"What's going on here?" she asked a little nervously. Events at the capital and at the marine barracks had not escaped her attention and she could not help but draw the conclusion that they were related to this.
The soldier on point said nothing. Instead, a tall man, unarmed but wearing the rank of colonel approached her from the center of the formation. He stared at her, looking at her nametag on her right breast. "Officer Smith," he addressed her, "I'm Colonel Bright of the Martian Planetary Guard. We have been mobilized at the command of Governor Whiting and we are on our way to secure the control building."
"The control building?" she asked incredulously.
"The control building," he said levelly. "We have a mission to accomplish there. Is it your intention to try and stop us?"
"No, of course not, Colonel, but..."
"We are in haste, Officer Smith." Bright told her. "Things will become clear to you very quickly. Free Mars," he hailed using a greeting that had become commonplace since Whiting's inauguration.
"Free Mars," she replied back, smiling.
The soldier on point gave a signal and the platoon moved out again. Smith stepped aside, allowing them unimpeded passage. Bright stood until the center of the formation caught up with him and then he began to march once again.
Three minutes later they were at the entrance of the control building. Lieutenant Nguyen, the platoon commander approached the two glass encased guards and identified himself. The guards opened the doors without question, just as he'd been assured they would. He began barking orders.
"First squad, accompany Colonel Bright upstairs. Second and third squads, secure the outside of the building, fourth squad, come with me for inside security. Weapons tight people until told otherwise. Under no circumstances are you to fire on any Martians and that includes cops. If the feds show up, normal rules of engagement apply, self defense only unless they try to breach the building."
His four squad sergeants affirmed his orders and the soldiers began moving quickly to their destinations.
"Will the elevators take us where we need to go?" Colonel Bright asked Julie.
She seemed awed at his presence but answered quickly, "Yes, Colonel. We have orders to let you immediately up."
"Thank you." He began walking towards the elevators. His squad followed behind him
The elevator doors opened before them and the eleven men crowded inside. The elevator, like all of Triad, was under the influence of the artificial gravity system and the inertial damper. The elevator shot upwards towards the thirtieth floor of the building, the only indication that they were rising the changing numbers on the display. When it reached 30 the doors slid open to a small foyer tastefully decorated with modern art and couches. The carpet on the floor was threadbare but presentable. A uniformed guard stood before them.
"Colonel Bright?" he asked politely.
"That's me," Bright said, stepping forward and out of the elevator.
"Follow me, sir," the guard replied. "I have orders to take you to Mr. Sanchez and the main control room."
They were led down a long hallway and around two corners before coming to a steel security door. A computer terminal with a fingerprint analyzer was installed in the door. It was supposed to only allow access to authorized personnel. The guard placed his hand on the pad and the door slid open, revealing the large control room.
The control room was a crowded, busy place. Forty people were sitting at computer terminals monitoring all aspects of the orbiting city. They looked up as the doors opened, almost to a person. A tall Hispanic man walked over to Colonel Bright as his escorts crowded into the room and took up positions near the walls and windows. The two men appraised each other silently for a moment. Frank Sanchez, the watch commander of this shift, had been recruited for his part in the mission back in the planning stages. His counterparts on the other shifts had likewise been recruited. In this building, in this very room, was the key to success of their mission.
"Colonel Bright," Sanchez said loudly, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Welcome to the main control room. It is my honor to turn this facility over to the MPG in the interests of a free Mars."
There was a gasp from the assembled controllers, none of whom knew why Bright and his men were here. It was a shocked gasp but not an unhappy one.
"Thank you Mr. Sanchez," Bright replied. He turned to the controllers. When he'd recruited Sanchez he'd made sure that Sanchez would never allow anything other than a second generation Martian to work in this room. He didn't figure he would have any trouble with these people. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Colonel Bright of the Martian Planetary Guard. You have all heard of the events at the capital building and in Eden I'm sure so I will spare you the details of that. Let me say to you now that Mars is in the midst of a rebellion against WestHem rule. As I speak the MPG troops that Governor Whiting called up earlier today are making motions to secure the planet from WestHem forces. They will be successful as long as we can keep the WestHem marines trapped on their base. However the entire thing will be useless without a single key element that involves this room."
He peered at their faces, wondering how they would react to what he next had to say. "You're all Martians in here. Mr. Sanchez saw to that a long time ago. You know what WestHem rule has done to this planet. The time has come to put a stop to it. I need your help, people. You are the operators that control this orbiting city and the future of our rebellion now depends on the next two hours. I will ask you to act in the interest of Mars and Martian freedom. If you do not wish to participate you may stand up and be counted. You will be removed from the room and held until the forthcoming operation is complete and then you will be released. You will not be persecuted in any way for failing to assist and you will have the same opportunity to evaluate Governor Whiting's actions tomorrow. We will not compel a single person to participate. This is a voluntary revolution, people. So what do you say? Does anyone wish to stand?"
There was some murmuring but everyone remained in his or her seats. Colonel Bright smiled.
"I thank you," he announced. "Shortly we will begin." He turned his head to Sanchez. "Fred, have all voice and text communications from this building been halted?"
"They have, Colonel," Sanchez said with a nod. It had been done in fact, before the MPG had even entered the building. Secrecy was now paramount and they could not take the chance of word about what they were doing leaking out to the wrong ears.
"Good," Bright answered. He keyed up his communications link. "Get me Major Shaw."
"Shaw here," replied his second-in-command, who was with the bulk of the special forces battalion and who would lead the attack.
"We are in position," Bright told him simply. "Are you ready to execute?"
"We are," Shaw replied. "Standing by for go signal."
"Copy," Bright nodded. "Initiating now. Have the men stand to."
"Standing to," Shaw said, signing off.
Bright turned to Sanchez once more. For security reasons Sanchez, though a part of the conspiracy, did not know what Bright intended to do in the control building. He had simply supplied schematics, access, and promised to assist in any way possible once the time came to enact the plan. Bright sat before an empty Internet screen and called up the schematics he was looking for. "Mr. Sanchez, will you have your people shut down electric power and the trams in section 48-63, 64, and 65?"