Chapter 69 - Strongarming the Senate

Thalia had been sure that the situation was going to be dealt with quickly and easily in the Senate, that there'd be little petty squabbling and arguing with the Triumvirate losing in on Camp Jupiter's doors. There was the high possibility of losing Camp Jupiter to them entirely.

She had been dead wrong.

For one, even with Reyna and Frank nipping at everyone's heels, there was no sign of any rush from most of the Senators to gather in the Senate House. Either word hadn't gotten around yet, or they simply didn't care about the imminent invasion. Thalia hoped it was the former.

"You would think they would show a little more concern that their little city is about to be invaded," Chrysaor scoffed from behind Thalia. He made entirely no effort at quieting his voice, and completely ignored the dark glares from both the guards around them and the few Senators who'd gathered already and were within earshot.

Thalia spotted the Primus Pilus, the senior centurion of the First Cohort, already seated in the Senate House by the time the group arrived. He was speaking with multiple other Centurions of the Legion.

"Praetors," Mike Kahale greeted with a sharp salute and a nod as he snapped to attention, the rest of the gathered Centurions following suit.

Reyna nodded curtly to him. "Primus Pilus," Reyna greeted in turn. "Thank you for all gathering here on such short notice," Reyna said to the Centurions present.

"It's good you sent out a warning as soon as the Pontifex returned to be prepared for a Senate meeting," Larry, one of the Centurions of the Second Cohort said. "Else we wouldn't have been in the area waiting."

Frank nodded slightly. "A Citizen Senator informed us that they insist on debating the mobilisation of the Legion," he said. "The other Centurions are still with their cohorts?"

"Yes," Hazel said. "Dakota is having the Fifth Cohort continue with raising the defences while I'm here."

"Good," Reyna said.

"If I may," Chrysaor said from the side, immediately causing Thalia to tense as the Centurions and both Praetors turned to look at him, entirely unamused. "Ignore the Senate," he said. "From what I heard, the Civilians Senators only owe their recent voice on the Legion's affairs to you two," he said, with a nod to Reyna and Frank, "and to Jason Grace. Simply remove it. And you solve your problem."

Reyna scowled at him. "We are not removing the Senate."

Chrysaor rolled his eyes. "As if the Senate has much power in Rome," he dismissed. "Keep with tradition, make them a puppet Senate," the ancient demigod advocated with an amused grin.

Frank ignored him, while Reyna's scowl deepened. Thalia shook her head slightly. "Let the Romans deal with their own Senate," she flatly said to Chrysaor.

"No, no, I think sticking our noses into their business is far more entertaining."

There were maybe half a dozen Senators within the Senate House now, taking a seat in the tiered chamber. "This is for Rome's survival," Reyna said firmly to the gathered Centurions. "There will likely be a vote, and we must win," she stressed. "Standing down the Legion isn't an option now."

Michael Kahale nodded. Hank, the Centurion of the Third, grimaced slightly. "There have been whispers in New Rome that no one wants another war," Hank said. "The other Senators might not listen to us."

Reyna shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. "The future of Camp Jupiter is at stake," she slowly said. "They will have to listen."

The gazes of the Centurions were grim, but all of them determined. With only five of them there instead of the usual ten Thalia wasn't sure how any vote would go, but she guessed that it would've been close even with the full ten Centurions of the Legion present.

More Senators were gathering now, many of them looking unhappy to be summoned to the Senate House. "We've just had a meeting with Praetor Frank only yesterday," one of them muttered under their breath as they gave Thalia a wide berth with an uneasy glance.

Reyna, Frank and the five Centurions were seated now. Thalia cast an uneasy glance towards Chrysaor. She was satisfied that the son of Poseidon and Medusa wanted to be paid, but there was still some uneasiness around him purely for the fact of his infamous reputation. Thalia half expected him to blow the plumbing and drown all the gathered senators. From the looks he was giving them – with his miniature tusks pointing out from his lips and a slight sneer – he was clearly not very impressed with them. "Look at them," Chrysaor scoffed out, purposefully loud enough to be heard throughout the room by anyone there. "Only care for themselves and not the slightest for their own city and home."

