First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  Wanda chuckled. "Yeah." She looked around and nodded.

  "Okay, so what's next? I remember the mural Mario pitched to me during the blow out, but we never got into it, we could practice with the nursery maybe... I'll make sure nothing is toxic of course," Wanda said hastily, hand over her heart.

  Tess looked alarmed, and then nodded as her face cleared. "Is good to have friends," she said softly.

  Wanda smiled. "All for one, one for all." She smiled at Tess. "Come on, we need to get this all down so we can start nagging, I mean, encouraging...” She grinned at the other women who grinned back. "The men to get them done."

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Did anyone think of a suit for the kid?" Wanda asked Mario softly as they lay in bed together later that evening. He sighed. They were tangled together and he was too comfortable to think.

  "No. Professor Newman mentioned it, but we left it at that. The problem is that kids grow, there is no way a skin suit would work, and they would need to be refitted monthly," he said and rubbed her shoulders.

  "That feels nice," she murmured then rolled out of his grasp to face him. "So, what is the kid to do? Grow up inside and never go out?" she asked, totally aghast at that idea.

  Mario shrugged. "Until we can think of something better yeah."

  Her face worked for a moment then she looked into his eyes. "I don't want that, neither does Tess," he sighed.

  "One of the pressure suits might work; we can contact mission control and see if they can make one that can be easily refitted, or modified," he said. She kept her eyes locked to his. "Yes, I doubt they would send it, we'd have to make it," he said. She started to shake her head but he put a finger to her lips. She stilled. "That's a problem for another day Hon,” he said firmly and then kissed her. "Now, let's get some rest, tomorrow we have a lot of work ahead of us," he said with a rueful sigh. The girls had come up with a long list and it was only getting longer by the minute.

  She chuckled. "All work and no play makes Mario a dull boy...” she teased.

  "No play huh? Come ‘ere then!" He grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace. She laughed as they play fought.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Hi big brother, I was wondering if you and the crew could do something. Money is getting tight, and well, we were wondering if you could forgo your paycheck. Bob wants to do it for some other reason, I think it has to do with an argument we've been having with the hill over resources," Luigi sighed. At least the time lag was slowly evaporating the closer they got to Mars. "I hate to dump that on you. But the reasoning Bob pointed out is pretty good in my book; by no longer working for the program legal can argue that anything you build is yours." Luigi shrugged.

  "I'm not sure about that really, you'd need some legal experts of your own to go over it tooth and nail and view all the angles. Nick says it can be spun either way." Luigi shrugged. "It's up to you. We could rework your contract as well, give you a stipend for work you do for the program." Luigi sighed. "Or we could do a buyout method. Were your money is applied to the debt of the colony start up and maintenance allowing the colony to buy itself out." Luigi waved his hands up in the air.

  "Personally, I am in favor of that," he smiled. Mario frowned. He and Wanda had a comfortable nest egg now, and their investments in the programs affiliate businesses we're bearing some fruit. But if his brother was right, they would end up losing out if the program started to fold. The buyout was a good idea, but at three hundred thousand dollars a year each, it would take centuries for the crew to pay off even one percent of the debt.

  He sighed, now thoughtfully trying to think of a way out of this debacle. He wasn't the man with the head for finance. "Great Luigi, thanks for dumping this headache in my lap." He shook his head then hit record. "All right, I don't know yet, I think the buyout is a good idea in theory, but the mechanics..." Mario shrugged. "I'm not a business major Luigi, neither are you. I can't speak for the others, but I will talk it over with them," he sighed and hit stop, then transmit.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  The colonists assembled in Hab one living room and sat down. Mario turned a chair around and straddled it. "So what's up?" Joyce asked.

  Mario sighed. "Well, the program is in a tight squeeze. Luigi is asking if we can opt our pay checks to a buyout scheme." He shrugged and laid out the conversation to them.

  "A buy out scheme?" Joyce asked wrinkling her nose. "Sounds fishy." Wanda nodded.

  "Well, each of us make three hundred thousand dollars a year. The six of us is what, one point eight mil? I think it is a drop in the bucket, but Luigi is trying to save a buck while getting us some autonomy and letting us buy out our debt," he said and then shrugged. “It's more of a public thing than anything that would really help.”

