Decisions, decisions, Day Six.
At Isca there is intelligence to process and decisions to be made.
Reports from various sources, including from the forts, make it clear that something serious, in the form of a revolt, is taking place in the north beyond the Black Mountains and in the Central Hills. The problem is spreading rabidly and the situation changing daily, and there seems to be a clear need for local decisions to be made without constant referral to headquarters. It is decided to create two independent vexillations.
The following will take place:
The 2nd Cohort (Trib.Caesetius) and 8th Cohort (Trib. Flaccus) will proceed from Isca, along with II Vascones, along the Via Firmia to Ft. Firmium. Caesetius is to take command locally, form an independent vexillation from the units of Augusta and the garrison, and at once move to subdue those septs north and east of the Black Mountains. It will take one full day to get the force ready, another to force march to Fort Firmium, then a day to recover, form the vexillation, sent out reconnaissance and plan matters (Say four days before affirmative action can begin).
The 3rd Cohort (Trib. Albinius) and I Morini will march from Isca to Bovium via the via Bovia, pick up the Auxiliary (only) units deployed there, then proceed to Fort Difforum (Via Diffa). Albinus will take command here, form an independent vexillation, and move north along the Diffa Valley with whatever forces he deems sufficient to secure the valley and the hills to the north west. It will take one full day to get the force ready, best part of another to march to Bovium, then most of the following day to reorganise at Bovium, march to Difforum and assess local conditions (again, say four days before affirmative action).
The force at Ft. Serrovium is to patrol and prevent any minor incursions down the Serrova valley or across/southwards in the Serrova/Isca hills. It will take at least four hours before despatches reach Serrovium, maybe more. However, some scouting/patrolling SHOULD be routine.
The 8th Coh. (Trib. Caninia) road-building units attached to Leuca (NOT the centuries at Bovium) are to concentrate at Fort Nidenum by the quickest routes. Once concentrated Canina and the garrison will coordinate with and support Albinus to subdue the central hills. It will take at around eleven hours before despatches reach Leuca, maybe more, then another day for the units here to concentrate. Thus it may be up to three days before units get to Nindanum (say four days before action, to allow local assessment of the situation and coordination with Albinus).
The Auxilia at Fort Leuca are to follow Standing Orders to patrol the borders and highland to the north, and prevent any minor incursions from the north and west.
So, basically four days before we can start hitting the rebels - partly because with ALL of the above there is the factor of not looking too hurried or panicked; in case THIS discourages loyalists/encourages would-be rebels.
The Roman Plans: detailed view of north/centre
From patrols, intelligence assessments and census returns it is estimated that the rebels in arms will at this stage number no more than two to two and a half thousand warriors of all types, these likely to be scattered across the areas in revolt, with concentrations only in the vicinity of the Black Mountains/northern Isca valley.
The main force will remain on stand-by at Isca pending the success of the vexilliations.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill:
A force of some 780 men have gathered in the hills just south of Fort Firmium under a tribal leader named Buan. He moves up towards the leader of the revolt, Caeog of the Mountain, who has gathered some seven hundred men from the northern hills to his banner - but seems to lack the drive to use them.
[All the result of dice tests. These numbers are diced for for each zone occupied by the testing leader and each adjacent revolting zone. Totals are diced for in "thirds" on a 6D, with potential numbers for each terrain type as follows: Each Hillfort Cluster – 600 potential
warriors. Each hill zone - 150, plains zone - 270, woods/mountains
- 90.
The attitudes of the leaders are likewise dice-driven.]
By end of Day Six more areas have risen, including the area along the River Serova (and around Fort Serovium) and the Diffa Valley. This NOT good for the Romans, as the long river routes and open valleys allow contacts with many other adjacent zones. However, the septs in the Bagadiffa Valley have remained loyal to Rome.
In addition, a leader named Twrch has risen in the Central Hills, and is also gathering forces.