"Don't act like you care about Camp Jupiter's fate," Thalia said.

"You wound me, Thalia Grace," Chrysaor said with a dramatic hand over his non-existent heart. "Of course I care! You're here, and if you die then I don't get paid."

Thalia shot him a disgruntled glare. "I don't need a babysitter," she flatly returned.

"Of course not," Chrysaor agreed in amusement. "You'd drive a babysitter up the wall."

"Chrysaor! Thalia!" Reyna said from her position seated in the stands. "If you two are done, we have a Senate session to begin," she said pointedly, gesturing to two empty seats along the bottom row of tiers.

Thalia's lip curled in distaste. "Oh, no, I'm not sitting next to him for that long," she said. "I was stuck with him for several days on his boat."

Chrysaor scoffed. "I wasn't the one constantly throwing up." Still, he himself ignored the lowest tier of seats and moved two up from the lowest one, lounging back and closing his eyes – blatantly ignoring the Senators whispering and muttering over him inviting himself into their meeting. Thalia settled on the bottom tier, assuming she'd be asked to speak before the Senate during this session.

"Thank you for gathering under such short notice, everyone," Reyna said. "I understand there are some frustrations regarding the recent movements of the Legion," she continued without pause. "I apologise for declining to consult this Senate before giving the order to defend Camp Jupiter from those whom would seek to invade us. I didn't realise that would be a topic of such contention."

Thalia's lips twitched up slightly. Chrysaor didn't even try to hide his bark of laughter, but somehow the gathered Centurions all remained stoic in the face of the angry mutters of the civilian senators.

"Are you suggesting, Praetor, that we don't have the best interests of New Rome at heart?" One of the female senators asked, clearly appalled at the mere suggestion.

Reyna inclined her head slightly. "Of course not, Senator Vedia," she replied calmly. "I wouldn't dare to doubt the loyalties of Romans to Rome." There was no sign of sarcasm in her tone, but there didn't need to be. It was obvious that was exactly what she was suggesting.

The angry mutters amongst the civilian Senators made it more than clear that they'd picked up on it too.

"Changes were introduced into New Rome to give civilians more of a vote in the actions of the Legion after the two wars we have just suffered through, to stop the Legion dragging us into yet another war where peace may be the better option," one of the male senators said. "The Legion now acting by itself to antagonise the Triumvirate through raising unneeded defences around Camp Jupiter will cause war!"

Frank's eye twitched. "Senator Titus, the Triumvirate has already declared war on Camp Jupiter."

Mutters rose amongst the Senators. "We have heard nothing of this!" A woman cried out. "Why haven't we heard about this?"

"Raising the Legion to readiness without passing a vote on this through the Senate is overstepping the office of Praetor! Especially with no evidence and just a claim of war!" Senator Vedia exclaimed.

"The Praetors must have reason to be concerned!" Another male Senator said. "Let's not forget that Praetor Reyna fought in both of the recent wars, as did many of the Centurions," he said with a respectful nod to the Praetors and the gathered Centurions. "None of them would want a war either."

Reyna nodded gratefully to the Senator. "Thank you, Senator James," she said. The Senator nodded his head slightly back at her. "I am aware we have lost many members of the Legion in the last two wars," she added. "But this is a threat we can't ignore!"

"Where's the evidence?" Senator Titus demanded sharply.

Frank glanced to Thalia. "Thalia, would you mind speaking?" He questioned.

Michael Kahale spoke up as Thalia pushed herself to her feet with a grimace. "Even suggesting we shouldn't prepare for the worst and raise defences is stupidity," he snapped at Senator Titus. "Sheer stupidity. I don't want to see Camp Jupiter fall just because we failed to prepare!"

Thalia turned to face the Senate and launched into a quick explanation of the recent events in Indianapolis. There were a few mutters when Thalia mentioned Commodus by name, and Thalia avoided mentioning the unknown fate of the rest of the Hunters.

