Italia 1908

[Tanthalas]

Players
   Gaius Marius
   Pubilus Rutilius Rufus (referred to as Pubilus)
   Lucius Cornelius Sulla (referred to as Sulla
   Gaius Julius Caesar (referred to as Ceasar)

Meeting between Gaius Marius and his closest advisors


Alright Gentlemen what news have you brought me, Publius you first as I know you must soon depart for the conference in Rohan.

My lord the talks with the French are for the most part concluded a few minor details to yet be worked out but over all everything has been concluded to our satisfaction.

Then we will have what we wanted?

Yes my lord and all told at a lower price than we had anticipated.  I have the Details here if you would care to review them.

Excellent Publius my old friend Excellent, however I will trust that everything is in order.   You have the proposal to the CSA prepared?

Yes my lord all is in readiness on that front.

Well done, Remember to extend my invitation to Mr. Rosevelt, while you are in the CSA.  From Everything I have read he is a most avid Hunter, and I believe he would greatly enjoy a holiday hunting Lions.  Ceasar what bad news from Parliament do you bring me today?

My son they will not approve the navies plan to build Destroyers, Metellus Insists that his source inside the Navy is most adamant that we need more heavy Ships, it appears that the compromise Cruisers are not to the liking of his dear brother.  Nor are they likely to approve of General Juguratha and his plan to restructure the Legions.

Bah these are Military Maters, they have NO say in them you hear me NONE.  If My Navy wants to build Row Boats they can't stop it.  All they can do is pass another dammed law and if I chose not to enforce it it is so much wasted Paper.

There will also be trouble over this treaty with France, many will view it as a break with our traditional Austrian allies.

There could be a problem.  I am hoping that by the time they get around to arguing over it, that Capeio will have already returned from his trip to Austria and Spain.  But we will talk more of this later father in law, for now let us hear from the Admiral Sulla

My Lord, the naval plan is advancing in spite of the senator's desire for big beautiful ships.  Our new Heavy Cruisers have preformed remarkably well.  And honestly I had hoped to push for 2 more of them after the destroyers are built.

By God as my witness if you want 2 more you will get 2 more, everyone at this table is im sure what esteem I hold our Parliament in, for that matter im fairly sure they know what esteem I hold them in.

True sire but I fear that world events are out pacing our navy.  Our plans for the 12" command ships may be out of date before we even lay the first down next year. 

What... How is this possible? I thought that we were on the cutting edge in naval design.

My lord when we laid out our fleet plan we were on the cutting edge, However since that time advancements over seas have left many of our planed ships well Dated.

Well then update them.  I want a Cutting Edge Navy capable of fighting in both oceans and protecting Italia.  But Enough Gentlemen it is time for me to spend a few hours with my wife, and im sure you should all be getting home to your families as well.  Publius may your journey be safe and swift, I leave you in the capable hands of Admiral Sulla.


OOC (My first news post hope it isnt to terible)

[maddox]

Paris, a few days later.


Premier Paixhans, good to see you again. It's been a long time since you were an aide to Minister DeCreme.

I agree, envoy LeMan. But it seems you had good days in the Old man of Europe. The latest treaty you reeled in is an nice addition.  I feel compelled to send you to Brussels, but that's up to you. You have earned whatever is your liking. Slowely but surely an Union Europe is becoming possible.

Pity transportation in that potential union is limited to trains, notoriously for delays and restrictions in what you can carry with you. Carriages with the horses as main limitation, and the roads between cities are Roman cobblestone at best. Luckely Italy retained that, because the dirt roads with the ruts, bumps and potholes are even worse on the bones of a man of standing. That a farmer or laborer doesn't see or feel the discomfort isn't my problem, if it was up to me, I'll use Lambot concrete everywere for roads. That would make my Bugatti 10 much more reliable.
Oh well, and of course ships. I missed the opportunity to sail with Le Magnificent to the Italian colony in South America.   
We're drifting off ami. One of the reasons I returned to Paris is to fortify the new Italian treaty.  We could offer them the 340mm guns of our battleships.  We have the infrastructure to manufacture them in sufficient numbers.

You're right Pierre, and the treaty stipulates the transfer of "suitable military tech". And of course, with Superbe and the coast defences planned on Toulon the modern large gun technology will be outdated in a few years. So that fact makes it more applicable.  Make the offer please, or get your successor make it.

