Centurion Publius Rufius Atellus
Roman Border Post, West of Tarbarka
Thursday 15th February 2018, 1100hrs Local Time
Centurion Publius Rufius Atellus settled his beret onto his head as he stepped out of the Puma 4x4 Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle, borrowed from the auxiliary cavalry cohort attached to the 8th Legion (Legio VIII) at Castrum Beja given that inspection tours like this didn’t exactly need the Legions own Sagitta Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Legatus of the 8th Legion was the senior officer responsible for all the auxiliary cohorts in the northern region of this Tunisia, whilst administratively they handled their own affairs in operational matters they deferred to and were subject to the control of their parent Legion. One of the principal operational duties of an auxiliary infantry cohort during peacetime was manning the border posts on the frontiers of Roman territory, and every month the Legion would send an officer to inspect all of the border posts to ensure that they were up to the required standard. This was a vital part of the ensuring that the auxiliary cohorts, which were raised and manned by the provinces, were kept up to the required standard of the Roman Army. The Cohort’s Prefect conducted weekly inspections, an officer from the legion conducted monthly inspections whilst the Legatus himself conducted a full inspection annually.
It was a system that worked well enough to maintain the balance between the provinces maintaining their own military units, for their own security and defence, and ensuring that they could integrate with the legions as and when required.
This particular border post was one of the larger ones along the border with Algeria; given it’s proximity to the the densely populated northern parts of Tunisia, and was the only real point for some miles in either direction that one could cross the border. As such it was manned by an entire century of Auxiliary Infantrymen, and as such in addition to the watch towers and the checkpoint offices themselves it also included a barracks block in which the century could rotate its troops, allowing each century to maintain a watch for a week before being relieved by another century. This ensured a continuity of experience and knowledge at the check point, and combined with a detailed hand-over process for the commanding Centurion minimised mistakes. That was the protocol anyway, and ensuring that the protocols were all followed was the principal purpose of the regular inspections.
Rufius Atellus glanced behind him to ensure that the eight Immunes that had been assigned to him to conduct the inspection were ready and made his way towards the checkpoint; the Auxiliary Centurion making his way over to meet him. They were challenged by the Auxiliary soldiers at this side of the check point and, after giving the correct password were allowed to enter. The Centurion did not salute, although a Legionary Commission took precedence over an Auxiliary Commission they were of the same rank, but he did off his hand and shook it firmly.
“We were challenged very smartly by your sentries,” Rufius Atellus commented with an approving nod. “A good start.”
“Indeed, Centurion,” The Auxiliary Officer replied, a touch of deference in his tone. “Shall we begin?”
Rufius Atellus nodded and the Immunes began to conduct their own assigned parts of the inspection; the two Centurions made their way around taking a look over the general state of the checkpoint. Ensuring that the checkpoints on this part of the Roman Border was essential due to the situation in Algeria. A civil war had been raging for several years now between the highly corrupt government, which controlled the densely populated north and much of the oil and hydrocarbon infrastructure, and a rebellion, principally hiding in the poorer south, which had initially begun as a military struggle but had increasingly become more and more violent, with atrocities increasing weekly. Refugees had flooded across the border, making the job of checkpoints like this increasingly delicate and difficult, and the matter had begun to be discussed in Rome itself. There was a desire to resolve the situation, for the safety of the Roman Province of Africa Proconsularis, however few in the Senate wanted to wade into an existing civil war without support on at least one side; Rome’s strategy of divide and conquer had always been the most effective.
“You’ve got a very smart looking checkpoint here, Centurion,” Rufius Atellus commented as he stood with his brother officer by the border exit of the checkpoint. “Not that I’m surprised, your Cohort has a good record of inspections.”
“Thank you, Centurion, we do try our best,” The Auxiliary Officer replied with a smile. “We have been busy out here.”
“So I’ve heard,” Rufius Atellus agreed with a nod. “Have you had any problems?”
“Not since the Proconsul authorised to accept refugees across the border, but there were a lot of frightened people that were desperate to get to safety,” The Auxiliary Officer sighed. “But now they’re allowed across, and the Governor’s Office has established a refugee camp, things are a lot better, and the Algerian Military is smart enough not to bother.”
Rufius Atellus looked past his Auxiliary counterpart and frowned, a cloud of dust was rising from the road leading to the checkpoint on the Algerian side.
“Are you sure about that?”
