Gerald W Driggers

Martian Sniper Gerald W Driggers

Publisher Marketing: What if you were on Mars and someone declared war, but nobody knew how to do it? No problem, just dig out the books and vids from Earth during the 20th and 21st century, before world civilization crumbled. Humm, it looks like there may be a few differences. There is no mention of getting air to everyone, so just add that to the list. Digging foxholes and latrines, yeah, that's a good idea. Well, uh, how do you dig a foxhole in hard frozen ground or made of solid rock? Moreover, that latrine design does not look very practical unless it has a pressurized outhouse around it. Oh! Maybe the surface pressure suits could have a poop bin so that you number 2 in the suit and then dump it at the latrine. You know, kind of a poop airlock! Hey, stop throwing rocks! I understand that wiping, uh, "personal hygiene" is a challenge for that design! Okay, okay, we'll shit-can the latrine idea (snark, snark, made a funny! Get it?) Speaking of processed food, how do people in a space suit eat? Oh, good! So there are systems built in for sandwiches and liquids, they just have to be loaded before you put the suit on. Great! How much do they carry? Two wrap sandwiches and one bowl of soup plus two liters of water, in a 3,600 calorie a day environment; right. Look, this is getting out of hand and we have only discussed air, food, water, and waste. No, I do not know what to do about them, but we have discussed them, right? Okay, let's get a list together. Let's see: air, waste, personal hygiene, food, water, temperature control, radiation protection, air leaks due to bullets and shrapnel, medical care, triage in a suit; okay, that's enough. This is ridiculous! Who would be crazy enough to start a war on Mars? Oh yeah, people who do not fight start wars, and the rest of us pay for it. That is how this one got started, and without the Martian sniper on our side, we might have lost everything to the crazy people, and now, well, we still might... The battle may or may not be over, but this war for cousins has just begun. And now, here's your host! I want to let you know right up front, my name is Paris, and I hate it! Mother, bless her Pollyanna soul, loved to be immersed in the history and lore of old Earth. You know, before the fall of civilization around 2130 or so. Paris was a big city that was some kind of heaven on Earth, or at least that's what she thought. Looking at the bright side, at least she didn't name me London! Contributor Bio:  Driggers, Gerald W Gerald W. Driggers has BS and MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University. His 45-year career in science and engineering spanned many disciplines and gave him an uncommon depth of understanding in things both theoretical and practical. Military experience varied from launching ballistic payloads and satellites to battlefield Civil Engineering. In civilian life, his endeavors included design studies in space colonization and industrialization, original research to improve pollution control, groundbreaking developments in missile defense technology, and advancements in hardware-in-the-loop testing. In his leisure time, he mastered photography, automotive and outboard engine rebuilding, boat repair and maintenance, seamanship (including offshore), home restoration, and the art of raising two wonderful children. Gerald is truly a man of many trades and a master of several. Through it all, the exploration of the solar system has been his passion since age eight. Pinnacles in his professional life include time spent with Dr. von Braun and his team members, being presented an award by Arthur C. Clarke, conversations with Robert Heinlein, the friendship of Harry Stine, and his close relationship with Gerard and Tasha O'Neill. Gerald now writes about his passion; that is, when wonderful wife Carol or Wilson the Cat do not have chores for him.