Glancing over the naval harbour Artemis and Marius counted the vessel that had survived the night .
" What did we lose ?"
" Make it two triremes and four biremes," Marius said. " Seems that those sailors were right about the boarding devices. Not that Vitellius will admit it . Maybe he'll listen next time."
Artemis turned to Marius with raised eyebrows.
" I know maybe he won't. This isn't the best start to this campaign of his. Think he'll go ahead with it."
" He has to. He's on the mission as us. The General won't stand for any excuses from him."
The moment the clouds began to disperse, the assembly signal rang out across the Base. The marines tumbled out of their barracks and formed up in their ship's companies, ready for order to board. Vitellius consulted with his senior sea going officers and the men of the ships that had been lost were distributed among the surviving craft. The final signal sounded out, the men tramped aboard the warships moored along the quay. Once each vessels had taken on its marines, it moved off and waited in the harbour as it's space was taken by the next .
Marius 's ship, a burner with the name painted on its bow, Athena, tied up and and lowered it's gangway. " I'll see you on the other side." He held out his hand to Artemis as if in final farewell.
Artemis looked at him softly and smiled," It's narrow stretch of sea, we'll met not the river styx, Marius."
" Perhaps," Marius glanced out the harbour towards the horizon. " I barely can't see the difference from where I'm standing.".
" Come on, we'll back on dry land by the end of tomorrow. "
" Problem, mate. I was afraid of water." Marius shook his head. " I swear, if we get through this alive. I'll never work with ships again."
" Let's hope you have that choice."
Marius nodded and turned briskly away and marched over to his ship and stepped gingerly along the boarding plank behind of his men. As soon as his boots thunder down on the deck the plank was hauled aboard, the mooring cables slipped from the stout wooden posts on the quay, and the sailors strained at long shafts of wood to easy the ship out into open water.
As the side of the ship Marius glanced back at Artemis, waved once and then took up his position behind the Captain on the raised aft deck. Artemis's bireme was one of the ships that had sunk, and his century was transfered on to the Spartan, a trireme. The unit that boarded ahead of him was commanded by Maximian. Artemis stiffened his back so that he could down at the marine officer, Maximian. " A word, if I may ?"
Maximian shrugged as Artemis stepped closer to him so that they would not overheard. " What?". Maximian asked .
" I'm a legionary Centurion. I have seniority here."
" Don't tell me you're pulling rank ? For Jupiter cocks , you're barely a man. I was in this job before you were even could read." Maximian's eyes hinted angrily. " Who the he'll do you think you're taking to?".
Artemis's face was expressionless. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpizLe5nAP
" You're respect the rank, not the man, Maximian and you will call me ' Sir ' from now on. In front of the men."
" Sir? " Maximian laughed at him . " Lad, I'll do no such thing!"
" Then you leave me no choice. I'll have you charged with insubordination. Unless you prefer that to be mutiny ?"
" You wouldn't dare ..."
Artemis drew a breath and called out over his shoulder. " Optio Fassius !"
Artemis's subordinate hurriedly rose from the deck and marched towards the two Centurions. A look of uncertainty flashed across Maximian 's face and he nodded relently. The Optio stood to attention beside Artemis, waiting for his orders.
Artemis said nothing for a while, to make Maximian sweat it out. Then he turned to the Optio. " Then please the men not to move about , the centurion here tell me that we're overloaded. No sense in making the ship anymore unstable than she already is, see to it."
" Yes, sir." The Optio saluted made his way forward.
Artemis fixed his eyes on those of Maximian. " I know you have far more experience than me, I'll look to you for any advice that I need. But while I'm on this ship, I'm senior officer, Understand? "
Maximian nodded. " Yes, sir."
" Good."
" May I go now, sir ?"
" Yes." Artemis replied in stern voice. Maximian saluted and turned away, marching stiffly towards of his men who were leaning on the side rail .
" What's the matter ? Never seen the bloody sea before? Get inboard, you dozy twats !"
Artemis watched him for a moment, Maximian had known that Artemis was right. Legionary tank took presence over auxiliary rank and there was nothing Maximian could do about it now, thanks to Artemis's assertion of his seniority, there would be a gulf between them. That suited Artemis perfectly. He would sooner have the man's focus on the difference in authority, rather than any simple personal animosity due to their friendship. Artemis could love with that. Just as long as their relation maintained a thoroughly professional edge . He nodded his satisfaction with the situation, turned and made his way forward to join his men .
The Prefect Vitellius was the last man to join the fleet, striding up the gilded ramp that led up to the wide deck of his flagship, the quinquireme Aphrodite. Vitellius climbed the narrow gangway to the aft deck, and acknowledge the salute of trierach of the flagship. " Signal the fleet to leave the harbour.".
" Yes,Sir."
" They're to form up on the flagship as soon as we make open sea."
" Yes, Sir."
