The Terran Federation had been planting flags and establishing colonies on every reachable rock for decades, the Moon, Mars, the icy moons of Jupiter, but the supply chain was starting to buckle under the weight of expansion. You couldn’t ship enough oxygen, food, or building materials fast enough. Whatever the next colony was going to need, they were going to have to make it where they landed. Or, not go at all.
This, was exactly the opportunity that had Max Callahan standing in front of his board at eight in the morning that Tuesday.
The room was designed to impress, an upscale office overlooking a futuristic Chicago skyline, the soft glow of holo displays catching on the attentive faces of board members. Max stood at the head of the room, jacket buttoned, an image hovering in the air behind him, a potato, against a backdrop of red Martian soil.
“I’ll keep this brief,” he said. “The Federation’s expansion is outrunning its supply chain. They land on a rock, and immediately need oxygen, shelter, and food. Right now, they’re paying through the nose for those. But, we, are positioned to disrupt the market, to sell them one product, which fulfills all those needs.”
He gestured behind him.
“The potato.”
A few whispers from the back. Max pressed on.
“Dr. Kuan’s team has spent six years on this. The Multi Purpose Potato, or MPP, does three things a colony can’t live without. It feeds people with a protein and nutrient-enriched diet, produces highly concentrated oxygen, and once you harvest it, the starch can be turned into a structural binder.”
“Can you elaborate?” one of the board members asked.
“Yes, we mix the starch with local regolith and a pinch of magnesium chloride, and what we get is a concrete twice the strength of anything we pour on Earth. We’re calling the finished product AgroBind.”
He let that sit a beat.
“A twenty five kilo sack of dried starch, one harvest cycle from a single dome, produces just under half a tonne of finished material. With the MPP, a colony can grow its own food, make it’s own air, and the byproduct is every wall it ever needs to build.”
A murmur ran through the room. Mrs. Voss, Chair of the Board, leaned forward. “And the procurement margin?”
“Thirty percent below the comparable alternative for life support, habitat, and food combined.”
He let the number sit.
“Our pilot program on the Moon is producing within spec. Dr. Kuan is setting up a second on Mars. What I’m asking the board to approve is a tenfold scale up of the Spudnik Initiative. We need to bid on every new off world Federation contract that opens in the next decade. If we move now, we’ll be the supplier of choice. If we wait, someone else will come up with a different solution.”
The slide dissolved behind him into the company logo, and beneath it, the line he’d written himself a decade earlier:
Terra-Gro. The future is growing.
“Questions?”
There weren’t many. By the time the meeting adjourned, the Spudnik Initiative had its budget, and Max Callahan had, though he didn’t yet know it, secured himself, and his family, a ticket to Mars.
Max walked out of the boardroom riding a high. The meeting had gone exactly the way he’d rehearsed it. The expansion was approved, and the vision was sold. He was, by every measurable metric, on top of the world. Why then, did his approaching assistant look so concerned? A sinking feeling overtook him, a sense that something was about to upend his carefully laid plans.
His assistant, Claire, handed him a folder. “Mr. Callahan, do you have a moment?”
Max paused, noting the seriousness in her tone. “Sure, Claire. What’s going on?”
“It’s about the Martian trials,” she said, lowering her voice as they stepped aside. “The board has decided they want you to personally oversee the operation.”
Max blinked in surprise. “Personally? They want me on Mars?”
Claire nodded, her expression sympathetic. “Yes, sir. Given the importance of the project and the investment we’ve made, they believe your presence is crucial. They’ve already made the arrangements.”
Max felt his stomach drop. Sure, Mars was the next big step in Terra Gro’s expansion, but he hadn’t anticipated being the one to go there himself. He thought his place was here, managing the company from Earth, where he could oversee all operations. And then there was the issue of his family.
“How long are we talking?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Claire hesitated. “They’re expecting you to oversee the trials for a decade. There’s one scheduled return trip, a three month break after the first five years.”
