187BC
The Numidians continue to make dirt of all Carthaginians in sight.
We now have a massive force assembled in Cartenna. Our velites score a very lucky hit and destroy the walls of Cirta. Our luck appears to have run out as several legionary forces are severely wounded in the following blood bath but we escape with any losses and take the city. Thinking ahead, we have begun to amass troops at the Illyrian border.
Our naval forces lay waste to 2 quinquereme summa and another cumba. We note that we have rarely ever had such a turn of good luck with this scenario. Long may it last!
186BC
Not much to report this turn. Carthage appears to be a spent force as no new defenders have appeared to replace the dead ones. we move in the direction of Hippo Regius now. A new Scippio army is spawned.
185BC
Desperate fighting takes place near Thelepta as the Numidians cause numerous casualties, only to be ripped apart in a fiece Punic counter-attack. Our velite forces again bring down the walls at Hippo Regius. This seems too lucky. Are these walls of a weaker nature than walls elsewhere? Our forces in Africa are at this stage vast and powerful, although we are relatively weak in artillery. The luck of the velite troops is countering this, however.
We rush a foreign legio in Saguntum. Our economy has recovered somewhat to +27/turn so I will raise the science level to 30%.
184BC
Our supposed friends, the Numidians, send pirate ships to destroy our transports near Cartenna. They are unsuccessful and we gain a quinquereme. Old treacheries will be repaid.
Near Sicilia, a large punic naval force approaches, comprising 3 quinquereme summa and 3 cumba. They must be stopped!
Hippo Regius is ours! The combined attacks of our brutii army, legio XX and XXIII take the city but a unit of eques perish. Many resources are secured with the taking of this city - slaves, wheat and precious building stone. Our veltes kill a further unit of equitatus outside of Cirta.
The naval battle of Lilybeum begins and it is a bloody and costly one. We are victorius but we lose two corvus units. We do, however, gain a quinquereme and totally anihilate the Carthaginian fleet. I wonder how many sacred band are feeding the fish tonight? Admiral Paulus Metellus is to be commended.
We have moved into position at the walls of Utica. I am slightly concerned over the time it is taking to assemble ballista units as I do not think this 'Velite luck' can hold forever. The punic dogs are now cornered and they will not give up this city so easily, I think.
With so many road-building projects to be completed, we have not begun the anticipated invasion of Illyria. Many forces are now gathered and I believe it will be worth it to proceed now. The peace deal expires next turn.
183BC
The phoenician response to our destruction of their fleet is met with a roar of Roman laughter. Their navy is broken - they are a spent force! We muster a force of reserves from Sicilia and ship them to join up with the main invasion force at Utica, in the process sinking 2 quinquereme summa and a cumba. Utica itself begins to burn as the bombardment intensifies.
To alleviate the burden of our science spending, I have recruited numerous tax collectors across the southern cities.
This is where i must leave you good senators now. Consul Olivera will soon take the reins and have the honour of taking Utica and Carthage. I was so tempted to order the attack but, with so many legions exhausted from travelling, it would have been my pride before the Republic. i think you will agree that the African task force is a strong one and capable of the taking of Carthage. You will see also that our army is in place to begin the Illyric invasion. I urge you not to let that ***** Teauta free. Now is the time, senators... now is the time.
I beleieve I might but myself a nice villa in Hispania for my retirement, maybe near Valentia. The affairs of state I leave now in the hands of my son, Junius Vibius. I bid you strength and honour, good Romans.
Marcus Licinius Traianus.