First Steps (Founding of the Federation) (39 page)

"No
problem," Toshi replied. His voice sounded strong.

Mario
chuckled. "Good to hear." He waved the truck on. "We're
over the worse part. Just keep it moving," he ordered. Momentum
was key to getting the thing where they needed it. Getting it rolling
had redlined all six rovers. He watched as the hab passed him, moving
to one side to see if he could spot any potential problems. "Okay
gang, move to the left ten degrees, we have a rock to dodge." In
unison the six rovers turned. He trotted up to the rock and eyed the
approaching Hab.

"Okay...
yeah, a little more to the left, okay, we're good," he sighed in
relief as the wheels passed within a couple centimeters of the rock.
"Next stop base." He waved as the hab passed.

"Better
get a move on or you'll get left behind," Wanda chuckled. He
looked at them retreating and moved back into a trot. He caught up
with the hab and managed to grab the ladder rungs and swing himself
off his feet.

Carefully
he climbed the hab, pausing when it shook a little or turned. When he
got to the roof he clambered over the top then leopard crawled to the
edge. He nestled down in between a satellite dish and a solar panel
near the edge. "Okay, I'm set," he reported. He watched as
they maneuvered around rocks. "Now I know what a wagon master
must have felt in the Wild West," he joked.

"Where
are you?" Toshi asked.

"Should
we stop and go back?" Wanda and Joyce asked.

"Nah,
I have a ring side seat. I'm on top of the hab," he replied with
a grin.

"Hope
it doesn't fall over," Wanda replied darkly.

"As
long as you keep to the straight and narrow, we shouldn't have a
problem... Wait, female drivers... Oh god, I'm going to die..."
he teased.

"No,
but you will when we get back to base," Wanda growled.

"Oh!!!
Meany!" he teased. Joyce laughed. "Looking good, we need to
edge twelve degrees, no maybe fifteen to the right, there is a creek
bed up ahead," Mario cautioned.

"Is
he going to back seat drive all the way there?" Joyce asked with
a laugh.

"Probably,"
Tess replied with a sigh.

 ...*...*...*...*...

It
was nightfall when the convoy pulled into base camp. "Should we
try to dock?" Joyce asked tiredly.

Mario
grunted. "In the dark? Nah, put the cars to bed for the night,
we'll go over them in the morning before the rock heads leave."
He climbed down from the hab and looked around. He had been forced to
jack into the Hab's life support to resupply his suit twice. Now that
it was in base camp he'd have to go over the thing with a fine tooth
comb to make sure nothing leaked or was busted up enough to cause a
problem later.

"I'm
clear," Wanda called, waving as she coiled her winch line.

"Me
too." Tess finished.

"I'm
not exactly able to unhook mine," Toshi replied.

"I
gotcha." Mario went over and unclipped the line and safety
chain. "You’re good." He patted the back bumper.
Toshi drove his rovers off. Mario coiled the line the left it in
front of the wheel. "Just leave the lines attached, we'll need
them in the morning." He looked over to see the drivers had
already done so. He chuckled softly to himself as he watched the
last, Sergei depart. "Well, that went well..."

The
next morning Tess, Joyce, and Mario ran an extensive service of each
vehicle before waving the impatient Doctors to theirs. "All set.
Keep an eye on the rear motor, she's acting a little hinky. Probably
picked up a pebble or two," Mario cautioned. He watched as the
scientist climbed in. "Have a safe trip hon," he said as he
hugged Wanda. She hugged him back then climbed in.

"See
you in a few days," she replied with a wave.

"Okay,
let's finish the job." He turned as his wife's rover left to
look at the Hab. "Toshi, can you mind the cameras and laser
range finders? Keep us honest?" Mario asked. He knew it was
important to keep the man busy, to make him feel he is contributing
to keep his moral up.

"Yeah,
I can do that," Toshi responded slowly.

"Good
we need to keep this thing aligned, the closer we can get it the
better. We can't link them directly, but the less travel between..."
Mario replied. Toshi clicked the channel signaling he understood.