" I'm going below, make sure I'm not disturbed. Carry on." Without waiting for the man to reply Vitellius ducked through the low hatch into the cabin that ran the width of the Quinquireme's stern. He ignored the boxes of scrolls awaiting his attention at the desk build round the stern post, flopped down on the narrow cot at the side of the cabin. Like most of his men he had not slept much the night before, but unlike them, he had the luxury of command and could permitted himself this indulgence . Feet patterns across the deck as the crew of the flagship eased the vessel away from the quay, ran the oars out began to get the quinquireme under way. Sporting a long purple pennant that lifted lazily in the light airs, the flagship slowly made its way through the naval base, and out to sea through the gap in the overlapping moles that sheltered the harbour. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SBNGIy162
As the great bronze ram cut into the gentle swell the men at the oars gritted their teeth and bent to the task. Thrusting the large warship towards the ocean beyond . Behind Aphrodite the rest of the fleet put the sea under the gaze of the small garrison left behind and a crowd of towns people, who had gathered along the harbour front of Ravenna . Most of them were the families and sweethearts of the men in the fleet, they waved their sad farewell as the warship pulled out to sea, took up position behind the tall stern of the flagship and headed slowly towards the distant horizon .
For few hours it seemed as if the storm was merely drawing it's breath before sweeping back across the sea, there was an unnatural calmness to the gentle swell, and a stillness tension in the air. The sky remained a gloomy grey and veiled the sun, so that only a vague patch of lighter haze indicated that it was there at all. The sailors of the ships had enough experienced of the sea in winter to know just how swiftly it could change and they watched the weather with considered apprehension. The marines caught their mood and there was little of the usual conversation aboard the Spartan as she followed in the wake of the flagship, oars rising and cutting back into the sea in endless rhythm. Artemis tried too eased his growing sense of anxiety by walking slowly around the deck, his hands clasped behind his back . He tried to divert his mind but each time he paced by the master and headed act, the Presence of Maximian loomed at the periphery of his vision, and in the end Artemis gave up and joined the trierach on the aft deck .
" How long do you think the crossing will take? "
Titus Vizentius pursed his lips for a moment before replying. " That's depends, Sir. With no wind, we have to rely on the oars. We can keep the men shift on shift for a while yet. If we can keep this pace up then we should make the coast of Illyricum by late afternoon tomorrow, assuming that the weather doesn't break ."
He glanced around at the other warships ,the day with on light breeze stirred the surface of the sea and the flagship signaled the rest of the warships to ship oars and make sail. The soft rush and hiss of the sea passing alongside seemed hushed and shooting after the monotonous cream and splash of the oars, and Artemis stood to one side as Vizentius ordered his crew to trim the sail to his satisfaction. As Vizentius glanced at their flagship, a few hundred feet ahead. " First mate!".
" Aye, sir !"
" Make sure you maintain our station. " Vizentius ordered the man .
The Spartan being lighter vessel, was inclined to sail faster than the lumbering quinquireme and the mate had to frequently order the men at the sheets to spill the wind from the rectangular sail to prevent the ship closing on the Aphrodite and the other ships ahead. As dusk gathered around the fleet, sky and sea emerged into one gloomy mass, one of the crewmen brought a lantern up from below deck, a heavy bronze affair with a glass pane. The oil lamps inside had already been lit and the full flame reflected brighter off the highly polio shed in tin mirror at the back of the lantern.
An iron hook protruded from the stern post and crewmen offered the lamp up and slipped the handle over the hook. The lantern swayed gently with the easy motion of the vessel, and more lights winked into being in the ships ahead of the Spartan. As if of the torchlight procession held by the followers of Mithras temple.
One of the crew suddenly shouted," Deck there! Sail sighted !"
Artemis looked up at the masthead a figure sat astride the hard with one arm anchored on the last, the other arm was pointing out to the side of the fleet .At once all eyes on the deck followed the direction indicated and Artemis squinted into the shadows and saw nothing .
1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy5Sw6eFZf
" What d'you see ?" Vizentius called the lookout .
" A Later sail, Sir. Just been raised . No more than two miles off."
" Two miles ...." Vizentius started alarm. " Can you make it out ?"
The last of the light was falling fast and there was a pause before the lookout called down his reply . " She's hauled her wind and gone about, must have seen us, sir....I can't see her anymore ."
" By the gods! " Vizentius muttered .
" Do you think that was a pirate vessel? " Artemis asked .
" Most likely, sir. If she saw us, the chances are she would have seen some of the other warships and realised it's the fleet. If that was a merchant ship then there's no reason to turn and run . I'd lay good money on her being a pirate."
Artemis glanced in the direction the lookout had pointed . " I don't supposed they fancied their chances against a force our size."
Titus Vizentius laughed. " Not even your cockiest pirate would be foolish enough to do that. Don't worry, you're safe for the moment . As long as the event doesn't know we've got a landsman like Vitellius running the show."
Artemis knew well enough that the lack of faith in experienced officers extended to him as much as the prefect and he tightened his lips to prevent any bad tempered response. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhySfW6hjW3
" What will he do then? "
" He'll report back to Tharsos. By the time that bastards get the message we'll be ashore and getting ready to hunt him down."
" What if that ship was looking for us."
" No, " Vizentius shook his head ." Had to be a chance encounter. They don't know we're coming ."
" What if they know ?" Artemis's mind raced ahead as he thought through the implications. " What if he's put to sea to intercept us ?"
