The first pilot replied, “Yes, sir. Secondary target has been damaged.”
The commander asked, “Why only damaged? Your orders were to destroy it.”
The first pilot said, “It’s too big. It’s too strong for four bombs to destroy it. We need an all-out assault on that building.”
The commander replied, “Understood. Proceed to the battle zone over the mine and support fighters there.”
The pilot said, “Yes, sir.”
As the pilots joined the main battle, planes were falling out of the sky and leaving dark trails of smoke as they fell. All the flaming balls of wreckage were Allied Earth planes. The Martian Air Force was decimating the Allied Earth planes. They were better pilots, better shots, and more dedicated to their cause. Of the original 18 Allied Earth planes, only a dozen remained in the sky.
***
The Star Brigade responded quickly when they received the signal. They were soon in space and engaging the Allied forces. Their primary mission was to protect the satellites, but destroying enemy ships was every pilot’s secondary goal.
Lane ordered, “I need six ships on each of the satellites. The other two ships will support the satellite defenders and engage the enemy as needed.”
Six ships went to the communication satellite, and six went to the power satellite. The other six took up a position near the third satellite. Lane and Jack would provide support and engage the enemy as needed.
The communication satellite was still evading the Allied attack when the Martian Star Brigade ships arrived. Lasers began flying from both sides’ ships. The Allied forces hit two of the Martian ships, killing the pilots. The ships exploded and the debris fell to the surface.
Lane yelled, “No!”
Jack said, “Who was that?”
Lane replied, “Jenna Mabry and Elena Salgado.”
Jack said, “They were so young. They gave their lives for us. We have to win for them. Don’t let their deaths be in vain.”
The power satellite already evaded the Allied forces. It was joined by six Martian ships. The Allied forces lost track of the satellite and were awaiting intelligence from the Capitalist.
The third satellite already destroyed five Allied ships, and six Martian ships came along side of the satellite. The five remaining Allied ships continued to chase the satellite until the Star Brigade arrived. Both sides fired lasers, and four more Allied ships were destroyed. The final Allied ship fired a missile at the Star Brigade ships, and hit two of them. Both of the ships that were hit exploded and fell to the planet below. It was beginning to look like the Martian Star Brigade was going to be decimated.
***
The Allied Air Force continued fighting with the Martian Air Force, but they became mostly defensive. It was incredibly hard to hit their targets with the six tenacious Martian pilots firing from every angle. The Martian Air Force had the Allied planes surrounded, and would not let them break free. They were trying to make them either waste fuel or surrender. Neither Rich nor the Air Force commander would surrender so easily.
***
The two Star Brigade ships that were ordered to engage enemy ships in space were targeting any Space Force ship that came close to their position. Two ships were going from the communication satellite to help the remaining ship at the third satellite. Lane fired a missile at each of these ships, and destroyed both of them. The ships fell to Mars and burned as they fell to the ground.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clergy
Jane needed to talk to someone. She constantly worried about Jack. Her sanity was very important to her. She had to try and preserve it. Leona was booked for weeks, so she decided to visit Rebecca, who had recently been ordained in the newly formed Lutheran Church of Mars.
The church was a temporary shack on North Central. Rebecca’s office was a four meter by five meter, plywood floor space. It was not the grand cathedral she envisioned when she told Scout she wanted to be clergy. The colony would build a more permanent structure once the future of the colony was clearer.
Rebecca asked, “So what brings you here today?”
Jane said, “I’m worried about my boyfriend. He’s always going on missions and I’m worried he won’t come back.”
Rebecca said, “That’s perfectly normal. War’s terrible on people’s nerves, so you’re not crazy.”
Jane said, “So far, you’re not helping.”
Rebecca said, “I’m just trying to reassure you. I know you’re scared, but the fact is that 95% of people who go to war return home safe.”
Jane said, “Where’d you get that number from, your ass?”
Rebecca said, “I didn’t pull it out of my butt. I found it in history books and on the internet. Death is a part of war. It’s an ugly part. However, it’s well known that the vast majority of people who go to war return safely.”
Jane asked, “Isn’t it also well known that most of the people who return are never the same afterward?”
Rebecca said, “A lot of soldiers come home mentally ill after a war. They call it post-traumatic stress disorder. It happens when they can’t deal with what they’ve seen or done.”
Jane said, “So Jack might go crazy because war is hell. He might never be the same Jack I fell in love with.”
Rebecca said, “It’s a possibility, but prayer can really help you get through it. It can help him, too. I can meet with him if you think it might help.”
Jane said, “I’ve never been very religious. That’s my brother’s thing. I’m only here because Leona was booked and you were available. I don’t really feel comfortable talking about God, or faith, or prayer. It’s never been my thing.”
Rebecca said, “Well, Leona is a great counselor. She trained me to listen to my parishioners and try to understand what they need.”
Jane said, “So you didn’t just get religious training?”
