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roadcage
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Minneapolis Kansas
Nov 2001
time: 23:28
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/roleplay/
Such is the curse of power.
An Original Virtual Play
All rights reserved.
//Curtain rises on the Imperial Town Villa great room. Roadamus, the current Emperor is alone and thinking outloud.//
This erstwhile villa doesn't have a proper war tent. The marble slab floor sure is uncomfortable. The pillows help, but it isn't very long until the down is all bunched and almost useless. And and these nubile slaves that look after me are so demanding. Like young puppies! But such is the curse of power. All go to great pains to try to please the Emperor, even when they cannot.
Roadamus hears a fanfare in the distance. Soon the faint sounds of thousands and thousands of sandals against pavement are heard. The sounds slowly increase in volume and Roadamus wonders where the Legions are going. Another fanfare, and the marching men must be very close. Another fanfare, then silence.
//The huge stone gate begins to grind open and two centurions carying SPQR Medallions, Eagles and Flags escort a dashing General Officer into the court chamber all led by the mansevant who says//
Sire, Mark Antony is here as you requested.
Roadamus, was a little taken back but then remembered he had made a passing comment about wanting to discuss the Afrika Corps Authorization before attending the Senate tomorrow. But such is the curse of power. All take everything said, even casual remarks as deadly serious matters.
Welcome Mark, did you really need to bring your whole Army?
This is not my Army, sire. For all of SPQR serve at your imperial pleasure. And no, this is not the entire force that you have entrusted to me, just a few thousand Polyroman SS Legionaries who seek clemency.
OK Mark, I have read your status report, and think it was brilliant to limit the organization but not the mission statement. Unfortunately, the young whippersnappers that pass for Senators today couldn't read between the lines.
But Sire, you .....
Don't interrupt!! Let's see if we can spell this out a little bit better.
My predecessor, put 7 yes 7 entire Legions in harms way with no mission and no exit strategy. Come to think of it not even an exit vehicle. I just want my Legions back. Or atleast I want my Legions to accomplish something for their efforts. The Authorization limits our exposure to the these plus the two discredited SS Army shells, tansportation in fill units, the Legions now on Sicily, plus whatever they can extract from the theatre, and oh, yes some boats. Mark, tell me about the boats again.
Sire, one Sicilian Ferry, which should be a safe, re-usable standard boat of the line, and some African ferrys. Unfortunately, the African Ferrys are going to be on certain suicide runs. But Ferrys are cheap, and Legions are not.
Mark, nobody seriously believes the mission statement. To secure the Southern Mediteranian coasts for the benefit of SPQR. But it's great spin. Just what do you imagine doing with my Legions?
A little pillaging then in about 4 turns position about 10 LIII's on the Hill 4 from ACHQ.
10! I thought there were 7!
Sire, 4 more show up from Sicily in three turns and the Newly configured ACLII and ACLIII show up (at 1/3rd strength) in 4 turns. There will be 2 ea 5 hp LIII Armies, 1 free standing 5 hp LIII, and 4 ea hp WAs in ACHQ reserve on the positioning move turn.
Why don't you load that free standing LIII into an Army?
Because I.... Yes Sire, they will be loaded.
And why are the Sicilian reinforcements coming on turn 3 instead of sooner?
Sire, in order to strip Sicily, we have to Garrison flood first.
But that still means back to back galley rushes, isn't that expensive?
Sire, we will pre-rush a worker on the second ferry. Still expensive but not outrageous. And after all, it is difficult to consume 800 gpt in useful upgrades and rushes turn after turn.
800? I thought we had about 770 gpt surplus?
The map trading scheme is very lucrative sire. 850 is a good estimate but 800 sounded so nice and even.
So on the last turn of my reign, you will attack the City and sack it?
Not immediately Sire. We will capture the city to see if the harbor survives. If it does, we upgrade the warriors, sell the harbor and anything else that we can and then sack it. If the Harbor is toast, we just sell what we can then sack it. Either way we will be able to keep back to back warrior rushes in ACHQ.
And what losses do you expect?
1 Legion for about every 3 NM's in town, guessing one or two losses, plus 2 Ferries, and possibly the capturing unit on the rubble pile next turn.
And then...
Sire the next administration can rinse and repeat the City to the east provided we capture the 1st harbor intact. Just wait 1 turn for each LIII lost for warrior replacements. If not, then a harbor rush would be indicated in ACHQ. They shouldn't even need additional boats for atleast 2 administrations.
So tell me Mark, how do I sell this to the Senate?
Remind them that the alternative is to write off the 7 Legions and founding citizen for ACHQ placed by the previous administration.
But Mark, I can't do that. It's bad karma and there's no spin whatsoever. We don't leave anyone behind, Semper Fi and all that. What about a culture pump?
Sire, both impinging cities have been tier 2 culture for ages. It would take tremendous culture to turn most of the tiles since they are tier 1 for both civs.
Mark, It would take too many turns wouldn't it?
Such is the curse of power. Gotta run Sire, It is five minutes till showtime at the Tracaderro. There's a troop of Nubian belly dancers listed on the markee and I did sort of promise the troops.
//Mark Antony Exits then Camera follows Roadamus as he wanders over to the vestibule, he bends over and picks up a harp. He begins to pluck at the harp as a dark pall falls over the city even though it is still early afternoon. Curtain falls//
Credits roll
/roleplay/
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26-03-2005 13:03
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