As we recovered, this new HX ten light years away was studied intensively. With our best telescopes we could see it in visible light, and when we listened on radio frequencies, we heard lots of chatter. As we deciphered the chatter, it became clear that the HX was not a single species. Our radio telescopes picked up many languages and many communications techniques. What had previously been considered a pretty wild theory -- that the HX carried an ecosystem with them -- turned out to be true.
The burning question for the Solar System then became: would mankind become part of that ecosystem?
As the debate on this heated up, our two families split -- ideologically, socially and physically. Earth was once again the home base for HX Technophobes and Titan Colony responded by becoming more HX technophile. The main problem for us with this was: Sherry and I still loved each other, and Yanci and I were still good buddies!
After all our families shared on Palau, we were good friends, and we were still very much in contact. We decided to stay close by each other, attending college on "neutral ground", Hubble University on Mars. Martians were not Earthers, but because of their aid during The Recovery, Earthers considered them different from the rest of the colonies. The other colonies knew that Mars was a colony, even though it was huge by colony standards. The Martians themselves were smart enough to be very careful how they treaded on the HX issue. They were absolutely adamant that HX technology would not go from Mars to Earth, but they were also quite willing to move HX technology windfalls to the other colonies. Hubble University was not first on either family's list of university choices, but it was a place both families would approve of, so we kids made sure we applied there and got accepted.
We were The Gang of Three at Hubble, and Sherry, and my future plans with her, were rekindled. This time we planned to share our lives together as scientists, not beach people. But, the world had a different future in store for us.
<<<*>>>
The HX crisis seriously deepened when Titan Colony announced it was building a starship to go visit the HX. In 2554 Titan's president, John Cleavage, made a speech saying,
"We have studied the HX near Sirius intensively for many years now. It's clear that the HX treasures we've been pulling from the Honeycomb Comet and The Hulks are only the dregs of dregs of their riches and technology. Furthermore, it's clear that we are not alone in this corner of the galaxy. Over the last few months, we have upgraded our outer system telescopes once again, and with their new capabilities we have spotted many starships, coming from many directions, headed for the HX. This news changes our position in this part of the galaxy dramatically! Humanity has had a lot more neighbors than it realized, and many of those neighbors are headed lickety-split for the HX. There must be treasure there, treasure beyond our reckoning.
"If we, the human race, are to grow and thrive in this galaxy. If we are to survive at all in the face of future cosmic catastrophes such as The HX Blip, we need more. We need to visit this Live HX, and Titan Colony will begin funding on a star ship to do so. We invite help. We specifically invite our fellow humans on Earth to join with us... to share the rewards and to share the great adventure."
The average person on Earth was flabbergasted. A Starship! They had no idea that Titan Colony had that kind of resource. The response of the HX Technophobes was quick, and it was, "If those Titanians have that kind of wealth, why aren't they using it to help the poor on Earth? Those greedy bastards didn't help us during The Recovery, and now they're using that wealth on this boondoggle? That's gratitude for you!"
The Technophobes didn't bother to listen when Cleavage retorted, "We helped all the outer colonies during The Recovery when Earth couldn't. Those colonies would have starved or frozen if they had had to rely on Earth support. And our 'great wealth', as you call it, comes from adapting HX technology, which we have always been willing to share with you."
That was how the Second Siege of Titan began.