Chapter 19: Memorial Day, Main Auditorium

Bradbury Canal, October 7, 2141
Memorial Day, Main Auditorium

The ceremony was exactly what Alan had predicted. Dr. Herbert Burgman, the head of the socialist Martian People’s Party, gave a long-winded speech about how all the dead gave their lives for The Cause. The Cause was equity; The Cause was to end unfairness. How dare huge corporations make huge amounts of money while research scientists only earn a living wage? (He failed to mention that as head of micro-research he was the highest paid “scientist” on three planets) Hilde grabbed Alan’s hand. He was tensing up. She thought Burgman was disgusting for using a memorial service as a political platform, and she was sure Alan felt the same way. For his part, Alan decided that Dr. Burgman needed to be spaced the moment that he said, “Harrison and Laurel Scarlett were my dear friends and they gave their lives for The Cause...”

He was followed by Ray Clark, MP, who got a rousing round of applause. Somehow, the somber memorial ceremony became a rally. Or was it that these Martians were just happy that Dr. Herbert Burgman finally shut up? Ray told a few anecdotes about growing up with Laurel as his little sister, a young girl that was able to tear apart every electronic toy Ray had, and put them back together working better than before.

“I want to introduce you to Harrison and Laurel Scarlett’s children. Christa is a professor of Art History and is planning a research dig at the remains of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and her fiancé Dr. Jake Sapperstein a professor of music history has done several research digs at the remains of the museum of Rock and Roll.”

That line got enthusiastic applause. These egg head scholars love classical music: Bach, The Who, Beethoven, Led Zeppelin, Mozart, it’s all the same to them. If Jake could dig up a piece that they’ve never heard before, he will become their hero.

“I’d also like to introduce you to Lieutenant JG Alan Scarlett and his trainer, Lieutenant Commander Hilde Marks. Please come up here.” Alan and Hilde rose and walked up to the stage, where they stood at attention next to Ray. A gasp of shock went through the crowd. Military personnel here on Mars? “If you’ll notice, their uniforms are different from Western Alliance Navy Uniforms. Commander Marks uniform is dressed in Luna Silver, and Lieutenant Scarlett’s uniform is dressed in Martian Red.”

The murmuring continued, but so did Ray. “The Lunar and Martian colonies depend increasingly on Earth for our security. Pirates and thieves are being financed by the Eastern Bloc and they’re pillaging Mars, robbing us blind.” That was a known issue. Pirates were becoming bolder and were scrapping abandoned colonies of the equipment that Mars could use. They were experimenting with drones that could dig precious ore reserves from Mars without paying fees or tariffs. The murmuring continued, but it was less angry.

Ray continued. “The Martian and Lunar parliaments sat down with command staff of the Navy and we said, ‘We need security, but we don’t want you dictating us.’ And the Navy said, ‘Why not do it yourselves? We’ll supply the training if you supply the people. Equipment can always be found.’ So here is our pilot program. Lieutenant Scarlett is the start of the Martian Space Force dedicated to keeping Mars safe from pirates. He was born and raised here in Bradbury Canal; Quadrant C. Commander Marks will be the core of the Lunar Space Force. She was born and raised on Luna Prime and is Lunar through and through.”

“My dear friends did not raise their son to be a trained monkey in uniform!” shouted Eric Burgman.

Something snapped inside Alan’s head. He could not let that bastard continue lying about his parents. He stepped up to Ray and whispered, “Step aside or I’ll shove you aside.”

“Please don’t,” said Ray, but Alan was angry.

The hall went silent as Alan Scarlett took the lectern and glared at Eric Burgman. Naval “chick” fliers in Alan’s flights learned to dread that glare. That glare said, “You fucked up and now you’re going to pay.” Alan leaned into the microphone and said in a perfectly modulated voice, “You will address me as Lieutenant Scarlett, or Doctor Scarlett. I earned both titles with hard work and yes, I am a doctor of Astrophysics. Your next reference to me as a monkey will be your last. I promise you that.”