‘I am aware that none of what I have said so far is likely to have gone down well with you, gentlemen. That’s just tough on all of us.The question is, what are we going to do about it? For my part, I’m going to let you start with a clean slate. There will be no further mention of your corruption or dereliction of duty. So you all have a chance to prove yourselves worthy. You didn’t win promotion to the rank you hold today by taking bribes, so all of you must have been good soldiers at one time. That time has come again. In the next few days you’re all going to do some hard soldiering.Your men will need the best from you and I will not hesitate to break any slackers back to the ranks.You will all lead by example.You will all lead from the front.’ He paused to make sure that they had got the point. ‘Right, well, that’s it.You know what I require from you.There’s plenty of work to do, and you’ll receive your orders as soon as possible. One last thing. I noticed that the standard of the Second Illyrian carries no awards. That’s going to change. I have never left a unit without adding at least one medallion to its standard.The same applies to this cohort. So let’s all do something we can be proud of, eh? Dismiss!’

The officers rose smartly to their feet and stiffened to attention, saluted, and then began to shuffle towards the doors leading from the hall. Macro watched them carefully as they dispersed, pleased with his performance and feeling that he had put some iron back into his new subordinates. As the last of them left the hall Cato came over.

‘How did you think that went?’ Macro asked.

‘Blunt, but to the point.’

Macro frowned. ‘I’m trying to kick them into shape, Cato, not win first fucking prize in a rhetoric competition.’

‘Oh, in that case, it went rather well.’ Cato smiled. ‘No, seriously, I think that was just what they needed to hear. I like the touch about the standard. Is that true?’

‘No. Load of bollocks. But it’s the kind of thing that goes down well with the glory-hunters. And that’s just what we’ll need if Bannus decides to take the cohort on.’

‘I suppose so.’ Cato conceded. ‘And what exactly are your first orders, sir?’