A/N Right, this chapter hear is very important to the plot… Sadly it also happens to be rather boring… so apologies for that. Please don't just skim over it, (I think I would if I was the reader)-there is a lot going on here!

Chapter 6- Burning Bridges

The Council building was a testament to the Gallians success, a majestic white marble building that loomed spectacularly above all other structures. The stone gleamed in the dawn, the early morning sun rendering it a warm gold.

Tell was waiting at the entrance when Salem and Renoir arrived, bleary eyed and tousle haired. As usual, the young general looked impeccably groomed. Salem cast him a particularly dark look as they approached.

'Is there a reason they have to do this so damn early?' he groaned. Tell ignored him.

'I've been waiting for you. I found something out.'

'Tell me later when I'm actually awake.'

'It's important.'

They had reached the top of the steps now, Tell gave them a meaningful look and they fell silent. He led them into the entrance hall, a vast open room with a spectacular golden fountain in the centre. They were early, two older men sat along one of the many wooden benches that lined the wall, deep in conversation. A receptionist at a white marble desk was sucking the end of her pen, twirling a strand of shocking red hair around one finger. Tell approached her, Renoir and Salem in tow.

'General Tell,' she beamed looking up. She had a high pitched nasally voice.

'Mrs. Jones,' he smiled, ever the gentlemen, 'please let them know we've arrived. We'll be in my office.'

'Not a problem General, and call me Veronica' she simpered.

'Veronica,' he repeated, and she blushed scarlet, 'could you do me a favour?'

'Depends,' she said, raising her heavily pencilled eyebrows.

'Would you let me know if you see Lieutenant Pardasa? I think he's been delayed.'

She looked a little disappointed, 'Of course General Tell.'

'Much appreciated Veronica.'

'I think your receptionist is in heat,' said Salem helpfully as soon as they were out of earshot.

'Jones is always in heat' said Tell, smiling.

'Where's your second?' asked Renoir.

'Lieutenant Pardasa? I don't even want to think about it. He's hopeless, the son of one of the elite so you know the story. Incompetence seems to run in the family.'

Tell's office was on the second floor, spartanly furnished with a huge glass window that gave a spectacular view of the open training grounds and the fields beyond.

'Have a seat,' said Tell as he closed the door behind him.

The two men took a seat on the wooden bench and looked at him expectantly.

'Well?' prompted Salem.

'Well what?'

'Enough pausing for dramatic effect, what did you hear?'

Tell frowned slightly.

'It's odd really. I was talking to the soldiers on patrol for the morning shift, and it appears that group of around a hundred men arrived during the night.'

'That's not weird, there's been colonies arriving every day for weeks now.'

'No not a colony, they were military. From what the men said it sounded like an escort.'

'Escort for who?'

'That's where it gets interesting. It seems as though representatives from Orion, Salvador, and Romulus arrived a few hours ago.'

'What the other colonies?' Renoir exclaimed, sitting up straighter.

'How can you be sure,' asked Salem, frowning too.

'The banners,' said Tell simply,' They carried their colonies colours.'

'What could this mean? I mean them being here.'

'I've been thinking about that. I can't be sure but what ever it is I don't think it's a good sign.'

'Why? We're all on the same side aren't we?'

Tell smiled again, bitterly.

'Technically yes, but unfortunately the reality is quiet different. Traditionally there has been a lot of enmity among the colonies.'

'Politics?' asked Salem.

Renoir yawned loudly, then looked embarrassed. 'Sorry, natural reaction.'

'Understandable,' said Tell, 'yes mostly. I mean we tend to agree on most things. One ruler…'

Salem hissed angrily.

'You know in ancient Rome they used to suspend democracy in times of war, and give power to one man. It's impossible to be democratic in times like this, you need snap decisions, and we don't have the luxury of being able to go around holding referendums,' said Tell.

'Incase you haven't noticed that didn't work out too well for the Romans. They're all dead.'

'What kind of an argument is that? They'd be like a thousand years old. Of course they're dead.'

'Not the point.'

'It is the point, it's exactly the point.'

Renoir yawned again louder and Salem laughed. 'So anyway, the enmity?'

'Strong word, enmity. It's more the little things; each colony likes to believe that theirs is superior, things like that.

'Petty.'

'Quiet, hence the gold statues the ornate buildings. Pointless, it's all so shallow but the need for superiority is a part of human nature.'

'But yet they're here all of a sudden and unarmed?'

'Yes, and I can't seem to figure out why. For them to risk making this journey it must be important. As far as I can tell, they're here for the council meeting.'

'But why? Has this happened before?'

'No. Like I said there have always been tense relations between us.'

'So?'

'So this is bad Salem. Something big is happening.'