Silence fell briefly in the Senate after Thalia had finished recounting events, until one of the Senators stirred. "And we're to trust a graecus' word?" Thalia wasn't the only one whom tensed at the obvious distaste in the men's words. He glared at Thalia from his seat on the second tier. "My father died when their flying trireme attacked New Rome," he grit out. "I'd sooner trust the Triumvirate than I would one of them."

Reyna pressed her lips together. "Senator Inigo, we must not allow revenge to get in the way of protecting New Rome."

"Pontifex Maximus Grace returned with further news about the actions of a second member of the Triumvirate," Frank added. "Caligula was the source of the increased wildfires through the Winter months. He was holding the Titan Helios beneath the earth in an enchanted chamber and intended to use the Titan's remaining essence to make himself a god," Frank said to the Senate. "According to Jason's report. Jason was able to prevent this from happening."

Thalia smiled proudly at the feat her little brother had managed. She curtly nodded her head. "That's two of the Triumvirate."

"He also reported," Reyna added to the Senators. "That Caligula had himself his own Legion, his own army with which he intended to march here and invade New Rome."

"Perhaps we should wait for the Pontifex to join us, to give his own version of the events so we may hear them first-hand?" Senator Vedia said.

"Pontifex Maximus Jason is currently recovering in the infirmary," Reyna said flatly, clearly unamused. Thalia didn't miss the lack of a mention about the three Emperors Jason had brought back with him. She caught Reyna's eyes and gestured to the stands, Reyna nodding back at Thalia and gesturing for her to retake her seat with a long sigh.

"Then surely we must wait until he has recovered?"

"I agree with Senator Gaius," Senator Inigo said flatly. "We should wait until the Pontifex has recovered and can tell us first-hand."

Reyna's gaze hardened, expression cooling. "You don't trust that I'm speaking the truth?" She demanded.

Chrysaor leant conspiratorially down to Thalia. "I'm grateful Greeks don't have to deal with stupidity like this in a Senate," he said, purposefully loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Senator Inigo bristled, angrily standing up from his seat and sharply turning to face Chrysaor. "Not the mention the monster that the Greek brought into the Senate! The one with a snake's tongue," he spat out. "Who's to know he can't turn us all to stone?" Senator Inigo demanded.

Chrysaor just rolled his eyes. "Like I haven't heard that before," he said dismissively. "I wish I did. Would make dealing with an irritating Roman Senate a lot easier."

Thalia winced as his words caused an uproar around the Senate, even the Senators whom looked to be taking the side of the Praetors turning purple with rage at the particularly unsubtle threat.

Reyna had her eyes shut, fingers pressed against her temple. Next to her, Frank was looking to the domed ceiling overhead as if searching for some divine patience.

"Enough!" Michael Kahale barked at the Senators, expression fierce as he lurched to his feet. "We have an important decision to make here and you're all screaming like a bunch of children!"

Chrysaor's lips curved into a feline smile as the Senators all fell silent, looking particularly smug where he lounged.

"Thank you, Primus Pilus," Reyna said to the Centurion of the First Cohort. "Please, everyone, settle down and we can discuss this calmly."

"The legion must immediately stand down all antagonistic activities," Senator Titus stated flatly once they'd all seated again. "I'll not stand for it!"

"Then by all means, stay seated," Reyna said curtly with clear frustration, causing him and many others to splutter in disbelief. Thalia couldn't hide her smile as she looked around at the Senators, many of them still glowering at Chrysaor.

"The Triumvirate have already made it clear that they will invade," Frank Zhang stated. "This isn't a matter of if, Senators, but when. And everything is pointing to them heading towards us as we speak. There are families living in New Rome that we are all charged to protect, everything that we have built here. All of it may be at risk. I would rather make sure it's all protected on the chance that we're attacked."

"The Triumvirate have shown no interest in invading us, and all we have is the word of the Greeks-"

"Senator Inigo, do you not trust my word?" Reyna demanded. "The word of the Pontifex?"

