Peace through Unity

Peace Through Unity

I crouch at the edge of the clearing as my three other blue squad members fan out beside me. Two-hundred yards away, a two-story farmhouse dominates a cluster of outbuildings. Apart from a scatter of chickens scratching the dirt, nothing stirs.

Central command's genderless voice cuts through our hive mind. "Blue team-Hostile targets identified. Proceed with weapons hot. Peace through Unity!"

When we break cover, anxiety ripples through our collective consciousness before our training seizes control. "Blue7984-Sweep east of farmhouse." I break left, round the farmhouse, and roll in the dust when a shotgun gun blast shatters the silence. Pain sweeps through the collective as Blue3629 takes a hit. The whump, whump of our plasma rifles says my brothers are having their say.

I spin when a farm gate clatters against its latch. Not detecting any movement, I pass through the gate onto a narrow trail through the forest. Alone with the collective's ever-present mind-chatter, I stalk my prey to a cliff face where I freeze.

Listening.

A whimper.

A child's cry drifts from a narrow fissure in the limestone wall.

Removing my pistol, I squeeze through the cleft, my eyes adjusting to the gloom. "Blue7984-We've lost visual. Relay your visual."

A woman blocks my path, brandishing a knife while shielding three children. A blond tress falls across the hostile's face. I falter, lowering my weapon as the memory of a blond woman weeping floods my mind. My mother. She mouths I-love-you before her chest explodes in a pink mist...

"Blue7984-Respond!"

"Adult female and three children."

"Terminate Adult."

Shaking, I raise my pistol...

"Terminate all."

"No!" I yell, and the hive mind snaps into silence.

"Blue7984-I repeat! Terminate all!"

No more! I drop my weapon, whispering, "Don't tell me what to do."