My heart pounds as I tie the laces on my boots. The speaker system above me has been counting down the time to report to loading dock D. It wasn't my choice to be here. For the first time since the Vietnam war, the draft opened again. My father is a decorated war hero, so lets just say he was thrilled when I got selected. Never mind this was the first time in US history for women to get drafted and not only am I his only daughter, but child. I guess that's what happens when we're losing the battle against space junk warfare. I don't know how it even came to this; fighting over literal garbage.

Perhaps it was when our adversaries decided to have space debris from old satellites and space stations, directly fall onto US land. At least that's what the government is saying. Although they have yet to show proof of these GPS devices with US coordinates coded on them. Some people believe it, others don't. I'm still on the fence.

Now here I am, a jarhead for CORDS, trained to fight a war over junk. I've heard other soldiers say that its unlike any war they've ever fought. In space when you shoot up other stations, if your dock gets exposed to the outside and you're not in a protective suit... you die. Or float off into space. That thought alone chills me as I finish the knot on my boot with trembling fingers. Although I've been warned that having to resort to shooting other stations, is not often. The rising deathrates say otherwise and the thought frightens me since the plan is to dismantle space debris with lasers so they're small enough to deteriorate after hitting the atmosphere. Our adversaries don't appreciate that.

"Let's MOVE!!"

A Commander barks and I nearly jump from my flesh. He pokes the butt of his rifle into my back, as if thats supposed to encourage me to walk faster. The dock isn't far and when I get there I line up to be fitted for my protective suit. It takes two people to help you into it. The soldier ahead of me has pee trickling down his leg while being assisted into his suit. Embarrassed undoubtedly.

I step forward and it's my turn to make Daddy proud. His last words to me. But I'm scared. So very scared.