With the last word, only the sound from the city permeated the room, with none of them daring to speak. Castellian pushed Xaleyp away and took a step back, rubbing his hands across his face and trying to restrain himself from saying anything he shouldn’t. He slowly spun in a circle, looking up at the ceiling, before finally turning to look back at the group, casting his eyes over each in turn. A sort of manic expression was on his face and his gaze stopped on and held Xaleyp’s own.

“Now, only one question remains: What to do with you lot?” His voice was serious and gravelly, and his eyes appeared to have sunken in slightly in the few moments he was turned away. “The Galactic Council was rendered ineffective centuries ago by Hyperia, so it’s useless to try to hold you on trial there. Therefore, it is only right for me to decide on what punishment will make Arcadia whole again—at least, as whole as possible.”

He took a deep breath and tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling then spun around to face the bay of windows. The Prime Minister and Secretaries simply stayed motionless either standing or sitting, waiting for the Imperator to speak again. None of the Siatians dared to speak or even waver in their stances, each of them keeping their hands out in front of themselves. After several seconds, he turned around and faced the group once more.

“Of course, with no court for you to be tried under, it would stand to reason that there would be none for me to stand trial for what might happen to you, or what might happen to your planets. Stariek was saved from Arcadian destruction when they took it from the Hyperion tyrants, but maybe now it won’t be so lucky.” Castellian walked over to Xaleyp and stared at him unblinkingly, waiting for the younger man to take the bait “Maybe now it will be an example to the rest of the galaxy of why the Praes Dominion is not to be underestimated. Siatia, on the other hand, can be the testing site of a new weapon we’ve been working on. Normally, I would never consider such an action, but the events that have transpired here have forced my hand.”

Castellian enunciated the last three words as he stood there, his voice and body quavering somewhat. Xaleyp’s heart beat faster and faster in his chest, threatening to expel itself from his body.

“Tober Delargivic ran the Praes Dominion under the idea that everyone should be treated equally under the law, that we must always do what is right. Perhaps what is right now is to do what I must to dispose of these invaders and retaliate to the fullest extent possible.”

The Prime Minister, silent and motionless for so long, finally stepped forward, placing a hand against Castellian’s chest and gently coaxing him back.

“Sir, the Galactic Council ruled over five hundred years ago that prisoners of war must be given due process under the law. That prevents us from causing the death or endangerment of them. Anything other than humane treatment is considered a war crime.”

Castellian slowly looked down at the hand against his chest before bringing his gaze back up to meet the Prime Minister’s. With an almost careless flick of his wrist, he removed the man’s hand, sending it back to his side.

“And how would I be punished for such a war crime, as you put it, Prime Minster?” Castellian looked around at the other Secretaries as if daring them to challenge him. “There is no longer a Galactic Council, therefore, there is no longer a way for me to be tried for my so-called ‘crimes.’ Or have you been so engrossed in your law tomes that you overlooked that detail?”

“Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.” Even though his voice was quiet, it held an enmity that caused each of the Secretaries to shrink away. “How are we supposed to prove ourselves better than them, prove to the galaxy that we are the ones on the right side of history, if we are so quick to throw away any sense of mercy and humanity?”

Castellian leaned in close to the Prime Minister, breathing into his face the same he did to Xaleyp.

“They lost all their humanity when they killed so many innocent civilians.” He leaned away and stepped back to the center of the room, looking at each of the Siatians in turn with his voice filling the room. “Their actions deserve no mercy on this day that will never be forgotten.”

“I agree with Imperator Nevermoor,” another voice chimed in from the table. The Minister of Defense, a somewhat round man with balding hair and thick beard, stood up and took a step towards Castellian. “It is our job to protect the rights of our people, not to appeal to some ancient and extinct body that served no purpose other than to act holier-than-thou. We must do whatever is necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of our citizens, regardless of how humane it seems.”

“I think what we must do now,” the Prime Minister said, turning to face his fellow Arcadians, “is retreat to another room and discuss this in private, where we may determine what is best to protect our people.”

“There is no need for discussion.” Castellian scoffed and returned to his chair, nearly throwing himself into it and letting it spin for a moment before stopping it with his foot. “As Imperator, I have the right to do whatever I feel is necessary to protect the interests of our empire. That includes the removal of any officials who may pose a threat to the Praes Dominion.”

“I am the lawfully elected Prime Minister of Arcadia,” he said, his voice squeaking as sweat ran down his cheeks. His eyes darted around the assembled Arcadians’ faces, searching desparately for someone to back him up. “If you remove me from my office, there will be public backlash the likes of which you have never seen. It will only make things worse, not better.”

“There’s already a state of emergency in place.” Castellian waved the comment away with his hand as if it were a disturbing gnat. “The people will accept any reason I give them for your removal, especially when I tell them you conspired with those that have killed so many. However, I will give you one last chance to stand beside me before I have you removed from this building.”

He glanced towards the window with the final word, and the Prime Minister’s face went white with the thinly veiled threat. Xaleyp glanced towards Beta out of the corner of his eye and found she was already looking at him. Barely moving her lips again, she mouthed the word ‘Two.’

“Actually, sir,” a new, fourth voice said. “While I agree that these interlopers, as well as the traitor who joined them, must be punished along with the Siatian Federation as a whole, I do not believe this is the best method to go about it.”

Everyone, including the Siatians, turned to look at the new speaker, the Secretary of War. He was a younger man with a muscled body and squared off head. For the better part of a minute, a stunned silence filled the room. Castellian, as if predestined to do so, broke it with a quiet, accusatory voice.

“Titus? After the spiel you gave me about destroying Siatia and putting them in their place, you are siding with the likes of traitors?”

“Quite the contrary, actually, sir.” The minister shook his head put remained in his seat, leaning back and folding his hands in his lap. “I will welcome the day I can finally lead an assault on Siatia and put them in their place, but there is a time and place for everything. Killing these soldiers without allowing them to stand trial will spark outrage. It is far better to jail them and punish them to the fullest extent of the law—however outdated that law may be—and do things the right way.”

Castellian seemed to consider the words, rubbing his chin with one hand as the other rhythmically tapped the desk. He looked around at each of the Arcadian soldiers that stood guard in the room, his gaze lingering on each for a moment.

“Is there anyone else who feels that these assailants and traitors should stand trial?”

The majority of the soldiers, including General Grimaldus, nodded their agreement with the Prime Minister and Secretary of War. Only two of them were willing to abandon their fellows and side with their Imperator, tightening their grip on their rifles. The Prime Minister, emboldened by the support he was shown, stepped forward, placing one hand on the table and the other gently gripping Castellian’s shoulder.

“You can usher in a new age in the galaxy, Imperator. Start a new galactic council, and get the support of the galaxy to overthrow the Siatian warmongers.”

There was a gleam of hope in Castellian’s eyes, and he nodded along with the Prime Minister’s words. Xaleyp felt a lifting feeling of butterflies in his stomach as it seemed they would be spared, even if it were only temporary. Then, the look on his face went almost catatonic and a large, creepy smile broke out over his lips.

“Why would I do that when I can do this?”

He pulled the pistol from the holster at his side and stood, squeezing the trigger three times in succession. Echoing reports filled the room, nearly deafening everyone inside. Each of the bullets lanced through the Prime Minister, causing his body to jerk with every shot. Almost in slow motion, his body crumbled to the ground, unmoving and unblinking.