repeated to anyone.”
“Understood, Sir, those are our standard operating procedures. Loose lips sink ships and all that.”
Taylor nodded in agreement and gratitude. He turned to his command staff and signalled for them to follow. He stepped briskly off the deck and straight to the briefing room where all his officers and NCOs were gathered. He was immediately drawn to the sight of Eleanor. He’d not seen her in weeks due to her medical leave, and he could do nothing but admire her, even in her BDUs.
“Quite honestly, we have no idea what to expect. What I can tell you is that it is vital that we remain on guard and armed at all times. That will mean being armed and armoured during all hours that you aren’t sleeping.”
“Won’t that raise some eyebrows with the civilians?” asked Silva.
“It will indeed, Sergeant. Over half a million people live on the moon and they’re not used to seeing soldiers in full battle attire. Therefore, officially we are on a training exercise. Our mission entails the practice of colony-wide security and urban navigation and planning.”
“It’s a bit of a flimsy argument,” said Parker.
“It is, but it’s the best we have. The government has been ordered to comply so there’ll be little in our way other than strange looks and the odd probing question. Stick to the story. All that matters is that we stay on duty and on guard.”
“Sir, I have to ask what everyone is thinking. Around a week ago you were called to an emergency meeting, which clearly involved the threat we are now facing. We are being asked to take up defensive measures when we don’t know what we’re defending against,” said Lieutenant Wilson.
Taylor looked at the officer. Wilson led Alpha platoon, a capable leader, one of his best.
“You’re right. I will tell you what little I know, because it is of vital nature to this operation. The meeting regarded a message received from an Ares colony shuttle. It alleged that the colony had been attacked by an unidentified and well-armed enemy force.”
“What are we talking about here? Aliens?” asked Wilson.
“We simply don’t know. What little description we have describes an enemy with technology superior to what we are accustomed to. Top brass isn’t willing to jump to any conclusions, and few are willing to entertain the idea of other intelligent life.”
“So what, a Chinese force trying to muscle in on the colony? They’ve been working against the UEN for long enough,” said Suarez.
“Possibly, but at this stage we don’t know. We have little information to work on and we cannot risk panic by informing the colony of any impending danger.”
“What danger, Sir? Why is an attack on Mars relevant to our Moon?”
Taylor dropped his head. He couldn’t beat around the bush any longer. He had been tasked on a highly secretive mission, but he could not ask his marines to step into danger without giving them a heads up. He looked back up, staring at each and everyone in the room.
“Okay, Wilson, this is why. Ships were despatched immediately to the Ares colony. As you know it will be months before they can arrive and begin to make sense of what has happened. However, they have picked up signals that something big is heading for Earth.”
“What the fuck does that mean, Sir?” Silva asked.
“Some are saying it’s a coincidence, an asteroid that’ll pass us by. The General does not believe in coincidences and believes we may have trouble. Nobody is sure of anything at this stage and troops cannot and will not be deployed anywhere until there are some rigid facts.”
There were so many questions that the officers and NCOs wanted answers to, but clearly no one was able to enlighten them any further.
“I know this puts us in the shit, but we’re marines, it’s what we’re paid for. Our job remains the same. We are to remain on active duty on a permanent rotational basis. All personnel when on duty are to maintain combat attire, as
“Understood, Sir, those are our standard operating procedures. Loose lips sink ships and all that.”
Taylor nodded in agreement and gratitude. He turned to his command staff and signalled for them to follow. He stepped briskly off the deck and straight to the briefing room where all his officers and NCOs were gathered. He was immediately drawn to the sight of Eleanor. He’d not seen her in weeks due to her medical leave, and he could do nothing but admire her, even in her BDUs.
“Quite honestly, we have no idea what to expect. What I can tell you is that it is vital that we remain on guard and armed at all times. That will mean being armed and armoured during all hours that you aren’t sleeping.”
“Won’t that raise some eyebrows with the civilians?” asked Silva.
“It will indeed, Sergeant. Over half a million people live on the moon and they’re not used to seeing soldiers in full battle attire. Therefore, officially we are on a training exercise. Our mission entails the practice of colony-wide security and urban navigation and planning.”
“It’s a bit of a flimsy argument,” said Parker.
“It is, but it’s the best we have. The government has been ordered to comply so there’ll be little in our way other than strange looks and the odd probing question. Stick to the story. All that matters is that we stay on duty and on guard.”
“Sir, I have to ask what everyone is thinking. Around a week ago you were called to an emergency meeting, which clearly involved the threat we are now facing. We are being asked to take up defensive measures when we don’t know what we’re defending against,” said Lieutenant Wilson.
Taylor looked at the officer. Wilson led Alpha platoon, a capable leader, one of his best.
“You’re right. I will tell you what little I know, because it is of vital nature to this operation. The meeting regarded a message received from an Ares colony shuttle. It alleged that the colony had been attacked by an unidentified and well-armed enemy force.”
“What are we talking about here? Aliens?” asked Wilson.
“We simply don’t know. What little description we have describes an enemy with technology superior to what we are accustomed to. Top brass isn’t willing to jump to any conclusions, and few are willing to entertain the idea of other intelligent life.”
“So what, a Chinese force trying to muscle in on the colony? They’ve been working against the UEN for long enough,” said Suarez.
“Possibly, but at this stage we don’t know. We have little information to work on and we cannot risk panic by informing the colony of any impending danger.”
“What danger, Sir? Why is an attack on Mars relevant to our Moon?”
Taylor dropped his head. He couldn’t beat around the bush any longer. He had been tasked on a highly secretive mission, but he could not ask his marines to step into danger without giving them a heads up. He looked back up, staring at each and everyone in the room.
“Okay, Wilson, this is why. Ships were despatched immediately to the Ares colony. As you know it will be months before they can arrive and begin to make sense of what has happened. However, they have picked up signals that something big is heading for Earth.”
“What the fuck does that mean, Sir?” Silva asked.
“Some are saying it’s a coincidence, an asteroid that’ll pass us by. The General does not believe in coincidences and believes we may have trouble. Nobody is sure of anything at this stage and troops cannot and will not be deployed anywhere until there are some rigid facts.”
There were so many questions that the officers and NCOs wanted answers to, but clearly no one was able to enlighten them any further.
“I know this puts us in the shit, but we’re marines, it’s what we’re paid for. Our job remains the same. We are to remain on active duty on a permanent rotational basis. All personnel when on duty are to maintain combat attire, as
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