"What
are you waiting for?" Joyce waved at the foot of the Hab. "Mine
is already hooked up!" She waved to indicate her rover. Mario
chuckled and got to work.

...*...*...*...*...

Three
days later another dust storm drove Wanda and Waldecker back early.
Waldecker wasn't happy about mission control ordering them back.

Wanda
shrugged. “We've got plenty to do around base. We can run the
last two surveys through the spectrometers; update the survey maps,
and chores,” she replied when he started to gripe once more. He
stomped off. She'd put up with his sullen attitude for the entire
trip back and was heartily sick of it.

She
met Mario and Joyce as they came out of the vault. Mario gave her a
hug and they entered the airlock together arm in arm. “That
place is amazing!” Joyce shook her head. “I've seen the
video and the Sims, but it has really changed!” She smiled.
Mario nodded. Now that the Hab was back they'd finally had the time
to take her out on a tour. Sergei was going nuts, eager to get the
ponds finished.

"See,
he really isn't as dumb as he looks." Wanda said, giving the
suddenly scowling Mario her best innocent expression.

"Dumb
as he looks?" he growled. "Perhaps a discipline session in
the bedroom is in order..." he suggested.

Her
eyes widened in mock fear. "Oh I can hardly wait," she
murmured wickedly. He chuckled.

Wanda
turned to the Commander. "Anyway, Mario and Tess set up these
vaults with some I have to admit, nice features." Wanda waved
above. "I wasn't paying attention at the time, I was just glad
he was kept busy."

Mario
shook his head. "You really are asking for it isn’t you?"
he replied.

She
turned a grin on him and raised an eyebrow. "We'll see,"
she chuckled.

"You
bet we will," he teased back. She blushed.

...*...*...*...*...

"Actually
Senator, the Mars program budget is
under
one billion dollars
per year," Doctor Zubrin replied to the latest Senator taking
aim at them. He was getting tired of fending off the budget hawks
eager to cut the program. Several people murmured at this. "That
is the total
US
share of cost, not including usage of
facilities." Doctor Zubrin leaned forward into the microphone to
answer. "Now that we have the plasma tugs, our costs have fallen
significantly. If we see a return on the gas giant mining program as
projected, then we will repay the entire debt incurred to all member
nations and put the program in the black for the first time in
history."

The
murmurs behind him grew. He paused as the Senator pounded her gavel.
"A billion dollars is a lot of money for so little return
Doctor," she riposted when the room quieted.

"I
disagree Senator; we are developing new technology at a faster rate
than ever before, and expanding our civilization to another world.
Also the technology we have created has saved this world from an
asteroid, and now that we are perfecting it, it can do so again,"
Zubrin answered. “I'd say putting two teams on another planet,
all that, plus the other achievements is a bit more than so little a
return.”

The
Senator glared. "Be that as it may, we still need more money for
other things. The deficit is growing by leaps and bounds!" She
waved her hand in theatrical disgust. The gavel flew out of her hand
and clattered to the floor. She flushed. An aid rushed forward picked
the offending tool up and handed it back to her.

Doctor
Zubrin fought to keep his face a polite mask. "Senator, I
believe we were discussing cost?" he asked. She nodded. "Now,
as I was explaining, the gas giant mining mission is the first real
return on the Martian investment. Initiated by Doctor Luigi Irons and
a team as a test project using technology from my own company, we've
managed to create a program that will give a two
hundred
fold
return on investment, and continue doing so for twenty years."

Several
people gasped. "Yes that is correct. For the paltry investment
of one billion dollars a year we are getting back two hundred twenty
billion dollars in material, not to mention the minor but no less
significant advances in understanding the gas giant and its
workings." Doctor Zubrin smiled. "As you can see Senator,
if we can do this with a billion, what do you think we can do if we
continue?"

He
picked up a picture of Mars and showed it to the Senate panel and
then the cameras. "This is Mars four years ago." He pulled
another picture out from behind it and placed it in front. "Here
it is today. In just four years and that asteroid impact we have
raised the ambient temperature by four degrees Celsius and moved the
planet." The murmurs grew. "Yes
MOVED
the
PLANET,
”
he said, emphasizing his point. He looked around. The Senator was
pounding her gavel. As the room quieted he smiled.

