THE MARS FRONTIER Vol. 17 Fires of Conflict Copyright © 2009 Robert H. Stockman All rights reserved Contents 1. Flames 2 2. Demands 17 3. The Yellow Sea 30 4. Nuke 49 5. Gateway 57 6. Blackout 73 7. Confrontations 91 8. Proposals 112 9. Decisions 127 10. Thanksgiving 143 11. Sadness and Hope 163 12. Joy and Promise 180 13. Razor 200 14. Aram 217 15. Prophets and Presidents 237 16. Launch Window 257 17. Vignettes 272-87 1 1. Flames Late Sept. 2068 In the last few weeks, Will Elliott had spent many mornings reviewing inventory. Economic problems on Earth had complicated some of Mars’s orders for computers, spare machine parts, rocket engines, fuel cells, compact motors, and other high-quality goods they could not yet manufacture on Dusty Red. Powerful software monitored demand and projected when supplies would run out; maintaining three-year supplies of strategic items was proving difficult as Mars expanded and demand grew. “Anisa,” he said aloud to his automated personal assistant. “Have memos prepared to all departments of the Commonwealth reminding them that ‘policy requires them to maintain strategic inventory at the thirty-six month level and ordinary imported inventory at the twenty-four month level. The deepening economic and political crisis on Earth makes it essential that the policy be strictly adhered to at this time. The prime solar sailing window opens in January 2069 and lasts through June, so supplies must be ordered in the next two or three months to guarantee their arrival at Gateway in time for the flight season.’ “Anisa, also copy the note to Marcraft, AgMar, MarBuild, MarFab, Margen, Marcomm, Martech, Mariner Hospital, and all borough governments. Add a sentence to them that we strongly urge them to do the same to guarantee availability of needed supplies and that we will follow up to ascertain whether they are doing so. Stick a reminder in the tickle file that we will need a follow-up memo prepared in one month’s 2 time: Monsol, August 20, 2068. Run the memos past Huma for review; she will confer with me and append my electronic signature.” A screen on Will’s desk awoke with the image of an older red-headed woman; he changed Anisa’s image every few months. “Acknowledged,” she replied with a smile. “Shall I also copy Jacaranda, so she can consider a press release to Mars This Sol and other media outlets? That would alert other agencies and businesses.” Will considered. “Negative, but add the Mars Chamber of Commerce and the Asteroid and Saturn Commissions to the distribution list.” “Done.” Then the screen went blank again. That got him thinking about how difficult it had become to move Mars in a certain direction. Gone were the sols when the Commander could issue a memorandum to all staff. The planet now had 7,000 people, a growing private sector, and a series of semipublic companies: Marcraft, their space vehicle manufacturing firm; AgMar, their primary agricultural outfit; MarBuild, their principal construction company; MarFab, their largest supplier of metal parts, plastic items, chemicals, and a miscellany of other materials; Margen, their energy distribution utility; Marcomm, their telecommunications company; Martech, their university; Mariner Hospital, their health system. Residents lived in twelve boroughs, settlements with elected local governments; the Marsian flag had a circle of twelve green stars to represent them. Keeping Mars supplied involved a fleet of automated solar sailers that used sunlight to push them and their twenty tonnes of cargo between the planets in six to eighteen months; one hundred fifty of them moved 2,000 tonnes to Mars every year and hauled back a similar mass of gold, platinum group 3 metals, uranium, plutonium, Phobosian agricultural goods, argon, ammonia, and water. It was a complex system. He contemplated the accomplishment of the last three decades when his attaché beeped to notify him of an incoming video call. He activated it and saw the face of Jacaranda Nuri, his nephew’s wife and his press secretary. “Will, turn on the BBC. President Knight just made a speech at the White House to welcome the visiting President of Taiwan where he referred to a ‘nation deserving of full sovereignty and independence’ which should ‘take its proper place in the community of nations.’” Will shook his head. “That goes beyond his usual weekly foot-in-mouth.” “That’s for sure! The BBC commentator is saying that this must be an intentional, calculated move, but it’s not clear whether it feeds his election campaign or is an intentional swipe at China.” “It’s hard to see an advantage either way. All these criticisms of the rest of the world produce derision rather than respect for America. And China will criticize right back. They’re threatening an export slowdown.” “Well, the Christmas inventory is already on boats or U.S. docks; they can’t do any short-term harm right now. It is strange, I agree.” Will considered. “We’ll have to get Pete’s input about this incident; he’s in Washington right now. I think the explanation lies in the ‘America-First’ culture, and one can’t understand it without understanding the media bubble it operates in. There are tens of millions of Americans who ignore other sources of news and trust a small group of outlets, all of which convey the same basic message. Go watch how they cover this incident.” 