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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 15:00:59 GMT -5
Sulla sends a smaller ship ahead under a banner of truce, demanding the unconditional surrender of the port city. Otherwise, the Romans press on, intent on using their naval advantage to secure the docks and begin landing their legions. If there is not enough space in the port, the legions will also begin docking outside the city.
Cinna is dispatched with twenty Triremes to run down the fleeing pirates and capture any straggling ships while the main force attempts a landing. The rest will defend the Roman rear from any naval intervention.
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Post by Royal Joker on Oct 4, 2021 15:19:02 GMT -5
The port of Heraklion accepts the terms of surrender. The Romans find no sign of the garrison, more than likely located in nearby Knossos.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 4, 2021 15:29:15 GMT -5
The pirate naval fleet at the harbor connecting Knossos to the world was on their way to break out before the Roman naval formation under command of Cinna caught their tail and commence battle. Cinna is informed that 20 Triremes and 10 Liburnea's are sighted in the distance. The Greeks are caught off guard as the Romans under Cinna attack ahead flank. The gigantic Roman warships drove right through some of the Greek ships. The Greek Pirates were lost before the battle began. Cinna made quick work of the fleet. Some four pirate ships make it out the the nearest port. 10 ships are captured, althought badly damaged. While the remaining 16 are sunk by Cinna.
Due to the sea lane being cleared. The Romans are able to land at Heraklion without opposition.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 4, 2021 15:35:01 GMT -5
The Creatian city states refuse to send more men.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 15:41:28 GMT -5
The port of Heraklion accepts the terms of surrender. The Romans find no sign of the garrison, more than likely located in nearby Knossos. The pirate naval fleet at the harbor connecting Knossos to the world was on their way to break out before the Roman naval formation under command of Cinna caught their tail and commence battle. Cinna is informed that 20 Triremes and 10 Liburnea's are sighted in the distance. The Greeks are caught off guard as the Romans under Cinna attack ahead flank. The gigantic Roman warships drove right through some of the Greek ships. The Greek Pirates were lost before the battle began. Cinna made quick work of the fleet. Some four pirate ships make it out the the nearest port. 10 ships are captured, althought badly damaged. While the remaining 16 are sunk by Cinna. Due to the sea lane being cleared. The Romans are able to land at Heraklion without opposition. Sulla treats the Cretans of Heraklion magnanimously, sparing a sacking and allowing them to go about their daily lives unmolested. Of course, a Roman garrison is installed in the town, and local leaders are replaced with ones more amenable to the Republic. With the city in his hands, Sulla begins disembarking his legions within the port. The men are allowed to rest and recuperate within the city after a hard voyage. Though the Greek rebellion makes obtaining supplies more problematic than first anticipated, missives are sent to the Roman ally of Rhodes to open a shipping lane with their newly acquired port. In the meantime, Caesar is sent with the Legio Cornelia to demand the surrender of Amnisos, the other port connected to Knossos. He is to be supported by Cinna's fleet of warships. Word is dispatched to the other Cretan cities that those that surrender will be treated with clemency, whereas those that resist will not be treated so kindly by the Republic. Scouts are sent up to Knossos to determine the strength of the enemy positions, as well as the areas surrounding the city to determine whether any reinforcements are likely to try and recapture Heraklion.
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Post by sforza on Oct 4, 2021 15:49:45 GMT -5
"Victory for Rome!"
Cinna shouted with his men atop one of the heavy warships. He and his men had quickly dealt with the pirate fleet and thus secured a safe beachhead. Luckily his force suffered next to no casualties in combat.
"Send word to Sulla of the captured ships, they can prove useful still"
And so Cinna sent one of his men to inform Sulla of the captured ships. Soon enough he would go to fight more enemies so he gave his soldiers a brief break first.
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Post by sforza on Oct 4, 2021 15:54:26 GMT -5
"Likewise"
Cinna answered to young Lepidus, he had been long in the military but his ancient heritage expected him to achieve a successful political career. "So what do you think of the recent events that have occured in our beloved city and republic?"Cinna inquired, perhaps trying to know Lepidus' political preferences and allegiances.
"Interesting isn't it?" Lepidus asked. "Here we are on a ship a long way from home and heading for war. We might not even make it back but what are we discussing? We are discussing how glorious our careers in the senate will be and who's side we're on." Lepidus looked at Cinna, wondering what he would be thinking. It mattered not to Lepidus who's hair was flickering through the wind. Lepidus would look at Cinna with the expression of a dead man. Perhaps it were earlier trauma's perhaps it was the extensive vomiting. Lepidus sighed. "Cinna, the gods dictated we were born into the families we did. Thusly I shall for fill my destiny and you will for fill yours." Lepidus grabbed the goblet he had been holding as this time and grabbed some water from the nearby water point on the ship. Lepidus smiled at Cinna "You know what side I'm on. What about yourself?" he finally concluded.
