There are things I learned after graduation from the Orphanage. The dog attacks garnered more and more news from the Free Martian Press, and subsequently all of the Martian media. The attacks did not stop, but they did not increase tremendously. The Martian government had put into place the siren alarms and first alert teams and dog deterrents and had promised the more deployed forces around the perimeter of the outlays. It was not clear, however, if that meant more troops inbound from Earth. That was the assumption. Debates continued for years whether troops from Earth would fully understand the significance of the problem on Mars. Nevertheless if they'd be ready for that sort of surveillance fresh of the airships. As it were, each new wave of terrafarmers that arrived never understood the severe psychological impact that a dog attack had on the minds of the laborers working to subdue the Martian land until they had witnessed one, or had a chance to meet families affected by an attack. They asked questions, why can't you just tame them like normal dogs? Are they really that bad? Just draw them away with a large steak. Can you pet them? Can you ride them?

Two years before our graduation, the government revealed a portion of what their plan was. They told the citizens of mars about young men dedicated to guarding and fighting against the dogs. Young men who would fight tirelessly for the protection of the good people ravaged by the fear of dog attacks. These were men who had witnessed first hand the devastation that the dogs could unleash. They were men who had lost families to dogs. They knew what Mars needed because they were Martians. They would protect with their very lives every last man and woman alive on Mars from any threat to their lives. With such dedication and selflessness, the government assured Mars, they only had to be trained to fight. And the first graduates of the Mars Freedom Militia were two years away from graduation.

This eased the tension slightly. The people were not told about our arms, or for how long we had been training, or even about the orphanage. They only knew that a significant number trained soldiers from Mars were going to protect the Outlays. We were briefed before graduation about all of this. Three groups at a time were told by the Board of Elders about the reaction we would receive at graduation. It was a public event, every media outlet that could spare a body would have a reporter on hand. Thousands of curious citizens would be waiting to see who their protectors would be. It would be imperative to use all of our training to remain calm and stoic. There will be much noise and excitement, and you must show the people of Mars how you can remain calm in the face of much confusion.
"Teacher, will they like us?"
"Of course, Franklin. You are going to protect them. But you must understand that they will be confused at first. We have saved you as a surprise for the people of Mars. They don't know fully your extraordinary abilities and weapons. They might be shocked to see how incredible you really are. After graduation we will have a press conference. They will ask a lot of questions. Any question that comes to mind. When people have something new in front of them that they've never seen before, they will ask whatever question comes to mind. We will handle all of the questions during the press conference, but we will provide you with the information you need to answer these questions when you are deployed in the field.

"All of you, listen. Mars is on the verge of receiving a great gift. The likes of which will eradicate all fears and worries. No longer will they have to be afraid to subdue the land! We will return Mars to what it should have been in the first years of terraforming. A prosperous land. A land that will yield great rewards from hard work. A bounty and safe haven for mankind. Not a world filled with uncertainty and terror because of beings out of our control. You will eradicate them. You will bring Mars back to what the founders came here for in the beginning. That, my children, will bring you praise and goodwill from every reasonable citizen of Mars. You will be heroes."