First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  "Great," he sighed blowing out a breath.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “You’re taking a chance with these two; they have literally no experience with the program,” Nick said. Nick was an aging astronaut turned bureaucrat. Middle management, perfect in his position. Zubrin however wanted young faces, young people that had the zest and energy to inspire people. Mario wasn't much of a looker but his fiancé was and so was his brother. Their Facebook pages were already going viral.

  Nick looked at Doctor Zubrin and shook his head. “You’re putting them in place above some senior people, people with decades of experience who have built careers in the program,” he cautioned.

  Zubrin chuckled. “That's the whole point. You and I will have to keep an eye out for someone to sabotage them, but I want to shake things up. We have a tight window, and we need go getters,” he grinned. Luigi had already started digging into the program and had e-mailed him his first presentation before they'd gotten to Florida. He chuckled. “I checked into both of them, Luigi is twenty, Mario is twenty three. Luigi... for someone to get three, count em, three Doctorates and a masters at his age?” Zubrin shook his head. “Their plasma drive research is also first rate. They cut a few corners, and I am a bit concerned about some of the safety they left out, but overall the project was top notch.” Zubrin smiled as Nick nodded grudgingly.

  “Yeah.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Mario and Luigi filed into Doctor Zubrin's Spartan office. He didn't bother looking around, he had been in it once before. A few paintings were on the wall, all of Mars. No surprise there. A man in a gray suit looked up from his magazine and smiled. “Nick Teutopolis, the Mario brothers.” Nick got up and shook their hands chuckling.

  “THE Mario brothers?” Nick asked teasing. Mario smiled.

  Luigi chuckled. “Not quite, but close. What can I say; our parents have a strange and sick sense of humor.” Mario nodded confirmation.

  “Wanda is still with the vampires. What's up doc?” Mario turned to Doctor Zubrin behind his desk. Zubrin scowled a bit, but in good humor.

  Luigi and Nick groaned. “Oh god here he goes again.” Luigi grumbled out.

  Nick chuckled as Mario turned to scowl at him. “Aren't brother’s fun? I see we will have to keep an eye on them, or the media will have a field day,” Zubrin chuckled.

  Luigi smirked. “They don't know the half of it. So, as my goof ball tinkering big brother was saying, what do you have for us?”

  Doctor Zubrin smiled. “Well, now that you two have been checked out, we need you to go through orientation then get started. Nick here is our liaison with NASA admin. He was a shuttle mission specialist before they retired the fleet.” Nick wiggled his fingers in hello again. Mario nodded. “Nick is a bit of a Joat, Jack of all trades. He will be helping out with paperwork, public relations, and engineering. Just toss him a bone or two and he is good,” Zubrin said.

  Nick turned a mock scowl onto Doctor Zubrin who smiled. “He did a couple summers at the arctic Mars station, so he is up to speed on the hardware.”

  Nick nodded. “You two have a lot to catch up on,” Nick cautioned. Luigi frowned.

  “I read your book on flight over,” Luigi said looking at Doctor Zubrin.

  Zubrin nodded. “Case for Mars?” he asked.

  Mario nodded. “I have it in my own library, the brat nicked it.”

  Luigi held it up. “I have your other books as well, but that one is the place to start.” Mario nodded to Luigi as Doctor Zubrin motioned them to take a seat. The trio did.

  “Are you still planning the chemical power plant for transit delta V?” Luigi asked.

  Zubrin nodded. “At least for the first series of missions.”

  Luigi pulled out a dog eared paper. “Well, Professor Albert told you about our plasma engine right?” Luigi asked. Zubrin nodded.

  Nick whistled. “Wait that was you that blacked out the university? Oh boy, I take it back; working with you is going to get REALLY interesting,” he said. Mario blushed.

  “Well, we were wondering about this.” Luigi handed Doctor Zubrin the paper. He looked it over for a moment, flipped to the second page, and then handed it to Nick.

  “Is this for real?” Nick asked.

  “Yes, the Russians have their new generation of Topaz reactors up and running. For obvious reasons they haven't flight tested them, but we can work on that with a bit of political smooching.”

