Broken Down

They…they tell you that it’s always been that way-—or that it always should have been that way. It’s not right, you say, it is different and it cannot be quantified and it is somehow wrong, a pure, invisible wrongness spreading out in front of you like the sun just decided to rise purple.

Keep moving.

It’s not so bad, they say, and although you are to be commended for pointing out that particular flaw in the system there are a team of technicians on standby and they are entirely focused on planning for the resolution (preparing to plan for the resolution) and you really don’t need to concern yourself with technical matters when there’s work yet undone, do you?

Keep moving.

I understand, they reply—-with a distinct lack of courtesy this time-—but your unsubstantiated concerns, as worrying as they may be, are standing in the way of the Plan and may even be construed to be anti-Plan, as much as I hesitate to use the phrase. We certainly have done the best to foster a certain spirit of discretion among your team but one wonders if we haven't done too much, hm?

Keep moving.

Do you consider yourself, they ask, a patriotic man? Of course you do, who doesn’t? Knowing that, one must wonder at the level of attention you have paid this particular matter. It certainly seems contrary to an acceptable love for one’s fellow man to worry so much over this one trifle, doesn’t it? Don’t the stakes demand that you concede to authority? We’ve been trained and equipped for this situation, all the best classrooms covered in precise technical drawings describing this situation were made available to us from a very early age and I assure you, sir, that this is all entirely under control.

Now.

I feel that you have put me (and the Plan, no less!) in a rather difficult position, but I must this moment demand that you either return to your duty and keep moving, or formally refuse to serve-—and I am exceedingly sure you are aware of the consequences of that particular choice.

There’s a good fellow.

Don’t worry about it stopping outright, mind you. That’s a difficulty best left to our sons.

Keep moving.