First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  "Yeah, me neither," Luigi sighed. Piotr had kept everyone in the base up. Ice had helped calm him down but boy could he howl!

  Mario chuckled. "Enjoy little bro."

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Mario looked up from the e-mail and grinned. "Good news?" Wanda asked.

  "You could say that. Bob managed to put a shoe string resupply mission together with space planes and the Columbus. They should be leaving orbit in a week," Mario grinned at Luigi.

  "Good, I'm glad we're finally getting somewhere. Earth's gravity well...well sucks," Luigi sighed and shook his head in disgust. It wasn't so much the actual gravity as it was politics and other things. Some things just sucked the life out of you like a black hole.

  "This from a genius?" Mario teased.

  Wanda rolled her eyes at Betsy. "So, before the general mayhem erupts, what is in the care package?" She tried to read over her husband's shoulder.

  "Oh, more furniture, life support gear, Benny, his wife and ten people, some new industry stuff, parts for the hopper, and oh yeah, a couple kids sized pressure suits." He looked up from the list to the girls.

  Betsy smiled but Wanda was grinning. "That's it?" Betsy asked.

  "Oh, there's more. Bigelow tossed in a hab module for the space station, built it at cost I hear. He threw in the plans for a dome too."

  Joyce nodded. "We can finally build our dome," she grinned.

  "At home in a dome!" Luigi chuckled. "Well, there is a kit that goes with the plans, but anything we can make they left out," he reported. She nodded. "He tossed in another animal embryo bank too, and about a ton of electronics gear." Mario smiled. "Most of it is off the shelf stuff," Luigi said as he waved.

  "We can use it all," Joyce smiled. Wanda and Betsy nodded.

  "That's the good news. Bad news is there are some hijinks going on in congress; they are pulling most of our funding," Mario sighed.

  "Despite the gas giant miner?" Joyce asked face immobile.

  "Yeah," Luigi sighed.

  "Greedy bastards."

  He shook his head. "Yeah, they'll keep it all to themselves. Bob said there is a bill to scrap the ferries. He's working out a way to have them donated to us," Mario shrugged. Apparently competing with the Chinese and Russians had been nixed.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Virus!" Toshi cried suddenly. He started to peck at the keyboard in front of him like his life depended on it. Which if it was a nasty virus, could be true.

  "What the hell?" Mario and Luigi said together over the net.

  "VIRUS! In the computer! It's replicating and wiping our data!" Toshi cried.

  "I'm on the way!" Mario ran to the nearest Hab. He impatiently waited as the airlock cleared him inside.

  "Damn... It's in the object files!" Toshi said.

  Mario grunted. "Crap."

  He rushed into the tunnel and pulled the fiber optic lines. "Lines cut." He went through the tunnel to the next.

  "Got this one." Luigi said looking up. "Okay, we need to check each computer for rabbits." Luigi went to the nearest desk. "I'll do that, you keep isolating hardware." Mario waved.

  "We have vault cut," Tess reported.

  "This thing is sick, it just popped up. Antivirus is on it, but it is a sick bugger," Toshi said.

  Joyce called. "We've isolated the rover nets. I'm not sure if something got into them though."

  Mario sighed. "Yeah. This is going to be painful." He pulled the last fiber optic line. "Okay, each net is on its own." He looked out the window, what about the SSTO and MAV?" he asked.

  "No idea. They both have embedded OS, but that doesn't mean anything if this thing is smart and gets into the patch program. So far it is more focused on wiping out our data then in hurting us," Toshi reported.

  "I think this computer is okay, I am shutting it down just in case," Luigi reported.

  "Just in case?" Mario asked.

  "Yeah, just in case we need a back up," Luigi replied.

  "Great," Mario sighed.

  "We have a virus signs in Hab two."

  Mario lunged down the ladder and into his workshop. He yanked the feed to the Repraps. "Crap." He started pulling sim cards. "Not good not good..." He looked up.

  "Please tell me this can be fixed?!" Joyce called in.

  "Let's worry about killing it first," Luigi replied.

  "Amen brother," Mario muttered.

  "I have it clean on my end," Toshi replied.

  "What the hell? How did it get through the firewalls?" Mario asked.