Max’s heart sank. He flipped through the documents halfheartedly. A decade on Mars. He knew the colony was well established, with state of the art facilities and a thriving community, but it wasn’t home. And asking his family to uproot their lives for ten years? That was a tough sell, even if it was Mars.
“Thank you, Claire,” he said, closing the folder. “I’ll… I’ll need some time to process this.”
“Of course, Mr. Callahan. If there’s anything you need, just let me know,” Claire said gently before stepping away.
Max stood in the hallway for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Overseeing the Martian trials was supposed to be the pinnacle of his career, a crowning achievement that would secure Terra Gro’s legacy and his own. But all he could think about was the impact it would have on Emily and the kids.
Ten years. How was he going to tell them?
The ride home felt longer than usual. Max barely registered the bustling Chicago streets as his thoughts churned with the implications of the board’s decision. By the time he pulled into the driveway of his suburban home, the late afternoon light had faded into dusk, and the house was warmly lit from within.
Emily was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, while Sarah and Luke were finishing up their homework at the dining table. It was a scene of domestic tranquility, and for a moment, Max hesitated. How could he disrupt this?
“Hey, honey,” Emily greeted him with a smile as he walked in. “How was your day?”
Max forced a smile and kissed her cheek. “It was… eventful. We had some big developments at work.”
“Good ones, I hope,” she said, her tone light.
Max nodded, though his thoughts were anything but light. “Listen, Em, we need to talk. After dinner. There’s something important I need to discuss with you and the kids.”
Emily gave him a curious look but nodded. “Okay. I’ll finish up here, and we can talk over dessert.”
Max joined his kids at the table, helping them with their homework, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept thinking about how to break the news, how to frame it so that it didn’t sound as daunting as it was. But how could he? Ten years would be a long time, especially for them.
Dinner passed in a blur, and before long, they were all gathered in the living room with slices of Emily’s homemade apple pie. Max knew it was time. He cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
“So,” he began, trying to keep his voice steady, “I got some news today. Big news.”
“What kind of news, Dad?” Luke asked, looking up with interest.
Max took a deep breath. “The board wants me to oversee the Martian trials for the Spudnik Initiative, personally.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Mars? That’s amazing!”
Emily’s smile faded slightly, her eyes searching Max’s face. “What does that mean for us?”
Max looked at her, then at the kids. “It means… we’d have to move to Mars for a decade. There’s a return trip scheduled after the first five years, where we’d come back to Earth for three months. But other than that, we’d be on Mars.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as the reality of what he was saying sank in.
“Move to Mars?” Sarah repeated slowly, her excitement giving way to uncertainty. “But what about school? My friends?”
Luke looked confused. “Mars is so far away. Will we even have a house? What will we do there?”
Emily remained quiet, her expression worried.
Max reached out and took her hand. “I know it’s a lot. It’s not what I expected either. But this is a huge opportunity for the company, for us, and the colony is well-established. We’d have everything we need.”
Emily squeezed his hand gently. “I’m proud of you, Max. I am. But ten years is a long time.”
“I know.”
Sarah and Luke exchanged glances, their expressions conflicted. The idea of living on Mars was both thrilling and terrifying.
“Will we come back?” Luke asked quietly.
“Yes, We’ll come visit after five years, and after the full ten, we’ll be back for good.”
Emily nodded slowly. “We’ll make it work. We need time to prepare.” She said it as if she was still processing what was just revealed to them.
Max felt a wave of relief. “Thank you, Em.”
It had been three months since Max broke the news to his family, and the day they had been both dreading and preparing for had finally arrived. The Callahans were about to leave Earth for a decade long stay on Mars. The past months had been a whirlwind of preparations, packing, and difficult goodbyes.
The ship, a sleek vessel built for speed, was docked at The Chicago Orbital Spaceport, gleaming under the artificial lights of the loading bay. Ships like these could now travel to Mars in a fraction of the time it once took, only about three months, with the proper launch window, thanks to advances in propulsion technology. It was still far from the instant travel humanity dreamed of, but it was a significant leap forward.
