First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Mario came into the foyer and took his helmet off. He looked down at the dust in the airlock. The vacuum system kicked on, sucking the remaining particles out through the grid. "I need a shower and take out," he muttered rolling his shoulders.

  "I don't think they deliver this far out," Wanda teased.

  "God what I wouldn't give for a pizza right about now," Mario sighed.

  Wanda smiled mischievously. "Well, it's not Pizza Hut but..." She waved to her husband. He looked confused. She grabbed him by the hand and dragged him into the kitchenette.

  Tess was sitting on a stool with a slice of pizza half way to her lips. She grinned. "Is good!" The commander held up a thumbs up. Li and Yung chuckled.

  "Hot damn, how did you pull this one off?" Mario asked as he turned to his wife.

  She grinned. "It's easy dummy. Tomatoes, parsley, yeast... mushrooms, peppers...the hardest was the cheese, cornmeal, and wheat," she explained. She smiled.

  He hugged her to his side. "Thanks," he said gruffly.

  She smiled. "Happy birthday Mario," she said as he looked down at her startled. "Don't tell me you forgot again," she teased.

  He chuckled looking bewildered. "Too be honest, yeah. We've been kinda busy..." The crew laughed.

  "Yung and Li are going to show us how to make some traditional Chinese dishes next week," Wanda informed him as he sat back rubbing his tummy. He looked over to the two who bowed smiling politely.

  "Great!" He smiled. "Chinese is my second favorite food, besides Italian." He looked at his wife who rolled her eyes.

  "With a name like Mario I would never had guessed," she deadpanned wryly. He chuckled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Mario can you do anything to extend the range of the rovers? Three hundred fifty kilometers out and back is getting a little limiting you know?" Wanda asked him as he stacked bricks.

  "What about setting up a way station?" he grunted as he picked the stack up and hefted it over to the kiln.

  "Way station?" Wanda asked, pausing.

  "Yeah, we can build an equipment shed with bricks two hundred fifty or so kilometers out. Put an inflatable tank or two of ethylene. Water, and O two out there with it. You could stop there, refuel and move on extending your range by half. Then come back refuel and return to base."

  She looked over to where he was stacking bricks on the rover. "Can you do it?" she asked.

  He shrugged. "We can try it." He went back for another load. Carefully she picked a brick up and handed it to him.

  "Give it a shot please?" she asked. He looked up to her. She was smiling.

  "Okay, I'll put it on my to-do list," he said and smiled back.

  She patted his arm. "Thanks Hon." He shook his head as she walked off. Mario went inside to clean up.

  "Luigi, what do you think?" Mario asked as he set his helmet down on the desk and looked at the image of his brother.

  "Not going to change big brother?" Luigi asked. Mario snorted. There was a time lag and obviously they were out of sync.

  "Luigi, Wanda wants us to build a way station or two out about three hundred clicks to extend the range of the rovers. I was thinking they would also act as shelters in case of a solar flare or break down."

  He checked his gear over as he waited for a reply. "Got that big brother. Okay, Sounds good, you’ll have to bump a couple missions to do it. You’re off mission anyway," Luigi replied. Luigi sighed running his hand through his hair. "Yeah, do it. Shoot me the plans when you get a chance."

  Mario smiled. "Thanks little bro, see you out here." He clicked the channel off. "Now that we have permission I get to break it to the crew," he sighed.

  · Chapter 9

  Vault:

  Mario finished his orange juice and looked up to see his wife coming in. "Morning honey." She looked tired, and grumpy. "I know you’re not tired because of me." He shook his head.

  "Some of us do real work, not just sitting around playing video games all day," she snarled. His eyes widened.

  Tess looked up startled. She opened her mouth to defend him but he waved her away. "Would you like some breakfast?" he asked. She shook her head, one hand on her stomach and left.

  "What was that about?" Tess asked.

  "You should know. I am surprised your body clocks haven't synced up yet," Mario replied.

  "Oh. That time eh?” Yung asked.