  Zubrin sat back. “Well, we've been getting some flak for being a strictly American mission. If we go international, we could lose some support from the conservatives, but pick up international support and funding... and smooth over some hard feelings...I was planning on doing it anyway but this is an extra bonus.” Luigi nodded.

  Mario shrugged. “Politics. Way over my head.”

  Luigi smirked. “If it doesn't bolt together or have a certain sine wave curve to it, most things are.” Mario chuckled.

  “I don't know how this would fly,” Nick said examining the paper. “Well if we can get with Boeing or GE, we can build the test bed plasma rocket in a couple months. Getting funding is the tricky bit. But once we do, and if we can get the Russians on board, we can fly a lot faster than one hundred eighty days to Mars...”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "How is the chain of command supposed to work out? Do I report to Nick or vice versa?" Luigi asked as he looked over to Dr. Zubrin. Nick and Mario had left to go about their duties.

  "He reports to you. I brought you on as the program director. Think of him as a liaison and a partner. He knows where the bodies are buried; he has a wealth of knowledge. Someone upstairs has been grooming him for political office. I expect him to jump ship in a few years."

  Luigi shook his head. "Good to know. Working for someone half your age must suck."

  Doctor Zubrin shrugged. "He'll get over it. You are both adults, I expect you two to work it out as adults. He knows you’re a genius."

  Luigi smiled. "Why thanks."

  "But he knows all geniuses are idiots when it comes to the public and politicians." Luigi's face fell into a polite mask until he caught Zubrin's smile.

  "Oh ha ha," he smiled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “So Nick, can I call you Nick?” Luigi looked over to the man who nodded.

  “As long as I can call you Luigi,” Nick replied.

  Luigi smiled running a hand through his hair. “Are you in the running for the Mars crew?” Nick shook his head.

  “My wife and daughter would kill me. SLOWWWLY.”

  Luigi shook his head. “Why?” Luigi asked.

  Nick sighed. “Do you have any idea what you’re in for? Sixteen to twenty hour days seven days a week are the norm. Time all over the country, weeks, months away from your family. And that is just the training! The mission is projected for three years!”

  Luigi grimaced. “Yeah. I can see where they wouldn't be happy.”

  Nick scowled. “It's not just the mission or the danger; it is the whole moving around. Moving from Texas to Alabama, to Florida, back to Texas, and now DC.” He shook his head. “They are still in Texas by the way; I am supposed to be finding a place to live in my copious free time.”

  Luigi chuckled. “They will find a way to punish you later.”

  Nick groaned. “Don't remind me. I never heard a credit card cry before,” Nick grumbled. Luigi laughed, slapping him on the shoulder.

  “So, we have the Russians on board?” Luigi asked excited. He'd heard the boss had been in some high level meetings that morning, all morning and the better part of the afternoon.

  Zubrin nodded, swirling his drink. “But for a price, the Chinese are having a fit.”

  Luigi sighed. “Are they at the table?”

  Zubrin nodded. “Some higher ups are debating on using us as a bargaining chip.”

  Luigi sat back. “Can we spike their guns?”

  Zubrin looked confused. “How so?”

  Luigi smiled. “What about
if we go truly international? Open it to all nations who want to participate and help fund it? Including China.”

  Wendy sucked in a breath. “Damn, that would be wild. A UN mission?” Wendy was one of the bureaucrats in the office. She was a good woman, had a good head on her shoulders and she was young like Mario and Luigi.

  Luigi shook his head. “No, American plans, we get the lead, but the other nations can contribute.”

  Zubrin nodded. “We can try it. I know a couple contacts in the Chinese aerospace program, let me do a little back door whisper campaigning.” Zubrin replied. Luigi smiled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “It is a pleasure to finally meet you ambassador Li,” Luigi bowed politely to the Chinese ambassador.

  “We have much to discuss and my schedule is heavily booked,” the ambassador said. Unlike most Asians the ambassador was short and to the point. The American ambassador looked startled. Normally the Asians were polite, and took ages to get through protocol.