  "We'll find out," Luigi growled.

  "So this thing was in the object files?" Wanda asked concerned.

  "And in the e-mail and in the video files. This was one slick cyber attack. It was a self assembling virus. Parts of it were in pictures, e-mails, object files; they didn't raise any alarms until they were all together and assembled. The FBI is all over this now." Toshi frowned. "Whoever did this is good," he sighed. He'd just gotten a report in from Mission control.

  "Like looking for a needle in a hay stack. The code people are sending up antivirus software to hunt and kill the bit files and disinfect our systems," Luigi finished.

  "Yeah, but what about the data we lost?" Mario asked.

  "We're going to have to get it again. And check each and every off line storage device as well," Luigi replied with a grimace. There was no telling how far back this went.

  "Great," Mario sighed and rubbed his brow. That was a ton of work.

  "It's not all doom and gloom, just be glad it didn't fry our life support!" Joyce said.

  He nodded. "Yeah, there is that. Okay, so some nut job wants to cripple us. Prank maybe?" Mario asked.

  "Yeah, possibly. Pretty sophisticated though, I bet they used shells to get it past our defenses. Maybe even zombies," Toshi replied looking thoughtful.

  "Great, now we have to worry about zombies? What's next the Litch king?" Mario grumped. Wanda smiled.

  "Wait, how are you in contact with NASA and the FBI?" Joyce asked.

  "We bounced a signal to the ISS and Australian back up dish," Toshi replied absently.

  "Oh. Good to know we have a back up," Joyce replied.

  “It's going to take us weeks to clean and sort this mess out. Toshi is going to check each back up stick too.” Mario grimaced. “It set us back by a couple months at least,” he sighed. Joyce nodded as Toshi groaned.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "This is SSTO two come in base," a familiar voice said over the net months later.

  Mario grinned as he recognized the voice. "Good to hear from you SSTO two, glad to see you. You’re doing good; winds are four kph coming out of the west. Weather is clear and bright, with minimum dust. Bring her down."

  Benny chuckled. "Will do base." The craft made its final turn and lined up with the runway.

  "Nice turn, you’re a little high and fast... Okay, watch your stall angle...” Joyce cautioned over the net. Mario shook his head. The wheels hit the ground and the craft began to roll out. After a moment the nose wheel came down, a little hard.

  "Ouch," Luigi winced.

  Mario sighed. "Down safe and sound, that's what matters," he said. He watched as the craft rolled out. Joyce was already following in a rover.

  Benny grinned as he stepped off the SSTO. "My has Mars changed. I didn't expect this." He waved to the reception committee at the bottom of the ramp.

  Mario chuckled. "Get down hear you old fart."

  Benny waved to his wife to precede him. "Fine how do you do. We had to wait until the fourth flight to get here and now this," Benny grumped.

  Mario chuckled. “How are you Sue, Benny treating you okay?"

  Sue smiled. "As well as to be expected. I heard I have a few patients to check out?"

  Benny sighed. "Let's just settle in first. I think it would be a little awkward to do exams in these suits dear." He grinned as she turned to him with a glare. He put his hands up in surrender. "I give up!"

  She sighed. "I can't take him anywher
e."

  Wanda giggled. "Same story for any husband. Years of work and they are still not quiet fully domesticated."

  Mario hugged her to his side. "And you like it that way admit it," he teased. She chuckled.

  Luigi smiled at Benny as they shook hands. "Good to see you Benny, glad you finally made it."

  Benny chuckled. "You're fault, I seem to recall you were the one issuing invites remember?" he joked. Mario chuckled.

  "How's Nick?" Mario asked.

  "Nick? Oh he's in politics now. Just made it to Senator," Benny sighed. "He made the jump but it was a close thing. Doctor Zubrin is trying to hang on, but he's having a hard time. The first gas giant mission is about to return, hopefully it will end his uphill battle for a while," he reported. Mario nodded.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "This is little Piotr," Tess said proudly, introducing the oldest Mars child to the new arrivals. Tess held up the toddler to Sue. Sue and the other ladies cooed in appreciation.

  "He is getting big!" Sue smiled.

