Empire: The Glory of Rome (Roman Empire Quest)

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Nation: Imperium Romanorum

Year: 640 Anno Domini

Imperator: Flavius Heracles Augustus...
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The Arab Invasion 01

phoenixfryre

Banned Forever
Banned
Location
Minas Tirith
Nation: Imperium Romanorum

Year: 640 Anno Domini

Imperator: Flavius Heracles Augustus [ADM:8/DIP:7/MAR:9]

Heir: Constantine III (26 Years) [ADM:2/DIP:9/MAR:7); Heraklonas (14 Years) [ADM:6/DIP:2/MAR:10]

Population: 15,000,000


Imperial Provinces [For province and name references]



Imperial Borders in 640 A.D


~o~​


After the Persian wars ended everyone sighed in relief, the status quo was restored and the nations could recover and rebuild after more than a decade of occupation and disruption. You didn't expect this. The Persians didn't expect this. The Arabs didn't expect this.

With a snort you sat down, agitation leaving your body as you look at the tactical map, fucking Arabs just who did these unwashed savages think they were? Attacking the Empire whilst they were exhausted, her armies were finally returning when the news came and now Jerusalem alongside majority of Syria was in the hands of Barbarians.

The situation was dire, the empire you gave up everything for was on the brink of disaster, but all was not lost yet. The Imperial Eagle still had life left in it, your armies were reduced but they were there.

After all, the Empire didn't collapse at Teutoburg nor at Adrianople or at Edessa. Disasters have hit your empire again and again for Centuries, Rome wasn't a leaf to be blown away by the latest in the line of a long series of enemies that dared to assail the empire.

Your army is still intact, though their ability to launch an offensive is under question. So is the willingness of a Roman commander to do the same after Yarmouk.

Army Disposition: aprox. 100,000 Infantry; 20,000 Cavalry.

The army is divided into Meros, with each Meros being 5000 Infantry and 1000 Cavalry.

Asia Minor: 12 Meros (60k Infantry, 12k Cavalry)

Balkans: 6 Meros (30k Inf, 6k Cavalry)

Africa proconsularis: 2 Meros (10k Infantry, 2k Cavalry)

~o~​

Unfortunately large though the Roman army may be the frontiers have been infuriatingly unforgiving to it, the loss of Syria and the dismal morale has forced the vast majority of the professional army into Anatolia whilst the 2 Meros held in Africa are in Carthago.

The armies have left for Aegyptus but it is under question if they will arrive in time to rescue Aegyptus and its garrisons, as it stands there are a few strong garrisons in Aegyptus that might slow down the Arabs:

Imperial Aegyptus


City Garrison

Arish 1,000

Pelusium 1,000

Bilbies 1,000

Heliopolis 3,000

Babylon 2,000

Alexandria 4,000

Memphis 1,000


The invading force of Arabs is lead by 'Amir Ibn al-'asn who has brought with him, 4,000 men. He is advancing on Arish in great cheer, confident that the conquest of Egypt will be as swift as the fall of Palestine and Syria.

The nearest professional army is held up in Carthago and though they make for Aegyptus with great speed they might not arrive in time to truly save Aegyptus as they are harried by Berbers. The nearest army by sea is held up in Tarsus, unfortunately, they are held up entirely by Khalid's offensive in Northern Syria and the threat to Jazira.

Though Cyrus is the Prefect of Aegyptus he has no martial skill and the military command falls to Strategos Aretion, a decent commander. He can carry out three strategies:

[ ] Gather your men and surrender, then in the dark of the night abandon all honour and slaughter the Arabs. For they are few and you many, it would be a stain on the Honour of Roma, but then again. Dead men tell no tales.

[ ] Hold the forts, make the barbarians pay in blood for each fort they take. Hope that the Carthaginian armies arrive in good time. Be warned though, the Prefect Cyrus has no stomach for blood and may surrender soon.

[ ] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
-- [ ] Empty half of Alexandria's garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.

