Commissar Khan's fingers rested against his temple as he looked at the young man across from him. Debating what to do, and how to handle him in a way that would provide some kind of relief for all the guilt and shame he was carrying.
Guilt killed people, shame killed people. The Coalition could spare none.
The threat of constant attack by the blind and ignorant left little option but to make cold, hard warriors. It was the only way that they could survive the innumerous foes that would be hurled up against them.
Khan new the price of failure...
JiangXi had felt the price of failure.
"I don't believe in terminal failure," Khan said quietly, his eyes glancing up at the youth. "There must always be a chance for redemption... some times redemption is found in your children, some times it is found in your deeds, other times in a single word said at the right time, to the right person..."
He extended a hand, as Alicia placed the recruitment package into his hand.
"Fill this out, return it to Alicia, and maybe you will have earned your chance at redemption... but be warned... A partisan is a cruel mistress, and she will get your soul in the divorce."
He gestured out.
Alicia cleared her throat, "They're back..."
Khan nodded his head, motioning to the soldiers. "Remove the furniture... leave the table and the gun."
He watched as they complied, hefting the setee and the chair out of the room, leaving Khan to stand facing the door, the heavy pistol sitting on its small table before him.
His face changed, the lines appearing again, and his jaw setting.
His body language became more rigid, as he coiled like an adder ready to strike.
"Send in the first returnee," Khan said, his voice deathly quiet.
Alicia complied hurrying out to point at the first person she saw and motioning them inside.
![[Image: Coalition-sig.png]](http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad103/cplydon/Coalition-sig.png)