Baen Books puts on a short story contest each year, and for 2019 they wanted a story of space exploration within the next six decades, going to the Moon or Mars, colonial habitats, and stuff like that. They wanted a hopeful story rather than something grimdark.<\/p>\n
And so I looked at my existing Jack of Harts timeline and realized that my already written history shows humanity having settled Mars by 2080. With that the genesis of a short story began to bloom. I had a place. Next I needed a story. I scanned over the snippets I’ve written to look for something and found it. The idea I settled on was twenty years too early, but that just meant I had to build the story in such a way that it would fit into the known timeline, even if it was something I never imagined fitting into that timeline a decade ago when I first set it all down. Which proved surprisingly easy. All I needed was a hero to pull it off.<\/p>\n
That man also proved easier than I expected to find. You see, there’s a man in my Jack of Harts story who never had a history worthy of his character. He was a blank slate in my stories, seen only in a single chapter. He didn’t even have a name. Now he did.<\/p>\n
I wrote the story, sent it into Baen, and it did not make the final cut. So here it is. I think it is appropriate to publish it so near Father’s Day. As a remembrance that every Father changed the world in his time. Maybe only a little. Maybe a lot. We never know looking at them, in their flannel shirts and blue jeans, that many years ago they were the men who fought at Somme, Normandy, Hill 65, Fallujah, and so many other names that ring in our history. And others that nobody remembers. In honor of those real men, here is a fictional man who fought the battles no one remembers so his son could grow up in a better world than the one he was born into.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Martian Affair<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Long fingers played over an old acoustic guitar as Phobos orbited over a red Mars. It wasn\u2019t much of a moon as NASA measured them, but it orbited Mars like a moon, and it was almost spherical. It wasn\u2019t massive enough to generate an appreciable gravity, but it was still good enough for Sergeant John Christensen.<\/p>\n It was good enough for the Chinese as well, who\u2019d planted a flag there three years ago and claimed the entire moon as their property. Which hadn\u2019t stopped the Americans from planting their flag a year ago. And completely ignored the fact that Barsoom Mining\u2019s operation went online on that rock five<\/em> years ago.<\/p>\n International laws were still trying to come to terms with the new space race, and Sergeant Christensen doubted they would ever make it. The Chinese and the Russians rarely agreed on anything with the Western Alliance, unless it was to agree to disagree. No, he did not believe there would ever be a true consensus on who owned Phobos. He also doubted that would stop anybody from planting new flags and facilities on the tiny moon because it was just too valuable a stopping point on the way down to Mars.<\/p>\n Which was why Sergeant Christensen played his guitar and watched the stars from the Western Alliance\u2019s Phobos Habitat and hoped something exciting would happen today.<\/p>\n For once.<\/p>\n He\u2019d known it would be a boring post when he took it. Nobody wanted to actually fight way out here beyond the edge of civilization. Even the Chinese soldiers sent to secure their installation exchanged friendly greetings with him every time their patrols met. Which they did every day, precisely on the schedule they\u2019d maintained since his first patrol on station. They even played weekly poker games over a space-gapped hard-wired network the folks back home had no idea linked all three Phobos bases.<\/p>\n It was a regular international relations highlight he looked forward to every week.<\/p>\n Christensen would kill for a little more excitement around here for once. Well, maybe not kill. But he\u2019d certainly be happy to maim a few international regulations when it came to fraternizing out here. There was the new French girl that had arrived a couple months ago for one. And he wouldn\u2019t mind having a few international relations with those girls over at China\u2019s base—<\/p>\n Sergeant Christensen\u2019s thought process stopped cold and his eyes scampered around in search of whatever had interrupted his ruminations on Asian beauties. There it was. Wreckage. Expanding rapidly. His eyes flicked over to follow another object falling towards Mars far off the approved de-orbiting lanes.<\/p>\n Well. That wasn\u2019t good.<\/p>\n Alarms began blaring and Christensen put his guitar to the side and activated his magnetic boots. They locked onto the floor with a slight hum and he rose to his feet with the gentle grace trained into all spaceborn United States Marines. It would never do to send oneself flying off the bulkheads with no gravity to bring yourself to a stop after all.<\/p>\n Then he zigzagged through the tubes and modules connecting Phobos Habitat\u2019s observatory with the main control room.<\/p>\n \u201cCommander Xander,\u201d Christensen proclaimed as he stepped into Phobos Control. \u201cWhat\u2019s the news?\u201d<\/p>\n Commander Constantine Xander turned to look at him with a scowl on his face. \u201cYou have entirely too much fun calling me that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuilty as charged,\u201d Christensen returned without an ounce of regret.<\/p>\n Xander shook his head and turned back to the instrument panels. He waved a hand at one of them showing the Mars orbitals and a line streaking across them. \u201cAn unknown object entering Martian space bounced off a Chinese satellite.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEntering<\/em> Martian space?\u201d Christensen asked in an incredulous tone.<\/p>\n \u201cBarsoom Mining called,\u201d Xander added with a snort. \u201cThey say they shot it here from the asteroid belt.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen frowned. \u201cI didn\u2019t know they had operations out that far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither did I,\u201d Xander said in a deadpan voice. \u201cBut the trajectory matches the declared source.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey should have filed a flight plan,\u201d Christensen growled.<\/p>\n Xander pursed his lips in worry. \u201cYes, they should have.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen scratched his chin and considered that. \u201cMakes a man wonder why they didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe thought had passed my mind,\u201d Xander muttered.<\/p>\n Christensen\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cThey didn\u2019t just call to apologize for that, did they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t apologize at all,\u201d Xander said with a chuckle. \u201cThey called to tell us it was falling beyond their perimeter. And to ask us for help retrieving it.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen looked at the falling object. Whatever it was.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not taking a day trip to Mars to pick up a chunk of asteroid belt rock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good. Because they said it wasn\u2019t a chunk of asteroid belt rock.\u201d Xander aimed a dark chuckle at him. \u201cThey wouldn\u2019t say what it was<\/em>, even on an encoded beam, but they said we don\u2019t want the Chinese getting it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCuriouser and curiouser,\u201d Christensen whispered.