  "He is twenty five months old now," Sergei came up behind his wife and caressed her cheek. "Is hard to keep up with him sometimes." The boy was squirming to get down. He had Reprap shoes on and clothes made out of clothing scraps.

  Sue chuckled. "Yeah, I can imagine." She smiled down at the boy.

  He was holding a miniature rover. "Where did you get that?" she asked. He looked at her then shied away. Sergei chuckled.

  "We don't have many people so he is shy," Tess cautioned.

  Sue chuckled. "Yeah, I don't see many people stopping in for tea and crumpets," she joked. Wanda chuckled. "What is he playing with, did someone bring that?" Sue asked.

  "Oh, no, we made him that," Wanda replied. Sue looked at it.

  "Can I see it?" she asked. He shook his head.

  Wanda chuckled. "Here." She held up another toy. It was a rattle. "Plastic." She shook it. It rattled.

  Sue nodded. "How ingenious!"

  Wanda smiled. "It's all Mario's fault. He stowed away a Reprap, and we can use it to make parts and things," she explained. Sue nodded.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "This has been a momentous two years, filled with loss and new life," Bruce Treadwell shook hands with each of them. They were outside next to SSTO two. Bruce smiled when he hugged Tess and Betsy. "You two have wonderful children. You’re filling this desert world with life once more."

  Mary Treadwell hugged them as well, and then held their hands. "We are so proud to be a part of this, a part of the history of Mars," she said.

  Mario smiled. "We have something for you to commemorate your journey here." Luigi held up a plaque. The planet and likeness of each of them was at the top, with First to Olympus Mons and first to Valles Marineris. On the bottom there was the date.

  Bruce admired it. "We'll treasure it," he said huskily, taking it.

  "We made four, one of each of you, one for Sadnire's family, and another we are putting up in the vaults. That way our children will always remember you," Luigi replied as Betsy handed another plaque to Mary Treadwell. She hugged her once more.

  "I love your new suit." Mary smiled holding her by the shoulders to look her over.

  Betsy smiled. "Yes, it's nice. I'm glad they managed to guesstimate the changes, it would be terrible to be trapped inside like Tess was." She looked over to Tess who nodded. Both of them had gen 3 suits on, something that had come in with Benny.

  "Last call for ponduke Earth, boarding now..." Joyce called over the net. Everyone chuckled.

  "It seems she's a bit anxious to get into the air," Bruce laughed.

  "Yeah, that's the pilot in her. Greta and Brian are already aboard. We're going to rattle like peas in an over sized pod on the way back," Bruce said. Out of the twelve that had come only four were returning.

  Luigi chuckled. "Yes, but because of you, and the pioneers the price is down. Who knows, you might be able to come out again and visit," Luigi replied shaking Bruce's hand.

  Bruce dragged him into a bear hug. "You keep fighting, keep exploring. We'll do our best on our end," Bruce said softly thumping his back. Luigi nodded.

  Mary hugged Wanda. "Don't give up dear; god will bless you in time."

  Wanda sniffled a little and then hugged her back. "I hope so," she replied softly. Bruce released Luigi, hugged Mario then climbed the ladder. Mary hugged each of them then started following her husband. At the door she turned and blew a kiss. "Good luck all of you pioneers," Bruce said. Mario smiled and waved with the rest. The ladder retracted and the door closed.

  The party trekked back to the waiting rover as the SSTO started to taxi away. "They are right; it has been a wild ride," Mario sighed.

  Wanda snaked her hand into his. "It's not over yet," she replied. He chuckled.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Doc, I was hoping you could help me out. Tess had her baby, and now I was hoping..."

  Sue looked Wanda over and sighed. "I can check, but I am pretty sure it isn't on your end dear."

  Wanda nodded looking tired. "You mean it may be due to Mario's exposure," she said, fighting her fear. She'd had so long to dwell on it but it still bothered her.

  "Infertility or mutations are a side effect of intense radiation exposure you know. Along with a higher risk of cancer." Sue cautioned leaning against the counter. "That being said, neither one of you have had a high rem count, maybe twenty percent above normal on Earth, but we see that with people who live next to a coal plant. Give it time.” She smiled as Wanda digested that advice then nodded. “I'd like to thank you for the facilities." She patted the counter.

