Editing Opera imperialis (section)

===SONG – THE GUARDSMAN.===

The crash of the cannons and rattle of sabres<br/ >
Suicide missions and sniping at neighbours<br/ >
Lasguns and foxholes and living like kings<br/ >
These are a few of my favourite things<br/ >

But you two are new here and our fine traditions<br/ >
Give me some leeway for new acquisitions<br/ >
I’ll take those pistols and you can go free<br/ >
We couldn’t use your type in the infantry.<br/ >

FRED. But sir, these pistols are mine! (He Holds His Pistols.)<br/ >
GUARD. There’s the Guard’s pistol’s now, boy. (Snatches Pistols.) Now get out of my sight, maggots!

Retreat GUARDSMAN, forward PRIEST.

PRIEST. Afternoon, noble sir, kind mad’m. New to Footfall, I see?<br/ >
FRED. Lived here all my life, in fact.<br/ >
PRIEST. Well, surely you can spare something for the poor of Footfall. We have so many poor here, and the station is so very cold. Your fine coat and boots, for example, would make a poor waif very happy on a cold nightcycle. (Weeps Gently.)