Rome's Tribune (Clay Warrior Stories Book 14) Read online

  Rome’s Tribune

  Clay Warrior Stories

  Book #14

  J. Clifton Slater

  Rome’s Tribune is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. I am not an historian although, I do extensive research. This book is about the levied, seasonal Legion of the mid-Republic and not the fulltime Imperial Legion. There are huge differences.

  The large events in this tale are taken from history, but the dialogue and close action sequences are my inventions. Some of the elements in the story are from reverse engineering mid-Republic era techniques and procedures. No matter how many sources I consult, history always has holes between events. Hopefully, you will see the logic in my methods of filling in the blanks.

  The manuscript for Rome’s Tribune has been assaulted, in a good way, by Hollis Jones multiple times. With each advance, she and her red pen tightened and adjusted the story. Her editing notes are the reason the story makes sense and flows. For her work, and sometimes not so gentle insistence on changes, I am grateful.

  If you have comments, please e-mail me.

  E-mail: [email protected]

  To get the latest information about my books, visit my website. There you can sign up for the newsletter and read blogs about ancient history.

  Website: www.JCliftonSlater.com

  Thank you for making Alerio’s books a success.

  Euge! Bravo!

  Table of Content

  Table of Content

  Rome’s Tribune

  Act 1

  Chapter 1 – Five Elements of a Shield Wall

  Chapter 2 – Follow Orders

  Chapter 3 – Thermopyl

  Chapter 4 - A King Fallen by a Herder

  Act 2

  Chapter 5 – Boar Hunt

  Chapter 6 – Hot Combat

  Chapter 7 – From Their Peril

  Chapter 8 - Violent Extraction

  Act 3

  Chapter 9 – Heroes of the Legion

  Chapter 10 – Professional in All Things

  Chapter 11 – Natural Defenses

  Chapter 12 – Rejected and Unloved

  Act 4

  Chapter 13 – The Golden Crown

  Chapter 14 - And One Evil

  Chapter 15 – Wind Dancer

  Act 5

  Chapter 16 – Fingertips to a Mile

  Chapter 17 – Satire, Mockery, Poetry

  Chapter 18 – Indigo Snails

  Chapter 19 – Baskets of Heat

  Act 6

  Chapter 20 – Tyrian Purple

  Chapter 21 – Milk for Blood

  Chapter 22 – Seaworthy Ship

  Act 7

  Chapter 23 – Challenge a Colossus

  Chapter 24 – Infiltrating Antikythera

  Chapter 25 – Ceremonial Boat

  Act 8

  Chapter 26 - Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap

  Chapter 27 – Battle at the Aft Deck

  Chapter 28 – The City of Rhodes

  Chapter 29 – Lack of Analytical Thinking

  The End

  A note from J. Clifton Slater

  Other books by J. Clifton Slater

  Rome’s Tribune

  Act 1

  Rome’s influence in the western Mediterranean stretched to a disputed Sicily in the south, north to Tuscany, and the western shore of the Ionian Sea. There was commerce and armed sorties beyond those boundaries but no conclusive victories. Yet, when the Republic flexed its military muscles, the Qart Hadasht Empire and neighboring nation-states felt the potential of a future conqueror.

  A thousand miles to the east, the name of Rome was barely in the consciousness of the Kings, Aristocrats, and Democratic managers of the region. They had their own troubles which kept them out of the west. The eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea had experienced so much upheaval, the power vortexes created opportunities for conflicts. These gave rise to lesser states seeking to protect what little they controlled.

  Once mighty dynasties were on the wane but still active. Macedonia struggled to reclaim past glory. Sparta withdrew to Peloponnese. Egypt held authority only because it was the breadbasket of the region. And Athens’ vaulted navy and Hoplite corps were weakened from decades of war. None could not control vast areas.

  The vacuum required smaller city-states to take up swords and launch navies to guard their territories. Only a few, such as the Isle of Rhodes and the disjointed islands and coastal cities of Cilicia, managed to gain notoriety.