Senator Inigo's gaze darkened. "Of course! But not the graecus."

"Antagonistic actions-"

"Defending ourselves and Camp Jupiter is hardly antagonistic, Senator," Michael Kahale said sharply.

"We fought against Terra," Hazel said. "And we defended ourselves then. Her army attacked us, and we repelled them. The Legion also marched on Othrys to pre-emptively destroy Saturn's throne. This-"

"For all the good it did," one of the Senators sourly muttered under their breath.

"This is the same," Hazel said. "We have to raise defences!"

"We must vote after hearing the Pontifex's words first-hand," Senator Vedia insisted.

"Maybe we can have the Legion continue their current course in readying defences whilst we wait for him to heal?" Senator James offered.

"No, we must wait!"

The Senate again dissolved into chaos and Thalia pitied Reyna and Frank as the two looked to be growing short of patience, along with the rest of the Centurions. Chrysaor suddenly straightened slightly where he lounged, bright green eyes flicking to the entrance of the Senate Chamber, looking like suddenly things were about to become far more interesting.

Thalia followed his gaze as Reyna's expression paled a fraction, and she raised an eyebrow.

"When I first became Emperor, Germania's barbarians were on the warpath. They intended to cross the Danube and march on Italy, on Rome. I went there personally with an army to stop them from encroaching upon Roman territory. For twelve years, we fought across the Pannonian Plain – nine legions were stationed along the Danube at the outbreak of the wars, and by the end there were sixteen." Marcus Aurelius paused, the Senators staring at him in wide-eyed disbelief. Several of them looked uneasy with his presence. "Of course, when I died and Commodus took his place as Emperor, all of that fell apart." The former Roman Emperor advanced into the Senate Chamber, garbed in a brilliant golden toga with purple trimming that gleamed and rippled as he moved forward. He'd cleaned himself up from when he had been sitting on a hospital bed and while some of his skin was still clearly sore from being burnt, he looked remarkably unharmed. Marcus Aurelius stopped before the gathered Senators. He scanned everyone present briefly, before frowning. "When a threat came at Rome, we always acted to remove that threat," Marcus stated flatly. "Why, then, do I hear Roman Senators seeking to hesitate before an invasion force?" A scowl formed on his face. "Do I look upon weak-willed cowards, or traitors to Rome?" He demanded, outright accusing many in the Senate of treason.

Many of them bristled, others paling slightly as the former Emperor glared them all down. "I have encountered the Triumvirate many times as they have built their Empire, and I can assure all of you that none of them have good intentions for New Rome. Regretfully, Commodus did not end up as the Emperor I had intended for him to be." Marcus Aurelius clasped his hands behind his back. "Now, while insisting to wait for the presence of Pontifex Jason is, of course, admirable, I am sure he would be disappointed if the Senate was incapable of common sense without his presence."

Thalia bit her tongue. Chrysaor had no such urge and let out a sharp laugh, chuckling where he watched the cowed Senators.

Marcus Aurelius smiled pleasantly. A politician's smile, sharp and double-edged. "Please, if anyone here believes that Rome should bow and bend before an invading Empire, say so now. So I know exactly which of all of you intend to commit treason… or have already done so."

Reyna and Frank didn't exactly look calm, and neither did any of their Centurions as the other Senators remained silent and stony-faced in the face of Marcus Aurelius' accusations. Knowing Romans, the punishment for treason would be something horrific and Thalia doubted that any of the Senators would want to experience it.

"No?" Marcus asked. "Marvellous," he said, his smile becoming far more genuine as he turned to look to Reyna and Frank. "I am sure Pontifex Jason will be pleased to hear that. Now, Praetors," Marcus said. "I believe you were intending to have a vote? Hardly necessary, I think, but these days democracy seems important."

Reyna cleared her throat in the silence, Frank clearly letting her take the lead here with Marcus causing complications. "We will take an immediate vote on whether the Legion should prepare defences against the Triumvirate's invasion or not," Reyna said. "Raise your hands for 'Aye'." The vast majority of the Senate had a mulish look on their faces following Marcus' unsubtle threats to the Senate, looking thoroughly displeased.