  “A refreshing change. I believe too much of American bluntness has worn off on you Mr. Li,” Luigi smiled politely. Getting to the point suited him just fine.

  The ambassador nodded. “Perhaps.”

  “Well sir, we were discussing the Mars mission. The American administration is open to an international effort if each party is willing to donate funding, material, or other assets to the program.” The ambassador nodded. “I would like to formally invite your country to participate and provide cosmonauts for the program,” Luigi said. Luigi watched but couldn't interpret the facial twitch.

  “Indeed,” the ambassador murmured and then sat back. “And when would they fly if ever?”

  Luigi smiled. “That depends on many factors, such as if they pass the physical and can integrate successfully in the first mission crew. Also funding, resources and such to be worked out.”

  The ambassador's eyes lit. “Such as our withdrawing our complaint about Russian cooperation or the use of their Topaz reactors in space?”

  The American ambassador nodded. “That would be very helpful,” he said.

  “And what do we get in return?” the ambassador asked.

  “Well, a guaranteed spot on the flight crew,” the American ambassador said smoothly. He didn't like the interloper in their midst. The state department didn't need the headache of his complicating presence.

  The Chinese ambassador smiled slightly. “The second flight of course.”

  Luigi shook his head. “If your country matches American funding and resources then the first flight.”

  The American ambassador froze. The Chinese ambassador stared at Luigi, eyes gleaming.

  “Indeed?” The ambassador for China sat back studying them. “And just who would be first to touch the ground?”

  Luigi smiled internally. “Well, it is an American program...” The American ambassador started. He raised his hand slightly.

  Both men stopped. “Would you agree to a joint step off?” Luigi asked. “For all mankind?” The ambassador's looked confused and wary.

  “Joint?”

  “Yes, the entire team steps off jointly. No first among equals.” Luigi sat back as he watched the Chinese ambassador.

  After a long moment the other man nodded thoughtfully. “You are an interesting man sir. I will take this to my government.” The Chinese ambassador nodded.

  “Please do. We would like your participation in this; it is after all an endeavor for all mankind,” the American ambassador recovered quickly. The Chinese ambassador stood as an aid opened the door. Hastily both Americans joined him.

  “Thank you for a most interesting discussion gentlemen I hope the seeds sown here today will bear fruit,” he said. Luigi bowed formally. The ambassador bowed, then shook his hand and waved to the door.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “Who do they think they are offering a joint mission without consulting us?” the Senator snarled. This Mars program was moving at an incredible speed, incredible for those on this hill. Those opposed were having trouble dealing with it. Some were still settling in after the election, others were feeling each other out. Apparently Zubrin had struck while the Senate had been paying attention elsewhere.

  “I believe the leadership told them to get the job done and gave them carte blanch to do so Senator,” an aide replied.

  The Senator glared. “I think they are playing a little above their pay grade,” he growled. He wasn't at all happy about the headlines and progress being made. Mainly because it seemed a waste of money. They'd never get off the ground.

  “Perhaps, but you have to admit, this Luigi character has balls. I thought Ambassador Li was going to goggle at him a few times during his presentation,” the American Ambassador chuckled.

  “Yes, Irons is one to keep an eye on, he may be another Obama with the right grooming,” the Senator growled and sat back. “Okay, let’s see how this plays out.” He stirred his drink.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "We've brought in Bruce Mackenzie and MIT astronautics professor Dava Newman as consultants," Doctor Zubrin nodded to Nick. "I know them both of course. Good people." He waved to the window. "Bruce is the leading authority on building with in situ materials on Mars. Professor Newman is the closest person we have to an expert on building the Mars skin suit. She's brilliant," Zubrin explained to Luigi.

  Luigi nodded. "Okay, good to know." He sat back looking down at his Iphone.

  "Why a skin suit?" Nick asked. "Why not go with an off the shelf design? Or the next gen suits for the moon?" he asked and then waved.

  "Well, first, there is some temperature and atmosphere on Mars, so we can try to get away with a suit that weighs a lot less," Luigi replied.

  Nick grimaced. "Yeah, good point."

  Luigi nodded. "I take it as a mission specialist you had plenty of hands on experience with a suit?"

