I have heard from christians and muslims that there are no terrorists that belong to their religion. Likewise from Hindus. The mind has the ability to believe what we want to see. To make an absolute statement as there is NO Hindu terrorism is not likely to be true unless we start doing the same dance the christo-islamists do, viz: those guys aren’t true christians, those guys don’t really hate the west, those guys are misrepresented in the press… Everyone who knows history understands these statements are lies, self denial, rationalizations, or frank delusions.

A deeper understanding is:
there is a certain probability that is innate in our genes to actions of benefit and actions of harm.

there is a certain probability that is innate in our psychological character, that is partially organic and partially circumstantial, to actions of benefit and actions of harm.

there is a certain freedom of choice as to acting on innate tendencies v tendencies we adopt through ideology.

The sum of these tendencies cause a certain interpretation of reality and thus an action.

(A more hindu terminology would be: we are given a nature that we are born with- satva/rajas/tamas mix, we are given a local sphere of knowledge - karma / prarabdha karma, and we are given the moment to chose to act in based on our understanding of reality - ishtadevata/paramatma.)

Now let us take that the statistical distribution of innate nature is likely equal to the majority (have to exclude handicaps, etc) of humans (I don’t really believe that as I believe in Karma but it is a good starting point). We can then measure the effect of the combination of the local environment and the person’s choices by looking for differences in behavior of individuals across societies (known as sociology). Within societies of equal opportunity we can then ask what is the effect on behavior of ideologies.

If we find no difference statistically, then the ideologies don’t matter.
If we find a difference we can postulate on why.

If we compare societies, we can also gain a perspective on the effect of ideology as ideology does reflect the social backdrop but we have to be more cautious (account for economic factors, dictators, etc) but we can draw similar conclusions.

I believe that if we do this we find Hindus and Buddhists are way out of line with the christo-islamists - in the positive side for Hindus and Buddhists. That is not to believe that there is no Hindu terrorism (or perhaps in your perspective terrorism in the name of Hindus) (and other factors can and should be looked at: having family values, divorce rates, spouse abuse rates, value to education, ecologic responsibility…)but rather that the likelihood of a Hindu being a terrorist is far less than a christian or muslim being a terrorist given the same genetic and socioeconomic factors. We could conclude that this is a restraint on Hindus (man is bad and religion helps to control that) or that this is a restraint on the christo-islamists (man is good until brainwashed into doing bad). I would choose the second interpretation and this then compels us to address the brainwashing

The World Rescue Mission

“Fellow representatives of the World Rescue Mission, today, we are about to set out on a mission unparallelled in human history. Since the beginning of recorded time, man has looked to the stars for answers to questions about life on earth. Little did the primitives, nor, may I say have I, consider the possibility that opens itself up to us now. For two centuries our sciences have reduced us to mere heisenbergal atoms, hence it was impossible to practically enter communication with non-terrestrial entities. Thus, to the great dismay of biophiles when, with the rapid development of psychic phenomologic studies in this century, our planet learned of a telepathic distress signal originating from Alpha Prima in the galactic center.

As you know, the signal accelerated research into space/time travel, as well as psychic phenomenon. Five years ago the reductionism of the research sciences coalessed with the psychic. The psychical mystics developed the new Unitary Theory of Consciousness and Matter under Dr. Puther Karma. Dr. Karma’s theories have allowed us to communicate directly with the trapped beings, but more to Dr. Karma’s credit we are standing before a psychophysical transport vehicle, which will carry us, along with arms, soldiers, and our knowledge, to the rescue of the Kials – those sending the distress call.

The arms are on board and the soldiers are boarding now. Soon we, the staff of researchers and psychics will board our own. Dr. Karma as mission commander.

We should pause to reflect that many years ago, the primitives landed on a dead moon, today the moon is a launch pad for interplanetary vehicles. In the time that it takes a conventional ship 5 light seconds to reach mars from that pad, we shall have reached the Kial space base. This is the accomplishment of Dr. Karma and his psychic research team.”

---

Puth Karma said to his miliatary commander, “Something is not quite complete here Jeanne. It doesn’t fit. I’m getting a major psychic deviation around Alpha Prima. There’s more than the Kial there.”

“Of course, Puth. Their attackers would be there.”

“No, this isn’t hostile, the deviation is morally mental. Also, if we’re dealing with pyschicly progressed species then their enemies would be psychically progressed as well. If they haven’t developed a psychic blocker, the enemy itself would be transmitting once it picked up Kial messages emanating just the opposite or something to confuse us.”

“Maybe this ‘something’ you feel is the confusion.”

“But that would be more obvious. I think I’m the only one who feels this. The Kial are transmitting to everyone with any semblance of psychic ability. The ‘good guys’ are working on mass appeal while the so called ‘bad guys’ are working on just one person. No that doesn’t make sense.”

“Puther Kharma is no ‘one person’.”

“Yes, my sensitivity is the highest recorded on earth, but what I am sensing is as if the ‘enemy’ is transmitting static, never the less, they are transmitting.”

“What do you think, then?”

“I don’t know. We’re approaching at least two major species. The smaller is in a defensive posture with elements of malice, which is probably due to the presence of a hostile species. But the hostiles are of greater member and less hostile attitude. Unless the two species live close together, the signals thus overlapping, it seems that the Kial could be the attacking species except for their defensive psychic posture. But the larger group appears not to be morally neutral. I can only hope for clearer resolution as we guide the ship into the star system. With the cumulative effect of the psychics I may be able to focus better.”

“Well, Puth, you drive us there and I’ll lead the attack fleet. But you should get the ship ready and I’ll get the psychics ready. How long will the trip be?”

“For some of it will be instantaneous, others will grow old and die in the transport. The psychic displacement will cause temporal acceleration, just the opposite of a high gravity field, which would cause deceleration. The psychic shouldn’t age more than a year, they’ve been screened for that. But for your soldiers, we predict 0.05 percent will die, 3.47% will be over 80, another 0.16 percent will be insane. You’ll lose 4.61% of your soldiers.”

“Forty six thousand casualties in transport. Your statistics don’t feel very good, my friend.”

“You, Jeanne, are only a tenth level telepath. Imagine what I feel at the higher level, all the anxiety and determination of our group. Well, let’s go.”

---

Telepath communication section one, this is Karma, transmit to earth: we have arrived. Commander Jeanne, get a psychophysical analysis of our positioning and all neighboring bodies. Transmit that to communicator’s sections three through five. Section three through five I want each of these spots reviewed and transmitted to me. Look for Kial and non-Kial waves. Section two, transmit general arrival and intent for rescue message, do not target.

