JS issued new orders: nobody of the Earthener personnel was authorized to wear uniforms to go out of Bradburyton. Only plain clothes or uniforms with no ensignia were allowed. All vehicles had to be painted with the New Mars insignia, at Bradburyton shifts were to return to their usual routine. Rogue or RAT provocation should be ignored. The Martians should press on with their very hush-hush military training. Since Eve was still busy at the Martian town, JS decided to check how his orders were carried out. Everybody was bustling about, content enough with their modest revenge on the RATs. He was just debriefing Sgt. Vasquez on the training issue, when he noticed that she looked uncomfortable. Her eyes were zeroed in on Flotsam and Jetsam coming out of the shooting gallery in high spirits. Since everybody knew that he had a soft spot for those kids, JS tried to make Vasquez comfortable by asking: "You want to tell me somethig, sarge?" "Am I allowed to speak freely, sir?" JS nodded and Vasquez went on: "Do you think it correct to recruit even children in the Martian Army? It made me a bit queasy, if I can say it, sir...". JS burst out laughing: "Don't sweat bullets, sarge. Those kids are older than the two of us put together. Do you remember Old Noah?" "That centenarian Martian, sir?" "Yes, the man himself! Well, once he told me that when he was a child, these two "kids" were already here on NM. They'd come from somewhere, and they were exactly as they are this minute. Aside the fact that they are the only living beings that keep their cholesterol low by eating huge quantities of junk food, nobody knows a nought about them. For their standards they might be either wee babies or older than Methuselah. Nobody knows, not even them, from the look of it. They've been like brassy childish young people forever, but by the Earthener and Martian standards they're centenarians. So we don't have baby soldiers in the NM Army, sarge. Maybe some decrepit one!" JS winked at her. "I hope you have no more scruples about it, sarge". "Yes, sir,... ehm No, sir. In this case I must report you that they're possibly the best snipers I've ever seen!" "Excellent!" JS replied. "Whatever problem of this cultural type may raise, report to me freely. It's an order". Some time later Eve entered his office. She hadn't missed the ongoing changes and hugging him, said: "You are making our new insignia painted!". JS summed up the President's quasi monologue and what he'd managed to get from him. "We don't have to react to RAT provocation!" she protested indignantly. "We aren't that man's doormat! We can't obey that crap!" she cried belligerantly. Only with a more than human effort JS managed NOT to kiss her. Instead he told her calmly: "It's been my idea, Eve. We can't sustain a RAT attack. And a Rogue onslaught even less. If the Earthener personnel is retreated, the Rogue will evaporate you from the sky! We must play for time, waiting for exploiting every contradictions!" "In this case, it's OK", she cried. "What did you want to tell me?" JS asked, his full attenction distracted by the screen which was vomiting data and diagrams. His friend was sending what he had asked about Alpha Crotalus. Eve followed his glance and asked: "I can't understand those Earthener words, 'collapsing' and 'Supernova'...". Thank you to all people who appreciated the previous picture! Thank you for viewing and drop a note if you like! DAZ: M4, V4.2, Desert Soldier; Neftis Daryl Hair; Stonemason: Level 19; Hoagland: Viper; Porsimo: M356 SAW; Shipmanjonathan: Nerezza. Sparkyworld: Viper Textures; Cauldron Art: DIY set.