Post by Romae Fabulus on Jun 26, 2006 23:09:33 GMT -5
"WHAT?!?" Tribune Marcus Scipio yelled at the messenger who had just brought him the news of the riot in Rome. "What the hell are they thinking? The Visigoths will slaughter them all!". Now was the time for quick thinking. He sent the messenger to rally all his centurions, but first called his second-in-command into the tent.
"Listen", he said. "Those idiots have forced us to quicken the plan. How many of the other tribunes are loyal to the underground?"
"Most of them", the other man replied. "We've been doing some good recruiting lately. All those of Roman origin are on our side"
"Excellent!" Marcus almost yelled in joy. "Gather all the other tribunes and praefecti here. Tell them that it is very important, and that the Legatus is going to be here."
As his second-in-command rushed out of the tent, his centurions started to gather. Luckily, they had all been nearby.
"Okay, listen up", Marcus told them. "There's a riot in Rome, and the rioters are probably going to be slaughtered. We're gonna have to force the other tribunes to join us, and then march on the Legate's tent and take control of the Legion. I want armed guards at the ready by the entrance of the tent. Those who will not join us will be arrested and tried for treason later on. Those who openly oppose us will be executed on the spot. Now take your positions!"
The centurions took their positions on the inside of the tent, making sure that there was no way out. The tribunes entered one by one, and were obviously unnerved by the number of armed men in the tent and the absence of the Legatus. When they were all inside, Marcus began to speak.
"Greetings, fellow officers", he said. "We have come now to a most disheartening position. There is a riot in Rome"
The other tribunes were not surprised by this, as most of them already knew.
"As some of you may know", Marcus continued. "There is an underground movement working in Rome. I know, because I am a part of it. The goal of the underground is to remove the savage king sitting on our throne, and restore our glorious republic. To do this, we need military strenght. We need this legion"
There was much gasping and whispering among the tribunes. Marcus did not give them a chance to discuss this among them.
"I ask you now for your support in this. We shall march with our combined strenght to the Legatus, and demand that he either support the underground or step down. We must save the rioters, otherwise they'll be slaughtered by the savage visigoths."
Two of the tribunes argued, and Marcus was unable to persuade them. They were put in chains. The rest seemed to support Marcus.
Marcus went along with the tribunes who supported him, his centurions and 30 well-selected men from his cohort. It was pretty dark, but there was plenty of moonlight and torces around the camp. As they approached the Legatus' tent, Marcus cried out. "Legatus Titus Acedius! Come out now!"
The Legatus walked out of his tent, obviously surprised by this. "What is the meaning of this, Marcus?" he asked.
"We have come to make you an offer", Marcus replied. "You either join the underground and fight against the savage visigoths, or you are relieved from your post and will be tried for treason later on!"
"What....What nonsense is this, Marcus?" The Legate asked in horror. "I will not betray my king, and neither should you!"
"It is decided then", Marcus declared as his men quickly took out the Legatus' personal guards. "Legatus Titus Acedius. In the name of the underground, I relieve you of your post and place you under arrest."
Marcus' centurions quickly arrested the Legatus, who could not put up much of a fight. Marcus turned to one of the tribunes accompanying him.
"Gather the men, one cohort at a time. Make sure we have plenty of armed guards around the perimiter. We'll have them submit by simply looking more numerous than they are."
Marcus' men went through the camp, gathering everyone. Visigoth soldiers were slain on the spot, as were those who tried to fight. Fights erupted in many tents as battles drew on for long periods of time. By dawn, Marcus had spoken to all the cohorts, and everyone who might become a threat had been arrested or executed. Some of his men were disgusted at the brutality of the day, seeing many corpses with familiar faces. The morale of his men certainly did not rise after the brutal murdering of the loyalists. Now, finally, they were ready for war...but at what cost would it take?
Results:
-Marcus Scipio acting as the new leader of Legio I
-The resistance in Legio I beaten down, former Legatus captive
- 92 of Scipio Marcus's men killed
- 158 of Scipio Marcus's men wounded
- 736 of Legio I's men desert the legion
- 4,654 battle-ready men left in the legion