  "Da," Tess replied rubbing her swollen belly.

  "I see where this is going. So if we consider all the expense of the international partners to date as investment capital, we have a debt to buy them out correct?" Toshi asked.

  Mario nodded. "Right. However, none of us are legal or business majors, so we have to tread carefully. Luigi's gas giant scheme is supposed to pay us off, but there are some loop holes that you can drive a truck through," he sighed in exasperation, rubbing his hair. When he and Luigi had dreamed this up this part had been a little distant and hazy so therefore hard to plan on. They'd been so filled with enthusiasm for the idea they hadn't gotten this far ahead.

  Wanda smiled. "Typical fine print." She looked at the others. "Well, I'm in it for the long haul."

  Tess nodded. "Me too." She patted her growing belly.

  Sergei nodded as well. "Agreed." They looked at Joyce and Toshi.

  "So much for getting my own plane," Joyce sighed. She looked to Toshi.

  "And my new computer for Christmas," Toshi chuckled. "We're in."

  Mario nodded. "Thanks guys." He got up and left.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "All right Luigi, what is this about? We agreed, but the payout is a bit high!" Mario waved a tablet.

  Luigi chuckled and hit record. "Well, let me explain. Bob and I, and about two hundred other people, most of them astronauts are also joining the buyout plan. Most of us already have a pretty hefty nest egg, and those of us remaining on Earth are doing a partial waver, deferring half their pay," He smiled. "That leaves them half for their living expenses. Unlike you, we still have to pay for rent, food, and fuel." Luigi shook his head. "But not for some of us in a few weeks," he grinned. He was only a few weeks out now. "Some of the Mars Underground heard, and we've been getting donations as well. Nearly thirty million so far." He chuckled.

  "The annual deferment comes up to about eleven million," he smiled. He'd invested a lot of his money so the interest was being folded into the buyout now. "Not too shabby. If we can scrounge up an export we could be in the black before Tess's kid graduates high school." He shook his head. "I'll get you the revised plan later today. Out." He hit the stop and send key. "Still a drop in the bucket though," he muttered.

  "It's a start." Betsy replied from his doorway.

  He looked up and smiled. "Yeah, I know. A start on a whole new future on a new world." He smiled up at her.

  She smiled softly. "Getting excited mate?" she teased.

  He chuckled. "Just a bit."

  · Chapter 16

  Brothers reunite:

  Sergei said something in Russian and Mario looked up. "What'd you say?" He looked over to Sergei but he shook his head. He was holding Tess's hand and looking rather pale.

  "Is he going to pass out?" Wanda asked, a mixed note of concern, annoyance, and amusement in her voice.

  "I dunno, he just said something in Russian," Mario replied. Tess was sweaty and panting. She looked at her bulging abdomen then said something in Russian as well.

  "I don't know what she said, but I bet he was muttering about her crushing his hand," Wanda replied with a smile.

  Mario glanced up to see both hands were white knuckled, hers from g
ripping, and his from being crushed. "Yeah," he chuckled.

  "Dis may be amusing to you but it hurrts!" Tess panted.

  "Just practice your breathing Tess." Doctor Waldecker soothed as she knelt and checked her cervix. She was thrilled now about this, the first Doctor to oversee a birth on another world. "You’re fully dilated. Do you feel the urge to bear down?" she asked. Tess nodded frantically. "Okay, wait for the next contraction," she instructed. Tess groaned, deep and long.

  "You have to time it or you'll be here for days dear,” Wanda cautioned. She blotted at Tess's forehead with a towel. She groaned again.

  "Contraction?" Mario asked, voice concerned.

  "Eyeyyy!" She half screamed, nodding frantically.

  "Then push!" Doc Waldecker ordered then watched as she pushed and bore down. Her face screwed up as she strained. In a moment the Doctor could see something. "Okay, I think I see something, yup, looks like some hair, the baby is definitely crowning," the Doctor replied professionally. Tess fell back exhausted.

  "Is he out?" Wanda asked leaning forward.

  "Nyet!" Tess replied. Another contraction ripped into her and she pulled herself up. Wanda tried to support her. She grunted in anguish. They had her sitting up in an improvised birthing position.

