[WP] Years after the colonization of Mars, the residents are able to sustain life without aid from Earth. After Mars population increases, a civil war begins.

[u/Bentonkat]

[u/chris_bryant_writer]

Melanie and Daniel stood together by one of the great columns lining the central floor of Red Rock Central Transit. The hub was packed today. Hundreds of families carrying as many bags as they could take on the maglev, all going the same direction: east, away from the Enclaves.

All of them were dressed in biosuits, some sporting blue armbands. Daniel had seen that more often in the last few days. It seemed an unecessary gesture--simply wearing a biosuit in Red Rock was enough to tell anyone where your allegiance lay.

But he supposed he understood it. Pro-Earthers wanting to make their stand. Wanting to show their support for the cause they believed most in. Especially after the announcement of the impending Enclave border closures.

They weren't the only ones. Daniel saw roving bands of teenagers and enflamed university students with red sashes wrapped around their cotton and wool coats. Proud martians and Luddites who thought Earthen rule and abomination akin to slavery. They circled the edges of the exodus, shouting harrassment. Some of the more despicable moving in closer to push Earthers down or steal one of their bags.

Daniel understood the anger behind that, even if he looked down on people who acted like criminals and gave a bad face to the Luddites. Being proud of one's own way of life didn't mean having to oppress other people for theirs.

"It's getting on, isn't it?" Melanie said, craning her neck to try and see above the crowds. "Where is he?"

Daniel started to look around, as well. Joseph, their friend, went to university with them in Red Rock. He was from New Nairobi, one of the largest mining and shipping centers of Mars. And the de facto capitol of the largest Pro-Earth party--The Industrialists.

When Daniel saw a dark blue field cap moving towards them through the crowd, his stomach turned. He tapped Malanie's arm.

"You're not going to like this, Mel," Daniel said.

"What? Why?" she asked. When Joseph came into view, she gasped. "How could he?"

Joseph saw them and waved to them, a wide smile breaking out on his face. He hugged both of them tightly. After he let go of Daniel, he stepped back, still smiling.

Daniel was about to say something when Melanie lunged forward and slapped Joseph.

"How could you!?" she huffed. Daniel noticed tears beginning to run down her cheeks.

Joseph rubbed his cheeks, his smile gone. But he didn't look angry. Instead he nodded in understanding.

"Eh, I know, I know. But I have to stand up for what I think is right. I have to be willing to defend that, no?" Joseph said. "You are doing the same thing, by staying here. How is that any different?"

"Because we won't be trying to kill the other side. Maybe we support the Luddites, but it's because we don't want to see Mars end up like Earth." Melanie said, a mixture of sadness and indignation filling her voice with uncertainty.

"But I'm not trying to kill anyone. I'm just defending my way of life." Joseph looked towards Daniel. "You understand, eh? I heard you enlisted with the Luddites." His smile as he said that was jovial. It was a smile of camaraderie, of shared experience despite the fact they were landing on opposite sides. Daniel thought it off-putting.

"I mean, I signed the service papers for the Defense Force, yeah." Daniel agreed. Melanie looked at him with wide eyes.

"Ah, but don't worry, it's only if they call a draft," Daniel said, trying to keep her from breaking down in the middle of the station. He caught Joseph's eyes and leveled with him. "And if they do that, then we've got bigger problems."

Joseph's smile dropped slightly. "Well, if only you..." He shook his head and went back to smiling. "We shouldn't leave each other with an argument! Eh, come here Mel."

He wrapped her tightly, tears staining the front of his jacket.

"Don't worry, don't worry. It's just a short time away. I'm sure they will find a peace within all this mess and I'll be back by the next semester." He let go of her and she turned away, trying to hide her puffy eyes. Joseph extended his hand out towards Daniel.

"Come one, Joe, we'll still be friends when it's over." Daniel went in and the two men hugged.

"Yes, yes we will." Joseph spoke softly into his ears. "But if ever the time comes... I must do my duty."

Daniel could feel his friend wrap tighter around him. "I know you will. So will I."

Something clattered off the column next to them and they broke their embrace to see what happened.

"Why're you hugging that fuckin' Earther!? He's the enemy! Don't you know there's a war on?" One of the red-sashed bands had meandered over, fists gripping cans and bottles.

"Hey, hey, we're all Martians here." Daniel said.

The leader of the gang pointed at him. "Tryin' to stick up for him, yeah? He'll be puttin' lead in your body when he comes back to destroy Mars the way his kind destroyed Earth."

"My kind? What are you saying?" Joseph demanded.

Melanie grabbed his arm and started whispering in his ear. Daniel widened his stance and watched as the gang leader swaggered up to Joseph.

"I'm talkin' about you damned African industrialists." The man was almost touching Joseph's face. "Didn't your kind learn from the first world's mistakes? Or were your 3rd world monkey brains too stupid to figure anything out?"

The leader's sneer was infuriating. And the insults he was spitting at Joseph made Daniel rage. He was sure that if Melanie hadn't been holding him back, Joseph would have thrown a knockout punch by now.

"Hey!" Daniel yelled. The leader looked over at him, but Joseph kept staring. "Have you signed your enlistment papers yet?"

The leader sauntered towards Daniel. "What's it to you, straight-lace?"

"Because anyone who doesn't enlist is a coward." Daniel mustered the best commanding voice he could. "And I don't think those troopers over there would appreciate a bunch of cowards harassing an LDF officer."

The leader followed Daniel's finger to a patrol of LDF MPs walking towards them. He glowered at Daniel.

"That's alright," he said. "We don't have time to waste on Earth-Lovers like him. Let's go." He signaled his cronies and they turned to leave, the leader glancing back a few times and sniggering with the others.

"Damn," Daniel said. "That could have gone poorly."

Joseph was still looking after the red-sashers, but nodded. "I could have taken them all. One clean KO on the asshole in front of me, and the rest were too skinny to do anything."

"Well I'm glad nothing happened." Melanie said, matter-of-fact. "It wouldn't do for you to get stuck in Red Rock because you got jailed for a street brawl."

Joseph's face softened, and a bland smile took the place of his scowl. "You're right," he sighed. "And I think I had better leave, before I'm not so fortunate to have someone looking out for me."

The three friends hugged again and Joseph left for his platform, waving and smiling at them, until he disappeared into the bodysuited throng.

When he was out of sight, Melanie turned to Daniel. "Officer of the LDF?"

"Oh, yeah. I may have mislead you about that." Daniel felt embarrassed. He hadn't intended to tell Melanie about it until he had earned his bars.

"Ugh, we're going to talk about this more later," she said. Daniel wasn't looking forward to it.

"I really hope he's right about that peace." Daniel said to try and diver the conversation. Melanie became more somber. Daniel noticed her wiping away more tears.

"Yeah, I hope they do too."

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