Chapter 1 part2
Vibius having layed seige to Messana, was immediately surrounded by a coalition of Mamertines and the people of Syracuse. The coalition quickly gathered all avaiable forces to Messana. The battle was on.
Most of Vibius' Hastati have upgraded to Principe level. Even so, his army has taken damage since the last refitting.
The coalition defends a small nearby hill. Vibius is confident in his troops that they will win the day, perhaps even a bit to confident.
The coalition uses it's archers to fire from a distance. Archers are some of the most deadly kind of troops in the world. Vibius is smart however and prepares to engage before they can unload more missiles on them.
On his right, Vibius uses a mix of cavalry and spearmen to attack the coalition's cavalry. The fighting is fierce, but Vibius is forced to withdraw his men from the attack.
Both sides have large amounts of heavy infantry. The old style of the phalanx vs. the new one of the Romans. Fighting is close and bitter. Large losses take place here.
Vibius joins the fight many times, but by doing so nearly loses his life.
The fighting is brutal and neither side gains an advantage. Each side has an incredible amount of will and neither side will retreat.
Soon it looks like the Romans lose whatever chance it had at winning. One of the centurions suggests
that Vibius should withdraw and conserve his troops. He refuses. Fighting goes on.
Soon Vibius is forced to retreat with what men he has left.
Vibius can not believe his eyes when he hears the estimated dead. He decides to go back to Rome and create another army.
Meanwhile Aulus is having success against the Gauls. He has taken ordered the burning of Genua. A new Roman town is built over it.
Vibius runs in to more trouble in the south. He is ambushed. His guard barely manages to win.
Aulus now invades further north towards the Alps. He decides to halt near a bridge. It's easy to defend.
Facing no opposition, Aulus begins a seige of modern day Milan. He is however attacked by a Gallic force. Aulus deploys his men for battle and awaits the enemy.