The Auxiliary Centurion took one look at the size of the cloud and wasted no time in shouting for his soldiers to stand-to and man their weapons. By the time that the five vehicles causing the dust cloud pulled up the Auxiliary Century was arrayed to defend the checkpoint; the machine guns on the watch towers manned and the rest of the century assuming defensive positions. The Legion Contubernium (eight man squad) that had accompanied Rufius Atellus formed a protective shield around their officer, just in case, but this was the checkpoints business so he deferred to the Auxiliary Officer who approached the checkpoint with a megaphone. On the other side of the barrier a group of armed men had disembarked from the vehicles, being very careful to avoid provoking the Roman Auxiliarymen, but had the look more of tactical police forces than military soldiers, and they were forming a perimeter around the vehicles. The reason for this was revealed a short time later when a suited man disembarked from the central vehicle and began to make his way towards the checkpoint. The half dozen men from the larger escort which had accompanied the suited man were instructed to remain clear of the checkpoint, but their charge approached the barrier alone.
The Auxiliary Officer exchanged words with the man, before turning to Rufius Atellus with a raised eyebrow and beckoning him over; clearly whatever was happening it demanded the attention of a Legion Officer, Keeping his hand resting on the grip of his sidearm, the Pugio Joint Combat Pistol (the Roman designation for the Beretta Px4 Storm pistol, chambered for .45 ACP), Rufius Atellus made his way towards the barrier.
“I am Centurion Publius Rufius Atellus, commanding the 5th Century of the 2nd Cohort, 8th Legion,” Rufius Atellus said by means of introduction, identifying himself and his unit. “Please identify yourself, Sir.”
“My name is Khalil Amrani,” The Man replied, and when he didn’t get the recognition he was clearly hoping for he elaborated. “I am the Algerian Minister of the Interior.”
Only his training, professionalism, and the traditional image of the unflappability of the Roman Centurion, kept the surprise from showing on Rufius Atellus’ face at this revelation. He released his grip on the pistol, it was unlikely that this was about to turn into a firefight and he didn’t want to appear hostile.
“What can we do for you, Minister?”
“I would like to meet with your Governor,” Minister Amrani replied promptly. “As soon as possible.”
“This is most irregular, Minister, coming to a border checkpoint like this,” Rufius Atellus frowned. “Do you have diplomatic papers?”
“It’s not that sort of meeting, Centurion,” Minister Amrani replied bluntly. “My President doesn’t know I’m here.”
“I see,” Rufius Atellus raised an eyebrow. “I’ll have to push this up the chain of command, you and two bodyguards may enter the Republic.’
Proconsul Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Governor of Africa Proconsularis
Governor’s Praetorium, Tunis
Thursday 15th February 2018, 1500hrs Local Time
“… presented himself to the Auxiliary Century manning one of our border posts, fortunately there was a Legion Centurion performing an inspection at the time and was able to quickly push it up the chain,” Tiberius Sextius Bubulcus, Chief of Staff to the Proconsul, explained as he walked alongside the Governor. “The Minister was taken to the Legatus of the 8th Legion, who confirmed the request and sent him on his way here to see yourself, Sir.”
Proconsul Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Governor of Africa Proconsularis, frowned as he strode along the corridor in his Praetorian in Tunis that led from his office to the entrance hall where the Algerian Minister was waiting for him. The man’s arrival had taken pretty much everyone in the Roman Administration in Tunis by surprise, no one had expected that anyone in the Algerian Government would reach out to Rome, much less without the permission of his President. It went without saying that everyone from the Governor down was presuming that something interesting was afoot, and the situation had already been reported to Rome through secure channels. As a Proconsul, and a Provincial Governor, Valerius Flaccus had a great deal of authority and autonomy in his province, and in any situation that posed a threat to his province, so although he would report back to Rome the Senate and the two Consuls had authorised him to act in a manner for the best interests of the Republic.
“What do we know of the man?” Valerius Flaccus queried.
“According to Praetorian Intelligence the man is a moderate by all accounts, he’s mostly been concerned with trying to keep the peace, he’s not a hawk like the Minister of Defence, or indeed the Algerian President himself,” Centurion Lucius Papirius Avitus of the Praetorian Guard, the Governor’s Staff Officer for Intelligence, replied promptly. “As Minister of the Interior, Amrani has been trying to maintain some level of law and order, whilst his colleagues and superiors have been trying to defeat the rebels.”
“With limited success,” Sextius Bubulcus commented dryly. “Every government attack just emboldens the radicals and alienates the moderates.”
“And every rebel attack does exactly the same to those in Government-held territory; and reports of atrocities by the Rebels on loyalist civilians have been increasing in recent weeks,” Paprius Avitus added. “The civil war has in many respects become a stalemate, but the frustration is showing on both sides, particularly on the immediate either side of the front line.”
“No wonder it’s a bloody disaster over there,” Valerius Flaccus commented.