  "Yeah, looks that way." Mario replied with a drawl, looking at the open door. "Best thing to do is to stay out of her hair for a couple days until she gets a handle on things," he sighed. "I'll see you outside Tess." He waved as he left.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Wanda can you come in here for a moment?" She looked up then warily followed the sound of her husband's voice.

  "You're not going to pounce on me are you? We have to plan something for this anniversary dinner. I mean E-rats and limp veggies don't cut it," she answered testily. He chuckled. She honed in on the noise of his laughter. "So what do you want?" She grumped.

  He turned to see her leaning against the door jam. He smiled. "Well, since you’re the cook, I figured you should be the one to take charge of this." He tapped a large canister on the desk.

  "And just what is this supposed to be?" she asked eyebrow arched.

  He smiled. "Open it and find out." He got up and moved aside. She gave him an amused 'okay I'll humor you but this better be good' look as she squeezed in next to him. He couldn't resist a little horseplay of course.

  She slapped his hands away. "Down boy. Heel," she growled, dimpling.

  He pretended to pout. "And after all the work we put into getting you this."

  She looked at the can. "What is it motor oil? Is that brine?" she asked. He sighed as he flipped the lid up. She sniffed.

  "Okay, sewage. Nice one."

  He stopped her from moving back. "Oh ye of little imagination." He reached in and pulled. Turkey skin was exposed.

  "What, a turkey? A whole turkey?? No way!" She eagerly grabbed the can.

  "Careful."

  She looked up eyes shining. "Damn."

  He chuckled. "Well, Luigi had it put in for this occasion. I am not sure how the Han's will take to it, but it should be a nice change," he said. She smiled then kissed him long and thoroughly.

  When she let him up for air she grinned at his dazed expression. He ran a hand down her side. "You’re a treasure you know that?" she murmured.

  "Well, just need to keep my lady happy," he said, thoroughly enjoying the moment. She kissed him again then let go and grabbed the can. "I've got work to do. Expect a long work out later." She smiled mischievously as she turned and walked out.

  He sighed happily and placed his hands behind his head. "It's a rough job, but I think I can handle it," he said softly.

  "I heard that!" she called. He chuckled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  The clink of glass on glass made the commander and Wanda look up in surprise. Li and Mario had come in holding a bottle of wine and glasses for each of them. "Here." Wanda got up and re-leaved her husband of the wine bottle. She knew how he was around glass.

  "So you were saying that your husband had to be talked into joining?" The commander leaned back and watched as they set eh glasses down. "How you managed to get stem glasses..." He shook his head and held up his hands. "Never mind, I don't want to know." He chuckled as Wanda tugged at the cork.

  Mario grinned. "Help you with that dear?"

  She grunted. "I got it." She wrestled with it then handed it to him exasperated. He smiled and pulled his multi tool out of his pocket. He flipped the corkscrew out. She groaned. "Sure, do it the easy way," she accused him. He grinned at her as he screwed it in. "Yeah, this reject from a video game had to be sweet talked into joining." She leaned over and smiled sweetly to her husband who snorted.

  "Wait, didn't you tell me you were the Mars fan?" Mrs. Han sat back with her legs crossed.

  He chuckled. "Yeah, come to think of it, you
’re right," Wanda replied thoughtfully. Wanda turned a glare onto him. "So all that convincing was for nothing?" she asked heatedly. His grin widened. The cork popped and he stood straight.

  "Oh, I wouldn't say for nothing," he said waggling his eyebrows. He leered at her until she blushed and took the bottle from him.

  Carefully she poured each of them a glass. When they each had a glass the commander held his glass high. "To our one year anniversary and the people who made it possible." They each murmured then took a sip.

  "To our countries for working together to make it so," Li saluted with his glass.

  Mario smiled and nodded. "To the future," he added.

  The next morning they did their usual morning routine then settled into the galley for a late breakfast.

  "What happened to your trench? I noticed you filled it in. Did you get tired of playing in the dirt?" Wanda asked taking a sip of her coffee.

  Tess looked up. "Nyet we finished the vaults. Is done for now." She nodded to Mario who was pouring a cup.

