"Welcome, General Simon"
Renard, the VIA of the head General welcomed Simon to the meeting with his head lowered in a bow. Renard donned a perfectly tailored suit, his curly hair looked a deep brown.
Simon nodded and continued down the room to his chair. He nodded again at the seated Generals then turned his head to the other side of the round table.
The pock marked face of General Gates stared back at him with stone dead eyes. Simon let out a gasp, he couldn't help it.
Back in his apartment, he had seen all the Generals multiple times and tried to understand his relationship with each of them but General Gates looked far more imposing in person. The projection he had seen back in his bedroom was like a shadow of the true General.
"Mess this up and I'll kill you"
Alice words rung in his ears. She had told him this while they prepared that morning and he knew he had to behave as normal as possible.
He was quick to compose himself, he sat and examined the screens that were part of the round table.
General Gates looked around at each of the Generals seated, no seat was empty this time. Satisfied all was in order, Gates redirected his gaze to meet his assistant who immediately understood and stepped forward.
"Today, the Generals decide the fate of China. Please read through the given material."
A document appeared on each of their screens, they quickly read through and nodded repeatedly in satisfaction as though no further deliberation would be necessary.
Gates took over. "For millennia the nation of China has survived the wrath of their enemies. As you all know, a group of revolutionaries has appeared in China. Our sources tell us that this group is largely supported by the people, even folks from other countries have joined them to oppose the rule of the Generals." Gates paused, his words hung in the air, thick silence settled. So much so that one could hear his partner breathe.
"This rebellious organization has thrived for many years now but only because we let them, not wishing to wipe them out unnecessarily. However, these people refuse to know their place and so we will strike them down. Total obliteration", he voiced. The others nodded their approval so he continued.
"I suggest we deploy a fair amount of our armed forces immediately to eliminate them before they become a threat. All in favor?", he asked, willing to bring the meeting to a quick close. Powerful men had better and more useful matters to attend to, other than sit around a table worrying over individuals that were worth so little.
He watched as all Generals voiced their approval without delay, there was no convincing to do.
Simon was not surprised about the meeting's length. His assistant had warned him earlier that such meetings could be incredibly short and uneventful. "They are the best, your favorites", she had told him.
"We are after an organization, are we not?", Simon asked, gathering himself.
"Yes", Gates replied heavily, he obviously didn't appreciate such questions.
Simon pushed. "The plan outlined here targets the entire population of China not just one rebellious group. Is this perhaps an error"
"It most certainly isn't, young General" Gates affirmed.
'Young General huh', Simon didn't appreciate Gates stressing the age difference.
"If it's not an error then why is the entire nation going to be wiped out because of one group?" Simon's voice was firm.
The other Generals watched the exchange intently, none of them tried to say a word.
"I'll be frank with you Simon. They're being punished. I need not remind you of the heinous crimes of that nation during the twenty first century, they're solely responsible for the black death which claimed billions of lives. Now they dare host a criminal organization, after all their past evils, and you expect us to go easy on them? "
"That, General Gates, was two thousand years ago. Why punish them for the sins of their ancestors, the mistakes of their past?", Simon fired, he couldn't believe he was saying this to Gates himself.
The head General didn't flinch, he looked Simon straight in the eye and spoke."They deserve punishment, there sin is unforgivable and cannot be overlooked."
"But they already paid dearly for all that. 90% of their people were killed, isn't that enough?"
"No, not at all. They should be wiped out completely, they do not deserve to exist in this world.", Gates said with a tone of finality amd and Simon just couldn't breathe.
The youngster glanced unbelievably at the other Generals who remained seated, their eyes trained on him like he was a fool.
Also he couldn't believe they were all close to a hundred in age, according to Alice, the human race had been genetically engineered and now allowed them reach maturity at 15 and live up to an estimated 150.
How could these old men be so bloodthirsty?
His eyes pleaded with them to say something, anything, but they didn't and Simon knew he was beginning to loathe them.
Simon didn't need to do much thinking. No use considering the words of a lunatic. He voiced his thoughts immediately with a tone of finality too.
"Well I'm sorry, I can't bring myself to accept this plan. Too many innocent people are going to die."
A look of surprise registered on the Generals' faces, but only for a moment, then it was gone. Their expressionless face turned towards Gates. Obviously they were trying to keep an air of professionalism.
Cowards! Simon growled inside.
Gates was not surprised at all, he lightly shook his head and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
What else does he know? Simon asked himself, the head General was becoming more mysterious by the moment. It seemed like he totally expected Simon's reaction to the plan when others had been surprised.
Is this how I usually am? Simon asked himself again.
"It would appear General Simon is tired, still recuperating after a brief illness. I say he leave and deliberate on this in the privacy of his home, I'm sure he would see the light", Gate continued, "His stand in this matter should be made known to this gathering within exactly two days. Whether he reconsider or remain adamant is up to him, all in favor?"
All Generals nodded and responded positively.
Simon was infuriated. What kind of one-man government is this?! He wanted to yell.
He stared defiantly at Gates, who returned his gaze for a moment then closed his eyes and turned his seat 180 degrees.
One by one, the others began to leave but not after Renard had declared the meeting over. The VIA didn't need to though, they already knew.
Simon stormed off, rage burned within him, unconcealed. He took an elevator and dropped straight down to the lowest floor where he immediately found his car and stepped close to it.
Right about then, a hand came upon his left shoulder. He turned sharply and created some distance, he hadn't noticed the figure draw near.
"Don't be surprised, it's me."
The voice had just admonished him not to he surprised, notwithstanding, his jaw dropped as he recognized who had approached him.
"General..." he managed to say.
"Yes, it's me."
The rage suddenly returned. "What's wrong with you and the others? Why did you fall silent? Seemed to me like you were all paid off."
"Preposterous", the General defended, "we cannot be bribed."
"Then why on earth do you love bloodshed so much and..."
"General Simon, listen, there's no time." the General cut Simon off.
"No time to what? Don't tell me you followed me all the way here just to..."
"Just shut up and hear him out", it was Alice's turn to cut him short, her voice could only be heard by him. He fell silent.
"Gates, the other Generals, you just don't understand."
"Then make me understand", Simon voiced impatiently and was scolded once again by Alice.
The General continued. "I hope our conversation today stays between the two of us."
Simon nodded.
"You are the only General who doesn't know it. I'm not sure why General Gates hasn't told you yet. Perhaps it's because you're too young, or that temper of yours", he added.
"Know what?", Simon asked.
"That uhm", the General looked around to make sure no one else was listening. He looked uncertain then turned to face Simon.
Simon was about to go his way and ignore the hesitant General when he heard it and suddenly went rigid. The words.
"It wasn't them. The Second Black Death was not China doing."