Rich said, “Out with it!”
The Operative really didn’t want to answer. He knew the General wouldn’t react well.
The Operative said, “We lost the new shielded supply ship.”
Rich asked, “What do you mean, we lost it?”
The General was hot. He started throwing things at his desk and stomping on the floor. The Operative tried to continue with the news as calmly as he could.
The Operative said, “It was attacked just past Earth’s moon and destroyed.”
General Rich pointed at The Operative as he spoke. He clenched his teeth as he angrily replied.
Rich said, “But that’s not possible. It was shielded, and it had an armed escort. There’s no way these insects could’ve destroyed it.”
The Operative said, “They figured out how to disarm the shields.”
Rich asked, “What about the armed escort. There were supposed to be six ships making sure the supply ship reached us.”
Rich slammed his fist down on his desk. He ran his hand through his hair and tried to make sense of the news.
The Operative said, “They were destroyed. The Martian ships caught them off guard near Earth.”
Rich asked, “Then why didn’t they call for reinforcements?”
The Operative said, “That’s still unclear.”
Rich said, “Someone’s head’s gonna roll over this.”
The General wasn’t kidding or using a euphemism. He literally meant someone would be beheaded over the loss of their last hope for victory.
The Operative said, “We lost the six pilots of the escort ships and the whole crew of the supply ship. So the responsible parties are already dead.”
Rich asked, “Why didn’t they use the escape pods?”
The Operative replied, “They were ordered not to by their captain, but a few disobeyed him and actually defected.”
Rich said, “He was a fool, and his end is befitting of a fool. The defectors are fools of a different sort. We’ll deal with the deserters when this mission’s over.”
The Operative said, “You really are a heartless bastard. Those people lost their lives, and all you care about is winning the war.”
Rich said, “This isn’t a war. We are here to serve an arrest warrant and nothing more.”
The Operative said, “I don’t want to argue semantics with you. I want you to be more than just an empty shell of a man full of your own dogma.”
Rich said, “That’s your problem. You don’t stand for anything, so you fall for anything.”
The Operative said, “Let’s just say I’ve come to understand. The corporate greed found on Earth is destroying us all. We’re all slaves to their scheme. All your toiling to defend them will lead you nowhere. You’ll be crushed by their greed, too.”
Rich said, “You’re an idiot. This is God’s way.”
The Operative asked, “When did God say to crush the weak and destroy the needy?”
Rich said, “God said if a man does not work, he should not eat.”
The Operative replied, “These people work harder than anyone on Earth, and the poor on Earth work harder than you ever thought of working.”
Rich said, “If they worked a little harder, they wouldn’t be needy.”
The Operative said, “They’re needy because they’re slaves for corporations that only care about profit. They work their asses off and get paid peanuts while the corporation makes huge profits. Corporations stopped caring about people more than a century ago.”
Rich said, “That’s not true. The poor can work better jobs and pull themselves up from the entry level.”
The Operative said, “No, they can’t. They’re on the entry level because they couldn’t afford a degree. They can’t get a degree that qualifies them for a higher position because colleges and universities are just like corporations. They only care about money.”
Rich said, “That’s why there are charities to help them.”
The Operative said, “There used to be charities and government programs to help people get educated, but they’re only for sons of corporate big wigs now. All the other charities can do now is help them not drown in hunger and debt.”
Rich said, “The government should’ve never got involved in any of that. It wasn’t their job to educate people. It wasn’t their job to decide how the free market should work.”
The Operative replied, “You’re a horse’s ass. I can hardly wait until my obligations are over so I can be free of you.”
Rich said, “You’re free to go now if you want, but you won’t receive any of the benefits I promised you.”
The Operative said, “That’s the only reason I’m still here.”
The Operative stomped out of Rich’s office. He stormed through the ship toward his quarters. People attempted to get his attention, but he ignored them. He threw his door open and locked it behind him. Then he fell onto his bed and cried.
Chapter Forty-Two
Jane’s Sorrow
Jane was looking forward to Jack’s return from the battle. She had all the makings of a feast in her refrigerator in anticipation of his return. Every day, she washed her finest dress so she could wear it when he returned. She was disappointed every day he did not return.
The doorbell rang, and Jane knew something wasn’t right. Jack always knocked, and not just random knocks. He always knocked with the same pattern. The person at the door was obviously not Jack. She answered the door.
John, her brother, stood in the doorway crying.
Jane asked, “What‘s wrong, John?”
John stood in front of her, unable to speak, with tears streaming down his face. He tried to tell her what he had to tell her, but he couldn’t get the words out.
Jane asked again, “What’s wrong?”
She could tell something was wrong. She joined her brother crying, sensing that something terrible had happened. Her intuition told her something happened to Jack, but she wouldn’t let herself think that until she heard the words.
John walked into the living room and pointed to the couch. He wanted his sister to sit down. Jane sat.
