Futuria, 2131
Nigel Halloway was born to American parents in 2131 in the city Futuria, on a planet in the Alpha Centauri B system. Futuria, being the first city in another solar system, was primarily an industrial and scientific city, and Nigel grew up fascinated with machines. He was an avid rock collector too, and, to his friends' amazement, he built a contraption that sorted his rocks by size. They voted him Chief Inventing Officer in their science club. When he was in his teens and became more interested in mining, his parents encouraged him and sent him back to the U.S. to study metallurgy and mining. He graduated from college in 2153 and soon began to search for employment. He didn't have to search for long, because he had heard about a new mining company in a solar system very close to his home planet.
Cassius Mining Company, 2150
Now that the colony was settled in, the three T-477e's Aric had hired from Foton Enterprises as well as twelve of the UESA's transports could be returned to Earth. Captain Garvin appointed his first mate convoy commander and sent him home with the transports, along with a notice of his resignation from the UESA. He had found a more important calling as an evangelist: he was telling everyone about God and salvation. And many were responding. It was necessary to designate a weekly church meeting in the Colonial Building for the believers and for those interested in what was happening.
Titanium was being mined quickly—almost too quickly. They needed more transports to be able to ship the ore to refining plants. Aric called Dwight Garvin on the radio, the main form of communication.
"Hello, Dwight. The company needs transports for shipping ore. I was thinking of buying several Epsilons, but I don't know who makes them now. I was wondering if you knew."
"Oh, sure," came the reply. "Keppler Industries stopped production in '47. MarsFront Shipyards makes them now. KI sold them the design because they branched out into more military ships."
With the new transports, shipping ore was sped up and business for Cassius Mining Company sky-rocketed. In 2153, CMC hired more employees to mine and transport. One new higher-level manager was a young man by the name of Nigel Halloway. He was outgoing and energetic, and immediately plunged himself into the fast-moving, innovative spirit of the company. A fact which did not escape Aric Schröder's notice.
Nigel, ever-interested in growing the business, suggested that they build a refining plant so they could send out both raw ore and processed, refined titanium. His immediate superiors were dubious, but Aric endorsed the plan. Within three years, Germerican Titanium was off the ground and started producing quality titanium.
In the late 50's, Germany started conquering neighboring countries. Understandably, several other nations on Earth started building up their air forces. This was great for the tiitanium industry! Business on the moon Brutus boomed, morale was high, and everyone was excited. Aric also was pleased, but it seemed to his friend Warner Brooks that he was disturbed about it as well.
"Isn't this wonderful? Everyone needs titanium for their aircraft on Earth, and business is booming!" Warner exulted.
"Yes, Warner, I suppose so," was the anticlimactic reply.
"What's the matter, Aric? You haven't been excited since the boom. Why is that? I mean, just look at these profit statements!"
"There are things more important than money, Werner," Aric said, using his friend's German name. "The problem is what is causing the boom."
"You mean countries building more airplanes? I don't—"
"I mean the Fatherland," Aric interrupted. "You're German, Werner, don't you understand? The last time Germany attacked anyone was during World War Two, over two hundred years ago. The constitution held firm for all that time. How can they just forget it and do this?"
There was a pause as Warner absorbed this. "Well," he ventured, "the constitution says representatives are subject only to their conscience. The consciences of the representatives have been seared. They stopped caring for the good of all people and started loking out for only their own interests, and no one cares about it anymore. I became tired of that trend in Germany, and that was part of the reason why I went to the United States. Unfortunately, the government wasn't much better there.
"Aric, I know you were always were patriotic, but Germany is a lost cause. It is corrupt and won't get any better. Think about your new country instead: Cassius Prime. You have a great business going, and new colony away from the old, corrupt governments of earth. Make it your homeland."
Aric thought about that and then sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." A pause. "But my mother and brothers and sisters are down there, and Ruth's family too. Maybe they will come here."
"I'm sure they're in no danger down there," Warner said dismissively.
"You can't be sure of that. Anyway, it can't hurt to ask them."
Aric would not be dissuaded.
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