Lodging a Protest

A group of women in military uniforms were protesting at the gates of the Arlington National Memorial Park. Signs with slogans “Honor Our Dead” “Remember Our Fathers” and “Our Brothers Died For You” were being waved while a group of sympathizers and tourist gathered to watch the show. Work crews could be seen on the hills repairing the sites of former graves while three members of the Terran Security Force operated small sled saucers that removed memorial markers and remains to be shuttled to a growing underground chamber.

The bulging bald head of the TSF workers pulsated with power. Their black eyes glittered with intense concentration. Their thoughts scanned the crown for signs of  actual threat, damping the emotions that threatened to flare. As Anne Onymous approached the crowd the mental tendrils retreated out of respect for the “Scribe of Society.”

The perky redhead pondered that in one year she had gone from Spirit rallies at the high school to a figure of international prominence. She caught the whisper of a TSF probe and thoughtcast a warm and optimistic outlook in their direction. <Our valiant defenders of the public security. They have laid down their lives for the common good> After dispatching the well practiced encouragement, she focused on the leaders of the crowd.

“Thank you for coming to support the memory of our hallowed dead. My name is Anne and I would like your input on the new Memorial Crypt. We have been making every effort to give greater honor to the women and men who died in the defense of freedoms that have now spread throughout the world.” Chamber Passage Invoke

The side of the hill opened revealing a 50’ wide passage 30’ high passage sloping gently down into the earth. “If those who are involved would be so kind as to follow…” The teen strode into the passage way. The unadorned walls gave way to murals of war – revolutionary, civil, world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the gulf war. As the curious who followed watched the murals shifted and they began to recognize relatives – uncles, cousins, grandparents… Anne snuck a peak at the widening eyes. This application of human and venusian technology was always a source of wonder to those who witnessed it. It was designed as a celebration of the human spirit during the horrors of war and viewed with mild disapproval by most Venusians but allowed as a concession to the tattered remnants of human pride.

“There will be twelve such entrances to allow ready access to the Crypt. Virtual access will be available through the Galactic net and a tailored home app will be available for private systems.” After a five minute walk, the group came into what appeared to be a limitless cavern. Visually the walls retreated to the unperceivable distance, sound was swallowed by the distance and the group shied away from a walkway the continued unsuspended into the darkness.

Another five minutes passed as the group followed though the darkness. After three minutes walking in the dark a distance entrance appeared, rapidly opening as it was approached. Anne lead every in though a glowing portal into a spherical filled with thousands of golden 20’ spheres. The pathway split into three branches which split again and again leading left right up and down to each of the individual globes. “Each viewing location can be used to observe the memorial marker for any who were interred in the original Arlington, as well as a holographic tribute to their lives, family, and service. The Venusian Retro-cognitive Technology has captured images from herstory to serve as an eternal memorial to those who brought us to the peace we enjoy."