“Technologies for the exploration of space,” Lamont observed. The largest allocation of resources in history.
At the precise center of the vast Utopia basin, a tower had been built. It was an elegantly tapered structure of glass and stainless steel, with four landing pads placed at each point of the compass several stories beneath its gleaming spire. From a distance, it resembled a great silver flower, with the dusty red bowl of the basin as its pot. This effect was emphasized by something of a wonder: The base of the tower emerged not from the rocky desert of Mars, but rather from a ring of parklike green, with thin evergreens planted at regular intervals along its edge.
Surrounding the tower was a cluster of smaller structures, geodesic domes and long rectangular buildings. Out of the latter rose smokestacks that reached to about half the height of the central tower, and from them billowed thick, puffy clouds that dissipated into a uniform canopy. At a distance, this cloud layer effectively hid the whole complex from view.
“Welcome to Utopia,” Carter said after Lamont had taken it all in. They were tracing a wide landing path around the tower.
“When was this built?” Lamont asked.
“About four years ago,” Carter replied, “When Benjamin took over operations on Mars. Company headquarters is still technically in Hellas, but he spends most of his time here.”
Lamont gestured toward the smokestacks. “Power plants?”
Carter shook his head. “Processing plants. They’re extracting water and minerals from the planet to produce oxygen. I’m told that in less than a decade, this whole basin will be a garden.”
The newspaperman rubbed his jaw in amazement. “I’ve heard of terraforming in theory, but I thought that it had been dismissed as impractical for Mars.”
“It’s more of a proof of concept,” Carter admitted. “Utopia is a literal test bed for the technologies that Schultz is most interested in advancing. Oxygenation, hydroponics, studies in gravity and propulsion.”
“Technologies for the exploration of space,” Lamont observed.
“Naturally,” Carter agreed. “As you say, the largest allocation of resources in history.”
“It’s impressive,” Lamont admitted. “But all those resources can’t be directed here. Not unless there’s a lot more beneath the surface.”
“No, not here,” Carter concurred. “There is more beneath the surface, but this compound only represents a fraction of the overall initiative.”
“And what is that?” Lamont asked.
“Perhaps it would be better to let Benjamin explain.”
As Carter guided the craft smoothly toward the center of a landing pad, Lamont looked down along the curving base of the tower. Far below, he could make out a line of people running from one building to another at a paced jog. Even from this distance, he could see that they were dressed in T-shirts and shorts, with no breathing apparatus to be seen.
Next: The Man Who Owns Mars
The sci-fi plot thickens :)