To Crown a Caesar (The Praetorian Series: Book II) (66 page)

“What?!”  Herod’s face was growing redder by the minute and his disposition was quickly degrading.  “You are not honestly considering helping these people.”

“I’m not considering anything,” Vespasian snapped.  “Yet.”

At this point, I wasn’t sure what the enigmatic Roman was thinking.  It was completely possible that he had already somehow deduced that I would come to him with these exact same demands or he could just be as clueless as Herod.

“So, is that all?”  Vespasian asked again.  “I wonder if I should consider such a request insulting, especially
since you have returned without Agrippina as we’d agreed.”  He waved a hand.  “Besides, this city, and this man here especially,” he said indicating Herod, “are in quite a state of disarray, and we should not forget how fractured this once great empire has become, oddly enough, all thanks to you and your actions.”

I glanced at Artie
and Archer, wondering if their
Prophesy of Doom’s
origin was about to be explained right now.

“What’s happened?”  I asked.

Vespasian casually made his way to his desk before answering my question.  Herod moved to stand behind the Roman, his good arm folded across his chest, clutching his injured one.  I was still amazed how familial these two were.  Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea Herod and Vespasian had ever even met.

“It seems you are the catalyst for a great many things, Jacob Hunter,” Vespasian said matter of factly.  “I know little of Rome’s history from where you come from, but from what little I have learned from Galba, I have surmised that it went on for quite a time after the reign of Caligula.  Is this correct?”

“Yes, quite a while longer.  Five hundred years more.  Fifteen hundred more some would argue,” I finished making the tired argument that Rome’s true existence lasted until the end of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, a fact that sadly only a select few college students ever learned.

“Well then,” he said, “it seems we have quite the problem then.”

“Can you please get to the point,” Helena asked, never one for historical digressions.

Vespasian smiled even though I suspected he had nothing to smile about.

“The vast empire of Rome has fractured,” he said.  “Rebellions have flared up everywhere.  The Germanic peace in the North has come to an end and Sarmatia has made veiled threats to attack our legions there, justifying it as self-defense.  Gauls are growing restless in the West, the Parthians are ready to advance into Anatolia, and the senate of Rome is completely divided on what to do.  They’re as frightened as Vestal Virgins on a windy day.”

He paused for a moment to survey us, but none of us moved.  I couldn’t speak for my companions, but my mind was alternating between shock and vindication.  I always knew we’d screw up so bad that something this big would happen, but I’d assumed it would manifest itself years from not, perhaps even well after we were well and buried.  But the magnitude and suddenness of what Vespasian had described was shocking.

“Oh,” Vespasian said with a smile, “I believe I forgot to mention that Britain has rebelled against the legion I left there last year as well.”

My mouth opened in preparation for words to emerge, but nothing came out.  Vespasian noticed my hesitation.

“So...” Vespasian said slowly as he lurched to his feet.  “I have a proposition for you, Jacob Hunter.  I give you everything you ask for and more, and in return... you reconquer Britain for me.”

Now I was truly stunned.

“Me?”

“Not you alone, of course,” Vespasian comforted as he leaned against his desk his arms crossed in front of him.  “I have already sent a courier to Galba to make haste to Britain and wait for your arrival.  He is the most experienced military commander I have, and will serve you well.  German forces are weak.  Tired.  They still have much fight in them, but will be little more than an annoyance
and Sarmatia will take some time to mobilize .  We have bigger problems elsewhere.”

“So what do you want me to do?”  I asked nervously.

“As I said, Britain has launched hostilities against Roman forces.  We left only a single legion when Agrippina ordered us to the German front, even though I argued we would need at least another year to quell the country side and leave no less than three legions to maintain control.”

“So how many are you sending with Galba?”

I tried to do the math in my head of how many legions were currently with Galba, Vespasian, here, located in Britain, and in the rest of the empire, but there were so many units in play at the moment I couldn’t keep track of them all.

“Zero.”

“None, huh?”  I quipped.  “What do you want me to do, win Britain over with my looks and charms alone?”  I paused.  “Well, that might actually work.”

Helena elbowed me in my rib cage, luckily on my unwounded side, and Vespasian smiled.

“That will not be necessary.  I will send the
XV Primigenia
with you as well.  I believe you are familiar them?”

“Yes, we’ve worked with them before.”

“Good, then you should be familiar with the officers at least.  Furthermore, you will have its compliment of auxilia, the legion and its auxilia already present in Britain, and of course you will have Galba as well.”

“Oh good,” Santino mumbled under his breath.

“But you’re not even giving me what you consider a
peace keeping
force,” I countered.

“I have full faith in your abilities, Jacob Hunter.  You can do things that ten legions cannot.  You will need that kind of precision if you wish to succeed.”

I held Vespasian’s eye for a second before I turned to my companions.  Artie and Archer wore blank expressions, unable to understand the words exchanged between us let alone the context of the conversation.  Helena looked worried and distractedly rubbed her belly, and Santino, like always, wore a completely unhelpful expression, choosing to keep his opinion to himself until he could complain about whatever decision I made later.

“What about Agrippina?”  I asked, folding my arms in a mirror position of Vespasian’s.

“There is not much we can do about her now.  She has brought her entire Praetorian force here to contain the Parthian threat until I can lead my legions against it.  I believe she’ll return to Germany then, but she has not made any intentions available to me in weeks.

