Free A Town Called Dust: The Territory 1 by Justin Woolley Page B

frontal assault against the ghouls and we crush them. We show the people of the Central Territory that we are not afraid, that we will not give territory to the enemy. The people need something to inspire them, this can be it.”
    The ministers looked from the Administrator to each other and back again. It did not escape the Administrator’s attention that Colonel Hermannsburg did not look away.
    “Let us vote on this motion,” the Administrator said. “Shall we send the Diggers to a rousing victory over our enemy?”
    “Nay.” Colonel Hermannsburg spoke even before it was his turn to vote. “We cannot commit the entire force, Your Honor. It simply doesn’t make strategic sense. It is far too risky.”
    The Administrator eyed his military advisor. He had known Hermannsburg would be the one to stand in the way of the glory he deserved as leader. It was an antiquated old law that required the council’s unanimous consent to go to war anyway. He was the Administrator, he should be able to administrate.
    “Colonel Hermannsburg,” the Administrator said, “do you not wish glory for the Diggers? Do you not wish to be part of the history-making crusade that will crush a ghoul horde and be remembered as a great victory?”
    “I wish, Your Honor, to protect the people of the Central Territory, and we do that through strategic retreat and ensuring we fight the ghouls on our own terms. You would risk destruction of our already depleted forces. You understand what happens if we lose?”
    “We will not lose, Colonel Hermannsburg!” the Administrator shouted, bringing his round fist down heavily on the wooden table. Most of the ministers jerked back in startled alarm. Colonel Hermannsburg did not.
    “If an all-out offensive against the ghouls fails, you risk leaving the Territory undefended. The best-case scenario is that most of our force manages to retreat and we are forced to enact a fall-back plan anyway, except with a smaller force to retake the territory instead of the full one we could have deployed in the first place.”
    “Do you not have faith in your men, Colonel?” the Administrator asked. “Do you not believe them up to the task?”
    Colonel Hermannsburg’s eye twitched but he did not break his steely exterior. “It is not my men I have a lack of faith in.”
    The Administrator did not speak. He watched Colonel Hermannsburg turn to look at Knox Soilwork, glaring at the man as if challenging him to call him out on his obvious statement of disrespect, but he did not.
    “Your Honor,” Minister Bourke said hesitantly, as if he were trying to slice his voice gently into the tension across the table. “I’m afraid we must listen to the voice of the colonel. He is the expert in military matters, after all. A fall-back fence seems necessary, even if we lose ground.”
    “Very well,” the Administrator said, rapping his knuckles on the surface of the council table. “Colonel Hermannsburg, will you instruct the Digger hierarchy to start drawing up plans for a standard defense? I will meet with the High Priestess to seek the blessing of the Ancestors and we will reconvene tomorrow. You are all dismissed. This council meeting is adjourned.”
    The Administrator lifted the small gavel beside him and brought it down with a tap on its wooden base.
    “Your Honor,” Ocean Bourke said, “I wonder if we may discuss—”
    Knox Soilwork cut him off with a slowly raised hand. “The Administrator has dismissed you, the council is adjourned.” The viscous voice held a tone of implied finality and the ministers complied, rising from their uncomfortable chairs and leaving the room.
    The Administrator sighed as he remained seated, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.
    “I have given my life in service to the Territory,” he said, as much to the air around him as to his chief minister who stood nearby. “Since I was eight years old I’ve wanted nothing but the best for the people.”
    “Your commitment to