areas that we're supposed to be holding fast." He stared at the man, waiting for him to react. He didn't. "Is this not your role?"
"It is, praetor."
Cronus waited for elaboration. He raised his eyebrows and opened his arms. Still, the general said nothing. He inhaled deeply through his nose and asked, "Have you nothing further to offer me?"
"No, dominus."
Cronus nodded and sat behind his desk again. "You are relieved of duty. Return to Tiber."
The man blinked once, slowly, and then looked toward the legate. Her expression was unreadable.
"Is there a problem? Get out of my face."
The general stood and began to salute. He didn't, though, and left the office.
Cronus shook his head and stared at the door. "I have had nine generals fail me like him in the last six years. He is the second to … resent me so openly." He glanced toward Legate Fava Sergius and added, "Because I'm a Titan? A Psilon?"
The young senator and general tilted her head and said, "Entirely possible, praetor."
Cronus looked at her curling red hair and her angular face. She was still unreadable. "There's something else." She shifted. "Something you haven't said." Sergius didn't respond. Cronus sighed and tossed a pen to the tabletop. "Speak your mind."
The legate's shoulders lowered and she crossed her legs. "I've served with you for under a single year now." Cronus nodded. "In that time, you have ruled Alabor fairly and firmly."
"I have tried."
"Unfortunately," she interjected, "the Alabor you rule is not the entirety of the nation. A full two-thirds reside outside of your control."
"That would not be the case if my generals didn't constantly disobey me," his voice had risen to that of a yell and he quieted for the last portion, "and undermine me. Because of them, I have the reputation of a butcher."
Sergius nodded slowly. "That may be, but if I might, lord …" Cronus gestured toward her. "Your methods are not those of Tiberia. You wish to spare the lives of those who take arms against us. In the past, the armies are fought relentlessly until they surrender. The survivors are then welcomed into the family of the Empire."
Cronus looked at her and leaned his face into his hands. While maintaining eye contact, he spoke from between his fingers, "Go on."
"You are a Psilon, yes. But beyond that, you are not a Tiberian."
"The Caesar has granted me citizenship and named me praetor …"
"Yes," Sergius interrupted, "but you do not act like it." Cronus didn't stir and she sat forward, "You must do something to demonstrate your own resolve." He began to protest but the legate continued, "I know you've been here for six years, trying to get everything under control, but that's not the kind of resolve that a Tiberian officer respects."
Cronus leaned back and turned toward the map. Most of the desert was colored blue and a few cities in the south were blue, too. "You are the magister. You carry the Caesar's eagle and standard."
"Yes, lord."
"As praetor," he turned to face her again, "I am the emperor's hand and you follow my orders."
"I do."
He nodded and stood. "Come with me." The duo left the office and stopped by the desk of his assistant. "Please ask everyone with a rank of imperium within the building to join me on sublevel three."
"Yes, dominus." The man began to press buttons on his computer.
Cronus and the legate left the room and turned toward the elevator. Once the lift began to descend, it stopped on several floors, picking up a general here, a tribune there. Two subconsuls joined on one floor. All of them were polite. None asked why they were going where they were. When the elevator landed in sublevel three, the dignitaries emerged and turned left. Another lift opened up and disgorged its passengers into the throng.
Cronus walked to the guard behind glass. "Let me see the list of prisoners."
"Of course, praetor." The young man fumbled for a moment in surprise before sliding the papers under the window.
Cronus studied it for a few moments, removed a pen from his pocket and marked three names. "Bring these to interrogation room one."
"Yes, lord." The guard leapt up and left the room. Another guard opened the security door for the group.
Several people were chattering amongst themselves as they walked the stark hallways of the security wing. When they came to the interrogation room door, they walked inside quickly and filed along the back wall. The generals looked at the praetor, waiting for some sort of word. Cronus said nothing.
It has to be done, he thought. Six years is too long.
A few moments later, guards entered the room with the prisoners Cronus requested. Three Alabor army leaders. A general, a major and a captain. The guards forced the trio to kneel before the praetor and then they stepped back to stand against the wall.
Cronus breathed slowly, controlling his emotions. He looked across their faces. The general and the captain seemed as stone. The major was nervous and scanning the room.
