Kingdom of Ravenna
Theodoric's Palace
A few hours ago...
Giuliano was getting used to having to govern, at least for the time being, only the city of Ravenna.
Giuliano then reflected on how he would truly begin to change the story.
Then a screen appeared with a 3D version of the city of Ravenna and information about the city.
[ Ravenna ]
[ Population: 15.000 inhabitants ]
(Religion)
[ Chalcedonian Catholicism: 68% ]
[ Orthodoxy Iconodulists: 15% ]
[ Orthodoxy Iconoclast: 10% ]
[ Arianism: 07% ]
(Culture)
[West Roman ravennate: 68%]
[ Eastern Romans: 25%]
[ Lombards: 07%]
(Buildings)
[Theodoric's Palace: bureaucratic power increases by 0.1% per day ]
[Blacksmiths: Produces +10 iron every week.]
[Episcopal Library of Ravenna: administrative power increased by 0.1% per day]
[Basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista: religious influence increased by 0.1%]
[Iconoclastic Chapels: - 0.5% religious influence]
[Damaged roads: -2% of daily trade outside the city]
[Port di Ravenna in terrible condition: -10% of trade via the Adriatic Sea]
[Severely damaged farms: -40% in grain supply to the city]
(Rebellion)
[75% iconoclastic rebellion in Ravenna]
[25% Arianist rebellion]
Giuliano then became alarmed; an iconoclastic rebellion was about to happen and was probably already being planned.
A large Lombard force would decimate the entire city; he will have to use effective measures to end the iconoclastic rebellion before it breaks out in the city and prevent Ravenna from becoming even more weaker.
Fabricio entered the hall with the blacksmith who had made his crown, then the blacksmith, a man of medium height, with short brown hair and brown eyes, spoke in an imposing voice, and Fabricio translated:
"Captain Paolo, this man is Marcus Fabius Marius, the blacksmith who forged his crown said he was at his disposal to make as many swords as he could, provided he paid him at the end." translated Fabricio.
Giuliano cleared his throat and said:
"We are no longer merely the 35th battalion of marines of the Royal Italian Navy, but while you get used to stopping talking about "Captain" and start using "King" to refer to me." said Giuliano.
Giuliano then continued and asked:
"Ask Fabricio that we have little time to start an iconoclastic rebellion in Ravenna, if Eastern Romans who are supporters of the iconoclastic side haven't ordered swords, since you are the only blacksmith in town."
asked Giuliano.
Fabricio then translates, and Marcus begins to say something when he snaps his fingers with great enthusiasm, and Fabricio translates:
"Captain Paolo... My king, he stated that Aristides Lekapenos, Bardas Constante, and Petros Aristaxes ordered 100 swords this week, so they must be involved in the rebellion." Fabricio translates
Giuliano then ordered:
"Order the marines to silence these individuals once and for all, use silencers, we don't want to attract the attention of a significant portion of this city." ordered Giuliano.
Fabricio then asked:
"Which members of our battalion will be given the mission?" asked Fabricio.
Giuliano then replied:
"This mission will be for Giuseppe; he's the sniper of our group. In a single day, he eliminated 30 Serbs in the Tirana Incident; killing three Greeks won't be difficult at all." Giuliano replied.
Marcus then began to say something that seemed important, and Fabricio translated:
"Captain Paolo, Marcus said that the three leaders of the possible iconoclastic rebellion in Ravenna are two important merchants and one is a clergyman from a Greek chapel." translated Fabricio.
Giuliano then said:
"It seems I'll lose money by irritating these guys, but we have to eliminate the iconoclastic leaders once and for all before the Lombard army comes." said Giuliano.
Giuliano then ordered:
"You can leave now, I'll take care of the city's accounting problems." ordered Giuliano.
Fabricio translated the order for Marcus, and they both left the hall, while Giuliano went to focus on the problems of the city's ledger.
Theodoric's Palace
Now...
Giuliano was in an office dealing with Ravenna's accounting problems when a screen appeared showing Giuseppe cleaning his gun.
(Mission accomplished!)
(Iconoclastic leaders eliminated!)
[Giuseppe, the Reaper]
[Effectiveness: 5/6]
[Accuracy: 5/6]
[Perfect alibi: 4/6]
Giuliano then says:
"Well, now I have to raise money to maintain the army and restore parts of the Via Flaminia that connect to Ravenna." says Giuliano.
Fabricio enters the office with some marines and asks:
"Captain Paolo, it seems the other cities want to join us; they're tired of Lombard oppression. What are your orders?" asks Fabricio.
Giuliano then shows a ledger and replies:
"How did the Lombards govern this city??? The city's economy was broken in half! The Lombards ruling a large part of Italy for two centuries shows how weak the Romans were. It's amazing how much of Italy was ruled by such a... simple and crude people. They were planting wheat near a swamp! The post-Roman West only began to develop with the Franks, before that, these were peoples who, if they had remained in the Bronze Age, would still have been considered barbarians. We're going to intervene in these cities." replies Giuliano.
Fabricio then takes a deep breath and asks:
"Don't you find all this strange? We were in Volgograd intercepting Russian operations related to a time travel project, and now we're in the High Middle Ages fighting Lombards. Do you think this is normal?" asks Fabricio.
Giuliano looks at Fabricio and the marines and replies:
"I find it even stranger, but since we're here, let's save our ancestors from a period of instability and weakness in Italy. We would be siding with the Franks, Germans, and Greeks who turned Italy into a mere backyard of theirs; if we are here, it will not be to maintain the status quo that Italy will remain in for centuries. We will bring back Roman glory; the work will be arduous, but we will succeed, and that's what motivates me. After all, no marine is just a fisherman, and I'm counting on your help." replies Giuliano.
The other marines agreed, and Fabricio says:
"Well, we have the chance to do something bigger, so I will give it my all. The Roman kingdom we founded must be immortal, just like Rome itself." says Fabricio.
Giuliano then places the ledger on the table and asks:
"Which cities want to join us?" asks Giuliano.
Fabricio then replies:
"Faventia and Forum Livii." replies Fabricio.
Giuliano then says:
"Grab your rifles, we're going to expel some Lombards." says Giuliano.