"So, nukes." Gloria frowned. "The Empire has them. They might do something with them. You want to stop them from doing anything with them, because… nukes bad?"

"Nukes very bad." Greg nodded.

"Right… then I suppose the next question I have is, since you are obviously attempting to oppose the Empire in some way, why are you involving me?!?" Gloria asked incredulously.

Greg paused. "Well… to start, we didn't know the Empire was involved. Technically we still aren't completely certain… Gretchen here could be lying, someone could have lied to her, or it could be some rogue department or something. Even if it is the Empire, I can't imagine the Empire is some sort of political monolith, not that I rightly know what the Empire's political system is…"

"Basically Roman." Chris replied. "There's an Emperor with significant political power, but there's also a Senate which holds about the same amount of political power, plus the individual Kingdoms which have their own political influences and the legal system of course… Quinn doesn't know much more than that. Not much for politics."

Greg blinked. "Huh… neat. Either way, there are definitely going to be factions that oppose the use of nukes, which we can work with. Just because we oppose a certain policy doesn't mean we're against the Empire. We may not want to see the monstrous races destroyed but we definitely don't want to see the noble races destroyed. Or hurt even… like, we want to change the monstrous races so they don't have to prey on the noble races, but that doesn't mean we're okay with them doing it in the meantime."

"I'm on the fence about it, honestly." Chris shrugged.

"Yeah…" Andrew agreed, his expression twisting. "I spent some time as a goblin, and… It's hard to fault them for just doing what they need to do to survive."

"Except it isn't a matter of survival." Thomas countered, shaking his head. "They can survive just fine without the noble races. It's procreation that's impossible, and they can live long productive lives without procreating."

"But procreation is necessary for a species to survive!" Andrew retorted. "Sure, individuals will survive just fine, but the species as a whole can't survive without procreation!"

"But why should the survival of a species matter?" Thomas countered.

"Because-" Andrew began, before trailing off with a frown. Why did the survival of a species matter?

"Who's to say it shouldn't survive?" Chris shrugged. "Sure, the monstrous races prey on the noble races, but animals prey on each other all the time. The only difference in this case is that the animals in question are all sapient. Does sapience suddenly make nature wrong? Can nature be wrong? You're asking a race to voluntarily eliminate itself because it inconveniences you. I'm sure many prey species would be delighted to ask the same of their predators. That doesn't mean the prey is right though."

"I dunno… Sapience does make things different." Greg pointed out. "I mean, technically anyone could hunt any living thing for food, noble or monstrous. But we don't, because they're sapient."

Chris shook his head. "We don't hunt other sapients for food because there are other, easier options. Other sapients are more dangerous and hunting them would make cooperation difficult, if not impossible, so since there are alternatives, it's more practical to not. If hunting other sapients for food was the only option, then it would be perfectly acceptable."

Greg narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't know if it'd be acceptable… but I can't say I wouldn't do it if I had to either, so I'll concede the point. For now."

"However, it should be noted that we are on the noble races side, so even though I don't think it's reasonable to ask the monstrous races to simply roll over and die out, I'm perfectly willing to contribute to defending the noble races from their depredations." Chris added, turning to Gretchen and Gloria, before glancing at Andrew. "How was that?"

Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose. "Chris, it defeats the point if you look like you're only saying it because I asked you to!" He sighed, before turning to the girls as well. "But seriously, even if we don't think the monstrous races need to be destroyed, we do believe in defending people from those who try to hurt them." As much as he didn't think the monstrous races deserved to die, he didn't want to look like he wanted the noble races to just roll over for them either.

"It's basic survival of the fittest." Chris nodded. "Defending yourself is fine. Asking others to stop competing just because you don't like it isn't."

"Then- wouldn't nukes just be a new way for the noble races to compete? Why is it okay to ask us to stop but not the monstrous races?" Gretchen asked, frowning slightly.

Chris paused. "Are nukes a competitive advantage? Wait… yes, aren't they?"

"Okay, this is the problem with sapients." Greg commented. "Animals just hunt and avoid getting hunted. Sapients can recognize each other as existential threats and decide to do something about it."

"Ah, that's the problem with nukes!" Thomas exclaimed. "Nukes aren't about competing, they're about destruction! You can't defend yourself with a nuke and you can't hunt with a nuke, so it doesn't play any part in the process. A predator needs to hunt, and the prey needs to defend itself, but anything outside of that necessity is just murder."