They sat in silence for a moment. Salem mulled this over in his head with difficulty as he still felt hazy from lack of sleep. What could be important enough for them to risk a journey in the open, especially at night. It didn't make sense. Something was bothering him about the story but he couldn't figure out what it was. A buzz interrupted his thoughts.

'General Tell?' Veronica Jones voice sounded even more nasally through the intercom.

'Veronica?'

'I found your Lieutenant.'

'Oh?'

'Yes… He's being sick in the fountain.'

'Lovely.'

*************************************************

The Council hall was the biggest room Salem had ever seen in his life, a vast open space with a high domed roof, and staggered seating leading down to a platform in the middle. It reminded him of pictures he'd seen of old college lecture halls. He and Renoir were given the seats next to Tell in the front row. It was the first time Salem had seen Tell look anything other then calm and reserved. A pale-faced Lieutenant Pardasa was seated on Tells other side, reeling back and forth, and suffering from what he had proudly described as 'the mother of all hangovers.'

'In fact,' he had told them gleefully as Tell had pulled him roughly into a standing position, 'I think I'm actually still drunk!' As though to prove his point, he turned and was sick all over Ms Jones' patent red heels. Tell seemed to be less then amused. He was now looking anywhere other then at the drunken soldier.

The hall was filling fast, and it seemed that Tell had been right about the representatives attending the meeting.

'That man with the beard,' he said leaning in to Salem, 'Is Pablo Dali, the leader of Salvador. He was a great general in his day, and that to his left is Santi Burlesco of Romulus, they're a more peaceful race.'

'Who's that?' asked Salem gesturing to a third man, tall and thin with dark almost black eyes that darted suspiciously around the room.

'That is Lewis Farrow, from Orion. I know very little about him to be honest.'

'He doesn't look happy.'

'No. In fact none of them do.'

'Who's that?' Salem gestured to the men who had taken a seat a little way down from them. The younger of the two had an arrogant air and Salem felt a great wave of dislike that he couldn't explain.

'Stallone Cramer. He's the leader of the Gallians. And that older man to his left is Cassius Cramer. He's Stallone's father and was a great ruler in his day. Sadly I can't say the same for the son. Power hungry and in my opinion corrupt.'

Salem scanned the room again. Everyone looked nervous and uncertain.

'Tell something's bothering me about the arrival of the other colony's leader's arriving, it's…'

But Tell shushed him impatiently. Everyone was seated at this stage, and silence was beginning to fill the hall.

'Your attention please,' drawled Stallone lazily, 'We have been called here to form a plan of action to deal with the present situation.'

A ripple of unease and apprehension flickered through the watching crowd.

'My esteemed councillor Santi Burlesco,' continued Stallone, 'if you would like to begin.'

The Romulus ruler, Santi Burlesco was getting to his feet. He nodded his thanks to Stallone, who waved a hand lazily. All eyes flicked to him.

'Ladies and gentlemen, Residents and Guests,' he began, 'I have good news. It seems that an end to all this unpleasantness is in sight.'

'What?' hissed Salem stunned. Tell shook his head, bemused. Muttering broke out within the hall as people voiced their disbelief, and exchanged apprehensive glances. Burlesco held up a hand for silence and the noise immediately subsided.

'We have reached an agreement with our enemy, it appears that peace is mere days away.'

'Hold on a minute,' said a man in soldier's uniform in the Salvador party, 'your trying to tell us you've reached an agreement with the demons? Are you crazy?'

There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd. Burlesco seemed unfazed.

'We have been offered a compromise.'

'Burlesco you can't compromise with demons,' Dali was on his feat. 'No one controls them. What you're saying is madness. They are driven by bloodlust and violence, there is no reason there.'

'On the contrary, Counsellor,' said Burlesco, 'They seem just as eager as we are to find peace.'

'Funny way of showing it, you know with the whole constantly trying to kill us thing,' said Renoir. Salem nodded appreciatively.

'Order please,' drawled Stallone, 'At least hear the man out.'

'Thank you,' said Burlesco, 'The demon's are willing to cease hostilities if we agree to submit to their rule.'

The impact of this simple statement was extreme. Renoir was on his feet yelling, the soldier from Salvador was screaming abuse at Burlesco, Dali's was back on his feet, looking furious, 'I'll say it one more time Burlesco this is madness.'

Burlesco looked around for support. Stallone was on his feet 'Dali sit down and restrain your soldiers, the fact is we are running out of options.'

'We only ever had one option and that was to fight,' snapped Tell.

'Be quiet General or I will have you removed.'

'By who?' asked Salem, 'His own men?'

'General Xavrios this does not concern you sit down it is a matter for the counsellors to discus.'

'Like hell it doesn't concern us,' yelled a soldier in the Orion party, 'What happened to democracy.'

