On either side of the entrance gates, the defensive wall consisted of a double wall filled with pebbles, dirt, and volcanic rock from Mount Etna. The flat top provided a stable platform for slingers, spearmen, and archers. In short, the area in front of the gates to Adrano was a kill zone.
“How many men can we shelter in the gateways?” Gustavi asked in the form of a sick joke. “Because anywhere in front of that wall, our Legionaries will need coins for the ferryman.”
“What’s this space beyond the gates, sir?” inquired Alerio while running his finger over the entrances and into an area behind the gate wall
“Inside Adrano’s gates is an amphitheater-shaped depression,” Megellus described. “The sides are high but scalable with ramps to the tops of the walls on either side. Straight ahead is the real problem.”
“Why’s that, sir?” Gustavi questioned.
“At the end of the bowl-shaped area, is where the bulk of their infantry will be waiting for us,” Megellus stated while tapping a finger on the map.
“We’re supposed to climb a mountain, pass under projectiles, and breach three gates?” Sergeant Gustavi said listing the challenges. “Survive more iron rain, form up, and then confront their infantry?”
“And all while moving and fighting beside units we know nothing about,” Alerio added.
“I believe Corporal Sisera, that’s where this conversation began,” the infantry officer pointed out. While rolling up the map, he suggested. “Let’s go tell the men.”
“Sir, I recommend we wait for later,” Gustavi submitted. “Let them eat and relax. Then we can ruin their night.”
“An excellent idea, Optio.”
“Sir. If I may be excused?” inquired Alerio.
“In a rush to eat some of the extra rations?” questioned Gustavi.
“No Optio. I’m going to speak to the Legion engineers about a battering ram.”
“Battering ram?” questioned Megellus. “Isn’t getting a battering ram to the gates the job of the Legion engineers?”
“Actually sir, three battering rams and harnesses for hauling them into combat,” Alerio explained. “From your map, there’s not a lot of recreational area around the gates. I think we should have our own key to the city.”
“You want us to have our own battering ram so we don’t have to wait for the Legion engineers,” guessed Centurion Megellus. “Go on Tesserarius, see what you can scrounge up.”
“Yes, sir,” Alerio replied while saluting.
He left the officer’s tent and went in search of an engineer, a woodcutter, and a harness maker.
Act 7
Chapter 27 - The Slope
“This morning’s sacrifices went well, sir,” Istac remarked.
“That they did. The bulls died satisfactorily,” Colonel Ruscus said agreeing with the Senior Tribune. “Let’s hope the Gods appreciate it. I know the priests did. All that blood exchanged for blessings and sacrificial coins. And all for nothing.”
“You don’t seem too concerned about the attack, sir.”
“Attacking this mountain hovel is so low on my list of priorities, I wouldn’t waste a day on it. But General Periander’s parting gifts to the Fields of Elysium require a response,” explained the Colonel. “Our men need to see blood. Unfortunately, I don’t have days to spill it. We’ll have a go at their walls and, after the retreat, I’ll offer Adrano’s council Periander’s weight in gold.”
“You can’t see the walls of the city from down here,” observed the Senior Turbine. “How will you know when to sound the retreat?”
“I won’t have to. According to Ambassador Sergius, the Centurion for 25th Crassus is incompetent,” Ruscus replied while fishing a pile of messages out of a box. “As long as his Century holds the center, the line will move forward. When it gets bad and he withdraws, the attack line will fold. I’ll fine Fenoris Megellus a hefty amount of coins and send him back to the Capital in disgrace. Our junior Centurions will be chastised but excused as falling victim to a rout. Afterward, we’ll send the 25th Century back to Crassus Legion North and let Colonel Bacaris assign them a new officer.”
“I heard what the Ambassador said about Centurion Megellus and the 25th. But they did infiltrate the city, take the barracks against odds, and secure the Ambassador,” Istac mentioned. “That doesn’t sound like inept leadership or a failed mission to me, sir. In fact, I’d say it was a well-executed operation.”
