First Steps (Founding of the Federation) (15 page)

"So
we are here today to hear what plans the space program has detailed
to deal with this threat," the Senator said and nodded to Luigi.

Luigi
shuffled his papers and then turned his microphone on. "Good
morning. The space program has spent fifty years writing various
methods to deal with an asteroid threat. However only two are viable
in the time we have available. Fortunately we have the components for
both," he smiled.

"You’re
talking about the Plasma engine and Topaz reactor?" Grantham
asked.

Luigi
nodded. "We have two back up units so we can put them together
with a ferry package and have them in orbit within a year."

Senator
Friday nodded. "And what is this going to cost?"

Luigi
frowned. "Well senator, the components I mentioned are bought
and paid for already. We are just looking at personnel cost to put
the pieces together and to cobble together the docking module."

She
sat back. "So we have them already?"

He
nodded. "We can bump two Uragan flights and can have the birds
ready within a one year time period. I am hoping to narrow that time
frame, to give us more time to work with."

She
nodded. "Why two? Isn't one enough?" she asked. Graham
frowned.

"We
need two for redundancy, in case one fails," Luigi explained.

She
nodded. "Still it seems a waste," she grumbled. He sighed.

"Senator
if I may," Luigi raised his hand. "This is not a one shot
problem; even if it misses we will have to worry about this in twenty
years time." He held up a paper. "This is the orbit of the
asteroid.
If
and I do stress
if
it passes us, which is
becoming highly unlikely, it will fall into an elliptical orbit. That
means it will come back around for another pass twenty years later,"
he explained. Senator Graham grunted and waved his hand. An aid
walked over and took the image from Luigi then handed it to the
senator. He took a look then leaned over and shared it with the other
senators.

"All
right."

"Also
senator, by dealing with this now we get the opportunity to test the
equipment in case of another rock in the future."

Graham
raised his hand. "I think you sold us already son, no need to
overdo it."

Friday
frowned ferociously. "You may be sold Bill, but I sure am not."
She waved the picture. "Why won’t it just keep going out
into deep space?"

Luigi
tried to hide his sigh. "Senator, it doesn't have the speed to
escape the gravity of the sun, it will move out then lose velocity
and arch back inward. Take my word for it; it is a problem we will
have to deal with.”

"So
what if we blow it up?" she asked slapping the paper down.

"No
ma'am, blowing it up only works in Hollywood. We need to divert it
into a path that will never intersect the Earth again," he
explained patiently, shaking his head. She nodded.

"And
why not blow it up?"

Graham
shook his head. "If I may, it is the difference between a big
bullet and a shot gun spread. Same thing either way."

Luigi
nodded. "Yes sir, ma'am. Some of the small debris would burn up,
others could pass us by. But we would still have thousands of others
rocks hundreds of meters long to impact."

The
senator nodded. "Okay, we will take a vote in a few minutes. Why
don't you take a recess while we discuss this?" He waved to the
two men who nodded. He then tapped his gavel.

 ...*...*...*...*...

"How
did you become a biogeochemist Doctor Han?" the reporter asked
as she sat across from the small Chinese scientist. Both had their
legs crossed. The reporter had a pad in her lap. She used her stylus
to take short hand notes.

"I
was child in village. People get sick." Han's brow knit. "Is
poison?" She nodded. "We test soil. We find poison. Soil
test interest me." She waved.

"And
it snowballed from there?" the reporter asked, smiling politely.

Dr.
Han looked confused. A translator leaned forward and murmured for
her. "Oh, yes, it went from there." She nodded eagerly eyes
suddenly bright. "Am very thankful for state education and
opportunity to make history for my country and world." She
nodded a bow.

The
reporter and photographers smiled. "First to Mars, quite a
feather in anyone's cap. Now, about your schooling..."

 ...*...*...*...*...

"Catch
Han's interview?" Mario asked Benny as he sat on the desk
corner, nibbling an apple.

"Nope,
I have better things to do with my time," Benny sighed. "I
think we have the aero capture problem licked, but Luigi wants to
double check. We have to book another drop test." He waved.

