Aurelian perspective

Aurelian was sitting in his chair listening to the ramblings of the council. The Gracchiist were currently in a heavy debate with the Christian democrats. The Evolaists were in their corner shouting for sending more legions through the gate. The unionists and the Social democrats were doing their best to try and calm down everyone before a fight erupted in the council chambers. Aurelian could only let out a sigh as the chambers were filled with the voices of a hundred different people all shouting for different things. He was honestly happier before the gate opened the council of course had its fights but never to this degree. With the first reports coming in from the expeditionary force and from the UN surveyor team, the whole world wanted a hand on the new frontier. The America’s were already claiming land rights beyond the gate. Something about right of domain. The Chinese were pushing forth the idea to colonize the other side and start sending their people through it. Course they didn’t put it that way they made it sound a bit better. And of course, the Russians were saying something along the lines that they have oil rights to anything their teams discover. All in all this whole gate thing was a mess. It could turn into a good mess but right now it was a very messy and dirty mess. He had in secret sent more frumentarii and vigilies through the gate to help in security and espionage. If everything doesn’t go well with the talks with the Saderan empire his frum could easily cripple the whole state in a swift strike. Then there was the problem of this other force. They were at war with the Saderan. Depending on how advance this foe is he will either have to try and bring them to the diplomatic table. Or try and wipe them out. This brought further thoughts to his mind. There were some leaks to the UN about how the Saderans were a slaver nation. Which of course with their modern Ideals thought of horrid. Even though pretty much every nation that has outcried this revelation have slaves. Yet he had to use thier simple minds to help his advancement of the cause of Roma. He would send a few more legions through the gate, course he would have to send this information to the UN. Yet they couldn’t do anything to deter him from furthering the advancement of his empire. Roma would no longer be just a superpower that has to rival a self-destructive state, a regional power thinking it can regain its old glory or a genocidal state bent on the deaths of millions. Roma would be the sole superpower of earth, and the new frontier would be the treasure chest that will fund the advancement of Roma. The door to the council chambers opened as a Prateroian guard walked briskly towards Aurelian’s side. 

Aurelian: Yes?

Victoria: We have gotten a report from Tacitus team. He has made contact with the city of Italica. From what we have heard over their open radio they seem to have met with a member of the royal family.  
Aurelian: That is good to hear. Hopefully, through this royal, we can meet with the emperor. May I ask what the royal’s name is? 

Victoria: Pina co lada sir. 

Aurelian: side-eyes the praetorian. That is her name. 

Victoria: Yes sir. 

Aurelian: lets out a sigh. That isn’t the strangest thing we’ve encountered so far, but it still is ridiculous. Any reports from the frumentarii?

Victoria: A few have been able to infiltrate many villages and cities around the gate. From what they have gathered it seems further war is on the horizon for the Saderan empire. The kingdom of cartiagian to their north is raising their armies and mercenaries to attack from the north. And the greacian kingdoms to the south seem to be raising their armies and navies.

Aurelian: This could help us in our endeavors to look well in the eyes of the Saderans. Of course, the distance between the north and the south is vast and we only have five thousand legionaries on the other side of the gate. And from those heading towards the capital.

Victoria: They are returning reports of a wasteland between the western and eastern portions of the empire. From what they can tell it’s a scorched earth policy to delay and advance from Alnus hill. They have also noted that it seems the paths eastward are started to be heavily guarded and castra are seeming to be readied for war.

Aurelian: They’ve gone defensive. It makes sense they are dealing with an enemy they have no information on. Yet soon we will have information to give them. Tell the furmentarii they are doing the gods work and to continue on their missions. 

Victoria: Of course sir. Bows and leaves the council chambers. 

The council seemed to finally be calming down after their hour-long debate. Once the air in the room calmed down Aurelian stood up from his chair and spoke. 