Max stood by the cargo hold, overseeing the last of their personal belongings being loaded onto the ship. The company had provided almost everything they would need for the next five years, from food and clothing to entertainment and education supplies for Sarah and Luke. What little they were bringing from Earth fit into just a few crates: family photos, mementos, a few cherished books, and the kids’ favorite items.
He watched as the workers carefully secured the crates, his mind a mix of emotions. There was excitement, of course, Mars was an adventure unlike any other, a chance to be part of something historic. But there was also a lingering sadness. Earth had been their home, and leaving it behind wasn’t easy.
“Dad,” Sarah’s voice called from behind him.
Max turned to see his daughter standing there, her expression serious. “What’s up, sweetheart?”
“I just said goodbye to Jenna,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness. “We’ve been friends since kindergarten, and now I won’t see her for five years.”
Max knelt down to her level, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I know it’s hard, Sarah. But think of all the new friends you’ll make on Mars. And you’ll still be able to stay in touch with Jenna. It’s not goodbye forever.”
Sarah nodded, though the sadness didn’t leave her eyes. “Yeah, I guess. But it’s not the same.”
Max pulled her into a hug. “I know, sweetie. But we’re in this together, and Mars is going to be an incredible experience. I promise.”
As they hugged, Luke came running up, wearing his backpack, and carrying something furry. “Dad, I’m done saying goodbye to everyone. Can I take Rocket with me on the ship?” He held up a well worn stuffed dog, one of his most treasured possessions.
Max smiled. “Of course you can, buddy. Rocket wouldn’t miss this adventure for the world.”
Luke grinned, hugging the stuffed dog to his chest. “I’m gonna show him all the cool stuff on Mars!”
Max ruffled Luke’s hair affectionately. “I’m sure he’ll love it. Now go help the crew with the last of the packing, okay?”
“Okay!” Luke dashed off toward the ship, his earlier apprehension replaced by excitement.
Max stood up, watching his son disappear into the ship’s interior. He could see Emily nearby, overseeing the final details with the same calmness she’d shown throughout this whole ordeal. She had been the rock of the family, keeping everything together as they navigated this massive transition.
He walked over to her, slipping an arm around her waist. “How are you holding up?”
Emily leaned into him slightly, her eyes still focused on the crates being loaded. “I’m… okay. It’s been a lot, but I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”
Max nodded. “It’s going to be an adjustment, but we’ll make it work.”
Emily turned to look at him, a small smile on her lips. “I know. And you’re right, this is an incredible opportunity. I’m just going to miss Earth… and everything we’re leaving behind.”
Max squeezed her hand. “It’s not forever. And who knows? Maybe Mars will start to feel like home.”
She smiled a little wider. “Maybe, I guess we’ll find out.”
The last of the crates were loaded, and a voice came over the intercom, announcing that boarding would begin shortly. Max took a deep breath, feeling the finality of the moment settling in.
“Time to go,” he said, more to himself than anyone else.
She nodded, and together, they walked toward the ship, their steps heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.
The interior of the ship was compact but well equipped. As they settled in, Sarah and Luke explored the space with curiosity, while Max and Emily organized their belongings.
Once everything was stowed, Max stood by the window, watching the Earth recede, blue and green against the dark. Emily joined him, her hand slipping into his.
“It’s really happening, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Max said. “No turning back now.”
It was the end of the third month aboard the ship, and the Callahan family was beginning to feel the strain of being cooped up together in such close quarters for so long.
The novelty of space travel had long since worn off, and the once exciting journey to Mars had become a monotonous routine of daily exercises, schooling, and trying to stay out of each other’s way.
Max was jogging the perimeter of the living area, the tension in his head growing with each lap. He could hear the kids bickering in the central room, their voices rising in frustration.