“As I said, brush fires have ignited all over the empire, and we are spread very thin.  Luckily,” he said, clapping Herod on the shoulder, “Herod has agreed to appeal for his forces to stand down and upon his successful completion of that task, I shall be le
aving within the month.”

“I would not have agreed to such terms had I known you would be working with him,” Herod growled.

“Herod, for the love of the gods, will you shut up,” Vespasian snapped, turning to glare at his friend.  “If you knew the full extent of his reasoning, you would not be so quick to condemn.  This man did what he thought was right to do.  At the time, I may have done the same.  None of this, not even your arm, was personal.  Trust me.”

“Wasn’t personal?!”  Herod yelled.  “Thousands of Jews are dead.  Our peace with Rome in shambles.  And people on both sides are still clambering for blood.  How can you say this was not personal?”

I didn’t want to frown, or show any kind of emotion, but I couldn’t help but do so.  Despite Vespasian’s rationale, Herod was right.  The killing of all those Jews and the deaths of all the Romans who came to fight them were nobody’s fault but my own. 

I sighed inwardly before saying anything.  I tried to think of the fact that I may have actually saved thousands of Jewish lives.  Not killed them.  For all I knew, the rebellion today may circumvent the rebellion that would have occurred in 44 A.D., where even more Jews died in a much longer war.

That justification would do for now.

“Herod,” I spoke softly, “please believe me when I say that there is more at stake here than you can possibly imagine.  We used you, yes, but it was very necessary.  Take solace in the fact that should Vespasian wrest control from Agrippina, things will change for you and your people.  Forever and for the better.”

Herod stared at me with icy eyes.  I knew he would never trust me again, and that if I ever saw him again I’d better watch my back.  I just hoped he wouldn’t get in the way now because there was too much at stake.

He kept his gaze on mine, only a second longer before turning to Vespasian.

“I am done here,” he said before storming out of the tent.

On his way out, he made sure to bump against me with his good shoulder, hitting me of course against my own bad side, muttering under his breath as he made his retreat.

“Nice to see you too, buddy,” Santino called out to his retreating backside.  When Herod failed to respond, Santino turned back to me and clicked his tongue.  “Don’t people say goodbye anymore?”

I smirked and turned back to Vespasian.

“He will be all right,” he said. “He has a fiery temper but a sound mind.  We shall soon have peace in the region and I will be allowed to move on to more important matters.”

I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief.

“Good.”

“Now, on to said more important matters,” Vespasian said while moving to stand directly in front of me.  “How do you feel about becoming a general of the legions,
Legate Jacob Hunter?”

I blinked in shock.  “Me?”

If you’re interested in Edward Crichton’s Sci-Fi epic
Starfarer: Rendezvous with Destiny
, due out in the spring of 2013, keep reading for a sneak peek at the first few chapters.

INCOMING TRANSMISSION . . .

TO:
John Paul Sterling, Admiral, Allied Space Navy (ASN)

FROM:
Alexander Mosley, First High Admiral, Allied Space Navy (ASN)

ORIGINAL REPORT:
  Richard Alderman, Colonel, Office of Strategic Space Intelligence (OSSI) – Original Report Attached

SECURITY LEVEL:
CLASSIFIED

XXXXX  -  XXXXXXXXXX  -  XXXXX

SUBJECT: Anomalous ISLAND Activity – Action Required

SENT: 
11.13.2595 (11:20:11)

AUTHENTICATION CODE:
 
Echo Echo Bravo Zero Zero Seven Echo

Admiral John Paul Sterling,

This could be big, J.P., so I’ll dispense with the usual pleasantries.  Word has been sent to OSSI that our Chinese friends have encountered an anomaly along ISLAND Transit Route AlphaCOL–BetaCOL.  The spooks haven’t been able to get anything specific out of the Chinese yet, but it has The Star Destiny Corporation, at least, very concerned.

They’re going to lose contact with the ISLAND Liner
Sierra Madre
on the aforementioned course very soon, and while OSSI isn’t saying much, we could be talking about another rumored contact with alien technology aboard an ISLAND.  That or they may have simply experienced their first mishap with WeT Tech.

Consider this your unofficial readiness report.  Prepare the Third Fleet for immediate redeployment back to Earth and launch the
Alcestis
as soon as possible.  I don’t think I need to remind you to keep your wits about you, John Paul.  There’s more at play here than even I’m aware of, and I can’t offer you much more advice than that.  This won’t be some silly sim we mucked about with back at the Academy.  Something big is about to happen and something about it stinks.

Regards,

First High Admiral Alexander Mosley, ASN

Admiralty Board, Chair

Washington Aerospace Naval Headquarters, Luna

P.S.  Should we get through whatever this thing is, I’ll get you a case of that ancient Jamison swill you love so much.

<<<<< SEE ATTACHED FILE FOR ORIGINAL REPORT >>>>>

SECTION 1

The ISLAND

High Earth Orbit /

ISLAND Liner
Sierra Madre
– Red Zone /

Power Conduction Shaft – Delta /

11.06.2595

07:35:08 Zulu

That which defines mankind is nothing more than what he leaves behind.  In no other way will he be remembered when his presence in this universe becomes little more than dust to aid in the formation of new celestial bodies, and the onset of space travel centuries ago only added to this legacy.  Later, the ability to travel to other planets cemented it.  If every human in existence simply vanished from reality, the ISLAND Liner
Sierra Madre
would remain, drifting through the depths of space for time immemorial.