" Now, you're jumping at shadows, sir." Vizentius said with trace of irritation. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAt5Y35Sft
" I'm telling you, they don't know. How can they, with all the security ? Even if they did, know, you've seen our ships .you've even see some of his, come to that. You know he can't take us on." Titus Vizentius glanced round to make sure that none of his men could hear his next words.
" Now, do keep a lid on that kind of scaremongering, sir. Doesn't do my lads any good to see officers losing their heads at the first sight of a strange sail. Won't do your men much good either. "
" All right," Artemis nodded. " It won't happen again."
" That would be for the best, Sir. It's going to be a long night. I need to look after my ship."
" Yes, Yes, of course." Artemis watched him dissappear into the dark mass of figures crowded in front of the mast, and clenched his hand into a fist and smacked it against his thigh. He always seemed to get coughed out, and be left feeling deficient . A deficiency that he felt compelled to wipe out, whatever the cost.
The night passed slowly, all around the noise of the sea sounded alarmingly close, as if it would rise up and engulf the ship at any moment. Artemis tormented by night marish images of himself struggling to stay a float, alone and forsaken in the heaving immensity of the dark ocean until at last his strength gave out and he slipped beneath the surface into suffocating inky black oblivion. There was no possibility of sleep while his mind consumed by such mean odds and he looked on the still forms of the marines in his century in frank admiration, with a bit envy.
For while he paced round the deck, gazing at the winning stern light of the surrounding fleet, occasionally voices across the surface of the water, sounding flat and indistinct and at times inhuman so that he stared hard into the darkness and wondered if the myths of sea monsters might not have some kernel of truth in them after all.
" Quiet night, Sir."
Artemis turned to see a dark figure a short distance along the ship's side. He recognised the voice readily enough and nodded a greeting . " Yes, Optio. Quiet enough, I suppose.".
He sensed the amusement in Optio Facius, before the other man who stood next Artemis's Optio speak.
" You'll get used to it. Give yourself a few months and the sea will seem like a second home."
" I sincerely doubt it." Artemis replied before he could stop himself . " It's interesting enough experience, but i imagine it becomes boring soon enough ."
" Boring ?" The Optio was surprised as he glanced to his friend next to him.
" Yes, It's boring."
" There's nothing boring about the sea. She's strange creature, Sir. Never quiet still, and she's as fickle as a drunken woman . Just when you think you knew her, and begin to take kart for granted . She'll hit you with the full force of her fury...she's not boring, sir. She's terrifying and exotic and you'd do well to respect her ."
Artemis stared at the feature who stood next to his optio and silently cursed the man for adding to the sum of his fears. " That's, er, an interesting perspective, I'll bear it in mind. Thank you."
" Best get some sleep, Sir. You never know that the morning will bring. "
" Sleep . Yes in a moment. You too, Optios."
Facius and his friend saluted and retreat smartly towards the sense mass of the dark shaped sprawled across the deck of the Spartan. At length the strain on Artemis's sense became too much and he found a vacant stretch of deck close to the bows. Leaning against his back against the Base of the canted foremast, he closed his eyes and feigned sleep. Bit by bit the gentle heave and fall of the deck, the creaking of the rigging and the soft churn and hiss of the sea alongside lulled him into slumber.
" Sir! "A hand shook his shoulder."Sir, wake up !"
Artemis blinked his eyes open and found himself staring along an unfamiliar plane of wood. For a moment he was confused, then memory flooded back and he raised himself up, wincing at the numbness of the arm he had been resting his head on. He twisted and looked up at Facius . "What's it ?"
" Lookout report sails to the north of us, Sir."
Artemis thrust himself up from the deck and rose stiffly to his feet. Most of his men were already on their feet and silently stating out to sea. Artemis pushed past then and made his way up on to the aft deck where Titus Vizentius acknowledged him briefly. Artemis nodded back . " My Optio says you've sighted something ."
" Several sails, more appearing all the time. Over there !" Titus Vizentius raised an arm towards the horizon. " From the coast of Illyricum."
" Pirates ?'
" Almost certainly. There's no others fleet's operating in these waters ." He turned away from Artemis and bellowed up to the masthead. " How many can you see now?"
After a short pause the lookout called back. " Fifteen. Still hull down, but some of them look so big, sir. Biremes or better."
Artemis coughed. " Seend they knew we were coming. As I feared."
" They must have known all along." Titus Vizentius frowned and added, grudgingly. " Seems you were right. Sir."
Vizebtius suddenly craned his neck towards. " Look there!!"
Artemis stared towards the horizon and as the Spartan lifted on the swell, he glimpsed several tiny dark shaped in the very rim of the ocean. " That's a pirates fleet, how long they can reach us ."
Vizentius pursed his lips. " Three hours, maybe more but it won't come to that. The prefect will have to turn south until we make the coast."
" Why retreat ? Surely we can take them on ?"
" Not loaded down like this, and not while they have the advantage of the wind at their backs, once we've landed the supplied and equipment we can turn on them quickly enough. Then you'll see the buggers turn about and run for it." Titus Vizentius smiled.
