[ WP ] The Roman and Aztec Empires covering all of Europe and North America respectively have survived into the Modern era . Now at war write from the perspective of one of the troops on the ground

The invasion of the Americas was a slow process. We discovered the continent over a thousand years ago - it was a shock to the people of Rome, or so I'm told. The concept of there being lands beyond the end of the world was a strange one. Since then, however, the Americas were mostly ignored. It was too far away from Terra to be useful, and for centuries we were stuck in wars with the empires of Byzantium and Persia and the German nations. That changed, however, when the Aztecs discovered how to sail across oceans. They assaulted the ports in Hiberni, Brittania, Aquitania and Lusitania. They bought the fight to us - at least, they tried to. There is little that spears and wooden ships can do to an Imperial Battleship. The barbarians were sunk. Now we are here, slowly conquering their lands and keeping the peace. 
 
 We do n't know why the people of the Americas are so far behind with technology. We have guns, bombs and aircraft while they assault us with spears and axes, though I have to say it makes our job in the Seventh Legion a lot easier. God forbid they ever figure out how a gun works, though. If they do, the encounter I had while patrolling the forests earlier this week could have gone a lot worse. Let me tell you about that. 
 
 It was late afternoon, and as could be expected in this miserable province this time of year, it was raining. My Squad had been ordered to patrol this area - there were rumours of Aztec warriors sneaking into the province through the forests.Those rumours were absolutely correct. I heard a blood-curdling scream in the forest behind me. I was fortunate enough to spin around in time to see the first Aztec warrior leap from the undergrowth, spear in hand. He was quick. I was quicker. Before the barbarian could react I ducked under the thrust of his weapon, drawing my own sidearm as I did so. I fired a single shot into his chest - there was no time to aim, but at that range it did n't matter. The barbarian warrior dropped to the ground, screaming in pain as I turned my attention to the others. The rest of my eight-man squad drew their own weapons as three more Aztecs poured from the forests. 
 
 `` Open fire!'' barked the Decanus, commander of our squad, and we filled the forest with the sound of gunfire. The barbarians stood no chance. They were mowed down in seconds, each and every one of them taking gunshots to the head and chest. The fighting was over as quickly as it began. 
 
 `` Fucking savages,'' snarled a soldier named Tacitus once it was clear there were no more. `` Talk about a pointless attack.'' 
 
 `` Well, our work here is not done.'' Decanus Aurelius replied. `` This one is still alive. Tacitus and Severus, bind the prisoner and try to make sure he does n't bleed to death.'' Now he turned his attention to me. `` Good work, Aquila.'' he said, nodding. 
 
 `` Thank you, sir.'' I replied. Looking back, I wonder if it was obvious how much that encounter had shaken me. I have faced death before, yes, but the surprise of the ambush was something else. Still, I am doing my duty as a soldier of Rome, and as a Legionnaire that is all that matters.
