by Geoff O'Callaghan ISBN 9781846930218
Published: Jan 2007
Pages: 206
Description
Colonist

Colonist families, en-route to Mars, lose their adults to pollution in the feed lines, leaving their children: Stephen, Karla, Patricia , Anthony, Simon, Harry, Henrietta, Gary, and Pierre as orphans. This places an unwanted load on the existing workforce of Olympus base which is now short of workers, and must also care for nine grieving children. Command Neil Gordschsky decides to put the youngsters into his workforce where they will learn to look after themselves, to work, and to study.
The plan goes well as the Mayflower orphans learn to dig tunnels, drive trucks, collect cargo, clean vehicles, operate atmospheric plants, generators, and survey equipment. They even take part in creating new secondary bases Pavonis Gusev and Pavonis. Time passes, and they grow to love Mars, and it's challenging environment. Karla becomes very attached to George who is Neil's assistant.
Stephen and three friends are nearly killed while on a mineral survey. While trapped in the cave, Stephen discovers a cache of gem quality diamonds. On the advice of his friend and mentor Kevin, he decides to keep the discovery secret.
On Earth, Politicians, are unhappy about the direction that, colonists on Mars are taking and begin to interfere by appointing a civilian governor, Gallant Harding, who has no experience in running bases in space. Harding arrives with his family, and is supported by a large force of space marines. Neil Gordschsky is fired from his position as commander, but decides to remain on Mars in retirement, rather than return to Earth. Harding's Son, Ormond and his bully boy friends are killed in an accident resulting from a practical joke being played on the more experienced Mars children. Frantic with grief, and obsessed with thoughts of revenge, the governor turns on the of the Mayflower orphans, by exiling them to a remote base.
Harding alienates the Martian citizens by confiscating their mining leases, handing their rights to mine to a multinational conglomerate based on Earth. He fantasises that the colonists are in revolt against Earth, and concocts a conspiracy theory to monster Neil, the miners, and the orphans. He issues arrest warrants against Karla, Stephen, Harry, Chris, Simon, and the old guard offices, Neil, Kevin, Gordon and George. The colonists instigate a rescue mission to regain Gordon and the children from Harding's grasp.
Virtual guerrilla war breaks out between the colonists, miners, and the orphans on the one hand, and Harding with the military on the other.
Some members of the military smell a rat, and begin to distrust Harding and his extreme measures. He eliminates Greenway, Morgan, and some of the crew of Phobos Station. His loyal ally, Kronner, manages to arrest Stephen, Harry, and Simon while they are attempting to find some diamonds to trade for essential items.