" Captain! " the mate called out. " The Flagship 's signalling. "
Vizentius faced forward and squires at the Aphrodite. A long red pennant was rising up the mast and the breeze lifted it up and out in a flickering ripple. He shook his head slowly.
" What's the matter ?" Artemis asked . 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRbZPYgP7A
" What does that mean? "
" It's mean that the Prefect Vitellius is bloody fool." Vizentius replied calmly.
" What you trying to say ?"
Vizentius waved a hand towards the red pennant ." That's the signal for the fleet to attack."
" Attack ? I thought you said we couldn't. " Artemis was confused. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP55YrqDIS
" So what's the he'll he's doing? There must be some mistake ." But even as Artemis spoke the crew of the Aphrodite let fly the sheets of their mainsail. The tiny figured of sailors spread out along the yardage quickly furled the sail and a moment later the sides of the Flagship bristled with the oars. Captain Titus Vizentius bellowed out a series of orders to his own crew, Artemis could only watch in horror as the sternpost of the flagship turned away from him. Slowly the Aphrodite gathered speed as the oars churned up the grey surface of the sea, and the quinquireme surged forward, directly towards the pirate fleet .The Pirate chief, Tharsos grinned from his deck ship, as he blow the order to under the sail, " Ready on your post, lads!"
" Best to stations!" Titus Vizentius the trierach of Spartan roared across the deck. " Sail in ! Oars out !"
This was the moment for which sailors and marines had trained over the many years, at the sound of the ships 's drum , the men of the deck burst into activity. Sailors swarmed up the rigging, and spread out along the yard to take in the sail. The centurions ran to join his century . The heavy thud of his boots accompanied by the clattering and scraping of oars being run out below the main deck. All around marines scrambled into their armour then snatched up sword and dagger belts and scrapped them on, before reaching for their helmets and shields.
Tharsos the Pirate leader giving order to his lieutenant, " Use the speed and ready in maneuver soon, as I gave the order and signal, and relayed to other of our ships ,Lieutenant.".
" Aye, aye Captain." The man replied.
Tharsos raised both of his arm with his two weapons he hold he made the signal as he said to his subordinate. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmvPJbdVtd
" Now , signal the rest our ship to formation. "
" Aye, Sir." The lieutenant replied tersely as he roared to the lookout men for spreading the signal of their chief commander. Tharsos and his men with his ships lurched forward. The crew find their their rhythm the ships ploughed forward, he shouted an series order to the steerman and waving his hand in some series coordination motions, for throwing the ships weight against the shafts of the huge oars. " Turn to the right, send the signal to other ship." Tharsos bellowed at his lieutenant.
The lieutenant passed Tharsos orders to the called out man as the man turn on and raised a triangle orange from the mast, and breeze lifted it up and out flickering ripple . The piratea fleet slowly followed their main ships and maneuvering into the formation. Some of the pirates ships starts to speed their ships , while some ships in the steady lurched forward as if of the butterfly spread the wings dancing with the torchlight and lantern held by the moving pirate fleet.
Artemis nodded to his Optio. " Prepare the men soon as the men are kitted up, get the javelins issued, and bring some more cases up from stores ."
" Yes, Sir. " Facius replied . As Artemis fumbled with the leather ties if his helmets he glanced back towards the aft deck.
Vizentius was leaning on the rail, staring over the side towards the Aphrodite. As the Spartan's sail was furled the trireme began to slow down. Then from below deck, the sharp rap of the pausarius hammer began to sound the pace for the men at the oars. After a moment the Spartan immediately behind the Flagship. Vizentius shouted an order to his crew. As the board blades of the steering oars bit into the sea, they all could felt the deck shift beneath their boots and instinctively some men grabbed at the side rail . Facius saw the gestured and smiled at Vizentius, 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzY0wiEo98
" Better get used to the feeling , sir. There'll be plenty of turning when we close with the pirates. ."
" Let's hope they decided not to make a stand. "
" We're overloaded. They'll have the advantage in speed, if not strength. I just hope they count the numbers and beat a retreat ."
Optio Facius glanced forward over the bows at the cluster of distant sails on the horizon, as the trireme rose on as well the dark hulls of the pirate ships were clearly visible against the gleaming blue of the sea . " By Jupiter, is that they're fleet. Doesn't look like they're going to run for it. Impressive formation.".
" No," Artemis pressed his lips together . The pirates fleet was steadily closing on them, with no sign of changing. " Tell Maximian to get the crow ready."
Facius saluted and turned forward. A moment later Maximian was bellowing orders at his men to drop their shields and javelins and follow him back to where the boarding device was lashed to the deck in the front of the mast. As they set to work, Artemis glanced back down the length of the ship and noted the time took for the Spartan to make the quarter turn into the wake of the flagship.
The formation the heavy bulk of the quinquireme and the triremes in the center, the legions and the lighter vessels on the flank, as if cavalry, waiting to exploits their speed over the open space before them. Slowly, as the two fleets crawled across the sea towards each other, the Roman vessels took station in the flagship and the formation flattened from a chevron into a broadline, with a small reserve of two triremes and five biremes held back to plug any gaps that opened in the Roman fleet.
