Just Before Christ

Manio Sempronio Galba, son of "The Magnificent", is condemned to die for the crime of high treason. Incapable of drinking down the hemlock offered, his sentence is commuted to serving indefinitely in the Legion of Cneo Valerio Aquila.

In his attempt to get out of the mess he has got himself in, Manio needs to keep alive the same persona who drove the Legion to war the night before, and he quickly turns his alter ego into the undisputed leader of the bored troops keen to see action

Manio has found a place not far from the Roman camp to do his necessities and pause for quiet reflection every morning. From there, the countryside can be seen in all its splendour, the birds sing in the trees, and there is even a peasant couple.

During some manoeuvres, a Roman patrol led by centurion Antonine gets lost in the forest, with Manio and Agorastocles among the party. Back at the camp, the Tribunes criticize the soldiers lack of training and the weak command of General Cneo Valerio.

The General is unrecognizable, having lately been chalking up one victory after another. Agorastocles wants to get to know his own people, the Thracians. Taking advantage of a prisoner exchange, he says farewell to Manio in order to go.

Cornelio Pison, a General close to Octavio, travels to the camp to talk to Cneo Valerio. Valeria, who wants to take the Legion and join up with Octavio and his cause, seeks to avoid a meeting between the two Generals.