Page 8

I gaze ahead, into the darkness of the screen before us, as Elspeth checks in with her crew to make sure everything is ready for launch. With the bridge in the central column of the ship, our view comes from numerous cameras around the structure’s perimeter. It is somewhat disorienting for me, but Elspeth looks between each screen with a sense of calm expertise.

We are relying on new technology for almost everything we do from this point forward.

Launching without ground support means we have to trust the ship’s many sensors. If a single bolt comes loose on level one, we head to space without our cargo. The world has never seen a propulsion device like the one we are using, and this will be its maiden voyage. If launch is successful, we travel to Mars in a fully functional domestic craft designed to house families and maintain 70% of Earth’s gravity. Then six weeks later, we land on Mars and build a whole new world there.

Elspeth instructs Metis to begin the countdown.

“Countdown initiated,” Metis says.

* * *

10

I suck in my breath, every nerve ending in my body on fire.

9

As a small farm boy in Russia, I used to stare at the stars and dream of flying to space.

8

I could never have imagined I would be leaving without hope of return.

7

That the planet below me would be burning and drowning.

6

That I would be the one to create the technology to make this possible.

5

My palms are slick. My forehead beading with sweat.

4

I am going to Mars.

3

We feel a slight rumble as the thrusters engage five levels below.

2

I take another breath and close my eyes, trying to envision a safe start to this unprecedented journey. I let my mind go blank...

1

Here we come, Mars.

* * *

3

ZAE

“The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic.”