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.
"So what's next when you get back? The moon?" the reporter asked nervously.
Bruce chuckled. "Nothing so tame. We will probably take a year or two off then perhaps go to Titan or back to Mars," he said with a shrug.
The anchor sat their looking stunned. "Titan?" Bruce smile turned into a grin.
“I hear it has oceans we can dive in. There is even a chance of life under the ice!" Bruce replied, enjoying the other
man's discomfort.
The anchor looked at the director helplessly then nodded. "And that's all the time we have, thank you sir for a stimulating interview...” The sequence cut to commercial.
...*...*...*...*...
Joyce groaned as Wanda set up the camera. "Not this again," she sighed.
"Yup. Don't worry, this time we have a script." Wanda handed her a tablet.
"Let me see that," Joyce growled and looked it over. "Recycling?" she asked scanning it.
Wanda nodded. "Here, we'll watch the clip on camera, and then the two of us will show them." She hit the button. "Okay we're live. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Mar's base. I am your hostess Wanda Irons, with Commander Joyce Longfeather. We are going to go over our life support here in a moment. But first, let's watch the clip."
Wanda clicked the remote and an earnest freckle faced young girl looked out at them and waved to the camera. Wanda and Joyce smiled and waved back. "Hello, my name is Leslie, I'm a fifth grader at Marion T Morse in Lisbon Falls Maine and I was wondering, why do we have to send you all sorts of food and air? Can't you recycle some there?"
Wanda hit the pause button then turned to the camera. "Well Leslie, good question. The answer is we already do. In fact we recycle all of our water and air." She inhaled deeply then exhaled. "As you can see, the Commander and I are wearing our skin suits. In a moment we will take you outside and show you how we make and recycle our air and water." Wanda finished and turned to Joyce. She smiled for the camera as Wanda picked it up off the tripod.
"But first we are going to take you on a tour of our two greenhouses and our mushroom farm," Joyce said. She walked through the Hab. Wanda followed.
...*...*...*...*...
"Well, that was interesting, I wonder if any of the major news agencies will pick it up," Joyce commented as she sat down.
"Oh, you could say that," Toshi replied dryly.
"What does that mean?" Joyce asked suspiciously.
"Only this," he said. He clicked the remote and the big screen changed to a news report.
"It is utterly reprehensible for those Marsnauts to showcase themselves like that! In swimsuits no less! To children! CHILDREN!" The woman waved angrily in the air. "Totally unacceptable!"
The reporter nodded. "What is this Fox?" Mario asked. Wanda nodded looking sick. "They think a form fitting skin suit is a bathing suit?" Mario asked chuckling.
"Well on us it may look it," Wanda sighed. "Not much skin exposed." He shook his head. “Change it to Rachel on MSNBC, let's hear the liberal side."
Toshi changed the channel. After a few moments the computer changed to the MSNBC feed. "Okay let me get this straight, the conservatives and some... let’s just say, backwards uptight people are having a fit over the astronauts wearing their space suits?" Rachel asked in disbelief and then shook her head. "I can't believe that anyone would find a space suit inappropriate for them to wear! What are they supposed to go outside in? Their underwear?"
Mario chuckled. "Might be a new look for you Wanda." She tossed a pillow at him.
"Shssh I wanna hear this," Joyce replied.
"I mean honestly, taking this report the astronauts did, and twisting it...” Rachael twisted her hands and then grimaced. "Granted, the Mars program does cost a lot of money, money that could be used for other things..." she said. Mario grimaced.
"Turn it off," Joyce sighed. "They've been harping about cost for a while now. We're working on a shoe string but they still don't get it," she said, thoroughly disgusted. Joyce shook her head.
Mario sighed. "Typical. They see success, the public becomes disinterested, and we get shafted," he growled. Joyce walked out. "What'd I say?" Mario turned to Wanda. Not a thing honey, that's the problem. Sometimes honesty isn't the best thing to go with," Wanda sighed.
...*...*...*...*...
"Hey Tess can you get me the spare camera? Number twelve is still on the fritz so I want to swap it out." Mario came around the corner to see Sergei with his arms wrapped around Tess. She was giggling but their lips were locked. "Okay... Never mind..." Mario spun and walked away chuckling.
"You wouldn't believe what I just saw..." Mario chuckled looking bemused as he walked in with his wife.
She smiled. "What dear? A two headed Martian?" she teased. He shook his head and sat down at the table.
"Well, Tess and Sergei were getting it on in the electronics' trunk of hab two."
Wanda looked up and grinned. "Get out of here! She finally caught him?" she demanded, grinning.
He looked at her confused. "She caught him?" he asked then snorted.
"Are you kidding me? She's been stalking him for weeks!" Wanda replied with a grin.
Mario chuckled. "Well, now that you mention it she has been a bit preoccupied and acting a little hand dog..."
Wanda shook her head. "That's because she couldn't get him to recognize her. We told her to do whatever is necessary to get his attention," she replied and then grinned. Tess had helped Sergei get the ponds going. Apparently that had helped break the ice with him.