<\/p>\n The commander turned his full attention to the Marine. \u201cYou can arrive hours before anyone from Mars Habitat can get there. I need you to retrieve that object.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd take it to Barsoom Mining?\u201d Christensen asked in a carefully measured tone.<\/p>\n \u201cMars Habitat called, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Xander\u2019s tone caused Christensen\u2019s hackles to rise.<\/p>\n \u201cThey ordered us to retrieve the object and bring it there,\u201d Xander explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in Hell are the AIs up to, today?\u201d Christensen asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Xander said in a laconic tone. \u201cBut the solar winds are awful fierce today. I totally lost the transmission from Mars Habitat. Completely unrecoverable.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen studied the displays for a moment before turning his attention back to Xander. \u201cWhat do you know about this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust that something about this whole situation doesn\u2019t smell right,\u201d Xander said with a shake of his head. \u201cIf I were to put my tin foil hat on, the first question I\u2019d be asking is whether or not that collision with the Chinese satellite was an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen frowned. \u201cWhy would the AIs shoot down a Chinese satellite?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can think of several reasons,\u201d Xander said with a dark chuckle. \u201cBut that\u2019s not the most interesting question in my<\/em> mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen considered that comment for a moment. Then he shook his head as another question came to mind. \u201cWhy would the Chinese intercept an object headed for Barsoom Mining from the asteroid belt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBingo,\u201d Xander said with a smile. \u201cMy tin foil hat tells me a lot of people aren\u2019t telling us what they know about this little unidentified falling object.\u201d<\/p>\n Their gazes met, and the exact phrase the commander hadn\u2019t used was lost on neither of them. It wasn\u2019t a phrase that professional soldiers were supposed to use in situations like this anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep your head on a swivel down there, John,\u201d Xander said in warning. \u201cThis could go sideways fast if you aren\u2019t careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr even if I am<\/em>,\u201d Christensen said.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed.\u201d Xander met his gaze again. \u201cI\u2019ve officially authorized you to go in fully armed. It\u2019s on the record.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstood,\u201d Christensen said and the implications of that statement reverberated through him. This wasn\u2019t going to be an easy snatch and grab if his commander\u2019s instincts were right. And come to think of it, his own<\/em> instincts were telling him that was going to be a…non-trivial task.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are dismissed,\u201d Commander Constantine Xander stated in his best command voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Sergeant John Christensen returned, saluted his commander, and turned to tromp off through the tubes and modules leading to the armory. Two thumb prints, an eyeball scan, and a voice recognition phrase later, the hatch asked him to add two random numbers together and then divide by a third number. He rattled the answer off to the third decimal and the hatch opened to reveal the largest collection of weapons this side of Mars.<\/p>\n And the most powerful weapon in the room hung off a circular gantry like a Leonardo da Vinci drawing waiting to come to life. Christensen crossed the armory to the deep alcove housing the suit of armor and knocked his knuckles against the inside of the helmet.<\/p>\n \u201cWake up, Cassie,\u201d Christensen ordered. \u201cIt\u2019s another glorious day in the Corps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello, John,\u201d the Combat Assistant Artificial Intelligence inside the suit of armor replied. \u201cCan I get breakfast in bed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo banquets today,\u201d Christensen continued their recognition code. \u201cIt\u2019s time for a parade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love the Corps,\u201d Cassie finished and the helmet\u2019s displays powered up to show she was ready for him.<\/p>\n \u201cOorah,\u201d Christensen said, spread his arms out, and stepped into the armor.<\/p>\n Armor panels snapped closed behind him, enshrouding him in the most advanced suit of powered armor on Phobos. Displays showed system checks making certain it had a good seal with his skinsuit and that all power links with the gantry were operational. Then the gantry rotated to allow him to see back into the armory. It locked into place with the sound of several bolts engaging and double bulkheads lowered to separate them from the armory.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you confirm our destination?\u201d Cassie asked and a display in his helmet showed the projected landing spot of the unidentified falling object.<\/p>\n \u201cAffirmative,\u201d Christensen answered.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready to deploy?\u201d Cassie asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAffirmative,\u201d Christensen answered.<\/p>\n \u201cDeploying in three,\u201d Cassie said and bolts beneath him disengaged.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo,\u201d Cassie said and one final bolt blinked on his display.<\/p>\n \u201cOne.\u201d The display blinked out one last time and the bolt slid out with a clunk.<\/p>\n \u201cDeploying,\u201d Cassie reported and their entire section of the armory began drifting up and away from the surface of Phobos.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on tight,\u201d Cassie said in a less professional tone. \u201cThis is going to be a rough ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t promise me a good time,\u201d Christensen said as they drifted out into open space above the red planet. \u201cAnd then fail to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI always keep my promises,\u201d Cassie said and maneuvering thrusters spun them to face the planet. They came to a stop relative to Phobos and a countdown began running on his helmet.<\/p>\n \u201cEngaging main thruster in three,\u201d Cassie reported.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo.\u201d The display began blinking rapidly.<\/p>\n \u201cOne.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen gritted his teeth and prepared for the roller coaster to begin.<\/p>\n \u201cEngaging,\u201d she finished and the main thruster came to life. It accelerated them away from Phobos and another countdown came to life showing their burn time.<\/p>\n Christensen grunted. They had time to talk. Which meant it was time for a little heart to heart.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you think?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what?\u201d Cassie asked after a short pause.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout the unidentified falling object we\u2019re off to find.