The Program [COMPLETED]

Chapter Forty-Seven

"Following my last broadcast, General Xylem and his Officials have been placed in the Pit, where they will stay until they can be properly processed and charged for their crimes," Aiden carried on in a steady tone. "The soldiers of Second Unit are working hard to fight those who are under Xylem's influence, so that we can do our best to fight for the rights of the people."

"Colonel Lycroft?" a voice asked, and Aiden scanned the series of images to identify the source of the sound. His eyes settled on the frame of a young man, perhaps a few years older than him, with black hair and dark, stern eyes. He spoke gingerly, unsure of what the situation was.

"I'm Lieutenant Arun Hadley, from First Unit," the man introduced himself. "We've also been taking measures to prosecute all our Officials. However, we've encountered a few soldiers that aren't of our own ranks, but they all fled before we could capture any of them. Can you explain their appearance?"

"It's nice to meet you, Lieutenant Hadley. What we know at the moment is that the soldiers you're referring to are members of a radicalistic rebel group known as Eskium," Aiden dipped his head towards him in greeting, but his voice remained grave. "They call themselves Other Worlders, and they are an extremely hostile force. We understand that their motives are to engage in an all-out war against our nation."

"Lieutenant Leif Ciaran, here," a new voice greeted him. Aiden saw the older man push his way through a sea of soldiers and approach Aiden's face on the wall of his Unit's Foyer. "Representative of Seventh Unit. What exactly do you mean by all-out war? What does Eskium want from us?"

"The Program's ties with Eskium goes as far back as its creation. Eskium seeks revenge on Creatan and the Program for defeating them in the war that ended the world. They won't stop until every last one of us is dead, and the Program is reduced to ashes. This war is about revenge, and the only way to beat them is to end them, once and for all. Xylem thought that by allying with the enemy, he would be able to learn their weaknesses and take them from the inside. Little did he know that they planned on doing the exact same thing to us," Aiden elaborated. "Now they're aware of the layout of our Units, as well as how we direct our communications and what our weak points are."

"They can't be that formidable, can they?" Lieutenant Hadley furrowed his brow, considering Aiden's words with a dire expression.

"You'll notice that Fifth Unit is not among us," Aiden said carefully, noting Zariah's figure in the corner of his vision. "I have a witness who can explain exactly why that is." Aiden glanced at Zariah, who nodded and stepped forward, facing the Units, her posture revealing next to nothing.

"I'm Lieutenant Zariah Blanche, formerly of Fifth Unit, now of Second Unit," Zariah began uneasily. "Over a year ago, Eskium raided my Unit and completely totalled it, leaving nothing behind in their wake of destruction. I was there. Everyone in my Unit was killed, except for me, as an example to the people to prove just what they were capable of. I sought refuge in Fourth Unit following the disaster. It was the Other Worlders who claimed responsibility. After he found out, Xylem Transferred me to Second Unit in an attempt to keep me quiet, rather than killing me and slandering his name in the eyes of Fourth Unit, despite it violating one of the Program's three rules."

An older woman stepped forward from the crowd of Fourth Unit soldiers who had gathered on their screen. "I can confirm this," she put in. "A select few of us in Fourth Unit were made aware of an unfortunate attack on the soldiers of Fifth Unit. However, we were told that Eskium had left no survivors." The woman paused. "I'm a Colonel. My name is Anneke Jeslyn, of Fourth Unit."

"We've heard from First, Second, Fourth and Seventh Unit," Aiden said, acknowledging the other soldiers who had spoken on behalf of their Units. "Should Creatan be forced to proclaim war against the Other Worlders, will these Units agree to join together to fight against the forces of Eskium?"