"For
aero capture? Need an orbital flight for that," Mario replied.

"No,
the transition to the drop. Luigi wants to test the aero shell
release once more, and refine the precision guidance so we can send a
software update before they hit atmosphere," Benny explained.

Mario
nodded. "Going to be a headache getting the flight time and
landing clearances," he grumbled. After that MAV debacle they
were having increased resistance, even when they used Edwards. Benny
nodded.

"Can
we do it at the arctic training facility?" Mario asked, studying
his apple.

"Maybe...
We wouldn't have any problems with people complaining about the sky
is falling..."

Mario
chuckled. "Don't count the greens out just yet; dropping the
aero shell will have some nut complaining about littering."

Benny
groaned. "You had to remind me!" Mario chuckled.

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

"I
assure you mister ambassador no slight was intended. Doctor Mbeki
failed the team training exercise. He can attempt it again or you can
replace him at your discretion." Doctor Zubrin picked up his cup
and took a sip of coffee.

"I
do not understand why they must undergo military training to go!"
the ambassador snarled and threw his hands up in the air.

"Sir,
have you ever dealt with an emergency? An air leak? Medical
emergency? Hull breach? Radiation?" Doctor Zubrin asked
patiently.

The
Ambassador shook his head. "My grandfather died of a heart
attack, the remainder of my family died at the hands of rebels and
soldiers alike."

Doctor
Zubrin nodded. "You have my sympathies." He paused a
moment.

"These
people are going to one of the most inhospitable place man has gone
too. They have to be able to get things right first time or they or
their crew mates will die. They have to know they can rely on each
other."

The
American ambassador nodded taking up the thread. "Doctor Zubrin
is attempting to explain that while the training course may seem
petty or hard, it is designed to get the crew physically and mentally
up to the challenge. I have spoken with the Instructor's and the
former Master Chief in charge. They did everything they could to get
Doctor Mbeki up to standard," he sighed. "They see it as a
personal failure as well."

The
ambassador sat back then smiled bright even teeth. "They do? I
find that hard to believe."

Doctor
Zubrin nodded. "Sir we, meaning, your country and our program
have spent millions on each astronaut. Losing one like this is
painful," he sighed and spread his hands. "However the cost
would have been magnified if he had failed under pressure and gotten
killed."

The
ambassador nodded. "Yes that is a good point. I will take this
to my government." The Ambassador rose and left.

"How
do you think it will work out?" Doctor Zubrin asked the American
Ambassador as he set his cup down.

"Honestly?
They don't have many people that qualify, maybe three. Mbeki was the
only one who was interested in going," The ambassador sighed and
looked down to smooth his lapel. "They are one of only a few
poor countries to get this far, we're getting flack from both sides
over this. The liberals are complaining we are picking on the poor
countries and should lower standards, the conservatives are saying we
are going easy on them and we shouldn't be using American military
training methods to teach them." He sat back. "I can agree
with some of that, I'm not too happy about that part either."

Doctor
Zubrin looked at him surprised. "You’re kidding me right?"
he asked and then waved. "These techniques aren't new or secret;
they are shown regularly on the military channel. Anyone with a
satellite dish can get them," he said in disgust. "Besides,
if they really wanted them they could just hire a couple mercenary
trainers." He sat back.

The
ambassador nodded thoughtful. "Yes, I never saw it from that
perspective, thank you for pointing that out," he said dryly. He
rose and shook hands with Doctor Zubrin. "I have another
appointment. Mister North can show you out." He waved to the aid
who nodded.

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

"What
is this about the Treadwell’s?" Luigi grimaced.

"That
nut job that wants to be the first to the top of Olympus Mons and the
first to the bottom of the canyon?" Nick sighed. "It's
legit; he is willing to pay a quarter of a billion for him and his
wife to go."

"Are
you serious?" Senator Friday asked.

Nick
turned to the Senator and nodded. "Oh yes ma'am. And yes, we are
seriously considering it. It would pay for a lot in the program."