Marius raised his hand to shade his eyes as he gazed round, looking at the Pirates fleet formation. The small three pronged design on the bows of biremes, out on the left flank, slowly the pirates fleet start to maneuver their formation and still under sail, close swiftly with the Roman ships, and within the hour were clear view, barely a mile off. Most of the pirate ships were in the same class as biremes and at the center of the line was the trireme that Artemis had seen and boarding several days earlier, it's dark pennant flickering in the shift breed like a serpent's tongue. As Artemis watched the distant outline of a crow rose above Marius and his men hung at an angle, ready to plunge down and impale an enemy vessel.
On board the Spartan, Maximian and his men heaved the boarding device forward towards the bows, as the warship rose and swell they struggled to line up the thick wooden pivot with the iron socket that had been fixed on the foredeck. At length and after much, cursing, the crow was lowered into position and ropes fed through the tackles that would raise and swing the boarding ramp. When the men were ready, the ramp was lifted far enough for the iron spike to be attached underneath the front and the ropes were fastened tightly to the cleats to hold the device still, until it was needed. Artemis noticed that the weight of the crow and the marines had canted the bows down, the trireme seemed markedly more sluggish as the oars drove it through the swell. The Roman fleet was heading directly into the wind, and the bows thunder into the oncoming waves, sending up clouds of spray that fell back into the faces of the men in the foredeck. Despite what Vizentius has told him about the danger of fighting with overloaded ships, the coming fight looked one sided .
Artemis glanced back towards trireme. The main sail was flapping wildly, then moment later tiny figured on the yardarm hurriedly gathered in the sail as oars were thrust out from the sides of the ships. On either side the biremes and lighter Liburnians continued forward, into the teeth if the Roman fleet, as the trireme 's oars splashed down into the sea there was something odd about the pirates motion. Artemis frowned for a moment, before the truth dawned on him, " She' s rowing backwards."
Facius stared hard for an instant, then nodded his head ." What's the bastard playing at ? Think the bastard ' s running for it, Sir ?"
" I'm not sure ." Artemis felt a sudden icy pang of deep inside his guts. Something went wrong, he was sure if it, even thought he knew a little of naval tactics - only what he had been hurriedly taught since he join the marine less than a month. He sure this was some kind of ruse . All around him and the sailors, we're cheering in triumph at the sight of the retreating pirate ship, as if the battle was already won . " Silence !" Artemis bellowed " Next man to open his bloody mouth is in charge !"
Facius could saw the cries died away, and they both turned their attention back to enemy fleet, now closer for them to make out the details of the men scurrying across the desks of the closest vessels.
Tharsos trireme was steadily withdrawing ahead of the Aphrodite.1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKFuovKCgF
The excited cries of the men aboard the Roman flagship carried clearly across the waves to the ship following behind. High up, at the stern of the quinquireme a red cloaks figure brandished a sword that flickered like a silver of fire in the morning sunlight as Prefect Vitellius urged his men on .
Beyond the Aphrodite a flash of colour drew Artemis's eye and he saw a bright yellow pennant flutter up the mast of the pirate vessel. At once the other ships in pirate fleet began to turn to either side, sails shifting round as they filled with the wind blowing over the aft quarter. The pirate had divided in several group as if the butterfly transformed into the arrows shafts and each half of the pirate fleet was sailing directly at the lighter craft on the wings of the Roman fleet . As if oblivious to the danger to his bireme, Prefect Vitellius ploughed on through the waves, in pursuit of the Pirate leader . Tharsos stood in the deck, he grinned as he start to be the bait.
From the foredeck of the Spartan Artemis could only watch in growing desperation. Tharsos fleet swept across the bows of the largest warships as Tharsos smiled and waved his hat at Vitellius afterward Tharsos raised his two falcata for continously and abundantly signaling his men from where he stand.
Artemis could understand the way of prefect's mind well enough, if the could only capture or kill Tharsos then the pirates fleet might be broken in the first battle . Sure enough the Aphrodite was slowly closing on Tharsos ship. Too slowly and all the time she was drawing them away from action that would be fought in the flanks of the Roman fleet. It was cleverly worked, Artemis realised with despair.
Seem Tharsos would hold himself out as bait, knowing that the Roman prefect would be hellbent on winning himself a triumphant victory to further his career. Tharsos made a trick to make it look as if the Romans stood a good enough chance of catching up with his ship, yet still have sufficient time to turn and make an escape.
" There they go," Facius muttered. Artemis turned to look towards Marius ' s ship. Half mile away across the rolling sea the sails if the pirate ships were mixing in with the bare mast of the bireme. One of the pirate vessels raced down the side of Roman ship and sheeted off its oars in an explosion of splinters and wooden shafts .
The Pirate ship moving so swiftly so the Romans marines had no chance to deploy their crow and had only begun to swing it round as the pirate ship snapped off the last of the oars and passed beyond reach. The oars on the far side we're still being worked and the biremes started to spin round heeling the ship over in the direction of the boarding ramp. As the marines on the Spartan watched in horror, the biremes turned on to its side , the sea closing over the rail as men and equipment spilled into the churning water, afterward there was a dull cracking as the mask broke and the ship capsized completely, leaving a glistening hump above the surface, surrounded by the men frantically splashing as they tried to find some debris to keep them afloat .