"But isn't killing your predator a form of defense?" Gretchen protested. "Why should we have to wait for a predator we know is going to hunt us when we can handle the problem now?"

"Because in nature, all death must serve a purpose. To feed, to procreate, to remove a threat- wait, hold on." Thomas frowned. "A current threat?" He shook his head. "Well now I feel like I'm just splitting hairs."

"See? Sapients make things difficult." Greg chuckled. "But I think there's some sort of difference in intention… like, are you attacking the monstrous races because they're a threat, or because you hate them? Wait. Unless it's a difference between a personal threat and… a species threat? Like, if you're confident someone is going to attack you, then yeah, take care of them, but if you just think they're going to attack someone… no, hold on." Greg frowned. "Fuck, this is difficult." He cocked his head. "Should we just let them nuke the monsters?"

"Well, if life is sacred, then the monstrous races are a problem because by necessity they have to kill to survive, which means the noble races have some justification in nuking them. However, if survival is the ultimate morality, then the noble races can use nukes because it would ultimately ensure their survival." Chris replied. "So… yeah, I guess we have to let them nuke the monsters."

"Hold on!" Andrew protested. "I don't care what morality you subscribe to, mass genocide is wrong, okay?!?"

"Well, obviously." Chris nodded. "It's completely redundant. Genocide already means mass killing, so adding mass to genocide changes nothing."

Andrew glared at him. "Not what I meant!"

"Genocide does rub me the wrong way." Thomas agreed. "I just can't figure out why right now."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Yeah, I'm not a fan either." Greg nodded. "Defending yourself is one thing, but destroying anyone who could ever be a threat to you… I mean, I get it, but I can't say I agree with it."

"Y'all are going in circles and giving me the mother of all headaches." Gloria growled, rubbing her temples. "And no one has explained why they brought this to me in the first place!"

"Oh, right, because we weren't sure who was developing the nukes, which again, we still aren't, and if it was some group other than the Empire, well… the only people we know to report something like that to are you and Monroe and he's dealing with the Ruin, so…" Greg shrugged. "We figured you'd at least be able to tell us who to talk to next. Plus, someone detonated a nuke pretty much in your front yard, so… maybe don't send your men on any patrols near this area." Greg gestured to where the nuke had gone off on a nearby map. "You know, unless you want their organs to melt."

Gloria frowned. "That shouldn't be an issue… we generally don't send any patrols that far into the Wastes. I will need to warn any adventures though."

"We have been talking in circles though, so I'm pretty sure we're done here." Greg sighed. "Nukes are still bad news, but… eh, we'll need to think about this a little more."

"Agreed." Thomas sighed. "Though a part of me is bothered that it's so hard to find a reason not to kill people."

"I think the real takeaway here is that this World is fucked up for putting people in this position in the first place." Andrew grumbled. "People shouldn't have to choose between treating people like people and survival."

Greg chuckled. "I think that's something we can all agree on."

*

"So…" Greg caught Gloria as the rest of them left. "Do you have time to talk, or…"

Gloria hesitated, before letting out a sigh. "I already wasted half an hour with that ridiculous conversation."

Greg sighed, nodding along. "I understand, I'll-"

"I don't mind wasting another few minutes with you." Gloria continued, shooting him a slight grin.

Greg froze, before letting out a snort. "You're getting better at yanking my chain, I'll give you that."

Gloria let out a short giggle, before coughing with a flush, quickly getting herself back under control. "So… us."

"Us." Greg nodded. "Should I expect good news or bad news?"

Gloria hesitated. "I-" She sighed. "I don't know. I… I want to be with you, I really, really do."

Greg frowned. "But there's a but."

Gloria nodded. "There's a but. I'm a member of the Legion, and as such, I have to place my loyalty to the Empire above everything. And if I'm in a relationship with you… that loyalty will be compromised."

Greg sighed, beginning to nod in understanding, before pausing. "Wait… loyalty to what? The Empire as a people? Or the Empire as a government? Because I get how my existence can be subversive to the government, but I would never threaten the people, and I'm pretty sure you know that. I don't think you'd want to be with me if you didn't."

Gloria frowned, before shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. The government is the voice of the people, and I've vowed to serve that voice. If every individual in the military suddenly decided they had the authority to decide for themselves how to serve the people… it'd be anarchy! As a soldier, it is my job to trust that my superiors know better than I do and to follow their orders as faithfully as possible."