  "No problem. It is a bit Spartan but we're working on it," Wanda smiled. The little medical clinic was quite modern, with a portable X-ray machine, MRI, and other gear. It even had a small specialty room that could double as a surgical suite or birthing room.

  "Okay, let's just have you get up and we'll take a look shall we?" Sue started snapping on her gloves. Wanda sighed and climbed onto the examination table.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Fiberglass?" Benny and Julia looked the piece over.

  "Yes, that and small pieces of glass and the blocks are about all the glass works are up to right now. Nothing optical quality of course," Mario grimaced.

  "How far along are you with the Hopper?" Julia asked.

  "Not as far as we would like. Getting a decent structure is turning out to be a sticking point. I've overhauled the engines, those look good," Luigi said. Luigi waved to the nearby shed. "The problem is we have tried carbon fiber and fiberglass, but neither work out for the main supporting elements. We just don't have the tech here to build from scratch. We need an industrial grade autoclave, and we don't have the tools to make one. The resin we are using is flaking in the Martian atmosphere as well; it shortens the planned lifespan of things significantly."

  Mario sighed, clearly frustrated. “I'm glad you have the hopper prototype, it's going to be a pain getting it down and unloaded though,” Mario groaned. A lot of the cargo was still on the station waiting to be transferred. It seemed Bob had stuffed the Ferry with everything he could get away with. "We need a larger workspace too. Working in these gloves or the enclosed garage is for the birds." He waved to the garage.

  "You enclosed a garage?" Benny asked.

  Mario nodded. “Two of them. But they leak around the doors. We also have a door to the industrial vault, but that place is pretty crowded with equipment, we don't have much room," he sighed. “The enclosed garage helps though when we need to tear a rover down. They need maintenance more and more. We have to constantly nurse them."

  Luigi nodded. "Well, they've taken quiet a beating over the years," he said and smiled. "I bet they've traveled over ten thousand kilometers each."

  Mario chuckled. "Yeah."

  "Well, we're carrying parts for them, but a lot of what we have is electronics. It seems Doc Zubrin isn't too sure about too many follow up flights so he sent as much as he could," Benny warned.


  Luigi looked relieved. "Glad to hear that. We've kept as much as we could going, the people that have left have left their suits behind, but anything out in on the surface gets a daily dose of exposure to the elements and radiation...." he sighed running his hand through his hair.

  "Yeah and just wear and tear. Electronics wear out over time after constant use," Mario sighed as well.

  "Well, we have a new electronics Reprap, the latest thing actually."

  Mario perked up at that. "I built one that can make resistors, inductors, and capacitors, but you’re talking the Mark nine?" he asked, grinning and rubbing his hands in anticipation.

  Benny nodded. "Yes, the latest thing. Adrian sent it along. It can make printed circuit boards, and primitive chips."

  Luigi grinned and patted his brother on the shoulder. "Glad you got into the Reprap culture bro, it's certainly paid off."

  Benny nodded. "Yes it has."

  Julia chuckled. "I want to see if I can make a ham radio with it."

  Mario chuckled. "Well, we can supply you with a lot of the base elements no problem. Our industrial plant is still limited, but we get a whole cornucopia of stuff out now."

  Luigi nodded. "That was the plan." He turned to Benny.

  "We have an electronics expert with us too. Two of them, Robotics and electronics." Benny smiled.

  "Good. They can play with the broken bits; see if anything is worth salvaging." Mario smiled sitting back.

  Wanda looked at the craft dubiously then turned to Mario. "No, I am not going to fly it," he said before she could say anything. He didn't even look up. "You know full well Joyce is taking the stick."

  She frowned. "Okay, you’re creeping me out a little. Stop that," she growled. He looked up with a grin.

  "It's not my fault you’re predictable sometimes," he teased. She glowered at him, crossing her arms in front of her. He chuckled.

  "So what is this thing anyway? I recognize the thrusters, those are from the MAV first stages right?" she asked.

  Mario nodded. "Bingo. We took those engines, brought in a pair of fuel tanks and the hull Benny brought. It even has electronics and directions so all we had to do is put it together," Mario explained and smiled.

  Tess looked up. "Is sweet little craft. Could reach orbit maybe?" She looked over to Joyce.