The first thing to happen when this Siege of Titan started was a change in the attitude of the Earth media. Titan Colony was no longer portrayed as unabashedly glamorous and heroic. It became glamorous in a gangsterish sort of way. The Earth media called this change, "Exposing the Real Titan." After a year of that, Earth politicians started setting up committees to, "investigate corruption in the Titan Colony support infrastructure". The net result was a raising of prices and slowing down of all things headed from Earth to Titan Colony. This hurt Titan, and the Titan media called the process "sanctions" in it's local newscasts. The "S-word" is an ugly word in the Solar System community -- the Titan Colony newscasters where not making any friends on Earth when they started using it, but the people of Titan Colony were pretty hot under the collar about the slowdown of goods from Earth. It was an in-your-face reminder that Titan Colony, even with all its HX technology, was not self-sufficient.
I got all this from watching the news between classes. But the significance hit home when Sherry sat down beside me for lunch and said, "Did you hear that Janey, Bill and Larry are leaving school the end of this term?"
"Given the news I'm not surprised about Janey and Bill. I've heard them complaining about the cost all year. But why Larry? His folks are well off." I said.
"They're well off, but he and they are pissed about how Titaners are being treated here. He says he's tired of feeling like a second class citizen when he's around Earthers. And, he says, he's not learning anything that relevant here."
"It's a shame." I said, "I know how they are feeling. I'm kind of embarrassed, actually. I don't agree with those First Earthers, and I know there are a lot of other Earthers who don't, too."
"There may be a lot, but not enough to keep the First Earthers from getting a lot of things their way. Yanci and I have been talking about leaving, too."
"Really?..." in my heart I wanted to say a lot more. Like, "Don't even think of leaving! We have such a good thing going here and I so love you!" but all the things I could think of sounded terribly theatrical. Sherry and Yanci and I were already tight. They knew these things I was thinking.
"Don't worry..." she patted my arm, "Yet.... But if things continue to get worse.... We should come up with some alternate plans."
That night I did some research, and the next day the three of us met over lunch.
"Here's what I've come up with on the current situation." I said.
"The Mars government is trying to stay neutral on this issue. Their strategic planners are hoping that Mars can replace Earth as the go-between for Technophiles on Earth and the outer colonies."
"Which means... what?" asked Yanci
"It means that a lot of transshipping businesses are moving from Earth to Mars. This will be a boom industry on Mars for the next few years, at least. And when it's finished Mars may become the biggest transshipper in the Solar System."
"Really?"
"It's possible. Earth would stay 'the mother planet of humanity', but it would no longer be the 'queen planet of the solar system.'
"I say: our alternate plan is to stay here on Mars and watch what develops from here. I think hiring will be good here while this crisis unfolds."
<<<*>>>
Sherry, Yanci and I stayed another year, but we watched the university divide on this issue. It was not pretty, and we were glad we only had another year to complete.
Then came the bombshell. We three were having lunch late in the term when Yanci announced, "I've been thinking hard about this. I've decided: I'm going on the starship."
"You're what?" said Sherry and I. But, in reality, it was a small surprise. Yanci loved being on the edge.
"I'm applying. It's a beautiful fit. They should be finished with the ship just about the time I get my degree in Applying HX Technology."
He was right, but that would split us. I was majoring in History specializing in technology impacts, and Sherry was majoring in Colony Sociology. Up until that announcement, the Stay on Mars plan had seemed solid.
"... It sounds like a good fit, Yanci..." said Sherry, speaking for both of us.
"You two should come too, of course."
"Why should we do that?" I ask.
"For the adventure, for the riches, for advancing humanity, of course!" Yanci smiled a big smile, but he was being dead serious.
"Yanci, you know what my father would think of that." I said.
Yanci frowned a bit, "Yeah, the kicker is: my father agrees with your father on this one."
"Your dad doesn't want you to go?" I half fell out of my chair.
"He doesn't. I was surprised. But when I told him what I was thinking, he gave me a 'heart-to-heart' about continuing the family line. When I talked about Sherry coming along, he got kinda red. 'Both of you, on the same ship? Have you lost your mind?' he said."
"Look Dad, it's not a single ship. It's a flotilla." I said. But it was clear he'd stopped listening.
"... Wow... and you're going to do this, anyway?" I said.
Yanci looked at me. "Yeah. As much as I respect my father, this is my choice. And... it's really what I've lived for all my life. I can't turn this down."
"It's what we've both lived for." said Sherry, "We are Titaners. We live to advance humanity."
"And what, Earthers don't?" I retorted.
Sherry looked at me, "Not in the same way, I guess."
"Hey! That's not fair! There are plenty of Earthers who want more for humanity. Are you thinking I don't want to go on that ship? You're crazy. Where do we sign up?"
The "Be Part of the Mars Boom" plan ended just like that. ... I think even at the time I knew I was being a bit silly giving that plan up. I sure know it now! That period is now called one of Mar's Golden Ages! And with 20-20 hindsight, I think Yanci, Sherry and I had a fifty-fifty chance of all being billionaires. But that's what being young is all about... going where the older and wiser fear to tread... which in those days was The Chaser. And what really counted was being with Yanci and Sherry; we were tight.