  Nick grimaced. "I never went out on an EVA, but I still trained for it. Those suits are a pain."

  Luigi nodded. "Right, they use air pressure to keep the occupant from getting the bends, or from the suit exploding. The downside is they are heavy, awkward, and a bitch to move around in."

  Nick nodded. "So what's the big deal about a skin suit?"

  Luigi smiled. "Think of the name." Nicks frowned. "It's a skin suit, basically a wet suit for Mars. It uses mechanical pressure applied by a tightly woven and stitched bodysuit with memory plastic around the joints to apply pressure on the skin of the user. That means a lot more flexibility, and a huge weight saving," Luigi explained. He waved in the air as Nick nodded. "Each suit will have to be tailored to the user, and they can't lose or gain too much weight over time, but with it we can do one hundred times more work than in a pressure suit." Nick nodded.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "All right people, settle down. We have a lot to discuss, and precious little time to go over it all," Doctor Zubrin said to the room at large. Luigi watched as Doctor Zubrin stood at the podium. The theater quieted. "That's better. Now, for those I have not met or don't recognize me, my name is Doctor Robert Zubrin, I am the new head of the space initiative arm of NASA." He waited a moment then looked over to Luigi. "This is Doctor Luigi Irons; Luigi is the new head of the Mars Exploration Initiative." Luigi briefly stood, nodded, and then sat back down.

  Doctor Zubrin returned his attention to the assembly. "Ladies and gentlemen we have been given an ambitious and some would say impossible mandate, to place a team of astronauts and cosmonauts on Mars in three years." Several people gasped at that. Some laughed. He waited for the rumbling to quiet. "Thank you for your concern." He smiled.

  "It's impossible!" someone in the back called.

  "Please reserve your questions for the end of the presentation. I promise it will be brief, we are going to break down into study groups in a few minutes," the doctor said.

  Doctor Zubrin nodded as he then turned to Mario. "Ladies and gentlemen this is Mario Irons. He is the head of engineering for the Mars program. Yes he is the brother of
Doctor Irons." He looked the assembly around. "That won’t be a problem." He held the look then returned to looking at a now squirming Mario. "Mario is a master in his field, despite his distaste for formal wear," he added. Mario blushed. He was wearing a suit, just without a tie.

  Luigi leaned over to him. "Told you you should have worn a tie."

  Mario grimaced. "Not on your life," Mario responded.

  Luigi chuckled. "All right, to begin we have to redesign the Russian Energia launch vehicle to the two point oh version and launch the first payloads to Mars by the end of the year." He looked over to some who were waving their hands in the air.

  He sighed. "Yes, that is not a fantasy; I said the end of the year. THIS year. We're getting most of our money from the second American stimulus package before it goes away. We're going to give people as much bang for their buck as possible."

  Some had their jaws open. NASA had never moved so fast. "Folks a lot of the ground work has been laid by myself and others like me. To facilitate our plan we are going to import as many experts as we can. Doctor George Zhukov is the head of the Energia two point oh redesign team." Doctor Zubrin waved to the heavyset Russian to his right. He nodded back. “The Energia Two is officially called the Uragan, which is Russian for hurricane,” Zubrin explained and then smiled politely.

  "Doctor Newman is the head of our Mars suit program.” The brunette woman raised her hand and waved. "Doctor Mackenzie is in charge of our base layout and expansion. Mario Irons will take up the initial design of the MAV, while I will take up the hab design. Luigi will handle the ERV, nuclear power plant, and other bits. Each of you have in your hand out which group you are with, please go to the indicated room when we are finished here." He looked over the assembly.

  "We have five minutes for questions not covered in the FAQ of your documentation." A rustling could be heard as people pulled their hand outs out and started looking through them. "Now, for the obvious, the mission plan is simple, one orbital ERV, one Orion MAV, one hab, one cargo lander, an SSTO, three rover designs, and two plasma driven ferry designs. Those are the craft we will work on based off of current designs. We are also going to use several robots currently in the pipeline and a Bigelow Genesis one Transhab. Anyone have questions about the various craft?"