---

Commander Jeanne, Commander Karma, launch escort light speed fighters and axial p fighterss.

Commander Karma, T-C S(1), message transmitted and acknowledged. Commander Kharma, T-C S(2), message transmitted response: Kial, “Thank you for aid. We are sending escort to second planet to direct you in. Please cancel probing - your position is obvious.” Unknown source controlled transmission, “So you made it, Puther.” Enemy may have high psychic abilities.

Commander Karma, Commander Jeanne, receive visual simulator of position and physical representation. We are observing third planet sixty flight units from center of psychic mass (helios direction). P lights indicate no specific psychic activity, LS-flights only, they are hovering.

Commander Karma, T-C- S(3), unknown psychic vortexes around most asteroids of two-three planetary region, occasional vortexes in free asteroids and meteorites. Similarity of cognates cannot be determined.

Commander Karma, T-C S(4), planet two has major psychic vortexes of unknown origin. Planet (3) :minor Kial type vortexes in regular array (di-icesadial) , planet (4) Kial type and unknown vortexes, irregular array.

Commander Karma, T–C S(5), no free floating psychic vortexes, suggest Kial and enemy have jammers.

All mind linked crew members, Commander Karma, physicallize ship…Disengage mind link.

“Commander Jeanne, direct the ship towards planet two. Let’s get the fighters out.”

“Yes, sir. Estimated orbit entry time is 6.73 hours. We’ll enter orbit over the central silican deposits.”

“Very good, Sentient Lee, begin scanning for psychical messages and transmit a repeated random code.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“So, Jeanne, do believe me now that there’s more being done here than a rescue mission.”

“Yeah, really, you sure you don’t have any enemies out here, Puth?”

“The direct reference to me had to have been due to my sensitivity. They might have picked my name as an identity of the ship. But the interesting things are the controls going on here. We talked about jamming psychic frequencies on earth. We now know that both the Kial and the hostiles have gone beyond the barrier planets.”

“Wait a minute, psychic based physical phenomenon is supposed to asymptotic at that level.”

“That is true if our psychic equations apply beyond humans, we may be in over our heads. But, even the theory is wrong; we’re obviously being fed information from Kial and the unknowns. Knowing that, we don’t even know if there is a second species. I think you should warn your physical fighters of a Kial troop. Bring in the psychic p-fighters. If the enemy can control the mental transmissions to the point that we can’t get a pattern on them, they may be able to disrupt our p-fighters thought patterns. We may lose a lot of men into psychic non-existence. The LS fighters we might be able to restore, if they are not too brain damaged.”

“Do you want to change flight direction, Puth?”

“Build up to a point three light velocity. I’ll take a shuttle to planet two and you can launch me at that speed. Then stop the ship and get ready to retreat to earth if necessary. It does no good for a person who can’t swim to try and save a person drowning in deep water.”

“I’ll join you in the shuttle.”

“Good, I also want a communications telepath, a mind fighter, and your basic group of security guards. They’ve got to be volunteers; dealing with psychic forces we may all end up in one or two bodies - disoriented as hell!!”

---

“Sir, I’d like to join you.”

“Very well, Lee, have your sub lieutenant take the ships mental controls as we have.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Commander, we approaching point two-five velocity.”

“All right, get the shuttle set.”

“Commander, Karma.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, Maghur, you’re a level nine fighter now?”

“Yes, sir. I would like to join the shuttle sir.”

“Of course, but I’d rather have you here. You’re the highest bred psychic next to myself, Jeanne and Lee. If it comes to a fight, the ship will need you as back up transport energy.”

“Yes sir. May I suggest however, sir, a fighter-Thagar. He was about to take the ninth level exams before the mission came up.”

“Very well, send him to the shuttle.”

“Puth, I would have thought a ninth level experienced fighter would be good here.”

“Yes, Jeanne, but you see the theory of mental engagement is a triangulating idea. The mind links combine to get at a focus. The focus punctuates space and time and an infinitismal physical point travels through space at near infinite speed. The focus has to be real though. In our trip here I was the focus. In an emergency, Lee’s man and Maghur will be the focus. Already they’ll encounter psychic friction because they have two forces. As you go towards the average psychic level of force you need more force, it recedes logryhthmically.”

“Commander”

“Yes, Lee?”

“The shuttle is ready.”

“Gentlemen.”

---

“Commander! I have a mind link with the ship.”

“Shuttle, Commander Karma, enter mind link.”

Shuttle, sub-lieutenant Maghur, under attack. Brain waves scrambled-unknown attacker. Communicates sections wiped out. Am engaged in mental battle for control over ship. Enemy objective, physicallize humans and not ship. Locked in position for mental launch. Sub-lieutenant Pi, disintegrating. Massive mental casualties, enemy using depressant brain waves, soldiers committing suicide. P-fighters under control of enemy. Focusing rays on crew. Sensing jammers being placed. Not enough power to return to earth. Find Kial, they may help you. Will attempt mind link break. Good luck.”

Shuttle, Commander Karma, disengage mind link.

“The Kial are having their own trouble with the unknowns, Puth, how could they help us?”

“Jeanne, maintain course for the vortices of the unknowns. We’re supposed to meet the Kial in orbit. Set the shuttle for trajectory and then shut us down. I want it to appear as if we were in mind link with the ship when it was destroyed. Lee, scan to establish when it is destroyed. We will all enter into a negative mind link, ideally this should leave us in a null mind link. That for us, is death, so far as we know.”

---

Human kind, Kial, you may enter a positive mind link now, you are among friends and we know you are alive. Two of your members are in null mind link. Please indicate proper rituals.

Kial, Lee, Commander Karma to be burned and Commander Jeanne to be burned.

Lee, Kial, you have mind melted with Franklin, security agent.

Thagan, Kial, you have mind melded with Jones, security agent.

Lee, Kial, disengage mind link.

Kial, Lee, not possible, only form of communication between us.

Lee-Thagan, Kial, negative. Disengage mind link. Lee-Thagan mind link reveals lingual communicative possibilities. Disengagement necessary for initial relations.

Lee-Thagan, Kial, Your minds have high incompatability, please disengage non-guard mind link.

Kial, Lee-Thagan, negative, must maintain human communication while in mind link with non-human minds.

Lee-Thagan, Kial, mind melts suffice. Assumptions incorrect. Kharma and Jeanne did not enter null link by error. They were mind linked when found. Further communication with Kial caused cessation. Please break mind link.

Thagan, Lee, they were at a higher level than us, we won’t take much more of this.

