Colonel Valesquez peered out over the promenade situated between the VR-Rail and the edge of the cañon, which supported the new growth of Martian indigenous architecture. The new growth buildings had cropped up over the span of several months, and she’d managed to keep them safe from undesirables. She saw herself not as a gun-toting merc like many saw the 508th Vanguard. No, she saw herself as a protector, someone charged with the protection of Mars’ post-crisis political and economic systems. She relished the idea of another crisis, something that would give her a deeper and more meaningful purpose. She cherished her position as protector, but she wanted something greater: Savior. She wanted to be the one who helped save Mars, when the barbarians were at the gates, when anarchy threatened to stamp out civilization. To this end, she saw an opportunity, located below, in the streets of Valles Marineris. She’d been trained to seek out opportunities like the one that lay before her by Colonel Phoenix, may he rest in peace, wherever good soldiers went.

Colonel Valesquez finished her coffee and moved over to the three-dimensional sandbox that represented Valles Marineris. Her scouts had begun surveilling the areas most likely to give the 508th problems. The map showed, in great detail, what her familiar called, “Green Zones,” “No-Go Zones,” and “Fault Lines.” The Green Zones were easy enough to understand. They included the IMDC and business districts, located in the new growth areas of the city, or on the terminating points of Valles Marineris.

The No-Go Zones were a bit trickier. These included areas heavily populated by surface-workers, old-growth sites neglected by the government, and the loading docks, situated in the middle of Valles Marineris. Colonel Valesquez saw the No-Go Zones as hornet nests, something she’d require serious firepower to pacify.

The Fault Zones, the overlapping areas where Green and No-Go met, were a challenge for the 508th. If fighting happened, and it would happen, Colonel Valesquez was sure of that, civilians, particularly those friendly to the IMDC, could be caught in the middle.

To complicate matters further, Colonel Valesquez had to triple onboard security for the VR-Rail, in order to ensure it wouldn’t be attacked, robbed, or worse. The VR-Rail was the heartbeat of the city. It’d never been stopped, delayed, or damaged during its service life. It symbolized the stability of the new Martian order after the first political crisis, the Unpleasantness. It could become a pivotal piece of propaganda, Colonel Valesquez thought to herself, when the war breaks out. 

Mr. Liu Jianguo, in a blue suit, looked over Colonel Valesquez’s shoulder, before returning to his corner of the cramped room. “Do you have a plan if things get out of hand?”

Colonel Valesquez laughed and said, “Sure do, old-timer.”

“What can my people do to help the IMDC?” Mr. Liu Jianguo asked. “I’m serious.”

“We need weapons,” Colonel Valesquez replied. “Lots of weapons.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Mr. Liu Jianguo commented. “Is that wise?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Colonel Valesquez responded. “Why does it matter to an Earther like yourself?”

“I’m just an interested party, Colonel,” Mr. Liu Jianguo answered. “I want to ensure that the interests I represent aren’t going to lose their investment, as considerable as it has been, by backing the wrong horse.”

Colonel Valesquez smirked and said, “You’re backing one helluva a horse, Mr. Liu Jianguo. We in the 508th aren’t any old horse.”

Mr. Liu Jianguo nodded and said, “Good. That is what my people will want to hear right now. Anything else I should tell them?”

Colonel Valesquez shrugged and added, “It’s going to be bloody, old-timer. Not the kind of thing that investors will be comfortable—”

“—you underestimate the stomach my people have,” Mr. Liu Jianguo interjected. “Remember that we’ve got the long view, and history will only look favorably on your actions, Colonel.”

“Hah! Let’s hope so, old-timer.”

“Weapons only?” Mr. Liu Jianguo asked, buttoning up his suit’s jacket.

“Weapons, old-timer. Leave the rest to the 508th,” Colonel Valesquez said with a nod.

“Very well, colonel,” Mr. Liu Jianguo said. “You shall have our full support. Just remember that we want results.”

“As I would hope you do,” Colonel Valesquez said. “As I would hope you do, Mr. Liu Jianguo. I would suggest that your people take an extended vacation. Things need a bit of fixin’ down here, and it’s going to get messy. Don’t want anyone getting sympathetic for terrorists, thieves, and all-round low lives.”

“I will relay that to my people who are still on Mars,” Mr. Liu Jianguo said. “Good luck, Colonel.”

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