The gates to the Curia open, and in walks Praetor Lepidus in a dazzling white toga. He walks forth into the hall and is quickly motioned by the Consul to begin speaking.
"Senatores, we have taken Rhegium!"
The senate lets out a gasp of surprise and begins to applaud, when Lepidus raises his hands and quiets them down.
"If you will give me leave, I will describe to you the battle and the aftermath, as well as report on the infrastructure of our two new great towns."
The consul nods to Lepidus and he continues...
We arrived at Rhegium a week after I sent my last dispatch. The legion set up armed camps around the town, restricting flow of goods to and from the town. A small group of soldiers was also sent to the town's port city to stop the flow of ships to the region.
After a week or two of seige, I sent a messenger to the city and ordered them to lay down their arms and surrender to Rome. They refused, so battering rams were constructed from nearby trees. Soon we were ready to storm the gates.
On the ides of November, I ordered the men to prepare to take the town. Rorarii manned the rams with bruttian infantry, principes, and triarii right behind them. They advanced to the walls and the gate under a barrage of arrows and sling shot. As they reached the walls, pila and spears flew over the ramparts, landing around and on the rams, even killing a few unlucky soldiers.
The rams made short work of the walls and gate, and then the true work began. Principes and Bruttians poured through the gaps, meeting very stiff resistance. The fighting around the gates was particularly fierce. Centurions and soldiers related to me the horrific screams and stench of death. It was in this fierce melee that the leader of the rebels found a well deserved and inglorious death.
The battle at the gates raged for hours, and soon the enemy gained the upper hand. I was forced then to send in the triarii, who turned the tide of battle. Their glittering shields and great spears were their tools, and death was their craft. They wroght such unspeakable horror at the gates as to wake Pluto himself, and soon the cowardly rebels were retreating for the city square.
At this time I rode into the city myself, bringing along my Hastati maniples as reinforcement. What I saw was a broken army. The rebels had given as good as they got; nearly a third of our army was killed at the walls. I sent a runner to the city square with an offer for the rebels; lay down your arms, and in exchange half would live. They refused. It was just as well, as my men wanted some well earned vengance.
The hastati poured into the city square prepared for a fight. They threw their pila and charged the ranks of the rebels, cutting down many, but loosing men just as fast. Even after I sent in the Principes, Bruttians, and Triarii, the field was still even. I even committed my own bodyguard to the fight multiple times, in order to provide a boost in morale.
The melee soon degenerated into an all out massacre. By sunset, not a rebel was left alive. There was no cheering after this victory, however. Far too many Romans were lost.
Senators, we have captured Rhegium, but at what cost? Our army is battered from years of constant warfare, we must have peace! We must rebuild our legions, our infrastructure, our nation! I fear our weakness may be seen around the world if we do not act soon.
Senators, I will end this report with the infrastructure of our new towns, but not before I report this; A Carthiginean expiditonary force has been spotted in the south of Bruttium. They come with elephants and soldiers. I believe their intentions are peaceful, but clearly this is an ominous sign. Is Rome so weak that her borders may be violated at will? We must rebuild!
Lepidus pauses to cool himself down, and takes a scroll from a nearby slave.
Senators, what follows is the infrastructure of Rhegium and Tarentum, respectively. I have ordered the local tyrant's palaces demolished, and with the funds have begun to instill a local military presence, but the rest is open for discussion.
Rhegium:
Tarentum:
(Not pictured - Greek barracks)
Lepidus, after finishing his report, takes his seat in the Curia.