" Jupiter sake !" A marine close by Artemis shook his head . " Did you see that?"
Artemis was already casting his gaze over the other ships, searching our Marius ' s. The titan had passed through the pirate fleet unscathed and was already struggling to turn around and seek out an enemy to close with .
Elsewhere,another bireme had been rammed, the shock of the impact breaking the yardarm of its attacker. The pirates had their oars out in an instantly and as they furiously backed away from their victim,the sea rushed into the shattered hull and a moment later the overloaded vessel also capsized as the trireme of Tharsos retreating.
" What the hell is wrong with the Prefect ? Can't he fuckin' see what's happening here ?"
" He know well. He just think it's a worth justifiable sacrifice. " Artemis replied quietly.
" Sacrifice ? It's going to be bloody slaughter. Look ! There goes another one ." Facius slammed his hand on their side rail . Artemis could saw the pirate ships continued to cut through the ship on each Roman flank .
A handful of the biremes had managed to strike back, one had pinned a pirate vessel with its crow and the marines already pouring across the ramp and dropping onto the pirates, striking them down with desperate savagery. A short distance away another bireme had managed to ram an unwary pirate ship and the latter's deck were already awash at it settled into the sea . Every other Roman ship was either engaged or struggling to close with the pirates .
Prefect Vitellius the commander's of the flagship still pursuing Tharsos. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz6ioJkj6N
Artemis turned and passed his way through his men, and ran aft towards Vizentius. Centurion Maximian glanced at the young officer as he passed him and there was a determine looked like contempt in the order man's eyes.
" Turn us around ." Artemis called out . The trierach stared at him blankly, as if he had not heard the order. Artemis climber up the steps of the aft deck and thrust his arm towards the flanks where Marius and the others were battling for their lives . " I said , turn us around. "
" But ...."
" Turn this ship around, and that's an order! " Artemis bellowed with cruel cold tone while his face expressionless .
For a moment the two officers stared at each other as if their gauged each other power, and more and more of the marines and sailors turned to watch them, as they became aware of the crisis. At length Titus Vizentius aware that Artemis was dangerous type of man and base from what he heard from the higher rank officers at the naval basecamp that the young man Artemis was high rank of Imperial tactician palace , the leader of Praetorian league and one of Claudius trusted man, even one of the best man of General Caius Alea Zenious and General Aurelius Plautinus in Britain . Vizentius considered his thought until he finally nodded relentlessly.
" All right, Centurion Artemis. But I'll want it writing report. If we survive. Now do it ."
Artemis sneered at Vizentius. " You can have it in writing report, that I gave the order.".
Vizentius turned his head to the steerman, " Turn to port, hard over!"
" Aye, Sir." The steerman hauled on the oar shafts, straining every sinew of his brawny warns, and the water churned under the stern of the trireme.
Artemis found it hard to restrain his impatience as the bows slowly swung away from the Aphrodite and eventually lined up with the sea battle over a mile away, glancing round at the other trireme, he saw faces turned towards them, and could even read the surprise in those on nearest ship.
Artemis drew his sword and thrust it forward , pointing out over the bows of the Spartan. He cupped his spare hand to his mouth and bellowed across the water .
" Follow us ! For Athena's sake, follow us !"
At first there was no response, then the trierach called out the orders to his men and Artemis heart lifted as he saw the bows of the trireme start to run after the Spartan. Two more of the large warship altered course, steering towards the other flank, but the remainder held their course in the wake of the flagship Artemis's made cynical smiled, "Better than nothing." Artemis muttered wryly, then he turned to Vizentius .
" Now, steer right at the middle of that lot. Pick our any target that looks promising. " Artemis ordered him, as he was about to leave .
Vitellius asked , " Where are you going? "
" We have to lighten the ship."
Vizentius smiled and nodded , " All right, but do it quickly.".
Artemis ran sack down the deck and sought out for Maximian. " Get your men down into the hold. I want anything portable Brought on up on deck and dumped over the side ."
Maximian stared him with raised his eyebrow " Dump it ? We'll going to need that ."
" That's not going to happen. I said dump it ."
Maximian shook his head. " You out of your mind , and I won't dump it . Precise you don't have the authority ."
Artemis glared at Maximian with icy cruel and stared right to Maximian eyes . 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0yjGpPjTB
" Yes I do. Now, carry out your orders or I'll have you taken below and hand your command over to your Optio. And I mean it in every word. "
Maximian released his hardest sigh and saluted, then give an series of orders to his Optio. While Artists headed towards to his men , seeking out Facius . " Optio Facius on me !"
Facius moved toward to Artemis, " Yes, Sir.".
" Take a section, Go below and bring up the slingshot stores ."
" Yes, sir. And How much do you want ?"
" All of it, now get moving !". The Optio has served long enough in the Legion and know not to questioned the orders, however unexpected they might be . As he turned to the nearest men ." Drop your shield and javelins and follow me ." Facius drew back the cover of the forehatch and dropped down below the deck quickly followed by the others. Short time later they were handling up small sack filled with lead shot to the men on the deck. Facius 's head popped up through the hatch . " Sling as well, sir ?"
