by Ian Miller
Three members of the Defence Corps had infiltrated the Brownshirt movement, and had successfully remained undetected. Accordingly, when a shuttle had arrived and all the M'starn had boarded and immediately departed, they guessed that something had gone wrong. One of the officers quickly eliminated the few remaining Brownshirts from the room, and with the other two managed to get enough settlers into the headquarters to capture it. This was the reason for the frenzied activity in building defences: they expected a counterattack from the remaining Brownshirts.
When the news was given that the new group was from Hellas, and that Hellas and Chryse were liberated, there was a general look of disbelief. However, at that moment there was a diversion in the form of a commotion along the street in front of the centre, where a number of armed Brownshirts dashed across the road and into a building. Some sporadic fire erupted from the building and after some moments of almost disbelief that this could be really happening, everybody dived behind sandbags. Gaius ordered the Hellenes to take cover, and to return fire. After a few moments, heads rose above the sandbags, and sporadic fire was returned, but this was seemingly equally ineffective. This went on for some minutes, then Captain McDonald ordered a halt. With a flourish, he sent two men scampering back towards the shed. Dust clouds erupted around them, then suddenly one was flung forwards, to lie in the dust grasping at his leg. Dust spurts erupted all around him, then he was hit again, and again. In anger, several of the men sprung up and sent barrages towards the building. Spectacular flashes showed where the metal was being struck, then this fire was returned, and two more men were flung backwards, to lie twisting in the sand, grasping their chests. Two other men were sent back towards the building, but this time McDonald ordered a hail of gunfire to cover them from the men crouching behind the sand bags. The men ran and twisted, but again one was hit, and he sprawled into the wall of the building. By now the faces of the defenders were grim; the initial singing and swagger was gone.
Then the two men who had reached the shed returned to the doorway with a large beam weapon. Enemy fire was now concentrated on the sandbags, and the Brownshirts did not appreciate the danger until too late; the weapon began to fire methodically at the supporting structures of the building holding the Brownshirts, and within half a minute, it began to buckle, and collapse. Brownshirts came running out onto the street, only to be met with a hail of fire. Then, as if to say enough was enough, Gaius suggested to Captain McDonald they offer the enemy the option of surrender.
McDonald looked with suspicion at this unknown, however after a moment's thought he agreed and ordered a cease-fire, then he took a hailer, and called out the offer. After a moment, Brownshirts began to lay down their arms and emerge, hands clasped behind their heads. A great cheer arose from the Transport Centre. People emerged, put their weapons down, and began the strange slow motion dancing in the streets of Phoenicis Lacus. The rule of the Brownshirts on Mars was over.
* * *
That evening there was a great celebration at Phoenicis Lacus. Because of the distances and the difficult terrain, very few settlers at any one settlement had made contact with another settlement, and now, with the danger lifted from them, there was much neglect to be made up for. As the evening wore on, Gaius announced that a M'starn warship was approaching Mars. There was a hush, but Gaius assured them there was little cause for concern. He announced what to look for in the sky, and then he turned and ran back to his shuttle.
The party stopped immediately, and the settlers stared into the Martian wastes. There was a small cloud of dust, and then a shuttle rose from the ground, began to climb, then simply rose at an unbelievable rate to disappear into the sky. For what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened, and the settlers became more and more fearful as they stared into the blackness of space. Then, suddenly, as predicted, a glow appeared, and two brilliant jets of light lit the sky in a way never seen before. The light faded, and a tremendous cheer arose. They felt safe. The M'starn had ceased to rule Mars; now they ceased to rule space. It was then the settlers from Hellas began to realize how tired they were.
Chapter 4
A council of war was called for the following morning, and it was a rather bleary-eyed group who attended. As they assembled, the level of chatter slowly rose, but it was unenthusiastic chatter. Everybody was tired, and the devils of Mars were now prodding and stirring the dull headaches that followed the elation and celebration of the previous night. The ominous red light of morning somehow seemed to carry invisible tridents to amplify the pain of the headaches.
Nobody was happy to attend, but McDonald was less happy than most, although nobody knew why. Unknown to everybody else, he had already made three attempts at drafting a message to Earth, but there was nothing he could send. Mars had been liberated, and while he had made a good start to securing one dome, the fact of the matter was the liberation of Mars seemed to be due to the intervention of one man about whom he knew absolutely nothing. How could he tell the Commissioner he would have to hand Mars over to a third party? On the other hand, what could he do about it? That red might just as well be his blood.
There was a silence as Gaius rose to speak. He stated that now that they had taken over, it was imperative that they set up a proper leadership structure to ensure that order followed, and that a procedure was in place to make decisions. Given the procedures on Earth, he suggested they form a similar Council, even if the organization would be a little less important.
"Do we really need a Council?" McDonald asked gruffly. "It'd be easy to set up what little administration we . . ."
"We need it!" Misako interrupted.
"We're not having imposed administrators," Haruhiko added, quick to support Misako.
"There isn't all that much . . ."
"You've made a good start," Gaius noted calmly, "but you now have a few things to organize."