'You are soldiers!' bellowed Burlesco, emboldened by the support, 'Your job is to fight not to think.'

'I am both a counsellor and a soldier and I say this is ludicrous,' said Dali, glaring at the other two.

'Yes yes we're all aware of that Dali. Fallow…' said Burlesco turning to the Orion party and trying to be reasonable, 'you have yet to voice your opinion.'

The Orion leader looked up, face sombre, 'It is clear to me that we have no choice in the matter.'

'Exactly,' said Burlesco looking at Dali, 'no choice no other option but to accept the offer. So majority rule.'

'No,' said the Orion looking hard at Stallone, hatred burning in his eyes 'the choice, it seems is not ours to make.'

'Who's side are you on?' snapped Dali, 'Of course we have a choice, surrender or fight.'

'No…' said Tell, and Salem noticed he was suddenly mush paler, 'He's right. No choice.'

'Tell…' pleaded Salem in disbelief. The visiting soldiers stared at Tell as though he had betrayed them.

Tell closed his eyes, 'Burlesco, you travelled here last night? With an escort of twenty.'

'What? I… yes.'

'Doesn't that seem odd to anyone?' said Tell. His eyes met Fallow's and an understanding passed between them.

'It's to big a risk. I knew something was wrong. A journey of more then twenty miles in the dead of night when the demons are most active is nothing short of insanity. Unless…'

'Unless he knew they weren't going to be attacked!' Salem leapt to his feet. 'You've signed it haven't you? No debate, nothing you just signed away our freedom.'

'What choice did I have?' snapped Burlesco, 'You soldiers would have us all perish, all the women and children just so you could chase glory!'

The Romulus general, a stocky man with a thick moustache was glaring at his leader in disbelief.

'It matters not what you sign' he said in broken English 'we resist.'

'Then you are no longer welcome in Romulus. Or Gallia for that matter. The decision is made' said Burlesco.

'You gotta be kidding me' said a younger soldier who was glaring at Burlesco.

'One of the clauses of the agreement, and a regrettable one of course, was that all who resist will be killed, all who aid resisters will be killed,' said Stallone.

'A sure sign of a race that wants nothing more then peace,' said Tell bitterly, glaring at Stallone.

'I said it was regrettable.'

'So what you're saying basically is we surrender to the demon rule, or they kill us and you'll do nothing to stop this, if fact you agreed to it?' asked an Orion soldier.

'You are twisting my words, you're making it seem worse then it is' snapped Burlesco.

Pablo Dali had his head in his hands. Farrow from Orion stood, and all eyes flicked to him. 'Burlesco you are a coward,' he began and there was a smattering of applause from the spectating soldiers. Farrow ignored this and continued. 'But Stallone you are worse. Burlesco agreed to this out of fear in his heart, but you because it was simply easier. You will regret this, I assure you, you will regret the day you made a deal with the devil. That said,' he continued over renewed applause 'It is clear to me that Dali and I have no other choice but to agree…' The soldiers hissed in disappointment.

'But' said Farrow and the noise died down, 'every man woman and child has a right to choose. Dali we can not make this decision for our people, we simply do not have the right. The choice is clear, we stay under demon rule or we leave.'

'What do you mean leave?' Stallone retorted angrily.

'I mean leave, leave the compounds, leave this behind.'

'You will be alone Fallow, you fool. You will have nothing,' said Burlesco glaring at him steadily.

'I have me freedom Burlesco, I have my dignity my self respect and I have hope, which is far more then I can now say for any of you.'

'Soldiers,' he said, turning to his assembled guard, 'I leave at dawn, and would welcome your support though I do not command it. It is a choice you must make yourself.' Then he turned back to Stallone and Burlesco, 'You are lambs leading lions, do not forget that.' With that he stood, and left the Council Hall. In one movement, his soldiers stood and followed.

'Well good riddance to them,' began Burlesco, but even as he spoke, Dali was standing, his men following suit.

'Dali don't be a fool.'

But it was too late, they were already through the door.

'No matter no matter!' said Stallone.

Tell and Salem exchanged a look. Salem nodded once, and Tell stood to leave.

'General Tell I order you to sit down!' screeched Stallone, 'I will have your rank removed. Sit! My men will have you arrested, you and your friend. Pardasa can be general. These are my men.'

But Tell didn't look back, he stood, as straight backed and elegant as when Renoir had first seen them all those weeks ago.

'These men belong to no one Stallone. You do not know them as I do. They will not bow to you, they will not bow to demons. They do not fear you, they do not fear death, they fear only surrender, they will never give up.'

With that, every single soldier left sitting rose. The Gallians falling behind Tell, Burlesco's men abandoning him, and joining the others.

'We leave at dawn,' repeated Tell echoing Farrow.