“Sarah, stop hogging the holo screen! It’s my turn!” Luke shouted, his tone edged with annoyance.
“You’ve had it all morning, Luke! I want to watch my show!” Sarah shot back, her patience clearly fraying.
Max rubbed his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache, his pace slowing. Emily was at the small workstation, trying to catch up on some work of her own, but even she looked strained. They were all feeling it, the claustrophobia of being stuck in the same space day in and day out, with nowhere to go and nothing new to see.
“Enough!” Max finally snapped, stepping into the room where the kids were arguing. “Both of you, just stop it!”
The suddenness of his outburst briefly startled them into silence. Max could feel his frustration bubbling up, threatening to spill over.
“Dad, it’s not fair!” Sarah began, but Max cut her off with a raised hand.
“I don’t want to hear it, Sarah. I’m tired of the fighting, and I know your mother is too. We’ve been stuck on this ship together for three months, and we still have two more weeks to go. We need to find a way to get through this without driving each other crazy.”
Sarah folded her arms, her expression sullen, while Luke just stared at the floor, his face a mix of guilt and stubbornness. The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable.
Emily spoke up. “Your dad is right. We’re all feeling the strain, but that doesn’t mean we can take it out on each other. We need to be a team, now more than ever.”
The words were meant to calm things, but instead, they seemed to have the opposite effect. Sarah’s eyes welled up, and Luke’s lip began to quiver. The situation was slipping out of control, the stress of the past months pushing them all to their breaking point.
“Mom, Dad, I hate this,” Sarah blurted out, her voice cracking. “I just want to go home! I miss my friends, I miss our house, I miss everything!”
Luke, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. “I don’t like space anymore. It’s boring and stupid, and it smells like french fries.”
Max’s frustration boiled over. “I know this is hard, but we can’t just wish it away! We’re going to Mars whether we like it or not. Even if we could turn around, it’s further to get home now. We have to make the best of it!”
Sarah burst into tears, and Luke looked like he was about to follow suit. Max ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his own words. He hadn’t meant to lash out, but the stress was getting to him too.
Sarah had stopped crying, but the tension in the room was still thick. Then, in the middle of the silence, Luke suddenly blurted out, “You know what I’ve been thinking? If we don’t land soon, we should rename this thing the Snooze Cruiser.”
Max paused, the unexpected pun catching them off guard. Emily snorted, trying to hold back a laugh, but it was too late. The wordplay was so completely off base, simple and dumb, yet perfectly in line with the kind of humor Luke loved to try to emulate.
Max couldn’t help but grin. “The Snooze Cruiser, huh? Definitely not the Starship Funterprise,” he said, recognizing what Luke had been going for.
Luke, now giggling at his own joke, nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! And we need a rescue ship to come save us. The TFC Coffee Cruiser!”
That did it. Emily let out a full laugh, and even Sarah couldn’t suppress a smile. The pun was so bad, it was exactly the kind of ridiculousness they needed to break the tension.
Max shook his head, chuckling. “Alright, Luke, I think you’ve just named our ship. But don’t worry, the Snooze Cruise is almost landing, and then we’ll be on Mars where the fun really starts.”
Luke beamed.
“Well, at least we’re not stuck on the Moon with a bunch of potatoes!” he added.
“Sorry bud, that one is over my head.” Max replied, smiling.
The Callahan family was practically buzzing with anticipation as the ship touched down on the Martian surface. After three and a half months in space, the idea of finally getting to stretch their legs and breathe in air that wasn’t recycled for the thousandth time was almost too good to be true.
Max stood by the door, ready to lead his family down the ramp and into their new life on Mars. Emily was beside him, holding Sarah’s hand, while Luke was bouncing on his toes in the low gravity, eager to see what awaited them outside. The moment the door began to open, they all leaned forward, ready to step out onto the red soil of Mars.
But as the ramp lowered, instead of being greeted by the open expanse of the Martian landscape, they were met by a team of stern looking officials clad in protective suits.