"I guess she did," Mario chuckled. "So Toshi and Joyce, Tess and Sergei, The Waldecker’s, man... love is in the air!" Mario smiled.
Wanda chuckled. "Well, it's technically spring out there." She waved to the outside porthole. He chuckled.
"Maybe you can tell, I can't," he said. He shook his head.
“At least Toshi should be out of his casts soon, it's been seven weeks,” Mario finally said when she didn't say anything. He shook his head. “Gotta hand it to him, he's taken the convalescence better than I expected.” He shook his head. “We're almost done the tunnel, Tess and I sprayed the inside with resin this morning. We should be able to pressure test it by the weekend.” He shrugged. “I need to make more resin for any patches that will be needed,” he sighed.
She nodded. “Just don't ask me to use it.” She shivered. He sighed again.
“So that's the tunnel.” Mario explained to Joyce. They waved to Wanda as she and Tess pulled up. “Finished early?” he asked.
Tess hefted a sample case. “Was just quick run,” she replied and then shrugged.
“Well ladies, how about I treat you to an early lunch?” he teased.
“Since I'm the one doing the cooking shouldn't I be asked?” Wanda chuckled.
“Okay, so I can't cook worth a hill of beans,” Mario smiled. At least scratch cook. They both knew he could microwave if he had the directions handy... and followed them.
Wanda, Tess, Joyce, and Mario entered the lock and waited patiently for it to pressurize and finish decontamination. When the green light by the door lit they gratefully took off their helmets. "God sometimes I hate having to wear this monkey suit. I have to itch so bad it isn't funny!" Joyce complained.
Wanda chuckled. "Yeah, it does leave you uncomfortable. Just be glad you've never had the runs in it," she sighed.
"Yeah. No hot tamales," Mario grinned.
Wanda wrinkled her nose at him. “Yeah," she said and glowered. He chuckled.
Joyce opened the door and they felt a wave of hot air blast at them. "What in the world?" Wanda asked as they exited the lock.
"Is the ac on the fritz?" Joyce asked. She was suddenly very worried about a possible fire.
"I hope not, too much of this and we will start having fried electronics. Tess check the electronics, I'll check the thermostat," Mario ordered. He set his helmet in his cubby and jogged to the life support section.
"I think I know what's going on," Joyce grumbled ominously. "She can't leave well enough alone," she sighed.
"No, I can't find a fault," Mario reported a few minutes later. "What the devil is going on? It's gotta be at least ninety in here!" He slapped at the wall.
"Eighty five, I just checked the thermostat. Someone turned it up," Wanda reported.
"What the hell?" Mario turned to her.
She held up her hands. "Don't look at me, I was out with you remember?"
Joyce groaned. "She didn't."
> Wanda gave her a look. "I don't know. We don't know that. It could be an accident," Wanda cautioned.
"Maybe. Tess." Mario pressed the intercom. "Tess check the temperature logs for the past week or so." He looked around. "All right, where is she? I assume we're talking about Doctor Waldecker right?" he growled. Joyce nodded.
“Is not good. Toshi is asleep." They turned to see Tess climbing down the ladder. She held up a tablet. "Is not good. Something is wrong with temperature, is going up to eighty five during day."
Mario looked over to her. "A computer glitch?" he asked.
"No, is manual change. Manual override," Tess reported, double checking again to be sure. She nodded, eyes grim.
He grimaced. "Cut the damn heat now. Turn on the AC, let's get this sorted out." He looked around.
"I checked the lab here; she's not in this Hab," Wanda reported. One down, two to go.
“Hopefully she doesn't have them all this hot," Mario grimaced.
"Da is very bad for habs, for electronics. Life... shortened...” Tess waved.
"Tess check the others. Joyce, she's your responsibility I know...” he said.
Joyce frowned ferociously. "Oh yeah, believe me she's going to get it."
He sighed. "I take it you've run into this problem before?" he asked. He wished she'd told him earlier.
She nodded, face grim. "She played with the temperature on the way out. Sergei and Toshi had to put a stop to it. When she sits still for a long period she gets cold," Joyce sighed in disgust.
Mario snarled. "Find her." He waved. "Spread out." He climbed the ladder to the living quarter’s deck.
"Mario what are you going to do?" Wanda followed him up. He went around checking the bedrooms, finding them empty.
"Going to give her a piece of my mind first, maybe tear her a new one in the process." He shook his head. "Not here."
He went to the computer. "Let's see...” He pulled up the diagnostics. "Right, Tess has already reset the temperature controls on all three habs. Hmmm..." He snapped his fingers. "Power." He typed for a minute.
"What are you doing?" Wanda asked. He shushed her.
"Give me a minute." A graph came up. "Okay, here's the power for each Hab. Hab two has a power spike in the lab. Gotta be where she is." He got up and turned and started down the ladder. "She's in Hab two lab," Mario called.
First Steps (Founding of the Federation) Page 29
