Unpleasant Is This Truth

Directory Control, or as servicemen called it--he would know, he was one once--the Control Booth, occupied Ardiseg Hall's northeast and southeast quadrants on the fifth floor.

Long aisles of booths with inbuilt screens and other assistive technologies accommodated techs, and supervising officers patrolled up and down to offer their expertise when needed or when thought to be.

The overhead lighting system was as bright as possible without being uncomfortable, though comfort remained a secondary priority to the designers of the interior. Larger screens displayed on support columns and long stretches of walls, providing overhead and communal charts, displays, and live surveillance from a multitude of angles and directions around the Last Light.

The floor separated into three levels, with the long aisles of techs dispersed into a grid curling around central islands with a more limited number of personnel that each had their own interfaces and display tables to work with. Those would be officers exclusively.

Finally, the third layers stood erected on suspended platforms for a few individuals who stood behind a large, central console that stretched an entire side, multiple meters across. A third of those present on the elevated platforms also possessed visible cybernetic augmentations, especially around the cranium. Re-5 looked tame compared to a couple.

The three of them maneuvered through the grid of techs at their stations, who, for the most part, ignored their presence in favor of diligence, continuing to speak into communicators while reading off their screens or tapping and swiping fervently on projected input devices.

Their destination was further inside Directory Control, one of the raised islands they had to traverse quite a distance to reach. Once they arrived, a group of nine men and women stepped away from their consoles to assemble before them.

His Fourth Head General, a servantly man with smooth cheeks and a wrinkled brow, spoke first. "It's good to see you've made a swift recovery from the examinations, sir. Welcome back."

"Thank you." He looked around. "Were matters handled according to procedure?"

"As we speak, all WAV pilots are receiving their final debriefing prior to entering their suits. The wall depots were restocked, assembled staff are all accounted for--several assignments have a surplus of volunteers, over ninety percent of the walls' defensive infrastructure has passed stress and pre-activation tests." He paused to take a fresh breath.

"The utility additions suggested in your previous meet received installation, and officers oversaw the replacement of several out-of-date components in and on the walls. The Titan perches remained finished, all personnel assigned to wall defense crews were outfitted with modern weaponry, tools, and apparel. I know there's more, but I think you'll find satisfaction with that, sir."

"Correct. Now where are my colleagues and I assigned?"

The Fourth Head General's eyebrows came together. "I'm afraid you will not go to the walls yet, sir." He turned to address Eighth Headman. "You, sir, should go to the western stretch. You may depart at your leisure."

He turned to the Third Headman as well. "Forgive my bluntness, sir, but you lack the Old Man's Blessing. You may join any of the wall defense crews if you desire, but many, myself included, would prefer you return to your duties as the Third's headman."

The Third Headman nodded and clasped the Prime Beacon on the shoulder. "I'll see you after the first attack." Then he was gone. Sputtering, he looked around for the Eighth Headman, but she had vanished too. Now when he pondered it, she likely dashed away the second she heard her assignment.

For "gits and shiggles", whatever that meant. He hadn't found any mention of that in the Ninth's archives. Probably something she'd invented one day. Looking back at his head generals, Four offered him a weak smile laced with apologetic sentiments.

"Would you like to join us, sir? Or I know the Fifth Headman is still inside Directory Control somewhere if you'd prefer to seek him out." Half of the assembled head generals returned to the large console curving around the island like a crescent.

"Wait. Why haven't you assigned me one of the wall stretches? Better yet, why won't you? And why is the Fifth Headman here instead of on the walls too?"

Four folded his hands behind his back. "I apologize, sir, but we must reserve a few of humanity's cards. The two of you are not the only ones. For the first attack, we only sent half of humanity's carriers of the Old Man's Blessing that could fight to the walls."

"Why would you do that?" His head generals weren't stupid, else he'd have different head generals. Though with all the raised stakes present at the forefront of every person's mind, it wouldn't surprise him if one or two of them, such as the man before him, had suffered a relapse in judgment.

"You said it yourself in the broadcast. The Aud we thought we were battling for three hundred years was nothing but an incomplete image. In reality, they have the potential to be deadlier and more sly than what most conjure in their nightmares. Not only have recent accounts proven Aud have individual intelligence, but the movements of Aud hordes--excuse me, armies--have contributed to a rise in the belief that they also possess herd intelligence. Either a few very intelligent Aud at the top of their budding cultural ladder are at or have exceeded human intelligence, or something else is directing their actions. No matter which outcome we face, both promise a keen and impartial observer will be studying every little action and every person who contributes to the Last Light's defense. Sir, we cannot unleash every weapon we can call upon at the very beginning. This battle will be a long run, not a sprint."

That was a good rationale behind the action. That didn't mean the Prime Beacon enjoyed the prospect of sitting back while good men and women died while his head generals attempted to bait more out of the enemy before releasing more of their own surprises, because he didn't, and something told him he'd like it even less once this implementation received live testing.

Unfortunate, then, that he lacked the hard authority to override the head generals' decision. As influential and important as the position of Prime Beacon was, it still pushed him into the role of a figurehead even if he had the power to make the initial premise of the Prime Beacon real, like his predecessor.

Unlike every other ray, the First didn't rely on a single headman for overarching governance, but instead split the responsibilities between the Prime Beacon and a council of nine composed of head generals, the rank above sitesmen in the military.

"I could leave on my own." He wished whoever would try stopping him well if he decided to contribute to the defense.

"You could," Four agreed. "But I know you recognize this as the best option for a long-term victory, so you won't. Compose yourself for now. Before you know it, we'll have survived the first attack and will likely need you then."