"So you say," McDonald said in a dry resigned tone. "Then you'd better tell us what you want?"
"I don't want anything," Gaius shrugged, "but doesn't it seem something of a shame to set you all free then walk away and let all your gains evaporate into the Martian air?"
"You're walking away?" responded a surprised McDonald.
"Yes, but the Brownshirts won't. They don't have that luxury. Get one thing straight; you've liberated yourselves, but only to the extent that the Brownshirts don't control you. Remember, you don't control them either."
"I don't understand," Akiro said.
"Your two groups are incompatible," Gaius explained. "You hate them, or at least after the way they've behaved, that's what they expect. So either they regain control or they have to make peace. My guess is they'll suspect that peace is not a practical option, so they've little other choice but to fight."
"But we've beaten them," Akiro said. "Surely they'll see it's better to –"
"To surrender and take whatever punishment you all dish up?" Gaius offered. "They may not want to do that. Remember, from their point of view you've moved against your opponent and you've won, but largely because you took him by surprise."
"I suppose," Misako said slowly, "their response will also depend on what the M'starn do."
"Almost certainly," Gaius agreed. He gave her a look of genuine encouragement. He was a little surprised, but he saw that Misako alone was coming to grips with the strategic nature of the problem. "Think of it this way. You are on a planet, and they are far enough away they will regard themselves as a separate country at war with you."
"And at the very least," Misako frowned, "they'll try for some sort of stalemate."
"Yes," Gaius nodded further encouragement. "From their point of view, they have to force you to want peace badly enough to make some concessions to them."
"So what do you think we should do?" Akiro asked.
"You need a mechanism to make the decisions that all the Martians on your side will accept, so go ahead and form your Council, or whatever, and make sure it fairly represents all the settlers, then get your plans stra
ight."
"What about Theppot?" someone asked. "They've always refused to join a Martian government."
"Exactly what or where is this Theppot?" Gaius asked. "I'm sorry, but I've heard so much about it, but . . ."
"It's to the south-west of Hellas," Akiro said. "It was formed when Hellas was settled. The ship and infrastructure for Hellas landed about four hundred kilometers from where it was supposed to, and one of the settlers had prebought land, so . . ."
"It's always been a bit different from the rest of the settlements," Misako added. "It's the scientific research centre, and for some reason the M'starn and the Brownshirts have left it alone."
"If you work out why the M'starn left it alone," Haruhiko pointed out, "I think you'll find out why the Brownshirts left it alone."
"It's something I'll have to investigate," Gaius nodded. "In the meantime, what about the military assets?"
"What military assets?" McDonald immediately asked, somewhat aggressively.
"With respect, Captain," Haruhiko said, rising to his feet, "you're here and not to settle."
McDonald almost visibly bit his tongue. "Yes," he replied quietly, "Defence has considered using Mars, but there was never any intention of influencing the settlement of Mars."
"Then why're you here?"
"If you must know, we were going to have our own settlement," McDonald said tiredly. He could see there was little sympathy for him, and he did not have a good answer.
"Then why the secret?"
"We were going to build the pieces of a giant space vehicle. They were to be parts of an interstellar exploration vehicle."
There were gasps throughout the room.
"The point is," McDonald went on, "all we've got's a cavern. There're no people there, and we can't have representatives of nobody."
"Your excavations. Where are they?"
"That's classified."
"I'm not sure I understand what that means," Gaius replied quietly, "but just consider that the settlers here have just declared war. They have an extreme need to know of every asset they can lay their hands on."
"Well, I suppose that's right," the Captain said with an uncertain tone. "My instructions were not to tell anybody, but . . ."
"Your instructions did not include the M'starn being here," Gaius pointed out.
"Eventually they did," McDonald replied. "I'm supposed to give every assistance to fighting them."
"Then tell us where this proposed settlement is!" Misako exclaimed.
"We've dug a huge cavern into the wall of part of the Valles Marineris," McDonald said, hoping that he was doing the correct thing. "It's on the southern side of the Melas Chasma, on the western face of the butte that projects into the chasm about seventy-three degrees of longitude."
"What's there exactly?" Gaius asked curiously.
"We can pump up an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere behind the air locks. We have fusion power and could maintain a settlement for about half of the Martian settlers, although the conditions would be rather Spartan. Food would be a problem, although there is a possible solution."
"And that is?" Haruhiko asked.
"The floor of the Valles Marineris makes a good transport route, and there's a road running through it. There are a number of small independent settlements throughout the valley floor and the settlers grow food, make craft objects, and trade with Chryse and us. They mine a little, and from what I gather, they have access to good supplies of water. There's some fairly substantial ice deposits in the valley."
"Are they still under the Brownshirts?" Misako asked with a touch of apprehension. "We didn't know about their existence. I hope we haven't . . ."
"No need to worry," McDonald assured her. "They're too scattered. The M'starn weren't interested in them, and the Brownshirts were too lazy."
"These settlers could grow enough?" Akiro asked doubtfully.
"Not as yet," McDonald replied, "but they're very good at making small camouflaged domes. If we gave them the materials, they'd probably be happy to put in some additional ones. Of course we'd have to protect the valley itself, and not just the cavern."
