The Wings of Mercury - Chapter 5

Gual

Gual had changed a lot since the end of the war. From big changes like rail and telegraph lines leading from the coast all the way to Italia, Hispania, and eastern Germania, to smaller ones like the buildings in the villages, which were more like towns than the smaller settlements they had been five years before.

They still showed signs of how rapidly they’d advanced, with older longhouses made of log and thatched roofs next to larger, Roman-style buildings with stone walls and tile roofs. In another ten years, most of the log buildings would be gone, modernized to Roman standards.

Assuming Ky didn’t change those standards by then, of course.

The building was large, a replacement for their central hut, capable of holding several hundred people at a time and a rival, in size if not opulence, of the forum in Devnum. Most of those spots were already filled, the rows of seating looking down at the center speaking area tightly packed.

Lucilla could feel the eyes on her as she made her way to the center of the room. Representatives from every other collective government that had formed, like in Germania, Hispania, and Gaul, as well as tribal leaders and city representatives from the more fragmented areas such as Greece and Scandi had all come. The messages she had sent out made it clear Britannia had a major announcement that could affect every person on the continent and Africa, but had not been specific as to what.

Some would have figured it out, as Lucilla had begun backchannel conversations with more friendly representatives well before the summit was called, but she was glad to see so many had taken it seriously. Part of that was because so much of the known world was now not only using but becoming dependent on Britannian technology, especially the harder to produce but consumable things like gunpowder and fertilizers, both of which they had kept as close a secret as possible. But she hoped part of it had to do with the cost Britannia had paid and respect they had earned for finally ridding the west of the Carthaginian menace.

The realist in her knew it was almost certainly the former that was motivating most of those in attendance, however.

“Thank you all for being here,” Lucilla said, her voice carrying through the hall. “I know some of you have traveled a great distance to attend this meeting, and I am grateful for your commitment. Your presence here today is a testament to the importance of the matter at hand.”

She paused, looking around the room at those in attendance, making sure she had their attention.

By now, many of you have heard about the attack on our port in Africa. For some of you, it may seem like a distant event, far removed from your daily lives and concerns. But I assure you, this is not the case. What happened at Port Amicitiae is not an isolated incident. It is an early warning. A warning of a danger threatening every one of you.”

She paused again. There were some murmurs, a few scattered conversations, but she had most of them.

“At the end of the war, we disseminated reports from sources inside Carthage and prisoners captured after the city’s fall. Reports of an eastern power that supplied them with advanced weaponry greater than anything seen in the west, aside from those weapons designed in Britannia. Weapons not copied from our own, but developed in the east. I know for many of you, that seems like a long time ago, and perhaps many of you have forgotten about this threat, but the destruction of Port Amicitiae shows that they have not forgotten about us. What’s more, every one of you should be concerned about a people who had no problem supporting a power like Carthage. It shows what these easterners value, and what we should suspect from them. For five years, we have lived as if the threat of annihilation and subjection had been defeated alongside Carthage. It was a naive hope, one born of exhaustion from war and strife. A hope that’s time has drawn to an end. These easterners have set their eyes on the west, looking to take up the mantle Carthage once held.”

“What does that have to do with us? Who cares what they value or crave?” A representative from Athens asked. “The East is far away. No one has ever even seen one of these people, let alone dealt with them.”

“We have seen their ships,” Lucilla answered. “We fought them in the battle of the Sea of Reeds, their ships standing in line with Carthaginian ships, at the end of the last war. We know the ships that attacked our port are the same ones that assisted the Carthaginians. Their designs are too unique and visible to be anything else. And we are nearly positive that this is just the beginning.”

“What do you want us to do about it?” A Scandi chief asked.

“It is time for the west to come together. Just as many of us came together during the last war, now is the time for us all to unite. Britannia cannot afford to face this threat alone. The easterners have shown they will not be another Carthage. For one, they’ve shown a technological ability much greater than that shown by Carthage. Britannia will continue to work to keep our armies ahead, giving them an advantage in the field, but we do not know how far they have come in five years, while Britannia worked to rebuild the west. We cannot do this alone. If we stand divided, we will fall one by one.”

She turned, slowly, looking to each of the groups seated around her. “Which is why we asked for this gathering. Britannia is ready to stand, and we ask you to stand with us. We are proposing a unified response, an alliance of the West. A pooling of resources and manpower to withstand the coming storm.”

“So you want to use our people while you sell us weapons?” a representative from Hispania said.

“No. Britannia will provide the majority of the technical and material support. We have the most advanced weapons and the means to produce them, but we will put our people on the line as well. Britannia has already begun new recruitment efforts and will make up a significant portion of the armies that need to be fielded. But our war with Carthage bled our people deeply and there are not enough of us to do it alone. We want partners who are willing to join us in the defense. I should say that Britannia could sit back while those of you on the continent are rolled over, crushed by new invaders. You stand between us and danger and our island offers us protection. But we understand that we, as a people, are not an island, and exist in cooperation with you, our neighbors. Which is why we want to stand with you.”

