First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  "Can we help?" Mr. Treadwell asked.

  "Sure. I know you’re going to be busy preparing for the Olympus Mons trip, but I never turn down a helping hand." Mario smiled as he held out a hand.

  Mr. Treadwell took it and shook it firmly. "Glad to oblige. Least we can do." Bruce said with a smile. Mario chuckled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Luigi smiled as Doctor Zubrin finished his report. He looked up to his brother standing in the doorway arms crossed. "What are you all smug about?" Mario asked.

  "Well, remember I mentioned a conglomerate wanting to buy out the gas giant mining? Well another was formed to compete with them. And another was formed by mining companies interested in exploiting the belt. They are negotiating with the space agency to lease one of the ferries to deliver cargo and crew to an asteroid they’ve even plunked down twenty mil to do a joint study program to build the hardware!" Luigi grinned.

  "Good. Glad it's working out," Mario said and then nodded. One of his fondest dreams, hell one of his father's, his mother's, and his brother's was to see space industry take root and for mankind to take that next great step into the unknown.

  Luigi sighed. "Mario, you just don't get it, with more explorers and industry we can expand! We can export things! Bob had the idea of a triangle trade, with the Earth providing electronics and hardware, while we provide fuel and food. The belters and other colonies provide metals... See, we can do this," he said firmly.

  Mario nodded. "And keeping the ferries in flight will keep us in business," he replied. Luigi nodded.

  "And don't forget, the only way we're ever going to get fusion and other technologies off the ground are to build them into space craft," Luigi replied.

  Mario nodded. "Yeah, I remember Prof Kembly talking about that. How steam and fission power really got their starts in ships." Mario shrugged. "It's a bit different in our time."

  Luigi shook his head. "Where there is a will there is a way."

  Mario smiled bitterly. "You're forgetting the greens little bro. I am going to work on the barn; we need to get those goats out of the vaults, their driving Tess nuts trying to eat everything." He waved as he left.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  A young woman came up to Doctor Zubrin and handed him a blue slip of paper. "What's this?" he asked. She grinned and walked off. "What the hell? A subpoena? For what?" Zubrin demanded. He looked up but the woman was gone. "You are ordered to attend a deposition in the following lawsuit. The Anti Mars conspiracy group versus Doctor Zubrin and the Mario brothers," he read out loud in disbelief.

  Nick came over and looked at Bob. "What's so funny boss?" Zubrin handed him the subpoena. "You’re kidding right?" Nick read the subpoena and then laughed. "This has got to be some sort of joke...” He shook his head.

  "Nope, I don't think so," Bob sighed. "Time to call out the dogs, or at least the lawyers." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Stacy? Yes, I need to speak with the head of legal. Now."

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "So you see your honor it is a legal subpoena and should be honored. The so called Mars program should produce the Mario brothers for depositions." The lawyer stood in front of his table and turned, smiling for the cameras.

  "Let me get this straight counselor, you want the federal government to produce the Mario brothers for a deposition in a timely manner," the judge asked, trying to suspend his disbelief and take the matter seriously as proper etiquette required.

  The attorney nodded. "Yes your honor. We would like a speedy civil trial," he said. Zubrin scowled.

  "Counselor you do realize they are over forty five million miles away, they can't just hop a bus and be here in an hour," the judge scowled.

  "Nether the less, the subpoena is valid."

  The NASA attorney chuckled. "Point of order your honor, in fact it is not a legal subpoena, it is addressed to the Mario brothers and does not give a location. Nor was it presented to them, it was presented to Doctor Zubrin." The attorney motioned to Bob. Bob nodded.

  "I don't see the problem here," the judge said and then adjusted his glasses.

  "Well your honor, a legal subpoena must have the actual full name of the participants, not a trademarked character name from Nintendo." The judge looked confused. "I believe Nintendo is doing all sorts of fascinating things with AI, but suing a pair of game characters?" The attorney spread his hands. "Aren't we going a little too far?" He shook his head.

  "You’re saying they are fake? Computer Sims? I knew it!" A woman in the back started to get hyper.

