Camp of Lucius Valerius Poplicola - Messana - 486-487AUC
The trip had been short but the preparations took longer than he had imagined. Lucius had good experience with ships but not with a navy in a practical sense. He had read about the exploits of Lysander, Eurybiades and Thermistocles and the various books in his library had an assortment of works that he found interesting but the sheer scale of an overseas invasion nearly drove him mad. He cursed at his sailors and they would curse back and the news of the arguments spread amongst the troops like wildfire. What they made of it was anyone's guess but Lucius couldn't tell if the admiral was a genius or if he was merely insane. What Lucius didn't know was that the admiral thought the same of him on his own turf, assuming Lucius was around any turf to stand on.
As it was a beachhead was established on the coast of the strait and it was unclear from where to proceed. Lucius sent out scouts on a 4 day mission while the logistics of the operation were set up in case the siege was possible but only through starvation, the mission would decide if it was necessary but it was better to be safe than sorry, and assuming anyone reads of this exploit they can at least see I had more foresight than Corvenus, I can hardly imagine him setting up an operation like this...though apparently he did, either that or his troops lived off the land. By the look of it, I wouldn't be surprised. The landscape was almost devoid of agriculture. The farms and their land stood in stasis across the plains as the sun behind the clouds made it glow with a sullen, dim appeal to it. The land was still recovering from the last invasion and it would have to do so again, and we'll be blamed for it.
Lucius returned to his 'tent', though tent was not quite the right word to use. Inside were books from his library, a stone bath taken from some local noble and all the furnishings of home, albeit compacted into a smaller space. It looked much like his office when he was praetor though in a bitter irony the tent had more living space. Lucius sat at his desk and turned to Vibius, who was still standing faithfully to the lateral portion of the tent.Send a letter to Rome, tell them I have established a beachhead and we'll find out soon enough whether Messana is as 'impregnable' as we firs-Sir! The scouts have returned! At the entrance to the tent stood a centurion of the tenth, out of breath. Okay then, send them in. Yes sir! He sad and soon the scouts were inside, muddy and wearing travel worn green cloaks.
Sir, we come with tidings, Messana is well-defended my lord, we may not be able to take it by storm before the rains. Lucius looked as if he were going to explode, as if all the rage in his being would come hurling at him, yet, instead of shouted words came an angry but controlled tone. How many men are there? Lucius was squeezing terrifically on a coin in his hand, he had found another like the one Scaeva gave him earlier and he felt like breaking something, the coin was the closest at hand as it bent further and further. It was all he could do to avoid screaming. They are fifty more of them for every hundred of ours my lord and if we wait I'm afraid their numbers will grow. The farmers from across the countryside are rallying to their cause to protect their crops and the Punics are outfitting them with weapons. They will be a crude fighting force but one which can act as a reserve for them and disrupt our plans regardless of their skill with a blade. As the scout finished his sentence Lucius threw his coin as hard as he could into the ground and it stuck in place in the carpet as the carpet was pushed into the moist soil.
Is there anything else? Lucius was breathing heavily now, attempting to calm himself, is this the gods' punishment for our victory at Rhegion? Unfortunately there is sir, they are marching this way. Lucius noticed Admiral Calpurnius in the back, how long as he been standing there? Regardless, a smile crept along his mouth. My turf, admiral...a realization crept over his face as well and only one thought was in the admiral's head, What idiot gave that order?
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