Ian Miller - Legatus Legionis

"Cheer up, Ralph," Pallas Athene smiled. "It's not often you get to play the boss God."

"No, it isn't," Ralph Grenfell replied, "and it might be fun if this weren't our last shot at this."

Each knew the situation well. The temporal viewer not only let them view history, but Pallas Athene had also learned how to send messages back in time, at least under certain circumstances. She had thought this to be a great idea, even if it were to lead to the end of her career as a classical historian. Not that that mattered in the present. As far as those in the temporal satellite were concerned, all civilization on Earth ceased some time before the beginning of the twenty-fifth century, thanks to that technician sending a message to the nearby aliens. It was unclear what happened, or why. What was clear was that the aliens on Ranh had destroyed Earth's civilization before the temporal viewer had been built. They were now in a state of paradox: if Earth's civilization were destroyed then, the temporal satellite and all it contained could not have been built, but if the temporal satellite had not operated, Earth's civilization would not have been destroyed. At least that was their interpretation on what had happened.

The temporal viewer had indicated there was one and only one way to resolve this paradox in their favour. A Roman soldier, Gaius Claudius Scaevola had to be abducted by an alien zoo specimen collector, at which point Scaevola had to have evidence of having made some significant discoveries that would have changed the path of Roman civilization, had he not been abducted. The collector would be in Britain at a specified time. That meant that Scaevola had to be there too, and he had to have the freedom to be in the right area. The only way that could be achieved was if he were to be made Legatus Legionis of the twentieth legion.

So far, progress was adequate, but only just. Athene had given Scaevola two additional tasks in a prophecy she had conveyed while he was lightly asleep: one was to prove that the Earth went around the Sun, and the other was to build a steam engine. So far, they knew this part of the prophecy had delivered the desired outcomes, and in several timelines, Scaevola had been taken to the planet Ulse, and in the last two efforts, everything had just about worked, except that it had not. As Ralph Grenfell had noted, this was their last chance. Each chance required Athene to give her prophecy before Scaevola had had such a prophecy previously. This last time he had barely been asleep. It could not be repeated. That, however, did not mean they could not help further.

The problem this time was that Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus had revoked Scaevola's army position, which was as acting Legatus of the Cyrenaica . In previous attempts, he had returned to Damascus, and then been sent to Dalmatia. That almost certainly had to happen again, otherwise history would be changed very dramatically, and if it were changed that far back in time, anything could happen thereafter. Furthermore, the temporal viewer was unambiguous on one point: without further intervention, Scaevola would not be able to be in Britain and the paradox would be resolved, but not in their favour.

"I'm just scared I'll blow it," Grenfell said. "I don't even know what I'm saying. You should. ."

"We've been through that," Dr Chu said. "Caligulae is speaking to the statue of Jupiter. The statue is going to respond, but it has to sound like Jupiter."

"But my accent. ."

"Is that of a God," Athene insisted. "Caesar has no idea what that would be, and furthermore, we also say that you are Jupiter, Zeus, and a number of other Gods."

"Suppose he asks me something. ?"

"You're the boss God," Dr Chu patted him on the back. "You do not answer to mere mortals. You're doing this because you have by far the deeper and more impressive voice, and you ignore him. Pallas has given you some phrases to say in such a situation, and she'll indicate the number of the one you should use. You're a God. You are not arguing the point; you are telling him what to do, or else."

"As if we could back up an 'or else' threat?"

"As if he knows that," Chu shook his head. "Look, the only way of resolving this paradox in which humanity is not destroyed appears to require us to get Scaevola to Britain. If you back out, that's it, so take a deep breath and get on with it."

Grenfell nodded acceptance, and sat in the chair. Athene smiled encouragement, and began twirling dials.

* * *

Once again, Caligulae stepped up to the statue, smirked, and gave his usual tirade, challenging the mighty Jupiter to actually do something. But this time he was careless, and he slipped, fell, and bumped his head on the foot of Jupiter.

"Well, worm, is that adequate?"

"Wh what? Who said that?"

"You challenged. I replied."

"But. ."

"Yes, I know you have been wasting your time challenging a lump of rock to do something, and of course it cannot. But you did not call it a lump of rock. You invoked my name. You challenged me! This is merely to attract your attention."

"You mean. ."

"Listen carefully. My daughter, Minerva, Athene, whatever you wish to call her, is playing a game and you threaten to spoil it. Do not continue to spoil it, or you will pay."

"What do you want?"

"Gaius Claudius Scaevola must be made Legatus Legionis of the eleventh in Dalmatia. As an aside, Athene assures me he will be the most loyal of all, and his appointment is critical to retaining the Principate. Do not argue. Do it. At once! I shall not repeat this instruction, and instead if you remove Scaevola from his path, I shall remove you. This is your only warning."

At that point, Athene leaned over and threw a switch. The image of Caesar's bewilderment faded, and once again she patted Grenfell on the back. "Well done, Ralph."

"Shouldn't we have waited, in case. ."

"You were a God, Ralph. If you had waited, that would show weakness. The boss-god orders, and punishes; he does not start a discussion group with mortals."

"And the good news," Chu beamed, "is that we have recovered. Our probability has gone back to as good as it ever has been at this stage."

"But we are still in paradox, and Earth is still desolate," Grenfell pointed out.

"Yes," Chu nodded. "Now the question is, is there anything else we should do to try and improve those chances?"

Once again, acting Legatus Gaius Claudius Scaevola stood before a mirror; once again, his reward for successfully carrying out his mission was that his commission was to be revoked. Previously, he would have returned to being a Tribune; now there was nowhere for him to go. Previously, a last-minute message arrived and saved him; this time there would be no last-minute message. He adjusted his helmet and prepared to leave his tent. He must not hold up the troops for no better reason than he did not wish to quit.

He must also disguise the fact that he felt awful; his stomach was attempting a major revolt, his mouth felt as if it were coated with sand, and his head was sore. The previous evening had been so pleasant as the Tribunes and Centurions had insisted on farewell drinks, but now he seemed to be paying for it. Nevertheless, no matter how bad he felt he must not show it, for if last night had shown him anything at all it was that he seemed to have earned some genuine respect amongst the troops. Now was not the time to show weakness.

As he left his tent he could not resist looking around to see if, once again, there would be a last-minute rescue, a last-minute message, but that was not to be. He marched forward, saluted the Tribunus Laticlavius and marched to the dais. The sun had now risen to about an eighth the way towards noon, and already its heat was making itself felt. Having to stand still with the sun beating on his armour was exactly what his sick feeling did not need, but such feelings had to be put to one side: Romans did their duty.