A Lieutenant stands on a hill over looking a small settlement. As he peers through his binoculars at the inhabitants below, a young recruit, fresh from training walks over and stands beside him.

‘Tell me Private, Look through the binoculars and tell me what you see.’

The Lieutenant hands the binoculars to the Private. A little confused, he uses the instrument to watch the people down below. It is dusk and the setting sun makes it a little difficult to spot everything. He sees children at play, old men talking, and women calling out to family members. The settlement seemed peaceful enough, but there are no men younger than fifty or older than seventeen. The young Private is wondering where the missing element is when he hears the Lieutenant ask the question a second time.

‘What do you see, Private?’

The Private removes the binoculars, turns to the officer and stands at attention. The Officer waves a hand at the Private and orders him to stand at ease.

‘I’m giving you permission to speak frankly, right now.’

‘Thank you sir.’ The Private turns to the settlement and relaxes his shoulders. ‘All I see is a peaceful settlement. Surely the Alliance did not send us here for this.’ The Private turns back to the Lieutenant and sees that the Lieutenant’s face has become awfully stern.

‘Think again, Private.’

The Private’s face shows his confusion.

‘This is a Browncoat encampment. The Alliance will not tolerate them operating here. They are a threat.’

‘So we were sent here to….’ The Private’s eyes widen with realization, and he suddenly finds it difficult to breathe.

‘We were sent here to eradicate that threat.’

The private finds his voice, ‘But they’re just civilians! Women, children, and the elderly! There isn’t an able bodied soul down there that can even hope to be a threat. It will be..’

‘A Massacre?’ The Lieutenant’s words stop the Private short. ‘Yes, I suppose it will be. But it’s for the good of the Alliance.’

‘They’re making us murderers!’ The Private shouts in anger.

The Lieutenant raises an eyebro