INCEPTIO (Roma Nova) (34 page)

Dramatis Personae

New York

Karen Brown – An advertising agency employee about to have her unsatisfactory life turned upside down

Hayden Black – CEO of Bornes, Black advertising agency where Karen works

Amanda – Karen’s work colleague

Conradus Tellus ‘Conrad’ – A messenger who is not all he seems

Sextilius Gavro – An inventor who came to New York with Conrad

Legation in Washington

Claudia Cornelia – Nuncia (Ambassador)

Ted Johansson – Claudia’s husband, ex-US academic

Favonius – Chief of staff, a power-broker

Aelia Pasella – His daughter, a typical adolescent

Gaia Memmia – Protocol officer, nervous but nice

Sergia – Political officer, serious but sour

Grattius Duso – Cultural officer and teacher

Galla and Maro – PGSF Guards

Marcus – Housekeeper

Family

Aurelia Mitela – Karen’s grandmother, head of Mitela family

Quintus Tellus – Conrad’s uncle, the Roma Nova Imperial Chancellor

Helena Mitela – Karen’s cousin

Household

Junia – Comptroller/steward of Domus Mitelarum

Palace

Silvia Apulia – Imperatrix, ruler of Roma Nova

Department of Justice

Aemilia Fulvia – Minister of Justice

Inspector Cornelius Lurio – Special Assistant to Fulvia, Organised Crime Division

Sentius – Senior Justiciar, Organised Crime Division

Boot camp

Felix – A leader

Tonia – A staff member

In the city

Dania – A friendly bar owner, protégée of Carina

Martina – Goldlights club manager

Pulcheria Foundation

Apollodorus – A career criminal, head of the organisation

Flavius ‘Flav’ – A criminal strategist

Philippus – Their armourer

Justus – Informer and intelligence gatherer

Hermina – Recruiter and provider/organiser of people

Pollius – A doctor

Dolcius – A technical wizard

Military (PGSF
)

L
ucius Punellus – Adjutant, Conrad’s comrade in arms

Daniel Stern – Lieutenant, ex-IDF, on secondement

Julia Sella – The training major

Robbia – Lieutenant

Paula Servla – Sergeant

Somna – Captain, Interrogation Service (IS)

Murria – Lieutenant, Interrogation Service (IS)

Livius and Atria – Other ‘Victis’ team members

Bad guys

Jeffrey Renschman – An American covert security services ‘fixer’

Lev Palicek – An American of East European extraction

About the Author

Alison Morton grew up in West Kent and worked as a civil servant in the City of London, dealt in coins and antique jewellery, head-hunted chief executives, served as a Territorial Army officer and owned a translation company. She completed a BA in French, German and Economics and thirty years later an MA in History. She now lives in France with her husband.

A ‘Roman nut’ since age 11, she has visited sites throughout Europe including the
alma mater
, Rome. But it was the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain) that triggered her wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by women…

Find out more about Alison’s writing life, Romans and alternate history at her blog
www.alison-morton.com
and follow her on Twitter @alison_morton.

Acknowledgements

This book has grown out of my eleven year old self asking ‘What would have happened if women were in charge of the Romans?’ As I crafted my first thriller story set in an alternative world populated by Roman descendants and run by women, I had the benefit of many people’s advice and expert knowledge.

Anna-Marie Buss of Bussroot Ltd, who gave me valuable information about working life in advertising and PR agencies.

Dean Armstrong, British Airways senior first officer, and his pals, including the then British Air Defence Attaché in Washington, for information about helicopter flights from NYC to Washington DC.

Amanda Rae Rosado from New York City and Shawn Hanes from Indiana University, both on student exchange to the University of Kent, who checked my American terminology.

My wonderful Latin teacher, Miss Polmounter (also praised by comedian Jo Brand – see story
here
!) for introducing me to the rude poems of Catullus as well as telling me what crossing the Rubicon meant.

Joanna Cannon MD who made sure nobody recovered too slowly or too quickly from gunshot wounds.

Fellow writers, including the late Paul Sussman, Nicola Morgan, Adrian Magson, Talli Roland, Helen Hollick, editor Robert Clark and publishing consultant Mick Rooney.

Helen Hart and all her team at SilverWood Books – patient, professional, knowledgeable.

My late father, Charles Lusted, who was significantly responsible for making me a ‘Roman nut’.

My patient husband, Steve Morton, for enduring the creative and editing process running his life.

And Denise Barnes, author of
from Bad to Wurst
and
Seller Beware
, my critique partner who gave me constant feedback with equal doses of brutality and love.

Copyright Notice

Published in 2013 by the author using SilverWood Books Empowered Publishing ®

SilverWood Books

30 Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, BS1 4HJ

www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk

Copyright © Alison Morton 2013

www.alison-morton.com

The right of Alison Morton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-78132-062-4 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-78132-063-1 (ebook)