Claiming Kainostopia - Part One, Chapter One

Welcome to 'Claiming Kainostopia', a ficitional look at how our civilization could potentially launch a mission to colonize another planet. Visit the blog here.

PART ONE - The Planning

Chapter One - A Solution to a Problem

September 20th, 2029, New York City. 06:38.

William Murphy opened his eyes slowly, breathing in calmly.

Today is the day. Time for the world to think I'm crazy.

He got up, sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes. In his head, he replayed his agenda for the day: get ready, have breakfast, and then head to the United Nations. There was a soft beep from William's phone - a text message from one of his assistants.

William went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Outside, it was an overcast day. The windows of the hotel suite looked out to a bank of clouds, hovering low over the city.

After getting ready, William walked out of his bedroom, to his suite's common area. His two assistants, Hannah and Tom, are hard at work at the dining room table, Hannah furiously typing away on her computer while Tom places call after call. They both notice William walk in, and pause their work.

"Morning Mr. President, I hope you slept well." Tom noted cheerfully. "You've got a meeting at nine thirty with the American Secretary of Transportation, and you're supposed to speak to the General Assembly at eleven-forty-five."

"Very well, thank you Tom. Hannah, how's the speech coming along?" William responded.

"It's coming along very well Mr. Murphy. I think the last edits were really good, and I think we found a good balance in the speech." Hannah smiled at William.

William sat down at the table with them. "So, you're saying I won't sound like a raving lunatic?"

Hannah looked quickly at the computer, then back at William, "No. I think it's very brave of you to suggest something so...well, bold.

"Is that the word we are using now?" William asked, breathing in deeply.

Tom sighed. "Listen, Will, I know you're nervous, and please excuse me being blunt. I know you're scared to present this idea to the assembly, but, and this is a huge but, this is an idea that the world has been thinking of for years. This idea has been on every coffee table and every science fiction book, in every imagination, it just needed someone to take hold and give it a voice. You're that voice. Don't be scared. You're not going to make a fool of yourself, your office, of Ireland, don't worry. Everyone back home will be proud of you for trying. You have support, and you have the best reasons to want to do it."

There's a moment of silence, broken by Hannah continuing, "What happened in twenty-six scared us all. The consequence of our world growing was that we ran out of places to go. Trust me, trust us, William, you're doing the right thing. Yes, this will be a long road, and we all know we won't be around to see the end of this. But, this is a start. And that's what we need.

William leaned back, sighing. Fiddling with his wedding ring, he looked lost in thought.

Finally, he broke the silence, looking at Tom and Hannah, nodding his head subtly, as though his whole being was heavy.

"Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this."

The United Nations. 11:46.

William stood at the podium at the front of the United Nations. He gulped, staring over the assembled group of world leaders in front of him.

He took a sip of water, and then started his speech:

"Good morning to everone here, to the assortment of world leaders sitting in this assembly. I would like to take the time to bring up a topic that I believe should be brought up in this room to have a serious discussion.

Now, for years we have battled our planet. We have fought natural disasters, diseases, countless things that this world has thrown at us. We have always overcome these challenges, we have always fought to be greater.

Then, three years ago, we saw our world's greatest attack on us. Between natural disasters and a horrible pandemic that swept across all seven continents, we saw the greatest loss of the global population in our history. To quote the then Administrator of NASA, Doug Hardlebridge, 'it seems the only who are safe from the ravages of this planet are those who escaped to the heavens above'.

I come to you today to ask for this assembly to approve for the creation of a committee to create a united agency that would be responsible for overseeing a mission to colonize another planet."

William took a pause, to be met with wild gasps from the attendants.

After a moment, the Irish President continues,

"It is time for us to look for a permanent solution to the problems that this world poses. It is time for us to find a way to ensure the continued survival of mankind. I don't ask for us to have the answers. This will be a conversation that will take months, or years. But it is a conversation that we need to start, and I believe that it's time to start talking."