Von Neumann’s War

Jones and Mahoney had to get help folding the flag. But after it had been presented to the general — Gregory’s wife and kids were somewhere in a refugee camp in Kentucky — they got in line to drop dirt into the hole.

“So long, Sergeant,” Jones said. “Keep the fire warm.”

“Yeah,” Mahoney added, trying to think of something appropriately clever and philosophical.

Overhead four of the new bot propulsion fighters flew by. The sleek craft were piloted by the only surviving “Rednecks.” One, piloted by Colonel “Bull” Ridley, banked off into the missing man formation. All four of the swept wing forward canard fighters glittered red, white and blue in the bright afternoon sun. Behind them came rank upon rank upon rank of red white and blue flying machines, all under the control of humanity. They filled the skies momentarily and then banked down into the valley to land on the remains of Huntsville, there to await their next command.

Mahoney looked back down and gave up. In the end, all the philosophical words were hollow, so he said goodbye as a soldier.

“We are so going to kick those machine bastards’ asses.”

* * *

Citadel

Languid waves of desperation
fall before the rains
A vanguard to approaching war
is borne upon the sea
The icy breath of cyclones bent
on waging our destruction
Drills hard against the hearts of heroes
called here to defend

I see storms on the horizon

I see the tempest at the gates
I see storms on the horizon,
and a citadel alone
Clinging brave, defying fate

And I will stand here at the gates to face the onslaught fighting

Without surrender or defeat
With Troy besieged by tyrants’ greed —
In Hector’s memory, God willing
We shall save this victory
Without surrender or defeat

Sudden silence — I realize

breaking teardrops in the rain
With every breathing moment
the pillars are sustained
And waking hands attached to nothing
tightly clutching close
Each sleeping vision speaks unheard
and heaven only knows

And I see storms on the horizon

I see the tempest at the gates
I see storms on the horizon,
and a citadel alone
Clinging brave, defying fate

And I will stand here at the gates to face the onslaught fighting

Without surrender or defeat
With Troy besieged by tyrants’ greed —
In Hector’s memory, God willing
We shall save this victory
Without surrender or defeat

Paris’ arrow landed true

Paris’ arrow landed true
Paris’ arrow landed true
Down upon your heel…

This Troy…

she will not fall again
This Troy…
she will not fall!

And I see storms on the horizon

I see the tempest at the gates
I see storms on the horizon,
and a citadel alone
Clinging brave, defying fate

And I will stand here at the gates to face the onslaught fighting

Without surrender or defeat
With Troy besieged by tyrants’ greed —
In Hector’s memory, God willing
We shall save this victory
Without surrender or defeat!