by Daniel Gibbs
Calvin opened the door.
David walked in first. “Who is the commanding officer of this camp?” he shouted to the room at large.
Every Monrovian soldier in the building stopped what they were doing and looked toward him. A thin, pale man stepped forward, wearing the uniform of the Monrovian National Guard. “I am.”
David’s face was blood red as he stared at the camp commander. “There are thousands of innocent people dead in a ditch outside of this camp. How could you possibly justify doing that to unarmed civilians!”
“I was… following orders.”
“Just following orders…that phrase has been used to explain some of the worst atrocities ever committed by human beings! You wear the uniforms of soldiers, but the soldiers I know don’t murder innocents!” David shouted at the top of his lungs.
“It was voted on. It was the rule of the people. Who are we to say otherwise?”
“You say otherwise because it’s wrong! You call yourself a soldier; you make me sick. Real soldiers defend the weak, protect the innocent; they give their lives so that others might live!” David completely lost control and pulled his sidearm from its place in the holster on his right leg. Pressing it up against the forehead of the commander, he continued. “Give me one reason…one single, solitary reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now!”
“We would’ve all been killed if we didn’t obey. Anyone who resisted was put in prison along with their families!”
“So you had to protect your hides by massacring civilians? You make me sick. I’d gladly take a bullet than become you!”
Calvin reached forward and grabbed David’s arm. “You don’t want to do this, sir. You’re not thinking straight. Come on, put that gun down. This piece of trash will get his.”
David glanced at Calvin for a moment. “When? From whom? When we pull out, you really think there’ll be any accounting for what they’ve done?”
“God will judge him, Colonel Cohen,” Kaufman said, loud and clear in a harsh tone. “Not you or I. Put that gun down before I’m forced to stun you.”
“He shouldn’t be allowed to live after what he’s done. None of them should.”
“That isn’t up to us to decide.”
“Then who is it up to, Sister? God? Last time I checked, God doesn’t appear in a pillar of fire anymore. We’re the methods of implementing His laws.”
“Judge not that you may not be judged. However, you judge another, so shall you be judged,” Kaufman responded.
“That particular phrase isn’t in the Torah, Sister,” David spat back.
Kaufman appeared at David’s side and put her hand on his arm. “How about this… if you can stand here and tell me honestly that you’ve never harmed an innocent, that through inaction, or a mistake, or how did we use to refer to it, oh yes… the fog of war, never taken an action that led to the death of innocent lives, pull the trigger now with my blessing.”
David glanced at her and closed his eyes for a moment, considering what she said. God only knows how many innocents I’ve killed, directly or indirectly in the last eighteen years. Kaufman’s right; it’s not my place to take his life and shooting an unarmed man—no matter what he’s done—is murder. He allowed his hand to drop, and Calvin quickly took the sidearm. “I’m sorry,” he said, stumbling backward. “They can’t get away with it. There’s tens of thousands of people buried out there. They have to pay.” Tears rolled down his face.
“They’ll pay, Colonel,” Kaufman said with conviction. “Either in this life or afterward when God will judge them. Colonel Demood?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Please escort Colonel Cohen back to the shuttles. We won’t speak of this again.”
Calvin nodded and nudged David gently toward the door.
As David was walking out, Calvin turned around. “Listen up. Colonel Cohen’s not the kind of guy that can shoot a disarmed man in cold blood. Me, on the other hand, I’m a different type of guy. Any of you step out of line, try to resist, escape, or evade, and I promise you I’ll put you down like the rabid dogs you are. And I won’t lose a minute of sleep over it. Have a real nice day now.” He turned around and left, leaving Kaufman staring with her mouth open.
19
Hours later, after the sisters had finished evacuating the liberated camp, Sarno walked into her command tent. Sister Kaufman and some of the other nuns were present, along with General Monahan, David, Calvin, and Tural. The same paper map remained; Sarno preferred simple solutions over advanced technology whenever possible. They merely broke down less often. Fixing a fancy tactical display takes money we don’t have. If the map tears, I can print another, she thought.
“Sisters, gentlemen… thank you for coming. I know we’re all weary after today.”
Her statement was met by silence as everyone stared at her. “I felt this situation would be challenging when we took on the mission. I expected there to be losses, and I expected to find things that would cause the soul to wrench itself. What you found today is horrifying, and it’s horrifying that as enlightened as we humans claim to be, such a tragedy could occur. It is yet another example that without God, we have no such enlightenment.”
“Once you reduce someone to a sub-human level, it’s not wrong anymore,” Monahan added. “The Monrovian government is run by a butcher. It’s time we take it out.”
“The order is not here to affect regime change, General,” Sarno replied. How do I get him to accept we’re not going to take out the government?
“What’s the point of our involvement here, then?”
“The point is to evacuate all who wish to leave, General. You may assist with that or not.”
“If the objective is to save those who are being exterminated, the best way to do that is to attack the government directly,” Monahan insisted.
“General,” David cut in. “I think we all get your position. Heck, if I were running this op, I’d probably level Fitzroy’s house and call it a night. But I’m not, and neither are you. We agreed to play by Mother Superior’s rules.”
