![]() Warning his niece-the youngest person ever to rise to the rank of Major-that feigning modesty will make unwanted enemies, the General also informs her that the Processor who leads Spearhead is called Undertaker, AKA Reaper, which is notorious for destroying Handlers, either by forcing them to retire or change units or, in some cases, commit suicide. One day, Lena is reassigned by her commanding general, who is also her uncle, to command of Defense Line 1 in Eastern Defense Line Combat District 1, AKA the Spearhead Squadron. In between operations, she hangs out with her researcher friend Annette, who like Lena is following in her late father’s footsteps. She tries to keep an open and cordial dialogue with her Processors on the battlefield, who thank her sarcastically. Much of HQ is a den of hedonism, with drunk and carousing Handlers either unaware their decisions cost human lives, or worse: they’re well aware and don’t care. Major Vladilena Mirizé is one such Handler-and also one of the only ones with a conscience and who feels the weight of the lives at her fingertips. The 86 units are led by Processors, who answer to Handlers operating from the safety of San Magnolia’s luxurious military HQ. Despite national propaganda in the other districts that assures the public that war is now fought by bloodless drones, that’s just a lie: the 86 are very much flesh-and-blood, and they’re dying for a nation that doesn’t know they exist. The second and now more common definition applies to the eponymous military unit of discarded humans in the 86th District of the Republic of San Magnolia. ![]() Since then, 86ing has also developed as a term to reject, discard, or cancel-86ing an idea, and such. Here’s a little story about the term “86” that I looked up after the title of this series piqued my interest: back in the 30s during prohibition there was a speakeasy on 86 Bedford Street in NYC, and when the cops arrived, its patrons would “86”-quickly flee-from the premises using various hidden exits. ![]()
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