Lee, Thagan, I’m mind wrestling. It is necessary to have a firm communicative base, can’t give in now. Mind wrestling with dolphins without secondary human base has lead to null linkage.

Thagen, Lee, this is not mind wrestling. Am disengaging mind link.

Lee, Thagan, No!

Kial, Lee, I have disengaged with Thagan.

Kial, Thagan, How many of them are you?

Thagan, Kial, we only need four and now two.

Kial, Lee, clarify need

Lee, Kial, You and I are in mind link, Thagan and another Kial are in separate mind link.

Kial, Lee clarify reason for separation.

Lee, Kial, Thagan is a traitor to humans. Shielding brain waves. Needed to protect you from his mind.

Kial, Lee, am I alone in psychic area?

Lee, Kial, there are us. We are destroying enemy spy.

Kial, Lee, I am alone.

Lee, Kial, yes.

Kial, Lee, can I return home

Lee, Kial, no.

Kial, Lee, what do you mean?

Lee, Kial, we Kial are attacking your earth. You are the last human alive. Your ship’s mental triangulation helped to focus our psychic energies. Our people are of equal psychic levels we could not focus without friction. We used the lowest of your psychic personnel to focus on apparent zero to assymptotic barrier levels. We are conquering earth. Man is no match, we function beyond your barrier level and so we killed your Kharma and Jeanne.

Kial, Lee, no, we came to help.

Lee, Kial, you have no hope. Your mind is weakening.

Kial, Lee, No! Mind melt with Franklin!

Lee, Kial, Franklin our agent.

Kial, Lee, I…

Lee, Kial, there is no I…

Kial, Lee,,…

There is no Lee

There is only Kial

---

Kial 2, Kial 1, Lee is dead.

Kial 1, Kial 2, Thagan is dead

Kial 2, Kial 1, luckily the stronger two died in transport

Kial 1, Kial 2, destroy the bodies. I’ll aim for earth, see you there.

Kial 2, Kial 1, right. Disengage mind link.

---

“So long, Kial 2. Let’s see: Lee, Thagan, Karma, Jeanne, Burn one, burn two, burn three, and burn…

Kial 1, Karma-Jeanne, we are alive and you are alone against us. Mind link is under our control. Release attack plan to earth.

Karma-Jeanne, Kial 1, surprise may slow the Kial but that won’t make us controlled like you humans.

Kial 1, Karma-Jeanne, your closest ally is on earth. We have overcome the first barrier. We are if not your superior but we are your equal.

Karma-Jeanne, Kial 1, this may be so but you have not the experience of mind link manipulation. Remember you too are alone.

Kial 1, Karma-Jeanne, only in body are we as you say both separate, but together, minds occupy the same body.

Karma, Jeanne, this is too much of a strain.

Jeanne, Karma, take action 2.

Karma-Jeanne, Kial 1, you see I turn out to be the superior.

Kial 1, Kharma-Jeanne, maybe, but overconfidence leaves you open-Disengage mind-link.

“Die, Kial! If we can’t kill you with our minds we can with our lasers.”

Kial-all, Kial 1, humans alive here; nullify mind linkage…

Karma, Jeanne, How long will it take for the Kials to know that, Puth?

Jeanne, Karma, If they made it to earth, a few minutes.

Karma, Jeanne, Where are we?

Jeanne, Karma, we must be on planet two.

Karma, Jeanne, That Kial, what was he made of? It seems the chemicals were similar to us. The combination of dove’s body and human head were probably the beginnings of his control over us- depicting an angel from your mythology. Your soldiers body was a good choice over my physician, You do choose best.

Jeanne, Karma, yes, I do. Suppose we begin looking for the shuttle. I still sense a presence, its almost as distant as it was on earth which would imply it was not the Kial but I can recognize Kial scrambling now and this isn’t it. Also I’m picking up the same feeling around us, almost directly, as if we’re in the control vortex itself.

Eros

Eros

“So, Eagle of Zeus that comes to feed on my liver today, what news have you of men and the Olympians?”

“Strange things, My Lord, Prometheus, for two nights Eros had run away from Psyche and only on the second day, with the help of your man, Socrates, and our daughter, Athena, did she re-find him.”

“Tell me more, my friend, as you feast, for this interests me greatly.”

“As I said, two days ago Psyche awoke to find Eros gone from their chambers. For a while she didn’t worry but later it occurred to her that he had been absent for a great deal of time. Searching throughout the earth she came upon Socrates and asked his help in finding Eros: Socrates said, “In order to find him, Psyche, we must first know his nature. From what I know, it seems that Eros may be described generally as the love of the everlasting passion of the good. Would you say this is true, Psyche?”

She replied, not to naively, “Eros has always searched for the good and what king would give up the good once he has found it?”

“None.” Socrates agreed, “Then, having determined this, we ask what would he be doing through out his life? Why, of course, he would collect what is good and hold it in his grasp so as to stop the jealous gods from taking it. He would hide his goods like any protective lover.”

“No, no.” said Psyche, shocked at the conclusion, “My Eros would never hide the good. If he had the good, he would certainly share it; for sharing good is itself a good. Unfortunately, in further defense, he seems rarely to find the good.”

“But when he does find the good, does he always share it with you?”

Psyche told him “The goods he finds some he shares with me, these are those which I can understand with my mind and the logics of which I can perceive; but others he does not tell me about. He seems to finds goods in say the bark of a tree while I only see the woodiness of the zylem. These feelings he does not share with me too often. Even when he does attempt it, he usually fails. I once felt the goodness of the warmth of the sun at dawn, but I believe he meant more than that.”

“He tells you the intellectual goodness, but not the emotional?” Socrates asked.

“Yes, that is the way of Eros and Psyche.”

“Then it seems he has found some feeling which he can not share with you. So profound, indeed, that he cannot share it with anybody. If we can determine what this is, we might find him. Would you not say, Psyche, that such a profound goodness, would be very important to him?”

“It would be illogical for it not to be,” replied Psyche, “after all, it is in his nature to love the good. He can only love more the more good.”

Socrates continued, “What would Eros hold above all things?”

“Of all things, the most logical good is truth and the knowledge of truth. So, Eros must have found a truth. Then your next question, Socrates, is where would one find the truth? The answer, of course, is in Athena’s temple. Let us hasten, Socrates, to find my Eros!”

“By all means, Psyche, let us be off!”

And so, they went to the temples of Athena and they found him not. Both Socrates and Psyche were lost at what to do. Socrates, dumbfounded at the failure of his technique, asked of Psyche, “But this is illogical, what could possibly be a higher good than truth? Psyche, what would Eros hold higher than truth?”