  The judge tapped the gavel. "Quiet now. Miss, sit down and be quiet or you will be found in contempt of court." He pointed to the woman and then down. She reluctantly sat pouting.

  "Now, to the second point, there is no address listed on the form. Third, it was presented to another party, not to the Irons," the attorney finished.

  "I understand they don't have regular mail to Mars," the judge joked.

  "With all due respect, yes they do. They have electronic mail, and packages can be delivered every two years," The NASA attorney replied.

  The judge chuckled. "Talk about a long wait, I'm glad I don't have their service problem. Must be hell to get a pizza." He shook his head as the gallery tittered.

  The plaintiff started to object. "Over ruled. Have a seat counselor. "I agree, the subpoena is not valid on its face. However I do believe its intent was to get the Mario brothers to attend correct?"

  The Plaintiff Counselor stood and nodded. "Yes your honor." The judge nodded.

  "To what end?" the judge asked. The suit was vague and laughable on its face. By rights he should toss it but entertaining it meant he received some face time. That might help his career down the road.

  "Well, if they can be here in a timely manner it proves they are not on Mars. If they are not here in a timely manner they are in default and in contempt," the Counselor replied smugly.

  The judge shook his head. "Talk about a catch twenty two. Well I won’t have it. You'll get your discussion with the Mario brothers. The dinosaur is another story.” Several tittered at that.

  The NASA attorney raised his hand. "You're honor do you intend to call Mario and Luigi Irons?"

  The judge nodded. "Yes, yes I do. We can do a video conference." The plaintiff shook his head. "You have a problem with that?" The judge asked looking at him.

  "You're honor they could easily use computers to falsify the Mario brothers! We would have no proof that they were here!" the plaintiff complained. Doctor Zubrin sighed.

  "I take your meaning, but not your intent counselor,” The judge replied. He turned to Doctor Zubrin. "Mr. Zubrin," The judge called.

  Bob looked up then stood. "Yes your honor?” Bob stood. He wasn't happy about his title's being forgotten but decided not to argue.

  “Mr. Zubrin, can you testify under oath that the video will be live?" The judge asked.

  Bob shook his head. "You're honor; due to the speed of light limitation no one can do that. There is an eight minute time lag between us and Mars one way. So any conversation will have to be in video files. Also any form of uncompressed conversation would be prohibitively expensive to the agency," Dr. Zubrin explained patiently.

  The judge harrumphed. "Sixteen minutes, no way to speed it up? Bounce it off a satellite?" Bob shook his head. "All right, then we'll have to do it your way." He waved the plaintiff's to their seats. "We can have a computer expert determine if they are valid," he sighed.

  "You're honor, if I may, I am here now, may I testify?" Bob asked.

  The judge nodded. "Yes, perhaps we can lie this to rest right here." He waved to the box next to him. Cameras clicked as Doctor Zubrin stepped up and was sworn in.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "You believe this crap?" Mario asked. The others shook their heads.

  "There are always people out there who are willing to believe in conspiracies and hoaxes. Then there are all sorts of people who are willing to use them to their own ends," Mr.
Treadwell sighed.

  "Yeah," Mario sighed.

  "Well, we're going to get everyone on camera, inside and out, and do a continuous take," Luigi said. They had already called his family up, his classmates, his teachers, and even the doctors who had attended to him while he convalesced. No matter what they said the skeptics would still clung to their disbelief he knew.

  "You know that won’t stop them," Treadwell cautioned.

  "Oh I know, but it should make people wonder. And we can have more people who have met us in real life testify." Luigi replied. "I was thinking reporters, senators, all sorts of people." Luigi grinned.

  Mario started to chuckle. "Yeah, having them on the spot for a change would be fun to watch."

  Wanda came in. "What did I miss? Am I still married to a figment of my imagination?" She kissed Mario.

