maskormenace

[ Kitty's voice is a little strained. ]

Right, so...Hullo, Kitty here. And we've already had a bit of input on glorious-war and glorious-war-but-do-be-careful-about-it-because-the-Russians-are-a-bit-scary, and at this point everyone's probably like shut it won't you. But for anyone who's still out there and still listening, just...

This is hard for us. We've lost our friends. That's scary. But remember that no real harm has been done yet. They've been kidnapped, but no one's been killed. The situation right now is not that bad. But it has the potential to get so much worse if we let loose our anger. Remember, the weapons in the Russians' possession - and in the Americans' - can scorch the earth. Kill everyone. Everyone. It won't just be us who go if we escalate this war: it'll also be the little kids in the school down the street from you, and the girl who always remembers your order at the malt shop, and the bloody...puppies in the animal shelter.

So those of you who are thinking that it's time to go burn down Russian cities, or join up with the army as they march to destroy our enemies - close your eyes and think of the entire baskets of puppies and kittens that'll get scorched into nothing but atoms when this war gets stepped up and the bombing starts. Okay? So instead, maybe let's give thought to negotiation. Forgiveness. Stepping down the violence. Some of the kidnapped have gotten word out - I bet you anything they'll agree.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That makes her furious. She all but spits: ]

Cowardice is refusing to take a risk. You're willing to die? And get everyone else killed? And you think that's brave? Because you don't even want to take the risk of trying something new, trying something that isn't just dying and killing. That's cowardice. Bravery isn't being willing to die. It's being willing to risk what's dear to you. And I'm not scared to die, so dying isn't courage.

I'm not willing to try asking them to not 'escalate' a war that they've already declared. What you're suggesting is not a risk, Kitty. It's pointless, and it won't bring our people home.

[ His words are flat and blunt. ]

I'll tell you something else, too. When I registered here, I gave my allegiance to the nation that was sheltering us. That's not a promise I made lightly, and when they call us to fight, I will answer. Don't presume to tell any other person that not one of us wants to fight. Or that the captive imports would rather we do nothing.

You assume far too much.

Are you joking?

[ A high, derisive laugh. ]

They shoot you full of nanorobots, tattoo you, and demand that you report into them, monitor your behavior and cut you off from supplies if you don't cooperate - and you think you owe them anything?

I think that I don't make a vow unless I mean to keep it.

[ That's important to him. Keeping his word, protecting those under his charge, fulfilling his duty. D'Artagnan is a loyal serviceman. That's just his nature.

It's not Kitty's, and he knows that. But she should know the reverse about him, too. ]

And I think you should stop trying to speak for people just because you want them to agree. You'd despise anyone who did that to you.

I wouldn't give a shit.

[ Her jaw comes up, and she glares at him - eyes hard and determined. She doesn't apologize for cursing this time. ]

And if they disagree, they can speak up. Ronan did already. And we had it out. And it was fine. [ And then, abruptly: ] God, what do you think happens if we win this, D'Artagnan? What comes after that?

Do you even know what we're fighting for?

[ He stares at her. His current opinion is that she's too far caught up in denial to see any element of the truth, but let's interrogate that theory. ]

War cannot be said to have ended until one side concedes defeat, and then terms are drawn up to ratify that. There would be a treaty, weighted towards the side of the victor, before peace could be made. That, by the way, will be when it's time to parley. Not now.

For us, right now, victory would mean the return of our fellows, alive and, if possible, well.

All of that is far in the distance. We haven't planned our first move, much less our last.

We have to be planning our last. We can't just be looking to how-do-we-survive-today. If all we're staring at is our feet on the road, then we'll miss the fact that we're marching towards a bloody cliff.

[ She's worked up enough that she stands up from the desk she's set her communicator on and starts pacing frantically behind it. Her voice gets stronger and fades as she gets nearer-further, nearer-further, and her hip swings into and out of frame. ]

War continues because violence continues. We defeat the Russians now, beat them down with force, they remember. They hate us and they nurse their hatred, until the time they grow strong and put us down. Violence breeds violence, D'Artagnan, don't you see, and every time it has to top what's come before. To prove they've gotten stronger or we've gotten stronger. Until what? Until the end of humanity, or the end of life altogether.

[ And then she swings back to lean into the communicator, passion in her voice. ]

These cycles of violence - they have to be stopped. We're all going to die if we don't put an end to it. You all have to see that! Treaties-weighted-towards-the-side-of-the-victor solves the problems of today, but they're another step down the road to annihilation.

[ Again, d'Artagnan lets her talk. He lets her speak with increasing passion, and grow more and more dramatic, until a war once again becomes apocalyptic.

He knows that to her, it genuinely is. It's not to him. He can't really get his head around the Nuclear problem.

But in fairness, even if he did, he'd probably still not think differently about this. He waits until she's done. His words are quiet and blunt, once again. ]

And that, Kitty, is why I think you speak out of fear.

For all I know, you're right about all of this. But I'll say it again. It doesn't matter, because we cannot now stop it. It is already happening. It has happened.

We are at war. You are arguing that we should stop this from becoming what it already is. I'm sorry, but that's the truth.

Of bloody course I speak out of fear. If you're not afraid right now, you're not thinking. Acting out of fear isn't cowardice.

[ She scowls at him, presses her fist against the table. ]

War isn't some beast that rampages beyond our control. War is a state of mind. It is a decision made by a group of a dozen people. Those people can choose not to fight. I don't understand why people speak like war is like the spinning of the world. It's not inevitable! We can just say no to it!

[ D'Artagnan nods, as calmly as he can. ]

Yes, we can. And then they will bring the machine of war to this land, to our homes, to every person here, and they will raze us to the ground unopposed.

Because they are coming, whether we make ready or not.

Oh. Are you afraid of that possibility, D'Artagnan?

No.

[ He looks at her, his expression impassive, his eyebrows raised. It's the kind of look that might accompany pity. ]

I intend to meet it, head on - and it's not a possibility, it's an inevitability. I'm sorry that you can't see it.

[ She shakes her head, lips tight. ]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You're just a soldier, aren't you. What's needed right now are commanders.

[ D’Artagnan’s lips twist into the same smile that precedes his duels. ]

That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said. I think we’re done here.

[ At which point, he signs off. If she won't listen, it's pointless to talk. ]

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