Protocol M10:34: Chapter 4 – What Has to be Done

Chapter 4 – What Has to Be Done

The third year of Protocol M10:34 has come; it's the planned final year. Because of all the work we’ve done, the Zeitloses Imperium is weakened more than they’re saying publicly, and the allies we’ve armed now have enough weapons, ammo, and vehicles to wage war against them. Still, the Campione brothers have much for us to do, and want us to cause as much damage as possible, even if it means also hurting ourselves and allies. For example, Garnet, Bezalel, and I have been chipping away at Imperium soldier bases within our country. If we declared war, they would’ve been told to get out or be destroyed, but since the war has yet to be declared, they’re just areas full of sitting ducks that we can plunder for weapons and supplies.

Right now, we’re in a town that honestly supports the Imperium, holds parades and appreciation celebrations for them, and many of the townspeople are employed in their army. Because of this real love of the Imperium, they’re sending their officers here for a vacation and to celebrate their unity with the United Chimaera States. Donnie is personally taking part in assassinating them, along with a group of personally selected Protocol M10:34 agents to help us out.

After Donnie lays out the plan to kill all the Imperium officers at the celebration dinner to get rid of them all at once, Garnet raises a question. She asks, “What about the civilians? What about the Imperium soldiers whose home is this town?”

“They’ve chosen their side. If they fight against us, then they won’t be spared,” Donnie says.

“For the sake of our secrecy?”

“For the sake of the safety of our nation.”

“But we’re attacking people from our nation!”

“Focus only on the targets. Anyone else can be shot in non-lethal areas, but this has to look like another extremist attack.”

“Are you listening to what I’m saying? What I’m concerned about?”

“You knew what you were getting into when you signed up to be an agent. A citizen of this nation can be just as deadly to its safety as any foreigner, and this gathering of Vorfahren proves it. If we start the war against the Imperium now, the people of this town will fight against us and cause trouble for others, their own countrymen. We’re stopping them before any harm can come to anyone in our home. Understood?”

“…yes, sir.”

Donnie gives me that deadly look again, and I find it hard to keep eye contact.

Thankfully, he looks away and at Bezalel. He asks, “Are you with us, Bezalel? You look like you want to say something.”

“No, nothing, sir. You already answered a question that I had,” Bezalel says.

“Good. Let’s get to it then.”

All agents head out to the hall where the appreciation ceremony is being held in disguise, wearing security, waiter, and suits and dresses. Those dressed up as waiters place small bombs under the assigned seats of the Imperium officers; the agents dressed up as security knock out the real security guards and secure the camera room; and the agents who are blending in with the party set themselves up in parts of the hall to take care of the rest of the targets in the crowd where civilians are. Once everyone, including the late arrivals, is at the party and the officers start giving their speeches, Donnie radios for us to begin the attack. We put on our gas masks, blow up the officers, and activate the tear gas in the ventilation system. While everyone in the hall is choking and struggling to stand, we put down every officer and target on our list, and then quickly head out.

Garnet, Bezalel, and I regroup back at our hideout with Donnie and the rest of the agents. Donnie tells us we’ve done a good job and to stay in hiding and await further orders. While waiting for orders, Garnet, Bezalel, and I walk around town in our casual disguises to blend in with the rest of the townspeople to scout for information. The townspeople talk about how angry they are and also terrified about what happened at the hall the other day, and how something should be done about it. Local officers are investigating it, but have been paid off by the SIB to do a surface-level investigation and then close the case with no conclusion to it.

“When the war starts, I wonder if we’ll have to keep doing this,” Garnet says to us in a low voice.

“We’ll be going after real bad guys who are trying to hinder us in winning the war. I’m sure it’ll be business as usual,” Bezalel says.

“I hope so. What do you think, Draco?”

I grunt in response, think for a second, and then say, “I’d be happy to use that free unlimited paid vacation they’re offering as a reward for our work.”

