ABOARD THE QUINQUIREME HECTOR, AFRICAN COAST.

The captain of the liburnae scouting squadron and Tiberius Gallus pored over the map of the Numidian coast and studied the location of the enemy anchorage. The site was a little over five miles east of the Numidian fishing village of Tucca. Several streams from the coastal highlands found their way to the sea here, providing an adequate source of fresh water for the ships and their crew. The pirates had chosen their location well. The currents along the coast in this area appeared to run east to west, and shortly after sunrise, the heat rising off the warm interior produced a stiff sea breeze, which meant that the wind blew from the sea to the shore.

This combination of wind and currents meant two things. First, it meant that ships making an emergency sortie during the day from the anchorage would be heading into the wind, making their escape more difficult. It also meant that ships with their sails unfurled would natually be blown toward the shore. Gallus smiled. Even a ship without a crew, if properly positioned, would drift under the power of the wind alone directly into the a cluster of ships riding at anchor.

If Cato was patrolling per his planned route, his flotilla should have just completed its leg from Carthage, and would be commencing its patrol north of the port, which meant he should be relatively close by. Gallus hastily penned the following note, sealing and placing it in the leaded dispatch pouch, with orders that the fastest liburnae should sail with it to Cato with all haste.

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From: Tiberius Gallus

To: Marcus Porcius Cato

Subject: Main Body Located

Marcus Porcius,

Our liburnae squadron has spotted a force of enemy vessels anchored near the village of Tucca, on the Numidian coast between Chullu and Igilgili. The fleet, when spotted was at anchor, and contained an estimated fifty vessels of indeterminate types. Elements of the fleet attempted to engage our scouts, confirming their hostile nature. Wind and current conditions are such that using some of our captured vessels as fire ships, prelude to a general engagement could produce dramatic results.

Firstly, our captured ships look very similar to the pirate vessels in question since they themselves are former vessels of the exact same sort. Their initial approach will not tend to rouse suspicion, for it may be assumed that it is either a returning patrol or another band of pirates joining their cause. Once the fireships are within a little over a bowshot of the anchored ships, they may be set alight, with their skeleton crews swimming for the one escort ship, which would then beat away to safety. The pirate ships, riding at anchor, would be slow to react, and it is reasonable to assume that some of them will not be able to evade the burning hulks, suffering severe, perhaps catastrophic damage in the process.

The ensuing confusion such an act will sow among the captains of the anchored squadrons will hinder their ability to sortie in ordered battle formations to meet our waiting fleet. Our forces will be at rough numerical parity before the application of the fire ships. Attrition caused by the initial attack, combined with the advantage of the wind at our backs, their confusion, and the technical advantage which our several corvus-equipped ships possess should give us an edge in battle.

For this plan to work, we must concentrate our forces quickly and converge on the site before the enemy has a chance to change locations.

I am awaiting your orders and further direction. I will make arrrangements to rondezvous the Mare Nostra Fleet at a time and place of your choosing, and am, as always, prepared to make such changes and alterations to the plan as you see fit.

I remain

Yours in the Service of the Republic,

Ti Gallus