*sigh* Homestead blues

The gears of her AREV-CM (Areomineral Recovery & Exploration Vehicle - Combat Modified) ground loudly as she maneouvered the unit around the multiple layers of protective shielding that guarded her homestead. The beacon mounted in the console of the unit flashed out her encoded safety signal that kept the Markalite cannons from firing at her. She sighed at the volume of scrap metal and plastic that littered the minefield of her yard. While providing strong evidence to the effectiveness of her multilayered defense network, it was also a constant reminder of the messiness of her home.

The garage door cycled closed behind her as she drove the unit inside. Crysun detached her suit helmet as she listened to the sound of air flooding into the garage. When the safety light on her console flashed green, she opened the door and stepped out. She was immediately struck by the acrid smell of a burning lubricant and martian sand mixture. Groaning with frustration she leaned back into the cab and disengaged the lock on the drive hood. She lifted the plasteel shielding and cast an experienced eye at the complex drive unit.

After a quick inspection she saw the hose that has worked loose. She noted the smoke that drifted up from the smoldering lubricant that leaked from the engine to mix with the thin coating of Martian dust that seemed to get everywhere, no matter how tightly sealed it seemed to be. The drip appeared to have pooled on the radiator manifold. She began reaching for a rag to wipe up the mess when the futility of it all struck her like a slap to the face. She swore gruffly as she slammed the hood back down. Turning she marched across the crowded and filthy garage towards the airlock door. The sand crunched loudly under her boots as she keyed the security code into the airlock door. It cycled open and she stepped through, already removing her gloves and undoing the fasteners on her suit.

"How did this place get so wrecked?" she thought to herself angrily as she emerged from the inner door, clad only in the loose jumpsuit that most Martian settlers wore indoors. There were books and papers stacked haphazardly on almost every horizontal surface. Small peices of detrius and trash hid in the corners and behind the legs of the furniture. One could tell that at one time this homestead unit was immaculate and tidy, but that time had passed long ago.

Crysun swept her eyes across the notes and paperwork that she seemed to constantly be acquiring about new settlement and homestead locations, as well as maps of ruins she had explored and coordinate directions to some of the richer volcanoes in the area. As she began to move towards the cooler unit to grab something to eat, her security system began the incessant beeping that indicated something had been detected on the perimeter of her defenses. She didn't even bother to glance up as she heard the remote sizzle of a light scout running afoul of the nuclear walls that stood at the edge of her territory. As she pulled a packet of frozen chicken from the cooler she heard the Markalite spin up and begin vaporizing the encroaching drones. As she slid the packet into the heater she shook her head. "When did this neighborhood go to hell?" she thought, "I've got to find a better area to live."

The heater dinged and she pulled the packet out, slightly singing her fingers with the steam that exploded from the bag when she opened it. If only she wasn't so tired from having to be out digging and fighting all day, she would take some time to clean this place up. As she pulled up the display on the computer and sat down to eat, she heard another proximity alarm. "I have definately got to find a better place," she thought resignedly as she took the first bite.