All Androids Lie by H. Peter Alesso

Author:H. Peter Alesso
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: H. Peter Alesso
Published: 2023-06-08T00:00:00+00:00

Only the Brave*

by

H. Peter Alesso

(* Excerpt from Captain Hawkins)

After a grueling 24 hours of violence and bloodshed, a group of heavily armed soldiers are exhausted, hungry, and on edge. In a hospital turned makeshift prison, they separate the wounded, women and children, and medical personnel. But when the ranking officer orders the execution of a group of suspected rebels without proper charges, one man stands up against the brutality. Hawkins, a former Marine and decorated officer, challenges the officer and reminds him of the humanity that still exists in their world. As tensions rise and the fate of the prisoners hangs in the balance, a powerful exchange unfolds between Hawkins and the officer, revealing their shared past and present ideologies. As the soldiers grapple with their orders and the prisoners fight for their lives, this gripping and thought-provoking tale examines the fine line between duty and morality, and the courage it takes to stand up for what is right in the face of overwhelming adversity.

***

After twenty-four hours of non-stop brutal violence and cruel bloodshed, the soldiers had had no sleep and little food or water. They had repeatedly engaged in hand-to-hand combat against the demonstrators. Even though the soldiers were heavily armed and armored, they had taken serious casualties. Now, tired and angry, everyone they found looked like a rebel.

The hospital had been a place of healing—now it became a makeshift prison. In a large observation room, the soldiers sorted people into three groups: the wounded men, a smaller group of women and children, and the medical personnel including Hawkins and Joshua.

With bloodthirsty eagerness, the ranking officer repeated, “Take these rebels out and shoot them,” pointing to the first group.

As the first group was headed toward the door, Hawkins stepped forward, planted his feet wide apart, and shouted, “Stop, Colonel!”

Outraged at the ruthlessness of the order, he put his hands on his hips and said, “You can’t execute these men.”

The officer turned toward the disturbance and said harshly, “It is my duty to safeguard the nation. Am I to care for the lives of rebels?”

“For the sake of humanity, yes,” said Hawkins, his voice strong and vibrant. With an unyielding stare, he added, “This is still a civilized world, not a lawless state.”

Crossing his arms without taking his eyes off the interloper, the immaculately attired colonel seemed disconcerted.

Hawkins said, “These men have not been properly charged.”

The colonel remained unimpressed.

“There are always witnesses to any massacre, Colonel.” Making a grand sweeping gesture with his arms, he added, “Just look around.”

The colonel frowned as he surveyed the frightened faces of the women and children. Then seeing the uncertainty on the faces of his own men, his frown deepened into an angry scowl.

“Eventually, there’ll be a reckoning,” said Hawkins, waving his hand to take in the hellish carnage throughout the city. “The government will look for scapegoats to justify this harsh reality. It wouldn’t be prudent to be so easily identified with merciless acts.”

The colonel stared daggers at Hawkins. For a moment his

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