Timelines: Deus Ex Machina

[Woody Man]

Hello everyone and welcome to another one of my many (sort of) AARs. This new AAR is quite a step away for me but I'm looking forward to a new challenge and I hope you all enjoy the offering!

In it's simplest form, Deus Ex Machina is a homage to Timelines, an AAR that's always given me a lot of pleasure and has always been something of an influence. But it shouldn't be seen as something with a singular goal, for I certainly have not been entirely influenced by Timelines alone. Indeed, I owe a lot to writAARs like coz1, Lord Durham, Veld, General_BT, Alexander Primus, Thrashing Mad, JimboIX, and many more. So while this is something of a spin-off from the Timelines we all know and love, I would like to be seen as a part of the greater AARland we all know and love.

I will run two sets of Timelines, one set in the future, and the other will take the form of a variety of historical sources and perhaps sections of narratives, all running in an intertwining story that hopefully will be an entertaining read. Every now and again, I shall stop to post "spotlight updates" on certain aspects of the story, I'm free for requests! XD

EP

 

[Woody Man]

11th August 2161

'Res Gestae Juliani Divi Augusti' by Quintus Claudius Silvagenianus. Aline squinted at the book cover. The tome was old and covered it dust, and despite it's tattered appearance, there was no way the engraving could be any different. The light within the bookshop left much to be desired, but despite the relative darkness and the constant heat, she was determined to investigate.

'I begin my work with the ascension of my predecessor, Flavius Claudius Julianus, the sixty first Emperor of Rome and blessed Augustus who returned Rome to it's paternal Gods. Of his youth I witnessed little and so my testimony there is limited and history in that regard is prone to reliance on other witnesses. However, of his greatest achievements, namely, the conquest and defeat of the Sassanid Persians, I was a privileged witness to, being first Comes Domesticorum to Julian, then after my actions at the battle of Maranga, and general good service, Consul, and then co-Augustus of the eastern part of the Empire. This history will end at the death and deification of Julian one thousand, one hundred and thirteen years after the founding of Rome, and six years after his victory and capture of Ctesiphon.'

Aline stopped reading and closed the book. That's not how it happened at all, Julian had been killed near Maranga, seven years before Silvagenianus alleges, in 370AD rather than 363AD. There was no way it could be a mistranslation, there were far too many mistakes, it was more likely a fake, but it was such an odd thing to do, this would convince no-one, considering the other histories available that record events correctly. So why did she hesitate to put the book back on the ageing shelf? Aline brushed her golden hair out of her eyes and flicked open the cover once more. It was an early 19th century printing, apparently dedicated to some young Lord due for Oxford university.

She took the book and began her way round the ramshackle bookshop to what must have been the counter. The building itself seemed to stretch out from the front, supported by a medley of decaying stone pillars, each one stacked high with shelves or piles of disordered books. The walls of the shop were either decorated in much the same way, or alternatively covered by dusty wall hangings and cobwebs. The need to step over stacks of books made the journey much longer than it should have been, and by the time she had reached the counter, Aline had begun to sweat.

“Where did you get this?” She asked in her best Turkish.

The old man merely shrugged, “I have many books, it is too much bother to remember where each and every one comes from”

Aline frowned slightly and looked back at the book. The Turk sighed, put on a pair of spectacles and beckoned to the young woman to hand over the book. He took the book and peered at the spine.

“Ahh, this one. I can sell it to you for 50 Erdas - cash” He added gruffly.

“But it's fake!” Aline's eyes shot wide open.

“No it isn't, I have the original – I'll sell it to you for 500 Erdas” The old man rushed triumphantly.

“Original?” Aline looked on as the old man began to wander away to the back of the shop.

Intrigued, she followed him to a small locked room, set away and several steps up from the ground floor. Standing at the door, he beckoned her inside.

“It's the one on the right shelf, second one down.” He grinned as she walked in and began to inspect the shelves.

There was certainly no missing it, the room was small, and two of it's sides were walled with shelves, though only two scrolls were held in the room. A small shaft of light emanated from a single window opposite the door, giving the place some sparse illumination.

It certainly looked original Aline thought as she ran her fingers along the parchment. Aline unrolled the scroll, the Greek that was neatly inscribed said exactly what the book had recorded. If this manuscript was real, then why had Silvagenianus written a completely different history to what had happened?

