(Alternate History) The weapon of Rome

[Zor]

Grrrr...Stupid dubble post!

Could a Mod Delete one of them, please

[darthdavid]

It feels rushed, is chock full of grammatical and spelling errors and makes little sense. Get someone to proofread. Hell, If you'd ask I'd probably even edit some of your work for you.

[darthdavid]

At zor's request, here is an edited version. I've fixed spelling errors and will soon post another version with grammatical errors fixed.
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June 22nd, 72, Fortress Vespasian, Germania

Never before did the Roman Empire go this far north, It had breached the barbarian lines and was pushed 120 miles north. The Germanic Barbarians could simply not compete against the power of roman weaponry in direct warfare now that firearms had been introduced, hardly able to handle one legion, let alone the three others the Romans had sent in the area. There were also four others marching North and Northeast further east, and two moving Further down into the Middle East. The flow of slaves back to Rome was incredible.

Rome was more than satisfied with the results, mine owners got more slaves for mining, the Coliseums were well stocked and captured gold and silver were something that the empire had gotten a lot of in the past year.

Damius was on guard at the fortress, standing at the top of the wall with rifle in hand, prepared to shoot any barbarians that came across, not that there was any within 12 miles. All he did was sit back, drink wine and keep his rifle a good polish. The Fortress had been built there a mere two months ago and in record time, probably because of the next to never-ending supply of labor that he and the rest of the Legions brought in. Suddenly, there was a loud Bang, he did not look, it was just another Century being converted from swordsmen to riflemen, within a few days, there would be three Cohorts of riflemen in the legion. Being a rifleman was less special nowadays, but sill was a status of power.

He had heard of the Auxiliaries receiving firearms, but a type of gun that was less effective. The rifles they used had something different with there barrels, Damius could not remember what, but it was supposed to be cheaper to make, but sacrificed range. By what the smith told him, their firing system was not as advanced, instead of using a flint to ignite powder, it used a burning piece of string. The fact that the Auxiliaries used shitty guns did not surprise him in the least. After all, auxilaries were meat-shields, meat-shields witch were generally better off than the Barbarians they were fighting, but still meat-shields.

“GALLUS, SEXTUS, DAMIUS!” The Shrill voices of his Centurion “The General wants to see this Century for a special mission, Now get your asses down here!” Knowing the fate of his ass if he did not do so, Damius got down, and sat on the ground, the other two guys did the same and the centurion went out looking for the other guys. Within 8 minutes, the entire century was there with them. The General walked out, a hardened Veteran that had seen may battles and with many victories under his belt. He gave the General a Scroll, then walked away. The Centurion read the whole thing and faced his Troops. “Men, We will be going North to Hunt Barbarians with a few more guys that the general says will help us out. The Bastards are spreading themselves thin, so they are sending up smaller groups that are hard to weed out. We leave as soon as we can, so MOVE YOUR SORRY ASSES!”

Nine Days latter the Century was Far North and The Days of long Marching, Damius could put his Patience away. After a day of following a Horse’s prints, the scout finally had some good news. “Theirs an clearing with an Encampment about Nine Hundred Paces ahead” The scout said with Enthusiasm “Five or Six hundred people by the size.”

The Centurion Grinned “OK MEN! We are going against up to four Times our number of Barbarians, and Personally, I feel Kinda Sad for them!” The Men let out a Laugh “Now lets get ready to Give Charon some more work!” The force Trudged threw the mud of the forests; Germania got a lot of Rain, Much to Damius’s Dislike. After about 20 minutes, the Century stood at the rim of a valley, and in said Valley was an encampment full of Barbarians, about 400 Paces away. It was a cluster of wood, straw and mud-brick buildings about 80 in all as well as a smattering of tents and a few wheat fields. The Centurion Grinned at the Prospect “Load Rifles, and get the Big ones ready.” Damius just sat back, he loaded his rifle beforehand on the walk. The Centurion saw him doing so and did not say anything. After a Minute, the centurions with all his voice blasted Six words “Give those bastards Hell! CANNONS, FIRE!”

With those sharp words, three field cannons fired into the air, the wool cloth and pitch covered rounds traveled upward at a steep angel, then fell toward the Wooden structures. Two buildings exploded into flames, the other one hit one the side of a brick building, doing some damage to the wall but nothing major. The cannoneers reloaded their weapons. These were not the big 35-Inch cannons that Legions used that could send a ball threw a hundred men and still keep going, but the portable 10 inch cannons were able to launch devastating attacks against buildings, and were man portable. The cannoneers readjusted their weapons, reloaded, and fired. How ever, the first volley was enough to set the entire camp up in arms, as the chaotic Ranks of Barbarians poured out with swords, axes, spears and bows, a few of them with helmets on. There was one difference between these Barbarians and the Barbarians that he faced down a year earlier, none of them bothered wearing armor save for a few helmets. The Germanic Barbarians had given up on armor after they learned that it did nothing to stop bullets.

The Centurion then gave a stern Bark of command “FORM RANKS!” The Century then formed two ranks, first one taking aim, Second one waiting. Damius stood in the first rank, waiting for a certain word, and after 30 seconds of waiting, that word went off the Centurion’s lips with as much force as the Rifle in his hands did when it was Discharged. “FIRE!” With that word, 47 Barbarian warriors fell dead. Damius Marched back, and reloaded, this was all very routine for him. Even as Salvo after Salvo was fired into them, the Horde of Barbarians did not relent in their suicidal Charge. After five salvos, more than half the barbarians lay dead or wounded, but the rest still charged threw the gunfire. Damius kept laying down fire, reloading and watching as the barbarians fell dead, he thought he was invincible, until a Barbarian archer fired an Arrow off before getting blasted, and that arrow hit him threw his unarmored leg. He fell down in pain.

“That Bastard!” He let out as he collapsed. He had never been touched by an Enemy weapon, the enemy always died, surrendered, or Ran away before they could touch him beforehand, and he did not like having an arrow jammed into his leg, just 9 cm below from his favorite part of his anatomy one little bit. But his wounding was to little, too late to save the Barbarian attackers.

After the last barbarian got shot, the Centurion then walked to Damius with a Grin on his face. “Hurts, don’t it?”

Damius found enough black humor in himself to let out a chuckle “You got that right Sir”

“Don’t worry, but fair warning this is going to hurt like hell.” The Centurion then grabbed the shaft of the arrow, ripped the fletching off, and then pulled it threw. He let out a yelp of pain, to faint for the centurion to clearly make it out. The Centurion then put him on his shoulder “Now lets get you something Intoxicating.”

That evening, the Century was camped out in the Remains of the Barbarian Village. Most of the Barbarian men apparently did a suicide charge as they figured that they would not survive the winter, and that it would be better to go down taking a few roman legionaries with them. They had only a few captives. Damius had been fast asleep recovering, but the other Legionaries were drinking, Gambling, singing and searching for loot in the abandoned and destroyed parts of the settlement. None of them saw a few cylindrical things scurrying towards their position. These things, each about the size of a Badger then surrounded the incumbent, and then released a greenish cloud of mist. The Romans fell unctuous within a 20 seconds of inhaling this gas, and a few of them, just a few of them heard a sound that they never heard like before falling over into a Coma.

Kkkoohh, Phuuu. Kkkpoohh, Phuuu. Kkkooohh, Phuuu.

[Zor]

Thank you Darth David.