“As you said, some of us are not in the way of this storm, as you call it. Why should we worry about what happens on the continent?” a Scandi asked.

“For the same reason you joined the fight against Carthage. Because it’s in your best interest. These are your neighbors, the people you trade with. Your prosperity is tied to theirs.”

One of the Gaelic representatives called out, addressing the Scandi chief. “You might have been able to sit out the last war, selling to both sides while my people died for their freedom. But if what Britannia says is true, you won’t have that same luxury this time.”

The Scandi chief bristled. “We didn’t…”

Lucilla held up a hand, silencing them both. “I appreciate your concerns, and I in no way downplay the part you played in defeating Carthage, but our friend from Gaul is right. This fight is going to be larger and more consequential than the war with Carthage. When the easterners come - and they will come - everyone here will be in their way. We will all be in danger if we don’t band together.”

The Scandi chief looked away from her. Lucilla turned again, sweeping her eyes over the crowd.

“Britannia is ready, once again, to defend itself and anyone who would join her, from this new Carthage in the east. We have faced great challenges before, and we have emerged stronger. Now is the time for us to stand together again, to safeguard our future. I ask you now, who among you will stand with us in this Alliance of the West?”

The representative from Germania who had spoken out against the Scandi stood and said, “Britannia has proven themselves true friends to all freed people. You have fought alongside us, bled with us, and helped us rebuild. We will gladly stand with our friends, now and forever.”

Lucilla nodded, a smile of gratitude on her face.

The Gaul representative rose next. “Our people have seen the horrors of war, and we will not let it happen again. We are with you.”

They looked to the collection of Scandi chieftains. Oen, the one who had spoken before, and was clearly the one designated to negotiate with others, shook his head, “We came to listen only. We cannot commit Scandi to war. We will take your words back to our people.”

“Hispania doesn’t need time. We’ve had our differences, but you helped us when one of our tribes tried to replace our Carthaginian overlords, and showed you can be trusted. We’re with you.”

“You’re all fools,” the Athenian said. “Can’t you see they’re playing you, trying to get you all to continue bowing and scraping? Their influence and power was waning, and so they invented a new enemy, a new fear for you all to cower against. We will have no part of it.”

The rest of the Greek representatives stood. Bickering, petty people who hardly ever came to agreement had managed to find a common ground. And it was going to doom them.

“You’re making a mistake. When the easterners get here, you will be first in line, the first to fall to their cannon.”

“Greece will stand forever, against both fictional threats to the east or against the very real threat to our west. Should you try to come to our lands in the name of protection, we will fight you. We see through you, empress,” the last word was almost spit, the man’s contempt on full display.

With that proclamation, the Greeks as a group left the building, making their promise of not wanting to be a part of it a fact.

“While we are not as aggressive as our Greek counterparts, Egypt needs time to consider this. We lived under Carthaginian rule longer than most of you, and know the pain of that occupation, but we are also closer to the west, and see no sign of these easterners, in spite of these caravans supposedly going through our lands. We will have to think on this.”

The representative of the Ptolemys stood and left, followed by the Scandi. Lucilla watched them go. The Greeks were no surprise. She invited them because their position on the continent would be important, but she knew they would never agree. No one is as difficult as a Greek.

The Ptolemais were a bigger surprise. While they had been hesitant at every interaction since the end of the war, they were pragmatic to a fault, and tended to make the right decision when it counted. She’d actually listed them in the likely category in her head.

Those were problems for later. For now, they had allies willing to stand with them, which was the purpose of this whole exercise.

“I thank you, all of you, for your commitment and your courage. We have a long road ahead of us, but together, I believe we can survive what’s coming.”

***

Central Germania

As with Gaul, Germania had changed significantly since he was here during the war. He’d been back since, of course, and seen the stages of progression, but it still shocked him a little each time. The large village where he’d spent part of the war, fighting with guerrilla bands through the winter, was almost all permanent buildings now, and had become a rail hub, connecting lines further south and to the edges of Greece, and to the far east, with ports to the west.

That was one of the reasons this spot had been chosen for the new training camps. It allowed the armies training here to be transitioned to other places on the continent as well as supplies brought in to support a large connection of men.

That, and Ky had friends here that he’d made during the war. Some had not made it, of course, which created bittersweet memories, but those that had helped ease what was sure to be another long separation from Lucilla.

With the Summit only a week behind them, the camp itself was little more than an outline in dirt, laying out what would be a sprawling camp in the future. Ky watched as the backbreaking work to tear into the still mostly frozen ground commenced. He felt for the men given the task and ensured they were paid fairly for it, but Ky was almost certain they were on the verge of war, which left little time for delay until the weather was more favorable.

They were also needed. Recruits had begun to arrive from other areas of Germania, with more expected from Gaul, Hispania, and even Italia any day now. In addition, Bomilcar would arrive soon with the first two legions, who would serve as a training cadre while the remaining five made their way to the camp.

“Consul,” Sellic said, approaching from behind. “A large contingent of recruits from Gaul just arrived by train.”

