All of Europe west of the river Rhine lies under the hand of Carthage. Ruled jointly from the south, Carthage itself, and north, Mai Dan in Britain, the empire appears to be at peace. There are three firebrands within the empire, two of whom are looking for further conquests to cement their place and perhaps their children's future within the society that has assimilated them. It is 48 BC can Hanno, a descendant of his legendary namesake, keep a leash on the ambitions of a certain Julius Caesar and his adversary Vercingetorix.