Crossing his arms and forcing a hollow smile, he said, "Yes. Yes, so I made a mistake. I'm normal. So execute me." His words only made Ledes laugh more, so he shook his head and continued, "Disruptions from colleagues aside, the first signal is this." Forming a circle with his whole hand, he held it up, then he pointed at the image of a hand on the projector. "It might look like you're trying to see better, or chanting a mantra. After you make this motion, drop the arm while pressing your index finger and thumb together. Obviously the first one means nothing; the second signal is the real one, still made to look like you're about to cast magic. While you make these signals, start a monologue with your mouth as if you're chanting. Doesn't matter if you normally chant in your head—just sell the act."

He eyed a few people. "Some of you aren't jotting notes. Not even in your devices. Are you sure you'll remember?"

"I'm recording," Nim said.

O'Rielle nodded. "As long as you erase them afterward. You can't keep those. No copies. Rule number five—"

"Five. I remember, sir."

O'Rielle glanced at Iowe, brow raised, receiving a nod in return. Nim's previous supervisor. Dillon guessed that was a signal for Iowe to check if he did erase the audio files.

"Right. Any questions?"

When no one spoke, he explained that there were no other known news or predictions of the next battle ahead, other than the group of targets mentioned. According to Cedric, such predictions or recent predictor events were disclosed in their general soldier strategic meets.

They moved on to cover emergency plans, contingencies, battle plans, and responsive actions. The lesson plans were concise, comprehensive, and understandable, but their purpose and significance made Dillon apprehensive. Theories and thorough plans were necessary precautions, but conceptualizing and seeing a real-life situation, then putting those plans into action, were different experiences altogether. Dillon knew that based on past battle experience.

Two months ago, the military failed to provide safety to a privately owned property due to a lack of sufficient crystal police force and soldiers. When the owners or tenants called in assistance, arriving soldiers executed a hasty examination to read the situation and Operation Civilian Property Precautions to defend hiding innocents and stealthily remove them from a property attack; Dillon was one of the last soldiers to arrive. In the last few seconds, as they rushed out occupants and partiers through an unsupervised side exit, soldiers failed to surveil three of the tenants, who were blasted to injury or death in that moment.

During the tumultuous struggle afterward, Dillon managed to steal away two targeted figures, but they only got away by six minutes ahead of enemies. A section of one of his barriers melted quicker than it had ever been melted before. It was no easy feat, given the impregnable density of Dillon's double barriers at the time. Three Vocalists stood on the other side, with what looked to be a red piece of metal—a magic tool specially made for fire magic, no doubt—in one of their hands. He had seen it in action a few times. Up in the nearest Tower, he had peered down with trepidation. His last barrier, conjured only minutes before its demise, had failed them. His final last-minute strategy was to mislead and misdirect the three terrorists—a plan to get as much distance from attackers as possible, along with protected individuals, in as little time as possible, with defensive barriers haphazardly erected to fool their pursuers. Despite Dillon's number of flawless executions of them, they did not always pan out. It was only him guarding a militant secretary and his friend on that Tower. They needed only to check the Tower and discover them. With nowhere else to hide, he thought they were goners.

In what should have been a swift getaway, chaos and terror can surprise its victims—unused to them and surrounded by strangers in palpable fear—by the sudden emergence and severity of their arrival. In seconds, all emergency rescue plans and protocol get abandoned. Unused to a particular situation at hand, and regardless of the presence of a leader or authority, trained forces forget all the instructions and lessons that were instilled. Unfortunately Dillon, and no doubt every other general soldier in that room, witnessed such havoc more times than he could count. His fear as a new leader on his own was that he would not be ready.

                                                        ***

Footnotes:

[1] Equivalent to the fruit 'pear' on Earth, but blue in color. It tastes a tad sweeter than a normal pear.

[2] A type of powered vehicle, shaped like a small cart, that is used by militants and professionals on campus grounds, military grounds, and games property.

[3] Sacrificing some thickness, or width, this is the quickest barrier to make out of all barriers, including normal ones that barrier users make (when they chant the mantra without any special features or motions). In addition to the mantra, they add, "Nick come forth," at the end, while holding their index finger and thumb together.