Challenges of
Diversity
by Robert H. Stockman
_____________________________________
Table of Contents
1. Arrival
The first arrivals land on Mars, including the heads of the Green World and Zen communities; the former meets Will Elliott. The last arrivals see Embarcadero, including Mormon missionaries.
DATE: April 2040
2. Welcomes
Sebastian Langlais arrives. At the welcoming dinner, Érico and others discuss the new arrivals and the problems of getting along with them. Will greets them, Yoshi, and Tuesday, then gives his welcoming speech.
DATE: May 2040
Will receives congratulations from the moon, Venus, and Mercury. Sebastian meets with him and he proposes an Asteroid Belt Commission (ABC).
DATE: early May, 2040
4. Challenges
The GWC’s supplies include uninspected biological materials. An ACV crashes, causing loss of forty tonnes of stuff, including a GWC shipment and some stuff for the Zen monks. The Nigerians go to work for construction. The Mormons open a store with huge sales; Marshall agrees to work for them.
DATE: mid May 2040
5. Departure
Sebastian complains about Helmut and Clara’s plans to go to Aram with Charlie and possibly take him to Ceres. Madhu and Roger talk to Silvio and Madhu offers to help spruce up the store. Silvio can’t hire help because of health insurance issues; Madhu takes that to Will and the Mars Council. Will visits the Zen monastery construction site and expresses doubts about the “polder” concept. Helmut arrives in Aram and Forest dedicates the site to a new outpost.
DATE: late June 2040
6. Selection
Helmut and Clara return from Aram, summarizing what was done there in nine weeks. They visit Silvio’s and the Patio for supper. Stanfield insists Helmut get his dissertation finished. They talk about integration of the different groups, witness a fist fight between an inebriated Commission employee and a GWC adherent. Will meets with Alexandra and they discuss diversity, tolerance, demand for caravels and space structures, Columbiad 11, and safety rating bottomless domes.
DATE: September 2040
7. New Years
Ceres crew meets and plans training together. Helmut defends his dissertation. Will meets with Alexandra and Lisa about domes and housing. The price of gold has dropped seriously, so other exports are important. Smith talks to Will about a place for a Mormon temple. Universal health insurance and five-day work week start Jan. 1.
Date: late Dec. 2040 and early January 2041
8. Emergency
Helmut gets appendicitis at the South Pole. Aram’s central cylinder dome depressurizes and it depressurizes the other cylinder dome and the B-160; the emergency requires the caravel crew to go help.
DATE: March 2041
Helmut returns to Aurorae and hears a debate about the Aram accident. Will finalizes membership on the independent Commission and learns Forest Rivers is slandering him.
DATE: mid March 2041
10. Findings
Will talks to Martha about health and stress. He visits Vandevelde and Andalus. The budget has to be cut again because of lack of money. Weeks later, Helmut tells Anna Racan about Ceres and their plans to go there. They listen to the Aram Emergency Commission’s report, which argues that Commissioner and Governor positions should be separate.
DATE: mid May 2041
11. Devolution
Mars public opinion pushes for devolution as well. Will agrees that the Lieutenant Governor position will become replaced by a Chief Minister. The Mars Council doesn’t want the Landowners Assembly involved; the U.S. comes out against the plan.
Date: late May 2041
12. Kasei
Ceres team goes to Embarcadero. Will goes to Zen monastery and hears from Yoshi about a Japanese business group who wants to support a major Japanese presence—the Kasei Project—on Mars.
DATE: early and mid June 2041
13. Departures
Will talks to rich Bahá'í financier about funding a Bahá'í temple on Mars; revolution in Khalistan interrupts the world petroleum supply and threatens collapse of the world economic system; Columbiad-11 ships depart Earth with a record number of settlers late October; Will talks to Érico about the matters and others; the Ceres crew leaves Mars for the last time, October 30.
DATE: Oct. 2041
© 2005 Robert H. Stockman