"Here then, Conscript Fathers, are the details of this bill for your consideration..."

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SC Galla Navis Repleo

I. Recognizing the vital importance of a strong Navy to maintain good order, commerce, and law upon Our Sea, and in order to deter any other power or kingdom bordering Our Sea in the long-term, and to deal with the threat of piracy threatening both coasts of Italia in the short-term, the Senate and People of Rome do hereby authorize the following:

II. That the following deployed naval forces be recalled from their operating base in Rhodes, to be redeployed to the Roman port of Ostia for refit with the "corvus" grappling and boarding device:

- Three Quinqueremes

- Ten Liburnae

- Sixteen Triremes

III. That these 29 ships, once arrived in Ostia, be retrofitted with the corvus for a total cost of 81,000 Denarii. (OOC: roughly 10% of the original cost per hull)

IV. That the following new construction be authorized, and that such ships be built in Roman port facilities, principally Ostia:

- One squadron consisting of ten biremes, built specifically to incorporate an improved corvus device, for a total cost of 238,500 Denarii (OOC: roughly 5% more than cost of an unmodified hull; building "from the keel up" is cheaper than trying to backfit the new technology)

- One squadron consisting of eight triremes, built specifically to incorporate an improved corvus device, for a total cost of 318,000 Denarii.

V. That all such work, both refitting and new construction, be undertaken at Roman dockyards in order to safeguard this new technology against compromise, copying and exploitation by foreign powers, and to provide jobs for Roman dockyard workers. Total cost of the proposal, both refit and new construction, is estimated to be 637,500 Denarii.

VI. That, in order to deal with the on-going threat of piracy, the new construction begin immediately, and that the designated ships from the Rhodian fleet be overhauled immediately upon their arrival.

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"Now, some members of this August House," Gallus continued after his reading of the bill, "may wince at the cost. Indeed, some of you may be forming upon your lips the questions, 'Why not just refit the existing ships rather than building new ones?' while others among you must surely be thinking 'Why should Roman coin go to this effort when we can force our allies to bear the cost?' Good questions, both, and I shall attempt to answer both.

"Let me address the second question first. Do really wish this new equipment to be fabricated, constructed and installed in a foreign shipyard, where foreign dock workers will inspect the equipment up close, receive hands-on training in its installation, upkeep and use? Would not these foreign workers profit in sharing their newfound skills and knowledge with other foreign entities? It certainly appears that our allies in Rhodes are rather overrun with spies of this sort...no, best to let our enemies gain their working knowledge of the corvus first-hand as its beak comes crashing down upon the decks of their ships!

"Now, for the first point: Yes, when compared to new constructin, it appears more frugal to outfit existing hulls with a corvus, but look at this." Gorgo was demonstrating on the model that the corvus worked only from the sides of the ship, forcing an approach alongside an enemy vessel. He now detatched the bow of the model and replaced it with a new bow, this one devoid of the elaborate prow and other equipment. This new model allowed easy employment of the corvus through a 180 degree arc. As he did so, Gallus continued his explanation:

"Adding a corvus to existing hulls will throw off their weight and balance somewhat, and they have limited engagement arcs. This new design, featuring the corvus as part of the ship's structure from the hull up, solves those weight problems, and it allows the ship to engage an enemy target head-on, as if it were ramming the target. This allows the ship to approach its victim from many different directions, and if it must quickly disengage, the captain merely needs to raise the corvus and use his oars to back away. Overall, this is a much more capable design.

"This SC before you will result in a fleet which takes advantage of both aspects...we will have a mixture of ships, some more expensive and capable, some less, but all of them with much increased lethality when compared to vessels equipped with nothing of the sort!

"So therefore, Conscript Fathers, I urge you to begin the debate upon this proposal, and to act upon it swiftly...in fact, I would recommend to the Consul that we begin this debate first thing in the morning, so that it may be concluded before the commencement of the Ludi Romani."

And with that, Tribune Gallus, now candidate for the Quaestorship, concluded his remarks, satisfied at the day's work, and looking forward very much to that evening's dinner party.