chapter 28 : Sinuessa
Three months have passed since the capture of Senator Octavius and the first thing that could be noticed in Baiae was now the large wall that the city had.
The constructions were quick and fairly well supervised. Orion had ordered that the better a Roman worked, the better he would be treated, he had even released those who behaved well.
Of course, everything was not always peaceful, in these three months, Rome had tried to retake the city twice but they had failed miserably on each attempt.
Orion had returned to Crete with many ships to collect the celestials remaining there and settle them in Baiae .
A great celebration was given to this event because the celestials were happy to find their brothers.
Baiae was officially lost to Rome and now served as HQ for the Celestials in their own territory.
In the Senate, many still refused to accept this fact but it was too late and Orion had made that known to them in his own way. For the two attacks Rome had attempted on Baiae , Orion had also attacked two other cities in retaliation and plundered them.
Senator Metellus and others who wanted to subjugate Orion and the celestials to Rome had already abandoned the idea out of fear.
When Rome's last attack on the celestials failed miserably, Orion had sent Octavius' left hand to the Senate as a warning but that was not all as they had also kidnapped another reckless senator, Lucius Testicus Varde for a time before releasing him to show the members of the senate that they were not safe from the clutches of the celestials.
The defenses of Bayes were quite simple, Orion had reproduced defense and attack objects and machines that he had developed more than a year ago in Crete.
The celestials did not only count on their monstrous strength but also on Orion's inventions because on a technological level, Orion, very advanced in his time, had not only focused on their ships.
Orion's most important invention and one that would have crucial utility in war was a liquid, an extremely flammable liquid, a single vial of which thrown at a ship could reduce it to ash in less than a minute.
This liquid was the weapon most used by the celestials both in attack and defense while its manufacture known to Orion alone was in fact very simple for him.
The liquid was quite strange, it was gray like laundry water but once ignited its flames were blue and horribly hot.
The name given to this liquid was "the blood of Vulcan" and it was the favorite accessory of celestial archers.
Orion made very small glass capsules to hold Vulcan's blood which were then attached to an arrow and when this was fired it caused a large explosion and fire on impact.
Orion the first time he witnessed this was as shocked as his men, he certainly expected that on impact there would be a fire but not an explosion at first, it was an extremely reaction satisfying which made celestial archers tyrants on the battlefield.
For its manufacture, he purified naphta, he also did the same with pig excrement from which he took concentrated liquid material by boiling, purifying it such that it would be as clear as water, he made even with rotten vegetables then added purified saltpeter as well as lime.
The process was horribly delicate and Orion mixed other, much more secret ingredients, but for him it was an easy craft to execute.
How did he get this recipe?! Travel, curiosity, experience. Other people before him had already tried this kind of thing, creating something more flammable and effective than naphtha but Orion was the only one who had succeeded, at least to his knowledge.
Rome's last attack on Baiae was the one where the Romans encountered the blood of Vulcan and the celestial archers did not hesitate to show them absolute despair.
Of the four legions that attacked, only just over 1,700 Romans survived. As for the others, they were burned or killed directly by the celestials, the first targets of the archers were not the soldiers but the Roman machines, it was necessary to destroy the catapults and ballistas which could possibly pose a problem for them.
Orion's secret and favorite weapon was Phobos who served as a bomber by dropping vials of Vulcan's blood at strategic locations where army officers were located and once the ground had been well prepared, the celestials were entered the battlefield to harvest Roman lives.
The most unfortunate in this story were the enslaved Romans who, knowing that the Republic was attacking the Celestials, began to regain confidence and hope but in the end, they were doomed.
Orion did not want to lose any of his men so he favored tactics and weapons of destruction to prepare the ground before sending his men there, it was not because they were strong that they were safe stupid deaths because despite their strength on the battlefield, they remained humans and even a legendary warrior could die from a stray arrow.
At Rome's first attack, they attacked the Roman camp in the middle of the night before they even approached the captured city.
They burned, poisoned, and slit their throats in their sleep for several nights thanks to small units deployed by Orion. The fewer of them there were, the more mobility and speed they had.