" What ... ? ... Sure , might as well put them to some use while we lighten the load ."
As the marines began to stack the sacking in the centre of the deck, Artemis looked aft and saw Maximian and his men already heaving sack of grain and spare sheets of plate armour over the side . The other triremes following a short distance behind the Spartan revealed that they too had realised the need to lighten their ship . Artemis nodded his satisfaction, then pushed his way to the thick timber post at the Spartan's bow. Below him, the bronze mass of the trireme's ram lifted and plunged into the sea, aiming at the heart of the sea battle being fought out barely a third of a mile ahead. As Artemis scanned the vessels still fighting it out amidst the flotsam, wreckage, and the bodies littering the surface of the sea .
The Neptune's which had passed through the enemy had turned about and charged back into the fight , ramming into the stern of pirate ship that had already wedged it's ran into the side of a bireme. The crews of all three vessels were locked in combat on the deck of the pirate ship and as far could make out, the Roman had the upper hand . The sound of forlorn cries reached Artemis ears as he noticed that there were men in the water directly ahead of the Spartan, Romans as well as pirates . He was on the verge of crying out a warning to Vizentius , before he realised that there was nothing that could be done for these men .
The trireme was too unwieldly to set a course to avoid the men in the water, as the warship surged into the fringe of the battle, the desperate expression of the men in their path and saw them frantically swim out of the trireme's path . Those who were too badly injured to swim fast enough, or who simply clung to the debris, could only watch in despair as the bronze ram bore down on them.
A handful of men grasping a shattered length of mast were swept from sight as the bow crashed into them with a dull thud, then there were screams as the survivors of the impact swept along the sides off the warship and we're crushed by the blades of the oars churning through the sea . Vizentius threw his glanced at Artemis as he looked out the young officer ignored the cried of the men and focus his eyes on the Neptune.
Titus Vizentius following artemis eyes to the front of the pirate ship powering forward under its oars, as the crew of the Roman vessels became aware of the danger their shouts of alarm carried clearly across the water . The marines were still fighting aboard the enemy they had managed to pin with their own crow, but now they hesitated and looked back over the deck of their own ship . With a triumphant roar, the pirates they were fighting surging back at them.
" Over there !" Artemis shouted from over his shoulder as he pointed towards Marius's ship and thrust out his arm . " Vizentius , steer over there ."
Vizentius relayed the order to the steerman and the Spartan , little more nimble now that she had shed some weight, skewed round towards the three ships still locked together, and the fourth rushing into finish off the Neptune's and his crew.
" Men Ready your Slings !" Artemis shouted above the din to his men and printed out the target . " Aim for that bastard on the far side! You men, give the slingers some space!".
Only two hundred paces separated the Spartan from the ships locked together when the pirate vessels slammed into the side of Marius ' s ship. The grinding, splintering crash filled the air as the Neptune recoiled under the impact, the shock tearing the rigging apart. The mast splintered and crashed down on to the deck moments later. The collision knocked everyman off his feet in the three ships that had been locked together, there was an instant of silence before they recovered. Scrambled back to their feet and continued fighting.
The pirates a board the ship that had ranked the Neptune's launched their grappling hooks over on to the Roman deck and began to haul the vessels closer together as a boarding party crowded the foredeck, brandishing their weapons as they waited impatiently for the moment to spring on board the bireme and wipe out her crew and marines .
Artemis turned away and filled his lungs as he stared down through the grating on the trireme's deck to the dim faces of the oarsmen below .1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqoQSnDh7K
" Faster ! You worthless bastard! Faster !"
The pausarius increased the rhythm and with the oarsmen straining every sinew of their muses the Spartan move forward, closing down on the tangle of ships ahead. Suddenly the bows were swinging away from the ships.
Vizentius the trierach's intention was to pass round the stern of the Neptune's and take the pirate ship in the side. They were well within slingshot range now and Artemis bellowed an order to his men.
" Slingers! Loose ! Let ' em have it, mates !"
The air was filled with a whirring of slings and then lead shot zipped out across the sea in a low arc, before striking down into the pirates massing on their foredeck. The chorus of sharp cracks and thuds, and cries of pain were clearly audible to the men on the Spartan, and they responded with ragged cheer of cruel satisfaction before more shot flew across and struck down yet more men , some falling helplessly into the narrowing gap between the hulls of the two warships where they were crushed moments later. Artemis had no time to observe anymore, the trireme was already slewing round the stern of the Neptune and there ahead of them lay the defenceless bean of the pirate ship. Some of her crew gazed helplessly at the large warship speeding towards them . Others , with more presence of mind, ran from the side and sought cover as more slingshot rattled across her deck, as the gap between the two rapidly closed, Artemis found that he could not look down on the enemy and he gritted his teeth as he waited for the collision. At the last moment, Optio Facius turned and saw his Centurion leaning across the bows of the trireme. He leaped forward, grabbed Artemis by the arm and hauled him back on to the foredeck the worn planking leaped up with a great grinding crash and sent men tumbling all across the deck .
