Continued.
The next day...
“What lunacy is this, Lucius? What madness can this be? No mere poison can do what has been done here, not in the realms of the knowledge of man.” raged the aged warlord of the Empire. “This curse cannot be not the gods of Rome, nor any civilized peoples, to be sure… this must be some barbarian gods work, must it not?”
“Emperor, I know not.” Responded the Centurion with a heavy heart, still weary from the strange battle and the stranger still investigations. Men who bled not, who thought not, who fought until quartered and still lived, dying only when the head was severed. “I cannot know, not yet... but I swear to you on the standard, on Rome's Seven Hills, that I will answer all I can, with no spared effort.”
“This cannot be allowed to happen again… Accept the peace with the Parthians for now. Do not let them know our weakness and do not give more than the ground they hold. We don't know if this is -their- work and they may not know, even if it was, how effective it was.” Said the elder Roman, ceeding a rare victory to the foe.
“Can you imagine if… but one of these beasts were to find its way in to the undercity?” He asked, referring to the slums of Rome and many other of the core cities of the Empire “Or Alexandria… or Jerusalem. The havoc! These animals that walk but do not die as men, they could cause such chaos. They could overwhelm the Empire if left unchecked. The poor would be consumed, made in to the mob in hours, unable to comprehend. ”
“Well, I do not know about that, Excellency.” Lucius countered. While a military man, well educated, just as Trajan, but he yet lacked the spark to make him great. He was therefore, an excellent sub-commander. “These beasts, while hard to dispatch, they are not trained, my lord. They are not warriors and they are no match for the legions. A prepared century can dispatch thousands in an hour.”
“Yes, Lucius. But how many of the IVth survived this battle?”
“Emperor, we are still tabulating that...”
“Estimate then.” Ordered the Emperor, turning one eye to face the younger, the elder’s features drawn in profile that brooked no discontent.
“A half handful, my lord.. perhaps Thirty.”
“And how many marched in to Parthia?”
“My lord.” Said Lucius now, humbled by the numbers. “Nine Thousand and all attendant followers.”
“Mmmm.” Responded the Emperor, looking back to the pyres now being set up to burn the dead, both the few citizens of Alashtar and Legionnaire alike. “Now. In three days, a legion of the quality of the IVth was destroyed. Not damaged, not maimed. Destroyed. This Legion is destroyed for all intents and purposes. And how many barbarian bodies did we discover?”
’Thirteen, my lord.”
“As you say. In all the carnage here... One legion destroyed, another maimed… you tell me there are but thirteen bodies of what we could call enemies of Rome.” A pause as he turned full on to Lucius. “And you’ve the gall to tell me that a hundred men can dispatch thousands? Preparation is the key to all war, logistics the key to all preparation, Lucius, I am TRAJAN, ruler of this world upon which I so graciously allow you to walk!”
The emperor composed himself, looking back to the littered battlefield with narrowed eyes. “Tell me, Lucius... With these things in mind. " A heartbeats pause before the Emperor continued... "Will a city of any size even know what has happened before they are simply overwhelmed by the numbers these creatures can summon by raising their friends and family to fight for them? Will a local militia, more versed in collecting tax and enforcing edicts be disciplined enough, able enough to repel these creatures?"
Lucius paled.
“And then, Lucius... what of the next city along the road, for like locusts, these things will devour... and move on. All roads lead to Rome. They must be destroyed.” A pause. “But to destroy, you must understand.” The emperor shook his head now, feeling his age and his frustration in equal measures.
“I will travel back to Rome to make preparations. Secret preparations. This cannot be known to all, or panic would ensue. You... You will travel to Alexandria and consult with the Library and the scholars there. This smacks of the dead-worship of the Tomb Builders. Report to me in Rome come spring.”
The Legate clasped a hand to his chest in salute. “Hail Ceaser!”
Trajan’s lips curled up in to what might be called a smile. “Hail indeed, Lucius. Go with the blessings of the Empire.” With that, the elderly Emperor turned for his wagons, feeling the age of his frame. Had he but seen this twenty years previous, he mused to himself. Just twenty years younger.