Battleplans: Tarentum

“When the Governor learns of our uprising, he’ll rush his men out” Tevron commented. He, Strabo, Julian and a couple of other soldiers were hanging around a map table that had been built in one of the makeshift barracks that you had set up inside the city.

“Yes, and who is the commander of the Federates here?” Strabo asked, looking at Julian.

“That would be Doraecer, he’s a Frank” Julian replied, getting a grunt of annoyance out of Strabo.

“That makes things difficult, can I assume all his men are Franks?” Strabo asked and Julian nodded.

“The Franks control Gaul, what would they want with Odoacer’s gold?” you ask with a frown.

“Who knows, mercenaries aren’t picky about who pays them after all” Julian replied.

“The city layout is pretty well suited for pike walls” Strabo commented, drawing your attention back to the map. “I’d wager that the Federates will charge us the moment they see us, throwing their axes as soon as they get in range” he mused.

“That’s the best time for the crossbows” Artemis commented, appearing by your side. “We should have them on the rooftops so they can shoot down into the melee” she added.

“And who might you be missy?” Julian asked with a condescending tone.

“That’s Artemis, commander of our ranged troops” Strabo replied. You didn’t really have a ranged unit yet, but you’re getting there and Artemis would probably be leading it if you did have it. Julian sighed before completely ignoring the issue and turning back to the map.

“Yes, the uhh, crossbowmen, on the roof tops will make for an excellent fighting position . . . assuming those contraptions of yours work as advertised” Julian commented, throwing a glance at you before turning his attention back to the map.

“We’ll have our soldiers up front with their shields to soak damage, then, as the enemy draw close, the pikemen move forward and halt the enemy’s advance” Strabo said “Small flanking units will fan out down the side streets and flank the main fight to prevent the enemy from doing the same and to get behind them” he continued, sweeping his hands across the streets as he talks “Once our soldiers have them at the rear and yours at the front, with crossbows raining on them from both sides, it’ll be a massacre” Strabo finished, wiping his hands on his tunic as he straightened, looking at the others present.

“As good a plan as any, contingencies?” you ask, frowning at the map yourself. “No plan survives contact with the enemy” you say, getting frowns from the others around the table.

“Who says that?” Artemis asked with a frown.

“Sun Tzu, a general from the Far East, I’ll see if I can get a copy of his book translated into Latin for you” you reply before turning back to the map.

“If the Federates push hard enough, they will drive the militia back and they only have so far to go before they’re against the gates of the city” Julian commented.

“If they send some troops to flank us, our own flanking forces may not arrive in time to prevent the militia from breaking” you say.

“My men won’t break! We’ll see about yours!” Julian snapped. Both you and Strabo glared at the man who huffed before returning his gaze to the map.

“I’ll take the field with the militia” you say with a thoughtful frown, “That should give us the time we need to get past any attempts at flanking, and I have full confidence in our soldiers ability to break through the Federates” you add.

“You’ll take the field? With a sword?” Julian asked, derision clear in his voice.

“Despite what you think, Solus is actually probably the best fighter out of all of us, if anyone can hold, it’s him” Strabo grunted.

“Alone if necessary” you pipe in “I’ll have the crossbowmen as support either way” you add.

“Other than that, there isn’t any room for contingencies, we will have to commit and hope” Strabo said “Not that I like this but it is our best shot and it beats sieging the city down” he added.

“Agreed” Julian replied “Let us get the men ready” he added “Strabo? If you’d like to inspect my men? I’m sure yours are completely up to standard” he said. Strabo looked at the man before nodding and leaving with him.

“Follow them” you said quietly so that only Artemis could hear. “I’m getting more and more worried about that man, if he tries something, I’ll deal with the fallout a bout of divinity will cause” you add and Artemis nodded.