Evening all. This here is the first story i posted over on the SPQR forum, though from now on i'm going to post them here, I intend to post alot more of this story in the near future so i thought i'd show it to the masses. To anyone from SPQR, who comments the first time, thanks.
Enjoy.:original:

There are some who believe that Hell is not a single evil place. They believe that everyone has their own personal hell. For the Legionaries of Rome, beyond the River Rhine was that Hell and the Rhine itself was the Gate to Hell.



“Assembly”

The battle-hardened legionaries lined up and looked expectantly up at the tribunal. And then he was there. Twenty-Six year old Lieutenant General Cassius Fonteius Aquila, newly appointed commander of the Army of the Upper Rhine.

The year is 54BC; Gnaeus Priscus is the newly elected Dictator of Rome after leading his loyal legions against the Senate and defeating them on the banks of the River Tiber. He is now the single most powerful man in the Roman world. Cassius Aquila is Priscus’s nephew and as such, a man who cannot sit on the reformed senate for another four year now commands a Roman field army.

“Hail Commander” boomed 14,000 Spanish legionaries. Their General acknowledged them a wave. Then he slowly scanned his fellow countrymen. To his left were the 9th Hispania which undergone its reenlistment and because of this was at full legionary strength numbering just under 6,000 men. To his right stood the hardened veterans of the 11th Legion which unlike the 9th had been heavily depleted through year of fighting number just over 3,500 men, and standing in front of him was the 21st Repax Legion, the “Ravenous” 21st, they too were at only half strength.

“My fellow soldiers,” he began “I know you look upon me with a sceptical eye, but remember this, I am a Spaniard like all of you and also I want what you want; wealth, riches and Glory for Rome!”

That received a mighty cheer as the men roared their approval.

He continued, “We all now which direction we must take to gain these riches and I know that many of you have lost friends and brothers to the barbarian scum across the river, they believe themselves to be better than Rome, than her people, and her soldiers. They do not believe that they are barbaric; rather it is we that are wrong. But I say this, it is our sacred duty to Jupiter and to Rome to civilise these people and show them the error of their ways.”

He paused for a moment, “So glorious soldiers of Rome, I ask you this, will you come with me, to avenge you comrades and punish those how insult Rome.”

A deafening cheer rose up throughout the camp.

So it began.

The main staging camp became an enormous labyrinth of tents, wagons and equipment. Calls went out to every Gallic tribe to send their young men to form auxiliary units to support the campaign in the coming summer. Endless convoys of supplies traversed the roman roads through Spain, Italy and Gaul to the embarkation site at Colonia Ulpia Traiana.

Soon all was ready. Aquila had assembled a force of 14,000 Roman Legionaries in three legions, 6,000 auxiliaries and 4,000 mixed cavalry. It was time for vengeance.

With standards fluttering, the silver Eagles flashing in the sunshine the 24,000 strong army crossed the Rhine via a bridge of boats and began their week long march to their target, the Principle town of the Chatti tribe-Mattium.







Every night the army would build a marching camp and every morning they would repack the walls and burn the guard towers before marching another 15 to 20 miles throughout the day.



The day had come. The army was 2 miles from Mattium and nursing a few wounds. The last few days the army had been harassed by German tribesman, who when captured claimed to be from the Germanic Tribal Confederation led by the Chatti King Serimunges. Serimunges had learned of the Roman army’s advance from auxiliary defectors and had sent his son, Inesati with 30,000 Germanic tribesmen to attack them. The battle site was on a wide open plain with trees protecting the flanks of each army. The right side of the plain sloped downwards towards the River Ems. The Germans had line up in a single battle-line with each tribe separated from the other. At the centre of the line stood the Prince’s own men from the Chatti tribe, with the other tribes spreading out along the rest of the line. The German cavalry occupied both flanks of the army.

Aquila lined his men up in three lines. The first line composing of Auxiliaries and the second and third of Legionaries. The 9th Hispania being a new legion took up the centre of the line with the more reliable 11th Legion on the left wing. Aquila placed the 21st Rapax on his right wing, the attacking wing of any army. He split his cavalry in two, sharing them equally on both flanks, but with much of his heavy Gallic cavalry on his right wing. Aquila himself stood with his bodyguards behind the second line of the 21st.

Cassius Aquila glanced up at the sky. “How can it be that such a battle be fought on such a beautiful day?”

“My liege, the day will be more beautiful once we win it.” Replied Major General Sextus Domitius, his trusted aide and second in command.