  Mario chuckled. "Some figment," he said. She grinned.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "As you can see your honor, we've all gathered in the vault for this presentation. You can ask any of us a question. I know it is beyond the scope of your intention, but we wished to put this matter to rest, as do the astronauts and their families who have already returned to Earth." Luigi smiled tightly. "We have given you a tour of the base; now let’s start when you are ready. We will do this as a live take, no cuts. We will record as we hear the questions and as we answer them from multiple camera angles." Luigi waved to each of the cameras.

  "We are ready when you are." He looked at one of the monitors.

  “Before we begin, can we say hello to mom?” Mario grinned looking from Luigi to the camera.

  “Mom? She's there?” Mario asked in surprise.

  “Dad too.” Luigi chuckled as they and their wives waved. Sixteen minutes later their parents half stood and waved.

  The judge chuckled. “Well, I see some things never change. Mr. and Mrs. Irons please have a seat, we may be calling you.” They both sat and nodded.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Six hours into the depositions the Judge finally called a halt. "I see no further use of this. There is no cause for this suit and to continue would put an undue burden on the NASA agency and the defendants. Case is dismissed," he said. The Judge rapped the gavel. The attorneys looked stunned.

  Mario chuckled. "I guess we won." He hugged Wanda. "Now we can get back to work. I want to see if we can finish that vault tomorrow. The door is finished; we just need to finish sealing around it... Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" He waved to the camera. Wanda chuckled as Luigi shut the cameras off.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Reporters pounced on the Irons as they filed out of the courthouse. “What do you think of the allegations that you two are actors or conspirators in a great hoax?”

  Mrs. Irons turned to the reporter who asked the question and laughed. “Son, you don't know my boys. They would never participate in a hoax. Sure they love the occasional prank, but usually it is on each other.” Mr. Irons smiled. “Or family members,” he said eying his wife. Several people chuckled.

  “Why did you name them after video game characters?” another reporter jostled in, shoving a microphone forward.

  Mr. Irons shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  Mrs. Irons laughed. “Yeah, we are both gamers, and the boys grew up the same way.” She looked at a young woman holding a recorder. “Do you want to ask something miss?”

  The woman blinked then smiled. “Thank you Mrs. Irons, I was wondering about your sons, do they ever fight?”

  Mrs. Irons chuckled. “All the time. They're brothers, that's normal. I believe Mario gave Luigi a nuggie for his little rock stunt when he finally got him in arms reach a couple weeks ago. I wanted to put him over my knee for that!” Several people laughed as she glared.

  “God's honest truth folks!” Mr. Irons laughed touching his cap. “I think Mario was just making sure his little brother goes bald before he does though,” she said mockingly. The laughter continued.

  “Our boys are wild, passionate, and hard working, we've never been more proud. All of you should be as well. They are making a new home for mankind on another world. It's dangerous, so dangerous it keeps us up some nights, but believe me, we always taught them to follow their hearts and dreams,” she finished and then smiled. Her eyes were a little misty.

  The conspirator plaintiffs started to come out of the courthouse and the crowd of reporters melted away. Mr. Irons chuckled. “What not even goodbye?” He chuckled as they swarmed the plaintiffs.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "I'm not sure which is the reason the judge threw out the case, the laughable plaintiff’s motions, or the frustration at the time lag. I think this last bit is more telling than anything in the deposition." Rachel Maddow played the clip of Mario talking as the case was dismissed. "If that isn't Mario, true to his word of building a new home on a new planet, I don't know what it is." She smiled for the camera. "It was fun watching it all play out though!" she chuckled.

  "Speaking from personal experience I was a little put out that I wasn't called for this, for the record I interviewed Mario and Luigi Irons as well as several of the astronauts on several occasions. They sat in that very chair. Yes that one!" She pointed. The camera panned to show the chair. "Are you going to sue me too? My chair?" she asked, leaning into the shot. She shook her head. "When are the foil hat wearing people every going to learn to get a life?" she asked and then chuckled once more.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Tess smiled as Piotr fed the goat. It was such a relief to get the animals where they belonged, in their own barn. They even had a small pasture area in their vault. Next year they would build another vault with a series of domes connected to it for pasture land. The goat licked at the boys hand and he giggled. She smiled. She looked over to Maria Gutierrez.