The attack on Rome had been brutally repulsed before it had even begun. They had sent four legions and only two returned because of the celestials and They could attack multiple times in a single night from multiple angles. Fear was the oxygen of Roman soldiers
It had been more than a month and a half since the celestials had started training the city's former slaves in combat and everything was going rather well, the freed people were giving their all because they wanted to be like the celestials.
Galatea had also resumed the training of young celestials from Crete and Salma tried as best she could to get closer to Orion again, he did not push her away because she remains a celestial and one of his lieutenants but he refused to share his bed with her.
At the moment, Orion was drinking and eating with a random group of celestials, he usually did this to be close to each of his men and to know them personally because he felt that was what a true leader should do.
For this, he was loved and respected by his men who saw not only a leader in him but a friend as well.
They even organized drinking games or competitions for example where Orion unintentionally lost to show his men that they could be superior to him in many areas.
Sometimes he even went to the houses of others who knew how to play instruments just to listen to them play, it warmed the hearts of his men and brought them closer.
As he was returning to his villa, Apollos came to report that two of Spartacus's men were present and wanted to see him.
Orion was a little surprised because he had even forgotten the campaign of Spartacus and the rebels, he had realized that in the end he did not even need the rebel army to face Rome.
He returned home with Apollos accompanying him to find Oenomaus and Saxa waiting for him in his villa.
There were also nearly twenty other men of theirs outside but Orion had ignored them. Once he entered the room, Orion greeted them and when Saxa saw him, her eyes lit up and she threw herself at him to kiss him, much to the Astonishment of Oenomaus.
Saxa: My thighs have remained closed since you left, I don't want to wait any longer!!
Orion: Wow, calm down! I am happy to see you again my dear, we will be busy with whatever you want later but first let's discuss why you are here.
Oenomaus: Thank you for welcoming us Orion, I'm glad to see again and really impressed with what you've accomplished here.
Saxa: We have heard how you captured this city with your men, but also how you crucified one senator and took another captive . We thought that was it, but when we learned that you had severely beaten Rome in two of their large-scale attacks, it was a celebration for us.
Orion: It was pretty easy for us to exécuté. I myself have heard of your exploits, defeating Scropha then Cossinius and Furius, generals of Rome. On top of that, I know that your army has become very large, you will have the advantage of numbers.
Saxa: How do you know all that!
Orion: I have my sources, plus the echoes of the rebels' actions are everywhere at the moment, you are celebrities ahahah!
Oenomaus: We need to replicate the same feat as yours. Crassus is coming for us with an army of 10,000 men and we need a city to shelter and feed us because winter is almost here.
Orion: Hmm, what city?!
Oenomaus: Sinuessa.
Orion: Very good choice, I also wanted to take it in the coming weeks to show Rome what it costs to try to attack me when I stay in my corner. Why do you need my help anyway?! There are enough of you to attack the city...unless...
Oenomaus: The city walls! The city wall is really high, thick and impenetrable the only entrance is the city gate, it is solid and thick, once down it is impossible to pass through.
Orion: There is a port in Sinuessa.
Oenomaus: We don't have a ship. We need you to help us take Orion.
Orion: Um very well, tomorrow we will go to Spartacus and I will discuss my conditions with him. For now, rest Oenomaus, my people will take you to a room for you, eat, drink and sleep well. As for this young lady and I (raises Saxa) we have things to catch up on.
Orion left for his room with Saxa while Oenomaus was guided by a celestial to a room for him, he was taken to the baths before having a meal and going to bed sighing at Orion's comfort level.
In his room, Orion and the young blonde kissed continuously while undressing, the foreplay lasted a while but they quickly got to the heart of the matter.
Orion this time took Saxa in both ways, sometimes he fucked her violently and sometimes he was innocently tender with her to the great pleasure of Saxa who loved both ways.
As usual with him, Saxa had several orgasms and was surprised that Orion decided to not only ejaculate this time but to do it inside her. She kept telling him how much she missed him, that she is in love with him and that she didn't want to stay away from him anymore while crying.
Orion promised her that they were going to be together now and she couldn't stop crying with joy. That night they fucked several times before taking a bath and falling asleep completely naked.
Orion was not in love with Saxa but he felt loved by the girl in his own way and what's more she was energetic in bed so making her his companion didn't bother him at all in addition to a quality she had, her frankness and preferred to be with her for that.