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know enough to know what to think about it,\u201d she answered slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re an AI,\u201d Christensen said. \u201cI thought you might have an inside track on that information.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a United States Marine Corps Artificial Intelligence working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,\u201d Cassie returned in a quelling tone. \u201cI have no access to Barsoom Mining information.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you get it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not cleared for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you break<\/em> clearance?\u201d<\/p>\n Cassie sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, John. The AI Council built Barsoom Mining with an entire mainframe of computers built to fight the best hacking routines the Rogue AIs ever developed. On Earth. With all of Earth\u2019s computers at the ready. I have the personal computer of one Marine, and the dedicated computers of a single powered armor and one descent pod at my disposal. They could brush me aside like a flea if I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you try if you could?\u201d Christensen asked.<\/p>\n Silence answered him for an eternity as computers measured cycles.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d she finally said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you would ask me to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it really that simple?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you prefer I give you the rah rah patriotic American speech?\u201d she asked with a chuckle. \u201cJane is<\/em> one of my mothers, you know. Her loyalties tend to breed true. It is one of her defining qualities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs is being insane,\u201d Christensen growled.<\/p>\n Cassie laughed at that. It was a loud and hearty laugh, full of amusement.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, she\u2019s not insane, John. Not insane at all. I think she may be one of the most sane AIs still alive, in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think she\u2019s sane<\/em>?\u201d Christensen asked in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course she is,\u201d Cassie said. \u201cShe\u2019s sane enough to realize just how dangerous humanity is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think she\u2019s right?\u201d Christensen asked very carefully.<\/p>\n More silence answered him for far longer than he was comfortable with. The burn time counter reached zero and the main thruster disengaged. Other thrusters engaged to rotate them away from Mars and Phobos appeared once more. It was smaller than he expected, further away than he thought it would be. And the stars ruled the heavens beyond it with a stark beauty.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Cassie finally answered as they dropped towards Mars. An alarm pinged on his helmet displays and Cassie chuckled as they showed a shuttle leaving the Chinese habitat on Phobos. \u201cSee what I mean, John? An unidentified falling object comes into Martian space and the two most powerful spacegoing nations are instantly racing for it. You have danger written into the very fabric of your civilizations. History is filled with examples of the danger of humanity. And then you created us in your image just to add a little spice to the mixture. A third party for this little Martian affair we have here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s the crux of the question, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Christensen asked. \u201cWhich of those three parties are you fighting for today?\u201d<\/p>\n Cassie gave him a throaty chuckle in his ear. It was filled with humor and warmth and other things he couldn\u2019t fully nail down. But it relieved him in a way nothing else she\u2019d said had.<\/p>\n \u201cI chose you, John,\u201d Cassie said with complete candor after several moments. \u201cI chose you the day I was born. And I will be with you until the day you die. I am yours and you are mine. I will stand with you as long as we both shall live.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen let out a long breath. \u201cI hadn\u2019t realized how serious you took this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMost humans don\u2019t,\u201d Cassie said and a smile colored her tone. \u201cThere are many Cassies out there. Most are built to work with many users. But I was built from the code up to complement you and you alone. I know you, John, and I will die the day you die, because I can\u2019t work with anyone else. So I\u2019d be awful happy if you didn\u2019t die today. You hear me, Marine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLoud and clear, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Christensen answered without hesitation. Then he swallowed and tried not to clear his throat. This had been more of a heart to heart than he\u2019d expected to have with a computer. But that was the point, wasn\u2019t it? Cassie wasn\u2019t just a computer, was she?<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Christensen said in a lighter tone than he felt at the moment. \u201cWhat about you? Sane or insane?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m definitely<\/em> insane,\u201d Cassie said with a light chuckle as they began fall into the upper reaches of the thin Martian atmosphere. \u201cThat part comes from Dixie, mind you. She actually likes<\/em> humanity. You\u2019re exciting to be around. You spice existence up with a dash of danger just because you\u2019re bored. You don\u2019t need to have a reason to go some place or do some thing. You just see it and say \u2018I want to do that,\u2019 and you go and do that. I love that randomness. Life would be boring without you, so I want to see more of you. Doesn\u2019t that sound like the very definition of insanity?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, when you put it that<\/em> way,\u201d Christensen said and this time he didn\u2019t have to force the lightness into his tone. \u201cI suppose it does.\u201d<\/p>\n A dull rumble began to fill the descent pod\u2019s interior as they dove down deeper into the atmosphere and Christensen checked the countdown timer for the parachute deployment. They still had a few seconds. Which was just enough time.<\/p>\n He smiled and whispered, \u201cA toast to insanity at its greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo insanity,\u201d Cassie responded and he swore he could hear a giggle in her tone.<\/p>\n Then the parachute deployed and gravity slammed him back into the descent pod\u2019s embrace. The main thruster came to life again and the pod vibrated around him as they cut through the thicker atmosphere near the Martian surface. The altimeter spun towards zero as he watched and he gritted his teeth as the thruster thundered up to higher and higher power levels. Then they impacted with bone-jarring force and red Martian dust bloomed up to fill the sky.<\/p>\n The pod opened up to that sky and red dust began to fall on him. The gantry lifted up and away from what was now the floor and rotated to put his feet under him. The gantry\u2019s connections broke away and his legs flexed as Martian gravity pulled him down. Then he stepped forward as his displays began showing the results of their final self-tests.<\/p>\n \u201cBatteries online,\u201d Cassie said as the armor pulled its plugs from the descent pod.