Othello the Legatus Act 2 Part 1.4

Unknown to Montana, Othello had been busy. He had landed the other part of the Legion further up the coastline racing ahead of the storm. It was the strength of eight cohorts; three thousand two hundred Legionnaires with two squads of mounted calvary; another hundred and sixty mounted legionnaire. He knew that the men would not worked well with the oars like the experienced ones. And neither would the horses survived any sea storms; he had them diverted and landed them to the nearby coast. The legionnaires are trained to double marched on dry lands, and they did justice for him. They reached the valley in one day of double marching despite the storm that lashed the interior of the land. The two squads of calvaries were sent out to to scout the terrain for the tribesmen.

The legionnaires marched on with the firm yet wet land under their feet, and knowing that their battle was to start motived them to get it done fast. Their Legatus rode by them along the side, with his words of encouragement and even stopped to help the ones who slipped it. He was the Dark One and like the rain that covered their trail, they would emerged on the enemies like the dark skies.

The calvaries did their task well, outriding the external scouts at the perimeters and removing them from alerting the main bands of tribesmen. They secured the trail ahead while checking the strength of the tribesmen. The scouts rode back and gave their reports to the Legatus.

"Iago, take one cohorts to the other hill here. I want them flanked." Othello told his Centurions under the makeshift tent. He point with his finger at the spot on the animal skin that was drawn the terrain of the place.

"Clasius, you would take one cohorts to the opposite hill. It had the cover of the woods there, and would allowed you to sneak up on the camp. Attack when you seen Iago' contact the tribesmen." Othello was not to know that earlier the other Centurion had taken position there earlier.

"I would come in along the valley in full strength bearing on them first. They would see my columns as the main threat, and upon my engagement, Iago would do his. And then yours." Othello explained the strategy. "Create as much noise as you can. Make them think we are move with three legions coming at them."

"Once we have them trapped in; Iago, have your cohorts joined up with Clasius and formed a wedge to cut them into two bands. That would dispersed them, and break their form." Othello continued on. "The calvary would take care of the ones that escaped our trap. Anyone disagree to my moves?"

None of the Centurions had any to voice on protest for there was none. They all respected Othello for his leadership and strategy. But there was one question.

"How would Prime Pilus assist in us?" Iago asked.

"He is on a task to protect the harbour. Its crucial we secured that too, as there were reports of others coming in the south to feed on this rebellion. We cannot have that in our province." Othello told them but in real terms, he had his loved ones sailed there to avoid the battle. One of the loved ones was his love, Desdemona on her maiden voyage in battle.

None had more to asked and they were asked to deploy. Once everyone was in position, Othello called on the attack with his remaining cohorts. He had formed his attack to use Iago cohorts to rolled onto the right flank and then moved to the rear. The other cohort would harassed the left side while Othello attacked the front with his cohorts. They were smaller in numbers but they had the surprise on their side with the storm creating a veil of mystery when his legionnaires rushed in with their tight formations.

"Heave into them!" Iago shouted to his men while they rushed down. They looked like the screaming banshees of the Celtics with their armor and the pila leveled towards the tribesmen. The Legatus had them shouting or screaming their loudest while they marched in. It was to give an impression of strength. It had worked then. The experienced ones of the tribesmen went for their weapons while the farm boys ran in fright. They are trained to fight behind the experienced ones that would fortify their bravery, but in the storm, they were neglected. They did not see the Romans as the enemy but an formidable demons in armor.

"For Rome!" Othello shouted out while he drew on the gladius and held up his own shield. The men resounded his call into the valley and then attacked. The half a legion strength slammed their numbers against the unorganized hordes; with their pila and shields to the fore.

Othello was in the front to thrust down an attacking tribesman with a cudgel made of wood, while his personal guards had their attention pre-occupied. He saw a gap forming at the front and shouted for a squad to move in.

"Breach that gap. Get into there." Othello shouted. He was soon rewarded by the shouts that Iago had joined them in the right. Its working the strategy that he had deployed. Under the cover of the rain, the tribesmen were taken by surprised. Iago formation tore through his side of the tribesmen and they slaughter their way towards the rear of the tribesmen. They were joined by the other cohort and formed a wedge to moved inwards towards Othello.

"Legatus, your dark side have triumph again." Iago shouted to his Legatus when they met in the battlefield. Othello was one who followed his men into battle unlike many other Legatus. He still thinks he was a Centurion and not the Legatus.

"We are winning, Legatus." One of the Centurions told the Legatus on seeing the tribesmen were retreating in chaos.

"Round them up. We needed more slaves." Iago shouted out, ignoring his Legatus standing nearby. Othello pretended not to hear that, as he was not keen on having his defeated as slaves. He knew what slavery meant; he treated his own like his men in the Legion. He walked away and was stopped by a old warrior of the tribes.

"Your amulet? Where did you get it?" The warrior point to his amulet given by Gaius. Othello wanted to replied but Iago had grabbed the warrior to push aside. The warrior was then pulled away by Iago' men before Othello could intervene. He was told of another matter.

"Legatus, we have the leader. He is there." Othello acknowledged the Centurion and walked off to see the assumed leader. Soon he had forgotten all about the amulet and the old warrior. The leader was his equivalent in ranking and needed to be accorded the correct treatment for one like him.

"Prepared a tent for me, Iago. I need to talk to their leader." Othello told the other. Then he continued. "You may leave one cohort for me. Take the rest back to the harbour.. I would join you there by daybreak tomorrow."