Here, Psyche broke down, and cried out, “Ok, Socrates, I know not! I am the wrong one to ask. This is why I have come to you! All I know is that I love Eros.”

Socrates, also unable to answer the question, seeing the unresolved state of Psyche, looked to the statue of Athena and called out “Oh, daughter of Zeus, why have you forsaken us now, when we need you most!”

“My lord, Prometheus, imagine the shock on Socrates force when Athena suddenly appeared and said that she had not forsaken them.”

“My eater, Eagle of Zeus, do not stop now! Tell me, what did the Goddess of wisdom say?”

“But first a tasty morsel of suspense, my friend.”

“Eagle, eat my liver, but not my patience!”

“Well said, well said. Well enough said. Yes, Socrates was quite aghast when Athena appeared, specially when she scorned him by saying, “Socrates, you call yourself a philosopher, a lover of wisdom, but you have forgotten that wisdom is not intellect alone. Take Psyche’s crying. Why does she cry?”

Socrates replied, “Because it makes her feel better, it does her good.”

“But, that, Socrates is illogical. She loses moisture by crying where is the good in that? Said Athena.

“It is not in the moisture, it is in the expression of her sorrow to others. No, there too, nothing is being done to resolve the problem. Then it does her no good to cry. Yet, the feeling is that if there is nothing else one can do then at least one can cry.”

“But Socrates, crying does do something. Psyche’s tears wash her of her own nature and allow Psyche to feel something foreign to the intellect. What did she say last when she cried?”

“She said, ‘All I know is that I love Eros? If I remember correctly.”

“Good. Now you say that love may be described generally as the love of the everlasting possessions of the good. Then how can Psyche love Love, itself? She can not unless love is a good in itself”

“Are you saying, Athena,” interrupted Socrates, “Love is the highest good?”

“No, no. Think! What is Psyche’s highest good?”

“Truth”

“Is truth a good in itself?”

“Of course”

“What if you know truth but can’t do anything with it? If you knew that Psyche were to die tomorrow would you not attempt to save her? Would it be good if the gods stopped you from trying, irrespective of success?”

“If the gods chose, there must be a reason, and if I have the truth then I can accept any situation.”

“You know that you will die in the future. Then why do you preserve your life?

“Because I value it.”

“But is it not foolish to value something that you will have for a very short time, since it is not yours? You say Love seeks immortality. Therefore, does not that love give value to your life? Even though the phsycial is only lent you, you seek immortality through procreation and fame. Love is the validity to life.”

“Yes, Athena. I understand. If I value my life from Love, how can I so easily give up life for truth? There seems to be a conflict between Love and truth here. Love would have me do something that Truth ridicules. What is the resolution?”

“No, Socrates. You forget, Truth ridicules the attempt to save Psyche because it is pointless. Suppose, instead, your acts could change the truth.”

Socrates was beginning to see Athena’s point and sat for a moment thinking. He concluded, “So the highest good for Eros is Free Will. But where can we find free will? Where would Eros find free will?”

Psyche finally returned from her weeping to remind the two, “I love Eros.”

Socrates, thinking aloud, said, “But where can we find free will?”

Psyche realized what had happened and cried out, “In freeing thought from superstitions and control from other sources.”

“With that, Psyche flew away and Athena returned to Olympus, My food. Socrates was left there pondering the idea of achieving free thought. Athena says that Psyche found Eros not too far from here, half starved and half dead.”

“My eater, you bring me good news.”

“Prometheus, Psyche and I come to free you. Away, eagle of Zeus, we are Eros and Psyche; and if you would have none love you, interfere with our plans.”

“You see, my eater, I am Prometheus, fore-thought. Eros learned that I give free will by defying the gods, that I can act independent of the gods if I chose. Eros was half starved because he can not exist without Psyche. Together, they have the strength to free me from the gods.

Note the words of Eros, ‘If you would have none love you, interfere with my plans.’ The only way the gods have power is through our love of them; but if you interfere, it is not our’s but your own reflected. The freedom of Love and Thought are the highest good. Of course, there is still the question of what to do with free will, but those decision and the chains that they yield are our own.”

The Case of Jack James Jonah Versus God

The Case of Jack James Jonah Versus God

Excerpt from a newspaper:

Today, April 27, 1982, the renowned author Jack James Jonah, who often wrote under the pen name of Voyager duPense, after being shot in the brain, left parietal lobe, by a deluded but concerned citizen (“for the minds of my children”) died in New York City Hospital. His death will be mourned by many people throughout the world as his words dealt with the entire human race and society and the latter’s reformation and education…

I was an apprentice clerk in the law offices of Peter and Paul, prosecuting attorneys for the Celestial Supreme Court. I was their representative delivering a subpoena for the arrest of Soul Jack James Jonah. Accompanied by his defense attorney, Soul Satan, First assistant to God, I traveled down to earth and inspired the shooting mentioned above. During our ascent to the court, news of the article reached us and I heard Jonah and the great Satan speaking.

Soul Jonah said, “It’s and excellently written article, the style is complex, at points difficult to follow but always understandable by some person; some of the masses will be able to comprehend, totally, what he is saying and the educated will be confused at the praise. All in all and excellent work.”

“We know you enjoyed writing like that Jonah,” replied Satan, “that’s why we have to bring you in front of the Supreme Court. God just can’t decide what to do with you! Peter, Paul and even Mary say you should be punished for purposefully deceiving people and believing it to be in the best of intensions.”

“Well, all I was doing was trying to help people to attain a higher level of understanding and my style was a part of that. I am innocent!”

“Take my advice Jonah, never say ‘innocent’ in court, let alone in soul society. Anyway, we’re almost at court. Remember, leave everything to me.”

And so we arrived at the Celestial Supreme Court. The honorable God presiding.

God said, “Can we get on with it please, I’ve got a date next spring and its already fall since he died.”

The bailiff was about to recite his introductions when God interrupted, “I know all that! Let’s get on with it! Prosecutors, call your first witness.”

Paul rose and said, “I thank you, your honor, since it is my turn to sit in Peter’s chair, I will allow him to take the case.”

So the greatest soul that ever lived on earth, the mightiest man to seek fulfillment, so the soul of Peter ascended and spoke, “Uh, heh, Well now, uh, well, if your honor will allow, I would like to ah call ah, um, gee…”

God interrupted the great man. “Peter, sit down. Paul I command you to take over!”

Paul did take over and called Jonah’s father, Soul Timothy of the Timeyes. Paul began, “Now, Soul Timeyes, can you tell the court of the childhood of the soul you see next to Satan- Soul Jonah.”