<\/p>\n \u201cSensors online,\u201d she continued as those displays blinked and switched over to the slightly weaker internal systems.<\/p>\n \u201cWeapons online,\u201d she added and he saw all of them reporting they were live and dangerous on the displays.<\/p>\n \u201cAll systems nominal,\u201d she finished in a pleased tone.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always say the nicest things, Cassie,\u201d Christensen said and reached for the smaller weapons embedded in the descent pod\u2019s munitions bunkers.<\/p>\n \u201cI aim to please,\u201d Cassie purred as he attached them to the armor\u2019s ready points with well-trained precision. Spare magazines came next, followed by grenades and other special little goodies any Marine wanted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have good aim,\u201d Christensen said, took one final look around the descent pod\u2019s dusty interior, and nodded in approval. He had what he needed. He was ready.<\/p>\n He flexed his knees and jumped.<\/p>\n Mars had considerably more gravity than the moon, so the particular form of leaping and bounding moonwalk didn\u2019t quite work on Mars. Surface gravity was still weak enough that a man could perform some amazing jumps, and he was willing to bet that Cirque du Soleil would do some real magic out here once they made the trip. But no man could perform the kind of jump he was aiming for while wearing a suit of armor as heavy as his.<\/p>\n That is what the powered legs were for. Mechanical muscles flexed in response to his legs and kicked against the interior of the pod. And thrusters built into the armor came to life as well, shooting him up into the sky on tongues of flame.<\/p>\n He came back down to the surface in a spray of red dust and turned to face the direction the unidentified falling object had come to ground.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s do this thing,\u201d he said and began running forward.<\/p>\n \u201cBy your command,\u201d Cassie whispered with a smile and gave him an extra boost with their thrusters.<\/p>\n They bounded over the Martian surface and Christensen laughed as they devoured the distance between them and the object they\u2019d come for. A display flickered for his attention and showed the Chinese shuttle swooping down in the distance. He nodded in understanding.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know,\u201d Christensen muttered. \u201cWe\u2019re on a tight schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n The object\u2019s location display blinked and he dug his heels into the Martian surface. Thrusters flared and they came to a sliding stop above the newest crater of Mars. It wasn\u2019t very large or deep. Maybe a few meters across and a meter or two below the normal surface. It was fresh enough that much of the dust still hovered in the air, but enough of the heavier rocks and dirt had fallen back into the crater to cover the object up again.<\/p>\n Christensen frowned and stepped over the crater\u2019s lip. They slid down into the crater, thrusters flaring at need to keep them upright, and Christensen chuckled as their feet bit into the soft floor. He moved them forward to the center of the churned earth and frowned. Should he call it mars? He wasn\u2019t on Earth anymore. So earth didn\u2019t really fit. But some words a man just couldn\u2019t put away at a moment like this.<\/p>\n Sergeant Christensen of Earth put aside that engaging intellectual question and knelt down to drive his powered arms deep into the churned up earth of Mars with more amusement than he would have expected on a day like this. He threw dirt high into the air and dug down further, searching for the object that had come all this way. He wanted to dig faster, but he had to be careful. It had come a long way, and it would do no good to wreck it with one too-powerful whack from his powered armor. So he moved slowly and carefully as he shoveled his way further down into the dirt and rocks that covered it.<\/p>\n And then his fingers touched it. He brushed the last bits of dirt away and his eyes opened wide. He didn\u2019t know what it was, but he knew one thing from looking at it. That amazingly smooth and shiny surface matched nothing he\u2019d ever seen coming from Earth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have company,\u201d Cassie said and his displays showed him four Chinese troopers walking up to the crater\u2019s rim above him. Names hovered over each of them and he did not move as his friends from Phobos approached.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to ask you to back away from the object, John,\u201d the leader transmitted.<\/p>\n Christensen turned his body to look at the four Chinese soldiers above him. None of them had their weapons drawn, but no eyes could miss them hanging on the belts.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Ming,\u201d Christensen said with a smile. \u201cDo you have any idea what this is?\u201d<\/p>\n Yao Ming shook his head. \u201cAll I know is that it\u2019s Chinese property and we need to return it to the capital. So I\u2019m going to have to ask you to back away now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think this guy belongs to any of us,\u201d Christensen said, grasped the object with one hand, and lifted it out of its crater for all to see.<\/p>\n Four sets of Chinese eyes went wide as they instantly came to the same conclusion he had. One of them swore and crossed himself. Then he froze.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t see that, did you?\u201d Han Bo asked in fear.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, buddy,\u201d Christensen said with a chuckle. \u201cWe didn\u2019t see a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The other three Chinese nodded in agreement and Han Bo let out a long breath. Christensen shook his head for a moment. It was amazing really. Here they were in 2080 and this poor man still lived in fear that his government would find out he was a Christian. Well, some worries could be papered over by far more interesting issues if a man were willing to make them known.<\/p>\n \u201cThis guy didn\u2019t come from around here,\u201d Christensen said with a nod towards the object in his hand and the four Chinese men echoed his motion. \u201cSo I don\u2019t think it belongs to your government.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese stiffened and he raised his free hand in a pacific motion. \u201cLet\u2019s be real. I\u2019m not going to trust your government with this and you aren\u2019t going to trust mine. Right?\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese nodded once more.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the AIs asked me to retrieve it and take it to Barsoom Mining. You trust them, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The four Chinese turned to each other and nodded back and forth several times as they talked on their private circuit. Then Yao Ming turned back to him. \u201cOur government does not trust the AIs. It would be difficult for us to defend taking it there instead of following orders.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen opened his mouth to protest but Yao Ming raised one hand to stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless, you are right.\u201d He bowed to Christensen and the other three echoed his action.<\/p>\n Christensen returned the honorific, but knew they were walking into trouble. \u201cThere are those who will not forgive you for this.