The news of his father's near demise had been a hammer blow to the young general. Until now his father had seemed immortal, indestructible but now that myth had been shattered as he stood at Death's door. He had to go to him. His brother Cnaeus was hundreds of miles away and his father's wife had disappeared off the face of the earth. He must go to him.

He called his personal cohort together and 100 cavalry but then a second message came through. Cato was dead. Suicide. And he had left the Exile forces to the command of Sextus. Apparently he had thought Pompeius Magnus was dead too.

This changed things completely. Sextus immediately made contact with Domitius about the new arrangement. He informs the Catonian commander that he intends to march to Xanthos to see his father and wishes to take some of Exile forces with him.

If Domitius agrees, Sextus will select the entire XXVth legion and 150 Roman cavalry to join him on his march to Xanthos. Lucius Afranius grudgingly agrees to stay at Alexandria Magna and continue the building work. Cnaeus Domitius will act as Sextus's equal seeing as how it is not a military campaign.

Sextus awaits the reply