Jane asked again, “What’s going on?” What’s wrong?”
John took a deep breath and tried to collect his emotions. He got a tissue and wiped his face.
He said, “Jack didn’t make it. He was killed in the battle, along with Jessica Frost. He died a hero, and Scout wants to honor his sacrifice to Mars.”
Jane screamed, “NOOOOOOO!”
She started throwing her pillows around the room and punching her furniture. John tried to grab her to comfort her, but she punched him in the chest every time he tried to calm her.
John said, “I have more to tell you, but you have to calm down.”
Jane shrieked, “How can I calm down? The only man that ever loved me is gone! No one can ever make him come back, and no honor is great enough for him.”
John said, “I know you loved him, but his death will bring our dream to reality. His team won the battle. His sacrifice might have secured our freedom.”
Jane said, “I don’t care about the battle. I don’t care about the society. All I cared about was him. Without Jack, I don’t care if we lose everything and have to go back to Earth as prisoners. I’ll be a prisoner in this house without him.”
John said, “I know you don’t mean that. You were totally convinced that Scout’s plan was perfect.”
Jane said, “But I’m all alone now. No matter what Scout does to honor Jack, he’ll always be dead. Nothing can change that.”
John said, “But if you remember him, he’s not really gone. Besides that, you’ll see him again when this life fades into the next.”
Jane got up and looked for a weapon. She found a knife in the kitchen and started to remove it from the butcher block.
Jane said, “Maybe I should hasten that. Then we can be together again.”
John shot off the couch and knocked the knife out of her hand.
John said, “You don’t want to do that. I think you should live your life to honor Jack’s memory.”
Jane said, “But how am I ever going to be happy again?”
John said, “Time will heal your wounds. I know that sounds lame, but it’s the absolute truth. In time you’ll move on with your life.”
Jane said, “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t make it any easier,” as her tears flowed down her cheeks. She continued, “Has anyone told his parents?”
Jack’s parents were corporate police. They knew he was on Mars, but they loved their son too much to turn him in to the authorities. They were not going to be happy when they find out their son died.
John replied, “That’s Scout’s duty. It’s hard enough telling you the news. His parents are going to respond with anger. I don’t want to deal with their abuse.”
John asked, “Are you going to be okay if I leave, or do you need me to sleep here tonight?”
Jane said, “I don’t think Becky wants to be apart from you.”
John said, “You could come and stay with us for a while.”
Jane thought about that for a moment. At first, she thought it would be weird to be in the same house as her brother and his girlfriend. Eventually, she realized she needed all the support she could get.
Jane said, “I think I’d like that. Let’s go lend Scout a hand breaking the news to Jack’s parents. He’ll need all the moral support he can get.”
The siblings drove to Scout’s office. When they arrived, Scout was pacing and practicing his speech. He noticed John and Jane coming into the office.
Scout asked, “How’d she take it?”
Jane said, “I’m here. You can ask me directly, you chauvinist.”
Scout said, “Sorry, Jane. I just figured you’d be too distraught to talk about it.”
Jane said, “I am distraught, but I can speak for myself. My brother has no right to put words in my mouth.”
John said, “She’s made that very clear to me in the past. I have the bruises to prove it.”
Scout asked, “So how are you doing?”
Jane said, “I’m barely holding it together, but I told John that we should come over here to be with you when you tell his parents. I know you’re going to be abused in the worst way possible when you tell them what happened. They’re not nice people.”
Scout said, “I appreciate that.”
They walked over to the video screen and prepared to call Jack’s parents. Scout needed to see their faces when he broke the news to them. This was too important to send a simple email or text message. They would just have to deal with the eight-minute delay.
Scout stood in front of the camera and the Johnson siblings stood off camera. Scout sent an emergency message to Jack’s parents so they would be sure to answer.
Scout said, “I have terrible news about your son. He died valiantly defending the ideals that he believed in. He was killed in space, so his body is not recoverable.”
Eight minutes passed before his parents saw him delivering his message. When they saw it, they became irate.
Jack’s Father screamed, “You did this, you horse’s ass. If you hadn’t filled my son’s head with your foolish ideas, he’d still be here with us. He could’ve made something of his life and been a productive member of society, but you made him kill himself over your ill-conceived new society. I hope DeNoPE hunts you down and kills you.”
His mother shrieked, “I hate you. I hope you’ll be brought back to Earth and brought to justice. Then I’ll take my vengeance on you. I’ll make sure you’re held responsible as a murderer for everyone who dies because of your stupidity.”
Another eight minutes went by before Scout saw their reply. He was preparing for the worst possible scenario when the response came through. When he saw it, he understood their anger and pain, but not the anger directed at him.
He asked, “How’s this my fault? If your government would just let us live our lives the way we want to live them, this wouldn’t be happening. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s the corporations that have brainwashed everyone on Earth. Again, I’m very sorry for your loss and I share in your grief for the loss of Jack.”