"Thank
you. As I was saying, the impact has affected the planet's orbit. In
forty eight thousand years it will have moved slightly closer to the
sun. The impact has given our seismologists and geologist’s
priceless data on the composition of the planet, and its seismology.
With additional impacts we could quickly change the planet's
atmosphere terraforming it into a more hospitable planet." He
waved held the picture up, and then changed it to another. This was
of a blue Mars.

"This
is a computer rendering of what Mars may look like if we continue on
this path. A concerted effort could get us there in as little as
fifty years," he explained. Several people gasped.

"We're
going to take a one hour recess to let people get their emotions
under control Doctor," the Senator sighed and tapped the gavel.
Zubrin sighed as well.

"And
here is Doctor Zubrin defending the misguided efforts to change the
Martian planet. Outside the Senate hearing protesters from all sides
have gathered to make their voices heard. Let’s go listen to a
few now. You ma'am what do you think of this?" the reporter
asked as he thrust a microphone into the face of a woman.

"We
should be spending money here! We need better schools, better roads
not on a planet on the other side of the galaxy!" She waved her
hands.

"And
you sir?" The reporter turned to an older man.

"Keep
Mars red. It had its own beauty until they had to go there and change
it," the man snarled. “KEEP Mars RED!" He thrust his
fist into the air starting a chant with his followers.

"And
back to you Ellen..." the reporter finished with a slight grin.
Joyce sighed and clicked the remote.

"Damn
snarky idiots," Latisha said from the doorway.

Wanda
nodded. "I may be staying here with you folks Mario," Joyce
sighed. "No way do I want to go back to that asylum," she
said in disgust.

"Mars
needs more women!" Mario crowed fist thrust into the air. Toshi
laughed. The women glared.

 ...*...*...*...*...

Bruce
Treadwell smiled politely for the cameras as the anchor moved from
one topic to another. Finally it was his turn. "We'd like to
welcome Mr. Treadwell and his lovely wife to the show. It is great to
meet you." The anchor shook his hand.

He
nodded. "Good to be here," Mr. Bruce Treadwell replied
politely. He released it and sat back.

"Some
would call your paying two hundred and fifty million dollars to walk
on Mars as a publicity stunt. A set up for a presidential run,"
the reporter began.

Bruce
chuckled. "I like to think of it as an investment in the future.
The men and women in the space program are making great changes in
our future. Their asteroid mission made sure this planet continues to
have one." He turned to look at the anchor in the eye.

"Yes
that's true. You’re planning on going to Olympus Mons?"
the anchor asked.

Bruce
nodded. "Yes, you could say Mary and I are in it for the
adventure, but really, we would like to help. Getting a crew to the
mountain will allow the scientists to study the vulcanology of the
planet in greater depth and detail..."

He
smiled politely as the anchor blinked. "Well, I didn't realize
there was a scientific reason for such a risky adventure," the
anchor replied cautiously.

Bruce
smiled. "We've taken every conceivable precaution to lessen the
risk. We have the latest generation of Mars skin suits, as well as
new equipment. We are even bringing a new extended range rover, which
will be donated to the colony when we leave."

The
anchor nodded. "So you are not staying long term?"

Bruce
smiled. "I would love to, having an entire new world to
explore!" He chuckled. "But Mary is right; we can't stay
for too long away from the grandchildren, it just wouldn't be right.
They will grow so much while we are gone!" he smiled politely.

"So
it is hard for you to leave them?" the reporter asked pointedly.

"Oh
yes," Bruce smiled. "But it will be worth it." He
nodded. "We want to see this planet with our own eyes, feel the
soil, and touch the sky. It is a whole new world after all!" His
eyes were bright and shining with cause.

"I
understand that the cost per person is going down? Are you getting a
refund?" the reporter asked.

Bruce
chuckled. "The cost is going down because people like me are
taking an interest and donating or purchasing goods, services, or
time. It is also going down because we listened to Doctor Zubrin and
Doctor Irons, and we now have a better system in place to travel the
solar system now," he smiled.