“Ah, my friend you speak well, indeed Rome’s beauty will win the day at the expense of this natural beauty.”

“Then let up hope Rome’s beauty can entice the Germans off that rise.” Sextus replied.

The Germans hadn’t budged from their starting position and Cassius marvelled at the way that Inesati managed to keep the proud tribesman in check.

“Indeed Sextus,” Aquila paused for a moment, “order the auxiliaries to move forward unsupported, let us see if we can entice some of them to us.”

The auxiliary cohort’s trumpets sounded “Advance at the double” and the entire front line surged forward away from the legions. Cassius watched as the distance between the two armies grew smaller and smaller until…

“Commander, look! The Germans are moving.”

The German line was indeed breaking as whole tribes lost their disciple, frustrated at being held back and charged the approaching auxiliaries. “Sound the Charge!” Aquila ordered. “Charge” was sounded and the auxiliaries broke into a full run and let out a blood-curdling roar as they crashed into the advancing Germans. The fighting was bitter hand-to-hand combat as both sides lost what little disciple they possessed and broke down into individual survival fighting.

Aquila watched as more and more tribes broke rank and joined the fighting, so he ordered the legions to advance. A hearty cheer rose as the legions at last began to advance.

Inesati watched with horror as he increasingly lost more and more of his army to the fight, even his own Chatti had charged into the fray. He knew he had to regain the initiative and fast. He spotted the rising dust cloud signalling the approach of the legions and it gave him an idea. Mustering his bodyguard and 2,500 cavalry he had on his left wing, he led them away form the army towards the River Ems as if to be retreating. Once he felt he had deceived the Roman Commander he turned his column to perform a flanking manoeuvre on the Roman right. Cassius Fonteius Aquila, wearing his red general’s cloak watch the supposed retreat of Germanic cavalry. But Inesati clearly wasn’t a good cavalry commander, Aquila watched as he turned his men too early and made his intentions clear with some distance between him and his enemy.

This irrational action by the enemy commander gave Aquila a bold idea. His men respected him as a Spaniard, as a fellow Roman, but not as a military commander and this drove him to prove himself to them. He had been severely restricted as to what to say during his battle speech at the begin of battle, as he hadn’t won great renown in battle, he had never set foot over the Rhine before, let alone fight them and he felt ashamed and driven to prove his worth.

“Sextus, take command of the advance, I trust your judgement in this battle.”

“Yes my lord”

Aquila turned his horse, “Cavalry with me.” He roared and spurred his horse towards the approaching Germans with his bodyguard and Gallic cavalry forming up behind him. He drew his sword and rised it to the air as the two forces rapidly converged. This is the time of Cassius Fonteius Aquila he thought.

“For Rome!” he roared as the forces met.



Part 2



The two forces smashed into each other with an almighty crash. The close-quarter combat suited the sword wielding Roman and Gallic cavalry more than the spear-armed Germans, but even so the Germans managed to separate the Roman cavalry and thin the line. His bodyguards had managed to stay with Cassius as he found himself bogged down and at the centre of the action. He shifted his body away from a stabbing German spear and managed to grab the retreating shaft with his left hand and wretch it from its owner’s grasp. He then swung his sword at the cavalryman’s head, cleaving away most of his face. He rotated his horse and managed to stab a passing German in the side before being nearly unhorsed himself. Aquila turned only to find a bodyguard removing his sword from the accuser’s corpse. The fighting was fast and bloody with both sides taking heavy casualties. Inesati beheaded a Gallic cavalryman and paused to survey the carnage as his own bodyguard formed a protective circle around him. His own men were beating back the Romans and their traitorous Gallic allies and it appeared that he had regained the initiative. Once he had killed the Roman cavalry and their commander he would encircle their precious legions and destroy them. He rejoined battle with the image of his smiling father in front of his eyes.

Cassius Fonteius Aquila watched as the first, then second bodyguard in-front of him died and their killers advanced on him. He stabbed his sword into the left German, twisting it in his gut before wrenching it out. Even as his companion fell dead, the second German pressed home, landing a thunderous blow on Aquila’s armoured shoulder. The General managed to block the second blow and turned his sword into the man’s chest.

Even as the German fell dead, Cassius knew that once again he had to act decisively. He spotted the German commander a short distance away engaged with Roman light cavalry. He roared a command to his bodyguard to follow him and together they began to cut a channel toward the German General.

