NationStates Jolt Archive

The Roman Empire has suffered a series of devastating disasters resulting in the death of most of our population which started with plagues, followed by a strange spontanious meteor shower.
The Roman government has collapsed. The Emperor has fled to Germany, after he received word that one of his closest Generals was plotting to use the situation to assassinate him and take the throne.
General Hannible Hannibus has declared himself Ceasar. But it remains to be seen whether he can reign in control of the empire, get the loyalty of the other Roman Legions, and there is still the spectre that the Antonius may return to reclaim the Roman throne.
Hannible Hannibus' first act as Ceasar was to order the public execution of the Pope and three of his followers who had miraculously survived the collapse of the entire Gigatron Torture, Prison Complex just outside Rome.
Hannible's words were that if they weren't going to die by the hands of nature, they would die by the hands of man.

Meantime, troops loyal to Hannibus have rounded up the friends and family of Antonius and their publicly televised execution is scheduled for tommorrow. They are accused of the high crime of being related to Antonius and or refusing to swear loyalty to Hannible Hannibus.

Hundreds of thousands of Romans are said to be fleeing to Germany and Bosnia to escape the minions of Hannibus Ceasar.

It remains to be seen whether the remaining Roman legions will recognize the new Ceasar. But it is known that money is being paid out to buy their loyalty.

Dr. Suse Randall flicked the television off. "Lovely." she groused, and flipped through border-guard reports. well, as long as they don't come here... The recent conquest of neighbouring Lavia and Estonia by the Greater Sixth Reich was a bit of a problem, but so far, the Reich seemed content to remain in their newly conquered areas along the southern Baltic coast.

A war in Central Europe would probably, eventually, spread north into the Gulf area*-but not right away.
It all depended on whether the Sixth Reich would see the chaos in the Roman Empire as an opportunity, and whether Hannibus could manage to stalemate things badly enough for others-like Novikov, to get involved.
Such an outcome could bring war north.

President Halvorssen knocked on her door.

"Yes?" she answered. Her 'boss'-whose position was more or less a good cover for her own activities (the man simply could NOT make a decision...) entered.
"You've seen the reports from the south?" he asked.

She nodded, "I have. I'll have an executive order for you to sign by eighteen hundered tonight, and you can make an address to the Assembly at Twenty Hundered. I do not believe the Romans' problems will be affecting us in any kind of rapid way." she said soothingly, adding, "Though I think activating the second-tier reserves and conducting a series of excercises in Phlynt Canton would be apropriate, just in case I am wrong...though the chaos of a civil war on their southern border should reduce any possible dangers posed by the Sixth Reich's recent conquests to the south-it may be good news for us."

[*Gulf of Finland, Northern Baltic Sea.]

The first signs of whether the legions will support Hannibus began to come in today.
The 17th and 104th Roman Legions began marching into Rome in support of Hannibus, their Generals being close friends of Hannibus.

Reports are coming out of Northern France near the Luxembourg border that Antonius Ceasar is in hiding preparing surrounded by 5 Roman Legions.
He said to be very bitter and there are signs that he is plotting a comeback.


Meantime, a third party, General Claudius of the 99th Roman Legion has turned the remainder of his legion around and is said to be marching westward out of Austria toward Italy. His intentions are unknown at the moment.

350,000 troops are all that is left of Roman army that formerly consisted of 10 million troops. And the surviving Roman legionaires are pretty pest off. And fingers are being pointed.

Encrypted Message
To TGSR
From Antonius Ceasar, Rightful ruler of all Rome

I request your recognition as the legal ruler of Rome.
I further ask that you cut off all relations with that scumbag Hannibus.

The restoration of Antonius Ceasar as rightful leader of all Rome has begun today with news that 15 Roman Legions (a legion is 10,000 combat troops) are now marching on Rome. Their declared intent to arrest Hannibus and his followers and retake the government.

Those who refuse to swear loyalty to him are being cut down. Fields and granaries are being raided along the route to Rome.

Hannibal Hannibus continues to consolidate his rule by having random Romans grabbed off the streets and charged with treason. The suspects are proclaimed guilty then executed on the spot. Ceasar has even ordered 4 month old infants to be charged with treason and executed while they still lay in their mothers' arms. Artists throughout the empire have been ordered to build statues to Hannibus' honor. And the emperor has declared that all who fail salute the statures are to be declared guilty of treason.
Statues of emperors are a common site throughout Rome but this is the first time that the death penalty has been imposed for failure to salute one.
In another act Hannibus has ordered all 15 year old daughters to be sent to him for defloweration on their 15th birthdays. As with his other laws, failure to comply results death, death of the entire family.

Meantime, thousands of Romans continue to flee to neighboring nations.
Hannibus officials have said they are not concerned about Antonius because they are confident that the entire Roman military will side with Hannibus.
'As we all know, the northern legions in France have refused to support Antonius and are at this moment hunting him down for execution."

"Traitors" screamed Hannibus.
He had just learned that thousands of Roman troops had just crossed back into Italy in support of Antonius.
Take all the loyal legions north, and destroy them. Leave no one alive.
General Hadrian walked out of Palace proceeding to gather the troops to arms.
They had to move fast. Antonius had 8 Roman Legions with him and he was headed straight for Rome. That was not acceptable. When he was done, he would come back to Rome, kill Hannibus and declare himself Ceasar of all Rome.

Antonius Ceasar stood at the head of the loyal Roman legions who had rallied to his cause.
On the other side of the Elba river the legions loyal to Hannibus Ceasar were approaching.
The airforce and the navy were sitting this war out. Or so they had delcared.
The legions in Austria were said to be marching south to Hannibus' aid.
That made it 10 legions against Antonios 5 legions.
Ceasar took the megaphone and began his rallying speech.
"Hannibal Hannibus sits in Rome thinking himself untouchable. His troop strength is double ours but we're gonna have them doubled over. We're gonna put them on the defensive. After today, many of you will wake up in the elysian fields.
Know that your families will be looked after. When we get to Rome, heads will roll....." His speech was cut off by a sonic boom as Roman aircraft began dropping bombs on the loyal legions who began scattering as bombs began going off as soon they hit the ground. The Roman air force had sided with Hannibus.
The sorty had sent the legions of Antonius into total dissarray. 767 troops were killed in the first bombing run.