All children and non-soldiers were safe in an underground bunker, aware what was going to happen in a couple of minutes. The drills that were practiced in these past few years really did pay off as it only took about ten minutes to round everyone up into twenty-six groups and direct them to their sections, sorted by the first letter of their maiden last name. Ara's heart was pounding against her ribs threatening to jump out her chest, tear through her skin and out into the harsh circumstance that the world seems to be watching. Soon enough she could be lying in the mud, hands still and eyes un-seeing. If luck didn't favor her this last final battle, she might never see the victory of humanity coming together. She may never see him again..

Suddenly the silent air was filled with the chirping of different alarms of all the watches the women were all required to wear, signalling the start of the bloodbath. The leader at the front, Ara was unsure of her name, raised her hand high in the sky, the sign of unity. Everyone, including Ara, followed her example and soon enough thousands of hands were held up, everybody smiling in hope despite knowing that this could possibly be their last moments to fight for what they believe in. Ara looked around herself, trying to memorize as many of these girls' faces as possible.

"Everyone!" the leader shouted. 

"Today is the day this war comes to an end, today this battle marks the finality of our suffering and our sacrifices! After today, those of us who survive will be able to return to our lost lovers, our brothers, our fathers. After today we shall all come together as one once more, knowing that us women have finally made a stance against those who believe we did not have it in us to lead our own!" She took a pause.

"And after this final battle, may our daughters be thankful for the sacrifices we and our fallen comrades have made for us, because when this war is at last at its end women will at last have our rights!" Her voice echoed in the street we were huddled in, facing the great building of The National Portrait Gallery on the other side of Nelson's Column. The men were on the opposite side of the statue, behind the building of the Gallery, probably preparing the bombs they are planning to drop in any second. 

Everything stood silent and tense; no birds were flying, what remains of the trees were not moving, no fallen leaves were rustling nor any wind was blowing.. It was as if the earth was holding its breath. Until suddenly the doors of the Gallery opened and out came the biggest cannon Ara had ever seen in her life. It was painted black and grey, the sunlight still unable to lighten the dark shades. Also it was twice the size of Ara, maybe approximately 3 meters of height and 4 meters of length. Behind it followed two machine guns, packed with little metallic bullets, ready to pierce the flesh and wound the body. The few men that came after looked straight at the women, however they were too far away for Ara to read their expressions. Soon enough they disappeared behind the machinery, no doubt preparing the slaughter. 

Everyone began to move uncertainly, as if preparing to turn and run any second, away from the bloodbath, away from the suicidal mission. Another woman held up her hand in aggression, signalling for everyone to calm down. When she spoke, Ara recognized her voice to be Electra's, the assassin she had encountered a few days ago..

"Courage women! Stand your ground!" And as if her words had triggered a light, the sound of bombs leaving the cannon sounded, the killers landing a couple of meters behind Ara, bodies of women flying into the air. 

"FOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR BELIEFS AND FOR THE MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN SISTERS!" The square was filled with the shouts of the hopeful voices of the women, screaming at the top of their lungs for the men on the other side to hear. And then they went into full charge..

Jack could hear the screaming as each bomb took the lives of so many. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the sound of such pain and torture, only to feel a tear start to escape his eyelid. No. Not today. The sound of the machine guns ripped through the walls of the building, echoing against the hard stone. Someone placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking back it was Oliver, his teammate. He was offering him a weak smile, trying to encourage him to be brave. His brown eyes were also glistening slightly, the reflections bright in them. Jack placed a hand over Oliver's nodding at him with minimal movement. He once again moved his eyes to the front lowering his hand from his shoulders, feeling his teammate's weight leaving as well. 

Few minutes passed by, the slaughter killing many women. I wonder if... No! It shouldn't matter if she is still alive. She betrayed him in the cruelest way, she should go to hell for what she did! Hell, where she would burn for all eternity, knowing what she did to him, what torture she did him. She deserved everything she got. 

Suddenly the machinery stopped silence wrapping around the heads of the men, like a python strangling its victim. Everything was still, nothing moving nothing making a sound. Only the breathing of the people in the room. Finally the doors opened to the men controlling the guns, all of them with bright smiles on their faces. 

"It is over." Murmurs of mixed emotions fluttered around the room, men saying their prayers, men quietly sobbing. Jack too had unknown feelings. Was he relieved? Vexed? At last the war was over. Four years of death and murder over, only after a massacre of thousands. In his head he was praising himself for surviving all four years, knowing that it was some kind of miracle that he was not lying dead in an unmarked grave in a cemetery of many. The tears he was holding back began to spill slowly, the wetness drenching his cheeks. What was to happen now Jack didn't know.

The Colonel stepped up into the built stage, facing the crowd, addressing his followers. 

"Comrades! We may be victorious, but we must take this chance to build peace between both of our great, respectable parties of war. We must go out and help our fallen sisters, lovers, relations, friends.. We must tend to the wounded, provide help to the survivors. Men! Who will accompany me to the field?"