Chapter 6

The naming, actually numbering, of Satellite Worlds happened as a logical solution to a disorderly situation.

A little over three hundred years ago one of the larger governments of Home World decided to build the first off-world habitation station.  Home World had two moons in its orbit; one was larger than the other, both of their ancient names all but forgotten in the present day.  The larger satellite had, of course, more gravity, more workable surface area and more mineral deposits.  It was the obvious choice for a first attempt.  The government-sponsored program had little trouble obtaining public support and funding for its plan and before long Home World people were living and working on a planet on which they weren’t born.

Maintaining the station turned out to be much harder than building it.

After the first year of discoveries and general excitement, the novelty wore off; the taxes required to maintain the non-profit venture did not.  In the second year, funding for the station dried up; the brave, ambitious off-worlders were brought home and, like all government projects that succeed spectacularly, the whole thing was at an end.

The following year an upstart, maverick company announced that it would reopen the unused moon station and operate it at a profit.  And more, it would offset the government deficit incurred by buying it over time.  People thought the plan foolhardy.  However, it wouldn’t cost them anything more; it would, in fact, reduce their taxes.  Politicians and statesmen didn’t know what to think because the entire situation was unprecedented.  However, they had nothing to lose except being continually harassed by the public over the deficit.

The company signed the official papers, launched their ships, reopened the station and started advertising.

Almost immediately space on the station was rented and it didn’t take long for the company to turn a profit; even with the huge mortgage payments they had to assume in order to get the government to allow their ownership.

Within the next few years many different types of people had made reservations far in advance.  Labs were soon added to house corporate scientists that made trips to study the mineral deposits of the moon.  Doctors studied the physiological and psychological effects of off-world living.  Wealthy people made it a unique vacation spot.  Where brains and money go successfully, everyone follows.  Some of the most important visitors were the heads of other companies interested in the possibility of opening their own moon facilities.

Which they soon did.

Within twenty years both Home World moons were being covered with mining stations, full time residences, malls and hotels.

Within fifty years everyone had their thoughts and eyes on the rest of the solar system for potential colonization.

Within one hundred years several companies developed atmosphere-manufacturing equipment and the outward habitation of the solar system grew exponentially.

At first the companies and people founding outposts on other planets and planetoids gave their own unique names to these worlds.  Sometimes a newly inhabited world had more than one name.  This caused considerable confusion.  Finally, the solution was agreed upon by a conference all companies and governments involved in off-world projects.  The name ‘Home World’ was coined.  Its two moons were christened Satellite World One (the larger) and Satellite World Two (the smaller); SatOne and SatTwo informally.  The rest of the worlds would be numbered according to order of habitation.  The old names persisted for a while and would probably never be wholly lost.  But, in all formal contract, negotiations and media reports the new and much more efficient naming grabbed hold immediately and held admirably.

Almost all ships departing Home World and headed for SatThree or beyond stopped at SatOne for final checks and refueling.  Thanks to ever increasing space flight propulsion technology, the trip from Home World to SatOne or Two took only a few hours, instead of a few days like in the past.  The trip to SatSix was likewise shortened, however, still lasted several months.

Teric and Gorsh didn’t mind at all.  They had much preliminary work to do.  And, they gladly welcomed the time to become reacquainted with one another mentally and physically.
 
• • •
 
Teric was sitting on the bed, thinking about her mother, when Gorsh walked in their ship quarters.

He grinned and said, “Today’s the day.”

The ship was due to arrive at SatSix in a matter of hours.  From there, the crew and cargo would be shuttled down to the newly constructed Med Complex.

Teric tried to answer with a smile, but it came out half strained with the sadness of her thoughts.

“Still torturing yourself?” Gorsh tossed his computer work pad on the desk in the corner and sat down on the floor in front of her.

She reached out and caressed his neck, “I’ll be all right.”

“Your brother is just temporarily confused.  With age and experience he’ll turn out fine.  At least he’s trying to think for himself, even if he’s thinking incorrectly right now.”

“I don’t know…” she began to reply with a puzzled frown returning to her face.  “Before I left I had one last talk with him.  There was a strange edge to the tone of his voice.  Almost as if he was humoring me by discussing the matter any further.  Like he had already firmly made up his mind and was trying not to sound too condescending about knowing more than me.”

“He’s a teenager.”

“I know, but listen.  He asked all kinds of questions about the Complex, the project, our mission.  He knew more than most people do about these things.  More than he probably should know, if only for security reasons.”

Gorsh laughed softly at this, “ Probably hacked his way into a few corporate databases and downloaded ‘classified info’.”

“Why?”

”Aside from interest in his big sister’s important job, he probably wants to know about Kittamm.  That guy is big news.  And quite a type of folk hero to many Home World Bound factions.  Like everyone else who cares either way about this issue your brother was interested in what changed his mind and made him lead his people back to rationality and civilization.”

Teric sat motionless for a moment and stared at the wall.  Then she said, “Anyway, I wasn’t thinking of Jehrac just now.  I was thinking of my mother.”

“What about her?”

“She and people like her make me frustrated and sad.  They accept the enlightened knowledge of civilization on faith.  They don’t understand or reason.  To them it’s all just blindly believed dogma.  If it vanished tomorrow they would know where it went, or why, or be able to attempt to bring it back.  Which makes it worse in some ways than Jehrac’s belief in Home World Bound ideas.  At least he’s trying to think.”

“Your mother may not be the most intelligent person to have lived, but she tries to do good to the best of her knowledge and abilities.  She always fully supported you and your father, the scientists of the family.”

“Yes, I know.  I’m not trying to blame the possible downfall of civilization on her.”

He smiled.  “You worry too much, dearest,” he embraced her and in between soft, wet kisses from her chin down her relaxing neck he added, “We’ve got more important things to do.  And everything’s going to work out just fine … absolutely perfect …”