Fractures is a fictional study of Roman politics at multiple levels: within a family, within a clan, among a variety of politicians in Rome, and between Rome and other states. In 151 BC Servius Fulvius Flaccus has returned from a tour of duty in Hispania, been part of the Triumph of his last commander, and now wants to resume his real work: advancing through the public offices that a man of his rank should be able to hold. Still, Servius has his work cut out for him. He has to find ways to use his new money. He has to establish himself in the inner circle of his remote father and his father's most important advisor, Cousin Quintus. And he has to follow the orders of Marcus Porcius Cato, his political patron, who intends to force the senate to declare war against Carthage. Servius's father wants to give Servius a thorough understanding of the collection of estates and businesses that he may inherit. This means Servius gets another assignment: to travel throughout Italy and audit the books of all his father's villas. Luckily for Servius, his trips outside Rome are carefully timed so that he can help Cato when Cato needs him, and can at other times be kept where he can run into no political harm. Servius's father also directs him to pull together a coalition that can help elect the candidates his father favors in the elections seven or eight months away. Servius immediately begins to use the formal suppers his slave, Telamon, prepares to lure to his house the men he wants to use politically. And, in the process of getting ready for the coming elections, Servius collects information and political support that his father needs. Meanwhile, Cato gives Servius the task of bringing Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus into an alliance that will break the logjam in the senate blocking war with Carthage. Servius carries out his responsibilities. In other years, he would have been rewarded with an appointment in the legions sent to Carthage. However, Cato decides he is indispensible and excludes him from the most lucrative war in Rome's recent history. Cato has found another enemy whom Servius must help destroy. Galba, of the generals still fighting to in Hispania, made a treaty with the invading Lusitani. In this treaty he agreed to give the marauders a whole tract of land on the highlands of the peninsula in return for the Lusitani turning over their weapons to him. When the barbarians disarmed, Galba's legions slaughtered all the men and then sold all the women and children as slaves. Cato has resolved to punish Galba for this treacherous act. Both of Cato's campaigns require the election of compliant magistrates. Servius and the elders of his clan are active players in Cato's political success. Servius's relatives do not believe Cato can successful in prosecute Galba. But Servius has to work on that prosecution. He also has to do it so that, somehow, his family is not damaged by Cato's failure. Servius has other problems within the family. While auditing the books of his father's properties, Servius discovers a cleverly disguised fraud. He finds that his father's lifelong, trusted, business manager has been skimming the profits and buying land of his own with them. When Servius brings this to his father's attention, his father is not grateful. He punishes Servius and the two became estranged. None of this matters to Cato who finally manages to bring Galba before an assembly with the power to condemn him. Although no one thinks Galba is in real danger, Cato makes the speech of his long life and Galba's defense falls apart. Meanwhile, the legions in Africa do not have the quick success they expected against Carthage. One misstep after another gives Carthage time to become an increasingly dangerous opponent. Cato, exhausted by his attack on Galba and 87 years old, is too weak, to carry out his final campaign. To no one's surprise, the old man dies, leaving Servius feeling abandoned, and Rome in dee