“Executed like the bulls except the Century got lucky. Everybody gets lucky occasionally,” the Colonel offered as he selected a message. Before reading it, he looked around, judged the landscape, and shouted. “First Centurion Irrisus. Stagger your Century uphill from here and protect me from projectiles. I’m making this my command position.”
“Very good, sir,” responded the infantry officer for the Legion’s 1st Century.
***
On either side of the 25th Century, the first maniple, composed of inexperienced Legionaries, struggled against the steep grade. Behind them, the second and third maniples moved up, keeping pace. Far ahead and almost at the crest, the Velites, in their lighter armor and smaller shields hunched down waiting on the heavy infantry. This fight involved attacking into ranged weapons across a killing zone; something more suited to heavy infantrymen and their big shields rather than skirmishers. Wisely, the Velites ducked as they reached the top and didn’t expose themselves to the projectiles from the Adrano defenders.
“Second and third maniples, hold here,” instructed Istac to a group of waiting Tribunes. “The first maniple is to maintain their pace.”
The Tribunes sprinted off, heading for the infantry officers at each Century. A mile to the rear, the Legion’s ballista crews sat on their wagons, the bolt throwers still packed in their crates. Milling around, the cavalry also watched. Both divisions of the Legion were out of place and relegated to observer status by the steep slope. They weren’t the only unit out of place.
***
“Why are we assigned to the first maniple?” complained the squad leader from 1st Squad.
“What, Lance Corporal Ostrei, doesn’t it make you feel special?” shot back Optio Gustavi. “You should be honored to be leading the young in their first taste of blood.”
Although he mocked the contubernium’s Decanus, the Sergeant of 25th Crassus asked himself the same question. Based on the Centuries hiking up the slope on both sides, the center made sense as they were more experienced. But why an experienced unit moved online with rookie Legionaries in the first place, couldn’t be deciphered.
On the other side of the Century, Corporal Sisera was also communicating with his four squads.
“Keep your shields tight and the rows straight,” Alerio shouted.
“We aren’t at the top yet,” noted Aternus from 7th Squad. “You can’t even see the wall from here.”
“When you see the walls of Adrano, it’ll be too late,” Alerio replied. “Tighten it up.”
The movement up the slope continued. Keeping the eight hundred Legionaries of the first maniple inline were directions and corrections from their NCOs and Centurions.
In order to fit the wide area at the top and provide a solid wall of shields, the infantrymen were stacked in two rows. This allowed for a barrier of shields up front with another held overhead to protect against arrows, pebbles, and spears. Earlier scouting and intelligence reported the presences of oxybeles, lithobolois, and onagers manned by Syracusan engineers. These range weapons were the reason the approach in front of the gates was dubbed the killing zone.
***
“I’m going to move closer to the top and have a look, Colonel,” Istac informed his battle commander.
“Don’t do that Senior Tribune,” advised Ruscus. He finished reading a note, placed it in the box, and pulled out another. “I expect a stampede to come off the summit after the first volley. Besides, if they have bolt throwers on platforms, the projectiles will travel over the open ground, fly downhill, and tumble before stoppin
g. You don’t want to be in the way of those.”
“I can’t imagine anybody wanting to be in front of giant arrows,” Istac stated. “or trying to dodge big flying stones.”
“You have summed up the situation nicely, Senior Tribune,” the Colonel responded. “Keep an eye on the crest and let’s see who comes back first. Care to put a few coins on Centurion Megellus?”
“No, sir. I’ll trust your judgment.”
Chapter 28 – The Trip to the Summit
“Palinurus, duck down and slow up,” suggested Tescum from 10th Squad. “You’re beginning to drag your partner along with the log. Besides, your head is as tall as a goose on a pole. You’ll tip off the soldiers at Adrano that we’re coming.”
“But I want to see where I’m going, Decanus,” the big Legionary offered. “Tesserarius?”
“I think they already know we’re coming, Lance Corporal. But do slow down a little, Palinurus. At least for the sake of your partner,” Alerio replied from behind the assault line. Then he shouted, not only to his four squads but to the rookie Century on his right. “Tighten the gaps in your shields and keep pace. Straighten the line, people, straighten the line.”