Aurelian: My brothers and sisters. This is a flashpoint in our history. We are being put on a leash by the young nations of the world. They don’t understand the nation in the new frontier and what they have to deal with. They wish for war over the simple fact they have slaves. Yet we know of their history and the history of past nations. The saderans don’t use slaves cause they are evil. They have slaves because they need them. Of course, this is a horrendous act and i’m not trying to defend them. Yet these young nations think destroying the order of the new frontier will somehow improve the lives of those within it. We must try our best to improve the standards of living with the saderan empire through paper or by sword. We know how this is done for we turned Africa into the beautiful continent that it once was. We can improve the lives of the people of the saderan empire. Furthermore, we must make sure that those who come through the other gate don’t understand the predicament that they are in. If they destroy the empire they will destroy the only order in the new frontier. So by my order and if the council wishes it. We shall send an additional four legions through the gate to both secure our point in the new frontier and make sure we can stand against those from the other gate. For we must make sure the new frontier doesn’t become the new dark continent by the hands of western slavers! 

The council cheers out in agreement with Aurelian. The military officials within the council chambers already begin to plan on what legions should be sent through the gate. He smiles as he looks out to the council knowing that the empire is united in this cause. Yet something catches his eye. Near the back of the chambers behind some council, members stands a man in very ornate armor looking at him. He can’t see the man’s face but all he can see is a long beard flowing out of the shadows of where his face should be. When Aurelian blinks the man is gone. He wonders why he is seeing these people before he turns back to the council members and gets things in order for the new deployment of the legions. 

Tacitus perspective

Tacitus watched as Pina drank the wine that was given to them. He made sure the wine was poured from the same bottle as he took a sip of his wine. As he sat his glass down he looked at the princess before him. She was noble, showing false bravado, definitely wasn’t the sort to effectively lead. Yet under that tough exterior she had a child at heart, doing what she thought was best for her people. Tacitus could commend her for that perspective, yet in many positions it left her weak. And the governorness sitting next to her drinking a water down cup of wine seemed pale. Most likely the daughter of a noble lost in one of the gates, or through the anarchy that has followed from the massive loss of life. she most likely trying to put on a strong complexion to show she is strong. Anyone perspective enough could tell she was putting on an act, yet it was not best to prod a child who has lost someone so he returned his sit to the princess and spoke.

Tacitus: To make things a bit clearer since we are both empires, in this talk i’ll be referring to the roman empire as the union, and the saderan empire as just the empire if that works for you. 

Pina: That does indeed work.

Mari: Um and for help i’ll be talking about the nation of japan, as its representative in these talks. 

Pina: nods. So tacitus what have you come to speak about. You say you come here for talks yet bring warriors to our gates.

Tacitus: The union is walking upon new land, and while our weapons most certainly are effective in dealing with bandits and other sorts. We thought it best to bring an extra contingent of forces in case first contact with the empire went sour. 

Pina: And if my men at my gates tried to strike you down, while you were exposed.

Tacitus: Well it wouldn’t help you that you would strike down a friend of the emperor of Roma. But if you did, gods protect you from the wrath aurelian would bring upon this city.

Pina: well it was wise we didn’t do as such.

Tacitus: quite. Now then. Claps his hands. This is first contact between our three nations so lets get started. The union is asking for mining rights within the empire, along with this to allow union troops and coalition forces to survey the land. We are also willing to offer a cultural exchange program to further tie our nations together. Further talks will have to be between our emperors on ground that they can agree to.

Mari: Japan is also willing to offer the same terms.

Pina: and what does the empire get out of this?

Tacitus: we are willing to offer assistance in furthering the development of the empire. Until the discussion between our heads of state weapons will be off the table.

Pina: No weapons then, what about the war that is ravaging our land. 

Tacitus: If they are a threat to the union, we will join on your behalf. Though if this war ends with the union having to pull all the weight we will seek altercations to how the empire is run.

Pina: so you will ask for something in return for helping us.

Tacitus: that we will. 

Pina: and what would that be.

Tacitus: an end to slavery will be a start.

Pina: blinks.

Tacitus: Many nations of our world have a distaste towards slavery. And while many of them practice it under a different word they don’t like calling it true slavery. Your nation while within the period where slavery was normal still practices it. Now I understand the need for manpower and cheap labor. Yet the other nations don’t. So slavery is something that will need to be handled.

Pina: My father will be the one needed to talk to about that.

Tacitus: I fully understand.
Mari: I agree with tacitus, if you want our help in this war slavery will need to go.

Pina: nods. Very well then, anything else.

Tactius: there is much to discuss. Now then on the land exchange around our gate.

So all three parties discussed their plans and ideas for their first meeting. Pina pushing and asking of the technologies of the union. And mari and tactius asking for mining rights and military access through the lands of the empire.