Control Theory

[Caelia]

"Brigadier Woodsman sir, may I speak with you privately for a moment?"

Brigadier Augustinus Woodsman, commanding officer of the Royal Border Reivers Long Range Patrol Group, did not need to look up from his papers to see who had entered. He recognized immediately the voice of Corporal Sidney Peller, a good soldier and in Augustinus's estimation a committed patriot. He already had a good idea of why the young man was here, while he did not doubt his loyalty Augustinus had known since the Corporals first real assignment that he was squeamish, more squeamish perhaps than was proper for a soldier. But in these times he did not have the luxury to pick-and-choose his supporters.

Augustinus feigned disinterest, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the book in front of him. "You may speak, Corporal."

"Sir I..." the Corporal seemed to trail off for a moment. Augustinus could see his feet shifting awkwardly. The Corporal regained his composure "Sir I need to confess I am not comfortable with this plan. There is no doubt in my heart that we must strike a blow against the establishment, that establishments agents commit heinous crimes every day and that this is an act which much resonate around the world, but what has been proposed... I cannot do this. Sir."

As I suspected, disappointing. "Corporal Peller" Augustinus was looking directly at him now "I am glad you have been forthright in presenting your concerns to me. I have no doubt the thought of committing this deed turns the stomachs of every one of us, and I am equally sure you are not the only one to have such reservations. You are however the first and only man brave enough to air them openly. Once this deed is done we will be the army of no nation, and if we are to maintain our cohesion we cannot afford lingering resentments."

The Corporal looked slightly dazed. "Thank you sir!"

"Therefor Corporal, you will be reassigned to the back-up team. Corporal Cuthbert will take your place on the strike team. Understood?"

"Yes absolutely sir!" Peller saluted him enthusiastically.

"But Corporal this can not happen again. We will accomplish nothing if every man is free to recuse himself from any duty he finds disagreeable. Is this clear?"

"Never again. Sir."

"Very good. Dismissed." Do not fret too much Corporal. You will not be entrusted with anything vital to our mission again.

 

[Caelia]

Westdown Grammar School, Cobham, West March

"There he is, right on schedule"

"Quiet, quiet, we do not want to spook them."

The son of Cantignia's High Commissioner, Percy Fitzherbert would not be going home today. He would not be going home ever again because his time on this earth was nearly at its end.

When the man walked up to them the bodyguards suspected nothing. They had picked the boy up from school hundreds of times, why would today be different? "Got a light friend?" the man asked them. The bodyguard smiled and reached into his pocket for his lighter. That was a mistake.

As soon as the bodyguard looked down the man drew a pistol from the holster beneath his jacket and with a single smooth motion raised the pistol to the first bodyguards face and fired. One down. The second bodyguard was already springing into action, he didn't hesitate for a moment. Impressive reflexes but still futile, he never even saw the man across the street who was drawing a bead on him. Two down.

People were screaming now. Percy stood motionless as the two bodyguards crumpled around him. The boy had good instincts, without so much as a whimper he turned and ran. But his attackers were one step ahead of him, as he sprinted down the street and away from the shooters a third man lunged out from behind a pillar of the schools wall and snatched him up. Percy kicked the man in the shins as hard as he could and bit down on his forearm. But it was no good, the grip was like iron.

A car with dark tinted windows came to a screeching halt beside them. In a flash the boy was shoved into the back seat, kicking and screaming all the while. The driver slammed on the accelerator hard enough that the tires kicked up smoke, then they were gone. It was over in minutes.

The first shots of the war had been fired.