Scout turned the screen and the camera off. He walked over to John and Jane.
Jane said, “Wow. He always told me his parents were part of the machine, but I didn’t realize they were completely blind to what the corporate culture does.”
Scout said, “They’re actually cogs in the machine. They’re corporate police, so they’re completely brainwashed.”
John said, “It must’ve been hard for Jack to leave with us. He must’ve really believed in our dream to leave Earth. He risked a lot to be with us.”
Jane said, “Now I miss him even more. I loved him, and I don’t want him to be gone.”
She was crying as she spoke, so her brother hugged her to comfort her.
He said, “He’s a hero. He’ll live forever in not only our minds, but also every Martian who ever lives our way of life. He’s become a martyr, and martyrs never die.”
Jane said, “That’s of little comfort to me. It doesn’t let me hold him, or even say goodbye properly. There can’t even be a proper burial.”
Scout said, “We’ll have to honor him properly. I know we can’t bury him, but we can remember him as the hero that he was. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to do that again. Jessica Frost’s family needs to be notified, too.”
John said, “I think I see someone coming in now.”
Jessica’s friend walked through the door. He was there to help Scout inform Jessica’s family.
Jane said, “We’ll be going now. Thank you.”
Scout and John hugged Jane to comfort her. She felt loved, but it was an empty, hollow love. She would never be whole again.
Chapter Forty-Three
Battle of Phobos
General Rich called his leaders into the conference room of the Capitalist. The leader of the Space Force sat on the right side of the table and the leaders of the Army and Air Force sat on the left while Rich stood at the head of the table.
Rich asked, “Does anyone have any ideas? What we’ve done so far clearly isn’t working.”
The leader of the Army said, “I think we need to take a break on the ground. We’re severely depleted down there.”
Rich said, “That’s not going to change. The supply ship that had the reinforcements was destroyed and everyone on board was killed.”
The leader of the Army said, “Then I vote to surrender. The Army is bare bones now as it is. We can barely defend the base if we’re attacked again.”
Rich said, “There’s another ship full of reinforcements coming. Then you’ll have the people you need.”
The leader of the Space Force said, “I think we should attack them from afar. That way we don’t take a chance on losing too many more people.”
Rich said, “We tried attacking them from space already. We got our asses handed to us.”
The leader of the Space Force replied, “But that was from close range. I’m thinking an attack from one of the moons.”
Rich asked, “Aren’t they far away?”
The leader of the Space Force replied, “They’re far, but not so far away that we can’t mount an attack.”
Rich said, “So we should probably use Phobos if we decide to go forward with this plan. It’s the closer of the two.”
The Space Force leader said, “They’ve already defeated us on Deimos, so Phobos is doubly good as a plan of attack.”
The Army leader said, “I think that’s an excellent idea. It’ll give the supply and reinforcement ship time to arrive and keep the Martian forces busy while we come up with a better plan.”
Rich said, “So you don’t foresee winning the battle?”
The Army leader replied, “It’s hard to think we’re going to win any battle. We’ve been crushed in every battle so far. We’ve already lost two thirds of the original Army, and the thousands of reinforce
ments were killed before they ever got here. Plus, we’ve lost dozens of planes and spaceships. I don’t see how we’re going to win anything.”
Rich said, “Then we’ll try to surprise you. I’m approving the plan.”
Rich turned to the Space Force commander and handed him a reading device.
He said, “I need full details in five hours. I want names, serial numbers and inventories included in the plan.”
The commander of the Space Force took the reading device and left the office. The Army commander went to the dock and boarded his ship. He returned to the surface. Rich stayed in the conference room and contemplated his options.
He thought, “This is a lot harder than it should be. We should already be returning to Earth.”
The war was not going well at all. The Allied Earth forces were in dire need of help. It was not coming. Rich lied to his subordinates to keep them motivated, but the governments of Earth were growing impatient with the war. Even the corporations, who stood to lose trillions in economic opportunity, were beginning to understand that the risk to reward ratio was not in their favor. If the war was going to be won, it would need to be with the resources already available.
***
Scout was in his office when Jordan barged in. Scout was taken by surprise.
Scout barked, “Do you know how to knock?”
Jordan replied, “Sorry about that. I have important stuff to tell you. Otherwise I would’ve been more considerate.”
Scout said, “I could’ve been busy with Kathy in here. I need a warning.”
Jordan said, “I didn’t need to know you can’t control yourself when your wife’s here. Anyway, I have important information for you.”
Scout said, “I didn’t say I can’t control myself around Kathy. By the way, have you found any suitable partners from the influx of new people?”
Jordan said, “I don’t have time for that. I only care about the colony. Now, do you want to hear the intelligence I have for you or not?”
Scout said, “Shoot.”
MARS: Baroque Revolution Page 21