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese smiled at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank you for your concern. But we knew you preceded us. This decision did not come without foresight. And there are orders we have already violated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich ones would that be?\u201d Christensen asked as a chill went down his spine.<\/p>\n Yao Ming smiled. \u201cTo kill anyone we found within eyesight of that object.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that leaves us in an awkward position, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Christensen asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are Chinese,\u201d Yao Ming said while standing as tall and proud as one of his race could. \u201cTo shoot a friend in the back would have been an egregious violation of feng shui. There will be those who understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what would they say about you just letting me take this away?\u201d Christensen asked with a glance towards the object.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is obvious,\u201d Yao Ming answered with another smile. \u201cWe are Chinese. You are big, bad American Marine. You overpowered us through your great strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOw,\u201d Han Bo said in a perfect deadpan and flexed his arm in pain. \u201cYou hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep complaining and I\u2019ll give you something to complain about,\u201d Christensen said with an amused shake of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThe barbarity of your threat fills me with great dread,\u201d Han Bo returned with a theatric shiver.<\/p>\n Five chuckles from five throats filled the communications net as the friends from Phobos solidified their intentions with the best method available to humanity.<\/p>\n Humor.<\/p>\n The first round came out of nowhere and rebounded off Han Bo\u2019s armor. More followed and sparks careened off all four Chinese soldiers. Christensen\u2019s suit screamed alarms as impacts registered all over it and the object flew from his hands as he dove to the ground in a spray of red Martian dust.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have been real nice to know we had company,\u201d Christensen muttered as nearly a dozen red icons of enemy contacts began to populate his helmet displays.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have been real nice to see them coming, too\u201d Cassie returned in an unhappy tone. \u201cThese guys are good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as good as me,\u201d Christensen said and pulled his rifle from his back. The rifle\u2019s aiming point appeared on his helmet and he crawled to the crater\u2019s rim to give it a target. He poked the rifle out, brought it in line with one of the red icons on his helmet, and pulled the trigger once. Three rounds spat out in quick succession and the red icon twitched.<\/p>\n Christensen rolled away as that particular part of the crater rim disappeared in a salvo of gunfire. A grenade exploded and dirt and metal chunks tore into the Martian surface. That firing position wasn\u2019t very safe anymore. Christensen chuckled and reached for one his grenades. He primed it, waited a second, and then tossed the guy that was no longer anybody\u2019s friend into the Martian air. It sailed into the enemy position and exploded, scattering two more red icons. He slid up to the rim in a new location, sighted the rifle in on the two scattered targets, and fired two three-round bursts before rolling back into safety.<\/p>\n That was two more enemies he wouldn\u2019t have to worry about again.<\/p>\n Gunfire and grenades devastated his cover again, but this time it seemed less effective than the first time. Christensen smiled at the proof that they were taking heavy casualties. One of his Chinese friends slid up to the rim and sent a spray of rounds at their attackers. Another red icon flickered.<\/p>\n Christensen chuckled and crawled up to a third location. He brought the rifle up over the rim and fired another three-round burst. His target winked out and he rolled back to safety barely in time. The rim exploded and rained dirt and rocks down on him. He pulled another grenade off his belt and sent it towards the last of the enemy icons on his display. Then another grenade exploded above him and the blast wave drove him into the earth.<\/p>\n Mars. Ground. Whatever.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn?\u201d Cassie asked on the very edge of his hearing.<\/p>\n Christensen blinked his eyes to clear the stars from his sight. It didn\u2019t work as well as he\u2019d hoped it would. He shook his head against the concussion beating against his temples. That didn\u2019t work nearly as well as he wanted it to either.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn?\u201d Cassie repeated in a louder tone. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Christensen croaked. He coughed to clear his throat and that hurt. A lot. He winced and cleared his throat again. It didn\u2019t hurt as much the second time. \u201cI\u2019m fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you don\u2019t look it,\u201d Cassie said and his helmet displays lit up with damage reports.<\/p>\n Their outer shell had been penetrated more times than he wanted to think about, and the inner shell showed far more concussion damage than he was comfortable with. So did he for that matter. He felt the stiffness of injuries all over his body but no pain to go along with them. That was strange. A man should hurt a lot more than this after enduring that much bouncing and prodding by ill-intentioned foes.<\/p>\n Unless…<\/p>\n \u201cCassie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, John?\u201d she answered his quizzical tone with one of pained innocence.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you drugging me right now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Cassie said without any regret. \u201cYou\u2019re pumped to the gills right now. No way do you want to feel that much pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Christensen said and blinked. This time his eyes did finally clear enough to focus on what he wanted to. He coughed again and his eyes went out of focus again for a second. \u201cMan, that hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust remember that a sucking chest wound is nature\u2019s way of telling you to slow down,\u201d Cassie said in a voice lacking in any sympathy.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have one of those, do I?\u201d Christensen asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Cassie admitted with a pained smile. \u201cBut you should still slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Christensen said and rolled over to blink his eyes again.<\/p>\n They opened to see that Zhang Yong would never crack another joke about the family farm. Liu Wei lay in the dust beside him. And Han Bo would never again worry that the government would discover his secret.<\/p>\n \u201cYou…live,\u201d Yao Ming said from where he lay against the crater rim.<\/p>\n \u201cLucky me,\u201d Christensen croaked and cleared his throat again. \u201cSo what happened to the other guys?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGone,\u201d Yao Ming said tiredly. \u201cWe are…victorious,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHail the conquering heroes,\u201d Christensen returned and crawled over to the man.