The Solution (2nd Edition)

Xen

Not long after Chon had set our historical scene, Stardom prepared for its trial launch.

    And to say I was nervous was an understatement.

    Back to the task at hand, I'd heard the concerns of my team and unanimously, we'd decided that rather than risk The Eligible who had just started to flood into Baikonur, we would place China's belligerent from Base Team Two inside of Stardom for an accurate tare of weight. Once General Kanxia's troops had performed all the necessary safety checks, the lead Virgin Galactica Pilot powered her up, causing a chemical reaction with the anti-matter in her enormous engine. As a result, Stardom, our cold-vacuum Freighter, growled. Eventually, she shifted as the A.I system and VG Pilots worked simultaneously. Back on the ground, some predictions became realities.

    The peripheral earth cracked.

    Afar, so did some of the Great Roads, which led into Baikonur.

    Directly below her, Stardom's launch pad foundations trembled and instantly tested its Base-Isolated-Technology.

    Then as her ufo-sized hover cells intensified, she began to ascend.

    Within seconds, the growl had turned into a cataclysmic hum. It was so loud and deafening that it drowned out the raucous coalition crowds who watched from the gargantuan Sub Colony campus, way off. Nevertheless, the height of the cheers endured until the test freighter had descended back to the ground in one piece. Afterward, hours of celebrations ensued among The Coalition nations. Meanwhile, post-analysis was well underway for my associates and I. "Stardom's made an impressive start," Lee said with a smile, also showing me praise by patting my shoulder.

    "Indeed, it has," I reveled, looking at some of the others. I respected that it wouldn't have been a possibility without any of them.

    "And, if the other Freighters and The Core can hold stable hover velocities at five thousand feet, then we'll be well on our way," Stephen boasted.

    "I am in agreement," the old-timer, Sam, breathed. "However, with those crazy cracks in mind, we'll have to find a way to reinforce the surrounding earth and the Great Roads. Wu, nevertheless, your Freighter and my Pilots performed well today. Now let's just hope that the rest of the Land and Aviation Technologies perform without a glitch."

    Along with everyone else, I agreed and had my fingers crossed.

    Weeks later, our post-analysis of all the LAT's continued. "Well, in order to smooth out the retraction issue, The Cylinder's ground alignment only needs a little more adjusting," Stephen explained. "Once that's done, The Pink Lady should be happy."

    During our analysis, O-Kenai had insisted that The Wealth Core be made, as missile proof as possible... Subsequently, Stephen had to reinforce the vast cladding of The Core; make adjustments to the Freighters' extendable limbs so the mechanical components could still interconnect; and then earth them all again.

    "To be fair," Sam added, "as far as macroscopic engineering is concerned, surely we have gotten away with murder?"

    "Maybe," I quipped with objection, moving to highlight another issue. "With O-Kenai aside, sure, the Docks and their retractable roofs are operational after testing. But severe weather is what we need, and not being able to test the L.A.T's under naturally adverse conditions doesn't assure me wholeheartedly that they'll be ready for future Super Storms..."

    "...Xen, maybe it's a blessing?" Lee said. "Mother Nature gifting us with another mild winter before we plan to leave cannot be a coincidence. Plus, we don't need real blizzard conditions to know the roofs and pylons work. They thawed the cultivated ice blocks, just fine."

    "Xen, Lee is right," Sam concluded. "Like you, I still believe the World-Ender is soon to be upon us. Therefore, weather-permitting, let us concentrate on the remaining small steps, in order to give way to our giant leap. And, while we still can..."

    I buffered my lips then nodded in agreement with the VG Elder. Thereafter, I shared the progress with my other associate teams.

    Finally, two weeks later, I'd informed them that we were ready.