Launch window: period occurring approximately every 26 Earth months and lasting approximately four months, when the distance between Earth and Mars is small enough to allow travel between the two planets
Sean
“Whoa, Shim just sent me the passenger numbers for the next three Earth-bound ships,” M exclaims, showing her omni screen to my dad. We’re all in her quarters again, getting ready to leave for a formal dinner meeting. “I guess he was right about in-person visits making a difference.”
Dad leans over to look at the figures. “Certainly a noticeable improvement. And I see the Quintessence is already at 78% capacity. There’s a chance it could be full as well by the time it launches in another two weeks.”
“Shim says if we can keep filling the ships at this rate, he’ll be okay with me leaving for Earth myself before this launch window closes at the end of July.”
She grins around at us, but Molly’s the only one who immediately grins back. “That’s great! You must be so relieved!”
M nods happily.
I wish I could be happy for her, too, but I was raised from birth to put our people’s welfare ahead of everything else—and I honestly feel M leaving Mars that soon will set back the progress Nuath has made over the past few months.
“That’s, um, really good news.” I hope my smile doesn’t look too fake. I can tell Dad’s no more enthusiastic about her leaving than I am, though we’ve both been careful to avoid the topic of M staying put, after the way she reacted last time. He shares an understanding glance with me, then clears his throat.
“Oh, Sean, I meant to tell you earlier that I’ve arranged for us to attend the Agricultural team’s first playoff game. Molly and the Sovereign as well, if they care to join us.”
Though I’m sure he’s saying it to cheer me up, it has almost the opposite effect. “It may not be that great a game,” I tell him with a shrug. “I saw on one of the sports feeds that the Ag team is losing their best forward.”
“Oh? That’s a shame,” Dad says. “This was their first time making the playoffs in several years, wasn’t it?”
“What happened?” Molly asks. “Is he hurt?”
“She. And no, she and her family booked berths on the Horizon, which leaves the same day as the first playoff game. Guess you were a little too convincing when you visited Hollydoon last week,” I add to M, though it’s really not her fault, of course.
M looks sincerely apologetic. “Sorry, Sean. I mean, we all knew getting this many people to emigrate in one launch window would cause some disruptions, since nearly everyone is filling a necessary role somewhere. I hadn’t even thought about sports teams, though.”
“What will this do to their chances?” Dad asks. He knows I’ve been obsessing a little about sports lately—mainly to keep my focus off things I’d rather not think about.
“Not sure. They still have Brady, their star midfielder, but they’re definitely not expected to dominate now, like they were before this news hit. But hey, this is minor stuff in the greater scheme of things, right? It only makes sense the less advantaged fines, like Agriculture, would be among the first to leave. They probably will have more opportunities on Earth, just like you’ve been telling them. Of course, if too many leave, it’s going to be hard to get good people for that balanced Legislature you’re wanting to set up, won’t it?”
“I hope not,” M says worriedly. “Shim says he’s convinced a few people from non-Royal or Science fines to stand for various positions, but not enough yet. I was sure we’d have at least set a date for the first election by now.”
Yet another reason I don’t think she should be leaving Nuath anytime soon. Shim’s fairly popular with the people, especially the non-Royals, but nowhere near as popular as M. She’d have a much better chance than Shim of talking people into entering public service, which is what I think she should do once this launch window closes. I don’t want to risk saying so directly, though.
“What do you think, Dad? Will Shim get enough people to stand for election that one can be held within the next month or two?”
But Dad’s even less willing than I am to say anything M doesn’t want to hear—though in private he’s told me he agrees strongly it’s a bad idea for her to leave so soon.
“It’s…possible,” he says carefully. “Though it might not be a bad idea for you to record a vid or two in support of what Shim is trying to do, Excellency. Oops, we’d better go or we’ll be late for that dinner.”