Colin Taber - RED - Burning Skies

“It’s a hub drone. All we have to do is hit its main set of blades or its comms array to give it some grief. The hydrogen bladder is another great target.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and while he’s doing that, I’m going to try and get it to follow me.”

“Just watch out for us. We’ll run out of power not long after dusk, so don’t come flying around a corner too fast or you’ll hit us.”

“Okay. Start saving your power now and let me know when you’re near. I’ll be ready and in place, so just drive through.”

Once Commander Tung had sorted out what he felt the priorities would be, he had gone back to the apartment to see his wife, aware that while comms seemed to be coming in as per normal, Yong had advised that their link from Mars to Earth had been cut.

The cut did not seem to be a fault, but instead had been shut down from the other end.

Beijing Command.

And that was enough to vindicate his decision. He was already compromised. Not only were he and his wife endangered, and by extension his unborn son, but all his crew. Two hundred and fifty people. He also knew Beijing could control switching from far-off Earth for a lot of base functions. While they could cut his external comms, that was only the start. They could also kill his power, shut down his life support, or even open all of Mars Command One’s airlocks and depressurize the base if they wanted to.

It would be a whole different kind of cleaning.

And, on top of that, there was also the nuke platform in orbit.

Tung’s understanding was there had only ever been three warheads sent to Mars, meaning there was only one left after Base Five Two and Mars Command Two’s Base One Four had previously been scorched. But that was all they would need to either wipe out the Renegades or both Mars Commands One and Two.

His base might not have been armed, but that did not mean he could not fightback.

He had leverage.

Tung opened the secured door and went in.

Liu Yang was sitting at the table looking despondent.

He hurried to her, worry on his brow. “What are you doing?”

She said, “I needed a break from the Command Room.”

He understood.

“There is a second Renegade rover on its way to meet them, but I don’t know if it will get there in time.”

“And there’s nothing else we can do?”

“I’ve called in all the favors I can, but there’s so little time.” Slowly, she shook her head. “I just wish we could send something in ourselves.”

“No, we’ve already taken too many risks.”

“That’s why I am here. Being in my Command Room knowing the cameras are watching, Beijing looking for confirmation I know what else is going on, is agony.”

Tung nodded, turning the situation over in his mind. He did wonder why Beijing was after the rover. Finally, he asked, “The hub is hunting them, trying to chase them down. I wonder if they are trying to find the Renegade habitat. Or can it be they want to stop the rover? What is Beijing trying achieve?”

She shrugged, looking tired and pale. “The hub might not be armed, but if they want to stop the rover, they won’t need weapons.”

“What do you mean?”

“We are on Mars. The pressurized cab can be breached easily enough with a good impact. The drone just needs to ram it with enough speed to compromise the structure.”

He asked, “But why is Beijing Command acting now? Do they think the Renegades have become too capable? Maybe this is not about the thefts, but that the Renegades were able to travel so far at short notice to collect Wei?”

She met his gaze, having not previously entertained the idea. “Why would they bother?”

With a serious tone, Tung said, “Because Beijing is waking up to the fact it’s not the only power on Mars. They thought they’d be here exercising sole control. Even if they haven’t stumbled upon any rival governments yet, that the Renegades could managed what they have indicates they’re not a marginal presence to be discounted.”

“Do you think?”

He nodded. “I think they are trying to limit the Renegades, as they know they can’t control them.”

She shook her head, but not because she disagreed with him. Instead, it was because she despaired. “We should all be working together.”

He wrapped his arms around her.

Quietly, she said, “I’m sorry. This has all gotten out of control.”

He nodded as he said, “Yes, it has, but not because of us. Beijing Command is pushing too hard.”

“There’s too little we can do. There are so many ways they can cripple the bases or kill us. We have no leverage.”

He held her tighter, and then looked down into her eyes. “You are wrong.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“We do have leverage, and more than they do.”

“What?”

“First, answer me this: where do you want to live? Here, in Mars Command One and Two amongst the colonists now in orbit, or with the Renegades? What would be best for us and our babe?”

She shrugged. “Here would be best, although either would do. But here there would be other children and safety in numbers once the colonists have landed.”

“Then that is what we will do.”

She shook her head. “But Beijing Command controls everything. We could all die if they decide to flick a switch.”

He gave a nod that he understood. “Your friends, these hackers and others from the tech corps, in time they can help disarm such links?”

“Yes, but it will take time.”

“We have leverage to cover us for now.”

“What leverage?”

“I will surround us with armor. We will be safe.”

She didn’t understand. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m bringing the colonists down from orbit. I have already ordered it. They will be here in mere hours. Beijing can’t do anything to us then, not when we are surrounded by the first wave of settlers.”

A smile came to her face, and slowly she started to nod. “Do it,” she said.

He turned and left, heading to his Command Room.

Ghost and Wei continued through the gullies in their rover, suited up with their helmets on.

All the power was being directed to the vehicle’s drive systems, with life support and lighting all shut down.

Over the comms channel, Ghost said to Wei, “See that rocky hill ahead?”

Wei turned from watching the hub to look where she indicated.

There was a hill there, perhaps a kilometer away. The rise was big enough to stand above all the surrounding ridges and dunes. But what made it distinctive wasn’t just its height, but its shape. Red’s Chair rose tall and quick, with a steep drop away on one side, but a gentler approach on another.

It looked like great place to go if you wanted a view.

Wei said, “I see it.”

“We’ll be driving past the foot of it on its steep side. I won’t be slowing down, but expect Wind to come shooting out on the other side from another trail that crosses ours. Hopefully she’ll remember we’ve got a trailer on and miss us.”

“And we keep going?”

“For as long as we can, but it won’t be far.”

“So, what happens if the hub doesn’t follow Wind?”

“We’ll be a sitting duck, so whatever the hub wants.”

Wei nodded, his stomach knotting. Suddenly, he was less enamored with the idea of being a Renegade.

Ghost said, “Time to get ready.”

The rover raced along as it neared Red’s Chair.

The sun had also begun to set outside, so the light was softening.

Ghost announced across the comms, “We’re about thirty seconds away and on one percent power.”