Distraction is a story about difficulties the Romans had in preserving an empire. In 149 BC they took on a major war. While fighting that war, they found themselves trying to preserve their control over other territory and people (previously pacified) not entirely satisfied at being semi-dependent.
In late 149 BC the largest Roman army to take the field in two generations is muddling around, at Carthage, its leaders apparently confused or intimidated. The consuls in Africa had successfully demanded that the Carthaginians turn over all weapons. But the Carthaginians had refused the Roman demand that they leave their city and go anywhere else in the world, as long as they did not build another city within ten miles of the sea. When Carthage locked the gates in its world famous walls, the consuls could not find a successful next step.
The senate had entered this war after a decade or more of whipping by Marcus Porcius Cato. Cato's death has opened opportunities for factions and disagreements to begin again. The majority of the senate wants to focus all Rome's resources on the war in Africa. The lack of progress in Africa, however, is almost universally criticized. Senators who opposed the war for years are beginning to attack the entire enterprise.
Meanwhile, an unwelcome and improbable sideshow begins in Macedon. Rome put an end to the kingdom of Macedonia in 167 BC. In place of a single monarchy, the Romans divided the area into four client republics with four capitals and four sets of officials with in practically all domestic affairs. Now, word comes to Rome that an imposter claiming to be the heir of the last Macedonian king is attempting to restore the monarchy.
The senate assigns one of its most important and well known members, Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, the task of going to Macedon and putting down the rebellion. The senators want Nasica to do this quickly and cheaply. They do not give him an army, soldiers are needed in Africa. They do give him money to use at his discretion. And they give him a small staff to use however he sees fit.
Servius Fulvius Flaccus, in deep trouble with his father, is lucky enough to be handed to Nasica as his chief subordinate. Servius is glad to escape Rome and travel across the Adriatic in midwinter. His first assignment is to establish diplomatic relations with the Illyrians along the Adriatic coast.
The Illyrians have always been crazily independent, piratical, savages. Servius has his eyes opened almost daily as he tries to persuade them to support the Romans opposing the mysterious pretender in nearby Macedon.
And, as it turns out, the Romans need all the help they can get. The only roman military force in the area eventually catches the imposter and this army - and is shattered. Nasica and Servius have to find political and diplomatic ways to obstruct the pretender until the senate allocates a real army under a competent commander to restore order.
When Nasica and Servius return to Rome, they find that the big war in Africa goes from bad to worse. Citizens are so disgruntled at the failure at Carthage that they want to put an entire new regime in power. They do not care that there is no legal way to do this. The City and its long standing practices evolved through centuries of conflict and resolution face a political crisis. Romans want the heir of the last man to defeat the Carthaginians to take on the current war.
Servius takes part in the complex maneuvers that result in a barely legal coup by Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus. Servius's father died while Servius was away among the Illyrians and Macedonians. Now, Servius runs the Fulvii Flacci, and he manages to earn credits from all sides as he struggles to maintain the institutions to which he and his family are dedicated.