I you haven't read the first installment please do so!
In the years of the Xeno Cold War, tolerance of crime was short. Treason was often a crime charged against criminals despite probably having no association with the Howlers in the first place. As a result mortality of criminals increased with executions, and prisons shrunk in population as more and more convicted were also charged under suspicion of being Sqaukers (Slang for a human who spies on behalf of aliens).
The frequency of executions such as these made them a kind of norm, people took little notice but were still very aware of the dangers of crime. In this case though the criminal was a member of the Border Patrol. A division of brave men who's duty was to defend the Earth (Slang for human controlled land) from, primarily Howlers though most of their efforts are spent fighting off the dragons. Since this man was a former soldier his execution required the presence of ranked officials. Among the summoned officials was Vlandis Haltham a five star general strategic philosopher, and politician.
Vlandis was a tall man with a lean build for his age, his deep set eyes were old but still sparked with passion. His hair was a wolfish gray and was receding to show his well polished scalp. He wore a luxurious brown leather jacket with a quilted red lining, silver fur collar, and silver button brackets. A casual event in, relative respects, was catered with appetizers and beverages for the high men and women in attendance. While waiting for the proceedings of the capital punishment most of the attendees struck up conversation.
Vlandis approached the Border Patrol squad leader with which the criminal served. "Stoverin Padolski. Headman of the 279th border squad."
The now perplexed looking Headman turned "General. Have we met sir?" His rough disposition curving off in the presence of his superior.
"No. You may call me Vlandis. It's a shame that one of your men has been found a Sqauker, it's a tarnish to our forces."
"Indeed it is a shame." He obliged.
"I should hope..." Vlandis stiffened "... that none of your other men are of the same business, and that you find the source of this rebellious nature."
"Sir, I should hope that you don't suspect me of condoning such behavior." said Stoverin losing his tact.
"Are said suspicions wrong." Vlandis said in a concluding sense before dismissing the conversation. He made way to one of the politicians present in the small audience. "Allliezar."
The man turned, his body brandished a protruding gut and overall he reflected an indulgent life. With an opulent robe of fine furs and silken pants he was no stranger to making his wealth apparent. "Haltham!"
"It has been a long time hasn't it." Vlandis grinned.
"Years in fact. How times have changed." Alliezar said looking up and down Vlandis.
"And how they haven't it seems." Vlandis mused. The chubby man nodded. "The cold war has made sure that hasn't it!"
"Of course. Neither Aliens nor humans want to end the world." he cocked his head "It makes you wonder why they haven't left yet... their are plenty of other systems to colonize aren't their?"
"Well as long as they're too stubborn to leave I'll be making sure we're ready to blow back to their star system."
The man laughed shaking his goiter most obscenely "I wouldn't trust anyone else to it."
"I hope to see the end of this standoff, whether or not we win, I just want it to end so we can proceed with a real war! And so I can feel the heat of battle once more before I'm too old."
The room in which they were in had a glass wall looking in to the killing chamber. The room was sterile of any life forms and had only a door and a large chair with straps and glowing probes. The door into the inside opened and entered two suited guards and the prisoner.
One of the governors nearby shivered "What a grisly way to die."
Vladmir snorted "I haven't a shred of empathy for the man..."
As the man was strapped into the chair more of the probes placed themselves on the key points on the man's body. The device once activated would send resonating frequencies through the body tuned at a point at which it would literally disintegrate the man at the atomic level. It was quick though not painless according to theory, and all that was left was dust.
The two guards left the man in the chair and sealed the door behind them. The crimes of which he was convicted were announced over the intercoms built into the room. As the proceedings were carried out the men and women present gathered to respect the ceremonies. Vladmir was naturally farther back in the crowd being as tall as he was.
"Empathy is for times of peace." Vladmir said stoically. The prisoner began to shake and froth at the mouth as the waves began to agitate the molecules of his body. The Criminal let out an agonized scream and vaporized, his remains swirling through the chamber.
"These are times of war." said Vladmir eyeballing the back of Stoverin's head, but in a scrutinizing way.
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