America One: War of the Worlds Read Online Free PDF

be speaking to Dave shortly. Their radios are down due to maintenance and once we get communications again we can get an update on their supplies. Commander Noble, young Mars, what water and fuel reserves did you leave them with?”
    “We completed two water collection missions to the crater before we left,” replied Mars. “We were interrupted by the attack, and a nearing storm. We collected one full load of 60 canisters and a part load of 23 canisters to be exact. My aim was to give the crew staying behind at least six years supply of water in case we didn’t return on time. My second idea was to have 500 gallons of emergency fuel at the retreat, enough to top up tanks in one shuttle to head back to earth. The crew have used up the previous six-year supply, I know Dave Black would always keep a supply of water for a longer stay, so I will suggest that we only have about 200 gallons of fuel on the red planet, enough for one water supply mission.”
    “Dr. Smidt, a response on fuel needs for your 143 day flight scenario please,” stated Ryan.
    “As Commander Noble has just stated, 200 gallons will be of no use to us to aid our next mission in a return flight to earth. Even 500 gallons would not have been a great help. We have to take 100 percent of our fuel with us for an immediate return flight. Somehow, we must increase our fuel supplies on Mars in the near future to get our planned trading flights active and running on a regular basis. I have studied two possible scenarios. Scenario A: two shuttles head to Mars, only one returns. Total fuel usage: 101,168 gallons with a 6-day loading period. Scenario B: both shuttles return after 12 days filling both cargo holds with the Matt metal—147,998 gallons of liquid hydrogen for the round trip, plus 17,000 pounds of oxidizer and other fuel materials. This large increase is due to the delayed, extra flight time back to earth. In other words, the cargo holds of both shuttles will be full with fuel on the outward bound flight, and we will be able to leave 1,000 gallons of fuel on Mars to increase our supplies there. With full fuel tanks, and completely full cargo holds, I estimate our fuel needs to be 150,000 gallons. Just to let you astronauts understand this task ahead, it will take seven launches in the larger shuttles to get 150,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and the oxidizer to our orbital build station. Scenario B means we have to find another 25,000 gallons on top of the 100,000 gallons of fuel we need to find for Scenario A. Where are we going to obtain all this fuel?”
    “We still have 10,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen on the island,” stated Lunar.
    “And 3,000 gallons at the Pig’s Snout,” added Saturn.
    “And 9,000 gallons in reserve here in Nevada,” stated Mars.
    “Two thousand gallons up on the orbital station,” added Jenny Burgos.
    “Yes, I have calculated what we have, meinen damen and herren,” replied Dr. Smidt, but we will still be short by 125,000 gallons.”
    “Lunar, have we used up all our financial resources?” asked Ryan.
    “Yes, Dad, apart for the half dozen or so basketball size diamonds down in the underground storage chamber.”
    “I’m sure Australia would be happy to lend a hand Commander Richmond,” stated Mark Price, Lunar’s husband staring at both his wife and father-in-law.
    Martin Brusk could be squeezed to help out in return for some of the spoils,” added Saturn. “He is the one so desperate for us to get to Mars and back.”
    “I’m sure the Canadian government could help pay the fuel tab for their fair share,” added Joanne Dithers Roo. “The current world price shows the realistic shortage of all fuels available around the world. Regular gasoline is still over $29 a gallon country-wide and extra electricity is virtually non-existent to produce liquid hydrogen until more cold fusion plants are delivered next year.
    “Maybe the Matt idea of alcohol for fuel was a wise choice after all,” joked Jonesy getting