PROJECT CEREBUS 

Our war was going badly in Afghanistan and we needed more soldiers, public opinion was turning against the war and loss of life. What could be done? A desperate government brought back National Service to solve the many problems; to give the army the cannon fodder it needed and to get youths off the streets. Two years service would kill some and give those who survived discipline solving the petty crime problems that blighted our nations’ towns and cities. The public protested openly at first none violent but this soon changed when anarchist joined their ranks and called for the overthrow of the government and an end to their fascist policies. They acted quickly and effectively rounding up anarchists and placing them temporarily in jail, processing random individuals who demonstrated to form the first squads for the new army. The anarchists would be placed in a special squad later without weapons for a specialised job. Plans were made and implemented, new bases built and training programs drawn up to train the first set of conscripted eighteen year olds and specially picked people from the demos. Many resisted but most saw sense and agreed to give up two years of their life; a select few who were very stubborn joined the anarchists in the special squad. Over time the forcibly conscripted numbers grew with enough to form battalions and regiments to be sent straight to the Afghan theatre of operations.

Thrown into vicious battle against the Taliban and al Qaeda the teenage conscripts learnt quickly or died from gunshots and roadside bombs. The government of the day held onto power and silenced public opinion, a move of pure genius getting car thieves and drug dealers off the streets and into the army and combat. Crime went down and the public actually congratulated the unpopular government on a job well done. But when the casualty figures rose and hundreds of coffins came back, many full of sand due to the soldiers being blown to bits they did wonder is this wise?

Is there another way to solve youth crime, to end the war and replace the corrupt but strong leaders of our country? What happened to those who voiced their opinion talk to our enemy instead of fight them? Rumour circulated of a suicide regiment whose casualties shared the graves of their enemies and when dead never saw England’s green land again. Project Cerebus achieved its aims and was an outstanding success Vanity was even better.