  In the previous campaign season, General Barca Hamilcar attacked down the center of Sicily without sufficient forces to conquer the entire island. It was a deception by the Qart Hadasht military leader, and it worked. The Roman Senate failed to respond with force because the legislative body was focused on their new navy.

  But the Republic’s indecisive response to General Hamilcar ended. They voted former Consul Aquillius Florus as Proconsul for Sicilia and funded a half-Legion to implement Florus’ judgements. Then the Senate launched an entire Legion at Barca Hamilcar’s southern flank.

  Welcome to Summer, 258 B.C.

  Chapter 1 – Five Elements of a Shield Wall

  The gladius flipped in the air. Remaining at hip level, the blade spun before the hilt slapped into the calloused palm. Then the wrist snapped, and the sword rotated again, almost as if fixed on an axle.

  “Tribune,” a Centurion inquired, “throw javelins?”

  “Hold them,” Alerio directed. He flipped the blade again. Whereas some people tossed a coin nervously while waiting, Tribune Sisera flipped his gladius. “Hold.”

  It was not the situation making him anxious. Although with two thousand Qart Hadasht mercenaries coming over a low hill, he had good reason to be apprehensive. The idea of fighting blade against blade and shield against shield did not bother the Tribune. It was not participating in the violence of the shield wall that ate at his soul.

  “Stand by two javelins,” he instructed.

  “Stand by two javelins,” his six Centurions repeated.

  The ready-order filtered through the ranks of infantrymen as NCOs, squad leaders, and pivot men echoed the instruction.

  “Stand by two javelins,” a voice commanded from Alerio’s right.

  The speaker was Marcus Flamma, Tribune of Second Maniple’s right side. Like the path traveled by Alerio’s directive, Tribune Flamma’s order shot through the other half of the Maniple formation. Then Flamma raised his left arm, stared around the limb, and gazed across the distance at Alerio.

  Marcus Flamma appeared to be a model of nobility and an example of a fine staff officer. He was both and no one could argue the statue worthy imagery unless they noticed his hand. It floated beside the red horsehair combed helmet trembling from fright.

  Alerio bowed to his counterpart, sheathed his gladius, and reached for the sky with his right hand. With arms held high, the two staff officers from Second Maniple watched and waited.

  A mounted Junior Tribune rode up and reined in his horse.

  “Tribune Sisera, Senior Tribune Iterum sends his compliments,” announced the youthful staff officer. “He would like you to stop holding and throw the cursed javelins. Right now. As in, this very instant.”

  Alerio jutted his chin forward and studied the horde prancing across the field and the empty hills behind them. Then he glanced over his arm at the young officer.

  “Please inform Senior Tribune Iterum that his Second Maniple will throw our javelins when the enemy is within range,” Alerio told him. “Please. Return to the headquarters staff and let me concentrate.”

  The teen nobleman jerked his horse around and trotted for a break i
n the ranks of Third Maniple. Flamma bobbed his head in Alerio’s direction soliciting permission for his half of the Maniple to throw their javelins. Indicating no, Alerio responded with one abrupt shake of his head.

  From the other side of Second Maniple, the inexperienced infantrymen and officers of First Maniple had already tossed three flights of javelins. Each man carried three, but the first rank had not thrown. That meant, they had maybe nine hundred of the almost three thousand javelins they brought to the fight. But a battle count was never accurate. Some infantrymen were fond of chucking javelins in excess of those ordered. As a result, used javelins, having caused few casualties, peppered the ground in front of First Maniple. They resembled stalks planted by a drunken farmer.

  There were plenty more stored with the Legion supply wagons. Unfortunately, the wagons and the additional javelins were behind Battle Commander Bonum Digessi and his staff.

  The main body of the mercenaries halted at the edge of the used javelin garden. Tribune Sisera swore at the First Maniple’s mistake of showing the Qart Hadasht soldiers the range of Legion javelins.

  “Arrows,” Alerio warned.

