, now consul, Scipio's actions.
I spoke to one of the Epeirot lords - and was literally tossed out off the city with my bodyguard all together.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now I seek to travel South and establish trade with the Macedons and the Greek City States. I am confident of my coming success with these nations, and I believe that when the Epeirots see our relations with their neighbours they will be wishing to have ceasefire with us.
Senators, I hope this message reaches you safely through my loyal servant. Please make sure he gets his due (just food and a bed would be all I ask for) for making the perilous journey of crossing the sea in these stormy weeks.
I also hope, that Rome is doing well, and that the Curia is peaceful as it should be when in the hands of wise man, like you, Conscript Fathers.
Rumoursreach me that the city of Messana fell to Roman hands. I am most happy to hear that. I hope the war in Sicily won't last long.
Now I must finish this report. I will move on soon. May the god's be with us all.

Yours sincerely,
Senator Marcus Julius Celsus

[Lord Kal]

I agree that we need a time of peace and developing infrastructure, but once the initial costs of this infrastructure have been paid and we are only waiting for them to be constructed, I think it would be a good time to assemble a merchant fleet and a small army and invade the western isles. To be honest, it would be more of a confiscation than an invasion - the defence force on the island is tiny, and Carthage should be powerless to intervene if all goes according to plan in Sicily.

[Winter]

Titus stands to speak

Senators, it has become clear to me that we cannot rely on the Quaestor Decimus Aurelius Cotta to discharge his office. He has not even been present in this house for many weeks. I for one am ready to start a motion of no confidence in the Quaestor and appointing a suffectus.

[Lord Kal]

That is too severe. I know the Quaestor, and he would not be absent were it not for an extremely good reason. I propose giving young Herrenius temporary powers to oversee the role, to be revoked upon Cotta's return. In the meantime, I will see if I can track him down.

[Winter]

Titus speaks,

If you insist, senator. But if he does not return soon I shall once again seek a vote of no confidence.