Originally Posted by
chesser2538
Antonius had returned to Rome to gather support for his campaign against the Cilician Pirates, having assessed teh situation and realizing he needed help. Upon entering the chamber he found it starkly different. Wishing to get things over with he rose to speak.
Senators, I have returned from the war in Asia to bring news and ask for assistance. As you know Mithridates has been stopped, but his impact in Asia is far from gone. One of his plots was to stir up the pirates in the waters surrounding Cilicia, a threat that now would endanger trade, and sow chaos across the Mare Nostrum. I seek to stop this threat before it has the opportunity to spread west, and choke off out grain supplies. This cannot be allowed to happen for we all know what will result if the populace has to endure another famine.
I call upon the senate to invest powers upon me to engage the pirate fleets and authority to raise a legion against them. I ask for power to seek their surrender and to issue terms to them, This I seek in the interest of Rome. To further aide this campaign I would ask for use of the dormant navy that has been left behind in Naples. It numbers 25 Quineremes and 25 Triremes(upkeep free for rome) and would provide much needed replenishment to the fleet I maintain in Asia.
I ask this of the senate and hope for expediency in an answer for I wish to sail before the stormy season begins.