The Whorls of Jupiter

Chapter 3 Telescope Brief

July 17th 2521 Waxing 4

The Prominent Rage was berthed inside of Fortress 42; a concentric ringed Bridgemoor observatory in the upper atmosphere of the Equatorial Zone. When under attack the concentric rings telescope up or down to give the layers of AA guns a 360 degree line of sight on opposition forces. Inside the ring however was a less militaristic atmosphere. Fortress 42 was a luxuriously converted observatory, waystation, and glorified truckstop.

***

"I'm telling you," Oddie slurred, "The war on Mars is gonna be fuggin great! Mars is gonna beat the Earthies ass!"

Jorge held onto the countertop for dear life, "Naw it ain't Oddie. You can't beat Earth. It's our homeworld. Even if you nuked it until the seas boiled and it had more craters than the moon, Earth's the heart of mankind... You hear me?! The heart of mankind! You want to go to war with your heart?! You want to attack your own heart?! You want a... heart attack?"

A uniformed man in the back spoke up, "The only heart attack around here is the sight of penal serfs with sticks and stones pretending to be intellectuals while soaked to their eyes in fungal piss."

Oddie and Jorge turned around and shouted in unison, "The fuck are you?!"

"I've no need to give my name to reprobates. Why don't you go back to your ship and huff spores instead?"

"You hear that Jorge? He said he's given us a rebate! Oh boy I love cashback!"

Jorge shook his head, "I might be three sheets into the wind Oddie but I know when I've been insulted..."

Keun barked down from the other end of the bar, "Stop it you two! Enjoy your drinks and let everyone be at peace."

"Don't think I will Sarge..." Oddie said standing up. "I don't know how a rebate can be insulting but I won't let some fuckin shoe shiner insult a brother in arms."

"As if you'd know anything about brotherhood? You're not even real marines!" The well dressed man said stepping up to his face.

Oddie swung at the man who easily grasped his arm and flung him over his shoulder into a table that collapsed, spilling drinks everywhere.

Keun just pinched his brow annoyed, "Jesus fuckin Christ they never listen do they?"

"Brother Oddball!" Jorge slurred and went for a tackle only to be stopped cold with a sharp elbow in his back. In between the explosion of pain to the floor Jorge found himself on the man's cold leather boots.

"The fuh- just happened?" Jorge asked just barely consciously.

The man pulled his boot back and kicked Jorge sharply in his stomach. As he bowled over fetally in agony the man raised his arms in greeting, "Keun MG! Fancy running into you here!"

"Fuck me I should've just stayed in my bunk and masturbated..."

"Don't be ridiculous! You know I always have to thank you for what you did!"

"Don't mention it." Keun said sharply.

"What'd he do?" Oddie groaned as a bottle tipped over pouring expensive brandy all over his face. He snorted as burning alcohol flooded his nostrils.

"Didn't I just say don't mention-"

"Actually-" the man said.

"Oh fuck my life!" Keun shouted frustratedly.

The man stood carefully an arms length distance away from Keun as he continued, "Me and Keun here went to the same academy. We were both top candidates until he was caught in a prank."