Chapter 15: Riconquista Di Roma Part 1
(Note I could not find the phrase for the Reconquest of Rome in Latin so I used Italian.)
Triestan stood at the gates of Rome, "Home is where the heart is, that's what they say anyways." He puts his hand on the gate and then orders the men to blow the gates. "Forgive me." Triestan watched as the artillery blasted the steel gate to hell. The Byzantine army marched forward into the immortal city. Italian troops were stationed in practically every road to slow the Byzantines march. Triestan stood in front of his troops, "This men is our Riconquista! Roma shall be ours again!" The Byzantines cheered and marched forward threw the streets. The Italian troops stood in their way with guns aimed for them, "Men allow me." Triestan had upgraded his flamethrower, to a primitive Grenade launcher. He fired into their ranks. They staired at the grenade and then it exploded sending men flying and killing many. "Move forward." Was all Triestan said not caring about the people in his way, only about capturing the city.
Veneziano had his own problems he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He had to fight the Spanish reinforcements that wanted to help Southern Italy and his Brothers troops stationed on the border. Veneziano had to actually command his troops to, normally he would be retreating, but no escape routes were possible. He had only fought a few times and this was not one of those times he wanted to.
Antonio smiled "We have the Byzantine troops corned, but be warned they will probably fight to the end!" Antonio then ordered his troops to march forward. The Southern Italians however in fortunatecy for Veneziano were being pulled back to Rome to help defend against a much larger threat.
Triestan stood as he looked up at the Vatican from the streets miles away, in which was his main target, to be rid of the reached icon of the Papacy and restore Roman rule to the city by building a grand palace in its place. "Men if all else fails I want that building destroyed you understand me even if we fail will have succeded in achieving something." The Byzantine troops moved forward with their leader, but before long another group of Italian soliders stood in their way. "Bring forward the… gun." The Byzantines had been working in secret on a very powerful auto loading cannon. Was only just thin enough to fit in the street and it looked similar to a modern artillery piece except it had a cartridge of cannon balls and had to be reloaded by had, but the gun fired the cannon ball by the pull of a lever. The cartridge would then fill In another cannon ball as the men constantly replaced the cannon balls as they fired. The Italians staired at the strange device. Then it fired knocking a whole row of them down probably killing them as well, but when they thought they had time to move up another one fired taking even more with them. "Riconquista Di Roma!" Triestan shouted as the last Italian fell to the cannon fire.
Veneziano gave command to one of the more experienced battalion leaders and decided to fight from the side lines giving more of a moral support. The new Byzantine commander order the troops to form a wedge and to keep the cavalry hidden from the Spanish. The Spanish marched forward to meet the Byzantine troops, Antonio staired on the troops that were taking a defensive position. Antonio knew that the Byzantines were not the old fasion, and un bedningly narrowminded people they once were, now they were at the forefront of technology so this would be a very tough battle to win.
Triestan neared the Vatican with every step he took and every battalion he wipped out. Then he finally reached it, "There it is the Vatican… beautiful… damn shame though it has to go. Men bring the gun to the front lines and fire." The massive auto loading cannon lined itself up with the Vatican, but before it could be fired, Romano appeared from the bridge actually leading a charge at Triestan with a huge force of troops. "Hey Cazzo! Die!" Was what he yelled at Triestan as he charged over the bridge. Triestan immediately took over the helm of the Cannon and quickly redierected the gun to the bridge. He fired a shot and took out part of the bridge before they could fully make it across, but they were still within firing range, "Men I want you to move in front of the cannon defend it with your life, if we destroy their symbol of dominance they will surrender ashuradly. It's a miricale they haven't already though." The Troops took up position and began a gun fight with the huge colum of Italians. Triestan however was starting to shell the Vatican.
Antonio positioned his troops in firing range, but just as they got there they were met with a barrage of bullets and men charging up with Greek Fire throwers. "Give them hell men!" the Byzantine commander yelled as Veneziano still cheered them on to afraid to fight. Antonio started to pull his men back and order the artillery to start firing at the Greek fire throwers. However the firethowers were just next to them when this happened and instead of the usual wall of flames there was grenades being launched into their lines filled with greek fire and shrapenal. When they exploded many of the Spanish troops started to flee for their lives afraid of this new weapon that could launch timed explosives into their ranks. Antonio had to think of something quick.