“Welcome to Mars, Callahan family,” one of them said, his voice crackling through the speaker in his helmet. “Before you can disembark, we need to go through the standard arrival protocols. Please remain on the ship until further notice.”
Max felt his excitement deflate like a balloon. “How long will this take?”
The official didn’t seem fazed by the question. “Standard decontamination and check in procedures typically take about two to three hours. We’ll start with decontamination, then move on to possession verification, badge issuance, security protocol reviews, and other necessary tasks.”
Emily sighed, slumping slightly. “I guess we should have expected this.”
Sarah groaned, her earlier excitement now replaced by frustration. “More waiting? I thought we were done with that when we landed!”
Luke, who had been about to dart forward, looked up at Max with wide eyes. “Dad, does this mean we can’t go out and see Mars yet?”
Max forced a smile, though he shared their disappointment. “Looks like we have to go through a few more steps first, buddy. But once we’re done, we’ll be free to explore.”
The family reluctantly followed the officials’ instructions, stepping back into the ship’s interior as the decontamination process began. It was an exhaustively thorough procedure, involving sprays of various chemicals, scans, and checks to ensure they hadn’t brought any Earth contaminants with them.
Max watched as the kids squirmed under the cold mist of the decontamination spray. “Just a little longer,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
When the decontamination was finally complete, they were ushered into a small, sterile room where their personal belongings were laid out on a table. Two officials began methodically going through each item, scanning and cataloging everything from their clothes to the small keepsakes they had brought along.
Sarah, who had been silently fuming throughout the process, finally couldn’t hold back any longer. “This is so unfair! We’ve been waiting forever, and now they’re treating our stuff like it’s some kind of alien contraband!”
Emily placed a calming hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “I know, sweetie. But they’re just doing their job. We’ll be out of here soon.”
Luke, trying to lighten the mood, leaned over to Max and whispered, “I bet they’re just jealous because we have cooler stuff than they do.”
Max chuckled softly, appreciating Luke’s attempt at humor, but the wait was beginning to wear on him too.
Next came the badge issuance, which involved more scanning, fingerprinting, and retinal scans. Each family member was issued a badge with their name, photo, and a digital chip containing all their information. The badges were to be worn at all times while on Mars, a reminder that they were now part of a tightly controlled environment.
After that, they were led to yet another room where a security officer reviewed the protocols they needed to follow on Mars. It was a long, detailed briefing that covered everything from emergency procedures to the rules about venturing outside the colony’s protected zones.
Max listened as patiently as he could, but he couldn’t help glancing at the clock on the wall. They had been at this for nearly two hours, and the kids were growing restless again. Even Emily looked like she was struggling to stay focused.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the security officer finished the briefing and gave them the all clear. “Thank you for your cooperation, Callahan family. You are now officially registered and cleared for entry into Mars Colony 7. Welcome to your new home.”
Max breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” he said, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. “Can we go now?”
The officer nodded, and the door to the outside world finally opened. The family stepped out onto the landing platform, and for the first time, they were able to take in the Martian landscape with their own eyes.
The sky was a dusty orange, and the ground beneath their feet was a rich red, stretching out in all directions. The colony buildings were slightly duller, although similar in color to their surroundings, domes and structures built to withstand the harsh environment. But what struck Max the most was the vastness of it all. They were on a different planet, in a place that had once seemed so distant and unreachable.
Sarah took a deep breath, breathing in the clean, thin air of the terraformed atmosphere, her earlier frustration melting away. “It’s… it’s beautiful.”
Emily squeezed Max’s hand. “We made it.”
Max nodded, feeling a mix of pride and awe. “Yeah. We did.”
Luke, who had been quiet, suddenly bounced forward, arms outstretched like he was flying. “Mars! We’re on Mars!”
The sight of Luke bouncing and laughing broke the last of the tension. Sarah and Emily joined in, their laughter echoing across the landing platform.