Any day could be today, Ky thought. He turned to Sellic, seeing the man’s displeasure and feeling for him. His lictores hated when he used them as messengers and aides, instead of letting them stand by his side, protecting him, where they thought his rightful place should be. Unfortunately, the needs were many and the manpower few. Ky had brought a handful of aides with him, but not enough to take up all of the slack to accomplish the task of preparing the training camps. And they could not wait until Bomilcar and additional hands showed up.

“Good. Get them settled and we’ll start training in the morning. I know the temporary accommodations are cramped. Make sure they know this is only until we get more permanent facilities built.”

“Yes, sir. Also, Legate Primus Bomilcar sent word he’s ahead of schedule and should be here late tomorrow with the 1st and 2nd.”

For once, Ky wished everyone was just a little less efficient.

“Talk to the chief and see if we can’t find anywhere to house them. We might just have to throw up some canvas and let them sleep outside. It won’t be pleasant, but at least they won’t freeze. Make sure they know that, regardless of where they sleep, I want training to start immediately. We already have recruits waiting, and every day is another soldier ready when the ball drops.”

“Of course, Consul,” Sellic said, giving him a look before saluting and heading off to carry out the orders.

The men, his lictores especially, had grown used to his colloquialisms that would never make sense in this new world, but that didn’t stop him from giving them looks every time he used one.

As Sellic walked away, several of the Germanic chieftains who gathered in the village to take part in the start-up of the armies were making their way over. While Ky appreciated them here, to show support for the new alliance, at this point he had a lot to do and limited time to do it, and the dog and pony show, as the old saying went.

“Consul,” Aliverko greeted him with a nod. “The work progresses well.”

“It does,” Ky agreed. “But we have much to do before the rest of the legions arrive, which is sooner than expected now.”

“Yes. We saw the Gauls unloading on our way here,” Givellan said. “We’ve sent word on your telegraph to some of the Anarti for additional manpower for the construction. Aside from the Gauls, your shipments of weapons and food have started coming in from the coast, and we are going to try to get you the supplies for the storehouses as well. We know how much of a priority this is.”

“I’m glad to hear it, but I’m not sure that helps us now. I sent one of my guys to talk to you about additional temporary structures.”

“Yes, we saw him. We’ll check to make sure it’s done.”

“Good. So, let me walk you through what’s been done so far.”

Ky led them through the encampment, showing the progress they’d made since the day before, with the foundations being poured for the first few buildings and the latrines, possibly more critical than the barracks, being dug.

They nodded and made the right noises, but to Ky, it felt like a waste of time. Important men wanting to seem important. Lucilla had reminded him, before he’d come out, of the importance of massaging the relationships, that this combined effort would get a lot of attention, which would bring people wanting to see, and be seen. And that he should be nice to them.

So nice he was. As they neared the makeshift command tent, a young man came running up wearing a messenger insignia.

“Consul, this is marked urgent.”

Ky took it, scanning the message quickly, his expression darkening with each sentence.

“Problems?” Aliverko asked.

“News from the east. The attack we warned about has begun.”

That set all the men on edge, each looking alarmed. They supported the alliance and Britannia, but it had been clear to Ky that they had not taken the warning as seriously as Ky would have wanted. They had treated this as more of an exercise in cooperation than true preparation.

“The scouts we sent after the attack on our port have reported attacks on Greek colonies in Anatolia and a range of villages in Sarmatia.”

“Are we sure it’s the same people? Did they see these attacks? Perhaps it’s neighbors. Or bandits.”

“They did not see them, just the aftermath, but it seems certain. The survivors are describing firearms being used, including cannons, which rules out muskets sold by third parties.”

The Britannians had been selling firearms in large numbers for the last five years, but they had all been muskets, keeping cannons and rifles to Britannia itself, just in case someone tried to use those weapons against them. The use of cannons all but confirmed who it was. That, however, wasn’t the news that was upsetting Ky.

“It gets worse. They found spent rifle bullets in the sites, not just musket balls, which suggests they have indeed copied some of our technology, which is a bad sign.”

“Sarmatia is close to our borders,” Bernia said, concerned.

“I know, which means we have even less time than we thought.” Ky handed the telegram back to the messenger. “Send a reply. Tell them to keep scouting and try to catch sight of their formations. I want descriptions of weapons, number of men, any organizational details they can get, but do not engage. Repeat to them, do not engage.”

The messenger nodded and hurried off, leaving Ky with the uneasy chieftains.

“We need to accelerate our timeline.”

Aliverko and Givellan exchanged a look before Aliverko spoke. “Of course, Consul. We’ll do whatever is necessary. Germania stands with Britannia.”

“What about the training? The additional men?”

“We still need them, and the training will still happen. Actually, we need them more than ever, honestly. I’ll send for additional Praetorians from Britannia and leave the last legion to arrive to train the recruits. Not an ideal number of trainers for the number of men we hope will come, but it will have to do. I’ll need to march as soon as the first legions arrive. I want to block them before they move into Germania.”

Ky just hoped it would be enough.