Thalia wasn't surprised to watch as every hand rose, none of them wanting to be named as traitors to Rome and be appropriately disposed of.

Frank's expression tightened as he watched the vote, and Reyna pressed her lips together. "The decision is unanimous," Frank said after several seconds. "The Legion will immediately prepare to defend Camp Jupiter."

Marcus inclined his head slightly to Reyna and Frank. "Praetors," he said, then made the same action to the five present Centurions. "Centurions," he added. Marcus' eyes were sharp as he turned to the Senators, but made no such sign of respect for them. "Senators," he said flatly. "I am sure Pontifex Jason will be more than pleased with your decision." Marcus turned and strode from the Senate Chamber without a glance back, royal toga snapping sharply at his back.

Reyna rubbed at her forehead with a long sigh. "Centurions, return to your cohorts," she instructed. "We need to prepare to defend Camp Jupiter, immediately."

"Yes, Praetor," Michael Kahale said. He cast a sharp gaze towards the civilian Senators as he rose, the Centurion of the First Cohort an intimidating figure. None of the Senators seemed pleased to have been threatened and strong-armed into the vote, but none dared to speak up either in the face of the Primus Pilus' glower at them all.

Thalia worried then that perhaps bringing back any former Emperor would cause more harm than good to the unity and morale of the Legion, which was clearly already damaged following two wars in rapid succession.

At least that wasn't something she'd have to concern herself with. Though she did feel herself pitying Reyna and Frank, who'd just been thrown into an even more strenuous position by the actions of Marcus Aurelius. Jason might be able to help smooth tensions when he was up and walking, but Thalia wasn't sure how long that would take. He'd seemed badly wounded as he lay in that hospital bed.

"I enjoyed that," a voice said from behind her, making Thalia stiffen slightly at its nearness. "Mayhap I will drop in on the other sessions," Chrysaor continued, his tone light and promising chaos even as Thalia turned to glare at him. His sharp was sharp, clearly knowing he'd just been able to catch her by surprise. Thalia internally scolded herself for allowing herself to be so distracted.

"No," Thalia said firmly, recalling his dry comments just to stir up trouble during the session. "You just like causing problems for everyone."

"Of course I do," Chrysaor agreed readily. "There's no fun to immortal and eternal life if you don't make that fun for yourself. If that entertainment comes from watching the Roman Senate tear each other's throats out like Lupa's wolves, then I'll take it… and cause them problems in the process." He studied Thalia for a few more moments. "You should get used to that yourself, being the Lieutenant of Artemis' Hunt… or what's left of it, anyway."

Thalia bristled and aimed an electrified punch at him, but Chrysaor only laughed in delight and danced to the side, an elegant move that belied his ability with a sword. Thalia glowered as she watched the pirate son of Poseidon leap off the stands, whistling to himself as he strode straight through the huddled Senators angrily muttering to each other on the Senate floor, causing them to briefly scatter with a few sharp insults at the Greek.

"This is a problem," Reyna said as she came to stop close to Thalia, her eyes on the Senators.

"A big one," Frank agreed with a tired sigh. "So much for trying to lower tensions in New Rome yesterday."

Yeah so, Roman problems. Fun, aren't they? Marcus Aurelius means well, he really does, but he's from the days when the Roman Emperors held control over the Senate by force (he was considered a 'Good Emperor' but when the other Emperors are ones like Nero, Commodus and Caligula, etc, there's really not much of a competition for that Title lol).

KissfromaRose12: I replied to part of this review by DM, just because they're the first person to ask about the missing ABO stuff and why isn't disappeared. There's is a reason for the shift, and it's due to the shifting and changing perspective and is an active decision (the reason for which will be revealed later, but doing that now and here would ruin part of the story later on). I will say that the missing dynamics there have a meaning to it. And yes, Percy broke an oath on the River Styx when Cecil died... and he's not immune from the punishments, no.