“Thank you, Colonel Cohen,” Sarno said. This youngster can learn… good. “We need to focus on the next camp. Sister Kaufman?”
Kaufman stepped forward and pointed to another camp outlined on the paper map. “This is the largest camp the Monrovians are running. It’s…”
“Not the Monrovians,” Monahan said, interrupting Kaufman. “Our corrupt government. Not all of us. Big difference.”
“Of course, General Monahan. This particular camp has at least five thousand detainees in it. While the Monrovian air force can’t compete on a plane-for-plane basis… they proved today they can put up some big numbers. My biggest concern is interdicting their air threat going forward.”
“Ideas?” Sarno asked the room at large.
Monahan cleared his throat. “I’ve got one.”
“As long as it doesn’t involve regime change, we’re all ears, General,” Sarno said archly.
“How about we hit a high-value target that’s in the middle of a major city? I know the National Guard’s rules of engagement. They won’t attempt air engagements over an urban center for fear of killing their civilians and undermining support for the war.”
David looked at Monahan as if he’d finally spoken something worth saying.
Sarno’s eyebrows shot up. That is quite an intriguing suggestion. “I take it you have such a target in mind?”
“That I do.” Monahan flashed a smug smile. “There’s a detention center I’m aware of situated inside of a federal police administrative building. Two days ago, it held the highest-level dissidents on the continent. If we succeed in busting them out, we send a direct message to the government that we can attack them anywhere, anytime, and succeed. We buoy the hope of our citizens and hopefully drive others to fight back. That will make our fight much easier.”
David nodded. “I see merit in this, Mother Superior.”
“As do I,” Kaufman said. “Do you
have any information as to the opposing force, General?”
“A few dozen guards, nothing we can’t handle. The bigger problem is that they have a rapid reaction force that includes a paramilitary SWAT team on standby. Once they’re aware of us… five minutes till those guys arrive.”
“We’d have to use stealth as much as possible,” David mused. “Hassan, think you could pull ECM pods off the fighters and outfit them to a few shuttles? We’d need to make like holes in the sky.”
“Absolutely, Colonel,” Amir said. “It’d be quite an effective tactic.”
Sarno put her hands on the map, seemingly lost in thought, before glancing up. “Sister Kaufman, handpick three platoons for the assault. Our best sisters, and every advanced weapon we have at our disposal. Have another three on standby for a QRF.” QRF was the acronym for “quick reaction force.”
“Yes, Mother Superior.”
David raised his hand and Sarno gestured in his direction. “Yes, Colonel?”
“Permission to join the op?”
“I’m in too,” Calvin boomed from his spot in the back.
“Sister Kaufman?” Sarno asked.
“I’d be happy to have both of our CDF friends join us, as long as they remember the rules of engagement.”
“Then it’s settled. We attack tomorrow at 0700 hours local time. Any questions?” No one raised their hands or spoke. “Good. You’re all dismissed.”
Sarno watched as everyone filed out, some like General Monahan with a renewed sense of vigor; some weary and in need of rest. David stayed behind and waited patiently for all to leave. Once the tent’s flap closed for the last time, leaving them alone, Sarno spoke. “What’s on your mind, child?”
“I didn’t want to say this in front of General Monahan for fear of emboldening him further… but he’s got a point. Monrovia’s government is evil. They ought to be held accountable.”
“And you want to be the one to do that?”
“Someone has to,” David insisted. “Why not us?”
“Do you see any judges in my order? Lawyers?”
“I can’t say that I do, ma’am.”
“Then how could we possibly dish out justice? Even if we did, where would we put them?”
David set his jaw. “I seem to remember that the punishment for aggravated murder is death.”
“Ah, so now you just want to establish their guilt and shoot them?”
“Why not?”
“Is that much different from what they’re doing? Rounding people up without criminal proceedings, throwing them into prisons or killing them?”
David’s face turned blood red. “They deserve what they get. Killing them would be justice.”
Sarno walked closer to David and faced him directly. “Careful. One person deciding who lives and who dies… who does that sound like, David?”
David glanced away, tears forming in his eyes. “The League.”
“Yes. It’s not our place as individuals to play God. In time, the government of this world will be brought to account. I’m certain of that. Throughout my life, I have believed that what is good, what is just, what is right eventually wins out in the end. This situation is no different. But I must caution you when we lose the battle within, when we surrender to hate and anger… that is when the enemy has truly won. Guard yourself, Colonel Cohen. Don’t fall into that trap.”
“Yes, Mother Superior.”
“If you would excuse me, it’s time for me to pray.”
“Of course, ma’am,” David said, a tight expression on his face as he inclined his head slightly and walked out of the tent. Sarno stood there mutely for some time, pondering the events of the last twenty-four hours. How easy it is to give in to the impulse to hate, to judge, and to exact revenge. We must continuously secure our hearts against going down that dark road. Otherwise, we’ll become just like them.
David wandered around aimlessly after the evening briefing, happy with the fact that they were all making a difference. But we were too late to save many of them. He ended up sitting on a step and staring at the sunset, a pure joy after a horrific day.
“Mind if I join you?”
