Peters:
Sir, I understand your desire to choose your words with care. So let me be the blunt one. If we don’t do something, in thirty years, normal humans will have become irrelevant. At best.
Walker:
And at worst?
Peters:
Slaves.
To 17:56:
Walker:
The thing is, there’s two ways to go into a fight. You can do it wearing body armor and slinging a rifle, or you can show up in your skivvies. Not only that, but the guy who looks like he can fight rarely has to.
Peters:
That’s it exactly. I don’t want genocide. But we need to prepare ourselves. We have the right to fight for our own survival. And this is not a war that can be fought with tanks and jets.
Walker:
You’ve heard rumors about the congressional investigation into Equitable Services.
Peters:
Yes. But that’s not why—
Walker:
Don’t soil yourself. I’m not threatening you. But I do wonder whether this plan of yours is patriotism or self-preservation.
Peters:
Mr. Secretary—
Walker:
What’s the target?
Peters:
Are you sure you want to know the operational details, sir?
Walker:
All right. You’re right.
To 19:12:
Walker:
How many dead are you thinking?
Peters:
Somewhere between fifty and a hundred.
Walker:
That many?
Peters:
A small price to defend hundreds of millions.
Walker:
And these will be civilians.
Peters:
Yes.
Walker:
All?
Peters:
Yes, sir.
Walker:
No. No, that won’t do.
Peters:
To ensure they’re seen as terrorists, it has to be civilians. An attack against the military frames them as a military power. It defeats—
Walker:
I understand. But we need a symbol of the government there as well. Otherwise, it will seem random and unfocused.
Peters:
What about an attack on your office?
Walker:
Let’s not get carried away. No, I was thinking a senator, or a Supreme Court judge. Someone respected, symbolic. And we’ll need a patsy, too. A capable one who won’t get caught right away. Someone to become the boogeyman.
Peters:
I have one in mind, sir. An activist named John Smith.
Walker:
I know of him.
Peters:
He’s already made a pest of himself; it’s only a matter of time before he would resort to violence anyway. And he’s very capable. Once we tip him over, he’ll play the part. Any, ah, symbolic target in particular?
Walker:
I can think of a few.
To 24:11:
Walker:
The key is to not let this get out of hand. We need an incident that unites the country, that justifies your work. Not something that kicks off a holy war.
Peters:
I understand, and I agree. Frankly, the gifted are too valuable to risk.
Walker:
Amen. But they need to be kept in their place.
Peters:
Sometimes war is the only route to peace.
Walker:
I think we understand one another.
To 28:04:
Peters:
I’ve already chosen a target. A restaurant. I’ve got teams ready.
Walker:
This is a hard assignment. Some of your shooters might flinch.
Peters:
Not these men.
Walker:
And afterward? Can you depend on their discretion?
Peters:
Depend on it? No. But I can assure it.
Walker:
Are you saying—
Peters:
Operational details.
To 30:11:
Peters:
Sir, I will handle everything. I will shield the administration in every way. But I need to hear directly from your lips, sir. I can’t proceed on an assumption.
Walker:
You’re not recording this, are you?
Peters:
Don’t be ridiculous.
Walker:
I’m kidding, Peters. Good lord, if you were recording this we’d both be up a creek.
Peters:
True. So. Sir? I need explicit authorization.
Walker:
Do it. Orchestrate the attack.
Peters:
And you understand that we’re talking about civilian casualties, maybe as many as a hundred of them.