Christmas orders rapidly passed through the skyhook tether system.

Space Force ships patrolled around the launching terminals …

“Captain! Incoming marauders!”

“Ready your weapons! We’ve received shoot-to-kill orders to protect cargo.”

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…

At Space Force M HQ:

“Captain, I heard one of the marauders shout, ‘Humans First!’ over an unencrypted channel.”

“Ah, right.” The captain chuckled. “A global labor union phrase used centuries ago.”

“What does it mean, sir?”

“When manufacturing on Earth started transferring off-world—that’s their protest slogan.”

“But, Captain, the Earth’s climate is perfect now.”

“Right? What’s wrong with ‘made on Mars?’ It’s efficient and completely automated.”