Space Age Chronicles (eBook)

Chapter 2
The Anniversary

Frontier Colony, Mars

It was a typical Martian day when Jacob Fallok awoke with his wife, Doctor Juliet Fallok slumbering peacefully beside him. He looked at her and smiled, this was no typical Martian day. Today was a beautiful and magnificent Martian day. He slowly made his way out of the bed trying to keep from waking his darling wife. He crept across the room, slipped through the doorway and tiptoed down the stairs to the kitchen. It was their 30th Anniversary and he wanted to make it perfect, starting with breakfast in bed.

Jacob turned on the monitor in the kitchen and tuned to the news for his morning fix. Approaching the fridge, Jacob queued the ingredients for his great grandfather’s recipe of pancakes. As he was preparing the time honored tradition, he fell into his thoughts. Every year he looks forward to his anniversary, it was the same day as his grandparents. Three days after his 10th anniversary, is when that fateful day occurred.

His father, Joshua Fallok, was a wealthy business man on Earth who’d devoted his life to making money in the hopes of one day establishing a colony on Mars to help further the scientific and technological aspects of humanity in addition to help solve the growing population problems.

Joshua had sacrificed himself to save the rest of the colony; four years into the colonization when a safety hatch blew and caused a crack on the outer dome of one of the original Bio-Dome Facilities that housed the colony. He went into the compartment to seal it up from the inside preventing a complete breach of the dome and saving the 2,463 inhabitants. 

Jacob was heating the pan for the pancakes when the reporter’s words managed to penetrate his thoughts, capturing his attention.

“Reports show that Colonel Cartwright was working with Prime Minister Vritlianese to commit genocide in Senegal and Western Sahara. After the massacre in Kuba, Mali by Colonel Cartwright both were captured and charged with crimes against humanity. After months of trials, both Vritlianese and Cartwright were found guilty and sentenced to Life on 10 Hygeia. The two will be sharing a transport from Obama Spaceport in Chicago to Mars Maximum at eight a.m. tomorrow morning, local time. The remaining members of the Hawkeye Battalion that are still at large are believed to be hiding out somewhere in Mali after an attack at the Kali Military Base. There a small military plane was taken by a group of commandos believed to be them.”

Jacob stood there stunned even as the next story came and went. They were sending these butchers to his home as a punishment. He thought to himself. Oblivious to everything around him including his burning butter.

“In related news, the influx of jobs by the 10 Hygeia and AB Mining operation has helped the global economy exponentially. Wall Street is continuing on its rally and the NASDAQ is up 800 points upon opening after the verdict on Cartwright and Vritlianese was made.”

Suddenly aware of the smell of the butter, Jacob quickly moved the pan to the sink and washed it to start over while still listening to the reporter in the background.

“Here is UE President Sadie Weisman at a Press Conference held immediately following the verdict of the two men.”

“Today marks a historic day for our planet. Every century must face a trial of good versus evil. These two criminals are our evil and we have been triumphant against them.

We are now closer than ever before to a fully united planet in the name of peace. I applaud the honorable Judge Mathew Richardson on doing a commendable job with such a sad and heart breaking case. And to the Jurors who had the terrible responsibility of listening and seeing all of the evidence brought to them. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Now that his pan was washed and he was past his shock he knew he needed to call his best friend, head of the colony’s defenses. As he went to restart breakfast...

“Time for our daily launch watch here on Mars—”

“Call Brigadier General Joseph Ferguson at Geraldo Base,” Jacob said, interrupting the anchor and causing the monitor to freeze momentarily before switching to a picture of the symbol for the Martian Defense Force. As he waited, Jacob pondered what he had just seen. Then a familiar voice came on the line.

Jacob peered at the dark skinned, bald man with a charming smile. His eyes immediately brightened at the sight of his longtime friend.

“Jacob, good morning; to what do I owe this early call?” Joseph opened excitedly.

“Good morning, Joe,” Jacob said, slightly tired. “Have you seen today’s news feed?”

“Yeah.” Joe’s tone losing some of its excitement, he continued, “I have a meeting with Dustin in a couple hours to go over his security plans for the two new cells we’re making for them at Mars Max. You want to come for the meeting? I’m sure you can give him a few pointers.”

Seeing this conversation could last a while longer than he first thought, Jacob shut the flame down so as not to burn more butter and took a seat with his coffee as he continued. “Only if you want me to. I don’t need to be stepping on anybody’s shoes. But these are the two most dangerous men of our lifetimes.”

Joe had clasped his hands together just below his chin. His head leaning almost onto his hands, he slowly nodded in agreement. “Well, this is why I’d like you here, too.”

Jacob put his hands up in playful surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll come,” Jacob said, smiling slightly and lowering his hands as he continued. “Oh, and speaking of meetings, did Rob email you about a meeting today?”

Joe gave a small chuckle as he confirmed. “Yeah, he got to you, too, eh? It looks like we have a busy day ahead of us.”

Jacob shook his head in disagreement. “No, just these two meetings, then I plan on having a nice relaxing day with my wife.”

Joe was momentarily confused until realization came over him and he lit up again. “Oh, that’s right! Thirty years today.” Joe gave a quick laugh and then sighed as he began to reminisce. “Wow. You damn lucky fool. I wish I’d had as much time with Candice.” Candice was Joe’s wife who’d died a few years ago while visiting family on Earth.

“I know, we all do, she was great,” Jacob replied, as he thought back to her delicious baked goods. “I haven’t had Gingersnap cookies that good since.”

Joe was in a full blown laugh now as Jacob continued.

“Juliet’s great and all but she can’t bake to save her life.” As he’d said that Joe’s eyes went wide, and his laugh turned down to a wide mischievous grin across his narrow face. The next thing Jacob knew, there was a sound of a foot tapping behind him...then he heard it.

“Ahem?” Jacob turned his head slowly, looking at the kitchen entrance he saw her. The most beautiful woman in his universe. Leaning on the door frame, wearing a violet bathrobe with the initials JF, her long brown hair resting lazily on her shoulders, and bright green eyes piercing at the two men; she gave a stern but mysterious slant of a smile before stepping another foot into the room enriched with the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee. This was his wife Juliet, who’d heard that whole last part and Jacob knew it by that smile, and her tapping foot. The room was silent though for a moment, Jacob captivated by the beauty of his wife. Still just as gorgeous as the day he had met her. Joe stupefied and wanting to break the silence.

“Good morning, Juliet.” Joe grinned. “Happy Anniversary!”

“Good morning Joe, thank you,” she said, allowing a full smile out before continuing. “Do you mind if I steal my husband for a little while or are you two still reminiscing on my skills as a housewife?” Jacob and Joe couldn’t help but grin at Juliet for that.

“Go ahead, Jacob; I’ll see you in a couple hours.” With that Joe hung up before Jacob had a chance to say another word. He was quickly on his feet, coffee in hand ready to kiss his lovely wife.

“Good morning, honey. Happy anniversary,” Jacob said with a big grin as he walked over to kiss her. She gave him a nice peck on the cheek as she stole his cup of coffee and walked around the kitchen island to the breakfast table.

“Good morning, Jacob. So what was all that about, besides my baking skills, that is?” she said in a mocking voice between sips.

“Oh, not much, they’ve convicted Cartwright and Bali Whatever—” Jacob said as he sat next to her with a fresh cup of coffee.

“Vritlianese,” she corrected him.

“You know I can’t pronounce that. Anyway, they sentenced them to Life at 10 Hygeia. Hence more criminals are going to be joining our nice little piece of...