Of course, life would be pathetically easy if the only crisis was in Aegyptus. Fate it seems wishes to test the Empire more, Edessa is under threat from Khalid and his cohort of 17,000 men. Here Strategos Theodore was in effective command of the 12 Meros that guarded the Anatolian border and Armenian frontier

Though supply is scarce Theodore can afford to give battle to Khalid with the aid of 4 Meros. Theodore knows the terrain well and this might be the only chance to repel the Arabs from Osroene, a province that continued to provide valuable revenue.

[ ] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.

[ ] Abandon Orsoene, Euphratensis and Mesopotamia to retreat to the Anatolian mountains, here it is nearly assured that the line will be held regardless of Khalid's efforts to do otherwise.

Thankfully not all news is bad for the Empire, Jabalah, the client king of the Ghassanids has rebelled against his new masters to declare for Heraclius, he is moving North to join the Anatolian Meros with 15,000 soldiers, but he can be diverted:

[ ] Command him to march on Egypt, reclaiming Sina on the way there. He will attack them in the back, hopefully preventing the loss of Aegyptus.

[ ] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.

[ ] Ask him to continue marching North and attack the lightly guarded Antioch, the locals do not love their infidel overlords and the queen of the Levant would do well back in Roman hands.

[ ] He is to make haste for the Cilician gates and reinforce the men guarding the Anatolian frontline.

In the West and the North things are more peaceful, the Persians too are fighting against the Arabs and though Ctesiphon has fallen effective resistance may yet be possible. The Slavs and the Lombards have maintained peace due to the reputation surrounding Heraclius, word of the Eastern disaster is yet to spread East, after which the Lombards and the Slavs might take actions against Roman positions in the Balkans and Italia.

Treasury: 10,000 Solidius

Income: 10,000 Solidius

+150,000 Taxes

+50,000 Production

+10,000 Trade

-140,000 Army

-20,000 Navy

-40,000 Imperial Administration



Projects: (Can take as many, the Imperator can focus on any one and reduce cost by 50%)

[ ] (Cost 10,000 Solidius for three turns) The recent Persian War has damaged all of Oriens, Asiana and Aegyptus, the infrastructure lost has caused a loss in revenue and logistical ability to field large armies, this needs to be remedied. (Significantly Increases Revenue)

[ ] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.

[ ] (Cost 8000; Upkeep 8000) Aegyptus is a valuable province, its grain is the reason Constantinople remains the most populated city in the world outside China, losing it is not a viable option. The Empire can raise further 8,000 Infantry in Aegyptus, but they will be green and barely trained, not up to the usual quality of Roman troops.

[ ] (Cost 7000) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.

[ ] (Cost 8000; Upkeep 8000 ) Hire 4,000 Nubian Cavalry to supplement the forces of Aegyptus against the Barbarians, should you win there they will aid you till the termination of their contract.

[ ] (Cost 15000) Invest into diplomatically vassalising the Berber tribes once more and coax the coastline back into rightful Roman hands

[ ] (Cost 20000) Invest into Italia to revitalise the lost heartland of the Empire.

[ ] (Cost 20000) Invest into the four queens, or at least the three you control. (Invests into Thessalonica, Ephesus and Alexandria

Imperator's private actions:

[ ] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling.

[ ] You are spry for a 65-Year-Old man but after Yarmouk depression has gripped you, perhaps it is not unwise to let your heirs govern for a while and gather yourself back.

[ ] Send a letter of encouragement to Strategos Aretion of Aegyptus, your legend is not as strong as it was after the Great War but it is still fairly strong.
-- [ ] (Cost 2000) Additionally you can offer a bonus to each man for fighting to defend the food of the Empire and her heart (Constantinople)

~o~
Please plan votes only, happy to receive any corrections and feedback!

Discord at ------> Discord - Free voice and text chat for gamers
 
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I say we fake surrender and slaughter them in the night. We'll write it down in history as it being an honorable battle where the Romans fought them successfully with Mars' might. :V
 
[X] Plan: The Demon Emperor
- [X] Gather your men and surrender, then in the dark of the night abandon all honour and slaughter the Arabs. For they are few and you many, it would be a stain on the Honour of Roma, but then again. Dead men tell no tales.

