James B Brandt

Title: The Forever Legion

 

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy  

                                      

Logline: In the turbulent history of Rome, several of her legendary Legions have seemingly vanished. The most famous is the Lost IX Legion of Rome. This is their story... not as you think you know it but as it actually occurred. It is historically accurate up to 145 CE when it is officially disbanded. But this is also the untold story... from when the ragged remnants of the IX finally vanish... right off the planet and into intergalactic space where they become a mercenary unit... under a contract that has no end.

 

Short Pitch: The FOREVER LEGION follows the life of IX Legion's LEGIONNAIRE MARCUS AETIUS from the time he leads a ragged band of followers to the Chinese town of Li-jien in 145 CE (Li means "a Roman troop" and Li-jien refers to all Romans. Li-jien is now believed to be identified as Zhelaizhai, not far from Lanzhou, China).  They discover the decedents - including his own remote kin - of the Roman Legions captured by the Parthians in 53 BC. They settle down in uneasy times: Rome is in turmoil and China has just changed Emperors. Both empires are shrinking; the world is changing, the fate of Li-jien far from certain.

 

THE FOREVER LEGION intertwines the events of the Legion's exploits as a mercenary unit from Earth with the history of the Aetius family - never rulers or famous generals, but always by the side of the rich and powerful. The accurately-portrayed historical segments are seen through the eyes of 28 generations of Roman soldiers serving in the best military force the world has ever known. The back story moves through 200 years of Roman history... described by the decedents of GERMANUS AETIUS as they fight on distant worlds.

 

Though Rome's Legions are considered among the best in history, even the best have failures. We open in 145 CE and Marcus Aetius commands a small band of refugees, working their way east from Judea after the death of the ROMAN EMPEROR HADRIAN. With Rome's eyes turning inward, it is not safe for former members of the Legions living in the Jewish lands. Aetius takes a small group of former Legionnaires from the Legio Nona Hispana (the famous IX Spanish Legion) and their families on a quest to secure their fortunes in the Far East. They eventually arrive at Le-jien, a Chinese town bordering Tibet, where Roman prisoners from earlier battles, between Rome/Parthia and Parthia/China have been settled. Here Aetius, his group, and the proud descendants of earlier Legions seek to build a place where they can be safe. But China no longer considers foreign soldiers on their border desirable and safety is a fleeting concept.

 

Fearing treachery, Aetius, his followers, and Li-jien's Romans head north, into the unknown: the vast Gobi Desert. Seeking refuge from a sandstorm, they discover they have been led to an unnatural place - but to venture back into the storm is certain death. When the cave entrance is finally clear, they emerge into the world again... a world that is not Earth but one called Whisper; a world of towering trees vast plains, and strange and fantastic creatures. There is no return. They reluctantly agree to fight as mercenaries for beings resembling Greek mythological Elves against fantastic beasts in a strange land.

 

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