Agrippa and Marcus were sitting on the deck of the Vesta with the legionaries and other crewmen when they noticed a ball of light in the sky just beyond where Gallus and the Aurora should be.

"That's the signal, Marcus. We have found the Aeneas.", Agrippa got up and walked to Demetrius who was near the bow of the Vesta.

"Signal to the other ships to form a column formation and keep it tight! We don't want any pirates slipping through our line."

"Aye.", Demetrius replied and started screaming orders in Greek.

Marcus had joined Agrippa and Demetrius.

"Be ready.", Agrippa said to Marcus.

A short while later, a second ball of light was seen.

"Full speed. Get us between shore and the pirate vessels!", Agrippa ordered.

"Aye.", more orders from Demetrius and the sails were completely unfurled. The fleet had a tailwind, but at an angle, so the rowers made up the difference in speed.

"Legionaries! Prepare for battle!", Agrippa roared.

The men were up onto their feet in an instant.

Agrippa could now see Gallus' fleet in battle formation. Two liburnae were racing towards the fleet followed by the larger quinquiremes followed by several other smaller vessels assumed to be the pirates.

Agrippa's fleet was speeding toward shore with the Vesta in the lead. Once the fleet was between shore and the ensuing battle, Agrippa addressed Demetrius. "I want the Vesta in the center of the formation." Demetrius screamed more orders and slowly one of the other triremes, one of biremes and three of the liburnae passed the Vesta and reformed the column.

The wind was blowing toward the shore and the port side of the Vesta faced the oncoming waves. The gentle sway of the ship from side to side was starting to get to even the sea-hardened Agrippa, but he wanted to give the visual appearance of an impenetrable line of ships to the pirate vessels that might look for an escape route.

Marcus looked positively green, but this was no time for a festival of vomiting. "Watch the horizon, Marcus, you will feel better."

Even from the distance at which Agrippa's fleet waited, Agrippa could see the battle ensue between Gallus' fleet and the pirates. The Aurora rammed one of the pirate ships which was now beginning to sink. Agrippa spotted two smaller ships racing toward them with full sail and at full speed.

“Hold position!”, Agrippa roared at Demetrius.

“Aye.”, Demetrius acknowledged.

“Hold!”, Agrippa could see that one of the liburnae was heading straight for the Vesta while the other was headed for the trireme next to the Vesta, the Athena.

“Hold!”, the liburnae were almost to the fleet when at less than one-half a stadium away, the liburnae spotted the fleet and raised their sails in order to slow their speed and change direction. But it was too late. The tail wind was sending them right into the grasp of Agrippa’s fleet.

“Now! Signal the Athena, battle speed!”

“Aye!”, again Demetrius shouted orders to the crew and the Vesta and the Athena began to turn slowly toward the liburnae attempting to flee to the south.

The triremes quickly gained on the liburnae that were still trying to turn away. The Vesta turned to her portside and met one of the liburnae on the starboard side. “Oars in!”, Agrippa yelled just as the beak on the Vesta crashed into the oars of the liburna before they could be retracted fully. The pirate vessel was crippled. The Vesta circled around the liburna and approached it starboard to port. Some of the pirates who were manning the oars attempted to escape by jumping into the water, but were quickly eaten by sharks.

“Corvus down!” The Corvus crashed into the deck of the liburna.

“Marcus, stay close behind me! Ready?”

“As ever!”, Marcus responded.

Agrippa was in full battle armor and was the first to board the pirate vessel. With a crazed look in his eye and to prove that he meant business, he decapitated the first pirate that he encountered. “Drop your weapons or you will die like your friend here!”

The pirates were slow to respond, so with lightening speed, Agrippa decapitated another pirate. “Now drop your weapons!”

To Agrippa’s satisfaction the pirates, slack jawed, dropped their weapons. “On your bellies, now!” The pirates complied.

Agrippa addressed the legionaries. “Search the ship, men, and be wary of this pirate scum, if they move, kill them!” Agrippa stepped onto the neck of the pirate closest to him. “Where is your captain? Lie to me and I will cut off your colei and feed them to your friends.” The pirate managed to point to the tented structure aft of the group. Agrippa motioned to his centurion to search it.

The centurion returned shortly with a scruffy looking, bearded man. Agrippa applied a little more pressure to the back of the pirates neck. “Is this your captain?” The man in the centurion’s grasp looked fearful. Agrippa applied even more pressure when the pirate did not respond immediately.

“Aye!”, the pirate managed to croak.

“Tie him up and take him aboard our ship. Keep him on the deck with one man watching him at all times. Tie the rest of these scum up and take half to our ship. Half of you men stay here with the other half of pirates. Centurion, you are in command of this ship. Anyone left below?”

“No Quaestor!”

“Good then.”, Agrippa signaled to Marcus to return to the Vesta. “Let us see how the Athena faired.”

“Demetrius, provide a captain and oarsmen for the pirate ship. Provide a few oars as well. Have them follow us.” Agrippa could see that the Athena had engaged the other pirate liburna and was transferring captives to back her deck. Agrippa scanned the horizon for Gallus’ fleet and signs of battle. All looked quiet. “ It appears the main battle is over. We will meet up with Gallus’ fleet. Signal to the other ships to follow us.” Agrippa walked toward the stern to be alone.

Agrippa was quite pleased with the outcome. He would have preferred to sink both pirate vessels, but he was under strict orders to preserve as many captives and ships as he could.

Agrippa was not a brutal man and did not take lives without a reason. Silently he prayed without anyone noticing he thought. “Mars, the men that I killed, I killed for you. I am grateful to you for allowing me to win this battle and please bring me success in future battles that I might fight. Neptune, thank you for keeping our ships safe from harm and I pray that you continue to do so. The men that jumped to their deaths, were sacrifices to you. Please accept them with my most humble gratitude.”

Marcus watched as Agrippa prayed silently and began to pray himself.