Gaius Fabricius Luscinus entered the Villa Decia carrying his battered helmet under one arm. The slaves promptly escorted him to their master, who was studying a series of maps laid out on a large table.

"Planning a campaign, sir?" Luscinus asked. Publius Decius Mus was repeatedly tossing a marker up in the air and catching it.

"Not precisely," Mus said without looking up. "Trying to figure out what in the name of Dis is going on is more like it. I sent out men – trustworthy men – to try and get accurate information back. None have reported in yet. I can't even get accurate information on the geography – this map is fifty years old! The most recent settlement it shows is the citizen colony at Auximum around AUC 592!"

"Maybe that's the most recent colony, sir?"

"I think we've sent out more recent ones…" Mus glanced over and noticed the helmet his client was holding. "Are you planning on a fight, or has a riot broken out and I didn't notice?"

"I'm going with you, sir. You're my patron. I've trained you the best I know how, but you need a veteran for advice."

"Luscinus… thank you." Mus was genuinely touched. "I will be honored to have you along." Luscinus was waved over. "Come take a look at this. I've marked all the citizen colonies. Those will be loyal. They're Romans. They have Citizenship. The Latin colonies are a little less certain. Most of them have civitas sine suffragio - citizenship without suffrage. You know how it works, they are citizens in almost every way but they can't vote in Roman elections as long as they live in their cities. If they move to Rome, they can gain voting rights. The Latins should be loyal, but one never knows. The Latin colonies have been bastions of Roman rule in captured lands for centuries."

"There's always the possibility the rebels could take one of the cities by treachery. Didn't Hannibal take a few cities that way?"

"Ah, good point. Still – that just leaves the Italian tribes. The Samnites, for sure. I found references to the Hirpini and the Iapygii..."

"Those are Samnite tribes, I think," Luscinus said. "I suppose the Lucanians and some of the Greek cities might push their luck. The Lucani are pretty closely related to the Samnites."

"Most likely. I did find something of interest in the family records. Me!"

"I'm sorry, sir?"

"The Decii. I knew we were original an Oscan family. It's an old story for Romans. The Julii are from Alba Longa. The Plautii are from Praeneste, I think. The Coruncanii originated from Camerinum and migrated there from Tusculum. The Fulvii and Mamilii also came from Tusculum. The Atilii were Capuans. Manius Curius Dentatus, who conquered the Sabines and the Samnites, was himself a Sabine, like the Claudii. And the Otacili were Samnites. The Ogulnii are an Etruscan clan..." He shrugged. "All that is fine and good I suppose but ancient history."

Mus pointed to a different region.

"The Marsi have been the flower of our Italian legions. Unfortunately since we've had at least one Italian legion go missing, that makes them suspect. The Paeligni, the Vestini, Marrucini, Picentes and Frentani."

"I have to say I'm not sure what some of those tribes cities are."

"I am estimating at least five cities here in the Samnite group. Maybe as many as ten. With possibly another five Greek cities. Maybe another ten to thirteen in the Marsi group. Many, perhaps most of these cities won't be heavily defended of course – smaller populations, probably wooden walls."

"Wooden walls we can easily batter through with a catapult," Luscinus commented. "Stone is less easy. Better to go over those."

"There might be a few surprises. Umbria might revolt, although Rome has a few strong points like Narnia and Mutina that ought to hold them pretty good. If Umbria revolts the Etruscans will probably side with us – they hate the Umbrians, being their chief enemies. If the Etruscans revolt the Umbrians will probably side with us for the same reason. Picenum has a lot of Roman colonies and is very loyal, I doubt they will revolt. If we have Etruria and Picenum and hold Mutina the Umbrians will be locked in place. Northern Italy will be my responsibility, at least initially, although the Consul hasn't yet decided on how he's allocating his forces. Undoubtedly he's waiting on situation reports like I am.

"The Latins and the Volscii are almost completely absorbed by Rome. Most of them already have Citizenship. They won't gain anything by revolt."

"That all seems reasonable I guess, sir. When will we know?"

"That, my friend, is in the hands of the Gods now."