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THERMAE SALINUNTINAE, BEFORE THE WALLS OF THE PIRATE CAMP

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On cue, the legionaries advanced their lines, slashing the enemy with their gladii, cutting them down before they had a chance to react.  Despite the efficiency of the Roman cohorts, many an enemy arrow met its Roman mark.

Agrippa watched the battle ensue from near Cohort IV near the western edge of the fortress wall.  Cohort IV was having much success rolling the enemy away from the fortress wall.  "Battering ram, on the ready!", Agrippa yelled.  The legionaries manning the battering ram moved it slowly toward the fortress wall.  Once the ram was in position, Agrippa called for its use.  "Battering ram, now!" 

The legionaries released the ram and it hit the wall.  The wall stood firm.

"Again!"

The legionaries reset the battering ram and once again it hit the wall.  The wall did not budge.

Agrippa and the legionaries kept at it for quite a while and after many attempts the stones appeared to shift.  "Hold!"  Agrippa needed time to reassess the battle.  It appeared that the enemy force had been reduced significantly. 

"Commander!", Quadratus ran up to Agrippa.  "I have word from the fleet that the pirate ships went back into the harbor.  Our spotter ship was able to get close enough to see that the pirates moored their ships and disembarked.  It is believed that they are staying to fight."

Agrippa was not pleased, but maintained his composure.  "How many pirates?  Give me an estimate."

"The spotter estimated 2,100 pirates."

"I need numbers now.  Get them to me immediately."  Agrippa knew that he had lost many men, but at this point did not have an accurate count of the dead and wounded.  He could see that the enemy force was diminished, but was unsure by how much.

Quadratus saluted and hurried off to gather the counts.

"Quaestor Agrippa, should we continue with the battering?", one of the legionaries manning the battering ram inquired.

"No.  Hold for now.  Move the ram out of position."

Agrippa watched as the Cohorts drove the enemy back.  The enemy forces grew smaller and smaller until there seemed to be none left.  Agrippa sent a runner, "tell the men to hold their position, do not enter the fortress." 

After what seemed like a lifetime to Agrippa, Quadratus returned.

Quadratus read from his papyrus, "Commander, here are  the new numbers:  enemy forces:  116 fallen due to missile, 971 fallen in battle, 281 wounded captured.  With the numbers from earlier, 504 enemy forces still live and have escaped into the fortress.  Roman forces:  68 fallen due to missile, 119 wounded by missile, 150 fallen in battle, 284 wounded in battle, 14 missing in action, believed to be captured.  The enemy force has 2,604 men to our 1132 legionaries and 1300 marines."

"Juno's cloaca!", Agrippa thought to himself.  "When can the wounded men be returned to fighting?  How serious are the injuries?"

"Commander, we do not know yet.  The medics will have to examine the wounded and let me know."

Agrippa thought on it.  "The men have fought hard today and we have had a great success.  I want you to spread the word that I am quite pleased with the outcome today.  But we are all tired, hungry and most importantly, outnumbered.  That I do not want you to spread.  We will make camp away from the wall and wait for our wounded men to heal.  Once our numbers increase and our men are well rested, we attack.  In the meantime we will need fresh water and food.  We will have to subsist on wild greens, berries, and fish for now.  Make sure that the marines receive fresh water and food as well.  I want them to stand watch over the harbor.  We will run attacks by land in the day and by water at night to keep the pirates off guard.  Keep abreast of the mood of the men.  If they become bored, we will swap them with the ground troops.  After the men have eaten, we will begin to cut down those trees over there and build a fortress of our own."

"Aye, Commander", Quadratus began eyeing the trees to which Agrippa referred.

"For our first attack tonight, we will send our fastest liburnae into the harbor.  I want it to damage one of the pirate ships by ramming it, if it can do so safely.  We cannot afford to lose any ships.  The objective is to keep the pirates guessing as to our next move.  If the liburnae sees any supplies that it can obtain easily, take them.  We may be here for a while." 

Quadratus shook his head in confirmation.

"Tomorrow afternoon, we will move the 7 remaining ballistae into position and launch missiles into the fortress."  Agrippa took the scroll from Quadratus and wrote some notes on it with a piece of charred wood, rolled it up in reverse, scooped up a glob of mud and sealed the scroll with his signet ring.  "Make sure the spotter gets this message back to the fleet."

"Aye, sir.  Will do.  If I may sir, what about the enemy captives?"

"Round them up.  We will interrogate them.  Find out what they know.", Agrippa winked at Quadratus.  "I need to eat first.  Torture is hard work, especially on an empty stomach."

Quadratus saluted and Agrippa returned the salute.

Agrippa looked around at his surroundings and took a deep breath.  It was now early afternoon, but the day remained cool.  "Beautiful land, this is.  I hope the men do not tire of it and I hope they do not tire of fish."

TBC

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OOC: 

Battle Orders:

1. Agrippa has decided not to attack the fortress and to wait 1 week IRT for his 402 men to heal so that he will have a land force of 1,534 and a marine force of 1,300.

2. A Roman encampment will be built near the walls of the pirate fortress, but outside range of any arrows or ballistae.

3. A guard will be set up to watch for any surprise attack on the Roman fortress from the pirates.

4. Scouts will be sent on a daily basis to monitor the movements of the pirates.

5. Daily attacks by water will be conducted to damage the pirate ships.  Attacks will occur at different times of day and night.

6. Missiles will be launched into the pirate fortress at various times of day to keep the pirates on edge.

7. The fleet will maintain the same position and monitor the entrance to the harbor.

8. A spotter liburnae will still watch for any returning pirates ships.

9. A spotter liburnae will monitor the movement of the pirates and pirates ships moored in the harbor.

10.  A supply line will be set up consisting of fresh water, fish, wild greens and wild berries.

11.  Men will be moved from marine duties to ground troop duties to avoid boredom and to keep the men well rested and alert.

The post for interrogation of prisoners will follow.