Advanced voice recognition technology applied by the CIA and Britain’s M16 monitored all mobile and satellite phone calls in and around the Colonel’s hometown, and final stronghold, of Sirte. NATO had, at one point, concluded that the former leader had fled the country. But, after one of their eavesdropping aircrafts picked up Gaddafi, forces could confirm he was still in the country. 

French drones and US predators had been stalking the area since, analysing day-to-day activities to build up an average life pattern. When they detected an unusual number of vehicles gathering together on the morning of Gaddafi’s death, the decision was made to follow the convoy and initiate an attack.

Just three kilometres west of Sirte, an American drone controlled by a pilot in Las Vegas struck with a number of Hellfire anti-tank missiles. Moments later, French Jets swooped in with highly accurate AASM munitions worth almost a million dollars each.

While only two of the vehicles were hit, neither of which contained Gaddafi, the convoy was forced to scatter and detour. Anti-Gaddafi fighters gave chase, with the man himself crawling into a 20 metre long tunnel beneath a dual carriageway. 

Minutes later, Gaddafi was captured, killed and - most respectfully - put on display in a supermarket freezer.

The advent of technology in war zones meant an escape attempt was, according to defence forces, “tantamount to suicide.” US counter-insurgency forces are extremely close to developing drones that are completely autonomous, able to make their own decisions over who lives - and who dies.

But will we ever trust robots with decisions once reserved for human kind? With more Middle-Eastern and North African dictators set to fall - it’s only a matter of time before we find out.