Cato, who had been appointed Quaestor in…

Cato, who had been appointed Quaestor in 205 BCE, in the next year enters upon the duties of his place of work, following Scipio to Sicily.

When Scipio, acting on the consent which, after much opposition, he had obtained from the senate, transports the armed forces from Sicily into Africa, Cato and Gaius Laelius ware appointed to escort the baggage ships.

There is not the friendliness of cooperation between Cato and Scipio which ought to exist between a quaestor and his proconsul.

Fabius had opposed the permission given to Scipio to carry out the attack into the enemy's home, and Cato, whose appointment is intended to monitor Scipio's behavior, adopts the views of his friend.