“You know what? Me too. We’ve been back in our country for over a year, and it’s been a long time since I last saw my family,” Garnet says.

“I somewhat agree. It depends on whether or not I feel the need to participate in the war,” Bezalel says.

“You already fought in one world war. Why fight it again?” I ask.

“I know that it’s God’s calling for me. If God wants me to die in it for the sake of others, then I will. If not, I get to enjoy more time with bandages and gas masks on my face for the rest of my life.”

A couple more days pass before we hear back from command, but we don’t get orders this time. Instead, we are told to simply watch the news, so Bezalel, Garnet, and I go to the nearest bar and tell them to turn on the conference. The Campione brothers are meeting with the heads of the Imperium from all major countries to renew their alliance with them, or that’s what they think. Early into the conference, masked men in suits lock the doors of the conference room and keep the cameras rolling. The leaders of the Imperium are taken by surprise and ask the Campione brothers what is happening.

Vincenzo smiles, stands up, and says, “What’s happening is that we’re declaring war on you. You might’ve had the notion that we were allies or might’ve been smart enough to see that this was the plan from the start, but that doesn’t matter now. You might also be wondering why I’m declaring war like this in front of the world. Well, I am the Commander in Chief, and all good leaders lead from the front and put their lives on the line for those they love.”

Vincenzo, Cesare, and their guards pull out their guns and engage in a gunfight with the Imperium leaders and their guards. All the cameras are shot in the chaos, and the people on the news start talking about it. Everyone in the bar we’re in is in a panic as well over what is happening, while Garnet, Bezalel, and I leave.

“That was something else,” Bezalel says.

“I guess that means the protocol is over,” I say.

“I hope it is,” Garnet says.

Going back to our hideout, Donnie calls us telling that Protocol M10:34 is finished, and that “Thy Will is done, the code phrase to release all agents of the protocol from their mental training. He then gives us the option of continuing to help the country against the Imperium or taking a vacation, and the three of us chose to take a vacation. We go to a private resort in the City of Angels that’s owned by the SIB. While relaxing on the beach, we enjoy our drinks and the good weather.

“I still feel bad you can’t completely enjoy the weather with that mask on your face, Bezalel,” I say.

“Don’t. I’m used to it. Besides, peace and relaxation are in the mind, and the pain I still bear I use as penance for my sins,” Bezalel says.

“Heh. What sins are you guilty of?”

“…many, as of late.”

Garnet gets closer to me and says, “Draco, we need to talk to you about-”

A shot rings out from behind us, and Garnet is shot in the head, killing her. Before Bezalel can get up and react, he is shot and killed in the same way. Meanwhile, I continue to sit and drink while looking up at the sky. Donnie approaches me with a drink of his own, dressed in swim trunks and a colorful dress shirt, as if he’s simply here to enjoy the beach with me. Two other agents dressed like him come to take away the bodies of Bezalel and Garnet and clean up what happened here.

As we sit together, Donnie says, “They were going to expose the protocol, Draco. They had to die.”

“I know. I arranged for this to happen, didn’t I?” I ask.

“You did. You showed your loyalty to your country, and for that, you can enjoy your vacation for as long as you want, even retire in it.”

“Donnie, did we really do the right thing?”

“I think so. We did what we had to, so that we could free the world from the Imperium.”

“I pray that you’re right.”

“I do the same, Draco. I do the same.”

Donnie and I continue to enjoy our drinks and the weather, and talk as if what happened didn’t occur. From what I've heard, they're burning everything about Protocol M10:34 to ashes, and any agents or allies who try to expose it are being buried six feet under. For everyone else loyal to the country, the SIB watches us and gives us what we want as long as we don’t say anything, which I won’t. I think I’d rather just forget about it all and live in penitential seclusion with my loved ones, like a cloistered monk or nun. The memory of Garnet and Bezalel will probably haunt me until I see them again in the afterlife. I hope they’ll forgive me for what I had to do.

 

The End