Dampening

Abstract

When horrible war crimes have been committed by both sides, is a lasting peace more important than seeking justice against those who committed the crimes? In this work of war ethics short story fiction, two Inspectors, Seronian and a Bassweldan are put together to work on a criminal case. The case is of a Seronian and a Bassweldan who brutally murdered each other in a fit of rage. It seems they were both not using the “glanding” chemicals the entire population is required to use, to prevent old hatred from stirring up. The two inspectors’ investigation leads them to interview a “naturalist” group who believes the day will come when people will no longer have to inhibit their emotions by “glanding.” The story ends by the narrator finding out he had been set up to kill his fellow inspector in the name of vigilante justice for former war crimes. In fact, the narrator has more reasons to kill her than most as it was his family, that she had personally ordered murdered in the war.