millions of civilians under Cylon control and several large cities."
"Likewise," the emperor quickly followed, "nearly a fifth of Tiberia is occupied, including our second-most populous city, Cales. We cannot allow that land to remain yours."
As Edair grunted and flexed its small limbs, Kweito said, "There are four other nations in Isinnia alone that have lost major ground to you. In Eridia, you control all of Ticul and much of Llano. And you have three separate fronts in Badaria."
Blue moved frantically left to right before Bevonal finally spoke. "We have grown dependent on that land and the resources there."
Another Cylon continued, "We are dependent on the labor there for the harvesting of those resources."
Caesar and the humans glared at the Council. "What you are describing," Maxentius said, "is slavery." The machines did not react. "Do you not see the inherent irony? You were, yourselves, slaves to Tiberia."
"Correct." Edair seemed proud of this fact and it added, "We are now more powerful than any of you."
The chief delegate said, "The Pact of Nations cannot allow the occupation of these territories nor can we abide the maintaining of … millions of slaves."
Bevonal rose up and presented its chest. "Those are our terms."
The emperor remained still within his cart while Rodimus and Kweito leaned close to each other and whispered. The Cylons were able to hear them.
"There's no way."
"No. Maybe we can negotiate for a few of them to be returned."
"Tiberia, of course. Caesar will insist."
"Attica, too. We've had bad reports out of Helicon."
Caesar shook his head. "This is pointless. You can't bargain with them. They want all or nothing." He turned toward the Council and said, "Can you envision any scenario wherein you would abandon a few of your occupied territories in exchange for us meeting your other terms?"
Edair simply said, "No."
"You want all or nothing, correct?" The emperor motioned toward them grandly.
"Correct."
The Caesar looked toward his companions and sighed. "I am very sorry, chief delegate and prime minister. I really am." He straightened in his chariot and flicked his cape aside. The Cylons saw the connections between the emperor's robotic body and his large cube-shaped processing unit. "I had hoped some level of bargaining could occur, but … Zeus was right. This was doomed to fail."
Confused, both Rodimus and Kweito stood up and looked at the Cylons. Kweito spoke, "Forgive us, councilors. We are not certain …"
"Please, do not interrupt," Caesar said. "This is over."
Blue tilted its head and asked, "What is over?"
"The negotiations." Caesar inhaled sharply and added, "This war."
The Cylons looked at each other and then at their visitors. Bevonal glared at Caesar and his chariot. His cube inside. Something new appeared. A light emerged from the cube. Bevonal turned its head, trying to identify the energy, but it couldn't.
Then the box exploded.
Bevonal awoke in its small facility in southern Gela. It emerged from the wire cocoon and moved away from the shelter. It looked across the fields and north toward the mountains. It heard nothing and could see only distant clouds. Then, a low rumble filled its sensors.
No other member of the Council followed Bevonal's advice when the war began. It was logical, it said, to create an auxiliary body into which one's data could be transferred in case of attack. So the Cylon councilor stood alone. It realized that it was now the leader.
The Cylon crushed a stone underneath its foot. It clenched its fists until the metal creaked. Something burned inside of it. It burned cold. Everything seemed to slow down and all of its senses were tinged with frost. Anger. Bevonal was angry beyond its comprehension.
"The humans come to our home and try to destroy it?" Its bellowing echoed in the small valley. "We will destroy them!" We will determine what weapon that was and make our own.
For a microsecond, it recalled the warning about retaliation from the projection of Cronus some time ago. Just as quickly, the angry Cylon pushed that memory away.
CI
PSILONS
5 Weeks Before the End
"Lemuria, status," Bia asked.
The computer instantly replied, "Assembly stage three completed. FTL components installed. Hull ready for orbital transport and final assembly."
Polemos nodded and exhaled loudly. "Almost done."
"When did Mica say we can launch?"
Her brother closed his eyes and tried to remember the conversation. "Three days."
Bia tapped the side of the computer's panel. "How long to assemble her in orbit?"
Polemos grinned at the pronoun usage and said, "About three weeks." He straightened up and groaned when his back cracked. "There's nothing more we can do today. The last of the cable won't be here until tomorrow."
