The Last Great Time War: part III

Rassilon's council, part VI

"What's the latest report," Rassilon asked.

"The Renegade has taken Yorligia, my Lord President," said Chancellor Paradon. "That's the thirteenth colony we've lost to him."

Rassilon cursed and pounded his fist on the table. "We knew that was a high-risk world, I ordered special reinforcements to be sent!"

"It appears he had inside help. There were too many traitors on that planet."

"One traitor is far too many," said Rassilon. "All suspected supporters of the Renegade are to be subjected to the mind probe. The guilty will be put to death."

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh," said a councilman.

Rassilon snapped his fingers, and two guards seized him.

"Wait, no, that's not what I meant! I only have Gallifrey's best interests in mind," the councilman said as he struggled against the guards dragging him away.

"We'll find the truth about that in a moment," said Rassilon.
He then pressed a glyph on the table to send the order to the colonies and the people of Gallifrey.

"What are we to do about the Renegade," said a councilwoman. "We can't continue losing colonies like this."

"Attack the histories of his supporters in every period of time," Rassilon replied. "Disperse the nebulae that formed their homeworlds. Use the Fists of Omega against each of their suns multiple times. The first when they first formed, then again once every billion years."

"It will be done," said the head of the War Council. "But all of those systems are well defended. We may lose quite a few troops before we can get through."

"So be it," said Rassilon.

"Not only that, there is a high risk of creating temporal impasses in the battle if we send a large force to lay siege to such a strong target. We need a strategy to undermine their defenses."

"The death the Renegade would greatly reduce their morale and boost that of our commanders and generals," said a councilman. "Our strategy would be improved if it can kill him."

"What about sending someone to assassinate the Renegade's past self at the Junction of Tartarus," said Darkel II, young, dark-skinned councilman.

"We can't," said the councilwoman who spoke earlier. "We have already interfered too much in that battle. If we do so again, the whole thing will be consigned to the meta-past, sunk beneath a time lock."

"Who's to say it hasn't already," said Paradon.

"The Renegade is to be captured alive if possible," said Rassilon, "and brought directly to me. He and I need to have a little discussion."

"Then I have another idea," said Darkel. "We should use a diversion. In order to defeat the Renegade, we must undermine everything he's worked to achieve. I propose that-"

"Hold on a minute," Rassilon said. The two guards who dragged off the councilman had returned.

"We bring the results of the mind probe, sir."

"And?"

"He does not support the Renegade, at least not knowingly, but he does question some of your decisions. He feels that you should be more merciful."

"Lord Rassilon is merciful," said Rassilon. "What he really wants is for me to go soft. Where is he now? Is he conscious?"

"Yes, Lord President. He's still strapped into the chair. What is to done with him?"

"Take him to the education room for an hour. After that, he may rejoin the High Council with a rank demotion."

The guards left.

Rassilon turned to Darkel.
"What was your plan?"

"As I was saying, we create a diversion. It will be much more difficult for the Renegade to fight us off on two fronts at once. Before we attack his bases of support, we invade Mutter's Spiral and destroy Earth."