[Walter]

I miss the next bit at the beginning...

Act I
Scene I. - Gaius Marius's Office

Enter Marius, Pubilus, Sulla and Ceasar.

... as well as the names in front of each of the spoken lines for that true Shakespearian effect... which for some reason would fit quite well with this situation. ;D

[Tanthalas]

People Involved
Gaius Marius
Gaius Julius Caesar
Marcus Aurelius Cotta
Lucius Caecilius Metellus

Location: Imperial Palace Rome
Time: 10 am July 15th 1908



Gaius Marius: Gentlemen do we know who leaked the report on our Aircraft experiments?

Gaius Julius Caesar: not yet my son but this reporter must have a Very highly placed source to know about our Bertholite experiment. 

Marcus Aurelius Cotta: indeed old friend, I expect that shortly we will be hearing about conducting secret experiments from our brethren in parliament.

Gaius Marius: Honestly im surprised you managed to get here ahead of their representative gentlemen.  Let us review the actual facts so that we might be prepared for them.  A test was conducted 4 days ago using this Bertholite droped from one of our aircraft, on a herd of Goats.  Acording to the report ¾ of the goats were killed by it, the rest acording to the report being in no condition for combat operations.  How do we spin this gentelmen?

Marcus Aurelius Cotta: My lord the easiest way is to explain that while we have this chemical we do not at this point have an effective method of deploying it.  It would be difficult to use on an actual battlefield as our own troops would be exposed to it as well.

Gaius Marius: this is true old friend, however haven't we also been working on a way to counteract this problem?  I believe the report says a simple frocked cloth mask is enough to protect our own troops from it.

Marcus Aurelius Cotta: Yes my lord, however I see no reason to tell Parliaments representative this.  We all know not one of them can keep his mouth shut.

Gaius Marius: true enough old friend true enough I bel...

(Knocking on the door to the emperors personal study)

Gaius Marius: ENTER

Lucius Caecilius Metellus: OUT OF MY WAY, GOD DAMN YOU MARIUS WE WILL HAVE ANSWERS.
Gaius Marius: oh and what would you have answers to?

Lucius Caecilius Metellus: this report in the paper this morning of testing of some super weapon, and why reports say we are laying down more blasted destroyers when the fleet is in desperate need of Capital ships.

Gaius Marius: well Metellus we were just discussing these matters, as to the destroyers I am informed by the Admiralty that they needed them so that they might have enough escorts to actually deploy what capital ships we have properly, and as to the experiments with chemicals Have I need to request Parliaments approval for military matters now?

Lucius Caecilius Metellus: Parliament is required to approve Funding for all Military projects, we

Gaius Marius: That is right Required to APROVE, the military and what it chooses to do is strictly my prevue, as are all Foreign endeavors, all you can do is approve funding Metellus and you would be wise to remember that.  You may leave now, you are dismissed.

Lucius Caecilius Metellus: (stalking out in a rage) you haven't heard the end of this Gaius Marius. (Slams the door behind him)

Marcus Aurelius Cotta: I fear he speaks the truth old friend; the upper house of Parliament is quite unsettled these days.

Gaius Marius: ah but they know I still control the lower house, and they also know that other than the ability to write laws they have no real power.  But enough of this talk gentlemen let us get to our true plans for the day, I assume you both came ready for the hunt? (Both men nod enthusiastically) good then let us be off the fox waits for no man.

[The Rock Doctor]

Nice.

Acording to the report ¾ of the goats were killed by it, the rest acording to the report being in no condition for combat operations

What's more disturbing - that the surviving quarter of the goats in no condition for combat operations, or the implication that before the test, that the goats were in condition for combat operations?

[Borys]

OOC
LOL!
Good catch! It IS disturbing :)
Borys

[Walter]

No doubt Italy's secret weapon: Goat Commandos. :)

[Borys]

Caproni di Assalto

[Tanthalas]

These goats were specificly bread from stock obtaind after the Iberian civil war ^.^(sharks with lazers we dont need no stinkin sharks we got goats with machine guns =P)

[Tanthalas]

Players
   Gaius Marius
   Pubilus Rutilius Rufus (referred to as Pubilus)
   Lucius Cornelius Sulla (referred to as Sulla
   Gaius Julius Caesar (referred to as Ceasar)



Location: Imperial Palace Rome
Time: 1 am July 24th 1908

Gaius Marius: what was so Critical as to Inturupt my bath gentelmen.

