Chapter 22

Sparta

217 BCE

Kassandra's generals and council had gathered the Roman Republic was once again at war with their trading partner Carthage who had not requested Spartan Aid a move they would regret within a few years however there was hope in new Carthage general Hannibal Barca had been close friends with Sparta he respected power and Sparta was pure power its 281 year old Monarch was proof of its power.

For 263 years the Immortal Queen sat on the Throne of Sparta Rome had already declared war on the Empire twice both times ended in disaster for the growing Republic, the first time ended with the Republic navy being sunk in the Adriatic while it was preparing to invade Greece herself.

The 2nd time was about 5 years before the start of the 2nd Punic war broke out that ended with a spartan army of 60 thousand landing in southern Italy crushing every roman force that was sent against them Rome ended up paying over 2000 talents of Gold to make the Immortal Queen withdraw her forces leaving the republic with very little not only that but they had to pay a year fee of 1000 talents to the Spartan Empire for the next 10 years.

(Roman senate house City of Rome)

"Members of the Senate please we cannot afford to not pay Sparta its due if we use their tribute to fund this war against Carthage, we risk the Spartans siding with this General Hannibal we cannot afford a war against to Superpowers". Senator Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Begged his fellow Senators to see reason.

While he did have some support with his fellow Senators his motion died on the floor when Consul Gaius Flaminius took the floor.

" Fellow conscript fathers of Rome Senator Fabius would have us cower behind our walls in Fear of some foolish notion of the Spartan Queen none of us have ever seen her and we have visited Sparta many times over the Years to discuss trade deals and yet we have never been given access to her why?". "because she does not exist yes there may have been a Queen Kassandra centuries ago but she is not still alive today with the powers of the gods at her command".

At the end of the debate the Consul convinced the majority of the Senate on his side Rome would not Pay their Tribute to the Empire this year a move they would regret as within a month Hannibal had crossed the alps and was now in Italy.

As Rome hurried to marshal an Army the Spartan war machine had awakened the Imperial Spartan navy had deployed a fleet to Sicilia to occupy it keeping a strong military presence between Rome and Carthage 80 thousand men were dispatched and easily overwhelmed the small Roman defence force.

This caused the Republic to split its forces in to two forces, one to head north to face Hannibal the other to head south to protect the coast from a Spartan invasion this would have a disastrous Result as orders had been confused the army that went North were mostly new Recruits while the force that went south were veterans.

Hannibal crushed the Roman force that was sent against him he was quite happy especially when he received a report that Sicilia had been occupied by the Spartan Empire it made him wonder if Kassandra was leading the invasion it brought back memories from his childhood when his father took him to Sparta to meet the Queen they had been sent by the Senate to renew the trade agreement between their two Empires.

(Flashback)

He walked by his fathers side in complete aww at the Spartan Capital City the Statues by the gates of the Immortal Queen were tall and imposing this was the city of a Conqueror as they walked past a group of children his age in the practice yard training to become the next generation of Spartan Soldier.

As he walked into the Throne room, he saw her for the first time the figure of legend Kassandra Agiad the Immortal Queen of the Spartan Empire.

To his surprise she was very kind to him he had expected her as an immortal goddess to look down on him but she was the complete opposite in the evenings she showed him around the city to him horse riding even swimming by the coast she was like a big sister to him.

She had even told him he reminded her of her little Brother it took her back to a simpler time and that if he was ever in peril, he would find refuge in the Empires Borders.

(flashback over)

With the war going bad for Rome the senate received a report that sent a shiver of fear down their spines a ship docked on Sicilia a few days ago this ship had dropped off the Immortal Queen herself Kassandra had decided to lead the army herself to aid her ally's.

A month later the spartan army landed on mainland Italy batting aside the Roman defenders as she marched her army north to meet up with Hannibal to march on Rome itself many cities upon seeing the Spartan Banner surrendered without a fight others refused and were put to the Spear however Kassandra's orders forbid unarmed civilians from being killed only solders and those who took up arms against them.

By the year 217BCE the spartan army had arrived near Lake Trasimene where they met up with Hannibal and a large roman army led by Consul Flaminius it was the largest army the republic had marshalled at around 80 thousand men.

Meanwhile at the Roman camp the consul stood with his Legion Legates as he saw the gathered force before him the Spartans had arrived before the Battle could start it would complicate things but he would show the world that Rome was superior he would crush the Carthaginians and their Spartan allies he would be victorious in the eyes of the Republic.

The Spartans with the Carthaginian friends enjoyed a good feast Kassandra and Hannibal discussed the plan for the battle tomorrow it would be a battle the likes no one had truly seen since the Conquests centuries before if the Romans didn't believe in the legends of the Immortal queen before the battle they would tomorrow.

Authors note: hey people hope you enjoy this chapter we have made it to the roman periods I hope you like until next time.

Revan Shan 2077