“What's that one?” Aline stabbed her finger at the adjacent scroll.

“I believe that is the 'Historia Romanae', quite extensive if I recall.'”

She unrolled the parchment, the title said the very same thing. “I'll give you 100 Erdas for both of them” She offered.

“What!?” The Turk threw up his arms. “They are worth at least one thousand, probably more!”

“They're fake, 100 Erdas.”

“They are not fake! I would never sell such things, 800 for both!”

“They are fake, and I shall give you 150.”

“600”

“200”

“500, and that is as low as will go”

“Pity” She smiled.

* * *

The Istanbul skyline​

Aline sank into the soft chair and stared out onto the Istanbul skyline, beyond the Skyship docking pylon the spires of the many mosques jutted out from the antiquated city like trees in a flooded plain. The city had been a great commercial centre only decades before in the early 22nd century. Now, like many cities on earth, it was becoming more and more marginalised as mankind spread and forgot their old roots. But Aline never had, when people left for the colonies she stayed, ever attached to earth. It was a love of history that kept here.

And it was a cool head that got her those manuscripts Aline thought, she rubbed the papers which had been laid out on the table before her. Aline's money and her noble name afforded her the luxury of a cabin within the Skyship, not that the other parts of the ship were particularly sparse. They were certainly a mystery, and she would be the one to unravel them, well, perhaps not the only one.

The Skyship creaked as the pylon cables detached and the vessel floated free into the midday sky, It would take some hours to get back to France. The cabin ICE system lit up not long after Aline had begun to decipher the first manuscript.

“Hello?” She turned on the transmitter.

“Hello Aline” The man's voice was quickly joined by a face projected onto the ICE screen. He was young, mid-fifties with dark wavy hair that grew backwards, deep blue eyes framed by sharp cheekbones and light skin.

“Oh hello Richard, how are you?”

“Doing fine, find anything interesting in that old ruin?” He teased. Most articles of interest had been taken from the near east and spread out in museums or vaults across the first world.

“You wouldn't believe it Richard” She barely believed it herself.

“Oh yeah?”

“I'll need to sit down to explain it all to you”

Richard raised his eyebrows.

“You are sitting down”

“Well, look, I've found a few manuscripts during the routine recoveries..”

“Oh there was something then?”

“I was getting to that.” she chided. “Anyway, as far as I can tell they are originals, but they seem about as accurate as the Historia Augusta, less so even.”

“Just fakes then?”

“Well they were written during the period, I'm almost one hundred percent sure, there's something odd about them, I almost want to believe what is written there.” Aline's voice began to trail off and she placed her hand gently on the manuscripts.

“Are you ok Aline? You look a bit off..”

“Thanks” She smiled, “No, I'm fine, just need a rest and a cold pillow.”

* * *​

“Disappeared?” The old man's voice echoed out in the cold room, bouncing off the metallic walls.

“According to the reports we received from Rome, it vanished.”

Mr. Garde narrowed his eyes.

“Like out of thin air?” Garde laughed “It's nonsense, the Vatican is becoming a real black hole in AC security.”

There was silence within the room, some of the attendees nodded their heads in agreement.
He glanced at the icy cold table, across it lay a map of the world, and upon that was strewn a collection of papers, everyone had prepared as best they could, but this incident had happened totally without warning, and for once, the Silent Room was caught flat-footed.

“Well, regardless of what the government decides to do, we cannot let such an object as the Timepiece be carted around by God knows who.”

One middle aged woman stood and placed her hands on the table.

“Well that's precisely the problem Mr. Garde, we have absolutely no idea who took it.” Her voice cut through the silence, some of the members of the Silent Room began to stare at the table, one hastily rifled through a carpet of papers before him. “Neither the Vatican nor our AC interior control reported anything suspicious within the last month, and previous disturbances were dealt with, you remember the Russian paid industrial terrorists?”

“Of course”

“Mr. Garde, our security on the borders is flawless, I believe that whoever took the timepiece came from inside the Atlantica Compacta.”

“The timepiece?” Garde raised an eyebrow.

One thin member cleared his throat.

“Er, the item, some of the archivists thought that Pre-AC Confiscated Item No. 1336 was a bit too cumbersome.”