  The notice was passed through the Second and over to the First Maniple. Both raised shields overhead. Down the line, Marcus Flamma eased up until he and the combat officers stood in the shelter of the heavy infantry shields. All the officers of Second Maniple sought sanctuary, except Alerio Carvilius Sisera.

  Flights of arrows arched over and dug into the faces of the shields and the soil around the formation. Tribune Flamma and the twelve Centurions peered at Tribune Sisera from under the protection.

  By standing in the rain of arrowheads, Alerio was not trying to prove how brave he was, or that he had an excess of courage or a death wish. The most experienced combat officers understood. Tribune Sisera remained in the open to maintain a clear view of the battlefield, the enemy, and the hills. Moments after the arrows began falling, his daring paid off.

  ***

  “Cavalry,” Alerio alerted the combat line. To demonstrate his next order, he stacked the flat of his hands up, placing the palm of his right hand on the fingertips of his left. Then he instructed. “Assemble a barrier. Third rank, throw on my command.”

  The front line of shields remained grounded. But the second row crowded forward and put their shields on top of the front row. Behind the six-foot-high wall, the third rank of Legionaries fell back with javelins in their hands.

  Stacked and braced using only the extended arms of Legionaries, the top of the wall was weak. But to a horse, the shields might as well have been the side of a brick building.

  Alerio waited until he could hear horses and mercenaries yelling as they jumped out of the way of the charging enemy cavalry.

  “Throw two,” Alerio shouted while dropping his arm.

  Tribune Flamma aped the signal, releasing his section of the Maniple’s third rank.

  Three hundred javelins almost clipped the top of the Legion shields. As intended, the low trajectory gave the barbed iron tips range. Men cried out and horses screamed. When the second flight of Legion javelins impacted flesh, panic replaced the cavalry assault.

  “Unstack them,” Alerio directed.

  Along the seven-hundred-and-twenty-foot wall of shields, the second rank stepped back, drew their gladii, and braced against the front rank.

  “Throw two,” Alerio instructed. “Centurions, take command and prepare for contact.”

  While the staff officers remained back and on vigil, the combat officers directed the fighting and rotations along the shield wall. Keeping alert for changes in the enemy formation, Alerio and Marcus scanned the battlefield.

  In the face of chaos, Tribune Marcus Flamma shivered. On his left, Alerio Sisera fought the urge to begin flipping his gladius.

  The Qart Hadasht cavalry, after the broken charge, remained behind the attacking mercenary Companies. Always threatening, the mounted soldiers feigned attacks but then wheeled about and retreated to beyond javelin range. Their shallow ventures were not deep enough to elicit a warning from either Alerio or Marcus. Yet, the cavalry movement required monitoring.

  Along the combat line, Legionaries stood shoulder-to-shoulder holding their positions but fighting individually or in pairs. The disjointed chops and blocks gave no hint of superior training.

  ***

  Evenly matched on both sides, attrition would be the deciding factor of the battle, unless acted upon by five elements.

  A Legion combat line was susceptible to three types of assaults. One being a specialized unit designed to spearhead a breach. Another was a skilled warrior using brutal techniques to cut up a carousel of Legionaries. And the third, a powerful giant with enough strength to cleave an opposing Legionary to his knees while splitting his shield and possibly his head. And then injuring the next Legionary to step up and fill the gap. Those three elements had the most impact on the Maniple in a stationary combat line.

  The fourth element shifted to the Legion’s response to the assaults. At every potential breach, the cohesion of the squads allowed them to swarm the attacking force. When a separation occurred, infantrymen did not waver, the second line doubled their effort to neutralize the threat, while the front rank fought to seal the gap. Repeatedly, the enemy opened, and the Legionaries closed breaches.

  And yet, the Legion combat line remained stationary and vulnerable. His patience at an end, Alerio decided to employ the fifth element of line combat.

  ***

  “Centurions, stand by,” he shouted to his six combat officers.

