Conscript fathers of Rome,

It is with a heavy heart that I must convey this message to you. The honorable Giaus Julius Commodus Atrebas, is missing in action. In making a personal inspection of the city’s outer defenses, it is believed that he fell into an ambush. The bodies of his guard have been found, however, he and his Egyptian escort are nowhere in the vicinity. I have conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area and a house-to-house search within the walls. As of this time, I have reinstituted travel restrictions throughout Alexandria. Night travel is strictly prohibited.

As described in an earlier dispatch, defensive works are now being implemented per my directive. Legio VIII is currently garrisoning the city of Alexandria. The lake of Mareotis lays just beneath her Southern city wall and the Medeteranian sea is to the North. Just outside the exposed Eastern and Western walls, a series of fossas (V shaped ditches) are being dug. The excess earth is being used to create an agger (elevated mound doubling the height of the inner ditch walls) and is being capped with a palisade. Upon completion, the ditches will be flooded with water from the harbor. Wood supplies are not the most abundant, but we are stretching resources as best as possible and are expecting new shipment imports. Additional towers and ballistae are also being erected. After these external defenses are complete, Legio VIII will commence building interior walls that will divide the city into quarters. If in the off chance any section of the city were to fall in a siege, there will then be interior defenses from which to fall back to. My main concern is to insure that the harbor can never fall. I estimate that 80% of the province’s trade runs through this city. I do not believe the enemy can survive in the lower Nile area while we control the capital city and dominate the local economy.

Our fortresses are beginning to stretch out southward down the Nile. Construction of these and the outposts are under constant cover of cavalry. Controlling the main road in this way will give us an even greater advantage in maneuverability and a firmer control over trade. No caravan of any size may enter or exit the thoroughfare without proper inspection.

In an open battlefield such as we will find in Aegyptus, our marching infantry are most susceptible to a cavalry charge. Training of the auxiliary troops in the use of slings has begun on the newly erected campus Aemilius.

No scout report has been able to identify for us the location of the enemy forces. Given the above circumstances, I have decreed the following rewards:

150,000D to the man that can recover the Praetor Commodus Atrebas alive. 150,000D to the man that can verify to us where the army of the false Pharaoh is. 750,000 D to the man that can bring to me the head of the false Pharaoh.

Your faithful servant,

Lucius Tillius Cimber

(OCC: is there a separate account balance for Agyptus? Also, any findings from informers or scouts would be appreciated. Thank you!)