He pulled up before a small replica of the palace.
"The dome engineer built it for your wives, Sire."
"Our wives?"
"Twenty of them volunteered to share the rigors of the campaign. Their special transport arrived just before us."
"Humph!" grunted Vyrtl, riding past.
arly the next morning, after the engineers had arranged a dawn for his benefit, Vyrtl called a council of his commanders. Chief-of-Staff Robert Tzyfol reported on the situation.
The rebellious Jursans were sending a representative to ask for terms. In the Marshal's strongly expressed opinion, no leniency was necessary. The imperial fleets were slowly but surely stamping out all resistance, making Jursa unlivable.
"Abject submission is their only course," he declared.