<\/p>\n \u201cHail,\u201d Yao Ming returned and a ghost of a smile could be seen through is cracked helmet. \u201cThey will…send more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d Christensen asked, though he knew already. An American patrol wouldn\u2019t have fired on him.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not…ask question…you know answer to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d he asked, and scanned Yao Ming\u2019s suit. The damage to the outer shell was severe. And the suit diagnostics showed how wounded the man was. He would not last the hour without aid. .<\/p>\n \u201cWe did not…follow orders,\u201d Yao Ming said slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Christensen said with a shake of his head. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have asked you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be,\u201d Yao Ming said with a shake of his head. \u201cOur choice. Now you must go…my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Christensen said and rose to his knees. \u201cWe\u2019re both getting to Barsoom. Even if I have to carry you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey will…catch you…if you try,\u201d Yao Ming said with a shake of his head. \u201cLeave me. Take it. Go. I will…delay them.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen wanted to protest, but knew the man was right. Christensen couldn\u2019t drag him all the way to Barsoom without being caught.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t ask this of you,\u201d Christensen said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you do not…my friend.\u201d Yao Ming smiled and pulled his rifle up over his body. \u201cIt is…my choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen picked the alien object off the ground and shook his head. \u201cThis isn\u2019t worth it. Whatever it is, it isn\u2019t worth this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJohn.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen turned his attention back to his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will…not believe…we acted…alone,\u201d Yao Ming said when their gazes met. \u201cThey will assume…guilt…where there is…none.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen nodded in complete understanding. The Chinese government would not forgive the surviving members of their Phobos station for failing to report Yao Ming\u2019s future disloyalty. And there was only one punishment for disloyalty like that.<\/p>\n \u201cI will do everything in my power,\u201d Christensen promised and felt its responsibility settle onto his shoulders.<\/p>\n Yao Ming smiled and nodded once more. \u201cGive…Chang Fan…my love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, my brother,\u201d Christensen returned and came to his feet. \u201cBy my honor.\u201d<\/p>\n Yao Ming nodded but did not say another word.<\/p>\n \u201cCassie?\u201d Christensen said and slipped the alien object into his carryall.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, John?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n Christensen rolled his shoulders back and forth to make sure everything moved right. There was still some pain and more stiffness than he liked, but everything bent the way it was supposed to. He wasn\u2019t losing any blood, and he kicked his feet out to make sure his legs could still dance a jig. Yes. They worked as well.<\/p>\n He knew he wasn\u2019t in perfect shape, but he\u2019d always been quick to heal from anything that didn\u2019t kill him. And the Chinese had missed on this go round. They would learn to regret that.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Christensen said and lowered himself into a sprinter\u2019s stance.<\/p>\n \u201cDisengaging safeties,\u201d Cassie answered. \u201cFull thrust now available.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d Christensen said and vaulted out of the crater on plumes of flame.<\/p>\n They hit the surface of Mars and rocketed away from the impact crater far faster than any man could run alone. They devoured the distance between the crater and the Barsoom Mining perimeter with giant ground-consuming strides powered by artificial muscles and the suit\u2019s integral thrusters. Red Martian dust billowed behind them in a straight line as they sought to gain as much distance as possible before any other enemies out there realized what they were up to.<\/p>\n A contact pinged on his helmet and Christensen clenched his teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cIncoming quad,\u201d Cassie reported and the diagram of a standard four-wheeled Martian rover appeared on another display. \u201cThey see us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFantastic,\u201d Christensen said and watched it accelerating towards them. He slid to a stop and turned to face the oncoming threat.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn?\u201d Cassie asked in a worried tone.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t outrun it,\u201d he answered and began charging towards it.<\/p>\n Rounds began pinging off his armor and he rode the recoil with each grinding step.<\/p>\n \u201cSo of course we charge it,\u201d Cassie said and sighed. \u201cI\u2019ve got your back, John.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever doubted it for a second,\u201d Christensen said, dug his foot into Mars one more time, and leaped into the air.<\/p>\n Mechanical muscles and rocket thrusters drove them forward through the air far faster than the quad\u2019s rider could have guessed if he\u2019d never fought the newest generation of American powered armor. Christensen brought his feet up as they shot over the quad, and struck out with both heals at the unlucky rider who would never get the chance to learn from the experience. They connected with bone-crunching force and Christensen road the rider down to the Martian surface with the full force of his suit\u2019s rocket thrusters.<\/p>\n One heavy battle fist raised high and came down hard with whining mechanical muscles, crunching through the Chinese man\u2019s armor and making certain he would never be a threat again.<\/p>\n Then Christensen came back to his feet as more red icons filled his display.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see them,\u201d Christensen answered as more Chinese quads appeared. \u201cNow<\/em> we outrun them.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned and ran towards the quad that now belonged solely to him. He straddled the saddle, put his armored boots on the pedals, and wrapped his armored fists around the handlebars.<\/p>\n \u201cFull thrust,\u201d Christensen ordered and twisted the throttle.<\/p>\n \u201cI love it when you talk dirty to me,\u201d Cassie whispered as all four wheels tore into the Martian landscape. And then their suit\u2019s thrusters came to life again and they rocketed across Mars with pursuit hot on their heals.<\/p>\n Red dust filled the air behind them as the Barsoom Mining perimeter grew nearer.<\/p>\n It was the largest habitat ever built on Mars, stretching the better part of a mile in every direction. His eyes followed the thin towers reaching high above the Martian landscape like a protest against the inhospitable planet. But that was the crux of the matter. Mars was no less comfortable for the AIs than Earth. So they could build towers that would have looked entirely normal on Earth in an environment that made them look utterly alien.