“Damned Clerks” Another replied. “There is a reason we give them non-descript names, imagine if we labelled No. 1337 the Big Flipping Gun? There would be no shortage of embezzlement and theft, people should not know what is in those vaults.”

“I know Lofgren” Garde snapped “Regardless of whatever stupid name it is given, that thing is far too dangerous to be out of our control, the government can't be trusted, that is for sure, so in reality, we must deal with this ourselves, isn't that so Dr. Royce?”

The members of the silent room followed Garde's eyes to the other end of the table, where Dr. Royce sat silently, his elbows on the table and hands folded in front of his face. The two locked eyes across the steel table. There was an air of uneasiness, not between Royce and Garde, both knew exactly where they were coming from, but the other members of the Silent Room were largely unacquainted with Royce and his secretive EVA projects.

“Have you got your EVAs ready?”

“Operative 00 is prepared, I have two more on the way Mr. Garde.”

Garde nodded thoughtfully.

“The EVAs will handle this, there are no leads Royce, so lets see how well these kids will work”

Royce stared straight ahead “They will work Garde, they will.”

Extracts from 'Res Gestae Juliani Divi Augusti' by Quintus Claudius Silvagenianus, Book XV

“...Sassanid army approached as we marched away from the city and began to harass our column. Our superior valour and training enabled our army to hold a defensive position and fight off the Sassanid attempts to drive us out. The Persians, seeing that our lines were far from weak broke from the engagement and attempted to return to their own lines. Upon seeing their retreat, the Emperor Julian, though he was not dressed for combat, gave chase with a handful of men. Fearing for the Emperor's life and the security of Rome, I urged my men onwards against the Persians in order to protect Julian. The Emperor, with vengeance in his mind, charged the Persian lines and was unhorsed before I and my soldiers could reach him. However, it was with great providence that Julian continued to fight until our reinforcements could arrive. Despite our apparent good luck, it was obvious that the Sassanid force that now fought against us was much larger than our own. Despite this disadvantage, we were compelled to fight at our best being both dedicated to the Divine Julian and to the safety of our Empire. The Persian forces threw themselves upon our lines in an attempt to slay the Emperor and in doing so, only succeeded in weakening their own resolve and losing a great many of their number. I, now seeing the Sassanid lines wavering, led my cavalry forces forward in person and routed the enemy cavalry, before wheeling and charging the Persian infantry in the flank and rear. Even though the Persians still held the advantage of numbers, they were massacred by our unbreakable resolve and were driven from the field. Among the many dead lay the King of the Persians, Shapur, his death made our victory certain, and despite our earlier troubles, Julian and I resolved to push on. And so, following our victory at Maranga, Julian, having had a minor wound treated and I having chased the Sassanids from the vicinity, once again rejoined our forces and pushed onwards to the city of Ctesiphon.

Ctesiphon, the Persian capital, lay on the banks of the Tigris river, and gained much wealth and power from it's location and favour as the centre of administration for the Sassanids. The remains of the Persian army, still considerable, had retreated within the city walls and we now faced a long and dangerous siege against the Ctesiphon. Several months passed as we continued to surround the city, skirmishes about the walls had been inconclusive, our campaign was now put in danger by the growing lack of supplies within the army, anything of value had been burnt or taken by the Persians who were intent on denying us the use of plunder, and thus starving us from the land. Julian, fearing starvation and thus defeat was resolved upon the idea of an assault. Propelled by the prospect of plunder and riches, the Legionaries scaled the stone walls of Ctesiphon, I personally led my guard and won the corona muralis for placing the Roman standard upon the Persian battlements. The assault itself was murderous and I sustained a wound to my thigh and lost a third of my guard. The Emperor Julian was also once again wounded, this time more seriously and was pulled behind the battle lines. Despite the bloody nature of the fight, we were victorious and the city was sacked and a great number of slaves and plunder were carried off.

