The Consul, Publius Albatius Fabianus, seemed incapable of making a decision as far as the various legislation was concerned. In the time of Rome's greatest peril and need, he was proved to be what all those had thought him to be - a dead weight. Spurius Furius had just received a powerful weapon to use in the Senate, however, courtesy of his benefactor in the north.

The chill of the north had swept south along with news of Rome's defeat. The greatest defeat since Cannae had rocked Rome to its foundations. Everyone seemed to walk around either in outright grief or at the very least, shock. Now, as dawn broke, and the city came to a subdued sort of life, Spurius Furius arranged the spectacle that, he hoped, would sink the enormity of the situation into the remaining Consul's head.

100 men, survivors of the Battle of Colicaria, followed Spurius Furius' lead as he marched down from the Palatine villa of his benefactor, to the Senate. Down the Hill, through the Forum, and up the steps of the Senate. The one hundred men - all Roman citizens, of course - were separated into small troops of 20. At the center of each 20 man troop shone the bright silver eagle, symbol of the legions. Below each eagle was a number, engraved in a plaque of gold.

I, II, III, IV, and V. Five entire legions reduced to nothing. This was the lesson to be learned. On the steps of the Senate, Furius ordered the men to stop their march. Snapping his fingers, just five men followed him into the Curia Hostilia, which was just settling down to order for the day, and had no clue what was to come.

"What is the meaning..." Fabianus began, in a shrill voice which trailed off as the five standard bearers fanned out behind Spurius Furius.

"These men here, and the 95 that accompanied them south, are all that remains of these legions," Spurius Furius called out in a crisp voice. "Conscript Fathers, five legions and more have been reduced to nothing by the beasts from the far north. I beseech the Consul, Publius Albatius, to give us a vote, and to give it now. We must restore these eagles to legions, and we must send an army north once more.

"It will take time to restore the men beneath these five eagles, Patres. There has been much talk - rash talk, unneeded talk - of how many men we should conscript. Certain members have even suggested we conscript slaves and freedmen to fill the ranks. I ask you though - will these Eagles accept such men beneath them? Would you?

"Just because these barbarians have strength in numbers, does not mean we should emulate them. If we copied our foes, our army would be entirely mercenary, as the Carthaginians - we would fight in phalanx formation still, as the Greeks - we would enlist slaves to do our dirty work, as the Parthians.

"We are ROMANS! We are the victors in every war and conflict that has been forced upon us. Perhaps not immediately - in fact, almost never immediately. I need not remind any man here of Cannae, or of Lake Trasimene. Of the horrible naval defeats of the First Punic War, or of the wars of attrition against Pyrrhus.

"We persevere. We do not emulate - others emulate us! We do not conscript every living soul, from boy to grandfather, just because that is what our foe does! No! We shall send another army north, and another, and another. Each time, should we meet defeat, these eagles shall return, and once more gather our sons and fathers beneath their wings. And march north once more!

"We strive towards victory, sure of the Gods' favor, confident in our Republic, and in ourselves as citizens of the earth's greatest nation! We need not slaves, nor hysterical Senators. All we need are good, honest Roman citizens. Where we go, the Italians, Noreians, Gauls, Ligurians, Spaniards, Mauretanians, and Africans shall follow.

"For we are Rome! Never forget, Conscript Fathers! Let us give these Eagles honorable men to lead! And let us show these barbarians that they shall never defeat us!"

With a nod, the five men took up station near the doors, in plain sight of every man in the Curia. Spurius Furius took his seat near the back rows, quite winded by his oration. He only hoped that the Consul would see the wisdom in his words.

MAC