A shooter crouches on the roof of a skyscraper. His focus is aimed through a rifle while a drone hovers above.
The shooter speaks in thought “Record comms only and run the spotter program. Include my pre-identified scope locations.”
“Program booted. Comms recording.” came the reply, audible to him alone.
“Download program to drone and provide target lock. Operator ID is in C:root\user\overwatch\operator-563b592.jpg – no target on the Operator.”
“Acquiring targets. Operator identified and marked as non-target. Drone is ready.”
“Engage firing sequence.”
The firing sequence is a series of calculations between the shooter and the drone. The maths will result in the elimination of someone over a mile away from the shooter’s location. A single bullet lobbed across the earth to make contact with a body. The process is then repeated.
The drone begins the firing sequence. Guiding the shooters scope onto their first target.
“Shooter, go to Sign L”
“Sign L. set”
“From sign L go to 6 o’clock by 10mil “
“6 o’clock by 10mil. Set.”
“go to glass”
The shooter describes his scope “I see a window with 3 people. Target is the rear person standing alert, white hat. Clock to the right of the hat…”
“That is your target. Check parallax and mil”
The shooter tweaks a dial on the scope and gives the number to the drone
“1.16mil”
“check level” replied the drone
“hold over 3.9.”
“Drone ready.”
The shooter breathes.
“Shooter ready”
“left point 2”
The rifle belches a bullet with a crack.
Pause.
“Good hit.” the drone confirms ”Operator has engaged. Should we continue to support?”
“Yes. Acquire the next target.”
“Shooter go to sector 2alpha”
“2alpha set.”
“From 2alpha go to 11 o’clock by 6mil”
“11 o’clock by 6mil set.”
“Go to glass”
“I see a cybernetic shooting from behind a wall.”
“That is your target. Check parallax and mil”
“1.16mil”
“check level”
“hold over 3.9.”
“Drone ready.”
The shooter breathes.
“Shooter ready”
“right point 1”
The rifle belches a second bullet with a crack. The gun leans heavy into the sniper’s shoulder.
“Good hit, target incapacitated. 2 shots fired. Relocation recommended”
“Calculate the current counter threat level”
The drone hovered with a tilt to the right and then to the left, as though it was turning its head to look around the city below. It then wired a response to the shooter.
“Low counter sniper threat.”
“No relocation. Calculate the threat level after each shot. Begin next sequence.”
Thr drone and shooter ran through the firing sequence a further two times. Success on both shots. It was cold, calculated and mundane.
Nothing in this process bothered the shooter. His emotions never flickered. Each shot was an efficient process.
The drone calculated the threat level again.
“Relocation recommended. Threat level has increased.”
“Confirmed. Let’s pack up and get out. The operator is on their own now.”
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