The capture of the city brought a victory to our campaign, with Ctesiphon under our control and much of the Persian armies scattered we had great success in our peace negotiations. The dead King was replaced with his brother Ormisdas, who swore peaceably to honour the Roman borders. Our own borders were extended and fortified to the Tigris and the Senate conferred the title Persicus to Julian and myself. Our campaign being over, Julian returned to Rome in the hopes that he would recover, while I took over the administration of the eastern part of the Empire. At Rome, Julian continued to foster splits between the Galileans and I followed suit, being of the religion of Rome found it in both my own, and in the state's interest that the Christian religion be restricted from growth. Despite the restrictions, Julian took no violent action against the Christians and some flourished within his service, and though they were forbidden from teaching, or publicly worshipping, the Christian religion did not suffer as Julian seemed to wish...

Soldiers of Silvagenian's army​

Extracts from 'Historia Romanae - Silvagenian' Book III

...Julian had never truly recovered from his wounds at Ctesiphon, and six years after his victory he passed away peacefully in Rome. At the news of his death, his adopted son, General and co-Augustus of the eastern part of the Empire was proclaimed Emperor by the Senate, and later by his own legions and given the title of Caesar Quintus Claudius Silvagenianus Augustus Persicus. The senate, as was now traditional, heaped honours upon the new Emperor, though owing to his age and experience, none found this particularly loathsome. The new Augustus was received in Rome to great applause and many saw an opportunity for reconciliation between Christian and Pagan citizens when the Emperor announced the appointment of his friend Lucius Quinctius Curio Deodatus as the co-Augustus of the eastern part of the Empire. Others were glad to see a return in the sensibilities of the Principate when the Augustus' own sons were not arbitrarily advanced, but instead continued their duties as before, the eldest, Quintus Silvagenius Cordus continued his service within the government of Rome, the second, Aurelius, continued his military service in the East, and the third Marcus began his military service one year after his fathers accession. Generally, things continued under the Emperorship of Silvagenian as they had done earlier with Julian....

Extracts from 'Historia Romanae - Silvagenian' Book VII

...a Christian soldier, well dedicated to God took great offence at the restrictions that Silvagenian had begun to place on Christians and during a particularly violent battle against the Alamanni attempted to murder the Emperor by stabbing him in the back. This rather hasty attempt failed grievously, for not only was the soldier, a man by the name of Dominicus, brutally martyred, but the attempt also led the Silvagenian's brutalisation of the Christians within the Empire. Having defeated the Germans threatening the border, Silvagenian returned to Rome and began to purge the Christians from all public and military offices...

Extracts from Historia Romanae - Silvagenian' Book IX

...It was at that point, though bearing the crimes against the Christian community as best he could, the co-Augustus began to prepare for war against Silvagenian. Deodatus refused to disinherit his son, and adopt a pagan successor, and called for both the Legions support and also upon the Christians who would fight in God's name against the cruel Emperor Silvagenian. Deodatus arrayed two forces, one, commanded by himself went straight from Constantinople towards Italy through Dalmatia, and the other, was commanded by Aurelius Silvagenius Renatus who had converted and now prepared to war on his own father. The second army would head through Africa and attack Carthage, Deodatus hoped to cut Rome's grain supply, though not so he would starve the city maliciously, but so to make their life under Silvagenian undesirable. Silvagenian, well aware of the danger a prolonged civil war would make rallied his Legions and headed straight for Constantinople, hoping to defeat Deodatus in a single decisive battle.