"Good," Gaius said quietly. "I suggest you move all the settlers committed to the revolt to this cavern. Right now we control the space over Mars, but we won't for long. The M'starn can't use their battle fleet right now, but when their fleet's repaired they'll control space, at least for a while."
"Then what'll we do?" Misako asked with desperation in her voice.
"Move to the cavern and take as many supplies as you need, and take all the transporters," Gaius replied. "Leave the Brownshirts and their accomplices at the settlements . . ."
"There'll be a lot of other settlers who can't come," McDonald warned. "We just haven't the room."
"Then leave those who are basically neutral, and tell them to stay that way," Gaius said. "Tell the Brownshirts the major settlements are to be neutral like Theppot, and they'll have to move to Syrtis Major, assuming that is the Brownshirt settlement."
"Why will they go along with that?" someone asked.
"First, because they have to eat too. In the long run, everyone dies unless the crops get replanted, and there are no alternative places to go and get food. If we go, and they stay, we're out of food so we have to destroy the facility. If we both go, everyone eats."
"But won't the M'starn destroy the settlements?" Akiro asked.
"They may, but why would they? It'd be rather pointless."
"Second?" Misako asked, to fill a pause while everybody was thinking about this enormous change of life-style.
"Use the same trick Theppot used," Gaius replied.
"Which is?"
"I don't know," Gaius shrugged, "so I'm going to have to find out."
"And how will the M'starn know our people have left and those remaining are neutral?" McDonald asked curiously. "There could be a disastrous slaughter through ignorance."
"The settlement at Syrtis Major has transmitted into space," Gaius said. "My guess is that they're M'starn accomplices and they've found minerals. At first the M'starn desperately wanted minerals, then they stopped making such requests after a new settlement turns up on a shield formation. However, they're still going to need food and the M'starn seem to need something else from Theppot. The collaborators at Hellas can tell Syrtis Major the new rules, and the message should be passed along."
"One of them would be Enrico?" Misako asked.
"He'll be one, but there'll be lots more."
"What happens in the caves when the food runs out?" someone asked.
"Go back and get next year's crop, grow more, you'll have to work on that," Gaius answered. "Get as many options as you can. The strategy's not without risk, but you can't just hang around here. You're lucky that most of the food at Hellas is harvested, and you're just in the replanting cycle for the major crops."
"What'll the M'starn do while we're moving?" Akiro asked.
"Probably nothing," Gaius replied. "If they're rebuilding their battle fleet, they won't be able to stop you, and hopefully they won't care. You're not hurting them, and they won't care too much for those other scum. In any case, moving still beats sitting around waiting to be blasted."
"And what then?"
"That depends," Gaius replied. "This cavern has enough rock over it that it can't be attacked from space. With any luck, the M'starn will ignore you, but you'll have to watch out for ground attacks from Brownshirts, and you'll have to deal with them yourselves."
"We can handle that," McDonald said confidently.
"Now some good news. I looked through the computer files in the M'starn headquarters at Hellas and they're unaware of the existence of your cavern. You have to keep it that way, so while you're moving, keep the location secret except for those who absolutely have to know. Pretend the move's to the Noctis Labyrinthus. That way, it'll look as if you're not hiding the location, and the general direction will be right for all except from this base. Since you're the closest, make sure you all set off towar
ds the labyrinth."
"If they believe that, they won't be in too big of a hurry to come looking for us," McDonald said. "That place is impossible."
"Everyone had better make sure they're not followed. Don't let a word get out about the move until it can't be prevented, otherwise those leaving from Hellas could be in trouble."
"Because we're the furthest away?" Misako asked.
"Yes, and you're going to have to take a route that could be anticipated from Syrtis Major."
"They'll need an escort," McDonald proposed. "I can find some men to help."
"We can manage," Haruhiko said. "We've already shown what we can do."
"I'm not doubting that," McDonald replied, "but your men are untrained. You've done very well so far, but . . ."
"We can –"
"You'll accept the offer," Gaius ordered. "The Captain is quite correct. You've done well so far, but you haven't fought against a prepared enemy. I know you feel you can prove yourself, but there's a better way of doing it. Now, Captain, if you'll accept some suggestions?"
"You've had military training?" This was said almost as a statement, but also as a request for Gaius to explain who he was.
"Yes. It's too difficult to explain now," Gaius replied slowly, "but I have had very extensive experience at battle command."
"I believe you," McDonald said, after a pause. "I probably shouldn't do this, but I'm prepared to give you command of the . . ."
"No!" Gaius said quickly. "Someone from Mars must be the field commander on Mars, and as far as I can see, you're the most suitable. I'll try to teach you what to do, and I'll try to help you get organized, but then I must go, and you must deal with your own problems."
"Leave?" Misako pleaded. "Why? We need you here!"
"You can manage alone down here," Gaius said firmly. "On the other hand I can't fight the M'starn unless I'm in space myself. If I just leave my ship orbiting around Mars, it will be lost, and so, eventually, will be our battle against the M'starn."