Chapter Four

     Young decided to sleep a little more.  When she got up the head of military police was waiting for her.  "We recovered the other surveillance device," he remarked.  "It was in the mayor's house.  It showed he and some of his friends attacked that house.  We've taken them into custody.  Ma'am, we found something else....videos, both in the commander's house and the mayor's house.  A lot of people who have been opposing the President have disappeared.  It shows where they have gone.  They chained them out in fields; men, women, children, then they made their sons shoot them with bolt action rifles!  Sometimes it took them eight or more rounds before they killed the people.  They made their kids do it, ma'am!  What are we to do, take the kids into custody, charge them?  Or, just charge the fathers?"
      Young stared at him, wide eyed.  "Let me see one of the videos!"  she insisted.  After she had watched it she wished she hadn't!  One of the victims was a little girl no more than eight.  It was obvious what had been done to her before they chained her out in the field.  The boys shot at her and shot at her, some of them laughing and making bets as to who would hit her knee, her arm.  Young turned off the video.  "Arrest them!"  she snapped, "Charge them!  Age is to be no concern.  If they're on one of those videos shooting one of those rifles, they are to be arrested!"  She turned to her aide.  "Get me through to The First Speaker!  I need advice on this."
     A few minutes later The First Speaker's image came on her video screen.  "First Speaker," she explained, "we have found that the leaders here were having their sons shoot prisoners who had committed no crimes other than protesting the government's practices...men, women, and children.  It's all on video.  It's all condemning.  But they weren't any of our people.  What should I do?"
     "You are at liberty, Warlock," The First Speaker answered, "to pass judgment on any crimes against humanity!  If you wish your other officers to view the evidence and give their opinions, that will be quite appropriate.  But the final decision is yours.  It does not matter to us who the crimes were committed against.  Murder is murder!  Atrocities are atrocities!  Justice needs to be dispensed, rather they are our people, or, somebody else's.  There is sufficient precedent to this.  The decision is yours, but whatever decision you take I will back you fully because I know it will be a just and honorable one."
     "Thank you, First Speaker!"  Young answered.  "I will act according to the law.  But I will have my other officers review the evidence and give their recommendations on punishment, just so the public will know it was not my decision, alone, that it was a consensus."
     "Then proceed!"  The First Speaker replied.  "If you'll excuse me, Warlock, I've got to get back to sleep!"
     "Thank you for your time, First Speaker!"  Young snapped, giving a sharp salute, then switched off the viewer. 
      She turned to the military police commander.  "Have these videos shown to all command officers.  I want them each given a slip of paper with the words written on it 'pardon,' 'imprisonment,' or 'execution.'  They are to cross out what they recommend.  Kindly have their responses back to me by this afternoon."
     "As you command!"  the officer snapped.  He saluted and hurried off.  Young stared at the television wondering if she should play the video again, but she just couldn't.  She just couldn't stomach it. 
     Things began to get nasty.  Word had gotten out.  The UN representative came.  "Madame," he began.
     "My title is Warlock!"  Young snapped.  "Only my troops may address me as madame.  Have your say and get out of here!"
     "Yes, Warlock!"  the man continued.  "There are rumors going around that you're going to execute the young men because of some fuzzy videos.   Because of some very questionable evidence.  I understand they were following

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