Rebecca said, “Oh, no. I really want to help people, whether they share my faith or not. I won’t even pressure you to pray or come to church if you really don’t want to. I’m not here to ‘put the fear of God in you’. I’m here to make you stronger.”
Jane said, “That’s really different from preachers in churches on Earth.”
Rebecca said, “Well, we’re not on Earth anymore. Everything’s new here.”
Jane thought about that for a moment. She was so conditioned by what she’d seen on Earth that she wasn’t open to other ideas. This wasn’t Earth, so it could be different.
Jane said, “So you say praying can help? What if I don’t believe in God?”
Rebecca answered, “It helps to think that there’s something bigger than you. If it’s bigger than you, then it’s bigger than your problems. Once you can leave your problems with something bigger than you, it frees you up to do something more productive. It doesn’t necessarily have to be God. Just think how small you are in the universe, and your problems seem miniscule in comparison. If you’re small, and your problems are smaller than you, they must be insignificant.”
Jane thought about that for a moment. She never thought of prayer in quite that way before. Churches on Earth conditioned her to think that a strict adherence to religious teachings and a belief in God were the only way to attain peace.
Jane said, “So you’re saying it might help to present my problems to an entity larger than myself. Once I realize how small I am, my problems will seem even smaller, and I’ll have peace.”
Rebecca said, “Reach out to something bigger than you. Then you’ll see how small your problems are in comparison. Even if it’s not God you believe in, you’ll have more peace if you worry less.”
Jane asked, “How does that happen?”
Rebecca replied, “Because you’ll realize that worrying is the most worthless thing you can ever do. If it’s something that you can change, then you should change it rather than worry. If it’s something you can’t change, no amount of worrying is going to change it.”
Jane said, “That makes sense. I
can’t do anything to keep Jack safe on his missions, so I shouldn’t worry about it. But that leaves me open to pain if something goes wrong.”
Rebecca said, “Worrying doesn’t change that.”
Jane said, “I hadn’t thought about that. I’m open to pain and disappointment whether I worry or not.”
Rebecca said, “That’s exactly right. Worrying is useless, but praying is a way to keep sane regardless of who or what you pray to.”
Jane said, “I’m really glad I came to you today. You’ve opened my eyes to something I never would’ve thought of on my own.”
Rebecca said, “I’m glad I could help you. If you ever want to come to church, the services are held daily at noon. There are also three services on Sunday at nine, fourteen, and twenty.”
Jane said, “I thought you said, ‘no pressure.’”
Rebecca said, “There’s no pressure. I’m just letting you know when we offer services. If you want to come, you can. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Jane said, “I just might.”
Rebecca said, “Even if you do come, no one’s going to pressure you to do anything. If you want to sit in the back and watch, you’ll be allowed to do that. If you come and decide it’s not for you, the doors are open for you to leave.”
Jane said, “Thank you.”
Jane got up and read the information about the church. She downloaded a copy for her personal use and thanked Rebecca again as she left.
As soon as Jane left, Rebecca’s phone rang. She was a little annoyed by the phone because she had a sermon to prepare.
Rebecca said, “Hello, this is Pastor Rebecca.”
John said, “Oh, hello, pastor. I’d like to make an appointment to discuss a wedding.”
Rebecca said, “Whose wedding?”
John said, “Well, mine, actually. I’m planning on proposing to Becky, and I want to have everything lined up once I pop the question.”
Rebecca said, “You know, most people wait until they’re actually engaged before they start planning a wedding. She might turn you down.”
John said, “Not a chance. She’s totally in love with me, and I’m crazy about her.”
Rebecca said, “I’m glad you’re so confident, but you might be setting yourself up for a huge disappointment.”
John said, “I know, but it’ll be worth it when she says, ‘yes.’”
Rebecca asked, “When do you plan on asking her?”
John answered, “Tonight.”
Rebecca said, “Then call me back tomorrow, and if she says yes, we’ll plan things from there.”
John said, “She will. I know this is the plan God has for us.”
Rebecca said, “Thank you for considering me to perform your wedding, even if she declines your proposal.”
John hung up the phone. He went from his home to Becky’s house. He was suddenly nervous after he talked to Rebecca.
Rebecca returned to her sermon’s preparation. The people of Mars needed comfort in the bleakness of the war all around them. Fortunately, the Allied Forces agreed not to attack during normal church times.
While Rebecca was so busy at the Martian Lutheran Church, the other religious institutions were just as busy. The Catholic Church of Mars’ priest was performing the rituals of his position. The Imam of Freedom’s Mosque was busy with his duties. The Synagogue of Mars’ Rabbi was busy studying the Torah when he wasn’t piloting his spacecraft.
There were also two churches of Scientology and a Baptist Church, but they were very lightly attended. Most of the populace of Mars were in the four major houses of worship at their assigned times.
Rebecca called Scout and said, “I’m so stressed out. Running a church is a lot harder than just preaching on Sunday morning.”
Scout asked, “What’s so hard?”
