A Proud Man - Part I

15th March

Riyadh Military Base, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The phone rings in my ear, as the meaning of the conversation I just had with the Crown Prince sinks in for me. It's been confirmed – our marching orders. Overnight, the six corps under my command here at the base will be airlifted to the Sinai Peninsula, where Egyptian forces are already combating Israeli troops on the ground, and our air force is in support. Following the lunar missile launch against Chinese and Pakistani communications satellites, conflicts flared up all over the world. In the Sinai, Kashmir, Kosovo, Tanzania, and the Colombian highlands, to name a few. And in almost all of them, the moon's allies seem to have an upper hand. It's as if absolutely everything is going Frank Scuderi's way. At the rate things are going, him and the nations who he's allied himself with, will be the new masters of the world. His opponents have a time limit: the time until their helium-3 supplies run out. Within weeks, China, Pakistan, and the moon's other enemies will be forced to surrender, as their energy and power runs out. Everything is in Scuderi's favour right now.

That's why I was surprised when he reached out to me this morning. I'm not sure how he got my number, nor do I think the government knows about it either, but what he said was of great interest to me. He presented me with an option – a chance, to change things. At first, I dismissed what he said as crazy. There's no way it was possible, there's no way I could do what he was asking of me, but as the day continued, it seemed less and less crazy. And now, I have a decision to make, a choice. Which direction do I want this country to head in from now on? Do I have the right to make that choice? It isn't my place, is it?

But this is what I've always thought isn't it? Every day I see that this country needs to change – that it has to adapt. I've been to every corner of this nation, and seem the same deteriorating state. Disease, hunger. Drought, poverty. Crime, corruption. This nation is broken, and it needs to be fixed. That's something I've always thought in the back of my mind, but now that I have the chance, I have to think… do I have the right to make this choice? Does anyone?

I make my way out of the communications centre. Brigadier Mohammed stands to attention as I walk over to him. He's a lot more formal when we're on a military base, surrounded by other soldiers than he usually is, although that's probably a good thing.

"Sir."

"At ease, Brigadier."

The Brigadier falls into line beside me, as we make our way past the barracks. The base is much more awake and livelier than I've ever seen it. Soldiers run back and forth frantically, working in preparation for our eminent airlift to Sinai. After I received the call from the Crown Prince, I then called the other two generals here at the base. I told them first to tell their corps to prepare for mobilisation, and then to meet me over at the command centre, where I'm now headed.

At this very moment, I'm still unsure of what I should do? Do I carry out my orders like I always have? It is my duty as a soldier to do as I am ordered. Or should I do as Frank Scuderi has asked of me? Given this chance, is it my duty to change this nation for the people who have been neglected all this time? If I don't do it, it might never happen. I am the one that Mr Scuderi approached. For even just that reason, that means it has to be me. I have to be the one to do this. But, can I really? Is it my place to take the fate of this nation into my own hands?

And if I go ahead with this and it fails… what happens then? I have a family. What will happen to my wife and children if this goes wrong? What punishment will befall myself and those I am acting on behalf of, if I choose to do what Mr Scuderi has asked of me?

"You seem like you have a lot on your mind, General."

Brigadier Mohammed speaks to me. I look over at him, contemplating the man that I have worked with for many years now. He's someone I rely on, and I respect his judgements and his temperament, even though he is much younger and less experienced than myself.

"Brigadier, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Of course, sir."

"Do you think I'm a good man?"

The Brigadier came to a stop. I stopped a few paces ahead of him and turned to look back toward him.

"Sir, if you have low self-esteem, you should probably go see a psychologist, not talk to me."

I guess I was wrong when I said he took his job more seriously when he was on military grounds.

"But being serious," he continues, after a pause with a smile on his face, "yes, you are a good man, sir. A great man. I think I speak for the entire corps when I say that we would follow you across the Styx or the Rubicon if you so decided."

"Thanks for saying that."

"Of course, sir," the Brigadier replies, "where are you headed?"

"The command centre, I'm meeting with the other generals that are here on base. If we are to cross the Rubicon, it might be a good idea to have some allies."