Serve the Servants
Caelius arrives,on his finest horse,surrounded by his Gallic bodyguards,at the hastily erected Legion camp on the fields of Mars.He has a meeting with the temporary commander,and bribes him to assemble the Men without alerting the Praetor.This is a record of his speech.
Gentlemen,I come here today not as a candidate for a political position...
He is interrupted by boos and jeers from the crowd.
"RUBBISH!","PATIRCIAN SCUM!","PALLAS WILL SLAUGHER YOU LIKE THE PIG YOU ARE!"
...Not as a Patrician,but as a concerned Roman Citizen,You are the men who faced down Hannibal are you not?
"YES!"
The Men who showed those Italian Bastards that Roman Honor,Steel and Courage could never be defeated by half-breed mongrels?
"YES!"
THE MEN WHO SERVIVED IN SPAIN WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT FROM LAYABOUT SCUM?
"YES!"
(In a stage whisper)
But what have you to show for it?
Suddenly confused by this turn from loud praise to a quiet question the men listen intently.
Your ordered back to Rome,your commander is publicly insulted and denied a chance to finish the job,an incompetent fool is given command,he sits on his arse for most of the year,gos to Spain,your ordered back to massacre your fellow Romans in the streets of the greatest city in the known world,one blessed by the Gods!Then after you have committed unspeakable acts in the name of Rome,against ROMAN citizens,in the name of peace and freedom.He your "great Praetor" sends you a dispatch,not ever having spoken to any of you.And tells you that you are now at his beck and call,like a WIFE OR A BLOODY SERVENT and tells you that,he,Poplicola the Patrician,the man who lost half a Legion,your Comrades,told me that he trained more men to fill their places,and that the lives that were lost didn't matter,he told you all that HE was your commander and that you serve HIM,not ROME,not SPQR,but Lucius Valerius Poplicola.
I think...no I know,that you are all sick and tired of being merely the play thing of spoiled Senators.And I offer you a better way.Make ME Aulus Caelius Caldus the Political arm of the military!A Tribune of the Mules of Rome if you wish.I am seeking adoption into a Plebeian family because of the disgusting behavior of "Honorable Patricians".
I will appoint your officers,I will decide where Consuls can take their Legions,I will protect you as my own family!An attack on you will be an attack on me!I will fight for your rights.
And if they don't like it?If they declare us traitors?If they attack us?Then WE shall shall do the same to them!No longer will they make us Serve them.We will make them Serve us the Servants of ROME!
Not the Servants of Poplicola,Not the Servants of Pallas but the Servants of the Roman people!First Spain,then Carthage,then the world!
FOR ROME!
Loud Cheering and then chanting,a few loyalists sneak out of the Camp that night to inform the Senate of what has happened.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Major Darling
