An elsetimes series, transporting the NGE cast into the era of the Roman Empire. The author, commendably, relies on more than just watching 'Gladiator' (augh) several times and displays knowledge of Latin, history, and politics in his writing.

Also Latinised are the names of the cast, an extract of the addendum (available at his archive) is attached here to help readers of the series and of this review:

Caeles Soter = Shinji Ikari
Mistura Kalendis = Misato Katsuragi
Certus Penator = Maya Ibuki
Lysisca Magnus = Ritsuko Akagi
Aequus Neocorus = Kozou Fuyutsuki
Flustra Caecus = Rei Ayanami
Lagena Aestus = Asuka Sohryu Langley
Manto Virago = Mana Kirishima
Effero Soter = Gendou Ikari
Libet Emissitius = Ryoji Kaji
Memini Flor = Kensuke Aida
Vivo Opitulatus = Touji Suzuhara
Medella Germium = Hikari Horaki

Caeles, son of the Imperial Proconsul, Soter, certainly leads a much more privileged life than the Shinji of the anime. While he is deprived of fatherly attention, he certainly  has received some instruction and training in the arts of military strategy, armed combat, and uuum... being a man. As a character, he displays a strength of character paralleled with vulnerability that makes him a balanced, sympathetic, and interesting person in the vein of the manga characterisation.

The fic is centred, not unexpectedly, on his interaction with the characters on a micro level and the consequences for Rome and its empire on at a macro level. The series is not intrisically political or dominated by any particular angle but is an amalgam of a multitude of factors like power struggles, war, love, hate, friendship, slavery etc.

I have my doubts about some of the rashness and impulsiveness show by Mistura in the series - certainly, quite a big slip-up for such a famous and capable general. Almost felt like a convenient plot device to allow Caeles to 'save the day.' Interaction with Lagena is light-heartedly funny in the manner of the early anime and manga interactions and also given that she is in a definite subordinate position to Caeles also affects the way the character works. Flustra is a joy to read, being the Reihead that I am. Mysterious, powerful, something otherworldly about her in addition to charming and genuine naivety coupled with knowledge of deadly secrets.

The build-up of the story was quite slow, with characters gradually being introduced, but in retrospect, it's worked well because we are being inducted into a very different elseworld. Part XII represents some major threads coming out into the open: 1. Roman-Barbarian conflict and politics, 2. internal Roman politics, between Effero and his opponents as well as the Spartacian issue of slavery, 3. the extent of Flustra's power and influence are starting to emerge as she advances her agenda. Some definite developments in the relationship between Caeles and Lagena as well as Manto.

I have enjoyed what I've seen so far and am looking forward to further installments.