Now before I start this chapter I would like to say that I am starting a side project that may or may not lift off. It is a mail box series called Byzantine Mailbox. I will however only continue it if I actually get any mail… so there you go, but this doesn't mean that I am going to stop this no, I started this and I will end it. So please go and check out the mailbox series it would be nice to actually be able to interact with the people that actually care for my writing. Now on to the Chapter!
Chapter 16: Riconquista Di Roma Part 2
Triestan Staired on to the Vatican, "Beauty it is, but a symbol as well… It must fall." Triestan fired his artillery hitting the Vatican smashing a huge hole into the side. He fired again destroying another part of the Vatican. The Italian crossing over the bridge who were not on the front line watched as the cannon fire smashed into the symbol of Papal dominance in Italy… Some cried out, some cursed, but all were enraged by this defilement of their most sacred architecture.
The Pope had been told to evacuate the Vatican as the shelling started, but he declined and chose to go down with the ship. "If I leave now they will have won… No god will defend the Vatican to the end." With those words a cannon ball flew threw the room he was in destroying most of the structure. The Italians trying to get the Pope out had given up and strated to run out of the building. The Pope staired out into the burning city of Rome, "Heaven help us… we will need it." With that a cannon ball hit the Pope killing him.
The Vatican was crumbling under the Semi-auto Cannon Fire that Triestan was putting on it. "God forgive me." Was all he said as he continued to shell the Vatican. The Italian forces were actually pushing toward the Byzantines, their devotion was all that was driving them now, not courage, not stupidity, but devotion to their lands. The Italians managed to cross the bridge and charged the Byzantine army with a hellish cry. The Italians fought like Demons from hell trying to reach the artillery before it destroyed the Vatican out right.
Triestan turned his attention to the Italians, all he did was gape as the Italian forces pushed and pushed threw his lines charging straight for him. He turned the cannon on them and aimed at the Bridge. "Corner a frighten animal they charge… Well lets just end this…" Triestan fired the cannon destroying the bridge sending hundreds of Italians into the river and stopping at least a couple of thousand from crossing. The Italians however did not stop charging Triestan. Triestan had little time to finnish of the Vatican, so he quickly turned the Artillery back to the Vatican. "I want men moved to my flank as I finish of this building!" Several reserve lines moved up to defend the Artillery as Triestan loaded another barrage to be fired.
The Italians broke threw the lines and pounded right into the Reserves defending the Artillery. They were so close Triestan could see their faces. "Oh shit…" Triestan fired another barrage at the Vatican and with that the building finally succumb to the shelling and fell to the ground in a pile of rubbile. The Italians and Byzantines turned to see what caused the huge crashing noise, and when they saw a huge dust cloud, both sides started to fight harder, one out of moral and knowledge that they had removed the enemies influence over the area, and the other out of pure rage. Triestan dropped the artillery and moved to grab his sword, he mounted his horse and charged right into the Italian lines. The Italians slashed at him, but he blocked and returned the slashes, killing the offending Italians. Romano pulled one of his men off a horse and mounted up and began to charge at Triestan. "You Fucker!" he yelled as he charged at Triestan. Triestan only scoffed as their blades met in the middle. When they came back around Triestan did something few would ever think of doing, he stood up on his horse and jumped off and tackled Romano off of his horse pinning him to the ground.
Romano took his free hand and punched Triestan in the face causing Triestan to roll off of Romano. The two stood up and started to grapple. Romano threw a right hook and kneed Triestan in the gut, But Triestan quickly recovered and headbutted Romano than picked him up by both hands and walked him to the river. "Give Up!" Romano spit in his face causing Triestan to drop him. Romano tackled him to the ground and started to pound his face in. Triestan kicked Romano off of him, and stood up pulling out his pistol and put it to his head, "Damn it Romano! Why couldn't you come peacefully, why does everybody have to fight! You are outmatched out numbered and genrally weaker!" Romano grabbed Triestan's gun as he was rambling and shoved him to the ground and fired, but Triestan managed to roll out of the way.
Romano threw the gun away and picked Triestan up only to punch him in the face. Triestan than punched Romano in the guy and followed with an uppercut than a kick to the chest. Triestan was the better fighter, but he had to admit this was the first time he has ever seen the Italian not run when he didn't have an advantage. Romano caught himself on the railing of side just next to the bridge and then he ran right at Triestan. Triestan took this chance and grabbed Romano by the neck and than brought him down to the ground as hard as he could. Romano's skull was fractured in this, but he didn't black out yet he stood up and continued to fight. Triestan was amazed at the Italians reseliance. Triestan tackled him into the stone railing that kept them from going into the river. He pinned him against the wall and than started to choke him. "I admire your reseliance, but it's a lost cause, I am the better fighter and the – UGH" Triestan gets punched in the gut and thrown over the Stone Railing by Romano. Triestan lands in the water, but dosent floot to the top, do to his heavy armor. He quickly starts to strip of his armor in the water. He floats back up and starts to climb up a nearby ladder. "Thought you could get rid of me that easily!" He charged Romano now much faster than the younger. Bringing Romano down to the ground. Triestan then repeatedly smashes Romano's head to the ground until Romano passes out. Triestan stood up bloody, but victorious. The Remaining Italians had Surrendered to Byzantine troops and were now prisioners of war. "Roma Is ours men!" The Byzantines cheered.
(The next chapter will cover what happened to spain and Veneziano.)