The Weight of the Skyfire Phase Wave Cannon

“Is,” Lucas began, “let me ask you a question. Do you believe I am guilty, for wielding the Skyfire Phase Wave Cannon and unleashing divine retribution upon Earth?”

This was a question Lucas had never truly pondered.

Before, he had used the glory of the Heart of the Galaxy to deceive himself, allowing himself to become nothing more than a diligent machine, never pausing to consider the true meaning behind his actions or their impact on others.

Yet, after enduring that relentless string of nightmares, he found himself unable to control the chaotic swirl of his thoughts.

Was a soldier, weapon in hand, equally culpable as the instigator of war?

The Third World War was an epoch-making conflict that brought this very question to the forefront.

Unlike the wars many had envisioned, and vastly different from traditional conflicts, the Third World War, with its myriad of burgeoning advanced technologies, proved far more brutal than its two predecessors, utterly devoid of any humanitarian considerations.

Civilians naively believed that a global nuclear war would balance the lives of ordinary people and those in power, ensuring no faction would dare to strike a fatal blow.

At worst, they imagined localized skirmishes between a few powers, or proxy wars.

A full-blown, no-holds-barred conflict seemed inconceivable.

Even if public disputes raged fiercely, a few maneuvers would suffice to bring the issues to the negotiating table, where prices would be openly set.

Afterward, a discreet parley with the opposing leader in a restroom after the meeting would extinguish the fuse under a cascade of money.

However, the technological revolution transformed warfare, and with it, everything else.

Advanced remote command systems reduced brutal conflicts to seemingly harmless video games.

Consequently, deep within the human heart, the shackles of conscience gradually crumbled.

Through exchanges of interest, the profiteers, along with their families, fled the precarious planet.

Thus, before the war even began, they had no lingering worries.

This allowed them to act without restraint, throwing down even larger stakes when placing their bets.

They colored sections of Earth with their desired hues, then marked them with numbers: population, resources, capital.

Much like playing Civilization VI, they observed the holographic board from afar, dictating the fates of billions on Earth, reveling in the thrill of supreme power.

Meanwhile, the generals under these profiteers, seated within space battleships several A.U. (astronomical units) away from Earth, could, with a mere gesture or a glance, transmit commands through layered command systems to their subordinates.

Ultimately, emotionless computers would execute the firing orders.

Then, they would commence widespread artificial rainfall—a rain of nuclear bombs—upon Earth.

Occupied enemy sectors would be painted with the colors of their own faction.

In this process, the very concept of responsibility was utterly deconstructed.

On the other side, the civilians confined to Earth could only endure the wrath of the heavens, shattered to pieces and barely clinging to life.

They did not even know who had launched these nuclear bombs.

It was entirely possible that some orbital nuclear bombs were dropped on their own people merely to test their destructive power.

Yet, even if the civilians learned the truth, they would not live long enough to demand an explanation.

They were the initial instigators, yet bore no responsibility.

They were war criminals who had slaughtered billions of lives, yet felt no guilt.

For, they had merely pressed a button.

‘Who could have known that button would cause the AI to launch nuclear bombs at Earth? It was all those AIs! It was all Skynet’s fault!’

Such was the composure and confidence that advanced technology bestowed upon the profiteers.

In such an environment, a single word, a mere gesture, was enough to commit crimes that would make one a public enemy of humanity, yet no one had to bear responsibility.

Thus, stripped of useless humanity and unburdened by tedious responsibility, the Third World War nearly became a man-made catastrophe that would end human civilization.

After the 30-year war concluded, Skynet compiled statistics on the devastation.

The results indicated that approximately 12 billion humans had died directly or indirectly in the conflict.

Earth’s population was halved.

Various AIs and robots, in the years following the war, filled the vacant roles left by humanity, thereby completing a link in Earth’s ecosystem.

But I digress.

Now, Lan Sen, having poured out his grievances, felt a pang of guilt.

It was then that he sought clarification from the omniscient Is.

“Ah, I understand,” Is said, her round, golden eyes widening mischievously. “You’ve had a few nightmares, your conscience has awakened, and your resolve has wavered.”

Her fingertips, adorned with black nail polish, pressed against Lan Sen’s forehead. “I’m going to report you!”

“Stop messing around!” Lan Sen exclaimed, waving a hand to dispel the illusory figure before him. “Quickly, tell me, what should I do!”

“Heh heh,” Is chuckled, turning her back with a faint smile. “Let me first answer your question about whether a soldier, weapon in hand, is equally culpable as the instigator of war.

History tells me the answer is quite simple.

If they win, that soldier is a hero who has slain countless enemies and achieved glorious feats.

If they lose, that soldier is a brutal and tyrannical war criminal who indiscriminately slaughtered innocents, a scapegoat for those old bastards.

They deserve to die a thousand deaths!

Sounds rather despairing, doesn’t it?

Yet history also tells me that no one can keep winning forever.

The stench emanating from gold forged in blood, after all, can never be truly concealed.

In our generation, you can comfortably deceive yourself into believing you will continue to win, completely ignoring the countless lives hidden behind every statistic.

Nor do you need to worry if someone will seek revenge.

For the flame of resistance, should it ever flicker, will be swiftly extinguished.

But in the future, so long as our civilization endures, there will come a day when we lose.

And that day will also be the day all crimes are brought to reckoning.

You, the soldier, may merely be an executor of orders, but you cannot deny that in your hands, indirectly, lie tens of millions of lives.”

“I…” He clenched his fists, a bitter taste in his heart.

Is watched Lan Sen’s face grow increasingly grim, then burst into laughter. “What’s wrong? Can’t handle it already?

Just realizing you indirectly killed tens of millions of people is enough to make you so depressed you’re about to cry little pearls?

You look like you’re overthinking things.

Have you finally seen the light and decided to self-report to the Department of True Sight?

This young lady wouldn’t mind doing you a small favor; on my way back, I can just inform Ms. Mela of the Department of True Sight.

That way, you won’t have to trouble yourself with the walk.”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot.

You still have a mission, don’t you? An operation targeting X.

That old dog Lucas, God knows what madness has possessed him, wants us to bomb Sector N9 again.

Doesn’t he understand that continuous firing of the Skyfire Phase Wave Cannon significantly increases the chance of malfunction?

If you ask me, these amateurs shouldn’t be allowed to control the Skyfire.

Wouldn’t it be better if it were installed on me?

This thing is incredibly efficient for mining.

Why must it always be used for cosmetic surgery on Mother Earth?

Honestly, they’re a bunch of shameless, incompetent fools, occupying positions without fulfilling their duties.

Why does Grandpa Skynet keep these people who have nothing but loyalty?”

Meanwhile, Lan Sen’s face had grown so dark it seemed to drip with Blood Gel.