Soul Timeyes was a white, petit, colorless soul and in his speech told why: “Me lord, me an’ the misses, we was just enjoyin’ ourselves when you done condemned us with this young’un. He awould git lost every time wese look around; why once he done slept in a bird cage for two nights. Now, we’un couldn’t figger this so’am we let him do wha’ he want. Un day, he dun begun paintin’ the wall-now our other kids, well they used to write on um but none a’ ‘em done painted it! Well any ways we took ‘im to a head doctor. He looks around Jameses head and finds a living hole in da back. Ye know wha’, all de sudden dat dum kim painted da doc’s office!- and no paint on his hands- and no canz of paint fer to hold de paint! Ye can believe I whooped em fer dat. After’n dat whoopin’ he dun settle down and grown up. Boy, I can tell ya, he dun run me an’ da misses ragged!”

This was all that Paul wanted so he thanked the gentleman and allowed Satan to ask questions. And Satan had a great many questions, and God asked him to go ahead (and if he wanted to play tennis Sunday).

Satan spoke,”Soul Timeyes, wee you ever beaten by your father?”

Timeyes responded, “Yes, sir, my boones dun get whooped a lot.”

Satan asked, “How did you feel after he ‘whooped’ you?”

“Well, I was angry.”

“Did you hate your father?”

“Well, no”

God stopped him there and said, “Soul Timeyes, you can not lie in this court. We have it on excellent authority, my good friend Frued, that you did hate your father after he beat you and every night felt sick because he was with her.”

Timeyes responded, “I didn’ hate my father, by God. It was his dang duty to beat me!”

Satan came to the sinking Timeyes rescue, “Lord God, let him go on this account-it is a Monday you know.”

“Well, okay; if you say so, old boy.”

Satan continued his questioning, “Soul Timeyes, you say it was your father’s duty to beat you; was it therefore, your duty to beat Jonah?… Let it be noted on the record that the witness nods in agreement.” Suddenly, Satan erupted, “Mr. Timeyes! Did it ever occur to you that this son may have been the most creative of your children! And when he expressed that ability by painting an office without paint, without paint! You, you imbecile ‘whooped’ him into submission! No wonder that this poor Jonah grew up to write deceitfully, Because of you, yes you. Mr. Timeyes, the world is deprived of his magnificent talent. You told him his honest expression is wrong, you repressed his talent and so he repressed in his writing! No further questions G.D.”

God sneered at Timeyes as he stepped down and then continued the case, “Any more witnesses Paul?”

Paul was ready, “Your Godishness, unlike our good friend Satan implies, no man can influence the creative ability of a great man, thus we must conclude that Soul Jonah is responsible for his own works, having settled that, I would like to call, as witness Voyager du Pense.”

This was shocking, Paul was calling up a non-God creation, no one could expect anything from a fictitious character, In a similar trial for another writer, a character called Billy Budd was called up to testify for Soul Herman Meville. Budd was an excellent witness and explained that logic of Melville, but he spoke in Melville’s style and God, Peter, Paul, and even Satan were thoroughly convinced that Melville used his style to deceive the non-educated; overwhelm the semi-educated, and win over the supra-educated; the charge was made-creating a non understandable work with intent to do malice- Melville was condemned to the worst punishment available.

The week being over, and all the souls present at the trial completely baffled, Satan asked, and was granted, by God, a recess.

The next week the trial continued. After conjuring up Voyager du Pense, Paul began.”Monsieur du Pense, can you tell us of your greatest adventure?”

M. du Pense thought for a while the spoke.”My greatest adventure must be my analysis of my creator’s life; if you will allow, I do not mean his life but his ancestry. It began with; it is a long story…”

God was quick to say, “Well just gives us the highlights, we don’t have eternity you know.”

“If you wish, your honor,” continued du Pense, “There are five of his father’s I would like to mention: Sophocles, Dante, Shakespeare, Melville, and Camus…”

The list was amazing! Each and all of these men were once before the same court; and only two had escaped the supreme punishment: Sophocles because he wrote to the common in the vulgar tongue and Camus because he cared nothing of the decision. Some say that Melville was an incarnation of Shakespeare who was an incarnation of Dante! Imagine the shock we had when they were brought up again.

Du Pense continued, “My creator was a superfluous, excellent mixture of these, his character types came from Sophocles, he took lengthy plots from Dante, uncountable allusions from Shakespeare, he used Melville’s masterful style, and finally Camus’ simplicity.”

Another shock wave was felt in the court room, even Paul had to catch his breath. Whispers could be heard, “atrocious, disgusting…snot headed, pathetic creature!” they were saying. God had to call order in the court.

He said, “I know we are all astonished by this thing’s testimony, and we are shocked that such a combination could be made, but we must, and you will grin and bear it.”

We all swallowed our disgust and waited for Du Pense to continue.

“In the plot, which my creator had me go through, one of extreme length, he was proud to state in the seventy-five page preface that it was longer than the combined Old. New, and Renewed Testament, I would go through the lives of all of his predecessors, from Moses to Camus and then through his own life and make conclusions along the way- all of it, of course, in his great grand uncle, H.G. Wells’ time ship…”

“Just the highlight, M. duPense.” Said God

“Sorry sir.” He replied, “Well, I remember meeting Sophocles…”

“That will be all, M. du Pense,” said Paul, thus saving us from that disgusting style. “Your witness, Satan.” Concluded Paul.

Soul Satan was thinking full speed. Electric charge accumulated and discharged from his horns, his trident was aflame with resistance; and then the whole of Satan relaxed, and he asked, “How long have you known the defendant?”

“Since he began the crime of writing,”

“The soul is not guilty til so proven Mister du Pense.”

“He certainly is you see…”

“Do you think that a creation can understand its creator?” interposed Satan.

“That was another one of my adventures where I, though…”

God interrupted, “Give it up Satan, you’ve met your match.”

He replied, “Yes, my lord.”

Paul then told the court that he neither had nor had any need for further evidence. It was Satan’s turn.

“Your honor, the defense would like to call Soul Jack James Jonah’s wife, Eve of the good house of Fidelity.”

God delivered the expected speech, “Soul Satan, you know how difficult it is to bring up somebody who is still alive; thus I’ll have to ask you to reconsider.”

Satan was enraged, “Your honor, the soul, the life even, of a man is at question, we must call her up if only for the sake of justice! In your name, in your own conscience, can you condemn a man you know is not even aware of his fate!”

God, tired and weary, surrendered, “All right, all right Satan, get her.”

And so she was brought to the Celestial Supreme Court, Satan began, “Now Eve, do you love your husband?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, can you tell the court why?”

