The Battle of Badriacum

It took the Othonians two full days to reach Badriacum, 30 miles from Cremona. The delay gave Otho fits as he sent dispatch after dispatch demanding to know why in the hell they had not attacked yet. It was finally decided that the Emperor would follow precedent and remove himself from the field. If things went badly and he was out of harm's way, he would still be a rallying point and able to direct a counterattack. But if things went bad and he was in the thick of the battle, well, the death of Otho meant the death of the whole operation as he had no heir and had not yet named a successor.