“With adequate compensation and … destruction of ourrivals’ workshops during the uprising,” one industrialist responded,languorously waving his hand.
Amalia nodded, then inclined her head toward the portlywoman. “Domina Aurelia has provided us with ample … insight into the actionsand anticipated procedures of the auxilia and other security forces.”
The woman’s double chins jiggled as she bobbed her head upand down. “Boys can never keep their mouths shut when they are occupiedelsewhere.” She giggled.
“We even have friends in Rome who are ready to act on ourbehalf.” Amalia pointed at the monocled man without identifying him. He was astranger to the others. “Do you have any updates?”
“I believe we can successfully eliminate both the emperorand the primus imperio, his heir apparent. We can also destroytheir long-range communications equipment, as well as cut the telegraph lines.”
“What about the other heir? I would think security aroundhim would be less challenging to penetrate.” The industrialist rubbed abejeweled hand over his balding head. “Why not just eliminate every male familymember while we’re at it?”
“Because we aren’t sure where he is,” the monocled manreplied, his voice condescending. “We know he came through Brittenburg, and weknow that he is working with the XIII Germania Legion up at Fort Tiberius. Wedo not have sufficient contacts in place there, and communication in and out isstrictly regulated. I’ve been waiting for a source to report in for a while. Hehas not been on liberty, as my men would have reported it.”
“I’m fairly certain that the only reason you know he’s therefor sure is because that newspaper managed to photograph him,” an industrialistsaid with a sneer. “Not very good espionage, if you ask me.”
The monocled man stood, the optical glass dropping thelength of its golden chain as his eyes widened. His fists pounded the table andhe glared, red-faced, at the man.
Before he could unleash a barrage of insults at the factoryowner, Amalia interrupted. “Gentlemen, please stop your incessant arguing. Itdoes none of us any good.” She turned her hawk-like gaze on the monocled man.“Now Chalbys, you’ve done an excellent job. There will be plenty ofopportunities to get at the second son. And frankly, if we play our cards righthere and in Rome, we will be able to eliminate his ability to take charge. Thesquabbling among the Senate and the plebeians will cause chaos in the streets.It might even overwhelm the Praetorian Guard and the Urban Cohort. At the veryleast, the High Command will be forced into a tricky situation: hold out forthe second son, hoping he can take charge in time to prevent far-flung parts ofthe Empire from collapsing, or mount a coup. Either way, Rome will truly be atthe mercy of the mob.”
Her attempt to soothe the angry Chalbys worked; the man satback down. She turned to the young men fidgeting at the end of the table. “Weare very close to dealing the first of many blows for the people. We have yetto hear from our youngest team members. How goes recruitment?”
The response came in mostly slang Latin, barelyunderstandable to some of those higher up the social ladder. “We gotsa ’bout’undred ’ore Sludgeheads. Deyre meane and nastay, but we be ready for dayvictory of da workers. Mayb’ we hunt dem auxilia, ’stead of dey huntin’ us.”
When several of those around the table snorted at hisspeech, the gang chieftain scowled and pulled out a gleaming chain knife. Theminiature battery sparked to life and the steel teeth began to whir around.“Whose be laufen at meh?” he growled. His companions also began to reach forhidden weapons.
“Stop. Now,” Amalia commanded. Her voice froze thoseat the table. “Sit, and let us discuss ways to harm the Romans, instead of eachother.”
“It is past time for Operation Teutonburg to move beyond theplanning stage. I want all operations in motion. I want gang recruitmentdoubled within two weeks. Everyone will await word of the assassination.Whether it has happened or not, we move on this date.” She pointed to a datecircled in red on a small calendar she had removed from her belt pouch. Shepassed it around the table. “Keep this date in your memory. On this date you willreceive a message reminding you of your commitments and requirements. If youshirk or if you renege, you will be removed. However, if you stand with us, asyou have promised, you will receive a place in the new order. You will berewarded beyond your wildest dreams.” Her voice edged higher. The committeemembers glanced at one another.
“And the Imperials?” an industrialist asked, almost in awhisper.
“They will be fractured. A Rome turned upon itself is unableto rule. With no central government and no live heir, the governors will atfirst be unsure what to do. Some may be convinced to come to our side. Otherscan be eliminated. Others may discover they like ruling as a king or emperor,rather than paying tribute to Rome. Rome will falter, and the weak provinceswill wither on the vine, denied the ability to suckle on the largesse of Rome.”Amalia’s words rang from the stone walls that wept condensation around them.
“But how can we face the legions?” the ink-stained manasked. He was a scribe working in the governor’s office, well placed to hearand redirect anything of note. “We don’t have their training, their equipment,or, to be perfectly honest, their experience.”
Murmurs rose around the table. The gang chieftains leapt up,protesting the implication that they were weak and untrained. One brandishedhis chain knife. Noting the spirals of dragons chasing each other heavilytattooed on his scarred arm, Amalia recognized the intricate, gem-flecked markof the Extraxi street gang, the most powerful, debauched, and ruthless of thegangs in the city. Glaring a warning at them, she lifted her hand off thetable, crooking one finger. “Corbus, please remove our friends’ weaponry fromthis meeting; they have no need of it.”
The man in the shadows behind her moved. In barely the blinkof an eye, he appeared behind the three gangers. A clatter of weaponry andseveral shouts and thumps later, two of the three gang chieftains lay in a heapon the floor, moaning and cursing at the hooded man. The last man sat holding hisbleeding nose. Their weapons were nowhere in sight.
“As you can see, my son is a fine warrior,” Amalia said. “Hewill help lead us. As the descendent of the great Germanic freedom fighterArminius, he has the blood of heroes and warriors in his veins. He will not letus down. Nor, I think, will our Nortland allies. I have arranged for assistancefrom them on the date we have set. Thus, everything must be preparedappropriately.” She stared around at her fellow conspirators. “What say you?”
They slid back their chairs and rose to bow deeply towardthe seated Amalia. She released a mental sigh. She had feared that she wouldhave to coerce them into accepting her plan, but now she could save thosetactics for later, when the truly squeamish balked at the idea of suborning,distracting, or murdering Imperial officials and soldiers. That will be thetime for force, she thought. To bind them to us, by making us the onlyalternative to death or destruction. Only then will we have their full loyalty.
As the other seditionists filed out of the Atrium’s privatechamber, a few cast covert glances back at Amalia and Corbus, but she revealednothing in her body language or facial expression that would give anythingaway, and Corbus waited stone-faced beside her.
When the last of them had left the room, Corbus turned toAmalia. She already had her hand raised, anticipating his question. “For thelast time, child, they will follow us. I have no doubt in your ability to leadour men to victory. But you must continue to train them, every moment you haveavailable. I have no expectation that you improve our fellow rebels tolegionary status; your days as an auxilia constable are done. All I expect isthat they can take on the city guard in a straight-up fight. You provide thetip of the assault, the ganger boys will provide the body.”