"What remains of the Alabor army is now part of the rebel movement," Cronus said. "You were all captured attempting to resupply and transport these fighters." The three officers made no sound. The Psilon knelt and said, "Tell me where the rebels are based. Tell me how you get supplies. Tell me what remains of your forces."
The general and captain said nothing. The major turned his head and looked at his comrades. Then he went still.
Cronus stood and approached one of the guards. "Sidearm."
He complied and handed the weapon over.
The general smirked and said, "You cannot threaten me."
Cronus looked at the weapon in his hands. He flipped a small lever up and said, "I know." He took a deep breath. Then he quickly aimed and fired the gun, the bullet striking the general in his heart. As the spent cartridge dinged against the floor, he fell over, bleeding. The major screamed but the captain continued to look straight ahead. "Captain?" She shook her head. Cronus nodded and fired again. She toppled over, too.
The major screamed. "Frak!"
Cronus knelt before him and rested the barrel of the weapon on his knee. "Where are the rebels based?"
The major's breathing was deep and erratic. His eyes went all around the room and then he lowered his head. "In the mountains just west of Auju and in two oases. Taba and Negev."
The Titan looked behind him to see several in the audience writing the information down or tapping on their wristbands. "How do you get resupplied?"
Without looking up, the major said, "Tunnels that lead into the border town, Baija. The tunnels go into Arkaim."
Cronus nodded. "What remains of your forces?"
The major tilted his head and shrugged. "Before we were captured, we had three armored columns hidden near Taba. Two battalions there. Three battalions in the hills outside Auju. Three battalions in Negev with a small squad of attack gyros."
"And that's it?"
The major somehow sunk lower and nodded. "Yes."
Cronus stood and straightened his uniform. With a flick of his right arm, he fired the gun, striking the major in the top of his head. As the man listed, the praetor handed the weapon to the guard and turned to face the group.
"There you have it. Unleash the full might of the Caesar's forces upon them."
"Yes, lord."
"Absolutely, dominus."
"Yes, praetor."
Cronus looked toward Legate Sergius and she gave a small, approving nod.
The crowd began to filter out of the room. A couple of tribunes and generals lingered to shake the praetor's hand, but it was a subconsul staring into his wristband and leaning against the wall that drew Cronus' eye.
The Psilon walked toward him, catching the shorter man somewhat unaware. "I'm sorry. You are?"
"Intelligence Subconsul Gnaeus, lord." He shook Cronus' hand and kept his wristband out of sight. "I am very pleased to see this side of you awaken." Cronus
didn't answer. Gnaeus smiled and said, "In fact, I have a small favor to ask."
"'A favor?' Those are often anything but."
The subconsul smiled and said, "Yes, but I believe this is an exception. Plus, I will immediately repay it once you agree."
Cronus inhaled deeply as guards entered the room to remove the bodies. The praetor put his hand on Gnaeus' shoulder and led him into the hallway. "What are you asking?"
He lifted his chin and adjusted his shirt slightly. Gnaeus looked down the hall and then up into Cronus' face. "I would like to be named quaestor of Alabor."
Cronus stood still and then smiled. "Quaestor?" When Gnaeus nodded, the Psilon laughed. "Of course, you want to … make yourself comfortable in the remaining years of your service to the Empire." Gnaeus bowed slightly and grinned. Cronus shook his head, "I know that kind of thing is as old as the Republic, but …"
"Before your decision is final, lord," Gnaeus said as he held up one finger, "allow me to present my side of the favor."
Cronus paused and then nodded.
"I am the intelligence subconsul …"
"And I managed to do your job in mere moments."
Gnaeus shrugged and said, "True, praetor, but I am new to Alabor. My previous posting was in Tiber where I remotely oversaw agents in western Isinnia."
Cronus' eyes narrowed. "You have my interest."
"I came across some information a while back. I shared it with Caesar himself." Gnaeus shook his head. "He did not want it shared with you. 'A distraction,' he said it would be."
Cronus looked at the floor and his mind raced. Without lifting his head, his eyes darted to the small man and that smile. "And you are certain this