A Country Run By Old Men.

Fictional story I came up with testing a voice to text program very early this morning.

 

 

Flash Fiction

 

A Country Run By Old Men. July 22, 2008

 

 

 

            "Who the hell said we could do this Sir?" The Major asked as he pushed past his commanding officer to the missile launch code controls, the tension obvious in his voice. He looked at the blinking red warning lights indicating they had just launched fifty real missiles at real targets. “This was just supposed to be war games, what have you done, what gives you the right?”

 

            The well-groomed officer shook his head as a smile spread across his face, " Why son I don't have to ask anyone, I-am the United States military, I make the rules now. Not some Jackass in the oval office"

 

            Many other officers in the Norad missile control room turned to face the general, looks of total disbelief on their faces. No one could understand why the general wanted to launch real missiles against the president's orders; but some could tell by the look on his face, their commander had gone insane.

 

            The Major glanced to his right towards the exit and nodded to the two Air force security officers standing near the door. He watched as the guards approached with a snap the lead officer un-holstered his weapon.

 

            The sergeant spoke calmly as he pointed his weapon at the General, " Sir I'm afraid you'll have to step away from the console and come with us, now." He commanded his superior firmly.

 

            The generals faced turn red. He clinched and unclenched his fist as he turned to face the barrel of the gun pointed at his head, " Who the hell do you think you are pointing that weapon at me son, I am the God-damned commanding officer of this base." He screamed at the unflinching soldier.

 

            The major stood pushing his chair back behind him and he faced the General, his voice low and angry, " No General the President of the United States is in command of this base, and we all follow his orders."

 

            The Generals shoulders slumped he knew the soldiers would not follow his orders any longer. He’d always thought himself a great warrior wishing he didn't have to follow the politicians and weaker Americans in their ways. He turned slowly his gaze passing over every man and woman in the room, these people whom had served with him these last five years would no longer do his bidding.

 

            For the age of 65 the general was a fit man. With a swiftness that shocked the soldier pointing the weapon at him he swept his hand up redirecting the weapon away from him knocking the soldier off balance, and then quickly drew his own hidden 45-caliber. Startled the other guard reached for his weapon, but stayed his hand when the General motioned at him with his own gun and shook his head negatively. Everyone in the room turned to face him, some let out little yelp like screams shocked at their Generals actions even more so when he suddenly put the barrel of the 45 in his own mouth and pulled the trigger.

 

            It wasn’t like in the movies when someone shot them self in the head and slowly slid to the floor, it was sudden and violent and his body dropped in an instant. Every computer for three rows behind the general was covered in his brain matter blood and hair, as were the airmen working hard to track the inbound missiles. Some of the ensign's and officers present shook their heads while others turned away holding each other or sobbed softly as they covered their faces with their hands. The man they entrusted with their lives, the lives of their families and their entire nation for so many years, had betrayed them all and just started World War Three...

 

The End

Reviews

[James Starnes]

Ok, as for "A Country Run By Old Men", it was war games. Naming every country would have added to much to the story and the titles says it all, he was too old to be where he was doing the job he was, the story is short and sweet, but slightly longer than flash fiction, it was shorter but I added to it already. I wasn't looking to write a novel. And as for what was going on in his mind, he saw himself an old used puppet and cut the strings controlling him and did what he thought he was meant to do. The story is written so that you can draw your own conclusions to a point, but it states pretty much that he doesn't agree with the guy in the oval office, re-read the story, try and see the deeper meanings. And the story wasn't really about the General; it was about us all, his place of command the people who blindly followed him up until that moment.

[bailish]

You gave a vivid description of the actions in the room. I would have liked to see more analysis of what what going on in the general's mind. What snapped? What lead him to snap? Why would he want to launch 50 missiles? And at whom?

The description was nice, but I'd like to feel more.