She touched an induction panel and said, "Lemuria, shut down."
"Complying." The screens then went dark.
She got up from the command seat, still wrapped in protective plastic, and motioned away from the Gusu Shipyards. "Let's eat." As they walked, they moved past hangars and studied the curves of their vessel as it was showered with sparks. Bia's pace occasionally slowed and she stared up at the pieces.
"You can't wait to be captain, can you?"
Bia pushed Polemos away and said, "Of course not. It's exciting." They got into their car and drove off the base.
A short while later, they stopped at a café on the outskirts of the city. Bia sipped her soup slowly and Polemos ate a roll of rice and fish. He shook his head and asked, "If you're hungry, why did you get soup?" When she looked up at him, he added, "That's not very filling."
"It's what I wanted." Her eyes darted out to the parking lot where a large group of people began to gather. More appeared from the south, walking along the highway. She spoke again without looking away, "I'll get more when I'm done."
Now her brother was looking outside, too. After a moment, he said, "Refugees."
"From Erlitoun?"
Polemos nodded. The people outside seemed dirty and tired. Several parents held their young children and they cried out loud. The siblings looked down at the table and at their unfinished meals. Guilt must have overtaken them simultaneously because neither of them ate another bite.
After a few quiet moments, Polemos asked, "Did Ares talk to you yet?"
Bia seemed to sink a little in her seat. "Yes."
Polemos shook his head and said, "I don't know what possessed Zeus to make atomics of his own."
"He told me we might need them as bargaining chips." Her brother scoffed and she continued, "Ares, though, said he believed the Cylons' fighters are able to go suborbital. With enough power, they could even attack the spacestations or any orbiting ship."
"That makes more sense."
"Still," she glanced outside again, "I don't like having all of those weapons. Atomics, Hydra missiles, …"
"The war isn't over yet," Polemos said as he laid a few Huban bills out on the table. "Who knows what kind of trouble we could have when we launch."
"True." Bia gathered her jacket and satchel and got up to leave. As she did, a few of the Erlitou refugees came inside and began speaking with the cashier in their native language. The Olympians slowly exited the restaurant and one of the refugees watched as they walked past.
They walked to their rented car and Polemos took the keys from his pocket. The refugee from inside, a man of about fifty, ran out and stopped by them. He spoke quickly and loudly.
Polemos shook his head, "I'm sorry. I don't speak Fengi."
The man looked down and thought. Polemos began to get inside the car when he looked up again and then yelled, "Zeus! Caesar give money! Cylon give money!"
Bia quickly hopped inside and watched as Polemos tried to do the same. The man grabbed at the door and her brother said, "No. Not
Zeus. Go away." The man turned toward the throng of people and began yelling in his language. "Oh, frak."
"Let's go. Fast."
Polemos slammed the door and started the car. Almost immediately, half a dozen men ran up to it and began banging on the sides. He reversed and hit one of the men. "Shit." The man outside did not fall but he banged on the car even harder. Bia looked around as best as she could and saw even more people approaching.
"We have to go."
"I don't want to hit them!"
Bia grabbed the wheel and turned it to the right. "You'll have to. Go!"
Polemos stepped on the accelerator and the car lurched forward and over a cement bumper. Another stomp on the pedal forced the car onto the café's sidewalk and it veered away from the building, nudging an outside table before knocking over a flower pot. The vehicle was clear of the restaurant and Polemos sped into a field. He drove into thick brown grass before turning to the road, where he saw dozens more refugees walking along the side.
"Shit." He didn't alter his course. The meandering people moved away and allowed the vehicle to get on the asphalt and speed north. Their assailants were yelling and chasing after them. Soon, many more in the crowd were incited and they began running north, too.
"We have to go back to the shipyard," Bia said. "It won't be safe in town."
"Lake Nemi Patarian Church of God," Prometheus read aloud. He smiled and turned toward the Psilons who came with him. "You know, it was a Patarian church in Kvenlan where I had my … conversion, I guess."
"Patarian?" Antaeus said. "Do you know all the tenets of their faith?"
Prometheus shook his head. "No. It's a church. That's all that's
Lords of Kobol - Prelude: Of Gods and Titans Page 81
