Pioneer of the Great Space Frontier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let's go to Space!"
The year is 2125. Sixty years have passed since the colonization of the moon began in 2085, and finally, the Space Frontier Era has begun. Disenchanted with the deteriorating security on Earth, a large number of immigrants have embarked on a journey to space. The Japanese government aimed to make approximately half of the world's population, 4 billion people, into space immigrants. Furthermore, the International Federation also agreed with Japan's space immigration policy as a means to reduce the Earth's population. Space exploration has now become a global endeavor. In exchange for the IF's cooperation with the Japanese government, Japan partially lifted its secrecy and control over the 28th-century technology it had been withholding.
Under the IF, the Space Development Organization was established, receiving investments from all over the world. The development of the moon and Mars has been progressing steadily. Leading the efforts within the Space Development Organization is Japan's Ministry of Space Development. Through a secret agreement between the IF and the Japanese government, the majority of the personnel within the Space Development Organization are Japanese, effectively making it a de facto 'IF branch of the Japanese Ministry of Space Development.'
And now, under the grand promotion by the International Federation, people who are not eligible to immigrate to Japan, disenchanted with the deteriorating security on Earth, are clutching one-way tickets to space and departing for space one after another in Japanese-made spacefaring vessels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fourth Planet of the Sol System: Mars
Capital City Suiryu
The "Super Short-Term Terraforming Plan," led by Japan's Ministry of Space Development since 2090, has brought about a dramatic transformation in the environment of Mars. Modified plants created using 28th-century technology thrive sporadically across vast stretches of land. In the future of the 28th century, genetically modified plants called 'Midori Sakura,' developed from algae and kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) for planetary terraforming, possess the ability to proliferate like bacteria and fungi, as well as extend roots like kudzu, even in poor soil conditions. As long as there is carbon dioxide, trace elements, and sunlight, they can multiply and generate oxygen. While it would be risky and challenging to plant them on Earth, the frozen seeds were released from the space battleship Fusō and scattered across the Martian surface in 2090. In less than 30 years, they swiftly covered 3% of the Martian surface. The expansion continued, transforming the Martian atmosphere.
Regions densely populated with Midori Sakura are covered by enormous domes, where the atmospheric composition and pressure are maintained, resembling those of Earth. The heat emitted from the imported fusion reactors sustains the temperature. Within the approximately 4-kilometer-wide dome, magnificent cities have emerged. Atop the buildings within the dome, the Rising Sun and the International Federation flag flew. The arid Martian landscape is rapidly being assembled with construction materials imported from Earth, progressing the construction of the capital city of Mars in accordance with the "Mars Million City Plan."
This Martian city is named "Suiryu." The dome's atmospheric pressure is set at approximately 0,95 atmospheres and the temperature at 15 degrees Celsius, with oxygen and nitrogen concentrations similar to those on Earth. People can move about without wearing space suits. Furthermore, at the Lagrange point, a magnetic field generator that produces artificial geomagnetism is installed to protect against intense solar winds.
"For the shielding against cosmic rays and solar winds, it is urgent to thicken the Martian atmosphere. However, in the next 50 years, Midori Sakura is projected to cover nearly 10% of the Martian surface. In terms of pressure and composition alone, it will become similar to Earth's atmosphere..."
A technician stood on the surface of Suiryu, observing the bustling land of unmanned machinery. He dreamed of a future several decades from now, where Suiryu becomes a metropolis rivaling Tokyo or Shanghai.
Suiryu Food Development Center
On the outskirts of the city stood a large factory. Its interior is divided into multiple levels, where a single type of grain is produced, serving as the food source for those involved in the development of Mars. Regarding food production in space, the policy is to meet the demand by genetically modifying a single species and processing it to resemble various other types visually. Similar facilities have been constructed across the Martian terrain, and preparations are steadily underway for future immigration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second Planet of the Sol System: Venus
Capital Myojo
The "Floating City," constructed in the Gobi Desert on Earth, had finally been transported to Venus, towed by several spacecraft.
Venus, the second planet in the solar system, is considered the closest in average density and gravity to Earth, earning it the nickname "twin planet." However, its environment is an inhospitable and harsh world, with an average temperature of 500°C, 90 atmospheres of pressure, and an atmosphere consisting mainly of high concentrations of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid clouds. Nevertheless, in the upper atmosphere, the atmospheric pressure becomes equivalent to that on Earth. Taking advantage of the fact that Earth's typical air becomes a 'buoyant gas' on Venus, the concept of a Floating City as a migration plan was devised.
The completed Floating City consists of a 'Balloon' filled with helium gas and a living space called the 'Colony.' The interior of the disc-shaped Colony is structured in layers, with each layer forming a city. Furthermore, the Colony is suspended from a massive balloon, allowing it to traverse through the atmosphere of Venus.
"Entering Venus atmosphere. Activate graviton inhibition devices. Begin descent to the designated installation point."
"Understood. Graviton inhibition at 85%."
Communications from the flagship reached each transport vessel. The interaction of gravitons, particles that generate gravity, was inhibited, and the descent toward Venus began at a gradual speed. Carefully and steadily, the first unit of the Floating City was brought down to the desired altitude. The surroundings are filled with thick sulfuric acid clouds, and a golden sky reflects the sunlight.
"Deploying Balloon."
Helium gas was injected into the giant balloon, which is the upper structure of the Floating City. The chains connecting it to the spacecraft are released, and the Floating City floated in the Venusian sky.
"Installation complete."
The crews of each transport vessel breathed a sigh of relief. The communication command center in Japan was also enveloped in jubilation. Thus, the grand project of installing the first unit of the Floating City was completed.
The interior of the Floating City's Colony is structured in layers, designed to accommodate a population of 5 million residents. The interior, which hangs below the balloon, is set with the same atmospheric composition as Earth, and it is intended to replicate a day by circling Venus once every 24 hours. Moving forward, after a period of several years of experimentation to identify various issues, preparations will be made for the settlement of the general population.
. . . . .
. . .
.
At the beginning of the 22nd century, humanity embarked on a full-scale space migration project. Starting with the Moon, where tens of millions of civilians had already settled, the reach of humanity extended to Mars and Venus. The global space development project generated employment opportunities for the impoverished and became a source of hope, contributing to the stabilization of the world economy.
Then, in the latter half of the 22nd century, as Mars became fully inhabited by humans, space migration accelerated exponentially. People chased their dreams of an unknown frontier among the stars and eagerly grasped one-way tickets to space. Untouched mineral veins on Mars yielded immense wealth, attracting dreamers who flocked to settle there.
With ambitious aspirations, humanity expanded its influence to Jupiter and Saturn. The advent of the Space Frontier Era became a beacon of hope for humanity, gradually improving security on Earth. In contrast to the 21st century, which was marked by conflicts and chaos, the 22nd century became an era of hope thanks to the breakthrough of space exploration.
However, at the end of the 22nd century, a sudden threat emerged, casting a shadow over that hope. In the year 2199 AD, humanity would face its greatest crisis in history.