Watching the fuse ignite

Two months after the battle plan meeting, the war on planet Hagtury was steadily increasing in severity. At the rate it was climbing, chemical weapons or even nuclear weapons wouldn't be more than a month away from being built and used on both sides.

Aniello and Achille were watching from above in a small observation ship in Hagtury's orbit. Aniello had gained a lot of respect from fellow senior commanders and even earned himself the title of 'Young World-ender'. If you had asked the Aniello who hadn't met Achille in person nor been subjected to Demitri's ability how he felt about the title you would have gotten a VERY opposing response to the one you get from the current Aniello. Before, Aniello would have been horrified at what he imagined would have been done to achieve such a title. But now ... he was proud of the damage he was doing.

Watching the tiny explosions speckle the planet's surface let him know he was doing his job well. Sections of land devoid of any flora or fauna reassured him that he was bringing honour and reputation to his family. The entire planet sealing their fate would make his father proud of him.

It was at this moment of seeing the uncharacteristic small smile on Aniello face watching the chaos below that Achille offered Aniello a chance of seeing the fighting up close. Aniello snapped out of his trace-like state and looked at Achille in shock. And then nothing. And then glee.

The observation ship set down on top of a house in a small town and activated a cloaking screen over itself. No one would see anything out of the ordinary.

Aniello stepped out of the ship and breathed in heavily through his nose. The air was just the same monotone smell of explosives and burning.

Off on his right Aniello could hear some shouting. A few quick and swift leaps from roof to roof lead him right over the heads of a group of armed soldiers charging into nearby houses. He layed down on the roof and concealed him body behind some rubble as he watched. Aniello assumed they were clearing out left over survivors in this town before they claimed it as they territory. Men, women, and children were dragged out of their houses (or at least what remained of them) and thrown to the ground in front of the building opposite the one Aniello was laying on.

Aniello continued to watch as the handful of men remaining in the town were plucked out of the pile of people and lined up below him. Aniello couldn't see from his position what was going on below him. Suddenly, an eruption or rapid firing from multiple guns caused Aniello to freeze up. The small smile on his face cleared in an instant as he saw the faces of the other people.

Next were the young boys as they were forcefully thrown against the wall below Aniello. Once again an eruption of gun fire below echoed through the empty streets followed by the screams of mothers.

They were the next ones. Some mothers had their daughters kicked out of their mother's arms before also being dragged to the wall. Tears hit the roof at the exact moment the gun fire started as Aniello cried motionlessly at the horrific monster he had created.

Finally, the girls were pulled up. All except one who clung onto a wall with all her strength. A soldier shouted at the on trying to pull the girl free to hurry up. But Aniello couldn't take it any more. The next thing he knew he was crouching on the roof with a large chunk of rubble in his hand. He threw it and it collided with the head of the soldier grabbing the girl. The eruption of fire started again. The soldier had being knocked out and the girl was now running away.

Aniello fell onto his stomach before anyone could notice him but he saw the girl running away looking at him.

Aniello returned to the observation ship a few minutes later after regaining his composure. Achille greeted him but the silence and look of utter disbelief on Aniello's face was all she got. Aniello put his back on the wall and slid down. His head fell onto his knees and he was silent the whole journey back.

Things from a distance are nothing like what they are up close.