Simon Scarrow - The Gladiator

'Then they will surely be killed the moment we attack,' said Balbus. 'All the more reason to delay any action. At least until you can try to negotiate their release.'

Cato shook his head. 'We can't wait. Ajax has promised to put one of them to death at dawn tomorrow. He said that I must choose which one. If I refuse, then he will have both of them killed. That is why the attack has to go in tonight.'

'Shit,' Fulvius muttered, looking at Cato in horror as the full implication of the threat struck him. 'I'm so sorry, sir.'

Cato rubbed his jaw. 'Ajax is playing games with us. All part of his plan to torment me as far as he can. In fact, this is an opportunity for us. If Ajax thinks that I am so paralysed with concern and indecision for my friends, then he will not be expecting me to act decisively. He will also assume that I dare not attack for fear of putting their lives at risk. That is why we must go in tonight, while there is still a chance of achieving an element of surprise.'

'What if this is a ploy to provoke you into an attack?' asked Balbus.

'To get you to act tonight?'

'Why would he do that? If I attack and the ships are set on fire, then the rebels have nothing to negotiate with.'

'Assuming that he has given orders to set fire to the ships.'

'Then why tell me that he has given such orders if he wants to provoke me into an attack?' Cato sighed wearily.' Look, Balbus, you can't have it both ways.'

Cato was tired of discussion. He had known that there was bound to be some dissent over his orders. Balbus was clearly one of those officers for whom caution was a religion and indecision was dignified by claiming to consider every possible contingency, while acting upon none of them. It was a classic case of paralysis through prevarication. He could understand why Macro be came so frustrated on such occasions and opted for the most direct solution to a problem. He had made his decision, Cato resolved to himself. He glanced round at his officers.

'The attack will go ahead tonight, gentlemen. Now, we must turn our attention to the plan.'

He picked up a roll of parchment on which he had sketched out a plan of the bay earlier in the morning. He laid it out across the table and called for his officers to gather round the other three sides of the table while he briefed them.

'The rebel camp is spread round the end of the bay, with the shore-based side protected by the palisade. There is a small redoubt at the end of the palisade to guard that flank since it is the most vulnerable. On the other side of the bay, on this peninsula, is where Ajax is camped. I believe that is the most likely place for him to be keeping his hostages. He is protected from any landward attack by the bulk of his army, and from the sea by the cliffs and rocks on the far side. There is a small bay with a sandy beach towards the end of the peninsula, but it's well guarded and too small to attempt any landing in force.' Cato paused as the officers examined the map.' Our objective is simple. We must find some way of preventing the rebels, from setting fire to the ships before we capture them.'

'Nigh on impossible, sir,' Fulvius said at length. 'We have three choices. We either attack by land, or by sea, or both. The trouble is, the rebels will see us coming. Any attack from the land is going to have to fight its way over the palisade first. If we come in from the sea, then the rebel sentries will be able to see the ships before they enter the bay, even though it will be moonless tonight. Either way they will be alerted and have plenty of time to set fire to the ships.'

Cato nodded. 'You're right. Any conventional attack, from the land or the sea, is doomed to failure. Which leaves us only one alternative.'

He leaned forward and tapped his finger on the map, indicating the end of the bay, close to where it approached the open sea.

Balbus frowned. 'There? What good is that to us? It must be well over a mile from the end of the palisade.'

Centurion Fulvius pursed his lips. What exactly did you have in mind, sir?'

'If we can't start our attack from the land, or from the open sea, then we have to launch it from within the bay itself. It's the one direction that the rebels won't be expecting any trouble from.'

Cato had thought his idea through earlier. It was very risky, and relied on good timing. If things went badly for the men leading this attack, then few of them would escape alive. Worst of all, Cato knew he would have to lead them, and face one of the few things he feared in life: swimming. He stood erect and looked at Fulvius as he replied.

'I will lead two parties of men down the bay. We will take light weapons and swim towards the heart of the rebel camp, until we are opposite the beached ships. Then we will divide into two parties, one making for the ships on the beach, the other, under my command, for those rafted together at the end of the bay. It'll be about the same distance, so we should be able to attack at the same time. We'll take the ships, get rid of the incendiary materials and then I'll give the signal for the main attack to begin. The legionary detachment will take the redoubt and roll up the flank. The auxiliary units will defend the camp and block any attempt to escape. Meanwhile,' Cato turned to Balbus, 'your squadron will round the point outside the bay and enter as swiftly as possible, making for the end of the bay, where you will land your marines and support the legionaries.'

'Sir, this is madness,' Balbus protested. 'You're proposing that your men swim nearly two miles, while carrying arms, and then board these ships and overwhelm the crews. What if the rebels have numbers aboard each vessel? If Ajax is depending on the grain fleet to make a deal with Rome, then he's sure to have them well defended.'

'I've been watching the ships this morning,' said Cato. 'I only saw a handful of men on each one. If Ajax has prepared them with incendiary materials, then he'll only need a small party aboard each one to light the fire and wait until it takes hold before abandoning ship. If we can get ten good men aboard each ship at anchor and twice as many aboard those on the beach, then we can take them.

There're twenty vessels at anchor and twelve on the beach. So, one cohort should suffice for what I have in mind. They'll have to be good swimmers, and we'll use inflated waterskins as floats to help with the weight of the weapons. If we take our time and approach cautiously, we should be able to get close to the ships without being spotted, as there is no moon tonight. There will be two men with buccinas in each party. Once the anchored ships are taken, they will give the signal for the main attack to begin.' Cato looked round.

'Centurion Fulvius, you will command the land element of the attack. You will have to crush that redoubt and get down the beach before the rebels can get enough men out of the main camp to attempt to retake and destroy the grain ships.'

Fulvius nodded, and Cato glanced at the other officers. 'Any more questions?'

There were none, and he took a deep breath. 'Well then, gentlemen, I will have your orders sent to you this afternoon. Make sure your men are ready, and give them an early supper. It's going to be a long night. Centurion Fulvius, stay behind. The rest of you can leave. Balbus, you remain as well. That's it, dismissed.'

Once the officers had filed out of the tent, Cato rounded on Balbus. 'You have an important part to play tonight, Balbus. If the navy screws up, then we may well lose the battle. If that happens, then you can be sure that the emperor will show you as little mercy as he shows me when he receives the news. Do you understand?'

'Yes, sir. I will do my duty.'

'Good.' Cato reached for a waxed tablet and handed it to the navarch. 'Your orders. Including the signal to be given for your attack. Just make sure your ships are in position in good time. Now, you have a tough ride to get back to your ships, and I suggest you get going. That is, as soon as I have my clerk prepare a document noting your objection to my plan and confirming that I ordered you to take your part in the attack. You can wait outside.'