<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting down to business</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><br/>Stefan was back first, of course, suited up and with his helmet and gloves clipped to his belt. I nodded. "Thank you. But it's not about her. Well, it is, but only so far as I want people to learn from what happened so her death has some meaning." There was a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow. Tough military commander. Yeah right. "Stefan, may I call you that? Thanks. Stefan, I've lost people under my command before. It's expected. It's part of the job when your a fighter wing commander, even in peace time there are accidents, and the Oil Wars..." I shuddered. I had some bad memories of OW3. I had a cousin in Cairns. He was listed on the "Missing presumed dead" list after the city was nuked. His house was half a kilometre from ground zero and they never found his body.<br/><br/>But that wasn't relevant now. "The point is, I've never lost someone needlessly except to an accident that couldn't have been prevented. Those six deaths .... were needless, and could so easily have been prevented. I will not have that happening on my watch!"<br/><br/>At that moment Laura came back in, red faced and panting and looking so very very cute.... I couldn't stay mad at her.<br/><br/>"We'll let this one pass, Major, everyone is excited, it's all new, people are going to make mistakes. Let's just hope none are serious, huh? Or if they are that we catch them in time!"<br/><br/>Privately, though, I sent her a text:<tt class="bbc_tt">Disciplinary action, hmm? Kinky! I shall be spanking you later!</tt><br/><br/>I watched that cute heart-shaped face go even pinker as she read it.<br/><br/>"Anyway, the reason I asked both of you in here was to see this:" I transferred  the frozen message window on my desk screen up to a screen on the wall. "It popped up the moment I opened my computer. That's Gunter Hulf, the 2-I-C on mission three. He took over when Colonel Redlow was killed and supervised the withdrawal. I figured this might be something we all need to hear".<br/><br/>I wave the other two to seats, and clicked play. Gunter's voice filled the office.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>"This is acting mission commander Hulf. I am making this recording in the hope that some day, men will return to Mars. It will be keyed to activate when the base commander's desk computer is next booted up. I hope that someone sees it.<br/><br/>"I'm sure you, the new mission commander, know what happened here".<em>More than you could have known when you made this, Mr Hulf</em>, I thought. "The tragic and needless deaths of six mission members including Mission Commander Colonel Terrance Redlow, has resulted in the mission being aborted. Col Redlow was a fine officer, but was not a strict disciplinarian".<br/><br/>"HAH!" I let out a bark of ironic laughter at that.<br/><br/>"He allowed safety discipline to slip. If he had survived, I would have been forced to relieve him of command,"<em>Damn right!</em>"but as it is, his punishment fits the crime. My report will state as such, and that he should be given a hero's funeral."<br/><br/>So that explained that... I had always wondered why he was buried with full military honours instead of dumped in a landfill site like he deserved.<br/><br/>"The other five deceased are:<br/><br/>"Captain Leon Spark;<br/>"Ms. Martha Grunholm;<br/>"Sergeant Henrietta McNee;" That lump was back in my throat.<br/>"Dr Roche Fleimens<br/>"Mr Alberto Giovetti<br/><br/>"Flight Lieutenant Amber Louise Cotter, who was severely wounded in the incident, is recommended for promotion and an award for bravery. Her actions may well have saved the lives of the others in the vehicle, none of whom escaped injury. It is my sincere hope that Lt Cotter get to return to Mars at some time." I blushed. I had the medal somewhere, the George Cross, second highest award for Gallantry that the Australian Armed Forces could give. I didn't think I deserved it, but someone obviously thought I did.<br/><br/>"The marker outside the hanger airlock is the grave of Sgt McNee. Her mortal remains have been left on Mars at the request of her listed next of kin, who happens to be the same Lt Cotter. It is for this reason and this reason alone that her request is being acceded to." Bitch! I wiped angrily at my cheeks. I wished now i hadn't shared this.<br/><br/>"Because of the incident, this mission is being aborted. We have been recalled to Earth with barely anything accomplished. For this, Sir, I apologise. The base is being shut down and put into power-save even as I record this. You will find a full list of all the supplies we are leaving behind attached as an appendix to this message." Hulf moved slightly and it could be seen that he was in a white environment suit that had hastily painted orange stripes on it. I swallowed and glanced at the other two. If they had noticed my tears they were pretending not to at leats.<br/><br/>"I do not know how long it will be. Knowing the capricious nature of public opinion toward space travel, this incident could result in us never coming back here. I hope to see us return in my life time. But that aside, I hope you, Commander, find the base in good order. If it is not intact, you won't get this message, so obviously that is moot.<br/><br/>"Commander, I wish you every success with your mission, and I hope that some day we will have a permanent presence here."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Shit!</em>I stood up after the recording ended. "Mr Versatile, Major Hicks, with your indulgence...?" I opened a chanel to the MCM-1 in orbit above us, and relayed it to the room's comm system. "This is Mike Charley six six to Mike Charley Mike one, come in?"<br/><br/>"<em>Mike Charley Mike one here, go ahead Wing Commander.</em>"<br/><br/>"Please relay a voice message to earth for me? Our comms are not yet operational."<br/><br/>"<em>Roger Mike Charley six six. We are recording. Proceed.</em>"<br/><br/>"Message to Mr Gunter Hulf, I'm not sure of the address, but you know who he is.<br/><br/>Mr Hulf, This is Wing Commander Amber Louise Cotter, Marse Colony Commander. I got your message, I just wanted to say, thank you. The base is in good condition, a few glitches but nothing our maintenance staff can't handle.<br/><br/>"Thank you for the medal. At the time it didn't mean much to me - I was in too much pain, but now, looking back, I see it as an honour. My team here will do you proud and name something after you!"<br/><br/>I saluted the pick-up. "Message ends. Thank you MCM-1, New Sydney out".<br/><br/>"I looked at the other two. "Well, that was unexpected..."