Sulla: my lord there has bene a small incident with one of our Scout Cruisers.

Gaius Marius: Not so small if you are all 3 here to bring it to my atention, best be out with it

Sulla: aparently Pirates out of the former Calipate of Ciaro boarded her just after she passed through the great canal my lord.

Gaius Marius: so one of MY ships was stolen, who is responsible for this travesty.  Ill have his head on a plate tonite.

Sulla: the ship belonged to second squadron my lord but i belive that heads on plates will not be necessary in this care, the pirates killed the entire crew it is reported.  Many of them while they slept.

Gaius Marius: (in a very calm voice)  Ceasar, Rufus call the senate to session, and order General Jurgatha to my chambers at once.  Sulla I want plans to blocade the entire caliphate on my desk by 6 am wake up whoever you have to.

Ceasar: My son the Senate will not be pleased to be awoken at this Ho

Gaius Marius: (Loudly) Damn the senate and their sleep, Piracy is bad enough but I will not tolerate Vagabonds killing a single Italian, If the petty princes canot keep their country in line, I will destroy them and put inplace a gouvernment that can an Italian gouvernment.

Ceaser and Rufus: (as one) Yes my leige

[Tanthalas]

Players
  Gaius Marius (Emperor of all Italia)
  Julia Major (Wife, Empress of all Italia)
  Lucius Decumius (personal Body Guard of Gaius Marius)


Location: Imperial Palace Rome
Setting: Midnight august 9th 1908 Private Imperial chambers


Lucius Decumius: enters through the secret entrance

Julia Major: Lucius unless it is a truly pressing matter I would advise that it wait until morning, he is truly sleeping for the first time since this entire Disaster in Egyptus started.

Lucius Decumius: Forgive me Domina, but I fear I will have to awaken him a most fortuitous thing has occurred.

Julia Major: and the news cannot wait till the morn, milord?

Lucius Decumius: I fear not my Quean.

Julia Major: so be it then I shall awaken him. (Walks off toward the next room to awaken Gaius Marius)

Gaius Marius (looking quite tired, and strapping on a gold bordered purple dressing robe) what is it my old Friend?

Lucius Decumius: my lord I have word from the Council of Princes.

Gaius Marius: well what is it what was their response to our demands?

Lucius Decumius: My lord there is no response to our demands as of yet, however Rais Nu'man, has been Executed for crimes against the state with his entire family and Household Murdered.  It would appear it was actually his own troops that attacked our cruiser.

Gaius Marius: so it appears we were Correct in our assumption that one or more of the Princes were involved.

Lucius Decumius: yes my lord, However that alone is not the reason for my coming to you at this late hour.  Abbas Fadil, Habib Omar, and Ghazi Ra'id were all found dead in their rooms this morning of apparent heart failure.

Gaius Marius: a most interesting turn of events, it is more likely some form of eastern Poison we are unaware of.  How are the remaining Princes handling the matter?

Lucius Decumius: Martial Law has been Declared my lord, and the armies of the Dead Princes are swearing an oath of salience to either Quasim Zafir or Tahir Yusuf.

Gaius Marius: Most interesting indeed, there is no rioting in the streets?

Lucius Decumius: no my lord not at this time at least, these types of things are not unheard of in the CoC.  It's the eastern Influence my lord, Killing ones own family is an excepted form of self advance.  Were their dead father still alive he would actually be most proud of this play.

Gaius Marius: Lucius old friend you almost sound as if you admire them.

Lucius Decumius: My lord sometimes a well placed Knife is worth more than all the Armies in the world.

Gaius Marius: very true old friend but at least we have advanced beyond the point of that necessity, now off with you I shall join my wife in bed and try to get some sleep this night.

