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This song was, presumably, written by a Navy man after the riot of 2028 at the Ishtar Colony on Venus. The criminal element of the colonists, as well as more than a few voluntary colonists, had broken with the government base there, retreating into the venusian jungles and attacking any government forces sent in to arrest them or gather taxes. Finally, the Solar Alliance decided to send in troops to bring the situation under control. What few colonists weren't already supporting the independants soon began supporting them and the situation escalated. When the "riot" was finally resolved several hundred colonists were dead or missing and the Solar Alliance was forced to change the way it regulated the colony. Although there have been other colonial riots (especially among belters) the Ishatar Riots are worst in Alliance history.

• I just received a space-gram
  from General Thomas Wood.
  Says, "Bring your gun-boats out to Venus
  We'll do these convis good!
  We'll stop this riot, this convict's riot.
  
  
• And bring along Doctor Parker
  of whom I've heard them say,
  'He'll kill more convis with his pills
  than we can kill with rays
  in any riot you ever saw.
  
  
• And bring along Mr. Crenshaw!
  Oh, bring him without fail!
  He killed a hundred convis
  on the Ningal Trail
  in that riot that convict's riot.
  
  
• We had our breakfast early.
  We did not get much sleep.
  Then General Wood, he came aboard
  and made us feel like sheep,
  In that riot, that convict's riot.
  
  
• Says he, "Good morning, Captain,
  you've used me mighty well.
  Now take your damned old transport
  and shove right off to Hell!
  We're off to the riot, this convict's riot.
  
  
• We don't like your marines.
  They're the first in every war.
  They beat us to the Ishtar Mount
  but they will nae beat us more
  in this riot, this convict's riot.
  
  
• They're jealous of the Navy
  which always leads the van.
  Without our trusty gunners
  they could never land a man
  in any riot, any convict's riot.
  
  
• We'll be up at five this mornin'
  and work till God knows when,
  crossin' space and breakin' fast
  to save the army men
  in this damned riot, this convict's riot.
  
  
• Next time the Army wants us
  to take them far from home.
  We'll tell them to go plumb to Hell.
  We've troubles of our own.
  And we'll stop this riot, this convict's riot.

Anonymous - 2030 AD

|...Space Chanties...|...Section 42-D...|

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