The Curia, 47 BCE

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Roman Forum

Magistrates

Consules: Gaius Marius Aquila et Gaius Cornelius Scipio

Censor: Marcus Licinius Scipio

Praetores: Aulus Terentius Fiber et Quintus Antonius Diripio

Quaestores: Publilus Sempremonius Lucullus et Aulus Ovidius Priscus

Tribunes: Lucius Titus Regulus et Aulus Junius Horatius

Proconsules: Decimus Cornelius Corva, Sextus Tuccius Alexander,Severus Vipsanius Magnus, Gnaeus Claudius Tranquillus


Senate-People Relationship Meter: 1 (strained)

Random Roll: 12

Revolt in Gaul. The Gallic tribes are in full revolt. Two dice shall be rolled, the number shall be multiplied by 1,000 to give the total number of the Gallic army. (7,000 troops)

The session for the year 47 BCE has been called to order. Pressing matters of discussion include (and must be resolved before other measures):

• Ongoing war in Spain, leadership of the war
• The Gallic Revolt
• Populist measure: Social Reforms (1 point)
• Diplomacy in Asia

[Pontifex Maximus]

A letter arrives from the proconsul of Gallia

Conscript Fathers,

The Gauls have once again taken up arms against the Republic. I request that the legions I formerly commanded to conquer our current holdings once again be transported to the province to aid in suppressing and subjugating the Gallic tribes. Please make a speedy reply to this message.

Severus Magnus,
Proconsul

[Magicman2051]

Aulus, who was one of the few present when the message arrived, drafted a hasty response.

Severus,

This is dire news, however having just returned from Hispania with no ill tidings from that war we could have escaped an even greater storm. The Legio I Victrix, Legio II Italica and Legio III Italica are all at full strength and stationed in Cisalpine Gaul.

I will endeavour to have the Senate make a decision regarding their deployment as soon as possible. In the interim you should raise a legion in Transalpine Gaul yourself, if funding is an issue I can have that dealt with also.

Aulus Ovidius,
Quaestor

He dispatched the note with a courier immediately, and then waited for his fellow senators to arrive.

[Okmin]

A messenger arrives. "Senators! I bring grave news from Asia." He begins to read.

Noble senators, it is with great regret and frustration that I must write this. The Pontian porcus they call "king" was at the Bithynian court before us. By some means -- no doubt involving bribery and other "friendly gifts" from Pontus -- King Nicomedes has decided to side with the Pontians. They claim that Roman "imperial" ambitions turn to Asia and that any action we take in the East will be seen as an act of war. I do not know whether I would rather see them die by Roman steel in their hearts or by Pontian bronze in their backs.

Forgive my forwardness.
Gaius Marius Aquila

[Magicman2051]

Aulus drafts a brief response.

Neither, if the Bithynian's can be bought so easily then whatever threats they make are empty. Approach their masters instead.

He left the note unsigned, given his peculiar script he was sure that the Senator would understand who it was from.

[Okmin]

Their "masters" are Pontian.

[Magicman2051]

And this presents a problem? Say what they might about their independence but the Ponts are just as susceptible to the allure of wealth as anyone else.

[Okmin]

Senator, I believe you misunderstand the situation. Our objective is to increase Roman influence within Asia to increase our odds in the inevitable war with Pontus. Bithynia was the only neutral kingdom left in Anatolia.

[Magicman2051]

Perhaps I do not understand the situation, I assume then that you've absolutely exhausted all possible diplomatic routes? No doubt you are unaware that we now face a serious revolt in Gaul, coupled with an ongoing and bloody campaign in Hispania we will have plenty of veterans to fight a war in the East, if they survive the next few years.

If you feel that nothing can be gained by approaching Pontus with diplomacy and offering them trade, then that is your decision to make.

[Lanthe]

Aulus read the messages as they were presented and put it aside in anger and mumbled to himself something like "some barbarian bastards never learn" quietly and passes the letter on.

"Senate, it seems we have pressing matters to discuss and time is not on our side. For one we must decide who is to held the office of Censor and all the more grim fact that the Gaul is in full revolt!"

[Okmin]

Considering that the Pro-Consul somehow insulted the Pontian king (I'm not quite sure what the man took offense at -- likely some obscure Eastern custom was not observed -- but he did nonetheless), and they took our bodyguards to be some sort of show of force, I seriously doubt that there were any diplomatic solutions to begin with. Besides, the Pontian had his guards threaten us to be silent. In a foreign court!

For now I recommend we do all we can to maintain the balance of power in the East while the issues in Gallia and Hispania are dealt with. If war with Pontus does become reality too soon, however, I am willing to raise a legion at my own expense to supplement any force the Senate may send.

OOC: Obviously it would be a Senate legion, since I can't have my own.