The impact hurled Artemis forward and cracked his helmet on the bow strake. He smiled at the searing pain before he looked round at his men, most were kicking themselves up snatching up the if weapons and moving towards the boarding ramp . But there were several casualties men hurled forward and knocked senseless, others with broken limbs and a steady chorus of groans and cries of pain from below deck where the oarsmen had been thrown from their benches .
Facius was already on his feet and he handed Artemis shield. " Here, Sir .On your feet now ."
Artemis shook his head try to clear it of the blurring vision while his Optio Facius made his way by thrusting men towards the crow . The trireme had struck the pirate ship at an angle and aft of the Maximian already had his men hurling grappling hook across the gap to try to draw the ship closer together. Artemis stood erect while his optio next to him, then Artemis raising his shield, he approaches the prow cautiously and looked down. The ram had crushed the pirate's timber hull and penetrated six or seven feet inside. Water gurgled and blubber as it poured in through the breach . As the men on the foredeck of the pirate ship had also recovered from the impact and now a handful turned to face their attackers as the rest hurried aboard the Neptune.
The trierach must be fairly cool headEd, Artemis reflected . As Artemis glanced at the men dropping down onto the deck of the Neptune's he saw Marius and a score of his men fighting for their lives in a tight circle about the mast . " Get the boarding ramp moving!". Artemis roared.
Maximian men hauled on the grappling lines the trireme gradually swung in towards the pirates ship. The marines on the crow's tackle heaved and the pivot groaned and squeaked as the ramp swung out over the side of the Spartan, across the surface of the water and then it's shadowed fell across the deck of the pirate ship .
" Move! Move! " Facius yelled. As soon as the men released their grip on the tackle the heavy iron spike under the ramp swung down and pierced the planking with a splintering crash. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW88jmSgnFN
Cheering the marines swarmed on to the ramp and ran across to meet the enemy . A few javelins and arrows flitted towards them but hammered into the protective wooden hoardings on either side and injured no one. Facius was tanning by the near end of the ramp, thrusting men along it.
" Move! You lazy ladies ! Or there'll be none left for you ! Move! "
Artemis drew his sword and pressed himself in amongst the stream of men crossing to the enemies ship . At the far end of the ramp there was a short jump down on to the deck then he raised his shield and held his sword ready as he looked around. Several of their men had rushed towards the bows, hacking and thrusting at any pirate that stood in their way. Artemis turned towards the stern. A small party of men stood there, heavy built like gladiator and well armed.
" You there !" Artemis called out to the marines who had been immediately behind him on the boarding ramp. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdkjBZdW4P
" Follow me !"
Artemis and several men trotted steadily towards the stern slowing to pick their way over the tangle of fallen rigging, the gratings had been thrown open and as Artemis glanced down he could see that the oars had been abandoned as the crew had armed and thrown themselves at the Romans aboard the Neptune. There's no time for tactics and formation and Artemis filled his lungs and roared .
" Get 'em !". Before lowering his head, leaning into his shields and throwing himself at the pirates with his shield.
On the other side Maximian and his men charged home and the air was filled with grunts and shooting and the scrape , clatter of sword blades. Artemis's shield slammed back towards him as one of the pirates charged with rate. Light glittered off the side of a blade rising above Artemis and drew back his heavy falcata to slash it down, through Artemis's helmet .
Artemis threw his sword up and parried the blow with a hearing clang and before the man could recover, Artemis slammed the pommel of his sword into the snarling features of the pirate's face . The pirate's head jerked back with a grunt and flecks is blood flickered into the air from a deep gash across his head . At once Artemis snatched back his arm and smashed his sword into his enemy's face , the edge cutting through the bridge of the most and into his eyes. The pirate stumbled back against the side rail.
Artemis raising his shield and shoved him over the side and turned on the next pirate. A short afterward, a stocky man with curly dark hair a Nubian man stood in a crouch, weighing the Roman Centurion up with narrowed eyes, he raised the point of his falcata and crept a step closer. Artemis watched his enemy's leg moving, as he ready for the man to explore into the attack. Instead , the man suddenly stopped , frowned and glanced down at his chest where the bloodied point of sword tip had pierced his leather cloth. His legs folded under him and pitched forward. Behind the Nubian man stood a marine, grinning with satisfaction as he yanked his blade out of the man's back. When Artemis was a out to opened his mouth to warned him, a glittering whirl scythed through the air, and right through the marine 's neck, sending the head flying several feet to where it thunder on to the deck. Still swinging the sword in a wide arc, the pirate junped in front of Artemis and spat on the ground .
Artemis threw up the edge of his shield and the blade slammed into the metal trim, sending sparks flying and throwing Artemis back against the sternpost . As the pirate recovered his sword, he slowly steeled back a pace , curved blade he held dropped blood on to the sun bleached planks of the deck . Artemis's eyes swept around and to his horror he discovered that he was the last and only Roman standing at this end of the pirate ship . All the men who had followed him were sprawled in bloody heaps on the decks, amongst the bodies of their enemies. Now, two pirates had him for themselves. 1327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNh6t3lM8z
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