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Transcript of Directorate Interrogation of Secret Police General James Hawthorne #7

10.13.2349

Page 11

Q. General Hawthorne, I’m concerned about the wording of one of your statements yesterday. Hmm, let’s see…. ‘Civilian sacrifices cannot be too great for Highborn unit destruction of company or higher.’  Please elaborate on that statement.

A. Director?

Q. Please don’t be evasive, General.

A. I believe the wording is as accurate as I could state it.

Q. Do you? Do you indeed? Then let us see if we can narrow the definition. By ‘cannot be too great,’ does that mean up to and including a million people?

A. Most definitely.

Q. (pause) For a company of Highborn?

A. Yes.

Q. And a company is how large?

A. A Highborn drop troop company’s estimated strength would be approximately two hundred and fifty soldiers.

Q. You would willingly trade a million of our people for two hundred and fifty enemies?

A. A million civilians, Director.

Q. Civilians or soldiers, either way the comparison is incredible.

A. I disagree, Director. A million civilians are largely useless. Two hundred and fifty Highborn are deadly in the extreme.

Q. (coldly) I see. Then you would trade a city perhaps for a battalion of these heroes?

A. It would depend on the size of the city.

Q. Let us say a major city. One hundred million civilians?

A. I would hope for a division of the enemy in such an exchange.

Q. (pause) I find your sanity questionable, General.

A. Sacrifices are never easy, Director. Two million super-soldiers are, however, not an endless supply. Nor do we even need to exchange on the levels you’re suggesting for all two million warriors. Once their casualties rise to a certain level, their defeat becomes inevitable. The trick is to make them take staggering losses as quickly as possible. Hence, what seems at first glance to be irrational exchanges quickly transfers into a logical strategy.

Q. I’m uncertain my colleagues or I agree with you, General.

A. The Dutch of the Sixteenth and Twentieth Centuries likewise faced such decisions. Much of their land had been reclaimed from the sea. When first the Spaniards and later the Germans tramped across the land in conquest, the Dutch broke their dykes and allowed the sea to swamp their hard-won farms. In each incidence, the flooding proved invaluable in military terms.

Q. We’re speaking of people, General, not land.

A. In a war, people and land are similar in this regard: they are ciphers that lead to victory or defeat. Not enough land often spells defeat. Too few people likewise can be devastating. To defeat the Highborn we must decrease their numbers to manageable levels. Out of a population well over forty billion, we can easily afford to lose three quarters of our people and come out ahead. Many cities will be destroyed in the coming conflict. Why not make their losses constructive to our eventual victory?

Q. (different Director) You have a particular strategy in mind?

A. Indeed.

Q. Elaborate.

A. I’m thinking of cities that use thermal power, the deep-core mines in particular. Studies have shown how to breach the safety features.

Q. (long pause) No one would survive a lava flow, General.

A. Correct.

Q. But…

Q. (different Director) The entire populace of Earth might well rise up in rebellion if it found out we that engineered core bursts.

A. Agreed. Thus, the Highborn will be blamed for such ‘savage’ attacks. It will help whip up war frenzy.

Q. Quite ingenious, General. But I must point out that the safety features of each deep-core mine are embedded in the deepest levels.

A. True.

Q. In other words, General, only someone willing to die could bypass the safety features. For each deep-core has such codes and preventive devices built into it. I believe these security measures are to prevent terrorist core bursts by remote control.

A. Your information is quite accurate, Director.

Q. Then I am at a loss. Who would do such a deed? Only madmen would, and you couldn’t trust a madman.

A. A madman, maybe, but I was thinking of PHC officers.

Q. They are the last people one thinks of as suicidal.

A. Correct. Hypnotic commands would have to be embedded deep within the chosen officer’s psyche.

Q. PHC Command is willing to do this to its operatives?

A. Directors, PHC is your tool. Willing or not, the deed must be done if you command it.

Q. You recommend this action?

A. Yes.

Q. When and how?

A. My recommendation is the soonest opportunity possible. After such a deed, and with blame laid on the Highborn, Earth will fight every battle with back-to-the-wall ferocity.

End of transcript Interrogation of Secret Police General James Hawthorne #7