“Well, sir, he is the most honest, most handsome, most loving husband a wife could have. You know I asked him what a sentence of his meant. And he told me, oh what a darling. ‘Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, dear.’ Another time I asked how I could get better than I was, he told me to leave everything to him.” She sighed and was lost in her dream world.

Satan took over, “Such a man as to take the responsibility of others was also crucified by the people he tried to enlighten, my lord. No further questions.”

Paul was on his feet, “Eve, do you remember that sentence you couldn’t understand?”

“Oh, no I don’t sir.”

“Would you, if you heard it again?”

“I do believe I would.”

“Then see if this is it; ‘It was a drab, dark, misty night when I had a run in with the dead blind, ogish man, a phantom, a phantasmagoric, supercilious, brethren of mine lay, cold as a gutter rat of the rattae mammillae species, in the solemn, over cool, vicious night of bewitched darkness, in which Pluto, King of Hades, would not dare to even think, to use that gift that Athena had bestowed upon us, of coming into.’”

“Why yes, I do believe it is!”

We were amazed, there was no doubt of the verdict.

“No further questions, God.” Ended Paul.

Satan was at Trident’s end. He called the Soul Jack James Jonah.

Jonah had kept silent throughout the proceedings, now he would try to redeem himself.

“Jonah, why do you write as you do?”

“Well, Mr. Satan, as my pen name said, I had adapted myself to the writings of great authors-one he didn’t mention was Steinbeck, who was instrumental in my plots and style. When I had trouble understanding these great writers, I thought that writing was for the supra-educated and the under-educated really didn’t mean mush so, I just wrote as complex as…”

Satan himself was shocked, the soul admitted to his crime, in the presence of God! Satan shouted, “Stop! Your honor, please no further questions.”

God asked Paul and Peter if they had any questions, but both smiled and said no.

God recessed the hearing, “Next week, gentlemen, you will give final arguments; it’s really a tough case. I hope that you will clarify things next week. I also hope you consider the seriousness of the case and meet me on the tennis court Saturday; we’ll hit a few humans around. Court’s adjourned.”

And so we come to today. Satan had been arguing for about twenty hours and is just surmising:

“At last we come to the final decision, and the final question: Is this soul to be condemned for a crime he had no idea he committed! Yes, he wrote to simply write over the heads of people, but this is a natural tendency of his race. It his through no fault of his, his heritage condemned him to write as he does. He is, in fact, an addict; an addict to complexity, he suffers a fever, which orders him to write beyond the comprehension of men, he is your common writer! Certainly he tries to out-write the brains of men, that is his duty, his moral obligation to his species! If not for him there would be people completely self-satisfied, there would be no discontentedness. How dare we, the content, condemn them to our fates! This man kept them in their place!! He should not be condemned but rewarded for his excellent, confusing writing ability! No! Not just him but all writers should be thusly, equally rewarded for the confusion they cause! Melville should not have been condemned, he should be praised amongst the greatest of minds, of master confusers!…Thankyou.”

God, now in a hurry because his date, whom he called Gypsy Rose, had just walked in, asked Paul to make his statement brief. And so Paul gave his arguments as God watched Gypsy.

“My esteemed colleague has an extraordinary ability to shift facts of truth to facts of falsehood. Take for example his statement that Jonah was self-sacrificed enough not to explain the meaning of a sentence to his wife. Furthermore, he declares the man a hero! I deny it! The man purposefully, knowingly, led millions of people to confusion- to the ultimate loss of personality. He and his like engross thereby by ridiculing the very humanity of man! What right do writers have to suppress, to clutter the minds of people with their own ignorance. I may condemn this man to…”

“Thank you Paul,” interrupted an impatient God, “you’ve said tha one sentence you need… Now, Soul Jack James Jonah, do you have anything to say?”

“I, … I am innocent.”

Satan yelled, the rest of us laughed to high heaven, we couldn’t handle the foolishness of the statement. Satan sat shaking his head.

After a second or so God called us to order, he had decided.

“Soul Jack James Jonah, by decision of me, you are found guilty of the purposeful confusion and thereby perversion of the minds of the vulgar. What punishment do you feel fits your situation?”

“Your honor, I am a simple, though my writings, as you have decided, may be complex, only because they are the best styles, do I now stand condemned, as though I were not a hung man, merely dangling, I have the fascinating choice between fall and deceasement, a choice which I am sure Voyager du Pense would be interested in…”

“Since you will punish yourself, I’ll do it. You are condemned to ten lives as a writer and expert on Herman Melville.”

“No, please, God, no! Not Herman Melville, please any other person, please…”

“Furthermore, you will share a cell with Soul John Steinbeck as he discourses about his books. Court is adjourned.”

So the case finally did end. Like Melville, Jonah lost- he sat there crying for help from his fate-one almost equal to Melville. One could almost say Moby Dick liked neither of the two. Let this be a warning to all writers, when Satan’s your attorney, your ‘devil’s advocate’, be ready to act simple.

“Clerk.”

“Yes, Soul Satan?”

“Your case is next, let’s go.”

Saturn

Saturn

“Chamus base I.D. we have notification of a run-a-way approaching the martian asteroid belt. Jupiter tracking stations suggest impact on Saturn. Please intercept or advise.”

“Saturn tracking, this is Chamus base 10, we have received your message, please advise nature of run-a-way.”

“Passenger ship having received unknown amount of damage. Entered military zone previous to run-a-way status, engaged in battle. We are uncertain if the ship is military in nature. Hold… Security center recommends possibility of a x-z bomb, they may have picked up unprocessed fuel at the base. Annihilation must be out of orbit. Please direct immediate attention.

“Chamus base 10, this is Saturn Security we are now a code red. This is not a drill. Moon fields are to be generated immediately. Activate anti-war head phasers. Α-Ω bombs set to maximum planetary damage.”

“Saturn security, please advise of Uranus response to Code Red.”

‘Chamus base 10, this is a Code Red. You must follow set procedures. Communications shut down effective immediately.”

“Security, respond!, respond! Damn!” The commander of Chamus military depot turned to his advisors. It had began, the final war., “Code Red, gentlemen, proceed. Air borne dipatch one squadron to intercept the passenger vehicle-you understand-no survivors.” Since the early days on Eos to the cohabitation of Saturn men had fought wars. Some to destroy enemies, some to gain profit, some to prove their point. Always men had died and children had perished without love. It was the insanity of men to find dignity in the slaughter of families. I have always known this, even when entering the military. At first I had sought merely to hold my own financially through the service but, oddly, I had enjoyed it enough to pursue it further till I was in charge of the Chamus base defense system. But then I had thought that there would be no war. There had been accidents in the past, but in 5 Saturn years no one had died from a nuclear device, civilian or military. No one would be silly enough to start a nuclear war. Yet here I am. The button was pushed. I will be locked in the center of Chamus forever unless the doors were released by a Green order from Saturn. My family is dead. No, no bombs have fallen. I would have known, but I’ll never see them again, I will never have grandchildren.

