After leaving the Senate the Proconsul Quintus Servilius Nerva Princeps Senatus journeyed to Ostia. Most of his belongings had departed for Utica long ago, and that which he needed for his voyage was stowed aboard the Aurora. Nerva turned towards Rome and sighed. The inability of the Senate to deal with the Asian rebels had long frustrated him. Did they not realize how damaging their petty squabbles and personal vendettas were? An entire province in flames because of rivalries within the hallowed halls of the Senate. But it was no longer Nerva's prime concern. Asia had erupted long ago, but their were signs of growing flames in Aegyptus as well and if not quickly put out Africa's fragile grain fields and tenuous trade routes would quickly be in danger. The lifeblood of Rome would be in danger. Nerva would not see it happen. As the Aurora set sail the sun burned red behind it to the east as though the ground burned. Was it Asia province? Or Rome itself? Nerva shuddered.