Commander Bragg lit his Camel with the smoldering butt of his last one, smoked down to a nubbin. Lieutenant Roy did not remark on this. The eyes of the world are upon you.
“You’re sure they are all evacuated,” said Commander Bragg. It was not a question.
“One hundred percent, sir,” said Lieutenant Roy. “Triple checked.”
“Because if anyone is in the zone, anyone at all, they’re dead. You understand that?”
“Understood, sir.”
But in truth, Lieutenant Roy was only 90% sure.
Language barriers and the innate stubbornness of the islanders, especially the old ones, made ancillary casualties a real possibility.
Does 10 megaton translate very well to the native language? Don’t want that on my conscious…
Excellent. Anyone who is aware of the history of atomic/nuclear testing will understand. Well done.
Oh my, so sad…..the casualties of war.
DB McNicol
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A few casualties but that’s okay. Really Lieutenant Roy?
My go at Friday Fictioneers!
‘Ancillary casualties’ – makes it sound almost ok. Great dialogue and characters.