Greg raised an eyebrow at her. "Doesn't blind obedience lead to atrocities? That whole 'I was just following orders' idea?"

Gloria shook her head again. "It isn't blind obedience, you can question your superiors, and no one can force you to cross your bottom line, but you can't ignore the chain of command. At the end of the day, orders are orders, and if orders declare you an enemy of the state… I would have to treat you as such."

"I mean… you can kill me as much as you want, or imprison me… oh, I bet we could have some long interrogation sessions." Greg chuckled. "Declaring me an enemy of the state is probably one of the most pointless things anyone could do."

Gloria rolled her eyes, punching him in the hip. "That isn't helping!"

"Okay, okay. Look… you know I'm not going to actually hurt the Empire, and assuming that the government will have a problem with me is essentially assuming the government is corrupt and has a problem with anyone they can't control, which… Do you really want to be loyal to a government like that? I mean, I assume you joined the military because it was the best way to help people. If it's no longer the best way to help people… I don't think you're obligated to dedicate yourself to a suboptimal option just because it was the only one you had at the time. Which I'm not saying the military is a suboptimal option, but you're basing this decision on the assumption that they'll have a problem with me and as I said, the only way that would be true is if they were suboptimal, so… eh, you get my point." Greg finished.

Gloria frowned at him. "The government isn't going to have a problem with you because they can't control you, but because you'll try to control them! We just spent half an hour talking about whether or not you should stop them from using nukes!"

"I wouldn't say we're trying to control them…" Greg muttered. "Limit maybe. But the very nature of war implies that no one actually has legitimate authority in the situation, so any actions we take to prevent the use of nukes on the monstrous races can't be said to be illegal, since the government has no authority to use nukes on the monstrous races in the first place. It'd be like if you saw two guys fighting and you stepped in to stop them. The only thing that really matters at that point is strength. We'd also have issues if the government suddenly started enslaving and torturing people, but I'm pretty sure you'd be right there with us on that, so I don't see how that's a conflict either."

Gloria shook her head. "That would still put you in conflict with the Empire. If the Empire wants to nuke the monstrous races, and you stop them, then it would be my job to stop you from stopping them. You see how that would be a conflict of interest for me if we were dating, right?"

"Okay… but- well, shit." Greg scowled. "I don't have an argument for that. You know, except maybe that a government that wants to nuke people doesn't deserve your loyalty, but- well, I mean, I'm not even sure if that's true anymore." He sighed.

Gloria smiled sadly, grabbing his hand. "I really wish this could have worked out, but-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on." Greg stopped her, raising his other hand. "Look, I agree that you'd be obligated to stop me, but the problem is that it'd be a conflict of interest, right? Well… what if it wasn't? What if you were free to do everything you could, and it wouldn't impact our relationship at all? If anything I'd have the issue because I wouldn't want to hurt you. But then again, I'm not planning on hurting anyone… kinda defeats the point, you know? That's what we're trying to avoid."

Gloria frowned. "How would that even work?"

"Well… you would fill your role in the military, as you would, and I would do my thing, and then at the end of the day, or week, or whenever you have leave, I guess, we'd go home and be… us." Greg shrugged, grinning slightly. "I'm not going to hold what you have to do for your job against you. And I honestly can't imagine doing anything you'd personally disagree with, and if you did… well, we'd have to talk, but if we had that much of a fundamental disagreement, we probably shouldn't be together anyway. Plus, all this is assuming that there will be a conflict, which isn't certain yet. Also, this only really matters while you're actually in the military, which… I mean, I'm immortal, and once you're connected to Chris's world, so are you, so… not really that big a deal, now is it?" He paused. "How long is your military service?"

Gloria blinked. "I- My contract expires in four years…" She trailed off as that period suddenly felt incredibly short. "Though I could still renew it for another term…" She muttered, frowning slightly. "I never considered that I wouldn't before, but if we're together…"

"I wouldn't ask you to give up your career for me." Greg quickly interjected. "However… The Eternal Army will need commanders. But no matter what your decision is, I'll support you. If we're still together. Otherwise all this is fairly moot."

Gloria snorted. "I'll think about it."

Greg paused. "So… we're still trying?"

Gloria smiled. "Yeah… I think we can still try."

Greg smiled back. "You know… we never did finish that mini-golf course."

Gloria rolled her eyes. "Later. I still have some things I need to take care of for the day. But… tonight. Definitely tonight."