Take aim (In the face of death)

Take aim

The act of taking someone else's life is never a task that should be taken lightly
The apprehension was obvious to the officer that watched over the five-man firing squad, young lambs who had been thrown into the slaughter of the world around them.

it was bad enough that they were forced into the filth of disease of the trenches, but this had become an all-time low, the order from upon high to execute their men for acts of treason or cowardice or whatever reason was deemed fit.

Even if you did not like the orders, by God, it was your duty to carry them out, even as you saw the scared and crying young man as he stood tied to a makeshift post, the offer of a blindfold taken as not to see the imminent touch of death.

of the men chosen to perform the execution, they had been told that four of them would have live ammunition in their rifles and one would be loaded with blank rounds, this was some sort of twisted way for the men to not know who had taken the killing shot.

Did it matter? a man would still be taken from this world and for what? his actions in battle, perhaps allowing his fear to overcome him? no, it was wrong, but it was a soldier's duty to do as he is ordered and an officer's duty to carry out those commands.

"Present arms"

The command was issued and the men raised their weapons from where they had them slung by their sides, the call to arms was given and to their credit, each man did not falter from the command they were given.

"Aim"

The second command was given and now the cries of terror could be heard from the young man as he waited, any attempt to remain stoic in the face of death was now gone. the next command he knew would be his end.

"Fire"