The next day, Orion prepared another fifty men with him including Galatea, Apollos, Salma, Ajax, Vayline and Demiclas as lieutenants to accompany him each with their captain under his command.
Stratos and Theokoles remained to watch over the city with the rest of the celestials.
The journey to the rebel camp was peaceful except for a few Roman spies on the road, spotted by Phobos , who they took care of after questioning them.
Orion didn't torture anyone, but he made each of them drink a truth serum to find out whether or not they were spies before killing them accordingly.
They arrived at the camp the next day and Orion was surprised at how many tents were pitched there, there were so many, as far as the eye could see and Spartacus's was on a hill where he was taken.
When the rebels saw the group arriving, they raised the alarm and took up arms to prepare to welcome an enemy but when they saw Oenomaus and Saxa at the front, they quickly calmed down.
Orion: Your men are really obedient, they calmed down as soon as they saw you .
Saxa: We commanders have a certain reputation because of the battles we have fought. Especially Oenomaus who is still training a good number of recruits.
Orion: Oh! And how is the training going?!
Oenomaus: They suck! There are some who are a little promising but they are quite bad, I will make them acceptable fighters whatever it takes anyway.
Orion: Still so noble Doctore!!
Oenomaus smiled with Nostalgia
"It's been a long time since I've been called like that! (sigh) Those days are over"
Orion: It's not because you no longer deal with gladiators on behalf of the Romans that you are no longer worthy of this title; on the contrary, it will take on its full meaning in your quest for freedom. All these men need you to pass on your know-how and what's more, this scar on your eye makes you look much more dangerous, you reek of respect Doctore.
Oenomaus: Ahahahahahaah!! It's pretty clear but right now it's not me who their eyes are on, sometimes you should hide your beautiful face my friend.
Indeed, when Orion paid more attention around him, he noticed that a lot of people had their eyes fixed on him and they were mainly women, which was annoying Galatea, Saxa and Salma.
They finally arrived at Spartacus' tent and all the other commanders were already waiting there as they had been alerted of Orion's arrival.
They were greeted and welcomed by all, Orion was amazed by the expressions on some faces.
Looking at Agron and Duro's faces, he noticed that they had gained maturity and also scars.
"Orion ! I'm very happy to see you again, champion" Segovax came to greet Orion with the same enthusiasm and the latter wondered if he should take him with him to make a celestial.
Segovax had always been admiring and enthusiastic about Orion, whom he considered to be a true god made of flesh, not to mention that his potential was excellent.
Orion: I'm happy to see you too, Segovax. The countryside isn't too difficult ?
Segovax: Rome doesn't let us go but the taste of freedom gives us strength and the battles make us stronger.
Orion: Keep that spirit my friend!
Crixus: You look different from a few months ago when you looked like an ice statue.
Orion: And you are less stupid than when you were champion.
Spartacus + Oenomaus + Varro: Ahahah!
Varro: Hello Orion.
Spartacus: Orion.
He nodded to greet them and they went inside to talk. Orion didn't want to waste time on words and got straight to the point.
"What exactly do you need my help for?!" he asked indifferently.
Spartacus: Oenomaus probably told you the gist of the story, but our plan is to infiltrate the city and then open the gates from the inside to let the rest of our men in.
Orion: As I already told Oenomaus, you don't particularly need me for such a simple plan.
Varro: Yes, precisely because our main problem remains the main gate of the city, which is monitored, guarded and strictly controlled by the guards. All of us bear the marks of our masters or our gladiator fraternity.
Orion: Hum, I understand.
Segovax: The only candidates for this mission were among us because we cannot put others who are less prepared for this type of maneuver to take this risk, but unfortunately the surveillance of the city is far too thorough for us who are marked.
Gannicus: Thanks to your exploit with Baiae, Rome has strengthened security in all its cities.
Orion: Um I see and I already have a plan but if I intervene I will have my conditions.
Spartacus: Which ones?!
Orion: When the city is taken, it will be forbidden to rape anyone, I hate rape.
Naevia: What the hell ?! They're just Romans!!
Orion: Naevia, your look is very warlike now and you seem to have been trained correctly!
Naevia: I was trained by a true god of the arena, Crixus!