The two armies met outside Ravenna, Silvagenian's own army being impeded by the need to restore the ranks of the Officer corps, Deodatus' own army was propelled by it's holy purpose and eager to restore order to the Empire. The Eastern fleet had accompanied the army and succeeded in taking battle to the western fleet. Silvagenian had his decisive battle, though it was not of his choosing. The Christians irregular troops were quick to attack and Deodatus hurried to support them with his Legions, however Silvagenian repelled the first wave utilising a wide formation and personally commanding his cavalry auxiliaries to plug gaps or chase off unprotected groups of soldiers. The mobility of the Western cavalry was hampered by the arrival of Eastern archers, who were deployed in great numbers and forced Silvagenian to withdraw his bold attacks and settle into a more static battle. Here Deodatus had the advantage, his Legions being largely made up of experienced men and commanded by veteran officers. Silvagenian's own forces were filled with new officers, and though the men were hardy veterans of his campaigns in Germania, they soon began to give ground to superior tactics. The battle continued in this manner for several hours, neither side giving way, but both tiring. The losses on both sides were terrible, and Silvagenian and Deodatus looked for a solution that would bring the battle to a speedy close. Silvagenian's eldest son looked to break the enemy lines by pushing upon the left flank of Deodatus' forces, hoping to break the Christian forces. This move came to disastrous consequences when Quintus was hit in the neck and thigh by two arrows, the flank of Silvagenian's army began to falter. Deodatus stormed into the wavering lines and despite Silvagenian's attempts to push him back, the Legions broke and fled, Silvagenian's cavalry auxiliaries abandoned their Emperor who retreated to Ravenna with what men he could save. Silvagenian's hopes for survival were dashed upon his discovery of the Eastern victory at sea and the quick approach of Deodatus' pursuing army. Seeing no other alternative, Silvagenian committed suicide at the age of fifty six. His youngest son surrendered the army and the city of Ravenna to Deodatus, who treated all who had not acted in the Christian purges with clemency. Immediately upon his victory, Deodatus was proclaimed Emperor and sole Augustus of the Empire. Silvagenian's youngest son Marcus, willingly went into exile and left for Germania, some attribute the magnitude of the later Germanic invasions to his connivances with the tribal leaders there. Silvagenian's eldest son Aurelius continued in his service to the Emperor Deodatus and fought against the Germanic incursions into Italy in the later decades.

 

[Jalex]

Wow enjoy your latest AAR, looking forward to see where it goes

 

[Deamon]

Damn dude.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

For a moment I felt that some old friend of us dressed in his Cardinal ways would appear.

Not bad, go on, please.

 

[canonized]

Holy Crap XD First , thank you so much for this honour ! Secondly , this definitely has the EP flavour I've missed for so long . Truly an inspired and unique work of our Dear Rt. Hon. Woodhouse it rings with your narrative music through and through . Persisting in the critically acclaimed dualism of narrative and history writing that you had during the woodhouse dynasty , you've masterfully interweaved storylines from all corners and brought them together with an intense air of mystery , suspense , and epic scope . Masterstroke ! More more

 

[The Kingmaker]

Wow.

I've been waiting for this one, and I must say, I am not disappointed.

Great work so far, my friend. I shall definitely be following this!

 

[Woody Man]

Jalex - Thank you and thanks for reading

Deamon - Is that a good damn? XD

Kurt_Steiner - He may well appear, you never know XD

canonized - I'm very glad you like it

AlexanderPrimus - Thank you very much!

Thanks for popping in and reading everyone, it's nice to be back in AARland writing, I've a good pile of uni work to do unfortunately, so the next update may come some time over the next week if I can manage it, otherwise it will be the next week.

Currently I have a presentation on Hobbes' Leviathan for Monday, and a nice big essay on the Crisis of the Third Century in for thursday, then I shall be popping down to Sussex for a little break, hopefully I'll be able to update, but I thought I'd let you know

Thanks for reading!

 

[volksmarschall]

A truly remarkable piece of work if I may say. Fantastic!

 

[Qorten]

Good work EP! I can very much appreciate it.

 

[Woody Man]

volksmarschall & Qorten - Thank you for reading guys!

Definately update next week, work is a tad suffocating unfortunately, so see you then!

 

[Enewald]

Wow, I hope I manage to keep reading this aar for a long time.
The update are heavy, yet every word is worth reading.
Fantastic!

 

[Avernite]

this looks like some weird story, it'll be interesting to note what you have come up with.

 

[Estonianzulu]

So, Christianity comes to Rome with the sword. Should be an interesting series of histories you are weaving.

 

[canonized]

It's that time of the week to update XD

Eagerly looking forward to it

 

[Woody Man]

Enewald - Thank you! I do hope you continue reading too!

Avernite - XD Thanks for reading!

Estonianzulu - I hope so, we'll look at the religious aspect of late Rome quite a bit in the next update!

canonized - Soon I hope!

Guhh, I haven't forgotten this, just need the time to update, essay on Hobbes 52% done, hopefully will update this weekend, stay tuned etc

 

[unmerged(59077)]

You know that weekend...was a long time ago.

What about the Romans anyway?

 

[canonized]

EP is even more capricious than I am XD

 

[Jalex]

Excellent to hear this is going forward again; are we ever going to have an update on the status of the next Woodhouse Campaign?

 

[Enewald]

Yeah, weekend begins today, right?