All in all the Romans have been caught on the hop. The distances involved are, in the grand scheme of things, small, but everything takes time. Meanwhile, the native rumour mill (just as fast and far less vulnerable than despatch riders) spreads word of the revolt. The rebels have four days before the Romans start to bite.
AND we still haven't got up to date details of Roman effective strengths.
Thus it goes....
The following will take place:
The 2nd Cohort (Trib.Caesetius) and 8th Cohort (Trib. Flaccus) will proceed from Isca, along with II Vascones, along the Via Firmia to Ft. Firmium. Caesetius is to take command locally, form an independent vexillation from the units of Augusta and the garrison, and at once move to subdue those septs north and east of the Black Mountains. It will take one full day to get the force ready, another to force march to Fort Firmium, then a day to recover, form the vexillation, sent out reconnaissance and plan matters (Say four days before affirmative action can begin).
The 3rd Cohort (Trib. Albinius) and I Morini will march from Isca to Bovium via the via Bovia, pick up the Auxiliary (only) units deployed there, then proceed to Fort Difforum (Via Diffa). Albinus will take command here, form an independent vexillation, and move north along the Diffa Valley with whatever forces he deems sufficient to secure the valley and the hills to the north west. It will take one full day to get the force ready, best part of another to march to Bovium, then most of the following day to reorganise at Bovium, march to Difforum and assess local conditions (again, say four days before affirmative action).
The 8th Coh. (Trib. Caninia) road-building units attached to Leuca (NOT the centuries at Bovium) are to concentrate at Fort Nidenum by the quickest routes. Once concentrated Canina and the garrison will coordinate with and support Albinus to subdue the central hills. It will take at around eleven hours before despatches reach Leuca, maybe more, then another day for the units here to concentrate. Thus it may be up to three days before units get to Nindanum (say four days before action, to allow local assessment of the situation and coordination with Albinus).
The Auxilia at Fort Leuca are to follow Standing Orders to patrol the borders and highland to the north, and prevent any minor incursions from the north and west.
So, basically four days before we can start hitting the rebels - partly because with ALL of the above there is the factor of not looking too hurried or panicked; in case THIS discourages loyalists/encourages would-be rebels.
 |
| The Roman Plans: detailed view of north/centre |
From patrols, intelligence assessments and census returns it is estimated that the rebels in arms will at this stage number no more than two to two and a half thousand warriors of all types, these likely to be scattered across the areas in revolt, with concentrations only in the vicinity of the Black Mountains/northern Isca valley.
The main force will remain on stand-by at Isca pending the success of the vexilliations.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill:
A force of some 780 men have gathered in the hills just south of Fort Firmium under a tribal leader named Buan. He moves up towards the leader of the revolt, Caeog of the Mountain, who has gathered some seven hundred men from the northern hills to his banner - but seems to lack the drive to use them.
[All the result of dice tests. These numbers are diced for for each zone occupied by the testing leader and each adjacent revolting zone. Totals are diced for in "thirds" on a 6D, with potential numbers for each terrain type as follows: Each Hillfort Cluster – 600 potential warriors. Each hill zone - 150, plains zone - 270, woods/mountains - 90.
The attitudes of the leaders are likewise dice-driven.]
By end of Day Six more areas have risen, including the area along the River Serova (and around Fort Serovium) and the Diffa Valley. This NOT good for the Romans, as the long river routes and open valleys allow contacts with many other adjacent zones. However, the septs in the Bagadiffa Valley have remained loyal to Rome.
In addition, a leader named Twrch has risen in the Central Hills, and is also gathering forces.
All in all the Romans have been caught on the hop. The distances involved are, in the grand scheme of things, small, but everything takes time. Meanwhile, the native rumour mill (just as fast and far less vulnerable than despatch riders) spreads word of the revolt. The rebels have four days before the Romans start to bite.
AND we still haven't got up to date details of Roman effective strengths.
Thus it goes....
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