-[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.

-[X] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.

-[X] Imperator Focus (Cost 3500) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.

-[X] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.

-[X] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling

Edit: So here are my thoughts:

The Empire is on the breaking point, there is no room for honor when survival is at stake. The victors write history, and Rome will win.

Hold, and we will win. The Arabs will soon be surrounded and crushed by the might of two Empires united by a shared enemy.

With our combined military action with the Persians, we effectively have an ally in the region, freeing up border troops for the bold push.

We have the money, and an emergency option for next time might be necessary.

We are about to die from old age. So let us teach the new generation a little before we hit the ground.
 
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[X] Plan: The Demon Emperor
- [X] Gather your men and surrender, then in the dark of the night abandon all honour and slaughter the Arabs. For they are few and you many, it would be a stain on the Honour of Roma, but then again. Dead men tell no tales.

-[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.

-[X] Imperator Focus (Cost 3500) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.

-[X] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.

-[X] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling

Edit: So here are my thoughts:

The Empire is on the breaking point, there is no room for honor when survival is at stake. The victors write history, and Rome will win.

Hold, and we will win. The Arabs will soon be surrounded and crushed by the might of two Empires united by a shared enemy.

With our combined military action with the Persians, we effectively have an ally in the region, freeing up border troops for the bold push.

We have the money, and an emergency option for next time might be necessary.

We are about to die from old age. So let us teach the new generation a little before we hit the ground.

Nice plan but you kinda forgot to tell you Ghassanid king to go anywhere, in which case he'll just go to the Gates of Cilicia
Adhoc vote count started by phoenixfryre on Feb 4, 2019 at 5:53 PM, finished with 30 posts and 12 votes.

  • [X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)
    -[X] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
    --[X] Empty half of Alexandria's garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.
    -[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
    -[X] Command him to march on Egypt, reclaiming Sina on the way there. He will attack them in the back, hopefully preventing the loss of Aegyptus.
    -[X] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.
    -[X] (Cost 4000; Upkeep 8000 ) Hire 4,000 Nubian Cavalry to supplement the forces of Aegyptus against the Barbarians, should you win there they will aid you till the termination of their contract. [Imperator Focus]
    -[X] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling
    [X] Plan: The Demon Emperor
    - [X] Gather your men and surrender, then in the dark of the night abandon all honour and slaughter the Arabs. For they are few and you many, it would be a stain on the Honour of Roma, but then again. Dead men tell no tales.
    -[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
    -[X] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.
    -[X] Imperator Focus (Cost 3500) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.
    -[X] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.
    -[X] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling
 
Edited in the part. We will use the reinforcements to cut off the Arabs reinforcements, retake the castles they took and destroy their armies that are in our borders.
 
[X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)
-[X] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
--[X] Empty half of Alexandria's garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.
-[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
-[X] Command him to march on Egypt, reclaiming Sina on the way there. He will attack them in the back, hopefully preventing the loss of Aegyptus.
-[X] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.
-[X] (Cost 4000; Upkeep 8000 ) Hire 4,000 Nubian Cavalry to supplement the forces of Aegyptus against the Barbarians, should you win there they will aid you till the termination of their contract. [Imperator Focus]
-[X] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling.

Aegyptus is key to the Empire, losing it is unacceptable, and having our men surrender already hinges on us getting enough to overpower them with unarmoured infantry that are used to fighting as heavy infantry seems unwise, even in an ambush. Instead, mobilising forces and hiring experienced cavalry, while having our ally cut them off and prevent retreat would destroy their forces there. This is to prevent the weak-willed Cyrus from blabbing on like a buffoon he's been hinted at and destroy our chances single-handedly. Once that is done, I hope to push and relieve our territories in the Levant while we hold the line in the North.

EDIT: Overall, the numbers this plan would field upon Egypt would be 11 thousand infantry from the garrisons, plus 4 thousand Nubian cavalrymen, with 15 thousand Ghassanids striking at Palaestina Salutaris towards Aegyptus and closing off the Arab reinforcements. Once we've defeated them there and the Carthaginian Meros arrives, we'd be standing on a quite numerous army, able to strike back at the Levant and relieve our garrisons there while retaking Petra and pushing them back into the desert there.
 