  “What’s doing, Tribune?” his most senior Centurion asked.

  “They look hungry,” Alerio informed the officer. “Let’s feed them.”

  “Steel and wood, sir?” the Centurion inquired with a grin.

  “I am fresh out of grain rations and patience,” Alerio replied. “On my command.”

  Heeding the coming warning-order, the Centurions and NCOs rotated the front rank off the line and inserted fresh arms and legs into the fight.

  “Ready, sir,” the senior Centurion reported when the rotations were completed.

  “Stand by,” Tribune Sisera shouted.

  “Standing by, Tribune,” the infantrymen of his six Centuries answered.

  After issuing the alert, Alerio aimed a finger at his chest before pointing at Tribune Flamma to indicate ‘me first, then you’.

  “Centurions, stand by,” Marcus Flamma said giving his own warning-order.

  As the right side rotated fresh Legionaries to the front, Alerio sent his infantrymen into action.

  “Advance, advance,” he commanded.

  The front line of Tribune Sisera’s section of the Maniple repeated the instructions. Then momentarily, they braced and together took in a deep breath. The time for fighting individually had ended.

  ***

  On the forward rank of the Qart Hadasht line, the soldiers sneered. After dodging the javelins, which they found deadly but avoidable, they went blade and shield against Rome’s military. Nothing in the fighting showed them the fearful reputation of the Legionaries. Many warriors elbowed their way forward to get a chance to fight the Latians of the Republic.

  Individually, the soldiers realized the Legion was composed of fit men. But nothing special, just men with big shields and short blades. Before midday, they expected to pierce the Legion line and make it a proper free-for-all fight.

  Then, unexpectedly, the flow of shields smacking together and swords beating on the wooden surfaces ended. For heartbeats, as if the battle had paused to take a breath, resistance stopped. Puzzled, the mercenaries glanced from side to side to see if any of the other warriors were experiencing the same inactivity.

  ***

  “Advance!”

  Constant hard training gave Legionaries muscles of coiled steel and explosive power. The big infantry shields went from idle to shooting forward as if shot from a bolt thrower.

  Hammered by the Legion scuta, the shields of the soldiers r
ocked back and violently smacked them in the face. Dazed by their own shields, they were unprepared when the Legionaries stepped forward as if a single monster.

  And thus, the fifth thing that made a difference in a shield wall battle was introduced, the Legion attack line.

  The Legionaries took one pace into the newly formed gap while stabbing with their short blades. Two hundred and eighty gladii, as if fixed spikes on a rail, stabbed into the Qart Hadasht front rank.

  Many warriors fell wounded and, yet, felt lucky to survive the attack.

  “Advance!”

  Again, the shields powered forward launching anyone upright into the second rank of Empire soldiers. Following the bash, the solid row of shields retreated. They were replaced with two Legion lines stepping forward.

  The wounded Qart Hadasht soldiers, thinking themselves lucky, died under stomping hobnailed boots. And then the two hundred and eighty gladii stabbed from behind their shields, seeking more flesh and blood.

  ***

  Bedlam engulfed the front ranks of the Empire forces. No longer did soldiers attempt to shove forward to have a go at the Legion. Now they scrambled, backing away from the united front of big infantry shields.

  “Step back, step back!” the Centurions and NCOs ordered.

  The Qart Hadasht Captains breathed sighs of relief when the Legion lines withdrew. Only a section of their front was in disarray. Soon they would have the affected Companies sorted and…

  “Advance, advance,” Tribune Marcus Flamma instructed.

  A wave of devastation rolled up another section of the Empire forces. This time, it was courtesy of the right side, Second Maniple, Calatinus Legion South.

  Chapter 2 – Follow Orders

  Without observing the cavalry, one might assume the advances by the Second Maniple had broken the Empire’s attack. But Alerio knew better.

  “Tribune Sisera, let me be the first to congratulate you,” Marcus Flamma exclaimed as he jogged up to Alerio, “on a masterfully executed counterattack.”