Caraway looked out at the crowd of citizens gathered outside the window. It had only been a few weeks since a similar crowd had gathered in front of the Presidential residence to celebrate the introduction of Sorceress Edea. With the death of President Deling and the attempt to assassinate the Sorceress, the event had degenerated into a riot, which had in turn stimulated a small military crackdown. It had hardly been Galbadia's finest hour.

This gathering promised to be even less friendly.

How long have they been out there? he asked, turning away from the window.

Naraka replied, smoothly helping himself to the wine cabinet. The fools seem to believe that they can reverse time and undo the burning of Timber simply by displaying a few badly written signs.

Caraway took another look out the window. The crowd was chanting something, but thankfully he could not hear what. I'm beginning to wonder if this was a wise choice, Jeric.

He heard Naraka set down his wine glass. You made a difficult decision, Phillip. But it was the best thing for Galbadia.

Was it? Caraway wondered. We punished an entire city for the actions of a single, small resistance group. And destroyed any progress that has been made over the last eighteen years as far as integrating Timber into the Republic.

What progress? Naraka challenged. Timber has always been a hotbed of resistance against us. You need not look any farther than the attempted kidnapping of President Deling a month ago. The people sympathized with the resistance, the governor ignored it...and Galbadian citizens were killed by it. We taught them that such dissidence will not be tolerated.

Both Dollet and Balamb have issued statements condemning our actions, Caraway reminded him. We have made even more enemies than we had before.

And what are they going to do? Naraka retorted, without missing a beat. They protest because they do not dare challenge us. Our military is the strongest in the world, and we have proven that we have no compunction against using that might against any enemy, whoever they may be.

Whoever they may be, Caraway repeated, gazing out the back out the window. WILL YOU BURN OUR HOMES NEXT? one sign demanded.

Naraka strode over to the window, motioning at the protesters below. How many people do you see there? Five hundred? A thousand? What do you think the other two million residents are doing? Most of them believe that it is well past time that Timber learned that its resistance will not be tolerated. Remember, sir, that the most outspoken among the populace are rarely the majority.

And that allows us to ignore them?

The populace will never truly understand that the end justifies the means, Naraka insisted. You cannot let their ignorance undermine our efforts.

The realities of warfare, Caraway sighed. He had been a soldier long enough to see the truth the general's words. Galbadia's independence from the collapsing Dollet Empire had been achieved through means which thankfully escaped the history books, and securing its dominance in the continent had been accomplished by several bloody wars and the destruction of countless minor nations. While the technique was hardly one to be proud of, it had kept the nation secure for nearly a century.

But, that same ideal had cost him his daughter.

Naraka smiled. Phillip, my friend, you have been cursed with a morality that can prove deadly in the world of warfare. Fortunately, you have always been able to overcome your doubts and do what needs to be done.

But we're not at war.

You may be an accomplished soldier, my friend, but you are new to the world of politics. Soon you will realize that we are indeed at war, every minute of every day. But in this conflict, the worst weapon we can use is conventional' warfare.

Caraway shook his head. I'm not sure I understand.

The threat of force is infinitely more powerful than force itself, Naraka continued. And we must continue to demonstrate our resolve, or we will lose that strength. Burning Timber was a necessity for the future of Galbadia. He paused, looking out at the crowd. And furthermore, it is done. Any action you take now will only weaken our resolve, and Timber will still have been burned.

Reluctantly, Caraway nodded. We cannot turn back now.

Nor should we. Everything we have done was in the best interests of Galbadia.

Caraway said nothing, but one more thought plagued his mind. And how many more families will I have to destroy before Galbadia is safe?