Rome: Total War - Scipii Campaign - Chapter 9 Part 12

Chapter: "The Scipii-Spain Alliance" Year Period: 174-173 British forces in the Numantia region find that the British forces inside Numantia are much greater than their own... They decide to wait, perched apon the bridge. Meanwhile, Palma boards a force onto a boat and sends it Spain-bound. Famine hits Syracuse and infects Paetus, a family member. Pontus blockages the Siwa port, officially starting the Pontus-Scipii war. Cyrene bolsters forces and Siwa does the same. the Eastern half of the Scipii empire is particularly prone to invasion due to disperced provinces. Roman forces retaliate by besieging Thebes. A sap and a siege tower is built. They are immediately attacked by collosal forces of Pontus. 552 men with 54 men as reinforces faces 411 Roman troops. The odds stackup against the Romans with the Romans using such forces as chariots, Cataphracts and Phlanx Pikemen. The Romans were new to such forces, so the battle outcome couldnt be predicted. The Romans play safe and retreat, but the Pontics persue and the battle starts. The Pontic force sens in units to seperate the Roman army, as the pikemen slowly move in. The Romans soon route, due to heavy cavalry charges and fearsome pikemen units. The Roman cavalry was no match for the armoured cataphracts, similarly, Auxilia couldnt face up against the pikemen. 341 deaths and just 158 makes the battle a crushing defeat. The Scipii faction now has a major threat to contend with. Since Siwa cannot recruit heavy infantry yet, the element of sheer mass is the only option. Captain Decimus in Spain besieges Numantia, despite having a smaller force. The Britons retaliate with an attack from 49 men with 567 reinforcing. The battle commences.