Max stepped forward, his feet crunching on the Martian soil, he smiled. “Welcome to Mars, Callahans. Let’s make this place our home.”
After finally getting to stretch their legs and shake off the confinement of the ship, the Callahan family gathered for the official tour of Mars Colony 7. The initial thrill of setting foot on Mars had settled into a sense of awe and curiosity, and they were eager to see what their new home had to offer.
A cheerful tour guide, clad in the standard issue Mars Colony uniform, met them at the main hub. “Welcome, Callahan family! My name is Juno, and I’ll be showing you around today. We’ve got some amazing facilities here, so I hope you’re ready to be impressed!”
Sarah and Luke exchanged excited looks as Juno led them through the bustling corridors of the colony. The structure interiors were modern, with an unmistakable natural feeling, and incorporated amenities for both necessity and comfort in the harsh Martian environment. The first stop was the communications center, a place that caught Sarah’s attention immediately.
“And here we have our state of the art communications hub,” Juno explained, gesturing to a large screen displaying real time data transfers. “Thanks to our ultraspeed network, you can communicate with Earth with almost no lag. Video calls, data uploads, even streaming, it’s all possible, just like back home.”
Sarah’s eyes lit up. “So I can talk to my friends anytime? And there’s no delay?”
“That’s right,” Juno confirmed with a smile. “You’ll feel like you’re still connected to everything on Earth, even from here.”
Sarah grinned, the thought of staying in touch with her friends making the move to Mars a lot more bearable. “That’s awesome!”
They continued the tour, and Luke’s excitement grew as they reached the agricultural sector. The air here was warmer, filled with the earthy smell of growing plants, a sharp contrast to the sterile environment of the ship they had just left behind.
“This is our cultivation area,” Juno said, waving a hand at the rows of enclosures filled with plants and, to Luke’s delight, animals. “We’re working on expanding our food production here on Mars, and that includes both plant and animal life.”
Luke’s eyes went wide as he spotted a pen of small, furry animals. “Bunnies!” He exclaimed excitedly.
Juno smiled. “We’ve got chickens and goats too, as well as cows in the next dome over. The animals help us keep the soil healthy alongside the crops.”
Luke could barely contain himself. “Can I help take care of them?”
Juno laughed. “I’m sure we can arrange that. We’re always looking for volunteers to help out with the animals.”
Max and Emily exchanged a glance, both relieved to see the kids finding things to be excited about. This new life on Mars was starting to feel more like an adventure and less like a sacrifice.
The final stop on the tour was the potato farms, domed greenhouses banked against the colony’s south wall, glowing softly under their grow lamps. Inside, rows of thriving plants stood in vibrant contrast to the red Martian soil packed beneath them.
“And these are the famous M.P.P.,” Juno said, gesturing across the dome with the practiced flourish of someone who’d given the line a hundred times. “They feed the colony, help with the air, and once harvested, the starch from them is turned into AgroBind, which we use for all the new construction.”
Sarah looked up. “Wait, our house is made of potatoes?”
She had crouched down by one of the plants, fingers brushing a leaf. She looked over at her Dad, half disbelieving. “So we eat them, breathe because of them, and live inside them?”
Luke’s face lit up like he’d just solved a puzzle. “Wait. So if I get hungry, I can just LICK THE WALL?”
“Please don’t lick the wall,” Max said.
“But it’s a POTATO!”
“Still no.”
Juno laughed, warm and on script. “We don’t recommend it, the starch is fully cured by the time it goes into the walls. Unfortunately, it’s not edible. But, they do almost everything, really. Food, air, shelter, all from one crop. That’s what makes this place possible.”
The tour concluded at the colony’s dining hall. Plates of steaming food waited at the table, and the centerpiece, was steak and potatoes.
Sarah was already digging in. “I think I’m going to like it here.”
Luke looked up from his plate with a big smile. “These potatoes are out of this world!”