[ulti]

Decimus strides into the Senate, taking his usual seat. When there is a quiet in the talk, he stands and moves to the Center.

"As I see it, the issue in Asia is of minimal concern as of now, there is no impending war, just threats if I read the situation correctly. As such, debate on the matter can be left aside for now. The situation in Gaul also has a solution - it is the duty of any Proconsul to defend his lands, and I am certain that Severus will not fail us. There are two issues of import - that of a Censor, and that of Hispania. I will leave it up to you to decide who shall be Censor, any wishing for the post please indicate as such."

"Now then - Hispania. Without offending my fellow Consul, who I am sure performed to the best of his ability, the situation there has stalled. As Severus pointed out last term, the time has past for a Proconsul to lead this war. It must be lead by a Consul. As such, I propose the following:"

Bellum Lusitania

1. Consul Decimus Pontius Artillius shall be given Imperium to take the remaining Lusitanian lands.
2. He shall receive control of the IV Hispania and the VII Gemina
3. 1000 of Senatorial money shall be dispatched for the hiring of siege equipment to the tune of 20 engines.
4. Consul Decimus Pontius Artillius shall use his own money to raise the I Artilli to supplement the campaign.
5. The II Italia shall be put on standby and moved to nearby territory.
6. The Proconsul of Hispania shall be appointed as Legate of Military Tribune

"I hope the Senate will see the sense in the bill, and quickly vote it through in order to finalize the Hispanian campaign."

[Sonke]

After having lunch, Senator Lucullus returns to the Curia and after the Consul has finished with his proposal he stands up and to talk.

''Senator, you have my complete support in this bill.''

[ForteS]

Scipio just arrived from Hispania enters the Senate by the time that Consul Decimus Pontius Artillius was speaking, he seems tired. He then moves to his seat waiting to understand what is being discussed.

[PatrickR]

'You have my full support, Consul - you seem to be the best suited for this role.'

[ForteS]

I too support Consul Decimus Pontius Artillius' bill as for Gaul I don't support the Pro Consul request, fight in two fronts is a great risk, we cannot be fool enough to think that we can conquer other tribes at our wish, we are civilized persons.

[Caesar's Heir]

Lucius looked at the consul, with a questioning face on.

I mean no disrespect sir, but Gaul has revolted! The Pro Consul is not invading them. I propose that we grant him usage of the VI Victrix to defend our Gallic Province from the revolting Barbarians.

[Magicman2051]

"The war in Hispania will demand more than just rash advances Consul, surely you should know this. Having just returned from there myself I can tell you that right now we should be concerning ourselves with holding off an enemy advance and not making one of our own, I've heard tell of an army of tens of thousands being raised deeper within the Lusitanian territories. Regardless whether that was true or not, I don't believe that the war in Hispania would be served by your presence. Scipio knows the men, and the territory, despite making some horrendous political and military choices, he is still more able than you."

"Furthermore nothing in your bill addresses the Pro-Consul Severus' request for further aid, not in wading deeper into enemy territory, but in defending our own territory."

He addressed the recently arrived Consul directly.

"Scipio, I take it you've seen to the replenishment of the Hispanic legions?"

[ulti]

"The war in Hispania will demand more than just rash advances Consul, surely you should know this. Having just returned from there myself I can tell you that right now we should be concerning ourselves with holding off an enemy advance and not making one of our own, I've heard tell of an army of tens of thousands being raised deeper within the Lusitanian territories. Regardless whether that was true or not, I don't believe that the war in Hispania would be served by your presence. Scipio knows the men, and the territory, despite making some horrendous political and military choices, he is still more able than you."

"Furthermore nothing in your bill addresses the Pro-Consul Severus' request for further aid, not in wading deeper into enemy territory, but in defending our own territory."

He addressed the recently arrived Consul directly.

"Scipio, I take it you've seen to the replenishment of the Hispanic legions?"

"It seems interesting to me that just last term the Senate gave imperium for Scipio, now expired, to conquer Lusitanian lands, but yet here I should not do this? We have been prosecuting this war for over two years, it shall not change now. As for who should go, Consul Scipio has already given support for myself, as have some of the house. Rather than this petty squabbling whilst the Lusitanians regroup, let us decide as one quickly, through a vote."

"As for any provisions on Gaul, there was a reason for this - that bill was dealing with the Hispanic war, not Gaul. Once Hispania has gone to vote, we shall move on to Gaul."

[PatrickR]

'Considering that the situation in the east sounds like it requires some effort to be shored up unless it explodes while we are occupied in the best, I would ask any experts on the East present whether or not any redress can be made to the Bithynian Court. Can we make them a better offer than Pontus, so that we don't have to worry about potential conflict?'