Rebecca said, “I thought it’d be easy since there’s no money. With no fundraising or budgets, it should be cake. That’s just not the case.”
Scout said, “Oh, you’re realizing how much actual work goes into real ministry. Imagine how much harder it’d be if you had to deal with finances too.”
Rebecca said, “It’s hard enough without having to worry about that.”
Scout asked, “So, are you saying that you want to stop being a pastor?”
Rebecca answered, “No, I love it. I just need some help.”
Scout said, “Maybe you should broker a deal with one of the other clergy members for help.”
Rebecca said, “Or maybe you can find someone to help me. They’re probably just as busy as I am.”
Scout said, “I’ll see what I can do for you. In the meantime, I think you should see one of the counselors.”
Rebecca said, “I think I’ll do that. Rose was great on the ship.”
Scout said, “She still is, and Leona Black is also a wonderful counselor. See one of them to deal with your stress while I try and recruit some new clergy assistants.”
Rebecca said, “Thank you.”
Scout ended the phone call and returned to his work. Rebecca did the same.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Proposal
John drove to Becky’s house. He was a nervous wreck. He hadn’t been nervous until he talked to Rebecca. She planted the seeds of doubt in his mind.
He thought, “What if she says, ‘no?’ I think we’re in love, but I can’t be sure until she gives me an answer.”
His house was only one kilometer from Becky’s house, but he felt compelled to drive very slowly. He wanted time to think about what he was about to do.
He thought, “If I rush over there, she might see me as needy. I don’t want to come across that way. I want her to see me as confident, but not arrogant. I want her to see me for who I really am.”
He arrived at her house and turned off his car. He sat in it for five minutes while Becky watched.
Becky saw his car and got excited. When he didn’t come out of the car, she got worried.
“People only sit in the car when they’re about to give some bad news. I hope nothing’s wrong.”
John thought, “It’s gonna look suspicious now. I’ve been in the car way too long, but I can’t go home either. I’m already committed to going in there. I can do this.”
Becky watched him from her window. She wondered why he took so long to get out of the car.
She said, “I hope no one was killed in the battle today.”
John got out of his car and walked toward Becky’s front door. He rang the bell and Becky opened the vestibule door. He walked into the vestibule and closed the door behind him. Then the front door opened and he entered.
Becky asked, “What’s wrong?,” as John removed his environmental suit.
John hung his suit on her hooks and replied, “Nothing’s wrong.”
Becky asked, “Then why’d you stay in the car so long? You had me worried that you had bad news about the battle.”
John replied, “Nothing like that today, thank God.”
Becky asked, “Then why the long pause in the car?”
John replied, “Because I’m a little nervous about what I’m here to ask you.”
Becky said, “What is there to possibly be nervous about? You know you can ask me anything.”
John said, “I know, but this is different. It’s more real and a lot harder to get out.”
Becky asked, “What do you mean it’s more real?”
John said, “It’s more important. It’s probably one of the top five things I’ll ever discuss with anyone.”
Becky said, “Then get on with it. We’re both grownups.”
John reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black box. He knelt down in front of Becky. He decided to just ask the question and let the chips fall.
John asked, “Becky, will you marry me?”
Becky started crying. She hadn’t expected John to propose during a war. She hadn’t even thought about marrying him before Mars won its independence. She just stared at him for
a long time while she considered the situation. John got very nervous.
John said, “It’s taking you a long time to answer.”
He thought Rebecca might have been right. He thought he was about to be rejected.
He thought, “At least it’ll be a private rejection.”
Becky said, “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you. I’ve loved you since that day on the ship.”
John said, “I was so nervous you’d say, ‘no.’ I talked to Rebecca before I came over here, and she got me nervous about proposing.”
Becky said, “There was no reason to be nervous. I love you.”
John said, “So, how long do you want to wait to get married?”
Becky said, “Well, I don’t have any family to invite, and your sister is already here. We should do it at the first chance we get.”
John said, “I was thinking the same thing. Rebecca already said she’d marry us.”
Becky said, “I thought you said she made you nervous.”
John replied, “She made me think you might not want to marry me.”
Becky said, “She’s just doing her job, but there was nothing to worry about. I’m crazy about you.”
John said, “I’m crazy about you, too.”
Becky asked, “So, who do you want to invite?”
John answered, “Everyone on Mars.”
Becky said, “I don’t think the church holds 500 people. Besides, we don’t know everyone.”
John said, “Well, my sister for sure, and Scout and Kathy.”
Becky said, “I think everyone from the terraforming mission. We know all of them better than anyone else.”
John said, “But we should allow anyone who wants to come.”
Becky said, “It’s going to be during a church service. That’s open to everyone who wants to come by default.”
John said, “Good point. I’ll call Pastor Rebecca to set it up.”
John called the pastor to set up the wedding service. She knew he might call, so she had saved space in the service for their wedding.
Rebecca said, “I guess she accepted your proposal.”
MARS: Baroque Revolution Page 13