  "Vaults?" Wanda demanded, now curious. She turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

  "Yeah." He stirred in cream and sugar.

  "You know that stuff is bad for you?" she teased.

  He saluted her with the cup. "Well, if you stuck around more I wouldn't have to rely on sugar to get all my sweetness."

  She dimpled a little and let out a gurgled laugh. "Cute smart guy."

  He smiled. "Well I try." took a sip.

  "Try harder next time," Tess groaned getting up. "I am going to do the chores. We need to get the rovers turned around so they can go out tomorrow." She waved as she left.

  Mario smiled. "Alone at last." He set his cup down and put one hand on either side of her.

  "Morning folks!" Commander Bower came in.

  "Hold that thought boyo," Wanda chuckled. She hugged him then escaped his grasp. He sighed noisily in exasperation giving the commander a disgusted look.

  “What? Something I said?” the commander asked.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Awe crap. Storm coming in," Mario sighed, checking the weather read out. Mission control had warned them of a possible storm.

  "Storm?" the commander asked looking up.

  "Yeah, dust storm. Mission control has been watching it. It has clouded over the southern hemisphere, but a finger is heading up to us."

  Wanda looked over his shoulder. "Bad blow?" Wanda asked frowning. She'd expected more storms but so far they had been lucky. Apparently their luck was about to end.

  He shrugged. "Well, Mission control is concerned. They are grounding us until it passes," he explained.

  She sighed, now thoroughly annoyed. "Great." She ran her hand through her hair. "There goes the schedule," she muttered.

  Mario shrugged. "Well, since we can't do that... I can work on a few projects around the base," he smiled.

  The commander sighed. "Might as well, we aren't going out in that if we are grounded."

  Wanda frowned. "Almost as if you planned this," she grumped to Mario.

  He chuckled. "Dear I am good, but influencing the weather? Bit beyond even me with present tools." He waved to the Hab. She gave him the eye. He smiled. "Honest injun dear," he held one hand over his heart.

  She smiled. "Okay I'll let you off the hook this one time."

  He sighed in mock relief. "Thank you dear, you are a treasure."

  Tess chuckled. "So, we spray the interior of the vaults?" He nodded to her.

  "Vaults? Those things you've been making?" Wanda demanded.

  Tess smile turned into a Cheshire grin. "Is more than one. Have three now." She held up three fingers. “Plus airlock.”

  Wanda looked over to her husband. "My you have been busy."

  He chuckled. "Well you were all complaining about space so Tess, the commander, the Hans, and I decided to do something about it..." He waved to the porthole.

  She went over and sat down on the bench looking out. "I can't see much."

  He chuckled. "Well, you can see it later if I can pry you from the lab long enough."

  She smiled. "And here I thought you were going to make a pass at me."

  He smiled. "Later dear." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

  "In that tiny room?" she demanded. He smile turned into a grin of pure mischief. "Ohhh no." She held up her hands. "Hold it Casanova. No way."

  He chuckled. "We'll see," he teased. She dimpled. They'd had fun in quite a few broom closets over the past couple of years she remembered.

  "Let us go see the vault yes?" Tess asked as she stood.

  "Good idea. I've only seen it from the outside so far," the commander grunted.

  "Well, it's not my fault you insist on playing taxi driver for the egg heads," Mario teased. His wife pinched him. "Owe! Sorry geesh," he rubbed the now sore bit of flesh.

  She smiled. "You'll pay for that," she replied.

  "I thought I just did. Send me the bill, I think I can pay it later..." He leered as he followed Tess and the commander out.

  "You two need a room," the commander joked.

  "I thought that was what we were working on?" Mario chuckled as he pulled his skin suit out of his locker. The commander chuckled as well.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  The Commander admired the view as he looked out at the orange red sky. “Damn, it's like Sydney in September of oh nine.” He shook his head.

  “Bet you didn't expect to wake up to an orange haze did you?” Wanda laughed. “It's the iron in the dust, bet we will be seeing this for days or weeks,” she sighed.

