[GZG] [GZG Fiction] Greetings from the Martian Quarter

Well K it seems like an age since I last had time to ping you. Sorry still no
vid. SAM phutzin' the waves is setting us back centuries in the comms
department. I've landed myself a 3d pass in Vologansk, curtesy of looking like
I had nothing to do right when the General needed a jalopy driver. So after a
brew or ten I decided to write you bro. Sorry you weren't first on the list,
but I figured a hero of Barnard's Run would understand priorities.

Vologansk is the usual mix of stunning beauties in suicide heels, squat
astro's, beanvine Marzukis, square jawed boys from Kansas and the ever
scowling Euris. I reckon hell'd freeze over before they cracked a smile, at
least one minus gold teeth. I know of a sure fire employment option once we
beat the SAMs, gold mining for Euri dentists. Doesn't seem they'll ever start
using normal fake teeth like the rest of us.

Life in Pikalevo is as rough as ever. Sidewalks are crumbling, I doubt one
square angled building remains in the whole place and a complete set of
plaster's a joke. The place is a veritable dust bath. Dust and rust. Not that
you can tell the difference much with this Martian dust. On top of that the
SAMs have messed the atmosphere so good you need a snout at all times. Mind
you the clime control has been out for months so you'd be coughing your guts
out on transport fumes even if they declared you could go snoutless. Convoys
roll through at all hours, truck after truck, huge things, full of bodies and
boxes for the line. Only thing keeping the place habitable are the cracks in
the habdome. Wind whistles straight through, takes all the O2, and its bone
numbing cold, but takes all the grit too. SAMs done us a favour and a half on
that one. Everytime they get the major cracks sealed my eyes start to smart,
but the SAMs send some more whistlers our way and we get some new cracks to
vent the place. Weird world K, weird world.

Funny how you get used to stuff though. You can tell the new guys, they're the
ones who look like deer in the headlights, jumping at each explosion and
gawping when the Euri truck drivers pop some pedestrian who made them use
their brakes. Give it a couple of days though and you're right at home. Never
hit me how much until I got this pass to Vologansk. I feel naked walking round
without polyclads or rifle, you can cross the road without riskin' your life
(Pikalevo drivers believe in survival of the fittest, T G I'm fit) and the
plain old traffic sounds and shouting and noise of the city seems oddly quiet
without the cracks of Krak artillery in the background. Hell you can even
drink the water here! You wouldn't dare in Pikalevo, strictly that crappy
issue sugar distillate mix or the local hops (less like flitter fuel once you
get a taste for it).

Not much else for now, you know most of the rest of the drill. Goin' about
what you have to while you watch the line and dodge the bullets. Lotta guys
have taken up on the local preachin'. Me I'm more for the Krishna's. Well at
least their food. Funny how those little beggars get everywhere (bit like the
local lice), but their grub is good and cheap!. Way cheaper than any other
slophouse and so good (best food since I set foot on Mars).

Don't do anythin' I wouldn't K. Been good nattin' with ya (can't tell ma she'd
fret).

B