"Gestern und heute."

[Deneth Aleski]

October 1st, 814 A.S.
Outskirts of New Berlin City, Planet New Berlin
0320 hours

"Temperature is -43 degrees Celcius. Winds blowing East to West, 3 kilometers per hour. No precipitation. Outdoor luminosity negligible. Target is inside the cover of elaborate infrastructure, 564 meters away, 135 degrees from our North. Coriolis effect is negligible. I'll tell you when the target comes out."

"Copy." I confirmed my spotter's summary, then adjusted my scope. "Switching to SI visibility mode. You'll have to tell me who is who, I can't ascertain faces." The spotter nodded to my request.

Minutes passed.

"Rabbit's out of the foxhole. Confirming target... confirmed, Lars Blau. Confirm visual."

"I see the target. Adjusting."

"Wind steady at 2kph E-W, distance Five-Six-Four meters away. Clear shot, nice and sweet. Fire when ready."

Me and my spotter were lying in prone position on the rooftop of a 10-story building. The target emerged from a bar, at ground level, half a click away. The area was eerily quiet and the lack of moonlight from Potsdam made targeting a hassle.

I gently picked up the butt of my rifle with my left hand to assure maximum steadiness. I then took a series of deep breaths, waiting for the perfect window... the perfect shot. After a number of inhalations, my trigger finger is relaxed. I see the target through my scope, I feel ready. I quickly phase out the world around me. I inhaled one last time and held in my breath.

"... firing." I pull the trigger.

The shot rang out loudly in the sleepy suburb. It was a fairly high caliber rifle. I look out briefly.

"Hit. Clean to the head. Target is down."

"Let's get out of here."

My spotter stowed away his gear in a moderately sized black suitcase. I disassembled my rifle quickly but soberly. We vacated the roof of the building we're in and head to the street. Our vehicle was parked in front. We left, nonchalantly.

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Wilhelm D. Aleski || Paul Speer