Orion looked at Crixus before bursting out laughing just like Apollos and those who had witnessed their fight.
Orion: In short, as I said earlier I don't want rapes or unnecessary deaths, the Romans can be useful when you know how to do it. We have to-(interrupted)
Naevia: AND THEN WHAT Next ?! IF WE WERE IN THEIR PLACES THEY WOULD NOT SHOW ANY CLEMENCY!
Spartacus: NAEVIA!
Crixus: My love, you need to calm down. I know you suffered but…take your pain with patience.
Salma: If by chance she interrupts my lord again by raising her voice, I will cut her throat in front of you, ridiculous Gaul.
Naevia drew her sword as if to challenge Salma who just gave a mocking smile while looking at her. By her posture, she had already seen all of Naevia's flaws to kill her in an instant.
Saxa: Gauls, if your wife doesn't calm down right away we will have problems.
Crixus wanted to respond but when he looked into Orion's eyes, he quickly calmed Naevia down. He knew when someone was dangerous and realized he was wrong about Orion earlier.
Orion hadn't changed like he thought since the last time, he was still emotionally cold but he covered it all up with a facade and that was what made him even more dangerous.
Orion: Calm down Salma, we are not here to intimidate others. (looks at Spartacus) Then, as for the resources we will share them equally and for the rest we will see.
Gannicus: Equal parts?! It's too much !! Look how many of us there are!!
Spartacus: Orion, please...
Orion : Ahahahahaha! You should see your face! I'm kidding, we'll only take what we need, but I want the councilor's villa.
Spartacus: Okay, that's correct.
Orion: Well, I'll start the plan right away with my men, we're leaving for Sinuessa in exactly one hour. Follow us from far away and come near the city at nightfall and we will open the gates for you.
Segovax: What?! NOW ?! Today ?!
Orion: Of course, I remind you that Crassus is on his way to fight you. We have no time to waste and I already have what I need to put my plan into action. DEMICLAS ?
Demiclas: Boss ?
Orion: You like to brag about your legendary elegance, don't you ? We'll see if you have what it takes to don the toga of a senator from Rome.
Demiclas stood for a few seconds without saying anything as the other celestials started laughing at him.
As for Spartacus and the rebels, they were still shocked at Orion's spontaneity.
Near the group, Salma was observing the scene when she heard a familiar feminine voice calling out to her, it was Sura who was walking towards her with Mira at her side.
"Hi" Salma said indifferently and Sura could swear looking at her that Salma had already killed her three times in those few words, that was how big the difference in strength was between them.
Salma had never forgiven Sura for daring to raise her hand against the one who had given them everything. It was the first and last time she saw Orion get hit directly and she couldn't tolerate it.
Sura: You look healthy, it's been a long time.
Salma: He took good care of me like he always did.
Sura: Salma I-(interrupted)
Salma: Keep your mouth shut, things haven't changed between us and my warning still stands. If you unfortunately approach him in front of me I will kill you no matter where and given your current level, it would just be a game.
Salma turned around to join the others and Mira wanted to say something to her but Sura quickly stopped her.
Sura : Don't get involved Mira, Salma is much stronger than me right now and she could kill you without even blinking.
Mira: And you know that just from talking to her?! It really is....
Mira stopped talking because she looked at Sura's hand and it was shaking. It was fear, Sura was extremely afraid by Salma's Instinct and it really shocked Mira because Sura was the strongest woman she knew.
A few dozen minutes later, Orion and his men were disguised and completely unrecognizable. Orion had disguised himself as rich foreign merchants, Demiclas had had his hair cut and his beard cut. He wore a white and red toga, it was that of Senator Octavius whose seal they had even taken.
And yes, Orion had everything planned.
The other celestials were disguised either as Roman soldiers for the men and as slaves or servants for the women. Orion's plan was simple, Demiclas was going to pose as the new interim senator elected in place of Titus Clivius Octavius and he was to bear the name of Gaius Marcelus Octavius, a cousin of Titus who had succeeded him in the senate in waiting for him to return to his post.
Marcelus was to come to Sinuessa to buy grain with his friend the wealthy Egyptian merchant Tameknon Hayek for future negotiations with the city of Sinuessa as a point of his future transactions with Rome.
