War Never Changes

War. War never changes.

I tell myself this as I observe the battlefield through a drone, one designed primarily for surveillance, but equipped with a single missile for any target the higher ups deem important. Fifty years ago this would have been in the realm of science fiction. A hundred years ago using planes as a means of waging war would have seemed ridiculous. One-hundred and fifty years ago, planes did not exist, full stop.

But it's all the same. War never changes.

I tell myself this as the battle nears its beginning. I can see from the air that Praying Mantis has taken up positions in the town. I can see the assault beginning from the insurgents. Or rebels, or militia, no-one can seem to agree on a name, and no-one seems to ask why they're even fighting. No-one asks why we're fighting against them either. In the past, a reason was always given. Once it was the evils of capitalism or communism, depending on where in the world you lived. Once it was totalitarianism. Once you fought for king and empire. Before that, for God, or gods. Or further back still, humans fought just to stay alive.

But it's all the same. War never changes.

The battle begins. I doubt the drone will be used, because already "the enemy" are without any targets of note. They're dying. Praying Mantis is doing its job. Doing its job because it's paid to do it. Doing its job because the economy dictates it. Doing its job not for king, country, ideology, religion, or even survival, but because it's its job. Its routine. Its state of being. And it will continue doing it not until the war ends, or ideologies shift, or enemies reconcile, but until its service for the sake of service is deemed to no longer be needed.

But it's all the same. War never changes.

As the battle goes on, I begin to notice the disparity of losses. "The enemy" (who is only the enemy of Praying Mantis because they're paid to treat them as such) is dying en masse, while so far, no PM casualties have been reported. In the past, losses were horrendous for both sides. As time has moved on, as technology has advanced, just a few can take on many.

But it's all the same. War never changes.

Numbers are starting to count, and "the enemy" is pressing in deep. I know what's happening. The drone's HUD is alerting me to GEKKO deployment. A war machine. The first war machine to integrate biology with technology. Not so different from the use of horses I suppose, or killing cattle to feed soldiers. Yet they are still feeling. Not controlled directly. I have more control over my drone than anyone at PM has over one of our bi-pedal walkers. I see them take out "the enemy" as they leap into the fray. I see the tide of battle turned over in an instant. By machines acting autonomously, fighting because they're programmed to fight, by a PMC who is paid to fight.

But it's all the same. War never changes.

The battle is ended. I'm ordered to bring the drone in. And I end the lie.

War…war has changed.