She
sniffed. "Not much."

Luigi
smiled. "You'd be surprised ma'am. Now that we have the SSTO and
Cyclers in the pipeline the cost per person has dropped to a half a
million dollars after the launch."

She
goggled at him. "Are you serious?"

He
nodded. "Yes ma'am."

She
sat back with a whistle. "You boys are doing wonders," she
murmured. They smiled.

"We're
trying ma'am. We’re going to give you the biggest bang for your
buck."

She
smiled. "You do that."

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

"The
SSTO Mars shuttle will be landing on a cleared strip paved with
duracrete. Hence the emphasis on making Mars concrete." Mario
looked around the group then nodded.

"How
does it take off? With that design, the engines are pointed up at an
angle," an audience member asked. Now that the Treadwell's news
had hit the mainstream there was sudden intent interest in the SSTO.

Mario
nodded. "Right." He clicked the remote. "The team will
build a launch runway complete with ski jump."

Someone
tittered. "Oh come on, like that is possible."

Mario
sighed as he clicked the remote. The image changed to a British
harrier taking off of a ski jump on an aircraft carrier. "If I
may continue?" He glared at the group. They rustled in the dark.
"All right. As I was saying, the SSTO will have wheels, and land
on the Martian soil. The first landing will be on this extremely flat
area a little over twenty three kilometers from the base. As you can
see, it is almost like Groom Lake. We have spotted only a minimum of
debris on it. A few passes with a dozer should rectify that."

He
clicked the remote again. On screen was a diagram of the shuttle
landing and taking off. "We have a link to a simulator; it is in
your notes. Check it out in your free time." He waved. "The
biggest challenge will be the launch ramp. If we build the facility
on the lake bed it will make it easier to do. If we build it closer
to the base, it will take a great deal of time and energy. I am for
the flat area, but some of the higher ups want a closer strip so they
can use the bases facilities," he sighed.

"Both
places have their plus and minus columns. The flat bed is available,
reasonably flat and clean. But it has no area for shelter. We would
have to scratch build something," he explained. He clicked the
remote. "Both for the crew on the ground, and to protect the
craft from the elements." He clicked the remote again. "On
the other hand, closer to base we have to clear a site, level it,
make and pour the duracrete, then shape it to what we want...and hope
the shuttle doesn't land on the base if it has a problem." He
looked over to the screen.

"Okay
Mario, you made your point," Luigi sighed. Mario was obviously
not a fan of putting a tower or base next to the air strip.

Mario
looked up to see his brother in the doorway, arms crossed. The group
turned to look at him, then back to Mario. Luigi had his head down.
"We'll try it your way," Luigi sighed.

"Trust
me Luigi, it will be worth it. A Transhab, some bricks, we can even
locate a reactor there for power...." Mario held his hands
apart.

"Okay
okay. Get me the plan tonight." Luigi moved off. Mario tossed
the remote up in the air and caught it.

"And
that's why you never mess witha plumber now," he hammed the
line. Several people laughed.

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

"Dad
come 'ere and take a look at this! It's like wild!" The teenage
not quite settled voice said. Jim winced. Billy was still hitting the
high notes when he got excited. Puberty hadn't quite settled his
voice yet.

Jim
shook his head tapping at his laptop. "What is it Billy, can't
you see I'm on deadline? I need to get my blog out or my editor is
going to have me for breakfast."

Billy
grabbed his arm. "Really dad, it is sweet!" Jim sighed. He
knew his son; he wasn't going to get anything done until he checked.
The wife had been onto him about spending more time with Billy
anyway.

"Okay
okay, let’s see," he said in exasperation. Hopefully it
would be quick enough not to break his train of thought. The boy
dragged him to his room.

Laughing
he played tug of war with him. Inside were the usual prepubescent
rats nest and his thirteen year old sister. "What your room
trashed again? Been there, seen that, you better clean it."

Billy
rolled his eyes. "No that!" He pointed to the game his
sister was playing.