They flourished. They flourished here and there, and they went on flourishing. So that we would be able to use a whole planet as a cemetary. These young boys and girls had died and it had been totally useless.The fallen would always be the fallen. One life, one chance. No resurrection. During years, the human being had thought space would be a wonderful place, a place of knowledge,a place of mystery. That was wrong. Space is a harvester; and they were the harvesting.
Nobody would erase those memories.This really was the limit. Too many casualties... too many tears...
Bgd. Gen. Ian H. Warren had seen too many bloodsheds during his life, during his career. No matter how many medals they gave to him, no matter this brand new job they offered him. He couldn’t bear those nightmares every night, he couldn’t bear getting up in the morning with this feeling of disgust... He caught his personal handgun and put it in his mouth. He knew it wasn’t the best thing to do. But after all, he had already died... everybody had already died... in 2634... when the Confederation declared war to the Kilrathi Empire... the beginning of a fight... but unfortunately the end of everything...


"So, what's new today ? asked Rear Adm. Jackson to the room.
- The battle for Vega Sector goes on, like every day, answered one of his advisers.
- And what is the Congress' opinion ? People's opinion ?
- What do you want me to say, Admiral ? They don't want this war to continue, but they know we have to fight. Unless those furballs abandon, we will have to fight for years and years...
- What do I have to announce to the Space Marshal today ? That we can't overcome the kilrathi forces and that we need more units and supply ? If our brains think that we will lose this game, the game will be lost... so, think about it...
- But the truth, Sir ?
- Truth ? Nobody has won a war with truth, Lieutenant. Truth is one of our enemies. What will think people if we say that we have spent their money and the life of their children and that was totally useless ? We can't take the liberty of giving this kind of piece of news. I'm disappointed, Lieutenant. I thought you were... lucider."
Disinformation, always disinformation. War changes men. He had changed. Ten years ago, he would have never made such a speech. But the longer the war was, the more aggressive he was. Everything was good to get more credits. More credits to refit just one carrier, to buy four or five fighters, to repair a cruiser... to save one life. And every time they annouced him a pilot had been shot down, or a marine had been killed, he fell like someone who failed. Because he was doing his best to lead his faction to the victory. So one more lie, was it so important ? But he fell guilty. Guilty to teach this way of life to these young lieutenants who had still a kind of hope, hope in a better future. And he knew that one day he would crack up...
" So the Confederation is losing ships but is conquering several systems... told the adviser.
- That is what they want to heard, Lieutenant... that may not be truth, but I hope that will be soon..."
A long silence followed his words.
" 'Am just like you, 'am not the evil, you know. But my experience of war is telling me that this is really useful. Believe me."
Then he remembered this bloody day of 2634 near McAuliffe, a day which had killed many of his friends, a day which had tried to catch is own life; he remembered his carrier blowing up with his crew; and he remembered this young pilot who saved his life and succeeded in bringing him at home. Man ! Just one more ship, and the battle might have been so different...
Suddenly, a public relations' NCO burst into the room.
" Admiral, the Space Marshal needs you in his office, now ! told the NCO.
- What's going on, Sergeant ? answered Jackson, visibly astonished. Explain yourself...
- Please have a glance at that... Admiral..."
The NCO gave a video disc Jackson put in the console on his desk.
Two seconds of loading...
And a freezing silence...
A deathly silence...
"We have just received it... that happened yesterday at 2250, said the NCO.
- Tell me that it is not...
- I'm sorry, Sir... but you recognized it. I'm sorry. Repleetah has just fallen..."

To be continued...