The Summit Beyond Our Galaxy - An Apple Loving Individual space opera

Chapter 3 - Tango Galnac

Chapter 3 – Tango Galnac

Friday, May 3, 2176
Martian surface, Korolev Crater, Mars
9:53 PM (Houston local time)

Now Kanzen City, was not the only domed city located in the Korolev Crater on Mars. There were five other domed cities, located in the same crater, about fourteen miles apart from one another. They were named as Montgomery, Mason, Perkins, Cross, and Dawson; respectively. Jerry had already fallen asleep, so did most of the citizens in the other domes. However, on the Martian surface, the USAMSSO (United States of America – Military Space Special Operations) had soldiers from the Army and Marines making their patrols around the domes. Such measures were necessary to ensure protection against any external threats. A Special Space Marines group, known as Tango Galnac, were stationed outside Kanzen City, making their ten-hour patrol around the dome, in their compressed flying military trucks. The trucks hovered autonomously, about three feet above the ground. Around the truck were eight service robots with powerful, super artificial intelligence software, programmed by the military to assist them.

As they made their roundabouts, several autonomous drones flew above them, recording footage of the surface. As mentioned earlier, the Martian soil now consisted of lakes, rivers, grass, plants, trees and other vegetation. Tango Galnac consisted of four enlisted soldiers, in between their twenties to early-thirties: SgtMaj. Ashley Davidson; codenamed 'Larkin', MSgt. Josh Morales; codenamed 'Lance', SSgt. Arjun Mehra; codenamed 'Rahul', and MSgt. Kristen Walker; codenamed 'Luna'. Larkin was the team leader of the squad and Lance, Rahul and Luna did everything, as per her orders. They started their shift at 12:00 PM and the patrol was expected to last until 11:00 PM.

"I sure am glad, we left Earth last week!" said Lance. "Having those sea levels rise half a mile, due to climate change and global warming, caused us a lot of shit to deal with then!" "You said it brother!" said Rahul. "My kids also miss Earth, but they're happy that they escaped that junkyard, and they enjoy life on Mars, much better than Earth. Also, their happy Mars has more job opportunities than Earth does, for them in the future." Larkin then chuckled. "Jesus, Lance!" she said. "You and Rahul, both of y'all sound just like my mother." "Does she prefer living on Mars over Earth, as well?" asked Lance curious. "Yeah, although she was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 2124, she grew up during the time of rapid technological upheaval, and rising piles of garbage due to the hourly changes in technology and outdated inventions!" said Larkin. "However, she chose to evade it all, for the sake of starting a new life, and after finishing college, she moved to Kanzen City in 2144 and married the same year. I was born two years after that." Larkin then sighed. "I've only visited Earth once at the age of twelve and promised myself, never to visit it again."

Rahul then looked at her. "Boss, you were born on Mars, what was it like back then?" asked Rahul. "Let's just say it wasn't as grassy and full of trees, as well as lakes and rivers as it is now!" said Luna. "I was born on the Moon, in 2148 that's why my name is Luna, but I've been here since I was only ten months old." "She's right!" said Larkin. "It was nothing but Martian soil and the domed cities, as well as the several flying drones, patrolling the atmosphere and giving out smartphone network receptions. Also, the sky was red, as Mars was before terraforming made it blue and allowed for clouds, just like on Earth!" Lance then smiled. "At least a lot has improved, over the course of the following three decades." He said. "In a few more years, we may even be able to walk on the Martian surface, free of spacesuits and oxygen masks!" The four chuckled, as Larkin continued to monitor the trucks' computer, in case any transmissions or scans picked up any material of interest.

Then Luna spoke up. "I think we should use the last hour of our shift, to stay focused on the task!" said Luna. "Agreed!" said Larkin. "Keep an eye out on your screens for anything suspicious. Our mission is to secure the perimeter until 2300 hours, report back to HQ, file our holo-logs for the day, then call it a night! Hoo-ah?" "Hoo-ah!" replied everyone. They continued the patrol, waiting patiently for their shift to end, as the service robots also assisted in the patrol, around the truck.

Saturday, May 4, 2176
8:46 AM
Jerry's apartment.

Jerry woke up and prepared to get ready to enjoy his Saturday morning walks. Priya got busy cleaning the place and making sure everything was tidy, controlling the house-bots and making sure they did their tasks. "What a night that was!" said Jerry. "And what an amazing morning!" "I concur!" said Priya. "What would you like for breakfast, Jerry?" Jerry looked at her in delight. "Ah, just some pancakes and fried eggs. Make sure to dab the pancakes in maple syrup as well as placing the butter on top." He said. Priya obliged, then later noticed something was amiss. "We don't have any maple syrup. Should I place an order? It'll arrive via drone in only three minutes, if I do." She said. Jerry nodded his head yes. "Shoot! It'd only cost 0.4 cloud jewels and shipping is free!" said Jerry. "Alright, then!" said Priya. "I'm transmitting the order now!" In a few minutes, Jerry was eating his breakfast.

He then called his friends, whom he went on a walk with every Saturday morning. "Hey, Kyle!" said Jerry. "You and Angela coming to the morning walk?" "Yeah, will be there!" said Kyle. "Thankfully we're in the dome, and the temperature today, is the same as the temperature in Little Rock, birthplace of Kanzen City's founder Savannah Logan. Otherwise, it'd be as cold as the atmosphere outside it!" "Tell me about it!" said Jerry. "Another reason, why I don't miss Houston." Then he got up to go. "I'll see you both at Teraville Park." He said. "Alright then, man!" said Kyle. "See you there!" After that, Jerry's holo-phone went back in his pocket and he set off to drive to the park.

Jerry met up with Kyle and Angela at Teraville Park. "Hello, boys!" said Angela. "Ready to explore the wilderness?" "Sure!" said Jerry. "If that's what you want to call it!" They began their walk. Kyle then raised his arm. "Lately, there's been a lot of military presence outside in Korolev Crater, these days." He said. "Don't you think it's unnecessary?" "I actually would favor this, Kyle!" said Jerry. "After all, whenever that anti-space colonization extremist group tried to stop all space projects eighty-seven years ago, international security, along with interplanetary security became crucial." Angela nodded her head in agreement. "I agree with Jerry on this." She said. "I've been living here since I was sixteen, but having been here for eight years already, I don't wish for Kanzen City, or anywhere on Mars or the solar system, to fall in the hands of such creeps!" They walked for a few minutes more. "Well, guys!" said Jerry. "I hope y'all won't miss me much, when I go to Phobos for the time off I've taken this week." "We'll be fine!" said Kyle. "Perhaps, you'll have a lot more fun over there than us!" Jerry smiled. "Perhaps, maybe I'll even find love there one day!" he said. "I actually hope you do!" said Angela. "Me and Kyle may have been dating for a few months now, thanks to you. But, you also deserve someone like us two. I know things didn't work between you and Michaela, but the past should stay where it is." "Agreed!" said Jerry. Then Priya appeared. "That's what I always tell him!" said Priya. "He's a rather much dashing person, then any AI who's hit on me before!" The four laughed as the drones in the city flew around making the words, "May the 4th, be with you!" above the city.