Mars on Fire

Chapter 1

Cpt. John Cage of Recon Alpha. Soldier. Husband. Father. I love my job, I get to help people, I get to visit exotic locations, I get to fly in space, I'm on Mars... That's an achievement. My father would be proud of me.

Mars, Ramstrada region 2232.

Here I lie, on my bed, on a different planet. The air is thicker here, like soup when you breathe it in.

A knock on my door... BANG!

I'm in the briefing room. Another mission, the fifth mission I've had in the 2 years on this planet, probably another aid mission, handing out water and food rations. My squad are all sat content, interested. The 3 men in front of me are different this time though. They aren't soldiers or officers, they're in fancy black suits with fancy sunglasses and slicked back hair... They'd look the same if it weren't for the different coloured ties. CIA. I pretended to listen as they droned on about the importance of the mission and how we'd all get to go home as soon as the mission was over. God, I've heard all of this before, five times to be exact. I was waiting on them to finish, still tuned out until... They mentioned a name, a name I haven't heard in a long time. Charles Baxter, formerly a Colonel. Formerly my Captain, my saviour, my mentor, my leader. They've got my attention.

The man in the red tie continued,

"...formerly a colonel of the ninth battalion, you all know that he went rogue. Our recent intel suggests he's in the city of Ramstrada and he's taken control. He has over 2000 soldiers from both the ninth battalion and other rogue battalions under his command. They worship him, I don't know why. He's had control over Ramstrada for 3 years now. It's him that started this war. This mission is classified, therefore, your fellow soldiers out there fighting the Mars insurgents do not know that these insurgents are under the command of a former American soldier and Colonel."

Damn. All this time I was fighting against men that I used to be like. I used to be under his command and I've killed men that are just like I was, following orders. Last I heard, his battalion was providing aid for the survivors of the Ramstrada disaster and then when more meteors came, he made the choice to stay. The insurgents are just survivors who've been trained by Baxter's men. Our mission was to use the war as a distraction to slip into the city and relieve Baxter of his command. Orders are orders and perhaps this time I'll get to go home.