"We have approximately ten weeks before WestHem marines land on this planet with the intent to return us to WestHem rule. We'll take military volunteers at any time of course, but we really need people to sign up as soon as possible so we'll have time to train you prior to deployment. The more training we can instill in you, the better chance you'll have of surviving this conflict and the better chance we'll have of remaining free.
"In addition to military personnel, we'll need other things for the coming conflict. Weapons, tanks, artillery pieces, ammunition. All of these things are produced here on Mars in the manufacturing cities near the steel belts. For those workers that are vital to those operations, I ask that you remain in your jobs. You will be much more valuable to us there. We need to gear up production in our war industries and that also means we need to gear up production in the steel fields and the mining industry. I ask that all of these industries, and in fact, all places of employment on Mars, please return to work tomorrow.
"I realize that your WestHem managers will not be there. But you never needed them in the first place now, did you? For the most part their job was to count and distribute the money and to hire and fire people. All of you that performed the actual work are still Martians though and I'm confident that you'll be able to run the various facilities in their absence. First and foremost we must continue productivity on this planet during these trying days. Food must continue to be harvested and packaged, products and services must still be available to all. I wish for all manufacturing and agricultural facilities to please give as much productivity as possible. In the case of agriculture, we will need that food as a trading chip with EastHem if they agree to supply us with fuel for the coming conflict.
"So please, return to work and be productive. Let us have no fighting over who is going to do what in the management levels now that the Earthlings are gone. There is no time for that. Work something out and get back to work.
"As for the unemployed among us we are going to need your help also. We need volunteers for the military and we need workers for the factories and industries. I realize that there is a certain amount of strife between the employed and unemployed. There are different values, different points of view and the two groups have not gotten along well in the past.
"Please use your common sense and believe me when I say that this antagonism is of WestHem making. The unemployed have been kept segregated from the rest of society, made to feel inferior while the employed have been encouraged to feel superior. This must stop. We are all in this together.
"Some of our unemployed have not been able to work in generations. Well this is your opportunity. We are all descendants of a people who left Earth looking for employment, who were so desperate for it that they were willing to leave their planet behind and travel to an artificial environment just to get a job. I know that some of that courage rests in the majority of the unemployed and I hope to see it now. We need you; we need everyone to help here. And if we are successful in this coming conflict you need never be unemployed again. You will also have access to higher education if you so desire. It is you unemployed who stand to gain the most from this new freedom, but we may not be able to win it without your support.
"And for those at the factories and industries that will be hiring these people, I ask that you put aside your hostility towards ghetto inhabitants. Put them to work, train them, and try not to hold any pre-conceived notions about them. I'm confident you will be pleasantly surprised at the productivity.
"For the time being we will consider ourselves under planetary government rule with myself as titular head and the remaining members of the planetary legislature as my balance system. All of the current laws and regulations will remain in effect. Public assistance monies will continue to flow to the unemployed as they always have. Workers will continue to be paid at their current rate. Stores will remain open. As you will quickly see, we are perfectly capable of surviving without WestHem's assistance.
"The Martian Planetary Guard will be pulled out of the streets of the cities to commence training for the upcoming conflict. General Jackson will of course be in charge of future deployments and training sites.
"This is the time for all Martians to pull together towards a single goal. This is not the time for petty, insignificant differences to be aired. We must unite, we MUST! If we do not, WestHem will prevail.
"A declaration of independence will be sent to WestHem and EastHem later today. A copy of this will be available on the Internet for examination.
"Thank you for your time, and please, please, remember my words. Mars is now free. Let's keep it that way."
Chapter 8
Laura went directly from the media room of the capital building to the briefing room. It was but step two in a horribly busy morning for her. As she entered through the security-controlled door that was guarded by two of her MPG security force, the assembled briefers in the room stood from their chairs around the large table and applauded her. She actually flushed with embarrassment.
"Please," she said, smiling, holding up her hands. "Be seated."
They applauded for a moment more and finally sat down in their chairs once more.
Laura helped herself to a cup of coffee from the beverage computer. She took a sip as she moved towards her chair. The brew was smooth as silk, made from the best beans that the southern hemisphere of Earth had to offer. One thing that Martian agriculture did not produce very well was coffee. Soon the supply of Earth beans would run out and it was unlikely they would send any more. Oh well, she sighed, relishing the flavor. The cost of freedom.
"Good morning," she said to the assembled crowd. General Jackson was there of course. As was Matt Belting, their naval expert who had been working around the clock at Triad Naval Base, inventorying and analyzing what they had seized there. Five ranking loyal members of the planetary legislature were also present. They all mumbled variations of good morning in reply to her.
"Well, people," Laura said brightly, "we are an independent planet now. And as I said in my speech today, we need to make every effort to keep it that way. Now hopefully we'll be overwhelmed with volunteers for the military by the end of the day. I kind of suspect that we will be. General Jackson, are you prepared to deal with this?"
"Yes, Governor," Jackson said confidently. "I have directed recruitment to set up twenty-five additional induction sites, two in each city of Mars and a third in Eden. Those that sign up on the Internet will be directed to these sites in order of signing. They will be given their physicals and ASVABs there. Acceptable candidates will be processed immediately. We are already setting up three more basic training sites for induction. Based on their ASVABs, they will be sent directly to the appropriate division, skipping the usual process of tech school. All of the divisions will be up and training extensively anyway for the coming war."
Laura nodded thoughtfully. "What do you need the most of?" she asked.
"Two things, maybe three depending on other factors. We need tank crews to man those tanks onboard the marine landing ships at TNB. The tanks are going be the final, deciding factor in this thing after all. We also need special forces volunteers to attack the Earthlings at their landing sites and on their marches. I'll wait until I have preliminary numbers on the amount of volunteers I have for this job, but I plan to send as many teams as I can spare for this task. I want those bastards chipped away before they even get close to our city defenses. This planet has to be inhospitable to them if they're ever going to leave us in peace."