| |
NewOrigins was getting a head start on the other organizations because of their early alliance with the crew. Whatever the outcome of the Mars Conference, they could adapt to it later. Elton watched the last pallet being loaded on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. First Mars colony expedition was ready to be on its way. He was taking only twenty people in this first outing to establish a base camp. Fifteen of them were techs and engineers. This was a base creation, not a scientific boondoggle. Those the government could fund. He was spending his own money. The remainder of the people were one medical doctor and four hydrologists. Water is a fundamental element to human presence anywhere. Extensive remote sensing from orbit had pointed to a basin that was likely to have artesian water and relatively close to prospective mineral deposits. Among them copper.
Atlantis would suck away most of his colonists, but Mars had always been Elton’s dream and if a good ore body was discovered, a good investment. It was a moment to turn lemons into lemonade. If enough people would start mining the belt, Mars would be a good base for servicing their needs. That would be years away.
“We are ready to push back Mr. Mark,” Alicia said. Alicia and two Polynesians were along, one as a pilot and the other whatever he wanted to be. Not as big as the pilot, his hard-flat stare let Elton know there would be no nonsense while he was around.
“Thank you, Alicia, I’ll go take my seat. About sixty hours?” he replied.
“Yes sir, Mars is on the other side of the Sun,” she said.
Edu, the former tugboat captain locked down the passenger door and watched through the porthole as the access finger was evacuated of air then pulled back to the cargo dock of moon base.
“We are clear Alicia,” he called over his comm then walked to the cockpit. Departure formalities were few, but everyone acknowledged the need to follow them. In the future with more activity, this professionalism would pay off. Now it consisted of sending the final manifest and personnel roster to control and receiving back a departure vector.
Sixty hours is a long time to do nothing. As soon as the cargo hatch opened on Mars, half the crew was suited up and started unloading containers. The other half watched enviously from the windows. In six hours, it would be their turn. Six on, six off until the village was set up and running. Alicia and the boys waited around another twelve hours after the shelters were up and the reactor stable.
“We are going to be on Mars for another five days. If you need anything let us know before we lift for the moon,” Alicia said to Elton.
“What will you be doing for five days? You know something I don’t?” he asked in surprise.
“Not really except that ASS group will want to build a base here too,” she replied.
“I thought Atlantis would be more than enough.”
“We plan on going more wide than deep. There is a lot for everyone now. Rumor is all our lives are going to be tripled. Best you put your plan in the long-term mode. Short term profit is going out of style.”
Elton had not heard this rumor. Many strange things were going on since Atlantis. He thought he had maybe thirty more good years to create his legacy. This required a reexamination of everything.
“Alicia, how much more can you tell me?”
“Not a lot except some of those refugees are said to be over a hundred and they all look thirty. I don’t know the details but with more room to grow and more years of life, humanity will go through major changes,” she replied.
“Including this dustbowl called Mars.”
“Yeap, think long term. Well, we have a lot of dirt to kick in the next few days. Call if you need anything,” Alicia turned and walked into the airlock.
Edu and Louis were waiting onboard. “you pass the age rumor on to him?” Louis asked.
“Yes. Rumors are great. You can pass on information without making it official. Let’s go boys. We have a new base to stake out.”
