The Solution (2nd Edition)

Xen

I'd foreseen many things.

    What Chon would scrutinize when I eventually gave his trio their opportunity.

    Albers broadcasting some sort of vicious rant - which was about to play right into my hands...

    What I'd failed to plan for though, was the physical protection of the wealthy. Because of it, I knew I could lose some of their financial support, and might need to create another contingency...

    While I contemplated the quandary, Chon snapped me out of my daydream.

    "Okay, Xen, let's get into it! These were Albers' opening holo-vlog statements:

    'Xen, seeing as though you're not game to meet head-to-head and thrash this out, I'll have to cyber-slaughter you instead.

    'Why have you and your team insisted on designing these Docks to be so big? It would destroy the natural beauty of visual landscapes!

    'Surely the bigger Freighters are, the higher the risk of nuclear explosion, and the mass loss of life?

    'Freighter launches would scorch and crack the Earth! Not only that, Freighters would envelope the skyline! In the absence of sunlight, darkness would prevail!

    'Have any of you dimwits thought about this mass global construction with other natural disasters in mind? Flash-flooding, earthquake-tsunamis and mudslides would probably wash it all away! Not to mention avalanches and volcanoes, which would obliterate them?

    'Xen, the world isn't an army, and Japanese, retro-sized domiciles onboard Freighters wouldn't be adequate living quarters for monkeys, let alone fully-grown people for a whole decade! It's preposterous! Yes, destabilization is real, but it's a natural process, as are climate shifts. Xen, what you fail to remind the public is that mainstream published science says we're nowhere near having any kind of ice age climate shift! Therefore, we have no need to leave Planet Earth! Globally, political focus should be on poverty, homelessness and sustainability! And on that third note, whatever happened to the International Rainforest Pledge from 2020, eh? C'mon. Replanting 1 billion trees is not that difficult! People, this is where focus should be, as well as the correction of all other environmental damnations of the unjust world - not The Solution!'

    Chon closed away his old iPad Micro, then looked at me expectedly. He wanted my obligatory responses.

    I obliged.

    With education, now was my chance to show Robin Albers, the self-proclaimed lioness, why felines should still respect dragons. "Chon, there are billions of us," I said. "This is why Fortress Docks would be of such gigantic size. Nor would the visual impact upon the landscape be too discerning. Remember, LCA's would be located in barren regions where human inhabitancy is minimal."

    "Xen, what about her 'explosive' concerns?" my brother asked.

    "Chon, along with any kind of aeronautical flight, of course technological failure is possible. No one can forget Virgin Galactic's 2014 disaster. It was truly tragic when the original Space Ship Two broke up in the atmosphere during test flight. And so, this is why we would adequately test the Freighters prior to their collective launch. Alongside this, Aeronautics Engineer Stephen Wu and Virgin Galactica CEO Sam Branson, have both assured me that the exodus would not happen until they were confident that the chances of malfunction were low, or better still, non-existent."

    Chon nodded.

    I continued. "Her scorch concerns. Yes, during inaugural launch, there would be some charring apparent. However, all Freighter launch pads have been designed with topside gas suppression and debris collection systems. Combined, they would suck oxygen away as fires manifested and catch flying debris at the speed of sound.

    "Regarding cracks in the landscape, this might be evident too. To minimize, we would launch the Column and Freighters intermittently - possibly ten minutes apart - as opposed to simultaneously.

    "Also, Chon, my team and I are aware that darkness would shroud the skies, but obviously, this would only be temporarily until up in the exosphere."

    Just like Drogon the Dragon, my words were searing hot and golden. I knew it. Chon knew it, and so did Albers', wherever she was watching.

    I didn't stop either. "Chon, Albers seems concerned about other natural disasters, and she's wise to be. They could undo all that my team and I have planned. However, we suggest that no national government locate their LCA's in any region which experiences flash-flooding, earthquake-tsunamis and mudslides - or any areas susceptible to avalanche or volcanic activity. If they are limited in their choices, then again, we would recommend their affiliation with their closest geographical neighbors.

    "Lastly, the living quarters would be adequate for the 'program mission'. We shouldn't forget that's what it would be - a mission. Moreover, Eligible Patrons wouldn't just be confined to their quarters, either. Additional public spaces and exercise areas would be accessible, hopefully prompting the many new communities to come together and keep up social morale.

    "Chon, any Eligible Patron should be clear on all of the information which has been published regarding the program. Their final decision to board a Freighter shouldn't be a light-hearted one."

    "So, Xen, like you said in the presentation, 'sacrifice'?"

    "Yes brother, indeed, and sacrifice in the highest form of absolutes. The greatest threat to this planet is the belief that someone else will save it, and that's how Albers' thinks. Regarding Earth's destabilization, this is the eleventh hour. More harrowingly, the inconvenient truth is, it's still down to us to provide solution. Chon," I said conclusively, "sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, and we can be that great generation. But only if we try."

    While I pushed back in my seat, everyone had sighed with relief.

    The Jong Brothers, Ling, and Stephen did so from the peripheries of our Holding Room.

    Meanwhile, from its center, so did Chon, and even Sarah and Mikey.

    For Chon's sake, I knew I still had a lot of convincing to do with his best friend and love interest, but just hoped this headway would continue to ease tensions.

    With faint smiles coming from Sarah and Mikey, I knew I'd done their opportunity some justice. I'd also smiled back until Chon caught my attention, clearly wanting to conclude.

    "Xen, thank you for allowing me to be the one to get clarity on Robin Albers' concerns. Hopefully now, people of the world are more reassured to make an informed, confident vote, and not a non-confident one...

    "WorldTube, that was the very last interview from Xen Lai.

    "Until next time, I am Chon Lai, and signing off."