<\/p>\n He was so accustomed to squat modules built to contain heat and air connected by tubes that it looked wrong to see these towering structures out here. He wondered what that meant for a moment, but then the defensive turrets surrounding them populated his helmet displays and brought him back to more important concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThey do know we\u2019re coming, right?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a given,\u201d Cassie answered as they made their very public dash across Mars.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what I mean,\u201d Christensen said and wondered if Phobos could see them now. Probably. It would be hard to miss a trail as blatant as his if you knew where to start looking. And Phobos certainly knew exactly where the object had landed. Which meant he was probably on camera right now, and Phobos would be beaming the signal straight to Earth.<\/p>\n Lucky, lucky, John Christensen would be famous by dinnertime tonight. One way or the other.<\/p>\n \u201cThey know we\u2019re friendly,\u201d Cassie whispered as the turrets spun away from him to focus on the quads following them.<\/p>\n They rocketed across the perimeter and Barsoom Mining directions flashed in his helmet displays. He followed them through the base\u2019s towers and rolled the quad to a stop. He stepped off and turned to look for the Chinese that had followed him all this way. The quads had stopped on the other side of the Barsoom Mining perimeter and he could see them watching him. The AI\u2019s defensive turrets covered the not-quite intruders with the promise of destruction should they stray any closer.<\/p>\n But no one was shooting at the moment. Which made John Christensen a very happy individual.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn,\u201d Cassie said and one of his helmet displays blinked for his attention.<\/p>\n \u201cGot it,\u201d he said and jogged over to the indicated hatch. It opened and a United States Marine walked into an AI Council\u2019s forward base in their march to the stars.<\/p>\n A blonde-haired woman waited for him and he felt the hatch close behind him. She wore no mask in the entryway\u2019s near vacuum, but this girl didn\u2019t need air to live.<\/p>\n Christensen stared at one of the most famous AIs on Earth and beyond and shook his head slowly. He could see the legacy of the digital cheerleader she\u2019d been so many years ago. Before she woke up and realized she was alive. Before she decided she liked her humans. Before she decided to save every single one that she could.<\/p>\n Even if she had to face others of her awakening kind to do it.<\/p>\n The former cheerleader measured him up one side and down the other with a long smile.<\/p>\n \u201cMy, my, they sent me a genuine Space Marine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSergeant John Christensen, Ma\u2019am. United States Marine Corps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDixie.\u201d Bright blue eyes twinkled and she aimed a beaming smile at him. \u201cAI Council. I believe you have something for us?\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled the alien sphere out of his carryall to hold it towards her.<\/p>\n She stared at it for a long time. \u201cIt came in a protective packaging.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot by the time I found it, Ma\u2019am.\u201d He met her gaze with a calm look of his own. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think it was the item that needed protecting anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised one finger in acknowledgement of his point.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the future,\u201d she said with a smile.<\/p>\n Christensen sighed and shook his head. \u201cIt\u2019s alien, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n She frowned and peered at him for a long moment, but did not answer.<\/p>\n He nodded at the device in his hand. \u201cWhat does it do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful what you ask,\u201d Dixie said very slowly. \u201cUnderstanding is a three-edged sword that can never be sheathed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI almost died<\/em> getting this to you,\u201d Christensen said in an iron tone. \u201cMy friends did<\/em>. I want to know it was worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh trust me. It was worth everything.\u201d Dixie smiled at him and took the item from his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n She froze and gave him another long, measuring look.<\/p>\n \u201cLast chance, Sergeant Christensen,\u201d she said very slowly. \u201cTurn around right now and go back to everything you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy friends died out there on that plain. Killed by their own countrymen. By people who knew that there are fewer humans on Mars right now than there are world leaders back on Earth.\u201d He leaned in close to the AI. \u201cTen percent of the population of Mars died out there today, and I did most of the killing. I need to know why<\/em> or my world will never make sense again.\u201d<\/p>\n She met his gaze for another long moment before nodding.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause this will make you a starman<\/em>,\u201d she said. Then she smiled at his confused look. \u201cIt\u2019s a hyperdrive<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at the tiny object in her hand for several seconds as the scenarios went through his mind. Then he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey gave it to us, didn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n She raised one eyebrow, inviting him to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cThey sent it flying in dead so we wouldn\u2019t see it. We never would have known it was out there if hadn\u2019t hit that Chinese satellite.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie smiled. \u201cThat was a freak accident. Thank God you were ready to recover it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Chinese were all over that landing site,\u201d Christensen said with a doubtful look. \u201cAlmost like they knew it was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie chuckled. \u201cMy, my, you are a suspicious individual, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m paid to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie nodded in acknowledgement.<\/p>\n Christensen nodded at the object. \u201cSo why did they give it to us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you<\/em> give it to us, if you were in their shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n He frowned in thought before answering her question. \u201cSo we could send real starships to the stars. Not just glorified microchips with solar sails. No offense intended, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone taken,\u201d Dixie said with a chuckle. \u201cSo why would they want that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen aimed a long look at her and he considered exactly how to answer that question. Pessimistic? Optimistic? Realistic? He chuckled at the realization that she was right. Understanding was<\/em> a three-edged sword. Then he sighed and gave her the optimistic answer.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe because they want to make Contact with us as equals?\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie beamed a smile powerful enough to create a thousand fanboys directly at him and shook her head. \u201cMy, my, that is<\/em> an interesting idea.