  “Well, if it is going to be like this I think I will check out the vaults your husband and Tess have been working on. Last time I checked they were only had the walls built.” The Commander shook his head. “It's amazing what they accomplished,” he said. He smiled.

  Wanda shrugged. “That's Mario for you. Always building. I'll be in the lab if you need me.” She waved and left.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Wow!" The commander ran his flash light up to the top of the vault ceiling six meters over his head. "You did all this?" He whistled as he shined the light around. "What are those bricks sticking out half way out?" He held the light onto one of the bricks.

  "Supports for the next floor." Tess responded as she hefted the sprayer. "A little help here?" she asked plaintively.

  Mario took the other end of the compressor. "Got it." He helped her move it to the center of the room.

  "You’re going to spray resin on the inside?" The commander asked. "Why?" He looked over to Mario.

  "To seal it. We already did the outside before we buried it," Mario answered.

  "Oh." He watched as Tess and Mario ran hoses and power lines out.

  "All set, I'll show the commander the other vaults and be back in a minute," Mario said. Tess waved as she began to spray. A thick grayish goop came out of the nozzle. She made some adjustments and it turned into a fine mist. Carefully she started spraying the nearest wall. She worked from the top down. "Looks good. We may have to adjust the viscosity," Mario muttered.

  "This way. The first chamber is a living room that connects to the small test chamber we passed through which can be used as an airlock. Above can be space for the scientists." They entered the next vault. “Here is space for more labs and a kitchen. He pointed to one corner. "We salvaged the kitchenette from the MAV and put its equipment there."

  The commander looked it over. "Okay." He looked up. "Bedrooms above? How do you plan on getting to them?"

  Mario smiled. "Well we can make a ladder, or a brick staircase, but I would prefer a spiral staircase," he sighed. "That is something we haven't planned very well yet. I can get some material from the MAV, A ladder or steps and such, but I am not sure how high we can go with it." He waved to the next vault.

  "The openings are arcs; we can plug them if necessary like this with an airlock door."

  The commander admired the airlock door they had managed to hang. "It works?" the Commander asked.


  Mario swung the door back and forth. "Yes, but we can't test the seal until we finish spraying and running the life support." He waved to the next room. “This vault is the gallery atrium. We did things a bit differently in here."

  The commander looked around. Half the room was covered in arches supporting brick braces connecting to the wall. "It seems, bigger for some reason. Deeper?" he asked as they looked around. "It shouldn't with these here right? What am I missing?" he asked.

  Mario nodded. "Oh it's bigger, twice as big as the first two. Three floors, four times longer and twice as wide." Mario waved to the exterior wall. "Remaking the arch properly was a royal pain. We have the technique down so it will be easier if we make another down the road."

  He sighed. "Can't really, we are out of nylon." He shrugged. "We don't have the fiberglass or glass making gear that is coming in the next flight. I can adapt the plastic though if we really want more bricks. Personally I am heartily sick of the damn things." He turned a nearby light stand on and pointed it up. "See each floor steps back a bit. We can create an open space to help ease the eyes and fill with plants." He smiled as the commander bobbed in agreement.

  He traced one hand along the bricks. "Too bad you didn't have the glass maker; we could make glass blocks and put them into the wall instead of the porthole windows," the commander responded. "Right about here. Or light pipes into the ceiling." He pointed upward.

  Mario nodded. "Yeah, but Luigi was worried about stress on the frame, so he left that out of the initial plans."

  The commander looked over to him suddenly alert. "This was planned? All of it?" he asked.

  Mario smiled. "All and more. We've been planning all sorts of things like this as contingency ideas." He chuckled. "Check your handbook, it's in there."

  The commander grimaced. "That thing. Couple thousand pages of techno speak."

  Mario chuckled slapping him on the shoulder pauldron. "I know the feeling. Come on, let’s go check on Tess."

  The commander followed him back to the first vault. They stopped and admired her work. "You know, this isn't right. We should at least be able to admire her work with a beer or two," The commander joked.