Inesati first saw the Roman General advancing on him as he finished off the last of the attacking Roman light cavalrymen. A stab of panic shot through him as the Roman General drove ever closer to him, and with his bodyguards were still engulfed in fighting, he was on his own. With his mind set, he shrugged away his fear and began advancing on his enemy.

Aquila saw Inesati advancing alone and decided on personal glory. Ordering his bodyguard to stay close but not to interfere, he moved to meet his opponent. He raised his sword and managed to deflect the first jarring blow before finding German sword blocking his own strike. His next strike was again blocked, then the German leader moved amazing fast, reversing his own sword and plunging it through his left arm armour. Cassius felt the blade slice skin and the stabbing pain that followed. He snarled and swung his sword at the enemy general with all his might. The blade easily swept away the pathetic attempt to block it and left a deep and bloody slash across his opponent’s chest armour. Inesati recoiled in pain and let out a sharp cry. His vision became blurred momentarily. Roaring with anger, he unleashed a wild attack against Cassius Aquila which the Roman General easily blocked.

As he watched the blooded blade approach him, he saw his father’s face reflecting back up at him, he was still smiling. Then the sword entered his neck, severing his spine and he felt nothing more.

The surrounding Romans let out a cheer as Inesati, Son of Serimunges; Prince of the Chatti Tribe fell from his horse with a sword wound to his throat. His death sent out a clear message to the remaining cavalrymen. Many turned tail and made for the direction of the River Ems. Other stood their ground and kept fighting, but with the momentum firmly with the Romans, they were quickly overwhelmed and killed or captured.

Aquila sent his surviving light cavalry charging after the retreating cavalry as he regrouped and reformed his remaining heavy cavalry.

While they reformed he began to take in the big picture. The auxiliaries were still holding their own against the Germans, no doubt encouraged by the red and grey machine advancing behind them. Then he saw Sextus Domitius’s standard incline forward and trumpets throughout the legions sound the charge. With a blood-curdling roar the first line of the 21st, 11th and 9th Legions crashed into the German lines with their auxiliary colleagues making way for them. The fighting was furious and more frantic than before with the disciplined legionaries easily pushing back the German rabble. The German tribes retreated to their starling battle line were some of their fellow warriors still remained. With their leader dead, the individual tribal chief took charge, quickly reorganising back into their tribes as the legions paused momentarily in their advance. In a wave-like motion throughout the tribes, each warrior locked his shield with his neighbour forming a shield wall. However many of the warriors had lost their shields in the earlier fighting, so the wall was only two ranks deep with those waiting behind it wielding only sword or spear.

Sextus Domitius riding on the right wing behind the 21st front line ordered the continuation of the advance. Once again the Roman military machine ground into action advancing slowly but steadily as it always did towards the waiting Germans. With only a small gap between the two forces, a halt was called. “Prepare Javelins” came the call as each legionary sheathed his gladius and removed their two pila from their carried equipment. Planting one in the ground and readying the second they waited for the coming command.

“Loose” was sounded and 14,000 javelins flashed through the air landing amongst the Germans, skewering men and pinning limbs to the ground. Those with shields found that they became unwieldy and useless, although most javelins bounced off the shield wall which held solid. The legions now prepared their second javelins; this time however, each cohort aimed to the left or right of their position, the idea was to strike the enemy at an angle instead of head on.

“Loose” was sounded again and once again the sky darkened with javelins. This time gaps began to form in the shield as bearers we’re struck down as their shields offered them little protection from the angled flight of the javelins. Men moved forward to fill the gaps and to try to pick up the now unusable shields.

With all the confusion in the German ranks, standards inclined forward and “Charge” was sounded. Again the front-line legionaries slammed into the Germans but this time, along most of the line, they were unable to breakthrough the shield wall. On the right wing however, with Sextus Domitius urging them on, the 21st Repax Legion was slowly but surely cutting through the lines and wheeling left to outflank the engaged Germans.

The tribal chiefs, seeing their left disintegrating, begin throwing vast reserves at the 21st in an attempt to stop them. The move worked.

From his position out on the far right wing, Lieutenant General Cassius Fonteius Aquila saw the front lines of the Repax Legion overrun and the legion began to be pushed back by overwhelming numbers.