He knew that the city councilor would take it as an honor that a senator of the Republic and a wealthy merchant from a powerful foreign empire chose his city as the place of their alliance.
Demiclas (Marcelus) was really angry and embarrassed by this plan, not only did he really look like a Senator of the republic but the others made fun of him because in appearance, he was really too credible.
Orion (Tameknon): You were right about your natural elegance Demic…Oops! I almost said something stupid Senator Marcelus ahahahahah!
Demiclas: I will have my revenge boss!
Orion: Huh?! Why ?! Stop being so selfish our friends need us Marcelus Rahahahahah!
Demiclas:…
The others still laughed for a while as Orion gave them the signal and they headed towards the city of Sinuessa.
On the road, no laughter except those of the interim senator Marcelus and his friend/collaborator Tameknon the rich Egyptian merchant who were discussing their future transactions.
Obviously, the celestials' acting game was not going to begin in front of the city gates but on the road, either to prepare themselves or to divert the suspicion of the patrols.
No matter how vigilant they were, no Roman outside of Rome or the Senate especially could know the faces of all the senators and their names. So, out of prudence, no Roman would allow himself to offend them, on the contrary especially since Demiclas had an official seal.
They arrived after hours of driving in Sinuessa and at the city gate, the guards were not only numerous but severe in their inspections. Yet the celestials were confident in Orion's plan and they were right.
Apollos, who was playing the role of Roman officer in the vanguard, advanced towards the guards and from atop his horse, he spoke to them with deep disdain.
"Here at the gate of the city of Sinuessa the interim senator Gaius Marcelus Octavius has come to discuss business in an alliance with the rich Egyptian merchant Tameknon! Where is the city councilor?! We have to talk to him!"
Chief of the guards: A senator?! We were not warned of this!! Forgive us but we have to check it since dogs invaded Baiae. Do you have a seal to attest to your authenticity ?
Apollos: Miserable Dog, you dare to question the identity of a senator of the Republic?! (Draws his sword) I should have you beheaded immediately.
Marcelus (Demiclas) : Anus Apolodorus there is no need to be so severe with beings of his kind! Show him the seal and let's be done with it.
"Anus ?! Did he just call me Anus?!" Apollos asked looking at Demiclas, Orion and the others who were fighting with all their might to keep from bursting out laughing.
No one was ready to listen to that, it was a pure improvisation by Demiclas to take revenge on Apollos who had made fun of him.
Orion, who was holding back his laughter, swore to himself that it was the hardest fight he had , he wanted to laugh too much.
The guards, hearing the name of officer Anus AkA Apollos, also almost laughed at him and some were even hidden in the crowd to do so.
Ajax a little further back almost lost control and started laughing when he thought of something that immediately made him horribly sad.
He had played similar games with Marco and Celia, Marius' two dead children, where he distorted people's names to amuse them. It was a memory he cherished because he too truly loved these children and tears were beginning to appear at the edges of his eyes.
Anus…sorry, Apollos finally showed the guards the seal and they were allowed to enter the City without asking for their weapons and the city councilor who had been informed of this event came to welcome them warmly with his wife Laeta, a very young and beautiful red-haired Roman woman.
The councilor: Welcome to the illustrious city of Sinuessa, Senator Marcelus, please forgive the guards for this senseless welcome, but we had not been informed of your arrival. With the movements of the rebel Spartacus and his dogs in addition to the capture of Baiae by other thugs who came to pillage the republic, we had to adopt certain methods.
Marcelus: It's legitimate, we understand. I would like to introduce to you my friend the great merchant Tameknon, the rich Egyptian friend and collaborator of the republic. He will provide us with slaves and wealth from his people, it is your city that we have chosen for the center of the affair.
The councilor looked at his wife and had a big smile, "It's a great honor that you are doing to this city, Senator!" the councilor said gratefully.
Laeta: Please, our villa is very big and comfortable! It would be an honor for us to accommodate you there for as long as you wish.
Tameknon: Wouldn't we be disturbing?!
The councilor: Rest assured that no!! You will only do us honor!
"Your generosity is great and I will remember it, rest assured!" Orion said as a sick smile appeared lightly on his lips as well as those of a few others among the celestials.
