Camp of Scaeva in North Umbria and Etruria. - 484AUC

[Nota']

Scaeva sat in his tent, staring at a map. Plotted on it was the route of the one last raiding party, and the largest, large enough to be considered an army, although a very small one. Behind them was left a trail of towns too small to be walled or defended. They were outside one of these towns at the moment, the air smelt of the smoke and the wails of women could still be heard, just as was expected.

Their speed had presented a problem for Spurius, which was suprising, as such a successful raiding party must be laden with loot by now. However, all was not lost. Spurius had split the legion in two, one small part went to one end of a valley. They were to set up a large camp and tend many camp fires at night. Meanwhile if all went well, the raiders would continue heading in the same direction and would take the easiest route through that valley. Seeing the camp Scaeva predicted that they would turn around and head back down the valley, by which time the rest of the legion would be waiting there.

[Nota']

Riders had just come in, informing Spurius that the raiders had indeed fell into the trap and were heading down the steep valley, apparently unaware of any plans. Quickly Spurius gave to order to break camp. It took a while longer than what was expected, Spurius frowned as he sat on his black horse. After a few hours march moans could already be heard from the men. Finding this disgusting the consul though 'Lazy bastards, you would have thought they spent a few winters in Capua the way they complain. Its all the sitting around doing nothing the Senate forced them to do, instead of sending them to work on their farms. Didn't they know a legion could be raised almost immediatly if it had been raised once before?'

Upon reaching the Valley the order was given to form up into a long line, Princepes, Hastati and Trarii together to cover every inch of the valley floor, allowing no easy escape if you were a celt. In the centre were the leves, to march slightly ahead and to return behind lines if the enemy came into view. If the enemy were to come into range they would throw javelins for as long as it be safe two then retreat through the open files left in the line before them.

The order to march was given, half speed, so as to give time to fix any breaks or bends in the line. Riders rode up and down insuring that this be the case, calling out to centurions who were crossing more difficult terrain to hurry up 'before you loose us the battle'.

[Nota']

"Enemy sighted!" The cry ran down the battle line. Within less than a minute the celts had charged head long into the right centre of the line, pushing hard. The men unengaged looked on in confusion, why would they attack so futily? Perhaps they were trying to break through and escape? But Scaeva had calvalry waiting behind, they would be caught!
Out of a wooded area came two volleys of arrows, hitting the heavily armed Triarii, only two men fell. Then out came the archers drawing swords and running to join their brothers in fight. The order to envelop them came from the consul, and as the Roman line began to bend round, the celts fled. The celts had been engaged for less than two minutes before they fled.
Seeing this Scaeva gave the order for the cavalry to run down the celts, and too kill every last one of them. We can't let them get home, only to return to Italian soil and steal once again, was the excuse he gave to his second in command.
Bloody mercenaries, they'd only talk anyway, he thought when he saw the look of horror and surprise on the faces of one of the fleeing celts, the man had turned to see Roman equites thundering towards him.