Be Good

Be Good
Product information
Type Short story
Author Jason M. Hardy
Pages 10
Publication information
Publisher BattleCorps
First published 2 August 2006
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 14 June 2785

Be Good is a short story by Jason M. Hardy that was published online on BattleCorps on 2 August 2006.

Teaser text[edit]

Toku Hisagawa, Draconis Combine soldier, is a prisoner of the Federated Suns. His captor considers the AFFS to be the "good guys", and doesn't hesitate to rub that in Hisagawa's face—especially as the Kuritans show no interested in rescuing the imprisoned soldier. But just what does "being good" mean, set against a war that might well be to cultural extinction?

Plot summary[edit]

Captive DCMS MechWarrior Toku Hisagawa debates his guard, Ryerson, as to which side has the moral high ground as both fight to hold the Terran Hegemony world. Ryerson takes the position that the Federated Suns is "spreading freedom throughout the Inner Sphere". Their debate is interrupted as explosions rock the POW transport vehicle. Following a massive explosion, Hisagawa finds himself outside, being dragged through a battle by Ryerson. All around them, the Federated Suns base-camp is being overrun by DCMS forces, and a gaggle of support vehicles is taking flight. Ryerson refuses to let Hisagawa go, planning to ensure his own safety by holding the DCMS trooper hostage. Hisagawa enlightens him as to the Dictum Honorium guidelines for such situations, which mostly start with "If" and end with "kill them". The debate resumes, with Ryerson saying that AFFS respect for life means they're morally superior. Hisagawa responds that it just shows weakness.

Ryerson scavenges a monocycle from a crashed mobile field kitchen and has Hisagawa steer while he rides behind, stopping a number of escape attempts with apparent ease. In a final attempt, Hisagawa crashes the monocycle, but ends up with a shattered ankle. Ryerson prepares to run Hisagawa down with the monocycle, and the DCMS soldier asks if this is how "good guys" treat their prisoners. Ryerson answers "When you're good, you do the right thing, and worry about how others will judge you. But when you're really good, you win," and proceeds to kill Hisagawa.