Pennsylvania, USA, 2115
Ross Shepard was born into a farmer's family in Pennsylvania. Growing up. he was always interested in space and technology of space exploration. It was so different from the down-to-earth business of farming. But it seemed like an unattainable dream to become someone involved in space travel. His father frequently reminded him that he was needed on the farm. Ross supposed that at least one thing was good: he was so used to working hard that if he could ever do something else he would excel at it.
One day when Ross was nineteen, his father bought two robots to help with the farm. An appeal formed in Ross' mind. The robots were worth two men; he was only one. Even if he did go to college, his father would have obtained a net gain of one man.... To Ross' delight, his father agreed that he could get a higher education and leave the farm.
He went through a traditional college for four years, then went to Columbia Outpost on Mars for eight years to learn the fascinating world of colony building. He also took German while he was at college. He graduated with honors in 2146 and found employment with the UESA. Not long afterward, he received his first mission: go along with a relocating mining company and build a colony on a planet near Alpha Centauri.
The planet Cassius, 2149
Aric Schröder's original plan was to mine the rocks and asteroids in the rings around Cassius for titanium, but due to the lack of space-based mining machinery underground mining on Brutus, Cassius' moon, was more sensible at the time, so all the transports set down there.
Ross Shepard's first task was to build a mining camp on Brutus where the workers would live. During the three months it took to construct the camp, everyone had to live and work out of the transports. When the camp was finished, four of the transports returned to Earth to fetch the mine employees' families. At the same time Ross started the planning of the colony that would be on the surface of Cassius. Like the camp, the colony was functional after three months, and the families of the mine workers were soon settled in. A schedule was then worked out for teams of workers to alternate between being on the moon for a week and on the planet's surface with their families for a week.
Ross worked on improving the buildings in the colony, often having to come into people's homes to add a necessary system or something. They didn't mind this much, since Ross was the kind of fellow who was easy to like. He made sure to learn all the people's names, and often asked about their welfare. The people helped him improve his German, both by occasionally correcting him and by simply conversing with him. When Ross made his reports to Aric, he often related his experiences with the people, and Aric was able to keep in touch with them and know how they were faring.
Now in the beginning of 2150, at the end of one such conversation, Aric remarked to Ross that they should build a school for the children. Ross agreed, but there was one problem.
"Where do we get the teachers?" he asked.
Aric smiled and nodded. "I was thinking that job could be a cooperative effort of the mothers, like the popular homeschooling method in the last century, but on a communal scale. We'd obtain books and supplies from earth."
"I suppose that sounds practicable. I'll ask the people what they think." Ross turned to go.
"Wait," said Aric, "It would be easier to post notices and have a democratic 'town council' type of meeting."
Ross smiled. "True. Then I shall see that it gets done."
The meeting took place in the large Colonial Building, a communal structure intended for such large gatherings. All of the people were there except for the personnel and workers on Brutus. Of note were Aric Schröder, Warner Brooks, Ross Shepard, and Captain Dwight Garvin. The first order of business Aric brought up was a name for their colony. Cassius Prime seemed suitable and was promptly affirmed.
Next was the issue of the school. Aric presented his thoughts on it and discussion followed. Many were doubtful they would be able to do the communal homeschool, but since a number of the women and men were themselves taught at home, the consensus was agreeable to the proposed style of Cassius Prime Community School.
A few months later, the school books and supplies arrived from earth and education began in the Colonial Building.
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