The Centauran Wars.

Shot by dawn.

October 20th. 1910. 3:30 AM.

I had my order.

As I walked into the armory, I loaded each rifle. Leaving one filled with only blanks, this one was for James.

I wrapped my arm around them all and carried them to the barracks. I opened the door where all the recruits stood up and waited to see who we're the chosen six to execute him.

I laid the rifles on the wall and picked one up. I was one of the six.

James walked into the barracks and stopped seeing the rifles leaning on the wall.

"Is it really now?" He said.

I simply nodded and grabbed the rifle with blanks and handed it to him.

"His death isn't on you," I said.

James looked down at the gun and sighed as he nodded slowly.

I looked at the recruits these children who are meant to go to war.

Remember your order I repeated to myself. The guilt of his death and the trauma of these recruits weighed down on me.

I took a deep breath and began to call the remaining four.

"Private Abe."

A young man a bit older than the rest, perhaps my age stepped forward.

"Get a gun," I said.

He walked down the barracks, picked up a gun, and stood next to me.

"Private Thomas."

Another one stood forward. This one blonde with a face that was soon to break into tears.

He hesitated but came down, picked up the gun, and stood next to Abe.

"Private Andy."

A young kid stepped forward. Someone no older than seventeen seemed excited to do this and went down to get a gun and stood next to the rest.

The last one.

"Private Christopher"

The last recruit walked down the barracks, grabbed his rifle, and sighed. Poor fella.

They were all ready rifle in hand.

"The rest of you are dismissed. Those who wish to attend the execution may come." I said and turned to the recruits who made up the firing squad.

"Let's move then," I said.

They all walked out the barracks with fear in their eyes except for that Andy fellow.

James walked next to me, holding his rifle in one hand as we walked to the field where the execution was to be held.

As we made it, I looked at the recruits and said.

"Dig a small hole. Once you're done, get the stake over there, hammer it down, and make sure it's held down well. I don't want any mistakes."

They all began to do as I ordered them to do. James looked at them and then at me as he took out and lit a cigarette. His eyes were tired but not from the lack of sleep but because of this damn war.

"Do you think what we're doing is right?" James asked.

I didn't answer him.

"Let's go get the prisoner. Keep the girl away she'll most likely try something." I said.

We walked to where the cell was. The guard didn't even search us he just opened the door and walked in with us.

I stared at Alexis. Alice was shaking as she held his arm weeping frantically.