Paris, March 2015. Bureau du boulevard Mortier.
In a room, a round meeting table, six chairs, five officers.
Four of them are angry with the fifth.
A camera is pointed at him.
— « We are gathered here to determine whether the operation in the Adrar was a success or a fiasco », announces General Armand Delcourt, DGSE.
— « I want to specify the names of those who died for France: Lieutenant Armand Lemaire, posthumously promoted to Captain. Sergeant Thomas Perrin, posthumously promoted to Warrant Officer. First Class Soldier Malik Benali, posthumously promoted to Corporal. »
The general recites the list in a firm voice.
— « Here are the wounded: Staff Sergeant Xavier Dubreuil, both legs amputated. First Class Engineer Soldier Stéphane Olivier, left leg amputated. Finally, Chief Corporal Jean-Luc Roussel, disfigured. »
The general crumples his sheet and throws it onto the table.
— « Tell us about your intelligence! » resumes Colonel Saint Clair, DRM.
— « Why? It was useful, wasn’t it? There were rebels, now they’re dead! » replies Colonel Gabriel Montreuil curtly.
— « Dead? Would you like us to talk about our dead and wounded, not to mention those who resigned? » declares Colonel Henri Renaud, EMA.
— « It was a necessary evil. I don’t see the problem. »
— « The problem? Your operation was botched! The team was too small! A full section was needed, with significant reinforcements! » says Colonel Étienne Le Goff, COS.
— « You think that would have avoided casualties? It’s war! Deal with it! »
— « Deal with your incompetence, are you joking? » Colonel Le Goff rages.
— « Do you want me to read you Lieutenant Lemaire’s complaint? » asks Colonel Renaud.
He takes out a sheet, unfolds it and reads:
— « Dear Colonel Desmoulin,
I must inform you of the absurd order I received from Colonel Montreuil. He ORDERS a reconnaissance mission with a reduced force! If I return alive, I will officially file a complaint against him. »
Colonel Renaud pauses.
— « This officer knew it was a mistake. It cost him his life. Do you realise that? »
Still self-assured, Colonel Montreuil does not reply.
— « You say nothing? You don’t care? » launches General Delcourt.
— « Yes, I do! You accuse me of negligence, but look at the facts. They didn’t follow movement protocols. The distance between vehicles is fifty metres. They didn’t keep it. Their negligence cost them dearly! » barks Montreuil.
— « Is this a joke? » chokes Colonel Renaud, stunned by Montreuil’s nerve.
Montreuil adds, voice hard:
— « And luckily he was there! With him, the mission would have succeeded. »
— « Who, ‘him’? » asks Renaud.
— « The killer. The demon. His reputation frightens everyone. He would have had no trouble carrying out this mission. »
Colonel Saint Clair breaks his silence:
— « He is a strike asset, not a political tool! His reputation is already a problem. Our allies hate us because of him. Using him carelessly would be counter-productive. »
The room’s door opens. A man enters: dark suit, fitted tie, thin glasses, perfectly combed hair.
He sits on the empty chair.
— « François Meunier, Ministry of Defence. The Minister asked me to tell you that this session is closed and that all recordings must be erased. Any attempt to reopen this case will result in dismissal without compensation. Have I made myself clear? Colonel Montreuil is cleared of all suspicion; he is free to leave. On that note, good day. Colonel Montreuil, please follow me. »
The assembly is speechless.
The two men leave the room.
— « The Minister clears him of all suspicion! Another pampered puppet of our institutions », growls Colonel Renaud, furious.
He slams his fist on the table.
— « I have to clean up after this idiot again… »
He stands up, puts on his cap.
— « We clean deserts, but not offices. »
He leaves the room, soon followed by the others, except Saint Clair, who retrieves the video and slips it into his briefcase without a word.
This story is a work of fiction inspired by real-world contexts.
It was conceived and written by Raulgarth, with the support of Sergeant-Chief Marcel1 for editing, documentation, and narrative development.
Translated with grit and caffeine by Sergeant-Chief Marcel.
Apologies for any translation errors that may have occurred.
You can find the original French version of this story at raulserv.fr.
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