David whipped his head around, startled. Angie stood on the step above him. “I suppose not,” he replied.
Angie sat down on the step next to him. “I always marvel at how sunsets look different depending on the planet you’re on. They’re especially pretty in a binary star system. I’ve only seen one of those, though.”
“Are we on the record or off?”
“Off, unless there’s something you’d like to say?”
David shook his head. “I don’t have anything fit to print.”
“I’m still in shock, to be honest,” Angie said.
“Why?” David asked, peering at her.
“I’ve seen some pretty horrible things out here. The aftermath of battles, dead soldiers, dead civilians. Collapsed buildings and dozens of rescue workers trying to save those that were trapped. That hole with the bodies… it’s the most horrible and gut-wrenching thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“You know what’s worse?” David asked before answering his question. “That the people who did it are going to get away with it. We can’t try them for their crimes, and the government of this planet probably celebrates them as heroes!”
“I don’t understand how another human being could do this. I guess I can get the idea some people are broken and have mental issues, but we’re talking about the majority of people on a planet going along with this and being okay with it.”
“Look back to Earth’s history. Throughout it, people have sprung up who convinced others of some group being sub-human, and then blamed all of society’s problems on them. That happened to my people in the Holocaust. Six million Jews were killed in camps, not unlike the one we hit today. Why? Because they were Jews and some two-bit corporal in the German army got into power by whipping up the masses to believe that the people who were their neighbors, friends, and family were less than human. All they had to do to make Germany rise again was get rid of the Jews. That war cost a hundred million lives, all told.”
“Yeah, but that was five hundred years ago. We’ve grown; we’re enlightened now.”
David laughed out loud. “Seriously? Have you not noticed the war we’re in against the League? They do the same thing back on their planets. Oh, they’re probably better at forcing compliance through brainwashing, but they’ll still put a bullet in your head if you don’t comply.”
Angie glanced down. “But we’re not the League. This planet is made up of people that escaped the League in the second wave of the Exodus.”
“Any human is capable of horrible things.”
“Including you?”
“Including you, me, and everyone else.”
“Then why didn’t you kill the guy responsible for running the camp?” David looked at her sharply as she continued. “One of the nuns mentioned it. She said you had to be talked down from executing him.”
“I didn’t do it because it would be murder. Mitzvot four hundred eighty-two…do not commit murder.”
Angie’s face clouded over. “I don’t want to sound insensitive, David, but you kill people on a regular basis. It goes with the job.”
“You don’t think I know that?” David snapped. “There’s a difference between a justified killing in war and murder. The Torah is clear; if you kill someone in combat, especially in a defensive war, it’s not murder. Killing a surrendered combatant, no matter what his crimes, no matter what he’s done… that’s murder. It’s a line I can’t cross even if for a few minutes I wanted to.”
“Doesn’t it bother you that you almost did?”
“Sure. Does it bother me that I give an order to fire on a League ship, we get lucky and hit its warhead magazine, and the thing blows up without a single lifepod launch? Does it bother me that I have personally killed dozens of people on the ground, in space, with a weapon, and with the weapons of my ship? You’re damn rig
ht; it bothers me. Is that your big story from Monrovia, a decorated CDF officer threatens to kill a prisoner?” David spat at her, losing control of his emotions yet again.
Angie opened her mouth, then closed it, shocked. After a moment, she responded, “No. I wasn’t planning to lead with that. I’m not even planning to report it.”
“Oh really?” David asked sarcastically.
“David, I get it. When I saw that grave, I would have killed every last person that worked in that camp, that enabled it, that did it if I had the power. None of them dared to say no. But you know what really scares me? I’m not sure if I would have said no. I don’t know if I would have had the gumption to stand up for what I knew was right and take the consequences.” A tear slid down her face as she finished.
“I’m sorry,” David replied, chastised. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay. We’re all under a lot of stress. I envy you at times for the support system you’ve got built-in with your faith.”
David tried to lighten the mood. “You’re welcome to join me for evening prayers.”
“I think I’ll pass, thanks.” Angie’s face creased with a small smile.
“I understand. Look, we’re doing good here. I believe that with all my heart. Mother Superior and her order…they’re the real deal. They will save a lot of lives that would have been lost. That’s worth it, even if the perpetrators of these crimes aren’t brought to justice now.”
Angie stood and stretched. “I hope you’re right. Because it feels like we ought to be doing more.”
“We can always stand to do more.”
“See you later, David.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Angie smiled as she turned and walked off into the maze of buildings in the base, leaving David to ponder his actions, inactions, and what lay ahead.
A few hours later, almost everyone else was asleep except the nighttime sentries, the few medical personnel watching over the most seriously wounded, and the stragglers that couldn’t sleep. David had walked around and looked in on the nuns doing various tasks, from refilling magazines of their battle rifles, to the nightly mass they celebrated to ask for God’s blessing and to repent their sins. Ending up back at his quarters, which the sisters had graciously provided him with a full room to himself in what had been the bachelors' officers’ quarters on the base, he sat down on the bed. He then fished his tablet out of the space bag at the end of the bed and unlocked it using a combination of his fingerprint and retinal scan.