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Aegyptus is key to the Empire, losing it is unacceptable, and having our men surrender already hinges on us getting enough to overpower them with unarmoured infantry that are used to fighting as heavy infantry seems unwise, even in an ambush. Instead, mobilising forces and hiring experienced cavalry, while having our ally cut them off and prevent retreat would destroy their forces there. This is to prevent them weak-willed Cyrus from blabbing on like a buffoon he's been hinted at and destroy our chances single-handedly. Once that is done, I hope to push and relieve our territories in the Levant while we hold the line in the North.

That'd be wise in our timeline Cyrus surrendered all of Egypt before reinforcements could come through from the mainland or Africa Proconsularis.
 
[X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)

This is going to cripple our income but it gives us the best odds at victory although Archon of Ghosts your plan still leaves enough cash left over to ally with the Persians which would be a really good idea right now as a just in case measure.
 
[X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)

Hiii

[X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)

This is going to cripple our income but it gives us the best odds at victory although Archon of Ghosts your plan still leaves enough cash left over to ally with the Persians which would be a really good idea right now as a just in case measure.

I thought I should do a public service announcement for those who haven't read the books. Cyrus, Prefect of Aegyptus, is already ready to surrender.
 
[X] Plan: Hold the Line (Aegyptus Edition)

This is going to cripple our income but it gives us the best odds at victory although Archon of Ghosts your plan still leaves enough cash left over to ally with the Persians which would be a really good idea right now as a just in case measure.
That'd be the case if I could have 2 Emperor Foci, since otherwise it'd cost 7k.
 
[] Plan Overconfidence
-[] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
--- [] Empty half of Alexandria's garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.
-[] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
-[] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.
-[] (Cost 7000) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.
-[] Send a letter of encouragement to Strategos Aretion of Aegyptus, your legend is not as strong as it was after the Great War but it is still fairly strong.
--- [] (Cost 2000) Additionally you can offer a bonus to each man for fighting to defend the food of the Empire and her heart (Constantinople)

The Persians are in just as bad a position as we are, and if they fall the damn Arabs will have a significant power base even if we push them out of our territory. Additionally, we want to scutter their considerable momentum - having Jabalah attack Jerusalem at the same time we launch our offensive should be more than enough to halt their offensives and allow us to regain the initiative. Egypt is tenuous, but picking the Imperator action to boost them with the money addition should be enough to secure a victory. Cyrus is a liability, but so long as we win the battle decisively instead of drawing out a vicious battle of attrition he shouldn't be able to gather any sort of support to surrender.

@Archon of Ghosts @phoenixfryre @Azurath Any suggestions or criticism?
 
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The Persians are in just as bad a position as we are, and if they fall the damn Arabs will have a significant power base even if we push them out of our territory. Additionally, we want to scutter their considerable momentum - having Jabalah attack Jerusalem at the same time we launch our offensive should be more than enough to halt their offensives and allow us to regain the initiative. Egypt is tenuous, but picking the Imperator action to boost them with the money addition should be enough to secure a victory. Cyrus is a liability, but so long as we win the battle decisively instead of drawing out a vicious battle of attrition he shouldn't be able to gather any sort of support to surrender.

@Archon of Ghosts @phoenixfryre @Azurath Any suggestions or criticism?

I'll be rolling for Cyrus' attempt at surrender like OTL but since Aretion is alive he'll be dead if he actually tries to surrender. If Aretion dies in battle though...

In terms of military, you are fairly secure since personal loyalty to Heraclius is still relatively high. Can't say the same about either of his heirs.
 
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I'll be rolling for Cyrus' attempt at surrender like OTL but since Aretion is alive he'll be dead if he actually tries to surrender. If Aretion dies in battle though...
It's a gamble, yes. I'm basically putting the fate of Egypt on the gambit with the garrisons and the emperor action securing us the victory, since I view immediately beginning a counteroffensive and supporting the Persians as just as pressing. However, even if the general dies securing victory I have difficulty seeing the coward trying to tell his army that they just won a battle, now they need to surrender.
 
