=== Phoenicia, 133 AD ===

Titus pushed away the pile of documents, eased back his chair and stood. He stretched to ease the slight throb from his back. He looked back down at the desk covered in official documents. It was at times like this that he wished he was back in the field. He walked across to the door of his office and opened it. The two legionnaires outside snapped to attention as Titus stepped out. He waved them back to the ease as he stepped out into the sun light. He could feel the heat from the sun despite the fact it was still early. He walked across to the duty centurion’s office. He entered. The centurion hurriedly stood.

“Sit back down Centurion Pulcher.” Titus walked over to the duty roster, picked it up and began to read. The centurion stood.

“Anything wrong sir?”

Titus smiled. “No centurion just taking time to adjust back to peacetime soldiering.”

The centurion smiled back. “I know what you mean sir. Never much good at this side of soldiering myself.”

Titus returned the duty roster to its proper place. “The new recruits should be arriving during today?”

“Yes sir two hundred of Rome’s finest; should be interesting to see what we get. Also sir, Tribune Veno will be setting out with the seventh cohort to relieve the outpost garrisons.”

Titus nodded. “When the recruits arrive let Centurion Hortensius give them his normal warm welcome.”

“Naturally sir.” The centurion grinned and then snapped off an inch perfect salute.

Titus returned the centurions salute, left the office and began to tour the fort. He looked around taking in the sights, sounds and smells that a peacetime fort produced. He was surprised that the sounds and smells were different from a camp during war. He passed the smithy and could feel the heat. Titus beckoned over a relaxing legionnaire. The legionnaire stood, marched over and snapped smartly to attention. Titus waved him to ease.

“How does anyone put up with that heat?”

The legionnaire shrugged. “Don’t know sir, he says he is used to it but me and the rest of the lads cannot see how sir.”

Titus smiled. “Well if he likes it best leave him to it, dismissed.”

The legionnaire saluted and returned to his spot in the shade. Titus continued his walk around the fort. Many legionnaires sprang to attention only for Titus to wave them back down. He approached the main gate and began to climb up to the watch tower. As he climbed a legionnaire leant over the parapet and shouted for the duty centurion.

“What is it?” asked Titus.

The legionnaire looked over, saw the legate and stiffened into attention. “Group of men approaching sir, looks like the new recruits.”

“Good, let them pass if they give the right password.”

“Sir!”

Titus continued the climb until he reached the platform. As he reached the parapet he could feel the warm breeze. He looked out across the bare, open land and saw the group of men marching slowly toward the fort. He looked around at the sentries but each stood in a posture of alertness. He grinned and climbed back down to the ground. He returned to his office leaving the greeting of the new arrivals to normal military protocol.

Sitting back down at his desk he pulled towards himself the next tablet of information for his attention. He quickly read the tablet. The tablet was a list of camp expenditure for the last month. Nothing unusual he thought as he signed the official document. Once signed he placed the tablet on the completed pile which would then enter the great and all consuming entity that was the Roman Military Administration. He smiled at that, the Roman Military Administration was a large organisation that refused to allow even war with Persia to deflect anyone from filling out the normal forms and requisitions.

“Maybe we should have given the Persians all this documentation to fight rather than our legions.” Titus laughed as he spoke out loud.

He pulled the next official tablet towards himself. He began to read. It was the release order for one of his legionnaires who had completed his military service. The document contained everything need by the legionnaire to return to Rome. Titus signed the form and placed it by itself ready to be handed to the signifie responsible for his century. He took the next document; it was a request for extra patrols to the north of Phoenicia. He signed the form authorising the increase in patrol activity. As he pulled over the next document there came a knock at his door.

“Enter.”

The door entered and the duty centurion entered. “Sorry to trouble you sir but this letter arrived with the new recruits.”

Titus took the letter and through the open door could here Centurion Hortensius screaming at the new recruits. “…get into step you bunch of useless…” He looked up.

“Seems that Centurion Hortensius is starting to go soft on the new recruits. That is only five references to their mothers and goats in the first sentence.”

Centurion Pulcher grinned. “Yes sir he does seem out of sorts today- must be the heat.”

“Carry on centurion.”

Centurion Pulcher stood to attention and, as usual, snapped off an inch perfect salute. Titus returned the salute. He picked up the letter recognising the writing instantly. With a quick rib he pulled open the wax seal and began to read the letter from his wife. He devoured each word as if Maria was speaking them to him. He sighed, put down the letter and looked to the ceiling wishing Maria was here. Titus returned to the letter. Julia and Antonius were doing well, both missed their father. He sighed again missing his children nearly as much as he missed Maria. He put the letter down to finish in the privacy of his private quarters. He stood and left the office heading for the parade ground.

“STAND STILL YOU BUNCH OF USELESS IDIOTS!”

Titus smiled to himself as he heard Centurion Hortensius bawling out the new recruits. He stopped at the edge of the parade ground and watched as Hortensius walked around the group standing at attention. Without apparently seeing Titus he yelled an order.

“Legate on parade, give salute.” With that Hortensius turned and gave Titus the perfect salute. Titus returned the salute and watched amused as the recruits tried to repeat the salute but most failed. Hortensius instantly whipped round and bawled them out.

“Call that a salute I have seen better salutes from our pack mules. You lot are the most useless bunch I have ever seen. By the Gods the Persians must be really quacking in their boots at you lot I DO NOT THINK!”

One or two looked down embarrassed. Centurion Hortensius strode angrily over to them. Each recruit that had looked down received a quick blow from the centurion’s vine stave.

“You do not move whilst standing at attention. Each of you will be doing extra duty.”

“Carry on centurion.” Hortensius turned to Titus and saluted. Titus returned the salute and walked away. He could hear Hortensius continue to barrack the new recruits.


Written By: Tarqiunius Titus Gracchus

Edited By: Ferus Juventas
133 AD