The trio arrived at the entrance hall and found the Algerian Minister, his bodyguards and a Legion Centurion waiting for them. The Algerian bodyguards had been disarmed by the agents of the Lictors Guild who protected the Proconsul, and all Roman Magistrates, but would be allowed to accompany their charge. As a soldier of Rome the Centurion retained his sidearm, as his trustworthiness was implicit.
“Minister, I am Proconsul Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Governor of this Province,” Valerius Flaccus said formally as he offered a hand to the man. “I understand you are here of your own accord. What can I do for you?.”
“Proconsul… thank you for seeing me, I was not sure if you would, given the circumstances of my visit,” Minister Amrani replied honestly. “Put simply, I am here to save my people.”
“You’ll have to be more specific, Minister,” Valerius Flaccus commented wryly. “How can I help you with that?”
“The situation in my country has got to a state in which I cannot see a way forward for us; the Government is corrupt, but powerful and stubborn, the Rebels had a just cause, but have become frustrated and violent,” Minister Amrani replied with a sigh. “The Government cannot truly crush the Rebels because, even despite their increasing atrocities they have significant support, but the Rebels can never truly hope to overthrow the Government on their own.”
“Are you suggesting we prop up your Government, Minister?” Valerius Flaccus frowned. “Or that we assist the Rebels?”
“Neither; both the Government and the Rebels have lost legitimacy through their actions, neither side will accept the control of the other… not any more,” Minister Amrani replied bluntly. “Neither side is prepared to back down and allow a two-state solution either, and a continued conflict will only lead to prolonged violence and bloodshed.”
“I’m sorry, Minister, you are still not answering my question,” Valerius Flaccus stated. “What do you want from me?”
“How many legions do you have in your province, Proconsul, five?” Minister Amrani asked. “That’s what, twenty-five thousand men?”
“Twice as many once their battlegroups are assembled,” Valerius Flaccus replied, taken aback by the apparent non sequitur. “What do my legions have to do with your civil war?”
“I want you to use your legions to enforce a ceasefire; you put twenty-five thousand of Rome’s vaunted legionaries on the frontline and neither the Government nor the Rebels would be suicidal enough to try anything,” Minister Amrani stated, at last getting to his point. “Once the fighting stops there is, at last, a chance for a lasting peace; with your troops keeping the peace Rome can install a new administration, Rome’s blessing, and overlordship, is the only thing that could provide legitimacy.”
“You are essentially asking Rome to take over your country,” Valerius Flaccus stated. “What’s in it for you? The Governorship?”
“My concern is only for my people,” Minister Amrani replied. “If Rome decides I am the best placed to lead then I will, of course accept.”
“Of course,” Valerius Flaccus repeated dryly.
The Proconsul was silent for a few moments as he considered the situation. He knew that Rome had been becoming increasingly concerned with these situation in Algeria, and this was just the incentive they needed to get involved. It also provided them with a justification; Rome would always do whatever was in it’s best interests, international opinion be damned, but if they could use this request as a clear, legitimate reason for their conquest then so much the better. Just because they didn’t need international support didn’t mean that they wouldn’t discount it there was a means by which it could be attained. Even if there had not been a national security interest at risk here, Valerius Flaccus knew that the Rome would quite like to bring Algeria into the Republic; it’s hydrocarbon and natural gas reserves alone were a tempting target. As such Valerius Flaccus knew that Rome would endorse this operation with a decent degree of certainty.
“Aright, Minister, I’ll have to confirm with Rome, but I am pretty confident that I know what their answer will be, so I’ll approve your request on behalf of the Senate and People of Rome,” Valerius Flaccus stated after a few more moments of thought. “It will take seventy-two hours for my Legions to be able to muster and be ready to cross the border, so they’ll leave you plenty of time to sit down with my Staff Intelligence Officer and give him as much information as you can about Government and Rebel dispositions… if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it properly.”
“Understood Proconsul,” Minister Amrani nodded. “I presume you’ll want me to make an address to broadcast as your troops are going on.”
“We will; you’ll need to denounce both your Government and the Rebels, and state that your belief that Rome is the only means by which your people can survive and prosper,” Valerius Flaccus replied. “Other than that say what you will, I don’t want to script you, and I don’t want you to sound scripted; this cannot seem like we’re using you as a pawn.”
“I understand, Proconsul,” Minister Amrani agreed. “I’ll also reach out to my people, and start building a network of support.”
“Good… alright then Minister, I’ll have rooms made available for you here, you can stay as my guest, or we can find you a hotel as you wish,” Valerius Flaccus said firmly, glancing to Sextius Bubulcus who nodded. “Either way get your rest tonight, and stay contactable, this thing is gonna start moving very quickly, and we all need to be ready.”
