Lucius Caesar feels invigorated after reviewing the Legio IV Gemina in the field before the winter camp. The men are fit and have weathered the difficult march from Illyricum well. Caesar talked with the military tribunes and the centurions and decided which two cohorts to start training to use horses. He doesn't want them to turn into cavalry, he explained, just to be able to mount and ride in formation, to manoeuvre the horses in most situations, and to dismount and form as infantry units when they need to fight. Although this sounded strange to all, some of the officers showed interest. Publius Scipio would have his new units.

Yet his spirits deflate when he reads the praetor's letter waiting for him in his office in Pellas. The consul has requested two auxiliary legions, one ala miliaria of cavalry, and two cohorts of specialist archers raised and trained in less than a month.

Caesar frowns, then laughs. Aulius Lupus was praetor here last year, he should know what is available in the province.

He reads the letter again. Scipio will be able to raise a legion and the cavalry in Achaea; Caesar will concentrate on enlisting the archers and the other legion; he'll worry about the time to train them later.

He therefore orders announcements to be issued and the recruiting process to be started for one auxiliary legion and two cohorts of archers; military experience preferred.