"Independence Day"

[Hunter Matheson 0]

"Independence Day"

 

Fourth of July, 1969, and astronaut central was a hive of activity with folks up and down the block stoking their barbecues - or what passed for a barbecue in Florida. One old Victorian style house stood at the end of the block - a cul-de-sac they called it, meaning when you got there the only thing you could do was turn around and go out. Kal figured that long before anyone else even thought of living here it had belonged to a wealthy family. As the generations died off, the heirs probably sold the land and laughed all the way to the bank while developers carved out this gawd-awful 1960's subdivision. Anyway, whoever lived there now had draped Old Glory on the railings that lined their wrap-around porch, and Kal had to admit it didn't look half bad.

 

The house reminded Kal of home, especially the Bishop's sprawling ranch house that dominated one desolate hill about 15 miles outside of town. Many a 4th they spent popping cherry-bombs in milk cans or the closest neighbor's old mailbox. They shot off Roman candles and blew half last month's pay on the heaviest, most bad-azz rockets you'd ever seen. Or they'd make their own, at great personal peril. They'd set 'em off, watch where they landed, and high-tail it out to the spot to douse it before the thing started a grass fire. In wetter years they'd build a bonfire, shoot a feral hog, spit it and roast it for most of the night while they huddled in blankets with their girls to watch meteorites streak through an obsidian sky stretching from the eastern horizon to eternity. Now and then they'd catch sight of a starship just entering low orbit, guess its business or destination and where it'd come from, then they'd all vow to be on it someday and boast about where they'd go and what they'd conquer.

 

As Kal stared down the street, for the first time since joining the Corps he was just a bit homesick. Problem was that if he went home to celebrate he wouldn't have been born yet, the Bishop Ranch wouldn't be there, and there for sure wouldn't be a starship entering low orbit. Well, at least not a friendly one.

 

Down the hall in their common room the black-and-white TV blared the latest information on the weather. Ohio floods were the worst in history, they said, but today hadn't been half bad and the good weather should continue into the night. They'd experienced the occasional passing shower, the humidity had stayed its usual high and the temperature hovered around 90 with winds five to ten and visibility 13 miles, give or take.

 

Behind him, Daniels arranged his weapons on a small table, cleaned and checked them for the fourth or fifth time, sorted his magazines, and checked and seated his rounds. In a few minutes Kal would join him to go through his again, maybe take a few practice draws, because no matter what the situation, in their world they could always expect it to change. Arrive early and you wish you'd come earlier; arriving late wasn't an option 'cause either you or your team mate could be dead.

 

And sure enough, Cap'n Granger'd changed the game plan for today, Independence Day, 4th of July, 1969. Families would be out: spouses, children, parents, probably even some grandparents and dignitary guests. Parades, picnics in the backyard or on the beach. Everyone but the core group of NASA, absorbed with the upcoming launch, would be out celebrating the 4th. Prime time for a terrorist group to cause a disruption that could jeopardize or scrub the mission.

 

So she'd changed the game plan and set up recon/support teams for the afternoon and evening. A trip to the local stores brought the latest casual men's wear - loose enough for conceal carry. GySgt Momoa, Cpl Daniels, and Sgt Gonzales made up team one, assigned to monitor astronauts' families, wander outside their perimeters, check in on their backyard or beach gatherings, and, in general, watch for anything that looked out of place. Team oculars would tell them who belonged and who didn't and three-channel audio feed kept them up on the latest, but probably the telltale sign would be someone not acting quite human or acting totally out of place.

 

Kal would head up team two with SSgt O'Neill and PFC Souter. They'd be doing pretty much the same thing as team one, but in different areas. Cptn Granger and LCpl Hammond would slip on the latest fashion and blend with beach-goers or partiers, maybe get a taste of the best barbecue while monitoring three feed channels, and determine threats.

 

All in a day's work.