It's a gamble, yes. I'm basically putting the fate of Egypt on the gambit with the garrisons and the emperor action securing us the victory, since I view immediately beginning a counteroffensive and supporting the Persians as just as pressing. However, even if the general dies securing victory I have difficulty seeing the coward trying to tell his army that they just won a battle, now they need to surrender.

So long as Heraclius lives and passes his 1d100 roll by rolling more than 70 you'll have loyal commanders in Aegyptus regardless of the situation, unfortunately, should he not live, commanders might go astray.
 
[X] Plan Overconfidence
-[X] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
--- [X] Empty half of Alexandria's garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.
-[X] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
-[X] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.
-[X] (Cost 7000) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.
-[X] Send a letter of encouragement to Strategos Aretion of Aegyptus, your legend is not as strong as it was after the Great War but it is still fairly strong.
--- [X] (Cost 2000) Additionally you can offer a bonus to each man for fighting to defend the food of the Empire and her heart (Constantinople)

The Persians are in just as bad a position as we are, and if they fall the damn Arabs will have a significant power base even if we push them out of our territory. Additionally, we want to scutter their considerable momentum - having Jabalah attack Jerusalem at the same time we launch our offensive should be more than enough to halt their offensives and allow us to regain the initiative. Egypt is tenuous, but picking the Imperator action to boost them with the money addition should be enough to secure a victory. Cyrus is a liability, but so long as we win the battle decisively instead of drawing out a vicious battle of attrition he shouldn't be able to gather any sort of support to surrender.

@Archon of Ghosts @phoenixfryre @Azurath Any suggestions or criticism?
It seems you're trying to do a lot of things for potentially little gain. Relying only on the Aegyptian garrisons hold the line has 11k infantry, with little cavalry support, try and fight off 4k Arabs, with a good likelihood of reinforcements. Even with higher morale, I fear that it may not be enough. Relieving the besieged Levant is a good step, something that I still am torn about, but the Ghassanids are not good quality soldiers, and I am uncertain of giving them any role beyond support, both to prevent their complete destruction, and because I doubt their capabilities of surviving against a proper Arabian force. As for the Persians... Well, they've already lost most of their army at this point. Now that they're beyond Mesopotamia, they should have decimated most of the Sassanid armies, leaving with at best, a shadow of what they used to be (or at least that was the case historically). That is why I went all in on Aegyptus, because I think that instead of focusing on multiple fronts at the same time will cost us, and that instead we should try to deal with them piecemeal, even if it means that we'll have to eventually face the forces sent East by the Caliph.
 
Relieving the besieged Levant is a good step, something that I still am torn about, but the Ghassanids are not good quality soldiers, and I am uncertain of giving them any role beyond support, both to prevent their complete destruction, and because I doubt their capabilities of surviving against a proper Arabian force.
They were intended more as a distractionary force to make the Arabs draw back from Eygpt by threatening Jerusalem, which would let the boosted garrison forces only have to hold against the initial offensive.
As for the Persians... Well, they've already lost most of their army at this point. Now that they're beyond Mesopotamia, they should have decimated most of the Sassanid armies, leaving with at best, a shadow of what they used to be (or at least that was the case historically)
I'm pretty sure they'll be able to muster something, out of pride if nothing else. Although I wasn't aware the situation had gotten so bad, I thought that if the pressure could be relieved they might be able to use the breathing space to recover or at least put up more of a fight than OTL.
That is why I went all in on Aegyptus, because I think that instead of focusing on multiple fronts at the same time will cost us, and that instead we should try to deal with them piecemeal, even if it means that we'll have to eventually face the forces sent East by the Caliph.
This is actually a good point. My intention was to try and break the uninterrupted string of offensive victories they've had, force the Arabs on the back heel and restore morale to the men. While your plan would guarantee we'd hold Eygpt, I'm aiming for halting, or at least seriously hampering the Caliphate's offensives across the map. Win a victory instead of running damage control.
 
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