“Sound the charge” he ordered his personal trumpeter. As the call went up, he pointed his sword in the direction of the 21st and spurred his horse forward. His surviving bodyguard and Gallic heavy cavalry following close behind. Aquila led them past the frontline, circling around the besieged 21st and charged the attacking Germans. The Roman cavalry surged into the German ranks and began hacking away at the infantry below them. Cassius swung his sword back and forth dissecting Germans with every attack. He and his men pushed deep into the German ranks before becoming bogged down. Suddenly there were a lot more Germans the cavalry, the general looked over his shoulder in horror as the surviving German cavalry from the left wing smashed into his already engaged cavalry. He turned his horse and tried to head for the roman infantry but his progress became increasing slow as more and more German charged him, all hoping to bag the head of the roman general.

Cassius Aquila never felt his horse die under him, one minute he was fighting for his life, the next he was laying on the earth staring at the sky. He recovered quickly, jumping to his feet and fighting his way to his dismounting bodyguard, whose steeds were then all killed by the blood-baying Germans. Together Aquila and his loyal bodyguard formed a small orbis, the roman formation of last resort, and began to fight off wave after wave of Germans.

Then, suddenly there were other Romans among them; the 21st had seen their general in trouble and in a joint effort with the 9th Hispania had forced their way to him. “Hail Commander” each legionary breathed as he rushed past his panting leader eager to get to grips with the enemy.

Over on the left wing, the 11th Legion was being held back by a still intact shield wall. They had simultaneously fought off a Germanic cavalry charge and a sally charge from the German lines, but were still being frustrated by the German defences.

Now Cassius Aquila together with legionaries from the 21st and 9th legions began to push back the German lines. With the Germans becoming more desperate as more and more men died or fled, the fighting became equally desperate, with men throwing themselves in suicidal charges at the Roman lines. Aquila witnessed one such charge. The Germans yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs, charged into the Roman lines, breaking the formations and forcing hand-to-hand combat which favoured the bigger Germans warriors.

Aquila parried a sword blow with his newly acquired roman shield and stabbed out from behind the shield, sinking his sword into his attackers gut. He pulled out his weapon and swung his shield outwards, smashing an onrushing enemy to the ground where he was plunged with legionary swords. Ahead of Cassius, a tribal chief, identifiable by his garb and armour was engaging with a first-rank centurion of the 21st; the pair exchanged blows with both suffering minor injuries. The centurion jabbed down towards the legs of the chief hoping to force him to ground, the chief however moved quickly, blocking the attack with his larger blade and using his momentum to swing his enormous oval shield across the centurion’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Aquila along with a number of other legionaries surged forward and cut the chief down before he could strike the killer blow.

Aquila offered his hand to the centurion; “On your feet Gaius Sentius” he called to him, “the day is not yet won.”

“Ave commander, but it shall soon be yours.” Sentius replied.

The men surrounding the pair looked upon Aquila with renewed respect and awe. They began to believe that he was worthy to lead them and they aimed to prove they were worthy to fight for him.

The fighting lasted most of the day, with all three legions linking up and routing the Germanic tribes.

Aquila ordered the cavalry to give chase, before allowing his men to plunder Mattium. Before night fell, Mattium became nothing but a blazing ruin. The townsfolk were enslaved to be taken back to Rome. German survivors managed to escape with Inesati body and make it back to safe territory. Most however were captured and killed or enslaved.

The next day as the men of the 21st, 9th and 11th lined up in their cohorts, there would have been a joyous mood throughout the camp. As their general stepped up onto the tribunal, a mighty cheer rose up from the men. He was their commander and they were to serve under him. He had won their respect and much more. Word of his heroic act had spread throughout the camp and had been with such praise, that a junior tribune told Aquila that he had heard men say they would conquer Rome with him if he so wished it.

At the assembly, Aquila handed out bravery awards and bonuses and praised all his men for their great actions in battle before telling him they were leaving for the Rhine. He promised them another invasion of Germania, one of great proportion and importance and they would conquer it for Rome.

As “Prepare to March” sounded throughout the camp, Cassius mounted his horse and smiled. At least in some small part of the world, men would speak his name in fear and awe. Lieutenant General Cassius Fonteius Aquila. He took a deep breath and spurred his horse forward.

At Trier, King Serimunges cried out as the body of his son was presented to him. Then from survivors and captured auxiliaries he learned of his son’s death and the detail of the defeat at Mattium. He swore revenge, revenge for his son and for the German people. “Cassius Fonteius Aquila” he roared, “One day you shall face me and on that day, you will die.”

The end.


All comments welcome. If you want tell me how you would like the story to continue.
Cheers
LG