  "Push! Okay the head is out, turning to get the shoulders... good... I got him... Yup! It's a boy!" the Doctor cradled the baby as she extracted the legs.

  "Looks good, a bit red and wrinkly," she reported. She tried to keep the umbilical cord away. Mario rubbed at the baby gently. Wanda moved around Tess and used a plastic bulb to clear his nostrils and mouth. The baby cried at the invasion and the women cooed laughing softly. "Oh it's all right..."

  Mario smiled. "Welcome to a whole new world young man," he murmured. The Doctor handed the towel wrapped bundle to Wanda and then picked up some surgical twine to tie off the umbilical cord. She tied it in two places, a centimeter apart.

  "Which one of you wants to do the honors?" She held up a pair of scissors. Tess was pale and shook her head. Sergei smiled and took the sheers with his free hand. A snip and spatter of blood and the baby was free.

  "I'll just get him cleaned up a little more," Wanda said softly. The baby was thrashing a little, and then let off a howl. Mario smiled. Tess groaned.

  "What another?" Sergei looked up alarmed.

  "Afterbirth, perfectly normal," the doctor reported coolly. Mario retreated as the Doctor helped Tess through the afterbirth, bagged it, then helped Sergei clean her up and make her comfortable and more presentable.

  "Here's your baby," Wanda said softly.

  She handed Tess the swaddled child. Tess smiled her thanks then cooed at the baby. She said something soft in Russian to Sergei who hugged her. Tears were flowing from her face. She looked up and patted Wanda who was looking a little forlorn but was trying to hide it. "You will have your turn," she sighed laying back.

  "Boshomoy! What a work out!" Tess exclaimed. Mario chuckled. There was a knock at the door.

  "Can we see?" Joyce called.

  Mario smiled and turned to the new mother. "You up for visitors?" he asked Tess.

  She smiled. "Da."

  He nodded. "Come on in."

  Joyce came in with a reluctant Toshi. Latisha hovered behind them. Wanda moved aside so they could get a better view. "It's a boy?" Joyce asked, craning her neck to see.

  "It'd better be or I'm getting Mario glasses," Wanda teased.

  Mario chuckled softly. "It's a boy. Healthy one too from the look of him," the Doctor replied professionally cleaning herself up. Wanda nodded.

  "I took the blood samples from the umbilical cord. We've sent word to mission control. They sent E-cards and video cards congratulating you," Wanda reported.

  "We'll put the afterbirth and umbilical on ice for now doc." Mario picked up the bag. Some of it would be sent back to Earth but the umbilical was rich in stem cells so it would remain behind in case the boy ever needed it. "Good work Tess, He's beautiful." She smiled down at the baby softly. He chuckled. "Sergei, make sure she gets anything she needs," he said. Sergei nodded eyes locked on mother and child. “Thank you Doctor,” Mario said simply. The doctor didn't say anything, just nodded, eyes on the mother and child. They looked at Tess, cradling her new son with Sergei hovering protectively beside and behind her. Chuckling softly Wanda and Mario retreated.

  In the lab he put the bundle in the freezer and turned to see his wife wiping at her eyes. He washed up and then turned toweling her hands. "Quite a day," he said softly, not sure what to do or what to say. It was definitely an emotional moment.

  "Yeah," she replied a little tearfully.

  "Our turn will come honey," he murmured. He hugged himself to her side. She started to sob. "Honest Wanda, it's not the end of the world it's the beginning." He pulled her into his embrace. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together," he said. She sighed as her sobs ebbed. She snuggled into his arms.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Ladies and gentlemen of Earth, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Mars mission." Wanda moved in carrying the camera.

  Tess looked up from the bed and smiled softly. "This is little Piotr George Reshenkov," she said in Russian, and then repeated it in English. "Named for his grandfathers." She stroked his head.

  "He is beautiful," Wanda said softly as she moved to the side to get a shot of the family together.

  Sergei nodded hugging his wife's shoulders. "Is a lot of work," he said.

  "For me you mean," Tess replied. Wanda and Sergei chuckled.