Marcelus: Why so much unrest in the city ? Is it always like this here ?
The councilor: Spartacus and his rebellion are a fever that even infects our slaves here in MY city. One of the slaves tried to escape to join the rebels but we caught him without any problem. Now he will have to pay the price for his betrayal.
He guided them to the large square where the slave had been chained to a wall and in front of him, the crowd of townspeople armed with stones ready to end his life by stoning. Women, men, adults and children, there were also many children who screamed and demanded the blood of a poor man who just wanted to be free. No matter how old a Roman is, he remains a Roman.
"Please forgive me, I must go and give the signal to end this traitor's life!" the councilor left them to go speak to the bloodthirsty crowd.
Marcelus looked at Laeta and asked, "You condone this practice?!"
Laeta: Any slave in this city given how some people are treated would want to be free. I don't agree with this punishment. And you senator?!
Marcelus: No man deserves to end up like this.
Tameknon: Yet this slave is going to die a very cruel death, an extremely stupid decision.
The councilor had finished his speech to give the signal for stoning but while the citizens were preparing to shed the man's blood.
"SPARTACUUUUUUS!" SPARTACUS! HE WILL COME AND REDUCE YOUR PRECIOUS REPUBLIC INTO A PILE OF ASHES" the man shouted like a lion uttering its last roars.
People started insulting him before starting to throw stones at him. During the stoning, the celestials felt anger rising within them and they wanted to rush into the crowd to start a real massacre but they held back, Orion promised the martyr in his mind that he will be avenged this very evening.
The councilor came back to them to apologize for this macabre scene and Tameknon looked at him curiously and asked "Was that really necessary?!"
Laeta: ?!
The councilor: What do you mean by that?! This man was a traitor who harbored the desire to follow an enemy of the republic.
Marcelus: Then you should have kept him alive and questioned him about the other slaves also wanting to escape right ? Why kill him when he could have been useful ?
The councilor: Senator I…you are right !! You should be tired from this trip, let's go to my villa.
Marcelus asked the officer "Anus" to find premises for his men and the aedile helped them. They left with the councilor towards his villa with Tameknon's "slave" women who followed them obediently.
For almost the entire afternoon, the councilor had shown them the city after they had rested, they saw the city's large grain reserves and were really impressed both in quantity and quality of the products.
They then visited the port and returned to the villa where they ate before discussing the future of the city and its role in future transactions.
On the balcony of the villa which overlooked the city, they observed the city while the sun had already set. From where they were, they heard the guards asking people to go home because a curfew was imposed.
However, a few hours after there was no longer anyone in the streets, people were being massacred and a lot of unrest was noticed.
Marcelus, Tameknon, the aedile and his wife Laeta ate, drank and laughed together in the great hall of the villa. In the room, Tameknon's pretty "slaves" were there to serve just like the aedile's slaves.
While the beautiful atmosphere of joy reigned in the room, a guard entered the room injured and exhausted.
Guard: My… my apologies, there is a very serious emergency!
The councilor: What is it?! Speak!!
The guard pointed his finger at Senator Marcelus who was smiling stupidly and saying
"Soldiers, HIS men who came with him...he...they are killing the wall guards! I've never seen people fight and move like that, they're not-(interrupted)"
The poor guard had not even finished his sentence when Galatae, near him, in one too rapid movement cut his throat deeply! This scene petrified everyone who wasn't a celestial in the room for a few seconds.
In this short time, the other girls had already quickly killed the other guards in the room to the screams of the councilor's slaves.
The latter also slowly turned his head towards the so-called senator who had dined at his table and drank his wine but what he saw was only a gentle smile on the faces of his two special guests.
" YOU… !" he cried trying to move towards Orion who was closest to him and still smiling but at the same second, Galatae and Salma threw their daggers, one of which lodged in the aedile's neck and the other in his temple, he died instantly.
Orion: Thank you for your hospitality but we are only here to open a door, no hard feelings I hope!
Laeta, still frozen by the turn of events, could not hold on and lost consciousness.
The celestials had no trouble dealing with the soldiers before opening the city gates to welcome Spartacus and his army who began a carnage in the city attacking all but those at the gate.
It was going to be a night of blood and the celestials went up to the rooftops to watch the show and intervene in certain situations.