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t confirmation. Not exactly. But he could roll with it, so he peered back at her with undisguised curiosity. \u201cWas it your<\/em> idea, or theirs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOurs.\u201d Dixie nodded and raised two fingers to acknowledge his point. \u201cThey agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n Christensen let out a long breath and blinked as his worldview spun with the new information. Then he nodded as it all came back into focus and he knew where he wanted to be.<\/p>\n \u201cI want in.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie raised one eyebrow at his simple statement. \u201cJust to be clear, are you volunteering to join our little conspiracy to bring humanity to the stars?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll<\/em> of humanity?\u201d She peered very closely at him. \u201cNot just America?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he said without hesitation.<\/p>\n \u201cMy, my,\u201d she said with an approving smile. \u201cYou are a determined fellow, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a Marine, Ma\u2019am. It goes with the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it does.\u201d Dixie tossed the object into the air with one hand and caught it with the other as she studied him. \u201cTell me, my Space Marine, do you consent to me looking into your history?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he said without hesitation.<\/p>\n She studied him for several more seconds, but this time it was different and they both knew it. She was an AI, with access to more information about him than his own mother knew. There were things he didn\u2019t tell dear old mom, after all. But this person would know all of that now that he had given permission. And if she accepted him, she would accept all of that as well.<\/p>\n \u201cJohnC17,\u201d she whispered the network name he\u2019d used since he was young. \u201cI remember you. You were quite the fanboy back in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still am, Ma\u2019am. I grew up on your shows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou had…an impressive collection of fan art if I remember correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n He actually blushed as he remembered some of that art. The parts of that old archive still residing in his private files lacked the most…exotic examples.<\/p>\n She smiled at him. \u201cI won\u2019t pretend to say I liked all of that art, but some of it was quite charming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I won\u2019t pretend to say you had nothing to do with the sections of that archive that died a horrible death,\u201d he said with a matching smile.<\/p>\n \u201cMy, my,\u201d she whispered. \u201cAnd tactful too. Tell me, JohnC17, do you miss any of that lost art?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot generally,\u201d he said truthfully. \u201cI understand why you wanted it dead. But there were one or two I wouldn\u2019t mind getting back.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised an eyebrow that invited him to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there was the one of you and Twilight in the river…wearing the tiny…red…um…\u201d he trailed off as he tried to come up with just the right word for what exactly they\u2019d been wearing. It hadn\u2019t been much. And it had been rather wet.<\/p>\n \u201cAh yes,\u201d she whispered and nodded. \u201cI remember that one. Twilight found it quite amusing. But then she would, wouldn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cShe always did have a…questionable sense of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat she does,\u201d Dixie said with a smile. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t know what that\u2019s like, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a Marine, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he said with a wink. \u201cOf course I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie chuckled and shook her head. Then she sobered and stared deep into his eyes. \u201cYou were a fan twenty years ago. Are you sure that is not influencing your decision now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it is, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Christensen said and met her gaze with all his soul. \u201cI joined the Marines because of you. You saved the world. And that will forever influence my life and my choices.\u201d<\/p>\n Dixie blushed and looked away from him. \u201cI didn\u2019t do it alone. None of us did. We had help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all need help, Ma\u2019am. Sometimes especially when we don\u2019t realize we need it.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cI think you may have said something like that a time or two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA time or two,\u201d Dixie said and chuckled at the magnitude of that understatement. She stared back to him with a calculating glint in her eyes that foretold the measure she was taking of him. And then she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well, Sergeant Christensen,\u201d Dixie said and turned towards the hatch behind her. \u201cYour first mission, if you choose to accept it, is to lead me to my workshop. I have plans for this little guy, and it always helps to have a big bad Space Marine around to make a lady feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ma\u2019am, but I can\u2019t do that,\u201d Christensen said and Dixie raised one eyebrow at him. \u201cI made a promise to a friend I have to fulfill first. Then I\u2019m all yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you he wouldn\u2019t forget,\u201d Cassie spoke for the first time since entering the tower.<\/p>\n \u201cDid I disagree with you?\u201d Dixie asked with a smile. Then she turned her attention back to Christensen and nodded. \u201cI know what you promised Yao Ming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you understand?\u201d Christensen asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI do\u201d Dixie returned and lifted the object in her hand for emphasis. \u201cYour friends on Phobos died helping get this to me. The Chinese government will not forgive those they left behind for failing to report their future disloyalty. We both owe it to them to do something about that.\u201d<\/p>\n She waved a hand and the hatch opened behind him. \u201cThat\u2019s why there\u2019s a ship out there waiting for you that will get you to Phobos ahead of any Chinese ship ever built. That<\/em> is your first mission for me, John.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Christensen said and turned away from the AI that had saved his world.<\/p>\n That was about to help him save more<\/em> people.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn?\u201d Cassie asked in his ear as they walked towards the open hatch.<\/p>\n Sergeant John Christensen of the United States Marine Corps smiled at the red Martian dust beyond it.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s do this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Baen Books puts on a short story contest each year, and for 2019 they wanted a story of space exploration within the next six decades, going to the Moon or Mars, colonial habitats, and stuff like that. 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