Meridius sat at a large, circular table, flanked by men of worth and cunning. Every man there had proven themselves over the years to be prudent and wise in the ways of bureaucracy. These men of the Senate all were allies of Meridius and his imperial son. They all planned on keeping that good grace and, if possible, profit off of it. "Friends and countryman, we have important business to get into. I suggest you do not delay your reports." Said Merdius as the last of the senators and bureaucrats found their way to their chairs. What came next was a dull, dry, and lengthy discourse on the war effort and all the minutiae that came with ruling a land in conflict. It was exceedingly mind numbing. In other words, it was a Senator's dream. Meridius listened to it all with steepled fingers inches from his face. He calmly gave suggestions and orders without missing a beat, displaying his ease at politics. At last, however, came a more grisly matter. A labor for the kingmaker that he did not relish. Finances. As he knew when he staged the coup, funding a war was almost more important than fighting one. He intended to win this battle, and to that end he had gathered his pawns that day. "The Caesars, as I hope you are all aware of, have generously been volunteered, by myself, to finance our war effort. It will be good for them, for their pride may otherwise run amuck with their coin." One of the senators in the room, an older fellow with a balding head, spoke up. "As you say, master Meridius, they are proud. I somehow do not think they will go along so easily. A war is nasty thing, and its economics even nastier." "Oh I am well aware of their nature. Had they been of any lesser temperament, I would never have used their help at all." "All very good, senator, but one must wonder how you intend to collect from them? " The man left the question hanging, leaning forward slightly to await the answer. "You say collect as if to invoke the mortal enemy of the common clay. Tax collectors. Taxes, tariffs. "The Caesars have always looked out to sea, but from us do they levy their steel and resources. Pressure is of utmost importance. We charge him for his coin if Caesar and his family will not donate to the cause willingly." The older senator leaned back in his seat and nodded simply. "Ahh, well that will be easily done. I can spearhead that endeavor and have it passed before the Caesars can say "fishbait"." "Excellent, I will trust you to not ruin this." He says with a small smile. "There is no version of this where the rebellion wins, we are larger, stronger, and wiser. But," Meridius says, accentuating his words carefully. "There is a way that we lose ground, assets, and wealth. We took the throne for my family, for yours, that we might partake in the wealth of it." Multiple senators nodded their heads, sensing where this was going. Not all of them liked the cunning Gaius, but they all knew enough to realize his side had been, and always would be, the winning side. Gaius continued. "We must not allow fools in the rebellion to steal from us, nor let the greed of the Caesars slow our progress. We came, we conquered, and so we must partake." Gaius Meridius stepped away from their table, taking with him a glass of wine that had sat at the table with him. He raised the filled cup to his co-conspirators in parting. "May your duties go well, and may we all live to reap the benefits of our struggles!"