The 10th, 9th, 8th, and 7th Squads responded to their Corporal’s voice and Palinurus shortened his stride, allowing the other Legionary harnessed to the battering ram to keep up with the large man. To the Corporal’s left, Centurion Megellus encouraged the 5th and 6th Squads.
Just as the 10th did, the 6th Squad hauled a long, straight log up the slope. It was yoked to a pair of men by straps across their chests. During the climbed, the pulling duty had been rotated. Now, as they drew close to the top, the final teams with the battering rams would haul them over the crest, across the killing ground, and up to the gates of Adrano.
“Lance Corporal Umbria, how is the 6th doing with Corporal Sisera’s log?” Megellus inquired using the running joke about the battering rams.
“Sir, I can report that the Corporal’s log is straight, firm, and coming along nicely,” Umbria called back after checking on the two Legionaries struggling uphill with the battering ram.
“Well, praise Sterculius. At least something is going smoothly,” Centurion Megellus responded. His reference to the God of Merda brought a chuckle from the squads in the center of the attack line. “Tighten the gaps in your shields and keep pace. Straighten the line, people, straighten the line.”
On the officer’s left, Optio Gustavi herded the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Squads uphill and as Alerio had done, he shouted loud enough to benefit the inexperienced Century adjacent to his end squad. 4th Squad had another of Corporal Sisera’s logs.
***
The first maniple stretched out two ranks deep for a thousand feet across the slope. Because of the infantry officer and the NCOs of 25th Crassus, the center of the attack line remained uniform and together even in the rough terrain. As a final maneuver before the Legion helmets popped up revealing them to the enemy, the heavy infantrymen opened gaps to allow them to march around the Velites.
“Cap the testudo,” Centurion Megellus instructed once the maniple moved beyond the crouching skirmishers.
In response, the second rank flattened and lowered their shields forming a roof over them and the first rank. The tortoise formed just as the top of the steep grade reached eye level.
While the Legionaries huddled behind and under their shields, and the Optios and Tesserarii tucked their shields tightly against their bodies, the infantry officers marched without personal defenses.
Along the thousand-foot attack line, the infantry officers hiked forward unguarded to face the enemy. Each identifiable by the bright horse hair combs on their helmets and their lack of javelins and shields. Every officer was acutely aware that the Legionaries in their Centuries drew courage and strength for the valor of their Centurions. The infantry officers were a pillar of the Republic’s Legions.
The Centurions knew it. The Legionaries, Decani, Tesserarii, and Optios knew it. But this one time, a distracted battle commander, Ruscus, failed to appreciate and take into account the pride and stubbornness of his infantry officers. One in particular.
Centurion Fenoris Megellus no longer considered himself a construction supervisor. He was a leader of warriors and his Century had been given a position of trust. As he and his Optio and Tesserarius had discussed in the morning before starting the climb, there would be no retreat from Adrano.
***
On platforms behind the wide walls of the city, mercenary engineers from Syracuse had placed oxybeles and lithobolois. Both were tension weapons resembling huge crossbows. Each oxybele had grooves for double bolts. The lithoboloi, while rated for large wall demolishing rocks, was supplied with smaller stones.
“I could take down a wall with this weapon,” bragged one of the engineers while patting the center section. “But the Republic didn’t bring walls. That’s why I’ve selected stones as today’s ammunition.”
“Isn’t bigger better for knocking them down?” questioned a Captain of the Adrano militia.
“Everything hit by the lithoboloi goes down. But at this range, the smaller stones will travel fast enough to cut a tree trunk in half,” the engineer assured the officer. He picked up a stone the size of two fists and bounced it on the palm of his hand. “Be assured, this little pebble launched from my weapon is a man killer.”
Despite the deadliness of the tension weapons, neither the oxybeles or lithobolois fired first. When the Legion helmets appeared over the rise, the distinction of being the first to rain down rocks on them were the torsion weapons. Each capable of slinging large stones higher and farther than the lithobolois.
