The Cretan Campaign

Lepidus the Younger arrived at the encampment, ready as always to once more serve under Sulla's command although bitterly disappointing in the man. Since he held real power in the republic he changed. Power seemed to have gotten to his head. The mans word could no longer be trusted and in this life all a man had, was his word.

With the fleet now well underway and the legionaries having waited for some time in Ancona, Sulla had some time to take stock of his arrayed forces and the campaign that lay before him. Cartographers from Greece and Asia were instructed to provide the Consul with an abundance of maps and sketches of the island of Crete, providing details of topography, population centres, and possible beach-heads. The Imperator also sent missives to the Greek cities, Rhodes, and Egypt, requesting aid and reconnaissance on the Cretan pirates for the imminent campaign in the Aegean. It seems prudent to make as many preparations as possible rather than make the fool’s mistake of rushing headlong into hostile country with little thought to long term strategy. Information as to the whereabouts of the pirates would be rewarded handsomely by Sulla himself, the Consul having amassed a sizeable war chest of his own funds to spend on more ships and soldiers should that prove necessary. Hopefully, this campaign would be over in but a few months, and then Sulla Felix could snatch the lion’s share of the glory against Mithridates and petition the Senate to take sole control of the campaign. Regardless, for the moment it was a great opportunity for the general to get away from the prying eyes of the city. Amongst his soldiers, he would indulge once again in his permanent vices of drink and dice, delighting the rank and file with his crass tongue and ever present good fortune in games of money. A few visitors from the city of less than honest repute came to say their farewells, with the Consul notably spending a few days away in Picenum with his favourite actor and long-time ‘friend’ Metrobius.

Upon his return, it appeared the Consul was finally ready to set off for good. In notably optimistic spirits, Sulla convened his officers to discuss their strategy in Crete, the war council being furnished with a number of detailed maps, reports and diagrams as indication of their commander’s intense preparations.

Cinna likewise arrives at the camp of Sulla, fully dressed in military gear as one is expected to wear as legate.

----------------------------

A young man of the aristocracy, known as Gaius Appuleius Decianus wishes an audience with Sulla who is soon to depart for Crete.

---------------------

Cinna visits the camp of Caesar

"Salve Gentlemen"

Cinna greeted Sulla and his counterparts.

"I agree with good Sulla that Knossos shall be our main base of attack, cut the had of the snake i would say"

It was something that made sense. Perhaps Cinna could get command of a second legion if he proved himself well with Fulminata.

"Once that is done i suggest that we send emissaries to the other cities to ask for their allegiance, then we will see what city is stubborn enough to resist and what city is wise enough to pledge loyalty"

-----------------------------------

"Salve Sulla"

Decianus greeted Sulla, though he appeared somewhat relaxed he felt a little bit uncomfortable. For Sulla was not a friend of his uncle and there was always a chance they could go after him for association.

"I have heard about your recent legislative proposals from others"

He had just returned from Sertorius' camp in anonymity and learned from roman politics from others.

"I am planning to run for Plebeian Tribune for next year, i am looking for support for my tenure"

Sulla was no friend of the Trivunate but then again Decianus could use the tribunate to shore up support for Sulla from the Roman citizens. No doubt the Romans held little love for Sulla's citizenship reforms. Perhaps he could introduce some populist reforms to appease them and make them swallow Sulla's legislation.

"Unfortunately i am associated with my uncle through blood"

Decianus actually regretted his passing but even he realized that he needed to move forward, there was no populare leader now with Sertorius gone. With luck, he could introduce some reforms that his uncle had wanted to introduce if he had free reign.

"I think i can be helpful through the Tribunate while you are in Crete. I am afraid the Roman citizens are not to keen to share their citizenship with the Italians"

Romans were known to be chauvinistic and keen on their privileges. Suggesting citizenship to italians was what made the Grachhi fall from the good grace of the roman citizens.

"I have no intention of stirring up the Roman people "

Decianus assured Sulla, Saturninus' rather radical "solutions" had failed. There were perhaps other ways to pass at least some of the reforms.

"You are right, i know little of foreign politics but even a village's idiot knows that an inexperienced orator is an easy target for this Pontic king"

Decianus held little interest for affairs outside the republic and refrained from saying more about the topic.

"Perhaps if we can placate the Roman citizens with appeasements then they shall be perhaps blind for such a change"

Then the senate would be powerless to oppose the move.

"And unless the senate wants to provoke a war then they would be powerless to oppose such a change when there is no one else to support their opposition"

Decianus added, perhaps now more relaxed.

"You are right, better to leave such a delicate matter into the hands of the August assembly of learned men"

Decianus conceded, despite disavowing his uncle publicly his influence on Decianus still showed from time to time.

"I will give you my word that i shall not convene the senate as Tribune and any legislation through the council shall be discussed in the senate first"

Convening the senate as Tribune was highly unusual and against Roman tradition.

"But you are right, the East needs a man with proven capabilities to take on the Pontic king, not an orator, so that shall be done."

Decianus conceded to Sulla, things were getting somewhere.

"Perhaps we could prevent coups from the inside by creating a police force, overseen by the senate of course. Such force would easily intervene if somebody would try to stir up the mob"