Why! Why! Damn the communicative silence. It wasn’t the run-a-way that will be dealt with too easily, but why. The talks had been going well. The Uranian government was becoming more favorable to rejoining our forces. The joint mission to Venus had been a great success. Students were exchanged everyday. The political prisoners had been released. Why had the Uranian’s done this to their planet! To our planets! I’m a soldier; I’ve learned that when an enemy kills you, you must kill him before you die. I must destroy Uranus for Saturn too is dead. I must make sure Uranus pays for this; “Communication officers, are we set?”

“Nuclear missiles armed and ready.”

“Aerial bomb prepared for launch.”

“Moon shields 100%.”

“Chamus planetary shields 70% No contact with the other shields yet.”

“Civilian population alerted, shelters open.”

“Satellite telescopes on screens one through sixteen.”

“Ground telescopes on screens seventeen through fifty.”

“Ground cameras functional, infra-red feed on screen fifty one, all sectors functional.”

The ultimate state of readiness. All of my men know the routine. All I have to do is wait.

“Chamus planetary shields at 100%, contact made with other shields. Energy flow indicates all planetary shields are joined. Saturn is sealed.”

They’re waiting now. It’ll be me or my first mate that will call the order. But they need to wait for me, thirty seconds. Thirty seconds to die for life or to live for death. I’m a soldier, I die that others may live; I live that others may die. Especially those that would hurt Saturn. I must live to make sure they die, “Air borne launch! Interplanetary missiles launch!”

“Interplanetary missiles wave launched, defense missiles ready.”

“Airborne launched. Squadron green lost three fighters-technician errors. Squadron yellow diverted to run-a-way”

“Shields clear a window.”

“Planetary shields holding.”

“Martial law imposed. Aerial division technician found guilty of treason, terminated. Family now being questioned. Looting in sector 7 under control.”

“Satellite telescopes indicate no incoming.”

“Ground telescope identify launches. Dog fight in Quadrant ninety three, three Saturnian planes downed by unknown Saturnian pilot.”

“Ground cameras functional.”

“Ground telescope officer, identity the plane.”

“30-90-43, commander”

“Computer detonate 30-90-43”

“Voice check confirmed, 30-90-43 detonated”

“Ground telescope confirms, commander.”

“Any others?”

“Ground telescopes identifies none others, planes have cleared shield windows”

“Close shield, commander”

I rule Chamus. No one will ever question an order. There is only one order I can’t give. Code green. Damn I want to stop the war, but it’s too late. They’ve made their move. Besides Code green has to come from Saturn…

Thirty minutes have gone by. No news except the termination of the run-a-way. No signs of incomings. Planes are being tracked by satellite telescopes. No evidence of a launch from Uranus. No Green order. What’s going on? Where’s the damn war. Oh shit! We started it! Thirty minutes, they’ve just entered the visual range of Chamus. We started the fucking war! “Officers, report stats.”

“Missiles to reach Uranus in thirty minutes. Wave two to reach in forty minutes, Wave three to reach in fifty minutes, Wave four cleared windows one minute ago. Defensive missiles at ready.”

“Squadron Yellow returning to join defensive squadrons. Others approaching Uranus”

“Moon shields at 100%”

“Planetary shields at 100%.”

“No civic problems.”

“Satellite telescopes functional.”

“Ground telescopes functional.”

“Cameras functional.”

They’re getting tired. They must all have realized that we started the war. That means we’re all out. No code green until Uranus is destroyed. One hundred missiles each wave, ten waves from each moon. The fifth wave will destroy the shields. The sixth wave will kill 90% of the population. The seventh will raise the surface temperatures to 300 celsius and generate earthquakes off the scale. The eighth will begin vaporizing the surface. The ninth and tenth just to make sure. Fuck!

Sixty minutes “Officers, report status.”

“Wave two of missiles have reached Uranus. Wave seven has cleared windows. Defensive Missiles tracking incoming wave one.”

“Offensive squadrons have reached Chamus and are engaged.”

“Nothing at defensive squadron.”

“Man shields at 100%.”

“Chamus Planetary shields at 100%.”

“Civilian population unsettled. Patrols are having difficulty controlling flights. Three deaths, fighter injuries is sector eight.”

“Satellite telescopes indicate impact of waves one and two, Wave four now out of sight, wave seven entering field. Air borne engagement suggested by telescopes. Wave one of Uranus missiles identified. Estimated destination is two point seven minutes, on Saturn in twenty-eight minutes. Chamus unlikely to be hit due to position behind Saturn.”

“Ground telescopes show no problems.”

“Ground cameras confirm riots throughout civilian sectors, patrols being directed to areas of disarray”

This is it. The weak point in our tactics. To make sure they don’t know what we’re doing. There is a communication silence. Without communication we can’t coordinate our anti-missile missiles and they can’t coordinate with each other. Targets have to be precise. The various moons will end up shooting the same missiles. Hopefully only a few will get through. “Launch defense missiles! Defense squadrons prepare for enemy attack. Shields make sure you’re at full!”

“Defense missiles launched.”

“Squadrons ready for battle, sir!”

“Shields at 100%, Window’s created.”

“Shields at 100%.”

“Ground telescopes confirm launch.”

Ninety minutes, shit, “Officers, repeat status.”

“Wave four missiles has reached Uranus, Wave ten have cleared the windows. Defense missiles engaged waves one and two Uranian missiles. From wave one 12/150 struck the moon shield of Eos, 10/150 struck the Staturnian Planetary shield. 1/150 approached Chamus it was shot down by defense planes. A total of 50/150 are known to have passed the anti-missile missiles. From wave two a total of 50/150 are known to have passed through the missiles. It is estimated the Eos’ moon shield will fail when these strike it generating a ten percent deficiency in the planetary shield. They will not be able to launch all defensive missiles. Eos was able to launch all offensive missiles. Defensive missiles wave three is now approaching Uranian wave three.”

“Offensive squadron engaged in battle over Chamus, status unknown. Defensive squadrons from Saturn are taking a heavy beating.”

“I don’t want to hear about Planetary squadrons Air borne officer. Everybody is on their own, Thank you, I know.”

“Yes, commander… Defensive squadron are holding, meeting minimal attack.”