  The fiery Latina woman had been waging a war of words with Wanda and Hernando Cerabron over moving the greenhouses. Wanda and Cerabron wanted to move the greenhouses to ports off the barn freeing up the ports next to the habs for further expansion. However the Latina had pointed out that it would disturb the plants, causing damage to their life cycle that would take time for them to recover. Eventually Luigi had brokered a compromise, they would build new greenhouses next to the ports, transfer plants that could handle the move, and then gradually phase out the old greenhouses.

  Once they were not producing they would move them to the next location, or recycle them. She wasn't sure what Tess or the Columbian architect was so upset about, moving from one greenhouse to another had been an exercise, but it was good exercise. They needed to make a wagon though, something to carry gear through the base or little Piotr. She'd have to remind Mario about it or do it herself. "He is having a good time. Going to keep one as a pet?" Sergei teased in Russian She looked up and smiled. Piotr looked up and beamed chortling.

  "Heaven forbid. Perhaps a fish or we could import a dog or cat..." Tess replied as she hefted Piotr to her hip. The baby burbled and made grabbing motions for the goat. She chuckled. Sergei took the baby and put him astride the goats back. He squealed in laughter, startling the miniature goat into bahing in protest and trotting off. Sergei caught the boy before he could fall.

  "He is growing fast," Sergei said. Already the baby was crawling. Four months old and crawling. He'd started to pull himself up too. If he held true to Sergei's development he'd walk before he was six months old.

  "Not if you drop him," Tess teased.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Wanda admired Mrs. Treadwell's skin suit. It was the latest generation, and colored an eye catching purple with gold trim. Mr. Treadwell had a matching purple suit trimmed in silver. They made quite a pair. What really made Wanda and many of the veterans envious was the suit itself, it used Professor Newman's new self healing memory polymers in the skin. Scratches and nicks that would normally take a patch kit to repair now sealed themselves. Of course major scrapes were a bit beyond the technology. She rubbed her knee pad and calf patch. "Thinking about
getting one?" Mario teased. "Oh yeah," Wanda replied.

  He chuckled. "Well, we can see about ordering one. Maybe trade some shares for it," he teased.

  She shook her head. "Keep the shares, I can make do for now," she sighed.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Wanda climbed out of the airlock and sighed as she came into her lab. She picked up her scruffy lab coat off the back of her chair and put it on, then went to sit down. She stopped when she noticed the plastic bowl on the seat.

  It was upside down, forming a dome. She picked it up and looked it over. It was clean; it looked like one of Mario's fabricated ones. She looked at the seat again in curiosity and found a figurine sitting there. Her eyes teared slightly and she smiled softly. Gingerly she picked up the little Marvin Martian figurine.

  From the looks of him Mario had made him with his machine. Fondly she traced the figure's shape, and then she propped him up on her computer monitor. “Okay Marvin, time for me to get to work.” She smiled as she sat down and set the bowl aside. “Let's see if we can get through another forty sets today...”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Is this going to work?" Tess crossed her arms over her breasts. Sergei was holding Piotr.

  "I've got the lasers set up. We're projecting a grid on you. Just hold your arms out and hold still." Wanda told her. Tess sighed and complied. "Now turn ninety degrees... again... again... wait... okay that was the last one," Wanda said.

  Tess sighed in relief and caught the robe Wanda tossed her. "Will it work?" she asked again.

  "We'll know in a bit. We are each going to do it; Mission control wants the data for the medical studies files. Something about looking for any changes in our physiology," Wanda shrugged. Tess took little Piotr and rubbed her nose into his tummy. He giggled. "You’re next Sergei," Wanda said. He smiled.

  "Tess need more than me. Need new suit," he replied and waved.

  Tess sighed. "Da. is true." Tess's body had changed during her pregnancy. Her hips had flared out, and her breasts had grown at least a cup size, maybe two. She hoped that it would go down after Piotr stopped nursing. She'd stuck to her exercise regime and lost weight but not enough apparently.