Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

The morning sun cut clean and cold across the Eternal City, its rays slashing down the marble columns and gilded rooftops with the precision of a legionary's blade.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the Court of War had already been summoned into one of the many meeting rooms though this one looked something more similar to the senate building with two rows of raised seating on either side, with a single raised throne on the far end of the room, while the floor was a decorative map of the entire continent, though today a massive area rug had been lain down to cover this map, and instead focus on a closer territorial map covering the Western part of the continent exclusively.

Julius strode through the long vaulted halls in simple dress armor—no ceremonial robe, no crown, just the iron-forged leather and gilded plates of a soldier who just so happened to rule an empire.

At his side walked Serena, similarly clad in the attire of readiness rather than ceremony.

Her presence was both a statement and a promise: this was not a war of Julius alone.

They pushed through the bronze doors into the Strategium, the war council chamber.

Entering and walking around the lain out map before reaching their assigned seats while taking a look at the map, outlining provinces, cities, rivers, mountains, and — soon enough — battlefields.

Seated around it were the greatest generals and minds of Romanus those who would be responsible for commanding the legions in the field of battle, and the strategists who would be watching the overall progress of the war campaign witnessing the war from atop a table back at the military field command:

Elheat, grizzled commander of the Iron Cavalry and master of battlefield maneuvers.

Zeff, future chief of the Praetorians and Julius's most ruthless enforcer and direct personal bodyguard.

Miri, Consul of the Treasury, keeper of logistics and supply.

Tirian, admiral of the growing Southern Fleet.

Cassius Root, head of the intelligence division — known simply as The Root — and master of whispers beyond borders.

Among these there were dozens more within the room.

They all rose at Julius's entry.

He waved them down as he crossed the chamber, his boots clicking on the black stone before he took the central seat atop a simple dais behind the map.

Serena sat beside him, her own seat marked by the twin banners of Carthage and Romanus intertwined.

Julius leaned forward, both hands pressed to the armrests of his seat.

"Report,"

he ordered simply.

His words to his advisors had already been spread around with every member in attendance had like Julius worked through the night in preparation for this meeting.

Cassius Root was the first to speak, his voice low and grave.

"From what our agents report, the Germanian conquest was going quite well, successfully conquering three territories before the frontline ground to a halt, meanwhile as stated to you previously Francia's internal movements are worrying, their positioning close to the borders suggests their entry into the war by way of taking our other Germanic heartland and causing their fielded armies to lose access to their supply lines."

He tapped the map with a long stick like pointer, as he marked out the areas where he was referring to, allowing all to mentally draw up the current warfront battle lines, while also getting a good idea of where the francian build up is happening.

"The larger German states are capable of holding out for a while, since their peoples are hardy and even without their armies their people are unlikely to fall to an assault from the Franks."

"Typical,"

Zeff grunted.

"Always looking for a chance to nip at their neighbors like hungry rats."

"Well like you said they are onboard a sinking ship after invoking our emperors ire, so now they are looking at any chance to jump from the sinking ship,"

Serena said smoothly, her eyes never leaving the map.

Elheat folded his arms.

"And if the Confederation collapses?"

Cassius Root shrugged lightly.

"Then Francia gets the whole of central Germania — and a direct corridor to our eastern border, though that is highly unlikely."

The room went still.

Everyone knew what that meant.

An open corridor meant a highway for invasion.

Romanus would be fighting a two-front war — one against Francia, and another against whatever northern powers smelled blood.

Julius leaned back slightly, fingers steepled.

Seeing their emperor descending into contemplation, Cassius Root quickly provided an additional followup.

"The chances of invasion of our own lands is nigh impossible Milord, the latest reports we've received suggest that if Francia does indeed invade and we declare war in the defense of our ally, then the Brittanian will most like join the cause and invade into Francia from the north, embroiling the entire Western continent in the war."

He looked to Miri after hearing this new report.

"Logistics?"

She gave a crisp nod.

"We can easily field eight Legions at full strength within the week. Twelve if we field all available legions even those still in training, and closer to twenty if we call in auxiliary forces from the outer provinces."

She grabbed up and opened another scroll from her side and reading it out..

"Food stores are healthy with enough initial military rations for six months without need for resupply. Blacksmith production is ahead of schedule as all the existing legions are fully armed and equipped, with the armories being filled with excess to eventually arm the new legions being brought up in Parthia, and Carthage. While the southern trade routes remain secured."

"And the navy?"

Julius asked, flicking his gaze to Tirian.

The admiral smiled thinly.

"The Southern Fleet is ready to blockade the Francian western ports at your command. We can have coastal raiding parties of marines in place within a month, even with the fleet being split to ensure the effectiveness of the blockade against the Principality."

Serena tilted her head slightly.

"Then the question isn't 'can we fight.' It's 'where do we strike first.'"

Elheat grunted again.

"If we wait for Germania to fall, we'll be fighting through an entrenched Francian army backed by their Germanic puppet kings. If we strike now—"

He jabbed a gauntleted finger at the map.

"—here, at the Saale river crossings, we cut their advance to pieces."

Zeff smirked.

"And make a show of it. Rally the German states to our side by shattering Francian pride."

Cassius leaned forward, voice low.

"There's another complication."

The table quieted.

"The Francian army isn't moving as one. They're fractured along noble lines, same as always. We have credible reports that Prince Philippe — the king's third son — is the lead actor trying to carve out his own personal domain in Germania."

A chuckle ran through the room.

"Greedy little vipers,"

Miri muttered.

Julius exhaled through his nose, a smile playing at the edge of his mouth.

"Good. Let them tear themselves apart. We'll just sharpen the knives."

He rose slowly, every eye turning to him.

"We will prepare two strategies,"

Julius said.

"One—an immediate incursion into Germania. A lightning war. Target Francian armies in the field. Sever their momentum, while building on our existing alliance with the Germanians as we once more take to the field of battle together."

"Two—we prepare for a full invasion of Francia itself. If they react too slowly or foolishly, we take the fight to their homeland."

The war council nodded grimly.

Julius looked to Cassius last.

"And our other mission?"

The room stilled further.

Everyone knew what he meant.

Recover Empress Yuri.

Cassius nodded.

"We believe she is being held somewhere in the western provinces of Francia. Likely near Clermont or Bourges. Under heavy noble guard. We'll have more within the week."

"Good,"

Julius said simply.

He leaned forward again, resting both palms flat on the table, staring down at the map of the world as if he could already see the roads being paved with the footsteps of his armies.

"Prepare the Legions."

He glanced sideways to Serena, who met his look with a fiery nod.

"Just those finished with their training, we will take the six legions stationed her in Latinium and march to meet Haddin and the two legions returned from Greecia, once we've met up all shall cross the borders in a quick march towards the defensive line. that will create the bulwark to stem the flow of Francian invaders."

"And the Iron Cavlary?"

Elheat asked almost with anticipation.