  "Definitely." Sergei shook his hand. "Though getting blood flow back to hand is hard." Sergei said, rubbing at his hand. Wanda laughed.

  "For those of you at home, Sergei, did she crush it good and proper?" Wanda asked with a smirk.

  He nodded. "Is small price to pay for such beauty." He looked down again at his wife and newborn son.

  "And that ladies and gentlemen is the Reshenkov family. Have a good evening." Wanda backed up then cut the feed. "Okay, we're done. Thanks." She hefted the camera.

  Sergei nodded. "Anything to help," he replied simply with a nod.

  "Except filming the birth. There are some lines I draw," Tess replied looking up.

  Wanda chuckled. "Don't worry, no cameras were on. Just us helpers." She left smiling softly.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "Mario, could Tess wear the Commander's old suit?" Wanda asked coming into the workshop.

  He looked up. "No," he said simply and directly and then went back to work.

  "Oh. Why not?" she asked looking over his shoulder to the breadbox device.

  "It doesn't work that way, each suit is designed for the user. We could maybe get away with swapping it with someone with the same build and height, but no, not male to female," he explained.

  "Damn," Wanda frowned. "So Li, and Han's suits are out too," she said, sounding disgusted.

  He nodded. "Yeah, same reason. The Hans are shorter then Tess." He pulled out a cylinder and looked inside. "Uh huh...” He set it down.

  "What's that?" Wanda asked.

  "Sabatier reactor. A RWGS system. Reverse Water Gas Shift reactor. It is responsible for making all the chemicals we use," he explained.

  She wrinkled her nose. "Okay. So what's wrong with it?" she asked.

  "Zeolite catalyst is about used up. Need to apply some more. There is also a stuck valve and a servo that is bad," he said. He'd been running into this problem more and more. They'd run the equipment hard over the past five years. He held up a motor.

  "Can you get me one from the bin over there?" She turned and picked the bin up and carried it to him.

  "Heavy."

  He looked at her. "I didn't need them all," he chuckled. He dug through the parts until he found a matching servo. "This should do."

  She nodded. "So is this why the Commander and Han's left their suits behind? For parts?" she asked as she put the bin back.

  Mario nodded. "Yeah. Also in case we have com
pany and they need a spare.... or if they return."

  Wanda snorted. "Company? Returning? You know that they won’t get back here, the US and China will never allow it. They are heroes," she sighed. He did too.

  "Yeah, we were afraid of that. John Glenn syndrome." He shook his head as he tested the replacement servo. "Looks good." He turned to look at Wanda.

  "So what are we going to do about Tess? She can't fit in her suit. Her hips are too big. We can wrap her breasts, but the hips..." Wanda waved. Tess was nursing since they didn't have a proper formula for the child to drink. She complained about how swollen her breasts were, though Sergei didn't seem to mind at all. Men, Wanda thought in exasperation.

  "Well, If her hips are permanent, then we can talk to Professor Newman about mixing and matching suits... or we can jury rig a laser grid scanner and see if Doctor Zubrin has money in the budget to send her a new one," Mario replied and then shrugged. "Best I can think of." He threw his hands up helplessly.

  Wanda nodded. "Okay." She smiled. "Don't forget, dinner is at six. Make sure you wash your hands." He chuckled and turned back to the repair as she walked out with a wave.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  "The third and fourth teams are coming on the first second gen plasma ferry. Now that we've had a thorough test moving a cargo hab, the asteroid, the gas giant mission, and the ERV, the powers that be think it is safe for manned flight," Mario explained to the assembled group. Mario looked over the group. "Joyce, Sergei, and Toshi are staying. Mr. and Mrs. Waldecker, and Latisha will be returning in the MAV. From there they will transfer to the ERV for the return journey.” He waved to them.

  The German looked at them. "You are all insane. To remain here!" He waved to the outside storm.

  "Just like home in Siberia." Sergei grinned. "Just dust instead of snow. We adapt." Sergei gave his trademark fatalistic shrug.

  "Right, moving on, the first cargo lander will be in orbit in fifty days. The second will follow a day later. The SSTO will be right behind it by two days. The SSTO will dock with the station; the lander will come in when we have a window in the weather." Mario motioned to the dust storm outside.