The Siege and Fall of Mediolenium.
The year is 224 B.C, the dead of winter, ahead of Titus Aranicus lay a shivering and frightened batch of almost four hundred prisoners, behind him lay a field of mayhem and death. Surrounding the captured gauls were the steel eyed veterans of the might 2nd Legion, Hammer of the Senate they were called, these men had fought more battles and crushed more Gaulic armies than any other Legion in all of Rome, and here, the last of the the great invasion, the men who had crushed the garrison of Mediolenium, halted the advance of the Legendary 1st Legion, and killed the two Legates from the 4th and 5th Legions. Titus gave a deep sigh, and once again checked the bandage around his arm, he winced as his bruised ribs moved under the dented armor that had saved his life.
The Cohort Commander of the Hastati came forward.
"What should we do with them, sir? These are their veterans that's for sure..."
"Let one of them live, without his hands, let him send a message to the rest of the Gaulic tribes, Mediolenium is a Roman city, now and forever."
Behind him Mediolenium burned, burned as Manius Julius, leader of the Julii and Legate of the First finished removing the pestilince of the Gaulic conquer.
Titus thought back, six long years back while he had been an aide under the legendary Quintus. Quintus the Infantryman, Quintus the Victor. He had led 2nd Legion to every one of its mighty victories and had never been defeated except by time. Titus had been with Quintus then for 5 years, learning the coveted art of Legionary Command, when the news had come through that Mediolenium had been besieged.
Quintus was unconcerned, he new the Garrison Commander, new the man would never surrender and that the Gauls would pay dearly if they tried to storm the walls. Nonetheless, Manius was angry, for along with the report came the news that the 6th and 7th Legions had been annihilated in three pitched battles, hordes of Gauls swarming and crushing them under sheer weight of numbers, scouts came back with grim news weeks after the action informing Manius of the slaughter but also telling of the untold thousands of Gauls that were taken to the afterlife by the brave but inexperienced men.
Manius had ordered the 5 remaining legions of the Julii to assemble and crush the Gaulic invasion.
Many tribes had offered their best and bravest warriors in a desperate effort to regain Gaulic lands, and to halt the steady advance of Roman culture, Titus, after reviewing the totaled reports of the 27 engagements and the estimated number of enemy dead, figured the invading Gaulic force to have originated close to 30,000 men.
Each Roman Legion, because of the strict martial laws of the Senate (Ever fearful of being overthrown) numbered a mere 1,500 men.
The Roman army had fought and battered their way through Gaulic attacks, retreats, defenses, and counter-attacks. Losing hundreds of men and killing thousands, but always there seemed to be more Gauls coming over the horizon, forcing the Romans back into the defensive. It was only in the recent months after Quintus' death at old age and Titus' shocked promotion to Legate that the tide began to turn. Quintus had told Titus of the need to punch through the Gaulic defenses and drive forward to Mediolenium, link up with the garrison and use the well stocked supplies and brave Roman citizen-soldiers to fend off the Gauls until Senatorial Armies could reach them.
It was the day before the onset of the great assault, 2nd leading the way that Quintus' heart failed him, he had been ready to lead his men out and they were forming up when he fell over in the saddle.
There was no finer Legate than Quintus, and the men were demoralized in every way when they saw his body borne to the funeral pyre that night.
But Titus managed to rally the men, and lead them head on at the front of the attack, spearing through Gaulic defenses like an arrow, 1st Legion following closely behind, with 3rd and 4th forming on either side of the breach to prevent the flood from crushing the advance. With the gauls turned and focused on crushing the breach in their line, 5th Legion struck them in the flank and routed half the invading force, doggedly chasing remnants of a once great army back into the mountains.
2nd Legion reached Mediolenium, only to find a flag of Gaul atop the battlements. The garrison sallied forth to attack the Romans, Titus noticed fresh wounds upon many of their warriors, had they been just a little faster they might have saved the garrison and the town, as it was the Romans could smell the stench of burning flesh from the city and the wrath of the 2nd Legion was unleashed umongst the Gauls.
The survivors barred the gates and Manilus laid siege, building ladders and taking the city back, slaughtering anyone not of Roman blood, which was few indeed as the once mighty border city of 15,000 Roman citizens had a population of 3,000 Gaulic tribesmen and women. None were spared.
Titus saw to the provisions of his Legion, set watches and ordered a nightcamp built, the scouts hadn't found any more Gaulic forces but Titus, in the wisdom of his mentor Quintus, was going to be prepared for anything.
A Messenger rode in from Manilius, requesting his presence in Mediolenium.
As he arrived, Manilius, an able Legate, though not as great as Quintus, handed Titus two objects, the battle sword of Quintus, and the journal of the Garrison Commander.
"Learn from his mistakes, and bear the sword with pride, You now command the finest Legion in Rome, take 3rd Legion with you and secure the river to the North West. 4th Legion will secure the Western Approaches, a Garrison is on its way here and 1st and 5th will halt any advances from Patavium."
"Yes, Lord."
Manilius sensed something in the stance of Titus.
"You want to know why I chose you over more able men to command 2nd?"
"Yes, Lord.. Flavius Julius is a far better Commander than I, 2nd was to be his after Quintus retired."
"But the men don't know Flavius, they haven't seen him, and Quintus did not train him, I saw you lead the breakthrough, the men will follow you into hell because you knew Quintus and you have the potential to be just as great as he... so long as you don't get killed."
"I will fight with honor and never retreat."
"For Rome, General."
"For Rome, Lord."
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Originally Posted by Hadrian
Pillaging and Plundering since 2006
Lol! 
