Quintus Flaminius Vitulus caught the eye of the presiding Consul and, since there were no Consulars waiting to speak, was allowed to address the Senate.

"Conscript Fathers, I wish to briefly put my thoughts to you on the Bills currently up for discussion. Firstly, the Senatus Consultum Junium. Many here will know of my friendship with Lucius Junius Brutus, and may think me biased. However, I would point out that when there was good reason to doubt his honour, I did not blindly defend him. So it is not out of friendship but out of knowing what is right that I commend this proposal to award him with the Gold Torque. He did not merely fling himself in the way of the enemy as others who have gained this award have done, he was the foremost leader of men in Asia, personally leading his soldiers to victory against the rebels. Surely none can deny him his just desserts now that his name has clearly been vindicated.

"The Senatus Consultum Lucilium has its merits too. I commend Cnaeus Lucilius for his keen thoughts on this matter, and think that he speaks a good deal of sense on this. However, I also believe that this is a proposal best presented to the Senior Consul, since he is shortly to depart north to take command of our armies there. While I do not question the competence of the Senate in directing such an evacuation, we in Rome place our trust in our commanders for one reason - that one man may make quick decisions in times of war, knowing the situation on the ground. Who here knows the full state of affairs in Gaul? If your proposals are indeed germane to the situation, then Consul Zosimus will in his wisdom do what his best and adopt whichever policy or strategy that will best equip us to withstand the German threat. So, I say, leave the decision to him and let us in the Senate give the Senior Consul all our support so that he may do what is right.

"Now, who am I to involve myself between the curmudgeonly Corvus and rough and ready Rufus?" Vitulus made no attempt to hide his amusement. "Not to to mention the tempestuous Tiberius Iulius! I shall waste little of my breath on the Senatus Consultum. There are many flaws despite its seemingly complex nature. Leaders of Italian cities must have served in the legions and been citizens for ten years? Does this mean we shall have chaos while good leaders are kicked out for not having been in the army when no such injunction has previously existed? And citizens of where? Such detailed nonsense springing as it were, out of nowhere, and cannot be supported. Yes, my dear corvus, laws are indeed complex, but complexity by itself does not give it credibility.

"I agree with you, however, that Italians should know that Rome is pre-eminent. However, my inclination is not to worry about how the Italians run themselves as long as they bow to Rome. If, however, the Senate wishes to actively pursue this, I suggest that first we should conduct a census of all Italian territories and settlements, before we rush into some complex management of something that I cannot believe Tiberius Iulius knows much about. As is often the case, his desire for a comprehensive solution has undone him, and I will not be able to support his Bill."