4 “Ugh. You’re right, there’s an ‘America-First’ media zone and millions live their lives based on its message. Their private schools and churches reinforce it, too.” “And their strange interpretations of the Bible. We live in a ‘Mars First’ culture, but at least we’re broadly exposed to Earth in all its diversity. Give me a summary of media responses, Jacquie, and be sure to include the America-firsters. We need to make more effort to understand them.” “Okay. It’ll probably be six or eight hours; I’ll get a couple of interns in our New York and Paris offices to work on it. Bye.” “No, try to find some in the Houston office. Bye.” Will closed the circuit and turned back to his work. It was the next morning, rather than six or eight hours, when a media analysis was ready. It showed that the President’s base was solidly behind him and thought the speech was excellent; that a large fraction of American voters agreed with his support for Taiwan and his criticism of China; and that most overseas populations and governments were appalled. “I think we have to be extremely careful making alliances and agreements with the United States,” concluded Foreign Minister Theodoulos, in a video report from Bermuda, where he had set up Mars’s main terrestrial office. “The White House appears inclined to pressure others whenever they can gain an advantage. The U.S. had already said it wants to end joint space missions. I’d worry about energy dependence on them.” Will turned away from the videomail. “Huma, we need to reassess our ability to store emergency power.” “Do you think the Americans would cut off our access to nuclear power?” asked Huma, surprised. “Brian would never do that.” 5 “Brian’s not the President of the United States. When we relied on solar panels we stored methane and oxygen sufficient to generate four months of full power; that could keep us going at half power during a nine-month global dust storm. But with access to New Hanford’s nuke, and demand has gone through the roof. Now we can store a one- month backup supply, which is dangerously low for all sorts of reasons.” “But we can’t store more. Aurorae’s power demand is peaking at forty megawatts; New Hanford only generates fifty.” “But our per-sol demand averages closer to twenty-five thousand, so half of New Hanford’s capacity is available if we could purchase and store it. Contact our Ministers for Commerce, Development, and Transportation. I want Henry, Emily, and Moses to meet with me this afternoon or tomorrow. Add Louise Tremblay, because the spaceport has a lot of resources that the others may not be fully aware of. I want a meeting to talk about steps we could take to protect ourselves from a cut-off by the United States.” “Then you might want Indira as well, since the Attorney General’s Office controls public safety.” “You’re right, add Indira.” “What about the President of Margen?” “Margen generates a little solar and wind power, but they’re basically a distributor. Invite her, but I doubt she can add much.” “Okay. Anything else?” Will shook his head. “I’ll send Pete a thank you email; if I say anything other than thank you I’ll copy you. I’ve got an hour for communications before my 10:30 appointment with Moses.” 6 “Except you have to read the report; budget at least twenty minutes for it.” “Alright. Thank you, Huma.” “Thank you, Chief Minister Will,” she replied, and she hurried out of the office. Will turned to the report first, a summary of the upgrading of Mars’s road system. The Circumnavigational Trail’s section through Noctis Labyrinthus had been closed for almost a year since a robotic truck, negotiating a hair-pin turn on a switchback, had strayed slightly from the narrow road and had slid a thousand meters down the slope, smashing into a thousand pieces. The time had come to upgrade Noctis extensively, but it would tie up two dozen workers two years and cost one hundred million redbacks; field work required a lot of equipment and support and was not cheap.