He found himself as a commanding officer.

  “Sir, radiation’s killing them. It’s just a machine! Think of their families!” said a medic.

  He looked at a map. Fortifications surrounded a superintelligence more capable than all humankind, and their enemy wanted it destroyed.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He paced …

  “Inject them. We must resist at any cost.”

  “Their blood on your hands!” The medic scowled.

  He stared back—“It’s worth millions of human lives. Do it.”

  ————

  “Simulation closing.”

  John Francu’s identity was restored.

  A man in a suit removed John’s headset.

  “Congratulations, John. The council decided in favor of your executive promotion.”