Cinna answered ambivalently, not willing to openly declare his populare sympathies to a conservative minded family. Cinna grinned, seeing as young Lepidus was suffering. "You'll get used to it, the next times at sea shouldn't prove so troublesome"
Cinna said, moving away from controversial topics such as politics. Cinna was not ready to unveil his ambitions and loyalties yet.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 5, 2021 10:23:46 GMT -5
The port of Heraklion accepts the terms of surrender. The Romans find no sign of the garrison, more than likely located in nearby Knossos. The pirate naval fleet at the harbor connecting Knossos to the world was on their way to break out before the Roman naval formation under command of Cinna caught their tail and commence battle. Cinna is informed that 20 Triremes and 10 Liburnea's are sighted in the distance. The Greeks are caught off guard as the Romans under Cinna attack ahead flank. The gigantic Roman warships drove right through some of the Greek ships. The Greek Pirates were lost before the battle began. Cinna made quick work of the fleet. Some four pirate ships make it out the the nearest port. 10 ships are captured, althought badly damaged. While the remaining 16 are sunk by Cinna. Due to the sea lane being cleared. The Romans are able to land at Heraklion without opposition. Sulla treats the Cretans of Heraklion magnanimously, sparing a sacking and allowing them to go about their daily lives unmolested. Of course, a Roman garrison is installed in the town, and local leaders are replaced with ones more amenable to the Republic. With the city in his hands, Sulla begins disembarking his legions within the port. The men are allowed to rest and recuperate within the city after a hard voyage. Though the Greek rebellion makes obtaining supplies more problematic than first anticipated, missives are sent to the Roman ally of Rhodes to open a shipping lane with their newly acquired port. In the meantime, Caesar is sent with the Legio Cornelia to demand the surrender of Amnisos, the other port connected to Knossos. He is to be supported by Cinna's fleet of warships. Word is dispatched to the other Cretan cities that those that surrender will be treated with clemency, whereas those that resist will not be treated so kindly by the Republic. Scouts are sent up to Knossos to determine the strength of the enemy positions, as well as the areas surrounding the city to determine whether any reinforcements are likely to try and recapture Heraklion.
The Roman scouts barely escape with their life but are able to tell Sulla some 5-7.000 men must reside in Knossos, seeing the level of activity there.
"Interesting isn't it?" Lepidus asked. "Here we are on a ship a long way from home and heading for war. We might not even make it back but what are we discussing? We are discussing how glorious our careers in the senate will be and who's side we're on." Lepidus looked at Cinna, wondering what he would be thinking. It mattered not to Lepidus who's hair was flickering through the wind. Lepidus would look at Cinna with the expression of a dead man. Perhaps it were earlier trauma's perhaps it was the extensive vomiting. Lepidus sighed. "Cinna, the gods dictated we were born into the families we did. Thusly I shall for fill my destiny and you will for fill yours." Lepidus grabbed the goblet he had been holding as this time and grabbed some water from the nearby water point on the ship. Lepidus smiled at Cinna "You know what side I'm on. What about yourself?" he finally concluded.
Cinna answered ambivalently, not willing to openly declare his populare sympathies to a conservative minded family. Cinna grinned, seeing as young Lepidus was suffering. "You'll get used to it, the next times at sea shouldn't prove so troublesome"
Cinna said, moving away from controversial topics such as politics. Cinna was not ready to unveil his ambitions and loyalties yet.
Lepidus smiled, the logical conclusion of their talk. Lepidus kindly gestured it was time to depart ways as Lepidus held the command of a legion that was to be hitting the beaches.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 5, 2021 10:33:14 GMT -5
Sulla marches his remaining three legions to Knossos, intent on surrounding the city and starving it out. Caesar and Cinna are to occupy the port of Amnisos if no garrison is present, with the former then marching to join his siege camp.
The Romans begin building siege engines to storm the walls.
Cavalry is posted as screening sentries to ward off any incoming ambushes. Scouts are sent throughout the island to determine the strength of the foe and key population centres.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 5, 2021 10:50:43 GMT -5
Sulla learns that there are some 5 thousand troops in Rethymno with a small naval presence. Scouts find that Sitia has around the same presence as the pirates have in Rethymo but add that theres 20 triremes and 10 liburniae. Scouts from Sitia come back with a full report, they had a man on the inside that counted some 5000 light infantry and a thousand heavy ones with the same naval presence as Sitia. Scouts returning from Festos report roughly the same numbers but aren't very sure of it. The scouts got drunk after a succesful mission and seemed to have forgotten the exact amounts. They heard the numbers from the other scouts before reporting and estimated they were about the same in Festos.
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Post by sforza on Oct 5, 2021 11:02:19 GMT -5
Just like in Heraklion, cinna sends the fast and flexible Liburnae to scout for any hostile ships at the port of Amnisos.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Oct 5, 2021 12:38:01 GMT -5
A missive arrives from the Senate. Legio V and the freshly raised Legio XVI will require maritime transport to bolster the forces under Proconsul Crassus against the Pontic threat. Consul Atellus asks for the borrowing of some ships to transport these two legions to Asian provinces to join with Roman and Allied forces there.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 6, 2021 4:02:10 GMT -5
With the port secured, Caesar's legion meets up with Sulla's main besieging force against Knossos. Sulla requests their surrender in exchange for clemency.
Cinna is to be put in command of the entire fleet to blockade the ports of Rethymo, Sitia, and Festos.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 6, 2021 11:29:08 GMT -5
Knossos refuses to surrender.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 6, 2021 11:56:38 GMT -5
Sulla leaves Caesar in command of the Legio I and Legio XII to starve out the city of Knossos. Meanwhile, Sulla takes his three legions inland to besiege the southern stronhold of Festos. Once again, he leaves his cavalry as a screen from ambush.
On the way, he sends riders out to demand the fealty of the neutral Cretan cities, including the city of Gortyna. Sulla states that Rome has no quarrel with those who do not harbour pirates: he promises leniency and privileges in the new Roman order to those that submit without a battle.
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