John Karr - Detonation Event

“Thought we agreed this ain’t the face to launch a thousand ships,” Devans said.

“Well, maybe one.” Hamilton pointed to the sky beyond her captain.

“Huh?” Trent said, blinking to enhance. He trained the camera on it.

Devans eyed the image in the holo, then turned to look over his shoulder.

A dark metallic orb laced with small bright lights around the center plunged from an ash cloud, pulling a diminishing stream down after it. It expanded in size quickly, spanning miles as they watched.

“Geological surveillance drone,” Devans said. “We’ve got several keeping tabs down here. Maybe this range looks as juicy to it as it does us.”

“Bullcrap coincidence,” Hamilton said.

“Somebody back on MOS-1 must be monitoring,” Trent said.

Devans braced as the mountain shook. “Shannon, cast priority one links to MOS-1. Coordinate with science, engineering, and Shakuri’s people to see what’s it up to.”

“On it!” Burroughs said from PS-13 .

The orb continued toward their general direction, but took a wide zigzag pattern, with several pauses.

“Maybe it’s just a curious animal,” Devans said.

“Like a grizzly on a scent trail,” Hamilton muttered.

“Yeah, not optimal,” Devans said. “Keep an eye on it?”

“Damn right I will,” Hamilton said.

“Ry, it’s Shakuri again.” His voice was tense this time.

“What’s the deal with the rock sniffer?”

“We’re checking. The geology team says they’re not actively piloting and it’s just following its programming.”

“We don’t like in our shorts.”

“Understood, I’ll take control myself if I have to. Shakuri out.”

Devans nodded across the ledge to Wagner, who hit a quick series of keys on his arm computer. A red light started alongside the camera lens and a yellow-and-black skull-and-crossbones symbol flashed in the corner of the hologram of Devans and the lava cauldron. The MOS-1 software bandits had hacked every available public and governmental channel on the galaxynet.

Wagner pointed.

“This is Ry Devans, shuttle pilot of Mars Orbiter One, to the people of Earth.”

He arched his good brow and paused. If his outlawed face wasn’t keeping their attention, the setting likely was.

“I’m no speech maker or politician, so I’ll just try and lay out some facts and ideas. Take a look at the volcanic activity behind me here on Mars. There are many more of these eruptions throughout the planet. In time, regardless on the outcome of terraforming efforts, we can make Mars a colony of Earth. But the Earth First Faction now has control of most, if not all, of the governments of Earth. The EFF won’t even allow Mars Orbiter One to exist as a refugee zone. The EFF seeks our destruction, and we want to live in peace. We seek to extend human presence in the solar system, not deprive Earth. Before it was dissolved by the EFF, the Space Consortium of America went to great lengths to produce a self-sustaining space mining and commerce organization independent of Earth.”

Devans gazed over his shoulder and turned back to the camera. His expression hardened.

“Humans will either expand beyond Earth, or ultimately perish on a lone planet. There is no reason not to embrace Mars and outer space. MOS-1 is the only peaceful human colony of size in space, and the EFF is sending MOS-2 at this very moment to destroy us. We will not surrender to EFF tyranny. People of Earth, throw off the shackles of the EFF. Free yourselves! We cannot return to Earth while the EFF seeks our destruction. If possible, we will aid you through shared technology. This unsanctioned broadcast is the first example of that. There will be more, translated to every known language.”

Hamilton and Wagner nodded as Devans spoke.

Devans leaned slightly toward the camera. “Reject the EFF. Reject those who have murdered thousands and still do in a warped effort to lighten the human footprint on Earth. Reject the EFF, who welcomed the Martian microbe that caused human child and infant mortality and adult sterilization. The Earth does not seek human destruction. Humans can exist in harmony with their home planet, and space will serve to lessen the human footprint upon Earth! Reject the EFF and their tyrannical false governments, their readjustment camps, their brainwashing public broadcasts, and their bloodied hands. We see what’s going on upon our home planet and are devastated. Reject the EFF and take back the free societies you once had!”

The holo shook despite Wagner’s stabilizing efforts as he continued to hover while holding the tripod and camera.

Devans noticed the frown deepen on Hamilton’s face. He turned to note the zigzag approach of the orb.

She pointed to it and grabbed Wagner’s shoulder.

The drone crested the mountain range just beyond the cauldron of lava in their immediate background. A beam of vibrating laser coils shot out like a lightning bolt from the top of the drone. The beam worked up and down through rock wall and lava base. Massive sheets of rock slid and tumbled thousands of feet, breaking off huge sections along the way and creating a massive rock slide that shattered into even smaller bits at ground level and plopped into the oozing river of lava where the after-splashes leaped high and splattered the surrounding rock and back onto itself.

“I’m doubting good intentions here,” Devans said. “Red alert, everyone.”

The beam became more intermittent as the drone hugged the rim wall and closed the distance toward them.

“This orb is most likely an attack from the EFF,” Devans said, his tone hardening as he spoke to the camera. “It’s not enough that you’ve soaked Earth red with human blood. It’s not enough to let us fend for ourselves in the barrens of space and a turbulent Mars. We will fight in return. We will find a way to survive.”

Then, to Trent. “Cut it.”

The thin air quivered around them. A hum started, similar to the one Trent Wagner’s spatz pistol gave but deeper. Stronger.

Devans hit max jets and shot between Hamilton and Wagner with his arms crooked. He caught each by the torso with audible grunts and hauled them over the deep expanse between their mountain and the next.

The drone’s spatz beam sliced into their newly carved ledge and cut rapidly back and forth.

The rock ledge vanished.

When he felt two sets of jets kick in, Devans released his groaning crewmates.

“I felt something give,” Hamilton said, taking a breath and probing her side.

“Yeah, same here,” Trent said.

Devans shouted. “Gwen, bug out! Repeat, bug out PS-13 and get some distance! Evasive maneuvers if you have to.”

“We’re not leaving without you guys,” came the reply. “We’ll scoop you and get the hell into space!”

“Negative,” Devans said. “Even a small spatz can pierce shuttle shields and get to the gooey center. Fly out of range. We’ll let it chase us. Maybe get lucky.” Devans drew his atomizer pistol. Inadequate, but the other two brandished theirs as well. The three fired on the incoming drone but it dodged .

“The hell…?” Devans murmured. “Geo drones are programmed for evasive maneuvers against falling rock, not spatz beams.”

“There’s a puppet master somewhere!” Hamilton said, firing but missing again.

“Shakuri’s working on it,” Burroughs said over the comm link. “Watch it, watch it, watch it!”

The drone swept high and fired down on them.

The writer would like to thank his stellar editors at Kensington Books, Michaela Hamilton and James Abbate, for their insights and guidance. They have provided both pathway and oasis in an often barren publishing world.