“Release the onagers,” ordered the commander of Adrano’s defenses.
The order was passed to the four weapon stations. From the ground, mostly because of the size and weight of the war machines and the ammunition, the onagers launched.
Shortly after, the oxybeles and lithobolois received the same order. Across At the crest of the hill and before they reached deeply into the kill zone, the Legionaries were suddenly on the receiving end of deadly rocks, stones, and shaped bolts.
Chapter 29 - Rocks and Heads Roll Downhill
“Aternus. The 7th is falling behind,” shouted Alerio.
Caricini Aternus glanced back and noted the pair hauling the battering ram were struggling.
“You and you, help out with Corporal Sisera’s log,” the squad leader ordered adding two Legionaries to the team pulling the ram. “Help them keep up with the line.”
The Privates of the 7th lowered their shields. Stepping close to the men pulling, they bent over, grabbed straps, and wrapped them around their wrists.
“Let’s get the ram up the hill. Put your backs into it, and...”
It was bigger than three Legionaries’ helmets and dropped from high in the sky. Upon impact, the rock from an onager drove one end of the battering ram into the soil. As the log’s end was slammed into the dirt, the four Legionaries on the straps were pulled down so hard they bounced off the log and the rocky ground. Then they bounced up again before being jerked back down by the straps. Two suffered dislocated shoulders. Ones back was crushed and the fourth Legionary’s neck snapped from the collision with the log.
Before they realized the extent of their injuries, the other end of the log, which rose high into the air on the initial impact, reached the limit of its bounce. When the tail end crashed back down, it lifted the other end and the Legionaries into the air.
The Velites craned their necks to look up at the sight of four infantrymen dangling for a moment from the top of a pole. Then the battering ram tipped over, smacked into the slope, and flipped over end after end.
In hindsight, Senior Tribune Istac should have taken Colonel Ruscus’ bet. Centurion Megellus wasn’t the first one down. That dubious honor went to four infantrymen flopping around as the battering ram hit, bounced, and tumbled downhill. It finally stopped at the front rank of the 1st Century’s shields. The shaken a
nd broken Legionaries weren’t the last to be violently removed from the top of the slope.
***
Decanus Aternus shrieked in horror as four of his contubernium pinwheeled downhill. Then something crashed into 5th Squad off to his left. He spun in that direction and saw Legionaries with crushed chests and legs from another large rock. Although their mouths were open, he couldn’t hear their shrieks. His own screaming drowned them out.
“Aternus, get it together and keep your people moving,” Corporal Sisera shouted.
Lance Corporal Aternus, he who was blessed by the Goddess Theia with excellent vision, stood with a blank expression on his face and stared back at his Tesserarius.
“Move your…”
As if a leaf snatched away by a strong gust of wind, Aternus was swept off his feet. It might have been difficult following his flying body if the bolt from one of the oxybele didn’t also pierce a second Legionary.
The two bodies appeared to be locked in an embrace as they hurdled off the top of the slope. Their plunge, however, wasn’t voluntary as the skirmishers might have thought. They were pinned together by a long iron barb protruding through their stomachs.
***
Lance Corporal Telesia Caudini attempted to stand but his right ankle refused to stop flopping around. Finally, by using his shield, the squad leader climbed to one leg. Confused at first, he fought off the pain and surveyed the injuries to his 5th Squad.
“Sir. What happened?” questioned Caudini in a voice so soft it didn’t carry beyond his helmet.
Centurion Megellus didn’t know which way to dodge. There had been two loud crashes and men began screaming. Then two swooshes as if giant birds of prey flapped their wings one thunderous time.
Caudini hopped on one foot and the Centurion started to yell for the squad leader to sit down and wait for a medic. Before the words reached the officer’s throat, the Lance Corporal’s body buckled backward. His heels and head touched as the energy from a large stone carried his body over the crest of the hill. Someone grabbed Megellus’ arm and pulled him to the ground.
Infinite Courage Page 21