[Tanthalas]

Players
  Gaius Marius (Emperor of all Italia)
  Pubilus Rutilius Rufus (referred to as Pubilus)
  Lucius Cornelius Sulla (referred to as Sulla)
  Mastanabal Juguratha (General of the Legions)
  Lucius Decumius (personal Body Guard of Gaius Marius)

Location: Imperial Palace Rome
Setting: 12:30 PM November 15th Personal Study of Gaius Marius

Marius: (looks up from a report he is studying) Welcome old friends, please be seated.
So what news do you all bring me today?

Publius: my lord the results of the elections are in and it is much as we beloved it would be.

Marius: that bad is it.

Publius not really my Lord, the lower house is once again ours, although we will have to work with the workers party, and we did manage to narrow the margin in the upper house enough to influence who will be Princeps Senatus.

Marius: OH Glorious please do tell who will the Chief Complainer be for the next 4 years.

Publius: Marcus Aemilius Scaurus my lord.

Marius OH that truly isn't so bad he will be a manageable type for sure. Do you have anything else for me my friend.

Publius no my lord just a reminder that I must be at my meeting with Capeio at the 3:00 hour.

Marius: Oh? Did you finally get caught with one of your mistresses Publius?

Publius: No my lord I am far more careful than that, let it suffice to say I have finally found one that can keep up with me by herself.

Marius: (Laughing Loudly) HA good for you old friend so when should I make plans for the wedding?

Publius: let us just hope I survive the negotiations first then we can plan a date.

Marius: You really should send a sister or cousin to handle that delicate task old friend, but enough chatter, Sulla what news from the fleet?

Sulla: the refitting of our 1896 ships is going well my lord and soon we will begin construction of the long range Escort destroyers we discussed.

Marius: And what of the Blockade?

Sulla: I doubt a Row boat could get through without our permission my lord, I have brought charts to show our dispositions.

Marius: Just leave them on my desk ill look at them later, is there anything else?

Sulla: not at this time my lord we are still investigating the loss of the freighter in the collision with the French ship.

Marius: good I want any word you find on that matter, most disturbing to loose a settlement ship in that manner. and you good General what word from the Legions?

Mastanabal: Old friend the news from Egyptus is rather grim, the two surviving princelings still fight on many fronts with what they are referring to as Rebels.

Marius: I would have thought they would be wrapping up with their consolidation of power by now.

Mastanabal: As would we all my lord it appears that these Rebals are receiving aid from some foreign source.

Marius: Really I was brought to understand they were effectively cut off from Sea support?

Mastanabal: they most assuredly are my lord, however that doesn't prevent them from receiving aid via over land routes.

(Knocking at the Door)

Marius: What is it?

Guard: sir Master Decumius requests an audience, we told him you were in Council but he insists it is most Pressing.

Marius: well send him in Damit.

Decumius: forgive the interruption my lord but may I have a moment of your time?

Marius: you may speak freely in this company friend.

Decumius: Very well my lord.  Sire my agents have discovered the reason behind the loss of the colony ship.  The Vessel which collided with her was the Victim of a mine.

Marius: WHAT, how is that possible?

Decumius: one of my agents questioned one of the men who planted it my lord, he assures me that the information is correct.

Marius: well continue

Decumius: apparently the Zionists are supplying them with munitions, and material aid

Marius: which translates to The Swiss, are doing so....

Decumius: we have no evidence of Swiss involvement at this time my lord.

Marius: Be that as it may Gentlemen I expect you all to act on this new information, Decumius continue to hunt for more connections.

Decumius: of course my lord.

Marius: Gentlemen if there is no farther matters that require my attention I suggest we adjourn.  Good then I will see you all on the morrow.

[Desertfox]

*grumble* New Switzerland is ALWAYS blamed for everything. And why would the Zionites and Swiss be supporting the Egyptians? They are enemies after all.

[Borys]

OOT
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus - The Lost legion?
Borys

[Tanthalas]

*grumble* New Switzerland is ALWAYS blamed for everything. And why would the Zionites and Swiss be supporting the Egyptians? They are enemies after all.

An opertunity to give Italia a black Eye... to good for New Zion to resist (aka info a mod sent me and Lucius Decumius would be the one to find things like this).

OOT
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus - The Lost legion?
Borys

actualy another Roman from the times just before Julius Ceaser, He started out as anti Marius but ended up one of his staunchest supporters.  (this had somthing to do with Marius disguising his sons sexuality)