“Commander, We just lost power from Eos. The shield is dropping. Now rising. Estimation to 95% commander.”

“Moon shield officer continue report”

“Sir, Eos…”

“Continue report, officer”

“Yes, sir. Moon shields functional”

“Chamus Planetary shields at 95%”

“Civilian population getting worse. Forty deaths, two patrolman included, three hundred ninety seven injured including fifteen patrolman.”

“Is it only sectors seven and eight”

“It has spread into six and nine sir”

“Ok, telescope officer?”

“Satellite telescope on sector four lost in battle. Eos is registering direct hits. Uranus just got hit by wave four showing some shield damage. It’s moons are glowing.”

“Ground telescopes indicate occasional aerial fights, no major damage.”

“Cameras, functional show rioting in section seven.”

Eos is dead. Our home. Where our species arose from is now dead.

“Sir we just lost another 15% from planetary shields.”

“How much can be compensated?”

“We’re the only ones that aren’t being hit badly yet. We’re getting minimum support from the others. It’s to 80% but that won’t hold. Three waves sir?”

“I know, you’ve got to keep it up!”

“Yes, sir”

“Moon shield just took a blast in the southern quadrant. Shield dropping to 50%…”

“Break communication silence, alert defense squadrons.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Shields coming back up 60,70,75% stabilized. That couldn’t have been one bomb.”

“Commander take a look at section eight.”

“What is it?”

“It’s one of the moons of Uranus, watch the playback”

Why does he want me to watch this? A moon being bombarded, that’s all…Oh God! Oh God! The moon vaporized, Oh God! He’s repeating it on screen fourteen, why?

“Wasn’t that great, commander?”

“Why are you repeating it, telescope officer?”

“Sir?”

“Screen fourteen.”

“Sir!… sir, that’s one of ours.”

“Oh.”

“Commander, Planetary shield just dropped 30%. Rebuilding….I can’t do it. I’ve got back to 60%, but I can’t hold it… Commander, what do I do? Commander!”

“Commander we took another hit to the moon shield we’ve dropped down to 50,55,60% I can hold it for a while. Sir.”

“Keep it going men, we’ve got to keep it going. Another ten minutes and Uranus will be vaporized, we’ll have won!” But all of their missiles will have launched. How could they have thought we could win? No, I mustn’t say that. We can win, we will win.I must believe that.

“Captain we just lost another moon”

“Planetary shield down to 20% power drain is too much, the other moons are shutting off their supply. 10% sir!, Surces are be depleted!”

“Divert planetary shields to moo shields!.”

“Energy being diverted”

“Planetary shields to zero.”

“Moon shields up to 65,70,73%, stabilized.”

“We’ve lost another moon – just vaporized.”

“Easy telescope officer.”

(Easy shit!)

“You fucking bastard! It’s your fucking fault, you shit, you pushed the fucking red button. I’ll make sure you die before I do, you God damn fucking shit….”

The telescope officer is drawing on me. I live that others may die. I’m faster than him. Good-bye officer. “OK man get back to work.”

“We’ve lost screens three plus seven also, sir.”

“Ok, Ground telescope officer, you’re promoted to telescope officer.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir!”

“We have cameras fixed on a riot zone, commander, civilians are armed and killing each other. We’ve lost count.”

“Saturn just got hit, again, again, again, again…”

“Enough telescope officer.”

“Yes, sir”

“Defense squadron captain broke silence, sir. He’s lost all his men. There aren’t any of the enemies around. He’s heading into Saturn. Should I detonate his craft?”

“No, he’s abandoning a dead post.” And we are manning it.

“Last of the defense missiles have been launched sir.”

“Moon shields dropping to 40%, I can’t raise them sir.”

“Sir, look at screen forty seven please”

“What is it officer?”

“I don’t know sir, see the white flare at the surface of Saturn’s atmosphere?”

“The shields are gone, what could that be?”

“Commander, It’s the defense squadron captain, his ship burning up on re-entry”

“Saturn’s temperature,” It must be incredible.

“Get on with the work man, we’ll make it,” even if Saturn doesn’t.

“Commander, wave nine hit us. Shields are now at zero. I’m building them up on solar power, we’re up to 5,6,7,7.5,7.7%”

“Sir, look at Saturn!”

“90% of wave nine made it through the defense missiles.”

“Rioting in the central corridors, the settlements are in absolute chaos!”

“Stop!” That’s it, we sit and watch now, and it’s over. “Everybody we’ve fought a good battle and you’ve all done the children of Eos well. You should be proud of yourselves but now the war is over. If you’ll look at screen one you’ll note the Uranus is a dust ball. There is no life on Uranus, only two of its moon remain, both barren. We’ve survived, that’s the key. I guess the men on Saturn hoped we would.”

“Look at Saturn! Damn it! It’s molten, look at it! See how the last wave of missiles seems to pass through the planet, they freaking melted Saturn!”

“Telescope officer, come to attention”

“But, sir!”

“Attention! Now!”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’re soldiers; we knew that people would die. In war, the winner is the one who lives the longest. We did. We won. We were the superior. Freedom has won over dictatorship. We have proven once and for all that mankind is truly greatest when it is free. Uranus is a molten mess! Saturn is the soup of souls and the giver of our own life. Saturn shielded us from the missiles that we may live. Like a good soldier it died for us. Long live Saturn!”

“Long live Saturn! Long live Saturn!”

Yes, long live the dead Saturn. Barely a core left in the last glowing area that once was a planet with water and fields of plants, and people, filled with life. Now it’s too hot for even the eye of God to look upon. Too hot, too white, too dead for me to bear. “Let us now stand in silence and honor our dead comrades”

“Sir, the tenth wave just hit us. Ground telescopes burning out, surface temperature reaching eighty thousand, core temperature reaching one hundred. We’ve lost the atmosphere.”

“Life support systems on, functioning all right, sir.”

“The outer shelters!”

“Camera fifty one”

“The’re burned to a crisp. None of them could have survived.”

“Core temperature dropping to fifty degrees Celsius, dropping.”

“Life support raising central chamber temperature, stable at thirty degrees.”

“Core temperature dropping to below twenty degrees Celsius, dropping.”

“Life support systems, ok.”

“That was it, gentlemen. Not only did we survive longer in the war but also we survived the war. Unquestionably we won!”

“Yes, sir, we won…”

They know, we won, we fucking won. Six men, two women in chamber with food for one week. A chamber that’s closed to feed the dead civilians frozen, charred in their riot. Yes we won, we died last.

---

Two days after the war. Solar panels are burnt out. Now running on battery. Life support systems will fail soon…

Look at the pretty rings we created.